News

The file-and-suspend Social Security strategy that many Americans had worked into their retirement plans has quietly gone away for future retirees in a little-known section of the Bipartisan Budget Act passed by both houses and signed into law by...

When it comes to accounting for business combinations, many are not aware that U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) permit an entity to report provisional amounts during a measurement period. Others have been concerned with the...

Two credits are currently available for the restoration of historic buildings – a 20-percent credit for the rehabilitation of certified historic structures and a 10-percent credit for nonhistoric buildings built before 1936. The substantial...

November and December are peak months for shoplifting. Not really a surprise. Shoplifting increases 10 percent or more during the holidays, according to security companies. Over $10 billion in merchandise is lost annually, according to University...

More than one in four employers will be affected by the so-called “Cadillac” tax, a nondeductible 40 percent excise tax set to take effect on high-cost healthcare benefits in 2018, according to The Kaiser Family Foundation. The tax has...

In recent years, energy prices can only be categorized as volatile, and that volatility is having a major impact on manufacturing profits. Further gains are possible if barriers to increased efficiency can be addressed, the U.S. Department of...

Donor-advised funds have their fans and their critics. Both sides are passionate in their feeling about these charitable-giving devices. It is precisely these points that led to the criticism of the funds because the donor gets a charitable...

Last June, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) modified the Medicare Shared Savings Program to increase participation in accountable care organizations. In 2015, there were more than 400 accountable care organizations (ACOs)....

In a matrimonial proceeding, a forensic accountant can be an essential member of a valuation team working to determine an equitable settlement – particularly if a business is involved. The starting point is analysis of the business and...

There are several provisions in the U.S. income tax laws that make high income individuals also high income tax individuals as well. As income increases, so does the percentage of income that is paid in income and other taxes. First, we’ll...

415 Group is pleased to announce three employee promotions in November 2015. David Besse was promoted to principal at 415 Group. David joined 415 Group in May 2005 as Director of IT Services. David is a graduate of Nova University with a Bachelor...

The emphasis on social media and web-based marketing sometimes overshadows what is still the most effective marketing technique – networking. Of course, an attractive website or portfolio with photos of your past work can be impressive...

The old adage “You can’t see the forest for the trees” means, of course, that sometimes we are too close to the situation to evaluate it properly. Business owners often find that it is helpful to get other perspectives on their...

Business owners never want to think that their employees would steal from them. In many cases, this is true of employees. But not always. Some employees think they have the right to share in the good fortune of their employer – even without...

A pivotal demographic shift in the work force is now under way, one with major implications for leadership development. In addition to large numbers, this group has several characteristics that differentiate it from older workers. According to the...

Good old American ingenuity and know-how are what made this country a world leader in the manufacturing sector. In recent decades, manufacturing has been eroding in the United States, both through moving production capabilities overseas and through...

There is both good and bad news when it comes to giving in the United States. That’s according to Money for Good 2015 study, which examines the “giving needs, attitudes and behaviors” of donors and how nonprofit organizations can...

It’s full steam ahead in the Department of Health and Human Services’ effort to increase participation in accountable care organizations (ACOs) and use financial incentives and quality metrics to determine how providers are paid. Among...

If your estate potentially could be subject to federal estate tax, and you own a family farm or closely held businesses, you’ll want to know about special-use valuation. Special-use valuations could mean a tax break that allows qualifying...

If you have an interest in a foreign bank account you may be subject to reporting requirements. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) was enacted with the intent of identifying American account holders in foreign banks and requiring...