For Tax Payers

Need professional help with a specific tax issue or have general tax questions? Ask a CPA is the easiest way to get advice from a licensed accountant in our network.

Ask a Tax Question

For Accountants

Provide answers to tax questions and introduce your practice to new potential clients. Build your CPAdirectory profile and earn reputation points.

Answer Tax Questions

Fringe Benefits

Chauffer services

Asked Thursday, March 01, 2012 by an anonymous user
If Chauffer services are provided for both personal and business purposes, the costs of the personal use are considered taxable income.
Tax Question Answered By CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Fringe Benefits

Company Car

Asked Thursday, March 01, 2012 by an anonymous user
The use of a company car is tax free to the extent you use the car for business.
If you use the vehicle for personal use your employer has the resposibility of calculating taxable income to you.
You are required to maintain records such as a mileage log to document and substantiate your business use.
You are not sunject to additional taxable income if your vehicle is considered a limited personal use vehicle.
Llimited personal use vehicles include garbage, dump, flatbed or refrigerated trucks, hearses or ambulances, one passenger delivery trucks, police, fire or public safety vehicles, school and passenger buses and farm vehicles
Tax Question Answered By CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Fringe Benefits

Fringe Benefits - Overview

Asked Thursday, March 01, 2012 by an anonymous user
Fringe benefits are taxable and included in a recipient's pay Unless the law specifically excludes it.
Fringe Benefits are various non-wage compensations provided to employees in addition to their normal wages or salaries.
The most common of these benefits include health, dental, accident and life insurance, daycare, tuition reimbursement, disability income protection, retirement benefits, sick leave, vacation pay, profit sharing, funding of education and adoption benefit plans.
Normally, employer-provided benefits are tax-deductible to the employer and non-taxable to the employee. The exception to the general rule includes certain executive benefits such as for golden parachute plans.
Tax Question Answered By CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Fringe Benefits

Education Assistance Plans

Asked Thursday, March 01, 2012 by an anonymous user
You can exclude up to $5,250 of educational assistance you provide to an employee under an educational assistance program from the employee's wages each year.
Graduate school expenses qualify as well as undergraduate courses.
Payments are tax free provided that the courses do not satisfy the employer's minimum educational standards and do not qualify the student for a new profession.
Educational assistance means amounts you pay or incur for your employees' education expenses.
These expenses generally include the cost of books, equipment, fees, supplies, and tuition. These expenses do not include the cost of a course or other education involving sports, games, or hobbies, unless the education has a reasonable relationship to your business, or is required as part of a degree program.
Education expenses do not include the cost of tools or supplies (other than textbooks) your employee is allowed to keep at the end of the course.
They do not include the cost of lodging, meals, or transportation.
Tax Question Answered By CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Business Plans

What is a business plan?

Asked Sunday, February 12, 2012 by an anonymous user
A business plan is comprehensive planning document which clearly describes the business developmental objective of an existing or proposed business. The plan outlines where the resources needed to accomplish the objective will be obtained and utilized. It should also guide you to act on your intentions and benchmark your steps along the way and be written on a format that allows for collaboration among your employees and partners. For more information go to FundingRoadmap.com
Tax Question Answered By CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Business Plans

If I am not applying for a business loan, why do I need a business plan?

Asked Sunday, February 12, 2012 by an anonymous user
The purpose of a business plan is to guide you in successfully operating a business. Preparing a plan forces the entrepreneur to consider all aspects of the business and to confront any problems the plan may show you along the way. FundingRoadmap.com
Tax Question Answered By CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Business Plans

Why is a business plan important?

Asked Sunday, February 12, 2012 by an anonymous user
It summarizes both your vision for the company and your blueprint for the company’s operating success. The business plan is a written guide that details the start-up and the future direction of your company. For more information go to FundingRoadmap.com
Tax Question Answered By CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Self-Employment Taxes

What is the Self Employment tax rate in 2013 ?

Asked Sunday, January 29, 2012 by an anonymous user
For 2013, 92.35% of your net earnings ( after your business expenses) from self-employment income are subject to a rate of 15.3% on the first $113,700.
Tax Question Answered By CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Self-Employment Taxes

What is self employment tax?

Asked Sunday, January 29, 2012 by an anonymous user
Self-employment taxes refer to the social security tax and Medicare taxes that must be paid on the "net" earnings of an unincorporated business by the business owner (net earnings is after deducting most business expenses). I It is paid with the owner's individual income tax return- form 1040.
Other non-business deductions cannot eliminate this tax as it is a separate tax calculation.
Explanation: When you work for someone as an employee, social security and Medicare taxes are taken out of your pay check. When you work for someone as an employee, the employer must also pay his share of social security tax and Medicare taxes.
Self-employment tax represents both amounts - the employer and employee portion of the tax.
Tax Question Answered By CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory