Sole Proprietorship - Schedule C

What does the term "DBA" mean ?

Asked Tuesday, January 03, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

DBA is an acronym for "Doing Business As". It is also known as a Fictitious Name. Most states require that sole proprietorships and partnerships that are conducting business under a name other than the owner(s) must file for a DBA certificate in the county where business is conducted. The DBA certificate is generally obtained at the Clerk of Court of the county in which business will be conducted. Fees are typically between $100 and $225 and most courthouses have records that may be searched to determine if your suggested name will be unique.
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C Corporations

Interest rates for Corporations

Asked Tuesday, January 03, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Interest Rates for Q1 and Q2 2012 will continue to be charged as follows:
3% for overpayments (2% for corporations)
3% for underpayments
5% for large corporate underpayments
0.5% for the portion of a corporate overpayment in excess of $10k.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points. Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points.
The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point. Further, the federal short-term rate that applies during the third month following the taxable year also applies when determining estimated tax underpayments during the first 15 days of the fourth month following the taxable year
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C Corporations

What are the benefits of incorporation?

Asked Tuesday, January 03, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Incorporation can provide many benefits. The most important factor is that incorporation can help limit your personal liability as a business owner. Generally, creditors of your corporation must satisfy their claims by seizing the assets of the corporation rather than your personal assets. In contrast to a sole proprietor or partner in a partnership, you are financially responsible for all liabilities of the business, and your personal assets are subject to seizure or lien by creditors. Other benefits of incorporation can include greater tax deductions for health insurance and medical expenses, lower payments for social security tax and medicare tax, and greater opportunity to raise capital for the business through the issuance of stock.
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Small Business Services

What are guaranteed payments?

Asked Tuesday, January 03, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Guaranteed payments are made to individual partners for services rendered or for use of capital, and are not based on a partner's share of partnership income. The guaranteed payments are deducted from partnership income before determining the partnership's profit or loss.
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Depreciation

Depreciation - New business equipment

Asked Tuesday, January 03, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Most new business equipment can be either depreciated over its useful life or expensed immediately under Internal Revenue Code Section 179. The 2013 maximum deduction is $500,000 with a $2,000,000 Investment based celing.
The 2012 maximum deduction was the same amounts.
ATRA, extends the amounts deductible by a taxpayer for 2010 and 2011 under Code Sec. 179 to2013
Generally, qualifying property is: Tangible personal property (such as machines, equipment, furniture).
Certain other tangible property used for specific purposes. Single-purpose agricultural or horticultural structures. Certain storage facilities. Railroad grading’s or tunnel bores.
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Investments & Financial Planning

Does India have a stock exchange ?

Asked Thursday, December 29, 2011 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

India Stock Exchanges: Bombay Commodity Exchange (estwhile the Bombay Oilseeds and Oils Exchange) Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) Cochin Stock Exchange Inter-Connected Stock Exchange of India (ISE) Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) National Stock Exchange of India (NCE) OTC Exchange of India (Exchange for Technology and Growth Stocks) Pune Stock Exchange (PSE)
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Investments & Financial Planning

Does India have a stock exchange ?

Asked Thursday, December 29, 2011 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

India Stock Exchanges: Bombay Commodity Exchange (estwhile the Bombay Oilseeds and Oils Exchange) Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) Cochin Stock Exchange Inter-Connected Stock Exchange of India (ISE) Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) National Stock Exchange of India (NCE) OTC Exchange of India (Exchange for Technology and Growth Stocks) Pune Stock Exchange (PSE)
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Investments & Financial Planning

Does Africa have a stock exchange ?

Asked Thursday, December 29, 2011 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

African Stock Exchanges: Botswana Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) Egypt Egyptian Exchange (EGX) Ghana Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) Kenya Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) Malawi Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) Mauritius Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM) Morocco Casablanca Stock Exchange (Bourse de Casablanca) Namibia Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Nigeria Nigerian Stock Exchange South Africa Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) STRATE (Central Securities Depository (CSD) for the electronic settlement of all financial instruments in South Africa) Sudan Khartoum Stock Exchange (KSE) Swaziland Swaziland Stock Exchange (SSX) Tanzania Dar-Es-Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) Tunisia Bourse de Tunis (Tunis Stock Exchange) Uganda Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) West Africa Bourse Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres (Regional Stock Exchange for West Africa) Zambia Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE)
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Armed Forces Tax Information

What is the cost of a college education from a Military Academy?

Asked Thursday, December 29, 2011 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

The four branches of the US military operate their own service academies. They are all four-year institutions. Competition to get into these schools is highly competitive. Students become commissioned officers immediately upon graduation. Those who are accepted get full scholarships and a small monthly allowance. For more information, speak to your HS guidance counselor or contact: The Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut at 800-883-8372, The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. at 800-822-8762, The Naval Academy in Maryland at 800-638-9156, The Air Force Academy in Colorado at 800-443-9266.
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Divorce & Marriage Issues

My parents are divorced. Which parent is responsible for filing out the FAFSA form?

Asked Thursday, December 29, 2011 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

If your parents are separated or divorced, the Custodial parent is responsible for filling out the FAFSA. The custodial parent is the parent with whom you lived the most during the past 12 months. This is not necessarily the same as the parent who has legal custody. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, the parent who provided you with the most financial support should fill out the FAFSA. This is probably the parent who claimed you as a dependent on their tax return. If you have not received any support from either parent during the past 12 months, use the most recent calendar year for which you received some support from a parent or lived with either parent.
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