Small Business

EIN Question

Asked Tuesday, September 21, 2021 by Teri

Hi. I am getting ready to purchase a practice/LLC. I am seeing/hearing conflicting information regarding the transfer of ownership. From what I've read on the IRS website, it appears as though I need to get a new EIN for the LLC which will keep the same name. The CPA and attorney for the person who currently owns the practice believe that I can take over and keep the same EIN as a single owner.

CPA Answer:

You both can be right. In my opinion, the answer depends how the practice purchase/sale is structured. If you are buying the assets of the practice, then you are right, you need to get a new EIN for your LLC that is buying the practice. On the other hand, if you are buying the seller’s LLC, then you can keep the same EIN that currently belongs to the seller.

Just to let you know, if you are investing the big bucks to purchase a practice, you need to have an attorney and a CPA in your corner, to look out for your best interests. If you don’t, you could easily find yourself in a situation where you are saving a few dollars by not paying professional fees, but you could be losing much, much more because you didn’t do things right or overlooked something.

As a certified public accountant (CPA), I am available to help on a consulting basis now and an ongoing basis going forward for taxes, bookkeeping, etc.

if you found this free advice helpful, please leave me a review, either through Google (search for Adam Dickreiter or by using the following link https://g.page/adam-dickreiter-cpa-pllc/review?gm) or through this website (CPAdirectory).

Answer Provided by: Adam Dickreiter Adam Dickreiter

Tax Forms

Form 2553

Asked Friday, September 17, 2021 by Tiffani

Hello, my husband and I incorporated our business which is an ABA therapy clinic on 9/15/2020 and we want to be an S corp, but we didn't file form 2553 in time. We actually just started hiring people in August( took us a long time to find a building and then we had to do a build out) so we just opened our doors for business at the end of August 2021. I have filled out form 2553, stating that we didn't realize this was something we were supposed to fill out and return and I also gave them the dates that we actually started business. As of now we have clients waiting to get in here but none have actually started yet. My question is do you think this is sufficient for turning in this form late, or is there something else that I need to do? Thank you

CPA Answer:

You’re on the right track, but you need to do a little more. Please be sure to read the instructions for Form 2553.

If you are filing the Form 2553 now (not as an attachment to the Form 1120S), you must write “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2013-30” in the top margin of the first page of Form 2553.

For your explanation, I would not plead ignorance. IRS doesn’t take that well, as they say that everyone should read the law and be aware of the requirements. Instead, it’s better to give them a tangible reason or reasons why you did not timely file. If COVID played a role, explain that. Or, if you or someone in your family had medical issues, death, etc., explain that. I think even the narrative you explain (finding employees, finding a building, build-out, etc.) could be part of an explanation.

Also, you should mail the form certified mail with return receipt requested, to have proof that you mailed the form and that the Internal Revenue Service received it. IRS still has a backlog of several months. Plus, they are losing things. So you need to protect yourself.

Trying to think outside the box, you may ask yourself if filing the S election with an effective date back to 09/15/2020 is the best thing to do. For example, did you timely file an extension back on 03/15/21? Also, the deadline for the 2020 Form 1120S just passed on September 15, 2021. You may wish the effective date to be 01/01/21. Just something to consider – not trying to add to your stress.

As a CPA, I am available for consulting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll, etc.

if you found this free advice helpful, please leave me a review, either through Google (search for Adam Dickreiter or by using the following link https://g.page/adam-dickreiter-cpa-pllc/review?gm) or through this website (CPAdirectory).

Answer Provided by: Adam Dickreiter Adam Dickreiter

Miscellaneous

Being paid via W2 and 1099

Asked Sunday, September 05, 2021 by Donald

I will be working for an organization who has two different companies, I will be paid from the first company as an employee/corporate staff function, I will be paid from the second company as a 1099 contractor providing medical services to clients without any corporate commitments. All persons providing medical services are paid by the second company as 1099 contractors. The company is headquartered in New York State. I live in Massachusetts and will be 100% working from home, I will provide medical services via telehealth in NY, TX, IL, and TN to start. I need to figure out if establishing an LLC and having my "second" company compensation go through the LLC or be paid under W2 for the second company. The split of income is 50/50 from each company.

CPA Answer:

It sounds like you could do with some tax planning! Unfortunately, these are too many unknowns for a specific answer here.

First - setting up an LLC (or perhaps taking an S-Corp election?) would depend on a variety of factors. How high is your 1099 compensation? Would you prefer the "hands off" route and possibly ask for a W-2 instead of a 1099 from your second job (if possible, and if I understood that part of your question correctly), or would you like to set up an LLC and expense various things yourself, in addition to any other tax savings that come with having an LLC? Usually, the LLC route can offer more tax savings, but a more "hands on" approach from you - e.g. a possible additional S-Corp tax return + putting yourself on payroll (if the S-Corp route makes sense); accounting for your LLC (with or without an S-Corp election), etc.

If you'd like to schedule a (no-strings/complimentary) consultation with my firm (we work predominantly with medical service providers and specialize in tax planning), let me know. You can email my business partner, Paulina S., for more information or to set up a call - her email address is paulina (at) ratio.cpa - she handles all initial client inquiries and can help steer you through your options. We do our best to have the consultations be as transparent and informative as possible.

Apologies that I could not help more - but taxes are never straightforward, more information is needed, and making mistakes now can cost you in the future.



Answer Provided by: Eli Keren Eli Keren

Deductions and Write-Offs

Business Expense from Refund of Previous Year

Asked Thursday, July 08, 2021 by Mark

I run a small business and a client this year, in 2021, has requested a refund of $800 for services rendered the previous year, 2020. Since I have already payed my taxes in 2020, this $800 has already been processed through my 2020 taxes, yet, that $800 is coming out of my business account THIS year in 2021. Is this considered a business expense?

CPA Answer:

Yes and no.

Technically, I would code it to a contra-revenue account, something like Sales Returns and Allowances (that would be a general ledger account for a business that sells products). So you would debit or increase that account on the income statement and credit or decrease your bank balance on the balance sheet.

The effect would be that it would lower your profit (bottom line). So in that sense, it’s like a business expense, but it’s not actually an expense, it’s a reduction to overall revenue.

Answer Provided by: Adam Dickreiter Adam Dickreiter

Personal Taxes

Gift taxes

Asked Wednesday, July 07, 2021 by Jacqueline

My father is currently retired with on SSI as any kind of income. He has $30k someone loaned him many years ago who'd now like it back. There was no paperwork or anything it was between friends. My father has not gifted anything significant in his lifetime. Would he be subjected to paying taxes on the $30k if he gave it all at once? Since he's retired and only on SSI, I'm not even sure if he does yearly taxes anymore.

CPA Answer:

Seeing that there was no paperwork to document the loan, I assume no interest was ever paid. While the intention may have been for it to be treated as a loan, neither party behaved like it was a loan (by having a written promissory note, periodic payments, interest to be paid, etc.).

If your father every got audited and this issue arose in audit, he would first have to prove that the receipt of the $30,000 was not income to him. Again, it’s difficult for your father to assert it was a loan when it was never treated as such. Assuming that you could prove it was not income, then the IRS might argue that it was a loan (if that was in the IRS’ best interest). If the IRS could win on that front, they’d go after your father’s friend for imputed interest income, as you can’t have a loan with no interest. However, if it ended up being treated as a gift, I recommend the following.

To keep things simple, your father should repay the $30,000 in two pieces, making sure not to exceed the annual exclusion (presently $15,000) by giving no more than $15,000 each calendar year. So it would take two payments – one for $15,000 this year (2021) and the second for $15,000 next year (2022). By doing it this way, your father would not need to file a gift tax return for the total transfer of $30,000 back to his friend. Also, your father would not need to pay any tax.

To summarize, I would assume it was a gift all along and take the aforementioned steps to do damage control. Of course, it would have been better to simply have done things right from the beginning, rather than try to find a legal way out of the mess later.

Answer Provided by: Adam Dickreiter Adam Dickreiter

Business Formation

PLLC or LLC for Physical Therapy in WA

Asked Sunday, July 04, 2021 by Gina

Hello! I am a physical therapist interested in forming my own practice in Washington State. The legislation is a little unclear as to whether I am required to form a PLLC or an LLC. Could you advise me on which is best please? Thank you!

CPA Answer:

First, congratulations on your decision to form your own practice!

To answer your question, I will make a few comments.

First, a PLLC and an LLC are both creatures (creations) of state law. I practice as a CPA in Texas, so I cannot speak to Washington state law. From my experience in Texas, if you have a license (such as a CPA license), you are required to form a PLLC instead of an LLC (if you choose to operate through a limited liability company).

Second, from a federal income tax perspective, there is no difference in federal income tax treatment between a PLLC and an LLC. Why? Because for federal income tax purposes, there are generally only four (4) ways to get taxed – as a disregarded entity, partnership, C corporation, or S corporation. If you will be the sole owner of the company, your choices are really disregarded entity, C corporation, or S corporation. You can’t have a partnership with just one partner.

Third, I think you’re asking which is better (a PLLC or an LLC) in terms of federal income tax treatment. If that is your question, then they are treated the same. Again, the actual federal income tax treatment depends on how to choose to treat it – going back to the four choices I listed above. So the treatment doesn’t depend on whether it’s a PLLC or LLC.

I hope that answers your question. Feel free to contact me if you wish to engage me to help.

Answer Provided by: Adam Dickreiter Adam Dickreiter

Personal Taxes

Wage and Income Transcript

Asked Saturday, July 03, 2021 by John

My W2 for 2020 is posted twice in my wage and income transcript . I contacted my employer and they confirm they only ever issued one and have nothing to correct. I confirmed with Social Security that they only have 1W2 on file for me ( which is correct). This is only an issue on the IRS system. I called the IRS and spoke to multiple reps and they said there’s nothing they can do. I’m kind of panicking here. Can someone please help me?

CPA Answer:

I don’t think this is a reason to panic. On the other hand, I do think this is a reason to take proactive steps, which you have already been doing.

If you have not already done so, I recommend you prepare and file your return showing just the one Form W-2. You should not show the duplicate Form W-2. Hopefully, you’ve been documenting (writing down dates, times, names, phone numbers called, etc.) for all your contacts (with your employer, Social Security Administration, and Internal Revenue Service). Because you’re in a panic and quite motivated now (and the details are fresh in your mind), you should compose a letter to the Internal Revenue Service right now, to explain why you reported just one Form W-2 and to document all your efforts (even though unfruitful) to make things right.

Once you file your return, the Internal Revenue Service will process it. You can expect that they will send you a notice for what they perceive is unreported income. Don’t be surprised if they also assess penalties and interest. However, if you write your letter now, you will have most of the details on hand for when you get the IRS notice. Then, you’ll just need to tweak your letter to directly address the points raised in the IRS notice. If you choose, you could even include a copy of your letter when you file the return (if you paper file it). However, I don’t recommend it. The letter will probably be ignored. Also, if you paper file, the processing of the return will definitely be delayed.

So, I wouldn’t panic. You haven’t done anything wrong. Unfortunately, know that you have a long road ahead of you. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s a long tunnel ahead of you.

Answer Provided by: Adam Dickreiter Adam Dickreiter

Business Formation

EIN question

Asked Friday, July 02, 2021 by Daniel

Hello my son is starting an online resale company and we have decided to make an LLC where I’d be president and he’d be ceo . He is underage being 17 so my question is when applying for the EIN number do I put just my information or would his have to be put in as well and it come out to be a partnership?

CPA Answer:

Daniel, good question. To answer your question, I will make two comments.

First, because your son is underage, you should put just your information as the responsible party on the Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number) or its online equivalent on the IRS’ website.

Second, I think your question reveals some confusion. On the Form SS-4 (or its online equivalent on the IRS’ website), you should indicate that there will be two LLC members (you and your son). After filing the Form SS-4, if you take no further action to elect to treat the LLC differently for federal income tax purposes, then the LLC will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (because you told the IRS on the Form SS-4 or its equivalent that there will be 2 LLC members). If you want to treat the LLC as something other than a partnership (such as a C corporation or an S corporation), you cannot accomplish that goal just by filing the Form SS-4 or its equivalent. That would take a second step with a different form.

I hope that helps. Feel free to contact me if you wish to engage me to help. Even though I practice as a CPA in Texas, I have clients in other states.

Answer Provided by: Adam Dickreiter Adam Dickreiter

Personal Taxes

Avoiding Capital Gains Tax for selling my home in under a year of buying

Asked Thursday, July 01, 2021 by Philip

I bought my home 9 months ago but am about to sell it for a significant profit. I purchased it for $311,000 and selling for $496,000. Is there a way to avoid paying short term capital gains tax? If not is there a way to reduce the amount? I live in GA so subject to state and federal tax. Please let me know.

CPA Answer:

Good question. It sounds like you already have a buyer and sales price in mind, so it sounds like a like-kind exchange isn’t an option for you.

You are right that a sale after only 9 months would force short-term capital gains tax on you. However, I you could hold the property for more than one year, you would get long-term capital gain tax treatment. Perhaps you could work out a deal with the buyer to rent it to him/her long enough to get you well over the one year holding period. Perhaps you could come to an agreement that would be beneficial for both of you.

Feel free to contact me if you wish to engage me to help. Even though I practice as a CPA in Texas, I have clients in other states.

Answer Provided by: Adam Dickreiter Adam Dickreiter

Payments and Penalties

Can i pay unequal quarterly payments?

Asked Thursday, July 01, 2021 by Justin

First time LLC owner. For this first year.. can I pay tax on the net profit each quarter instead of trying to estimate? I am online marketing, so right now I have no idea what profit the year will bring.

CPA Answer:

First, congratulations on being a first-time LLC owner!

To answer your question, yes, you can pay tax on the net profit each quarter via Form 1040-ES instead of trying to estimate what your profit will be for the entire year. Your approach is perfectly reasonable and acceptable. To answer your other question, you can pay unequal quarterly payments for estimated income taxes.

Feel free to contact me if you wish to engage me to help with anything. Even though I practice as a CPA in Texas, I have clients in other states, as I do multi-state returns.

Answer Provided by: Adam Dickreiter Adam Dickreiter