C Corporations

What is a close corporation ?

Asked Tuesday, December 26, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

A close corporation is also known as a closely held corporation. It is a corporation in which the stock of the corporation cannot be traded on a public exchange such as the NYSE, NASDAQ, etc. and the number of shareholders must be specified, and typically cannot exceed 30 and certain limitations may be placed on the transfer of stock. A close corporation can be advantageous for small businesses.
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Incorporation Services

Do I need to publish in a newspaper a notice of incorporation ?

Asked Tuesday, December 26, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Most jurisdictions do not require publication in a newspaper unless an existing unincorporated business intends to incorporate without a change in its name. That business must then publish its intent to incorporate in the local newspaper for four consecutive weeks (in most jurisdictions). While a few jurisdictions (Georgia, Arizona, Illinois, and Pennsylvania), require publication of the corporate name to be published in a newspaper local to the county of the registered agent
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Incorporation Services

When I incorporate , will it prevent others from using my company's name ?

Asked Tuesday, December 26, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Incorporating will not keep another business from using your name. Filing articles of incorporation only prevents the secretary of state from filing a document to create another corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership that has the same, a deceptively similar, or similar name as the entity already in existence. Generally, every business must protect its own business name and the good will that it has acquired from the sale of its goods or services in a specific geographic area.
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Incorporation Services

Must I file a D.B.A. ( Doing Business As ) certificate?

Asked Tuesday, December 26, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Individuals and unincorporated entities (sole proprietorships)that regularly conduct business using an assumed name often referred to as a dba must file an assumed name certificate with the county clerk in each county in which business premises are maintained. If corporations, limited liability companies or limited partnerships, entities created by filing with the secretary of state, do business with a name that is different than the name set forth in the organizational documents, they must file assumed name certificates in the county or counties where the registered office and the principal office are located, and must also file with the secretary of state.
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Taxes - My Tax Return

Where can I find the per diem away from home meals and lodging rates for foreign countries ?

Asked Friday, December 22, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

The Foreign Per Diem Rates are available on the Internet at: http://www.state.gov/www/perdiems/.
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Household Nanny Tax

Do I need to withhold taxes on wages to a Babysitter, Nanny or Maid I hired to care for my children in my home ?

Asked Friday, December 22, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Household employees include baby sitters, nannies, housekeepers, drivers, caretakers, health aids, private nurses, maids, gardeners, and others who work in or around your private residence as your employees.
Household workers who are under age 18 during any part of the calendar year are exempt from the FICA tax for the entire year even if the wages exceed $1,800 if the household employment is not their principal occupation.
A full time student is considered a full time occupation. Workers you get from an agency are not your employees if the agency is responsible for who does the work and how it is done. Self-employed workers are not considered your employees. if you paid a household employee cash wages of $1,800 or more in a calendar year, you generally must withhold social security and Medicare taxes from all cash wages you pay to that employee.
Household employers must file IRS Schedule H to pay the social security and federal unemployment tax and any withheld federal income taxes. A household employer is not required to withhold federal income tax from a household employee's wages.
Federal income tax withholding occurs if the employee requests and the employer agree.
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Bookkeeping & Write-up

I started a new business . Where do I find information on how to file Forms W-2 ?

Asked Friday, December 22, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

W-2 forms should be furnished to your employees by January 31. It is your responsibility as an employer to file Forms W-2 with the Social Security Administration (SSA) for your employees which will show the wages paid and taxes withheld for the year. You must send Copy A to the SSA with Form W-3 by February 28. Form W-3 is a summary form that shows the total of all W-2's being sent. Go to the IRS website http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/forms_pubs/forms.html or get Publication 15, Circular E, Employer's Tax Guide or Forms and publications can be requested by calling 1-800-829-3676.
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Business Start-ups

I started a new business . Where do I find information on how to file Forms W-2 ?

Asked Friday, December 22, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

W-2 forms should be furnished to your employees by January 31. It is your responsibility as an employer to file Forms W-2 with the Social Security Administration (SSA) for your employees which will show the wages paid and taxes withheld for the year. You must send Copy A to the SSA with Form W-3 by February 28. Form W-3 is a summary form that shows the total of all W-2's being sent. Go to the IRS website or get Publication 15, Circular E, Employer's Tax Guide or Forms and publications can be requested by calling 1-800-829-3676.
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Form W-2

Where do I find information on how to file Forms W-2 ?

Asked Friday, December 22, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

W-2 forms should be furnished to your employees by January 31. It is your responsibility as an employer to file Forms W-2 with the Social Security Administration (SSA) for your employees which will show the wages paid and taxes withheld for the year.
You must send Copy A to the SSA with Form W-3 by February 28.
Form W-3 is a summary form that shows the total of all W-2's being sent. Go to the IRS website or get Publication 15, Circular E, Employer's Tax Guide or Forms and publications can be requested by calling 1-800-829-3676.
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Capital Gains & Losses

What is the basis of property I received as a gift ?

Asked Friday, December 22, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

To figure the basis of property you get as a gift, you must know its adjusted basis to the donor just before it was given to you. You also must know it’s fair market value (FMV) at the time it was given to you and any gift tax paid on it.
Generally, the basis to the done is the same as in the hands of the donor at the date of the gift.
The basis to determine if there is a loss on the sale of a gift is the value as in the hands of the donor at the date of the gift or the fair market value Whichever is lower.
There is no gain or loss on a sale of a gift when the selling price is less than the basis for the gain and more than the basis for the loss calculation.
The basis of property received is increased by the amount of gift tax attributable to the net appreciation in value of the gift. The net appreciation is the amount by which the fair market value of the gift exceeds the donor's adjusted basis immediately before the date of the gift.
Speak to your local CPA to determine the gain or loss calculation on the sale of an asset that was received as a gift.
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