Search
Schedule your free
Exploratory phone call

Click here to see how we
can be of assistance.

Click Here
Blog
Video Library
Join our newsletter
In The Press
Client Login
Youtube Channel
CONNECT WITH US BY CLICKING THE SOCIAL MEDIA ICONS.
VISIT OUR PODCASTS:
Shah Plan-it Google Podcast Neel's Live
Archives
Categories
Recent Posts
Important IRS Update: Significant Interest Penalty Increase for Tax Underpayments

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently announced a critical change that could significantly impact taxpayers who underpay their taxes. This update is particularly relevant as we approach the next tax filing season. Previously, the IRS charged a 3% interest penalty on estimated tax underpayments. However, this rate has now been increased to a substantial

Read More

See more
Will Inflation Hurt Stock Returns? Not Necessarily

Investors may wonder whether stock returns will suffer if inflation keeps rising. Here’s some good news: Inflation isn’t necessarily bad news for stocks. A look at equity performance in the past three decades does not show any reliable connection between periods of high (or low) inflation and US stock returns. Since 1993, one-year returns on

Read More

See more
Maximize Your Charitable Impact with These Four Strategies

As the year draws to a close, it’s a perfect opportunity to rethink how you give to charity. This is important for managing how much tax you pay and how much help reaches those in need. Here are four effective strategies: Need Guidance? Reach Out to Us! These strategies are just a starting point. There

Read More

See more

When LLC Members Pass Away: What Are Executor Rights?

Categories
Category: Business Law Business Planning Business Succession Planning Estate Planning For Business Owners LLCs

A recent case highlights some of the questions surrounding the situation mentioned in the title. According to the default rule in New York, the death of a member doesn’t trigger a dissolution of the LLC unless the survivors vote to take action on dissolving.

There are a few important outcomes of this new default rule, known as 701b in the New York LLC law. First, executors only have limited powers in their ability to exercise member rights or to become members themselves. Second, family members who inherit a deceased member’s interests are not admitted for official membership unless those other members consent to this. Third, without such consent, the inheriting family member retains only economic interest, not management or voting powers. Finally, these individuals can be considered non-members and do not have any decision making authority when it comes to judicial dissolutions or mergers and consolidations.

One example of this rule in action is the Budis case. An executor-husband of his late wife had his case dismissed against other LLC members for lack of standing. The operating agreement stated that the death of a member was seen as a voluntary withdrawal, and the estate thus became an interest holder but not a member per se. The solution is to include something in the operating agreement stating that a family member or executor inheriting the deceased’s LLC interest should be treated as a member of the LLC with all rights and powers afforded to other LLC members. To learn more about protecting your interests in an LLC, contact us today info@lawesq.net or via phone at 732-521-9455

Self-Employment Tax and K-1 Income: What You Need to Know

Categories
Category: Business Law Business Planning Income Tax Planning LLCs

What happens if you receive a K-1 from an LLC and there are self-employment earnings listed on line 14? Are you responsible for reporting those as subject to the self-employment tax? The self-employment tax is an additional payment of 15.3% to account for Medicare and Social Security. We’re taking a page from the Tax Times blog today to talk about this issue. For the most part, a taxpayer’s portion of ordinary income from partnerships (including LLC’s) reported on a K-1 is indeed subject to the self-employment tax. There are, of course, exceptions. This requires the assistance of an experienced team of accountants and tax attorneys, since the solution for you likely depends on your individual circumstances, the state of formation for the LLC and whether the LLC is taxed as a pass-through entity. In any case, it could be worth your while to discuss this issue with a trained professional to learn whether you are liable for the self-employment tax or not. To learn more about complicated tax issues and reporting of self-employment income, contact our offices at 732-521-9455 or through email at info@lawesq.net. Self-Employment Tax and K-1 Income: What You Need to Know

Self-Employment Tax and K-1 Income: What You Need to Know

Categories
Category: Business Law Business Planning

What happens if you receive a K-1 from an LLC and there are self-employment earnings listed on line 14? Are you responsible for reporting those as subject to the self-employment tax? The self-employment tax is an additional payment of 15.3% to account for Medicare and Social Security.

wawaaw

We’re taking a page from the Tax Times blog today to talk about this issue. For the most part, a taxpayer’s portion of ordinary income from partnerships (including LLC’s) reported on a K-1 is indeed subject to the self-employment tax. There are, of course, exceptions. This requires the assistance of an experienced team of accountants and tax attorneys, since the solution for you likely depends on your individual circumstances, the state of formation for the LLC and whether the LLC is taxed as a pass-through entity. In any case, it could be worth your while to discuss this issue with a trained professional to learn whether you are liable for the self-employment tax or not.

To learn more about complicated tax issues and reporting of self-employment income, contact our offices at 732-521-9455 or through email at info@lawesq.net.

 

Hey Buddy? Questions to Ask Before Going Into Business With a Friend

Categories
Category: Business Law Business Planning

It’s exciting to think about the prospect of going into business with someone you already know, but this step should be taken carefully or you might wind up with a difficult working relationship and an impaired friendship. Here are some of the most important questions you should review when thinking about whether a friend equals an ideal business partner.

Hey Buddy Questions to Ask Before Going Into Business With a Friend
(Photo Credit: vanityfair.com)

  • How much trust do I have for this person? You’ll see that numerous experts compare business relationships with marriage. Are you willing to go through ups and downs, which are all part of running a business, alongside this individual?
  • How does that partner improve and build on your brand?
  • Does this person have a selling point or critical skill that you’re missing? It can be a good idea to work with someone who offers something that you don’t. If you’re missing executive experience, for example, perhaps look for someone who offers that.
  • What is their life position? It could be difficult to work with someone as a partner who is not in a stable life location. Although this doesn’t meant that your partner has to have all his or her ducks in a row, someone just coming out of a bankruptcy might pose risks for your company.
  • Would a pilot project work? Before committing to a full-on business together, maybe trying out a small version or pilot project will give you a sense of your strengths and weaknesses.

To talk more about concerns of a business at the startup stage, contact us through email at info@lawesq.net or by phone at 732-521-9455 to get started.

Family Business: Steps to a Viable Succession Plan For Your Family Business (Part 2)

Categories
Category: Business Law Business Succession Planning Family Business

There is no doubt that working in a family business can be rewarding, but it might also come with some challenges. With regard to succession planning in particular, here are some of the top tips you need to consider when multiple relatives are coming to the same table on a family business.

Family Business: Steps to a Viable Succession Plan For Your Family Business (Part 2)
(Photo Credit: perthnow.com.au)

  • Make clear goals and objectives. Getting everyone on the same page with where the business “is” and where it’s “headed” is not easy, but you can bring things full circle by thinking about common goals and visions.
  • Create a process for making decisions: Don’t rely on the way you have always done it as a family. You may need more formal structure and written explanations of how decisions are to be made. Don’t forget to factor in your methods for resolving disputes. This can save you time and hassle in the future.
  • Generate a comprehensive succession plan that determines active and non-active roles for family members, establishes successors, and determine if additional support for that successor will be required from other family members. Documenting everyone’s role makes it easier.
  • Have both a business and owner estate plan. Don’t forget one or the other, as they are both important in a family business. Think about minimizing taxes and protecting assets together.
  • Determine the most appropriate avenue for transition. There are numerous options for buyouts or agreements, and this is something you definitely want to discuss with an attorney.

To learn more about how we can help clients with proper succession planning for a family business, call us at 732-521-9455 or send an email to info@lawesq.net.