Dana McGuffin CPA Blog

Six Ideas to Help Your Small Business Survive AND Thrive

By Dana McGuffin | December 6, 2018 | Comments Off on Six Ideas to Help Your Small Business Survive AND Thrive

If you are like millions of taxpayers trying to make a living running a small business, you know it is tough out there. Here are six ideas to help your business survive and thrive. Understand your cash flow. One of the biggest causes of business failure is lack of positive cash flow. At the end…

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6 Last-Second Money-Saving Tax Moves

By Dana McGuffin | December 3, 2018 | Comments Off on 6 Last-Second Money-Saving Tax Moves

As 2018 winds down, there is still time to reduce your potential tax obligation. Here are some ideas to make your 2018 tax return less of a burden on your wallet: Accelerate expenses. Individual taxpayers are on the cash basis for income tax purposes. This means your income is taxable when you receive it and…

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Fraud? Negligence? Know the Difference!

By Dana McGuffin | November 29, 2018 | Comments Off on Fraud? Negligence? Know the Difference!

Each year the IRS opens thousands of investigations looking for possible tax fraud. In 2017 alone, the Criminal Investigation (CI) arm of the IRS identified $2.5 billion in potential tax fraud with a 91.5 percent conviction rate. While the IRS takes tax fraud seriously, they also understand that mistakes happen. Here is what you need…

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Keys to Creating a Satisfying Retirement

By Dana McGuffin | November 22, 2018 | Comments Off on Keys to Creating a Satisfying Retirement

You’ve done your retirement homework. Your assets are reviewed, you know your financial needs, and your retirement tax plan is in place. Are you ready to enjoy retirement? Probably, but not without a plan to address what happens to many after they retire – boredom. Here are some ideas. Go to school. Many colleges and…

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Time to Launch Your Tax Strategy

By Dana McGuffin | November 15, 2018 | Comments Off on Time to Launch Your Tax Strategy

Consider conducting a final tax planning review now to see if you can still take actions to minimize your taxes this year. Here are some ideas to get you started. Assess your income. Begin by determining how your income this year will compare to last year. Then apply any tax implications this income change may…

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Hedging Against a Trade War

By Dana McGuffin | November 8, 2018 | Comments Off on Hedging Against a Trade War

As a small business owner, the words “trade war” and “tariff” can be unsettling. When cost uncertainty is on the horizon, you will want to be prepared as much as possible. Here are some ideas to help you navigate your business through a possible trade war. Tariffs defined A tariff is a tax on imports…

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Give your Credit Score a Boost

By Dana McGuffin | November 1, 2018 | Comments Off on Give your Credit Score a Boost

Your credit score is one of the most important aspects of your financial health. It is used by potential lenders, landlords and even employers to analyze your financial situation in one way or another. Here are some tips that might help you improve your score: Review your credit report and, if necessary, fix errors. You…

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Combat Employee Turnover

By Dana McGuffin | October 25, 2018 | Comments Off on Combat Employee Turnover

With unemployment at historically low rates, retaining employees is harder than ever. Here are some tips to help your business maintain a thriving workforce: Invest in current employees. One of the key opportunities for business success is continual investment in your current workforce. If you have employees with potential to grow, offer training and continuing…

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The Eye-Opening Video Games Phenomena

By Dana McGuffin | October 18, 2018 | Comments Off on The Eye-Opening Video Games Phenomena

Over the course of the last 20 years, video games have morphed from an entertainment choice to a lifestyle. According to a 2018 Nielsen study, a whopping 66 percent of Americans 13 and older identify themselves as gamers. Here’s what you need to know: Major developments A massive 24/7 online community. Instead of needing friends…

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Education: Tax Changes You Need to Know

By Dana McGuffin | October 11, 2018 | Comments Off on Education: Tax Changes You Need to Know

As students gear up to head back to school, there are some changes to education deductions that could save or cost you more in taxes and even raise college tuition costs. Here is what you need to know to get up to speed: What is gone Continuing Education as an itemized deduction: In previous years,…

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