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California’s top court clarifies independent contractor vs. employee for employers
On April 30, 2018, the California Supreme Court issued its long-awaited opinion in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court, clarifying the standard for determining whether workers in California should be classified as employees or as independent contractors for purposes of the wage orders adopted by California’s Industrial Welfare Commission (“IWC”).
The Court held that there is a presumption that individuals are employees, and that an entity classifying an individual as an independent contractor bears the burden of establishing that such a classification is proper under the “ABC test” used in some other jurisdictions.
To meet this burden, the hiring entity must establish each of the following three factors, commonly known as the “ABC Test”:
(A) that the worker is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract for the performance of the work and in fact; and
(B) that the worker performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business; and
(C) that the worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as the work performed.
Fail just one part, and the worker is an employee under California wage and hour law. This new test is even stricter than most other states’ “ABC Tests”, which usually include two ways that Part B can be satisfied.
California employers will now need to reevaluate the way they treat independent contractors under the “ABC Test” to determine whether any or all such workers should be reclassified.
Helping you with the numbers
As soon as you start a business, you have to deal with numbers. Every business, no matter how small, must keep a record of its every transaction. That includes sales, expenses, salary payments – in fact every movement of money into and out of your business.
Although it’s possible to do this yourself, most entrepreneurs aren’t trained in bookkeeping. So it’s common for businesses to outsource this everyday work.
In this guide we’ll explain why hiring a bookkeeper is a great idea, or even an essential part of doing business. Then we’ll look at how you can hire the right bookkeeper for your business.
Three reasons why you need a bookkeeper
If you’re just starting out in business, you might think you don’t need someone to look after the books. Perhaps you feel that it’s enough to let your accountant sort out the numbers once a quarter or once a year. But there are good reasons for hiring a bookkeeper. Here are three of them:
- They save you time
Unless you already know a lot about bookkeeping, it’s unwise to take on this work yourself. Processing receipts, expenses and payments is only part of the work. They know how to assign expenses to particular clients. They’ll take all the numbers, enter them into your accounting software, and make sense of them. A good bookkeeper knows how transactions should be treated to provide useful business reports. It’s a skilled job, and your bookkeeper will do it much more efficiently than you can. - They understand your business
Because they deal with the day-to-day accounts, bookkeepers have a deep insight into your company’s finances. By sharing this insight with you, they can help you work out where your business should be going. They can flag any issues in time for you to do something about them. A good bookkeeper watches over your finances and helps you steer clear of trouble. - They help manage your cash flow
Accountants provide a valuable service, particularly when it comes to strategic advice, annual returns, and tax issues. But they don’t usually see your accounts every day. A good bookkeeper will keep a close eye on your accounts on a regular basis. This will help keep your Cash flow control which is vital for business growth.
Bookkeeping is an Essential Component of Small Business Success
Accurate bookkeeping is an essential component of small business success. While it may be a nuisance and feel like a chore, it’s vitally important you track your revenue and expenditures. Many businesses that could have earned great success have been bogged down by their failure to properly maintain their financial records. The IRS tells us 40 percent of small businesses incur an average penalty of $845 each year for late or inaccurate filings and payments.
Taxes
Your business must provide information on a regular basis about its profits or losses to access the amount of tax dollars you owe. The information must be correct and presented in a manner that is professional and concise. Failure to stay current with your taxes can lead to severe repercussionsthe government can impose penalties and fines that could negatively impact your business.
Expenses
Business owners can claim expenses that have been incurred as a business expense. These expenses need to be paid from the business bank account, and ideally submitted on a consistent basis such as one time each month. This ensures the person responsible for bookkeeping can better see and monitor outgoing cash for tax purposes.
Cash flow
Oftentimes businesses work hard at building a brand with a passion yet they fail to track cash flow. It is critical for a business to track its spending no matter its size and it is only possible with accurate financial records. Several growing and seemingly profitable businesses have failed because they were suddenly hit by a cash-flow crisis that was unexpected and they weren’t prepared.
Profitability and growth
To determine the amount of profit your business is making, accurate bookkeeping is essential. A few business owners neglect to track this, but it is vitally important. Bookkeeping allows a business owner to have a better grasp of how much progress they make from year to year.
2018 Business Tax Deadlines for 2017 Tax Filing
2018 Business Tax Deadlines for 2017 Tax Filing
Your business’s tax return deadline is based on its entity type, whether or not you plan on filing an extension, and if there are any weekend or federal holidays in the picture.
The table below details when each type of business entity needs to file 2017 taxes in 2018 (using the calendar year)
| Entity Type Tax Deadline | Due Date |
| Original deadline for partnerships (Form 1065) and S Corporations (Form 1120S) | March 15, 2018 |
| Original deadline for C Corporations (Form 1120) and individuals (Form 1040) | April 17, 2018 |
| Original deadline for exempt organizations (Form 990) | May 15, 2018 |
| Final deadline for partnerships and S Corporations (with extension) | September 17, 2018 |
| Final deadline for C Corporations and individuals (with extension) | October 15, 2018 |
| Final deadline for exempt organizations (with extension) | August 15, 2018 |
Typically, the tax return due date for flow-through entities is the fifteenth day of the third month of the company’s fiscal year. So the S Corporation and LLC tax return due date in 2018 will fall on March 15 (for partnerships that follow the calendar year). The extended due date for flow-through taxes will be September 17, 2018.
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SCORE Workshop -How To Manage Payroll So You Withhold The Correct Amount From Employees. Presented by Antonio Alvarez, EA
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Financial Statements Part 1: Income Statement
Income Statement
The income statement reports a corporation’s net income for the period of time indicated in its heading. The income statement is also known as the statement of income, statement of earnings, statement of operations, profit and loss statement, or P&L.
Parts of an Income Statement:
Revenues. *Selling products (net sales),*Providing services (net service).
Cost of Goods Sold. Costs of goods made by the business include material, labor, and allocated overhead
Gross Profit. Gross profit is defined as net sales minus the cost of goods sold. This is important because the corporation’s gross profit amount must be sufficient to cover its selling, general and administrative expenses and to provide a sufficient amount of net income.
Expenses. Cost associated with main business activities. Example of expenses will include supplies, rent, advertising, commissions for employees and agents, interest.
Net Income. A corporation is required to issue annual financial statements, but it is common for a corporation to prepare monthly financial statements for its management.
At Alvarez Tax Services, LLC we can provide you with this service.
New Federal Tax Law May Affect Some Refunds in Early 2017; IRS to Share Details with Taxpayers this Summer
The Internal Revenue Service has announced initial plans for processing tax returns involving the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit during the opening weeks of the 2017 filing season. The IRS is sharing the information now to help the tax community prepare for the 2017 season, and plans are being made for a wider communication effort this summer and fall to alert taxpayers about the changes that will affect some early filers.
The action is driven by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act) that was enacted December 18, 2015, and made several changes to the tax law to benefit taxpayers and their families. Section 201 of this new law mandates that no credit or refund for an overpayment for a taxable year shall be made before February 15 if the taxpayer claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit on the return.
The change begins January 1, 2017 and may affect some returns filed early in 2017. For additional information, see the link below:
https://www.irs.gov/for-tax-pros/new-federal-tax-law-may-affect-some-refunds-filed-in-early-2017
Congratulations! Newly Elected Board Director of the California Society of Enrolled Agents, Orange County Chapter
Our very own, Antonio Alvarez, Jr. was elected to the Board of Directors for the California Society of Enrolled Agents, Orange County Chapter. We are very proud of his accomplishment!
Federal/State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar
Antonio Alvarez will be presenting at a Payroll Tax Seminar hosted by The Employment Development Department on Thursday, June 23, 2016 in the city of Costa Mesa. Register for this seminar at edd.ca.gov. Spaces are limited so hurry to reserve your seat! Lunch will be provided.
See you there!
