The California State Treasurer’s office has begun sending email reminders to California employers to register for the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program (CalSavers). CalSavers was passed into law in 2016. California employers with five or more employees, and at least one of whom is age 18 or over, are required by state law to participate in CalSavers if they do not offer an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Employers are required to ... more
Business Advisory Services
Webinar Round-Up: PPPFA Forgivable Loan Accounting
Partners S. Scott Seamands and Stanley Woo hosted our quarterly virtual affordable housing roundtable, along with our client Mutual Housing of California. We have hosted these quarterly roundtables since the early 1990’s but in the current environment the roundtables have become virtual meetings. This quarter we outlined the issues related to obtaining loan forgiveness and other aspects of the SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). We also ... more
SBA Provides New Safe Harbor for PPP Loans, Extended Repayment Date
Ever since the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act introduced the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in late March 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continues to release piecemeal guidance to the public. One major concern for the borrowers is whether they had met the requirement that the loan was necessary, as borrowers not meeting the necessity requirement could be subject to fines and criminal ... more
CARES Act Key Tax Provisions for Individuals and Businesses
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion relief package aimed at providing relief to the American economy in combating the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. While the CARES Act is not a tax relief measure, it does include provisions that center on tax relief to individuals and business owners. Following are some of the more noteworthy tax provisions ... more
12 Days of Business Planning Before December 31
Before we know it, the new year will arrive. Rather than make resolutions, use the last few days of the year to take action on tax opportunities and business planning — bringing real benefits and results for your business. Just to make it fun, we have come up with 12 days of year-end planning for your business. These tips may remind you to take action on business items you have ignored or delayed. Add these to your list, or contact LvHJ for ... more
Tax Reform Impact for Closely-held Businesses
When the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) went into effect, there were a lot of benefits for businesses and individuals in the area of corporate and personal taxes. Many new deductions were created for S-Corps and owners of pass-through entities. Along with the benefits, there is still a layer of complexity to the new tax laws that many privately held organizations are still working to understand and navigate. To complicate matters, this tax ... more
Tax Reform Updates 12/22/2017
Congress is enacting the biggest tax reform law in thirty years, one that will make fundamental changes in the way you, your family and your business calculate your federal income tax bill, and the amount of federal tax you will pay. Since most of the changes will go into effect next year, there's still a narrow window of time before year-end to soften or avoid the impact of crackdowns and to best position yourself for the tax breaks that may be ... more
Tax Reform Updates
It seems we may be closer to revised tax law for the 2017 tax year. At this rate, floor votes may still happen prior to the holiday break. But rest assured that legislators will pore over the published tax bill before a vote. Proposed Changes The House & Senate Republican Conference Committee have agreed in principle to a consensus tax reform bill that reconciles the differences between the bills passed by the two legislative bodies. The ... more
Financial Literacy Programs Support Employee Retention
Studies coming out this year about Americans’ financial literacy and savings rates show that employers could do a lot to improve the financial wellness of their employees — at minimal cost. A survey of 1,000 adults this year by Bankrate.com showed that 31 percent of people now have emergency funds to cover six months or more of expenses, the highest percentage since Bankrate started the survey seven years ago. However, 32 percent of people age ... more