Blog

The standard deduction for 2021 is set to increase to $25,100 for MFJ couples and $12,550 for single taxpayers. With the additional increase per person for above-the-line donations allowed on the upcoming 2021 return, many taxpayers...

If your business was and continues to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and you continued to pay your employees, then you may be eligible for the Employee Retention Tax Credit. Both for-profit and non-profit entities are eligible...

If your business was and continues to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and you continued to pay your employees, then you may be eligible for the Employee Retention Tax Credit. Both for-profit and non-profit entities are eligible...

The Child Tax Credit will change for 2021 tax return filers. The amount of the credit will increase as well as the age limit for qualifying children (from 16 to 17). The credit for each child under age 17 is also now fully refundable....

Taxpayers should be aware that the waiver of the required minimum distribution from retirement plans will not be effective in 2021, unless later re-enacted. For more information, contact Kristen Woodall at 770-287-7800 or...

According to the American Rescue Plan signed in on March 11, 2021, the size of the earned-income-credit will increase for childless households. The maximum credit amount for childless people increases to $1,502. The age range has also...

Nick Bruner was a recipient of a Silver Shovel Award for 2020-2021. The Greater Hall Chamber presented the awards at the Board of Directors Meeting on June 24. Silver Shovel Awards are given to Chamber volunteers who have worked hard...

Low-to-moderate income earners may qualify for this tax credit giving them a financial boost. To help you determine if you qualify for this credit you can visit the EITC assistant on the IRS.gov website at https://www.irs...

Rushton held our annual Leadership Retreat this Wednesday, May 26th at the Lake Lanier Islands Resort. Our leadership team consisting of partners, managers and supervisors met to brainstorm, set goals for the firm, and develop plans...

For the 2021 tax year, the IRS extended and increased the “above-the-line” charitable contribution deduction for taxpayers taking the standard deduction. They are allowing a max charitable contribution deduction of $300...

A group of Rushton employees went to Elachee Nature Science Center on Thursday, May 20th to help weed and mulch the front entrance and various walkways. Rushton’s Social Committee puts together quarterly service projects to give...

Rushton partner Nick Bruner was recently honored as the Gainesville Jaycees Young Man of the Year. Bruner, who joined Rushton in 2005, was honored for his unselfish volunteer efforts and civic service to the community. “I am...

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, changes were made to the Child Tax Credit. These changes include an increase which brings the credit up to $3,600 for each child under 6 and $3,000 for each child under age 18 for 2021....

Julie George, Kelly Parmer and other employees from Rushton’s Carrollton office provided meals from Shane’s Rib Shack to the Carrollton Police Department and University of West Georgia Police last week. We would like to...

The IRS recently made changes to the child tax credit, earned income tax credit and premium tax credit due to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Find out how these changes might affect you at the link below. For more information,...

The IRS has approved electronic signatures on many IRS forms through the end of 2021 due to the pandemic. Find out which forms can be e-signed at the link below. For more information, contact Perry Barnett, CPA at (770) 287-7800 or...

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (April 2021) — Five tax and audit interns recently completed their internships at Rushton, one of the region’s largest business accounting and consulting firms. Hunter Finch, Jordan Gooch, Katie Rump,...

The IRS recently issued guidance on when meals qualify for 100% deduction and when the 50% limitation on the deduction for food and beverages applies. The meals must be purchased from a restaurant selling food or beverages to retail...

Did you receive unemployment benefits in 2020? If so, the IRS expanded the unemployment tax exclusion. However, Georgia and other states are not excluding this income. Taxpayers qualify for the $10,200 exclusion if they earned less...

Did you know that face masks, hand sanitizer and wipes purchased for preventing the spread of Covid-19 are deductible medical expenses? For more information, contact Erin Pitts, CPA at (770) 287-7800 or epitts@rushtonandcompany.com....

Student loan forgiveness is now tax-free thanks to the latest stimulus package signed into law. Advocates and borrowers hope the change will remove an obstacle in the way of the president canceling the debt. What does this mean for...

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (March 2021) — Rushton, one of the region’s largest business accounting and consulting firms, announces five promotions and the hiring of six new employees. Andrew Beauchamp was promoted to Tax Supervisor...

Don’t forget to include any charitable donations you made in 2020 with your tax documents for preparation even if you usually take the standard deduction. The IRS is allowing a $300 maximum cash donation deduction above the line...

Did you know that contributing to an IRA directly reduces your taxable income? You can make contributions until April 15th. Read more about IRA contributions at: https://www.irs...

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (Jan. 2021) — Rushton, one of the region’s largest business accounting and consulting firms, is proud to announce Samuel Latimer as a partner with the firm. Latimer joined Rushton in 2012. Prior to being...

Didn’t receive your Economic Impact Payments? You may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 1040 or 1040-SR return, even if you are not required to file, and receive up to the full amount of each EIP. For...

The IRS has historically required hand-to-paper signatures ("wet signatures") for tax returns, election statements, and other IRS documents. With technology advances and a need to modernize interactions with the IRS, now e-file...

Once the 2nd Economic Impact Payments (Stimulus) are posted, IRS says you can go to https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment to confirm both 1st and 2nd EIP. For more information, contact Gail Iverson at (770) 287-7800 or...

If I work at home occasionally, am I entitled to a home office deduction? To qualify for an income tax deduction for home office expenses, the IRS requires that you meet two tests--the place of business test and the exclusive and...

Tax Tip Tuesday: Tip #58, Standard Mileage Rate Decrease Again in 2021

Gail Iverson, CPA

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

The optional standard mileage rate for business use of a vehicle will decrease once again in 2021 after increasing significantly in 2019, the IRS announced in Notice 2021-02. For business use of a car, van, pickup truck, or panel truck...

Rushton partner Nick Bruner will be participating in an upcoming panel discussion about the next round of the federal Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan funding. The webinar is being hosted by the Greater...

An updated Form W-4 that helps taxpayers estimate their withholding was rolling out by the IRS in 2019. Completing the new form could help taxpayers ensure their withholding is more accurate, preventing a larger tax bill than expected....

If taxable income is up to $40,125 as a single individual, $80,250 if you are married, and $53,700 if you file as head of household, you may not owe any taxes on your sales of securities. Read more here. For more information, contact...

The Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 is in the final stages of being passed and although all details are yet to be finalized, there is a general framework that warrants consideration and planning. One of the main focuses is...

As the year comes to an end, people often think about donating to charities. The IRS has a tool, Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS), giving taxpayers the ability to search for organizations that are tax-deductible charities. This...

The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry are warning of a new text scam created by thieves that trick people into disclosing bank account information under the guise of receiving the $1,200 Economic Impact Payment. The IRS,...

The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry are warning of a new text scam created by thieves that trick people into disclosing bank account information under the guise of receiving the $1,200 Economic Impact Payment. The IRS,...

The Taxpayer Relief Initiative is a new program to help taxpayers who are unable to pay their taxes because of the pandemic. Taxpayers who owe taxes now have more options. For more information, please contact Perry Barnett at (770)...

For individuals who itemize their deductions, the CARES Act allows cash contributions to qualifying charities to be deductible up to 100% of AGI for 2020. The law prior to the CARES Act limited deductions to 60% of AGI. For more...

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that the maximum amount of wages subject to the old age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) tax will increase to $142,800 in 2021 from $137,700 in 2020. The OASDI tax rate is...

If you pay a non-employee over $600 in 2020, this is no longer reported to the recipient and IRS on Form 1099-MISC. New for 2020, all non-employee compensation will be reported on Form 1099-NEC. For more information, contact Erin Pitts...

Some of our employees attended the 2020 Chamber Chase 5k at Lake Lanier Islands. We also had a group of Rushton employees and family members who participated virtually.

Your tax filing status affects your standard deduction amounts and the amount of tax you should pay. Understanding your status and any possible changes that may occur through out your life can help you save money on your tax return....

Did you know that unemployment payments you receive are taxable and that you can choose to have federal income tax withheld? Unemployment is taxable and should be included as income for the year. Taxpayers should receive form 1099-G,...

Gainesville firm also honored in 2009, 2012 and 2013 GAINESVILLE, Ga. (Sept. 2020) — Rushton has been selected by Accounting Today magazine as one of the Best Accounting Firms to Work For. Rushton was ranked 11th out of 40 in the...

All taxpayers should review their withholding annually. They can use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to check and make sure they're not having too little or too much federal tax withheld. This tool offers workers, retirees, and...

On Sept. 25th, 10 members of the Rushton team volunteered their time to paint at the Boys and Girls Club through United Way.

The IRS has suspended the mailing of three notices – the CP501, the CP503 and the CP504 – that go to taxpayers who have a balance due on their taxes. Although the IRS continues to make significant reductions in the backlog...

Individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN) are used by taxpayers who have tax filing or payment obligations under U.S. law but who are not eligible for a Social Security number. People with expiring individual taxpayer...

The IRS has announced that taxpayers will now be able to e-file Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, using commercial tax-filing software. For now, only tax year 2019 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR returns can be amended...

Do you receive stock options as part of your compensation? The current market and tax rates may mean it’s a good time to exercise those options. If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Fricton at (770) 287-7800 or...

Do you receive stock options as part of your compensation? The current market and tax rates may mean it’s a good time to exercise those options. If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Fricton at (770) 287-7800 or...

Currently deductions are not allowed for PPP loan expenditures that result in forgiveness of a PPP loan. The IRS has stated that since PPP loan funds are not includible in taxable income, this lack of a tax deduction prevents a double...

Rushton will be participating in the Georgia Accounting Food Fight again this year. However, this year we will not be able to accept food donations due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Georgia’s food banks have been responding to a...

Let’s keep our local businesses and Gainesville-Hall community safe. Please join Rushton as a ‘Serious Business’ in the fight against COVID-19. Featuring Chris Hollifield, Managing Partner at Rushton.

The Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act with key provision changes including tripling the time allocated for small businesses and other PPP loan recipients to spend the funds and still qualify for forgiveness of the loans has been...

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (June 2020) — William Harris recently joined the team at Rushton, a business planning and accounting firm, as an Audit Associate. Harris graduated in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in...

In a recent Georgia Court of Appeals case, Walmart was successful in arguing that self-checkout parts held in a warehouse in Georgia qualified for the Category 3 Freeport Exemption from business personal property tax. Walmart’s...

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (May 2020) — Rushton, a business planning and accounting firm, recently announced the addition of Noah Evans as Tax Associate. Evans completed an internship with Rushton’s Tax Division in the spring of...

Whether Alimony is taxable or deductible depends on when the divorce decree of separation agreement was effective. After 2018, alimony is no longer taxable by the recipient nor deductible by the payor. If you have questions please...

We're working in the office and remotely.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (May 2020) — Rushton, a business planning and accounting firm, recently welcomed Christina Page as a Tax Associate. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Page is pursuing a Master of Accountancy degree from...

Did you know that if taxpayer has a seriously delinquent tax debt over $50,000, their U.S. passport could be denied, revoked or limited? If you are planning to travel abroad and have unresolved tax issues, please contact Liza Vasyliv...

Today the SBA provided some clarity regarding PPP loans and the good faith certification requirement for this loan program. The SBA stated that any borrower, together with its affiliates, that received PPP loans with an original...

If you have not received your federal stimulus check please see https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment. The IRS has a few tools to check on your stimulus payment along with some FAQs to assist you with your stimulus payment....

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected many organizations, resulting in uncertainty, anxiety and difficult business decisions. For those businesses affected, the Federal PPP loan has been a lifeline. However, with all of the PPP loan's...

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected many organizations, resulting in uncertainty, anxiety and difficult business decisions. For those businesses affected, the Federal PPP loan has been a lifeline. However, with all of the PPP loan's...

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (April 2020) — Rushton, a business planning and accounting firm, recently announced the addition of Kerry Edwards as an Audit Senior. With a specialty in government and non-profit organizations, Edwards has...

If you have an investment in an entity taxed as a partnership, your losses may be limited by the "at-risk" and "basis-limitation" rules. In order to maximize loss deductions from this flow-thru entity, it is better to review your...

Is your cafeteria health care plan in compliance? Employers are required to have a written Sec. 125 plan document in order to offer employees nontaxable benefits. For more information, contact Perry Barnett, CPA, at (770) 287-7800 or...

To further assist taxpayers, the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service recently announced additional tax extensions for key tax deadlines for individuals and businesses. A previous announcement extended the federal...

If you have bank accounts, securities or other financial accounts in a foreign country, you could be assessed an inflation-adjusted penalty for failure to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). For more...

Dear Valued Client, In light of Governor Kemp's order for Georgians to shelter in place, we have put in place measures to protect the health of our clients and employees. Rest assured that we will continue to provide the same high...

Do you pay federal income taxes on your Social Security benefits? That may depend on the total of all your income sources including Social Security benefits. There are strategies for decreasing the amount of tax your will have to pay...

Paycheck Protection Loans During February 15, 2020 through June 30, 2020 SBA loans may be available for eligible businesses and nonprofits with 500 or less employees. The loan amount can be the lessor of: $10,000,000, or 2.5 times the...

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (March 2020) — Rushton, a business planning and accounting firm, has four University of North Georgia students serving internships. Victor Adame, William Harris, Christina Page and Noah Evans were chosen from a...

Tax Payment Deferral and Relief Legislation Today Treasury Secretary Mnuchin stated that he is moving the April 15, 2020 tax filing date to July 15, 2020. Secretary Mnuchin indicated further that all taxpayers and businesses will have...

Much has changed in the last few days and we would like to provide you with some final results information regarding relief efforts from Federal Government. Tax Payment Deferral The Treasury Secretary announced that the U.S. government...

Dear Valued Client, As we all work together to maneuver the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to let you know that the firm will be operating with limited staff in the office. Our staff will be moving to a remote work...

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a multi-billion dollar relief bill on March 14. This week, the Senate is expected to take up the proposed law, called the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" after the House finalizes some...

Dear Valued Client: With the uncertainty around the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we wanted to reach out to you with our current plan. Our office is currently open during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but we...

Are your business travel expenses deductible? Taxpayers must maintain supporting documents proving that their travel expenses are for business purposes, especially when trips include family members or other personal purposes. The...

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a law that will extend sales and use tax to internet marketplace facilitators with at least $100,000 in taxable sales in Georgia beginning April 1, 2020. If you have questions or would like to...

The new SECURE Act no longer allows many stretch IRAs upon the death of a retirement plan participant or an IRA owner. Generally, distributions to non-spouse beneficiaries are required to be distributed within 10 years following the...

The IRS is sending Revenue Officers to make unannounced visits to taxpayers that have a previously known tax compliance issues, especially a payroll tax issue, that wasn’t resolved through mail contact. Confirm the identity of a...

The IRS has revised its online Tax Withholding Estimator. See the new at this website: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator If you have questions about the tax requirements of Gig work, please contact Perry...

The IRS has a new website with some high-level information for people that work in the Gig economy (Manage Taxes for Your Gig Work). If you have questions about the tax requirements of Gig work, please contact Perry Barnett at...

If you live in the state of Georgia, there is some good news if you have past due taxes for the 2020 calendar year. The Georgia Department of Revenue has lowered the interest rate for interest bearing refunds and past due taxes to 7...

Texas has responded to the South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court Case by adopting an amended regulation that is effective December 29, 2019. This regulation now requires foreign entities to file Texas Franchise Tax Reports beginning...

***NOTICE: Important news regarding 1099-G’s and 1099- INT’s *** Say goodbye to waiting by your mailbox! New in 2020, the 1099- G and 1099-INT’s will only be available electronically on our Georgia Tax Center Website...

Have you wondered how you can employ your children and get a deduction for this? Payments for the services of a child under age 18 aren't subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes, if the business is a sole proprietorship or a...

Is your income too high to contribute to a ROTH IRA? If so, you may consider a “back-door” ROTH contribution. By making a traditional non-deductible IRA contribution you may be able to roll this into a ROTH IRA and...

Did you know if you have a foreign bank account that exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year you must file an FBAR with your tax return? The penalties for not filing can exceed $10,000! If you want to file or are uncertain...

Many Georgia businesses may experience cash strains while investing in expansion and growth opportunities. The State of Georgia offers many tax credits to help these businesses. These tax credits can include credits for creating new...