Stuck in the Middle: The Sandwich Generation

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The term “sandwich generation” was coined to describe baby boomers caught between caring for their aging parents and their children. Today, it most commonly applies to Generation Xers and older Millennials. If you’re caught in the middle, it might be time for honest discussions about pressing issues such as funding children’s higher education and paying for a parent’s long-term care.

Start with the “bottom” of the sandwich: your children. What’s appropriate to share with them depends on their age. However, by high school, you should be talking about their post-graduation plans and how much you can offer for college or other financial needs.

The “top” half of the sandwich can be more challenging. Depending on their health status, finances and other factors, your parents may not welcome your involvement in their decision-making. They might minimize or dismiss your concerns and be highly resistant. Initiate a frank family meeting with your parents, siblings and their spouses, if appropriate. Many issues can be sensitive, and emotions may run high, so be prepared. One session may not be enough to accomplish your objectives. Feel free to contact your Wheeler preparer for advice about what to focus on.

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Tax Season Cleanup: Which Records Can You Toss?

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If you’ve filed your 2024 tax return, you may be eager to do some spring cleaning, starting with tax-related paper and digital clutter. The documentation needed to support a tax return may include receipts, bank and investment account statements, K-1s, W-2s, and 1099s. How long must you save these records? Three years is the general rule. But don’t be hasty: Failure to keep a paper trail for the information reported on a tax return could lead to problems if the IRS audits it.

The Basics

Generally, the IRS’s statute of limitations for auditing a tax return is three years from the return’s due date or the filing date, whichever is later. However, some tax issues are still subject to scrutiny after three years. If the IRS suspects that income has been understated by 25% or more, the statute of limitations for audit rises to six years. If no return was filed or fraud is suspected, there’s no limit on when the IRS can launch an inquiry.

It’s a good idea to keep copies of your tax returns indefinitely as proof of filing. Supporting records, such as canceled checks, charitable contribution receipts, mortgage interest payments, and retirement plan contributions, generally should be kept until the three-year statute of limitations expires. These documents may also be helpful if you need to amend a return.

So, which records can you throw away now? Based on the three-year rule, in late April 2025, you’ll generally be able to discard most records associated with your 2021 return if you filed it by the April 2022 due date. Extended 2021 returns could still be vulnerable to audit until October 2025. But if you want extra protection, keep supporting records for six years.

Records to Keep Longer

You need to hang on to some tax-related records beyond the statute of limitations. For example:

  • Retain W-2 forms until you begin receiving Social Security benefits. That may seem long, but if questions arise regarding your work record or earnings for a particular year, you’ll need your W-2 forms to help provide the required documentation.
  • Keep records related to real estate or investments for as long as you own the assets, plus at least three years after you sell them and report the sales on your tax return (or six years if you want extra protection).
  • Hang on to records associated with retirement accounts until you’ve depleted the accounts and reported the last withdrawal on your tax return, plus three (or six) years.
  • Retain records that support figures affecting multiple years, such as carryovers of charitable deductions or casualty losses, until they have no effect, plus seven years.
  • Keep records that support deductions for bad debts or worthless securities that could result in refunds for seven years because you have up to seven years to claim them. 

 Feel free to contact the office if you’re unsure about a specific document.

Retention Times May Vary

Keep in mind that these are the federal tax record retention guidelines. Your state and local tax record requirements may differ. In addition, lenders, co-op boards and other private parties may require you to produce copies of your tax returns as a condition of lending money, approving a purchase or otherwise doing business with you. Contact the office with questions or concerns about tax-related recordkeeping.

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Next-Level Growth: Unlocking Your Business’s Full Potential

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After successfully navigating the start-up phase, your business has a strong foundation for growth. At the growth stage, business and financial advisory services become essential. Focus on these two key areas to elevate your company to the next level.

1. Financial and Tax Reporting

Businesses in the growth stage usually have more sophisticated financial reporting needs than start-ups. As a result, those that previously relied on cash or tax-basis accounting methods may need to graduate to accrual-basis methods and start following U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Lenders and investors may require CPA-prepared financial statements, which include the following (listed in increasing level of assurance):

  • Compilations,
  • Reviews, and
  • Audits.

Audited financial statements are the gold standard in financial reporting, required for companies regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, compiled or reviewed financial statements may suffice for many closely held businesses in the growth stage.

Audits involve a higher level of scrutiny to ensure financial statements are free from material misstatements and comply with GAAP. This process includes analytical testing, asset inspections, third-party verifications, and evaluations of internal controls, with auditors reporting any weaknesses.

Once a business is profitable, federal (and, in many cases, state) taxes typically apply to company income. If the business isn’t structured as a C corporation, the income passes through to owners and is taxed at the individual level.

Regular tax planning meetings with tax professionals are crucial to identify strategies for reducing tax liabilities and preparing for tax law changes. These meetings help optimize your tax position both now and in the future, helping to ensure your business stays financially sound.

2. Working Capital Management

Cash shortages are common for businesses during periods of growth. The main culprit is the “cash gap,” that is, the time between:

  • When your business must pay suppliers and employees, and
  • When it receives payment from customers.

For businesses that make or build products from scratch, the time to convert materials and labor into finished goods, sales and (finally) cash receipts can be significant.

A line of credit can alleviate seasonal or temporary cash crunches. Before approving credit applications, lenders typically request financial statements, tax returns and updated business plans. In addition, business owners in the growth phase typically must sign personal guarantees for business loans.

You also may need to apply other cash management techniques that target the following three components of working capital:

  1. Receivables,
  2. Inventory, and
  3. Payables.

Professional advisors can assess your working capital metrics, benchmark performance against competitors, and recommend strategies to improve your business’s financial efficiency and competitiveness. These might include accelerating collections, optimizing inventory levels, maintaining safety stock, and negotiating better supplier terms.

Ask the Pros

Businesses need guidance from experienced professional advisors as they mature. Do-it-yourself accounting, tax and business planning can result in frustration and missed opportunities. If you haven’t done so already, it’s important to obtain the appropriate professional advice for your business. Feel free to reach out to our team if you’re looking for support!

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File Your FBAR on Time to Avoid Penalties

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Any U.S. person with a financial interest in or authority over foreign financial accounts may be required to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). An FBAR is required if the aggregate value of the accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. FBARs are due April 15 of the following calendar year, though an automatic extension is allowed.

For purposes of FBAR requirements, here are the definitions of some key terms:

U.S. person

This includes U.S. individuals (adults or children), resident aliens, and specific entities, such as corporations, partnerships, trusts and limited liability companies.

Foreign financial account

An account is considered foreign if maintained in a bank outside the United States, even if the institution is a U.S. bank.

Financial interest

A U.S. person has a financial interest in a foreign financial account if he, she or it is the owner of record or holder of legal title, even if the account is for the benefit of another person. Financial interest may also exist if the owner of record or holder of legal title is one of several entities controlled by or on behalf of a U.S. person.

The FBAR rules can be complex, and penalties for noncompliance can be significant. Contact us with questions.

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Stay Ahead of Business Cybercrime

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Business owners, beware. Identity theft is a growing threat that can cripple your business or shut it down forever. Signs of business identity theft include the inability to file a tax return because a return has already been filed using the business ID number, a request for a routine extension is rejected, and tax transcripts obtained by the business don’t match its tax returns.

To help stay ahead of this cybercrime, install anti-malware and anti-virus software and employ firewalls. Use multi-factor authentication, encrypt and backup sensitive files, and limit personnel with access to these files. Contact the office with questions, or click here for more information: Identity theft information for businesses | Internal Revenue Service

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It May Not Be Too Late to Reduce Your 2024 Taxes

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If you’re preparing to file your 2024 federal income tax return and your tax bill is higher than you’d expected or your tax refund is smaller than you’d hoped, there might still be an opportunity to change it. If you qualify, you can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA until the filing date of April 15, 2025, and benefit from the tax savings on your 2024 return.

Who’s Eligible?

You can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA if:

  • You (and your spouse if you’re married) aren’t an active participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan or
  • You (or your spouse) are an active participant in an employer plan, but your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) doesn’t exceed certain levels that vary by filing status.

For 2024, if you’re married, filing jointly and covered by an employer plan, your deductible IRA contribution phases out over $123,000 to $143,000 of MAGI. For single filers or those filing as head of household, this phaseout range is $77,000 to $87,000. It’s only $0 to $10,000 if you’re married and filing separately. If you’re not an active participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, but your spouse is, your deductible IRA contribution phases out with MAGI between $230,000 and $240,000.

Deductible IRA contributions reduce your current tax liability, and earnings within the IRA are tax-deferred. However, every dollar you take out will be taxed in full (and subject to a 10% penalty before age 59½, unless an exception applies).

Roth IRA holders may also contribute to their accounts until April 15, though these contributions aren’t tax deductible, and some income-based limits apply. Withdrawals from a Roth IRA are tax-free if the account has been open for at least five years and you’re 59½ or older. Certain withdrawals are tax-free before age 59½ or within the first five years.

How Much Can You Contribute?

If eligible, an individual can make a deductible traditional IRA contribution of up to $7,000 for 2024. The contribution limit is $8,000 for those age 50 and up by December 31, 2024. If you’re a small business owner, you can establish and contribute to a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan up until the due date for your return, including extensions. For 2024, the maximum SEP contribution is $69,000.

Contact the office for more information about IRAs or SEPs, as well as additional strategies to reduce your 2024 taxes. During your tax preparation appointment, you can also ask how to save the maximum tax-advantaged amount for retirement.

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Could You Be Hit with the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty?

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If you own or manage a business with employees, you could be personally responsible for paying a harsh tax penalty. It’s called the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP). It applies to the mishandling of Social Security and income taxes that must be withheld from employees’ wages.

These taxes are government property employers collect and hold in “trust” for the government until payment. If the funds aren’t properly handled, the IRS can impose a TFRP equal to 100% of the unpaid taxes on each responsible party. Consequently, the penalty amounts can be significant.

A Penalty with a Long Reach

The TFRP is among the more dangerous tax penalties not only because it’s large but also because it applies to many actions and people involved in a business, and historically, the IRS has aggressively enforced it. Here are some questions and answers to help avoid incurring the penalty:

What actions are penalized?

The TFRP applies to willful failures to collect or truthfully account for and pay over Social Security and income taxes required to be withheld from employees’ wages.

Who’s at risk?

The IRS can impose the 100% penalty on anyone “responsible” for collecting and paying taxes. This includes corporate officers, directors, shareholders, partners and employees with such duties. Even voluntary board members of tax-exempt organizations may be liable under certain circumstances. Sometimes, responsibility has been extended to family members close to the business, attorneys and accountants.

How is responsibility determined?

Responsibility depends on status, duty and authority. Anyone with the power to ensure taxes are paid can be held liable. Multiple people within a business can be deemed responsible, and each is at risk of a full penalty. If you know unpaid payroll taxes exist and have the authority to pay them but prioritize other payments instead, you could be deemed a responsible person.

While a taxpayer held liable may sue others for contribution, this must occur after paying the penalty in full. Such lawsuits are entirely separate from the IRS’s collection process.

Definition of “Willful”

Willful actions don’t require intent to evade taxes. The IRS defines “willfully” as knowingly prioritizing other expenses over withheld taxes. For example, bending to pressure to pay other bills instead of taxes is considered willful behavior.

Delegating actual tax responsibilities is no defense. Failing to deal with tax tasks can also be deemed willful.

“Borrowing” is Never an Option

Under pressure, it may be tempting to “borrow” from a tax withholding fund to pay an urgent expense. But don’t do it. The importance of paying all funds withheld from employee paychecks over to the government can’t be understated. Failure to pay can result in multiple people owing the hefty 100% TFRP, including people who didn’t realize they were considered responsible. Contact the office with any questions.

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Options for Paying Your Tax Bill

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If you owe federal tax, you can typically use credit and debit cards to pay directly or through certain third-party apps. However, the number of cards you can use when submitting individual tax forms is generally limited to two per year or two per month (for details: Frequency limit table by type of tax payment | Internal Revenue Service).

View on IRS.gov

Also, there are processing fees involved. The cost of using a personal debit card is $2.15. It’s 1.75% of the total ($2.50 minimum) if you use a personal credit card. Commercial debit or credit cards are charged 2.89% ($2.50 minimum). And, you’ll likely incur interest if you carry a credit card balance. Note: Employers can’t use credit or debit cards to pay federal tax deposits.

Further instructions on how to make tax payments can be found in our Guides:

How to Make Electronic Individual Tax Payments
How to Make Electronic Business Tax Payments

If you have questions not answered in this article, feel free to reach out for assistance.

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What is a “Super Catch-Up” Contribution?

Do you have questions about your options when it comes to saving for retirement? With limits, mechanisms, and savings opportunities changing regularly, we want to help keep you informed and prepared! This article is to written to inform you about a feature of the Secure 2.0 Act, passed in 2022, which sets a higher catch-up contribution limit for taxpayers aged 60-63, allowing for “super catch-up” contributions to most retirement plans.

2025 Deferral and Catch-Up Contribution Limits

To provide some background, let’s first look at the traditional deferral limits and catch-up contributions in place. Congress sets annual participant salary deferral limits for retirement savings plans, like 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and other employer matched plans. The limit on employee elective deferrals for 2025 is $23,500.

Starting at age 50, individuals are allowed additional catch-up contributions to accelerate their savings. The 2025 limit is $7,500, as it was in the prior year. Thus, the total contribution limit for participants in most 401(k), 403(b), and related plans who are 50 and older is $31,000.

“Super Catch-Up" Contributions

So, what is a “super catch-up” contribution? To encourage even more robust retirement savings, under Secure 2.0 Act, Section 109, Congress included a higher catch-up provision for individuals 60-63 years old. In 2025, this group can contribute the standard $23,500 plus the enhanced catch-up amount of $11,250 annually, bringing their total contribution limit to $34,750.

Summary of 2025 Limits

If you are in the 50 plus or 60-63 age groups, we encourage you to take advantage of the saving opportunities available under these guidelines and maximize your use of tax-advantaged retirement funds. If you have questions about how to implement this or about how it might impact your taxes, we’re happy to help.

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Employee of the Quarter: Sydni Andrus

Congratulations to Sydni Andrus for earning Employee of the Quarter for Q4 2024. It isn’t her first time, but first since returning to the firm this Fall. Sydni came back with bang and has hit the ground running.

She has been a major help on some of our larger projects, and especially in the overall organization and project management of our Audit & Assurance department.

 

Thanks Sydni, and here’s to a great 2025!