Azling & Associates, An Accountancy Corporation

Two days until the end of corporate tax season! The status of my brain: My mind is aglow with whirling, transient nodes of thought careening through a cosmic vapor of invention. My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought, cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.

NEEDED: Receptionist / Administrative Assistant P/T Small CPA Firm in Anaheim Hills seeks part-time receptionist / administrative assistant. Flexible work hours, but prefer 8-2:30 M-Th. We are a full service firm offering outsource controller service, bookkeeping, and tax preparation. Proficiency in MS Office and QuickBooks, professional demeanor, and exemplary phone skills required. Prior use of UltraTax and CS Suite products a huge plus! Prefer 2+ years experience. Email cover letter with desired hourly rate plus resume to [email protected]. No phone calls please.

The sun is setting on another tax year! While the holidays are upon us now is the time to dig out last year’s tax return for a quick review to see if anything has changed this year. Before we get malled and enjoy our time with family and friends here a few points to consider: Was there a change in marital status? Was there a change in dependents?... Did or will any children reach age 17 this year? Do you need to take an RMD from a retirement account? Did you sell significant investments? Did you move? For business owners: Are your books up to date? Are accounts reconciled (bank, credit card and loan accounts)? Did you purchase assets this year? Have you made estimated tax payments? Don’t wait until the new year to address taxes. Tax planning must happen during the year not after. Taxes become reactive once the year ends. Act now to avoid regret! We can help! Give us a call at 714-998-9244.

Privileges, Rights and Responsibilities Our country is far from perfect but it’s still the best. Our society is progressively elevation privileges to the status of rights. I know I’m not the only person observing a dramatic increase in drivers ignoring cross walks, running red lights and just being inconsiderate. Driving is not a right, it’s a privilege. Many of us in SoCal enjoy our local trails, beaches and parks. Observing the amount of trash in these beautiful areas... is disheartening. One can conject the attitude of certain people: it is someone else’s job to pick up the trash they leave behind. After all, they pay tax right? This post was inspired by something I’ve enjoyed since college tailgating at sporting and concert events. Last Saturday my family cooked for about 30 during the SDSU vs UC Davis tailgate at Qualcomm Stadium. We generated 3-4 large bags of trash during our celebration of the start of the college football season. When we were finished there was nothing left behind. Contrast that with a nationally known fraternity from SDSU, which I will not rat out, left behind. I shot this photo after the game and was moved to write this post. The aftermath is unconscionable. We all enjoy driving, enjoying the outdoors and tailgating. These are privileges not rights. Each one of us must be responsible for our behavior and take positive action. Be patient while driving, don’t litter and clean up after ourselves! Consider the power of one. If we all did one courteous deed a day, our world would be better. We need to adhere to a saying that has been around for years: Pack it in, Pack it out. Elevate that saying to a responsibility.

Independent Contractor are you sure? The classification of Independent Contractor (IC) is an assertion by a company that an individual performing the work meets the criteria established by the tax authorities to be so classified. This classification has serious implications for both the company and individual. Why it matters:... This is a very hot topic with both the IRS and EDD in California. While this issue has been an audit topic for years it has risen near the top of audit reasons. Government agencies want their share of the money collected through payroll and they want workers to be covered by both unemployment and disability insurance. A worker classified as an IC must file a business tax return and is subject to Self-Employment Tax (16.75% of taxable income is a basic guide). Additionally, the worker is not covered by unemployment or disability insurance. This really means an IC in business for themselves regardless of their intent. This classification also has implications in other areas such as general liability insurance, auto insurance coverage and city business license requirements. Do you want to be in business for yourself? Self-employment is not for the faint of heart! The primary issue is control (nod to Janet Jackson). If the company has control over the individual then the worker should be classified as an employee. The tax agencies begin with the assumption the company has control and the burden of proof is on the company, not the worker. Salient issues to consider pertaining to the work: Who controls when and where the work is performed? Does the company supervise the work? Who determines the procedures to follow to complete the work? Who provides the equipment and tools required? Is the worker prohibited from providing services to other companies? Assuming the worker is being treated as an IC: Does the IC provide services to additional companies? Does the IC have a business license? Does the IC carry appropriate insurance for a business? Does the IC have an investment in their company? Does the IC have risk of loss? We can help: Our experience can help you navigate this complex area. While we cannot prevent an audit, we can assist with establishing appropriate procedures and documentation. An audit on this topic will typically cover three years which is a costly process. Don’t expose your business to unnecessary risk with inappropriately classified workers! Give us a call at (714) 998-9244.