Offering a 401(k) plan helps create an attractive benefits package for keeping employees long term. Most employers with over 100 employees participating in the retirement plan will need to complete a 401(k) audit. As the owner of the company or plan administrator, preparing for the audit is crucial for a successful process. Tips for a […]
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Preparing Form 5500: How to Report Employee Benefit Plan
The Form 5500 series concentrates on your employee benefit plans. Returning the annual report with the Depart of Labor is mandatory through the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Preparing your form is based on many contributing factors. Who is required to File Form 5500? Knowing if you are required to file is the […]
Small Broker Dealer Firms: Audit Tips
The word audit immediately brings a sense of dread to your small broker dealer firm. Do not worry, rather, take action. Being prepared is the best way to handle an upcoming audit. The standards of the audit must meet all the criteria set by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). Protecting the rights of […]
Assisting your Senior Parent with their Tax Filing
The aging baby boomer generation means many adult children are taking on new roles of caring for their parents. During tax season, assisting aging parents is crucial for accurate returns. If your parent is already using a tax professional, discuss the types of documents you may need to help at tax time. Identifying the required […]
Nonprofits and Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) – What does it Mean?
Nonprofit organizations are generally charitable, educational, or religious entities promoting a goal within the local or specific community. Under most circumstances, the nonprofit organization will fall under the tax exemption status as outlined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under 501(c)(3) structure. Providing nonprofit organization owners a way to save money on income, the tax exemption […]
Nonprofits: Handling Employment and Compensation Issues
Nonprofit organizations focus on a specific cause or mission. From animal related charities to educational institutions, nonprofit organizations have a broad spectrum of goals. Using excess funds to further the goals is the nature of the nonprofit organizational structure. As a result, handling employment and compensation issues tends to be a difficult task. Staying compliant […]
Broker Dealer Audit Deficiencies – No End in Sight
A problem that shows no signs of improvement is the high level of deficits in broker dealer audits. The PCAOB (Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) report that found inspections staff deficiencies at the 66 firms reviewed in 2014. The State of Broker Dealer Audits The examination conducted under the United States audit watchdog interim inspection program found that 87%, […]
Which Small Business Records Do You Need to Keep and For How Long?
As a responsible business owner, you want to stay in compliance with local and federal regulations regarding recordkeeping. The process becomes manageable if you know exactly what to keep and for how long. Here is a quick rundown on which small business accounting recordsyou need to keep and for how long.Gross Receipts – Any source of […]