Country Business Services

10/11/2025

They're called mycoheterotrophs. 🙃
They eschew photosynthesis and instead rely on carbon and nutrients from soil fungi! 😲

Japanese botanist Kenji Suetsugu studies plants that steal carbon and nutrients from soil fungi

07/09/2023

Tax case coming soon to the SCOTUS....

The case: Moore v. United States

The basics: The Court will rule on a portion of Trump’s 2017 tax law regarding American taxpayers who own more than 10% of a foreign corporation.

The broader implications: Simply put, this case is being brought to the Supreme Court by certain wealthy individuals, who hope to make it illegal to pay their fair share. The Court’s decision will affect our tax code and could determine the fate of wealth and billionaire tax proposals.

04/21/2023

02/11/2023

IRS just ruled on the taxability of any state's "Middle Class Refund."
It will NOT be reported, or taxed, on your Federal return!

IR-2023-23, Feb. 10, 2023 — The IRS provided details today clarifying the federal tax status involving special payments made by 21 states in 2022.

02/09/2023

Ever thought of buying your first home - there are tax advantages.

The IRS offers several tax breaks for homeowners.

02/05/2023

Did you receive a Debit Card or Direct Deposit from Calif for your "middle class rebate" last year? While this is not taxable for Calif, it's still pending a ruling from the IRS for federal taxation...

01/13/2023

California Storm Victims Qualify for Tax Relief

California storm victims now have until May 15 to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. Individuals and households that reside or have a business in any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) qualify for the relief.

01/04/2023

Time to clean up that paper clutter in your office? Here's a few tips to help you "de-clutter" and toss some of those records!

Credit card receipts and statements:
Keep your original receipts until you get your monthly statement; shred the receipts if the two match up. Keep the statements for seven years if tax-related expenses are documented.

Paycheck stubs:
When you receive your annual W-2 form from your employer, make sure the information on your stubs matches. If it does, shred the stubs. If it doesn’t, demand a corrected form, known as a W-2c.

Bank records:
Go through your checks each year and keep those related to your taxes, business expenses, home improvements, and mortgage payments. Shred those that have no long-term importance.

Personal Bills:
Go through your bills once a year, and toss if not tax or insurance related. Bills for big purchases -- such as jewelry, rugs, appliances, antiques, cars, collectibles, furniture, computers, etc. -- should be kept in an insurance file for proof of their value in the event of loss or damage.

Retirement/savings plan statements:
Keep the monthly/quarterly statements from your 401(k) or other plans, until you receive the annual summary; if everything matches up, then shred the quarterlies. Keep the annual summaries until you retire or close the account.

IRA contribution records:
These need to be kept permanently!! Because, if you made a nondeductible contribution to an IRA, you will need proof that you already paid tax on this money when the time comes to withdraw.

01/04/2023

The IRS has three years from your filing date to audit your return if it suspects good-faith errors.
The three-year deadline also applies if you discover a mistake in your return and decide to file an amended return to claim a refund.
The IRS has six years to challenge your return if it thinks you underreported your gross income by 25 percent or more.
There is no time limit if you failed to file your return or filed a fraudulent return.

12/30/2022

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

65.5 cents per mile driven for business use, up 3 cents from the midyear increase setting the rate for the second half of 2022.

22 cents per mile for medical, consistent with the increased midyear rate set for the second half of 2022.

14 cents per mile for charity and remains unchanged from 2022.

These rates apply to electric and hybrid-electric automobiles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.

11/02/2022

There's a lot of people who don't realize that not registering for their annual Medicare program in time can bring real consequences. They need to do it when they are first eligible. Delaying enrollment in Medicare Part B and/or Medicare Part D can bring you hefty penalties.