Crippen Trice Ford Torres LLP

Crippen Trice Ford Torres LLP We’re a tight-knit, respected firm that’s known for being active in our community.

We were formed in 1981 around these core principles:

•Providing high-value service to each of our clients
•Becoming and remaining key players on their team
•Helping them achieve their goals Our clients receive that same work ethic and commitment to a long-term productive relationship, no matter where they’re located. We believe that delighting our clients includes helping them to create the business and the lifestyle they want.

01/28/2014

File early to reduce your risk of tax return fraud

With the well-publicized security breach at major retailer Target recently, identity theft is likely on your mind. And stolen credit isn’t your only risk.

In an increasingly common scam, identity thieves use victims’ personal information to file fraudulent tax returns electronically and claim bogus refunds. When the real taxpayers file their returns, they’re notified that they’re attempting to file duplicate returns. It can take months to straighten things out, causing all sorts of headaches and delaying legitimate refunds.

You can reduce your likelihood of becoming a victim by filing your return as soon as possible after you receive your W-2 and 1099s. If you file first, it will be the thief who’s filing the duplicate return, not you.

Also, if you did shop at Target during the security breach, be sure to check your bank and credit card accounts frequently, and consider signing up for the free year of credit monitoring the retailer is offering potential victims.

If you’d like to file your tax return early this year, please contact us. We’d be happy to help. Also let us know if you have questions about protecting yourself from tax return fraud and identity theft.

01/08/2014

Will Congress revive expired tax breaks?

Many valuable tax breaks expired at the end of 2013. But Congress probably will revive at least some of them, likely retroactively to Jan. 1, 2014. The question is exactly which breaks they’ll extend and when they’ll pass the necessary legislation to do so.

Here are several that may benefit you or your business if extended:
• The deduction for state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes,
• Tax-free IRA distributions to charities,
• 100% bonus depreciation,
• Enhanced Section 179 expensing,
• Accelerated depreciation for qualified leasehold improvement, restaurant and retail improvement property,
• The research tax credit,
• The Work Opportunity tax credit, and
• Various energy-related tax incentives.

Please check back with us for the latest information. In the meantime, keep in mind that, if you qualify, you can take advantage of these breaks on your 2013 tax return.

12/04/2013

Year-end tax planning for your investments

While tax consequences should never drive investment decisions, it’s critical that they be considered — especially this year: Higher-income taxpayers may face more taxes on their investment income in the form of the returning 39.6% top short-term capital gains rate and 20% top long-term capital gains rate and a new 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT).

Holding on to an investment until you’ve owned it more than one year so the gains qualify for long-term treatment may help substantially cut tax on any gain. Here are some other tax-saving strategies:

• Use unrealized losses to absorb gains.
• Avoid wash sales.
• See if a loved one qualifies for the 0% rate.

Many of the strategies that can help you save or defer income tax on your investments can also help you avoid or defer NIIT liability. And because the threshold for the NIIT is based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), strategies that reduce your MAGI — such as making retirement plan contributions — can also help you avoid or reduce NIIT liability.

Questions about year-end tax planning for your investments? Contact us today!

12/03/2013

Smart timing of business income and expenses can save tax — or at least defer it

By projecting your business’s income and expenses for 2013 and 2014, you can determine how to time them to save — or at least defer — tax. If you’ll be in the same or lower tax bracket in 2014, consider:

Deferring income to 2014. If your business uses the cash method of accounting, you can defer billing for your products or services. Or, if you use the accrual method, you can delay shipping products or delivering services.

Accelerating deductible expenses into 2013. If you’re a cash-basis taxpayer, you may make a state estimated tax payment before Dec. 31, so you can deduct it this year rather than next. Both cash- and accrual-basis taxpayers can charge expenses on a credit card and deduct them in the year charged, regardless of when the credit card bill is paid.

But if it looks like you’ll be in a higher tax bracket in 2014, accelerating income and deferring deductible expenses may save you more tax.

Accurately projecting income and expenses can be challenging. For help, please contact us. We can also provide additional ideas for timing business income and expenses to your tax advantage.

11/20/2013

Beware of the AMT when doing year-end tax planning

As year end approaches, you may be trying to accelerate deductible expenses into 2013 to reduce, or at least defer, tax. But you must beware of the alternative minimum tax (AMT) — a separate tax system that limits some deductions and doesn't permit others, such as:

• State and local income tax deductions,
• Property tax deductions, and
• Miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to the 2% of adjusted gross income floor, such as investment expenses and unreimbursed employee business expenses.
Accelerating these expenses could trigger the AMT, because you must pay the AMT if your AMT liability exceeds your regular tax liability.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) set higher AMT exemptions permanently, indexing them — as well as the AMT brackets — for inflation going forward. This will provide some AMT relief, but higher-income taxpayers could still be vulnerable.
We’d be happy to help you determine whether accelerating deductible expenses will reduce your 2013 tax bill — or could trigger the AMT.

11/12/2013

Even with rising exemptions, 2013 annual exclusion gifts still a good idea

Recently, the IRS released the 2014 annually adjusted amount for the unified gift and estate tax exemption and the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemption: $5.34 million (up from $5.25 million in 2013). But even with the rising exemptions, making annual exclusion gifts is still a good idea.

The 2013 gift tax annual exclusion allows you to give up to $14,000 per recipient tax-free — without using up any of your gift and estate or GST tax exemption. (The exclusion remains the same for 2014.)

The gifted assets are removed from your taxable estate, which can be especially advantageous if you expect them to appreciate. That’s because the future appreciation can avoid gift and estate taxes.

But you need to use your 2013 exclusion by Dec. 31. The exclusion doesn’t carry over from year to year. For example, if you and your spouse don’t make annual exclusion gifts to your granddaughter this year, you can’t add $28,000 to your 2014 exclusions to make a $56,000 tax-free gift to her next year.

Please contact us for ideas on how to make the most of annual exclusion gifts.

11/05/2013

2013 may be your last chance for a “charitable IRA rollover”

If you’re age 70½ or older, you can make a direct contribution — up to $100,000 — from your IRA to a qualified charitable organization in 2013 without owing any income tax on the distribution. This “charitable IRA rollover” can be used to satisfy required minimum distributions.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) revived this opportunity, but only for 2012 and 2013. So if you’d like to make a charitable IRA rollover, consider doing so this year in case the opportunity isn't extended. If you already took advantage of the ATRA provision that allowed a charitable rollover made in January 2013 to be treated for tax purposes as if it had been made Dec. 31, 2012, you can make another $100,000 rollover this year for 2013 tax purposes.

Have questions about charitable IRA rollovers or other giving strategies? Please contact us. We can help you create a giving plan that will meet your charitable goals and maximize your tax savings.

10/29/2013

Maximize your 2013 depreciation deductions with a cost segregation study.

If you’ve recently purchased or built a building or are remodeling existing space, consider a cost segregation study. It identifies property components and related costs that can be depreciated much faster, perhaps dramatically increasing your current deductions. Typical assets that qualify include decorative fixtures, security equipment, parking lots and landscaping.

The benefit of a cost segregation study may be limited in certain circumstances, such as if the business is subject to the alternative minimum tax or is located in a state that doesn’t follow federal depreciation rules.

For more information on cost segregation studies — or on other strategies to maximize your 2013 depreciation deductions — contact us today.

10/15/2013

Why you should max out your 2013 401(k) contribution

Contributing the maximum you’re allowed to an employer-sponsored defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plan, is likely a smart move:
• Contributions are typically pretax, reducing your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), which can also help you reduce or avoid exposure to the new 3.8% Medicare tax on net investment income.
• Plan assets can grow tax-deferred — meaning you pay no income tax until you take distributions.
• Your employer may match some or all of your contributions pretax.
For 2013, you can contribute up to $17,500 — plus an additional $5,500 if you’ll be age 50 or older by Dec. 31.
If you participate in a 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plan, it may allow you to designate some or all of your contributions as Roth contributions. While Roth contributions don’t reduce your current MAGI, qualified distributions will be tax-free. Roth contributions may be especially beneficial for higher-income earners, who are ineligible to contribute to a Roth IRA.

10/10/2013

Expiration date for home mortgage debt forgiveness rapidly approaching

Since 2007, homeowners have been allowed to exclude from their taxable income up to $2 million in cancellation-of-debt (COD) income ($1 million for married taxpayers filing separately) in connection with qualified principal residence indebtedness (QPRI). The exclusion had been available only for debts forgiven through 2012, but Congress extended it. Now that expiration date — Dec. 31, 2013 — is rapidly approaching.

You can have COD income if a creditor forgives a debt, reduces the interest rate or gives you more time to pay or in connection with a mortgage foreclosure, including a short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure. QPRI means debt used to buy, construct or substantially improve your principal residence, and it extends to the refinance of such debt. Relief isn’t available for a second home, nor is it available for a home equity loan or cash-out refinancing to the extent the proceeds are used for purposes other than home improvement.

If you’re considering a mortgage foreclosure or restructuring in relation to your home, you may want to act before year end to take advantage of the COD income exclusion in case it’s not extended again.

09/25/2013

Will your investment income be subject to the new 3.8% NIIT?

Under the health care act, starting in 2013, taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) over $200,000 per year ($250,000 for joint filers and $125,000 for married filing separately) may owe a new Medicare contribution tax, also referred to as the “net investment income tax” (NIIT). The tax equals 3.8% of the lesser of your net investment income or the amount by which your MAGI exceeds the applicable threshold.

Many of the strategies that can help you save or defer income tax on your investments can also help you avoid or defer NIIT liability. And because the threshold for the NIIT is based on MAGI, strategies that reduce your MAGI (such as making retirement plan contributions) can also help you avoid or reduce NIIT liability.

The rules on what is and isn’t included in net investment income are somewhat complex, so please contact us for more information — and to find out what tax-saving strategies may be effective in your particular situation.

Michael A. Torres, CPA - PartnerMike is a strong believer increating efficiency and ispassionate about the unlimitedoppo...
09/23/2013

Michael A. Torres, CPA - Partner
Mike is a strong believer in
creating efficiency and is
passionate about the unlimited
opportunities technology can
offer. He strives to provide his
clients with innovative tools that
allow them to free up their time
and enery, and better focus on
their business. With nine years
of experience in public
accounting, taxation, business
consulting and auditing, Mike
is known for his ability to make
complex processes seem easy
and understandable. When he
is not working, you can find Mike
participating in sports or spending
time with his family. He and his
wife have two beautiful daughters
whom he says, “run the show.”

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