Monday, December 3, 2018

Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) Changes to Kiddie Tax

“Kiddie Tax” has been around since the Tax Reform Act of 1986.  It's a tax imposed on certain children with unearned income. The TCJA enacted in late 2017 made some major changes to this code section – simplifying some aspects while adding complexity to others.  Read more here: Understanding the New Kiddie Tax

Matt Sellers, CPA


Monday, October 15, 2018

Tax relief for victims of Hurricane Michael


GEORGIA — Victims of Hurricane Michael that took place beginning on Oct. 9, 2018 in Georgia may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service.
The President has declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Georgia. Following the recent major declaration issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the IRS announced today that affected taxpayers in certain counties will receive tax relief.
Individuals who reside or have a business in Baker, Bleckley, Burke, Calhoun, Colquitt, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Emanuel, Grady, Houston, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, Lee, Macon, Miller, Mitchell, Pulaski, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Treutlen, Turner, Wilcox, and Worth counties may qualify for tax relief.
The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area.  For more information, please contact us.


Jason Pease, CPA

Monday, June 25, 2018


Hey, Georgians... this is something you need to know about:

House Bill 673 (also known as the “Hands Free Law”) was passed by the Georgia General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal.  The Hands Free Law will take effect on July 1, 2018.  A link to the complete law can be found here.

The long and short of it:  You’re not allowed to hold your phone while driving.  You cannot have your phone in your hand or touching any part of your body at all (including in your pocket).


Highlights / Details of the Bill

A driver cannot have a phone in their hand or use any part of their body to support their phone.  Drivers can only use their phones to make or receive phone calls by using speakerphone, earpiece, wireless headphone, or phone connected to vehicle or an electronic watch.  GPS navigation devices are allowed.

  • Headsets and earpieces can only be worn for communication purposes and not for listening to music or other entertainment.
  • A driver may not send or read any text-based communication unless using voice-based communication that automatically converts message to a written text or is being used for navigation or GPS
  • A driver may not write, send or read any text messages, e-mails, social media or internet data content
  • A driver may not watch a video unless it is for navigation.
  • A driver may not record a video (continuously running dash cams are exempt)
  • Music streaming apps can be used provided the driver activates and programs them when they are parked.  Drivers cannot touch their phones to do anything to their music apps when they are on the road.  Music streaming apps that include video also are not allowed since drivers cannot watch videos when on the road.  Drivers can listen to and program music streaming apps that are connected to and controlled through their vehicle's radio. 


FAQ

Could I still talk on my phone while driving?

Yes, as long as it is done hands-free. Drivers would be able to use their phone’s speakerphone, Bluetooth technology, an earpiece, a headphone or other device to allow them to communicate on a hands-free basis.


Am I be required to purchase a hands-free accessory, such as a mount or bracket?


No. The proposed law simply states that a driver cannot hold or support a mobile phone. A phone can be left on a vehicle’s console, a front seat, etc. However, for the safety of all Georgians, state and local law enforcement recommend the purchase and use of a hands-free device if using a mobile phone while driving.



Sources




This is the official site with info about the law:


Stay safe (and don't get a ticket)!

Craig Rhinehart
Chief Information Officer

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Significant changes ahead for non-profit financial reporting

The most significant changes in non-profit (NFP) financial reporting in the last 20 years will be effective for reporting years beginning in 2018.  In an effort to enable NFPs to better “tell their story”, Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-14 modifies net asset classifications and improves consistency and transparency regarding financial performance, cash flows and liquidity.  The following link provides an overview of the changes: NPOChanges - ASU 2016-14.pdf 

Here are some recommendations to help you successfully implement the new standard:

  • Start early.
  • Identify the individuals who will lead implementation of the new standard.
  • Attend training to understand the changes.
  • Review net asset reporting to make sure classifications are correct.
  • Discuss the changes with your audit or finance committee.
  • Discuss the changes with your auditors related to audit timing and planning.



Executing changes of this magnitude can seem daunting.  Our NFP team is available to answer questions, help with general training, and provide resources for best practices in implementing the new standard.

Daria Cruzen, CPA

Friday, September 8, 2017

Equifax was hacked... what do I need to do?

You've probably seen the new reports of the cyberattack on Equifax that may have compromised your personal information.  Here is an article about it from USA Today. Note that the article mentions that you should not click links in any emails claiming to be updates from Equifax or connected to the breach.

So what should you do?  First of all, here is the Web site (the address is https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/) that Equifax has set up to inform you about the situation.  It’s worth a few minutes of your time to read over the information on that page.  The rest of this post simply describes what you can expect to do once you are on that Web site.

At the bottom of the page you should click the Potential Impact button (pictured below without links)




Follow the instructions on that link – you’ll have to provide your last name and the last six digits of your SSN, then jump through some Captcha hoops to prove you aren’t a robot.  It will then let you know if you are likely affected by the breach.  If your information was likely affected you'll see a message like this one. 





If you do then click the Enroll button (to enroll for free in Equifax's Trusted ID Premier program, which provides you 5 offerings - again, for free: credit reporting, 3-bureau credit file monitoring, credit report lock, social security monitoring, and identity theft insurance) and you'll then see a screen similar to this one, which will advise that you will have to check the indicated Web site at a later date to complete the enrollment process.  Note that because of the incident Equifax is offering one year of this program to anyone in the US - whether you were impacted by the breach or not.




Other helpful links:




Craig Rhinehart
Chief Information Officer




Monday, May 15, 2017

Ransomware... scary stuff

You have probably seen the news reports from this weekend about a new and dangerous type of ransomware known as "WannaCry".  Ransomware is a specialized form of cyber attack that attempts to hold your data hostage by encrypting it (essentially scrambling it in a way that only the software's creators know how to unscramble).  In order to get your data unscrambled you have to pay the software's creators a ransom (through a payment method that allows the other party to remain anonymous)... hence the name "ransomware".

You should know that is not a false alarm -- this is a real and scary situation.  You should also know that there is no single “pill” for computer system security.  Securing a computer system is done in layers such as firewalls, anti-virus software, and employee education.

The list below provides some helpful information for business owners or workplace managers.  This list is not really specific to the WannaCry ramsomware, but is a more general list of basic security measures that should be performed and maintained.  See the section in red for something you can do right now to help secure your computer system.

  • Check your firewall to confirm that its protection mechanisms against this type of malware code are up to date and activated.  Most firewalls today have "gateway security" features built-in, but these features may need to be turned on and configured in order to function properly.  Sometimes there is an annual fee paid to the manufacturer for this feature, but the protection is usually worth it.
  • Your anti-virus software, if properly implemented, should provide some measure of protection from malware code.
  • You should review your computers and patch any that are not already patched.  Do this by running Windows Update on all computers.  There is a specific Microsoft patch mentioned in almost every article written about this particular episode.
  • I suggest communicating the following information to your employees right away.  It's the best protection you can have.
    • Ransomware is often spread by computer users clicking links in emails.  Do not open or click any suspicious emails.
    • Just because an email looks like it’s from someone you know doesn’t make it OK.  Use good practical judgment and err on the side of caution. 
    • If you receive an email you are uncertain about, check with the purported sender or check with your technical support contact for advice and guidance.
    • If you think something’s up, don’t take further action yourself and contact your technical support contact immediately.

Happy computing!

Craig Rhinehart
Chief Information Officer