By Susan G. Schellinger Certain local Wisconsin governmental entities and nonprofit organizations have historically been exempt from payment of sales and use tax. Under a change in Wisconsin law which took effect on January 1, 2016, contractors may purchase construction materials on behalf of certain tax-exempt entities and organizations without...
January 31, 2016 Deadline to Furnish Forms to Employees By January 31, 2016, many employers must furnish notices to employees in connection with the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) information reporting requirements. Think of it as a W-2 for employer-provided health coverage. As summarized in our November 23, 2015 Client Alert, either a Form 1095-C...
With the release of Notice 2015-82, the IRS has provided a valuable end of year tax-planning tool to businesses looking to expense tangible property purchases. The tangible property regulations have been in effect since January 1, 2014. The regulations included a safe harbor under which businesses may expense, rather than capitalize, certain...
The IRS recently concluded that certain domain names have to be capitalized as intangible assets and amortized over a 15-year period under Section 197 of the Internal Revenue Code. This means that a business that acquires qualifying internet domain names will be able to realize financial benefits by recapturing 100% of the purchase price through...
By Mark G. Kmiecik Public sector and tax-exempt employers in Wisconsin should be aware that the IRS appears to be targeting section 403(b) plans for examination. Prior to and during recent IRS examinations of 403(b) plans in the state, we have learned that the audit trigger more than once was the IRS’s review of the employers’ websites for...
Many of us are familiar with the basic S-corporation mantra – avoid the so-called double taxation of regular C-corporations, all while maintaining the limited liability and practical advantages of a corporation. While many business owners engage in detailed planning to ensure compliance with Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code in order to...
Corporate and Tax attorney Mark Kmiecik authored an article in the April edition of the Journal of Accountancy (JofA), a flagship publication of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The article addresses the responsibilities tax practitioners must take when considering to file a UTP. To read the full article, please visit, the...
As described in our February 23, 2015 Client Update, “Act 10 and Total Employee Compensation,” rules under the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) affect public employees throughout the employment life-cycle, from the initial determination of WRS eligibility through the termination of employment. An individual’s employment life-cycle is sometimes...
By Mark G. Kmiecik Private sector employers are now further incentivized for their efforts in hiring otherwise disadvantaged workers. The IRS recently issued guidance extending the time employers may claim a Work Opportunity Tax Credit (“WOTC”) of $2,400 or more for each qualified employee hired in 2014. Because the Tax Increase Prevention Act of...
By Joseph E. Tierney IV & Michael Van Someren In today’s high-tax environment, many individuals and business owners are seeking renewed tax strategies when expanding their businesses and investments. Hence the recent uptick in the number of tax-deferred exchanges under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) being completed. The...
