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Intellectual Property: Protect Your Company From Disaster

Intellectual property ownership issues can become complicated when your employees develop software and written materials for your company. Without the proper legal safeguards, you might be surprised to find your company out in the cold. Here are some guidelines to help clear the air and safeguard your business interests.

Audits Are Essential to Your Organization’s Health

Audits take time and effort, but they can provide your organization with a fair assessment of your financial health. They can also reveal vulnerabilities. Although the revised IRS Form 990 doesn't mandate audits, the IRS does ask organizations to discuss related activities, as well as the role their boards play in them. This article looks at the difference between internal and external audits, the role of the audit committee, and how to prepare.

Family-Duty Discrimination Lawsuits are Up

Discrimination against parents and other caregivers happens in many workplaces, according to an EEOC report and a study from the University of California law school. Lawsuits can arise when employees face stereotypes and are treated differently at work because of their responsibilities for children, elderly parents, or ill relatives. Click "Read More" for a look at this growing trend in litigation and what your organization can do to help protect itself from liability.

Family Financing Can be Fragile

Finding seed money for a family-run business often requires tapping relatives. While that can be a source of capital, relationships can be strained when things don't go as expected. Click "Read More" for ways to secure financing, keep the peace, and get the best tax results.

How Much Do You Need for Retirement?

To enjoy your retirement without financial worries, you should ensure you have enough money saved when you retire. That calculation can be a daunting task. Click "Read More" for a look at a variety of factors you need to consider to make sure your estimates are accurate.

Maximize the Tax Deductions Available for Your Generosity

The tax rules for claiming charitable contribution write-offs have changed several times in recent years. In general, it is now more difficult to qualify for a tax deduction. Here is a rundown of the recordkeeping rules and other requirements you need to follow in order to claim a tax break for gifts to eligible charities.

Naming Your Grandchildren as IRA Beneficiaries

Some people don't consider designating their grandchildren as beneficiaries of their retirement accounts because they don't want to pay the generation-skipping transfer tax. Fortunately, this tax may not apply and your family can still benefit from leaving IRA money to grandchildren in certain circumstances. Here are the details.

Year-End Alert: Don't Forget to Take IRA Required Minimum Distributions

You can face a harsh penalty if you fail to take required withdrawals from traditional IRAs, simplified employee pension (SEP) accounts and SIMPLE-IRAs. Depending on your age, you may have to take required minimum distributions by December 31, 2012. This article explains the rules, the penalty -- and how you can avoid it.

What's Ahead as the Supreme Court Launches its New Term?

The U.S. Supreme Court officially kicked off its new term on the first Monday of October. Last term's decision upholding the constitutionality of the healthcare law captured the attention of people across the country. What are some of the issues the Supreme Court will take on this term? We'll answer that question and explain how the high court decides which cases to hear. How much do you know about the Supreme Court? Take our quiz.

Who Are the Latest IRS Audit Targets?

When it comes to choosing tax returns to audit, the IRS is on the lookout for certain items. The IRS never reveals the exact formula for audit selection, but the tax agency does reveal some information about which taxpayers have a higher-than-average chance of having their returns examined. This article details some of the current and on-going individual and business audit targets.

Social Security and IRS Announce 2013 Benefit and Pension Amounts

Both the Social Security Administration and the IRS recently announced cost-of-living adjustments that will affect millions of Americans beginning in 2013. The individuals affected include those who receive Social Security benefits and those who contribute to qualified pension plans. Keep reading to find out the figures, as compared with those for the 2012 tax year.

A List of Expiring (and Expired) Tax Breaks for Individuals

With the end of 2012 rapidly approaching and the presidential election now decided, Americans still face uncertainty about what will happen to: 1. Many federal income tax breaks that expired at the end of 2011 and have not been extended by Congress. 2. More tax breaks are scheduled to expire at the end of 2012. For planning purposes, here is a chart listing important expiring and expired individual tax breaks, as well as predictions about their possible fates.

Avoid Taxmageddon: Year-End Planning for Real Estate Owners and Investors

The combination of a new surtax taking effect next year and a number of tax breaks expiring at the end of this year could result in high-income real estate sellers and investors paying more taxes. This article explains who will be liable for the new 3.8 percent Medicare surtax that kicks in next year, along with some year-end considerations that might keep you out of the "Taxmageddon" zone.

Be Aware of the '100 Percent Penalty'

An expensive tax penalty can be personally imposed on any person responsible for collecting, accounting for, or turning over taxes to the federal government that are withheld from employees' paychecks. There is often more than one person in a firm who can be hit with the "100 Percent Penalty," also called the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty. Take a look at three cases that illustrate who can be liable.

Discover the Cheapest Way to Mail and Ship Packages

Overnight priority mail can become a corporate addiction and cost your company a fortune in unnecessary expenses. But you can get this monkey off your back. Click "Read More" for a Seven-Step Program that may help wean your employees off this expensive syndrome and cut shipping and mailing costs.

Beyond the Basics

Saving for retirement is becoming more and more challenging. Longer life expectancies, fewer traditional pensions, and making the right investment decisions are the most obvious challenges. But there's more. Click "Read More" for a look at other threats to your retirement.

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