In 2017, tax returns are due April 18; no, that’s not a typo – April 15 falls on a Saturday and April 17 is Washington, D.C. Emancipation Day, so the IRS pushed the deadline to April 18. Here’s a full list of federal and state filing deadlines for 2017.
Now is a great time to get up to date on any issues related to tax year 2016 for you and your business. Here are some of those tips:
Payroll Tax Issues
In November 2016, you should have received “Your Year 2017 Federal Tax Deposit Requirements” from the IRS, your annual Unemployment Compensation Tax Rate Notice for 2017, and notification from the state if you are required to file unemployment forms and taxes electronically. These notices should be forwarded to your payroll preparer, with a copy to your tax preparer.
Although the federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour, certain states increase their minimum wage even more. For example, in my home state of Florida, minimum wage will increase to $8.10 per hour as of Jan. 1, 2017, for hourly employees, and tipped employees will increase to $5.08 per hour, even though the federal minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13 per hour.
The taxable wage base for social security in 2016 was $118,500, and will increase to $127,200 for 2017, making the maximum Social Security tax $7,886.40 (6.2 percent for each employer and employee). Medicare wages are taxed at 1.45 percent, with no limit. Wages paid to a son or daughter under the age of 18 are exempt from Social Security and FUTA taxes. Bonus checks are considered earned income and are subject to payroll taxes, as well as per diem expense reimbursements. The IRS requires employers to track expense reimbursements in excess of federal per diem rates. For annual wages over $200,000, the employer must withhold an additional 0.9 percent of Medicare tax.
New Due Date for W-2s and 1099s
Several deadlines changed for the IRS to receive copies of any W-2s and 1099s issued for tax year 2016. The most notable deadline is Jan. 31, 2017, for W-2 and 1099-MISC forms. Here’s an Intuit® article that goes into more detail.
The IRS maintains a zero tolerance for incorrect W-2s and 1099s. A $50 penalty per incorrect form could be assessed against employers whose forms have mismatched names and social security numbers. You can verify up to five names and numbers by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-6270, or visiting their website at www.ssa.gov/employer for larger groups.
Employee Versus Independent Contractor
Under common law rules, individuals are generally employees if the company they work for has the right to control and direct them, regarding the job to do and how to do it. Otherwise, they are independent contractors. Any individual independent contractor receiving compensation of $600 or more for the year must be issued a 1099-MISC. In addition, all attorneys who received any amount of payment must be issued a 1099-MISC, as well as anyone you pay rent to. Corporate tax returns now have a Y/N question to answer whether 1099s were required and filed. A penalty of $250 per form is assessed, if not filed.
Extended Code Section 179 expensing
As of Dec. 18, 2015, and retroactive, the maximum annual expensing amount is $500,000 for total annual purchases not exceeding $2,000,000, indexed for inflation. Bonus depreciation of 50 percent was also extended for 2016-2017, then drops to 40 percent for 2018 and 30 percent for 2019.
Company Provided Vehicles
Employees and owners are taxed for the personal use of any employer-provided vehicle. Specifically, their gross income on Form W-2 is increased to the extent that the fair market value of this benefit exceeds the amount paid, if any, by them. This fringe benefit is subject to payroll taxes and should be withheld from the employee’s salary by year-end.
2017 Standard Mileage Rates
For the business use of a car, van or truck, use 53.5 cents per mile (54 cents in 2016). When computing deductible medical or moving expenses, use 17 cents per mile (19 cents in 2016). You may also deduct 14 cents per mile when providing services to a charitable organization (no change from 2016).
Qualified Pension Plan Contribution Limits for 2016 and 2017
There are several employer-sponsored tax-deferred retirement plans affected by 2001 legislation, all of which have increased contribution limits. The most common is the 401(k) having a contribution limit of $18,000 for 2016 and 2017. Many of the plans (401(k), 403b and 457) also have “catch-up” contributions for employees age 50 or older, remaining at $6,000.
Personal Dependency Exemption and Annual Gift Exclusion
The personal dependency exemption for 2016 is $4,050, and will remain unchanged for 2017. The annual gift exclusion for 2016 is $14,000, and will remain unchanged for 2017. In addition, the lifetime exemption of $5.25 million is adjusted annually for inflation, bringing the exemption for 2017 to $5,490,000.
I urge you to visit with your tax provider and/or accountant on these and other issues related to tax year 2016. As always, the small business-accountant relationship is most valuable when you and the professional work together. Best of luck in 2017!
Editor’s note: The QuickBooks® ecosystem of products is designed to enable you and your accountant to work in harmony. If you do not have an accountant/tax provider, check out Intuit’s Find-a-ProAdvisor® website to locate a QuickBooks professional in your local area.
