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Ken Berry, JD

CPA Practice Advisor Tax Correspondent

Ken Berry, Esq., is a nationally-known writer and editor specializing in tax and financial planning matters. During a career of more than 35 years, he has served as managing editor of a publisher of content-based marketing tools and vice president of an online continuing education company in the financial services industry. As a freelance writer, Ken has authored thousands of articles for a wide variety of newsletters, magazines and other periodicals, emphasizing a sense of wit and clarity.

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Accounting

Summertime Tax Tip #10: Taking Business Clients to the Country Club? That’s Entertainment!

It all has to do with the current tax rules for business entertainment. To be deductible as entertainment that is “associated with” your business, the activity must take place immediately before or after a substantial business discussion. Usually, this means the discussion has to be on the same day as the entertainment, but it could occur either the preceding or following day if the clients are from out of town.
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Income Tax

Summertime Tax Tip #9: Going Back to School? It Might Qualify as a Tax Deductible Business Expense

It’s smart to try to get ahead in your field or at least keep pace with the latest developments. So some of your clients may be planning to put down their work tools and pick up books again as another school year beckons. Can a taxpayer deduct any education expenses if he or she is already working? Regardless of your intentions, it all depends on whether or not you pass the tax law test.
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Income Tax

Summer Time Tax Tip #8: Deductions for Medical Expenses: When a Swimming Pool is Deductible

However, there’s a silver tax lining if the pool is needed by a family member to alleviate arthritis or some other specific illness. For a medically-necessary improvement made by a homeowner, the deductible amount is equal to the cost above the corresponding increase in the home's value. In addition, the annual maintenance costs associated with the pool — chlorine, repairs, utilities, cleaning services, etc. -- also qualify for the deduction. Note that the entire cost of a qualified improvements, plus the maintenance costs, is deductible by tenants.

Benefits

IRS Gives an Inch on Once-A-Year IRA Rollover Rule

The IRS isn’t backing off on its tough stance involving the “once-a-year-IRA rollover” rule. In the aftermath of a new case tightening the restriction for IRA owners (Bobrow, TC Memo 2014-21), it recently announced it intends the follow the Tax Court’s lead on this issue. However, showing some leniency, the IRS now says it won’t implement the new rule until 2015, providing clients with leeway for the rest of this year (Announcement 2014-15)
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Income Tax

Summertime Tax Tip #7: Salvage Tax Deductions by Donating Household Items

It’s a common practice during the summer: After a spring cleaning, people try to sell the household items they no longer need or want in a “garage sale” (known as a “lawn sale, “tag sale” or some other name in parts of the country). But what do they do with those items that are left over at the end of the day? Instead of simply discarding them, they may be able to donate them to charity and take a tax deduction for their troubles.