http://askcpasam.com/blog Making Payroll, Tax, Finance, Accounting Understandable Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:52:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://askcpasam.com/blog/2011/01/21/2011-paycheck-changes/ http://askcpasam.com/blog/2011/01/21/2011-paycheck-changes/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:37:24 +0000 CPA Sam http://askcpasam.com/blog/?p=620 By now, most employees in the United States have received their first paycheck of 2011.  About the same time the first check is received, payroll departments across the country were deluged with questions about the changes on employee checks.  This edition of the blog should help to clear up some of the confusion regarding a [...]

]]> http://askcpasam.com/blog/2011/01/21/2011-paycheck-changes/feed/ 0 http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/12/22/holidays-and-taxes-part-2/ http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/12/22/holidays-and-taxes-part-2/#comments Wed, 22 Dec 2010 22:06:02 +0000 CPA Sam http://askcpasam.com/blog/?p=618 It’s time for year end planning!  Most blogs at this time of year talk about financial moves you can make to minimize your taxes.  I don’t think that bears repeating.  If you are interested in that, here are a few other sites that can help. http://www.accountingtoday.com/news/Tax-Saving-Year-End-Tax-Planning-Tips-56551-1.html http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/taxes/year-end-tax-planning-massive-uncertainty-edition/ http://taxes.about.com/b/2010/11/08/year-end-tax-planning-tips-if-you-think-tax-rates-might-go-up-in-2011.htm http://businesswest.com/2010/11/year-end-tax-planning I’m more interested in getting everyone [...]

]]> http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/12/22/holidays-and-taxes-part-2/feed/ 0 http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/12/08/holidays-and-taxes-part-1/ http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/12/08/holidays-and-taxes-part-1/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:50:09 +0000 CPA Sam http://askcpasam.com/blog/?p=615 Greetings readers.  The next three blog posts will discuss some things that will help you during – and right after- the holiday season.  This week, I’ll discuss employee holiday parties and gifts to employees.  Next week, I’ll discuss year end planning tips. The end of the month will be about making some new goals for [...]

]]> http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/12/08/holidays-and-taxes-part-1/feed/ 0 http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/05/14/arizona_new_a4/ http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/05/14/arizona_new_a4/#comments Fri, 14 May 2010 17:28:44 +0000 CPA Sam http://askcpasam.com/blog/?p=494 Arizona has done it again.  Currently, anyone who is being paid in Arizona must select from several percentages on the A-4.  Arizona withholding is based on a percentage of federal withholding.  The percentage you pick will be multiplied times the federal withholding number on your paycheck to arrive at Arizona withholding.  If you selected 24.5%, [...]

]]> http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/05/14/arizona_new_a4/feed/ 0 http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/03/16/double-the-tax-fun-2-states/ http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/03/16/double-the-tax-fun-2-states/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:02:59 +0000 CPA Sam http://askcpasam.com/blog/?p=481 Q.  I am having a difficult time trying to figure how much I owe in state tax.  I lived and worked in California from 1/1/2009 through 8/7/2009.  I began living in Colorado on 8/8/2009 through the end of the year and worked from home for the same company I worked for back in California.  State [...]

]]> http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/03/16/double-the-tax-fun-2-states/feed/ 0 http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/02/18/which-1040-do-i-use/ http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/02/18/which-1040-do-i-use/#comments Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:47:41 +0000 CPA Sam http://askcpasam.com/blog/?p=472 Q. How do I know which 1040 I’m allowed to use? Does it really make a difference? A. Yes! Each form has specific requirements that a taxpayer must meet in order to use it. IRS Tax Tip 2010-05 contains instructions on which form you should select.  Your options are: 1040EZ Requirements Your taxable income must [...]

]]> http://askcpasam.com/blog/2010/02/18/which-1040-do-i-use/feed/ 0 http://askcpasam.com/blog/2009/12/14/interesting-tax-quotes/ http://askcpasam.com/blog/2009/12/14/interesting-tax-quotes/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:01:30 +0000 CPA Sam http://askcpasam.com/blog/?p=442 We’ve all heard quotes from famous people about the U.S. tax system.  Here are a few more that may serve to lighten the mood on this Monday morning. “No one understands the Income Tax Law except persons who have not sufficient intelligence to understand the questions that arise under it.” New York State Senator Elihu [...]

]]> http://askcpasam.com/blog/2009/12/14/interesting-tax-quotes/feed/ 0 http://askcpasam.com/blog/2009/09/30/stealing-the-tax-base/ http://askcpasam.com/blog/2009/09/30/stealing-the-tax-base/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:40:08 +0000 CPA Sam http://askcpasam.com/blog/?p=405 Pardon the baseball analogy.  The season is almost over and I just couldn’t help myself. There is statistical evidence that taxpayers in high tax states are leaving those states and setting up residence elsewhere at the rate of 1100 per day.  By increasing taxes to cover shortfall, states and the federal government to an extent [...]

]]> http://askcpasam.com/blog/2009/09/30/stealing-the-tax-base/feed/ 0 http://askcpasam.com/blog/2009/09/02/what-tax-bracket-am-i-in-2/ http://askcpasam.com/blog/2009/09/02/what-tax-bracket-am-i-in-2/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:36:43 +0000 CPA Sam http://askcpasam.com/blog/?p=387 Q. How do I know what tax bracket I’m in?  Where does that number come from? A. This question probably ranks right up at the top of the list of most frequent questions.  First of all, you probably meant to ask what is your marginal tax rate.  Let me explain.  Federal income tax is calculated [...]

]]> http://askcpasam.com/blog/2009/09/02/what-tax-bracket-am-i-in-2/feed/ 1 http://askcpasam.com/blog/2009/07/22/enough-withholding/ http://askcpasam.com/blog/2009/07/22/enough-withholding/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:46:38 +0000 CPA Sam http://askcpasam.com/blog/?p=363 Q. I followed your advice and had my payroll department withhold based on W4 stuff instead of a flat percent.  How do I know if I’m on track? A. That’s a rather amusing question actually.  Publication 15 and the W-4 both require that you use only marital status and number of allowances on the form.  [...]

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