Month: May 2021

Low-Cost Cybersecurity Tips

Hacks and ransomware crimes are all over the news headlines. Seems like there’s a new one reported every day. Victims include federal government agencies, insurance companies, energy infrastructure, and computer system vendors. Those are some highly sophisticated players that have invested tons of money in cybersecurity. So, what chance does a small business have defending itself against all those sophisticated cybercriminals? 

Bottom line, the tons of money that organizations invest in cybersecurity can go right out the window if the users – ordinary and fallible people – don’t follow safe system security practices. Systems are only as safe as the security knowledge and practices of the least knowledgeable system user. All it takes to open the door to a cybercriminal is one person clicking on the wrong link from an unknown source, or from a hacker masquerading as a trusted sender.

Believe it or not, periodic reminders of these low-cost cybersecurity tips will help organizations of all sizes and types to follow safe cybersecurity practices:

  1. Keep software systems up to date and use a good anti-virus program.
  1. Examine the email address and URLs in all correspondence to detect a scammer mimicking a legitimate site or email address.
  1. Ignore text messages, emails, or phone calls asking you to update or verify your account information and go to the company’s website to see if something needs your attention.
  1. Never open unexpected attachments until verifying the sender’s email address and use virus scan before opening any document.
  1. Scrutinize all electronic requests for a payment or fund transfers.
  1. Be extra suspicious of any message that urges immediate action.

Human action is a risk that can throw an organization’s cybersecurity investment right out the window. People who click before thinking can allow hackers in to do all sorts of expensive and embarrassing damage. By promoting a few low-cost cybersecurity tips, business or all sizes and types can avoid becoming a victim of sophisticated hackers and other cybercriminals. 

Act Now and Reduce Tax Stress Later

Rejoice! The 2020 tax filing season is finally over! That is, unless you needed more time to file and requested an extension after reading my May 5th blog post (https://buff.ly/3t0X73l). Between all the changes from the COVID-19 relief packages and deadline delays, this tax filing season was another wild ride for taxpayers and their preparers. 

Well, how did it go for you? Stressful? Expensive surprises? Not knowing what to expect makes an already stressful situation – doing your taxes – even worse.  Here are a few actions to take now that will reduce your tax stress later:

  • Do a “Paycheck Checkup” 

Did you owe a lot when you filed for 2020, or did you get a big refund, aka an interest-free loan to the government? An IRS Paycheck Checkup can help to make sure you don’t get an expensive surprise when you file your 2021. Use this online tool to see if you need to change your withholdings https://www.irs.gov/paycheck-checkup. Have investment other non-wage income? Check on whether you need to make quarterly estimated tax payments here https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes. 

  • Make Tax Payments Electronically

Using any of the IRS electronic payment options puts you in control of paying your tax bill. You determine the payment date and receive an immediate confirmation from the IRS. It’s easy, secure, and much quicker than mailing in a check or money order. Go to IRS.gov/payments to see all the free electronic payment options: online, by phone or from a mobile device using the latest encryption technology. Check with your state for online payment options.

  • Contribution Deduction for Nonitemizers

Even if you don’t itemize and take the standard deduction, you may be eligible to take a charitable deduction for cash contributions up to $300 made to qualifying charities in 2021. Eligible contributions must be made via cash, check or credit card. Use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool – Can I Deduct My Charitable Contributions? – for answers about cash donations.

  • Tax Credit Eligibility

You could qualify for credits like the Child Tax Credit and Child and Dependent Care Credit. You might be able to claim the Credit for Other Dependents if a dependent is not your child. If you pay qualifying higher education costs for yourself, your spouse, or a dependent, you may be eligible for education tax credits or deductions. Taxpayers earning $57,414 or less can check if they qualify with the EITC Assistant, available in both English and Spanish.

Now, immediately after filing your 2020 tax returns, is the perfect time to act and reduce tax stress next filing season. Whether you prepare your own taxes or use a tax preparer, the more you know in advance, the less stressful that your tax return filing experience will be for 2021.

Planning Business Finances

History shows that typically, before the pandemic, more than half of new businesses will fail within two years. The main reason is because they run out of money. Their initial funding was inadequate, often because the owner started without a reliable budget or financial projections in their business plan. They don’t – or don’t know how to – do the necessary homework to learn the real cost of delivering their product or service.

Projecting the financial needs for a new business is not the time for being overly optimistic or taking wild guesses. It’s important to invest the time needed to research actual costs and develop realistic assumptions for revenue and expenses. The investment will really pay off.  

Planning business finances so you don’t run out of money can be done by following these three realistic assumptions:

  1. Revenue Takes Time to Ramp-Up

Even with a huge demand for your business in your market, achieving projected revenues will take time. Ramping up and making contacts does not happen overnight. Top potential revenue will not happen in the first year. Develop one-to-five-year projections to illustrate revenue growth and the crossover point when expenses are expected to be covered, adjusting as needed.

  1. Expenses are Always More Than You Think

Research the actual cost of labor, materials, space, transportation, equipment, etc., based on market rates and quality requirements. Worker costs should include the employer portion of payroll taxes, benefits, licenses, training. Don’t forget back-office costs, like payroll services, billing, financial management and reporting, and tax preparation.

  1. Build in a Financial Cushion

Avoid failure from under-estimating costs and over-estimating revenue by building in a financial cushion. Initial funding needs should include an amount equal to a few months of estimated expenses to cover payroll and overhead in the months when revenue is not enough to cover costs. Of course, that’s on top of funding for equipment, legal fees, and other start-up costs.

Planning business finances is not an easy task. Don’t take the easy way out by guessing or painting a rosy picture that probably won’t come true. Avoid being among the one-half of new businesses that fail within two years by applying these three realistic assumptions about revenue, expenses, and funding.

Not Ready to File by May 17?

For the second year in a row, the income tax filing deadline is delayed. This year, the filing due date for the IRS and most states is May 17th instead of the “normal” April 15th. Despite the delay, the tax deadline can sneak up on you. If you’re in a panic because you haven’t started gathering your tax documents, you can probably relax. 

You can request a tax filing extension to postpone from May 17th to October 15th. You don’t need to provide a reason for needing the extension, but it does take a little time to get it done right and avoid possible underpayment penalties.

Three tips for getting an income tax filing extension:

  1. You Must Apply

Individuals can request a tax filing extension by filing IRS Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, online at the IRS website, via approved tax software, or in paper form. It must be sent or postmarked no later than midnight on the original due date. The extension is automatically approved if a refund is expected or if the estimated amount due is paid with the extension request.

  1. Pay Amounts Due

Use the IRS Form 4868 instructions at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4868.pdf to estimate your 2020 income tax liability. Compare your estimated taxes to your tax withholding or quarterly estimated payments and enter the numbers on the extension request. If you owe more in taxes than you’ve paid in, the balance due must be paid with the extension request. Failure to pay the amount due results in an underpayment penalty and interest accrued daily on the unpaid balance.

  1. Check Your State

Each state has its own set of rules and processes for its residents to request an income tax filing extension. As mentioned above, most states followed the IRS and delayed their 2020 tax filing deadline, but some did not match the IRS’ May 17th deadline. Check your state’s tax department website for deadline updates and links to information about requesting an extension of time to file for 2020.

Rushing at the last minute is stressful and causes mistakes, especially with an already stressful activity like filing your income tax returns. Get more time to file your 2020 federal income tax return by requesting a tax filing extension. Go to the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return for details and help estimating any taxes you owe with the extension request.