Over the past few years or so, issues have arisen in our world of accounting for cooperatives that have brought the way we historically looked at property, plant and equipment, and the depreciation of those assets, under question.

Recent surveys indicate that individuals and businesses purchasing goods over the internet are not properly remitting sales or use tax, many times in violation of state law (the estimated non-compliance rate in California was greater than 98%).

Basically, 1099 reporting requirements will continue to be the same as they’ve always been. This change will significantly decrease the compliance burden small businesses were anticipating. However, this recent change does not do away with the requirement that payers obtain and retain a form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, for all payees.

The case for Section 199 amended returns continues! The first pre-settlement appeals conference with the IRS Appeals Office is scheduled for August 8th and 9th. Please be aware that if you filed an amended return to claim an enhanced Section 199 deduction and have not heard from the IRS, please contact us so that we may follow up on and track the status of your amended return.

To help offset the bite of rising gas prices, the IRS announced on June 23rd that the standard business mileage rate will increase for the second half of 2011 (beginning July 1st) to 55.5 cents per mile, up from 51 cents per mile for the first half of 2011.