The straight line

The employer’s role in documenting alien employees is a balancing act. Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) you must verify through examination of certain documents that your employees are authorized to work in the United States. At the same time, you must avoid unfair employment practices. By law, you must complete an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form for...

If your business is hit by a hurricane, windstorm, blizzard, or other natural disaster, or if it falls victim to arson or terrorism, you might have to close up shop for a while. As a result, you could suffer a major loss of income. One of the keys to continuing as a thriving enterprise after a...

For many business owners and executives, filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy seems like admitting defeat. It shouldn’t be that way. The bankruptcy code exists to provide second chances. Chapter 11, which covers business reorganizations, allows struggling companies to right themselves so that they may once again be profitable engines of the nation’s economy. No provision in the...

Termination is always painful whether it’s for cause or part of a business slump. Employees who are fired or laid off often have negative feelings about the company and some could act out their anger in damaging or violent ways. Of course, you can try to ease the pain by handing out generous severance packages, outplacement...

Thanks to recent legislation, the due dates have been changed for some information returns and related statements and for some business tax returns. Here’s what you need to know. Earlier Due Dates for Forms 1099-MISC and W-2 When a business pays non–employee compensation aggregating to $600 or more to a single payee in a tax year,...

It’s not too late to take steps to significantly reduce your 2016 business income tax bill and lay the groundwork for tax savings in future years. Here’s a summary of some of the most effective year-end tax-saving moves for small businesses under the existing Internal Revenue Code. After President Obama hands over the baton to President-elect...