The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released a final rule which should make it easier for smaller businesses to provide retirement plans to their employees. According to the DOL, the rule will enable more small and midsize unrelated businesses to join forces in multiple employer plans (MEPs) that provide their employees a defined contribution […]

Every year, research firm Audit Analytics publishes a study about financial restatement trends. Many of these amendments were due to minor technical issues, however. Any time a company restates its financial results, it raises a red flag and prompts stakeholders to dig deeper. Reasons for restatement The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) defines a restatement as […]

On Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Mark G. Dotzour presented his annual economic update during the 16th Annual Economic Luncheon hosted by Howard, LLP. He presented “The Economic Outlook for Investors and Business Decision Makers” of which he gave his take on the economic outlook of […]

Howard, LLP was recently ranked as the 19th largest North Texas accounting firm in Dallas Business Journal’s Book of Lists published on April 5, 2019. The publication’s listing included 25 local accounting firms ranked according to the total number of local accounting professionals.

Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the audit committee — not management or the full board of directors — is directly responsible for appointing, compensating and overseeing external auditors. Periodically, it’s a good idea to assess the effectiveness of your audit committee by performing a self-evaluation. Here are reasons to conduct a self-evaluation, along with some common […]

To help you make sure you don’t miss any important 2019 deadlines, we’ve provided this summary of when various tax-related forms, payments and other actions are due. Please review the calendar and let us know if you have any questions about the deadlines or would like assistance in meeting them.

When President Trump signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in December 2017, much was made of the dramatic cut in corporate tax rates. But the TCJA also includes a generous deduction for smaller businesses that operate as pass-through entities, with income that is “passed through” to owners and taxed as individual […]

The IRS has continuously had its budget cut and is struggling to keep up with public demand.  It’s not uncommon to be on hold for over an hour when trying to speak with a live person at the IRS.  Thus, the Centralized Partnership Audit Regime was enacted to assess and collect tax at the partnership […]

The IRS has announced that it will begin accepting paper and electronic tax returns for the 2018 tax year on January 28, but much remains to be seen about how the ongoing shutdown of the federal government will affect this year’s filings. Although the Trump administration has stated that the IRS will pay refunds during […]

We welcome the opportunity to be your trusted advisors, and we look forward to the conversations we may have as a result of the information shared in our annual update. Howard aims to share valuable insight that can help you prepare for the months ahead on your personal returns, as well as in businesses so […]

Dallas, Texas, November 2018 – The IRS has announced its 2019 cost-of-living adjustments to tax items that might affect you. Many of the amounts increased to account for inflation, but some remained at 2018 levels. As you implement 2018 year-end tax planning strategies, be sure to take these 2019 adjustments into account in your planning. Bear […]

Dallas, Texas, November 2018 – Virtually every business will make payments to a non-employee that requires a 1099-Misc form be issued after year end.  Has your business made payments for legal services, consulting, accounting, design, rent, maintenance or cleaning to name a few?  These payments may very well require 1099-Misc forms and information return reporting […]

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) created more than 100 new tax provisions — a staggering thought as you begin to prepare for the next filing season. The good news is that these and some of the surviving provisions create a wealth of year-end planning opportunities. Choose the right approach to deductions Many taxpayers […]

The passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in late 2017 brought significant changes to the tax landscape. As the first tax season under the law looms on the horizon, new year-end tax planning strategies are emerging. Meanwhile, some of the old tried-and-true strategies have changed and others remain viable. Fresh Opportunities The […]

Small businesses often use the cash-basis method of accounting. As businesses grow, they usually convert to accrual-basis reporting for federal tax purposes and to conform with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Starting this tax year, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has increased the threshold for businesses that qualify for the simpler cash […]

On September 13, 2018, the House Ways and Means Committee passed three separate bills that will be the cornerstone of what is being referred to as Tax Reform 2.0. The bills focus on making permanent certain provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that affect individuals, families, and small businesses. They also promote […]

Dallas, Texas, August 2018 – The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created Qualified Opportunity Zones in order to spur investment in distressed communities throughout the country.  New investments in these Opportunity Zones through Opportunity Funds can receive preferential tax treatment.  For most of the year, we have been awaiting for the State Governors to submit nominations […]

Dallas, Texas, July 2018 – On June 21, 2018, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in South Dakota v. Wayfair (a landmark sales and use tax nexus case).  The Court ruled 5 to 4 that states can require an out-of-state seller to collect and submit sales or use tax on sales to customers even if the seller […]

Dallas, Texas, May 2018 – On Thursday, April 5, 2018 at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Dotzour presented his annual economic update during the 15th Economic Luncheon hosted by Howard, LLP. He presented “The Economic Outlook for Investors and Business Decision Makers” of which he gave his take on the economic outlook of […]

Dallas, Texas, March 2018 – With all the noise about federal income tax right now, it is easy to forget to plan for state income tax.  We are federally taxed with income tax, payroll tax, sales tax, and excise tax.  States want their piece of the pie too!  States tax businesses with income tax, sales tax, property […]

Dallas, Texas, March 2018 – The “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” includes a provision dealing with the treatment of carried interest. Carried interest is defined as a share of the profits on an investment paid to a “manager/partner” in excess of the amount that the “manager/partner” contributes to the partnership.  It is a performance fee […]

Dallas, Texas, February 2018 – With the passage of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts”, property once considered for a like-kind exchange could no longer qualify. Generally, when a taxpayer sells business or investment property and has a gain, it is considered a taxable transaction at the time of sale. Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 1031 provides the […]

Dallas, Texas, February 2018 – Howard, LLP was recently ranked as the 22nd largest North Texas accounting firm in Dallas Business Journal’s Book of Lists. The publication’s listing included 25 local accounting firms ranked according to the total number of local accounting professionals. “Howard is honored to again be named among the top accounting firms in the […]

Dallas, Texas, January 2018 – The “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (the “Act”) makes significant changes to the U.S. regime for the taxation of international business structures and cross-border transactions.   Key aspects of these changes are: Deemed repatriation of off-shore earnings. S. shareholders owning at least 10% of a foreign subsidiary must include in income for […]

Dallas, Texas, January 2018 – The Howard, LLP team congratulates Kelly Fisher and Julia Koonsman who graduated from the 2017-2018 Class of the Dallas CPA Society Leadership Development Academy (LDA) on January 11, 2018. The Dallas CPA Society’s Leadership Development Academy was created to assist emerging leaders in the accounting and financial services industries in developing the skills […]

Dallas, Texas, January 2018– With the passage of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”, clients are asking how these changes will impact them personally. Below are a few of the items we believe could impact you. The majority of the provisions take effect for tax years starting after December 31, 2017. Standard deduction: Increased from $13,000 […]

Dallas, Texas, January 2018– With the passage of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”, we now have major tax changes for the first since the Bush era tax cuts in 2003.  Several provisions will help both large and small businesses.  The largest benefit results in a new deduction for Qualified Business Income (QBI). For years, a […]

Dallas, Texas, December 2017– With the passage of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”, there are significant changes for corporations and businesses in the way tax is calculated, expenses/deductions are allowed, and tax credits are available. Below are the main items we believe will impact our clients. Tax Rates: Corporations will have a flat 21% tax […]

Dallas, Texas, December 2017– We welcome the opportunity to be your trusted advisors, and we look forward to the conversations we may have as a result of the information shared in our annual update. Howard aims to share valuable insight that can help you prepare for the months ahead on your personal returns, as well as […]

Dallas, Texas, December 2017– As the vote on H.R. 1, the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” nears, we are highlighting tax planning opportunities available before year end, along with proposed changes related to depreciation and business interest expense. Opportunities before year end Any (new or used) property placed in service before year end is eligible for […]

Dallas, Texas, November 2017– Chris Barnes, IT Director of Howard IT Solutions, and Duncan Campbell, Tax Partner of Howard, LLP, gave a presentation entitled, “Not Again! Another Breach…Is it Your Business?” to CPAs in both San Antonio and Dallas as part of the Texas Society of CPA’s  annual “Texas CPA Tax Institute” conference held during November […]

Dallas, Texas, October 2017– Howard, LLPis proud to announce the 2018 Howard Leadership Conference (HLC) to be held in June 2018.  The HLC is an engaging and targeted learning experience tailored to help accounting students develop their career in the accounting industry.  The best candidates are students who want to learn more about the industry, […]

Dallas, Texas, September 2017– When you start a new business, a lot of time is spent before formation determining what entity structure is right for this business.  Some of the topics addressed are: How many owners will there be? What kind of flexibility do you want for income allocation? Distributions? Do you intend to take the company […]

Dallas, Texas, August 2017– Hurricane Harvey victims in parts of Texas have until Jan. 31, 2018, to file certain individual and business tax returns and make certain tax payments, the Internal Revenue Service announced Aug. 28, 2017. To learn more, please visit https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-gives-tax-relief-to-victims-of-hurricane-harvey-parts-of-texas-now-eligible-extension-filers-have-until-jan-31-to-file. If you have any questions or need assistance, we encourage you to contact […]

Dallas, Texas, June 2017 – On Thursday, May 11, 2017 at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Dotzour presented his annual economic update during the 14th Economic Luncheon hosted by Howard, LLP. He presented “The Economic Outlook for Investors and Business Decision Makers” of which he gave his take on the economic outlook of the […]

Dallas, Texas, April 2017 – President Trump on April 26, 2017 offered a look into his proposal for tax reform.  Gary Cohn (Chief Economic Advisor) and Steven Mnuchin (Treasury Secretary) provided a summary of the plan; which includes: Individual Tax Rates – Currently, there are 7 tax brackets starting at 10% and ending at a 39.6% […]

Dallas, Texas, April 2017 – Howard, LLP, a leading Dallas-based accounting firm, announced that it is wrapping up its spring recruitment campaign at leading universities in Texas to support its accelerating growth. The multi-month recruitment campaign consisted of on-campus career fairs and interviews, firm presentations, and networking events to recruit top talent for a variety of […]

Dallas, Texas, March 2017 – Imagine after sending in your annual tax return, you receive a notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) saying that another return has already been filed using your name and Social Security number – and claiming a refund. Sound impossible? It can happen if you become one of a growing number […]

Dallas, Texas, February 2017– Howard, LLP was recently ranked as the 22nd largest North Texas accounting firm in Dallas Business Journal’s Accounting Firms List. The publication’s listing included 25 local accounting firms ranked according to the total number of local accounting professionals. In today’s business environment, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all financial solutions. Industry […]

Dallas, Texas, January 2017 – The Howard, LLP team congratulates Tim Pike, Audit Partner at Howard, on his elected 2017-18 Chair-Elect of the Dallas CPA Society (DCPAS). For his Chair-Elect year, Tim will direct the Vision Committee that develops the strategic mission of the DCPAS, which occurs once every 3 years.  The follow year he […]

Dallas, Texas, January 2017 – The Howard, LLP team congratulates Anthony Jones and Soracha Petersen who graduated from the 2016-2017 Class of the Dallas CPA Society Leadership Development Academy (LDA) on January 11, 2017. The Dallas CPA Society’s Leadership Development Academy was created to assist emerging leaders in the accounting and financial services industries in […]

Dallas, Texas, December 2016 – We value our position as your trusted advisor and we look forward to the conversations we will have as a result of the information shared in our annual update. As business owners ourselves, we understand the importance of planning for future changes in your organizations and for each of us as individuals. […]

Dallas, Texas, November 2016 – At this time of year, we sit down with our families to acknowledge all the many things that have made us thankful throughout the year. Since we consider you a member of our firm’s family, we want to take the chance to express our gratitude to you for giving us the opportunity […]

Dallas, Texas, October 2016 – Even though tax filing time is far away, the fall is the perfect time to start your planning so you can take advantage of all opportunities to minimize your tax bill. That begins with ensuring you’ve taken all the deductions that can help reduce your taxable income. Have you maxed out retirement […]

Dallas, Texas, May 2016 – Dr. Mark G. Dotzour is a real estate economist who served for 18 years as Chief Economist of the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University in College Station. He has given more than 1,425 presentations to almost 250,000 people and has written over 90 articles for magazines and journals. […]

Dallas, Texas, April 2016 – What does your tax return say about your financial situation? The fact is the paperwork you file each year offers excellent information about how you are managing your money and which areas where it might be wise to make changes in your financial habits. If you have questions about your financial […]

Dallas, Texas, March 2016 – March is here and so is one of the busiest tax times of the year! Below are some important tax dates whether you are a business or individual. March 15  Corporation and S Corporation returns are due or must be extended Payroll tax deposits are due if you are a monthly filer March […]

Dallas, Texas, February 2016 – Howard, LLP was recently ranked as the 20th largest North Texas accounting firm in Dallas Business Journal ‘s Accounting Firms List. The publication’s listing included 25 local accounting firms ranked according to the total number of local accounting professionals. In today’s business environment, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all financial solutions. Industry […]

Dallas, Texas, January 2016 – The Howard, LLP team congratulates Rebecca Haynie and Marelle Raksnis who graduated from the 2015-2016 Class of the Dallas CPA Society Leadership Development Academy (LDA). The LDA program is designed to help participants develop the skills needed to be effective leaders within their organizations, professions and community. Rebecca and Marelle, the firm […]

Dallas, Texas, January 2016 – Howard, LLP, a Dallas-based accounting firm offering financial consulting, audit, assurance and tax services for 35 years, is pleased to announce four new partners. The leadership addition will bring Howard’s total partners to 8. “I am extremely proud to introduce the promotion of these new partners of Howard,” said firm Managing Partner Otey […]