tax tips newsline - february 2017
TRANSCRIPT
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TAX TIPS NEWSLINE Proudly Published in the USA
FEBRUARY 2017
Produced monthly for Clients and Friends of Advisory Group Associates
Our Mission: Sharing Solutions that deliver real value.
ORGANIZE 2016 DATA: During January, 2017, we Emailed each client/taxpayer their 2016
Tax Organizer to be used to compile 2016 records and efficiently deliver this data and information
for preparation of an accurate tax return. This "Tax Organizer" generally shows you what was
reported in the prior year. Please let us know right away if you did NOT receive this email.
Do not wait to send us your 2016 data. Often Schedules K-1 from partnerships etc. are not issued
until April. Best practice is to bring us what you have by Saturday, February 4, 2017, even if your
Forms 1099 and brokerage statements have not yet been received. (See Client Appreciation
Brunch) The goal is to have adequate time to let us process accurate tax returns. If you have any
questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please notify us promptly of any address, e-mail,
and telephone contact changes!
CLIENT APPRECIATION BRUNCH
Join us for brunch and take this opportunity to discuss your 2016 income tax return processing and,
or to plan ahead for 2017 with our team of Professional Tax Associates.
We can assist in identifying and maximizing potential tax savings to help you to keep
more of what you earn.
Bring your 2016 data and “Tax Organizer” for discussion and processing.
Saturday, February 4th, 2017, 10am until 1pm
At the offices of Advisory Group Associates, 1980 Concourse Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146.
Please R.S.V.P. At: 314-205-9595.
Inside this Month's Issue
• About What We Do
• Retirement Planning
• Estate Planning
• Perfect Gift for the New Adult
• “De Minimis Safe Harbor Expense” Deduction
• Consumer Rights Against Debt Collectors
• Trump To Introduce Tax Reform Legislation In First 100 Days
• Wide Range Of Specialized Solutions Offered
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ABOUT WHAT WE DO
This “TAX TIPS NEWSLINE” is compiled by the founder of the Tax & Advisory firms, Frank
L. Zerjav, CPA and team of Professional Tax Associates, and then it is sent by email each month
because you need tax and compliance knowledge. It’s a big part of your life and the entities that
you operate.
The CPA firm engages in Strategic Tax Planning for business and real estate owners,
professionals, investors and individuals. Our clients minimize their tax burden by appropriate
proven strategies, which help them to keep more of what they earn. Advisory Group’s Tax
Resolution Experts also engage in resolving tax problems with either Federal or State tax
agencies for clients who need these specialized, proven resolution options. Our dedicated team
of Professional Tax Advisors and Tax Resolution Experts do care; our primary objective is
the well-being of clients, their family and their survivors, as well as their satisfaction with
the work we do, while our goal is to be the premier choice of Tax & Advisory firms, not the
biggest firm, by sharing solutions that deliver real value.
Contact Us - There are many events that occur during the year that can affect your tax situation.
Preparation of your tax returns involves summarizing transactions and events that occurred
during the prior year. In most situations, treatment is firmly established at the time the
transaction occurs. However, negative tax effects can be avoided by proper planning. Please
contact us in advance regarding the tax effects of a transaction or event, including the
following: • Pension or IRA distributions. • Sale or purchase of a residence or • Self-employment.
• Significant change in income or deductions. other real estate. • Charitable contributions of
• Job change. • Retirement Planning. property in excess of $5,000.
• Getting Married. • Notice from IRS or other revenue • Gifts (over $14,000 to an
• Attainment of age 59½ or 70½. department. individual).
• Sale or purchase of a business. • Divorce or separation. • Estate Planning.
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RETIREMENT PLANNING
Like the New Year which we just ushered in, gone are the old methods or strategies that retirees
once relied on such as interest rates from long term CDs or bonds, and home equity or reverse
mortgages. But with low interest rates and the current housing market, retirees may have to
adjust to an entirely new normal.
Retirees can eliminate much of their stresses when it comes to retirement planning by avoiding
six mistakes that many have made or will make.
Starting too late. Retirees no longer rely on Social Security or the “three-legged stool” to keep
them afloat in retirement years. Health-care-cost coverage is no longer guaranteed, and retired
couples may need quite a few hundred thousand dollars in their hands to ensure quality health
care in their retirement years.
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The longer you wait, the more years compounded, the more growth you may miss. The bottom
line is to start saving now, and you will see some significant accumulation when you’ll need it
the most.
Not taking advantage of the retirement-planning tools available. Retirement accounts like
IRAs or 401(k)s are vital and important sources of income for retirees, and many employers
provide accounts for their employees to invest in. Working individuals of all ages should
establish these accounts and regularly contribute to them. Most employers will even match a
percentage of your contribution to your 401(k), which is free money that can go to your
retirement so it’s wise to contribute the fullest amount possible to achieve the fullest match
possible.
The best part about 401(k) contributions is that they are deducted from your paycheck before
taxes, therefore they’re a piece of untouched income that won’t require taxes to be paid on them
until a distribution is withdrawn and can grow until they are needed or have to take mandatory
distributions (by age 70 ½).
Misunderstanding all the opportunities for retirement saving available. Some retirees
believe their portfolios are diversified because they own investments through different money
managers, when in reality they are limited to one portion of the financial market. These
investments give an illusion of diversification but may just be repeats of the same type of stocks
or invested in the same sector of the industry without including global holdings or varied types of
stocks.
In fact, with the rapid globalization occurring, investors would be wise to put their earnings in
countries who have experienced or are predicted to experience significant growth. Investors
consume products from all over the world and why not take advantage of the retirement income
they can receive from investments in the same places?
Another mistake is putting money in the most talked about investments at the present moment.
By the time word gets around about an investment, it’s probably already too late to make
significant money on it. Retirees should educate themselves on the available investments with
predicted growth and that have potential to gain recognition in time. However, be aware of fees
(see Mistake no. 4) that accompany investments with significant monetary consequences.
Borrowing or cashing out your 401(k). While you can borrow from your 401(k) early, it
doesn’t mean that you should. These funds will either have to be paid back and will lose out on
long periods of growth they could have had, limiting your retirement income or taxed if it’s not
paid back and you change jobs.
Another example is that many people make the mistake of cashing out their 401(k) accounts
when they switch career positions. While it can provide a sum of money in the interim, that can
be quickly diminished by taxes owed on the amount, as well as additional penalties imposed.
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12b-1 mutual fund, hidden 401(k) and investment fees. The reality is that while returns aren’t
guaranteed, fees sure are. Humans are return driven and it’s only natural for funds to be picked
for their potential offerings. However, the potential growth or returns on an investment can be
offset by thousands of dollars in fees.
While at first the fees owed don’t seem like much, this amount compounded over time can put a
hefty financial burden on your retirement income. In fact, it may even add up to a six-figure
difference in the long run because you don’t just lose the money paid in fees but also the growth
that money could have achieved.
Also, make sure that your investments are under supervision of a tax professional to ensure that
minimal is lost in taxes. Many accountants do not specialize in tax planning, so make sure to
work with a professional that can help lower your taxes by employing different strategies that
many have not have thought of.
Failing to plan. A plan is crucial to ensuring retirement success. Go through a list of important
life questions with a financial professional who can help you from the start.
Just like a road trip, having a general idea of the path will only require course adjustments along
the way, but without a destination or road in mind, the trip can’t even begin. Retirement income
is not something that can be summoned immediately, and the smallest amounts of savings right
now over time can provide a big, positive impact.
And if you do have a plan, make sure you are actively engaging in it, assessing investment
performance or making adjustments after big life changes.
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ESTATE PLANNING
We seek to help clients come up with ideas that make a difference in their financial lives. One
way we are able to do this is through advice about estate planning. Although the topic can be
sensitive, there are a number of compelling reasons why individuals should take the initiative to
plan what happens to their estate after their death or incapacitation.
First, estate planning ensures that one’s wishes are honored. If an individual fails to leave clear
directions about the distribution of his or her assets, state laws will determine the distribution.
The process generally takes longer than if a person leaves a will. Also, estate planning gives
individuals the opportunity to divide their assets among family members or even charitable
causes while also avoiding probate costs.
Second, it helps to prevent hurt feelings. Conflicts commonly arise when it comes to asset
distribution, even in close families. If individuals communicate with their loved ones prior to
incapacitation or death, they can address concerns and make changes as needed to better satisfy
everyone concerned.
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Lastly, it maximizes the benefits of the estate. Setting up trusts prior to death or incapacitation
can help loved ones avoid taxation and also help individuals make the most of their estates.
What is Estate Planning?
Believe it or not, you have an estate. In fact, nearly everyone does. Your estate is comprised of
everything you own - your car, home, other real estate, checking and savings accounts,
investments, life insurance, furniture, personal possessions. No matter how large or how modest,
everyone has an estate and something in common - you can’t take it with you when you die.
When that happens - and it is a “when” and not an “if” - you probably want to control how your
property is given to the people or organizations you care most about. To ensure your wishes are
carried out, you need to provide instructions stating whom you want to receive something of
yours, what you want them to receive, and when they are to receive it. You will, of course, want
this to happen with the least amount paid in taxes, legal fees, and court costs.
That is estate planning—making a plan in advance and naming whom you want to receive the
things you own after you die. However, good estate planning is much more than that. It should
also:
• Include instructions for passing your values (religion, education, hard work, etc.) in
addition to your valuables.
• Include instructions for your care if you become disabled before you die.
• Name a guardian and an inheritance manager for minor children.
• Provide for family members with special needs without disrupting government benefits.
• Provide for loved ones who might be irresponsible with money or who may need future
protection from creditors or divorce.
• Include life insurance to provide for your family at your death, disability income
insurance to replace your income if you cannot work due to illness or injury, and long-
term care insurance to help pay for your care in case of an extended illness or injury.
• Provide for the transfer of your business at your retirement, disability, or death.
• Minimize taxes, court costs, and unnecessary legal fees.
• Be an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Your plan should be reviewed and updated
as your family and financial situations (and laws) change over your lifetime.
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Estate planning is for everyone.
It is not just for “retired” people, although people do tend to think about it more as they get older.
Unfortunately, we can’t successfully predict how long we will live, and illness and accidents
happen to people of all ages.
Estate planning is not just for “the wealthy,” either, although people who have built some wealth
do often think more about how to preserve it. Good estate planning often means more to families
with modest assets, because they can not afford to lose the least.
Too many people don’t plan.
Individuals put off estate planning because they think they don’t own enough, they’re not old
enough, they’re busy, think they have plenty of time, they’re confused and don’t know who can
help them, or they just don’t want to think it. Then, when something happens to them, their
families have to pick up the pieces.
If you don’t have a plan, your state has one for you, but you probably won’t like it.
At disability: If your name is on the title of your assets and you can’t conduct business due to
mental or physical incapacity, only a court appointee can sign for you. The court, not your
family, will control how your assets are used to care for you through a conservatorship or
guardianship (depending on the term used in your state). It can become expensive and time
consuming, it is open to the public, and it can be difficult to end even if you recover.
At your death: If you die without an intentional estate plan, your assets will be distributed
according to the probate laws in your state. In many states, if you are married and have children,
your spouse and children will each receive a share. That means your spouse could receive only a
fraction of your estate, which may not be enough to live on. If you have minor children, the court
will control their inheritance. If both parents die (i.e., in a car accident), the court will appoint a
guardian without knowing whom you would have chosen.
Given the choice—and you do have the choice—wouldn’t you prefer these matters be handled
privately by your family, not by the courts? Wouldn’t you prefer to keep control of who
receives what and when? And, if you have young children, wouldn’t you prefer to have a say
in who will raise them if you can’t?
An estate plan begins with a will or living trust.
A will provides your instructions, but it does not avoid probate. Any assets titled in your name
or directed by your will must go through your state’s probate process before they can be
distributed to your heirs. (If you own property in other states, your family will probably face
multiple probates, each one according to the laws in that state.) The process varies greatly from
state to state, but it can become expensive with legal fees, executor fees, and court costs. It can
also take anywhere from nine months to two years or longer. With rare exception, probate files
are open to the public and excluded heirs are encouraged to come forward and seek a share of
your estate. In short, the court system, not your family, controls the process.
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Not everything you own will go through probate. Jointly-owned property and assets that let you
name a beneficiary (for example, life insurance, IRAs, 401(k)s, annuities, etc.) are not controlled
by your will and usually will transfer to the new owner or beneficiary without probate. But there
are many problems with joint ownership, and avoidance of probate is not guaranteed. For
example, if a valid beneficiary is not named, the assets will have to go through probate and will
be distributed along with the rest of your estate. If you name a minor as a beneficiary, the court
will probably insist on a guardianship until the child legally becomes an adult.
For these reasons a revocable living trust is preferred by many families and professionals. It
can avoid probate at death (including multiple probates if you own property in other states),
prevent court control of assets at incapacity, bring all of your assets (even those with beneficiary
designations) together into one plan, provide maximum privacy, is valid in every state, and can
be changed by you at anytime. It can also reflect your love and values to your family and future
generations.
Unlike a will, a trust doesn’t have to die with you. Assets can stay in your trust, managed by the
trustee you selected, until your beneficiaries reach the age you want them to inherit. Your trust
can continue longer to provide for a loved one with special needs, or to protect the assets from
beneficiaries’ creditors, spouses, and irresponsible spending.
A living trust is more expensive initially than a will, but considering it can avoid court
interference at incapacity and death; many people consider it to be a bargain.
Planning your estate will help you organize your records and correct titles and beneficiary
designations.
Would your family know where to find your financial records, titles, and insurance policies if
something happened to you? Planning your estate now will help you organize your records,
locate titles and beneficiary designations, and find and correct errors.
Most people don’t give much thought to the wording they put on titles and beneficiary
designations. You may have good intentions, but an innocent error can create all kinds of
problems for your family at your disability and/or death. Beneficiary designations are often out-
of-date or otherwise invalid. Naming the wrong beneficiary on your tax-deferred plan can lead to
devastating tax consequences. It is much better for you to take the time to do this correctly now
than for your family to pay an attorney to try to fix things later.
Estate planning does not have to be expensive.
If you don’t think you can afford a complex estate plan now, start with what you can afford. For
a young family or single adult, that may mean a will, term life insurance, and powers of attorney
for your assets and health care decisions. Then, let your planning develop and expand as your
needs change and your financial situation improves. Don’t try to do this yourself to save money.
An experienced attorney will be able to provide critical guidance and peace of mind that your
documents are prepared properly.
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The best time to plan your estate is now.
None of us really likes to think about our own mortality or the possibility of being unable to
make decisions for ourselves. This is exactly why so many families are caught off-guard and
unprepared when incapacity or death does strike. Don’t wait. You can put something in place
now and change it later...which is exactly the way estate planning should be done.
The best benefit is peace of mind.
Knowing you have a properly prepared plan in place - one that contains your instructions and
will protect your family - will give you and your family peace of mind. This is one of the most
thoughtful and considerate things you can do for yourself and for those you love.
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Perfect Gift for the New Adult
What are you planning to give your teenager when he or she legally becomes an adult? A car? A
deposit for an apartment? A trip to Europe?
Those are all fine gifts, depending on how much you can afford to spend. But here’s one you
may not have thought of. It won’t cost you a bundle and it could save you considerable time and
grief.
Take your son or daughter to your attorney’s office and have some legal documents prepared: a
simple trust or will, a durable power of attorney, a medical power of attorney and HIPAA
authorizations.
Actually, it’s a gift for both of you, because once your child reaches legal age, you will no longer
be able to automatically make medical and legal decisions for him or her without the appropriate
legal documents authorizing you to do so.
If your son becomes ill or injured and cannot handle his own financial affairs, you will not be
able to step in for him and conduct business (sign checks, sell assets, etc.) unless he has a trust or
a durable power of attorney and has named you as his successor or agent. If he hasn’t, you’ll
have to go through the courts. . . and that will take time, cost money, and restrict you in ways
you cannot imagine. (Some financial institutions also require their own forms; make sure you
and your young adult check with each bank, etc.)
If your daughter cannot make her own medical decisions, it will be much easier for you to make
them if she has a medical power of attorney that names you as her agent. And what if she should
be so ill or injured that she is placed on life support before you get to the hospital? Unless she
has made her wishes known through a legal document, you may not be able to have the
equipment removed without court approval.
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HIPAA authorizations are needed so that the doctors will have permission to discuss your young
adult’s medical situation with family members and other loved ones.
Finally, if your adult child should die without a will, the court will distribute their assets
according to the laws of the state in which he lived...regardless of what you (or he) would have
wanted.
Make sure your new adult understands that all of these documents will need to be changed as
their (and your) life changes... as they accumulate more assets, and as they and those they care
about move, marry, have children, divorce, die, and so on.
Helping your child get started with this adult responsibility at the moment when he or she
becomes an adult is just one more responsibility we have as parents. It fits right in there with
how to balance a checkbook, how to handle a credit card, and how to buy insurance.
Chances are, it will be a long time before any of these documents will be needed. But you’ll be
sending your child out of the nest with a full layer of protection...just in case!
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“DE MINIMIS SAFE HARBOR EXPENSE” DEDUCTION
FOR BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE OWNERS
Have you bought anything for $2,500 or less this year?
If so, you may be able to deduct these items in one year, rather than depreciating them. As with
many IRS regulations, it’s not quite this simple, but it’s very close.
This rule applies to all business connected or rental property items except your residence. They
include, office equipment, computers, furniture, appliances, equipment, property improvements,
fences, etc.
Old Rule
Under old IRS rules, you had to depreciate items that lasted longer than one year. For many
years the IRS allowed Business and Real Estate Owners, under an unwritten rule, to deduct in the
first year items that cost less than $200.
The $500/$2,500 Rule
When the new IRS rule was allowed in 2014, it said that Business and Real Estate Owners could
also deduct in the first year items costing more than $200 and less than $500 if an Election was
attached a statement to their tax return.
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In late November of 2015 the IRS increased this $500 limit to $2,500!
Obviously, this makes many more business connected and rental property items purchased
eligible to be deducted in the same year, rather than having to depreciate them. There is no limit
as to how many items that can be deducted under this rule as long as each item costs less than
$2,500.
The $2,500 limit refers to individually invoiced items and includes any sales tax. For example, if
you buy furniture and the receipt said, “Furniture — table and chairs $3,000” you would have to
depreciate this under the normal rules of depreciation (7 years for furniture and appliances). But,
if the receipt says, “Furniture - 1 table $1000 and four chairs at $500 each” you could deduct all
of the furniture in the first year.
If the receipt said “Furniture - 1 table $2,600 and two chairs at $200 each”, you could deduct the
chairs in the first year, but you would have to depreciate the table over 7 years.
Annual Tax Election Required
To use this rule you should attach an Election to your Individual , Partnership or Business tax
return for the “Section 1 .263(a)-1(f) De Minimis Safe Harbor Election.”
We also recommend entering these expenses with “Other Expenses” on the tax return. Add up all
the items to be deducted under this rule and put them on one line and call them “De minimis safe
harbor expenses.”
This Election must be made each year you want to use this regulation. So, you need to attach the
Election to your tax return for each subsequent year you purchase items costing more than $200
and less than $2,500.
Business and Real Estate Owners can start using this rule for 2016. However, the authors of the
Treas. Regulation also said that if they also use it on 2015 tax returns and are audited, the IRS
will not challenge deductions claimed.
If the item is purchased as part of a larger property improvement, it must be added to all the costs
associated with the improvement and depreciated over 39 years. For example, if you bought a
$400 bathroom sink as part of remodeling a bathroom, taxpayers have to depreciate it over either
27.5 or 39 years along with the rest of the cost of the remodeling. If only the sink was replaced,
the taxpayer could deduct it in the first year.
We are always working to help our clients and friends to understand the new rules and make
sense of the best way to apply these new rules to their business and rental property.
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CONSUMER RIGHTS AGAINST DEBT COLLECTORS
A debt collector is any person or company that uses any mode of communication, whether by
phone or email, to attempt to collect debts for another party. Your bank, credit card company,
and auto loan company are not debt collectors and cannot be held liable for anything violating
the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The FDCPA was created to promote fair debt
collection laws & procedures and to protect consumers against debt collection abuses. If you feel
that you are being harassed at the hands of debt collectors, contact a debt collection attorney who
can ensure that you are protected from abuse and misrepresentation.
Consumers have rights once their debts go into collections, and those rights depend on who is
contacting you and when they are contacting you. Debt collectors cannot harass or abuse you.
They cannot make your phone constantly ring intending to annoy you. Moreover, debt collectors
cannot make any misrepresentations to you about what it is they may do if you don’t pay, or how
much you owe, or anything that may be misleading. Collectors are also regulated in who they
contact and what they say. Collectors cannot tell other people about your debts or call your place
of employment if your employer does not allow such calls. Debt collectors must also notify you
of your validation rights when they first contact you, meaning you have the right to know what
the debt is for and who it was originally owed to. Collectors try all kinds of tricks to get you to
pay the bill. If you are not the person who owes the money, and a collector is still bothering you,
you have rights to be free of such annoyance.
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a debt collector MUST:
• Identify who they are and advise the consumer at each and every communication that
the communication is coming from a debt collector. In the first communication, the
collector must also inform the consumer that any information obtained will be used for
purposes of debt collection.
• Send written correspondence to the consumer’s home address within 5 days of the first
communication identifying who they are, who they are collecting on behalf of, and the
balance owed. In addition, the correspondence must advise the consumer that they
have the right to dispute the debt, and have 30 days to demand that the debt collector
validate the debt.
• If the consumer seeks the validation, then the collector must discontinue all attempts to
collect the debt until such time as the debt collector provides verification.
• In the event of obtaining a post dated payment instrument, provide written notice of
the intent to deposit the post dated instrument.
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TRUMP TO INTRODUCE TAX REFORM LEGISLATION
IN FIRST 100 DAYS
Newly inaugurated President Donald Trump has released a “Contract with the American Voter,”
outlining his 100-day plan to “make America Great Again,” including plans for a Middle Class
Tax Relief and Simplification Act. Learn more at DonaldTrump.com/contract.
The details are sparse, but according to the description, the bill would entail “an economic plan
designed to grow the economy 4% per year and create at least 25 million new jobs through
massive tax reduction and simplification, in combination with trade reform, regulatory relief and
lifting the restrictions on American energy. The largest tax reductions are for the middle class. A
middle-class family with two children will get a 35% tax cut. The current number of brackets
will be reduced from seven to three, and tax forms will likewise be greatly simplified. The
business rate will be lowered from 35% to 15%, and the trillions of dollars of American
corporate money overseas can now be brought back at a 10% rate.”
Another piece of legislation, the “End the Offshoring Act,” could also entail tax reform. It would
establish “tariffs to discourage companies from laying off their workers in order to relocate in
other countries and ship their products back to the U.S. tax-free.”
While Trump’s tax plan differs in significant respects from the one advanced by House
Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Ways and Means Committee
chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, Trump has recently been in discussions with Brady and
Republicans in Congress on a “border adjustment tax” that would discourage companies from
moving jobs, research or corporate headquarters abroad.
“From this moment on, it’s going to be America First,” Trump said during his inauguration
speech Friday. “Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be
made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the
ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs.
Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.”
Trump and congressional Republicans have also pledged to repeal the Affordable Care Act
within the first 100 days. The details on any replacement for the health care legislation are still
being worked out, but according to Trump’s plan, it would replace Obamacare with health
savings accounts and the ability to purchase health insurance across state lines, and it would give
states more authority to manage Medicaid funds. The replacement for the various tax subsidies
and tax levies in the ACA are not detailed in Trump’s plan, but he has promised to release
legislation after his nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, Rep. Tom Price of
Georgia, is confirmed by the Senate. House Republicans unveiled a framework for their own
replacement health care reform plan last year, but those proposals are expected to change once
the Trump administration releases its plan.
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TAX ACCOUNTING ADVISORY
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traditional CPA services including:
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Representation for Resolution of Tax Problems involving levy, liens, audit defense,
payment plans, un-filed tax returns, penalty abatement and offer in compromise.
Tax Return Preparation for individuals, investors, professionals, real estate and business
owners, Corporations, Partnerships, Trusts and tax exempt organizations.
Our experienced team of dedicated Professional Accounting Associates are committed to
providing personal attention, quality work, reliable, proactive, helpful services and solutions to
make complex accounting and compliance tasks easier, gain greater financial control and
increase profitability by providing timely, accurate and complete accounting, data and payroll
processing services. This allows you more time to focus on growing your enterprise.
Professional Tax Associates consult on all aspects of tax compliance, advisory and planning, as
well as, Tax Return preparation and Tax Problem Resolution Specialized Solutions. These tax
related services are provided by Zerjav & Associates, Certified Public Accountants, which has an
alternative practice structure that is a separate and independent entity which works together with
Advisory Group Associates to serve clients’ needs.
Our Core values include: Accountability, Accuracy, Collaboration, Commitment, Efficiency,
Integrity, Passion, Quality, Respect and Service Excellence offered by our team of Professional
Tax & Accounting Associates.
Our primary objective is the well-being of clients, their family and their survivors.
as well as their satisfaction with the work we do, while our goal is to be the premier choice
of Tax & Advisory firms, not the biggest firm, by sharing solutions that deliver real value.
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