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Taxing Severance Pay

February 15, 2016 Spiegel & Utrera, P.A.

Many employers have typically interpreted their FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) obligations (i.e., Social Security and Medicare) to extend to severance pay based on the IRS treating severance pay as wages, but that may change. Employers making severance payments may be entitled to a refund if the employers withheld FICA.

This year, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case regarding whether severance payments should or should not be subject to FICA. In the pending case, the lower court ordered that the IRS give a full refund of $1,000,125 to the employer. The lower court found that payments the employer made to employees who were involuntarily terminated due to business cessation were considered supplement unemployment compensation benefits (SUB payments) that are not taxable wages under FICA.

A ruling in favor of the employer would lower costs for employers. Employers would no longer be required to make FICA contributions on severance payments. Additionally, employers may be entitled to a refund on previous severance payments. Accordingly, employers should consider filing protective refund claims so that they can keep the statute of limitations on refund claims open pending review of the above mentioned case by the U.S. Supreme Court. Employees may also file claims for refunds.

If you are a member of Spiegel & Utrera, P.A.’s General Counsel Club and have questions about Taxing Severance Pay or Filing Protective Refund Claims, call (800) 734-9900 orclubassist@amerilawyer.com for assistance. Remember, as a member of the General Counsel Club, you receive unlimited legal, business, credit and tax advice all year long.

Spiegel & Utrera, P.A. is a corporate law firm with its main offices located in Miami, Florida with offices throughout the United States. As a law firm, we do more than just help you form your business entity. We stand ready to help with the maintenance of your legal business entity! We will assist you withIncorporation Service, Trademarks, Copyrights, Estate Planning, Legal Counsel, Wills, Trusts, Agreements & Leases, Corporate & Company Changes.

Types of Power of Attorney

February 25, 2015 Spiegel & Utrera, P.A.

Power of Attorney is a written document in which one person, the principal, appoints another person or people, the agent or attorney-in-fact, to legally act on his or her behalf. Most POA’s are “durable”, which means they remain active after you become incapacitated. All POA’s are revocable at any time, unless stated otherwise. All expire upon your death. Power of Attorney requirements vary by state.

Limited Power of Attorney. Someone acts for you in specific situations. You can limit the time frame or scope of that responsibility, say, signing documents while you are out of the country or only trading stocks. This type of POA expires when the stated event occurs, you revoke it, or when you die. You can’t grant power of attorney for certain matters, including to create or make a will, to serve jail time or to vote.
General Power of Attorney. This grants broad authority to your agent. If you draft it to be durable, or if your state presumes it to be durable, it continues even after doctors deem you to be mentally incapacitated. It usually relates to financial matters. Your agent can sign transactions for you and make decisions about your affairs, including those related to banking and investing; managing, buying and selling property; filing income taxes; giving monetary gifts; changing your living situation; and hiring people to care for you.

That POA is intended to be used only if you no longer want to manage your affairs or can no longer do so. You might feel safer drafting your POA to trigger, or spring, your incapacity, but your agent is more likely to get cooperation from banks and brokerages if it’s drafted to be made effective immediately.

Health Care Power of Attorney. Some states permit you to grant a power of attorney for medical decisions on your behalf. Others instead allow you to designate an agent or “health care proxy” for that purpose.

Our goal is to provide each of our clients with as much information as possible about types of Power of Attorney. Many legal aspects may be complex and confusing. We want you to know we are available to speak with you. If your affairs are complicated or if you are unsure, a consultation with Spiegel & Utrera, P.A. is recommended. We have taken the time to develop easy to understand kits which enable you to obtain these important legal documents for a fraction of what a visit to a lawyer’s office would cost for the same services.

Click HERE for more information and to make sure your interests are protected.

Things You Need To Know When Preparing A Will

February 4, 2015 Spiegel & Utrera, P.A.

Do-It-Yourself (“DIY”) Estate Planning seems great, because why pay a professional for a job you could do yourself? Open the computer and a few clicks later you have a Will for what seems like a deal. However, when it comes to your Estate Planning do you really want to risk it to save a few dollars only to leave your family entangled with court costs and litigation? Creating a Will online creates risks in an area that will have lasting consequences. Mistakes in a Will can alter family relationships, leave family confused, disappointment, embittered, or locked in hostile litigation.

Things to consider before delving into the DIY project: who will be the guardian of your child and is that person capable; will you provide for a special needs child, what about divorce, marriage or death, or incapacity of a beneficiary or yourself; are property and accounts held separately, jointly, or in different states; who will be in charge of your estate; and what about tax-savings strategies.

Say you made your own Will, was it properly executed? Did you use dispositive (“I convey”) or precatory (“I would like”) language? Is your intent clear? The answers matter because if the answer is no, then the Will is void, and now your family is left without a Will.

There are many things to evaluate before drafting your own Estate Planning documents that perhaps may be best left to the professionals. Different States have different rules for all of the above-mentioned issues and the person drafting the documents should know those rules.

Who will be in charge of your Estate? Was your Will properly executed? Call AmeriLawyer today at (800) 603-3900 for answers to your Estate Planning questions.

Here at AmeriLawyer, our goal is to provide each of our clients with as much information as possible about Asset Protection, Trusts and Wills. We want you to know we are available to speak with you about any legal aspects of Asset Protection, Trusts and Wills at your convenience either over the telephone or in person at the Spiegel and Utrera, P.A., office nearest you.

AmeriLawyer.com

Phone: (800) 603-3900

Email: info@Amerilawyer.com

Why Should I Form a Professional Corporation

January 13, 2015 Spiegel & Utrera, P.A.

There are many advantages when forming a Professional Service Corporation. Professional corporations are entitled to favorable tax treatments, liability protections and other benefits provided under the corporate structure. It’s operated by professionals such as: physicians, chiropractors, dentists, veterinarians, physical therapists, pharmacists, registered professional nurses, licensed practical nurses, licensed midwives, podiatrists, optometrists, opticians, engineering and land surveyors, architects, landscape architects, public accountants, shorthand reporters, psychologists, social workers, massage therapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and nutritionists, speech language pathologists and audiologists acupuncturists, interior designers, athletic trainers, mental health practitioners and respiratory therapists.

It may be that the shareholders of the professional corporation may only be other professional licensed or otherwise legally authorized to render the same professional service as the Professional Corporation or Limited Liability Company. Of course, employees of the professional corporation such as clerks, secretaries, bookkeepers, technicians, and other assistants who are not licensed are not considered to be rendering professional services. It may be that transfers of stock or membership interest may only be made to licensed professionals or professional corporations or professional limited liability companies.

Tax Advantages?

The answer is YES! The benefit of forming a professional corporation can be substantial, compared to the inexpensive cost of forming such an entity. There are several tax deductions professional corporations can take advantage that other types of businesses can’t. For example, the salaries and bonuses paid to owners and employees are tax deductible.

With the skyrocketing cost of healthcare it becomes a necessity that individuals carry health insurance on themselves and their families. Sole proprietorships and partnerships are currently able to deduct only a portion of the health insurance costs from their taxes, which can be prohibitive to many or inhibit obtaining insurance coverage. A professional corporation, however, is able to fully deduct the cost of accident and health insurance plans for its employees and their families. This deduction could also extend to the cost of reimbursing employees for their uninsured medical expenses. Furthermore, a professional corporation may be able to deduct the cost of life and disability insurance.

What about Legal Advantages?

Professional Corporations can be important for those who practice in a group or with another physician. In this situation, the use of a Professional Corporations can protect against personal liability for the negligence of a partner. That’s a good reason why group practices are often structured as a single Professional Corporations or as a partnership of Professional Corporations with each physician owning his own corporation.

Spiegel & Utrera, P.A. lawyers are qualified and highly experienced in Forming Professional Service Corporation and Limited Liability Company. For over 20 years Spiegel & Utrera, P.A. has been serving its 260 000 clients with the utmost respect and quality services. Our prices are the lowest in the industry and we guarantee a top rated service. Make sure to visit our website today for more details!

www.Amerilawyer.com

To find more information about Forming a Professional Service Corporation click here:

http://www.amerilawyer.com/form_a_professional_service_corporation/professional_service_corporation.htm

Phone: (800) 603-3900
Email: info@Amerilawyer.com

“Understanding your business is our business”

Why Should You Form A Corporation

January 2, 2015 Spiegel & Utrera, P.A.

The formation of a corporation as a business entity can help reduce your taxes and also provide peace of mind by protecting your personal assets. Here at Spiegel & Utrera, P.A. we want to help you Incorporate a Business and we have put together three advantages on how you can enjoy its benefits.

The most important reason to incorporate is to protect yourself from personal liability. When you incorporate, you are forming a legal entity that is separate from yourself as an individual. The Corporation has powers vested upon it that allows it to make all the decisions that an individual may make. For example, the Corporation may enter into leases, the Corporation may borrow money, it may buy goods and services on credit, and in all cases you are not personally liable for the transaction. If a problem arises, the only recourse would be against the Corporation, similarly, if anyone were to ever file a lawsuit for an action arising out of the business of the Corporation, that party would not be able to go after your personal assets such as your home, or car or boat etc., as long as you comply with the formalities of a Corporation. Therefore you have the peace of mind knowing that your personal assets are safe.

Tax Flexibility

One of the greatest advantages of forming a corporation is that you can elect to be taxed as a corporation. You could avoid double taxation of corporate dividends and profits by choosing Sub Chapter S tax status.

When you incorporate, you are forming a legal entity that is separate from yourself as an individual. The Corporation has powers vested upon it that allows it to make all the decisions that an individual may make. For example, the Corporation may enter into leases, the Corporation may borrow money, it may buy goods and services on credit, and in all cases you are not personally liable for the transaction. If a problem arises, the only recourse would be against the Corporation, similarly, if anyone were to ever file a lawsuit for an action arising out of the business of the Corporation, that party would not be able to go after your personal assets such as your home, or car or boat etc., as long as you comply with the formalities of a Corporation. Therefore you have the peace of mind knowing that your personal assets are safe.

Spiegel & Utrera, P.A. lawyers are qualified and highly experienced in Forming Corporations, Limited Liability Company and Sub Chapter S Corporations. For over 20 years Spiegel & Utrera, P.A. has been serving its 260 000 clients with the utmost respect and quality services. Our prices are the lowest in the industry and we guarantee a top rated service. Make sure to visit our website today for more details!

www.AmeriLawyer.com

To find more information about Incorporating a Business click here:

http://www.amerilawyer.com/form_a_corporation/corporation.htm

Phone: (800) 603-3900

Email: info@Amerilawyer.com

“Understanding your business is our business”

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