Posted by: Barbara Theofilos, CPA
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Ask the Expert: I recently moved. I set up mail forwarding with the U.S. Postal Service, is there anything else I need to do?
Ask the Expert: I recently moved. I set up mail forwarding with the U.S. Postal Service, is there anything else I need to do?
Setting up mail forwarding is a great start, but there are a couple more steps you should 
take:
Can You Mix Business and Pleasure When you Travel?
With summer vacation season almost upon us, people’s thoughts often turn to travel, and we thought it would be a good time to review the rules for deducting the costs of a business trip where you also take a vacation (“mixing business with pleasure”). These costs may be deductible, but are also subject to limitations. We will discuss these limitations below.
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Avoid Identity Theft to Protect Your Tax Return
T’is the season! Tax season that is. It’s also identity theft season. Last year over 100,000 
people discovered that their identity had been stolen when they attempted to file their taxes. While the IRS and other tax jurisdictions have worked diligently to reduce the number of fraudulent filings, there is still a lot that you can do to protect yourself from identity theft.
What Exactly Does Timely Filed Mean?
Posted by: Howard J. Kass CPA, AEP®
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Tax planning – Why is this year any different?
Every year at this time, you start to hear more about the importance of year-end income tax planning in radio and television commentary. For many people with more complex businesses or investments, the beginning of the 4th quarter of the year signals the time to start to organize their tax documents and to set-up an appointment with their advisors to review results.
This year is different! This year, tax planning should be important to everyone, not just for those that have complex tax situations. The implementation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has impacted every taxpayer. While we have all heard about it, not everyone has an applied working knowledge of what the impact will be in the first annual income tax filing season, which begins in about three months.
What Will the Government Shutdown Mean to Your Tax Return?
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve probably heard about the battle between the President and Congress over funding for a southern border wall. The government “shutdown” created by the impasse has created a lot of uncertainty about many government-provided services.
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The Price to Pay When You’re Fancy
Recently, pop star Iggy Azalea discovered (the hard way) that even though you might an iconic pop star, you still have to pay your fair share of taxes on earnings.
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How the 65th Day of the New Year Could Help You Save on your Taxes
The benefits of trusts in managing one’s financial affairs, both during one’s life and after one’s death, are well documented and quite significant. Among the trade-offs for their benefit are the complexity of their tax structure and the highly compressed tax brackets that apply to them. In addition, it is important to note that estates are subject to most of the same tax treatment as trusts.
Medicare Open Enrollment Begins October 15: What you need to know now
For many, Medicare open enrollment is an opportunity to fine tune their healthcare coverage needs and assess (or anticipate) what coverage may be needed in the coming year. 
Open enrollment may also allow you to save money as plans are reevaluated and adjusted and in some instances, improve coverage where you recognize you may have gaps. While the open enrollment plan changes may seem confusing, it is your opportunity to switch Medicare health and prescription drug plans to better suit your needs.
What is the Medicare open enrollment period?
The Medicare open enrollment period is the time during which people with Medicare can make new choices and pick plans that work best for them. Each year, Medicare plans typically change what the plans cost and cover. In addition, your health-care needs may have changed over the past year.
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Since 1938, Zinner has counseled individuals and businesses from start-up to succession. At Zinner, we strive to ensure we understand your business and recognize threats that could impact your financial situation.
Zinner & Co. announces hiring of Karen Costantini and Brian Lynch
Zinner & Co. proudly welcomes Karen J. Costantini, CPA, and Brian Lynch, MBA, to our team. Karen was named Senior Tax Manager, while Brian will serve in the role of Audit Senior. Karen Costantini With more than 25 years of experience involving all aspects of tax...
Avoid Getting Tricked by a Social Engineering Email
Have you ever received an email that looked a little off? These social engineering emails may say your password was compromised or that you won a gift card. They are a sneaky way scammers try to trick people into giving up personal information or clicking on dangerous...
Lake County Sale and Use Tax to Increase
The sales and use tax rate for Lake County (43) will increase from 7 percent to 7.25 percent effective July 1, 2025. Last year, LakeTran, the county's regional public transportation system, announced that it would pause the agency's quarter-of-a-percent sales tax,...
Ohio’s Vendor’s License Fee to Increase
On April 9, vendor licenses will increase from $25 to $50. The change is due to the passage of HB 366, to support the Organized Crime Commission Fund. This fee increase will impact both county vendors and transient vendors’ licenses. A vendor license is required for...
Surviving Spouse Election to be Treated as Employee
Potential Income and Estate Tax Savings The death of a husband or wife can be an overwhelming time for the surviving spouse, especially when it comes to financial decisions. When a spouse dies, many surviving spouses elect to transfer retirement assets to their own...
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