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Ken Berry, JD

CPA Practice Advisor Tax Correspondent

Ken Berry, Esq., is a nationally-known writer and editor specializing in tax and financial planning matters. During a career of more than 35 years, he has served as managing editor of a publisher of content-based marketing tools and vice president of an online continuing education company in the financial services industry. As a freelance writer, Ken has authored thousands of articles for a wide variety of newsletters, magazines and other periodicals, emphasizing a sense of wit and clarity.

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Income Tax

Special 2014 Year-End Tax Series

Are you the kind of tax practitioner who waits for business to walk in the door or do you actively pursue it on your own? Usually, the former will result in flat revenue while the latter enables you to better build and grow your practice.

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Income Tax

How to Pull Deductions Into TY 2014 and Push Income Into TY 2015

Naturally, everyone’s tax situation is different and the landscape changes year to year. However, absent special circumstances such as pending legislation or drastic economic swings, the tried-and-true strategy of accelerating deductions into ...

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Benefits

6 Major Tax and Financial Implications of Gay Marriage Ruling

What are the tax and financial issues of the Supreme Court's decision not to overturn gay marriage rulings in several new states? Although certain aspects are still being sorted out, here’s a brief summary of the lay of the land in several key areas.

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Accounting

IRS Issues New Rules for Local Hotel Expenses

Normally, a taxpayer may deduct travel expenses, including the cost of lodging, only when he or she is “away from home” on business. For this purpose, home means your tax home, usually the area surrounding your principal place of business ...

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Accounting

The Three Rs of Travel & Entertainment Deductions: Records, Records and More Records

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Income Tax

IRS Concedes Defeat on Circular 230 Contingent Fees

The IRS has decided it won’t appeal a recent court ruling handed down in favor of Ryan, a global tax preparation services firm, that invalidates and permanently enjoins the IRS from prohibiting such arrangements for refund claims and amended returns.

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Accounting

How Per Diem Rates Can Simplify Travel Expense Reporting

The IRS has just announced new federal per diem travel rates for Fiscal Year 2015 (FY 2015), which spans October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. Unlike many other previous years, when per diem rates were typically bumped up just a dollar or two or not

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Accounting

3 Must-Know Tips for Deducting Business Entertainment

There’s nothing new about taxpayers mixing business with pleasure. For instance, a business executive might paint the town red after he or she signs a six-figure contract with a client or customer. Is the cost of entertaining the client or customer ...

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Accounting

How to Enjoy the Tax Benefits of Business Convention Vacations

Suppose one of your clients receives a postcard or email heralding a business convention at a lush tropical paradise this winter. It’s hard to pass up and your client may jump at the opportunity. After the early presentations and round-table discussions,

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Income Tax

Travel & Entertainment: How to Stay Within Tax Boundaries for Temporary Assignments

taxes91

Income Tax

CPAs Challenge the IRS on PTIN Fees

First, a federal appeals court invalidated most of the regulations imposing continuing education and other regulatory requirements imposed by the IRS on tax return preparers (Loving, et al v. IRS, Civil Action 12-385 (JEB), U.S. Dist. Ct. DC, 1/18/13). .

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IRS

Conflicting Reports on IRS Tea Party Scandal Emphasize Partisan Divide

There’s a better chance of Democrats and Republicans agreeing to the winner in “America’s Got Talent,” than there is of ever reaching a consensus on the IRS’ handling of the applications for tax-exempt status made by right-leaning political groups.