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What is the Transfer Tax Rate for the City and County of San Francisco?

If entire value or consideration is: More than $100 but less than or equal to $250,000, the tax rate is $2.50 for each $500 or portion thereof; More than $250 but less than $1,000,000, the tax rate is $3.40 for each $500 or portion thereof; $1,000,000 or more but less than $5,000,000, the tax rate...
McDermott's "Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2011"

McDermott’s “Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2011″

  McDermott Bill: “Making the Estate Tax Fair and Equitable Again” For Immediate Release: November 17, 2011 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced the “Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2011” to restore fairness to the estate tax. It is the first estate tax...
Assets Subject to California Probate

Assets Subject to California Probate

Assets Subject to California Probate Following a death, you may find yourself looking for guidance about how to deal with all of the “stuff,” all of the estate assets.  Sometimes it is easy to deal with the small things.  Your daughter gets dad’s guitar and your son gets dad’s carved mahogany bar, done and done.  But who...

New Credit Card Reporting Requirement Will Impact Small Businesses

There’s a new 1099 reporting form that looks like it may have a big impact by capturing unreported income earned by small businesses., Form 1099-K, Merchant Card and Third Party Network Payments. The form is the result of compliance reporting requirements for some credit card and PayPal payments.  By requiring compliance reporting by credit card companies...

What is California Probate?

Probate in California – What’s the Purpose? Probate.  You’ve heard the word, but what is it?  Here is a brief overview to let you know what triggers the probate process and what is involved to complete the journey.  In general, probate is the court supervised collection of assets, payment of debts and expenses with the...
Last Chance to Apply for Tax Amnesty Program - Oct. 31, 2011

Last Chance to Apply for Tax Amnesty Program – Oct. 31, 2011

There is still time to participate in VCI 2, but you need to act now!  It takes time to assemble the disclosure package so please do not wait until you’re donning your Halloween outfit to get started. Franchise Tax Board News Release Last Chance to Apply for Tax Amnesty Program Sacramento — The Franchise Tax Board...
The IRS Is Interested in Google's Offshore Profits

The IRS Is Interested in Google’s Offshore Profits

Moving your business offshore to avoid US tax exposure is an option, but doing so comes with significant risks, including increased scrutiny by the IRS. IRS Auditing How Google Shifted Profits By Jesse Drucker  The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is auditing how Google Inc. (GOOG)avoided federal income taxes by shifting profit into offshore subsidiaries, according to a person with knowledge...

National Estate Planning Awareness Week!

October 17-23, 2011 is National Estate Planning Awareness Week! Did you know that over 140,000,000 people in the U.S. do not have up-to-date plans to protect themselves or their families in the event of sickness, accidents, or untimely death? Do you need some planning to care for your family?  Call October 17-23 and ask about our...
IRS Announces Voluntary Worker Classification Settlement Program ("VCSP")

IRS Announces Voluntary Worker Classification Settlement Program (“VCSP”)

Past Payroll Tax Relief Provided to Employers Who Reclassify Their Workers The Internal Revenue Service launched a new program on September 21, 2011 giving many employers an affordable option to resolve past and present worker classification issues by voluntarily reclassifying their independent contractor or nonemployee workers as employees.  The Vountary Classification Settlement Program (“VCSP”) is part of...

U.S. tax-evasion probe turns to Israeli banks

See the article here.  Though the deadline for participation in the 2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program passed September 9, 2011, and the unofficial deadline passed last friday, keep in mind that the standard Voluntary Disclosure Program remains in effect.  Please give us a call at 415-781-4000 if you have concerns. (Reuters) – The U.S. pursuit of offshore...

UPDATE – Additional San Francisco Superior Court Funding

The drama continues - AOC Agrees to Advocate for Local Revenue Solutions, Restoration of Trial Court Funding SAN FRANCISCO — An emergency funding compromise reached with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) would significantly reduce the San Francisco Superior Court’s staff layoffs from 177 to 75 and allow the Court to keep 11 civil...