I have huge issues with the level of business, accounting and tax advice many accountants fail to provide their clients. Some accountants say it was not asked for. Few seem to understand the responsibility an accountant has to consult meaningfully and provide their clients information and possible strategies that would lead them into safer more secure business practice.

It would be as if a Dr. did not report he suspected the patient had a problem from the test results, because the patient hadn’t asked for the information…silly.

Here is a very common practice that I am certain many accountants see and choose not to comment on.

Many business owners invest sizable amounts of cash into the business. Sometimes in one major investment or frequently many smaller ones, other times its a slow but steady flow of personal capital into the business to prop it up when required, covering low spots in the cash flow, investing in inventory, covering payroll or whatever the emergency may be.

This may be categorized as a loan from the owner to the business and should be accompanied with a note with interest and an attempt to paying the note back. Yet instead during the ensuing months the owner takes out payroll which is taxed heavily and paid for by both the business and the employee in this case the owner.

Instead, the accountant could have classified the paycheck as a return of borrowed money which is a non-taxable event and not subject to payroll deductions or contributions by either the individual or the business, a huge 15% savings at least. Filing a 941x can repair this issue, but is infrequently done.

Better yet, when things get tough and cash is scarce and the owner has invested over $100,000 dollars as an example and has taken out a hundred thousand dollars in payroll say over two years, the accountant could file the appropriate paperwork to reclassify the payroll and have the sizbleamount of taxes paid returned to the employee.

Why would an accountant allow this to happen without instructing his client that a better way exists which is more appropriate and follows the code exactly and converts a heavily  taxed transaction, payroll, into a non taxable event, a payback of a loan?

Ask your accountant and tell me his answer. Then hire another accountant who will look out for your well being. Call for help 413-549-2966.