Posts by Cougar Digital
What do you have & where do you want to be?
Financial planners say it is never too late to start saving for retirement; it is also never too early to start saving.
Read MoreEstablishing your Business with the IRS & State of Washington
While normally straight-forward, failing to properly establish a business in the State of Washington or with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can be costly. While some of the information was covered in the previous article regarding choice of entity, it is repeated as it is critical.
Read MoreChoice of Entity Structure in Forming a Business
A critical step in starting a new operating trade or business is choosing the legal framework. Generally the choices are: Sole-proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), or a corporation. There are other possibilities such as a trust or co-operative, those are less common and are not addressed here.
Read MoreWA State L&I and Employment Security Audits
Washington State provides insurance to cover injuries to employees on the job through its Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). Washington State provides unemployment benefits to employees who have lost their jobs through its Employment Security Department (ESD). Generally, L&I premiums are funded by payroll taxes based on total hours worked and ESD benefits by…
Read MoreWashington State Department of Revenue Audit of Excise Taxes
Retail sales tax is the State of Washington’s principal source of income. Businesses making retail sales in Washington are required to collect and remit sales tax on sales of goods and services to the state. The seller is responsible for remitting the tax whether or not collected.
Read MoreIRS Letters and Replies
You just received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and your first thoughts, after panic subsides (or not), might be: I have never been audited before; how can I get this over with as fast as possible; why me; how much more am I going to have to pay; what did I do…
Read MoreFinancial Fraud, Scams & Deceptive Fund Raising
Experts in financial fraud have identified the profile of a financial fraud victim: Male, age 55-62, married, an accredited investor (meaning they have wealth over $1 million excluding residence and mortgage and/or annual income over $200,000 individually or $300,000 including spouse in each of the last two years), have an above average understanding of financial…
Read MoreLiving Trusts and Powers of Attorney
In my previous article I addressed the importance of having a will and estate planning. As part of the estate planning process, a Power of Attorney will likely by discussed and possibly the use of a Living Trust. It is important to understand each of these instruments.
Read MoreImportance of Having a Will
If you don’t have a will, take the necessary steps to get one at your earliest opportunity. Even if you’re young or your estate is modest, you should always have a legally valid and up-to-date will. Start the process immediately by obtaining the names of qualified and experienced accountants and estate planning attorneys, checking their…
Read MorePlan Income, Deductions & Tax – Personal
Just as a good business owner plans the business operations and taxes for the year ahead, you should plan your personal income taxes as well. By planning ahead, you will have the opportunity to better manage your tax situation, consider strategies to minimize your total tax bill in the long run, and be prepared for…
Read More