What Ever Happened to the Two Martini Lunch?

A long, long, time ago I worked in food service hustling drinks and huge plates of food to luncheon guests. I was always amazed at how much these guys could consume and continue working the afternoon! Who knows if any really did?

At that time business meals where 100% deductible as a taxable business expense. Under President Reagan the Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed that and the deductible percentage dropped to 80%. The food service industry went into a tizzy believing that their business would drop accordingly with the change in tax law. (That year I abandoned the food and beverage industry, purchased a 12-year-old Model 5 Eagle, and went into the bus business!) The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993 under President Clinton brought the deduction to 50% as of January 1, 1994. Not much has changed since then until President Trump passed the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2018.

So, what happened to the Martini Lunch? It most likely became the Craft Beer or Cabernet Lunch as tastes have changed. However, while assisting industry bookkeepers with their work a question still is asked, “Can we expense that pepperoni pizza?” I will let the Nerd fill you in on how this recent Act has changed what business meal, travel and entertainment expenses are tax deductible and what bookkeeping procedures you should put in place to properly record them.

Thank you, Mr. Bus Guy. The good news is that business meals are still partially deductible. Meals in which one conducts business with current clients, potential clients, networking sources, and meals while traveling for business are all still 50% deductible*. The IRS cautions these costs should not be “lavish” or “extravagant.” However, entertainment such as baseball games, concerts, and similar types of events are no longer deductible. Those are now reported for income tax purposes as “non-deductible expenses” and do not decrease the taxable income of the entity**.

Let me make another distinction here. Sometimes when food is provided, the entire expense can be written off. Meals provided as a part of an employee training event or meeting are fully deductible***. Additionally, meals and food provided for the convenience of the employer are also fully deductible. Do you keep beverages and snacks in the office for employees? Do you buy pizza for the staff when they are working late? Fully deductible!

To keep from having to look at this in detail at year end, I recommend tracking the three types of expenses separately during the year. Generally, this means having three different accounts:

  1. *Entertainment – not deductible for tax purposes
  2. **Meals – 50% deductible for tax purposes
  3. ***Meeting Meals (or just include with general meeting costs) – 100% deductible for tax purposes

This will have your books in order and ready for reporting Meal and Entertainment expenses properly to the IRS.

Let us at BUSBooks help you set up your books, giving you the peace of mind to manage your business! Together we can make your accounting more meaningful.

Written by Tracy Fickett, CPA and Peter Shelbo, Veteran Bus Operator

BUSBooks is a unique CPA accounting firm dedicated to the motorcoach industry.

Something Better Than Cash…

What could be better than cash? Cash is king, right? It warms your pocket and always looks hot on TV when C-notes are expressed after a quick lick of the thumb. But in the not so exciting world of accounting, Cash is best left in the bank and Accrual is the cool way to go. Let the Nerd explain.

Cash Basis accounting is the simplest form of accounting. Revenues are recorded when received and expenses are recorded when paid. But does that really tell you the whole story? Who owes you money and how much do they owe?  How much do you owe your vendors?  How much of what you think is income is not because the trips you collected on do not operate until next month? Did you have net income in that dreadful month you wrote the big insurance check even as your checking account took a nose dive? You may have, and the answer to knowing how lies in the manner of your accounting.

Merriam-Webster’s definition of accrual: “relating to or being a method of accounting that recognizes income when earned and expenses when incurred regardless of when cash is received or disbursed.”

Accrual Accounting is a little more work, but it provides better information from which to run your company. Yes, we at BUSBooks can assist with that. And once you set it up your bookkeepers can easily follow the process. 

Key accounts that are involved with accrual accounting are accounts receivable, prepaid insurance, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, customer deposits, and accrued expenses. These accounts help track the revenues and costs that apply to a specific period. This allows your financial reports to reflect how your company is performing NOT just the effects of your back accounts.  

For example, some expenses are significant and only paid once or twice a year. These heavy hitters may include vehicle insurance and registration, property taxes, and workers comp policies. Accrual Accounting equally distributes these expenses throughout the entire life of the policy, fee or tax. If you use the Cash Basis accounting method, the expenses paid only one or twice a year only effect the time period in which they are paid and therefore distorts your actual net income.

Accounts Payable (A/P) and Accounts Receivable (A/R) are important balance sheet accounts used in Accrual Accounting. The A/P records the amount of money you owe your vendors at the close of the balance sheet, most likely the month end. The goods and services are expensed in the period they are received, and if not paid in that same period, are recorded in the payable account where they remain until paid. On the balance sheet the A/P is a current liability.

The A/R records amounts earned and billed, but not yet paid to you at the close of the period. Deposits and payments received by your company for work not yet performed at the close of the period reduce A/R if recorded in the same account. This money is not yet revenue, and therefore does not affect the period’s net income. These accounts are current assets on the balance sheet.

Most companies within our industry have their books already set up on an Accrual Basis. Those that do not eventually need to change over when securing bus loans or lines of credit, or when they attempt to sell the company. And to understand how your company is really performing, the Accrual Basis of accounting is a must.

So how does Accrual Basis accounting interact with your income taxes? It depends. In general, companies with revenues less than $25 million in average revenues over the last three years can use the cash method for reporting income taxes. Many companies and businesses will use this method for reporting for income tax even if they maintain their books on accrual basis. Which method to use for income tax reporting is a separate decision. We at BUSBooks can help you analyze your situation and provide recommendations for your company.

Let us at BUSBooks help you achieve Accrual Basis financial reporting to help manage your business.! Together we can make accounting more meaningful.

Written by Tracy Fickett, CPA and Peter Shelbo, Veteran Bus Operator

BUSBooks is a unique CPA accounting firm dedicated to the motorcoach industry.

Asset Depreciation – the 2018 tax year environment

 

Depreciation is something we think of at year end and the tax filing time.  And the 2018 tax year holds some new expanded opportunities to maximize use of depreciation for income tax purposes earlier in an asset’s life.  What are these changes? To understand this, let’s take a brief look at some basic depreciation concepts.

Depreciation is the allocation of an asset’s cost over its estimated useful life.  The simplest form of depreciation is straight-line depreciation.  To calculate straight-line depreciation, simply divide its cost by the estimated useful life.  For example, a $7,000 asset with an estimated life of 7 years would be depreciated at $1,000 a year.  There are also accelerated methods which provide more depreciation in earlier years than in later years of the estimated useful life. Depreciation used for tax purposes for most equipment is generally an accelerated method.

Assets purchased in 2018 are now eligible for increased amounts of accelerated tax depreciation for federal purposes.  There are two general methods accepted by the IRS. One is called Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System with the availability of Bonus Depreciation and an other is governed by code section 179.  In addition, the IRS issues guidance on acceptable useful lives for assets depending upon what they are.  Equipment generally has a 7 year life.  Land improvements have useful lives of 15 years.  Real property has lives ranging from 27.5 years to 39 years.

For the 2018 tax year, bonus depreciation is available at a 100% rate,  meaning a qualifying asset may be written off in the year of acquisition.  Luxury automobile limitations have also increased and first year depreciation can be as high as $18,000 utilizing bonus depreciation.  A company may also “opt out” of using the bonus depreciation.  The option to “opt out” of bonus depreciation has to be chosen for each group of assets that are determined to be of the same useful life.

Also increased for the 2018 tax year is the Section 179 limit.  This limit was previously set at $500,000 maximum use as long as new asset additions did not exceed $2,000,000 for the year.  The 2018 maximum limit is now $1,000,000 as long as new asset additions do not exceed $2,500,000.  This form of immediate expensing is available to be used on most equipment and can be utilized on an individual asset or multiple assets as determined by the company.

In order to determine which depreciation method is best for your company, analysis of the company’s net income before depreciation, how long an asset is to be held, and various other factors effect which methodology is best for your company. Your state’s income taxes may or may not have similar changes.  It just depends on the tax laws in the states in which you operate. A CPA experienced within your specific industry will assist you in making the best tax planning decisions for your company.

Let us at BUSBooks help you know what your depreciation options are, when it is good to accelerate depreciation, and when it is better not to accelerate it! Together we can maximize your deductions.

The next Nerd News will discuss Equipment Purchase Planning.

Written by Tracy Fickett, CPA and Peter Shelbo, Veteran Bus Operator

BUSBooks is a unique CPA accounting firm dedicated to the motorcoach industry.