Ryan White, Founder of Social Revelation Marketing, digital marketing company helps businesses and brands increase their digital footprint and awareness.

  Small businesses must become more creative in their efforts to thrive during these difficult times.  Every part of the globe has felt, and is still feeling, the ill effects of the worldwide pandemic. Businesses in practically every segment of the economy have been negatively affected. Sales are down, employees have been laid off, and supply chains continue to be interrupted. What used to be the normal course for most businesses is now far from normal.

“How’s everything going?”  “It’s fine.” If your one-on-one meetings sound a lot like a car ride with an angsty teenager, you’re doing them wrong. As a manager, it’s your responsibility to ensure that these regularly-scheduled conversations are valuable—for both you and your direct reports. But, while one-on-one meetings seem simple and straightforward on the surface, they can be surprisingly difficult to run. 

Here are four tactics that could help you get your tax bills under control. Taxes are complicated, but if you get behind on paying them, things can get even more complicated — and quickly. If you owe back taxes, here are four common options that could help you find some tax relief, plus guidance on how many years can you file back taxes and how to file back taxes. 1. IRS payment plans If you need more time to pay your tax bill, the IRS will probably give it to you in the form of a payment plan.

  Tax credits are the gold nuggets of the tax world. Qualifying for one feels better than finding $100 in your pants pocket. Here’s a brief look at how some of the most common ones work — maybe you’ll find some cash here, too. Here are a few common ones for people raising kids, saving for retirement, paying for college or just buying stuff.

If you’re living abroad and paid by a US company, you’ll pay self employment tax on your earnings. If you’re living offshore and operating a business without an offshore company or LLC, you’ll pay self employment tax on your profits. Here’s how self employment tax works when you’re offshore and how to avoid it.  All Americans that are self employed or who business owners are responsible for paying self employment tax in one form or another. It doesn’t matter where you live or work… if you’re self employed and hold a blue passport, you must pay SE taxes. 

1. The tax code is even more confusing than ever before The tax code has always been loaded with rules, but this is the first season where the massive 2018 tax overhaul comes into play. As such, many accountants are struggling to interpret some of the changes, and if they're having a hard time, it means that the average income-earner is even less equipped to tackle those new laws.

Congressional auditors say about 30 million people — 21 percent of U.S. taxpayers — will have to come up with more money to pay their 2018 taxes next year because their employers withheld too little from their paychecks under government tables keyed to the new tax law.

Last year, three out of four tax filers got refunds from the IRS, averaging $2,782, as of 3rd quarter ($2,895 by year-end). Where did all that money go? American taxpayers report using their refunds primarily to pay down debt, build up rainy day bank accounts and make big purchases. But there’s another option: deposit your refund directly into an individual retirement account.

Author: Emily Brandon The new year is an excellent time to start saving a little more for the future. There are also a variety of perks you might qualify for if you put some extra money aside for retirement. Aim to take advantage of these incentives to save for retirement this year.