Access the 2020 Anders Tax Pocket Guide for this year’s corporate and individual tax rates, retirement plan contribution limits and more, including:

Estate tax and lifetime gift tax exemption increase to $11,580,000
AMT exemption increase
Standard deduction increase

View the… Read More

The post 2020 Tax Pocket Guide appeared first on Anders CPAs.

In 2020, there are several updates to various payroll tax withholding limits, including Social Security tax and 401(k) elective deferrals. For employees, minimum wage is increasing in Missouri and Illinois. Below we highlight any payroll tax and withholding updates or… Read More

The post 2020 Payroll Tax and Withholdings Update appeared first on Anders CPAs.

Access the 2020 Anders Tax Pocket Guide for this year’s corporate and individual tax rates, retirement plan contribution limits and more, including: Estate tax and lifetime gift tax exemption increase to $11,580,000 AMT exemption increase Standard deduction increase View the 2020 Anders Tax Pocket Guide. Contact an Anders advisor to learn how these rates affect you...

The post 2020 Tax Pocket Guide appeared first on Anders CPA.

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

• More than a dozen people who may work near President Trump and Vice President Pence have tested positive for the coronavirus this week.
• On Friday, Pence's press secretary Katie Miller tested positive for the virus. Eleven Secret Service agents have also tested positive for COVID-19, along with one of President Trump's valets. Ivanka Trump's assistant has also caught the coronavirus, but that person has been working remotely for weeks. 
• Because the virus spreads easily when people are in close contact, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges anyone who's been exposed to someone who's caught the coronavirus to stay home for 14 days.
• FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, who worked with Miller recently, said he'll stay home for the next two weeks, but the President and Vice President remain out and about. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The coronavirus arrived at the White House this week.

Vice President Mike Pence's Press Secretary, Katie Miller, tested positive for the virus on Friday. 

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

• The US taught the world public health. Now it's getting schooled.
• New research found coronavirus antibodies in over 99% of recovered patients. Here's what science says about immunity.
• The CDC is warning of potential measles outbreaks as kids miss getting vaccines while in lockdown

AP Photo/John Minchillo

• The Ohio State University will pay $40.9 million to settle lawsuits brought by 162 men who allege a former university team doctor sexually abused them.
• An independent investigation in 2019 found that Dr. Richard Staruss sexually abused at least 177 students during his tenure from 1979 to 1997.
• The investigation found that OSU personnel had knowledge of allegations against Strauss and repeatedly failed to act.
• Strauss died by suicide in California in 2005.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Ohio State University announced on Friday it will pay out $40.9 million as part of a settlement of a combined series of lawsuits brought on by 162 men who said a team doctor who worked at the university for nearly two decades sexually abused them.

"The university of decades ago failed these individuals — our students, alumni and members of the Buckeye community," university President Michael V. Drake said in a statement. "Nothing can undo the wrongs of the past, but we must do what we can today to work toward restorative justice."

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: Inside London during COVID-19 lockdown

See Also:

• The best Showtime TV shows of the last decade — and the worst
• Online learning is growing faster than ever — we compared 4 of the top platforms leading the way
• 37 perfect graduation gifts for her — as recommended by a recent college graduate

Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider

• The $400 iPhone SE stands out for its fast performance, compact design, and effective camera.
• Still, the iPhone SE is lacking some of the camera features found on similarly priced Android rivals.
• Overall, the phone is best suited for Apple loyalists upgrading from an older device like the iPhone 6S that want something affordable and familiar.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Apple's iPhone SE is unlike any iPhone Apple has released in the past two years. In fact, it looks a lot more like the the iPhone you probably remember from 2017 and earlier, back when iPhones still had home buttons and smaller-sized screens.

I switched from the $1,000 iPhone 11 Pro to Apple's new iPhone SE recently, and overall I've found it to be a solid option for Apple fans looking for a cheap, portable device. The smaller and lighter size is easy to manage and operate with one hand, and Touch ID brings some convenience that Face ID can lack. 

But of course, since it's significantly cheaper than the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro, it's lacking in some areas. It doesn't have an ultra-wide-angle camera or low-light photography capabilities, for example, even though similarly priced Android devices offer some of those features.

After spending a couple of weeks with Apple's cheapest iPhone, here are my favorite (and least favorite) things about it.  

The iPhone SE runs on Apple's latest iPhone processor, which makes it feel snappy and fast.

The iPhone SE runs on Apple's A3 Bionic processor, the same chip that powers the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. As a result, the iPhone SE feels snappy and fast in daily use.

I found this to be especially true when switching from my old iPhone 8 to the SE. In most cases, it was able to launch apps, render 4K video clips, and find surfaces more quickly in augmented reality than Apple's more-than-two-year-old iPhone 8.

That being said, the iPhone SE is pretty similar to the iPhone 8 in just about every other way, save for a few exceptions. It's best suited for those upgrading from an iPhone 7 or older. 

The A13 Bionic is the major advantage the iPhone SE has over similarly-priced Android phones, many of which may offer more sophisticated cameras but run on less powerful processors. 

It's small and compact, which means it's easier to use with one hand and fit into pockets.

The iPhone SE is the most compact iPhone Apple has released in years. It has a 4.7-inch screen just like the iPhone 8, and weighs noticeably less than the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro.

The iPhone SE weighs 5.22 ounces, while the iPhone 11 weighs 6.84 ounces and the iPhone 11 Pro weighs 6.63 ounces. 

It's also the only iPhone Apple sells that comes with a Touch ID home button.

Although I've grown accustomed to swiping up from the home screen to return home and unlocking my phone just by looking at it, I've really appreciated having Touch ID again.

Apple's fingerprint sensor sometimes works a bit faster than Face ID in my experience when unlocking my phone. And since Face ID works best when held directly in front of your face, I often have to physically pick up my phone to unlock it when using the iPhone 11 Pro. 

With the iPhone SE, by comparison, I can unlock my phone just by resting a finger on the home button without having to move the device. It's a small convenience, but one that I've come to appreciate.

See Also:

• Dock workers in Belgium are wearing monitoring bracelets that enforce social distancing — here's how they work
• How to restart a game on your iPhone and clear the app’s data in iCloud
• Apple has started reopening some stores, and precautions like temperature checks could be a sign of what shopping will look like after the pandemic

SEE ALSO: Apple is expected to release a new Apple Watch this fall — here are the features we want to see

Digital transformation has just begun.

Not a single industry is safe from the unstoppable wave of digitization that is sweeping through finance, retail, healthcare, and more.

In 2020, we expect to see even more transformative developments that will change our businesses, careers, and lives.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

• GoBear has acquired AsiaKredit to drive growth through digital consumer lending
• US personal savings rate increases due to lowered spending amid social distancing
• RBS is shuttering its standalone digital bank Bó due to coronavirus fallout

Vachira Vachira/NurPhoto via Getty Images

• The White House reportedly plans to go ahead with a plan to institute temperature screenings at 20 US airports in order to instill confidence that air travel is safe, according to USA Today.
• According to leaked emails, a top CDC official said that such a strategy was ineffective and asked that the agency be excluded from the plan.
• Temperature checks do not account for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, pre-symptomatic cases, or people with COVID-19 who do not have a fever.
• The report comes one day after an Associated Press report found that the White House had buried CDC guidance for re-opening businesses, schools, and churches.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Trump administration reportedly ignored guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over temperature screenings at airports and plans to go ahead with them, even though they were ineffective in initially preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the US.

The move, which would require temperature screenings at 20 US airports, was detailed in leaked documents reported by USA Today on Saturday. In an email to officials at the Department of Homeland Security, Dr. Martin Cetron, the director of global mitigation and quarantine at the CDC had argued "thermal scanning as proposed is a poorly designed control and detention strategy as we have learned very clearly." 

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: Inside London during COVID-19 lockdown

See Also:

• A French doctor says a sample shows the country had its first coronavirus case in December, a month earlier than previously thought
• The coronavirus could kill 3,000 Americans per day by June 1, according to leaked projections from the Trump administration
• Oklahoma city immediately dropped its face mask order after residents threatened violence against employees who were enforcing the rule

During these unprecedented times, a positive outlook can help us maintain personal and professional duties. NECA has launched a schedule of webinars and more than 100 online educational courses.

The recipients of the 2020 Recognition of Achievement in Safety Excellence and Recognition of Achievement in Zero Injury programs will be posted on the NECA Recognition of Safety Achievement Program website in the near future. There were 159 Recognition of Achievement in Safety Excellence and 90 Recognition of Achievement in Zero Injury winners for 2020. These recipients will each receive plaques commemorating their accomplishment and be recognized during a session at the 10th Annual NSPC in Chicago, IL later this year. Thank you to all the companies that submitted their applications and continue to strive for Safety Excellence and Zero Injuries in the Electrical Industry.

In light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, OSHA understands that some employers may face difficulties complying with OSHA standards due to the ongoing health emergency. Business closures and other restrictions and limitations may also preclude employee participation in training even when trainers are available. In other situations, access to medical testing facilities may be limited or suspended.

MLB Spring Training is in full swing, and one of the most buzzed about topics down in Florida this year was Bryce Harper signing the biggest MLB contract in history. With a 13-year contract of $330 million, you can only… Read More

The post Spring Training 2019: New Tax Law Swings Away at Top Earning Players appeared first on Anders CPAs.

Anders has teamed up with the Leading Edge Alliance (LEA) to jointly release the results from the 2019 LEA National Manufacturing Outlook Survey.
For the third year, more than 350 manufacturing executives participated in the survey from a variety of… Read More

The post National Manufacturing Outlook Survey Offers Look Ahead into 2019 appeared first on Anders CPAs.

Many not-for-profits organizations have been concerned about the taxability of parking and transportation benefits as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Fortunately, the IRS recently issued interim guidance around the treatment of these benefits incurred after December… Read More

The post How Not-for-Profits Can Take Advantage of New Guidance on Taxable Parking Benefits by March 31, 2019 appeared first on Anders CPAs.

Vivian Le is on a mission that requires equal parts science, philosophy, and daring, in search of something that’s been hotly contested for decades: the world's largest ball of twine.

Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Twine

There’s an idea in city planning called “informal urbanism.”  Some people call it “do-it-yourself urbanism.”  Informal urbanism covers all the ways people try to change their community that isn’t through city planning or some kind of official process. If you’ve put up a homemade sign warning people not to sit on a broken bench, that’s DIY urbanism. If you’ve used cones or a chair to reserve your own parking spot on a public street, that’s also DIY urbanism.

Gordon Douglas has written a whole book about this idea called “The Help Yourself City.” It looks at all the ways people are taking matters into their own hands. Both for good reasons and for incredibly selfish ones.

The Help-Yourself City

Throughout Joseph Weizenbaum's life, he liked to tell this story about a computer program he’d created back in the 1960s as a professor at MIT. It was a simple chatbot named ELIZA that could interact with users in a typed conversation. As he enlisted people to try it out, Weizenbaum saw similar reactions again and again -- people were entranced by the program. They would reveal very intimate details about their lives. It was as if they’d just been waiting for someone (or something) to ask. ELIZA was one of the first computer programs that could convincingly simulate human conversation, which Weizenbaum found frankly a bit disturbing.

The ELIZA Effect

Make your mark. Go to radiotopia.fm to donate today.

The weather can be a simple word or loaded with meaning depending on the context -- a humdrum subject of everyday small talk or a stark climactic reality full of existential associations with serious disasters. In his book The Weather Machine, author Andrew Blum discusses these extremes and much in between, taking readers back in time to early weather-predicting aspirations and forward with speculation about the future of forecasting, including potentially dark clouds on the horizon.

The Weather Machine

Funding for the federal government runs out in 28 days.

The 2020 Presidential election is in 361 days.

This week, NECA’s government affairs team met with Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Rep. Dan Lipinksi (D-Ill.) and Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-N.Y.). 

Special thanks to Orange County Chapter Executive Tom Geller, Puget Sound Chapter’s Rick Rothermel of Pacific Coast Electrical Contractors, Chicago and Cook County Chapter’s Eric Nixon of Maron Electric, and Northern California Chapter’s Greg Long of Long Electric for renewing their PLC memberships!

Congratulations to the Wisconsin Chapter for reaching its 2019 NECAPAC goal!

Personal Contributions = 773
Corporate Contributions = 961

NECAPAC Fund to 11-22-19 = $778,924
ADMIN Fund to 11-22-19 = $228,230

Total Contributions to Date = 1,734
Total Dollars to Date = $1,007,154 

NECA Legislative Update for the week of November 22, 2019

Funding for the federal government runs out in 21 days.

The 2020 Presidential election is in 354 days.

Special thanks to West Virginia-Ohio Valley Chapter’s Duane Shurow of Progressive Electric for renewing his PLC membership!

Personal Contributions = 773
Corporate Contributions = 962

NECAPAC Fund to 11-29-19 = $783,984
ADMIN Fund to 11-29-19 = $228,230

Total Contributions to Date = 1,735
Total Dollars to Date = $1,012,214 

1. Multiemployer Pension Reform Update

Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), Chairmen of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee and the Senate Finance Committee, respectively, published a white paper on November 20 with their initial proposals for solving the crisis and challenges facing the multiemployer pension system. This document is the first proposal of weight coming from Republican Senate leaders but is not a legislative text, or a declared bill. The white paper is intended to begin a more in-depth discussion on potential fixes and should be understood as the starting point of negotiations.

NECA’s Look Ahead: NECA will submit comments and continue working with Members of Congress and meeting with congressional leaders and staff on this matter before final legislation is introduced to make sure the industry’s needs are met. While the white paper includes composite plan design and other beneficial aspects, there are revisions that should ultimately be made. To that end, NECA will focus its advocacy on the following topics:

• Maintaining Responsible Employer Premiums
• Limiting the Damages of Withdrawal Liability
• Passing Innovative Composite Plan Design

As this is the initial proposal in a multifaceted negotiation, we continue to urge restraint from our membership. Your government affairs team will tirelessly work on your behalf to represent your companies and our industry to insure we achieve a positive result.

More information can be found here

2. 2020 Legislative Conference Dates Announced

The NECA 2020 National Legislative Conference will be held April 27-30, 2020 in Washington, DC.

NECA’s Look Ahead: NECA looks forward to welcoming our contractors to the nation’s capital for another year of advocating for our industry.

3. Take Action on Nuclear Powers America Act

Tell Congress to support the bipartisan Nuclear Powers America Act (H.R. 2314/S. 1134). This legislation will help NECA contractors by extending the ITC to include nuclear work by creating a 30 percent tax credit for refueling costs and qualified nuclear power plant capital expenditures for each taxable year through 2023. Thereafter, the credit rate would be reduced until it reached 10 percent in 2026. Nuclear power accounts for 20% of the nation’s electrical supply, produces more than 60% of the emissions-free generation in America, supporting 475,000 jobs.

NECA’s Look Ahead: Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) introduced the NECA-supported bipartisan Nuclear Powers America Act (H.R.2314 / S.1134). NECA has long advocated for a diverse portfolio of energy sources especially, clean and renewable energy sources such as nuclear power.

Funding for the federal government runs out in 14 days.

The 2020 Presidential election is in 347 days.

This week, NECA’s government affairs team met with Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.), Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), Rep. Fred Keller (R-Pa.), Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.), Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-S.C.), Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.).

Special thanks to Quad Cities Chapter’s Dan Palmer of Tri City Electric for renewing his PLC membership!

Congratulations to NECA’s Northern Illinois Chapter, Twin Ports-Arrowhead Chapter, Eastern Illinois Chapter, South Texas Chapter, and Kansas City Chapter for reaching their 2019 NECAPAC goals!

Personal Contributions = 795
Corporate Contributions = 994

NECAPAC Fund to 12-6-19 = $800,639
ADMIN Fund to 12-6-19 = $231,430

Total Contributions to Date = 1,789
Total Dollars to Date = $1,032,069 

This week in Government Affairs, Federal Government consolidates platforms for federal work, NECA urges Congress to pass appropriations bills before deadline and 2019 NECAPAC contributions deadline announced.

This week in government affairs: NECA opposes bill to raise top tax rate for pass-throughs, NECA member testifies before the house small business committee and NECA Wins in NDAA.

Funding for the federal government runs out in 7 days.

The 2020 Presidential election is in 340 days.

This week, NECA’s government affairs team met with Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.), Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif), Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn), Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.), Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), Rep. Rodney David (R-Ill.), Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa), Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), and Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.).

Congratulations to NECA’s Kansas Chapter, Northeastern Line Chapter, and Southern Colorado Chapter for reaching their 2019 NECAPAC goals!

Personal Contributions = 812
Corporate Contributions = 1045

NECAPAC Fund to 12-13-19 = $813,269
ADMIN Fund to 12-13-19 = $236,615

Total Contributions to Date = 1857
Total Dollars to Date = $1,049,884

Funding for the federal government runs out in 285 days.

The 2020 Presidential election is in 333 days.

This week, NECA’s government affairs team met with Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) and Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.). 

Congratulations to NECA’s North Central Ohio Chapter, Greater Cleveland Chapter, Central Ohio Chapter, Oregon-Pacific-Cascade Chapter, Northern Indiana Chapter, Minneapolis Chapter, Orange County Chapter, Chicago and Cook County Chapter, San Diego Chapter, Northern California Chapter, and San Francisco Chapter for reaching their 2019 NECAPAC goals!

Personal Contributions = 863
Corporate Contributions = 1052

NECAPAC Fund to 12-20-19 = $833,269
ADMIN Fund to 12-20-19 = $240,275

Total Contributions to Date = 1915
Total Dollars to Date = $1,073,544 

1. NECA Wins in Year-End Funding Bills

On December 17, 2019, Congress passed two funding bills, H.R. 1158, FY2020 Consolidated National Security Appropriations Package and H.R. 1865, FY2020 Consolidated Domestic and International Assistance Package, both resulting in big wins for NECA contractors.

NECA’s Look Ahead: In addition to ensuring the full operation of the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020, several of NECA’s top legislative priorities were included:

• Full repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) 40 percent “Cadillac Tax”

• Allowing 529 savings accounts to be used for costs associated with Department of Labor (DOL) registered apprenticeship programs

• Seven-year reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program

• Extension of the National Flood Insurance Program

• Full repeal of health insurance tax (HIT) and the medical device excise tax

• Seven-year authorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank

• An extension of 179D energy efficiency tax deduction retrospectively from 2017 and prospectively through 2020

• $1 billion for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants

Summaries of the package can be found below:

Full Package Summary – H.R. 1158

Full Package Summary – H.R. 1865

Division Q – Summary (Revenue Provision Amendment)

2. USMCA Passes the House

On December 19, 2019, the House passed, in a 385 to 41 vote, the NECA-supported United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), H.R. 5430, to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

NECA’s Look Ahead: Now that the USMCA has passed the House, it will move to the Senate. Under the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), the bill procedurally spends up to 15 legislative session days in the Senate Finance Committee. Then, there are up to 15 session days for the Senate to vote on the floor. With Impeachment Articles passed from the House taking precedent, USMCA is unlikely to see a Senate vote any time before late February.

3. Impeachment Update

On December 18, 2019, the House of Representatives took up impeachment procedure and  passed H. Res. 755 – “Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors” by a vote of  230 – 197, 1 for Article I and by a vote of 229 – 197, 1 for Article II.

NECA’s Look Ahead: It remains unclear when the two articles of impeachment will reach the Senate. When they do arrive to the Senate, it is expected that the Senate will begin the trail immediately.  

NECA's Government Affairs team wraps up 2019, check out the year-end review.

NECA's top three legislative items for the week of January 6, 2020.

Funding for the federal government runs out in 278 days.

The 2020 Presidential election is in 326 days.

This week, NECA’s government affairs team met with Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Rep. Fred Keller (R-Pa.), Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), and Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.).

Congratulations to Rick Osbakken for being our first PLC renewal of 2020! 

Personal Contributions = 5
Corporate Contributions = 3

NECAPAC Fund to 1-7-20 = $5,070
ADMIN Fund to 1-7-20 = $1,600

Total Contributions to Date = 8
Total Dollars to Date = $6,670

Funding for the federal government runs out in 278 days.

The 2020 Presidential election is in 326 days.

 This week, NECA’s government affairs team met with Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif.), Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.), Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), Rep. Rodney David (R-Ill.), and Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.)

Jessica traveled to the North Florida Chapter to present at their chapter meeting.

Congratulations to Ike Poe of New River Electrical Corp. for renewing his 2020 PLC membership!

Personal Contributions = 31
Corporate Contributions = 1

NECAPAC Fund to 1-17-20 = $18,380
ADMIN Fund to 1-17-20 = $1,000

Total Contributions to Date = 32
Total Dollars to Date = $19,380

NECA's legislative top three for the week of January 17, 2020

Funding for the federal government runs out in 250 days.

The 2020 Presidential election is in 284 days.

Congratulations to Nicolaus Feldmann of Eldor Contracting Corp. for renewing his 2020 PLC membership!

Personal Contributions = 34
Corporate Contributions = 2 

NECAPAC Fund to 1-24-20 = $24,100
ADMIN Fund to 1-24-20 = $6,000

Total Contributions to Date = 36
Total Dollars to Date = $30,100