At Bourke Accounting, we have monthly team events with our employees where we visit a client’s restaurant, fitness gym, painting store etc and have events at those locations. “Team Building” is the correct term. And at each event there is usually a contest of some sort with a prize of $50.00. This last month we… Read More
This past summer our office air conditioner has been on the fritz and the majority of our (individual) offices have large windows so you can imagine how hot our offices get. I have noticed some of the bookkeepers are crankier than normal. Luckily our conference room is in the back of our office suite and is… Read More
The other day I was standing in line at the grocery store in the 15 items or less line and it was moving very slowly. I assumed it was just my impatience (as I am from New York, and we New Yorkers have “that” reputation) until the lady in front of me said “geeeeez, he’s… Read More
For years, tax prepares have reported payments that meet the requirements (under 71(b)(2)) as deductible alimony by the payer, along with the recipient’s Social Security number, to ensure the recipient reports the matching amount as income. The taxpayers must have a written divorce or separation agreement, and the agreement must meet several tests to be… Read More
Many plaintiffs will face higher taxes on lawsuit settlements under the recently passed tax reform law. Some will be taxed on their gross recoveries, with no deduction for attorney fees even if their lawyer takes 40% off the top. In a $100,000 case, that means paying tax on $100,000, even if $40,000 goes to the… Read More
Summer is slowly coming to an end, kids are beginning to go back to school, and the vacations are over. Do not worry friends as it is not all gloom and doom for a few different reasons. Reason #1 is football is back! And reason #2 is the Kentucky State Fair begins this week! You may… Read More
Never heard of a “shower beer?” A quick online search will show you just how passionately some people feel about hitting the showers with a can of their favorite adult soda. Or you could just try one for yourself – we’ll wait. There, wasn’t that great? Now, let’s dig into the science of why drinking… Read More
2018 marks the first year of filing tax returns using 500 plus pages of tax code changes passed into law in late 2017. To help you plan for the new rules, here are the four biggest changes and their potential impact on your return. Tax rates are lower. While five of the seven tax… Read More
I have bragged about the size of my wallet for years. While many of my friends have back problems because of what I call “butt pain” from these several inch thick wallets they carry in their back pockets I literally have the thinnest wallet I have ever seen (thus no pain). I carry my driver’s license, health insurance… Read More
At Bourke Accounting we find that to be a good accountant you have to be a good listener…and listen we do during tax time and our monthly bookkeeping meetings with clients. Most clients like to talk about more than just tax, so we find we must know much about everything. One of our clients is… Read More