Accounting – North Bay Business Journal - North San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma, Marin, Napa counties

Favorable tax rates and provisions to expire

January 9th, 2012

A number of favorable tax provisions for top income earners will expire at the end of 2012, and tax professionals in the North Bay said that careful income planning and asset evaluation could allow some individuals to take advantage of current rates and lessen the impact of increased taxes in 2013.
Getting comfortable with making large gifts

January 9th, 2012

We are currently in a unique tax environment allowing for $5 million of lifetime gifts (per individual, $10 million per married couple) to be made tax-free. If no action is taken by the government, the gift tax exemption will return to $1 million beginning Jan. 1, 2013.
Rush expected before estate exemption ends

January 9th, 2012

While experts agree that estate planning is a comprehensive process spanning many facets of an individual’s financial legacy, one element of that planning has dominated the limelight since 2011: a temporary five-fold increase in the value of assets that an individual can gift without a federal tax penalty.
Many tax rates will increase in 2013

January 9th, 2012

Barring action in Congress, a number of favorable tax provisions will expire at the end of 2012.
Succession planning takes center stage at upcoming Business Journal event

January 9th, 2012

NORTH BAY — One of the many headaches caused by the recession has been for business owners who were close to enacting their exit strategy. “There is rarely a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Anyone who is selling a business had better have other resources available for retirement — 401(k), savings, etc. — if they plan on retiring comfortably,” said Jim Andersen, a partner in the Consulting & Business Valuation Services Practice of Burr Pilger Mayer in Santa Rosa. Mr. Andersen will join some of the North Bay’s leading succession experts taking part in the North Bay Business Journal’s Jan. 18 event, “Who will take over your business?”
Business Journal succession-planning event set for Jan. 18

January 2nd, 2012

The Business Journal event “Who will take over your business?” will be held Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek in Santa Rosa. Call for reservations: 707-521-5264.
People news: Week of Jan. 2, 2012

January 2nd, 2012

News about north San Francisco Bay area professionals
End-of-year planning: Consider making large gifts as exemption set to end

December 19th, 2011

With 2011 coming to a close, we would like to take the opportunity to remind you of the unique tax environment which we are in, allowing for $5 million of lifetime gifts (per individual, $10 million per married couple) to be made tax-free. If no action is taken by the government, the gift tax exemption will return to $1 million beginning Jan. 1, 2013.
Auto body chain installs $2 million in solar on three shops

December 12th, 2011

Santa Rosa-based G&C AutoBody is spending $2.09 million installing photovoltaic power arrays on three of its seven locations to write off the whole project cost in one year under a special 2011 tax incentive for capital investments.
Wine industry specialist Ausburn joins BPM as senior manager

December 6th, 2011

SANTA ROSA — Accounting and consulting firm Burr Pilger Mayer announced the hiring of Michelle Ausburn to the firm’s Santa Rosa office today. She joins as a senior manager in the Assurance Services Practice Group, a move that will take effect at the start of 2012.
Important legal changes for wine, alcohol in 2012

November 28th, 2011

Important laws and regulations affecting members of the California wine and alcohol beverage industry in 2012 include clarification on third-party marketing and promotions, a new direct-to-consumer wine retail license, permission for on-premise infusion of wine and spirits with flavors, a change in the definition of “distilled spirits” for taxation purposes, new state Russian River frost-protection water rules and agricultural union elections law changes.
Survey: Next year’s economy likely to be a lot like 2011

November 21st, 2011

A survey of North Bay’s leading accounting professionals found most believe the economy will improve modestly or at least remain flat going into 2012. But hiring, if any, will be selective, they said.
North Bay leaders in accounting

November 21st, 2011

The accounting leaders featured here were selected from the Oct. 24 Business Journal list of the largest North Bay accounting firms.
First principle of basic estate planning: Get started

October 31st, 2011

egardless of the source of motivation, all adults should have an estate plan notwithstanding their wealth, marital status or parental status. It is never too soon to start planning.
Investors, if you qualify and act now, you pay 0% tax

October 31st, 2011

Although most entrepreneurs and investors know that gains recognized on the sale of stock held for more than one year will be taxed at capital gains rates, many are not aware that gains recognized on the sale of certain types of stock could be entirely free from federal tax, but only if they act fast.
Why what happens in Greece matters to you

October 31st, 2011

Greece is a small country, 6,000 miles away with only 11 million people. How can what happens to Greece have any impact on the United States? The answer lies in the concept of globalization, which means that economies around the world are now interconnected, such that events in far off places have impacts here at home.
Wealth managers advise calm in volatile economy

October 31st, 2011

The North Bay Area’s wealth advisers are offering reassurance: despite the emotional effect of witnessing stocks fluttering dramatically before closing, recent market swings stand to have little effect on long-term portfolios and are a far cry from the desperate climate seen during the 2008 downturn.
Only one in five business leaders has succession plan, survey says

October 3rd, 2011

NORTH BAY – Less than 20 percent of executives surveyed in a national poll said that they had selected a successor, despite the urging of business succession experts in the North Bay and beyond that the issue not be taken lightly.
BPM merger will create ‘largest California-based accounting and consulting firm’

September 30th, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco-based consulting firm Burr Pilger Mayer will merge with Long Beach-Based Windes & McClaughry Accountancy Corporation, creating what the firm calls “the largest California-based accounting and consulting firm,” according to an announcement today.
Gov. Brown signs Internet sales tax bill

September 23rd, 2011

Gov. Jerry Brown today signed legislation that requires Amazon.com and online retailers to collect a sales tax beginning next year.