- July 31, 2017
With an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), employee participants take part ownership of the business through a retirement savings arrangement.
Olsen Thielen Advisor Blog
- July 25, 2017
Did you know that auditors don’t just audit financial statements? In fact, there are a variety of levels of financial statement services provided, including compilations, reviews, and of course, audits.
- July 25, 2017
Any Organization that invests assets should have a well-written investment policy statement (IPS). An IPS is a document that outlines overall strategy for investing, your short and long-term goals, and the process by which investment decisions are made.
- July 24, 2017
You’ve probably heard it before: People don’t give to causes — they give to those asking on behalf of a cause. That’s why a personal appeal continues to be such a powerful not-for-profit fundraising tool. In fact, requests from friends or family members typically drive most charitable donations. By appealing
Interest in not-for-profits’ governance practices from lawmakers, watchdog groups and the general public has been growing in recent years. If your board hasn’t reviewed its roles and responsibilities recently, now is a good time.
- July 19, 2017
A fringe benefit is “a form of pay (including property, services, cash or cash equivalent), in addition to stated pay, for the performance of services. But the tax treatment of a fringe benefit can vary dramatically based on the type of benefit.
- July 18, 2017
Not-for-profits that ignore the IRS’s private benefit and private inurement provisions do so at their own peril. These rules prohibit an individual inside or outside a nonprofit from reaping an excess benefit from the organization’s transactions. Violation of such rules can have devastating consequences.
- June 26, 2017
Information is power. And regularly supplying information to your not-for-profit’s board of directors is the key to the board properly fulfilling its duties. This doesn’t mean you have to share every internal email or phone message. Board members should, however, receive and understand information that will help them work together
Offering employees an equity interest in your business can be a powerful tool for attracting, retaining and motivating quality talent. If your business is organized as a partnership, however, there are some tax traps you should watch out for.
- June 12, 2017
It’s common for closely held businesses to transfer money into and out of the company, often in the form of a loan. However, the IRS looks closely at such transactions: Are they truly loans, or actually compensation, distributions or contributions to equity?
- June 8, 2017
Debt is an integral part of many for-profit companies’ strategic plans, yet it has traditionally carried a stigma in the not-for-profit world. That view is changing, as more organizations borrow money for major capital purchases, new program funding and other reasons. But before your nonprofit borrows, it’s important to understand
- June 7, 2017
Every not-for-profit organization needs a comprehensive succession plan to ensure smooth leadership transitions. When a nonprofit organization loses its executive director or other leaders, it risks declining contributions, lowered employee morale and program disruption.
If your employees incur work-related travel expenses, it is critical that you comply with IRS rules to secure tax-advantaged treatment for your business and your employees.
- May 31, 2017
Many not-for-profit youth sports leagues are at risk for fraud and don’t even know it. Because cash transactions are common and leagues usually are managed by volunteers with little oversight, it’s easy for crooked individuals to take advantage of the situation. Unfortunately, sports league fraud is usually committed by board
Don’t let an IRS audit interrupt your day-to-day responsibilities. By taking a meticulous, proactive approach to how you track, document and file your company’s tax-related information, you’ll make an audit much less painful and even decrease the chances that one happens in the first place.