Do you have an employment agreement? Should you have an employment agreement? We are often asked whether founders need written employment agreements with their companies. Every company's culture is different. Often founders...more
6/7/2024
/ At-Will Employment ,
Contract Negotiations ,
Employees ,
Employment Contract ,
Entrepreneurs ,
Investors ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Non-Solicitation Agreements ,
Pre-Employment Agreements ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
Vesting
Many founders are familiar with tax-exempt charitable organizations. These nonprofit entities—which are commonly known by reference to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code—are operated exclusively for a broad range...more
You may already be aware of a new federal law called the Corporate Transparency Act (the CTA), which became effective on January 1, 2024. The CTA was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act and mandates that...more
Most founders are familiar with Section 1202 of the Internal Revenue Code, which provides a tax exemption for the sale of Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS). Less well known is Section 1202's cousin, Section 1045, which...more
The menu of tax planning options for founders includes many strategies designed to minimize income taxes upon liquidity events and to provide for wealth preservation across multiple generations. To achieve those benefits,...more
The ability to receive an income tax deduction for donations of private company stock can be a useful tax planning tool for founders. Assuming the stock has been held for more than one year, a founder can generally deduct the...more
Founders and other employees of private companies commonly employ sales of stock in the secondary market as a means of accessing cash prior to an offering or exit. Such sales are typically structured as a direct purchase of...more
Start-up and early stage companies commonly offer equity compensation to attract talent, encourage employee retention, and align company and employee interests on business objectives. There are several different types of equity...more
Estate planning strategies for founders are typically focused on saving both income taxes and estate taxes. Income tax savings can be achieved by creating and funding multiple trusts with company stock that duplicate any...more
We are just past the midpoint of a year like no other. Many aspects of our lives have been challenged and reconfigured, with even more changes a certainty. Depending upon the outcome of the election in November, significant...more
On April 6, 2020, the Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) in consultation with the Department of the Treasury released additional guidance reflecting the implementation of the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) of the...more
The newly enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (commonly known as the “CARES Act”) offers a wide range of benefits and incentives to help businesses weather the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. ...more
The newly enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (commonly known as the “CARES Act”) includes provisions designed to encourage charitable contributions of cash, by allowing individual donors to charities...more
Recent market volatility and the public health implications of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been unsettling. It can be stabilizing in turbulent times to take a deep breath, focus on long-term planning strategies...more
As we near the end of the year, we would like to share with you a few developments affecting trust and estate planning that may be of interest:
Historically-Low Interest Rates. Treasury-prescribed interest rates applicable...more
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law on December 22, 2017, includes significant changes to the U.S. federal gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax laws, effective as of January 1, 2018. In addition,...more
1/3/2018
/ 529 Plans ,
Estate Planning ,
Estate Tax ,
Generation-Skipping Transfer ,
Gift Tax ,
Gift-Tax Exemption ,
Income Taxes ,
New Legislation ,
State Taxes ,
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ,
Tax Deductions ,
Tax Exemptions ,
Tax Planning ,
Tax Rates ,
Tax Reform ,
Trump Administration
On November 2, the House Ways and Means Committee released a draft tax reform bill known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Senate Finance Committee followed on November 9 with its own outline for tax reform legislation. Both...more
11/14/2017
/ Estate Tax ,
Generation-Skipping Transfer ,
Gift Tax ,
Gift-Tax Exemption ,
Income Taxes ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Taxes ,
Tax Deductions ,
Tax Planning ,
Tax Rates ,
Tax Reform ,
Trump Administration
As 2016 comes to a close, we would like to share with you a number of recent developments affecting trust and estate planning that may be of interest:
Final regulations restricting valuation discounts unlikely to be...more
12/19/2016
/ Business Valuations ,
Capital Gains ,
Estate Planning ,
Estate Tax ,
Family Businesses ,
Generation-Skipping Transfer ,
Gift Tax ,
IRS ,
Repeal ,
Step-Up Basis ,
Tax Reform ,
Trump Administration ,
Year-End Tax Planning
Last week the IRS proposed new regulations that would, in many cases, prohibit the use of certain discounts customarily applied when valuing interests in family-controlled entities, such as corporations, partnerships and...more