On September 20, 2013, Scharf Pera & Co., PLLC will be participating in the NCACPA’s  2^nd annual “Day of Service.” This is a special day set aside for our employees to join forces to support a local charity. This year we will be helping to stock the shelves at Charlotte’s Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry. Loaves & Fishes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nondenominational organization which provides a week’s worth of nutritious groceries to individuals and families in a short-term crisis. In 2012, Loaves & Fishes provided groceries to 126,803 people.

If you would like to help our efforts with food donations, please bring them to our office by September 19, 2013 and we will be happy to deliver them for you. Currently, Loaves & Fishes priority needs are canned meats, 100% juice, canned fruit, canned pastas (such as Spaghettio’s) and cereal.

The IRS has issued proposed regulations governing the Sec. 45R credit for small employers that offer health insurance coverage for employees . The biggest differences involve the amount of the credit, the fact that employers must obtain the insurance coverage through an exchange, and a new two-year limit on taking the credit. Read all about it HERE.

If you’re a corporate executive, you should really be considering all of the state and local tax incentives that are available to your company before entering a capital project. It would simply be a shame to leave money on the IRS’ table that you don’t have to. For three important steps that can help, click HERE.

Going to college can be a stressful time for students and parents. In this article, the IRS offers several helpful tips about education tax benefits that can help offset some college costs and maybe relieve some of that stress. For more information, click HERE.

Inviting someone to a business lunch/dinner has meant you can only deduct 50% of the expense as it’s assumed you’re going to have to eat anyway. But new final regulations help clarify which party is subject to the 50% limitation. Interesting information so read more HERE.