- Ascent Authors
- Ryan Lasker
Ryan Lasker
ryguy1234
NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS: 43 | LAST PUBLISH DATE: 05-18-2022
Summary
Ryan Lasker is an accounting writer with a penchant for breaking down complex topics and has work published in USA TODAY. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in the District of Columbia, holds a Master of Accountancy, and specializes in small-business financial planning.
Ryan's Recent Articles
-
![]()
New Business Applications Up 24% Amid Shaky Economy
May 18, 2022
New business applications rose significantly in pandemic-ridden 2020. The Ascent explains what that means and why it might not be so surprising.
Read More
-
![]()
Form 940 vs. Form 941: What’s the Difference?
May 18, 2022
IRS Forms 940 and 941 must be filled out to ensure you're paying employment taxes. We discuss the difference in each form and how to …
Read More
-
![]()
3 Tips to Get W-9s From Vendors
May 18, 2022
A Form W-9 gathers information about a vendor for a business to prepare contractor tax forms. Here are tips for getting W-9s from vendors and …
Read More
-
![]()
3 Ways to Send Forms W-2 to Your Employees
May 18, 2022
The Form W-2 details employee earnings and is used when they file their individual income taxes. Here are three ways to send employees their Forms …
Read More
-
![]()
Onboard New Employees With These Tax Forms
May 18, 2022
When hiring new employees, make sure to collect the tax forms you need to run payroll. Here are employee tax forms to complete during the …
Read More
-
![]()
What "De Minimis" Means for Your Business Taxes
May 18, 2022
Small businesses most often use the phrase de minimis to talk about employee benefits. Here are the most common de minimis employee benefits (plus examples).
Read More
-
![]()
How Do I File Taxes as an Entrepreneur?
May 18, 2022
You don't have to be a tax expert to keep your entrepreneur tax-related documents organized. Here are five common tax deductions and tips for handling …
Read More
-
![]()
How to Deduct Home Office Expenses With Form 8829
May 18, 2022
IRS Form 8829 is made for individuals that want to deduct home office expenses. Learn how to get a tax break with your home office …
Read More
-
![]()
How to Qualify and Apply for PPP Forgiveness
May 18, 2022
In order to qualify for 100% PPP loan forgiveness, your business must meet several criteria. Here are the most recent requirements to apply for PPP …
Read More
-
![]()
A Small Business Guide to the Second COVID Relief Package
May 18, 2022
Trump just signed off on a second COVID relief package, and it includes a lot -- such as simplified PPP loan forgiveness. Let's explore what …
Read More
-
![]()
How Do I Report Excise Taxes? A Guide to Filling out Form 720
May 18, 2022
Form 720 is for businesses that need to report excise tax paid on targeted goods and services. Here's how to fill out Form 720 and …
Read More
-
![]()
How to Deduct the Business Use of Your Car
May 18, 2022
If you use your personal car for business, you can take a car tax deduction and lower your tax bill. Learn how to take the …
Read More
-
![]()
How to Amend Your S Corp Tax Return Form 1120-S
May 18, 2022
If you've made an adjustment on your S corp return, you will need to submit Form 1120-S. Learn how to amend an S corp return …
Read More
-
![]()
How to Fill out IRS Form 945
May 18, 2022
Form 945 is used to report backup withholding tax for an independent contractor. Here's why your business might need to complete Form 945 and how …
Read More
-
![]()
How Are Partnerships Taxed?
May 18, 2022
Partnership taxation is based on the partner's portion of income generated by the partnership. Learn how to file your partnership taxes in four easy steps.
Read More
-
![]()
4 Steps to Filing a Business Tax Return Extension
May 18, 2022
A business tax extension can give your business an additional six months to prepare your tax return. Learn how to file a tax extension in …
Read More
-
![]()
12 Tax Tips for Your Small Business
May 18, 2022
Finding ways to reduce your business tax bill should be at the top of your list. Learn how to maximize your deductions and credits with …
Read More
-
![]()
A Small Business Guide to Excise Taxes
May 18, 2022
Excise tax is imposed by the government to generate revenue on certain items like cigarettes, alcohol, fuel, and gambling. Here's how excise tax is recorded.
Read More
-
![]()
Filing Your Sole Proprietor Taxes Jointly with Spouse
May 18, 2022
Should you file your sole proprietorship taxes as married filing jointly? Here are a few things to consider before filing your next tax return with …
Read More
-
![]()
How to Write off a Car Lease in Your Business
May 18, 2022
If you are using a leased car for business, you can deduct a portion of your expenses. Learn which car lease tax write-off method offers …
Read More
-
How to File Taxes for an LLC With No Income
May 18, 2022
You should expect to file your LLC taxes every calendar year, even if your business had no activity. Learn how to file taxes for an …
Read More
-
![]()
LLC Tax Classifications: Which One Should You Choose?
May 18, 2022
Depending on your LLC tax classification, you can be taxed as a sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation. Here are the types of specific taxes an …
Read More
-
![]()
4 Steps to Becoming an S Corp
May 18, 2022
An S corporation receives special tax treatment: It allows you to file your business and personal taxes together. Learn how to become an S corp …
Read More
-
![]()
What Is a Business Tax Receipt?
May 18, 2022
A business tax receipt is proof that your company can operate and legally open for business. Learn how to obtain a business tax receipt in …
Read More
-
![]()
When Do You File Personal and Business Taxes Together?
May 18, 2022
Do you file personal and business taxes together? Depending on your business structure, you may want to. Here are some things to consider before tax …
Read More
-
![]()
A Small Business Guide to MACRS
May 18, 2022
The modified accelerated cost recovery system (MACRS) is the IRS's depreciation method used for filing taxes. Learn how MACRS works in five simple steps.
Read More
-
![]()
Are Unreimbursed Employee Expenses Deductible This Year?
May 18, 2022
An unreimbursed employee expense is when an employer doesn’t repay a business expense an employee covered. Learn if you can deduct these types of expenses.
Read More
-
![]()
10 Tax Deductions for the Self-Employed
May 18, 2022
Business owners should take advantage of self-employed tax deductions to reduce their tax liability. Here are 10 valuable tax deductions to take this year.
Read More
-
![]()
A Small Business Guide to Independent Contractors vs. Employees
May 18, 2022
Taxes, control, and benefits are what sets independent contractors apart from employees. Learn the three criteria the IRS uses to classify a worker.
Read More
-
![]()
5 Steps for Filing S Corporation Taxes
May 18, 2022
S corporations enjoy pass-through taxation in which the owner pays taxes based on their individual tax rate. Learn how to file S corp taxes in …
Read More
-
![]()
A Small Business Guide to Bonus Depreciation
May 18, 2022
Bonus depreciation allows you to report a chunk of depreciation in the year an asset was purchased. Learn how to claim your bonus depreciation in …
Read More
-
![]()
How to Fill Out (and File) Schedule C for Form 1040
May 18, 2022
Sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs file Schedule C to report business net profit or loss. Follow these 9 steps to filling out and filing Schedule …
Read More
-
![]()
How to Make a Depreciation Schedule: A Small Business Guide
May 18, 2022
Depreciation schedules detail how a fixed asset’s costs are expensed over the life of the asset. Learn how to set up a depreciation schedule for …
Read More
-
![]()
A Guide to Tax-Advantaged S Corp Health Insurance Deductions
May 18, 2022
S corporations can offer health insurance premium coverage for non-owner employees. Learn to achieve the maximum tax advantage for S corp health insurance.
Read More
-
![]()
A Beginner’s Guide to Independent Contractor Taxes
May 18, 2022
An independent contractor is a one-person business that provides goods and services to clients for a fee. Learn how to pay taxes as one in …
Read More
-
![]()
6 Steps to Filing Form 1120
May 18, 2022
If you have a C corporation, you'll need to use Form 1120 to file your business taxes. Here's a tax preparation checklist that will guide …
Read More
-
![]()
A Small Business Guide to Pass-Through Entity Types
May 18, 2022
A pass-through entity allows the owner to pay taxes as an individual instead of paying corporate taxes. Here's how to decide if it's the right …
Read More
-
![]()
What Is IRS Form W-3? How to Fill It Out and File It
May 18, 2022
IRS Form W-3 tracks your employee's wages, salary, commission, tips, and other compensation. Here we show how to fill it out and how to file …
Read More
-
![]()
EIN vs. SSN: What’s the Difference?
May 18, 2022
The IRS uses Social Security numbers and EINs to identify individuals and businesses for tax purposes. This guide explains the differences between EINs and SSNs.
Read More
-
![]()
10 Tax Credits for Your Small Business
May 18, 2022
Tax credits are an effective way to reduce your small business tax liability. The Ascent explores 10 small business tax credits business owners can use.
Read More
-
![]()
How Your Small Business LLC Can Be Taxed
May 18, 2022
Starting your business as a limited liability company (LLC) offers certain legal and financial protections. The Ascent explains how LLCs are taxed.
Read More
-
![]()
How to Calculate the Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
May 18, 2022
Businesses contribute to federal unemployment through a payroll tax that is deducted from employee's check. The Ascent shows how to calculate FUTA Tax.
Read More
-
![]()
How Net Operating Loss Affects Your Business
May 18, 2022
A business incurs a net operating loss (NOL) when expenses exceed revenues. The Ascent goes through how to calculate NOL and turn it into a …
Read More
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. The Motley Fool has a Disclosure Policy. The Author and/or The Motley Fool may have an interest in companies mentioned.