Larrieu, Smith Named Pensacola Rising Stars

Congratulations to Robin Larrieu and Justin Smith for being named to the Pensacola Independent News Rising Stars 2012 list!  The Rising Stars program has been honoring leaders under the age of 35 in Pensacola since 2008.  To be chosen as a Rising star, one must be seen as an upcoming leader in his or her profession within our community.

Read more about the 2012 Pensacola Rising Stars.

Saltmarsh is proud of Robin and Justin!  Congratulations from the entire Saltmarsh team!

Robin Larrieu is the Network Engineer in the Information Technology Services Department of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund. Coming from a large ISP she joined the firm in June 2006 and began her career in 2003.

Her experience includes computer networking and technology consulting. Robin is a Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician.

Justin Smith is a Senior in the Tax & Accounting Services Department of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund. He has been practicing public accounting since 2006.

Justin’s area of expertise includes corporate and individual tax specializing in construction contractors, homeowner’s associations and non-profit organizations.

Bill Massey Quoted in American Banker

Bill Massey, CPA, Shareholder, has been quoted in the latest edition of American Banker and on AmericanBanker.com in an article focusing on rebuilding Florida's community banks.   

To read Bill's quote and the article in its entirety, please click on the link below. The article is on the second page of the document.

Fla. Regulator Intends to Help State's Banks Rebuild

Saltmarsh Announces 2012 Promotions

Please join us in congratulating the following individuals who have been promoted as of January 1, 2012:

Suzanne Cox, CPA has been promoted to Senior Manager in the Audit Department of the Tampa office of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund. Suzanne has been practicing in this field since 2003,  and her experience includes audit, accounting, taxation and consulting services. Her areas of expertise include development, construction and manufacturing companies. Prior to working in public accounting Suzanne worked as an Information Systems Consultant for a private accounting software firm.

Cedric Durre has been promoted to Manager in the Information Technology Services Department of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund. He has been practicing in this field since 2001, and his experience includes networking and information technology. He also has experience working in internet service provider infrastructure and datacenter environments.

Lisa Goodwin, CPA has been promoted to Senior in Audit Department of the Fort Walton Beach office of Saltmarsh, Cleveland & Gund and provides audit and assurance services to clients. She joined the firm in October 2008 and her areas of concentration include non-profit, governmental, condominiums, and homeowners’ associations.

Alexandria O'Brien has been promoted to Senior in the Audit Department of the Tampa office of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund. Since joining Saltmarsh in 2008, she has worked in our accounting and audit department serving our financial institution clients, private companies and nonprofit organizations.

Legislative Alert - Update on IRS Form 1099 and Other Payment Returns

Background

An information return is a tax document businesses are required to file to report certain business transactions to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The requirement to file Information Returns is mandated by the Internal Revenue Service and associated regulations.

Any person, including a corporation, partnership, individual, estate, and trust, who engages in reportable transactions during the calendar year must file information returns to report those transactions to the IRS. Persons required to file Information Returns to the IRS generally must also furnish statements to the recipients of the income. Filers of 250 or more such returns must file these returns electronically with IRS.

Key Developments & Observations

• Earlier in 2011, previously expanded Form 1099 rules – that were originally passed as a component of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 – were repealed. If the rules had not been repealed, effective for payments made after December 31, 2011, the general requirement for information reporting by all persons engaged in a trade or business who make payments in any tax year aggregating $600 or more to a single payee would be expanded to include payments made to a corporation (but not payments to a tax exempt corporation). Additionally, the class of payments for which reporting is required would be expanded to include all amounts paid in consideration for property, and other gross proceeds for both property and services.
• Starting January 1, 2011, brokers required to file Form 1099-B regarding a covered security must also report the customer’s adjusted basis in the security and whether any gain or loss with respect to the security is long term or short term.

• An entity should use Form W-9 to request the taxpayer identification number of a U.S. person (including a resident alien) who will receive an information return.

• An entity should use the appropriate Form W-8 for foreign persons who will receive an information return.

For more information or to ask questions about this legislative alert, contact one of our tax and accounting advisors at 800-488-7458, or visit our website to learn more.
© 2011 EisnerAmper LLP

This publication is intended to provide general information to our friends. It does not constitute accounting, tax, or legal advice; nor is it intended to convey a thorough treatment of the subject matter.

Jim Speed Retirement

This week, Saltmarsh celebrated the retirement of Jim Speed.  Jim spent more than 30 years of his public accounting career at Saltmarsh and spent a portion of his time here as the shareholder in charge of retirement plan accounts, profit sharing plans and flexible medical and dependent care spending accounts.

We surprised Jim with a reception in the community room and a slide show of images of him at the firm through the years.  We are grateful for Jim's commitment to the firm and we wish him a very happy retirement!

From right: Jim Speed with Ron Jackson.



The cake was delicious!  So much so, we didn't get a photo before it was eaten!



Payroll Tax Cut Temporarily Extended into 2012

IR-2011-124, Dec. 23, 2011

WASHINGTON — Nearly 160 million workers will benefit from the extension of the reduced payroll tax rate that has been in effect for 2011. The Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 temporarily extends the two percentage point payroll tax cut for employees, continuing the reduction of their Social Security tax withholding rate from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent of wages paid through Feb. 29, 2012. This reduced Social Security withholding will have no effect on employees’ future Social Security benefits.

Employers should implement the new payroll tax rate as soon as possible in 2012 but not later than Jan. 31, 2012. For any Social Security tax over-withheld during January, employers should make an offsetting adjustment in workers’ pay as soon as possible but not later than March 31, 2012.

Employers and payroll companies will handle the withholding changes, so workers should not need to take any additional action.

Under the terms negotiated by Congress, the law also includes a new “recapture” provision, which applies only to those employees who receive more than $18,350 in wages during the two-month period (the Social Security wage base for 2012 is $110,100, and $18,350 represents two months of the full-year amount). This provision imposes an additional income tax on these higher-income employees in an amount equal to 2 percent of the amount of wages they receive during the two-month period in excess of $18,350 (and not greater than $110,100).

This additional recapture tax is an add-on to income tax liability that the employee would otherwise pay for 2012 and is not subject to reduction by credits or deductions. The recapture tax would be payable in 2013 when the employee files his or her income tax return for the 2012 tax year. With the possibility of a full-year extension of the payroll tax cut being discussed for 2012, the IRS will closely monitor the situation in case future legislation changes the recapture provision.

The IRS will issue additional guidance as needed to implement the provisions of this new two-month extension, including revised employment tax forms and instructions and information for employees who may be subject to the new “recapture” provision. For most employers, the quarterly employment tax return for the quarter ending March 31, 2012 is due April 30, 2012.

Ft. Walton Beach Holiday Party

The Fort Walton Beach office celebrated the holidays together at the home of Glenn Scharf with tons of delicious food and fun games, coordinated by Allyson Oury.  After an intense game of "Dirty Santa," the team rounded out the night with the "Team Work" pyramid.