Maurice W. Atkinson II, CPA, PLLC

Name: Maurice W. Atkinson II, CPA, PLLC
Address: 703 Massey Street, Smithfield, NC, 27577, US
Telephone: +13368997574

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Maurice W. Atkinson II, CPA, PLLC

09/02/2026

If your estate might exceed the federal estate tax exemption ($15 million for 2026), you’re probably concerned about future estate tax liability. A spousal lifetime access trust (SLAT) may help. A SLAT can allow you to remove wealth from your estate tax-free while providing a safety net if your needs change in the future. Essentially, a SLAT is an irrevocable trust you establish for the benefit of your spouse plus your children or other relatives. Your spouse is granted limited access to the trust’s funds during his or her lifetime, giving you indirect access. Call us at 919-934-6000 to discuss whether a SLAT makes sense for you.

09/01/2026

Many tax law changes went into effect this year. So it’s important to evaluate where your business stands — and where it’s headed — before year end. Tax planning opportunities may still be available, but they’ll become more limited as the calendar winds down. Whether you’re considering equipment purchases, compensation strategies, retirement plan contributions or other tax-saving moves, now is the time to look ahead and review your options. Call us at 919-934-6000 to bring your 2026 tax strategy into focus.

08/31/2026

Running a successful business requires more than keeping up with the day-to-day. It also requires taking time to evaluate your financial position, identify opportunities and plan for what’s ahead. Whether you need assistance with accounting, bookkeeping, tax planning or strategic business advice, we can help you gain clarity. Our team provides practical guidance tailored to your specific needs, so you can focus on running and growing your business. Contact us at 919-934-6000 to learn more.

08/28/2026

Scholarship awards can provide significant financial relief to families of college-bound students. Most, but not all, of the awards are tax-free. To qualify for tax-free status, scholarships must meet three criteria: 1) The student must be a degree candidate at an eligible educational institution, 2) the award must be used to pay for tuition and fees, books, and certain supplies (not room and board or travel), and 3) the award can’t represent wages for teaching or research. Many graduate student awards have employment compensation components, so they may be taxable. Also, taxable scholarship money could potentially be subject to the “kiddie” tax. Contact us at 919-934-6000 for more information.

08/26/2026

If your trust is subject to high state income tax, you may be able to change its residence (or “situs”) to a state with low or no income taxes. Relocating a trust may offer a tax advantage if the trust is an irrevocable nongrantor trust, accumulates (rather than distributes) substantial amounts of ordinary income or capital gains, and can be moved to a state with low or no taxes on accumulated trust income. Call us at 919-934-6000 for more information.

08/25/2026

Grabbing lunch with a client doesn’t just build rapport. It can also trim your tax bill. Under federal tax law, you can generally deduct 50% of qualifying business meal costs. Whether you're dining with clients, partners or employees, these deductions can reduce your taxable income. Keep detailed records of the expenses, including receipts. Document the business purpose of each meal and the business relationship of the people you dine with. Contact us at 919-934-6000 with any questions about this deduction.

08/24/2026

One of the easiest ways to reduce the size of your taxable estate is to take advantage of your gift tax annual exclusion. For 2026, you can transfer up to $19,000 per recipient gift-tax-free. And you can double the exclusion to $38,000 per recipient if you split the gifts with your spouse. But it’s critical to understand the rules of gift-splitting to avoid unintended tax consequences. To elect to split gifts, the spouse making the gift must file a gift tax return, and the other spouse must consent by checking a box on the return and signing it. Contact us at 919-934-6000 for additional details.

08/21/2026

The IRS has increased the 2026 cents-per-mile rates for calculating tax-deductible vehicle operating costs due to rising fuel costs. Effective July 1, 2026, the standard mileage rate for the business use of a car, van, pickup truck or panel truck is 76 cents per mile, up from 72.5 cents per mile for the first half of the year. The revised rate for medical and eligible moving purposes is 23.5 cents per mile, up from 20.5 cents per mile. For charitable driving, the 14 cents per mile rate remains unchanged. These rates apply to gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles as well as electric and hybrid ones. To protect your deduction, keep detailed mileage records. Call us at 919-934-6000 with questions.

08/19/2026

Are your bills piling up? Managing accounts payable can be challenging for small businesses — especially when payment obligations aren’t clearly tracked. QuickBooks Online tools can help by organizing upcoming bills, automating bill entry, and simplifying electronic or check payments. Stronger payables management may reduce missed deadlines and late fees and improve cash flow visibility. We can help your business use QuickBooks Online more efficiently and streamline your payables process. Contact us at 919-934-6000 to learn more.

08/18/2026

Business owners: Should you use cash to pay federal tax debt or keep it for operational needs? Paying the IRS sooner may ease stress and reduce penalties, but draining cash can disrupt operations, payroll and growth. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. In many cases, the IRS offers options — such as installment agreements, temporary collection holds or penalty relief — that may help you stay compliant while preserving cash flow. The biggest risk is choosing extremes, either depleting cash reserves or ignoring the issue. A balanced strategy often works best. Call us at 919-934-6000. We can review your options and help you create a plan.

Address

703 Massey Street
Smithfield, NC
27577

Telephone

+13368997574

Website

http://atkinson-cpa.com/

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