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2014 Year-End Tax Planning Opportunities
By Steven W. Hays, CPA, Rubin Brown
Year-end tax planning for 2014 must consider many important "temporary" tax provisions that have expired and may not be retroactively reinstated and extended before the end of the year. With the election now passed, Congress may or may not act to extend or reinstate various beneficial tax provisions. The key expired provisions are covered below, along with year-end planning moves to cope with the current uncertainty, where appropriate.
Capital Gains
Long-term capital gains continue to be taxed at a rate of:
- 20% if the taxpayer is in the 39.6% income tax bracket
- 15% if the taxpayer is in the 15% income tax bracket but below the 39.6% income tax bracket, and
- 0% if the taxpayer is below the 15% income tax bracket.
Low-Taxed Dividend Income
Qualified dividend income continues to be taxed at the same favorable tax rates that apply to long-term capital gains. Where possible, converting investment income (which is taxable at higher regular rates) into qualified dividend income can achieve tax savings and result in higher after-tax income. However, the 3.8% surtax on net investment income will apply.
Expensing Deduction (Section 179)
Unless Congress changes the rules, for tax years beginning in 2014 the maximum amount that may be expensed is $25,000, phased out dollar for dollar once total fixed assets purchased exceeds $200,000.
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Builder Partnerships at IBS
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Builder Partnerships will host its 10th annual reception at the International Builder's Show this year, and for the fourth consecutive year we can be found in our booth (S 1000) on the show floor. But Builder Partnerships and its members are not confined to just those two arenas. You can find our members-builders, manufacturers, and service providers-throughout IBS.
At www.builderpartnerships.com we have a complete list of manufacturer members and their booth numbers. We encourage all our builder members to stop by these booths, check out the latest products and let them know you're with Builder Partnerships.
Click here
to see the member booth listing (Revised Link).
Our manufacturer partners have a huge presence at IBS, but our builder members and service providers are giving significant heft to the driving force of the show-the education programs. Check out the educational programs that we recommend, and please note that several of them (shaded) will be held in our booth (S 1000).
Click here to see the member educational program listing (Revised Link).
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Behr Paints Joins Builder Partnerships
The Right Products and Solutions to Help You Exceed Homeowner Expectations
Builder Partnerships is pleased to announce the addition of Behr Process Corporation into the Builder Partnerships program.
 As one of the largest suppliers of architectural paint and exterior wood care products, Behr has the right solutions, tools and resources to help projects stay on time and on budget while exceeding the expectations of homeowners. "Whether the project calls for primer to cover tough stains, paint and primer in one, or zero- or low-VOC coatings, our line-up of products are engineered with the professional in mind to solve problems and surpass expectations," said Kelly Kambs, Senior Vice President of Professional Products & Services for Behr Process Corporation. Read More...
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 Product News
Tips to Improve your Master Bath Walk-through
 You're on a walk-through with a potential homebuyer. It's a beautiful home with all the expected appointments, including a brilliant master bath with tiled floors and shower, dual his and her vanity sinks, and trend-setting fixtures. "Wow!" your customers exclaim, as they flip on the light switch and walk into their dream bathroom. Your customer instinctively then flips on the adjacent wall switch. A loud roar rumbles from the ceiling as the bath fan kicks in. The noise is unsettling and contradicts the other high-end appointments in the room. Your customer quickly turns the fan off, but not before the interruption deadens the excitement in the air. As a builder, you already know that the master bathroom is a critical moment during the walk-through. You want your customer fully immersed in the excitement, not distracted by details. Noisy fans distract during the walk-through. Don't dampen that "Aha!" moment of a beautiful master bath by going cheap on the fan. Unlike many unforeseen problems during the selling process, this problem is very much within your control and your budget. Newer ENERGY STAR fans provide a quiet, restful bathroom experience for your homebuyers, so they can get lost in that special moment. The QT Series by Broan-NuTone offers an ideal solution for both quiet and economical master bathroom ventilation. QT ventilation products offer a rare combination of power and extremely quiet operation. They also do the job efficiently as most are ENERGY STAR Qualified. A variety of additional functions are also available, such as fans with lights, nightlights, and heaters.
Read More...
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 Product News
The Look Millennials Love. The Surfacing You Trust
Formica Corporation to Unveil Inventive, Chic 2015 Residential Line at KBIS
Get ready for something truly inspiring from Formica Brand at the 2015 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. The company will be unveiling their modern and chic 2015 Formica Brand Residential Collection. Featuring nine bold new designs produced in collaboration with renowned designer Jonathan Adler, the 2015 line will banish outdated ideas about laminate and introduce the product to a new generation of homeowners by delivering striking, unique looks that will appeal to even the most discerning 'Millennial'.
The Formica Laminate Jonathan Adler Collection will include many of the designer's signature patterns in an array of colors ranging from subtle to daring. Each style reflects Jonathan's spirit of irreverent luxury and represents a bold update of a classic material, Formica Laminate.
The collection has been developed specifically to satisfy the design-driven, green-minded, individualistic nature of younger homeowners and apartment dwellers, while at the same time providing residential designers, architects and builders with the sustainable, durable, High Pressure Laminate (HPL) from Formica Brand that they trust. At almost 80 million strong, the voices of the termed 'Millennial' generation-those asking for environmentally low-impact products and unique spaces-will continue to heavily inform residential design and building.
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 Product News
Study Finds New Propane Heating Systems Offer Fastest Payback, Better Performance
By Bridget Kidd, Director of Residential and Commercial Programs, Propane Education & Research Council
Propane systems maximize affordability, efficiency, and comfort while lowering carbon emissions
 When building a new home, it's critical to specify, purchase, and install systems and equipment that provide homeowners with long-term comfort and efficiency. Often, builders are faced with multiple options when choosing space heating and cooling systems for new residential construction. These purchase decisions are critical, as space heating and cooling account for about half of the energy use in most American homes. The systems that a builder or homeowner chooses will have a major impact on that home's utility bills for many years to come.
Fortunately, new research exists that can help make those particular choices a bit easier. In late 2013, Newport Partners, a Maryland-based firm focused on energy performance, released the results of a study that compared 15 different heating systems using propane, electricity, or heating oil in 20 locations across the United States. The study examined a number of important factors when choosing a heating system, including upfront cost, comfort, and environmental impact.
Upfront cost
The study found that in most cases, systems incorporating high-efficiency propane furnaces cost less to purchase and install than comparable heating systems running on heating oil or electricity. Furthermore, the energy costs for propane furnaces were competitive with the costs for other systems, making the propane models an even better overall value. This fact held true even with systems known for their energy savings, such as ground source heat pumps (GSHPs).
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December Partner Notes
(click the links to read more)
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Live Events 10th Annual Networking Reception at IBS
January 19, 2014
5:30-8:00p.m.
Embassy Suites Convention Center
Las Vegas
Join us on Monday, January 19th, the evening prior to the 2015 International Builder Show / Construction Week, for an excellent evening of networking and camaraderie.
Click here to register.
The Superintendent's Job: Front Line Manager
Feb. 12-14, 2015
Atlanta
The Superintendent's Job - Front Line Manager is designed as an interactive experience to help your team improve job site management techniques.
For more information, click here.
Purchasing, Estimating and Job Costing
Feb. 18-20, 2015
Denver, Colo.
This comprehensive seminar is designed to improve profitability through a more accurate and effective estimating and purchasing department. Good estimating and purchasing can increase your bottom line by as much as 5%. Our goal is to provide a wide range of tools that attendees can use to realize results immediately.
For more information, click here.
Managing for Profit
March 11-13, 2015
Denver, Colo.
An intensive seminar designed to put you on track to improved profitability. Loaded with valuable insight on management techniques specific to home building companies, this seminar will provide tools you can use to realize improved results across the entire organization. Systems, procedures and forms will be demonstrated so you can begin using concepts learned immediately.
For more information, click here.
For the Complete list of events, click here
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Builder Partnerships
Builder Partnerships is a unique organization focused on providing education and improving communication and collaboration within the home building industry. Currently we represents approximately 550 builders in the United States and Canada who have projected about 66,000 homes built collectively this year. With over 75 manufacturer and service providers associated with our group, Builder Partnerships also manages highly competitive rebate and incentive programs and works to strengthen relationships between builders, manufacturers and other service providers in the home building industry. For more information, visit www.builderpartnerships.com
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