Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • November 20, 2017 • Hartford Business Journal 21 EXPERTS CORNER Bipartisan budget deal leads to tax changes for businesses, individuals By Paul Graney O n Oct. 31, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed a "trick-or-treat" bipartisan bud- get agreement that provided for a number of new tax changes. He also vetoed a hospital provider tax, but offered new language to revise it. On the "treat" side are a few changes that will benefit Connecticut taxpayers in the years ahead. First, for tax years beginning Jan. 1, 2018, a 100-percent tax exemption will apply to social-security benefits to all taxpay- ers with income under a certain threshold. The prior rules gave the exemption to single filers if their income was under $50,000; the new income limit is under $75,000. For married couples filing joint returns or head of household filers, the old limit was income under $60,000; it is now increased to income under $100,000. Next, beginning in 2019 and going through 2025, the tax on pension and annuity income will also phaseout based on income limitations. The limitations are $75,000 for single filers, married filing separate, and head of household; then $100,000 for married couples filing jointly. For tax years beginning Jan. 1, 2019, 14 percent of pension and annuity income is deductible. For 2020, 28 percent is deduct- ible, followed by 42 percent for 2021; 56 percent for 2022; 70 percent for 2023; 84 percent for 2024; and 100 percent for 2025 and beyond. One other benefit is a personal income tax deduction for costs associated with organ donations. The deductible costs are limited to $10,000 and apply to items such as lost wages, medical, travel and housing expenses. Other taxpayer benefits include a re- fundable credit for college graduates who remain employed in the state. Starting Jan. 1, 2019, graduates who receive bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees in the sci- ence, technology, engineering, or math fields (STEM) can claim a $500 credit if they live and work in (or move to) Connecti- cut. The credit can be claimed for each of the first five years after graduation, provided the individual lives in Connecticut. On the "trick" side, new tax increases were enacted against a number of busi- ness operations that will be passed on to consumers. First, there is a 45-cent per pack increase in the cigarette tax and two new taxes on fantasy sports contests and ride- sharing companies. Effective July 1, 2019, fantasy sports contests will now have a 10.5 percent gross receipts tax on the entry fees collected by the operator from all players. Effective Jan. 1, 2018, ride-sharing compa- nies like Uber and Lyft must pay a 25 cent fee on each ride that originates in Connecticut. Finally, there has been an exemption from the admission tax at the following locations: XL Center, Webster Bank Arena, Dunkin' Donuts Park and New Britain Stadium. Be- ginning Dec. 1, 2017, that exemption will be eliminated and admissions at each of those venues will now be subject to the tax. Meantime, in an attempt to collect more tax revenue and entice people with out- standing tax returns to file and pay their taxes, the commissioner of the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) is now empow- ered to implement a "Fresh Start," or delin- quent taxpayer's amnesty program. If enacted, this program would apply to all taxes except motor carrier road taxes. It would cover any return that was due prior to Dec. 31, 2016, and provide for a waiver of all penalties plus 50 percent of all interest due on those missing returns. It would also apply to taxpayers that did file returns but did not report the full amount of tax that was due. The taxpayer will have to come forward voluntarily prior to contact by the DRS and not be currently protesting or litigat- ing the issue for which the fresh start is requested. In relation to estate and gift taxes, the budget increases the tax-free threshold over a three-year period. For 2018, no tax will be imposed on estates or gifts of $2.6 million or less. For 2019, the exemption increases to $3.6 million, and for 2020 and thereafter, the exemption is tied to the federal basic exclusion amount, currently at $5 million. If that amount changes in the new federal tax bill, then the basic exclusion amount will apply to all Connecticut estates and gifts beginning in 2020. Finally, beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the maximum estate and gift tax imposed by Connecticut is lowered from $20 million to $15 million. Paul Graney is the state and local tax leader at Marcum LLP, a national accounting and advisory firm, with an office in Hartford. HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM POLL LAST WEEK'S POLL RESULT: Paul Graney NEXT WEEK'S POLL: Can Greater Hartford support another regional shopping center, like the Outlets Shoppes at Rentschler Field? To vote, go online to hartfordbusiness.com BIZ BOOKS Tips for setting and simplifying business strategy By Jim Pawlak "Making Big Decisions Better — How to Set and Simplify Business Strategy" by Mark Lewko (Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, $35). Lewko's defini- tion of strategy: "A framework of choices that defines the purpose and path of the organization." While it looks straightforward, it's quite complex because a "framework of choices" deals with the fluid dynamics of execution around three elements — products, mar- kets and capabilities. I'd add a fourth, the economy, and a fifth, regulations. The framework sees strategy implemen- tation as an ongoing decision-making pro- cess. As a process, its "appraise, decide, plan, adjust" steps can be used by small busi- ness units to the largest divisions. When applying these steps, Lewko believes that managers must understand the revenue (e.g. volume, price, value perception, prod- uct mix and age, competition, etc.) and cost (e.g. direct and indirect costs of labor and materials, inventory control, quality control, purchasing, distribution, administrative overhead, etc.) drivers that affect "the numbers." In many cases, variance analysis can shape forward- thinking decisions. Trade-off analysis can also be useful. There are also people and finan- cial capabilities, which affect both revenue and cost drivers. Without the right people and sufficient funds, action choices are limited. Lewko also believes that mixing strategic (what) and operational (how) measurements makes it difficult to distinguish between the two in reports on key performance indicators. He suggests creating a stand- alone "strategic performance indicators (SPI) report," which focuses on products, markets and capabilities. By separating the what from the how, it's easier to determine where additional resources are required to maximize results or tweak underperform- ing plans. He also believes that companies have way too many reports. In an effort to measure everything, people resources are tied up creating reports. Numerous complex reports often obscure meaningful information. Lewko's strategy message: "Focus on the few things that matter most. Make people accountable. Find out why we're hitting the mark or coming up short." Then adjust. Jim Pawlak Book Review Is the $769 million CTrail Hartford line a smart investment for Connecticut? 31% No 69% Yes READER COMMENTS: "We need to invest in high- speed rail that connects the cities/towns together while limiting the cars, thereby decreasing the number of cars on the roads and highways. We need to model ourselves after Europe, where trains are affordable and accessible unlike here in the U.S." "No. The state needs a master plan to deal with all transportation issues in an integrated way. With the advent of ride-share services and self-driving cars, light rail will likely become an extinct technology. Too expensive." "Absolutely yes. We need to make the state more attractive to the younger generations, which are more interested in an urban lifestyle. It will also have a positive economic impact along the line."

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