Insights on tax, equity, and building wealth
Guides and analysis from the Harness team and the advisors on the platform.
Harness Equity Tools Launches in Open Beta
We are excited about the release of the newest component to our platform, Harness Tools. This offering moves us closer to our goal of giving builders like you absolute confidence in setting the best path toward your financial future with a comprehensive view of your assets and analyzing the strategic steps to take with your equity.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait Until Next Year to Get a CPA
As much as we would like to delay thinking about tax filings, the end of the calendar year is the perfect time to evaluate whether you have the right CPA and get the right one in place. Here are the four reasons why you shouldn't wait.
How Quarterly Tax Payments Work
Quarterly tax payments can seem intimidating, particularly in the first year that this happens for you or your household. We recommend that you think of them not just as an extra bill/hassle from the IRS, but a great opportunity to start being strategic about your overall tax plan as part of your financial goals.
Financial Planning for Employees Before and After IPO
Working for a company that goes public can have life-changing financial consequences. It can also give rise to tax and legal issues that must be addressed proactively to protect and maximize your windfall.
Financial Wellness Employee Benefits for Startups
Amidst layoffs and IPOs in 2020, executive teams and HR leaders are reevaluating their benefits offerings in 2021 with a newly critical eye.
Liquidity Events & Equity: How HR Can Support Employee Decisions
This can be an exciting time for your organization, but if you’re a manager or HR leader, it likely means you will be facing a wave of questions from employees throughout the event about what it means for their equity and personal finances.
SPAC vs. IPO: Valuation, Lockup Period, and Employee Equity
As a founder or an employee at a company undergoing a SPAC, you should start planning as soon as you're aware the event is on the horizon. The financial impact of this event will not just be an easy windfall -- you'll have to consider the potential costs of exercising options, timing of selling shares, and the resulting tax bill before you can start thinking about how to invest your net proceeds.
Cross-state Residency Tax Considerations in 2020: The Impact of COVID-19 Work From Home
COVID-19 created many unexpected adjustments to working and moving this year. Could these changes result in additional state tax exposure and withholding obligations for individual taxpayers and business owners?
Tax Benefits of a Donor-Advised Fund
A donor-advised fund is a great way to manage your charitable giving and save on taxes. You can take a tax deduction immediately when you provide the donation. Then, the donated funds can be invested and grow tax free. Think of it as creating a sort of personal "savings account" from which you can make donations to causes you care about for years to come.
Tax Planning for a Large Windfall or Inheritance
You'll need to plan ahead to budget for the taxes you owe and be diligent about key tax regulations you can use to your advantage to help reduce the amount of your newfound funds that you'll have to give to the IRS.
Benefits of Hiring a Professional Tax Advisor vs DIY Tax Software
Online tax tools make it easy for the average person to file their annual tax returns, but there are many scenarios where more sophisticated tax strategies can save a significant amount of money, making the ROI on personal tax advising very worthwhile for high earners with complex financial situations and those with sudden windfalls.
Tax Deadline Extension: Planning for the Impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in 2020
With the Coronavrius epidemic impacting the US economy, the IRS and the Secretary of the Treasury have recently announced changes to 2020’s (2019 tax year) usual deadlines.
Tax Planning vs. Tax Preparation: What's the Difference?
Danielle McCarthy, CPA, MST explains the difference between tax planning and tax preparation, key tax optimizations you can make on your own, and how to most productively work with an accountant.
How to Optimize for the 2018 Tax Law Changes
2018 saw one of the most significant tax reforms in recent history. We explore what to consider in your 2018 tax year filing as well as a what to consider for the 2019 tax year that you can implement now.
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