The IRS views digital currency as property. Therefore, the applicable tax code for cryptocurrency is typically the portion of the code that relates to capital gains or losses. However, some transactions involving digital currency may be treated as income for the owner. Now that Bitcoin and other forms of digital currency have gained in popularity, and increased substantially in value, the IRS is interested in ensuring that taxpayers report cryptocurrency correctly.

Tax Attorney Steve Thienel discusses time-honored tactics for reducing stress around tax time.

Business negotiations can be tricky. As parties go back and forth to reach an agreement, the parties are struggling for leverage and favorable terms. In most negotiations, both parties compromise on some issues. Rarely do all parties walk away from business negotiations with everything that they desired when they began the process. Even though negotiation skills are important, it is also important to remember that there is a legal aspect of business negotiations.

Are you ready to sell your business? You have worked hard to build your company, but it may be time to let it go. Whether you are retiring or moving on to another venture, there are many things to consider before you begin the process of marketing and selling your business. Preparing in advance is the key to maximizing the value you receive when you sell your company.

Accumulating wealth and protecting wealth are two estate planning goals shared by most individuals, regardless of the size of their estate. If you are searching for ways to increase your estate to leave a substantial legacy to your heirs, look at some of the estate planning secrets wealthy individuals use as they develop and execute a comprehensive estate plan.

One of the most important considerations you will have as a start-up is choosing a business entity. This choice affects your tax liability, your ability to sell shares, and may even impact your ability to receive funding.

Individuals who work or live in Maryland are typically subject to state taxes based on their residency status. Therefore, your residency status can have a significant impact on whether you owe state income taxes. If Maryland demands you file a tax return and pay state income taxes even though you were not a resident, contact a Maryland tax attorney to discuss your options for challenging the state’s claim of residency.

Estate planning for parents is a crucial step in providing for the future care of a special needs child, especially if parents want to avoid risking their child’s benefits. A child receiving public assistance or disability benefits could lose those benefits if they inherit large sums of money or property. With careful estate planning, parents can provide for the financial needs of their child while keeping their benefits intact.

According to the 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon, no business is too small or too large to be a victim of hackers and data breaches. Information of all types has a value. Your business need not have access to millions of dollars to be an attractive target for hackers. That you store personal information gathered from your customers can make you attractive to a hacker who wants to sell that data to identity thieves. Therefore, all business should assume they are attractive to a hacker.

An important element of estate planning is planning for the future of a person with special needs. There are several tools a family can use to protect a loved one. One of the newest special needs estate-planning tools that many families are discussing with their Maryland estate-planning attorney is the ABLE account. If you have never considered an ABLE account, you may want to discuss one with your lawyer.

Businesses and companies use NDAs or Non-Disclosure Agreements to protect confidential information. However, if an NDA does not contain certain elements, it may not be legally enforceable. A Maryland business attorney can help you ensure that you include all key elements in your company’s NDA to make the agreement effective and enforceable. Below are five key elements that a business should include in its NDAs.

You have several options if you want to protect your assets and your loved ones in Maryland. A Maryland estate-planning attorney can help you sort through your options and develop strategies for optimizing the types of documents we can use in our state.

Starting a new business is exciting. You have an idea for a service or a product you are convinced consumers want. Before offering your product or service to consumers, certain practical and legal considerations must be addressed to protect your business interests and your personal interests. The decisions you make while setting up your new business venture have a significant impact on many short-term and long-term matters and issues.

Maryland law provides many options to create a trust as part of your estate plan. Depending on your situation, one or more trusts may be in your best interests. Trusts are complex documents that can have life-long effects for you and your beneficiaries, so care must be taken in choosing and drafting your trusts. A Maryland estate-planning attorney can work with you to help you decide which type of trust or trusts best meet your needs.

People in Maryland can write practically whatever terms they want in their wills, but that does not mean the probate courts will honor those terms. Let's say that you want to leave nothing to the person who would ordinarily inherit a portion of your estate. You might be angry at the person, or you might have agreed, for example, with your spouse, that they will take nothing under your will. Take it from a Maryland estate-planning attorney—this may not be entirely legal.

You worked hard for many decades and saved money for retirement. You would think that since you earned that money, you can do with it what you want. Many people are surprised to learn that the government will force them to start taking money out of their retirement savings when they reach the age of 70 ½ years. Why is that? Maryland tax attorneys have been advising their clients on this rule for years. Here’s what you need to know.

For taxpayers who do not pay taxes throughout the year or underpay, they may face a large tax penalty when they file their tax returns. If you are going broke paying estimated tax penalties, working with a Maryland tax attorney to identify problems with your estimated tax payments could help eliminate those penalties.

At work, you may deal with leases, employment contracts, vendor agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and partnership agreements. If you need to review a contract, these seven pro tips from our experienced Maryland business attorney can help you cut through some of the legalese to identify the key terms contained in the contract.

The Fractional General Counsel Model utilizes an up-front fee structure customized to meet the needs of your particular business. This model is particularly beneficial for start-ups, who may not have the budget to hire a full-time counsel, but want to ensure their investment is protected. Check out our latest video on why more start-ups are using fractional general counsel.