The financial management of local governmental organizations has never been more challenging or critical than it is today. The growing complexity of governmental reporting and compliance issues, the heightened demand for accountability as stewards of public resources, and the constant pressure to provide exceptional public services while maintaining budgetary integrity, have significantly increased the demands on local government organization business officials and governance. LB Carlson provides effective assurance, compliance, and advisory services to help our governmental clients meet these challenges and maintain the trust of their constituents and stakeholders.
An experienced and expert resource
It’s important for local governments to partner with a firm that offers expert audit, accounting, and advisory services dedicated to this complex field. Our governmental services team’s leadership and experience serving the highly specialized needs of the local governmental sector in Minnesota is unsurpassed.
This experience brings a thorough understanding of this unique environment, ensuring our clients receive expert solutions that consider the latest developments in governmental accounting, compliance, and legislation. The leadership and staff of our governmental services team have the specialized knowledge and experience necessary to deliver high-quality services in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Governmental organizations we partner with
LB Carlson’s governmental services team currently provides services to approximately 100 local governmental organizations, including:
How we can help you!
In addition to traditional attestation, compliance, and accounting services, LB Carlson offers a wide range of customized advisory services specifically tailored to meet the needs of our governmental clients. Our governmental services team’s depth of specialized knowledge and thorough understanding of this constantly evolving environment enables us to provide responsive and forward-thinking support to our governmental clients throughout the year.
As a result of the current estate tax exemption amount ($11.58 million in 2020), many estates no longer need to be concerned with federal estate tax. Before 2011, a much smaller amount resulted in estate plans attempting to avoid it. Now, because many estates won’t be subject to estate tax, more planning can be devoted to saving income taxes for your heirs.
In Notice 2020-71, the IRS recently announced per diem rates that can be used to substantiate the amount of business expenses incurred for travel away from home on or after October 1, 2020.
COVID-19 has changed our lives in many ways, and some of the changes have tax implications. Here is basic information about two common situations.
To say that most small to midsize businesses have at least considered taking out a loan this year would probably be an understatement. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has lowered many companies’ revenue but may have also opened opportunities for others to expand or pivot into more profitable areas.
If your company needs working capital to grow, rather than simply survive, you might want to consider a mezzanine loan. These arrangements offer relatively quick access to substantial funding but with risks that you should fully understand before signing on the dotted line.
Many businesses now offer, as part of their health care benefits, various types of accounts that reimburse employees for medical expenses on a tax-advantaged basis. These include health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRAs) and Health Savings Account (HSAs, which are usually offered in conjunction with a high-deductible health plan).
No company can afford to operate without the right accounting software. When considering whether to buy a new product or upgrade their current solutions, however, business owners often fall prey to some common mistakes. Here are five gaffes to avoid:
