Straight Talk | The Law Blog
by Walker Heye, PLLC
Noncompetition Agreements
Effective January 1, 2020, the State of Washington dramatically limited the instances in which an employer can use or enforce noncompetition agreements with employees and contractors. The law prevents the use of noncompetition agreements for low level employees who make less $100,000.00 a year in compensation and for independent contractors who receive less than $250,000.00…
What you need to know about lawsuits under $10,000
Small Lawsuits Many people get into disputes over sums of money that are very important, but not big in the greater scheme of things. While consulting an attorney is always advisable, and engaging an attorney may be an appropriate way to address a small lawsuit, it isn’t always the right approach. Additionally, there are risks…
Navigating Pregnancy Accommodations as an Employer
What are the new Pregnancy Accommodations Laws? Beginning in 2017, Washington enacted an additional layer of protection for employees regarding pregnancy and work-related accommodations. Prior to the 2017 legislation, employers were required to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees so long as the accommodations did not place an “undue hardship” on the employer. The new legislation…
No Payment? No Problem: Optimizing Washington State’s Lien Statutes
Materialmen’s and Mechanics’ Liens Despite the misleading nomenclature, the materialmen’s and mechanics’ liens are specifically designed to assist in the collection of debts owed to individuals and businesses whose services relate to the improvement of real property. These liens can be utilized by engineers, builders, electricians, landscapers, equipment rental companies, and similar businesses, in addition to…
Tax Planning Triage – Preparing for the end of 2017
Tax planning should be continuous. However, many people procrastinate, waiting until near the end of the year to determine what might be done to reduce or defer taxes. Tax planning is dependent upon individual circumstances, and the considerations discussed below are not universally applicable. That said, these topics are worth discussing with your CPA so…
New Business Partnership Audit Rules, Coming in 2018
The Effects of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 on IRS Examinations of Partnership Returns. New partnership audit rules apply starting in the 2018 tax year.1 The new rules shift some of the burden of federal tax enforcement from the IRS to partnerships under examination. Under the current Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA)…
Top 5 Things You Need To Know If You Were Just Arrested For DUI in Washington State
Arrested for DUI in Washington State? Here’s five things you should know before you go to court: 1. Your driver’s license is still valid – but you need to request a DOL hearing right away. If your driver’s license was valid before your DUI arrest, you can still legally drive a motor vehicle unless you…
Valuing the Family Farm for Property Tax Purposes Part II
When the time comes to consider transitioning the family farm, there are some valuation rules which are worth considering. Washington property tax provides a tax savings for lands classified as a farm. The Washington and Federal estate tax regimes provide value reductions for farm property as well. The Federal estate tax may soon become a thing of the past due to President Trump’s recent tax reform proposal, but as of yet the tax is still in effect.
Valuing the Family Farm for Property Tax Purposes – Part I
An owner may apply for his or her farm to be valued based on its current use as opposed to its true and fair value. Property tax is assessed on the value of real estate as determined by the county assessor.Generally, Washington real property values are determined based on the “true and fair value” which includes criteria such as sales of similar property within the last five years and potential income uses. The Open Space Taxation Act created three property classifications which allow property to be taxed based on current use value: open space, farm and agricultural land, and timberland. Farm values will be derived from the farm’s earning capacity. This means a farm may be valued as a farm rather than the subdivision it could be.
Devising Retirement Accounts when Estate Planning
Generally, your will does not control disposition of your retirement account. A retirement account is a non-probate asset, like a bank account, or life insurance. This means that the disposition of your retirement account is generally not controlled by your will, but instead by the beneficiary designation filed with the plan administrator.