What is sales and use tax, and how is it applied California? California's sales tax generally applies to the sale of merchandise, including vehicles, in the state. California's use tax applies to the use, storage, or other consumption of those same kinds of items in the state. Generally, if sales tax would apply when you buy physical merchandise in California, use t [...]

I went on vacation in early April for a week. There, I said it. It had been a secret I had been carrying around the office for months. I even felt guilty about it. The few people I even mentioned it to looked at me with bewilderment. But that’s not where it ends. I had the gall to not work in the office a single weekend in February, March and April. Have I gone crazy? [...]

On the heels of statements made earlier this year regarding the repeal of the Johnson Amendment, President Donald Trump today signed an executive order that allows churches and other religious organizations to become more active politically. It also provides regulatory relief for organizations that object, on religious grounds, to a provision of Affordable Care Act th [...]

We are all familiar with the letter ratings: G, PG, R & X; we have all seen the screen shot just before previews and opening credits at the movies stating “The following preview has been approved by…”; and we have all seen the warning screen that says we may go to jail for 5 years and pay a fine of $250,000 for reproducing or distributing the movie we are about to [...]

Overview: One area where complexities of U.S. taxation is clearly demonstrated is the Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”) rules. These PFIC rules generally apply to U.S. investors in a foreign corporation where U.S. ownership is 50% or less. A PFIC is any foreign corporation if – 75 percent or more of the gross income of such corporation for the taxable year [...]

On Wednesday, April 26, the White House issued President Donald Trump’s main goals and priorities for tax reform, including significant cuts of the corporate tax rates, moving to a territorial tax system and eliminating business tax breaks for special interests. The White House proposals were outlined in a one-page sheet of bullet points titled “2017 Tax Re [...]

At GHJ, we believe every day is a chance to #BeMore. Not do more. Not work more. Instead, we encourage one another to be the best we can be for one another – and our clients. In this era where technology has made life move faster than ever, we all need efficiency more than ever. What if I told you there are five ways to achieve more by doing less? We are all inundate [...]

The restaurant industry has been a major part of the economy as it accounts for roughly $800B in annual sales. However, with more people opting to make dinner versus spending on trendy dining experiences, recent trends seem to be setting the industry back. December 2016 saw the industry collectively generate negative same-store sales growth, which can be a sign of thi [...]

China has become the second largest theatrical market since 2012, but when it comes to distributing foreign films in China, Hollywood has not been able to enjoy much of China’s box office success. This lack of success is due to various market-access restrictions, such as the strict quota system and the low revenue-sharing remittance rate. Foreign-produced films are i [...]

I recently attended the Natural Food Products Expo West, held March 8-12 in Anaheim. The expo focused on the natural and organic food industry, which still has a relatively small market share. However, this market niche is growing at a swift rate that exceeds the food industry growth as a whole. I saw a trend toward showcasing natural foods in the large supermarket c [...]