Jones Obenchain, LLP

A note from the Jones Obenchain team.

Thank you, veterans, for your service!

Happy Halloween from us to you! We hope you have a safe and spook-tacular night.

The recently released an updated “Know Your Rights” poster which details federal laws prohibiting .

The poster must be prominently displayed by covered employees.

Find all the details in the article:

EEOC Releases Updated "Know Your Rights" Poster WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released the ‘Know Your Rights’ poster, which updates and replaces the previous “EEO is the Law” poster. Covered employers are required by federal law to prominently display the poster at their work sites. The EEOC...

In the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, reconstructing to prove loss is a critical step in filing and receiving . These tips will help you determine which documents are most critical and how to recover them.

Rebuilding records after a natural disaster is an essential step in recovery | Internal Revenue Service Tax Tip 2022-160, October 19, 2022 — Tax records are not a first priority for those affected by natural disasters nor should they be. However, these records may be necessary to get federal assistance or insurance reimbursement.

Last week, the published the formal application for those seeking relief from .

Borrowers can find relief for up to $10,000 for individuals making more than $125,000 a year and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. To receive the debt forgiveness prior to the restarting of payments in January 2023, borrowers should apply by November 15th.

Here are the details:

Applying for Biden’s student loan forgiveness? Here’s what to know. The Biden administration has released the application for its one-time student debt relief program.

The U.S. appears to be in and you may be wondering how to protect your assets and plan for the future. Your estate plan is one of the most important parts of this process and whether you should put your home in a trust is an important consideration.

Check out our blog to learn about the pros and cons of putting your home in a trust.

Putting Your Home in a Trust: Pros & Cons | Jones Obenchain, LLP There are many benefits to putting your home in a trust. Click the link to read our list of all the pros and cons.

Thinking of buying a home for the first time? Congratulations! In this market, it’s paramount that you take advantage of any available and .

We can assist you in navigating surrounding home ownership or assist you in selling your residential property. Contact us to find out how we can help you today!

Know what’s deductible after buying that first home, sweet home | Internal Revenue Service Tax Tip 2022-138, September 8, 2022 — Making the dream of owning a home a reality is a big step for many people. Whether a fixer-upper or dream home, homeownership is a milestone that can come with a learning curve. First-time homeowners should make themselves familiar with authorized deductions, ...

If you’re in the crypto world then you might be wondering if you can defer or reduce how much you owe on crypto or capital gains taxes. You can! Following certain methods could save you tons of money, but using one of these methods incorrectly could cost more than you’d save.

Read the article to find out how you may be able to reduce the amount you owe, and how not to misuse these methods!

Can You Defer Bitcoin or Crypto Capital Gains Taxes? Yes, there are several ways that you can defer or reduce your crypto tax bill and capital gains taxes on bitcoin or cryptocurrency investments. Using one of these mechanisms can save you hundreds or p

The conversation about and rights just got a lot more interesting…

After a landmark decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals which upheld a Texas law banning social media companies from censoring content based on political ideologies. But this is in contrast to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals which decided that a Florida law of similar nature violated the social media company’s constitutional rights.

Read the story for more details and stay tuned for updates.

A landmark Supreme Court fight over social media now looks likely - Indianapolis Business Journal The stakes are high not just for government and the companies, but because of the increasingly dominant role platforms such as Twitter and Facebook play in American democracy and elections.

Lining up with laws established in Europe, California, and Virginia, the federal government is considering bipartisan privacy legislation called the American Data Privacy and Protection Act.

The ADPPA addresses consumer privacy, which has previously largely been addressed by the states. It casts a wider net over the definition of sensitive data and implements tiered applicability based on companies’ income and amount of user data.

Read the article for more information on what’s included in the bill and if it might affect you or your business.

What’s in the American Data Privacy and Protection Act? Congress is considering omnibus privacy legislation, and it reportedly has bipartisan support. If passed, this would be a massive shake-up for American consumer privacy, which has been left to the sta

Thinking about ? There are a few items in the , which President Biden recently signed into law, that you should consider.

Read the article to learn how it could impact your estate planning.

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/inflation-reduction-act-and-estate-planning

The Inflation Reduction Act and Estate Planning President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376) into law on Tuesday, Aug. 16. The Inflation Reduction Act is much smaller than the sweeping $3.5 trillion package the Senate pass

The last Friday by the Fountain is tomorrow! Will we see you there?

Join us to enjoy from The Music Village, along with some good food and, of course, the beautiful fountain outside of the Morris Performing Arts Center.



https://morriscenter.org/event/fridays-by-the-fountain/2022-08-26/

Fridays by the Fountain – Official Website of the Morris Performing Arts Center « All Events Fridays by the Fountain August 26 // 11:45 am - 1:15 pm|Recurring Event (See all)An event every week that begins at 11:45 am on Friday, repeating until September 2, 2022 « Fridays by the Fountain Dueling Pianos » Got lunch plans for your Fridays this summer? Fridays by the Fountain, ...

buyers beware: the is specifically investigating in California who have conducted at least $20,000 in in any year from 2016-2020 through crypto firm SFOX.

This has potential implications for the IRS’s jurisdiction over cryptocurrencies throughout the country and their intention to prosecute internal revenue law violations for crypto users.



https://www.natlawreview.com/article/warning-to-all-us-taxpayers-who-use-cryptocurrency-crypto-doesn-t-mean-your-currency

Warning to All U.S. Taxpayers Who Use Cryptocurrency: “Crypto” Doesn’t Mean Your Currency is Secret — or Protected — from the IRS On August 15, 2022, the federal court in the Central District of California authorized the IRS to serve a John Doe summons on SFOX, a cryptocurrency prime dealer headquartered in California. A John Do

As a recession looms nearer, must start preparing for a shift in labor challenges. Shrinking markets often mean , but there are several steps employers can take to prepare, including understanding the WARN Act, which requires employers to give employees at least 60 days notice of mass layoffs and plant closures.

Read the article to learn how to prepare.

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/employment-dos-and-don-ts-when-implementing-workforce-reductions

Employment Dos and Don’ts When Implementing Workforce Reductions As economists and news outlets inform us daily, a recession is coming – with some asserting it is already here. For many companies this signals a major change to what has been a very tight labor

Each year, Partner Jackie Homann visits the entrepreneurship class at Bremen High School to talk with students about the legal side of opening and running a business. Now, she’s working with Bremen senior and member of the class, Easton, to help him open his own recycling business!

Jackie says “It’s always a pleasure to speak to Bremen students about the legal aspects of starting a business and help give them foundational knowledge. It’s refreshing and fun to work with a young and ambitious entrepreneur like Easton! I look forward to continuing to support him as he grows his business.”

Congratulations, Easton!

Looking for a way to break up a long day of work? Check out Friday’s by the Fountain in Downtown South Bend! There are only a few weeks left of this awesome summer event.

The JO team has been enjoying wonderful live music over Friday lunches. A few weeks ago we jammed alongside the Van D**e Revue—a delightful midday break to kick off the weekend.

Will we see you this Friday?

It appears that isn’t exempt from classic financial crimes like and .

Financial crimes surrounding , , , and other digital financial securities are on the rise. But the lack of legal precedent surrounding these digital currencies has many regulators scratching their heads.

Learn more about potential bipartisan regulation to address these issues at the link below.



https://www.natlawreview.com/article/rise-financial-crime-nft-market-elicits-new-scrutiny-regulators

Rise of Financial Crime in the NFT Market Elicits New Scrutiny from Regulators With the enduring popularity of certain NFTs and the promise of their use in the metaverse and beyond, the hype around the new technology has been accompanied by rising concerns over NFTs being the ce

Are you a Michigan employer? You may need to adjust your paid medical leave policies according to a recent Michigan Supreme Court decision.

The court reinstated two voter-initiated laws that increase Michigan’s minimum wage to $12 an hour and require employers to expand paid sick leave to qualified employees.

Read the article for details!



https://www.natlawreview.com/article/2022-changes-to-michigan-s-paid-medical-leave-back-to-future

2022 Changes to Michigan’s Paid Medical Leave: Back to the Future On July 19, 2022, the Michigan Court of Claims reinstated Michigan’s original (2018) voter-initiated versions of the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (IWOWA) and the Earned

If you travel for business, did you know that you may be able to claim some business travel deductions when filing taxes?

Read and talk to your qualified tax attorney to find out more about what kinds of travel expenses are applicable and how to keep records to ensure you can claim as much as possible.



https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/heres-what-taxpayers-need-to-know-about-business-related-travel-deductions

Here’s what taxpayers need to know about business related travel deductions | Internal Revenue Service Tax Tip 2022-104, July 11, 2022 — Business travel can be costly. Hotel bills, airfare or train tickets, cab fare, public transportation – it can all add up fast. The good news is business travelers may be able off-set some of those cost by claiming business travel deductions when they file their...

Have you ever signed a non-compete? Join the club!

Of the many ramifications of increased remote work and the gig economy comes a growing use of non-compete agreements for .

Read our latest blog to learn more about non-compete agreements and the key things both employers and freelancers need to know.



https://jonesobenchain.com/resources/blog/how-non-competes-impact-employee-retention/

How Non-Competes Impact Employee Retention | Jones Obenchain, LLP Employers are using non-competes now more than ever before, especially as a retention tool. Find out how using non-competes could impact your job or business!

Three rounds of applause for partner Janet Horvath! She led a presentation last week addressing how to buy and sell businesses to the 18th Annual Duct Cleaners’ Network Conference.

Commercial transactions can be confusing—thank you to Janet for sharing your knowledge!

Contact Jones Obenchain to find out how we can help you buy or sell a business.

Please join us in welcoming Nicholas Gerstauer as Jones Obenchain's law clerk for the summer!

We look forward to supporting him in his legal career.



https://jonesobenchain.com/resources/blog/welcoming-nicholas-to-jones-obenchain/

Welcoming Nicholas to Jones Obenchain | Jones Obenchain, LLP Please join us in welcoming Nicholas Gerstauer as Jones Obenchain's law clerk for the summer!

We can’t wait for tomorrow’s Friday by the Fountain concert at the Jon R. Hunt Plaza in front of the Morris Performing Art’s Center!

If you’re a blues lover, then this lunchtime Chicago-style blues concert with Oblates of Blues is for you. See you there!



https://morriscenter.org/event/fridays-by-the-fountain/2022-06-10/

Fridays by the Fountain – Official Website of the Morris Performing Arts Center « All Events Fridays by the Fountain June 10 // 11:45 am - 1:15 pm|Recurring Event (See all)An event every week that begins at 11:45 am on Friday, repeating until September 2, 2022 « Officer and a Gentleman Pulse FM Downtown Summer Series Presents for KING & COUNTRY with Special Guest Cece Winans ...

Employers and hiring managers listen up! Artificial intelligence has certainly made hiring easier for large businesses, but it does raise questions about whether this tech can comply with the federal civil rights laws that the enforces.

Read the article for more details on the EEOC’s new guidance on the use of AI in hiring practices.

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/eeoc-issues-guidance-ada-employer-use-ai-screening-tools

EEOC Issues Guidance on the ADA & Employer Use of AI Screening Tools Over the past several years, workplace artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools have matured from novel to mainstream.  Whether facilitating attracting, screening, hiring, and onboarding

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between our state and federal courts? Or how cases move through the court system?

Check out our latest blog for all the details on how our country’s state and federal court systems work.



https://jonesobenchain.com/resources/blog/federal-vs-state-court-systems/

Federal vs. State Court Systems | Jones Obenchain, LLP The U.S. has courts at both the state and federal level which handle different case based on a number of factors. Read our blog to learn more about the U.S.'s dual court system!

Should employers be concerned about monkeypox?

Read the article for more details and what you can do to prepare!



https://www.natlawreview.com/article/monkeypox-do-employers-need-to-worry

Monkeypox—Do Employers Need to Worry? Several cases of monkeypox have now been found in the United States. We do not yet know whether employers will need to worry about monkeypox in the context of their workforces and workplace, but it ma

Are your employee non-compete agreements up-to-date? In the current job market, employee retention is the most critical aspect of your business’s success.

Updating your employee noncompete agreements to stay relevant in the labor market ensures compliance with any new or changed laws and maximizes enforceability while supporting retention bonuses.

Read to article for more details!



https://www.natlawreview.com/article/four-things-employers-need-to-know-about-retaining-talent

The Four Things that Employers Need to Know About Retaining Talent If yours is one of the many companies considering new employment incentives, enhanced benefits, and retention bonuses, you should also consider taking another look at your non-compete covenants at the

Trivia time! How long has Jackie Homann been working at Jones Obenchain?

If you saw our post earlier this week you know that Jackie’ been with us for 25 years!

Want to learn more about Jackie and the impact she’s had on the firm and her community? Check out our latest blog!

Drop us a comment and let us know how Jackie has impacted your life.



https://jonesobenchain.com/resources/blog/celebrating-jackie-homanns-25th-anniversary-at-jones-obenchain/

Celebrating Jackie Homann's 25th Anniversary at Jones Obenchain | Jones Obenchain, LLP In honor of the many successful and driven women who have helped make up Jones Obenchain’s proud history, we’re excited to share a bit more about Jacqueline Homann, Jones Obenchain’s first-ever female partner. Jackie is celebrating her 25th anniversary at the firm and we’re so excited to ce...

It’s wedding season! Along with all of the anticipation and joy come something you may not expect… tax forms.

Amidst the uproar of wedding planning, couples can prepare for married life by filing those forms related to address and name changes and adjusting their withholding status with employers.

Read the IRS’s latest Tax Tip for more info.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/wedding-planning-checklist-cake-rings-flowers-tax-forms

Wedding planning checklist: cake, rings, flowers … tax forms? | Internal Revenue Service Tax Tip 2022-77, May 18, 2022 — The summer wedding season is fast approaching. Wedding planning is often overwhelming but figuring out how marriage will affect a couple’s tax situation doesn’t have to be. Here are a few things couples should think about as they prepare for the big day.