The IRS has increased the optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes for 2015.Effective January 1, 2015, the optional standard mileage rates will be:
- 57.5 cents per mile for business (an increase from 56 cents per mile in 2014);
- 23 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes (a deduction of a cent from 2014); and
- 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations. Continue reading “IRS Mileage Reimbursement Rate Increases for 2015”
In the past, new and used car dealers were among the industries that were generally exempt from maintaining OSHA 300, Injury and Illness Logs and posting OSHA form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. However, effective January 1, 2015, OSHA will require both new and used car dealers to maintain OSHA 300 logs and post OSHA 300A logs. Generally OSHA 300 logs deal with recordable, as opposed to reportable, injuries and illnesses. The types of instances that must be included on the OSHA 300 logs can be found at 29 C.F.R. 1904, et seq. 
On December 15, 2014, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder issued a Memorandum that it is the position of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that Title VII’s prohibition against sex discrimination includes discrimination based on gender identity, including transgender status. This is an about-face from the DOJ’s stated position in 2006 that Title VII’s prohibition on sex discrimination did not include discrimination based on gender identity or transgender status.
In addition to a Federal Minimum Wage, many states also have their own minimum wage laws requiring employers to pay minimum wages higher than those mandated by federal law. In 2014 at least 21 states raised these minimum wages. Louisiana does not currently have a state minimum wage. However, if you engage in business outside of Louisiana, you must be certain that you are complying with that state’s minimum wage requirements. 
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