
Independence Day is right around the corner and we’re celebrating in more ways than just a Will Smith marathon (tho see you this weekend, Big Willy!) — we have killer, festive cocktails for you to pour at every BBQ, tailgate, fireworks fiesta and bonfire bonanza you attend Friday — and beyond! These 20 recipes from around the web will keep the patriotic spirit going all summer long.
1. Red, White and Blue Wine Spritzer: White wine spritzers are a classic summer beverage for a reason. Add some blue and red and you’ve got yourself a killer cocktail for America’s birthday. (via pretty plain janes)
2. Snow Cone Drinks: This drink is equal parts nostalgia and party-in-a-glass. Slightly on the sweeter side, we wouldn’t have too many or you can expect a killer hangover on the 5th. (via Kirbie’s Cravings)
3. Shandies: It wouldn’t be a true July 4th shindig without an ice cold beer, now would it? Take your brew to the next level with this refreshing shandy recipe. (via Camille Styles)
4. Red, White and Blue Jello Shots: It’s no secret that, here at Brit HQ, we love a good jello shot. So naturally, Independence Day called for whipping up a patriotic batch! (via Brit + Co.)
5. Campari Basil Mojito: This unexpected flavor combo is definitely celebration-worthy. We’re also loving the more subtle red, white and blue shades here. (via Set the Table)
6. Watermelon Blueberry Cooler: The only thing better than watermelon on a hot summer night is a delicious watermelon cocktail. (via Tasty Trials)
7. Blueberry Coconut Sparkler: Fresh blueberries, coconut rum and ginger ale combine to make a festive drink with just the right hint of tropical paradise. The coconut flakes on the rim are a fun final touch. (via Pizzazzerie)
8. Fourth of July Slushie: A perfect way to cool off, these slushies are super easy to make and super fun to drink, which is every party-thrower’s dream. (via A Healthy Life for Me)
9. Purple Independence: Who says everything’s gotta be red, white and blue? This cocktail’s color makes it a little bit of (delicious) rebellion in a glass and a pretty addition to your table. (via A Year of Cocktails)
10. Bomb Pop Jello Shots: There’s just something about the 4th of July that brings out the big kid inside all of us. These popsicle-inspired shots are the perfect way to indulge. (via That’s So Michelle)
11. Star Spangled Spritzer: This fruity summer drink is easily made non-boozy by swapping out the white wine for ginger ale, making it a great option for a family-friendly affair. Just make sure to clearly mark your pitchers before serving! (via Celebrating Everyday Life)
12. Patriotic Panna Cotta Shooters: Bring on the stars and stripes! We love a good spiked sweet and this gorgeous panna cotta definitely hits the spot. (via Sprinkle Bakes)
13. Blackberry Gin and Tonic: This fresh twist on an oldie-but-goodie adds some pop to your bar and some flag-inspired color to your glass. (via Nutmeg Nanny)
14. Watermelon Sparkler: These drinks look gorgeous and the ombre effect is surprisingly simple to achieve, while the basic recipe and instructions are easy to customize to your personal taste. (via TikkiDo)
15. Fruity Ice Drinks: Creative ice cubes are a great way to get any party going. After all, what better way to kick off the 4th than with a patriotic champagne toast? (via mom.me)
16. Sugar Cookie Pudding Shots: These layered shots are sweet and fun, and the amaretto flavor is the perfect compliment to the pudding. And how adorable are those cookie stars? (via Jelly Shot Test Kitchen)
17. Blueberry Bliss Cocktail: Blue can be a hard color to work into your meal without resorting to food coloring, but this cocktail’s a great one to pair with your various red and white dishes. Besides, blueberry is always a good bet for a summertime treat. (via Carla’s Confections)
18. Bomb Pop Drink: These bomb pop drinks may taste like they came from the ice cream truck, but they pack a wallop! (via Simply Fresh Cooking)
19. Pop Rocks Rimmed Cocktails: Pop Rocks are like fireworks for your mouth, so what better way to sweeten and garnish that Independence Day cocktail? (via Pizzazzerie)
20. Patriotic Celebration: Density is the key to the layered effect drink, but the key to the celebration is the cake vodka — happy birthday, America! (via A Year of Cocktails)
How are you celebrating this July 4th? Are you incorporating red, white and blue into your cocktail repertoire? Let us know your plans in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook.
Welcome to Selfmade Finance School, our new money series with Block Advisors to help small business owners with their tax, bookkeeping, and payroll needs year-round. This week, we explore the tax implications of bringing family members into your business.
The question for today is this: Does hiring your family members make sense for your business? Let me be clear. This is not a piece about whether hiring your family members makes sense for your relationships with those family members. As someone who is part of a family business, I could fill up a lot more than 600 words on my opinions about that. For today's purposes, we focus on whether it makes sense from an overall "good business and tax implication" perspective. As it turns out, there is a decent amount of tax nuance when it comes to employing your family. Let's break it down based on relationship to the employee:
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Spouses Who Are In Business Together
Personally, if I had to be in business with my husband, it would not go well. However, many couples build viable, strong businesses together and I say, good for them! Depending on how you have your business entity structured, it will make a big difference on the tax treatment of you and your spouse working as partners. Because a business jointly owned and operated by a married couple is generally treated as a partnership for Federal tax purposes, the spouses must comply with filing and record keeping requirements imposed on partnerships and their partners. The election to file two Schedule C (Form 1040) forms, (one for each spouse) permits certain married co-owners to avoid filing partnership returns, provided that each spouse separately reports a share of all the businesses' items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit. Under the election, both spouses will be subject to self-employment tax and on net earnings from self-employment and receive credit for Social Security earnings.
One Spouse Employs Another
If you have a dynamic where your spouse is an employee of your business, then your spouse's wages are subject to income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes. If you are self-employed (not a corporation or a partnership), your spouse's pay does not have to be included in your federal unemployment tax account (FUTA) contributions and payments. However, if your business is a corporation or a partnership you must include that spouse's pay in your unemployment tax contribution calculation.
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You Employ Your Child
First, let's be clear. I work in my family business, but I am an adult, so I am treated just like a normal employee. However, if you, for example, run a family restaurant and want to hire your children under 18 to work for you, there are some tax benefits. But first, you should check with your state for rules on how many hours minors can work (in non-agricultural jobs) and reference the Fair Labor Standards Act for information on limitations on the kinds of work children can perform.
"This is an often overlooked or under-utilized strategy. Paying your children for true services they provide in your business can be a powerful tax-saving tool," says Cathi Reed, Block Advisors Regional Director. "If you are a sole-proprietorship or single member LLC, and the child is less than 18 years of age, the business is not required to withhold FICA or payroll taxes. The child can use his or her standard deduction against income you pay."
You Hire Your Parent
Oh dear. If you are brave enough to do this, know that you will need to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on your parent's wages and make the appropriate withholdings, but you don't have to pay unemployment taxes. Now all you have to do is convince your parent that you are the boss. Have fun with that!
Is Hiring Family Members Worth It For The Tax Benefits?
"There are some positive tax advantages to hiring family members. It's important to treat a family member like any other employee. Hiring your children can result in substantial savings for businesses. Make sure your child has real, age-appropriate work to do and a reasonable pay rate, comparable to other employees. Consult with a Block Advisors small business certified tax pro to ensure that you are complying with all requirements," advises Reed. "Block Advisors, a team within H&R Block, is dedicated to meeting the tax, bookkeeping and payroll needs of small business owners year-round. To start working with the tax experts at Block Advisors, visit blockadvisors.com."
In my opinion, you should not hire a family member solely because of the tax benefits. You should always hire based on whether that person is right for the job and keep in mind how this hire could materially impact your relationship with that person and others in your family. Finally, as I mentioned, make sure you have a tax professional on your team when making these determinations. As you can see, things can get a little tricky!
*All details were sourced from IRS.gov and blockadvisors.com
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regards to your individual situation. Comments concerning the past performance are not intended to be forward looking and should not be viewed as an indication of future results. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. O'Keeffe Financial Partners and any other entity listed herein is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS Investor Disclosures: https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures