
It’s approaching: That time of year when the thought of turning the oven on leaves us hot under the collar (literally). But what good would summertime be without sweet treats? We’re all about no-bake when it comes to cakes and truffles, but this time we’ve compiled a list of 18 yummy bars that will leave you glowing with pride, not with perspiration.
1. White Chocolate Ritz Fluffernutter Bars: These bars look so darn pretty that it almost makes us think twice about eating them. Almost. (via Confessions of a Cookbook Queen)
2. Toasted Coconut Bars: Fact: Toasted coconut makes everything delicious, which is why we can’t say no to these yummy bars made with cashews, dates and, of course, toasted coconut. (via Savory Simple)
3. No-Bake Elvis Bar: We think The King of Rock + Roll would be very happy with these vegan bars, which perfectly combine almond butter, bananas and dark chocolate. (via Oh She Glows)
4. No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars: Crunchy, creamy, salty and sweet? Yes, please. These bars are super easy to whip up and combine all of our favorite snack foods. (via Bell’Alimento)
5. No-Bake Cookie Bars: All you need is four ingredients and a food processor to create these chewy and delicious cookie bars. (via Minimalist Baker)
6. Samoas Cookie Granola Bars: Our favorite Girl Scout cookies are re-imagined here in granola bar form. That makes them totally grown-up. (via Averie Cooks)
7. Lemon Curd Cheesecake Bars: Lemon curd and cheesecake are two of our favorite things, but we hate to slave over a hot oven or stove to enjoy them. These bars take out the hassle and are delectably delicious. (via Kitchen Confidante)
8. No Bake Oatmeal Breakfast Bars: Who has time to knock out a batch of breakfast bars in a hot oven each morning? Not us. These bars taste so much sweeter because they are no bake and super simple. (via Brit + Co)
9. Apricot Almond Bars: Pop these lovely little bars in your handbag and eat them on the go to keep your energy levels up throughout the day. (via Lovely Little Kitchen)
10. Peanut Butter Pretzel Granola Bars: We don’t know about you, but we love our granola bars with a pop of color and a little crunch. These bars fit the bill perfectly. (via Culinary Couture Blog)
11. Chocolate + Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars: This is oatmeal that you don’t have to cook… and it’s combined with chocolate and peanut butter. Score! (via Martha Stewart)
12. Raw Coconut Lemon Bars: Raw, vegan and gluten-free, these creamy citrus bars are so much healthier than they taste. (via Pure Ella)
13. Peanut Butter No Bake Marshmallow Cheesecake Bars: Marshmallow cheesecake layered with peanut butter and a chocolate crust? We have died and gone to heaven. (via The Hopeless Housewife)
14. Blueberry Bars: These bars are raw, vegan and gluten-free, but pack a punch when it comes to unadulterated blueberry flavor. (via Petite Allergy Treats)
15. Pink Lemonade Freezer Bars: Girly pink freezer bars that include pink lemonade, Ritz crackers and Cool Whip? We’re sold. (via Averie Cooks)
16. Yummy No-Bake Bars: Peanut butter and chocolate are one of our favorite combinations. But these bars take it up a notch with an added Rice Krispies crunch. (via Better Homes + Gardens)
17. Peanut Butter Trail Mix Bars: Who says you have to be outdoorsy to enjoy a trail mix bar? Not us. These peanut butter and cranberry ones are perfect for any type of snack emergency. (via Sally’s Baking Addiction)
18. Peanut Butter Coconut Bars: Shredded coconut adds a little glamour to anything, and these oat-filled chocolate bars are no exception. (via Brit + Co)
Will you be whipping up some no-bake bars now that the temperature gauges are popping? Let us know your fave recipes in the comments!
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