The 2019 mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes have increased from last year, or remained unchanged. Specifically, as of January 1, 2019, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups, or panel trucks) are:

• 58 cents per mile for business miles driven, up three and one-half cents from 2018;
• 20 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, up two cents from 2018; and
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.

The IRS standard mileage rate for ...

On January 1, 2019, the state minimum wage increased to $12.00 per hour for employers with at least 26 employees, and $11.00 per hour for smaller employers.  The state minimum wage governs the exempt employee threshold salary, which has increased accordingly.  The new minimum salary for employees exempt from overtime is $49,920 annually for employers with at least 26 employees, and $45,760 annually for employers with fewer than 26 employees.

Further, a number of California municipalities will raise their minimum wage rates on July 1, 2019.  Employers should take care to note these ...

Effective January 1, 2019, the California Department of Industrial Relations issued a new compensation threshold for exempt computer software employees, reflecting an increase of 4.2% from last year.

To qualify for the overtime exemption, computer software employees must be paid a salary of at least $94,603.25 annually ($7,883.62 monthly), or an hourly wage of at least $45.41.  In addition, a computer software employee must also meet the duties test set forth in California Labor Code Section 515.5, which are also included in all Wage Orders except Orders 14 and 16.

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 Q: I am the receiver for a small grocery store and restaurant owned by an uncooperative divorcing couple. I am in the process of selling the store and restaurant and paying claims. I have been contacted by a few parties who say they have liens that need to be satisfied. I have run a UCC search and obtained a title report and I don’t see the liens they claim. I told this to one of their lawyers and he said his clients have “secret liens.” What in the world are “secret liens” and how am I supposed to know about them and deal with them?

A: Unfortunately there are numerous “secret ...