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Welcome to a guide on small business tax planning! It’s meant to get you thinking and asking questions about your company’s tax strategy.
Your goal with tax planning is always to strike a balance between minimizing tax liabilities (the amount you pay in taxes) and optimizing cash flow (the amount left in your business for operations and more). This guide highlights four categories critical to finding that balance and creating an effective tax plan.
Legal Structure
Small businesses come in various legal structures, such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations. Each one has distinct tax implications.
For example, sole proprietors report their business income on their personal tax returns, and partnerships pass income and deductions through to the owners. LLCs offer flexibility in taxation, allowing you to choose between pass-through taxation or being taxed as a corporation. And corporations, as the name suggests, are subject to corporate tax rates.
Understanding the nuances of your business’s legal structure is the foundation for effective tax planning!
Deductions and Credits
Identifying eligible business deductions, or expenses, is crucial too. Deductions can include your costs of operations, marketing, office space and employee salaries.
In addition, tax credits can significantly reduce your business’s tax liability. For instance, the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit gives incentives for providing health insurance to employees. And the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit rewards businesses for innovation and development activities. (An expert at tax planning can help you identify tax credits you’re eligible for.)
Timing of Income and Expenses
By deferring income and accelerating expenses, you can sometimes lower your taxable income each year. (This is another area where a seasoned tax professional can help you.)
Also, choosing between cash and accrual accounting methods can influence when income and expenses are recognized for tax purposes. Cash accounting records transactions when cash changes hands, and accrual accounting records them when they are earned or incurred.
Employee Benefits
Offering retirement plans not only helps you save for your own future but can also give you tax benefits. For example, Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs and 401(k) plans offer tax advantages for both employers and employees. Furthermore, providing employee benefits, like health insurance or flexible spending accounts, helps to attract and retain top talent while giving you possible tax deductions. It’s a win-win.
Morgan & Associates Know Tax Planning
Remember, effective tax planning is an ongoing process, and seeking expert advice can make a big impact on your success. Our team of seasoned tax professionals is ready to help!
Use the form below or our chat box to speak with one of our experts.
[Click here to read more tax articles for small businesses.]
