Tax Planning For A Small Business: What You Need To Know
Arron Bennett
Financial Strategist and CFO | Transforming Numbers into a Blueprint for Success
A small business owner performs a variety of jobs for their company, including being an accountant or bookkeeper. Unfortunately, if a small business owner tries to do their own taxes, thinking it’s an easy thing to cross off their to-do list, they might be in for an unfortunate situation. There are?many different errors ?a person not experienced with tax laws can encounter while preparing to pay their taxes.?
Even if you hire an accountant or tax preparer to assist you, there are certain things you should know when tax planning for a small business. Plan ahead for when you pay your taxes so you decrease the amount of money you owe to the federal government.?
This guide will discuss strategies for tax planning for small businesses. Take advantage of tax breaks while rewarding your employees and yourself.?
Invest In Equipment And Other Assets
Reduce your amount of taxable profits by purchasing supplies, equipment, and other assets that you’ll use in the upcoming year. One of the best parts about investing in new equipment is you don’t have to pay what you purchase off in full immediately. You can finance the items you purchase and still take the deduction for that year.?
Review How Your Business Is Structured?
When financial planning, look at how your business is structured. Small businesses can be structured in multiple ways, including:
How your business is structured will impact how you file taxes as a small business owner. If your company has outgrown your business structure, you might be able to switch to another option that fits better with your organization.?
Establish?A Company Retirement Plan
Strategic financial planning ?for the future should include a retirement plan. In addition to ensuring you get to enjoy your later years in life, it’s also one of the best ways for you to decrease how much you pay in taxes. You can create any type of retirement plan, from a 401(k) to a SEP IRA.?
Small business owners can contribute 20% of their earnings to a SEP IRA each year. Additionally, there are no catch-up contributions for this type of retirement plan. You also don’t have an end-of-the-year deadline, so you can set it up right before you file your taxes for the past year.?
A?Solo 401(k) ?allows for one of the largest pre-tax contributions. This typically translates into you having to pay less in taxes.?
Explore?A Home Office Deduction?
More small business owners and their employees have started working from home in the past few years. Business owners might be eligible for a home office deduction. You could save hundreds or thousands of dollars in your tax payment each year with this deduction.?
One of the best parts about the home office deduction is you’re already incurring your home office expenses even if you weren’t using your space for work. Speak with a reliable financial planner about home office deductions to ensure you qualify.??
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Stay On Top Of Your Bookkeeping
Filing your taxes is a stressful process, especially if you’re not prepared for it. Don’t hand over a box of receipts to your tax planner or accountant. Break up your bookkeeping and accounting throughout the year.?
There are a variety of programs you can utilize to help you through the process, such as QuickBooks. If your business involves expenses and invoices, you might look into hiring a bookkeeper.?
At all costs, avoid leaving the organization of your business expenses and income until tax time. Keep your books in order each month. Missing certain tax deductions might increase your taxable income, resulting in you essentially throwing money away.?
Write Off Old Debts
Certain unpaid accounts over a certain age might be used as a write-off on your business’s taxes. Accounts that qualify are those that are owed by a customer that hasn’t paid and isn’t expected to pay. When you write off that debt, you can reduce your business’s tax burden for the tax year.?
It’s recommended to work with a tax planner if you decide to do this. Some complications might arise if the customer ends up paying off their account in the future. You’d then have to reverse the write-off you did in a previous tax year.?
Make The Most Of Coronavirus Tax Relief
There have been several pieces of legislation passed by Congress in the past couple of years designed to help small business owners. Some of the legislation includes:
These laws impact small business owners in a variety of ways. Companies that keep idle workers on their payroll during the pandemic might qualify for a tax credit that will offset their wage and health plan costs. The credit is worth up to $7,000 for each idle employee every quarter.?
Another piece of legislation makes it more affordable for small businesses to provide their employees with paid leave. Business owners that pay their employees while out on family or sick leave might receive a tax credit that’s equal to the benefit payments.?
The ARPA expanded the family and sick leave credits to include giving employees paid time off to get the COVID-19 vaccine, recover from it, or accompany a family member who’s getting the vaccine. This credit is available to tax-exempt organizations and businesses that have fewer than 500 employees.?
Decrease Your Taxes With Tax Planning For?A Small Business?
Tax planning for a small business might seem overwhelming at first. When you partner with an experienced agency like Bennett Financials, you’ll quickly discover how much money you can save in your tax payments each year. Keep more of your profits instead of handing them over to the government.?
Contact Bennett Financials ?to discuss tax planning strategies for your small business.?