{"id":4303,"date":"2022-10-26T10:11:15","date_gmt":"2022-10-26T10:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fuchsfinancial.com\/tax-strategies-for-small-business-owners-save-your-profit\/"},"modified":"2024-04-24T11:29:48","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T15:29:48","slug":"tax-strategies-for-small-business-owners-save-your-profit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fuchsfinancial.com\/tax-strategies-for-small-business-owners-save-your-profit\/","title":{"rendered":"Tax Strategies for Small Business Owners – Save Your Profit!"},"content":{"rendered":"
Owning your own business can be difficult and ensuring the success of the company is not an easy task. Taxes can play a big factor in the success of an organization<\/strong> regardless of size, industry, and standing. For highly profitable firms, taxes can cut into large margins and take away a lot of profit. For firms that are struggling, taxes can be the nail-in-the-coffin that sends the firm under. Larger corporations tend to have the ability to hire professionals to lobby the government and obtain tax breaks<\/a>, while small business owners do not share that same luxury. Therefore, the importance of utilizing tax savings strategies in the small business realm cannot be understated<\/strong>. This article will lay out some of the strategies people can think about when approaching the topic of small business taxation.<\/span><\/p>\n Tax planning can take place in several forms, but the ultimate goal is to minimize tax liabilities<\/a>. Individuals and corporations alike undertake this process in order to preserve wealth and ensure financial longevity. A tax efficient plan is one that works properly to ensure all elements of a business owner\u2019s strategy are operating together in order to pay the least amount of taxes possible. When discussing tax saving strategies, there is a key distinction that must be made is between the terms<\/strong> \u201ctax reduction<\/a>\u201d<\/strong> and<\/strong> \u201ctax avoidance<\/a>.\u201d<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n It is important to understand the differences in these terms when discussing ways for small business owners to reduce their taxable burden as this will avoid confusion on how the process is undertaken. Owning a small business grants an individual a lot of flexibility. From how day-to-day operations are handled, to hiring practices, to payment periods, and everything in between can be set and changed with vast variability. There are many positives and negatives that come with the freedom to operate how an individual pleases. <\/span><\/p>\n Pain points<\/a> arise from the fact that there is typically not a huge team surrounding a small business owner, forcing them to learn through trial-and-error<\/strong>. A few of the key decision points for small business owners revolve around attracting customers, retaining them, implementing effective marketing strategies, and ensuring proper work and cashflow. The decisions made on these topics and present both opportunity and headache.<\/span><\/p>\n Small companies can adapt much more efficiently<\/strong> to fit their target market\/space, but it is often difficult to become aware of where they need to be positioned. On a micro-organizational level, one key decision area that can be either very positive or negative is centered around hiring family members.<\/span><\/p>\n This is a personal decision that every small business owner must make and it can have a rather large impact on success. When properly done, family and friends are great ways to ensure that your business has quality labor, reliability, unity, and that people looking out for the overall success of the operation. When hiring family members works out, it is great, but when it doesn\u2019t, it can be awful. <\/span><\/p>\n Having too many people that think similarly can lead to complacency in strategy. There can also be conflicts between family members over what responsibilities belong to one another and who is in charge. The process of hiring family or others close to the business owner should be approached with meticulous organization; people must know up-front what their role is, what their expectations are, and who they report to. <\/span><\/p>\n Although this seems like standard practice for all hiring procedures, these are especially key elements when hiring family. Many small business owners will pay their family members under-the-table in order to avoid taxes<\/strong>, but this is a dangerous strategy<\/strong> as it can lead to serious tax penalties. <\/span><\/p>\n Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are businesses that meet certain requirements based on ownership structure, number of employees, earnings, and respective industry. <\/span><\/p>\n This group of businesses is vast, with over 32.5 million SMEs in the US alone in the year 2021<\/strong>, which accounts for 99% of all firms in the country<\/strong>. For tax purposes, the IRS does not explicitly categorize SMEs, but rather groups together self-employed persons and small businesses. Small businesses are classified as any company that has assets of $10 million or less. <\/span><\/p>\n Taxes are applied to small business depending on their entity type, but generally C corporations<\/a> must pay a flat rate of 21%, while S corporations<\/a> (which many small businesses try to become) are taxed as a part of the owners\u2019 personal tax returns. <\/span><\/p>\n All businesses that file to incorporate must start off as a C corporation and may file with the IRS to become an S corporation later on. <\/span>C corporations are sometimes \u201cdouble-taxed,\u201d as they must pay corporate taxes for their profits and then individual shareholders are taxed on their dividends.<\/span><\/p>\n People have long discussed the decline of brick and mortar businesses<\/a>, yet there are countless examples of exponential success for this type of business across a variety of industries. Key considerations for a small business owner deciding whether to place their storefront online or at a physical location include:<\/span><\/p>\n If a small business owner decides that a brick and mortar location will be best for them, then there needs to be an even heavier focus on tax savings strategies<\/strong> due to the nature of physical store locations having increased overhead costs. Many of the costs can be written off by a business owner when filing their income taxes, including rent and supplies to fill their space.<\/span><\/p>\n Owning a business in the service industry can be tricky when it comes to paying taxes due to the fact that there is typically no sale of tangible goods, which makes it harder for owners to keep exact tabs on cash flows.<\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes small business owners or their employees will be given cash for their service, which can lead to the money seeming like it is untraceable by the IRS. If an audit<\/a> is performed on a small business, the IRS can typically spot gaps in earned income and there are fines<\/strong> levied on business owners that attempt to evade taxes through these methods. <\/span><\/p>\n If you are a small business owner in the service industry, it is advised to keep close track on cash flows<\/strong> to spot discrepancies and remedy them before it is too late.<\/span><\/p>\n There are two types of loans small business owners may want to consider when applying to borrow money, bank loans<\/strong><\/a> and Small Business Association (SBA)<\/strong><\/a> loans. There are many factors that play into which kind of loan a business should apply for, including:<\/span><\/p>\n Generally speaking, individuals tend to seek bank loans for business because they offer lower interest rates and better terms than SBA loans. Bank loans require a business to be incorporated for at least two years, possess a strong credit history, and have a minimum annual revenue. These types of loans are typically offered to more established enterprises. <\/span><\/p>\n SBA loans have less favorable interest rates, but are easier to obtain. <\/strong><\/p>\n An SBA 7(a) loan can be used as startup financing for a business. These loans can sometimes be obtained even with less-than-ideal credit conditions. It is important to inquire with a professional about the types of loans that are best with for your business before applying.<\/span><\/p>\n Small business owners have the ability to receive large tax savings on healthcare<\/a> for their employees as long as they meet certain requirements. Individuals that own a business have the ability to enroll in the <\/span>Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP)<\/strong>, which is generally the <\/span>only way to receive the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit<\/strong>. This credit allows business owners to receive up to 50% back on premiums paid for employees or 35% if the business is tax-exempt (non-profit). To qualify for this credit, you must <\/span>meet the following criteria<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n The end of a fiscal year can bring about a lot of tasks for a small business and its owner(s). In order to properly wrap-up the previous year and set yourself up for success for the next, there are several key items that must be completed. This is an excellent time to create a detailed tax plan for the coming years in order to minimize avoidable burdens. <\/span>Speaking with a professional<\/a> will aid in this process significantly<\/b>, but the following list should help a business get on the right track on its own:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The US Department of the Treasury offers several programs that aim to aid small businesses and keep them afloat during<\/span><\/p>\n turbulent economic times and following the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/span>The <\/span>Small Business Tax Credit Program<\/b><\/a> extends relief, par<\/span>ticularly for the Employee Retention Credit<\/a> and Paid Leave Credit.<\/a> This program enables small businesses to offset their payroll tax liabilities and earn money back on paid leave for employees. <\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>Emergency Capital Investment Program<\/b><\/a> is a tax program that aims to aid financial institutions in low- and moderate-income areas in order to provide more loans, grants, and forbearance<\/a> for small or minority owned businesses. While some of these benefits are set to expire, it is important to note that future issues facing US businesses could possible produce similar programs.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The IRS offers three main types of penalty relief for individuals and small businesses alike:<\/span><\/p>\n Later in this article, we will discuss the different types of business structures and the varying levels of liability that are associated with each of them. <\/span><\/p>\n For the purpose of this section, it is important to note that there are several entity types that allow business owners to pay profits and expenses through their personal income taxes. <\/span>Adjusted gross income encapsulates all of an individuals\u2019 personal and business profits minus their deductions. <\/span><\/p>\n It is important to keep AGI<\/a> as low as possible,<\/b> as this will allow for tax savings that can become rather large when factoring in all business cash flows. In order to have higher take-home profits year-over-year, this is a key factor to take a look at reducing.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A great way for an individual to reduce AGI is by starting a retirement plan<\/a>. When a person becomes a small business owner, they lose out on their previous employers 401(k)<\/a> match. In order to continue saving for retirement and reducing taxable income, a business owner can contribute<\/a> up to $57,000 to several different vehicles including:<\/span><\/p>\n Deducting travel expenses can also be a great way to reduce a person\u2019s taxable burden through their business. Business travel is fully deductible and in order to fully maximize this deduction, a person may combine personal travel with a justified business purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n A business that experiences net operating losses in any given year is eligible to carryover the losses for up to 20 fiscal years in the future in order to offset future profits via tax deductions. No business wishes to lose money during a year, but with this method, a business may be able to <\/span>reduce their taxable burden when things are going well in the coming years<\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n A key consideration here is to completely separate personal and business losses during a given year. This will allow the IRS to properly assess the amount of carryover deductions a company may bring forward (or backward for up to 2 years).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The type and structure of a business can have serious implications on taxes, operating structure, and much more. The following is a general breakdown on four popular entity types and their coinciding tax and structural implications:<\/span><\/p>\n Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) are a preferred structure amongst many small business owners for several reasons. First and foremost, it separates the business from the individual. <\/span><\/p>\n Unlike in other business structures, and an LLC allows a business to be independent from its owner(s), meaning that debts and other obligations follow the business itself instead of the individual. Personal assets, such as your home and bank account cannot be touched in order to pay debts. Another reason is to <\/span>limit paperwork and recordkeeping<\/b>. An LLC does not need to hold annual meetings for shareholders, produce annual reports, or have extensive records of meetings. <\/span><\/p>\n They also have <\/span>favorable tax treatment<\/b> as touched on in the previous section, but <\/span>without the ownership restrictions<\/b> that S corporations have to deal with. There is also no fixed management structure required and profit distributions have much more flexibility when compared to other organizational structures.<\/span><\/p>\nIntroduction to tax planning<\/b><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/span><\/p>\nSmall business pain points & opportunities<\/b><\/h2>\n
Hiring Family Members<\/strong><\/h3>\n
SMEs and taxes<\/b><\/h2>\n
Brick and mortar business management<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The services industry and taxes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Loans<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Health Care Tax Credit<\/b><\/h2>\n
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What to do at the end of the year<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Tax reliefs and benefits<\/b><\/h2>\n
IRS Penalty Relief<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Why Reducing the Adjusted Gross Income Helps<\/b><\/h2>\n
How it can be done<\/b><\/h3>\n
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The power of Carryover Deductions<\/b><\/h2>\n
Consider your business structure and entity type<\/b><\/h2>\n
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What makes LLCs a popular choice<\/b><\/h4>\n