Utilizing Federal Tax Breaks to Optimize Tax Savings

It is generally a best practice for businesses to maximize current year depreciation write-offs for newly acquired assets. Two federal tax breaks can be a big help in achieving this goal—the first-year Section 179 depreciation deduction, and the first-year bonus depreciation deduction. These two deductions can potentially allow businesses to write off some or all of their qualifying asset expenses in Year 1. However, they’re moving targets due to annual inflation adjustments and tax law changes that phase out bonus depreciation. With that in mind, here’s how to coordinate these write-offs for optimal tax-saving results.

Maximizing the QBI Deduction Before It Disappears

The qualified business income (QBI) deduction is available to eligible businesses through 2025. After that, it’s scheduled to disappear. If you’re eligible, you may want to make the most of the deduction while it’s still on the books - it can potentially be a big tax saver.

Can You Improve Your Tax Break by Applying the Research Credit Against Payroll Taxes?

The credit for increasing research activities, often referred to as the research and development (R&D) credit, is a valuable tax break available to certain eligible small businesses. Claiming the credit involves complex calculations, which we’ll take care of for you.

How Dashboards Drive Growth

Do you have your finger on the pulse of your company’s financial health? Having insight into your financial data is key to making strategic decisions that can increase your company’s efficiency and profitability. Financial dashboards are valuable tools to help you gain this insight.

Key 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Tax Parameters For Small Businesses and Their Owners

The IRS recently announced several inflation-adjusted federal income tax amounts. Here’s a rundown of the amounts that are most likely to affect small businesses and their owners.

Choosing a Business Entity: Which Way To Go?

If you’re planning to start a business or thinking about changing your business entity, you need to determine what will work best for you. Should you operate as a C corporation or a pass-through entity such as a sole-proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC) or S corporation? There are many issues to consider.

Guidelines Released for Businesses Navigating New BOI Reporting Rule

Starting in 2024, many entities created in or registered to do business in the United States will be required to report information about their beneficial owners – the individuals who ultimately own or control a company – to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). FinCEN has published a guide to help small businesses navigate the new rules for reporting beneficial ownership information (BOI).

Gaining Insight Into Business Audits

Ever wonder how IRS examiners know about different industries so they can audit various businesses? They generally do research about specific industries and issues on tax returns by using IRS Audit Techniques Guides (ATGs). A little-known fact is that these guides are available to the public on the IRS website. In other words, your business can use the same guides to gain insight into what the IRS is looking for in terms of compliance with tax laws and regulations.

What Types of Expenses Can't Be Written Off By Your Business?

If you read the Internal Revenue Code (and you probably don’t want to!), you may be surprised to find that most business deductions aren’t specifically listed. For example, the tax law doesn’t explicitly state that you can deduct office supplies and other expenses. Some expenses are detailed in the tax code, but the general rule is contained in the first sentence of Section 162, which states you can write off “all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business.”

Massachusetts Governor Signs Tax Relief Bill

On Wednesday October 4, 2023, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a $1 billion tax package into law. This significant legislation will increase tax credits for caregivers, renters, and seniors, and provide benefits for the business community. Through this legislation, Healey hopes to make the cost of living more affordable to families.