6 essential tips for small business payroll tax compliance
Staying compliant with payroll tax laws is crucial for small businesses. Mistakes can lead to fines, strained employee relationships and legal consequences. Here are four quick tips: 1) Maintain organized records so you can verify to the IRS that you’re withholding and remitting the correct amounts. 2) Understand withholding and adhere to filing and deposit deadlines. A “responsible person” who willfully fails to withhold or deposit employment taxes can be held personally liable for a steep penalty. 3) Stay current with regulatory changes. 4) Seek professional advice. We can help you select the right system, calculate employee withholding, navigate multi-state filing requirements and more.
Deduct a loss from making a personal loan to a relative or friend
Suppose your adult child or friend needs to borrow money. You may want to help by making a personal loan. But there are tax implications that you should understand. You want to be able to prove that you intended for the transaction to be a loan rather than an outright gift. That way, if the loan goes bad, you can claim a non-business bad debt deduction for the year the loan becomes worthless. You should have a written promissory note. It’s best to charge an interest rate that equals or exceeds the applicable federal rates set by the IRS. They potentially change each month. For April 2025, they range from 4.09% to 4.52%, depending on the loan length. Contact us if you have questions.
Business owners should get comfortable with their financial statements
Business owners: Each of the three parts of your financial statements is a valuable tool that can guide you toward good operational decisions. For example, the balance sheet’s primary purpose is to tally your assets, liabilities and net worth, creating a snapshot of your company’s financial health during the statement period. Meanwhile, the income statement’s purpose is to show sales, expenses, and income or profits earned after expenses over the period. It can help you assess profitability. Finally, the statement of cash flows aims to track all sources (inflows) and recipients (outflows) of your cash. It can allow you to optimally manage liquidity. Contact us for more information.
Turning stock downturns into tax advantages
Have you ever bought stock shares that later became worthless? (This may become relevant in light of recent market volatility.) At least you can claim a tax deduction. You can claim a capital loss equal to your basis in the stock (generally what you paid for it). The stock is treated as if it was sold on the last day of the tax year. This date affects whether the loss is short- or long-term. You may discover that a stock is worthless after you’ve filed your return for the year. In that case, you can amend your return for that year to claim a credit or refund. This can be done for 7 years from the due date of your original return, or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later.
Planning for the future: 5 business succession options and their tax implications
When it’s time to consider your business’s future, succession planning can protect your legacy and successfully set up the next generation of leaders or owners. Here are five options to consider: 1) Transfer the business directly to family members through a sale or gifts. 2) Transfer ownership through a trust. 3) Engage in an employee or management buyout. 4) Establish an employee stock ownership plan. 5) Sell stock or assets to an outside buyer. Each of these options has tax implications. The best approach for you depends on factors including your retirement timeline, financial goals and family or employee involvement. Contact us about how to move forward in your situation.
How to evaluate and undertake a business transformation
A business transformation is a strategically planned modification of how all or part of a company operates. Some businesses might change their mission; others may undergo a digital, operational or structural transformation. The overarching goal of any transformation is to improve the company’s financial performance by increasing efficiencies, improving customer service, seizing greater market share or entering a new market. Deciding whether to undertake a transformation calls for due diligence through analysis of financial data and market trends, customer feedback, and input from professional advisors. If you opt to proceed, you must follow a careful, phased approach. Contact us for help.
Riding the tax break train: Maximizing employee transportation fringe benefits
If your employer offers tax-favored transportation fringe benefits, you should probably take advantage of them. For 2025, employer-provided mass transit passes for train, subway and bus systems are tax-free to an employee, up to $325 a month. Your company can’t deduct the cost of this benefit. However, your company can offer a salary-reduction arrangement that allows you to set aside up to $325 per month from your salary to pay for transit passes. That way, you pay with before-tax dollars. For 2025, employer-provided parking allowances are also tax-free up to $325 per month. You can be given this fringe on top of the tax-free $325 a month for transit passes. Contact us with questions.
Exploring business entities: Is an S corporation the right choice?
Are you starting a business with partners and considering the best entity to form? An S corporation might be the ideal choice. One significant advantage of an S corp over a partnership is that, as an S corp shareholder, you won’t be personally liable for corporate debts. If you anticipate early losses, an S corp is more favorable than a C corp from a tax perspective. C corp shareholders typically don’t benefit from such losses, but S corp shareholders can deduct their share of the losses on their personal tax returns, up to their basis in the stock and any loans made to the entity. Contact us for more information.
Choosing the right sales compensation model for your business
What motivates salespeople? First and foremost, equitable and enticing compensation. And therein lies a challenge: Choosing the right sales compensation model isn’t easy and may call for reevaluation. The most common options include: 1) Straight salary (or hourly wages); this is the simplest option but doesn’t address motivation. 2) Commission only; it’s all about motivation but doesn’t offer employees financial stability. 3) Salary plus commission; this model offers stability but may be complex to administer. 4) Hybrid; here, you offer a salary plus performance-based incentives, an increasingly popular approach. Contact us for help assessing your company’s sales compensation model.
The 2024 gift tax return deadline is coming up soon
Did you make significant gifts to your children, grandchildren or other heirs last year? If so, it’s important to determine whether you must file a gift tax return by April 15 (Oct. 15 if you file for an extension). The annual gift tax exclusion was $18,000 in 2024 (increasing to $19,000 in 2025). Generally, you’ll need to file a return if you made gifts in 2024 that exceeded the $18,000-per-recipient gift tax annual exclusion (though there are exceptions in certain situations). But it may be desirable to file a gift tax return even if you aren’t required to. Contact us if you’re unsure whether you must (or should) file a 2024 gift tax return.