Understanding Inventory Accounting Methods for Small Businesses
Businesses that produce goods or purchase merchandise for resale have traditionally treated those items as inventory. Under the general tax rules, the business capitalizes inventory costs and deducts them only in the year the inventory is sold. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed these rules for many small businesses. As a result, qualifying businesses […]
A Valuable Tax Break for Pass-Through Businesses Continues in 2026
Beginning in 2026, the Section 199A qualified business income deduction becomes a permanent part of tax planning for pass-through business owners. This deduction can allow owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, S corporations, and certain other pass-through businesses to deduct up to 20 percent of their qualified business income. C corporations do not qualify. The 2026 […]
Buying or Launching a Business? Know the Tax Rules
Starting or buying a business often requires significant spending before the business officially opens. Fortunately, the tax law allows you to deduct at least some of these start-up costs instead of waiting until you sell the business to receive a tax benefit. Deducting Start-up Costs In general, you may deduct up to $5,000 in qualifying […]
A Guide to Deducting Unreimbursed Partnership Expenses
Partners in partnerships and members of LLCs taxed as partnerships often pay business-related expenses out of their own pocket. Common examples include meals with prospective clients, vehicle expenses, professional education, subscriptions, and home-office costs. In many cases, these unreimbursed expenses may be deductible on the partner’s personal tax return. Only if the partnership agreement or […]
Is Your Business Required to File Form 720 This July?
If your business provides health benefits through health reimbursement arrangements such as a 105-HRA, a QSEHRA, or an ICHRA, you likely must file IRS Form 720 and pay the annual Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee by July 31, 2026. Although the fee is small, many business owners overlook this filing requirement. Failing to file […]
New Law Restores Valuable Tax Deductions for Businesses
Your business may have a valuable opportunity to claim larger deductions or refunds for research and experimentation (R&E) expenses. Starting in 2022, businesses had to amortize domestic R&E costs over five years rather than deducting them immediately. This rule created cash-flow problems for many businesses that developed new products, improved processes, wrote custom software, or […]
A Business Owner’s Guide to the Augusta Rule
The so-called Augusta Rule can create a valuable tax-saving opportunity for business owners who operate through an S corporation, a C corporation, or a partnership. Under this rule, you may rent your personal residence to your business for up to 14 days per year and receive the rental income completely tax-free. At the same time, […]
The Power of QSBC Stock
Let’s turn our attention to an increasingly valuable tax planning opportunity involving qualified small business corporation (QSBC) stock, especially in light of recent law changes. QSBCs—essentially, certain qualifying C corporations—offer powerful tax advantages. Most notably, you may be able to exclude up to 100 percent of the gain on the sale of QSBC stock if […]
A Closer Look at Family Payment Tax Strategies
Here’s an often-overlooked tax strategy that can generate substantial family tax savings when handled correctly. In fact, using a family payment tax strategy can help you maximize these savings. If you pay a family member (or even a non-relative) for a one-time project, the tax treatment can be highly favorable—but only if you follow the […]
Smart Tax Strategy for Corporations: Use the Augusta Rule Wisely
What is the Augusta Rule? Here’s a valuable tax strategy, commonly known as the Augusta rule, that can help you generate tax-free income while claiming a legitimate business deduction. If you own a business structured as an S corporation, a C corporation, or a partnership, you may rent your personal residence to your business for […]