• 10 Tax Saving Tips For Small Business Owners Business

Do you own an S-Corp, or are you thinking about starting one?

The 2018 tax reform law changed how deductions work for most taxpayers—including small-business owners. Under the new tax law, most small businesses (sole proprietorships, LLCs, S corporations and partnerships) will be able to deduct 20% of their income on their taxes. Basically, if you own a small business and it generates $100,000. Tax saving tips for limited company owners March 20, 2019 Here are some tax and finance tips which could help you save money as a limited company owner, based on our experience of running limited companies, and dealing with accountants and tax advisors over the past 15 years.

According the IRS, about 70% of all corporations filing tax returns are S-corporations (including regular corporations and LLCs electing the S-corp status). S-corporations tax returns also get more scrutiny from the IRS.

Here are ten down and dirty things to know:

1. S-corporations pass the tax burden for corporate income, losses, deductions and credits through to their shareholders. Shareholders in turn report these incomes and losses as ordinary income on their personal tax returns. This allows the corporation to avoid double taxation.
2. S-corporation status can reduce self-employment taxes for shareholder-owners. However, shareholder-employees must receive a “reasonable salary” reported on a W-2 and are subject to FICA taxes. Failure to pay a reasonable salary could result in severe penalties and back taxes.
3. Corporate officers are considered employees, and S-corporations must comply with all employment laws regarding these employees, including paying payroll taxes, federal and state income taxes, FICA, worker’s compensation and unemployment taxes.
4. All S-corporation profits, losses and credits, etc. are allocated according to the percentage of shareholder ownership. If you own 62% of the stock, you are responsible for 62% of the income, losses, etc.
5. An S-corporation can own 80% of the stock of a C-corporation, but unlike a C-corporation, an S corporation is not eligible for a dividends received deduction (DRD). That means if an S-corporation owns shares of stock in a C-corp which then distributes dividends to the S-corp as a shareholder, the S-corp cannot receive a tax deduction like another C-corporation would.
6. S-corporations’ charitable contributions are not limited to the same 10 percent of taxable income limitation as C-corporations.
7. Shareholders pay tax on S-corp income even if they do not receive a cash distribution.
8. If distributions to shareholders exceed a shareholder’s basis, the excess will be taxed as capital gains.
9. S-corporations may have to pay excise taxes on things like motor fuel and highway usage by trucks.
10. Taxability of distributions from an S-corporation that has always been an S-corporation is different than that of a C-corporation that has been converted to an S-corporation.

10 Tax Saving Tips For Small Business Owners Business

Corporate taxes are complex, so be sure to consult with your favorite CPA and/or attorney for advice.