10 Top Tax Planning Strategies to Know

The start of a new tax year is the perfect time for small business owners to plan their tax history proactively. Strategic decisions made during this time can significantly impact your tax liability and financial well-being. To get you started, let's explore 10 of the top tax planning strategies to reduce your tax bill come return time.

1. Strategic Income Management

Effectively managing your income is a cornerstone of tax planning. Explore opportunities to strategically time your revenues and expenses. Depending on your situation, deferring or accelerating income can help you optimize your taxable income, especially if you anticipate changes in tax rates.

Example

Suppose you operate a consulting business in Jacksonville, Florida with payment flexibility. You're currently in a higher tax bracket, but you anticipate a lower bracket next year due to business changes or tax law updates. Instead of invoicing in December, defer income until January of the next year. This deferral shifts income recognition to a lower-tax year, potentially reducing your overall tax liability.

2. Optimize Business Structure

Your choice of business structure has profound implications for your tax liability. Whether you operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, S corporation, or C corporation, each structure comes with unique tax considerations and potential tax deductions. We recommend periodically reviewing your business structure to ensure it aligns with your current financial goals and provides the most advantageous tax outcomes.

Example

Let's say you're currently operating as a sole proprietorship. You might consider restructuring as an LLC or finding out about S corporation benefits. The right structure could give you access to additional tax credits or allow you to reduce the amount of income that is subject to self-employment taxes. One important benefit of hiring a tax professional is that they can analyze your business and identify the most tax-efficient structure.

3. Maximize Deductions for Business and Personal Expenses

Identifying and maximizing deductions for business expenses is a fundamental tax planning strategy. From office supplies to operational costs, meticulously track and document all eligible business expenses to reduce your tax bill. This includes tracking your mileage on any business vehicle your company owns to take full advantage of the mileage tax deduction. 

Bunching Deductions

Bunching can be a winning tax strategy for individuals who wish to maximize their itemized deductions, such as charitable donations. If you bunch qualifying expenses into one tax year, you can increase the chance of passing the standard deduction amount. The following year, you can take the standard deduction to enjoy more tax savings than you would by itemizing.

4. Strategize Capital Gains and Losses

Understanding how capital gains and losses impact your taxes is crucial. Explore strategies to offset capital gains with losses, minimizing your tax liability on investment returns. Additionally, consider the tax benefit of holding assets for the long term, as long-term capital gains are subject to a lower maximum tax rate.

Please note: If you own an asset for more than a year, the capital gain (or loss) when you sell the asset is considered long-term. Selling an asset you have held for less than a year will result in a short-term capital gain (or loss).

5. Take Advantage of Tax Credits

Explore tax credits that can reduce your tax liability directly. Credits related to business activities—such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Disabled Access Credit—can provide substantial savings, so it's essential to understand and leverage them effectively. Some business owners may also be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

6. Optimize Retirement Accounts

Contributing to a retirement account not only provides for the future but also offers valuable tax benefits. Explore options like Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and employer-sponsored plans. Contributions to these accounts can potentially lower your taxable income while increasing your financial security in retirement.

Example

If you make $70,000 in 2024 and contribute $7,000 to a traditional IRA, you can subtract this amount from your taxable income. You will then pay income taxes only on the remaining $63,000 (minus any other eligible deductions) and the $7,000 will be left to grow tax-deferred until you withdraw it in retirement.

7. Utilize the Home Office Deduction

For small business owners working from home, the home office deduction is a valuable tax planning strategy. Ensure you meet the criteria for a home office and compare the simplified and actual expense methods to see which strategy would provide a larger deduction. 

Example

The simplified method allows you to claim $5 per square foot to a maximum of 300 feet. If you are a business owner with a 100-square-foot home office that is used exclusively for work, you could claim $500 as your deduction. If, however, you spend more than $500 on eligible expenses, it would be better to use the actual expense method so that you can deduct the entire amount.

8. Implement Tax-Loss Harvesting

Strategically managing investment portfolios through tax-loss harvesting can help offset capital gains and reduce your overall tax liability. Identify investments with losses to "harvest" and use them to counterbalance gains, potentially minimizing your tax burden.

Selling short-term securities at a loss will offset the amount of capital gains tax you owe from selling profitable short-term assets. This will limit your short-term capital gains, which are taxed at a higher rate than long-term capital gains.

9. Charitable Contributions for Tax Savings

Giving to charities strategically can reduce your tax liability. It is important to know the tax implications of your donations beforehand, whether in cash, property, or other assets, and to make sure you obtain all of the necessary valuations and receipts. 

The limit on charitable contributions made in cash for tax years 2023 and 2024 is 60% of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income. There are other available deductions for cash and non-cash donations based on annual rules set by the IRS. Claim charitable donations to qualified organizations as itemized deductions on Schedule A of IRS Form 1040. 

Example

If you have an adjusted gross income of $200,000 this tax year, you can claim cash donations made to qualified organizations with a total value of $120,000 for the year.

10. Stay Informed About Tax Law Changes

Tax laws evolve, impacting your financial landscape. Stay informed about changes in tax regulations and consult a tax professional to find out how these taxes will affect you and your business. With the right guidance, you can optimize your taxes proactively based on the opportunities and restrictions that apply in any given tax year. 

Plan for a Great Tax Return at the Start of the Year

Effective tax planning requires a proactive and informed approach. Small business owners can significantly benefit from strategic income management, optimizing their business structure, maximizing deductions, and leveraging tax credits. Additionally, taking advantage of retirement accounts, home office deductions, and charitable contributions can lead to substantial tax savings.

For the best results, stay attuned to changes in tax laws and work closely with a tax advisor to tailor these tax planning strategies to your business. By implementing these and other strategies, small business owners can navigate tax season with confidence and maximize their financial well-being.