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Starting a Business?

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Starting a new business on your own can be both intimidating and rewarding at the same time. Hopefully; with a solid business plan and proper guidance those stepping-out on their own will be successful. To make this process a little easier, here are some basic tax considerations a new business owner should take into account.

Choosing Your Type of Business Entity

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is to choose the type of entity that you wish your business to operate as. Your choice plays a factor in your personal liability for the business’ activities and how taxes are imposed on the business and yourself as the owner. The most common forms of business are the

Sole Proprietorship – subject to income tax at the individual level, subject to the self-employment tax

Partnership – subject to income tax at the individual level, subject to the self-employment tax

Corporation – income earned by a corporation that has not elected to be an S corporation is taxed at the corporate level; with shareholders of the corporation being treated as employees subject to payroll taxes on their wages.

S corporation- subject to income tax at the individual level, shareholders treated as employees subject to payroll taxes

 

Each form of business has its own advantages and drawbacks; so consulting a tax professional as to which is best for you is always advisable.

Many individuals choose to operate their businesses as a limited liability company (LLC). The IRS will by default treat an LLC as either a sole-proprietorship or partnership, depending upon the number owners of the business. Alternatively, an LLC can elect to be taxed as a corporation or S corporation.

 

 

Obtain an EIN

If you form a partnership or corporation, or plan on having employees, you will be required to obtain an employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS. Applying for an EIN is free and easily done via the

 

 

Keep Good Records

One of the most important steps in starting a business is to establish a solid recordkeeping policy. Not only is good record keeping required in order to prove items of income and expense reported on your business’ tax return, but they also are crucial for monitoring the progress of your business.

Quality records can show whether your business is improving, which items are selling, or what changes you need to make.  With any business, quality records can increase the likelihood of business success.

 

 

Deductible Costs of Starting Your Business

With most new businesses the old saying “you gotta spend money, to make money” will apply, and how expenses you incur before bringing in revenue is treated depends upon the type of expense.

Currently, the IRS allows businesses to deduct up to $5,000 of certain start-up expenses in the year the business begins (subject to limitations), even if the expenses were incurred in a prior year.

Expenses that qualify are those that would be deductible if they were paid after the business actually began.

Amounts paid to acquire capital and intangible assets, such as equipment or franchise fees that a business would have to depreciate over a period of years, do not qualify for this deduction.

If your eligible start-up costs exceed the amount allowed for deduction, you will have to “capitalize” the excess expenses and will recover those costs via an amortization deduction ratable over a period of 15-years.

 

In addition to eligible start-up costs, corporations and partnerships are allowed to deduct up to $5,000 of organizational costs in their first year of activity. These include legal fees, filing fees, and other costs directly related to the formation of partnership or corporation business entity.

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