Starting Your Own Business?

Here are a few quick tips to help you reduce taxes

Open a separate business checking account. Many small business owners don't realize the complications that can arise from using their personal checking account to pay for business expenses. If business expenses are mixed in with personal expenses, the IRS may disallow them.

When you set up a business checking account at the bank, be prepared to submit either your social security number (SSN) or an employer identification number (EIN). Your SSN will do if you plan on establishing a sole proprietorship and do not have employees or a retirement plan. If you plan on operating a partnership or corporation, you'll need to submit an EIN.

Keep track of expenses you incur before you start your business. Expenses incurred once you decide to start a business, but before business operations actually begin, are deductible up to $5,000 in the first year of business. The rest is deductible over 180-month period after your business opens its doors.

 

Tax Tips Small Business

Turning Interest Payments Into Tax Deductions

Make interest payments work for you, not against you

You can deduct business-related interest on your business return if you used the borrowed funds to purchase business supplies, equipment, services, etc. Co-mingling business and personal expenses makes it difficult to determine what amount of the interest is business versus personal. If this happens, the IRS may consider the entire amount as nondeductible personal interest and disallow the deduction. Therefore, keep all business purchases made with loans and credit cards clearly separate from your personal expenses. Use a separate credit card for your business to make it easier.

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Small Business Quick Tip

Use your credit card to buy equipment and supplies that you will need in the upcoming year. Charges on your credit card for deductible business expenses are allowed in the year you make the purchase, not in the year the charge is paid. Pay off your credit card after the beginning of the year and avoid finance charges.
Saturday, 19th May 2012
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Tax Tips Personal

Let the Sun Shine

Certain solar-powered improvements are eligible for a tax credit

You are allowed a credit for 30 percent of certain expenditures that increase the energy efficiency of your personal residence. Costs eligible for the credit include qualified solar electric property expenditures, qualified solar water heating property expenditures, and qualified fuel cell property expenditures. The credit is available for residential energy-efficient property placed in service in 2006, 2007, and 2008. There is no requirement that property be new to qualify. Read more...

Personal Quick Tip

If you own mutual funds, it is important to keep track of your reinvested dividends. These dividends increase your cost basis resulting in a lower capital gain when you sell the fund.