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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
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| Do You Know How Much Your Business Is Worth? |
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Tips for placing a value on your business There are several reasons why you should know the value of your business. if you are planning to sell your business, the general rule is that you should sell it for fair market value. In many instances the term "fair market value" is somewhat ambiguous. In the simplest sense, fair market value is what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller, with each party knowing all the pertinent facts. There are several acceptable methods for determining the fair market value of a company. The most common three methods use (1) the value of the company's assets, (2) the earning power of the company, or (3) the stock value, assuming the company is a corporation. When determining the value of the corporation's stock, you must research the sale of stock for a substantially similar business. If you have been operating the company for many years, you have built up a reputation for providing good service. This goodwill is a valuable asset and should play an important role in determining a fair asking price for your business. The fair market value of the business is also relevant if you plan to transfer the company to a family member. If the transfer is for less than fair market value, the IRS considers the transaction as part sale and part gift. Inter-family transfers are more closely scrutinized, making an accurate valuation even more important.
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Tax Tips Personal
| Take Advantage of Tax Savings in a Down Market |
Know when you have a deductible loss Just because the stock market lost money, doesn't mean you have a deductible loss. As long as you hold on to an investment, you only have a loss on paper. It's only when you actually sell the investment that you have a transaction to report on your tax return. Fortunately, the tax law allows you to offset your capital gains by your capital losses. You can avoid or minimize taxable gain by selling two investments, one at a gain and the other at a loss. |
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Personal Quick Tip
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