Choosing a Business Entity

When you decide to start a business, one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is choosing a business entity. It’s a decision that impacts many things–from the amount of taxes you pay to how much paperwork you have to deal with and what type of personal liability you face, and with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, it’s more important than ever to choose the business entity that benefits your business.

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Year-End Tax Planning Strategies for Businesses

There are a number of end of year tax planning strategies that businesses can use to reduce their tax burden for 2017. Here are a few of them:

Deducting Business-Related Car Expenses

Whether you’re self-employed or an employee, if you use a car for business, you get the benefit of tax deductions.

States Require Online Retailers to Collect Sales Tax

From declining sales at local retail establishments to brick and mortar store closings, almost everyone would agree that the rise of Internet sales has transformed the retail landscape. One consequence of this uptick in online sales is lost revenues in states that collect sales (or use) tax.

The Sharing Economy and Your Taxes

Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, Etsy, Rover, TaskRabbit. If you’ve used any of these services–or provided services for them to others–you’re a member of the sharing economy.

If you’ve only used these services (and not provided them), then there’s no need to worry about the tax implications but if you’ve rented out a spare room in your house through a company like Airbnb then you’re probably collecting a fee–a portion of which goes to the provider (in this example, Airbnb) and a portion that you keep for providing the service. But whether it’s your full-time gig or a part-time job to make some extra cash, you need to be aware of the tax consequences.

Business Entertainment Expenses

As a business owner, you are entitled to deduct certain expenses on your tax return such as those relating to entertaining clients. Entertainment is considered any activity that provides entertainment, amusement, or recreation. It may also include meeting the personal, living, or family needs of individuals including providing meals, a hotel suite, or a car to customers or their families.

Hobby or Business? Why It Matters.

Millions of Americans have hobbies such as sewing, woodworking, fishing, gardening, stamp and coin collecting, but when that hobby starts to turn a profit, it might just be considered a business by the IRS.

Five Things to Know before Starting a Business

Starting a new business is an exciting, but busy time with so much to be done and so little time to do it in. And, if you expect to have employees, there are a variety of federal and state forms and applications that will need to be completed to get your business up and running. That’s where a tax professional can help.

Tax Tips for Farmers

Are you in the farming business or thinking about it? If so, you should be aware that there may be tax benefits available for you come tax time. Farms include plantations, ranches, ranges, and orchards. Farmers may raise livestock, poultry or fish, or grow fruits or vegetables.

Here are 10 things about farm income and expenses you should keep in mind this year.

Tax Tips for the Self-Employed

If you are self-employed, you normally carry on a trade or business. Sole proprietors and independent contractors are two types of self-employment. If this applies to you, there are a few basic things you should know about how your income affects your federal tax return. If you’re self-employed, here are six important tax tips you should know about: