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Tax-Favored Qualified Small Business Corporation Status Could Help You Thrive

Operating your small business as a Qualified Small Business Corporation (QSBC) could be a tax-wise idea.

Tax-free treatment for eligible stock gains

QSBCs are the same as garden-variety C corporations for tax and legal purposes — except QSBC shareholders are potentially eligible to exclude from federal income tax 100% of their stock sale gains. That translates into a 0% federal income tax rate on QSBC stock sale profits! However, you must meet several requirements set forth in Section 1202 of the Internal Revenue Code, and not all shares meet the tax-law description of QSBC stock. Finally, there are limitations on the amount of QSBC stock sale gain that you can exclude in any one tax year (but they’re unlikely to apply).

Stock acquisition date is key

The 100% federal income tax gain exclusion is only available for sales of QSBC shares that were acquired on or after September 28, 2010.

If you currently operate as a sole proprietorship, single-member LLC treated as a sole proprietorship, partnership or multi-member LLC treated as a partnership, you’ll have to incorporate the business and issue yourself shares to attain QSBC status.

Important: The act of incorporating a business shouldn’t be taken lightly. […]

By |2024-01-19T19:26:00+00:00January 19th, 2024|small business, tax|0 Comments

The Kiddie Tax Could Affect Your Children Until They’re Young Adults

The so-called “kiddie tax” can cause some of a child’s unearned income to be taxed at the parent’s higher marginal federal income tax rates instead of at the usually much lower rates that a child would otherwise pay. For purposes of this federal income tax provision, a “child” can be up to 23 years old. So, the kiddie tax can potentially affect young adults as well as kids.

Kiddie tax basics

Perhaps the most important thing to know about this poorly understood provision is that, for a student, the kiddie tax can be an issue until the year that he or she turns age 24. For that year and future years, your child is finally kiddie-tax-exempt.

The kiddie tax is only assessed on a child’s (or young adult’s) unearned income. That usually means interest, dividends and capital gains. These types of income often come from custodial accounts that parents and grandparents set up and fund for younger children.

Earned income from a job or self-employment is never subject to the kiddie tax.

Calculating the tax

To determine the kiddie tax, first add up the child’s (or young adult’s) net earned income and net unearned income. Then subtract the allowable […]

By |2024-01-12T17:56:39+00:00January 12th, 2024|children, tax|0 Comments

Employers: In 2023, The Social Security Wage Base Is Going Up

The Social Security Administration recently announced that the wage base for computing Social Security tax will increase to $160,200 for 2023 (up from $147,000 for 2022). Wages and self-employment income above this threshold aren’t subject to Social Security tax.

Basics about Social Security

The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) imposes two taxes on employers, employees and self-employed workers. One is for the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program, which is commonly known as Social Security. The other is for the Hospital Insurance program, which is commonly known as Medicare.

There’s a maximum amount of compensation subject to the Social Security tax, but no maximum for Medicare tax. For 2023, the FICA tax rate for employers is 7.65% — 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare (the same as in 2022).

2023 updates

For 2023, an employee will pay:

  • 6.2% Social Security tax on the first $160,200 of wages (6.2% of $160,200 makes the maximum tax $9,932.40), plus
  • 1.45% Medicare tax on the first $200,000 of wages ($250,000 for joint returns; $125,000 for married taxpayers filing a separate return), plus
  • 2.35% Medicare tax (regular 1.45% Medicare tax plus 0.9% additional Medicare tax) on all wages in […]
By |2022-10-26T23:20:58+00:00October 26th, 2022|social security, tax|0 Comments

2022 Pass-through Entity Elective Tax (PTE) Payment Due June 15

Beginning with the 2022 taxable year, taxpayers wanting to make election for 2022 tax year must make a pre-payment by June 15, 2022.

The amount due by June 15 is at least the greater of:

  • 50% of the elective tax paid for the prior year;
  • $1,000.

 Entities that did not elect to pay PTE in 2021 will pay $1,000 on June 15 to preserve the right to make the election for 2022. Entities that have elected PTE for 2021 tax year, or plan to elect if on extension, must pay in at least 50% of the final 2021 PTE tax liability. If the 2021 return is on extension, taxpayers should consider making a larger than needed estimate to provide a cushion and ensure that their estimate is equal to 50% of 2021 final PTE tax liability. There are no exceptions to the 50% of prior-year tax requirement for the June 15 payment, even if income is expected to decrease. If the June prepayment is underpaid, then the taxpayer is ineligible to make the election for that taxable year. (R&TC §19904) The June 15 payment deadline applies to both calendar- and fiscal-year taxpayers.

The remaining 2022 […]

By |2022-05-25T16:05:28+00:00May 25th, 2022|entity, tax, tax deadlines|0 Comments

You May Owe “Nanny Tax” Even If You Don’t Have a Nanny

Have you heard of the “nanny tax?” Even if you don’t employ a nanny, it may apply to you. Hiring a house cleaner, gardener or other household employee (who isn’t an independent contractor) may make you liable for federal income and other taxes. You may also have state tax obligations.

If you employ a household worker, you aren’t required to withhold federal income taxes from pay. But you can choose to withhold if the worker requests it. In that case, ask the worker to fill out a Form W-4. However, you may be required to withhold Social Security and Medicare (FICA) taxes and to pay federal unemployment (FUTA) tax.

2021 and 2022 thresholds

In 2021, you must withhold and pay FICA taxes if your household worker earns cash wages of $2,300 or more (excluding the value of food and lodging). The Social Security Administration recently announced that this amount would increase to $2,400 in 2022. If you reach the threshold, all […]

By |2021-10-22T21:59:07+00:00October 22nd, 2021|employer, tax, tax implications, tax planning|0 Comments
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