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Launching a Small Business? Here are Some Tax Considerations

While many businesses have been forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some entrepreneurs have started new small businesses. Many of these people start out operating as sole proprietors. Here are some tax rules and considerations involved in operating with that entity.

The pass-through deduction

To the extent your business generates qualified business income (QBI), you’re eligible to claim the pass-through or QBI deduction, subject to limitations. For tax years through 2025, the deduction can be up to 20% of a pass-through entity owner’s QBI. You can take the deduction even if you don’t itemize deductions on your tax return and instead claim the standard deduction.

Reporting responsibilities

As a sole proprietor, you’ll file Schedule C with your Form 1040. Your business expenses are deductible against gross income. If you have losses, they’ll generally be deductible against your other income, subject to special rules related to hobby losses, passive activity losses and losses in activities […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2021-03-09T17:30:07+00:00March 9th, 2021|business, deductions, small business|0 Comments

PPP Loans Have Reopened: Let’s Review The Tax Consequences

The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) reopened the week of January 11. If you’re fortunate to get a PPP loan to help during the COVID-19 crisis (or you received one last year), you may wonder about the tax consequences.

Background on the loans

In March of 2020, the CARES Act became law. It authorized the SBA to make loans to qualified businesses under certain circumstances. The law established the PPP, which provided up to 24 weeks of cash-flow assistance through 100% federally guaranteed loans to eligible recipients. Taxpayers could apply to have the loans forgiven to the extent their proceeds were used to maintain payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic and to cover certain other expenses.

At the end of 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) was enacted to provide additional relief related to COVID-19. This law includes funding for more PPP loans, including a “second draw” for businesses that received a loan last year. It also allows businesses to claim a tax deduction for the ordinary and necessary expenses paid from the proceeds of PPP loans.

Second draw loans

The CAA permits certain smaller businesses who received a PPP loan and experienced […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2021-01-19T19:11:15+00:00January 19th, 2021|cares act, New Tax Laws, ppp, small business|0 Comments

New California Relief Grant Program For Small Businesses Opens Today

California small businesses can now begin applying for some extra relief as part of a $475 million grant program the state is offering. Round 1 for applications starts Wednesday, December 30th and runs through Friday, January 8th at 11:59pm. These grants are limited to small businesses with gross revenue under $2.5 million.

Some highlights of the grant program include:

• $475 million of funding administered by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate will be distributed by Lendistry as the Intermediary, with certain third-parties designated by Lendistry to provide additional support (“Partners”).
• Anticipate issuing grants in the following two (2) rounds of distributions:
o Round 1 – approximately $237.5 million
o Round 2 – approximately $237.5 million
• The program is not on a “first come, first served” basis.
• The application portal for each round will open for applicants for a Open to active For-Profit businesses and Non-Profits.
• Grants will range from $5,000 to $25,000 per eligible business (based on gross revenue).
• Yearly Gross revenue must be at minimum $1,000 and maximum $2.5 million.

Funds from the grant can be used to pay for an establishment’s rent, utilities, resources, employee expenses and other relevant costs.

Eligibility requirements include:

• […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-12-31T01:12:49+00:00December 31st, 2020|ca, california, covid-19, New Tax Laws, small business|0 Comments

The Balanced Scorecard Approach To Strategic Planning

In the early 1990s, the Balanced Scorecard approach to strategic planning was developed to enable business owners to better organize and visualize their objectives. With 2021 shaping up to be a year of both daunting challenges and potentially remarkable recovery, your company should have a strategic plan that’s both comprehensive and flexible. Giving this methodology a try may prove beneficial.

Areas of focus

The Balanced Scorecard approach segments strategic planning into four critical areas:

1. Customers. Every business owner knows the importance of customer satisfaction but, to truly know and fulfill customers’ needs, you must identify the right metrics that measure it. Also identify the types of customers you want and, more important, can best serve.

Key question to ask: To fulfill our strategic objectives, how can we attract and retain the customers that build our bottom line?

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-12-28T22:06:40+00:00December 28th, 2020|business, small business, strategy|0 Comments

Immediate Tax Relief For Some California Small Businesses

Immediate tax relief for some California small businesses. In connection with COVID-19, the CA Dept. of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) is offering tax relief for eligible businesses impacted by the virus restrictions. Business owners who file CDTFA returns for less than $1 million will be granted automatic 3-month extensions on payments and returns originally due between Dec. 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021. Small businesses having under $5 million in taxable annual sales or larger businesses in sectors hit by operational restrictions of the virus can apply for a 12-month, interest free payment plan to defer payment of up to $50,000 of sales and use tax liability. Contact your Linkenheimer CPA with questions.

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-12-16T17:45:36+00:00December 16th, 2020|business, ca, california, New Tax Laws, small business|0 Comments