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end-of-year-tax-planning-ideas-for-small-business-owners

End-of-Year Tax Planning Ideas for Small Business Owners
End-of-Year Tax Planning Ideas for Small Business Owners 1600 941 smolinlupinco

As we approach the last few months of the calendar year, it’s time to start thinking about ways to reduce your small business taxes. 

Deferring income and accelerating deductions to minimize taxes—the standard year-end approach—will likely give your business the best results. This also applies to bunching deductible expenses into this year and next to minimize their tax value. 

That said, those expecting to be in a higher tax bracket may get better results with an opposite strategy—for example, pulling income into the current year to be taxed at lower rates, while deferring deductible expenses until next year to offset higher-taxed income. 

Some additional ideas include: 

QBI deduction

Non-corporation taxpayers may be entitled to a qualified business income (QBI) deduction of up to 20%. If taxable income is higher than $340,100 for married couples filing jointly, or half that amount for others, the deduction may be limited (and phased in) based on: 

  • Whether the taxpayer is involved in a service-type business such as law, health, or consulting
  • The amount of W-2 wages paid by the business 
  • The unadjusted basis of qualified property held by the business, such as machinery and equipment

By deferring income, accelerating deductions to keep income under the thresholds, or increasing W-2 wages before the end of the year, taxpayers may be abe to to keep some or all of the QBI deduction. 

Cash vs. accrual accounting

Taxpayers must satisfy a gross receipts test in order to qualify as a small business. For 2022, this means that average annual gross receipts can’t exceed $27 million during a three-year testing period—ot that long ago, that amount was only $5 million. 

Compared to previous years, more small businesses are now able to use the cash accounting method for federal tax purposes, rather than accrual accounting. Cash method taxpayers may find that by holding off billings until next year, paying bills early, or making select prepayments, it is easier to defer income. 

Section 179 deduction

As a small business taxpayer, you may want to consider making expenditures that qualify for the Section 179 expensing option. Expensing is typically available for depreciable property—other than buildings—including equipment, off-the-shelf computer software, interior building improvements, HVAC, and security systems. 

For 2022, the expensing limit is $1.08 million with an investment ceiling of $2.7 million. This means that many small and medium-sized businesses will be able to deduct most or all of their expenditures for machinery and equipment—and that deduction isn’t prorated for the amount of time an asset is in service. If you place eligible property in service by the end of 2022, you can claim a full deduction for the year. 

Bonus depreciation

If qualified improvement property, machinery, and equipment is purchased and placed in service this year, businesses can generally claim a 100% bonus first-year depreciation deduction. 

As with the Section 179 deduction, this full write-off is an option regardless of how long those qualifying assets are in service in 2022. 

Develop a year-end tax plan with us

Tax rules can be complex, so it’s best to consult with a professional before acting. Contact us to work with an experienced tax professional to develop the best tax-saving strategies for your business.

© 2022

lowering-risks-through-stress-testing

Lowering Risks Through Stress Testing: A Smart Consideration
Lowering Risks Through Stress Testing: A Smart Consideration 1600 941 smolinlupinco

The economic rollercoaster that ensued after the pandemic began in early 2020 put many businesses through the wringer. While companies seemed financially stable on the surface, their financial statements revealed significant unpreparedness for the challenges they faced. 

Stress testing your organization can provide a comprehensive look at how well your financial position can withstand a crisis. This is an invaluable insight to avoiding difficult situations in the future. And if the last two years have taught us one thing, it’s to expect the unexpected.

Stress testing focuses on assessing your business’s ability to navigate an economic crisis, and it typically includes these three steps: 

1. Identify What Risks Your Company Faces

In a stress test to evaluate threats your organization might face in the future, the following five risks are examined:

  • Operational
  • Financial
  • Compliance
  • Reputational
  • Strategic

Operational risks that must be stress tested include any liabilities that deal with the inner workings of your company such as how you would deal with natural disaster impacts. It’s important to assess how your company manages its capital to evaluate both financial and fraud risk. Compliance risks are especially worrisome, since they involve issues that could bring regulatory agencies to your doorstep. Strategic risks cover your company’s ability to adjust its market focus to react to changes in consumer markets.  

2. Risk Management Planning

Knowing your business risks is the first step. The next step is meeting with your management team to educate yourselves about these threats, the financial implications, and how well your business can absorb their impact. Be sure to get your team’s perspective on the liabilities you’ve identified, including any others they are concerned about, along with any possible financial consequences.

From that point forward, you and your team can collaborate and develop an effective risk mitigation plan. For example, if your facility is located in a part of California frequently impacted by forest fires, having a disaster recovery plan is essential to making sure that your business can survive such an event. Or, you might consider having a succession strategy in place in case a key stakeholder in your firm becomes disabled or passes away suddenly. This could include taking out additional life insurance and training team members on the duties of other colleagues.

3. Evaluate Your Plan Regularly

Risk management is not a one-and-done process. It involves continuous adaptation to new risks that could emerge and updating your plan when old threats become a non-issue. Try to conduct reviews annually with your team and consider what updates are necessary. You should request feedback on recently implemented risk management plans and any potential changes that are needed based on that review. 

We’re Here to Help

Stress tests help recognize the blind spots that hide threats to your company’s future financial performance. With the marketplace becoming more volatile, we cannot stress enough the importance of this exercise. Indeed, there is always risk in running a business, however, those that take extra steps to prepare often handle the unexpected better than others. Reach out to us if you would like additional assistance in conducting a stress test on your company’s risk preparedness to recognize and protect against any discovered vulnerabilities. 

© 2022

using-a-split-annuity-as-a-balanced-approach-to-retirement-and-estate-planning

Using a Split Annuity as a Balanced Approach to Retirement and Estate Planning
Using a Split Annuity as a Balanced Approach to Retirement and Estate Planning 1600 941 smolinlupinco

Maintaining your standard of living while trying to preserve your wealth for loved ones is a tightrope walk, something you’re probably aware of if you’re close to retiring or already enjoying this milestone in life. Finding a balance between these two goals is especially challenging since your retirement years could span decades. A way to maintain your income stream and hold onto financial assets is by investing in a split annuity.  

The Basics of an Annuity

In a nutshell, an annuity is an investment contract with tax advantages that you hold with an insurer or financial services company. You have the option to pay your premiums annually or by lump sum, and your service will pay over a set term or a lifetime in return. 

For purposes of the split annuity strategy covered below, we’ll highlight “fixed” annuities. These typically provide participants with a guaranteed minimum return rate. There are other annuities options, including “variable” and “equity-indexed,” which are more volatile but have significant upside potential compared to fixed products. 

Annuities can fall into two categories: immediate or deferred. Immediate annuities give you payouts immediately, whereas deferred options begin paying at a predetermined future date. 

Another consideration for annuity earnings is that they are tax-deferred. This means they will increase in value, tax-free until paid or withdrawn. Every payment will have a portion dedicated to standard income tax rates, and the remainder is considered a tax-free return of principal (premiums). 

Deferred annuities tend to grow faster than comparable accounts because of their ability to accumulate earnings on a tax-deferred basis. This perk offsets the modest interest rates they usually offer.

Another feature of annuities that make them attractive is the flexibility of reallocating or withdrawing funds according to your circumstances. Keep in mind that you may have to pay early withdrawal or surrender charges depending on how much you take and at what point this occurs in the annuity’s lifecycle.

Understanding the Split Annuity Strategy

Split annuities are not a single product, but rather two that are often funded by a single investment source. Most split strategies will involve using some of your funds to purchase an immediate annuity, making fixed payments over a specific term, such as 15 years. The funds you have left over then get invested in a deferred annuity that won’t pay out until the initial period has ended. 

The outcome is that once your immediate annuity term has ended, you will have accumulated enough earnings in your deferred annuity to equal what you originally invested. Essentially, if set up correctly, your split annuity will create a fixed income stream for several years that preserves your principal. 

Once the term has ended, reassess what options you have available. For instance, you might decide to have your deferred annuity start sending you payments, reinvest in another split annuity, withdraw a portion of the entire cash value it holds, or consider another investment option altogether. 

If you’d like to learn more about split annuities, reach out to us. We are eager to help you determine the best strategy for your retirement situation. 

© 2022

4 Essential Estate Planning Documents College-Aged Children Need
4 Essential Estate Planning Documents College-Aged Children Need 1600 941 smolinlupinco

If your child is off to college this year, have you already set up a basic estate plan for them? If not, you’re part of the majority that answers “no” to this question. Fortunately, with summer break already here, you can take this time to sit down with an estate planning attorney to create a plan.

With your child free from school obligations, you can bring them along to learn about the importance of this process and sign off on the necessary documentation before returning to campus this fall. 

Four essential estate planning documents your child should have before next semester

If your child is college-bound, the following four estate planning documents are crucial for them to have:

  1. Last Will and Testament: Even though your son or daughter is only in their late teens or early twenties, having a will drawn up is important. This document handles how their assets should be distributed and can take care of other situations, like guardianship of your grandchild. 
  2. Financial Power of Attorney: This is another essential document that legally empowers you or your spouse to handle your child’s finances on their behalf. You can create a form with “durable” powers should your child become incapacitated. 
  3. Health Care Power of Attorney: If your child cannot make health care decisions on their own due to incapacitation, a health care power of attorney allows your child to appoint someone to do so on their behalf. 
  4. HIPAA Authorization: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization is essential in making crucial healthcare decisions for your child. This power of attorney option authorizes physicians and other healthcare providers to share information regarding your child’s medical conditions and diagnoses. Without this document, informed decisions about your son or daughter’s condition are difficult.

Contact us right away if you and your child would like to create an estate plan that covers the essentials. We welcome the opportunity to help your family gain peace of mind knowing that your child’s best interests are protected.

© 2022

Simon, Spinelli & Ciambrone Joins Smolin
Simon, Spinelli & Ciambrone Joins Smolin 1200 628 smolinlupinco

Smolin Lupin is pleased to announce the merger of Simon, Spinelli & Ciambrone, a CPA firm headquartered in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey.

The professional team from Simon, Spinelli & Ciambrone specializes in providing financial, tax, and accounting advice for individuals and businesses in a wide range of industries. The Spring Lake Heights team offers decades of knowledge and experience servicing clients and assisting businesses in meeting their goals. 

“We are thrilled to have Simon, Spinelli & Ciambrone join us in providing the quality accounting and consulting services Smolin has always been known for,” said Ted Dudek, CPA and Managing Member of Smolin. “We believe Smolin will benefit greatly from Simon, Spinelli & Ciambrone’s accounting and tax experience and their focus on building exceptional client relationships.” 

This merger will expand Smolin’s ability to deliver industry-leading financial and accounting solutions throughout New Jersey. Simon, Spinelli & Ciambrone’s unique construction accounting specialization will enhance Smolin’s existing client base in the construction industry. 

“Smolin’s reputation speaks for itself,” comments Stephen M. Spinelli, CPA. “Their many years of industry experience and shared commitment to fostering client relationships make them a perfect fit for our team. Their approach to client satisfaction exactly mirrored ours over the years.”

As part of this merger, a service location for Smolin will remain in Spring Lake Heights in the previous offices of Simon, Spinelli & Ciambrone. 

About Smolin Lupin

Since 1947, Smolin has been committed to providing industry-leading professional financial and accounting services uniquely designed to meet the needs of each and every client. Smolin’s attention to the needs of each client has helped them become the successful and respected CPA firm they are today. Smolin Lupin is an Independent Member of the BDO Alliance USA and one of the NJBIZ Top 20 Public Accounting Firms in New Jersey.

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