It’s important to know the tax requirements that affect your business, as well as key strategies you can implement to optimize cost control strategies and maximize best cash flow. As the year-end approaches, consider implementing the following tax planning tips to enhance your business’s bottom line.
Understand Your Business Tax Obligations
Before you start, it’s important to review any existing appointments and deadlines, such as audits and other tax deliberations. Ensure you remain eligible for deductions and credits by researching related tax laws. Additionally, it’s a good idea to review any past filings and past mistakes, as these can have an effect on your tax preparation and filing.
Check Existing Appointments and Deadlines
As a business owner, it’s important to be aware of any upcoming appointments and deadlines associated with filing business taxes. This includes, but is not limited to: payroll tax deadlines, corporate tax deadlines, estimated taxes deadlines, auditing processes, and more. Keeping track of these may help you better prepare for the new tax year.
Review Potential Deductions
In preparing your tax filing, be sure to keep track of any costs that can help you deduct from your taxable income. These may include employee wages, business expenses, employee benefits, cost of goods sold, rental expenses, and more. If you’re not sure what can be deducted, it’s important to do research and stay informed of your available deductions. Additionally, you may also want to review your filing process from the previous year, as this may indicate potential deductions and credits you were eligible for, but missed.
Investigate Tax Credits
Tax credits can help lower your taxable income. Before filing, investigate which business tax credits you qualify for, as these can help you reduce the amount of tax you have to pay. Some of these may include research and development credits, employment credits, investment credits, energy savings credits, small business health care credits, and more.
Organize Your Financials
Before filing your taxes, it’s a good idea to review your business’s expenses over the past year, and investigate any potential deductions. Additionally, take some time to review your cash flow, as this can help you make smart strategic purchases to benefit your business's bottom line.
Review Expenses
If you’re unsure of which expenses to review, start by creating a list of any purchases and expenses incurred over the past tax year. This may include rent payments, investor payments, employee salaries, travel expenses, and so on. Review your list and make a note of what can be included in your tax filing. You may also want to investigate any particular tax requirements associated with these expenses.
Manage Your Cash Flow
Cash flow is an important part of any business. To help manage your cash flow, consider reviewing your capital and operating costs, past and estimated sales, inventory, and other related expenses. With a comprehensive understanding of your business’s cash flow, you can make informed decisions about cost management and budgeting for the upcoming year.
Make Strategic Purchases
As the last step in the financials, you may want to consider making strategic purchases that can help you maximize your business’s best cash flow. For example, if you’re expecting a bump in sales due to a new product line, you can invest in additional equipment or technology that may improve your production process, allowing you to meet the additional demand.
Stay Current With Tax Law Changes
Tax laws are constantly evolving and changing, and it’s important to stay updated with current regulations. This helps you remain eligible for deductions and tax credits, as well as manage your business’ tax liability. To keep track of any changes, be sure to research recent federal, state, and local tax laws.
Research Recent Federal Tax Law Changes
Tax laws change frequently at the federal level, so it’s important to stay informed of any new regulations. Research any new concepts, programs, and benefits that may affect your business- be sure to look out for any new credits, deductions, limitations, and other information that may be relevant to you.
Review State and Local Tax Law Changes
Likewise, be sure to keep an eye on any state and local tax law changes. This may include tax deductions and relief measures, special tax rules and regulations, and other opportunities that you can use to benefit your business. Additionally, these filings are also different depending on your state, so be sure to double-check and make sure you’re following the right guidelines.
Consult With Professionals
Taxes are a complicated process and can become overwhelming. To ensure you’re taking the right steps, it’s important to utilize the assistance of professionals such as tax advisors and accountants. Working with certified professionals can help you understand your tax obligations and filing rules, as well as any potential opportunities that may benefit your business.
Assess Needs of Your Business
Begin by conducting a thorough assessment of your business and its financial status. Consider factors such as size, product line, operations, turnover, and other important metrics that can help you predict the amount of tax you should expect to pay each year. This can also help you determine which professionals may be best suited to your business.
Secure Tax Advisors & Professionals
Once you’ve found the right professionals for your business, it’s important to stay in communication with them throughout the year. These individuals can help you stay up-to-date with deadlines, changing regulations, and other important aspects of the filing process. Additionally, they can help you review your deductions and credits, and suggest a plan of action best suited to your business.
Choose Your Filing Method
Once you’ve worked with your advisors and assessed the needs of your business, you should be able to choose the right filing method for you. Depending on your business structure and tax rate, you may choose to file your taxes quarterly, yearly, or in another method as suggested by a professional.
Regulatory changes and new filing deadlines can make year-end tax planning seem overwhelming. However, by following the steps outlined above, your business can benefit from optimizing cost control strategies and maximizing best cash flow. Utilize the help of tax professionals and remain up-to-date on regulations to ensure you’re taking the right steps towards filing your taxes.
