What Small Business Can Learn from Big Business Tax Strategies. by Jen Hickey. If you’re a small business, chances are you don’t have access to a team of accountants and lawyers to find savings in the tax code. But as it turns out, you don’t need to. Almost every expense is tax deductible if you’re a small business. And recent legislation has dramatically increased the thresholds for certain deductions dramatically for tax years 2010 through 2012. Travel and entertainment expensesSmall...

by Reed Richardson. Tax law changes that get overlooked the year they first take effect often end up costing a small business not only money but strategic opportunities as well. To avoid this fate and keep your cash flow robust, it’s a good idea to brush up on the already approved tax law changes for 2011 going forward. So here’s a rundown of the new tax provisions and how they could affect you in the coming year. Section 179 Expensing and Bonus Depreciation: For 2011, the increased...

by Max Berry If your business has reached the point where doing your own taxes is too big a task, you might want to consider taking them to a retail tax service. Here’s a look at what some of the leading tax prep services can—and can’t—offer you this tax season. Cost and Convenience It’s hard to beat retail tax prep services for convenience, but convenience isn’t worth much without peace of mind. Thankfully, it is an industry standard for these services to offer some form of free...

Some valuable advice on how to help avoid an audit and what to do if you can't.  By Max Berry. Just how much time the IRS will devote to small business audits in the current financial climate remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: Small business owners have always run a heightened risk of being audited. Some businesses are more vulnerable than others, but knowing how to best avoid an audit-and how to deal with one if one can't be avoided-will only help you come tax season....

These 15 important modifications could significantly lower your tax burden By Reed Richardson Spurred on by the federal government's economic recovery efforts, there have been numerous changes to the federal tax law for 2009 and 2010. Here's what your small business needs to know now to take advantage of this year's expiring rules and what it needs to keep in mind for next year. 2009 1. Section 179 Expensing: For 2009, one of the most important changes involves the extension, for...

Here are some helpful tips to ensure that your small business doesn't leave money on the table this tax season By Reed Richardson The past year has seen a number of changes to the tax code that could significantly affect small businesses and start-ups. Here's a rundown of the major tax updates and additions for filing your 2008 taxes. Section 179 Expensing: In an effort to reward businesses that invested in expansion and infrastructure last year, the federal government more than doubled the...

Being self-employed is a dream for many people. Who doesn't want to be his or her own boss? Of course, the downside of being the boss is the all responsibilities that come with the job. Unfortunately, calculating and paying taxes are part of those responsibilities. By Christopher Freeburn According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you are considered self-employed "if you are in business for yourself, or carry on a trade or business as a sole proprietor or an independent contractor." The...

By Christopher Freeburn The autumn leaves are falling, a chill is in the air, holidays are looming, and, for small business owners, it's a good time to think about ... taxes. While no one likes to ponder the intricacies and implications of the Internal Revenue Code, taking the time to do so toward the end of the year can save your business a considerable amount of money come tax time. So what can you do now? 1. Lower Revenue. Since your tax bill will be calculated on the basis of how...