Taking care of business for small business owners. (Schedule C, LLC, S Corp and C Corp))

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TaxTeam415 knows it's not easy being a small business owner this time of year. Stress levels are on the rise as owners scramble for receipts and hope they're not leaving money on the table or opening themselves up to an audit.

 

Filing Deadlines

The tax filing deadline is right around the corner. Monday, April 15, 2020, is the date for sole proprietorship's, partnerships and limited liability companies, while March 15 was the deadline for corporations that report on a calendar year.

 

Home Office Deductions

Many small business owners are intimidated from taking the home office deduction because they've been told it's a red flag for an IRS audit. However, if you are legitimately entitled to the deduction, you should take it, as it can add up to thousands of dollars in deductions. In order to qualify for the deduction, you need to have a dedicated space in the home that you use solely for the business and nothing else (and proof of that fact).

 

Starting with the 2014 return, you now have the option to use a simplified method for calculating the home office deduction. In the past, you needed to add up your actual costs (mortgage/rent, utilities, etc.) and multiply that figure by the percentage of your home that's dedicated to your office (see Form 8829). Now, you can choose to take a deduction of $5 per square foot of office space—with a $1,500 deduction cap.

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Properly Classify Your Office Equipment

First-time and experienced business filers often get tripped up when categorizing expenses as equipment versus supplies. Supplies include things that you used during the year, such as printer paper, pens, and printer ink.

 

Equipment (also called capital expenditures) are typically higher-value items that will last significantly longer than one year. Computers, software, office furniture, and servers are all examples of equipment. With the Section 179 deduction, you are able to write off the entire cost of new equipment in one year (up to $500,000), rather than taking depreciation over multiple years.

 

Add up any computers, software, and other equipment you purchased in 2019 in order to get a greater deduction for 2020.

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Deduct Your Insurance Costs

Any insurance premiums related to liability, malpractice, workers' comp, and property are typically deductible as business expenses. Commercial vehicle insurance and life insurance premiums may also be deductible, but rules vary by business type.

 

Business owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S Corporations may be able to deduct the premiums paid for medical and dental insurance for themselves, their spouse, and dependents. In addition, if you have a company with fewer than 25 full-time employees and pay at least half of your employees' health insurance premiums, you may qualify for a tax credit up to 35% of the cost under the Small Business Health Care Act.

 

Travel And Entertaining Expenses

Did you drive to meet with potential clients, fly out to an industry seminar or tradeshow, or take a client to dinner or a baseball game? If so, you may be able to deduct some of these expenses.

For example:

• If you picked up the tab for entertaining a current or prospective client, you can deduct 50% of the cost as long as business was discussed at the event or the entertainment takes place immediately before or after a business discussion. Be sure to write notes on the receipt, such as whom you were meeting with and what business was discussed.

• You can deduct 100% of your travel costs if the primary purpose of your trip is for business. If you get some downtime and are able to stay a few extra days after the business is done, that's fine. But, don't try to expense your airfare for a seven-day trip to the Florida Keys for a two-hour meeting.

 

Small Deductions Add Up

Small business owners should keep track of any miscellaneous expenses, as these can really add up over the course of a year. For example, did you buy any books or take an online course to hone your skills? Did you pay dues to an industry organization? These can all be write-offs. Likewise, any interest on credit used to finance business purchases is fully deductible. If you drive to meet with customers, you can take a standard mileage rate deduction (it's 56.5 cents per mile for 2013). And don't forget other business expenses such as web hosting, Internet bill, mobile phone plans, stamps, printer ink and so on.

Need more time?

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If the deadline is approaching too quickly, TaxTeam415 can file for an extension. It's better to get your return right than rush to meet the deadline. However, keep in mind that while you get extra time to file, you don't get extra time to pay.