Tax Deductions Can Help To Improve Your Bottom Line

Small Business Often Overlooks Tax Deductions

You can have a successful tax season in your small business if you plan all round the year so that the deductions are maximized. This requires that tax matters should be kept in mind at all times, and you must constantly look for methods of reducing your bottom line, while continuing the profitability of the company.

Expenses for Start-Up

The expense of starting a business is quite often overlooked by small businesses and this can give one quite an advantage when the tax season is being considered. It is possible to deduct the expenses incurred for overhead,marketing and other expenses that are related and this can be done for a period of five years after starting the business. However the deduction of such expenses is only allowed after you have actually started the business and cash flows have commenced.

Education and Training Has To Be Continuous

A continuity in training and education, makes you eligible to deduct the expenses incurred for this. Attending a conference on new trends for treatment of cancer in horses allows a veterinarian who specializes in treating horses to deduct the expenses of attending that conference. As the conference is related to the field in which the veterinarian is practicing this seminar can be a part of the deduction form the yearly tax. However if he is not practicing in that field and only treats smaller animals, he would not be eligible for any deduction. The rules for the classes that qualify the deduction are quite strict.

Fees for Professional Services

Any professional fees that you pay to your accountant can be deducted from taxes.If however the work is for future years, the benefit has to be spread out over the term envisaged. If you have hired an architect for designing a building that may take two years to construct,the architects fees have to be spread over the period during which the building construction takes place.

Dealing with IRS Tax Debt

Dealing with tax debt is different from how you handle your other debts. But you need not worry since it can be managed given the right amount of patience as well as the willingness on your part to lower down your debts.

For starters, getting debt help is highly recommendable especially for those who do not know where and how to start eliminating their outstanding balances with their creditors. Seeking for professional assistance is a very sensible thing to do because you will have to think of it as an investment in order for you to live a comfortable and financially secured life in the future.

Managing tax debt on your own – If you do not want to spend money to pay for debt relief services, you may opt to control your tax debts on your own. You can do this by requesting copies of your tax returns and double checking it for any discrepancies. From there, you can choose which option you can take.

Get professional help to deal with your tax debts – People with low tax debts can get away without the assistance from financial counselors, however for those who happen to owe thousands of dollars, get expert help from debt relief companies. Here are several things that you can check and counter-check in order for you to ensure that the company can truly extend their services to you:

Amount being charged or rate of services – There are several companies that can give you a quotation for the whole duration that you are going to require their services, while there are some companies that charge by the hour. Whichever way you prefer, bear in mind a budget and stick to it so that you will not have any added troubles.

Their credibility as a company – While there are many companies out there, you still need to check the legitimacy of the agency that you are going to tap. Professionals who are dealing with tax debts need to be certified public accountants, tax attorney, or an enrolled agent.

Several of the debt strategies that they can suggest to you, apart from double checking your tax return documents, include the following: installment agreement, filing for bankruptcy, offer in compromise, and partial payment.

You see, dealing with tax debt is not an entirely complicated process. Given the right time and strategy, you will be able to control your balances and slowly pay them all off.

Prepaid Debit Cards for Income Tax Refunds

Don’t look now but prepaid debit cards are making their way into our income tax system. Several State Governments and now the Federal Government are experimenting with ways to refund taxpayers directly to reloadable debit cards instead of the usual tax checks. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised.

For a few years now several government agencies on all levels – all the way down to the county and municipal levels – have been trying feverishly to cut costs. Well, it turns out that one of the more expensive things they do is cut checks in order to pay out benefits and tax refunds. And they can save a load of cash by switching over to debit cards.

A prepaid debit card is a natural for these kinds of transactions. The agencies don’t have to pay for the cost of producing or distributing the cards because many prepaid card companies are more than happy to do that. The companies foot that bill because they’re able to put their product in the hands of lots and lots of new customers. The prepaid companies figure that many of these new customers will end up being repeat customers so they stand to gain some long-term business. It’s a big win for them.

And of course it’s a big win for the government agencies too. They save a lot of money because their processes get more streamlined. Plus, they’re able to do it all more quickly too. That’s why you’re seeing such things as unemployment benefits, railroad pension benefits, and more being distributed via prepaid cards.

It’s even a win for the citizens who receive the refunds. That’s because each government agency is usually able to cut a nice deal with the card companies so the refund recipients pay no fees on the cards – so they get the cards for free. And the cards are immediately usable so there’s no check cashing necessary. It’s a pretty sweet deal all around.

Advantages of Incorporating in Nevada

Nevada has spent the last several years revising its corporate code to become more suitable to small, privately held companies to incorporate in.

Nevada boasts no corporate taxes, maximum privacy and protection of private assets.  Other benefits include; many tax advantages, total privacy of shareholders, nominal annual fees, and no minimum initial capital requirements to incorporate.

Some of the tax benefits include no state corporate taxes, no franchise tax, no tax on corporate shares, and no personal income tax.

Probably the most appealing advantage is the protecting to your personal assets when you incorporate your business in Nevada.  The way a corporation is set up completely separates your assets from that of the business.  The business becomes its own entity even if you are the only owner.  In the case of a sole proprietorship, if a lawsuit is filed against your business your personal assets may be seized also.  Incorporating in Nevada provides you with a corporate veil that is almost iron-clad.  In the last 30 years the corporate veil has only been pierced twice.

The law that Nevada has established to protect personal assets from individual business owners also protects corporate officers and directors from any person liability.  As long as the company acts in a lawful manor Nevada offers unbeatable corporate protection.

State residency or the need to hold meetings in the state of Nevada is not necessary.  Stockholders, directors and officers do not need to be residents of Nevada.  They don’t even need to be U.S. citizens.

Nevada is the one of the best states to do business in. If you set up your business and incorporate it in the state of Nevada you will be able to take advantage of all the tax benefits and be protected in every way possible, there is no better way to run your business.

By: Shannon John

Marketing Manger, Laughlin Associates, Inc.

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