Business Tax Planning You Should Know
Business tax planning is the proactive process of analyzing your company’s financial position throughout the year to reduce your overall tax liability. It’s about more than just preparing your tax return—it’s about making strategic decisions that keep more money in your business while remaining fully compliant with IRS regulations.
Year-end tax planning is a critical part of that process. It gives you a window—usually between October and December—to evaluate your finances, adjust income and expenses, and take full advantage of deductions, credits, and entity structure choices before the tax year closes.
Why Business Owners Must Prioritize Tax Planning
- Minimize tax owed and avoid surprises
- Reduce audit risk with compliant, documented deductions
- Increase retirement and investment contributions
- Optimize payroll and owner compensation
- Prepare for potential cash flow needs in tax season
If you’re only talking to your tax advisor during filing season, you’re likely missing savings opportunities that need to be acted on before December 31.
Key Year-End Tax Moves for Business Owners Planning
1. Evaluate Your Entity Structure
Choosing the right tax classification can result in thousands in tax savings.
- Sole Proprietorship (Schedule C): Simple, but subject to full self-employment tax on net income
- LLC (Default): Flexible, but still taxed as sole prop or partnership unless elected otherwise
- S Corporation (1120-S): Allows split between salary and distributions—potentially reducing self-employment tax
- C Corporation (1120): Flat 21% corporate tax rate, but subject to double taxation on dividends
Best Tax Structure for Small Business?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right structure depends on income level, long-term goals, and how you want to pay yourself. An S Corp can be ideal for many service-based businesses earning $40,000+ in annual net profit.
2. Pay Yourself Strategically
How you compensate yourself affects payroll taxes, retirement contributions, and audit risk.
- S Corp Owners must pay themselves reasonable compensation before taking distributions
- Review your salary to ensure it aligns with industry norms and profitability
- Consider paying year-end bonuses to meet compensation targets and reduce profits
3. Purchase and Deduct Business Equipment
If your business needs new equipment, software, or furniture, purchasing before year-end can result in a large deduction.
- Section 179 Deduction: Write off 100% of qualifying equipment purchases up to the IRS limit
- Bonus Depreciation: Deduct a large portion of eligible assets in the first year (phasing down from 100%)
- Must be placed in service by December 31 to qualify
4. Maximize Retirement Contributions
Business owners can use retirement accounts not only to save for the future, but also to lower taxable income.
- SEP IRA: Up to 25% of compensation, max $69,000 (2024)
- Solo 401(k): $23,000 employee deferral + 25% employer contribution (more if over age 50)
- Contributions must be made (or at least planned and documented) before year-end, depending on the plan
5. Prepay Expenses or Defer Income
Under the cash accounting method, you may be able to:
- Prepay rent, insurance, or subscriptions for early deduction
- Delay client billing until January to push income to the next tax year
Be careful—manipulating timing should be justifiable and part of a broader strategy.
6. Review Estimated Tax Payments
Ensure you’ve paid in enough to avoid underpayment penalties:
- Use Form 1040-ES for individual taxes (sole props, partners)
- Review payroll tax deposits for S Corp/C Corp owner-employees
- Make a final payment in January if necessary to true-up for Q4
7. Conduct a Charitable Giving Review
For C Corps and some pass-throughs, charitable donations can reduce taxable income—if properly documented.
- Give by December 31
- Consider non-cash donations (inventory, appreciated assets)
- Track donation receipts and matching programs
8. Clean Up Your Books
Accurate bookkeeping is the foundation of all planning of tax.
- Reconcile all accounts by month
- Ensure expenses are categorized correctly
- Address open invoices and uncashed checks
- Book owner draws and distributions appropriately
What Is the Difference Between Tax Planning and Tax Preparation?
- Tax Preparation: Filing your return after the year ends—largely reactive
- Tax Planning: Proactive decisions before year-end to minimize taxes and improve outcomes
Smart business owners meet with their CPA in Q4—not just in March or April.
Conclusion
Year-end tax planning gives you the power to control your tax outcome, not just react to it. By adjusting your strategy before December 31, you can save money, reduce stress, and enter tax season with clarity and confidence.
Ready to make your next move?
Schedule a planning of your tax session with Molen & Associates today. We’ll walk you through personalized strategies that align with your goals, so you can keep more of what you earn—and plan for what’s next.
