Tax Guide for Small Businesses

Tax Guide for Small Businesses: How Much Should You Save for Taxes?

Running a small business has its own benefits and challenges. Although it can be incredibly freeing to be your own boss, there are many responsibilities on your head one of which is paying taxes. Paying taxes is essential part of running a successful business but it can be challenging task. You need to understand how much money you should be saving for taxes.

Every business needs to pay annual taxes. Taxes depend on various factor such as the type of business you are running, the state you live in and the amount of income you earn. There are several ways to calculate how much and when do you need to pay taxes. Lets look at this in more details:

Which Taxes Do Small Businesses Have To Pay?

If you have small businesses you must have to pay following taxes:-

  • Income Tax: As a business owner, you will need to pay federal and state income tax on the profits earned by your business.
  • Self-Employment Taxes: The federal government sets the self-employment tax at 15.3%, which is calculated as 12.4% for Social Security tax and 2.9% for Medicare tax.
  • Payroll tax: Small businesses are required to pay 7.65% of each employee's gross payroll. Taxes on unemployment and employees' compensation may also be necessary.
  • Property Tax: Property tax rates can range from 0.18% to 2.46%, but some areas may have even higher rates. The assessed value is typically based on factors such as the property's location, size, and condition.
  • Dividend Tax: Depending on the business structure of the firm, dividends from investments made by a small business are taxed in the owner's tax bracket or at the corporate tax rate.
  • Capital gains tax: This is a taxation on investment or profit earned from sale of capital assets such as real estate. A capital gains tax rate of 0%, 15%, 20% or 28% is applied to assets held for more than a year depending on their income. Whereas, assets held for less than a year are taxed as ordinary income as part of the company income.

How Much Should a Small Business Save for Taxes?

To meet their tax requirements, small enterprises should set aside some of their earnings. The amount that should be set aside for taxes varies based on the type of business, the volume of income, and the area. It is often advised that small firms set aside between 25% and 30% of their income for taxes.

However it's crucial to remember that this is simply a guess and could not be correct for all firms. Depending on their unique situation, some companies may need to save more or less. To establish the right amount to save for taxes depending on your unique company scenario, it is always advisable to speak with a tax expert or you can Contact Us.

How to Calculate Estimated Taxes for Small Businesses?

How to Calculate Estimated Taxes

If a small business expects to owe $1,000 or more in taxes for the year, they must make quarterly anticipated tax payments. To figure out your estimated taxes, here are the steps:-

1. Estimate your taxable income

Estimating your taxable revenue for the year is crucial when figuring out estimated taxes for small businesses in the US. This covers all sources of income, such as revenue from your company, your own wages, dividends, and interest accrued. To make sure you are paying the proper amount of anticipated taxes, it is critical to estimate your income accurately.

2. Determine your deductions

You must identify your deductions in order to compute anticipated taxes for small companies in the US. This entails deducting from your projected income any business expenditures as well as any other deductions you want to claim, such as the standard deduction or itemized deductions. By doing this, you may lower your taxable income and make sure that you are paying the appropriate amount of anticipated taxes.

3. Calculate your taxable income

You need to figure out your taxable income in order to compute estimated taxes for small enterprises in the US. By deducting all of your company expenditures from your projected income, together with any other available deductions, you will have reached your total deductions. Your taxable income, which is the amount that will be used to calculate your anticipated tax due, will be the outcome. If you are having any confusion on how to calculate taxable income, you can take benefits from Virtual Bookkeeping Services.

4. Determine your tax bracket

The tax system in the United States is progressive, which means that when income grows, tax rates do as well. Your tax bracket can assist you figure out what portion of your taxable income will be used for taxes.

Factors That Can Affect Your Tax Liability as a Small Business Owner.

1. Business structure

Your tax obligation may be significantly affected by the sort of business structure you decide on.For instance, your company revenue is treated as personal income if you operate as a sole proprietorship or partnership, however it is taxed separately if you operate as a corporation.

2. Expenses

It's crucial to keep track of all company costs since they might be subtracted from your taxable income to lower your tax obligation. It's crucial to keep thorough records of your company costs to make sure you're deducting everything you can.

3. Tax Credits

Tax credits are available to small business owners, who can use them to reduce their tax obligations. The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, which is given to companies offering health insurance to their employees, is one example of the many different tax credits available. It's crucial to look into and identify any tax credits for which your small business could be eligible.

4. Payroll Taxes

Payroll taxes, which include Social Security and Medicare taxes as well as federal and state unemployment taxes, must be paid as a small company owner with workers. These taxes, which are dependent on how much is paid in salaries to employees, are required.

5. State and Local Taxes

In addition to federal taxes, small business owners may also have to pay state and local taxes. Depending on the business's location and the kind of activity it engages in, these taxes may change. To prevent any penalties or fines, it's crucial to comprehend and abide by all local and state tax laws.

What If I Don’t Pay Enough Taxes?

When you file your tax return at the end of the year, you may find that you have underpaid your taxes. This is not cause for alarm. As long as you have paid 90% of the taxes you owe for the current year or 110% of the taxes based on your earnings in the prior year, you will not be punished for underpaying your projected taxes, according to the government's Safe Harbor law.

The 30-40% rule of thumb is frequently applied as a safe technique to predict how much money has to be saved for taxes by small firms to assist them anticipate their tax obligations. Nonetheless, you will be required to pay any unpaid taxes at the conclusion of the tax year.

You can be subject to fines and penalties if you underpaid your taxes (by less than 90% of what you owed). To prevent any potential financial penalties, it is important to make sure that you calculate and Pay Your Taxes appropriately.

What If I Pay Too Much in Taxes?

You will receive a tax refund from the government if you wind up paying more in taxes than you should have.Hence, there is no penalty for paying too much in taxes.But, it's crucial to keep in mind that paying too much in taxes might have a negative impact on your company because it prevents you from using your money for investments or regular business expenses.

It is advised that you work with a reliable bookkeeper who can assist you in precisely calculating your tax obligations and making sure that you only pay what you owe in order to avoid this problem. By doing this, you'll be able to spend your money more effectively and prevent tying it up needlessly. You may streamline operations and guarantee the long-term success of your company by keeping your finances in order. Moreover, you can use Tax Write-Off financial tool to increase business cash flow and tax preparation.

Get Professional Tax Help

As a small business, It is essential to understand your tax laws and regulations for a long term financial success. Determining the appropriate amount to save for taxes can be challenging sometimes. But taking help from tax experts and Professional Bookkeeping Services can help you follow good accounting practices and saving for taxes. This can help to avoid any potential penalties and interest charges from IRS. With proper planning and preparation, small businesses can manage their tax obligations and focus on growing and prospering in their respective industries.