2015 is almost over but there are still some ways to make the best of your tax situation before New Year’s is here. Spoiler-number 6 is the most important!
1. Do your 2015 bookkeeping now. If you aren’t current with your bookkeeping, now is a great time to catch up. You can’t know what your tax situation looks like if you don’t know what your income – or loss – is for the year.
2. Run bonus payroll. If your company is sitting on some cash consider running a bonus payroll. Didn’t make those quarterly estimated tax payments? Put all or part of the bonus to federal withholding to help catch up on what you owe.
3. Set up a retirement plan. If you own a small business there are some easy ways to put away money for retirement. SEP and Simple IRAs make a lot of sense for micro and small business owners. There aren’t a lot of paperwork headaches or complicated filings required, and the contributions are tax-deducible to the business. This is another good move if your company has some cash at the end of the year.
4. Buy equipment. On the fence about purchasing a computer or other office equipment? Take advantage of Section 179 and fully deduct big-ticket items (aka fixed assets) in 2015, even if you only have them for a few days. Right now the deduction is limited to $25,000 but congress might change this.
5. Spend some money. Buy supplies and other business-related items now for next year. Spend the money now and take the deduction now.
6. Find a fantastic CPA to work with. CPAs can do so much more than prepare tax returns! My firm offers a wide range of services such as bookkeeping, contract controller and CFO, financial modeling, and more. Take a look at my packages and services. Contact me for a free consultation!
Happy Holidays!
