Year End Wrap Up: Tax Planning for Business Owners

As household expenses continue to rise, identifying unnecessary recurring charges is a practical way to improve cash flow without making significant lifestyle changes. Many consumers unknowingly pay for subscriptions they no longer use, forgot to cancel after a free trial, or no longer find valuable. While individual charges may seem insignificant, the combined annual cost can amount to hundreds of dollars.

December has a way of making tax planning feel urgent—but by December, you’re already behind the strategy and some of the best planning opportunities could have already passed you.

It’s like spring cleaning, but now we’re working on it in between Back to School and Football and Pumpkins and Mostly Great Weather!

Trump Accounts are a new type of savings vehicle designed to help families build long-term financial resources for children. Structured as a special type of traditional IRA, these accounts have specific rules governing eligibility, contributions, investments, and withdrawals.

I will start with something that may sound strange coming from a CPA firm: we are not trying to take every piece of work that walks through the door.
We have reached a point where the question is less “Can we prepare this return?” and more “Can we build a relationship here where our team can actually help?” That difference matters.

Recent federal tax legislation introduced new deductions related to qualified tip income and overtime pay. These changes may benefit eligible employees while also creating additional reporting responsibilities for employers. At Senter CPA, we are helping both businesses and individual taxpayers understand how these rules apply and how to stay compliant.

The reporting amount threshold has increased. Yes, you read that right! The old $600 filing requirement for 1099-MISC & 1099-NECs has been increased to $2,000, with some minor exceptions.

To jog your memory, if you need it, you are required to file 1099s to those who you pay for rent, contract labor (not through your payroll), interest, etc. The 1099-MISC is most commonly used to report rent, while the 1099-NEC is mostly used to report non-employee compensation to most everyone.

Summer is a good time to check in on your finances. The year is already halfway over, which makes it easier to see what’s working and what might need attention. Maybe your income has changed. Maybe you’ve spent more than expected or fallen behind on a savings goal.

If you’re self-employed, a freelancer, or a small business owner, quarterly estimated tax payments are an important part of staying current with your federal tax obligations. Because taxes typically aren’t withheld from self-employment income, the IRS requires many taxpayers to pay taxes throughout the year instead of waiting until they file their annual return. Making timely estimated payments can help avoid a large tax bill and potential underpayment penalties.

Every couple of years, I spend part of my summer leaving the office.

That probably sounds strange coming from a CPA.