Small Business Owners: Optimize Your Taxes with a Mid-Year Check-In

It’s official: we’re more than halfway through the year. Time flies, but don’t let your taxes sneak up on you. If you’re a small business owner, now is the perfect moment for a mid-year tax check-in. This isn’t just a routine task—it keeps your business on track and helps you avoid surprises at tax time. 

Are you hitting your targets? Are there trends or changes you should address? Understanding your current financial status lets you make informed decisions for the rest of the year and adjust strategies as you see fit.

Benefits of Taking Stock Now

• Avoid tax issues. Reviewing your finances can help you catch any tax issues early. Proactive tax planning can save you headaches and potential penalties down the road.
• Avoid last-minute stress and penalties. Keeping up with your taxes at different points throughout the year can save you from scrambling later. This foresight helps you dodge the last-minute rush and the stress it brings.

Key Areas to Review During Your Mid-Year Check-In

Conducting a thorough mid-year review involves examining several key areas. These reviews ensure that you comply with tax regulations and that your financial practices are optimized for maximum benefit.

• Estimated Tax Payments

If you’re self-employed or a freelancer, making quarterly tax payments is crucial. These payments help you avoid a hefty tax bill at the end of the year. The upcoming deadlines for 2024 taxes are:

• 3rd Quarter: September 16, 2024
• 4th Quarter: January 15, 2025

Staying on track with these payments will help you avoid penalties later. Tools like QuickBooks Self-Employed can be super helpful for calculating and tracking your estimated taxes, simplifying this ongoing task.

• Deductions and Credits

Understanding what deductions and credits you can claim is vital. Deductions lower your taxable income, while credits reduce your tax bill directly. Typical deductions include home office expenses, mileage, and business supplies. Additionally, various tax credits are available for small businesses, including credits for health insurance premiums paid. Keeping all your business-related receipts and records organized in one place will make filing your taxes much smoother and help ensure you get all potential savings.

Actionable Steps to Optimize Your Tax Strategy

• Review and adjust estimated tax payments. Staying on top of estimated tax payments helps you avoid underpayment penalties and surprises at the end of the year.
  
  • Calculate your current payments. Review your financial records to estimate your overall tax picture and see if your current payments are on track.
  • Adjust based on income changes. If your income has increased or decreased, adjust your estimated tax payments accordingly. Regularly reviewing your estimated tax payments can help you stay on top of your obligations and avoid surprises at tax time.

• Boost your retirement savings. Contributing to retirement accounts reduces your taxable income and secures your financial future.
  
  • Contribute to retirement accounts. If you have an IRA or solo 401(k), consider maximizing your contributions. This can reduce your taxable income while helping you save for the future.

• Make charitable donations. Donating to qualified organizations can lower your tax bill, and support causes you care about.
  
  • Keep track of the proper documentation. Make sure your donations are to recognized charitable organizations, and keep proper documentation for your records.

• Self-employed health insurance premiums. Deducting health insurance premiums can significantly reduce your taxable income.
  
  • Deduct your premiums. If you’re self-employed, you can deduct health insurance premiums as a business expense. 

• Get organized. Maintaining organized financial records makes tax filing easier and ensures you don’t miss any deductions.
  • QuickBooks Self-Employed: can help you separate business and personal expenses, maintaining clear and accurate financial records. Such tools make it easier to track the costs and prepare for tax season.

If you follow these steps and utilize tools like QuickBooks and TurboTax, you can streamline your tax processes, reduce your tax burden, and focus more on growing your business. Taking the time now to review and adjust your tax strategy can save you stress and money down the road.