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Year-End Tax Strategies: Boost Your Savings with Bryant CPA LLC

As the year comes to an end, it's a pivotal time for small business owners to refine their financial strategies. With a focus on reducing your 2025 tax obligations, implementing effective tax planning is crucial. By optimizing savings, managing cash flow, and ensuring timely compliance, you can strengthen your business's position for the year ahead. Act decisively before December 31 to unlock substantial tax-saving opportunities with this comprehensive checklist.

Invest in Essential Business Assets: Acquiring equipment, machinery, and other fixed assets before year-end can offer significant tax deductions. By placing these assets into service by December 31, businesses can capitalize on immediate deductions. Consider the following options:

  • Section 179 Expensing: This incentive allows immediate expensing of up to $2.5 million for qualifying tangible property and software activated in 2025. The expense phase-out starts when investments exceed $4 million. Image 3

  • Bonus Depreciation: Enhanced by the OBBBA, bonus depreciation now allows a full 100% deduction on qualifying property bought post-January 19, 2025, streamlining capital expenditure management.Image 2

  • De Minimis Safe Harbor: Directly expense low-value items up to $5,000 per item if your business maintains applicable financial statements, a strategy offering immediate financial relief.

Manage Year-End Inventory Effectively: Inventory adjustments can significantly impact your taxable income. Calculating the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) involves assessing starting inventory plus annual purchases minus end-of-year inventory values. Consider these inventory strategies:

  • Recognize obsolete or slow-moving inventory to reduce taxable income.
  • Delay new inventory purchases until after year-end to strategically manage COGS.

Maximize Retirement Contributions: Contributing to a retirement plan like a SEP IRA not only aids future savings but also provides tax advantages. For self-employed individuals, contributing up to 25% of net self-employment earnings, maxing at $70,000 for 2025, is permissible. The Solo 401(k) offering dual-role contributions is another viable option.Image 1

Optimize the Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction: The QBI deduction offers a 20% deduction on eligible business income. Strategically ensure your income remains under the threshold to prevent phase-outs. Align shareholder wages with industry standards for S corps and leverage capital investments for deductions.

Assess Accounts Receivable for Bad Debts: Evaluating accounts receivable and writing off bad debts at year's end can provide meaningful deductions. This step not only cleans your records but also supports optimized taxable income management. Consultation with a tax advisor is recommended to effectively utilize this deduction.

Pre-Pay and Defer Income: Manage cash flow by prepaying deductible expenses and consider deferring income to optimize tax thresholds for the subsequent year. Balancing these moves can enhance year-end savings.

First Year of Business? Elect to deduct up to $5,000 for both start-up and organizational costs in the initial year, subject to conditions, fostering a smoother fiscal beginning.

Avoid Underpayment Penalties: To mitigate any underpayment charges for 2025, adjust your tax payments and consider strategies like increasing end-of-year withholding either personally or through your spouse's employment, especially if a retirement fund is involved.

Work Within Your S Corporation? Adhere to "reasonable compensation" standards for your qualified business income deduction under Sec. 199A and avoid potential IRS issues during audits.

Plan Employee Bonuses Accordingly: Pay bonuses before December 31 to reap tax benefits earlier. It's crucial to reassess your current business structure to ensure optimal operation efficiency.

Conclusion: Year-end tax strategies transcend simple tax savings; they offer substantial opportunities to strengthen your business's financial health. Through well-planned deductions and strategic investment, your business can achieve greater financial stability. Bryant CPA LLC is here to assist you in navigating these changes successfully.

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