Tax planning is one of the most impactful yet overlooked aspects of running a small business. With the right strategies in place, you can significantly reduce your tax burden while staying fully compliant.
Start with entity structure
Your business structure directly impacts how you’re taxed. Whether you’re operating as a sole proprietor, LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp, each has distinct tax implications.
S-Corporation election
For many small businesses generating $60K+ in net profit, electing S-Corp status provides meaningful tax savings:
- Reasonable salary determination — Pay yourself a reasonable salary and take the rest as distributions
- Self-employment tax savings — Distributions aren’t subject to the 15.3% self-employment tax
- Pass-through taxation — Avoid double taxation on corporate profits
The break-even point depends on your income, but I typically see savings start around $60-80K in net business income.
Maximize your deductions
Many business owners miss legitimate deductions simply because they aren’t aware of them:
- Home office deduction — If you use part of your home exclusively and regularly for business
- Vehicle expenses — Track mileage or actual expenses for business use
- Professional development — Courses, certifications, and industry conferences
- Health insurance — 100% deductible if self-employed
- Retirement contributions — SEP-IRA up to $70,000 for 2026, Solo 401(k) with combined limits up to $77,500 if 50+
Keep detailed records throughout the year. A solid bookkeeping system pays for itself many times over at tax time.
Quarterly estimated payments
If you expect to owe $1,000+ in taxes, make quarterly estimated payments to avoid underpayment penalties:
| Quarter | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Q1 | April 15 |
| Q2 | June 16 |
| Q3 | September 15 |
| Q4 | January 15 |
Use the safe harbor rule: pay 100% of last year’s tax (110% if AGI > $150K) to avoid penalties regardless of current year liability.
Year-end planning checklist
Before December 31:
- Review profit projections and adjust estimated payments
- Prepay deductible expenses if it makes sense
- Make retirement contributions
- Review equipment purchases (Section 179)
- Harvest any investment losses
- Confirm all bookkeeping is current
The best time to plan for taxes is throughout the year, not in April. If you’re waiting until tax season to think about strategy, you’ve already missed most of the opportunities.