Mansperger Patterson & McMullin PLC

The Social Security Administration has announced that the wage base for computing Social Security tax will rise to $176,100 in 2025. This is up from $168,600 in 2024. (Believe it or not, it was just $3,000 from 1937–1950!) Wages and self-employment income above this amount aren’t subject to Social Security tax. The Federal Insurance Contributions Act imposes two taxes on employers, employees and self-employed workers. One is Social Security and the other is Medicare. A maximum amount of compensation is subject to the Social Security tax, but there’s no maximum for Medicare tax. For 2024 and 2025, the FICA tax rate for employers is 7.65% (6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare).

The IRS has been increasing its audit efforts, focusing on large businesses and high-income individuals. Another area of focus is taxpayers who personally use business aircraft. With proper preparation, you should fare well if you’re selected. It helps to know what might catch the IRS’s attention. For example, some audit red flags are unusually high deductions, major inconsistencies between previous years’ returns and the current one, and expenses that are markedly different from those of similar businesses. The IRS usually has three years to conduct an audit. If you’re facing one, we can help you understand the issues, gather necessary documents and respond to inquiries effectively.

Does your business own real estate titled under the business’s name? With long-term tax, liability and estate planning advantages, separating real estate ownership from the business may be a better choice. For example, C corporations treat real estate like other business assets. Expenses related to owning the assets are generally tax deductible in the year incurred. However, when the business sells real estate, the profits are taxed twice, at the corporate level and at the owner’s individual level when a distribution is made. But if the real estate ownership is transferred to a pass-through entity instead, the sale profit will be taxed only at the individual level. Contact us to learn more.

Certain employers are required to report information about employees’ health coverage. Is your business required to comply? “Applicable large employers” (ALEs) with 50 or more full-time employees must use Forms 1094-C and 1095-C to report information about offers of health coverage and enrollment in health coverage. Specifically, an ALE uses Form 1094-C to report each employee’s summary information and transmit Forms 1095-C to the IRS. A separate Form 1095-C is used to report information about each employee. In addition, 1094-C and 1095-C are used to determine whether an employer owes payments under the employer shared responsibility provisions (also referred to as the employer mandate).

Here are some important fourth quarter 2024 tax-filing dates for businesses. OCT 15: If you’re the owner or operator of a calendar-year C corp. which filed an extension, file a 2023 income tax return. OCT 31: Report income tax withholding and FICA taxes for Q3 2024 (unless you’re eligible for a Nov. 12 deadline because you deposited on time, and in full, all the associated taxes due). DEC 16: If a calendar-year C corp., pay the fourth installment of 2024 estimated income taxes. Note: Certain deadlines may be postponed in federally declared disaster areas. We can provide more information about filing requirements and ensure you’re meeting all applicable deadlines.

When drafting partnership agreements, various tax issues must be addressed. This is also true for operating agreements for multi-member LLCs that are treated as partnerships for tax purposes. For example, you should identify and describe guaranteed payments to partners because special tax rules apply to them. For income tax purposes, a guaranteed payment is one that’s: 1) made to a partner acting in the capacity of a partner, 2) made in exchange for services performed for the entity or for the use of capital by the partnership, and 3) not dependent on partnership income. Contact us to be involved in launching an entity and addressing tax issues in the partnership or LLC operating agreement.

With Labor Day in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take proactive steps that may help lower your business’s taxes for 2024 and 2025. The strategy of deferring income and accelerating deductions to minimize taxes can be effective for most businesses, as is the approach of bunching deductible expenses into this year or next to maximize their tax value. Other ideas: Buy eligible equipment and place it in service by Dec. 31 to claim a Section 179 or 60% bonus depreciation deduction. Eligible businesses also may be able to defer income or accelerate deductions to keep income under certain thresholds to claim a qualified business income deduction. Contact us to customize a plan for your business.

For many businesses, a limited liability company (LLC) is an enticing choice. It can be structured to resemble a corporation for owner liability purposes and a partnership for federal tax purposes. This may provide the owners with several advantages. Like corporate shareholders, LLC owners or members generally aren’t liable for business debts except to the extent of their investment. Plus, there may be tax benefits. For example, earnings aren’t subject to entity-level tax. Instead, they flow through to owners in proportion to their interests in the profits. They’re reported on the owners’ individual returns and taxed only once. Contact us to discuss whether an LLC is the best option for you.

Partnerships are often used for business activities. So are multi-member LLCs that are treated as partnerships for tax purposes. A major reason is that these entities offer federal income tax advantages, the most important of which is pass-through taxation. They also must follow special, sometimes complicated federal tax rules. A partnership is governed by a partnership agreement, which specifies the rights and obligations of the entity and its partners. Similarly, an LLC is governed by an operating agreement that lays out the rights and obligations of the entity and its members. These governing documents should address certain tax issues. Contact us to be involved in the creation process.