Here’s a sampling of some significant tax law changes going into effect this year: Increase of the Section 179 expensing limit…
Continue reading2026 Tax Law Changes for Businesses
2 Important Changes for Businesses under the New Tax Law
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces a range of tax changes that will impact businesses. Many provisions set to expire this year are now being extended or made permanent. Below is a snapshot of two important changes to help you with tax planning in the fourth quarter of 2025 and going forward.
How the Deduction for R&E Expenses Has Changed
Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), businesses had to amortize deductions for Section 174 research and experimentation (R&E) costs over five years for expenses incurred in the United States or 15 years for those incurred abroad. This provision used a mid-year rule that effectively stretched write-offs over six years. The OBBBA changes that by permanently allowing full, immediate deductions for domestic R&E expenses starting in the 2025 tax year. Foreign R&E expenses will still be amortized over 15 years.
In addition, the OBBBA lets “small businesses” (in 2025, those with average annual gross receipts of $31 million or less for the past three years) claim R&E deductions retroactively to 2022. A business of any size with domestic R&E costs from 2022 to 2024 can choose to speed up the remaining deductions for those years over a one- or two-year period.
How the Business Interest Deduction Has Changed
Generally, the TCJA limited business interest deductions to 30% of the taxpayer’s adjusted taxable income (ATI) for the year. Before the OBBBA, ATI generally referred to earnings before interest and taxes. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, the OBBBA increases the cap on the business interest deduction by excluding depreciation, amortization and depletion when calculating ATI. This change typically increases ATI, allowing taxpayers to deduct more business interest expense.
But it’s important to note that, in 2025, taxpayers with average annual gross receipts for the last three years that don’t exceed $31 million are exempt from the interest deduction limitation.
Rethink Tax Planning
For business owners, the OBBBA helps resolve tax planning uncertainty. Keep in mind, these are just two of the key changes for businesses in this tax legislation.
Contact the office to discuss the full range of tax provisions covered by the new law. We can help you optimize any extended or new provisions that are relevant to your situation and reduce your tax obligations for 2025 and beyond.
408-252-1800
Photo by Johnstocker Production from Freerange Stock
10 Small Business Tax Tips from the IRS
To help ensure small businesses take advantage of all potential tax breaks, the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service summarizes the types of tax…
Continue readingClosing a Business? Here’s How to Stay on Top of Your Tax Duties
Businesses close for various reasons. Perhaps you’re ready to embark on a welcome change such as retirement or launching a new venture…
Continue readingThe Tax Impact of Business Bartering
Bartering is simply the exchange of services or property, and it’s a taxable event. For example, if a computer consultant trades services…
Continue readingWhat’s Your Business Exit Strategy?
Ever since you became a business owner, you’ve focused on growing revenue, managing expenses and leveraging tax advantages. But don’t overlook a critical element of your long-term financial well-being, that is, a business exit strategy. Ideally, your exit strategy will help you meet your retirement and estate planning goals.
Multiple-Owner Businesses
A buy-sell agreement is a powerful tool for businesses with multiple owners. A well-drafted agreement outlines what happens if specified events occur, such as the owner’s retirement, disability or death. The agreement should:
- Create a ready market for the departing owner’s interest,
- Establish a valuation method, and
- Help prevent disputes by keeping ownership transitions clear.
Life or disability insurance can help fund the buyout and can give rise to several tax issues and opportunities. Life insurance proceeds are generally tax-free to the beneficiary, provided certain conditions are met, making this a tax-efficient strategy.
Family Ownership
If you have family members who are willing and able to fill ownership roles in the business, you can pass your business on by giving them interests, selling them interests or doing some of each. Consider your income needs, the tax consequences, and how family members will feel about your choice.
Under the annual gift tax exclusion, in 2025, you can gift up to $19,000 of ownership interests without using up any of your lifetime gift and estate tax exemption. Valuation discounts may further reduce the taxable value of the gift.
With the gift and estate tax exemption for 2025 at $13.99 million, gift and estate taxes may be less of a concern for some business owners. However, others may want to make substantial transfers now to take maximum advantage of the high exemption. What’s right for you will depend on the value of your business and your timeline for transferring ownership.
Outside the Family
If family succession isn’t the right fit, you might consider selling the business to key employees. This requires significant planning, including executive compensation plans, loans and possibly “key person” life insurance. So you’ll need plenty of time and professional guidance to put the elements in place.
Another option is a leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), under which an ESOP trust borrows funds to buy the company. Then stock units are periodically awarded to eligible employees and are eventually vested.
Finally, there’s the option to sell to an outsider. If you can find the right buyer, you may be able to sell the business at a premium. Putting your business into a sale-ready state can help you get the best price. This generally means transparent operations, assets in good working condition and minimal reliance on key people.
For the Best Chance of Success, Start Early
Whatever path you pursue, you want your business to be in good hands in the future. Your exit strategy will require planning well in advance of retirement or any other reason for an ownership transition. Contact the office for assistance.
408-252-1800
Photo by Life of Pix from Freerange Stock.
Combine a Business Outing with Tax Breaks
Summer is here, and you may be planning a picnic or other outing for your employees. When doing so, keep tax deductions in mind. Most entertainment expenses aren’t deductible, and business meals are generally subject to a 50% deduction limit. But, you may be able to deduct 100% of employee party costs. The event must be for your entire staff and not be “lavish or extravagant.” Deductible costs include food, beverages, live music and venue rentals.
Detailed invoicing and recordkeeping are a must. Before sending out invitations, contact the office about maximizing your tax deduction.
408-252-1800
Photo by Rob_Bye from Freerange Stock.
CA Passthrough Entity Tax: Estimate Due June 16th
If you have a passthrough entity (Partnership, LLC, S Corporation) and would like the opportunity to make the Passthrough Entity Tax election for 2025, you have a California PTET deposit due for your entity on Monday, June 16th.
- If your entity made the election in 2024, your PTET deposit due on June 16th is 50% of your total 2024 Passthrough Entity Tax amount. You can find this amount on Form 3893 (PTE) in your 2024 California business entity tax return: it will indicate a due date of June 16th.
- If your entity did NOT make the election in 2024, you need to make a payment of $1,000 by June 16th for the opportunity to elect in 2025. This voucher is Form 3893 (PTE).
- If your entity has not yet filed its 2024 tax return, but you intend to make the election for 2025, follow instructions that were provided to you with your extension documents for the amount to pay for your estimated PTET deposit by the June 16th due date.
- Please note that making this estimated payment does not lock your entity into making the 2025 election. However, your entity will be unable to make the election if you do not make this payment.
Instructions for Making Estimated Payment
Your PTET deposit payment can be made via the Franchise Tax Board Direct Pay website. We recommend that you make the payment using this method and send your preparer the confirmation for your tax files once completed.
We also recommend making this payment ahead of time to avoid any deadline related issues with the FTB Direct Pay website. If you mail the payment, please send certified and save a copy of the certified receipt.
FTB Direct Pay:
- California Web Pay for Business
- Enter entity type
- Enter entity ID
- Enter Contact Info
- Select Payment Type –> Passthrough Entity Elective Tax
- Be sure to choose 1/1/25 – 12/31/25 as period beginning and end date
- Save down payment confirmation
Mailing Address:
Franchise Tax Board
PO Box 942857
Sacramento, CA 94257-0531
If you have any additional questions that were not covered above, let us know by reaching out to your preparer or our front desk.
408-252-1800
Facilitate IRS Transactions With a Business Tax Account
The IRS Business Tax Account provides information to sole proprietors, partners of partnerships, and shareholders of S corporations and C corporations.
Continue readingYour Business Tax Information at Your Fingertips
The IRS Business Tax Account provides information to sole proprietors, partners of partnerships, and shareholders of S corporations and C corporations. Eligible business taxpayers who set up an account can use the hub to make electronic payments, schedule or cancel future payments and access other tools. They can also view their current balances, payment history, other business tax records, and digital copies of select IRS notices.
A newly added Income Verification Express Service enables lenders to easily access the income records of a business borrower, provided the taxpayer has authorized access. Here’s more: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/business-tax-account
Got questions? Contact Us
Photo by Matthew_Henry from Freerange Stock.