The next estimated tax payment deadline is coming up soon
August 19, 2025
If you make quarterly estimated tax payments, the amount you owe may be affected by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The law, which was enacted on July 4, 2025, introduces new deductions, credits and tax provisions that could shift your income tax liability this year.
Tax basics
Federal estimated tax payments are designed to ensure that certain individuals pay their fair share of taxes throughout the year.
If you don’t have enough federal tax withheld from your paychecks and other payments, you may have to make estimated tax payments. This is the case if you receive interest, dividends, self-employment income, capital gains, a pension or other income that’s not covered by withholding.
Individuals generally must pay 25% of a “required annual payment” by April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year, to avoid an underpayment penalty. If one of those dates falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is due on the next business day.
The third installment for 2025 is due on Monday, September 15. Payments are made using Form 1040-ES.
Amount to be paid
The required annual payment for most individuals is the lower of 90% of the tax shown on the current year’s return or 100% of the tax shown on the return for the previous year. However, if the adjusted gross income on your previous year’s return was more than $150,000 ($75,000 if you’re married filing separately), you must pay the lower of 90% of the tax shown on the current year’s return or 110% of the tax shown on the return for the previous year.
Most people who receive the bulk of their income in the form of wages satisfy these payment requirements through the tax withheld from their paychecks by their employers. Those who make estimated tax payments generally do so in four installments. After determining the required annual payment, divide that number by four and make four equal payments by the due dates.
But you may be able to use the annualized income method to make smaller payments. This method is useful to people whose income flow isn’t uniform over the year, perhaps because of a seasonal business. For example, if your income comes exclusively from a business operated in a resort area during June, July and August, no estimated payment is required before September 15.
The underpayment penalty
If you don’t make the required payments, you may be subject to an underpayment penalty. The penalty equals the product of the interest rate charged by the IRS on deficiencies times the amount of the underpayment for the period of the underpayment.
However, the underpayment penalty doesn’t apply to you if:
- The total tax shown on your return is less than $1,000 after subtracting withholding tax paid;
- You had no tax liability for the preceding year, you were a U.S. citizen or resident for that entire year, and that period was 12 months;
- For the fourth (January 15) installment, you file your return by that January 31 and pay your tax in full; or
- You’re a farmer or fisherman and pay your entire estimated tax by January 15 or pay your entire tax and file your tax return by March 2, 2026.
In addition, the IRS may waive the penalty if the failure was due to casualty, disaster or other unusual circumstances, and it would be inequitable to impose the penalty. The penalty can also be waived for reasonable cause during the first two years after you retire (and reach age 62) or become disabled.
OBBBA highlights
Several provisions of the OBBBA could directly affect quarterly estimated tax payments because they change how much tax some individuals will ultimately owe for the year. For example, the law introduces a temporary (2025 through 2028) additional $6,000 deduction for seniors, which can lower taxable income. It creates new deductions for overtime pay, tips and auto loan interest — available even if you don’t itemize — which can meaningfully reduce estimated liabilities. The bill also increases the state and local tax deduction cap for certain taxpayers and temporarily enhances the Child Tax Credit. Because these deductions and credits apply during the tax year rather than after, they can reduce your quarterly payment obligations mid-year, making it important to recalculate estimates to avoid overpayment or underpayment penalties.
Seek guidance now
Contact us if you need help figuring out your estimated tax payments or have other questions about how the rules apply to you.
© 2025
Before the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), tip income and overtime income were fully taxable for federal income tax purposes. The new law changes that. Tip income deduction For 2025–2028, the OBBBA creates a new temporary federal income tax deduction that can offset up to $25,000 of annual qualified tip income. It begins to phase out when modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is more than $150,000 ($300,000 for married joint filers). The deduction is available if a worker receives qualified tips in an occupation that’s designated by the IRS as one where tips are customary. However, the U.S. Treasury Department recently released a draft list of occupations it proposes to receive the tax break and there are some surprising jobs on the list, including plumbers, electricians, home heating / air conditioning mechanics and installers, digital content creators, and home movers. Employees and self-employed individuals who work in certain trades or businesses are ineligible for the tip deduction. These include health, law, accounting, financial services, investment management and more. Qualified tips can be paid by customers in cash or with credit cards or given to workers through tip-sharing arrangements. The deduction can be claimed whether the worker itemizes or not. Overtime income deduction For 2025–2028, the OBBBA creates another new federal income tax deduction that can offset up to $12,500 of qualified overtime income each year or up to $25,000 for a married joint-filer. It begins to phase out when MAGI is more than $150,000 ($300,000 for married joint filers). The limited overtime deduction can be claimed whether or not workers itemize deductions on their tax returns. Qualified overtime income means overtime compensation paid to a worker as mandated under Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). It requires time-and-a-half overtime pay except for certain exempt workers. If a worker earns time-and-a-half for overtime, only the extra half constitutes qualified overtime income. Qualified overtime income doesn’t include overtime premiums that aren’t required by Section 7 of the FLSA, such as overtime premiums required under state laws or overtime premiums pursuant to contracts such as union-negotiated collective bargaining agreements. Qualified overtime income also doesn’t include any tip income. Payroll tax implications While you may have heard the new tax breaks described as “no tax on tips” and “no tax on overtime,” they’re actually limited, temporary federal income tax deductions as opposed to income exclusions. Therefore, income tax may apply to some of your wages and federal payroll taxes still apply to qualified tip income and qualified overtime income. In addition, applicable federal income tax withholding rules still apply. And tip income and overtime income may still be fully taxable for state and local income tax purposes. The real issue for employers and payroll management firms is reporting qualified tip income and qualified overtime income amounts so eligible workers can claim their rightful federal income tax deductions. Reporting details The tip deduction is allowed to both employees and self-employed individuals. Qualified tip income amounts must be reported on Form W-2, Form 1099-NEC, or another specified information return or statement that’s furnished to both the worker and the IRS. Qualified overtime income amounts must be reported to workers on Form W-2 or another specified information return or statement that’s furnished to both the worker and the IRS. IRS announcement about information returns and withholding tables The IRS recently announced that for tax year 2025, there will be no OBBBA-related changes to federal information returns for individuals, federal payroll tax returns or federal income tax withholding tables. So, Form W-2, Forms 1099, Form 941, and other payroll-related forms and returns won’t be changed. The IRS stated that “these decisions are intended to avoid disruptions during the tax filing season and to give the IRS, business and tax professionals enough time to implement the changes effectively.” Employers and payroll management firms are advised to begin tracking qualified tip income and qualified overtime income immediately and to implement procedures to retroactively track qualified tip and qualified overtime income amounts that were paid before July 4, 2025, when the OBBBA became law. The IRS is expected to provide transition relief for tax year 2025 and update forms for tax year 2026. Contact us with any questions. © 2025
Do you and your spouse together operate a profitable unincorporated small business? If so, you face some challenging tax issues. The partnership issue An unincorporated business with your spouse is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, unless you can avoid that treatment. Otherwise, you must file an annual partnership return using Form 1065. In addition, you and your spouse must be issued separate Schedules K-1, which allocate the partnership’s taxable income, deductions and credits between the two of you. This is only the beginning of the unwelcome tax compliance tasks. The self-employment tax issue Self-employment (SE) tax is how the government collects Social Security and Medicare taxes from self-employed individuals. For 2025, the SE tax consists of 12.4% Social Security tax on the first $176,100 of net SE income plus 2.9% Medicare tax. Once your 2025 net SE income surpasses the $176,100 ceiling, the Social Security tax component of the SE tax ends. But the 2.9% Medicare tax component continues before increasing to 3.8% — because of the 0.9% additional Medicare tax — if the combined net SE income of a married joint-filing couple exceeds $250,000. (This doesn’t include investment income.) With your joint Form 1040, you must include a Schedule SE to calculate SE tax on your share of the net SE income passed through to you by your spousal partnership. The return must also include a Schedule SE for your spouse to calculate the tax on your spouse’s share of net SE income passed through to him or her. This can significantly increase your SE tax liability. For example, let’s say you and your spouse each have net 2025 SE income of $150,000 ($300,000 total) from your profitable 50/50 partnership business. The SE tax on your joint tax return is a whopping $45,900 ($150,000 × 15.3% × 2). That’s on top of regular federal income tax. (However, you do get an income deduction for half of the SE tax.) Here are three possible tax-saving solutions. 1. Use an IRS-approved method to minimize SE tax in a community property state Under IRS guidance (Revenue Procedure 2002-69), there’s an exception to the general rule that spouse-run businesses are treated as partnerships. For federal tax purposes, you can treat an unincorporated spousal business in a community property state as a sole proprietorship operated by one of the spouses. By effectively allocating all the net SE income to the proprietor spouse, only the first $176,100 of net SE income is hit with the 12.4% Social Security tax. That can cut your SE tax bill. 2. Convert a spousal partnership into an S corporation and pay modest salaries If you and your unincorporated spousal business aren’t in a community property state, consider converting the business to S corp status to reduce Social Security and Medicare taxes. That way, only the salaries paid to you and your spouse get hit with the Social Security and Medicare tax, collectively called FICA tax. You can then pay reasonable, but not excessive, salaries to you and your spouse as shareholder-employees while paying out most or all remaining corporate cash flow to yourselves as FICA-tax-free cash distributions. Keep in mind that S corps come with their own compliance obligations. 3. Disband your partnership and hire your spouse as an employee You can disband the existing spousal partnership and start running the operation as a sole proprietorship operated by one spouse. Then hire the other spouse as an employee of the proprietorship. Pay that spouse a modest cash salary. You must withhold 7.65% from the salary to cover the employee-spouse’s share of the Social Security and Medicare taxes. The proprietorship must also pay 7.65% as the employer’s half of the taxes. However, because the employee-spouse’s salary is modest, the FICA tax will also be modest. With this strategy, you file only one Schedule SE — for the spouse treated as the proprietor — with your joint tax return. That minimizes the SE tax because no more than $176,100 (for 2025) is exposed to the 12.4% Social Security portion of the SE tax. Additional bonus: You may be able to provide certain employee benefits to your spouse, such as retirement contributions, which may provide more tax savings. We can help Having a profitable unincorporated business with your spouse that’s classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes can lead to compliance headaches and high SE tax bills. Work with us to identify appropriate tax-saving strategies. © 2025
If you’re considering opening an investment account for your minor child or grandchild to help him or her save for the future, a custodial account can be a useful option. Indeed, for many families, a custodial account strikes the right balance between gifting assets to a child and maintaining oversight until the child is legally an adult. It also has some benefits compared to a Trump Account, which the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will make available beginning in 2026. What is a custodial account? A custodial account is a financial account that an adult manages on behalf of a minor child until the child reaches the age of majority (typically 18 or 21, depending on the state). These accounts are often set up under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) or the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA), which provide a legal framework for transferring assets to minors without requiring a formal trust. The adult custodian — often a parent or grandparent — has control over the account, but the assets legally belong to the child. Once the child comes of age, the account is transferred into his or her full control. Trump Accounts will be similar in that, generally, the child won’t be able to access the account funds until reaching age 18. Custodial accounts can hold a wide range of assets, including cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and, in the case of UTMA accounts, even real estate or other property. Trump Accounts, on the other hand, will generally be limited to investing in exchange-traded funds or mutual funds that track the return of a qualified index and meet certain other requirements. Custodial account funds can be used for any purpose and often are used to save for future expenses such as a first car or a down payment on a home. Trump Account funds also can be used for any purpose. Both types of accounts can be used to fund education expenses, but they don’t offer some of the tax benefits of education-specific savings options. What are the pluses and minuses? One of the most significant advantages of using a custodial account is its flexibility. Indeed, unlike some savings vehicles, such as Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), anyone can contribute to a custodial account, regardless of their income level, and there are no contribution limits. (Trump Accounts will have annual contribution limits.) Also, as noted earlier, there are no restrictions on how the money in custodial accounts or Trump Accounts is spent. In contrast, funds invested in ESAs and Section 529 education savings plans must be spent on qualified education expenses — withdrawals not used for qualified expenses may be partially subject to a 10% penalty. (Trump Account withdrawals could also be partially subject to a 10% penalty if taken before age 59½). Contributions to custodial accounts can also save income taxes. A child’s unearned income up to $2,700 (for 2025) is usually taxed at low rates. (Income above that threshold is usually taxed at the parents’ marginal rate.) On the downside, other savings vehicles can offer greater tax benefits. Although custodial accounts can reduce taxes, ESAs, Section 529 plans and Trump Accounts allow earnings to grow on a tax-deferred basis. Also, ESA and 529 plan withdrawals are tax-free provided they’re spent on qualified education expenses. There may also be financial aid implications, as the assets in a custodial account are treated less favorably than certain other assets. Trump Accounts provide another potential benefit that custodial accounts don’t: U.S. citizens children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, can potentially qualify for an initial $1,000 government-funded deposit to a Trump Account. It’s important to be aware that there’s a loss of control involved with both custodial accounts and Trump Accounts. After the child reaches the age of majority (or age 18 for Trump Accounts), he or she gains full control over the assets and can use them as he or she sees fit. If you wish to retain control longer, you’re better off opening an ESA or a 529 plan or creating a trust. Consider all your options Custodial accounts can be a valuable tool to build your child’s financial foundation while teaching him or her about money management. Still, it’s important to weigh the tax implications, college planning considerations and your long-term goals before opening one. Depending on the situation, another type of account may better fit your goals. Contact us with questions. © 2025
As summer gives way to fall, many businesses begin their budget-setting processes for the upcoming year. This annual rite of passage can be stressful, contentious and, perhaps worst of all, disappointing if your budgets often fail to achieve their objectives. The good news is that there are many ways to enhance your company’s budgeting process and improve the likelihood that you’ll get good results. Here are five to consider. 1. Optimize data It’s not uncommon for a business to create its budget by applying an across-the-board percentage increase to the previous year’s actual results. However, this approach may be too simplistic in today’s uncertain economy and ever-changing marketplace. That’s not to say historical results aren’t a good starting point. But keep in mind that some costs are fixed rather than variable. And certain assets, such as equipment and employees, have capacity limitations. What troubles many companies is the presence of confusing or conflicting information, which eventually hampers their budget’s efficacy. The solution is data optimization. This is the process of refining how data is collected, stored, managed and applied to maximize efficiency and value. In the context of budgeting, data optimization involves steps such as removing duplicate entries, correcting errors and applying a standard format to strengthen accuracy. 2. Involve the entire organization Traditionally, many businesses rely only on their accounting departments to devise a budget. However, this approach often “puts blinders” on a company, leaving it at a disadvantage. When creating your budget, seek input from the entire organization. For example, your sales department may be in the best position to help you accurately estimate future revenue. Meanwhile, your operations or production managers can offer insights into potential staffing adjustments and expenses related to equipment maintenance or replacement. Soliciting broad participation also gives departments a greater sense of involvement in the budgeting process. In turn, this can help enhance employee engagement and improve your odds of achieving budgeted results. 3. “Sell” it to staff Good budgets encourage the hard work needed to grow revenue and cut costs. But targets must be attainable. Employees will likely become discouraged if they view a budget as unattainable or out of touch with current market trends — or reality in general. After years of failed attempts to meet budgets, workers may start to ignore them altogether. If this has been an issue for your business, you might need to “sell” your budget to staff. Doing so centers on devising and executing a communication strategy that clearly explains each budget’s rationale and objectives. Tying annual bonuses to achieving specific targets may encourage greater buy-in as well. 4. Monitor cash flow Even if expected revenue is forecast to cover expenses for the year, unexpected fluctuations in production costs can lead to temporary cash shortages. Slow-paying customers and uncollectible accounts may also inhibit cash flow. The truth is, any unanticipated cash shortfall can seriously derail your budget. So, once yours is set, monitor all your cash flows weekly or monthly. Then, create a plan for managing any major shortfalls that may occur. For instance, you and other owners may need to contribute extra capital. Or you might need to apply for a line of credit at your current bank or another one. Additionally, you might consider: Buying materials on consignment, Delaying payments to vendors (as long as you don’t incur penalties), or Tightening terms with slow-paying customers. Bottom line: Don’t put a budget in place and expect it to run on autopilot. Keep a close eye on cash flow and make adjustments as necessary. 5. Get an objective opinion Many companies’ budgets suffer from the old “because we’ve always done it that way” mentality. For a fresh perspective and an objective opinion on your budgeting process, please keep our firm in mind. We can help your business strengthen its budget by showing you how to better analyze historical financial data, forecast future performance, identify cost-saving opportunities, integrate tax planning and more. © 2025
A major tax change is here for businesses with research and experimental (R&E) expenses. On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) reinstated the immediate deduction for U.S.-based R&E expenses, reversing rules under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that required businesses to capitalize and amortize these costs over five years (15 years for research performed outside the United States). Making the most of R&E tax-saving opportunities The immediate domestic R&E expense deduction generally is available beginning with eligible 2025 expenses. It can substantially reduce your taxable income, but there are strategies you can employ to make the most of R&E tax-saving opportunities: Apply the changes retroactively. If you qualify as a small business (average annual gross receipts of $31 million or less for the last three years), you can file amended returns for 2022, 2023 and/or 2024 to claim the immediate R&E expense deduction and potentially receive a tax refund for those years. The amended returns must be filed by July 4, 2026. Accelerate remaining deductions. Whatever the size of your business, if you began to amortize and capitalize R&E expenses in 2022, 2023 and/or 2024, you can deduct the remaining amount either on your 2025 return or split between your 2025 and 2026 returns, rather than continuing to amortize and capitalize over what remains of the five-year period. Relocate research activities. Consider relocating foreign research activities to the United States. Before the OBBBA, the five-year vs. 15-year amortization period made domestic R&E activities more attractive from a tax perspective. Now the difference between a current deduction and 15-year amortization makes domestic R&E activities even more advantageous tax-wise. Take advantage of the research credit. A tax deduction reduces the amount of income that’s taxed, while a tax credit reduces the actual tax you owe dollar-for-dollar, providing much more tax savings than a deduction of an equal amount. So consider whether you may be eligible for the tax credit for “increasing research activities.” But keep in mind that the types of expenses that qualify for the credit are narrower than those that qualify for the deduction. And you can’t claim both the credit and the deduction for the same expense. We’re here to help With the recent changes to the R&E expense rules, understanding your options is more important than ever. Our team can walk you through the updates, evaluate potential strategies, and help you determine the best approach to maximize your savings and support your business goals. © 2025
At back-to-school time, much of the focus is on the students returning to the classroom — and on their parents buying them school supplies, backpacks, clothes, etc., for the new school year. But teachers are also buying school supplies for their classrooms. And in many cases, they don’t receive reimbursement. Fortunately, they may be able to deduct some of these expenses on their tax returns. And, beginning next year, eligible educators will have an additional deduction opportunity under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The current above-the-line deduction Eligible educators can deduct some of their unreimbursed out-of-pocket classroom costs under the educator expense deduction. This is an “above-the-line” deduction, which means you don’t have to itemize and it reduces your adjusted gross income (AGI), which has an added benefit: Because AGI-based limits affect a variety of tax breaks, lowering your AGI might help you maximize your tax breaks overall. To be eligible, taxpayers must be kindergarten through grade 12 teachers, instructors, counselors, principals or aides. Also, they must work at least 900 hours a school year in a school that provides elementary or secondary education as determined under state law. For 2025, up to $300 of qualified expenses paid during the year that weren’t reimbursed can be deducted. (The deduction limit is $600 if both taxpayers are eligible educators who file a joint tax return, but these taxpayers can’t deduct more than $300 each.) The limit is annually indexed for inflation but typically doesn’t go up every year. Examples of qualified expenses include books, classroom supplies, computer equipment (including software), other materials used in the classroom, and professional development courses. For courses in health and physical education, the costs for supplies are qualified expenses only if related to athletics. A new miscellaneous itemized deduction The OBBBA makes permanent the Tax Cut and Jobs Act’s (TCJA’s) suspension of miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to the 2% of AGI floor. This had included unreimbursed employee business expenses such as teachers’ out-of-pocket classroom expenses. The suspension had been in place since 2018. But the OBBBA creates a new miscellaneous itemized deduction for educator expenses. This is in addition to the $300 above-the-line deduction. And this deduction isn’t subject to the 2% of AGI floor or a specific dollar limit. The new deduction is available for eligible expenses incurred after Dec. 31, 2025. Both who’s eligible and what expenses qualify are a little broader for the itemized deduction than for the above-the-line deduction. For example, interscholastic sports administrators and coaches are also eligible. And, for courses in health and physical education, the supplies don’t have to be related to athletics. Keep in mind that you’ll have to itemize deductions to claim this new deduction next year. Taxpayers can choose to itemize this and certain other deductions or to take the standard deduction based on their filing status. Itemizing deductions saves tax only when the total is greater than the standard deduction. The OBBBA has made permanent the nearly doubled standard deductions under the TCJA, so fewer taxpayers are benefiting from itemizing. Carefully track expenses If you’re a teacher or other educator, keep receipts when you pay for eligible expenses and note the date, amount and purpose of each purchase. Have questions about educator deductions or other tax-saving strategies? Please contact us. © 2025
For family business owners, an estate plan and a succession plan often work in tandem, ensuring that both personal and business affairs transition smoothly. Your estate plan can help ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and provide contingencies in the event of your death or disability before retirement. Your succession plan can pave the way for a seamless transfer of leadership upon your retirement. Here’s how they work together. Two types of succession One reason transferring a family business is so challenging is the distinction between ownership and management succession. When a company is sold to a third party, ownership and management succession typically happen simultaneously. But in the family business context, there may be reasons to separate the two. From an estate planning perspective, transferring assets to the younger generation as early as possible allows you to remove future appreciation from your estate, minimizing estate taxes. On the other hand, you may not be ready to hand over the reins of your business or you may feel that your children aren’t yet prepared to take over. There are several strategies owners can use to transfer ownership without immediately giving up control, including: Placing business interests in a trust, family limited partnership or other vehicle that allows the owner to transfer substantial ownership interests to the younger generation while retaining management control, Transferring ownership to the next generation in the form of nonvoting stock, or Establishing an employee stock ownership plan. Another reason to separate ownership and management succession is to deal with family members who aren’t involved in the business. Providing heirs outside the business with nonvoting stock or other equity interests that don’t confer control can be an effective way to share the wealth while allowing those who work in the business to take over management. Unique conflicts One more unique challenge presented by family businesses is that the older and younger generations may have conflicting financial needs. Fortunately, there are strategies available to generate cash flow for the owner while minimizing the burden on the next generation. They include: An installment sale of the business to children or other family members. This provides liquidity for the owners while easing the burden on the younger generation and improving the chance that the purchase can be funded by cash flows from the business. Plus, as long as the price and terms are comparable to arm’s length transactions between unrelated parties, the sale shouldn’t trigger gift or estate taxes. A grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT). By transferring business interests to a GRAT, owners obtain a variety of gift and estate tax benefits (provided they survive the trust term) while enjoying a fixed income stream for a period of years. At the end of the term, the business is transferred to the owners’ children or other beneficiaries. GRATs are typically designed to be gift-tax-free. Because each family business is different, it’s important to work with your estate planning advisor to identify appropriate strategies in line with your objectives and resources. Cover all your bases Ultimately, having both a succession plan and an estate plan in place is an act of foresight and care. These plans protect loved ones, preserve wealth and provide clarity in uncertain times. Just as important, they reduce the likelihood of conflicts among heirs or stakeholders, helping to ensure that what you’ve worked hard to build continues to thrive. However, integrating a succession plan with your estate plan can be complex and arduous. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone. Contact us for assistance. © 2025
Your business’s brand is more than just a logo or tagline. It represents the culmination of everything you’ve accomplished to date, as well as a promise to uphold the reputation you’ve established. But that doesn’t mean your brand has to remain static. In fact, it may need a refresh as your company grows, markets evolve and customer expectations change. The only way to know for sure is to occasionally shine a light on your brand to determine whether it’s still optimally visible to the people you want to reach. Locate yourself When reassessing your brand, first locate where your company stands today. Consider its strengths and how they’ve evolved over time — or very recently. Maybe you’ve pivoted over the last several years to address changing economic or market conditions. Look for strong suits such as: Notable excellence in product or service design, Exceptional customer service, Providing superior value for your price points, and Innovation in your industry. You need to match your business’s mission, vision and strengths to the needs and wants of the market you serve — and express that through your brand. To that end, ask current customers what they like about doing business with you. And survey both customers and prospects about what they consider when making buying decisions. Pinpoint your personality If you look at any widely known brand, you’ll see a logo and broader branding effort that conveys a certain personality. Some companies want to appear creative and playful; others want to communicate stability and security. What personality will draw customers to your business? You may think every company in your industry has the same target audience. If that’s true, you must come up with an edge that differentiates your business from its rivals. Your company may have various points of contact with customers, such as business cards, print advertisements and catalogs, and your website’s home page and social media accounts. All play a role in your brand’s personality. Review what your company does at each contact point, considering whether and how these efforts accurately and effectively represent the business’s core values and emphasize its strengths. Doing so will give you more insight into the best way to portray your personality through your brand. Check up on the competition Of course, competitors have brands all their own — and they’re after your target audience. So, in creating or refining your brand, you’ll need to identify their tactics and develop countermeasures. To do so, engage in competitive intelligence. This simply means ethically and legally gathering information on their latest products or services, pricing and special offers, marketing and advertising methods, and social media activities. In some cases, you may discover that a full rebranding campaign is necessary to differentiate your business from the competition. For example, let’s say a major player has entered your market and you’re worried about visibility, or perhaps your brand is blurring with another company’s. Stand out Branding is an ongoing process of reflecting on your company’s identity and refining how you present it to the world. By building on your strengths, expressing a clear and consistent personality, and keeping a close eye on competitors, your business can stand out in a crowded marketplace. Let us help you evaluate branding from a cost-planning perspective to ensure that any chosen strategy aligns with your budget and strategic goals. © 2025
By purchasing stock in certain small businesses, you can diversify your investment portfolio. You also may enjoy preferential tax treatment, some of which is getting even better under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that was signed into law in July: Qualified small business (QSB) stock now offers more tax-saving opportunities. QSB defined A QSB generally is a U.S. C corporation that meets two requirements, one of which has been eased by the OBBBA to allow more businesses to qualify: 1. It must be engaged in an active trade or business. A qualified active business is generally any trade or business other than: Service businesses in the following fields: health, law, engineering, architecture, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, consulting, athletics, financial services and brokerage services, Banking, insurance, financing, leasing, investing and similar businesses, Farming businesses, Certain oil, gas and mining businesses, and Operators of hotels, motels, restaurants and similar businesses. Additionally, the company must use at least 80% of its assets (by value) to conduct one or more qualified active businesses. And no more than 10% of its assets can consist of nonbusiness real estate. 2. It must have assets below a certain ceiling. Before the OBBBA, the business’s aggregate gross assets generally couldn’t exceed $50 million. The OBBBA increases the asset ceiling to $75 million (adjusted for inflation after 2026) for stock issued after July 4, 2025. If the issuer owns more than 50% of another corporation’s stock, the subsidiary’s assets are included for purposes of the gross asset test. A corporation isn’t disqualified if its assets grow beyond the threshold after issuing the stock. A valuable gain exclusion When QSB stock tax breaks were initially introduced, you could exclude 50% of your capital gain from the sale of QSB stock if you’d held it at least five years. Subsequently, Congress enhanced the exclusion. If you acquired QSB stock after February 17, 2009, and before September 28, 2010, 75% of the gain is excludible after the five-year holding period. If you acquired it on or after September 28, 2010, the exclusion is 100% after five years. Now the OBBBA provides new, but smaller exclusions for QSB stock held for shorter periods. Specifically, it provides a 75% exclusion for QSB stock held for four years and a 50% exclusion for QSB stock held for three years. These exclusions go into effect for QSB stock acquired after July 4, 2025. If the QSB stock is received by gift or inheritance, the transferor’s holding period is added to the recipient’s. Additional rules To qualify for the gain exclusion, generally you must acquire the stock as part of an original issuance. In other words, you must acquire it directly from the corporation (or through an underwriter) — not from an existing shareholder — in exchange for money or property (other than stock) or as compensation for services. This requirement has some exceptions, including for stock received by gift or inheritance. There is also a limit on the size of the exclusion. The amount of QSB gain on a particular issuer’s stock that you may exclude each year is limited to the greater of $10 million or 10 times your aggregate adjusted tax basis in stock sold during the tax year. Finally, be aware that some states don’t offer QSB gain exclusions. So state-level taxes may still apply. One more opportunity If within 60 days of selling QSB stock you buy other QSB stock with the proceeds, you can defer any tax on your gain until you dispose of the new stock. The rolled-over gain reduces your basis in the new stock. For determining long-term capital gains treatment, the new stock’s holding period includes the holding period of the stock you sold. Similar rules apply if QSB stock is converted into a different stock of the same corporation. The original stock’s holding period is added to the new stock’s holding period. Consider carefully QSB stock offers some significant tax benefits. But, as when contemplating any investment, you must think about more than just taxes. You should also consider factors such as your investment goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Contact us to discuss the tax implications in more detail. © 2025
Divorce is stressful under any circumstances, but for business owners, the process can be even more complicated. Your business ownership interest is often one of your largest personal assets, and in many cases, part or all of it will be considered marital property. Understanding the tax rules that apply to asset division can help you avoid costly surprises. Tax-free transfers Most assets — including cash and business ownership interests — can be divided between spouses without triggering federal income or gift taxes. Under this tax-free transfer rule, the spouse receiving the asset assumes its existing tax basis (used to determine gain or loss) and holding period (short-term or long-term). Example: If you give your spouse the marital home in exchange for keeping 100% of your company stock, the transfer is tax-free. Both the home and the stock retain their original tax basis and holding period for the new owner. Tax-free treatment applies to transfers made: Before the divorce is finalized, At the time of divorce, and After divorce, if they occur within one year of the marriage ending or within six years if required under the divorce agreement. Future tax consequences While transfers may be tax-free at the time, the recipient will owe taxes if he or she later sells an appreciated asset (where fair market value exceeds the tax basis). For instance, if your ex-spouse receives 48% of your highly appreciated company stock, no tax is due at transfer. However, when he or she sells the stock, your ex will pay any capital gains tax based on your original basis and holding period. Important: Appreciated assets come with built-in tax liabilities, which generally makes them less valuable than an equal amount of cash or non-appreciated property. Always account for taxes when negotiating a divorce settlement. This rule also applies to ordinary-income assets — such as business receivables, inventory or nonqualified stock options. These can be transferred tax-free, but the recipient will report the income and pay taxes when the asset is sold, collected or exercised. Valuation and adjustments for tax liabilities A critical step in a divorce involving a business is determining its value. When valuing a business interest for this purpose, the valuator must understand what’s appropriate under applicable state law and legal precedent because the rules and guidance may vary across jurisdictions. The valuation process may be contentious, especially if one spouse is actively involved in the business and the other isn’t (or will no longer be involved after the divorce is settled). A professional valuation considers tangible assets (including equipment, inventory and property), intangible assets (including intellectual property) and other factors. Potential tax liabilities are also considered during the valuation process. Examples include deferred taxes on appreciated assets, liabilities from unreported income or cash distributions, and implications from goodwill. These adjustments can significantly affect the business interest’s value and the fairness of the settlement agreement. Nontax issues There are a number of issues unrelated to taxes that a divorcing business owner should be prepared to address, including: Cash flow and liquidity. Divorce settlements may require significant cash outlays — for example, to buy out a spouse’s share of the business or to meet alimony and child support obligations. This can strain the business’s liquidity, especially if the owner must take out loans or sell assets to meet these obligations. We can help assess the impact of these financial demands and develop strategies to maintain healthy cash flow, such as restructuring debt or revisiting budgets. Privacy and confidentiality. Divorce proceedings may expose sensitive business information. Financial statements, client lists and proprietary data may become part of the public record. Business owners should work with legal and financial advisors to protect confidentiality, possibly through protective orders or sealed filings. Plan ahead to minimize risk Divorce can create unexpected tax and financial consequences, especially when dividing business interests and retirement accounts (such as 401(k) accounts and IRAs). The financial stakes are often higher for business owners, making careful planning essential. We can help you navigate these rules and structure your settlement to minimize tax liabilities while complying with state community property laws. The earlier you address potential tax issues, the better your financial outcome after divorce. © 2025