Monthly Archives: July 2021

Qualified Business Income Deduction Update

For those interested in tax planning for the FI community, some interesting news came from the Senate this week. Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat and the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released a proposal to modify the Section 199A qualified business income (“QBI”) deduction.

My view is that this is very good news, for reasons I will discuss below.

QBI Deduction

The Section 199A QBI deduction provides small business owners a deduction of up to 20 percent of their “qualified business income.” Usually, this is income from self-employment (reported on Schedule C) or income from a partnership or S corporation (reported on Form K-1). The deduction is subject to a host of limitations which tend to kick in hard for upper income taxpayers. 

I’ve written plenty on the Section 199A QBI deduction. My introductory post is here, and a more advanced post is here

The QBI deduction is good for the financial independence community. It lowers the federal income tax burden on those with small businesses and side hustles. 

Expiration

But there is one lurking issue with the QBI deduction: will it last? There are two reasons to worry that it will not. First, it was enacted by Republicans in late 2017 in a polarized political environment. While that means Washington Republicans generally support the deduction, it also means Washington Democrats may have no particular political reason to support it. Second, the deduction has an expiration date: December 31, 2025: The deduction is not available in tax years beginning after that date. 

While there are few things more permanent than a temporary tax deduction, obviously it is worrisome that if nothing else happens, we only have four and a half more years of the tax deduction. 

Wyden Proposal

Senator Wyden introduced a proposal to modify the Section 199A QBI deduction. The legislative language is available here and a summary of the legislation from Senator Wyden’s staff is available here.

I am still reviewing the language, so at this point (July 21, 2021) I only have a basic understanding of it. Please take the below as a preliminary analysis subject to change. 

The bill keeps the QBI deduction, but appears to eliminate it entirely (as related to qualified business income itself) if taxable income reported on the tax return is $500,000 or more. Between $400K and $500K of taxable income, the QBI deduction is phased out. It appears single taxpayers do very well with this provision, as the limits apply per tax return, and are not doubled for married filing joint taxpayers. 

The Wyden proposal eliminates the ability for married filing separately taxpayers and estates and trusts to claim the QBI deduction. 

The bill also eliminates the concept of a “specified service trade or business.” This simplifies the QBI deduction and will help many self-employed professionals qualify for the deduction where under current law they would not. 

See the example of Jackie I posted here. Without a deduction for Solo 401(k) contributions Jackie did not qualify for any QBI deduction at all because he was a single lawyer with a taxable income over $215K. If the Wyden proposal is enacted as written, Jackie could have up to $400K in taxable income and claim a full QBI deduction. Single moderate to high income professionals appear, at first glance, to be the big winners if the Wyden proposal is enacted. Some married professionals will also benefit from this provision. 

Section 199A Dividends

The proposed bill appears to keep the 20 percent deduction for “Section 199A dividends” which are dividends paid by real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and mutual funds and ETFs which own REITs. It appears, however, that a taxpayer’s ability to deduct Section 199A dividends would phase out between $400K and $500K of taxable income. Under current law there is no taxable income limit on the ability to deduct 20 percent of Section 199A dividends. 

Expiration 

The Wyden proposal does not eliminate the expiration date, December 31, 2025. To my mind, that is not too surprising. Eliminating the expiration date would increase the “cost” of the Wyden proposal and thus, under Congressional budgeting procedures, likely require cutting spending or raising other taxes. 

The Good News

To my mind, the Wyden proposal is good news for those fond of the QBI deduction. Instead of eliminating the QBI deduction, we now have a powerful Washington Democrat embracing large parts of the deduction, and expanding its availability for some taxpayers. If this were to pass (and that is very speculative), then both Republicans and Democrats would have passed a version of the QBI deduction. At that point, it is unlikely that either party would want to be responsible for the deduction dying in full in 2026. 

This legislative proposal is simply a first step: stay tuned for further developments. But for the FI community, I see a powerful Washington Democrat embracing a large portion of the QBI deduction to be a positive development. 

FI Tax Guy can be your financial advisor! Find out more by visiting mullaneyfinancial.com

Follow me on Twitter: @SeanMoneyandTax

This post is for entertainment and educational purposes only. It does not constitute accounting, financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Please consult with your advisor(s) regarding your personal accounting, financial, investment, legal, and tax matters. Please also refer to the Disclaimer & Warning section found here

Sean on The Struggle is Real Podcast

I chatted with Justin Peters on The Struggle is Real Podcast regarding tax issues for those in their 20s to consider. You can access the episode here: https://justinleepeters.podbean.com/e/what-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-in-your-20s-e39-sean-mullaney/

As always, the discussion is general and educational in nature and does not constitute tax, investment, legal, or financial advice with respect to any particular individual or taxpayer. Please consult your own advisors regarding your own unique situation.

FI Tax Guy can be your financial advisor! Find out more by visiting mullaneyfinancial.com

Follow me on Twitter: @SeanMoneyandTax

This post is for entertainment and educational purposes only. It does not constitute accounting, financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Please consult with your advisor(s) regarding your personal accounting, financial, investment, legal, and tax matters. Please also refer to the Disclaimer & Warning section found here

S Corporations for Beginning Solopreneurs

Last month the blog discussed the beginning of the self-employment journey. Specifically, it discussed how one pays taxes when they become self-employed. This post goes further. It explores a potentially powerful tax planning for self-employed solopreneurs, the S corporation. 

None of the below is tax advice for any particular taxpayer. Note that if you are considering an S corporation, you are generally well advised to work with a tax professional before and during the process of implementing an S corporation. 

The S Corporation Concept

Generally speaking, a corporation is subject to federal income tax at a 21 percent rate. For example, if Acme Incorporated has $100,000 of taxable income for the year, it owes the IRS $21,000 of federal income tax. Further, the shareholders are subject to taxes on the receipt of dividends from the corporation. If Acme Incorporated pays its after tax profit of $79,000 to its shareholders, generally its shareholders must include the receipt of the dividend in taxable income (though the dividend may qualify for the favorable qualified dividend income rates). 

Based on both the corporation and the shareholders having to pay tax on the same income, it is said that many corporations (so-called “C corporations”) are subject to double tax

For smaller businesses, this can be very problematic. The tax rules recognize this, and thus, for certain small business entities, allow an “S corporation” election (meaning that the corporation is taxed under the rules of Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code).

S corporations are generally subject to only one level of tax, as all of the tax items of the S corporation (taxable income, gain, loss, credits, etc.) are reported and taxed on the shareholder(s) individual tax returns. The S corporation itself usually does not pay federal income tax. 

Most states replicate this treatment to a large extent. For example, in my home state of California, S corporation income is reported on the shareholders’ tax returns, but the S corporation itself is subject to a 1.5% income tax (with a minimum annual tax due of $800 regardless of income). 

The Self-Employment Tax Savings and Reasonable Compensation

There is another wrinkle to S corporations which can make them advantageous to solopreneurs. The S corporation must pay owner-employees reasonable compensation as W-2 salary. However, the rules generally allow the owner-employee to take some of the earnings of the S corporation as a dividend. This has the rather interesting effect of, in many cases, reducing the overall payroll tax liability of the solopreneur. 

Here’s a quick example of how that could work:

Aurora works as a private detective. After business expenses, she has a net income of $110,000. The payroll taxes she pays will depend on whether the business is organized as a sole proprietorship or an S corporation. 

If she is operating as a sole proprietorship, she will pay $15,543 in self-employment taxes, as computed on Schedule SE (roughly, 14.13% of her profits are due in self-employment taxes). 

Things are different if the business is organized as an S corporation. Assume, just for the sake of this example, that the S corporation pays Aurora $55,000 in W-2 compensation and this is reasonable. The FICA tax she and the S corporation together pay is 15.3% of that amount, $8,415

In this example, Aurora saves over $7,000 in payroll taxes by electing to operate out of an S corporation.

Of course, compensation must be reasonable. S corporation owner-employees who pay themselves very small W-2 salaries can have dividend payments recharacterized as W-2 salary, prompting disputes with the IRS and state taxing agencies and the collection of back payroll taxes.

Solopreneur Requirements for an S Corporation

Below I discuss, very broadly, the general requirements to establish and maintain an S corporation for a solopreneur who does not employ other people. Those items with a single asterisk can (but does not have to) apply to a Schedule C sole proprietorship (for example, for solopreneurs a limited liability company can be either a Schedule C sole proprietorship or an S corporation). The item with a double asterisk also applies to a sole proprietorship, but perhaps to a somewhat lesser extent. 

Entity Formation*

To have an S corporation, one must operate out of a legal entity. Generally, the legal entity can be a corporation or a limited liability company (an “LLC”). Corporations and LLCs are creatures of state law. Each state has its own formation and regulation procedures, requirements, and fees. Often it is wise to consult with legal counsel when forming a legal entity.

Under the federal income tax rules, an S corporation generally must have 100 or fewer shareholders and only a single class of stock outstanding. 

Tax Election

Electing S corporation status requires the filing of a Form 2553 with the IRS with the signatures of all the shareholders. In community property states, usually one’s spouse is considered a shareholder. Taxpayers omitting a spouse’s signature where the S corporation stock is community property can fix the omission under the procedure available under Revenue Procedure 2004-35

Entity Maintenance*

Legal entities have requirements for maintenance. These vary by state, and can include annual fees, annual shareholders’ meetings, and meetings of a Board of Directors. Consultations with legal counsel can be helpful in this regard. 

Separate Books, Records, and Bank Accounts**

A legal entity should have its own bank account to collect revenue and pay expenses. Most solopreneurs operating out of either a sole proprietorship or an S corporation are well advised to hire a (very likely virtual) bookkeeper to track revenues and expenses. 

Separate Federal Income Tax Return

S corporations must file an annual income tax return with the federal government, the Form 1120-S. Included in this Form is a Form K-1. Form K-1 reports to both the shareholders and the IRS the ordinary income and other tax results of the S corporation for the year that must be reported on the income tax returns of the shareholders.

Generally speaking, the Form 1120-S is due March 15th, but can be extended to September 15th. 

Separate State Income Tax Return

In most states, S corporations have to file income tax returns. There can be entity level taxes on S corporations (such as California’s 1.5% income tax, $800 minimum tax) and in most states the shareholders will need to report the S corporation’s income on their own state income tax return. 

Running W-2 Payroll/Reasonable Compensation

S corporations must pay their employees, including solopreneur owners, reasonable compensation. This requires running W-2 payroll, including federal and state payroll tax withholding and remittance. There are payroll processors that specialize in providing payroll services for small S corporations. 

As discussed above, W-2 compensation must be reasonable. 

Forms W-2, W-3, 940, and 941

There are both quarterly and annual payroll tax returns that must be filed to report salaries paid and payroll taxes withheld and remitted. The Form 941 is filed for each quarter and is generally due one month after the end of the quarter. 

Forms W-2, W-3, and 940 are filed on an annual basis and generally due January 31st.

Tracking Distributions and S Corporation Stock Basis

Shareholders must track their “basis” in their S corporation stock. Generally speaking, dividends from an S corporation are not taxable to the shareholder. However, they reduce the shareholder’s basis in their S corporation stock. If the shareholder receives a distribution at a time he or she does not have basis in their S corporation stock, it triggers a taxable gain to the shareholder.

Basis should generally be tracked as part of the tax return preparation process. However, basis should also be tracked during the year prior to the shareholder taking significant dividends from the S corporation. 

Increased Professional Fees

Operating out of an S corporation generally increases the professional fees a solopreneur pays. This absolutely can be worth it, but in many cases there needs to be professional assistance regarding reasonable compensation, tax filings, legal maintenance, and payroll processing. 

Tax Planning

In a world without two of my favorite tax topics, the qualified business income deduction and the Solo 401(k), the analysis was usually somewhat straightforward. Estimate business income and run it through the filters of income and self-employment tax if reported on a Schedule C versus income and payroll tax if reported through an S corporation. This yielded an estimate of the overall tax savings obtained using an S corporation structure. 

To make the “S corporation or Schedule C” decision, the taxpayer would then, for the most part, compare the estimated annual tax savings versus the additional administrative burden and costs associated with the S corporation. 

Today, we live in a world with the qualified business income deduction and the Solo 401(k). These planning opportunities make the “S corporation or Schedule C” question more nuanced. At a minimum, solopreneurs should work with their tax advisors to model out what the income tax, self-employment tax, qualified business income deduction, and retirement plan results look like at their anticipated business income level and desired retirement plan contribution level to determine whether the S corporation or the Schedule C route is better. 

Operating through an LLC

One option available to solopreneurs is operating out of an LLC as the sole owner. LLCs provide a legal entity out of which to conduct business. Properly operated, an LLC can provide a solopreneur with liability protection and reputational advantages. One great feature of LLCs is their tax flexibility. They default to disregarded status, meaning that for a solopreneur, the default option is that the taxable income of the LLC is simply reported on their Schedule C. However, using the Form 2553, a solopreneur can elect to have the LLC treated as an S corporation.

Those looking to work through an LLC should consider hiring legal counsel regarding the establishment and maintenance of their legal entity. 

Conclusion

Operating out of an S corporation is a significant additional operational commitment. There are instances where it can make a great deal of sense for a solopreneur. Those considering using an S corporation should understand the administrative commitment involved and should work with advisors as appropriate to ensure they make an informed decision. 

FI Tax Guy can be your financial advisor! Find out more by visiting mullaneyfinancial.com

Follow me on Twitter: @SeanMoneyandTax

This post is for entertainment and educational purposes only. It does not constitute accounting, financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Please consult with your advisor(s) regarding your personal accounting, financial, investment, legal, and tax matters. Please also refer to the Disclaimer & Warning section found here.

Sean Discusses Tax Planning on the ChooseFI Podcast

I was honored to discuss using tax returns as a springboard to tax planning on a recent episode of the ChooseFI podcast. Click here for the episode website.

During the conversation we referenced this blog post.

As always, the discussion is general and educational in nature and does not constitute tax, investment, legal, or financial advice with respect to any particular individual or taxpayer. Please consult your own advisors regarding your own unique situation. Sean Mullaney and ChooseFI Publishing are currently under contract to publish a book authored by Sean Mullaney.

FI Tax Guy can be your financial advisor! Find out more by visiting mullaneyfinancial.com

Follow me on Twitter: @SeanMoneyandTax

This post is for entertainment and educational purposes only. It does not constitute accounting, financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Please consult with your advisor(s) regarding your personal accounting, financial, investment, legal, and tax matters. Please also refer to the Disclaimer & Warning section found here