Business growth and entrepreneurship continue to drive the economy. While the majority of businesses in the United States are small businesses—defined as those with fewer than 500 employees—they represent nearly half of the country’s private sector employees and are viewed as a significant engine of economic growth. (See endnote)
Still many businesses of all sizes face unique challenges, such as tax planning, talent retention, regulatory requirements, offering retirement benefits, and creating succession plans.
In the changing tax landscape, numerous strategies have emerged that offer tax-advantaged opportunities for businesses.
Here are some tax-smart strategies for small business owners to consider.
1. Maximize the deduction for qualified business income (QBI)
Following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in late 2017, a new provision established a 20% deduction of qualified business income (QBI) from certain pass-through businesses. The amount and availability of the deduction will depend on the type of business and the income level of the business owner. For example, once household income exceeds a certain threshold, service-related industries, such as certain health services, law firms, and other professional services, are excluded from claiming the 20% deduction. For 2025, the threshold is $197,300, or $394,600 for joint filers. Some business owners in these types of fields may be able to manage their income to avoid exceeding the threshold and take advantage of the 20% deduction. For non-service businesses, like a small manufacturing firm, the ability to claim the QBI deduction is always available but may be limited due to a different calculation once the business owner’s income exceeds certain thresholds.
For more information on the QBI deduction, including key income thresholds, refer to this chart:
See the details of the IRS regulation, “Qualified business income deduction.”
2. Avoid the $10,000 cap on deducting state and local taxes
Currently, taxpayers are limited to an annual tax deduction of $10,000 in state and local taxes. This amount applies to both single filers and married couples filing a joint tax return (for married couples filing separate tax returns, each spouse can deduct up to $5,000 in SALT). However, there may be an option for certain pass-through business owners to circumvent the $10,000 cap based on the amount of state taxes paid through the company. Over 30 states have implemented pass-through entity (PTE) taxes, which generally allow business owners/partners to elect to pay state income taxes at the business level as a means of avoiding the SALT cap. The payment of the PTE tax by the business entity reduces the amount of business income that flows through and is subsequently reported on the federal income tax return. This results in less income subject to taxation, which is effectively a workaround to the $10,000 cap. These types of new state laws have accelerated since the IRS issued Notice 2020-75 in 2020, which provides guidance that entity level tax payments imposed by states are deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Given the complexity and variability of rules depending on the state, the decision to opt in to a state PTE tax requires careful analysis and consideration based on individual circumstances. Business owners should consult with a qualified tax advisor.
3. Establish a workplace retirement plan
The incentives for business owners to sponsor a retirement plan have never been better. Recent retirement legislation has introduced several tax credits to help business owners offset the cost of establishing and maintaining a plan. In addition to valuable tax credits, a retirement plan offers tax-favored contributions for owners and employees. Lastly, under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), assets held within certain qualified retirement plans receive protection from potential creditors.
Tax credits available to small business owners
For more information see the IRS article on “Retirement plans startup costs tax credit.”
4. Transform business losses into tax-free retirement income
A net operating loss (NOL) may occur during a tax year in which business deductions exceed income, resulting in negative income. While prior tax law allowed a pass-through business owner to apply an NOL against prior tax years, current law requires the loss be carried forward to future tax years if it cannot be utilized to offset income in the current tax year. This is where a Roth IRA conversion may be appealing. Unlike net capital losses, where taxpayers are limited to utilizing a maximum $3,000 annually to offset ordinary income, there are fewer restrictions on how an NOL can be used to offset ordinary income. For example, taxpayers carrying forward NOLs may use those losses to offset a portion of additional income from a Roth IRA conversion. The rules on calculating and utilizing NOLs are complicated, so it is critical to consult with a qualified tax professional. For more information see “Apply a net operating loss to a Roth IRA conversion.”
Other tax considerations for business owners
In addition to these specific strategies, there are many other options for business owners to manage their tax bill including, for example:
- Deferring or accelerating income, depending on personal tax circumstances. For example, delaying invoices to defer income into the next year.
- Taking advantage of bonus depreciation on the purchase of qualified property. For 2025, this allows an owner to accelerate expensing of the property based on 40% of the purchase price for this tax year instead of claiming a depreciation allowance over the lifetime of the asset. There are discussions in Congress on increasing bonus depreciation back to 100%, where it was until 2023, but it is uncertain on whether it will make its way into a final tax bill this year. For more information see the IRS FAQ on “Additional first year depreciation deduction.”
- Hiring a spouse or other family member may have benefits. For example, a spouse may be able to participate and save in a workplace retirement plan or a child can fund a Roth IRA based on earnings from work.
Endnote
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1. Source: “Frequently Asked Questions About Small Business.” Small Business Administration. March 7, 2023.
Ref. 4499608
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