It's not too late for year-end tax planning. With just a few days left of 2008, there is still an opportunity for smaller businesses to minimize their tax bills. Here are some recommendations about what business owners should purchase now -- and how to afford it -- so that they can deduct it later.
You may think that the days leading up to April 15, 2009, will be a scramble of locating receipts and cursing yourself for not keeping better records, but there is also the likelihood you will kick yourself for not doing more in 2008 to lower your tax bill. Fear not, because there are ways -- some quite simple -- to maximize the few days left of this year in order to minimize what you will owe 3-1/2 months from now.
The No. 1 recommendations made by many tax experts is to make capital investments now rather than put them off. A change to the 2008 Federal Tax Code has resulted in a historically high write-off maximum of $250,000 for tangible property. So now could be the time to do that much-needed upgrade of your equipment, such as computers, telephone systems, even furniture. All of your business-related gear is deductible, there are tons of sales going on, and if you charge the purchases to a credit card, you can claim the deductible for this year yet not have to pay off the charge until next year -- and, as tax attorney Roni Deutch points out, you might even qualify for credit card rewards.
Also, go green where you can, since tax credits are available for certain energy-saving purchases -- from installing solar panels and solar hot-water heaters to purchasing alternative-fuel vehicles. Check out the IRS's Web site for a list of the credits available for different electric and hybrid car models.
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There is a caveat to the recommendation of making business purchases this year, however. Barbara Weltman, a tax expert for small businesses, says that because of the recession, we're in a unique situation: "Many businesses weren't profitable. So the conventional approach -- buying up supplies by the end of the year -- would not apply this year." Weltman suggests waiting until next year to make large purchases if you think your business is going to make more money then.
The flip side to that, Weltman says, is do your best to send out invoices in the remaining days of December because maybe -- maybe -- you'll get paid this year. "Get the money when you can, since you don't know when people will be able to pay you," she says.
Next Page: Expenses To Make Now That Could Result In Deductions On April 15
