Business

Tax Credits for Small Businesses: A Comprehensive Guide to Maximizing Benefits

By: Ichire Nsor - @inquirerdotnet

Inquirer Los Angeles / 09:14 AM June 23, 2023

As a small business owner, managing tax affairs can often become a tedious task, particularly when your primary focus is maximizing every dollar you earn. However, tax credits small business leverages helps them reap substantial benefits.

Just imagine the possibilities: reducing your tax liability, increasing cash flow, gaining a competitive edge, and making a positive impact on society, all through strategic utilization of small business tax credits. This isn’t just wishful thinking; it’s an opportunity that remains largely unknown to many small business owners.

This guide aims to simplify the complex landscape of tax credits and help you navigate the various opportunities that can help your business thrive. By understanding and utilizing these often-overlooked tax incentives, you can supercharge your financial position and set your small business up for long-term success.

Understanding Tax Credits

Tax credits, tax deductions, and tax exemptions are all ways to achieve tax relief for small businesses. But they work in different ways.

Tax credits are a form of incentive provided by the government that results in a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your tax bill. Consequently, every $100 in tax credits you claim will save $100 on your taxes. Tax credits can decrease the amount of tax owed by individuals or business owners directly.

Second, tax deductions reduce the taxable income of an individual or business. They are subtracted from the total business income before calculating the tax liability. Tax deductions decrease the overall taxable income, resulting in a lower tax bill.

And finally, tax exemptions are similar to tax deductions. However, they exclude certain types of income or activities from being subject to tax. In essence, the exempted income or activity is not included in the calculation of the tax liability.

Tax Credits Available for Small Businesses

There are numerous tax credits specifically designed for small businesses, many of which fall under the umbrella of the general business credit. The general business tax credit encompasses a range of different credits that are accessible to businesses.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses play a crucial role in the U.S. economy, accounting for approximately 44% of the country’s economic activity. They serve as a significant driving force behind the nation’s economic vitality.

To foster the expansion of the crucial small business sector, the IRS offers certain tax credits tailored for small business owners. Before you consider taking advantage of these tax incentives, make sure to conduct thorough research and consider seeking guidance from tax professionals like 800tax.com specializing in small business tax planning.

12 Small Business Tax Credits You Should Know About

Let’s tale a look at some of the most common small business tax credits, most of which fall under the general business tax credit.

1. Credit for Increasing Research Activities

For businesses involved in research and development activities, R&D tax credits can be a significant opportunity for savings. More importantly, these credits incentivize innovation and technological advancements.

To maximize R&D tax credits, ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria, which often include conducting qualified research activities that involve the following:

Development of new products
Software development
Enhancing product efficiency
Improving the quality of control processes.

The credit is generally calculated as a percentage of the QREs. The specific percentage can vary depending on various factors, including the nature of the research activities, the business size, and whether the research is conducted in collaboration with a qualified research consortium or educational institution.

In addition, small businesses can carry the unused research credits forward to future tax years to offset future tax bills.

2. Work Opportunity Credit

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) aims to encourage businesses to hire employees from targeted groups that face significant barriers to employment. It encourages small businesses to hire individuals who may have difficulty finding employment, such as:

Veterans
Ex-felons
Long-term unemployment recipients
Individuals receiving certain government assistance (supplemental security income)

To make the most of WOTC, familiarize yourself with the qualifying criteria and ensure proper documentation of employee eligibility. What you need to accomplish may include completing the necessary paperwork, such as the IRS Form 8850, and submitting it within the required timeframes.

3. Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums

Small businesses that offer health insurance coverage to their employees may qualify for this well-known small business health care tax credit. The purpose of this credit is to ease the financial strain of providing healthcare benefits

To be eligible for the small business healthcare credit, the business must meet the following criteria:

Small employer status: The business must have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) for the tax year. FTEs are calculated by considering both full-time and part-time employees’ total hours worked.
Average annual wages: The average annual wages paid to employees must be less than a specified threshold. For the credit, wages include salaries, tips, and other compensation subject to federal minimum wage withholding.
Health insurance coverage: The business must contribute to at least half the premium costs for employee health insurance premiums through a qualified health plan offered on the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace.

4. Employee Retention Credit

The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) is a tax credit designed to encourage small business owners to retain and continue paying their employees during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides financial assistance to eligible employers who have experienced significant disruptions in their operations or have faced substantial declines in revenue.

To qualify for the ERC, the business must be operational during the calendar year in which the credit is claimed. Additionally, it should face a complete or partial suspension of operations due to government orders or encountered a significant decline in gross receipts.

However, one important point to remember is that the business must have had an average of 500 or fewer full-time employees in 2019 (or, for 2021 and 2022, 500 or fewer employees per quarter).

5. Disabled Access Credit

This tax credit is available to small businesses that incur expenses related to making their establishments more accessible to individuals with disabilities. This tax credit helps encourage businesses to remove barriers and create an inclusive environment for disabled individuals.

To be eligible for the Disabled Access Credit, a business must have had gross receipts of $1 million or less in the previous tax year, or employed no more than 30 full-time employees.

Additionally, the business must have incurred expenses to provide access to disabled individuals in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other applicable accessibility standards.

6. Energy-Efficiency Tax Credit

As businesses increasingly embrace sustainability and energy efficiency, energy-efficient tax credits provide an additional incentive to invest in eco-friendly upgrades. These credits reward businesses for making energy-efficient improvements to their buildings, equipment, and vehicles.

To qualify for energy-efficient tax credits, identify eligible energy-efficient upgrades and investments, such as installing energy-efficient lighting systems, upgrading insulation, or purchasing energy-efficient vehicles.

By embracing energy efficiency, you not only contribute to environmental conservation but also unlock potential tax incentives for your small business.

7. Employer Credit for Paid Family and Medical Leave

This tax credit is available to small business owners who offer paid leave to their employees for family and medical reasons. This credit is designed to incentivize employers to provide paid leave benefits for employees who have a health emergency, given birth, or other reasons covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

To qualify for the credit, employers must have a written policy in place that provides at least two weeks of paid family and medical leave annually to eligible employees.

The credit is calculated as a percentage of the wages an employer pays employees during their leave period. The credit rate ranges from 12.5% to 25% of the wages paid, depending on the percentage of the employee’s regular wages that are replaced during the leave.

Employers can claim the credit on their annual federal tax return using form 8994 and receive the IRS check before the next tax season. This tax credit falls under the category of general business tax credits, allowing application toward regular income tax and alternative minimum tax liabilities.

8. Credit for Employer-Provided Childcare Facilities

This tax credit supports businesses that offer and uphold qualified childcare facilities for their employees’ children. If your business covers employees’ childcare expenses or provides childcare services through a contract with a qualified childcare facility, then you might qualify for this credit.

To be considered a qualified childcare facility, the establishment must comply with applicable state and local laws and regulations governing childcare services. It should provide a safe and appropriate environment for children, meet licensing or certification requirements, and offer age-appropriate educational and developmental activities.

The credit is equal to a percentage of the qualified expenses incurred by the employer. The specific percentage varies depending on the total qualified expenses and the number of children served by the facility.

Please note that this tax credit should not be confused with the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), which is a personal tax credit. Unlike the CDCTC, the Credit for Employer-Provided Childcare Facilities and Services does not have a maximum tax credit limit per child.

9. Alternative Motor Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Credits

If you use alternative fuels to run your small business or use vehicles that are classified as alternative fuel vehicles or electric vehicles, you can also benefit from small business tax credits.

There are several tax credits related to the use of alternative energy. Small businesses that meet the criteria can claim tax credits under any of the following categories:

Alternative motor vehicle credit
Alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit
Biodiesel and renewable diesel fuel credit
Qualified electric vehicle credit

To claim this credit, you will need to complete the appropriate tax form for the specific tax credit that your small business qualifies for. Each of the alternative energy credits mentioned above has its respective tax form number.

For more information, you can visit the official website of the Department of Energy.

10. Credit for Employer Social Security and Medicare Taxes Paid on Employee Tips

In the United States, employers are responsible for paying Social Security and Medicare taxes on behalf of their employees. These taxes are calculated based on the employee’s wages, including any tips they receive.

Small businesses that operate in the food and beverage industry, where tipping is customary, such as restaurants and bars, can claim this tax credit as long as the employer pays a portion of the social security taxes and Medicare payroll taxes on allocated tips.

11. Credit for Small Employer Pension Plan Startup Costs and Auto-Enrollment

This federal tax credit available to small businesses should help them establish a new retirement plan for their employees. This credit encourages employers to offer retirement benefits to their workforce.

The tax credit helps offset the costs associated with setting up and administering a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or simple IRA plan. It also provides additional credit for implementing automatic enrollment features in the plan.

To be eligible for this credit, the employer must meet these specific requirements:

The business must have 100 or fewer employees who received at least $5,000 in compensation during the preceding year.
The employer must establish a new qualifying retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or SIMPLE IRA plan. The plan must meet specific criteria set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

These startup costs can include expenses for plan administration, employee education, and necessary documentation. The credit is equal to the greater of $500, or 50% of the eligible startup costs, up to a maximum credit of $250 per eligible employee.

Note that if you collect this tax credit, you cannot take a tax deduction for the retirement plan’s administrative and education costs. Nevertheless, these credits often present more advantages than tax deductions.

12. New Markets Credit

The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) is a federal tax credit program aimed at attracting private investment into low-income communities and economically distressed areas in the United States. It encourages private investors to provide capital to businesses and projects located in these areas by offering them tax incentives.

The program is administered by the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund under the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The New Markets Credit can be used to finance a wide range of projects, such as:

The development of commercial real estate
Building educational and health facilities
Manufacturing community facilities that provide services to underserved individuals

The projects should positively impact the low-income community. These revitalization efforts include job creation or improved access to goods and services.

Businesses interested in accessing the NMTC should consult with tax professionals or financial institutions. These professionals have experience in dealing with this type of credit. This is recommended due to the complexity involved in the application and qualification process.

How to Apply for Small Business Tax Credits

So you now have a better understanding of all the credits a small business can apply for. Now let’s take a look at how you can apply for these credits.

Identify Eligible Tax Credits: Research and identify the small business tax credits for which the IRS qualifies your small business. Research what credits apply to your industry, activities, hiring practices, or investment in certain areas like research and development or energy efficiency.
Gather Required Information: Collect the necessary information to support your tax credit application. This may include financial records, payroll data, expense details, and any other documentation specific to the one you are applying for.
Understand Eligibility Criteria: Thoroughly review the eligibility criteria for each tax credit to ensure your business meets the requirements. Pay close attention to factors such as business size, employee count, industry restrictions, and compliance with applicable regulations.
Complete Relevant Forms: For each tax credit, locate and complete the appropriate IRS forms or state-specific forms if applicable.
Attach Supporting Documents: Make sure your application comes with supporting documents such as invoices, receipts, employment records, certifications. These documents validate your eligibility and the expenses or activities claimed.
Review and Verify: Before submitting your application, carefully review all forms and documents to ensure accuracy and consistency.
Submit the Application: Submit your application to the relevant tax authority. They’re usually the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for federal government tax credits or your state and local government’s tax authority for state-specific credits.

For Business Owners with Multiple Small Businesses

Perhaps you own multiple small businesses and happen to be eligible for more than one small business tax credit. Then you must fill out IRS Form 3800 for the general business tax credit. The form provides a list of all the small business tax credits for which your company may be eligible.

Alternatively, only one of your businesses meets the criteria to claim a small business tax credit. Then you only need to submit the form meant for that specific tax credit. Each tax credit has its form. Adding up each tax credit is how you get the total value of your tax credits. You can find all the forms for various specific tax credits here.

Maximizing Benefits from Tax Credits

To maximize the benefits of tax credits, here are a few strategies you can consider:

Consult With a Tax Professional: Tax laws and regulations can be complex. And it can be challenging to navigate the intricacies of tax credits on your own. Consider consulting with a tax professional or accountant who specializes in tax credits.
Keep Meticulous Records: Proper record-keeping is crucial when it comes to small business tax credits. Maintain detailed documentation and receipts that support your eligibility for each tax credit. These documents will be critical when filing your tax returns and may be subject to scrutiny during an audit.
Plan Strategically: Timing can play a crucial role in maximizing credits. Some credits have specific deadlines or are only available for a limited time. Remember to plan your purchases, investments, or hiring. That way, they align with the timing requirements of the credits.
Coordinate With Other Tax Incentives: These credits often work in conjunction with other tax incentives, such as deductions or exemptions. Understand how different tax provisions interact with each other and plan your financial decisions accordingly.
Stay Informed and Updated: Tax laws and regulations are always subject to change. Stay informed about any modifications or updates to the tax credit programs that may affect you.

Final Words

To fully capitalize on tax credits, small businesses should conduct thorough research. Most importantly, they must consult tax professionals and stay updated on legislative changes. Incorporating tax credits into your overall tax planning helps your small business optimize your benefits and ensure long-term financial success.

Understanding and effectively utilizing tax credits for small businesses can lead to reduced tax burdens. In turn, your small business can increase its financial resources and gain a competitive advantage in the market.

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