As we always advise, small business owners should seek advice regarding taxes and finance from a trusted business, tax, or financial professional. This year, that advice is especially important. Why? Because last year’s tax legislation begins to have an impact on your taxes for the first time this year (in 2018). The increased deductions most small businesses will see will start showing up on the federal income tax return you file in 2019. Here are some things the IRS would like you to know. (Also, see the bottom of this page for a collection of IRS services we’ve posted.)


Eligible taxpayers may deduct up to 20 percent of certain business income from domestic businesses operated as…

  • Sole proprietorships
  • Partnerships
  • S corporations
  • Trusts
  • Estates
  • Certain dividends

 

Things business owners should know about the 20 percent deduction

  • The deduction applies to qualified:– Business income
    – Real estate investment trust dividends
    – Publicly traded partnership income
  • Qualified business income is the net amount of qualified items of income, gain, deduction and loss connected to a qualified U.S. trade or business. Only items included in taxable income are counted.
  • The deduction is available to eligible taxpayers, whether they itemize their deductions on Schedule A or take the standard deduction.
  • The deduction is generally equal to the lesser of these two amounts:– Twenty percent of qualified business income plus 20 percent of qualified real estate investment trust dividends and qualified publicly traded partnership income.
    – Twenty percent of taxable income computed before the qualified business income deduction minus net capital gains.
  • For taxpayers with taxable income computed before the qualified business income deduction that exceeds $315,000 for a married couple filing a joint return, or $157,500 for all other taxpayers, the deduction may be subject to additional limitations or exceptions. These are based on the type of trade or business, the taxpayer’s taxable income, the amount of W-2 wages paid by the qualified trade or business, and the unadjusted basis immediately after acquisition of qualified property held by the trade or business.
  • Income earned through a C corporation or by providing services as an employee is not eligible for the deduction.
  • Taxpayers may rely on the rules in the proposed regulations until final regulations appear in the Federal Register.

 

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