Free From Broke

A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks

Business

How the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 Can Help You Save with Your Business

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For many small business owners, being able to find every advantage is important — especially during tough economic times.

What many small business owners don’t realize, though, is that there are some provisions that help them save with their businesses.

The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 provides you some opportunities to reduce your tax liability, saving money for your business.

If you qualify for the provisions in this law, the money you save can be used to go back into your business, helping you grow.  Plus, the tax breaks can help you stay afloat when you are struggling.

Here are some of the ways the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 can help your business:

Treating Section 179 Property as an Expense

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What Business Expenses are Tax Deductible?

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When it comes to reducing business income for tax purposes, the tax deduction is one of the most popular methods.

You can deduct some of the money you spend on business and lower your taxable income.

However, it’s important that you understand what makes an expense tax deductible for business purposes.  Otherwise, you could find yourself red-flagged by the IRS.

But What Business Expenses are Tax Deductible?

Ordinary and Necessary Expenses

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Is Your High Power Job Worth the Sacrifice?

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Many students go to college and pursue known money-making degrees—engineering, computer science, and business among a few of them.

They may pursue these career tracks because they are truly interested in the field, or they may choose them because they want to be financially comfortable during their lifetimes and they know that a lowly English major, while pursuing her passion, will never be rich.  (Ask me how I know.)

Follow these individuals 20 years later when they have achieved a great deal of financial success, and you may find them less delighted with both their lives and their chosen career paths.

A High Power Corporate Job Isn’t All It Seems

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Obama Proposed Corporate Tax Reform – Cut Tax Rate But Seal Up Loopholes

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It’s yet another example of something that most lawmakers agree on yet it most likely will not get done.  Washington gridlock is alive and well even when there is no disagreement on the core issue.

That is the main problem with the corporate tax.

Currently, American corporations pay a 35% tax rate, higher than any other advanced country and most lawmakers, tax experts and, of course, corporate CEOs believe that this is too high.

Because of that, President Obama proposed lowering the tax rate to 28% in an attempt to make America a more corporate friendly place to do business.

The chances of this issue gaining enough traction to get through Congress is essentially none.

Here’s why. [Read more…] about Obama Proposed Corporate Tax Reform – Cut Tax Rate But Seal Up Loopholes

What is Self-Employment Tax?

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When you work as someone who is self-employed, one of the costs of doing business is paying the self-employment tax. As you get ready to pay your taxes, don’t forget that you will need to add the self-employment tax.

What is the Self-Employment Tax, and Who Must Pay It?

The self-employment tax encompasses Medicare and Social Security taxes.  For those who are more traditionally employed, these taxes are automatically taken out of the paycheck.  The employer pays a portion of the tax, and the employee pays a portion.

Note that as a self-employed person, you will be responsible for the entire tax on your own — both the employer portion and the employee portion.
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