Small Business & Estate Tax Planning

You’ve worked hard to establish your business and build a secure future for your family. Your business is likely the most valuable asset in your estate. The many issues involved in passing on this asset can be resolved with an effective estate plan. Unfortunately, many statistics show that family-owned businesses don’t survive the first generation. Consider developing an estate plan that will allow you to protect your assets and make sure you control how they will be distributed.

There are three general concerns that all business owners should take into account when they develop their estate plan:

• Who will take over the business when you die? It’s important to develop a
succession plan that controls taxes on the new management and makes sure they are
ready to take over.

• Who should inherit your business? This may not be an asset you want to split
equally among your children. Do those active in the business deserve a greater share? Will those not active see any value from the business? Or, maybe all your children deserve an equal share of the business. Now is the time to make this decision.

• How will the IRS value your company? Since family owned businesses are not
publicly traded, you need the help of a professional business valuation to determine the exact value of the company. Without this, the value of the business for estate tax
purposes is often determined only after a long battle with the IRS. Planning ahead will help ensure your estate has enough liquidity to pay estate taxes and provide support for your heirs.

Here are just a few strategies that can help business owners protect their assets and develop a strong estate plan.

• Buy-Sell Agreement – This agreement spells out in detail how the business will be
dispersed among surviving partners or family members as well as indicating a dollar
value for the business. A well-drafted agreement can solve several estate planning
problems and can help ensure survival of the business.

• Gifting the Family Business – The key to controlling estate taxes is to limit the
amount of increase in the value of your estate over the years. One way to do this is to
give assets to family members today so when the assets increase in value the increase is not part of your estate. There are some pitfalls, however, and you should work closely with your financial professionals – attorney, accountant, insurance
representative – to make sure this is a viable option.

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Alleviate Tax Audit Anxiety

Internal Revenue Service tax audits can be complicated and time-consuming, but the right tax preparation can make them less stressful. Taxpayers facing an audit should remember these five things:

1. Seek Professional Help

Upon receiving an IRS audit notification, taxpayers should meet with their tax professional to discuss what the audit notification means, what is being requested and what records are needed.
2. Seek Representation

Correspondence audits are handled via mail, field audits have auditors visit a home or business in question, and office audits require taxpayers to report to an IRS office. Depending on the type of audit and individual situation, taxpayers may represent themselves or seek assistance from a certified public accountant, lawyer or enrolled agent. Enrolled agents are federally authorized tax practitioners empowered to represent taxpayers before the IRS.

3. Organize

Ideally, taxpayers should keep complete, organized financial records for the past seven years. Gather all receipts, checks and other records relevant to the audit. Be thorough; having the records the IRS requests readily available will help the audit go more smoothly.

4. Be Concise

Taxpayers should only give the auditor copies of documents the IRS specifically requests and answer all questions honestly. Do not volunteer information that is not requested.

5. Appeal

If taxpayers disagree with auditors’ findings, they can file an appeal with the IRS. Appeal options include meeting with the auditor’s supervisor, or filing an administrative appeal to the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Claims Court or the local U.S. District Court.
Of course, the best audit is the one that doesn’t happen. To lessen the likelihood of being audited, taxpayers should report all income and only claim credits and deductions they are entitled.

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