As with so many things in life, some of the same qualities that help small businesses succeed can also lead to their demise. Fortunately, much of that risk can be lessened through operational excellence.

For example, the owners and managers of small businesses often know each other before they go into business together. Sometimes, they’re even related. Preexisting relationships can help propel small businesses forward, especially when there are high levels of trust and competence.

Unfortunately, however, familiarity is sometimes accompanied by a lax attitude toward operational formalities. Owners and managers may skimp in critical areas such as:

• Governing documents such as articles of incorporation, partnership agreements, and bylaws;
• Solid or regular auditing and accounting practices; and
• Shareholder meetings and minutes.

In worst-case scenarios, business and personal funds are commingled or used for improper purposes.

The good news is that if you are just starting out, it is easy to avoid all of these issues and the accompanying potential for lawsuits and tax problems. As your Family Business Lawyer®, we can provide trusted advice and help position a small business in the most favorable circumstances for that unique business.

Here are some examples of the services a trusted legal advisor can provide:

• Assistance in identifying recordkeeping products and in establishing high quality recordkeeping practices;
• Helping owners understand the potential consequences of a lack of proper documentation;
• Ensuring that clients know the deadlines for business and tax filings; and
• Explaining the importance of keeping personal and business finances separate.

Perhaps most importantly, a skilled business lawyer can help you structure your operational strategies properly. This can be invaluable in helping your business avoid pitfalls and liabilities along the path toward success. We like to begin with getting to know your whole business, not just the legal side; but, also truly understanding your revenue model, how it serves your life, your team, and your clients. Then, we can advise you on the best strategies for a business that meets not just your business objectives but serves your life as well.

Schedule your LIFT Strategy Session with us today to get started!

This article is a service of Sahmra A. Stevenson, Family Business Lawyer®. We offer a complete spectrum of legal services for businesses and can help you structure your operations for success. One of our primary services is a LIFT Start-Up Session,™ in which we guide you through the right choice of business entity, location of business entity, start-up agreements, intellectual property protection, employment structuring, insurance, financial and tax systems you need to start your next business and succeed right out of the gate.  This session is normally $5,000, but if you are one of the first three people to schedule, we’ll take you through the entire LIFT Start-Up™ process for half that investment. Call us today to schedule a time to have a conversation!

When you hear the words, “trust fund,” do you conjure up images of stately mansions and party yachts? A trust fund – or trust – is actually a great estate planning tool for many people with a wide range of incomes who want to accomplish a specific purpose with their money.

Simply put, a trust is just a vehicle used to transfer assets, and trusts are especially useful for parents of minor children as well as those who wish to spare their beneficiaries the hassle of going to Court in the event of their incapacity or death.

And why would you want to keep your family out of court (known as avoiding probate)?

Perhaps you’d like to keep private the details of the assets you are leaving your heirs. Leaving assets via a will that must go through probate to go into effect makes your estate a matter of public record. A trust is a private document and distributes assets upon your death without the need for probate, which can tie up assets for a long period of time in court.

The court process can take longer than is necessary and keep your family from getting access to your assets as quickly as they want or need them.

If you have minor children, you need to create a trust in order to leave your assets to them since minors cannot inherit directly. You will want to name a trustee to manage those assets for your children. Even if your children are adults, a trust can help protect assets you leave for them from creditors, legal judgments, divorce, or even their poor money management habits.

You can even establish a trust for yourself in case you become incapacitated and cannot manage your own finances at some future time. The trust assets are managed by a successor trustee, which avoids the need for a court-appointed conservator if you become incapacitated.

Trusts are also wonderful tools for those who are members of a blended family. If you are remarried and have children from a previous marriage, you can provide for your current spouse while ensuring your assets pass to your children from another marriage using a by-pass trust.

With this kind of trust, the assets will pass to your children free of estate tax upon the death of your surviving spouse.

As you can see, there are many reasons to create a trust, and being rich isn’t necessarily one of them. You can learn more about how a trust might benefit you or your family by scheduling a Family Wealth Planning Session™, where we can identify the best strategies that are unique to you and your family.

This article is a service of Sahmra A. Stevenson, Personal Family Lawyer®. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That’s why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session, ™ during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before, and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $450 session at no charge.

On September 13, 2021, Democrats in the House of Representatives released a new $3.5 trillion proposed spending plan that includes a buffet of changes to federal tax laws. Specifically, some significant tax increases and other changes to fund the plan, including increases to personal income tax rates and the capital gains tax rate (tax on investment income), along with significantly lowering the federal estate and gift tax exclusion and new restrictions on qualified business income (QBI) deductions.

The proposed legislation is still being  considered and far from being finalized. Seeing  as how  the impact of these changes will affect everyone and their cousin, we strongly encourage you to take action now. The capital gains rate increase, could  go into effect on transactions that occur on or after Sept. 13, 2021. Most of the other proposed changes would be effective after December 31, 2021, meaning that you have time to plan now.

It takes time to plan and execute some of the financial and estate planning options.  If you get a move on it sooner than later. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to take the appropriate action before the end of the year. With that in mind, below are the ways the proposed tax law changes stand to affect your business as well as your personal financial, tax, and estate planning, so you can contact us if you would be impacted if the bill does pass. 

1. Increase in Individual Income Tax Rates

Proposed changes: Under the proposed legislation, the top personal income tax rate would increase from 37% to 39.6% for married individuals filing jointly with taxable income over $450,000; single taxpayers with taxable income over $400,000; and married individuals filing separate returns with income over $225,000. Yikes, definitely try to avoid filing married filing single. Additionally, this increase would also apply to trusts and estates with taxable income over $12,500.

The bill would also create a new 3% surcharge (an extra tax) on individuals with modified adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeding $5 million (or $2.5 million for married individuals filing separately) as well as on trusts with AGI greater than $100,000.

Additionally, the net investment income tax (NIIT) (an additional 3.8%  tax on investment income) would be extended to affect  net investment income earned in the ordinary course of a trade or business (meaning not just for investment income) for individuals with taxable income of greater than $400,000 for individuals or $500,000 for those filing jointly, as well as for trusts and estates. The NIIT tax does not apply to earnings already subject to FICA tax.

These proposed changes are set to be effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2021.

Potential planning solutions: Since these increases will apply to taxable years beginning in 2022, we suggest you earn as much as you can this year and consider pushing deductions into next year, while you can still take advantage of historically low tax rates. Keep in mind that if you have a high income and decide to put off planning, you may pay much more in income taxes because of the 3% surcharge on high income and the 3.8% NIIT that will now apply to active business income for high incomes.

Why is this important to estate planning? The increase in personal income tax rates, along with the new 3% surcharge and changes to the NIIT is important to estate planning, because the highest tax rate applied  to individuals of high net worth  is now being applied to estates and trusts with taxable income over just $12,500. Given these changes, it may be worth accelerating income (taking income now where possible) for estate and trusts in 2021, while rates are lower.

For so-called “complex” or “non-grantor trusts” that pay their own income tax, distributions may pass on  income to the beneficiary in order to be taxed at a lower rate. That said, the benefits of a possibly lower tax rate should be compared to  the impact of an outright distribution of funds to a beneficiary and the inclusion of those funds in the beneficiary’s estate if the distributed funds are not spent. For example, would an outright distribution negatively impact a beneficiary with poor money-management skills or issues with substance abuse?

If you will earn more than these income limits this year, meet with your Family Business Lawyer® as soon as possible to discuss a plan to adapt your financial and estate planning to offset the impact of these changes.

2. Increase In Corporate Tax Rates
Proposed changes: The new bill would revert the current flat corporate tax rate of 21% to the pre-2017 system of graduated corporate taxes as follows: The bill increases the top corporate tax rate from 21% to 26.5% for C Corporations earning in excess of $5 million, but it would reduce the lowest rate to 18% for C Corporations with income less than $400,000. For Corporations earning between $400,000 and $5 million, the rate remains unchanged at 21%.One notable exception—under the bill,corporations that are taxed as personal service corporations are not eligible for the graduated rates and instead are subject to a flat rate of 26.5%. Additionally, the bill would increase the minimum tax rate on overseas corporate income from 10.5% to roughly 16.5%. It also reduces the percentage of foreign income that can be excluded from the minimum tax to 5% from 10%.

These tax changes are proposed to be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021.

Potential planning solutions: If you have a C Corporation, contact us now to coordinate your planning with your CPA before the end of 2021.

3. Restrictions On Section 199A Qualified Business Income Deduction

Proposed changes: The bill would add a cap to the 20% deduction for qualified business income (QBI) under Section 199A, which would limit the maximum deduction to $400,000 for individuals, $500,000 for joint returns, $250,000 for a married individual filing separately, and to a mere $10,000 for a trust or estate.

This change will apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2021.

Potential planning solutions: This restriction will seriously limit 199A deductions for high-income taxpayers. And the cap amount for trusts and estates is particularly severe, and it will effectively eliminate the benefit for trust-owned real estate and other trust-owned qualifying business assets. Given this, you must consider what happens when evaluating gifts to trusts of real estate, rental property, or other business assets that would qualify for 199A deduction for QBI, since those assets will now be subject to the harsh $10,000 limitation.

Reach out to us, your Family Business Lawyer™ to find out the best ways to offset the negative impact this change stands to have on your business and/or estate.

4. Increase in Capital Gains Tax Rates
Proposed changes: The new bill would increase the long-term capital gains tax rate from 20% to 25% on individuals with taxable income over $400,000. The increase is set to be effective for the tax year ending after September 13, 2021, and it also applies to qualified dividends. However, the bill includes a transition rule that provides that any transactions completed on or before September 13, 2021—or subject to a binding written contract entered into on or before September 13, 2021 (even if the transaction closes after September 13)—are subject to the prior 20% tax rate.

Any capital gains recognized after September 13, 2021, would be subject to the new 25% rate. So, for example, if you entered into a contract to sell your business in May 2021, and the sale closes in November 2021 and exceeds your exemption, your transaction would be subject to the 20% rate. However, if the bill passes, and you enter into a contract after September 13, your tax rate will be 25%. This applies equally to sales of appreciated stock and other investments.

Potential planning solutions: While it may seem that it’s too late to do anything about your capital gains on sales at this point, it’s not, but it will require planning. This means if you are selling any assets this year that will result in significant capital gains tax to pay, contact us now to discuss your options. Once the sale happens, it’s too late. Don’t wait.

5. Restrictions On The Use Of Business Losses

Proposed changes: The bill would permanently disallow “excess business losses” (net business deductions in excess of business income) for noncorporate taxpayers. Under current law, the IRS limits pass-through business net losses which can offset non-business income to $250,000 for individuals or $500,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly. In light of this change, you will no longer be able to offset losses from one business with losses/gains from another business.

That said, the bill would allow taxpayers whose losses are disallowed to carry those losses forward to the next tax year. This change will apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2021.

Potential planning solutions: Contact us now to coordinate your tax planning with your CPA before the end of 2021.

6. Reduction in Estate and Gift Tax Exclusion

Proposed changes: The bill would dramatically reduce the federal estate and gift tax exclusion from its current level of $11.7 million for individuals and $23.4 million for married couples to its 2010 level of $5 million per individual, adjusted for inflation, which would bring the estate and gift tax “coupon” to roughly $6 million.

The proposed reduction would apply to estates of decedents who die or make gifts after December 31, 2021. This reduction would expose estates and gifts above the exclusion amount to a 40% federal estate tax.  

Potential planning solutions: In light of the proposed reduction, individuals with assets in excess of $6 million (including life insurance) should take a “use it or lose it” approach to gifting, and make any gifts before the end of the year to qualify for the higher exclusion rate. That said, some families should consider making such gifts before the legislation is officially passed due to the changes to Grantor Trusts and other estate planning strategies described below. If your estate is already over the $6 million exemption, or you expect it to be in the future, contact us now. Again, do not wait.

7. Tax Savings For S Corporations That Convert to Partnerships

Proposed changes: Not every change proposed by the new legislation is negative, and this is one of them. This provision would allow S-Corporations that elected S-Corp status prior to May 13, 1996 to convert tax-free to a partnership at any time in the two years following passage of the bill. Under the current law, such a move would result in a deemed taxable sale of all of the S-Corporation’s assets at the time of conversion.

Potential planning solutions: If you own shares in an S-Corp, this could be a great opportunity. S-Corps can typically convert tax-free to a C Corporation, but C Corporations don’t offer the level of flexibility in regards to the distribution and allocation of income compared to entities taxed as a partnership. If you are looking for greater flexibility in this regard and want to take advantage of the new tax savings provided by this provision, contact your Family Business Lawyer™ today for support and guidance on making such a conversion.

8. New Restrictions On Grantor Trusts

Proposed changes: The new bill targets Grantor Trusts and would effectively shut them down as planning vehicles. Currently, a Grantor Trust is a trust that can be considered separate and apart from the Grantor (individual who creates the trust) and contributor to the trust for estate tax purposes, but be considered as owned by the grantor for income tax purposes.

Since the grantor is considered the owner of the trust for income tax purposes, transactions between the trust and the grantor are “disregarded,” meaning that assets can be sold or exchanged with the trust, without triggering any income tax consequences. However, that same trust can be used to move assets outside of your estate for estate tax purposes, freezing the value of those assets at their current value, such that when you die any appreciation in the value of those assets is not taxed for estate tax purposes, saving your family 40% or more.

The new bill provides that any Grantor Trust created on or after the date of the legislation’s enactment will now be included in your estate for estate tax purposes. Distributions from Grantor Trusts (other than to the grantor or the grantor’s spouse) would be treated as gifts made by the grantor, and therefore subject to the gift tax exemption. If the bill is enacted and Grantor Trust ceases to be treated as such during the grantor’s life, the grantor would be deemed to make a gift of the trust assets, and sales of assets between a grantor and the Grantor Trust would no longer be disregarded for income tax purposes.

The good news is that under the new bill Grantor Trusts established and funded before the enactment of the new law would be “grandfathered” in, as would promissory notes that are in place at the time of the law’s enactment.

Potential planning solutions: Contact us if your assets are above the proposed estate tax exemption amount of approximately $6 million, or you anticipate they will be, so we can move some of your assets outside of your estate this year.

9. Impact To Discounts & Other Estate Planning Vehicles

Proposed changes: The bill would not only affect the use of Grantor Trusts, but it would also eliminate valuation discounts, unless the asset gifted or sold is an “active trade or business.” Moreover, depending upon how the legislation is applied and interpreted, the new bill may also prevent planners from being able to use irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs)—at least to some degree (more about ILITs below)—as well as Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs), Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRTs), and Grantor Charitable Lead Annuity Trusts (CLATs).

Irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs) are among the most commonly used irrevocable trusts for estate planning, and since most ILITs have traditionally been structured as Grantor Trusts, these trusts will be largely undermined by the new bill. Since the trust would be included in your estate, new ILITs will no longer be feasible. As a workaround, new ILITs may need to be structured as non-Grantor Trusts to avoid estate inclusion.

However, this structure will create an array of problems. First, it will require the trust to expressly prohibit trust income from being used to pay life insurance premiums on your life as the creator of the trust. Second, for those existing trusts that are grandfathered in, no new gifts should be made to the ILIT, or a portion of the trust assets (including life insurance proceeds) will also be included in your estate.

Potential planning solutions: If your estate plan includes any of these trusts or planning strategies,contact us right away for guidance in amending your estate plan to offset the impact of these changes.

As we approach the end of 2021, if your business or personal finances stand to be impacted by any of these changes, it’s imperative that you take action as quickly as possible to ensure that whatever actions need to be taken can be planned and executed before the end of the year. Not only that, but given the number of proposed changes that are coming, financial advisors and estate planners are sure to be extremely busy in the coming months.

Given this, don’t wait to schedule an appointment with us, your Family Business Lawyer™. The sooner you meet with us, the sooner we can make certain that you can amend your planning strategies accordingly to minimize the impacts of this new bill on your business and personal finances as well as your estate planning.

This article is a service of S.A. Stevenson Law Offices, LLC. We offer a complete spectrum of legal services for businesses and can help you make the wisest choices on how to deal with your business throughout life and in the event of your death. Call us today to schedule.

One of the biggest benefits of running a family business is being able to employ your minor children. By hiring your kids, you have the opportunity to teach them the value of hard work, give them experience managing money, and support them to save for their future.

In return, you get employees who have a built-in sense of commitment, teamwork, and loyalty that can’t be found anywhere else. This sense of loyalty and dedication is why so many business owners like to claim that their team is “just like family.”

On top of that, employing your minor children also comes with some substantial tax-saving benefits. And with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2017, those benefits are now better than ever.

Earn Up to $12,000 Tax Free

Starting in 2018, the TCJA practically doubled the standard deduction, which increased from $6,300 to $12,000. This means your children will pay zero federal income tax on anything they earn up to $12,000. This alone can save you thousands each year.

And even if your kids do earn more than $12,000 for the year, they will pay taxes at the reduced rates established by the TCJA, so they’ll still be reducing your family’s tax bill. Plus, you can deduct their salaries as a business expense, reducing your taxable income even further.

But there are even more savings to be had. Depending on your business structure, you may be able to save serious money on your child’s payroll taxes, too.

Payroll Tax Exemption

If your business is a sole proprietorship, a married couple partnership, a single-member LLC taxed as a sole proprietorship, or an LLC taxed as a married couple partnership, you might not be required to withhold or pay any Social Security and Medicare tax (FICA) or federal unemployment tax (FUTA) on your kid’s wages.

This payroll tax exemption applies to parents who employ their children for either part-time or full-time work. The FICA exemption covers those kids under age 18, while the FUTA exemption lasts until they reach 21. This exemption can be used to shift some of the income from your own tax rate to your child’s rate, which is most likely significantly lower than yours.

Alternatives For Corporations

If your business is set up as an S or C corporation, you don’t qualify for the payroll tax exemption. However, there are ways to get around this restriction by using some creative—yet totally legal—tax strategies.

For example, instead of paying your kids directly from your corporation, you can create a family management company and pay them from that business. By setting up this new company as a sole proprietorship separate from your primary business and paying your children from it, you won’t have to withhold payroll taxes.

If you own an S or C corporation, meet with us, as your Family Business Lawyer™, to learn more about such creative tax-saving strategies.

Remain In Compliance

With such significant savings on the table, it’s inevitable that some people will try to abuse these provisions by claiming the benefits without having their kids do any legitimate work, or by vastly inflating their wages. To prevent this, the IRS requires your children to meet a few criteria in order to qualify for these tax benefits:

• They must perform legitimate work appropriate to their age and skill set.
• Their work must exceed the normal household chores they already do.
• They must be paid the going rate for their services and not be over-compensated.
• Good records must be kept, including filing W-2s.
• Their services, work conditions, and hours must be in compliance with federal and state child-labor laws.

Consider that your children can get paid to be models in your advertising, stuff mailers for you, or when they are old enough, even learn how to field incoming phone calls for your business or manage your social media. With creativity, there is a vast array of work your children can do in your business.

If you employ your kids (or want to do so), meet with us to ensure you’re doing everything by the book, and your business isn’t in danger of attracting unwanted attention from the IRS.

Maximize Your Tax Savings

With these new benefits, there’s never been a better time to put your kids to work in the family business. That said, hiring your children is just one way you can reduce your yearly tax bill—there are numerous other tax-saving opportunities you might not be aware of. Consult us, your Family Business Lawyer™ to make sure you don’t miss out on a single one.

This article is a service of Sahmra A. Stevenson, Family Business Lawyer™. We offer a complete spectrum of legal services for businesses and can help you make the wisest choices on how to deal with your business throughout life and in the event of your death. We also offer a LIFT Start-Up Session™ or a LIFT Audit for an ongoing business, which includes a review of all the legal, financial, and tax systems you need for your business. Call us today to schedule.