Atlas Meridian Capital
Atlas Meridian Capital: Advanced Tax Planning | Primer for Business Owners
The team at Atlas Meridian Capital is messianic about improving our client's financial well-being. An essential component of which centers around optimizing investment and asset location choices to preserve capital for growth and reducing taxes wherever possible. Business owners have unique opportunities to maximize retained earnings.
In this comprehensive guide, we present integrated strategies for business owners to reduce tax liability, build wealth, and prepare for business transition. By leveraging specialized tax planning tools available to entrepreneurs, you can increase available capital, improve profitability, fund retirement, and support legacy goals through a coordinated approach that aligns your business structure, income strategy, and investment approach with long-term objectives. The following sections will explore entity selection, compensation planning, retirement strategies, income timing, asset protection, exit planning, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Choosing and Structuring Your Business Entity
The selection of your business entity represents one of the most consequential tax planning decisions you'll make as a business owner. Each structure carries distinct tax implications, liability considerations, and operational flexibility that will impact your overall financial strategy.
1
Sole Proprietorship / Single-Member LLC
The simplest business structure with pass-through taxation where business income flows directly to your personal tax return. While offering operational simplicity and minimal filing requirements, this structure lacks liability protection and subjects all business income to self-employment tax (15.3% on the first $168,600 in 2023, plus 2.9% Medicare tax on all earnings).
2
S Corporation
A strategic entity choice that allows owners to split income between reasonable salary (subject to payroll tax) and distributions (exempt from self-employment tax). This structure creates substantial tax savings for profitable businesses while maintaining pass-through taxation benefits.
Requires formal incorporation, adherence to specific ownership rules, and compliance with salary reasonableness standards.
3
C Corporation
Offers a flat 21% tax rate on corporate profits and unlimited ownership flexibility. Ideal for businesses retaining significant earnings for growth, qualifying for Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) treatment, or requiring reinvestment.
However, distributions are subject to double taxation, with dividends taxed at the shareholder level after corporate taxes have been paid.
Your entity selection should align with your business growth trajectory, personal financial goals, and expected operational needs. The optimal choice may evolve as your business matures, particularly as you approach major capital events or succession planning. When evaluating entity options, consider factors such as anticipated profitability, employee benefits, retirement plan objectives, and long-term exit strategy.

Entity selection is not a one-time decision. As your business grows and tax laws change, regular reassessment with qualified tax advisors can identify opportunities to optimize your structure for maximum tax efficiency.
Compensation and Income Planning
Strategic compensation planning represents a powerful tax-saving opportunity for business owners, particularly those operating as S Corporations. The key objective is to balance tax efficiency with compliance while maximizing your after-tax income.
Reasonable Salary Requirements
S Corporation owners must pay themselves a "reasonable salary" before taking tax-advantaged distributions. The IRS scrutinizes compensation that appears artificially low to avoid payroll taxes.
Document salary reasonableness using:
  • Industry compensation studies
  • Regional pay scales
  • Value of services you provide
  • Company size and profitability
  • Time devoted to the business
Tax-Advantaged Benefits
Implement comprehensive fringe benefit programs that are deductible business expenses but aren't subject to payroll taxes:
  • Health insurance and HSAs
  • Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs)
  • Qualified transportation benefits
  • Education assistance programs
  • Disability and life insurance
These company-provided benefits create significant tax savings compared to equivalent salary increases.
Accountable Plans
Establish formal accountable plans for business expense reimbursements, including home office, travel, and technology expenses. When structured properly, these reimbursements are tax-deductible for the business without creating taxable income for the owner, effectively converting personal expenses into business deductions.
Salary vs. Distribution Balance
For S Corporation owners, every $100,000 shifted from salary to qualified distributions can save approximately $15,300 in payroll taxes. However, reducing salary also decreases qualified retirement plan contribution limits, creating a strategic balancing decision.
The optimal balance between salary and distributions depends on your specific situation, including profitability, retirement contribution goals, and audit risk profile. Generally, as profitability increases, the tax advantage of proper S Corporation planning becomes more significant. Maintain thorough documentation of all compensation decisions to support your position in case of IRS examination.
Retirement Planning Integration
Business ownership creates unique retirement planning opportunities that far exceed traditional employee options. The integration of business and retirement planning allows entrepreneurs to significantly reduce current taxation while building substantial tax-advantaged wealth.
The optimal retirement plan structure depends on your business profitability, age, timeline to retirement, and whether you have employees. Higher-income business owners approaching retirement age generally benefit most from plans allowing maximum contributions. When evaluating retirement plans, consider both immediate tax benefits and long-term wealth accumulation. For business owners with variable income, establish multiple retirement vehicles that provide flexibility in contribution amounts based on annual profitability.
Annual Retirement Contribution Limits by Plan Type (2025)
SEP IRA
Simplest option allowing contributions up to 25% of compensation (maximum $69,000). Requires equal percentage contributions for all eligible employees.
Ideal for solo practitioners or small businesses with minimal employees seeking simplicity and flexibility.
Solo 401(k)
Permits higher contributions through dual contribution mechanisms: employee deferrals ($23,000 plus $7,500 catch-up if over 50) and employer contributions up to 25% of compensation.
Ideal for self-employed individuals with no employees (besides spouse) seeking maximum flexibility and loan provisions.
Defined Benefit Plan
Allows contributions exceeding $100,000 annually based on actuarial calculations of retirement income needs.
Ideal for high-income business owners age 50+ seeking maximum tax-advantaged retirement contributions. Requires annual funding commitments and higher administration costs, but provides unparalleled tax reduction.

Strategic combination of retirement plans can sometimes allow business owners to contribute well over $100,000 annually to tax-advantaged accounts. This approach creates immediate tax deductions while building significant wealth outside the business for long-term security.
Income and Expense Timing
Strategic timing of business income and expenses represents a powerful tax planning opportunity for business owners. By controlling when revenue is recognized and when deductions are taken, you can significantly influence your annual tax liability and optimize cash flow.
Accounting Method Selection
The foundation of income timing is your accounting method. Cash-basis accounting recognizes income when received and expenses when paid, providing maximum flexibility for year-end tax planning. Accrual-basis accounting recognizes income when earned and expenses when incurred, regardless of cash flow timing, and may be required for larger businesses or those with inventory.
Strategic Deferrals & Accelerations
For cash-basis businesses, defer year-end income by delaying December invoicing until January. Accelerate deductions by prepaying qualifying expenses like rent, insurance, or professional services (limited to 12 months of coverage). For accrual-basis businesses, manage accounts receivable timing and identify deductible expenses that can be documented before year-end.
Depreciation Optimization
Leverage Section 179 expensing (up to $1,160,000 in 2023) and bonus depreciation provisions to immediately deduct qualifying equipment purchases rather than depreciating them over multiple years. This creates large upfront deductions when purchasing vehicles, technology, furniture, and qualified improvement property.
Strategic timing is particularly valuable when you anticipate changing tax brackets, either due to business performance fluctuations or potential tax law changes. By shifting income between tax years, you can minimize exposure to higher marginal rates.
Inventory Accounting Methods
For businesses with inventory, cost accounting method selection can significantly impact reported profits and tax liability:
  • FIFO (First In, First Out) - Assumes oldest inventory items sold first; typically increases profits during inflation
  • LIFO (Last In, First Out) - Assumes newest inventory items sold first; typically provides tax advantages during inflationary periods
  • Specific Identification - Tracks exact cost of each item sold; allows strategic selection of which items to sell
Implementation Considerations
When implementing timing strategies, maintain proper documentation and ensure business decisions are driven primarily by legitimate business purposes rather than solely tax considerations. The IRS may challenge timing maneuvers that appear artificial or lack economic substance.
Work with your tax advisor to develop a year-end planning checklist that identifies specific actions to take in November and December to optimize your tax position before year-end.
Asset Protection, Gifting, and Trust Integration
Sophisticated business owners recognize that tax planning extends beyond annual income tax to include protection and transfer of business assets. A comprehensive approach integrates asset protection, lifetime gifting, and trust strategies to preserve and efficiently transfer business wealth.
Asset Protection Fundamentals
The first layer of asset protection typically involves proper business entity structuring, separating operational assets from valuable real estate or intellectual property using multiple entities. This creates liability firewalls between different business components and personal assets.
For businesses with multiple owners, well-drafted buy-sell agreements funded with adequate life and disability insurance protect both the business and family members in case of owner death or disability. These agreements prevent disruption while ensuring fair treatment of all stakeholders.
Strategic Gifting Approaches
Business interests often qualify for valuation discounts when transferred to family members, reflecting lack of control and marketability. These discounts, typically 15-40%, effectively increase the amount of wealth you can transfer without exceeding gift tax exemptions.
Annual exclusion gifts ($17,000 per recipient in 2023) allow steady transfer of business interests free of gift tax, while lifetime exemption gifts ($12.92 million in 2023) permit larger transfers. Consider accelerating gifting before potential exemption reductions in 2026.
Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGTs)
Allow you to sell business interests to a trust on an installment basis without triggering capital gains tax, while removing future appreciation from your estate. The trust's income is still taxed to you, effectively allowing additional tax-free gifts as you pay the trust's taxes.
Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs)
Permit transfer of business interests to an irrevocable trust for descendants while providing indirect access through your spouse as a beneficiary. This creates estate tax efficiency without completely surrendering access to transferred assets.
Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs)
Ideal for rapidly appreciating businesses, allowing you to transfer future growth to beneficiaries with minimal gift tax cost. You retain annuity payments for a specified term, with remaining assets passing to heirs free of additional transfer taxes.

Business interest transfers require professional valuation by qualified appraisers. The IRS frequently challenges business valuations that appear artificially low for transfer tax purposes. Invest in comprehensive appraisals that will withstand scrutiny.
The integration of asset protection with estate planning creates a comprehensive shield for your business wealth. While these strategies involve upfront costs, they can save millions in potential taxes and protect against creditors, lawsuits, and other threats to your business legacy.
Charitable Planning and Exit Optimization
Business exits represent both the culmination of entrepreneurial effort and a significant tax planning challenge. Thoughtful charitable integration can substantially reduce tax liability while furthering philanthropic goals. An integrated exit strategy should begin 3-5 years before any anticipated liquidity event.
1
Pre-Exit Value Enhancement
Before considering sale, implement strategic improvements to maximize business value, including strengthening management team, documenting processes, diversifying customer base, and cleaning up financial statements. Each dollar of increased value created through these improvements is effectively tax-free wealth accumulation.
2
Post-Sale Reinvestment
Consider Qualified Opportunity Zone investments to defer and potentially reduce capital gains tax while supporting economic development in designated communities. Properly structured real estate investments can provide ongoing tax advantages through depreciation and 1031 exchanges.
3
Charitable Gift Planning
Donating a portion of business interests to Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) or Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) before a sale creates immediate tax deductions while avoiding capital gains on the donated portion. CRTs additionally provide income streams while ultimately benefiting charity.
4
Transaction Structuring
Structure business sales to minimize tax impact through installment sales (spreading gains over multiple tax years), tax-free reorganizations, or qualified small business stock treatment (potential for 100% capital gains exclusion on eligible stock held over 5 years).
"The most expensive business sale is often the one with inadequate tax planning. Every dollar saved in taxes represents additional capital available for your next chapter, whether that's retirement, philanthropy, or your next venture."
When planning your exit, engage a team of advisors including an M&A specialist, tax attorney, financial planner, and investment advisor who can coordinate their expertise to maximize after-tax proceeds. The complexity of business exits demands specialist knowledge that goes beyond general tax planning expertise.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even sophisticated business owners frequently encounter tax planning pitfalls that can significantly impact their financial outcomes. Recognizing and avoiding these common mistakes can substantially improve your tax efficiency and long-term financial success.
47%
Entity Selection Errors
Nearly half of business owners operate under suboptimal entity structures, often due to outdated advice or failure to reassess as the business evolves. Schedule annual entity structure reviews with your tax advisor, particularly after significant revenue changes, expansion into new states, or changes in ownership structure.
68%
Compensation Imbalance
Two-thirds of S Corporation owners either overpay themselves (creating unnecessary payroll taxes) or dangerously underpay themselves (triggering IRS scrutiny). Document your salary determination methodology and reassess annually based on changing roles, responsibilities, and business performance.
73%
Retirement Planning Gaps
Most business owners miss contribution deadlines or fail to maximize available retirement plan options. Establish retirement plan funding as a non-negotiable business expense and calendar contribution deadlines with your financial team to ensure consistent execution.
Additional Critical Errors
  • Inadequate documentation of business expenses and deductions
  • Failure to capture legitimate home office and vehicle deductions
  • Missing state nexus and sales tax compliance requirements
  • Neglecting to integrate business and personal tax planning
  • Focusing solely on tax reduction without considering business growth impact
Best Practices for Tax Efficiency
Establish a comprehensive tax planning calendar with quarterly reviews rather than annual tax-season scrambles. This proactive approach creates space for strategic decisions rather than reactive compliance.
Assemble an integrated advisory team including tax, legal, financial planning, and wealth management professionals who communicate regularly about your business and personal financial situation. The coordination between these advisors often reveals opportunities that no single professional would identify independently.

Remember that while tax planning is essential, business fundamentals always come first. The best tax strategy enhances an already sound business model rather than driving business decisions exclusively for tax benefits. Sustainable tax planning aligns with legitimate business purposes while capturing available incentives provided in the tax code.