Interested in Tax Strategy for your Business? Send us a message with your email address and we’ll help you get started!
Is Trump really eliminating income taxes for business owners? The short answer is no, but the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that passed on July 4th, 2025 made MASSIVE tax changes that directly benefit S corporation owners and small business owners right now. In this podcast, I break down exactly what's law versus what's just a proposal, why economists say eliminating income taxes won't work, and the 3 tax strategies for 2026 every business owner needs to know about immediately.
Here's what happened: Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, and while it didn't eliminate income taxes, it made the 20% qualified business income deduction (QBI deduction) permanent, brought back 100% bonus depreciation permanently, and locked in corporate tax rates at 21%. These are real tax law changes you can use on your 2026 tax return.
Trump has also been saying he wants to completely replace income taxes with tariff revenue. The problem? The federal government collects $2.7 trillion from income taxes - that's 54% of all federal revenue. Tariffs only brought in $195 billion. The math doesn't work. Economists say trying to replace income taxes with tariffs would push the federal deficit to $4 trillion. So don't make business decisions based on something that isn't law.
Here's what you SHOULD be doing: First, the QBI deduction is now permanent, which means S corporation owners can optimize their W-2 salary versus distributions with a long-term tax planning strategy instead of year-by-year guessing. Second, 100% bonus depreciation means every dollar you spend on qualified equipment, vehicles, and machinery is fully deductible in year one. If you've been considering equipment purchases, this is the time. Third, with corporate tax rates at 21% permanently, there's a C-corporation income shifting strategy that can create significant tax savings for S corporation owners in higher tax brackets, but this MUST be done properly with a tax advisor.
If you own real estate in which your business operates, a cost segregation study just became even more valuable. You can reclassify building components to shorter depreciation periods and take advantage of 100% bonus depreciation against your business income.
The bottom line: don't get distracted by the "Trump eliminating income taxes" headlines. Focus on the tax benefits that are ALREADY law and work with a tax advisor to maximize your deductions for 2026. If the income tax elimination proposal ever becomes real legislation, I'll be the first to break it down for you.
🆓 Download FREE PDF: 7 Write-Offs Every S-Corporation Business Owner MUST Know: https://7taxwriteoffs.com/?el=podcast&htrafficsource=buzzsprout
*Disclaimer This material & presentation content is for informational and educational purposes only. This material and presentation content is designed to provide general information regarding the subject matter covered. It is not intended to serve as legal, tax, or other financial advice related to individual situations. Because each individual’s legal, tax, and financial situation is different, specific advice should be tailored to the particular circumstances. For this reason, you are advised to consult with your attorney, accountant, tax preparer, and/or other advisor regarding your specific situation or your client’s specific situation. The information and all accompanying material are for your use and convenience only.