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Ever been shocked by a massive tax bill in April? Let's not let that happen again! For business owners, freelancers, and anyone with significant non-W2 income, estimated tax payments necessary.

The IRS rules have changed in recent years. While the IRS used to charge around 3% for missing these payments, that penalty has increased. Now more than ever it is important to make your estimated tax payments!

The good news is that navigating estimated tax payments is manageable with the right approach. In this episode we walk you through how to make estimated tax payments and answer all the common questions we receive about them. 

Take control of your tax situation by planning ahead. Your future self will thank you! Share this with a friend who complains every April about owing too much – you might just save them from the next tax-time panic!

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Transitioning from W-2 employment to receiving 1099 income fundamentally changes your tax situation and officially makes you a business owner, even if you're doing the same work as before.

• Self-employment tax means paying both the employer and employee portions of Social Security and Medicare (15.3%) on top of income tax
• Business expenses can be deducted against your 1099 income, reducing your taxable income significantly
• Opening a separate business bank account is crucial for tracking income and expenses correctly
• You can simply transfer money from your business account to your personal account as needed
• Estimated quarterly tax payments are required to avoid penalties from the IRS
• Consider setting aside 25-40% of income for taxes depending on your tax bracket
• Health insurance and retirement planning now fall entirely on your shoulders
• Once netting over $50,000 in profit, consider forming an LLC and electing S-Corporation status
• S-Corps require more complex paperwork but can save significant money in self-employment taxes
• Higher-earning contractors should work with a CPA rather than trying to handle everything themselves

Check out our guides for new businesses and S-Corp owners in the show notes if you need step-by-step assistance navigating your new tax situation.

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The Social Security Fairness Act eliminates the unfair Windfall Elimination Provision that prevented public service workers from receiving their full Social Security benefits despite paying into the system.

• Nearly 2 million Americans including teachers, firefighters, and public sector employees can now receive previously reduced or denied benefits
• Workers who already receive some benefits will automatically see increases of $300-$700 monthly
• Those previously denied benefits entirely could receive around $1,500 monthly
• Eligible recipients can file for retroactive benefits back to January 2024 using form SSA-561
• Apply online at ssa.gov if you've never received benefits or were previously denied
• Spousal or survivor benefits may require in-person or mail application
• Consult your tax professional about handling lump sum and retroactive payments
• Even if previously denied, public service workers should reapply under the new law

Please share this episode with anyone who works in public service or has family members who might benefit from these important changes to Social Security benefits.

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Dr. Amanda Thompson shares her experience with the monthly accounting membership program and how it has transformed her business finance management from chaotic Excel spreadsheets to organized QuickBooks mastery.

• Starting a business without business education background creates financial management challenges
• Excel spreadsheets work initially but become problematic as businesses grow
• Computer crashes can destroy financial records when not properly backed up
• QuickBooks provides powerful tools but requires guidance to use effectively
• Monthly accounting meetings create accountability for regular bookkeeping
• Regular reconciliation prevents year-end accounting nightmares
• Professional help managing issues like bank fraud can prevent accounting disasters
• Clean books throughout the year make tax season significantly less stressful
• Monthly accounting program often saves businesses more money than it costs
• Confidence in financial management allows business owners to focus on their expertise
• Tax projections help business owners prepare properly for quarterly estimated payments
• Type A business owners benefit from structured financial management systems

Want to grab one of our monthly spots? EMAIL us @ [email protected]

You can also book a discovery call with us HERE to see if it's a good fit for you!

Check out Rooted Physical Therapy at rootedphysicaltherapyllc.com or find Dr. Amanda on Instagram!

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We created our monthly accounting plan to solve the recurring problem of clients coming to us at tax time with messy books and missing tax-saving opportunities, and after nine months with our beta group, we're sharing how it's working and opening up a few more spots.

• Our monthly accounting plan provides accountability and real-time bookkeeping support, like having a personal trainer for your finances
• Works better than self-doing, external bookkeepers, or costly internal accountants who often create more problems
• Includes monthly one-hour calls at reduced rates with private booking link and priority access
• Tax returns completed by January with no extensions needed because books are maintained throughout the year
• Free tax projections eliminate surprises at tax time
• Covers QuickBooks training, reconciliations, tax strategy, retirement planning, and business decisions
• Costs $225/month with no contracts and consistently saves clients more in taxes than they pay for the service
• Email reminders on the first of each month highlight important deadlines and considerations

If you're interested in one of our limited spots, you can email us directly at [email protected]

You can also book a discovery call with us to address any questions you have on the monthly accounting plan HERE

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We celebrate our 100th episode by giving listeners a behind-the-scenes look at our podcast journey, from inception to production challenges to our biggest wins.

• Started the podcast in January 2023 to help people we couldn't take on as clients
• Purchased a podcast course for $150 which provided crucial guidance on equipment, hosting, and editing
• Recording during tax season was challenging but strategic, as downloads are highest in the first half of the year
• Initially scripted episodes but became more comfortable with time, though still prepare notes for specific tax regulations
• Hired an editor (Kevin) which made continuing the podcast possible
• Our top three episodes: QuickBooks, paying kids from your business, and common startup mistakes
• Biggest wins include the personal finance series and S Corp series, which have helped listeners save thousands in taxes
• Moving to a bi-weekly schedule to make production more manageable
• Planning a second, more personal podcast focused on family life

Thanks for helping us reach 100 episodes! We'll continue providing tax and accounting wisdom every other week, focusing on the latest tax code changes and business strategies to help you save money.

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The Augusta Rule offers a legal way to transfer money from your business to yourself tax-free by renting your home to your business for up to 14 days per year. This often-overlooked tax strategy allows business owners to deduct the rental expense from their business while receiving tax-free personal income.

• Rent your personal residence to your business for up to 14 days annually without paying personal tax on that income
• Your business can deduct the rental payment as a legitimate business expense
• Determine fair market rent by researching comparable event spaces in your area
• Create and maintain a formal rental agreement between yourself and your business
• Document each use with invoices and calendar entries
• Pay yourself from your business account using traceable methods (transfers, checks, digital payments)
• Monthly strategy sessions are ideal for implementing this strategy while staying under the 14-day limit
• Take photos and keep notes from meetings as supporting documentation
• Rental payments of approximately $1,000 per day are typical, depending on your location

Send this episode to a friend and let them know about What Your CPA Wants You to Know Podcast!

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Paying your children through your business is a legitimate and powerful tax strategy that can save you thousands every year!

• Reduce taxes by converting business income into deductible expenses with zero tax impact
• Children earning under $15,000 (2025 standard deduction) pay no income tax and don't need to file returns
• Sole proprietors (Schedule C) and farms (Schedule F) don't pay payroll taxes on wages to children
• S-corporations must pay payroll taxes, but strategy remains beneficial for 22%+ tax brackets

Thanks for listening! Please share this episode with fellow business owners to help them save on taxes too.

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Working with a CPA effectively requires understanding both what to do and what to avoid to create a productive professional relationship that benefits your business.

• Be organized when providing documents rather than dropping off unsorted boxes
• Avoid piece-mailing documents and instead provide complete packages when ready
• Consolidate questions and communications to respect your CPA's time
• Ask questions to understand your tax situation and learn from your CPA
• Plan ahead for taxes and save a portion of profits throughout the year
• Set clear expectations about which specific services you need from your CPA
• Respect their time as a professional service provider who bills for consultations
• Don't wait until the last minute to submit documents during busy season
• Never ignore tax deadlines or expect your CPA to care more about your business than you do
• Understand that CPAs cannot eliminate all taxes, only help minimize them legally
• Keep business and personal finances completely separate
• Budget for CPA fees as a regular business expense
• Don't assume your CPA handles everything without specific agreements
• Feel comfortable switching CPAs if the relationship isn't working well

If you've found this episode helpful, please leave us a review!!!

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We tackle the critical but often overlooked task of proper bookkeeping for business owners and share how avoiding common mistakes can save you thousands of dollars and countless headaches. 

• Bad bookkeeping comes in many forms—from procrastination to incorrect QuickBooks entries
• Cleaning up messy books often costs more than starting from scratch
• Hiring an inexperienced bookkeeper can be more costly than doing it yourself or contracting an external accountant
• Monthly bookkeeping creates visibility into your finances and helps avoid tax surprises
• Regular review of financial reports is essential to catch errors before tax filing
• Separate business bank accounts are crucial even for simple businesses using spreadsheet accounting
• Setting regular calendar appointments for bookkeeping helps maintain financial clarity year-round

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