Tax planning is a year-round event if you want to minimize your business's tax bill. Whether it's surviving an audit, capitalizing on business deductions, or finding tax-friendly ways to run your business, this Inc.com guide can help reduce your tax obligations and make paying taxes less anxiety provoking.

Back to Basics

Learn about tax rules and tax codes, and what they mean to your business.

Business Income Defined

Do you know what the tax code means? Before you take any deductions or credits, know what the tax law has to say about what constitutes business income.

Small-Business Taxes FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions about small-business tax obligations.

Business Structure

What form you choose for your business has tax implications.

Structure Your Business with Tax Cuts in Mind

Deciding whether to incorporate, and which business entity to choose, can be a challenge. Now a slew of new tax concerns for individuals and small firms has added another wrinkle to the process.

What Kind of Business Should Your Business Be?

If you're starting a business, one of the first questions you need to answer is what kind of legal form your business will take. The form you choose will affect the taxes you pay, who can invest in your company, and your financial security.

Sizing Up Business Structures

Figuring out the type of business to open is only half the battle of an entrepreneur. Your choice of business structure will largely determine how your business income will be taxed.

Acronym Acrimony

Along with naming your company, deciding which entity your business should become is one of the first decisions you'll ever make.

Perfect Form

Choosing the right business structure can save you money and headaches. This CEO tried three different corporate forms before she found the one that made the most sense for her business.

Putting Your Company on the Block

The form you've chosen for your business will have affect your personal tax obligations when you sell it.

Deductions and Write-Offs

Maximize what you can deduct, and discover what you can write off by knowing what constitutes legitimate business expenses.

Tax Planning for Tough Times

These company owners took advantage of some key tax breaks to help ease their cash-flow troubles.

Understanding Small-Business Tax Deductions

Thankfully, you can reduce your tax burden by deducting most of what you spend in the course of business.

Deductions Your Small Business Shouldn't Miss

Keep an eye out for these often-overlooked ways to cut your tax bill.

Taxing Matters for the Home Office

For entrepreneurs who carefully track their business expenses and keep comprehensive tax records, the home-office deduction can add up to a lucrative benefit.

Track Hardware Depreciation

Keeping track of aging small equipment purchases can pay off at tax time.

Strategies for Your Business's Excess Inventory

Before year-end take appropriate steps to trim your excess inventory -- and gain tax benefits as well.

Writing Off the Cost of Business-Related Debt

Generally, interest on business loans is fully deductible against business income. But there are some limits on business-related interest deductions to consider.

Who Should Own the Business Car?

The answer depends on several tax and nontax factors. Here are some things to consider in making your choice.

Audits and Record Keeping

The key to surviving an audit is not to panic but to prepare.

Audit Risks for S Corporations

Set to begin in late 2005, the IRS will randomly select 5,000 S corporations to audit. Here's what you should know if you become one of the unlucky few targeted for an audit.

Preparing for an Audit

Don't panic; be prepared. Your business can survive the scrutiny of the IRS.

What Auditors Look for When Examining a Business

Get the inside scoop on what IRS agents will be sniffing around for in your business's books.

Preparing for Worst-Case Scenarios

Four accounting professionals share audit horror stories. Then they share ways to avoid getting caught in those snares.

Three Record-Keeping Steps to Start the New Year Off Right

Records are an essential element in claiming deductions on your taxes. Here's how to keep them in order to ensure you don't miss out on savings.

Keeping Business Records for Tax Purposes

Saving records for tax purposes can be cumbersome, but keeping a few key records might save you trouble down the road.

Employees and Taxes

Find out how to comply with the tax requirements of having employees and how to reduce your tax obligations.