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Tag: Tax Planning
Texas Minimum Wage & Payroll Tax Updates 2025
Introduction Texas business owners face evolving payroll obligations, particularly with federal and state tax updates, even as the state’s minimum wage remains static. Inexperienced advisors may overlook changes in federal payroll taxes or misapply Texas unemployment tax rates, leading to compliance penalties or missed savings. Are you aligning your payroll practices with the latest Texas […]
Venture Debt Warrants: Franchise-Tax Classification in Texas
Venture Debt Warrants Texas startups raising capital through venture debt often issue warrants as incentives, but the classification of these warrants for Texas franchise tax purposes can create unexpected tax liabilities if misunderstood. Inexperienced advisors may misclassify warrant proceeds, leading to inflated taxable margins or compliance issues that deter investors. Are you ensuring your venture-debt […]
Understanding SAFE Notes and Texas Margin-Tax Implications
SAFE notes, popularized by Y Combinator, are convertible instruments allowing investors to fund startups in exchange for future equity, typically triggered by a priced round or liquidity event. For federal tax purposes, SAFE notes are often treated as neither debt nor equity until conversion, deferring income recognition under IRC § 1001 until shares are issued. […]
409A Valuations: State-Tax Footnotes VCs Check in Texas
409A Valuations Texas startups and founders issuing stock options must navigate 409A valuations to comply with federal tax rules, but the process also intersects with state tax considerations that venture capitalists (VCs) scrutinize closely. Inexperienced advisors may overlook footnotes in 409A reports highlighting Texas franchise tax implications, potentially raising red flags for investors or leading […]
Gift-Tax Planning With Series LLC Cells in Texas
Introduction Texas founders and high-net-worth individuals frequently utilize gifting strategies to reduce federal estate tax exposure, but without proper structuring, gifts can trigger unnecessary taxes or lose asset protection. Inexperienced advisors may overlook the advantages of series LLC cells for segregating gifted assets, leading to inefficiencies or compliance issues. Are you using series LLCs to […]
83(b) Election for Texas Residents: Margin-Tax Timing
Introduction Texas residents receiving restricted stock or equity grants often overlook the timing implications of an 83(b) election on both federal income tax and Texas franchise tax, potentially leading to unexpected liabilities or missed savings. Inexperienced advisors may fail to coordinate the election with Texas’s margin-tax rules, resulting in inefficient tax outcomes for startups and […]
Estate Planning for TX Founders: No State Estate Tax, But…
Introduction Texas founders and entrepreneurs, building substantial wealth through innovative businesses, often prioritize estate planning to preserve legacies and minimize transfer taxes. While Texas imposes no state estate tax, inexperienced advisors may overlook federal estate tax implications or fail to integrate strategies like trusts and gifting, leading to unnecessary federal liabilities or missed opportunities. Are […]
Franchise-Tax Extensions: Form 05-164 Walk-Through
Franchise-Tax Extensions If you need extra time to prepare your Texas franchise-tax report, Form 05-164 gives you a six-month extension—from May 15 to November 15—to file. Note, however, that an extension does not extend your payment deadline. You must still remit at least 90 percent of your estimated tax liability by the original due date […]
Total Revenue vs. Cost-of-Goods: Picking the Best Texas Margin Method
Total Revenue vs. Cost-of-Goods Texas franchise tax is based on a business’s margin, but there are four distinct ways to calculate it. Choosing the method that minimizes your taxable margin can save you thousands. In this post, we’ll compare: Total Revenue × 70% Total Revenue − Cost-of-Goods Sold (COGS) Total Revenue − Compensation Total Revenue […]