By Karen Axelton
Keeping track of tax breaks available to small businesses—especially in the current political climate—can be a complex task. The good news is, there is one kind of tax break that just about every small business can take advantage of: the advantages gained by hiring family members to work in your business. Here’s a closer look at some of the options:
Hiring your spouse: In general, the IRS considers a spouse an employee as long as an employer/employee relationship exists. In other words, one spouse must truly control the business in terms of making key management decisions, and must direct the other spouse’s work duties and activities. Specific rules related to hiring your spouse depend on the business structure you’ve chosen for your company. Visit the IRS website for more detailed information about tax issues related to husband and wife businesses.
Hiring a parent: Hiring a parent is becoming more of an option these days with many seniors and retirees more interested in continuing to work—or needing to work to supplement retirement income. If you are hiring a parent, know your business will be subject to income tax withholding, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax; however, you are not subject to Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) tax.
Hiring your children: Having your children work for you in the business is a great way to transfer income from your higher tax bracket to your children’s lower one. This is also a way you can transfer wealth to your children without worrying about gift and estate taxes.
If your company is a sole proprietorship or partnership, wages paid to your children under age 18 are not subject to Medicare or Social Security taxes; wages paid to children under 21 are not subject to FUTA tax. At any age, their wages are subject to income tax withholding. If your business is a corporation, get more details about the tax issues of having your kids work in your business at the IRS website.
Before hiring any family member, discuss the issue with your accountant to make sure you follow all the rules. It’s especially important to maintain detailed records of the person’s duties and the hours he or she works to protect you from any questions of fraud. And, of course, be sure the person’s salary or wages is in line with what he or she actually does, or you risk raising red flags.
Tax savings aren’t the only benefit of hiring family members. Working with your spouse can build bonds as you feel that you’re working together for a goal. Children at any age can gain responsibility and learn from seeing their parents working hard to build a business. Children approaching adulthood can be groomed to take full-time roles in the business and be part of your succession plan. Start your children in the business at a young age, and you’re less likely to face resistance from other employees as your kids take on more important roles.
DISCLAIMER: The information posted in this blog is provided for informational purposes. Legal information is not the same as legal advice — the application of law to an individual’s specific circumstances. The information presented here is not to be construed as legal or tax advice. Network Solutions recommends that you consult an attorney or tax consultant if you want professional assurance that the information posted, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular business.