Starting or operating a multi-entity business is a blend of rewarding endeavors and pressing challenges. Multi-entity businesses face a myriad of challenges while filing their taxes.
In this blog, we will delve into the most prevalent tax pitfalls that U.S. multi-entity businesses face and discuss strategies for both avoidance and correction.
1. Lack of Record-Keeping & Documentation
Submitting inadequate or incorrect documents can result in hefty penalties and fines, increased scrutiny, potential audits, delayed tax return processing, and potential delays in receiving refunds.
Multi-entity businesses must maintain all required documents accurately, with detailed records of financial transactions, tax-related documents, and intercompany agreements. In this pursuit, AI-powered accounting automation platforms can play a crucial role by completely automating the bookkeeping process. Accounting platforms allow multi-entity firms to store all the information required in one place. The data and documents are automatically encrypted and saved in a secure data vault and are easily accessible anytime for tax filing, audits, or workflows.
2. Errors in Entity Classification
Selecting the appropriate or right entity classification is not as easy as it seems. One tiny mistake can invite unwelcoming tax penalties. For instance – opting to operate as a partnership instead of a corporation may result in pass-through taxation that adversely impacts the owners’ tax liability. Thus, multi-entity businesses must review and evaluate their structure carefully and seek professional advice to determine the most tax-efficient entity classification.
3. Legal & Compliance Pitfalls
Multi-entity businesses have a presence in multiple states which can subject them to complex state tax laws and compliance issues. Failing to comply with these tax regulations can result in hefty penalties which could have been avoided in the first place.
To avoid legal & compliance challenges, multi-entity businesses must carefully review their activities in every state of operations to stay up-to-date with the latest changes in tax laws.
4. Ineffective Tax Planning
Failing to synchronize tax planning across all entities within a multi-entity structure can lead to costly errors. The tax planning strategy must be cohesive and take into account overall organizational goals and optimize tax attributes. To overcome gaps, tax advisors and business leaders must collaborate effectively and ensure regular and transparent communication to implement a unified approach to tax planning.
5. Limited Information on Tax Credits
Multi-entity businesses are often unaware of the list of valuable tax credits the federal and state governments provide, which results in businesses paying higher tax amounts. Staying current with the tax credits your business qualifies for is crucial for optimizing your financial performance.
Why Choose Docyt AI?
Docyt AI facilitates tax filing by centralizing all your accounting operations in one place to provide real-time insights into each entity’s financial performance. Our platform simplifies tax filing by –
- Guiding users through each step for accurate submissions
- Easily integrating with accounting platforms like QuickBooks Online to ensure seamless updates to the general ledger.
- Automating vendor tax compliance by collecting W9 information to enhance tax reporting accuracy and reduce the risk of manual errors.
Reach out to us to learn more about how Docyt AI can assist you in preparing for tax season.
