If you're a small-business owner and you hire your children this summer, you may be able to secure tax breaks and other nontax benefits. The kids can gain bona fide on-the-job experience, save for college, and learn how to manage money. You may be able to shift some of your high-taxed income into tax-free or low-taxed income, and, depending on the situation, you may realize payroll tax savings. Perhaps best of all, your kids will spend time with you.

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if you hire your child, you'll get a business tax deduction for employee wage expenses. In turn, the deduction reduces your federal income tax bill and possibly your self-employment tax bill and your state income tax bill if they apply. However, for the wages to be a deductible business expense, the work performed by the child must be legitimate, and the child's pay must be reasonable.

 

 

 

Let's say you operate as a sole proprietor in the 37% tax bracket. You hire your 16-year-old daughter to help with office work full-time during the summer and part-time in the fall. She earns $10,000 in 2024 and doesn't have any other earnings.

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You save $3,700 (37% of $10,000) in income taxes at no tax cost to your daughter. That's because she can use her $14,600 standard deduction for 2024 to completely shelter her earnings.

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REDUCED PAYROLL TAXES

If your business isn't incorporated and certain conditions are met, your child's wages are exempt from Social Security, Medicare, and federal unemployment taxes. Your child must be under age 18 for this to apply (or under age 21 for the federal unemployment tax exemption).

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Be aware that there's no payroll tax exemption for employing your child if your business is incorporated or is a partnership that includes nonparent partners. And payments for the services of your child are subject to income tax withholding, regardless of age, no matter what type of entity you operate.

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There is documentation required and 1099 reporting so please reach out so we can assist.