Businesses typically employ one of two accounting methods to calculate their taxable income: Cash or Accrual. Many have the flexibility to choose the method that best suits their tax situation. While the cash method often yields significant tax advantages for eligible businesses, the accrual method may be more advantageous in certain cases. Hence, it’s wise for your business to assess its chosen method to ensure it's the most beneficial approach.
Eligibility for the Cash Method
According to tax regulations, "small businesses" have the option to use either cash or accrual accounting for tax purposes. Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) came into effect, the threshold for categorizing a business as small varied based on factors like structure, industry, and inventory. The TCJA simplified this by establishing a single gross receipts threshold, currently set at $30 million or less for the three-year period ending before the 2024 tax year. This expansion in the threshold, adjusted annually for inflation, has extended small business benefits to more companies.
Small businesses can enjoy several advantages, including simplified inventory accounting, exemption from uniform capitalization rules, and exemption from the business interest deduction limit. Additionally, certain entities like S corporations, partnerships without C corporation partners, farming businesses, and specific personal service corporations may qualify for the cash method irrespective of their gross receipts. However, tax shelters are ineligible for the cash method, regardless of size.
Differences between the Methods
For most businesses, the cash method presents notable tax benefits. By recognizing income upon receipt and deducting expenses upon payment, cash-basis businesses gain control over the timing of income and deductions. This allows them to defer income by delaying invoices or accelerate deductions by paying expenses before year-end. In contrast, accrual-basis businesses recognize income when earned and expenses when incurred, without consideration for cash flow timing.
The cash method also offers cash flow advantages as income is taxed upon receipt, ensuring funds are available to cover tax obligations. However, for some businesses, the accrual method may be preferable, especially if accrued income is consistently lower than accrued expenses. Additional advantages include the ability to deduct year-end bonuses within the first 2½ months of the following tax year and deferring taxes on specific advance payments.
Switching Methods
Even if changing accounting methods could benefit your business, consider the associated administrative costs. For instance, if your business follows U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for financial reporting, it must use the accrual method. While this doesn’t preclude using the cash method for tax purposes, it may necessitate maintaining dual sets of books. Moreover, switching methods may require IRS approval.
Contact Us
Contact us to explore the nuances of each method by scheduling a meeting with your VAAS Tax Consultant. We look forward to working with you.