Each April our thoughts turn to the coming of spring and the coming of the tax man.

I hear a lot of people complaining about taxes at this time of year. Not just that they have to do their taxes and spend hours pouring over old records and trying to figure out indecipherable forms, but also musings and opinions about taxes in general.

Hi Wayne:
I currently work for an aerospace company and run my own business. Can I use my aerospace money to pay for some of my business expenses? I really don’t want the money to be taxed twice, but do I have no other choice?

“Pay less taxes”

“We can teach you how to avoid paying Federal Taxes”

Wayne Davies joined the WebProNews team of experts with his break out article “How To Reduce Your Business Taxes.” He’s been answering WebProNews readers’ tax questions ever since.

It’s tax time (again), and since you are an Internet professional, it’s time for a crash course in Small Business Taxation.

This article is based on the following assumption: You are an Internet professional who hates to pay taxes.

In the next couple of weeks, you will be finishing out the year according to both the calendar and the IRS. Now is the time to quickly plan and take advantage of tax laws to save money on your 2002 return.

If you are self-employed or if you are expecting a large bonus at the end of the year, you can make the money you receive at the end of the year count towards next year’s income instead. Simply ask your client/customer to pay you in January or ask your employer to wait and give you the check at the beginning of the year. This will push the income into next year, thereby lowering your total income for 2002.

If you are the sole proprietor of a small business, you probably groan at the mention of the phrase “federal taxes.” Unfortunately, the only two certainties in life are death and taxes, so if you’re a small business owner, federal taxes are an unpleasant fact that can’t be avoided. Understanding your responsibilities is the first step toward minimizing your federal tax burden, financially and psychologically. Your tax burden includes taxes based on your net profit, social security taxes, and federal withholding, as well as unemployment taxes.

- It’s All About Comfort

The main reason I began to use tax preparation software a number of years ago was “comfort” – I still did my own taxes but wanted to be sure I wasn’t missing out on any potential deductions or savings. Using electronic tax preparation gave me this comfort level and assurance by “holding my hand” through the process, giving me “alerts” that can guide me through the process and let me take advantage of any and all new changes that may help me.