The Rea Report Fall 2018 | Page 5

DUE DILIGENCE: C C ? TO OR N OT TO S h o u l d Yo u S w i t c h To A C C o r p o r a t i o n U n d e r T h e N e w Ta x L a w ? By Andrew Geiser, senior accountant, [email protected] (Millersburg office) THIS IS THE SECOND ARTICLE IN A SPECIAL SERIES THAT CONSIDERS THE DUE DILIGENCE NECESSARY FOR BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE CONSIDERING A MAJOR CHANGE. TO VIEW OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES, VISIT WWW.REACPA.COM/DUE-DILIGENCE-SERIES. One of the most widely discussed aspects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has been the reduction in the corporate tax rate from a top rate of 35 percent to a flat rate of 21 percent. This change prompted many business leaders to consider whether switching from a pass-through entity to a C corporation is the way to go, or if the benefits of the new qualified business income deduction for pass-through entities would make up the difference. While the tax rate reduction does present potential tax savings for the business and its owner, making the switch could have long-term implications. Many have concluded that it may make sense to forego the short-term tax savings to better align with long-term objectives. Four Questions For Your Consideration Perhaps the biggest takeaway when considering an entity conversion is that all business situations are unique, and this decision should be thoroughly evaluated before moving forward in any direction. Small details that have little impact on one aspect of your decision may end up playing a major role in how another decision is made. Unfortunately, digging into these details can be costly and time-consuming. We’ve identified four questions you should ask before deciding whether a shift in entity type makes sense. CONTINUED >>> 5