SALT Tax Deduction: What Business Owners Should Know

What is a Pass-Through Entity Tax?

Usually, owners of pass-through entities pay federal and state income taxes on the net income “passed through” to them on their personal tax returns. The business entity itself does not pay income taxes.

Recognizing that combined state and local income taxes plus property taxes generally exceed $10,000 for many business owners, some states have developed a system where the business entity itself is taxed at the state level.

This is a simplified explanation, and the actual mechanics will vary by state, but this is generally how it works:

Tax Savings Beyond SALT Cap Workaround

Business owners who make a PTET election may see other benefits on their federal returns that create total tax savings (depending on their personal situation). When the SALT deduction up to $10,000 is taken on a personal return, it is taken on a Schedule A after arriving at adjusted gross income (AGI). With a PTET election, the amount of state taxes paid by the business are taken as a business deduction and reduce the amount of net income passed through to the owner. This effectively serves as an above-the-line deduction and lowers AGI before personal deductions are taken.

Why does this matter?

• AGI drives the ability to deduct certain other personal expenses (like medical, which are only deductible when they exceed 7.5% of AGI), eligibility for some tax credits, and determines whether you are subject to the Net Investment Income Tax of 3.8%.
• AGI (with some modifications) is also a driver for eligibility to make Roth IRA contributions, which can help a business owner build tax-free wealth outside of their business.
  Generally, it is advantageous to lower AGI as much as possible through the use of above-the-line deductions.

A PTET election may also reduce the amount of income subject to self-employment tax and the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax, which can create meaningful savings for those business owners whose business income is all considered self-employment income.

Proceed with Caution – PTET isn’t a No-Brainer

It’s clear that high-income business owners in states with high property taxes, state and/or local income taxes may be able to deduct more of those taxes when electing PTET at the entity level and reserving the $10,000 SALT deduction for personal property taxes. Even so, deep analysis of the holistic tax picture is required to make PTET a clear-cut winner.

A few things to be mindful of:

• Not all states offer a 100% credit on a business owner’s personal state income tax return for PTET paid by the business. This means that some amount of income may be double taxed by the state at the entity and personal level.
• Electing a PTET could mean paying more in state taxes than a business owner would as an individual.
  • Many states have a flat rate equal to the highest income tax rate for pass-through entities in lieu of progressive rate. Some states (see the map below) even have a higher tax than the highest individual income tax rate specifically for PTET elections (though some are also).
  • Additionally, a larger amount of income might be subject to taxes when paid at the entity level because personal deductions and exemptions won’t be taken (including retirement plan contributions deducted on the personal federal income tax return).

• Things get very complex when doing business in multiple states or when owners are located in multiple states – especially if those states treat PTET differently in terms of rates, credits on personal returns, and eligibility rules. It’s best to leave these nuances to an accountant familiar with the ins and outs of how a business operates.
• Sole proprietors and single-member LLCs may not be able to make a PTET election. These owners may need to elect to be taxed as an S corporation to take advantage of PTET, which will require legal and tax advice.
• A PTET election may yield so little in federal tax savings that it isn’t worth the effort – this is highly dependent on the personal circumstances of each business owner and the state in which they live and do business.