Income tax amounts to the other half of total taxes owed each year by small business owners. How much you owe is determined by how much you made after expenses and deductions.

This post will show you how to estimate your income taxed owed in equation form.

First, you should determine what tax bracket you will fall into. Your tax bracket is used to estimate the amount of additional tax you’ll pay if your income increases — or the amount you’ll save if you can claim a deduction.

• View 2005 Income Tax Brakets
• View 2006 Income Tax Brackets

So for instance, you are married filing jointly and your taxable net earnings is $55,000.00. You will be taxed at the 15% rate.

Don’t forget: The IRS allows you to deduct half of your estimated self employment tax away from your net earnings.

The equation for estimating your income tax looks like this:

(((Net Earnings – (SEtax / 2)) – Income Min. Limit) * Tax Rate) + Minimum Tax

So assuming your estimated net earnings is $55,000 @ 15% (before deducting SEtax) the equation would be figured as:

((($55,000.00 – ($7,771.25 / 2)) – $14,600.00) * .15) + $1,460.00
((($55,000.00 – $3,885.63) – $14,600.00) * .15) + $1,460.00
(($51,114.37 – $14,600.00) * .15) + $1,460.00
($36,514.37 * .15) + $1,460.00
$5,477.16 + $1,460.00

Income Tax = $6,937.16

With net earnings of $55,000, your estimated total tax owed (incl. self employment tax) would be:

Itax + SEtax = Total Estimated Tax Owed

$6,937.16 + $7,771.25 = $14,708.41

Disclaimer: Tax results submitted to the IRS should be figured by a qualified accounting professional. This method is only for estimating what you will owe to be better prepared.

Recommended Reading:

• Your Tax Bracket
• Your Income Tax Bracket

One Response to “Estimating Income Tax”

1. Self Employment Tax » The Small Business Buzz says:
   

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   Posted January 19th, 2006 @ 2:40 pm
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