The Tax Strategist: They Lied To You! How the 1% Pay Less Taxes Than Everyone Else | Carter Cofield
Feb 5, 2024
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Carter Cofield, a licensed CPA & tax strategist, shares everything you need to know to save money on taxes and build a perfect tax foundation for your business. Topics include: why Carter quit his job, making the tax system work for you, choosing where to set up your business, turning personal expenses into tax-deductible expenses, and navigating the hiring of employees vs contractors.
Having nothing to lose can be a powerful motivator for propelling oneself forward.
Consider the worst case scenario when making decisions and choose the path that minimizes future regrets.
Start as a sole proprietor, transition to an LLC, and consider an S-corporation for higher income levels when setting up the right business entity.
Deep dives
The Importance of Having Nothing to Lose
The speaker shares their personal experience of losing everything and emphasizes that having nothing to lose can make someone dangerous and motivated. They encourage others to use the positive side of their situation to propel themselves forward.
Choosing Your Regrets
The speaker discusses the concept of choosing your regrets when making life decisions. They highlight the importance of considering the worst case scenario and making choices that align with avoiding regret in the long term.
Setting Up Your Business Entity
The speaker provides a simple framework for setting up the right business entity based on business income. They suggest starting as a sole proprietor, then transitioning to an LLC before making over $40,000 in net income, and considering an S-corporation at higher income levels.
Managing Money and Taxes as an Entrepreneur
The speaker emphasizes the need for business owners to separate personal and business finances by setting up a business bank account and conducting transactions through it. They highlight the importance of proper bookkeeping and having a tax strategist to minimize tax liabilities and take advantage of deductions.
Key Point 1: Hiring an Accountant vs. DIY Bookkeeping
When starting a business, it's recommended to hire an accountant initially to ensure proper financial management. However, bookkeeping tasks can be handled independently using software like QuickBooks. As the business becomes profitable, it's crucial to hire a tax strategist for effective tax planning. Finding an accountant with industry expertise, who proactively advises and works for you rather than the IRS, is essential for optimal financial management.
Key Point 2: Strategies to Lower Taxable Income
Business owners can leverage various strategies to lower their taxable income. These strategies include utilizing the home office deduction, deducting health insurance premiums, implementing a solo 401(k) retirement plan, and utilizing valid payment processors for business transactions. Hiring contractors instead of full-time employees can also result in tax savings. At a higher revenue level, businesses require multiple bank accounts, quarterly tax payments, regular P&L statements, and proactive tax planning to minimize tax liabilities.
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Carter Cofield, a licensed CPA & tax strategist. After losing both his parents at 16, Carter worked his way through the hardship and got a job as a CPA in one of the big 4. Years later, he quit to become a tax consultant and has now helped multiple businesses save millions on taxes. In this episode, he shares everything you need to know to set a perfect tax foundation for your business and save a lot of money in compliance with IRS rules
00:00 Intro
1:30 Why Carter quit his job
04:37 How to find your way out
07:08 There are TWO things you need to become wealthy
08:58 How to make the tax system work for you!
22:37 You are in control of your life
31:11 How to make great decisions (Alex Hormozi)
33:27 The regret minimization framework (Jeff Bezos & Amazon)
36:43 The framework for building the perfect tax foundation for your business
40:43 How to choose where to set up your business
42:41 Don't do this with your business accounts
47:02 How to turn all your personal expenses into 100% tax deductible expenses.
50:30 Do you need a accountant and book keeper?
53:20 FOUR things to check before choosing an accountant.
1:02:07 How to bring down your taxable income?
1:05:13 How to navigate hiring Employee vs Contractors (and international workers)?
1:08:39 Should you use Paypal, Venmo & Zelle for your business?
1:11:00 How to organize your business.
Follow Us!
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/calum_johnson9
Guest: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa1AU4m48UkKPGi1wK70Atg?sub_confirmation=1
Carter's Free Tax book: https://rebrand.ly/TaxFreeBook
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