Tax Aspects of Selling Your Business Bradley S. Dimond, CPA Henry & Horne, LLP February 3, 2011
Overview Assumptions
Tax Aspects
Legal Structure of Business Sole Proprietor (or SMLLC) LLC (Multi Member) S Corporation C Corporation
Tax Result from Sale – Why it Matters Sale of Assets or Equity LTCG v. Ordinary Income Section Gain almost but not quite = LTCG Ordinary Income Recapture Purchase Price Allocation
Tax Results from Sale – the Results by Entity Form Sole Proprietor (SMLLC) = Asset Sale MMLLC = Asset Sale (for all intents and purposes) S Corporation – Choice and flexibility –Section 338(h)(10) election –Purchase Price Allocation C Corporation –Downside of double taxation –Who has negotiating leverage –Desire not to purchase contingent liabilities 6
Other Considerations Non-compete Agreement? Personal Goodwill Installment Sale –Recapture issue –$5 million rule Charitable or Estate Planning –CRT? – converting LTCG to Ordinary Income –Income of gain shifting – Current gifts of equity –GRATs –Other
Other Considerations Contingent Liabilities Key Executives/Shadow Equity Contingent Purchase Price/Earnout 8
Other Tax Related Concerns Due Diligence –Representations re current on tax filings –Property Taxes (personal and real) –Payroll Taxes –Sales Taxes –Unclaimed Property Escrow/Hold Back 9
Summary 10
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