Closing Your Business

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Unamortized Costs and Winding Up Expenses

Deducting Unamortized Startup Costs and Organization Costs When Closing a Business

If any unamortized start-up costs or organization costs remain on your books when your business is closed, deduct the balance remaining on your final return.

For example, if you elected you amortize organization costs over five years, and you still have two years of unamortized organized costs remaining when your business is closed, deduct the remaining two-year balance on your final return.

Winding Up Expenses When Closing a Business

You deduct any expenses you pay to close your business on your final business return.

For example, if your business is incorporated, you may incur legal fees to dissolve the corporation, accounting fees to close the books and prepare financial statements, and tax preparation fees to prepare a final corporate tax return.

Partnerships will generally incur legal and accounting fees in connection with winding up the affairs of the partnership.

If your business is unincorporated, you generally don't incur the types of winding up expenses incurred by corporations and partnerships.