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Tax & Compliance

Year-End Financial Checklist

Written by Aparna Devalla, CPA

Curated by Rubric Financial

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Tax Planning Before Year-End

  • Review estimated tax payments made throughout the year and determine if additional payments are needed to avoid underpayment penalties at the federal and state level.
  • Evaluate whether to accelerate deductible expenses (equipment purchases, prepaid expenses) or defer income to optimize your current-year tax position.
  • Assess eligibility for the R&D tax credit and ensure you have documentation of qualifying activities and expenses to support your claim.
  • Review your entity structure and state tax obligations to identify any planning opportunities before the year closes, including potential Section 199A deductions for pass-through entities.

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