You spend your whole life paying taxes, why should the last step into retirement be any different? As you prepare yourself and your company to be transitioned to the next generation of owners and operators it’s important to plan for the taxes associated with your succession plan. Be certain to discuss with your financial advisor and legal counsel to determine which succession plan is best for your tax situation. Here is a brief look into a few options available to someone who is wishing to retire or sell their business.
Selling shares held in your own name to an outside party
You are able to sell personally held shares, but they are subject to a capital gains tax. There is a lifetime exemption of $750,000.00 in qualified small business corporation shares that you may be able to apply to the sale of your business. This is a possible way to offset a portion of the capital gains tax; this should be discussed with your financial advisor.
Selling corporate assets or corporately-held shares to an outside party
Another option for selling the company is to sell the corporate assets or the shares of the business held by a corporation or a holding company. The types of assets sold and the amount of income generated by the sale will determine how the taxes are to be treated. Once the corporation has liquidated all of its assets and no longer operates, you can choose to either dissolve the corporation or keep it operating to hold some of the revenue generated from the sale as a way of deferring taxes. This income can be paid to shareholders as dividends over the course of time.
Estate Freeze
This method is best for transferring the ownership to a chosen successor, not an outside party. This is typically done by transferring the common shares into preferred shares and then issuing common shares to the beneficiaries. This essentially freezes the tax liability and allows the successor to come into the business with little investment contribution. This is a commonly used practice when it’s a family business and the next generation is taking over.
Succession planning can be an exciting time because it means the next chapter in your life is on the horizon. But be certain to plan closely with your financial advisor from The Beacon Group of Assante Financial Management Ltd. in order to achieve the most tax beneficial and best plan available to you and your company.
