The owner’s money decisions,
taken with numbers
13 guides for business owners in the US: what an S corp actually saves in New York City, the estimated tax safe harbour, solo 401(k) versus SEP, credit that survives company spending, and the mortgage when you are self-employed.
- Credit Scores: What Business Owners Get WrongYour score is built from the statement balance, not what you owe after paying. Moving spend to a business card can lift it 50 to 100 points on its own.
- Cutting a Mortgage Payment Without RefinancingA recast costs $250 to $500 and needs no underwriting. Removing mortgage insurance at 80% saves 0.3% to 1.5% a year. Neither requires a new loan.
- Estimated Tax for New York Business OwnersThe safe harbour is 100% of last year's tax, or 110% above $150,000 of income. Pay that and underpayment penalties stop, whatever this year turns out to be.
- FHA Loans in New York City: What QualifiesFHA allows a small down payment, but the building must be FHA-approved and few NYC condos are. How to check a project, and what the mortgage insurance costs.
- Getting a Mortgage When You Are Self-EmployedLenders read net profit after deductions, not revenue. Cutting taxable income by $50,000 can cut borrowing capacity by around $200,000. How to plan around it.
- Home Office Deduction and the Accountable PlanS corp owners cannot take the home office deduction on a personal return. An accountable plan reimburses the same costs instead, and it is the correct route.
- NYC Unincorporated Business Tax vs S CorpAn S corp can save around $13,000 in payroll tax at $200,000 of profit. New York City then charges it 8.85% instead of 4%, and most of that saving disappears.
- S Corp vs LLC for a New York BusinessThe LLC gives liability protection. The S election is a separate tax choice that changes payroll, city tax and filings. How to decide each one on its own terms.
- Solo 401(k) vs SEP IRA for Business OwnersAt $100,000 of net profit, a SEP allows roughly $20,000 and a solo 401(k) roughly $44,000. The difference is the employee deferral, and it is the whole argument.
- The Augusta Rule: 14 Tax-Free Days a YearSection 280A(g) lets you rent your home to your own company for up to 14 days a year. The company deducts it, you report nothing. What it takes to hold up.
- The QBI Deduction: Who Gets It, Who Loses ItThe 20% pass-through deduction phases out by income and profession. Below the threshold almost everyone qualifies; above it, the answer turns on your trade.
- Vehicle and Equipment Write-Offs for OwnersAbove 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight the luxury auto caps fall away. The mileage or actual-expense choice is locked in the first year. What that means.
- Where to Hold Business Cash in New YorkTreasury bill interest is exempt from state and city tax. For a New York City resident, 3.8% on a T-bill beats a taxable deposit paying roughly 4.5%.
Let’s talk first
Setting up or restructuring a US business? Tell us the profit level, the state and whether property is part of the plan, and we will walk the entity, payroll and tax decisions with you.
Important notice
The figures on this page are general information as of August 2026 and do not represent an offer, a quote, or a guarantee of any transaction terms. Reinvent NY does not provide legal, tax, or investment advice. Confirm anything material with an attorney and a CPA before you act on it. Nothing here is a solicitation to invest, and no return is promised. Real estate brokerage services are provided through R New York.