Nhela Vehar Shares 3 Tax Strategies That Could Help Business Owners Keep More of What They Earn

Making more money is only one part of building wealth as a business owner. What happens to that money after you earn it matters too.

During a recent Bloom Connections Educational Moment, Nhela Vehar of Vehar Consulting and Tax joined us to talk about year-round tax strategy and ways business owners can be more intentional with the money they already earn.

Her message was simple: tax strategy does not begin when it is time to file your return.

It is something you think about throughout the year.

Nhela walked the group through three strategies worth knowing about: cost segregation, the Qualified Business Income deduction, and strategic charitable giving.

Here are a few of the ideas she shared.

1. Cost Segregation for Investment Property Owners

If you own investment real estate, depreciation can become an important part of your tax strategy. Nhela introduced the group to cost segregation, a strategy that looks more closely at the different components of a property rather than treating the entire property the same for depreciation purposes. A cost segregation study can identify portions of an eligible property that may qualify for accelerated depreciation. And this is not limited to one type of real estate. During the conversation, Nhela discussed rental properties, short-term rentals, multifamily properties, commercial buildings and even a museum as examples of properties she has encountered in this work.

What is a cost segregation study?

A cost segregation study separates certain components of a property into different asset categories. Depending on the property and current tax rules, some of those components may be depreciated over a shorter period.

That can potentially move deductions forward instead of spreading all eligible depreciation across the property’s standard depreciation schedule.

Nhela shared an example from a client property where the depreciation available before the study was approximately $14,700 for the year. After the cost segregation study, the client’s depreciation calculation for that year increased substantially.

The important takeaway was not the exact dollar amount.

It was that owning investment property can create tax-planning opportunities that a business owner or investor may not know to ask about.

Whether cost segregation makes sense depends on the property, purchase date, tax situation and current tax law, so this is a conversation to have with a qualified tax professional.

2. The Qualified Business Income Deduction

The second strategy Nhela discussed was the Qualified Business Income deduction, commonly called the QBI deduction.

For eligible business owners, QBI can provide a deduction based on qualified business income.

But Nhela’s larger point was about planning.

Instead of only asking, “What deductions can I take?” when tax season arrives, business owners can have conversations throughout the year about how financial decisions may affect their overall tax position.

That could include questions around:

retirement contributions
the timing of income
taxable income
business structure
other deductions available to the business

Nhela explained that these decisions can interact with a business owner’s ability to take advantage of certain tax provisions.

In other words, tax planning is not only about finding deductions. It is about understanding how different financial decisions work together.

That is difficult to do when the first tax conversation happens after the year has already ended.

3. Strategic Charitable Giving

The third strategy created one of the liveliest conversations of the Educational Moment.

Giving to an organization you care about does not necessarily mean writing a check.

Nhela encouraged attendees to think more strategically about what they give.

For example, someone who owns appreciated stock may want to discuss whether donating the asset itself could make more sense than selling the stock first and donating the cash.

Why?

Selling an appreciated investment can create capital gains consequences. Donating an eligible appreciated asset directly to a qualified charitable organization or through certain charitable vehicles may produce a different tax outcome.

That means charitable giving can potentially serve two purposes at once: supporting an organization or cause that matters to you while becoming part of a broader financial and tax strategy.

The conversation resonated with Bloom Connections member Yolanda Brown, who connected the idea to how people think about charitable organizations, legacy planning and where their resources ultimately go.

The bigger question becomes:

If you already plan to give, is there a more strategic way to do it?

Tax Planning Happens Before Tax Season

That may have been the biggest takeaway from Nhela’s Educational Moment.

Business owners make financial decisions all year long.

They buy property. They invest. They contribute to retirement accounts. They donate. They hire. They increase revenue. They make purchases. They expand into new markets.

Each decision can have financial implications.

Waiting until tax filing season means many of those decisions have already been made.

Year-round tax planning creates an opportunity to look forward and ask different questions.

Instead of only:

“How much do I owe?”

you can begin asking:

“What decisions can I make now based on where my business and finances are headed?”

That is a very different conversation.

About Nhela Vehar

Nhela Vehar, bookkeeper and CEO, smiling in a black top

Nhela Vehar is the founder of Vehar Consulting and Tax, where she works with business owners and investors through proactive tax strategy and advisory. Before starting her firm, Nhela worked in public accounting at KPMG in financial due diligence and audit and later worked with companies in the real estate and accounting technology spaces. Her approach centers on helping business owners think about their finances proactively rather than waiting for tax season to find out what happened. As she shared during her Bloom Connections introduction, her philosophy is about building wealth through strategy, not surprises.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tax planning for a small business owner?

Tax planning is the process of looking ahead at income, expenses, investments and other financial decisions to understand their potential tax implications. Unlike tax preparation, which primarily deals with transactions that have already happened, planning can take place throughout the year.

What is a cost segregation study?

A cost segregation study analyzes components of eligible real estate to determine whether certain assets can be classified for shorter depreciation periods. This can potentially accelerate eligible depreciation deductions. Whether the strategy is appropriate depends on the property and the taxpayer's individual circumstances.

What is the Qualified Business Income deduction?

The Qualified Business Income deduction, or QBI deduction, is a federal tax provision that may allow eligible owners of pass-through businesses to deduct a portion of qualified business income. Eligibility and the amount of the deduction depend on several factors, including income, business type and current tax law.

Can donating stock have tax benefits?

In certain circumstances, donating appreciated assets such as stock directly to an eligible charitable organization or charitable vehicle may provide different tax benefits than selling the asset and donating cash. A tax or financial professional can help determine how the rules apply to an individual's situation.

When should a business owner start tax planning?

Tax planning can happen throughout the year. Major financial decisions such as purchasing property, making investments, contributing to retirement accounts or planning charitable gifts can be opportunities to speak with a tax professional before the transaction occurs.

Learn Something. Share Something. Grow Together.

Nhela’s presentation was part of the Bloom Connections Educational Moment, a short member-led segment where someone from our community shares knowledge, perspective or an idea the rest of us can take with us.

Because networking becomes more valuable when we get to know more than someone’s job title.

We get to experience what they know.

And the next time someone says, “I’m making money in my business, but I feel like too much of it disappears to taxes,” we know whose name might belong in that conversation.

Want to experience the next Educational Moment? Join us at an upcoming Bloom Connections gathering.

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, investment or financial advice. Tax rules and individual circumstances vary. Consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

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