Summary

  • The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 established the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction, which offers tax relief to small company owners.

  • In order to be eligible for QBI, one must actively participate in profitable business operations as they take qualified property's Unadjusted Basis Immediately after Acquisition (UBIA) into account. 

  • Calculating QBI involves identifying qualifying income sources, deducting eligible expenses, and claiming up to a 20% deduction from taxable income, aiding significant savings and facilitating business growth.


The Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction is a term the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses to refer to income generated through a business. This deduction was introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to provide tax relief to small business owners. If you draw income from a sole proprietorship, partnership, S corporation, or LLC, you can use QBI to reduce your tax liabilities.

To be eligible for QBI, you must be actively involved in running a profitable business. The IRS evaluates the time and effort you invest in the business to determine if it qualifies as a legitimate business activity. Additionally, the Unadjusted Basis Immediately after Acquisition (UBIA) of the qualified property also plays a role in determining eligibility for certain QBI deductions.

It's important to note that the IRS requires you to report QBI on your individual income tax return. You must report the income and any associated deductions on Form 1040.

Who can Claim Qualified Business Income?

Business owners who meet specific requirements can benefit from the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction. To be eligible, businesses must source their qualified income domestically and operate as a sole proprietorship. Additionally, these businesses must be eligible for taxation and file tax returns with the IRS. By leveraging the QBI deduction, businesses can deduct up to 20% of their qualified business income during tax filing.

It's important to note that the maximum deduction is capped at 20% of the business's income, subject to variables such as the type of business, total taxable income, and wages paid to employees. Additionally, businesses with income below $157,500 qualify for the full deduction. 

This means that the deduction cannot exceed 25% of the W-2 earnings plus 2.5% of the unadjusted basis of all qualifying property or 50% of the W-2 wages paid by the firm.

How to Calculate QBI (Qualified Business Income)?

Here's a clear explanation of calculating Qualified Business Income (QBI) for your business. To begin with, you need to identify the sources of income that qualify for the QBI deduction. This includes income from active trade or business, real estate investments, and rental activities.

Once you have identified the qualifying income sources, add up the income from these sources. This total amount is your Qualified Business Income. Be sure to exclude any income not qualifying for the 20% deduction, such as wages or interest income.

Next, calculate the 20% deduction based on your taxable income. You can deduct expenses like production expenses from your taxable income. The deduction is limited to 20% of your business's taxable income. For example, if your business has a taxable income of $50,000, you can claim a deduction of $10,000.

Finally, subtract the 20% deduction from your Qualified Business Income to get the final amount you must report on your tax return.

Benefits of QBI (Qualified Business Income)

  1. Qualified Business Income (QBI) is income generated from a trade or business eligible for tax relief. Business proprietors can deduct up to 20% of their QBI from their taxable income, leading to significant savings by reducing their tax liabilities.

  1. Applying for QBI can help business owners leverage larger deductions. For instance, they can claim a Section 179 deduction, which allows businesses to lower the cost of qualifying commercial real estate. This enables entrepreneurs to spread their deductions over several years, enhancing savings.

  1. Claiming QBI can help traders retain more of their profits. By availing generous deductions, businesses can save substantially on their taxes. This enables them to keep more profits, which can be invested back into the business or used to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

  1. In conclusion, a QBI claim can be an excellent strategy for business owners to reduce their tax burden. They can benefit from a generous deduction and retain more of their profits. Considering these advantages, it's clear that Qualified Business Income is a crucial concept that can significantly impact a company's growth and financial health.

This article is brought to you by www.my-cpe.com

About MY-CPE

MY-CPE is a growing education platform that delivers accounting updates to professionals within 48 hours. With the expertise of over 700 instructors, we serve over 250,000 tax and accounting professionals.

Our platform provides comprehensive training, technological advancements, and essential accounting concepts. MY-CPE offers high-quality courses at an affordable price and offers a subscription-based model that sets it apart from other platforms.

Jason Dinesen
Jason Dinesen
President, Dinesen Tax & Accounting, P.C.

Jason Dinesen (LPA, EA) is an entrepreneur, tax expert, and CPE Presenter. Dinesen brings over 15 years of experience helping individuals and businesses with accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation, and business advisory in various industries. Dinesen is a regular CPE Presenter at MYCPE ONE. He has coached more than 200k+ accounting, taxes, and HR professionals on various topics of accounting, individual taxation, corporate taxation, and professional ethics. Jason has developed a strong following within the professional community for tax-related subjects. Dinesen is known for sharp tax interpretations, and he quickly brings his analysis of the latest tax updates and IRS guidance to the professional community.

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