Your Q3 estimated taxes are due soon. And yes, we could remind you of the due date and tell you to double-check your numbers. But honestly? That’s not the conversation we should be having right now.
While everyone else is focused on paying their quarterly taxes, smart business owners are looking ahead—specifically at Q4.
September is more than just a deadline. It’s a pivot point.
You’ve got nine months of income, expenses, payroll, and cash flow behind you. And you’ve got just enough time left in the year to make strategic moves that could lower your tax bill, boost your profitability, or set you up for a stronger January.
This is the month to zoom out for a look at the big picture. Instead of just asking, “Did I pay enough in estimated taxes?” ask:
- Am I on track with income goals—or did I quietly blow past them in Q2?
- Are there planned purchases or investments I can make before year-end to lock in deductions?
- Have I reviewed my payroll strategy to see if I need to adjust owner compensation or bonuses before December?
- Am I properly documenting everything I want to deduct—or will I be stuck guessing at tax time?
- And maybe most important of all: have I set myself up to keep more of what I earn?
Quarterly taxes are just a small part of the larger picture. They reflect how your business is performing—but they don’t help you control the outcome. That’s where planning comes in.
Too often, we see business owners get blindsided in January. They assumed everything was fine because they paid their quarterly estimates. But when we finally dig into the books, we discover missed opportunities. Missed write-offs. Missed timing strategies. And in some cases? A much larger tax bill than expected—because no one sat down to do a real projection before the year ended.
Let’s not do that this year.
If you’re already paying estimated taxes, you’re ahead of the game. But let’s not stop there. Let’s use this moment to shape what your Q4 looks like—not just file reports about what happened after the fact.
September and October are great times to look at the big picture and make sure you’re on track with your end-of-year tax strategy. As, your trusted advisor, Dillwood Burkel & Millar can help – call today to schedule a year-end tax-planning consultation.
