2017 Tax Reform Comparision Chart

Tax Cuts & Jobs Act Individual & Small Business Side by Side Comparison

Provisions: This is a synopsis of some of the provisions included in the House bill (HR 1) that was passed by a vote of 227 to 205 on November 16, 2017, and the Senate’s version of the bill as passed on December 2, by a vote of 51 to 49 – both along party lines. This synopsis does not include any conference amendments made after the December 2nd Senate version.

There are significant differences between the two bills, and both the House and Senate must pass the same legislation before it can be sent to the president for a signature. This involves a reconciliation process between the two houses of Congress. Most sources expect that most of the provisions of the Senate version will prevail during the reconciliation process in an effort to get the legislation pushed through before Christmas.


  • Both bills cut both individual and corporate tax rates 
  • Both bills largely repeal the state and local tax deduction 
  • Both plans increase the standard deduction 
  • Only the Senate bill repeals the Affordable Care Act requirement that individuals buy health insurance 
  • The conference committee will reconcile the two bills for a final vote and signature from the President
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Frequently Asked Questions

You can prepare your taxes yourself, especially if your business is simple.

But once you have contractors, employees, business loans, equipment purchases, mileage, mixed expenses, or growing revenue, things get more complex. At that point, tax preparation becomes a way to make sure your business is reported correctly, your deductions are handled properly, and your records can support what you file.

Send anything that shows what your business earned, spent, bought, paid, borrowed, or changed during the year.

That usually means your income records, bank statements, credit card statements, payroll reports, contractor payments, loan documents, mileage records, and prior-year tax return. Also tell me about anything unusual, such as buying a vehicle, hiring someone, opening a new location, or taking out a business loan.

Messy books can slow things down. If expenses are in the wrong categories, transactions are missing, or personal and business spending are mixed together, your tax return may not show the right profit. We may need to clean things up before filing, so your return is accurate and easier to support.

Possibly, if it was truly for your business and you have proof.

Still, it is much better to avoid this when you can. A separate business bank account and business credit card make everything cleaner. They save time, reduce confusion, and make your records much easier to defend if anyone ever asks questions.

Most small business owners can deduct ordinary business expenses like software, advertising, supplies, insurance, rent, payroll, contractor payments, professional fees, travel, and some vehicle costs.

The question I usually ask is simple. Was this expense clearly for the business? If yes, we can look at how it should be handled. Personal expenses should stay personal.

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