How to Audit Your 2025 Tax Return and Lower Your Taxes Next Year

What's in this episode

Most business owners treat filing their taxes like the finish line. It isn’t. What actually lowers your tax bill is what you do before December, and that starts with knowing how to read the return you just filed. In this episode, Mike walks through a six-step process for reviewing your 2025 tax return the right way. You will learn what numbers actually matter on your 1040, how to tell if the strategies you implemented actually worked, where most business owners leave money on the table without realizing it, and how to build a real tax plan for 2026 before the year gets away from you. 👉 Get the Free Tax Savings Starter Kit Built for Small Business Owners: https://www.taxsavingspodcast.com/starterkit 🚀 Book your free demo call today. Click here or visit: https://taxelm.com/demo/ Chapters (02:00) Step 1: Review Your Tax Return Pull out your return and actually look at it. The four forms that matter most are the 1040, Schedule C, Form 1120-S, and Form 1065. Each one tells a different part of your financial story. (07:00) Step 2: Did It Work? What did you actually pay in federal, state, and self-employment taxes? Did you owe more than you expected? This step is about getting honest wi