Founder Personal Finance
Written by Aparna Devalla
Curated by Rubric Financial
1 / 3
Tax Obligations Most Founders Miss
- Estimated tax payments: founders with equity income, consulting income, or S-corp distributions must make quarterly estimated payments to avoid penalties
- State tax obligations: if you moved from California to Texas for tax reasons, California may still claim you as a resident for up to 18 months based on ties
- 83(b) election: must be filed within 30 days of receiving restricted stock. Missing this deadline can cost hundreds of thousands in taxes later
- Self-employment tax: founders paying themselves through an LLC owe 15.3% SE tax on all net income. An S-corp election can reduce this significantly
Related Resources
The Income Tax Provision Under ASC 740
An overview of the ASC 740 income tax provision, covering deferred tax assets and liabilities, valuation allowances, and why unprofitable startups still record a provision.
Tax & ComplianceQualified Small Business Stock (QSBS)
How Section 1202 allows startup shareholders to exclude millions in capital gains from federal tax, how the 2025 OBBBA changed the rules, and what your company must do to qualify.
Tax & ComplianceSection 754 Election: Step-Up Basis for Partnerships (and Why S-Corps Can't)
The §754 election is the mechanism that lets partnerships and LLCs step up the inside basis of their assets when a partner dies, transfers their interest, or takes a distribution. S-corps have no equivalent, a real cost founders often discover too late.
About the author
Aparna DevallaCPAHead of Tax & Accounting
CPA and Head of Tax & Accounting at StartupCFO. Specializes in multi-state tax compliance, R&D credits, and GAAP-compliant books for venture-backed startups.
More articles by Aparna →Related tools and reading
Fractional CFO for startups
Board packs, forecasts, and fundraising support without a full-time hire.
Free toolDo I Need a CFO? Quiz
A 2-minute self-assessment: bookkeeper, fractional CFO, or full-time hire.
InsightAustin Startup Tax Deadlines 2027: Texas Franchise Tax Calendar
Texas has no personal or corporate income tax, but Austin startup taxes are not zero. Here is the 2027 calendar for founders: the May franchise tax report, the Public Information Report, sales tax on SaaS, the new refundable R&D credit, Travis County property renditions, and the federal and Delaware dates layered on top.
GlossaryS-corp vs C-corp vs LLC
S-corps and LLCs pass income through to owners' personal returns (single layer of tax). C-corps pay corporate tax, then shareholders pay tax on dividends (double tax).
ServiceCFO for startups
What a startup CFO does, when to hire one, and what it costs by stage.
Free toolDiligence Readiness Quiz
Assess how data-room ready your finances are.
Want a CPA to own this?
Deadlines tracked, estimates filed, and multi-state compliance handled across all 50 states, with expert sign-off.
No spam, ever. If the download doesn't start, email us.
Or talk it through:
