Tips for filing small business taxes for the first time

Prostock-studio // Shutterstock Filing small business taxes for the first time (or any time, really) can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to totally ruin your month. While the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, is going to want to account for your earnings, they try to make it easy for you by providing in-depth resources on taxes for small business owners–and you can complete most federal tax returns online. If you’re just getting started and this is your first year filing taxes as an entrepreneur, NEXT will help you get started. Before starting, one (big) thing to remember: Since each business is unique, once you finish reading, work with a professional accountant to make sure you meet all your tax preparation requirements. Understanding Your Tax Requirements As a first-time small business owner, you’re responsible for paying federal income taxes according to the rules set by the IRS. The amount and frequency of your business taxes will vary. It’s based on the type of business structure you choose, whether you have employees, and the amount of profit you generate. Business Structures and Taxes When forming your small business, you must decide on a legal business structure. There are several options in the United States, but the most common include: Sole proprietorship Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) C-Corporation or corporation S-Corporation Partnership Each business entity has advantages, drawbacks, and tax implications to consider before selecting one. Here’s what you should know: Sole proprietorship To qualify for this legal structure, you must own an unincorporated business by yourself–usually independent contractors or self-employed individuals. This business structure is the easiest and typically cheapest to register. As a sole proprietor, you should be prepared for higher taxes. First, you typically have to pay a self-employment tax. Then, the IRS will expect you to pay both the employer and the employee share of Social Security and Medicare taxes when you file. Sole proprietors file small business taxes on their individual tax returns using Schedule C to outline the profit or loss from the business. Limited liability company (LLC) The IRS governs taxation for LLCs, but individual states control who can form an LLC. While LLCs are typically more complex and costly to start than sole proprietorships, they provide more flexibility and certain legal protections not offered to sole proprietors. For federal tax purposes, your LLC will be treated as a sole proprietorship if you have only one legal owner and a partnership if you have two or more owners. Alternatively, you can complete IRS form 8832 and request that your LLC be treated as a corporation. Suppose you structure your business as a single-member LLC, and you are the sole member of your company. If that’s the case, the IRS views your business as a “disregarded entity,” and you will file your business taxes as part of your personal tax return. However, if you structure your company as a multiple-member LLC, the IRS will treat your business as a partnership. You will use partnership tax forms to file your business taxes. C-Corporation or corporation If you structure your business as a corporation, you can sell shares of stock to raise funds for business operations. Your business will also have access to special tax deductions that aren’t available to sole proprietors or partnerships. As the corporation’s owner, you are not personally liable for business debts or lawsuits. Many LLCs decide to make the leap to incorporate after weighing the pros and cons as their business grows. Corporations make it easier for you to gain funding. We’ve put together a guide on how to incorporate a business. However, one drawback is that corporations are subject to what’s called “double taxation.” The business is taxed on its profits, and then individual shareholders are taxed on the profits they receive as dividends. Since shareholders are often owners or partial owners of the corporation, they are essentially taxed twice on the same money. Corporations are viewed as separate tax-paying entities by the IRS and have their own corporation tax forms. If you structure your business as a corporation, you will need to file quarterly and annual business tax returns. You may also be required to pay an estimated quarterly tax if you expect to owe more than $500 in taxes. S-corporations If you’d like the personal liability protection of a corporation without double taxation, you may prefer to become an S-corp or a Small Business Corporation. You must meet certain criteria to qualify, and your S-corporation is limited to 100 shareholders and one class of stock. To become an S-corporation, you must meet certain IRS requirements and submit IRS form 2553. As an S-corporation, your business must also file quarterly and annual tax returns. If your tax liability on built-in gains, excess net passive income tax or investment credit recapture tax is $500 or more, you may need to pay quarterly estimated taxes. Partnerships Partnerships are called “pass-through” entities. This is because the partnership itself is not taxed at the federal level. Instead, business income and losses are “passed through” to the personal tax returns of their owners. Even though a business partnership does not directly pay taxes, it must file annual information to report gains and losses. Typically, any partners in the business are equally and personally liable for any business debts. The Schedule K-1 form (1065) is used to report the amount passed through to each partner’s share of tax. Separating Your Personal and Business Expenses If the IRS has questions about your business’s taxes, they will want to see itemized records of your taxable income and expenses. You should be able to produce your bookkeeping, including bank account records showing all cash inflows and outflows and receipts for any major purchases or expenses claimed. Providing proof of your business expenses can be messy and time-consuming if you use your personal bank accounts to fund your business. Even if you use personal funds to keep your business afloat, you should still use separate accounts for personal and business expenses. Not only can this help you track expenses more accurately, but it can also save you time when filing your taxes. Complete Your Year-End Accounting Part of doing your taxes is understanding your income and expenses, which comes from completing your year-end accounting. When you complete your accounting year end, you better understand your annual income and expenses. From there, you can strategically minimize your taxable income by claiming tax deductions. You can look for these deductions by looking at your expenses. Understanding Deductions On your personal income tax returns, you can take tax deductions for things like child care, medical expenses, or mortgage interest. As a business owner, you can access small business tax deductions that help offset some of the taxes you owe, minimizing out-of-pocket tax payments. The first step in taking advantage of business tax deductions is to keep accurate records of all incurred expenses during the tax year. Here are a few of the most common deductible business expenses, along with what you should track for tax purposes: Cost of goods sold If your business sells tangible goods, you can deduct certain expenses associated with buying, storing, manufacturing, and distributing your goods. To claim this deduction, track the purchasing costs of any items you buy for resale or any materials you buy to produce a finished good. Mileage deduction If you travel for any part of your business and use your personal vehicle, keep a logbook of your business mileage. The IRS allows you to take the standard mileage deduction or track and deduct your actual business use auto expenses. Home office If you work from home, you may qualify for a home office deduction. You should track any expenses you would have if you operated from a traditional office. This may include physical space, internet service, software (including tax software), public utility costs, and office supplies. Insurance premiums If you pay for health insurance, business insurance, commercial auto insurance, or workers’ compensation coverage, your insurance premiums are often deductible through your business. As with any deduction, the IRS states that your deductions must be “ordinary” and “necessary” for your business. With insurance premium deductions, you can typically deduct insurance you must have to operate your business. Read more about business insurance deductions. Employee pay If your small business has employees, any payroll costs you incur are tax-deductible. Start-up costs Depending on the amount, you can write off certain start-up costs, such as purchasing equipment that will be used strictly for business purposes. As you are starting your business, keep receipts for any business purchases. Paying Taxes Quarterly vs. Annually If you’re paying your small business taxes for the first time, the bottom line can hit you hard. That’s because, at a traditional W-2 job, your paycheck withheld money for things like Medicare and Social Security, and your employer paid some taxes on your behalf. When you’re self-employed, you pay the taxes of an employee and employer. That’s why the IRS recommends paying taxes quarterly rather than annually. Ultimately, it’s your decision, but you aren’t responsible for such large tax bills when you pay taxes quarterly. You can plan for taxes better. Additionally, if your estimation is off, you can adjust by making a smaller quarterly payment later. If your goal is to lower what you pay on taxes, then making quarterly payments helps you keep an eye on strategic deductions as you go about your year as well. Don’t Let the Filing Deadline Sneak Up on You Missing IRS deadlines can result in costly fees and interest charges on your tax bill. To help make sure you don’t miss your deadline, follow these simple steps: Be aware of any quarterly and annual tax due dates that apply to your business. Have your tax forms printed in advance, and be sure you know whether you can file business taxes online or if you’ll have to mail your returns instead. Since tax returns can be time-consuming to complete, make it easy on yourself by keeping all your business tax documentation in the same place, including a complete listing of any allowable expenses. Start preparing your returns early so you don’t run out of time before a filing deadline. Taxes are also much easier to submit on time when you keep a running list of expenses such as payroll, healthcare premiums and utilities. Listen, tax planning requires ongoing effort on your part, and your tax system will be most effective when you keep careful records throughout the year. If you are just starting your small business, plan how to organize your tax records right from the beginning. Consult with a certified professional accountant or licensed tax professional to ensure you take all the right steps and maximize your deductions. This story was produced by NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.