Six Tax Tips for New Business Owners!

Are you opening a new business this summer? The IRS has many resources available for individuals that are opening a new business. Here are six tax tips the IRS wants new business owners to know.

1. First, you must decide what type of business entity you are going to establish. The type of business entity will determine which tax form you have to file. The most common types of business are the sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation and S corporation.

2. The type of business you operate determines what taxes you must pay and how you pay them. The four general types of business taxes are income tax, self-employment tax, employment tax and excise tax.

3. An Employer Identification Number is used to identify a business entity. Generally, businesses need an EIN.

4. Good records will help you ensure successful operation of your new business. You may choose any recordkeeping system suited to your business that clearly shows your income and expenses. Except in a few cases, the law does not require any special kind of records. However, the business you are in affects the type of records you need to keep for federal tax purposes.

5. Every business taxpayer must figure taxable income on an annual accounting period called a tax year. The calendar year and the fiscal year are the most common tax years used.

6. Each taxpayer must also use a consistent accounting method, which is a set of rules for determining when to report income and expenses. The most commonly used accounting methods are the cash method and an accrual method. Under the cash method, you generally report income in the tax year you receive it and deduct expenses in the tax year you pay them. Under an accrual method, you generally report income in the tax year you earn it and deduct expenses in the tax year you incur them.

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Source : Business Documents Filing in 50 States

Sole Propietorship

A sole proprietorship is a company with one owner that is not registered with the state as a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation. In some states, a sole proprietorship is referred to as a DBA (doing business as), as in "José Smith, doing business as Smith Heating and Air Conditioning."

Establishing a sole proprietorship is cheap and relatively uncomplicated. You don't have to file any papers to set it up -- you create a sole proprietorship just by going into business. In other words, if you'll be the only owner of the business you're starting; your business will automatically be a sole proprietorship, unless you incorporate it or organize it as an LLC. Of course, you do have to get the same business licenses and permits as any other company that goes into the same business

Unlike a corporation, a sole proprietorship is not considered separate from its owner for tax purposes. This means the sole proprietorship itself does not pay income tax; instead, the owner reports business income or losses on his or her individual income tax return. Note that all business income is taxed to the owner in the year the business receives it, whether or not the owner removes the money from the business

Legally, a sole proprietorship is inseparable from its owner -- the business and the owner are one and the same. As a result, the owner of a sole proprietorship is personally liable for the entire amount of any business-related obligations, such as debts or court judgments. This means that if you form a sole proprietorship, creditors of the business can come after your personal assets -- your house or your car, for example -- to collect what the business owes them.

A sole proprietor can be held personally liable for any business-related obligation. This means that if your business doesn't pay a supplier, defaults on a debt, or loses a lawsuit, the creditor can legally come after your house or other possessions.

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Why bookkeeping is necessary for my business

Bookkeeping, commonly referred to as keeping the books, is the process of keeping full, accurate, up-to-date business records It is the process of recording and classifying business financial transactions (activities), maintaining the records of the financial activities of a business or an individual.
A bookkeeper assists you in effectively managing your company’s accounting records, receipts and payments, income and expenditures. stay abreast of profits and losses. Furthermore, accurate bookkeeping is required by both federal and local tax agencies.
Bookkeeping involves making a record of the monies received by your business as well as the monies paid out. It encompasses money your company owes to vendors, employees, tax agencies, contractors and any other individual or entity. Likewise, accurate records of amounts owed to your company by outside individuals and organizations are also recorded in a company's books.

A proper bookkeeping system helps to determine the amount of taxes your company must pay. They are also used in preparing your tax returns. Sometimes, a tax agency may decide to investigate the information reported on a tax return or other type of tax-related document. In such cases, you are required to present accurate records for the tax agency's inspection. Failure to do so could lead to hefty fines, penalties, or in severe cases, imprisonment.

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