Elawyers Elawyers
Ohio| Change
Small businesses are required to pay taxes just like everyone else, but they face more complicated filing requirements and typically have quarterly or monthly deadlines. FindLaw's "Business Taxes" section includes information about your tax obligations and benefits (such as valuable deductions and incentives). This section will help you prepare for a business audit, understand which tax forms are needed, take advantage of significant tax deductions, learn the difference between current and capital expenses, and more. See FindLaw's Tax Law section for more general information about state and federal taxes.

Employment and Payroll Taxes

If you are an employee (as opposed to an independent contractor, or freelancer), you're likely aware of the taxes, Social Security payments, and other expenses deducted from your paycheck. It is your employer's responsibility to pay these taxes, some of which go toward Medicare and other social programs. If it is determined that you paid too much in taxes through these deductions, you will likely receive a refund. These are collectively referred to as "payroll" taxes.

Business owners and those who handle their employer's payroll also are responsible for paying into federal and state unemployment insurance systems. This is not paid out of the employee's paycheck, although it is based on wage rates.

Small Business and Income Taxes

Unless your small business is incorporated, you likely will be paying business taxes as personal income. If you are a sole proprietorship or run your business as an LLC (and are the sole owner), you may report your business income and expenses on a Schedule C form. Corporations and some LLCs, though, must file a separate corporate tax return (Form 1120).

Those who are self-employed (including sole proprietorships and independent contractors) typically file annual returns but pay estimated taxes on a quarterly basis. In addition to income tax, those who are self-employed also pay a self-employment (SE) tax. This pays into Social Security and Medicare, which otherwise would be deducted from your paycheck as an employee.

Business Tax Deductions

Since any business requires certain expenses in order to grow, state and federal tax boards allow certain exemptions in order to encourage investments. In order to successfully manage income and cash flow, it is absolutely crucial to understand how these deductions work. The following types of business expenses are generally deductible (this is by no means a comprehensive list):

  • Office rental (or home office)
  • Employee compensation
  • Travel
  • Business supplies
  • Bad debts

Business Tax Audits

If a taxing authority (typically the IRS) has reason to believe you owe more taxes than reported, then it may conduct an audit. This is one reason you need to maintain tax information from the past several years. The auditors will ask for a number of documents and records, including checks and bank statements; online records; calendars and appointment books; and other materials.

Click on a link below to learn more about business taxes.

Recent Topics

  • Business Audits by the IRS
    Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors.

    Overview of what the IRS looks for when conducting business audits

  • Business Deductions Checklist
    Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors.

    Although most people do not like paying taxes, they are a fact of life and everyone has to pay their share. Luckily, there is a way to reduce the taxes that your business owes by deducting business expenses . This article provides a list of some of t...

  • Business Tax Basics

    Business taxes can be quite complicated for new business owners and seasoned entrepreneurs alike, so it makes sense to learn the basics of business taxes before you file. And since small businesses often are given incentives in the form of tax credit...

  • Do You Have to Pay Sales Tax on Internet Purchases?
    Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors.

    Whether you have to pay sales tax on Internet purchases is a common question in a world where consumers buy everything from clothes to food to cars online. Some people view the Internet as the prime place to start selling items that are free from sal...

  • Do You Need an EIN?
    Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors.

    Worksheet to determine whether you need a federal tax ID number.

  • Employer Identification Number (EIN) FAQ
    Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors.

    Answers to frequently asked questions about obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

  • Payroll Taxes and Withholding
    Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors.

    Now that you've started your business , which has grown faster than you expected, you're beginning to realize you can't run it all yourself. To put it simply, you need employees. While it can help you alleviate some of your responsibilities, hiring e...

  • Excise Taxes
    Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors.

    The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has many different types of taxes, much to the dismay of taxpayers. Excise taxes may not be as well known as other taxes because they are known as an indirect tax, one that's taxed on an intermediary and often inclu...

  • Federal Business Taxes: Introduction
    Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors.

    Overview of income tax, employment taxes and other federal tax obligations for small businesses

  • Filing Quarterly Taxes
    Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors.

    When you own your own business, you have the ability to take a vacation without having to get it approved and come into work and leave pretty much whenever you want. However, being a small business owner also comes with a lot of responsibilities to c...

Can't find what you're looking for?

Post a free question on our public forum.
Ask a Question
Search for lawyers by practice areas.
Find a Lawyer