Calling itself the "Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource," the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers a wealth of information to small business owners regarding managing their finances, staying up-to-date on tax issues, and accessing forms and paperwork related to tax filings.
The main sections of the site address:
- Starting, operating, or closing a business
- Downloading IRS forms and publications
- Basic small business deductions you don't want to miss
- Your responsibilities as an employer
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Claim all the deductions you've earned
Be sure you're deducting every cent you can according to IRS guidelines for small businesses.
I recommend: Start with the
business expenses page at the
IRS Small Business and Self-Employed site. Check the list of
business tax credits. Take a self-paced
online tutorial on tax prep for business. And if you discover you previously missed something,
file an amended return, correct your mistake, and request a refund.
Make electronic tax payments
Avoid potential penalties and spend less time completing and mailing IRS paperwork by filing electronically. E-file makes it easy.
I recommend: Check the
list of payments accepted online. Then sign up with
TurboTax or the
IRS to file your return, or register with the
electronic federal tax payment system (EFTPS) for recurring online tax payments.
Find the right form
Not sure which IRS form you need, or how to complete it? Virtually any IRS form, guide, or publication can be found and downloaded at the IRS website.
I recommend: Scan the
complete list of small business forms or just the list of forms relevant to
starting and
operating a business.
Access a tax-related checklist for starting your business
Discover tax insights on operating a business with employees, deductions and credits, recordkeeping and accounting methods.
I recommend: See
what new business owners need to know about federal taxes.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Be clear about your role as client or employer by reviewing the IRS definition of independent contractors. Incorrectly categorizing a helper can cost you significant penalties and fines.
- Don't be surprised by the self-employment tax, which essentially taxes you both as employer and employee.
The official source of IRS Small Business and Self-Employment Web Site is
the Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) page at Business.com
Subscribe to
Try our free weekly WhatWorks newsletter, with business how-to advice
& resources from Work.com.
Related Resources from Business.com
Recommended Solution Providers 
Best Sites to Learn More
Best Blogs and Forums 
Comments
Is any content on this page inappropriate? To let us know, please 
