Small Business Tax Preparation Checklist for 2023
Last Updated: March 10, 2023
Are you getting ready to file your small business taxes? If this is your first time, it can be a little daunting. But don’t worry, we’re here to help!
In this article, we’ll provide you with:
- a small business tax preparation checklist with details on what you need to gather and provide to your accountant
- what tax deductions and credits are available to small businesses
Let’s get started!
Small Business Tax Preparation Checklist
As a small business owner, you are responsible for ensuring that your taxes are filed correctly and on time. There are many documents you will need to provide if you want to make sure that you haven’t missed anything important. Knowing that this can be a daunting task, we’ve created a tax preparation checklist to help you:
What Do I Need to Give My Accountant for Small Business Taxes?
Read on to find out what types of documents you need.
Essential Documentation About Your Business
When you’re preparing to file your small business taxes, there are a few essential pieces of documentation that you’ll need:
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Federal Tax ID Number
First, you should provide your small business federal tax identification number (TIN), which is a set of unique numbers that identify your business. Anyone who files an annual tax return with the IRS must include their TIN. The IRS then uses this information to keep track of taxpayers and collect taxes.
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Social Security Number
A Social Security number (SSN) is a tax identification number provided by the Social Security Administration. To submit an income tax return, individuals working in the United States must have and submit their Social Security number.
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Previous Year’s Tax Return
Another essential document you need to include is your tax returns for the previous tax year, which is a twelve-month accounting period for keeping track of all your transactions and reporting income and expenses.
Income Documentation
When creating your checklist on small business federal tax documents, make sure to include all of your income sources. This may cover both day-to-day operations and any investments or secondary income. Here’s what you should include:
- Gross receipts from sales or services
- Sales records for accrual-based taxpayers (accounts receivable)
- Returns and allowances
- Business checking/savings account interest (1099-INT or statement)
- 1099-NEC (independent contractor or professional services work) or W-2 income
- Other revenue, such as rental income, federal and state gasoline or fuel tax credit, or refund, may also be significant
Business Expenses Documentation
Don’t miss including these expenses when filing small business taxes for the first time:
- Advertising
- Phones (fax, landline, or mobile phones related to business)
- Computer & internet expenses
- Transportation and travel expenses (cost for local transportation, as well as all costs related to business trips)
- Commissions and fees
- Contract labor expenses that you’ve paid to subcontractors or independent contractors
- Depreciation costs
- Professional fees (lawyers, accountants, advisors)
- Office supplies
- Wages paid to employees
- Employee benefit expenses
- Repairs, maintenance of office facilities, etc.
- Estimated tax payments (incl. any applicable property taxes and sales taxes)
- Other business-related expenses
- Health insurance
Employment Tax Documentation
Another thing to remember as it can help with small business taxes is to provide supporting documents to for yourself as self-employed as well as all the expenses you pay on behalf of others who work for your company:
Self-Employment Tax
As a small business owner, you are likely considered an employee of your own firm. If you made more than $400 from company activities and were self-employed, it should be recorded as income and included in your tax checklist.
Employment Taxes
If you have workers, you are subject to various employment taxes, also known as payroll costs. The following are examples of employment taxes your checklist should include:
- Social Security and Medicare taxes
- Federal and state income tax withholding
- Federal unemployment tax
In-House Office Documentation
These are all the in-house office documents your small business tax checklist should include:
- Square footage of office space
- Total square footage of home
- Hours of use (i.e. in-home daycare)
- Mortgage interest or rent paid
- Homeowner’s or renters’ insurance
- Utilities
- Cost of home, cost of separate improvements, and first date of business use
Other Items
Gather any additional information you may find, such as:
- The business’ financial statements, such as balance sheets, cash flow statements, or profit/loss statements
- Completed year-end books
- Information regarding any charitable contributions
- Information regarding NOLs
It is advisable that you make sure that you’ve finished any associated tax paperwork, and include it in your small business taxes checklist for beginners. This includes:
- Form 1099-NEC and Form 1096
- Form W-2 and Form W-3
- Federal and state payroll returns (Form 940, Form 941)
DID YOU KNOW: There’s various business tax software that can assist you in filing your small business taxes. Use it to e-file your tax returns by providing financial information such as your W-2 or self-employment earnings. Most people have heard about TurboTax software, but there are many other alternatives you can choose from. |
Small Business Tax Deductions Checklist
Deductions are a great way to save money on your business tax bill. This is possible since some expenditures, such as health insurance and investments, which are good examples of small business tax return expenses, may be deducted from your taxable income or final invoice, lowering the amount you owe.
Advertising
The cost of advertising and promotion is fully deductible. These include costs for media marketing campaigns, sponsoring events, logo designs, etc. However, you cannot deduct expenses paid to influence legislation (i.e., lobbying) or fund political campaigns or activities.
Legal Services
Legal and professional costs that are essential to operating your business are also deductible. Fees charged by lawyers, accountants, bookkeepers, tax preparers, and online bookkeeping services are all examples of deductible legal and professional expenses.
Mileage
Mileage expenses are among the common small business tax questions. For a trip to be considered business travel, it must be typical, necessary, and away from your tax home, which is the city or area where you conduct business. You must travel for more than a day away from your tax home in order for this to apply.
Keep records that include the amount of each expenditure, as well as the dates of return/departure, information about the trip (who you met with), a mileage log if you drove your own car, and the business reason for the trip.
Insurance
You may deduct the premiums you pay for business insurance, as well. Check the following small business tax return example list to see what applies:
- Property coverage (business furniture, buildings, and equipment)
- Liability coverage
- Group health, dental, and vision insurance for employees
- Professional liability or malpractice insurance
- Workers compensation coverage
- Auto insurance for business vehicles
Rent
When you rent a business location or equipment for your company, you can deduct the rental payments as a business cost.
Keep in mind that, even if you have a home office, rent paid on your house should not be subtracted as business expenditure.
Interest
If you borrow money or use a credit card to pay business costs, make sure you include the interest you paid in your small business tax return checklist. You can get an interest deduction as long as you fulfill the following conditions:
- You are legally responsible for the debt
- The lender and you both want the debt to be paid off
- You have a true debtor/creditor relationship with the lender
Internet and Phone Services
Your phone and internet costs may be business deductions if they are necessary to your operation. Keep in mind that the cost of your first line cannot be subtracted if you use a landline at home. If you have a second landline specifically for the business, you can deduct its cost.
Depreciation
When doing taxes for your small business, make sure you include the expenses for equipment, products, and other company assets. Although depreciation rules state that the cost deduction for these items is done over time, the IRS provides several strategies so you can deduct the full cost in a single year:
- De Minimis Safe Harbor Election
Small companies have the option of claiming assets that cost less than $2,500 per item in the year they are acquired.
- Section 179 Deduction
This section allows businesses to deduct up to $1,080,000 in property that is put into service during the tax year.
- Bonus Depreciation
It allows businesses to deduct 100% of the cost of machinery, equipment, computers, appliances, and furnishings.
Employee Salaries and Benefits
When you’re filing your small business taxes for the first time, make sure to include the salaries, benefits, and vacation time paid to workers, as these expenses are usually tax-deductible.
Training and Education
When you invest in courses that enhance your skills and help you grow your business, they’re entirely deductible. Just keep in mind that any education expenses that would qualify you for a new profession or expenditures for education outside of your company are not considered business deductions.
Meals and Entertainment for Business Dealings
The tax code allows you to deduct 50% of qualifying food and beverage expenses. Including these costs may help with receiving a deduction when filing your small business taxes.
To qualify for this deduction:
- The expense must be an ordinary and necessary component of your company’s operations
- The meal can’t be too lavish or expensive
- The meal must be attended by the business owner or a staff member
You can deduct 100% of the cost of providing meals to employees, such as paying for pizza when your staff is working late. Meals provided at office parties and picnics are also deductible to the extent of 100%.
Taxes and Licenses
You may be eligible for deducting taxes and licenses costs, so it’s worth including these on your small business tax deduction checklist:
- State income taxes
- Payroll taxes
- Personal property taxes
- Real estate taxes paid on business property
- Sales tax
- Excise taxes
- Fuel taxes
- Business licenses
DID YOU KNOW: There are many inexpensive tax services you can use to file your tax deductions. Tax software can help you determine which tax credits and deductions you may be eligible for. However, you must evaluate whether or not you meet the criteria yourself. |
Business Tax Credits You May Be Eligible For
You may be eligible for certain business tax credits, which can help offset the cost of tax preparation. Many small business owners seem to have small business tax and credit-related questions, so here is some basic information about the most common business tax credits:
Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created a small business health care tax credit to help small businesses and tax-exempt organizations afford the cost of providing health care coverage to their employees. To be eligible, you must:
- have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs)
- pay at least 50% of the cost of single coverage for each of your employees
- have a payroll that is below a certain threshold
Investment Credit
Other useful tax credit information for small businesses includes the fact that you may be able to claim a tax credit for certain investments in your small business, including equipment, facilities, and software. This is different from a deduction, which lowers the amount of income that’s subject to tax.
To claim the investment credit, you must file Form 3468 with your tax return. The form instructions will tell you what information you need to include.
Disabled Access Credit
The Disabled Access Credit is a non-refundable credit available to small companies that make special investments in order to enable persons with disabilities access. To claim the credit, use IRS Form 8826.
Work Opportunity Credit
Another helpful small business tax credit information is that you may be eligible for a Work Opportunity Credit. It is a tax credit available to employers who hire workers from certain target groups that have consistently faced significant barriers to employment.
Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit
The alternative motor vehicle credit is a tax credit given to individuals who buy cars that are powered by alternative energy sources. If you were the original buyer of a car after January 1, 2006, you may qualify for this type of non-refundable tax credit.
Key Takeaways
Creating a task preparation checklist can help you with gathering all the documentation you need for filing your tax returns. |
You should provide your accountant with the documentation about your business, income, and expenses, employment taxes, and in-house office documentation. |
If you don’t want to employ an accountant, you can use business tax software that will assist you in filing your tax return yourself. |
Some particular expenses, such as health insurance and investments, can be deducted from your taxable income, thus saving you some money. |
You should also check whether you’re eligible for any type of business tax credit when filing your tax return. |
Conclusion
By now, you know all the necessary information you need about how to create your small business tax checklist. Just make sure to stick by it when gathering all the important documentation regarding your tax returns, tax deductions, or the tax credit you’re eligible for. A final piece of advice would be to respect the tax return deadline and prepare your documentation on time.
FAQ
If you have been wondering, “what do I need to give my accountant for small business taxes,” you should know that all company owners may report their profits and expenditures in Schedule C attached to their personal tax return. However, if you form a corporation or opt to treat your LLC as one, you must always produce a separate corporate tax return on Form 1120.
After preparing all the necessary documentation for your tax returns, deductions, and tax credits you’re eligible for, you can ask an accountant to complete your tax return, or you can use tax software and file the business return yourself, following the small business tax preparation checklist you’ve created.