IRS TAX CENTER

Overview

• Starting, Operating or Closing a Business
  Whether you are a budding entrepreneur, or an established business owner, you will find everything you need to start and manage your business venture.
• Business Taxes
  The form of business you operate determines what taxes you must pay and how you pay them.

Getting Started

• Tax Information for Businesses
  If you run a small business or are self-employed, the IRS Web site offers a wide variety of information to help you.
• Checklist for Starting a Business
  This checklist provides the basic steps you should follow to start a business.
• Business Structures
  When beginning a business, you must decide what structure to use. Legal and tax considerations enter into this decision.
• Employer ID Numbers (EINs)
  An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a federal tax identification number, and is used to identify a business entity. Generally, businesses need an EIN.
• Online Application - Form SS-4, Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  Apply online for the Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number.

IRS Forms and Publications

• Forms and Publications
  Need an IRS form or publication?
• In addition, the IRS has lots of outreach and educational products to assist the small business owner. These include:
• Publication 1066C, A Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop DVD is a new educational product that helps small business owners and the self-employed understand and meet their federal tax obligations. The workshop is subtitled in English, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. You can also view this workshop online .
• Publication 3207, 2006 Small Business Resource Guide CD-ROM is an interactive CD designed to help small business owners comply with the tax laws and includes business tax forms, instructions and publications. In addition to providing a wealth of tax-related information, the CD contains Web links to various government agencies, business associations and IRS organizations.
• Publication 1518, Small Businesses and Self-Employed Tax Calendar highlights different tax issues and tips and has space to add notes, state tax dates, or business appointments. Updated online versions are available on IRS.gov

Electronic Filing

• e-file for Business and Self-Employed Taxpayers
  The IRS offers several electronic filing options designed specifically for the business filer. There are several ways you may choose to participate in the IRS e-file for Business programs.
• Electronic Federal Tax Payments (EFTPS)
  Businesses and individuals can use the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System to pay all their federal taxes electronically, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, via the phone, personal computer (PC) software or the Internet. Visit the EFTPS web site for all the latest information! Or visit the Department of Treasury’s Financial Management Services web page on EFTPS.
• QuickAlerts "More" e-file Benefits for EROs
  Get on board and be one of the thousands of tax professionals that currently receive information on “up-to-the-minute” e-file events.

Employees

• Businesses with Employees
  Information about hiring, recordkeeping, and other topics for business owners with employees.
• Independent Contractor vs. Employees
  Before you can determine how to treat payments you make for services, you must first know the business relationship that exists between you and the person performing the services.
• Employment Taxes for Small Businesses
  If you have employees, you are responsible for Federal Income Tax Withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes and Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA).
• IRS Withholding Calculator
  This easy-to-use calculator can help you figure your employees’ Federal income tax withholding so you can withhold the correct amount from their pay.
• Retirement Plans for Small Businesses
  Are you looking for information on employee retirement plans in order to provide better service to all your employees?

Talk With The IRS

• Contact My Local Office
  IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers are your one-stop resource for face-to-face tax help and solutions to tax problems, every business day.
• Taxpayer Advocate Service
  The Taxpayer Advocate is an independent organization within the IRS. They help taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS and recommend changes that will prevent the problems.

Learning Center

• On-Line Classroom
  The Small Business/Self-Employed Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop is designed to help new and existing small business owners understand and meet their federal tax obligations.
• Small Business Tax Workshops
  Throughout the country various non-profit and government organizations offer small business workshops.

Resources

• Small Business Resources
  This section offers links to a broad range of resources across federal and state agencies.
• Small Business Products Online Ordering
  Looking for a tool to help you meet your tax requirements? Choose from our free products, developed especially for the Small Business/Self-Employed person, and obtain updated information on existing products.
• e-News for Small Businesses
  e-News for Small Businesses is a free electronic mail service designed to provide tax information for small business owners and self-employed individuals. Sign-up and you will receive information about:
  • Important upcoming tax dates
  • What's new for small businesses on the IRS Web site
  • Reminders and tips to assist small businesses with tax compliance
  • IRS News Releases and special IRS announcements.

Abusive Tax Schemes

• Tax Scams - How to Recognize and Avoid Them
  To help the public recognize and avoid abusive tax schemes, the IRS offers an abundance of educational materials. Participating in illegal schemes to avoid paying taxes can result in imprisonment and fines, as well as the repayment of taxes owed with penalties and interest. Education is the best way to avoid the pitfalls of these "too good to be true" tax scams.

Disaster Information

• Help for Hurricane Victims: Information on Tax Relief, Charitable Issues
  The Internal Revenue Service is working to provide appropriate relief and assistance to victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
• Tax Relief in Disaster Situations
  Special tax law provisions may help taxpayers recover financially from the impact of a disaster, especially when the president declares their location to be a major disaster area.

Resources for Specific Communities

• Industries/Professions
  Specific tax information for Agriculture, Automotive, Child Care, Construction, Cosmetology, Entertainment, Fishing, Gas Retailers, Manufacturing, Real Estate, Restaurants, Retail, Tax Professionals, Technical Professional, Trucking and other industries.
• Tax Information for International Businesses
  This section provides a vast amount of information on U.S. taxes for both aliens living in the U.S. and U.S. citizens located overseas.
• Tax Information for Tax Professionals
  Provides links to items on IRS.GOV which are helpful to the tax professional. We want to make it easy for tax professionals to find everything they need.

Check out these links!

Here is some of the information shared at the most recent Small Business Forum in February. You might want to check out some of this information before you file your taxes this year.

• e-News for Small Business
• 1040 Central
• Small Business and Self-Employed One Stop Resource
• Tax Gap Fact Sheets
• The Electronic IRS: File, Pay.... and More

Fresno Stakeholder Liaison
The Stakeholder Liaison’s office focuses on building relationships with payroll, practitioner, and industry groups to educate small business owners on their tax obligations and assist in reducing burdensome policies, practices and procedures. Contact the local IRS Stakeholder Liaison, Traci Vollmer via email at traci.a.vollmer@irs.gov or via telephone at (559) 452-3021