Tax Tip: Top Seven Tips for Taxpayers Starting a New Business

IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2009-02

Anyone starting a new business this summer should be aware of their federal tax responsibilities. Here are the top seven things the IRS wants you to know if you plan on opening a new business this year.

1. First, you must decide what type of business entity you are going to establish. The type your business takes 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. Visit IRS.gov for more information about whether you will need an EIN. You can also apply for an EIN online at IRS.gov.
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.
Visit the Business section of IRS.gov for resources to assist entrepreneurs with starting and operating a new business.
Alternative Minimum Tax planning:
Of the items listed above, two will have a direct impact on the Alternative Minimum Tax you will pay.
# 1, choice of entity, means that if you select a pass-through entity such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, S corporation or an LLC, any AMTthat is due will be payable by you personally, on your Form 1040. If you choose to operate in the traditional corporate form, however, it will be the corporation, and not you, liable for any AMT.
# 6, choice of accounting methods, has a direct impact on the AMT because of the differences in the accounting methods allowable for the regular tax versus the AMT. Take depreciation, for example. If you choose one of the accelerated methods for the regular tax, the difference between this and a non-accelerated, or "straight-line," method is a preference item that can trigger the AMT for you.

George Bauernfeind is with AMT Individual - providing information on Alternative Minimum Tax Planning . He writes articles to help the tax payers to pay less Alternative Minimum Tax. He recommend to use Alternative Minimum Tax Calculator to reduce Alternative Minimum Tax.