Vision Payroll

This week’s question comes from Julian, a sole-proprietor. After being laid-off from my job, I have decided to open my own business as a sole proprietor. Where can I find due dates for tax payments and filings? Answer: Each year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) releases Publication 509, Tax Calendars, for use during the following tax year.

Publication 509 Gives Due Dates for Many Items

A tax calendar is a 12-month calendar divided into quarters. The calendar gives specific due dates for the following.

• Filing tax forms.
• Paying taxes.
• Taking other actions required by federal tax law.

Publication 509 Is not Just a Tax Calendar

Though the title of Publication 509 is Tax Calendars, it includes more than just a single tax calendar. It contains:

• A section on how to use the calendars.
• A general tax calendar.
• An employer’s tax calendar.
• An excise tax calendar.
• A table showing the semi-weekly deposit due dates for 2011.

Four Advantages of Using a Tax Calendar

1. You do not have to figure the due dates yourself.
2. You can file or pay timely and avoid penalties.
3. You do not have to adjust the due dates for Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
4. You do not have to adjust the due dates for special banking rules if you use the Employer’s Tax Calendar or Excise Tax Calendar.

Vision Payroll Has Implemented the 2011 Due Dates in Its Tax Calculation Software

Contact Vision Payroll for further information on Publication 509.

Starting a new business can be an exciting and challenging time. Writing a business plan, picking a name, deciding how to finance, choosing a location, hiring your employees, and many more decisions can be stressful for entrepreneurs. If you’re starting a new business, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2010-05, lists the following six tax tips:

1. First, you must decide what type of business entity you are going to establish. The type of business entity 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.

Vision Payroll works with clients as diverse as brand new start-ups and billion dollar companies. If you’re starting a new business, contact us today for all your payroll and human resources needs.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Fact Sheet FS-2008-25, which discusses S corporation officer compensation. Corporate officers, whether in S corporations or C corporations, are generally considered employees of the corporation. Officers who perform only minor services or no services and are not entitled to and do not receive compensation are not considered employees.

As an employee, officers who are also shareholders must receive a reasonable salary to the extent that distributions or other payments are made to the officer-shareholder. Factors considered when determining when compensation was reasonable have included the following:

• Training and experience
• Duties and responsibilities
• Time and effort devoted to the business
• Dividend history
• Payments to non-shareholder employees
• Timing and manner of paying bonuses to key people
• What comparable businesses pay for similar services
• Compensation agreements
• The use of a formula to determine compensation

The S corporation should deduct as fringe benefits any health and accident insurance premiums paid for so-called “2% shareholders”. The amount of the premiums is taxable to these shareholders for income tax purposes, but not for FICA or FUTA.

Pursuant to IRS Notice 2008-1, a medical plan is “established by the S corporation” even if the plan is in the name of the shareholder as long as the S corporation pays the premium or reimburses the shareholder for the premium payment.

Box 14 on the Form W-2 may be used to provide the shareholder with the amount of the premiums paid, but the income should only be reported on Form W-2 and not on either Form 1099 or Schedule K-1. Contact Vision Payroll if you have any questions on Fact Sheet FS-2008-25.