Volz CPA, Inc.

Tax Alerts and Tips

Recent Tax Changes and News:

• Extensions -- As you know, when you get an extension for your tax return, it gives you additional time to file the return but not additional time to pay any tax that is due. If you have an extension but pay a balance due after April 15th, you may be assessed penalties and interest. Currently, the late filing penalty is only .5% per month, so if you owe $500 and pay it by the end of April your penalty would be $2.50 which is highly unlikely to generate a penalty letter from the IRS. So, the sooner you pay the better your chances to possibly avoid a penalty. Here is some more info about IRS penalties and interest.
• Direct Pay -- The IRS has launched a new way for taxpayers to pay their tax liability online. The IRS Direct Pay website allows taxpayers to pay their Form 1040 tax bill or make estimated tax payments directly from their checking or savings account at no cost. The taxpayer receives instant confirmation that a tax payment has been submitted. Bank account information is not retained in the IRS systems after payments are made. Read More...
• How to Pay Federal Taxes by Credit Card.

Business Taxes:

• Ohio Sales Tax Reporting Requirements -- The Ohio Department of Taxation is reminding all taxpayers that monthly sales and use tax returns are due the 23rd of each month for the previous monthly filing period, unless the due date of the 23rd falls on a weekend or holiday, the return is due the next business day. This return must be filed electronically using the Ohio Business Gateway or TeleFile. For more information on electronic filing, see the sales tax electronic filing page on the departments website.

IRS Resources:

• IRS information on starting a business
• The basics from the IRS on federal business taxes.
• The IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center
• IRS Publication 583 - Starting a Business and Keeping Records
• Watch this and other videos on the IRS YouTube Channel

CLOSING A BUSINESS:

Closing your business can be a difficult and challenging task. The IRS has resources that can help you navigate this. On this page, you’ll find the steps you’ll need to take to close your business from a federal tax perspective regardless of your business type and information to help you take care of your employees. Whether a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation, information on this page will help you understand what to file and how to report income you receive and expenses you incur before closure. Remember to check your state responsibilities when closing a business.

Steps to Take to Close Your Business

1. File a Final Return and Related Forms: You must file a final return for the year you close your business. The type of return you file – and related forms you need – will depend on the type of business you have. A limited liability company (LLC) is a business organized under state law. An LLC may be classified for federal income tax purposes as a partnership, a corporation or an entity disregarded as separate from its owner.
   • A sole proprietor is someone who owns an unincorporated business by themselves.
   • A partnership is a relationship between two or more partners to do trade or business.
   A corporation is a separate taxpaying entity with at least one shareholder. This includes S corporations.
2. Take Care of Your Employees: Employment Taxes: If you have one or more employees, you must pay them any final wages and compensation owed. You must also make final federal tax deposits and report employment taxes. If you don’t withhold or deposit employee income, Social Security and Medicare taxes, the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty may apply. To report employment taxes, you may need to file the following forms:
   • Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, or Form 944, Employer’s Annual Federal Tax Return, for the quarter in which you make final wage payments.
     • Check the box to tell the IRS your business has closed and enter the date final wages were paid on line 17 of Form 941 or line 14 of Form 944.
     • Attach a statement to the return showing the name of the person keeping the payroll records and the address where those records will be kept.
   • Form 940, Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return, for the calendar year in which you paid final wages.
     • Check box "d" in the Type of Return section to show that the form is final.
   You must also provide a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, to each of your employees for the calendar year in which you pay them their final wages. You should provide Forms W-2 to your employees by the due date of your final Form 941 or Form 944. Generally, you furnish copies B, C and 2 to the employees. You file Form W-3, Transmittal of Income and Tax Statements to transmit Copy A to the Social Security Administration. If your employees receive tips, you must file Form 8027, Employer’s Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips, to report final tip income and allocated tips. Pension or Benefit Plans: If you provide a pension or benefit plan for your employees, see how to Terminate a Retirement Plan. If you provide Health Savings Accounts or similar programs for your employees, see About Publication 969, Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans.
3. Pay the Tax You Owe: See Paying Your Taxes for ways to pay the tax you owe.
4. Report Payments to Contract Workers: If you have paid any contractors at least $600 for services (including parts and materials) during the calendar year in which you close your business, you must report those payments. Use Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation. Use Form 1096, Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns, to send paper copies of all Forms 1099 to us. Some filers must file Forms 1099 electronically.
5. Cancel Your EIN and Close Your IRS Business Account: The employer identification number – or EIN – assigned to your business is the permanent federal taxpayer identification number for that business. To cancel your EIN and close your IRS business account, you need to send them a letter that includes:
   • The complete legal name of the business
   • The business EIN
   • The business address
   • The reason you wish to close the account
   If you kept the notice they sent you when assigned your EIN, you should enclose a copy of it with your EIN cancellation letter. Send both documents to: Internal Revenue Service Cincinnati, Oh 45999 They cannot close your business account until you have filed all necessary returns and paid all taxes owed.
6. Keep Your Records: How long you need to keep your business records depends on what’s recorded in each document.
   • Property records: Generally, keep records relating to property until the period of limitations expires for the year in which you dispose of the property. The period of limitations is the period of time in which you can amend your tax return to claim a credit or refund, or the IRS can assess additional tax.
   • Employment tax records: Keep all records of employment taxes for at least four years.
   For more details, see How Long Should I Keep Records?