2013 U.S. Federal & State Business Tax Return Info and Preparation Process

As an entrepreneur, you are well aware that paying taxes and filing tax returns are a part of doing business in America whether your business made $50 or $50,000,000. Failure to do so on time or at all can easily lead you and your company into a financial and legal hole.

Most small businesses in America are classified as sole-proprietorships, s-corporations, LLCs/LLPs or partnerships. If your business falls into one of these categories, then keep reading.

Taxes vs. Tax Return
Although every small business is subject to paying federal income taxes, there are a variety of other taxes (or fees) your company is expected to pay depending on your company’s industry and the state(s) (and often times counties or parishes) in which you conduct business. Such taxes can include:

  • sales tax
  • mining tax
  • utility tax
  • communications tax
  • various employment taxes
  • excise tax
  • licensing tax
  • annual registration tax

Tax returns consist of a series of forms that must be completed (preferably by a CPA, Accountant or certified tax preparer) based on your company’s financial records for the close of a calendar or fiscal year. As the owner, you must sign the tax returns and ensure they are filed on time. The federal tax return is filed first so that the adjusted gross income can then be reported on the state tax return(s).

2013 Federal Income Tax Return
The 2013 federal tax return deadline is Mar. 17, 2014 as established by the IRS.

There are many forms to complete for your company’s federal income tax return, but the most common are:

Note that if your company is considered to be a foreign entity, then you will more than likely have to complete and file Form 1120-F. If you had employees or hired independent contractors during the 2013 calendar year, then you must prepare and distribute W2 and 1099 forms by a certain date BEFORE you can file the federal income tax return.

The flowchart below shows the relationship amongst filing employment forms, the federal tax return and state tax return(s).

tax return filing process

2013 State Income Tax Returns
When you file a business state income tax return largely depends on which state(s) you conducted business in. For example, in many states the business tax return is also due on Mar. 17, 2014.

However, in some states the deadline for filing a state tax return for your business is dependent upon whether or not your business operates on a fiscal or calendar year. For example, California and North Dakota require filing based on a time period following the end of your business’ tax year (fiscal or calendar).

Another tricky area for many entrepreneurs is figuring out exactly which state returns must be completed and filed for their businesses. This is why its SO important that you consult with a CPA, accountant or certified tax preparer to get help in figuring this out.

Depending on the state, you must file a state tax return if your company:

  • is registered in a particular state
  • conducted business in a particular state
  • received business income from/in a particular state
  • incorporated or formed a partnership in a particular state

So, its possible that if your business is legally registered in New York but you did most of your consulting work in 2013 in California (and your business received income), you would have to file a state tax return in both New York and California.

To help minimize confusion about this, I’ve compiled a list of each state along with a link to its governing taxation body. If you’re curious about whether or not you will have to file multiple state tax returns, then click on the link(s) corresponding to the state where you conducted business and find out whether or not you must file a state tax return.

Alabama Alabama Department of Revenue
Alaska Alaska Department of Revenue: Tax Division
Arizona Arizona Department of Revenue
Arkansas Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration
California State of California Franchise Tax Board
Colorado Colorado Department of Revenue
Connecticut Connecticut Department of Revenue
Delaware State of Delaware Department of Finance: Division of Revenue
Florida Florida Department of Revenue
Georgia Georgia Department of Revenue
Hawaii State of Hawaii Department of Taxation
Idaho Idaho State Tax Commission
Illinois Illinois Revenue
Indiana Indiana Department of Revenue
Iowa Department of Iowa Revenue
Kansas Kansas Department of Revenue
Kentucky Kentucky Department of Revenue
Louisiana Louisiana Department of Revenue
Maine State of Main Department of Administrative & Financial Services
Maryland Comptroller of Maryland
Massachusetts Massachusetts Department of Revenue
Michigan State of Michigan Department of Treasury
Minnesota Minnesota Revenue
Mississippi State of Mississippi Department of Revenue
Missouri Missouri Department of Revenue
Montana Montana Department of Revenue
Nebraska Nebraska Department of Revenue
Nevada Nevada Department of Taxation
New Hampshire New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration
New Jersey State of New Jersey Department of the Treasury: Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services
New Mexico New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department
New York State of New York Department of Taxation & Finance
North Carolina North Carolina Department of Revenue
North Dakota North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner
Ohio Ohio Department of Taxation
Oklahoma Oklahoma Tax Commission
Oregon Oregon Department of Revenue
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
Rhode Island State of Rhode Island Department of Revenue: Division of Taxation
South Carolina South Carolina Department of Revenue
South Dakota South Dakota Department of Revenue
Tennessee Tennessee Department of Revenue
Texas Texas Department of Revenue
Utah Utah State Tax Commission
Vermont Vermont Department of Taxes
Virginia Virginia Department of Taxation
Washington Washington State Department of Revenue
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Office of Tax & Revenue
West Virginia West Virginia State Tax Department
Wisconsin Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Wyoming Wyoming Department of Revenue

*Note that South Dakota and Wyoming do not have a corporate/business income tax.

Federal & State Tax Return Filing Preparation Process

Tax Preparation Process and Procedure TemplateHopefully by now you understand the importance of doing your due diligence in preparing for your federal and state tax returns.

It’s also probably no mystery why working with qualified tax professionals is critical to making sure your business stays in legal compliance from a taxation standpoint.

There are certain things you can do throughout your calendar or fiscal year to make the tax return filing process easier and more efficient for the tax professional you work with.

Having a process in place that prevents poor recordkeeping, unnecessary penalties and fines, and chronic filing extensions not only makes the filing process easier for your tax professional but it also ensures a successful audit (should you find yourself in that situation).
 Tax Preparation Process and Procedure Template
At Equilibria, we offer tax return preparation procedure and process templates that you can invest in as a low cost way of ensuring you do the things necessary to remain in compliance. Visit our Process Shop to find this template and others relating to accounting or billing activities.
Most of us absolutely dread this time of year when we have to file tax returns. Save yourself the agony of going through this experience by: 1) following a well-defined tax preparation process, 2) hiring a tax filing expert, and 3) setting aside some cash reserves in advance just in case you have to pay taxes you weren’t expecting.
Do you have tips you want to share? Please write them in the comments section below!
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