Small Business
The most frequently asked tax questions related to Small Business
Can I combine my first 2 years of taxes in one tax return ?
Asked Saturday, November 20, 2021 by OsamaI started my business in mid 2019, I made around $8,000 in revenue in 2019. When I wanted to file business taxes for that year, my accountant told me that I don’t have to file since it’s first year of business and I haven’t made that much and it would be added to next year income ( meaning 2020) so when I filed for 2020 taxes he just added tha $8000 I made in 2019 to the total revenue from 2020 as a total number and filed it for me . Is that legit? Or do I need to file for 2019 separately ? And if so can I do that now in late 2021?
CPA Answer:
Technically you cant combine years like that. As a practical matter though, the $8000 of revenue probably results in a much lower number for taxable income after accounting for expenses so if the income is immaterial for that year, adding it to 2020 might not be a real problem. Also keep in mind if there were an audit, showing the income, even though its in the wrong period could help with negating any sort of under reporting penalty.
Of course you really should consider amending 2019 to report everything in the correct year, but if you decide not to do that, be sure everything from here on out is reported in the correct period. Combining revenue is not proper.
sales Taxes and Tax ID
Asked Tuesday, October 05, 2021 by MicheleHello, I plan to open a food truck. I live in SE Oklahoma and plan to run the Truck in NE Texas and not in Oklahoma. 1/ do I need a Tax ID or is my SS number enough for sales tax? 2/If I need a tax ID do I need to take it in Oklahoma or in Texas? I suppose I need to have a food license from Texas. 3/ Do I need an EIN number or is my SS number enough? I do not plan to hire any employees (at the beginning)
CPA Answer:
My Answer:
Hello, from San Antonio, Texas. First, I want to say congratulations on the business venture.
To answer your first question, if your question is strictly about applying for the Texas sales tax permit, you do not need a Tax ID (employer identification number or EIN). You can apply for a Texas sales tax permit, as a sole proprietor. When you apply for the Texas sales tax permit, Texas will assign you an 11 digit Texas Taxpayer Number.
To answer your second question, if you are going to operating the food truck in Texas (so the income will be generated in Texas), you definitely need the sales tax permit in Texas. You won’t be doing any sales in Oklahoma, so you probably don’t need an Oklahoma sales tax permit.
To answer your third question, you do not need an EIN (what I assume you’re calling a Tax ID) yet. However, the moment you hire any employees, you must have an EIN. Also, you may want to consider getting an EIN, even if you don’t need it. Why? Because if you don’t have an EIN, you’re going to be giving out your SSN to everyone. That definitely increases the risk of identity theft for you.
If you found this helpful, I would really appreciate if you could leave a Google review for me (Adam Dickreiter) by following this link https://g.page/adam-dickreiter-cpa-pllc/review?gm or doing a Google search for my name.
If we receive a positive Google review, my company will donate $10.00 to San Antonio Youth Literacy.
If you need a CPA or a bookkeeper, I am a CPA, and I also have a separate bookkeeping company (whose website address is www.bookkeepingsolutionssa.com). We have quite a bit of knowledge about sales tax, as we file sales tax reports for many clients and we are even engaged from time-to-time by companies (who are not even regular clients) to represent them with sales tax audits, as Texas loves to go after businesses for sales tax.
Adam Dickreiter, CPA
Adam Dickreiter
EIN Question
Asked Tuesday, September 21, 2021 by TeriHi. I am getting ready to purchase a practice/LLC. I am seeing/hearing conflicting information regarding the transfer of ownership. From what I've read on the IRS website, it appears as though I need to get a new EIN for the LLC which will keep the same name. The CPA and attorney for the person who currently owns the practice believe that I can take over and keep the same EIN as a single owner.
CPA Answer:
You both can be right. In my opinion, the answer depends how the practice purchase/sale is structured. If you are buying the assets of the practice, then you are right, you need to get a new EIN for your LLC that is buying the practice. On the other hand, if you are buying the seller’s LLC, then you can keep the same EIN that currently belongs to the seller.
Just to let you know, if you are investing the big bucks to purchase a practice, you need to have an attorney and a CPA in your corner, to look out for your best interests. If you don’t, you could easily find yourself in a situation where you are saving a few dollars by not paying professional fees, but you could be losing much, much more because you didn’t do things right or overlooked something.
As a certified public accountant (CPA), I am available to help on a consulting basis now and an ongoing basis going forward for taxes, bookkeeping, etc.
if you found this free advice helpful, please leave me a review, either through Google (search for Adam Dickreiter or by using the following link https://g.page/adam-dickreiter-cpa-pllc/review?gm) or through this website (CPAdirectory).
Adam Dickreiter
Inactive LLC Inquiry
Asked Friday, June 25, 2021 by JoelI created an LLC in 2017. It's been inactive since then. I was not reporting expenses nor income. It is now 2021 and is the first year I started to utilize it for a side hustle. Should I have been filing taxes on this LLC from 2017 - 2020 although it was inactive? Will I be penalized for not filing taxes on an LLC which is inactive?
CPA Answer:
As a CPA, I came across this website and joined just last week, and I just came across your question.
To provide a complete and accurate answer, one would need to know more details about your situation.
First, how many owners have there been for the LLC from 2017 to 2020? Second, if this a situation where the LLC is owned by a married couple? Third, did you ever make any election to determine how the LLC would be taxed for federal income tax purposes? Its classification (disregarded entity, partnership, C corporation, S corporation) for federal income tax purposes would determine whether or not you should have been filing separate federal income tax returns for this LLC.
Besides considering federal income tax returns, you would need to consider state income tax returns or annual reports (depending on the state in which the LLC was created, as you did not provide that detail). It is often the case that returns or reports need to be filed with a state each year, even if it was inactive and even if you are required to file a federal income tax return.
So, yes, there very well could be penalties involved for not filing. However, more needs to be known to make that determination.
Feel free to contact me if you wish to engage me to help you.
Adam Dickreiter
Selling Personal Stock to Fund Buisness?
Asked Thursday, June 17, 2021 by JoshuaI am thinking about selling about 25K in stock that I own to purchase assets for a business. If I do this will I be able to avoid the capital gains?
CPA Answer:
As a CPA, I came across this website and joined just last week, and I just came across your question.
Unfortunately, no, you will not be able to avoid the tax on capital gains. As you know, as long as you own the stock, you don’t pay any tax on unrealized gains. When you sell stock, you realize gains and pay tax. There is not an exception to that rule, just because you’re using the proceeds to purchase assets for a business.
Trying to think outside the box, even if you could contribute the stock to a business of yours and manage to get tax-free treatment on the contribution of the stock to the business, you’d still run into the same problem when the business tried to sell the stock to get the money to purchase assets. In that case, the business would have to either pay tax itself (at its marginal tax rate) on the capital gains or pass the gains to you and you’d have to pay the tax (depending on how the business was structured for federal income tax purposes).
It’s great that you’re trying to be proactive and find a way to save taxes, but I don’t think it’s a go this time.
Even though you cannot avoid the tax on the capital gains, you should consider depreciation on the assets your purchase for the business. That might help offset some of the tax on your gains. Just a thought.
I wish you the best in your endeavors.
Adam Dickreiter
S corp questiob
Asked Monday, March 15, 2021 by AnneI am an IT consultant. I started my bisoness in December 2020. I am an S Corp. I received one payment for work performed in December 2020. No payroll for 2020. My question is am I required to file an 1120S and K1 for 2020?
CPA Answer:
As a CPA, I came across this website and joined just last week, and I just came across your question.
Unfortunately, yes, you need to file a Form 1120S, which will include the Schedules K and K-1 for 2020. S corporations must file a return every year, whether or not there is any activity. Don’t forget about any state return, such as a state income tax return, franchise return, or annual report. Feel free to contact me if you wish to engage me to help.
Adam Dickreiter
Foreign Earned Income Deduction - 2014
Asked Wednesday, January 15, 2014 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
Colorado
Asked Monday, December 30, 2013 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
Arizona
Asked Monday, December 30, 2013 by an anonymous userCPA Answer: