Tax Preparation for a small business can be hard and frustrating. Here are some places you can go to get the information and help you need.
The hardest questions to answer are often the simplest ones. At least that's how it seems when you deal with the government. At tax time, small businesses already have enough to worry about without having to fight to find the information they need. So, a lot of the work has already been done for you.
Here is a list of helpful tax sites that every small business should add to their bookmarks. You'll find that they give you access to a world of information. They also tell you how to get in touch with agencies that you may need to talk to directly.
New York State Department of Taxation and Finance makes it easy for people who live in New York to pay their taxes online. You can also print forms and find customer service contact information by clicking on the links at the top of the page. If you don't live in New York State, you can find out if your state has a similar program by typing "pay [name of your state] state tax online" (without the quotes or brackets) into your favorite search engine.
System for paying federal taxes online - Tired of having to go to the bank to deposit your federal tax checks? Signing up for an online payment account can save you a lot of time. It only takes a few minutes to set up, and then you can pay your federal taxes online instead of at the bank branch near you.
Administration for Social Security - This is definitely a site to save. Here, you can find out more about the Social Security program, estimate your retirement or disability benefits, and access great information about the Social Security Administration. This lets you estimate your benefits, apply for them, print forms and publications, and do other things. Employers can check a worker's SSN, talk directly to the Administration, and get other kinds of help.
State Education Department of the University of the State of New York - Did you know that acupuncturists, landscapers, and midwives all have to get a license in the state of New York? It's true! Like many other professionals, they have to apply for and get a license before they can do their jobs. On this site, you can find out which jobs need licenses and which businesses already have them.
Tax Almanac - This free online tax resource is an open community with a discussion forum, a page of current events, and news about recent changes to taxes. This is a great tool for small businesses.
If you know where to look for the information you need, it's much easier to stay on top of your payroll, quarterly, annual, and other taxes. These sites are a great place to start looking for answers to your questions, as well as forms and other tools to help you meet your tax obligations with as little trouble as possible.
