If you opened a business in 2022 but have not started making money in 2022, do you register the business anyways?

It depends on whether you were actually conducting business.

When you say “register the business anyways” I’m assuming you mean listing your expenses, but no income, as self-employment in TurboTax.  You can claim ordinary and necessary business expenses if you were actively conducting business, even if you made no money.

Actively conducting business would include activities such as advertising, maintaining a website showing you in business (not “coming soon”), contacting potential customers, etc.

The IRS allows you to claim a loss with no income. However, if you do not make a profit in three of five years on a rolling basis, the IRS has the right to reclassify your business as a hobby and disallow any losses.

Learn more at Here’s how to tell the difference between a hobby and a business for tax purposes

TurboTax only handles income tax. For other business registration questions, such as registering your business with your local government, obtaining occupancy licenses, health and safety inspections and other matters, contact your local government.