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June 20, 2019
Question

new business

  • June 20, 2019
  • 1 reply
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I started a sole proprietorship in Ohio on 5/20/19. I had no income last year. Was I required to file estimated taxes that were due 6/17/19? If so, how do I file using this software?

    1 reply

    VolvoGirl
    Employee
    June 20, 2019

    The first year you don't need to pay estimates as long as you pay in (by withholding) as much as your tax was last year.  But if you will have a big income you should send in estimates so you don't owe too much next April on your tax return.

     

    For SE self employment tax - if you have a net profit (after expenses) of $400 or more you will pay 15.3% SE Tax on 92.35% of your net profit in addition to your regular income tax on it. So if you have other income like W2 income your extra business income might put you into a higher tax bracket.

     

    You must make quarterly estimated tax payments for the current tax year if both of the following apply:

    - 1. You expect to owe at least $1,000 in tax for the current tax year, after subtracting your withholding and credits.

     

    - 2. You expect your withholding and credits to be less than the smaller of:

        90% of the tax to be shown on your current year’s tax return, or

      100% of the tax shown on your prior year’s tax return. (Your prior year tax return must cover all 12 months).

     

    To prepare estimates for next year you start with your current return, but be careful not to change anything.  For Online returns, if you can't get back into your return, Click on Add a State to let you back into your retun.

     

    You can just type W4 in the search box at the top of your return , click on Find. Then Click on Jump To and it will take you to the estimated tax payments section. Say no to changing your W-4 and the next screen will start the estimated taxes section.

     

    Or Go to….

    Federal Taxes or Personal (Desktop H&B)

    Other Tax Situations

    Other Tax Forms

    Form W-4 and Estimated Taxes - Click the Start or Update button

     

    The 1040ES quarterly estimates are due April 15, 2019, June 17, Sept 16 and Jan 15, 2020.  And don't forget your state.  Go to the end of the state section, probably under Other Tax Situations

    VolvoGirl
    Employee
    June 20, 2019

    And 

    Some general info.  You will need to keep good records.  You may get a 1099Misc at the end of the year if someone pays you more than $600 but you need to report all your income no matter how small.  You might want to use Quicken or QuickBooks to keep track of your income and expenses.

     

    There is also QuickBooks Self Employment bundle you can check out which includes one Turbo Tax Online Self Employed  return....

    http://quickbooks.intuit.com/self-employed

     

    To report your self employment income you will fill out schedule C in your personal 1040 tax return and pay SE self employment Tax.  You will need to use the Online Self Employed version or any Desktop program but the Desktop Home & Business version will have the most help.

     

    Self Employment tax (Scheduled SE) is automatically generated if a person has $400 or more of net profit from self-employment.  You pay 15.3% SE tax on 92.35% of your Net Profit greater than $400.  The 15.3% self employed SE Tax is to pay both the employer part and employee part of Social Security and Medicare.  So you get social security credit for it when you retire.  You do get to take off the 50% ER portion of the SE tax as an adjustment on Schedule 1 line 27.  The SE tax is already included in your tax due or reduced your refund.  It is on the Schedule 4 line 57.  The SE tax is in addition to your regular income tax on the net profit.

     

    Here is some IRS reading material……

     

    IRS information on Self Employment

    http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Self-Employed-Individuals-Tax-Center

     

    Pulication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business

    http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p334.pdf

     

    Publication 535 Business Expenses

    http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p535.pdf