Ask HN: How to file tax returns in United States

4 points by akshat 12 years ago | 6 comments

Does anyone know, what the simplest procedure is to file tax returns for a US incorporated company. It has income of about 2-3000 USD in the year 2013.

patio11 12 years ago |

When you say "incorporated company", what type of company is it? This is a consequential difference in the US, as C-corps are treated differently than S-corps and LLCs, which might be pass-through entities.

If you have a C-corp, and it has US-source income, you need a tax professional, and you will likely spend most of that income on their services. Sorry.

If you have an LLC, the pain-minimizing steps is to fill out a personal tax return with a Schedule C-EZ attached to it. Write the revenue number on the schedule C-EZ. Normally you'd calculate expenses for the business and subtract them, but understating your expenses is not a crime, so save yourself the hassle and just write 0 for all of them. I'm assuming you're asking this question because you're not physically in the US and this company is your sole US-source income, so when you flow that number to the places the Schedule C and 1040-EZ tell you to put it, you'll find that you have 0 tax due. Sign return, mail in, keep copies of the return and documentation of that income number for 6 years.

If you don't want to have to read instructions, TaxAct is fairly decent SaaS for uncomplicated returns, and should be able to handle a simple LLC filing. I used it for rather substantially more complicated returns for 7 years prior to getting a real accountant. I think it will run you about $15.

Depending on where the company is incorporated and how it earns its income, you may have to file state income taxes. You may also have to pay state/local taxes or fees. If any of this is news to you, talk to an accountant.

shiftpgdn 12 years ago | |

I spent only $400 to file my C-corp taxes in 2011 and 2012 after calling a few dozen accountants and finding someone I felt was competent. This was after paying the $30~ for TaxAct which was a nightmare to use and gave me the feeling I was setting myself up for an audit.

Delaware has no corporate state income tax IIRC.

Edit: I skimmed over the last and most important line of Patio's reply so I figure so I should reiterate it and not seem completely contrary: You NEED to call an accountant.

akshat 12 years ago | |

Thank you. We are a C-Corp registered in Delaware. Would you have any recommendations on some service which can help with this.

tptacek 12 years ago | | |

Do you have non-employee shareholders (ie investors)? If not, it might be cheaper to elect S-Corp status and file as an S than it will be to continue doing your taxes as a C-corp.

(I'm almost certain that filing as an S-Corp is cheaper than as a C-Corp, but not as clear on the conversion cost, which might be trivial or might not.)

You need to talk to an accountant. Don't put this off. Being in the hole on taxes really, really sucks.

apprishiate 12 years ago | | |

If you do end up switching as an S-Corporation, you must elect before March 15 to qualify as an S-corp for this year.

I'd consult an accountant.

fsk 12 years ago |

If the business is incorporated (not sure if that applies to C corps or S-corp also), you have to hire a licensed accountant. You can't do it yourself, even if you can fill out the forms correctly. (and you still probably should check the work of whoever you hire)

That's one advantage of not incorporating until your revenue is greater than a certain amount. If your business is not incorporated, you can do a Schedule C yourself.