Small Business Tax Preparation Checklist
Below is the information you will need to gather for the preparation of your business income tax returns.
Our Small Business Organizer may also be beneficial.
Income
- Gross receipts from sales or services
- Sales records (for accrual based taxpayers)
- Beginning inventory (if applicable)
- Ending Inventory (if applicable)
- Items removed for personal purposes (if applicable)
- Returns and allowances
- Business checking and savings account interest (1099-INT or statement)
Transportation and Travel Expenses
Local Transportation
- Business trip (mileage) log
- Contemporaneous log or receipts for public transportation, parking and tolls.
Travel away from home
- Airfare or mileage (actual expense if drove)
- Hotels
- Meals and tips
- Taxes and tips
- Internet connection (hotel, Internet café, etc.)
Additional Expenses
- Advertising
Commissions paid to subcontractors
- File Form 1099-MISC and 1096 as necessary
Depreciation
- Cost and acquisition date of assets
- Sales price and disposition date of any assets sold
Fringe benefits
- Employer-paid pension/profit sharing contributions
- Employer-paid HSA contributions
- Employer-paid health insurance premiums
- Cost of other fringe benefits
Business insurance
- Casualty loss insurance
- Errors and omissions
- Other
Interest expense
- Mortgage interest on building owned by business
- Business loan interest
- Legal fees
Office supplies
- Pens, paper, staples, etc.
- Other consumables
Rent expense
- Office space rent
- Business-use vehicle lease expense
- Other
Office-in-home
- Square footage of office space (hours of use for daycare business)
- Total square footage of home (not applicable for daycare business)
- Mortgage interest or rent paid
- Utilities
Wages paid to employees
- Form W-2 and W-3 Federal and state payroll returns (Form 940, etc.)
Other expenses
- Repairs, maintenance of office facility, etc.