By Full Name, CPA
Guides
These guides explain the general framework of tax and accounting tasks; they are not advice for your own situation. Each guide lists its sources, the date it was last reviewed and the tax year it covers.
2026 examples. Figures, rates and dates on this page change by year; check current IRS and state guidance before you rely on them.
Start hereBusiness tax return deadlines by entity typeWhen partnerships, S corporations, C corporations and sole proprietors file federal income tax returns, how extensions work and how estimated payments fit in.Read the guide- 02Cash vs. accrual accounting: which method fits your businessHow the cash and accrual methods record income and expenses, who can use the cash method, and what it takes to change methods with the IRS.
- 03Closing a business: a federal and state tax checklistTax steps for closing a business: final returns, Form 966, final payroll filings, reporting asset sales, closing the IRS account and dissolving with the state.
- 04How long to keep tax records for your businessIRS record retention periods for business tax records: the 3, 4, 6 and 7 year rules, property records, payroll records and how to store files electronically.
- 05How sales tax filing works for small businessesWho sets sales tax, how filing frequency is assigned, what economic nexus means after Wayfair, and what happens when a return or payment is late.
- 06Payroll tax basics for employers: what to withhold and fileWhat employers withhold from wages, what they pay on top, which federal payroll forms are due and when, and what changes when an employee leaves.
- 07Quarterly estimated taxes: who pays, when, and how muchWho needs to make quarterly estimated tax payments, the four federal due dates, the safe harbor rules that help you avoid a penalty, and how corporations pay.
- 08Sole proprietorship, LLC or S corp: the key differencesHow a sole proprietorship, an LLC and an S corporation differ in liability, federal tax treatment, setup steps and bookkeeping, plus questions to ask first.
- 09Who needs a 1099-NEC and when is it dueWhen a business files Form 1099-NEC for contractors, which payments are covered, how Form W-9 fits in, and the January 31 deadline for payees and the IRS.
This content is general information. Tax rules change from year to year, and it is not advice for your situation. Check current IRS and state guidance and talk to a CPA before you make a decision.