Key Business Forms
Throughout the book, we’ve discussed a number of forms you need to get your business started. These are the most common forms business owners use. They might not all apply to you, but here are some easy resources for finding what forms you do need.
IRS tax resources for small businesses are available via its Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center, irs.gov/businesses/small. You can access many of the forms and full instructions at irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Forms-and-Instructions-Filing-and-Paying-Business-Taxes or search for forms and publications at apps.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/formsPublications.html.
The forms listed here are federal forms. Your state, city, county, or even township has more paperwork for you to complete. Contact your state and local government revenue departments for information about running your business within your state and local jurisdiction. Here are some of the forms you should be on the lookout for:
- Business license application (for new businesses)
- Business license renewal
- Annual franchise tax form
- Corporation registration form
- Annual corporation renewal form
- State and local income tax withholding remittances
- State and local income tax withholding returns (monthly, quarterly, and annually)
- State unemployment forms
| Form or Publication Number | Description |
| I-9 | Employment Eligibility Verification |
| SS-4 | Application for Employer Identification Number |
| W-2 | Wage and Tax Statement |
| W-2C | Corrected Wage and Tax Statement |
| W-3 | Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements |
| W-3C | Transmittal of Corrected Wage and Tax Statements |
| W-4 | Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate |
| 940 | Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return |
| 941 | Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return |
| 1040-ES | Estimated Tax Worksheet and Estimated Tax Payment Vouchers |
| 1065 | U.S. Return of Partnership Income |
| 1065 (Schedule K-1) | Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc. |
| 1099-MISC | Miscellaneous Income |
| 1120 | U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return |
| 1244 | Employee’s Daily Record of Tips and Report to Employer (includes Form 4070: Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer and Form 4070A: Employee’s Daily Record of Tips) |
| 5500 | Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan |
| 8027 | Employer’s Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips |