Category: Uncategorized

What is A Tax Resale Certificate?

It is critical that you understand that tax resale certificates can also be used on items that will be resold. Office supplies, such as new computers for your employees, would not fall under the category of retail.  It would be considered fraud not to pay sales tax on these items.

If this is confusing for you, just think of tax resale certificates as state tax exemption certificates.  Some states actually call them exemption certificates or reseller’s permits.

How Do I Know If I Need To Pay Sales Tax In A Given State?

In order to establish whether or not a state can impose a sales tax upon your business there first needs to be a nexus. Nexus relating to state sales tax is established by a connection between the state and your business. How this connection is defined has been subject to fairly recent changes that reflect changes in the way business is conducted in modern times.

Traditionally, the business has established the nexus actually having a physical presence in the state. However, due to the explosion of e-commerce, physical presence within a state is no longer a requirement for sales tax nexus. In the case of South Dakota v. Wayfair, the courts actually eliminated physical presence as the major requirement for creating nexus. It still should be noted that physical presence is considered an important requirement to allow a state to collect sales tax and is still one of the first considerations for sales tax.

Is The Tax Resale Certificate The Same As A Seller’s Permit?

Even though tax resale certificates are called reseller’s permits in some states, it is important not to confuse them with seller’s permits. A seller’s permit allows a retailer to charge tax on items that they are going to sell to a customer. A tax resale certificate allows you to buy items that are intended for resale without paying a sales tax on those items. 

Does A Vendor Have To Accept My Tax Resale Certificate?

It is extremely important to a retailer’s bottom line that they do not pay sales taxes on goods if there is a possibility that the tax can be exempted on a state level. However, it is also crucial to understand that a wholesaler is not required to accept your tax resale certificate in some states

What Do I Do if I Purchase Goods In Multiple States?

The tax resale certificate can be challenging if you purchase and sell goods in multiple states. It can mean keeping track of many types of certificates for different vendors. The multijurisdiction resale certificate, which is also known as a blanket retail certificate or a uniform sales tax certificate, can help ease this burden.  As its name suggests this document can be used over multiple states. However, the document itself can be confusing and it is not accepted the same way in every state. The document must be filled out correctly, and the retailer is aware of the different issues that can arise if it is misused.   

Do All States Accept The Multijurisdictional Resale Certificates?

One should also recognize that the following states do not accept the multijurisdictional resale certificate:

• California
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Washington

Do All States Charge Sales Tax?

Some states do not charge sales tax. Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon do not charge sales tax on a state level. Alaska and Montana do allow municipalities to charge sales tax on retail goods at a local level. A tax retail certificate is not needed in these places concerning a state sales tax.

What Happens If I Do Most Of My Business In A State That I Am Not Incorporated?

If you primarily do business in a state that you are not incorporated in, make sure you apply for a Foreign Qualification (also known in some states as a Certificate of Registration or Certificate of Authority). This is the process of registering your company, which is considered domestic to the state in which it was originally formed and foreign to all other states, as a foreign entity in the states in which it operates. The retailer is then able to legally conduct business outside the state in which the company was originally formed and therefore should be able to apply for a tax resale certificate. 

What Information Do I Need For The Tax Certificate Registration Form?

You must provide the following information:

• The name and address of the purchaser
• The name and address of the seller
• The registration number of the purchaser
• An accurate description of property purchased for resale
• The reason for the exemption
• A statement that if the property is put to use in a taxable manner that the purchaser will remit the consumer use tax
• Date and Signature and Title of the authorized individual at the purchaser

What Happens If I Do Most Of My Business In A State That I Am Not Incorporated?

If you primarily do business in a state that you are not incorporated in, make sure you apply for a Foreign Qualification (also known in some states as a Certificate of Registration or Certificate of Authority). This is the process of registering your company, which is considered domestic to the state in which it was initially formed and foreign to all other states, as a foreign entity in the states in which it operates. The retailer is then able to legally conduct business outside the state in which the company was initially formed and therefore should be able to apply for a tax resale certificate. 

Tax Resale Certificate Is Here To Help

Not correctly understanding sales tax and the benefits of a tax resale certificate can lead to a great deal of trouble. A retailer could lose out on extremely beneficial sales tax exemption status. A savvy business owner will understand that having a tax resale certificate will save them a good deal of money but leave the actual headache of registration to someone else.

On the other hand, misunderstanding and not paying the correct sales tax to a state government could very much hurt a business’s standing and reputation. At Tax Resale Certificate,  we make the process as easy as possible. Just take advantage of our user-friendly interface to help take the headache of applying for a tax resale certificate off your plate. This way you can completely focus on the great opportunities presented by your Print on Demand business.

Become Proactive

Business taxes are determined by net income. If you use an online accounting system and enter all income and expenses, the system will automatically provide you with a gross profit figure. Those that use spreadsheets, please add up the numbers so you can forecast what you owe.

Starting Up

Even though starting up a business is easier than ever before, there are still costs associated with any new venture. Luckily, You can deduct up to $5,000 of all the expenses related to starting a new business if your business was started this tax year. This can include things like market research and advertising for your business launch. 

Increase In Interest Deductions For Small Businesses

The CARES Act allows you to increase the amount of interest expense that you are entitled to deduct from 30 percent to 50 percent. This applies to tax returns filed in both 2019 and the ones filed in 2020.

Writing Off Facility Improvements

The CARES Act allows businesses to start writing off the cost of improvements to the interiors of nonresidential buildings. This will expand the tax deduction to 100 percent of the price, and the premises can be applied immediately. This is effective from 2018 to the present, so businesses can amend older tax returns to recover costs from improvements made in 2018 and 2019.

Insurance

A self-employed person can deduct the premium of various types of business insurance. This can include:

• Fire
• Theft
• Worker’s Compensation
• General Liability

Vehicle Expenses

So, if a self-employed person uses their vehicle for 100 percent business use and the car is in the company’s name, then the car or truck is fully deductible.

If the vehicle is in your name and used partly for personal, partly for business use, then there are two ways to calculate the deductions.

Track your actual car expenses, including gas, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation, and deduct a percentage supported by the number of business miles you drive.

Deduct a typical rate on each “business” mile driven for the year. For 2020, the quality mileage rate is 57.5 centers per mile operated for business use, down from 58 cents per mile in 2019.

No matter which method you select, you’ll have to keep track of the percentage of business and private miles you drive. You can use a manual log or an online app.

Cellphones

You can deduct your business use percentage from your cell phone bill on your taxes. For example, if you use 30 percent of your cell phone for business, you can deduct 30 percent of the bill. 

You can also just purchase a cell phone that will be used for business purposes.

Equipment and Furniture

Section 179 is a tax law that allows business owners to deduct the total purchase price of qualified equipment from their gross income. Rather than deducting a certain percentage of the equipment under a multi-year depreciation schedule, as is customarily done, business owners can remove the total price, as long as it is under$2.5 a million if financed or purchased in 2018.

Qualified assets for Section 179 include:

•    Machines or equipment purchased for business use.
•    Office furniture.
•    SUVs, pickups, and vans weighing more than 6,000 pounds.
•    Specific improvements to the interior of commercial property.

Read our handy article Tax Deductions that Every Small Business Owner Should Know to learn about more money-saving tax deductions.

Advertising

Self-Employed people should keep in mind that all advertising costs are fully tax-deductible.

This can include the following.

• The cost of printing business cards, flyers, and mailers
• Social media advertising like Facebook ads
• Promotions at conventions and trade shows
• The cost of advertising agencies
• Television and radio advertising
• Employing freelancers

You can also deduct all commissions paid to non-employees for sales and marketing purposes. This can include payments to individual sales reps or marketing channels and a platform like Amazon.

Depreciation

If you have a business asset that is expected to last more than one year, you can depreciate the cost of the asset over its life rather than deducting the cost of the asset the year that you purchase it. Depreciation is fully deductible. Examples of assets that can be depreciated are:

• Cars
• Furniture
• Technology like computers
• Improvements to leased property

You can not include inventories, stock-in-trade, and land cannot be as a depreciated tax deduction.

Employee benefits

If you have employees and provide health insurance and other benefits, you can fully deduct the costs of those benefits.

Home Office Deduction

Using part of your home for business allows you to deduct expenses for the business use of your home. This can be applied to all homes, including business owners who rent.

If you use your home exclusively and regularly for conducting business, you can deduct the following:

• Mortgage Interest
• Insurance
• Utilities
• Repairs
• Depreciation for that area

To qualify for the home office deduction, you must show that your home is used regularly and exclusively for conducting business and is the principal place of business. 

 Educational Expenses

Any expenses that are work-related education expenses can be deducted.

To be deductible, your payments must be for education that;

• (1) maintains or improves your job skills or 
• (2) the law requires you to keep your status or occupation. However, even if the education meets either of these tests, the education can’t be part of a program that will qualify you for a new trade or business or that you need to meet the minimal educational requirements of your trade or business.

Expenses that you can deduct include:

• Tuition, books, supplies, lab fees, and similar items
• Specific transportation and travel costs, and
• Other educational expenses, such as the cost of research and typing

To determine if your work-related expenses are deductible, see Are My Work-Related Education Expenses Deductible?

Getting A Tax Resale Certification Is One Of The Best Things You Can Do As An Entrepreneur

As a self-employed person, getting a tax resale certificate can save you money on taxes.

In short, a retail tax certificate allows you not to pay sales tax on items that you plan to resell. This can also apply to supplies that will be used in products that you will resell, such as wood for a cabinet.

However, the process can be complicated, and the rules are different for each state. That is why TaxResaleCertificate should do all the hard work for you. We can make sure that you get all the advantages of a tax resale certificate without dealing with the hassle of government red tape. Let us handle the hard stuff so you can proceed to run your business with confidence. Make sure you check out our second blog in this series so you can learn even more valuable information about tax resale certificates.

Make Sure You Have The Proper Forms

You should first make sure you have the proper forms for your small business entity. 

What is a business entity?

A business entity is a corporation created by one or more natural persons to hold on to a trade or business.

The following are types of business entities:

• Sole proprietorship: Unincorporated business with one owner or jointly owned by a marriage

• General partnership: Unincorporated business with two or more owners

• Limited partnership: Registered business composed of active, general partners and passive, limited partners

• Limited liability company: Registered business with limited liability for all members

• Professional limited liability company: LLC structure for professionals, like doctors and accountants

• C-corporation: Incorporated business composed of shareholders, directors, and officers

• S-corporation: An Incorporated business that is taxed as a pass-through entity

• Professional corporation: Corporate structure for professionals, such as doctors and accountants

• B-corporation: For-profit corporation that is certified for meeting social and environmental standards

• Nonprofit: Corporations: Formed primarily to benefit the public interest rather than earn a profit.

You will use different forms, but calculating the taxes itself will be similar.

Make Sure Your Documents Are In Order

Do an inventory of all your business records. It is critical to have the correct documents to accurately report your earnings and expenses. Computer software like Excel or Quicken greatly helps in organizing your tax records. These programs can also save you time by importing information directly into your tax return.

Is Your Business a Pass-Through Entity?

A pass-through entity is when the business’s tax liability passes through to the owner.

Pass-through entities include:

• Sole Proprietorships
• Limited Liability Companies
• S Corporations

A business that has not filed any paperwork is automatically considered a sole proprietorship by the Internal Revenue Service.

If you are a pass-through entity, you could owe less in taxes. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act allows a 20 percent tax deduction on qualified business income from pass-through businesses. Generally, the deduction is available to eligible taxpayers whose taxable income is below $315,000 for joint returns and $157,500 for individual filers. Some types of pass-through businesses may not qualify for this deduction: The IRS regulations detail the limitations.

The Self Employment Tax

A self-employed person has to file additional taxes besides their income tax. This usually amounts to an extra 15.3% burden for small business owners. This is because employers and employees each pay 7.65% for both Social Security and Medicare taxes, so a self-employed individual will have to pay the total amount.

Remember The Quarterlies

Since self-employed owners do not get taxes withheld from their paycheck, it is good to withhold the correct amount and send the Internal Revenue Service quarterly payments. This is particularly important if your tax liability is over $1.000. Ignoring quarterly payments could result in costly interest payments or penalties.

Become Proactive

Business taxes are determined by net income. This is when you subtract business expenses from gross revenues. Having an online accounting system automatically keeps track of your figures. If you use an online accounting system and enter all income and expenses, the system will automatically provide you with a gross profit figure.  Those that use spreadsheets, please take the time to add up the numbers so you can forecast what you will need to owe in taxes for the following year.

Advertising

Self-Employed people should keep in mind that all advertising costs are fully tax-deductible.

This can include the following.

• The cost of printing business cards, flyers, and mailers
• Social media advertising like Facebook ads
• Promotions at conventions and trade shows
• The cost of advertising agencies
• Television and radio advertising
• Employing freelancers

You can also deduct all commissions paid to non-employees for sales and marketing purposes. This can include payments to individual sales reps or marketing channels and a platform like Amazon.

Hiring A Family Member

Employing a family member allows you to shelter income from taxes. Small business owners can even hire their children. You can pay a lower marginal tax rate or even go as far as eliminating the tax on income paid to one’s child.

A sole proprietorship does not need to pay the Federal Unemployment Tax or FUTA tax for a child or spouse. This tax is defined as legislation that imposes a payroll tax on any business with employees. The revenue it generates is allocated to state unemployment insurance agencies and used to fund unemployment benefits for people out of work. This can lead to significant savings. Also, depending on the circumstances of the job, you might even be able to put aside some retirement savings for them.

Get A Tax Resale Certificate

As a savvy small business retailer, you must be aware of utilizing tax resale certificates to your best advantage. In short, a retail tax certificate allows you not to pay sales tax on items that you plan to resell. This can also apply to supplies that will be used in products that you will resell, such as wood for a cabinet.

You must understand that tax resale certificates can also be used on items resold. For example, office supplies, such as new computers for your employees, would not fall under retail. Therefore, it would be considered fraud not to pay sales tax on these items.

If this is confusing, just think of tax resale certificates as state tax exemption certificates.  Some states call them exemption certificates or reseller’s permits.

That Is Why We Are Here To Help

Understandably, all this information can be very daunting. Not correctly understanding sales tax and the benefits of a tax resale certificate can lead to a great deal of trouble. For example, a retailer could lose out on extremely beneficial sales tax exemption status. A savvy business owner will understand that having a tax resale certificate will save them a good deal of money but leave the actual registration headache to someone else.

On the other hand, misunderstanding and not paying the correct sales tax to a state government could hurt a business’s standing and reputation. At Tax Resale Certificate,  we make the process as easy as possible. Just take advantage of our user-friendly interface to help take the headache of applying for a tax resale certificate off your plate. 

The Self Employment Tax

A self-employed person has to file additional taxes besides their income tax. This usually amounts to an extra 15.3% burden for small business owners. This is because employers and employees each pay 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare taxes, so a self-employed individual will have to pay the total amount.

Solution

Small businesses should take advantage of the many business deductions available to small businesses to counteract this tax burden.

These include:

• Travel by airplane, train, bus, or car between your home and your business destination. (If you’re provided with a ticket or you’re riding free due to a frequent traveler or similar program, your cost is zero.)
• Fares for taxis or other types of transportation between the airport or train station and your hotel, the hotel, the work location, and from one customer to another, or from one place of business to another.
• There is shipping of baggage and sample or display material between your regular and temporary work locations.
• Using your car while at your business destination. You can deduct actual expenses or the standard mileage rate, as well as business-related tolls and parking fees. If you rent a car, you can remove only the business-use portion for the expenses.
• Meals and lodging.
• Dry cleaning and laundry.
• Business calls while on your business trip. (This includes business communications by fax machine or other communication devices.)
• Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses.
• Other similar ordinary and necessary expenses related to your business travel. (These expenses might include transportation to and from a business meal, public 

Tax-Related Issues Do Not Begin During Tax Season.

Tax saving opportunities are available from January 1^st to December 31^st and are not limited to the tax season. You must have someone who can advise you in real-time to make the proper decisions through each crucial step of building your business.

Someone who waits till tax season to seek advice will realize most more substantial options are no longer available. Every business transaction made by the business owner will have a powerful impact on their tax liability. A solid tax professional will guide your business through every crucial moment, allowing for more financial security and stability. They will ensure you are not sidelined with incorrect information, leading to lousy business tax decisions.

A tax professional can offer the following benefits to a small or medium-sized business:

• Tax professionals will study your business structure and explain to you what is the best system for your particular businesses’ tax liability. Then, they will help you alter the form if this is the best course of action.

• Tax professionals will examine how your business is paying and reporting independent contractors and ensure that you are compliant in this area with all IRS regulations to avoid harsh penalties.

• They can look at past tax returns for deductions that have been missed or valuable credits available to the business.

• The tax professional can point out all compliance issues that can be immediately corrected throughout the year. Hence, you have the most robust confidence with all your regular business transactions.

Remember that every business is different, and there will never be a one-size-fits-all solution to tax questions and problems. This is why it is vital to have a tax professional on your side to guide you through an often confusing tax code.

It Is Never Too Early To Plan For Taxes

2021 was indeed a year that had a lot of personal challenges for small businesses. However, understanding your tax liability for the coming year is always a good idea, and it is never too early to start. There is no reason that taxes need to be a mystery, and you can forecast what you will owe in the coming year.

Net Profit

Do you correctly understand how to handle your cash flow? Are you going to pay taxes purely based on

What is available in your checking account? Unfortunately, many business owners do not realize that their available cash is not the same as the company’s net profit.

Remember The Quarterlies

Since self-employed owners do not get taxes withheld from their paycheck, it is good to withhold the correct amount and send the Internal Revenue Service quarterly payments. This is particularly important if your tax liability is over $1.000. Ignoring quarterly payments could result in costly interest payments or penalties.

The Self Employment Tax

A self-employed person has to file additional taxes besides their income tax. This usually amounts to an extra 15.3% burden for small business owners. This is because employers and employees each pay 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare taxes, so a self-employed individual will have to pay the total amount.

Solution

Small businesses should take advantage of the many business deductions available to small businesses to counteract this tax burden.

Small Business Should Never Underestimate Taxes

The Internal Revenue Service has been more active in targeting small businesses for tax audits in several years. New companies have spent 2.5 billion each year preparing taxes and answering questions from the IRS about tax return inquiries.

However, there are things that any new business can do to lessen its tax burden. We will discuss how choosing the correct business entity can make your life as a new entrepreneur much easier in the coming future.

Getting A Tax Resale Certification Is One Of The Best Things You Can Do As An Entrepreneur

As a self-employed person, getting a tax resale certificate can save you money on taxes.

In short, a retail tax certificate allows you not to pay sales tax on items that you plan to resell. This can also apply to supplies that will be used in products that you will resell, such as wood for a cabinet.

However, the process can be complex, and the rules are different for each state. That is why TaxResaleCertificate should do all the hard work for you. We can make sure that you get all the advantages of a tax resale certificate without dealing with the hassle of government red tape. Let us handle the hard stuff so you can proceed to run your business with confidence. Make sure you check out our second blog in this series so you can learn even more valuable information about tax resale certificates.

What is a business entity?

A business entity is a corporation created by one or more natural persons to hold on a trade or business.

The following are types of business entities:

• Sole proprietorship: Unincorporated business with one owner or jointly owned by a marriage

• General partnership: Unincorporated business with two or more owners

• Limited partnership: Registered business composed of active, general partners and passive, limited partners

• Limited liability company: Registered business with limited liability for all members

• Professional limited liability company: LLC structure for professionals, like doctors and accountants

• C-corporation: Incorporated business composed of shareholders, directors, and officers

• S-corporation: An Incorporated business that is taxed as a pass-through entity

• Professional corporation: Corporate structure for professionals, such as doctors and accountants

• B-corporation: For-profit corporation that is certified for meeting social and environmental standards

• Nonprofit: Corporations: Formed primarily to benefit the public interest rather than earn a profit.

What is personal liability?

Personal liability means that your assets are exposed if one of your co-owners or employees commits an unlawful action that injures someone, such as writing a defamatory article or post. If there is a judgment against your company, it can be satisfied by reaching into your bank account, home, or automobile simply because of your status as an owner of the business.

Business Structure

One of the most important things you can do is be aware of the different types of legal structures and how that affects your overall tax and liability burden. In addition, you should be fully aware of the other business entities and what that means for your business.

Sole Proprietorship

If your business is going to be reasonably small, a sole proprietorship might be the correct business entity for your needs. You, as the owner, will be in control of all business decisions and profits. You will also only be taxed one time on all business profits.

The most significant disadvantage of a sole proprietorship is unlimited liability. This means that you will be held personally responsible for all the business debts and losses.

This is great for the type of person who truly enjoys independence and wants to make their own rules without answering others. You are your business and are okay with there being no formal division.

Partnership

A partnership is similar to a sole proprietorship, except that more than one individual owns the business. The liability of the partners for the debts of the company is unlimited. In addition, each partner is ‘jointly and severally responsible for the partnership’s debts; that’s, each partner is accountable for their share of the partnership debts and liable for all the business debts. This means that you can be held responsible for your partner’s neglectful actions.

If you enjoy working with a team and do not want to shoulder all the responsibility for the business yourself, a partnership might work for you. If you have the right blend of personalities, you can complement each other quite well and be more robust than any of the partners could ever be on their own.

Limited Partnership

A limited partnership contains two distinct types of partners:

• General Partners
• Limited Partners

The general partners run the day-to-day activities of the business. The general partners are also personally liable for a business’s debts and liabilities.

The limited partners do not have much to do with how a business is run. They have limited liability concerning a business’s debts, and they usually pay fewer taxes regarding the profit. The limited partners can be looked upon as silent investors.

If you want to retain primary authority in your business but could use some other sources of cash, then a limited partnership would be a great compromise.

C-Corporation

A C-corporation (c-corp) is when the business is considered separate from its owners and operators.  A c-corp consists of shareholders (the owners), a board of directors, and officers who control the corporation. One person can fulfill all these functions.

The great advantage of a c-corp is that the owner/owners are not personally liable for the debts and liabilities of the company. The disadvantage is that there is double taxation on profits. First, the corporation is taxed as a separate entity, and then you are again taxed on the earnings in your taxes.

This is a great model for those who want to start a pretty large business in scope and size. However, you will be answerable to your shareholders for your business decisions’ good and bad outcomes.

S-Corporation

If your corporation has fewer than 100 shareholders who are all individuals, not corporations; have only one class of stock, and be owned by U.S. citizens or resident aliens, you could turn your business into an S-Corporation (s-corp).

An s corp is not subject to double taxation as a c corp is. That means that an s corp’s revenue is not taxed at the corporate level. Instead, it is only taxed when paid out as salaries or dividends to shareholders. As a result, an s-corp is often a better choice than a c-corp for most small businesses. 

It should also be noted that corporations have a lot of regulations regarding paperwork and documentation. So if you want to be footloose and fancy-free, this is not an entity for you.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Limited Liability Companies are top-rated among many business owners because they often combine the best both worlds regarding liability and taxation.

These hybrids clear their owners of personal liability for the business’s debts or liabilities.

They also allow you to choose whether you want your LLC to be taxed as a partnership or as a corporation.

You are the one who should decide what business entity best suits your needs. Make sure you consider important factors like taxation and liability. You should also go to your secretary of state’s website to find out what it takes to register your business formally.

Getting A Tax Resale Certification Is One Of The Best Things You Can Do As An Entrepreneur

Getting a tax resale certificate can save you money on taxes as a self-employed person.

In short, a retail tax certificate allows you not to pay sales tax on items that you plan to resell. This can also apply to supplies that will be used in products that you will resell, such as wood for a cabinet.

However, the process can be complex, and the rules are different for each state. That is why TaxResaleCertificate should do all the hard work for you. We can make sure that you get all the advantages of a tax resale certificate without dealing with the hassle of government red tape. Let us handle the hard stuff so you can proceed to run your business with confidence. Make sure you check out our second blog in this series so you can learn even more valuable information about tax resale certificates.

Your Company Has To Be Flexible And Open to Change

Many think of the start-up as a hypothetical child, but they want to nurture it to become the best that it can be. They should also acknowledge that a child has many stages of life. The needs of a toddler are very different from those of a teenager.

Your company will experience many periods of growth and change. Markets can be very volatile, and what is novel today can quickly turn into old news tomorrow. Remember that building a successful company is a long marathon, not a sprint. You have to be open to redefining your position not once but several times in a company’s lifetime. The business must be malleable enough to withstand the challenges brought about by new technology, changes in regulations, and societal shifts.

Leadership Will Eventually Have To Be Scalable

A typical start-up is often the vision of a tiny group of people. These individuals often will control every aspect of the early stages of a new company. However, there will come a time when the company will have to expand the framework of leadership. This type of delegation often comes much sooner than most start-ups realize and often catches the original small leadership team by surprise.

The decision-making demands of the business must be distributed evenly as the company experiences growth. A small group can only logistically do so much. A start-up that refuses to scale its leadership will be in danger of becoming obsolete.

One of your main goals as a start-up is to eventually build a strong team that has many tiers of leadership. This will empower the company and create an atmosphere of confidence. A business with this type of attitude usually has no difficulty in recruiting high levels of talent. People want to be part of a company that is not stifled by outdated founder principles.

All Of These Principles Combine To Create Endurance

So in conclusion, defining your start-up’s core values, being open to changes brought by growth, and having scalable leadership will help ensure that your business endures for the long term. You are creating a strong DNA model that will help you run the long marathon from start-up to an established successful company that will be around for a long time.

Economic Hardship Often Spurs Innovation

A significant number of excellent companies like Uber, Square, and Instagram were born in the last recession. Hardship often leads to fantastic innovation. It will not be surprising if we see many innovative companies coming out on the heels of this pandemic. Think about how many talented people have been furloughed and now have the time to devote their energies elsewhere. Millennials and Gen Z have shown that they are generations that embrace the challenges of being an entrepreneur.

Job Security No Longer Exists

Many people think that starting a business is just too risky. However, the workforce no longer offers the security it once did. Companies do not take care of employees for a lifetime and then provide them with a large pension for retirement like they did a generation ago. People are often replaced and those who switch employers regularly actually make more money. There is a sense that there is no longer any loyalty on the part of employers or employees. This type of environment actually makes starting your business not seem so risky.

Take Hold Of Your Destiny

Some people are scared of the stress that often comes along with managing a business. They think that they will not be able to handle keeping up with the ever-changing marketplace. What they often do not take into account is that day-to-day jobs can be just as stressful. Often, employees have to live up to the unrealistic expectations of several managers. Being an entrepreneur gives you more control over your own destiny, rather than having your fate be in the hands of other people. This way, you can shape your life according to your needs.

How Do I Know If My Business Needs To Collect Sales Tax?

Forty-five out of the fifty states require businesses to collect sales tax. This does not even include that many cities and localities that also have sales tax regulations. You must understand the rules of the places where you do business. Does your state or local area require a license or sales permit? Be sure that you are charging the correct rate for both the point of sale and the types of products your business sells.

How Do I Know If I Need To Pay Sales Tax In A Given State?

To establish whether or not a state can impose a sales tax upon your business, there first needs to be nexus. Nexus relating to state sales tax is established by a connection between the state and your business. How this connection is defined has been subject to fairly recent changes that reflect changes in the way business is conducted in modern times.

Traditionally, the nexus has been established by the business having a physical presence in the state. However, due to the explosion of e-commerce, physical presence within a state is no longer a requirement for sales tax nexus. In the case of South Dakota v. Wayfair, the courts eliminated physical presence as the major requirement for creating nexus. It still should be noted that physical presence is considered an important requirement to allow a state to collect sales tax and is still one of the first considerations for sales tax.

Getting A Tax Resale Certification Is One Of The Best Things You Can Do As An Entrepreneur

If you decide to start a business, a tax resale certificate can really save you money on taxes.

In short, a tax retail certificate allows you not to pay sales tax on items that you plan to resell. This can also apply to supplies that are going to be used in products that you will resell, such as wood for a cabinet.

However, the process can be difficult and the rules are different for each state. That is why TaxResaleCertificate should do all the hard work for you. We can make sure that you get all the advantages of a tax resale certificate without having to deal with the hassle of government red tape. Let us handle the hard stuff so you can proceed to run your business with confidence. Make sure you check out our second blog in this series so you can learn even more valuable information about tax resale certificates.

How Do I Know If I Need To Pay Sales Tax In A Given State?

There first needs to be nexus to establish whether or not a state can impose a sales tax upon your business. Nexus relating to state sales tax is found by a connection between the state and your business. How this connection is defined has been subject to pretty recent changes that reflect changes in the way business is conducted in modern times.

Traditionally, the nexus has been established by the business having a physical presence in the state. However, due to the explosion of e-commerce, physical presence within a state is no longer a requirement for sales tax nexus. In the case of South Dakota v. Wayfair, the courts eliminated physical reality as the significant requirement for creating nexus. It still should be noted that physical presence is considered an important requirement to allow a state to collect sales tax and is still one of the first considerations for sales tax.

What Are The Different Methods In Which The States Establish Sales Tax Nexus?

The definition of sales nexus can vary significantly from state to state. Here is a list of the different ways in which states can determine sales tax nexus:

• Click-Through Nexus legislation
• Affiliate Nexus legislation
• Marketplace Nexus legislation
• Notice and Reporting Requirements
• Economic Nexus 

Click-Through Nexus legislation- This usually requires a remote seller to meet a minimum sales requirement in the state resulting from an in-state referral agent who is a resident of the state. The agent must be making commission payments to the referral agent for any sales that are the result of the click-through referrals from the agent’s website. 

Affiliate Nexus legislation– Remote retailers hold a substantial interest or are owned by a retailer that is located within the state and sells a similar type of product under a similar business name. Instate retailers can also be used to promote or market the product to in-state customers. Affiliate nexus does not require common ownership and may not include services such as sales and delivery.

Marketplace Nexus legislation– This definition applies to marketplace facilitators who operate a business in the state and provide e-commerce infrastructure, customer service, payment processing, and marketing services to individual sellers. The facilitator is the one that is required to register with the state and collect the sales tax rather than the individual sellers.

Notice and Reporting Requirements– This legislation requires that a retailer does not collect the state sales tax themselves but notify their buyers that they must report state use tax on all their purchases. The retailer might be required to send the purchaser a statement of all their purchases.

Economic Nexus- An out-of-state retailer generally is required to collect and remit sales tax once the retailer meets a set level of sales transactions or gross receipts activity (a threshold) within the state. No physical presence is required.

To find out more about state sales tax please visit the sales tax institute.

What Happens If I Do Most Of My Business In A State That I Am Not Incorporated?

If you primarily do business in a state that you are not incorporated in, make sure you apply for a Foreign Qualification (also known in some states as a Certificate of Registration or Certificate of Authority). This is the process of registering your company, which is considered domestic to the state in which it was originally formed and foreign to all other states, as a foreign entity in the states in which it operates. The retailer is then able to legally conduct business outside the state in which the company was originally formed and therefore should be able to apply for a tax resale certificate. 

Remember To Verify Any Tax Resale Certificate Presented To You

In the first part of our series, we mentioned that a vendor can refuse a tax resale certificate. This is because the vendor will be the one liable to the state government should anything be remiss. That is why you should always take the following steps to assure that anything presented to you is valid.

• Make certain that the certificate is properly filled out and signed by the business owner
• You should be able to verify the certificate online by using the certificate
• You should also be able to verify online if the certificate has expired
• Be aware of purchase that seems suspicious and does not relate to the customer’s business in a logical manner
• You must keep the certificate on file for at least 5 years in case of a tax audit.

What is A Tax Resale Certificate?

You must understand that tax resale certificates can also be used on items that will be resold. Office supplies, such as new computers for your employees, would not fall under the category of retail.  It would be considered fraud not to pay sales tax on these items.

If this is confusing for you, just think of tax resale certificates as state tax exemption certificates.  Some states call them exemption certificates or reseller’s permits.

Is The Tax Resale Certificate The Same As A Seller’s Permit?

Even though tax resale certificates are called reseller’s permits in some states, it is important not to confuse them with seller’s permits. A seller’s permit allows a retailer to charge tax on items that they are going to sell to a customer. A tax resale certificate allows you to buy items that are intended for resale without paying a sales tax on those items. 

Does A Vendor Have To Accept My Tax Resale Certificate?

It is extremely important to a retailer’s bottom line that they do not pay sales taxes on goods if there is a possibility that the tax can be exempted on a state level. However, it is also crucial to understand that a wholesaler is not required to accept your tax resale certificate in some states. 

Do Not Get Frustrated.

We understand that this is a whirlwind of information that can be very frustrating. There are great differences between states and you do not have the time to sort this out and properly run your business. That is why TaxResaleCertificate should do all the hard work for you. We can make sure that you get all the advantages of a tax resale certificate without having to deal with the hassle of government red tape. Let us handle the hard stuff so you can proceed to run your business with confidence. Make sure you check out our second blog in this series so you can learn even more valuable information about tax resale certificates.

Business Structure

One of the most important things you can do is be aware of the different types of legal structures that exist and how that affects your overall tax and liability burden. You should be fully aware of the different types of business entities and what that means for your business.

What is a business entity?

One or more natural persons create a business entity to carry on a trade or business. Business owners often favor corporations and LLCs because they offer several layers of protection for their owners.

The following are types of business entities:

• Limited liability company: A registered business with limited liability for all members
• Professional limited liability company: An LLC structure for professionals, such as doctors and accountants
• C-corporation: An incorporated business composed of shareholders, directors, and officers
• S-corporation: An incorporated business that is taxed as a pass-through entity
• Professional corporation: A corporate structure for professionals, such as doctors and accountants
• B-corporation: A for-profit corporation that is certified for meeting social and environmental standards
• Nonprofit: Corporations: A formed primarily to benefit the public interest rather than earn a profit.

Small Business Should Never Underestimate Taxes

The Internal Revenue Service has been more active in targeting small businesses for tax audits in the last several years. New businesses have spent 2.5 billion each year preparing taxes and answering questions from the IRS about tax return inquiries.

However, there are things that any new business can do to lessen its tax burden. We will discuss how choosing the right business entity can make your life as a new entrepreneur much easier in the coming future.

Healthcare Savings

Medical costs are rising and can be quite expensive. It is smart to save money for unexpected health care expenses even if you are healthy now. This can be accomplished through a Health Savings Plan or HSA.

An HSA is a type of savings account that lets you set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses. By using untaxed dollars in a Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and some other expenses, you may be able to lower your overall health care costs. HSA funds generally may not be used to pay premiums. This will help greatly in lowering taxes associated with medical costs.

HSA helps you save in taxes by letting your contributions be pretax, letting them grow tax-free, and allowing any withdrawals to also be tax-free. They are an invaluable source of savings and peace of mind. 

Home Office Expenses

Using part of your home for business allows you to deduct expenses for the business use of your home. This can be applied to all types of homes including business owners who rent.

If you use your home exclusively and regularly for conducting business you can deduct the following:

• Mortgage Interest
• Insurance

To qualify for the home office deduction, you must show that your home is used regularly and exclusively for conducting business and is the principal place of business.

There are two methods for calculating the house office deduction. In the standard method, you use Form 8829 to itemize the various expenses involved in using and maintaining your home office. This includes rent or mortgage interest payments, utilities, homeowners insurance premiums, and property taxes. In the simplified method, you determine the square footage of your home office (up to 300 square feet) and multiply it by five dollars.

The simplified method is more straightforward but you should see which one gives you a larger deduction amount.

Advertising

Self-Employed people should keep in mind that all advertising costs are fully tax-deductible.

This can include the following

• The cost of printing business cards, flyers, and mailers
• Social media advertising like Facebook ads
• Promotions at conventions and trade shows
• The cost of advertising agencies
• Television and radio advertising
• Employing freelancers

You can also deduct all commissions paid to non-employees for sales and marketing purposes. This can include payments to individual sales reps, or marketing channels, and a platform like Amazon.

Hiring A Family Member

Employing a family member allows you to shelter income from taxes. Small business owners can even hire their children. You can pay a lower marginal tax rate or even go as far as eliminating the tax on income paid to one’s child.

A sole proprietorship does not need to pay the Federal Unemployment Tax or FUTA tax for a child or spouse. This tax is defined as a piece of legislation that imposes a payroll tax on any business with employees. The revenue it generates is allocated to state unemployment insurance agencies and used to fund unemployment benefits for people who are out of work. This can lead to great savings. Also, depending on the circumstances of the job, you might even be able to put aside some retirement savings for them.

Get A Tax Resale Certificate

As a savvy small business retailer, you must be aware of how to utilize tax resale certificates to your best advantage. In short, a tax retail certificate allows you not to pay sales tax on items that you plan to resell. This can also apply to supplies that are going to be used in products that you will resell, such as wood for a cabinet.

You must understand that tax resale certificates can also be used on items that will be resold. Office supplies, such as new computers for your employees, would not fall under the category of retail.  It would be considered fraud not to pay sales tax on these items.

If this is confusing for you, just think of tax resale certificates as state tax exemption certificates.  Some states call them exemption certificates or reseller’s permits.

That Is Why We Are Here To Help

Understandably, all this information can be very daunting. Not correctly understanding sales tax and the benefits of a tax resale certificate can lead to a great deal of trouble. A retailer could lose out on extremely beneficial sales tax exemption status. A savvy business owner will understand that having a tax resale certificate will save them a good deal of money but leave the actual headache of registration to someone else.

On the other hand, misunderstanding and not paying the correct sales tax to a state government could very much hurt a business’s standing and reputation. At Tax Resale Certificate,  we make the process as easy as possible. Just take advantage of our user-friendly interface to help take the headache of applying for a tax resale certificate off your plate. 

Getting A Tax Resale Certification Is One Of The Best Things You Can Do As An Entrepreneur

If you decide to start a business, a tax resale certificate can save you money on taxes.

In short, a tax retail certificate allows you not to pay sales tax on items that you plan to resell. This can also apply to supplies that are going to be used in products that you will resell, such as wood for a cabinet.

However, the process can be difficult and the rules are different for each state. That is why TaxResaleCertificate should do all the hard work for you. We can make sure that you get all the advantages of a tax resale certificate without having to deal with the hassle of government red tape. Let us handle the hard stuff so you can proceed to run your business with confidence. Make sure you check out our second blog in this series so you can learn even more valuable information about tax resale certificates.

Make Sure Your Documents Are In Order

Do an inventory of all your business records. It is key to have the right documents to accurately report your earnings and expenses. Computer software like Excel or Quicken greatly helpsfor in organizing your tax records. These programs can also save you time by importing information directly into your tax return.

Equipment and Furniture

Section 179 is a tax law that allows business owners to deduct the full purchase price of qualified equipment from their gross income. Rather than deducting a certain percentage of the equipment under a multi-year depreciation schedule, as is customarily done, business owners can deduct the full price, as long as it is under$2.5 million if it was financed or purchased in 2018.

Qualified assets for Section 179 include:

•    Machines or equipment purchased for business use.
•    Office furniture.
•    SUVs, pickups, and vans weighing more than 6,000 pounds.
•    Certain improvements to the interior of commercial property.

Read our handy article Tax Deductions that Every Small Business Owner Should Know to find out about more money-saving tax deductions.

Advertising

Self-Employed people should keep in mind that all advertising costs are fully tax-deductible.

This can include the following

• The cost of printing business cards, flyers, and mailers
• Social media advertising like Facebook ads
• Promotions at conventions and trade shows
• The cost of advertising agencies
• Television and radio advertising
• Employing freelancers

You can also deduct all commissions paid to non-employees for sales and marketing purposes. This can include payments to individual sales reps, or marketing channels, and a platform like Amazon.

Depreciation

If you have a business asset that is expected to last more than one year, you can depreciate the cost of the asset over its life rather than deducting the cost of the asset the year that you purchase it. Depreciation is fully deductible. Examples of assets that can be depreciated are:

• Cars
• Furniture
• Technology like computers
• Improvements to leased property

You can not include inventories, stock-in-trade, and land cannot be as a depreciated tax deduction.

Employee benefits

If you have employees and provide health insurance and other benefits then you can fully deduct the costs of those benefits.

Home Office Deduction

Using part of your home for business allows you to deduct expenses for the business use of your home. This can be applied to all types of homes including business owners who rent.

If you use your home exclusively and regularly for conducting business you can deduct the following:

• Mortgage Interest
• Insurance
• Utilities
• Repairs
• Depreciation for that area

To qualify for the home office deduction, you must show that your home is used regularly and exclusively for conducting business and is the principal place of business. 

For a full explanation of tax deductions for your home office refer to Publication 587, Business Use of Your Home. In this publication you will find:

• Requirements for qualifying to deduct expenses (including special rules for storing inventory or product samples).
• Types of expenses you can deduct.
• How to figure the deduction (including depreciation of your home).
• Special rules for daycare providers.
• Tax implications of selling a home that was used partly for business.
• Records you should keep.
• Where to deduct your expenses (including Form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home, required if you are self-employed and claiming this deduction using the regular method).

Any Labor That is Contracted

This includes all fees paid to independent contractors. If you hired a graphic designer to style a logo for you or contracted with a developer to make your website, their fees are fully tax-deductible.

If you paid a contractor $600 or more over the course of the year, you’ll even have to file Form 1099-MISC.

Depreciation

If you have a business asset that is expected to last more than one year, you can depreciate the cost of the asset over its life rather than deducting the cost of the asset the year that you purchase it. Depreciation is fully deductible. Examples of assets that can be depreciated are:

• Cars
• Furniture
• Technology like computers
• Improvements to leased property

You can not include inventories, stock-in-trade, and land cannot be as a depreciated tax deduction.

Employee benefits

If you have employees and provide health insurance and other benefits then you can fully deduct the costs of those benefits.

Insurance

A self-employed person can deduct the premium of various types of business insurance. This can include:

• Fire
• Theft
• Worker’s Compensation
• General Liability

Vehicle Expenses

So, if a self-employed person uses their vehicle for 100 percent business use and the vehicle is in the company’s name, then the car or truck is fully deductible.

If the vehicle is in your name and used partly for personal, partly for business use, then there are two ways to calculate the deductions

Track your actual car expenses, including gas, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation, and deduct a percentage supported by the number of business miles you drive.

Deduct a typical rate on each “business” mile driven for the year. For 2020, the quality mileage rate is 57.5 center per mile driven for business use, down from 58 cents per mile in 2019.

No matter which method you select, you will have to keep track of what percentage of business and private miles you drive. You can use a manual log or an online app.

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What is A Tax Resale Certificate?

You must understand that tax resale certificates can also be used on items that will be resold. Office supplies, such as new computers for your employees, would not fall under the category of retail.  It would be considered fraud not to pay sales tax on these items.

If this is confusing for you, just think of tax resale certificates as state tax exemption certificates.  Some states call them exemption certificates or reseller’s permits.

Is Your Business a Pass-Through Entity?

A pass-through entity is when the tax liability of the business asses through to the owner.

Pass-through entities include:

• Sole Proprietorships
• Limited Liability Companies
• S Corporations

A business that has not filed any paperwork is automatically considered a sole proprietorship by the Internal Revenue Service.

If you are a pass-through entity then you could owe less in taxes. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act allows a 20 percent tax deduction on qualified business income from pass-through businesses. Generally, the deduction is available to eligible taxpayers whose taxable income is below $315,000 for joint returns and $157,500 for individual filers, according to the IRS. Some types of pass-through businesses may not qualify for this deduction: The IRS regulations detail the limitations.

If your business is a pass-through entity, then the taxable business income must be reported with your personal tax return. This means the amount you owe will be determined by your tax bracket. For 2020, personal tax brackets range from 10 percent (for individuals earning up to $9,875 and joint filers earning up to $19,750) to 37 percent for individuals earning more than $518,400 and joint filers earning more than $622,050.

How Do I Know If I Need To Pay Sales Tax In A Given State?

To establish whether or not a state can impose a sales tax upon your business there first needs to be nexus. Nexus relating to state sales tax is established by a connection between the state and your business. How this connection is defined has been subject to fairly recent changes that reflect changes in the way business is conducted in modern times.

Traditionally, the nexus has been established by the business having a physical presence in the state. However, due to the explosion of e-commerce, physical presence within a state is no longer a requirement for sales tax nexus. In the case of South Dakota v. Wayfair, the courts eliminated physical presence as the major requirement for creating nexus. It still should be noted that physical presence is considered an important requirement to allow a state to collect sales tax and is still one of the first considerations for sales tax.

What Happens If I Do Most Of My Business In A State That I Am Not Incorporated?

If you primarily do business in a state that you are not incorporated in, make sure you apply for a Foreign Qualification (also known in some states as a Certificate of Registration or Certificate of Authority). This is the process of registering your company, which is considered domestic to the state in which it was originally formed and foreign to all other states, as a foreign entity in the states in which it operates. The retailer is then able to legally conduct business outside the state in which the company was originally formed and therefore should be able to apply for a tax resale certificate. 

Remember To Verify Any Tax Resale Certificate Presented To You

In the first part of our series, we mentioned that a vendor can refuse a tax resale certificate. This is because the vendor will be the one liable to the state government should anything be remiss. That is why you should always take the following steps to assure that anything presented to you is valid.

• Make certain that the certificate is properly filled out and signed by the business owner
• You should be able to verify the certificate online by using the certificate
• You should also be able to verify online if the certificate has expired
• Be aware of purchase that seems suspicious and does not relate to the customer’s business in a logical manner
• You must keep the certificate on file for at least 5 years in case of a tax audit.

Remember The Deductions

Read our helpful article on deductions that your small business can not afford to miss.  It includes the following:

• Travel by airplane, train, bus, or car between your home and your business destination. (If you’re provided with a ticket or you’re riding free as a result of a frequent traveler or similar program, your cost is zero.)
• Fares for taxis or other types of transportation between the airport or train station and your hotel, the hotel, and the work location, and from one customer to another, or from one place of business to another.
• Shipping of baggage, and sample or display material between your regular and temporary work locations.
• Using your car while at your business destination. You can deduct actual expenses or the standard mileage rate, as well as business-related tolls and parking fees. If you rent a car, you can deduct only the business-use portion for the expenses.
• Meals and lodging.
• Dry cleaning and laundry.
• Business calls while on your business trip. (This includes business communications by fax machine or other communication devices.)
• Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses.
• Other similar ordinary and necessary expenses related to your business travel. (These expenses might include transportation to and from a business meal, public stenographer’s fees, computer rental fees, and operating and maintaining a house trailer.)
• Many apps have come on the market that makes it exceptionally easy to scan and track receipts for travel-related expenses. Some of these apps also automatically categorize expenses which is very nice for accurate bookkeeping.