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small business payroll tax

Small business with employees is required to withhold payroll taxes from employees' paychecks and to pay applicable federal, state and local taxes. Past due payroll taxes can cause you to lose your business.

Small Business payroll tax overview

Workers can be employees or independent contractors. Employees are treated as taxable workers subject to payroll taxes, while independent contractors are responsible for paying their own taxes. However, the lines between independent contractors and employees are not always clear-cut.

Every paycheck must withhold federal income taxes for the applicable period. The IRS has two sets of tax tables that employers can use to calculate withholding amounts: the wage bracket tables and the percentage tables. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to look at the two sets of tables and determine which one is appropriate for your business.

Small Business payroll tax Tips

Pay Tax on time. Payroll tax penalties can add up quickly and generate huge tax debt. The penalties assessed on delinquent payroll tax deposits or filings can dramatically increase your total tax bill. Whether you operate your small business owners as a sole proprietorship, corporation, or LLCs, the taxes you owe can cause you to lose your business.

Avoid Borrowing from payroll taxes. Borrowing from payroll taxes is against the law. Many small and mid-size businesses use the money they collect from payroll taxes to pay their operating expenses. The money collected from employees to pay their share of federal withheld tax, FICA and Medicare (Social Security) does not belong to the business and must be accounted for and paid to the government.