New business filing taxes in 2023? Here’s what you need to know

If you started your own business or side hustle in 2022 and want to get some additional info as we head into the upcoming filing season, you’ve come to the right place. First off, congratulations! Starting a business is a huge achievement. 

The past few years have been filled with change, uncertainty, and challenges. If those changes have taught us anything, it’s to be prepared. Preparation helps you to prevent future issues rather than just reacting to whatever happens. Here are some tips to stay proactive with your 2022 business taxes. 

Stay up to date 

Historically, April 15th has been the deadline to file tax returns or request an extension of time to file. (Note: Payment is still due by the filing deadline even if you’re granted an extension.) 

However, this year, Tax Day for your 2022 filing is April 18th, 2023. This adjustment considers that April 15th falls on a Saturday and that the next business day, Monday, April 17th is the observance of Emancipation Day.

Stay organized & save everything 

No seriously. SAVE. EVERYTHING. Become that business owner on sitcoms with an (organized) shoebox of receipts. If your records are less than stellar, don’t worry. Now is as good a time as any to get into the habit. Good recordkeeping comes in handy when you need to find that invoice for that printer repair or to see how inventory levels changed from month to month. 

In addition to making for smoother and speedier tax filing, clean and accurate records will be a lifesaver if you ever find yourself in the middle of the dreaded AUDIT (cue ominous music with thunderclap and lightning). In all seriousness, many taxpayers lose money because of poor or inadequate recordkeeping, so if you haven’t been keeping the cleanest records - start today.  

Review any grants or loans

If your business benefited from a loan or grant last year, here are a few things to remember. Grants are free money - yay! But nothing is truly free. In most cases, money received via grant is considered taxable income, meaning you’ll need to report it on your return, and the corresponding tax will need to be paid. 

If you received a loan last year, good news - loans are considered a liability and aren’t taxable income. And, while you pay interest on a loan, that interest may be tax-deductible, depending on how the money was used.  

If you can take advantage of business deductions, you can save money on your tax bill. Some typical deductions are: 

• Travel expenses
• Business meals
• Rental or co-working space fees
• Home office expenses (supplies, utilities, furniture, tech) 
• Legal and other professional fees

Note: These are just a few examples of deductions that are generally available - consult your tax advisor before claiming deductions to ensure they accurately apply to your business.

Don’t mix business with personal

Whether it’s a thriving small business or a side hustle just getting started, separating your business transactions from personal ones can help to provide a clearer dividing line between your finances. 

It can also assist in the protection of your personal estate from your business relations and provide a stronger case for any business deductions that may come under scrutiny. For additional information, check out The Small Business Administration’s 5 Ways to Separate Your Personal and Business Finances.

Review & verify

You’ve been in business for about a year, and you are on your way -now is a good time to revisit some of the steps you initiated when you started this journey. Verify all your state, county, and local licenses, registrations, and any other forms or applications, such as:

• Sales tax Registration(s)
• Business Licenses
• Annual Report(s) 
• Any additional industry-specific permits and/or licenses

Bottom line

As you digest this information, you might feel anxious or overwhelmed, thinking you may have missed something or it’s too much to process. Just know that it’s perfectly normal to feel this way. Take comfort knowing that you are not alone - tons of small business owners get tax anxiety. Many people like you have been leaving the 9-5 to pursue their small business dreams in the last few years.