Understanding Tax Accounting in the USA

What is Tax Accounting and its Importance?

Tax accounting is the process of assessing and calculating taxes, preparing and filing tax returns according to IRS regulations, replying to IRS notices and letters, conducting tax audits, and adhering to IRS guidelines.

In the USA, there are three kinds of tax systems, which are:

• Local and Municipal Taxes
• State Taxes, and
• Federal Taxes

Similarly, there are two broad categories of taxes:

• Direct taxes on income in the case of individuals and professionals, profits in the case of for-profit organizations like companies, S-Corp, C-Corp, LLC, etc.
• Indirect taxes in the form of duties, customs, excise, VAT, transaction tax, etc.

Small business owners must understand and be aware of tax rules and regulations to avoid penalties, fines, etc. Maintaining tax-related documents and an audit trail is important in case of an investigation or for filing for tax credits, exemptions, or supporting evidence for deductions.

A taxpayer could be an individual, business, corporation, or other entity. Tax accounting helps determine how much a taxpayer owes in taxes. 

In the USA, the IRS (Internal Revenue Code) governs and implements taxation-related laws, which describe the rules and regulations followed by taxpayers. 

Tax accounting helps businesses easily identify areas for revenue optimization, cost savings, and resource allocation. It also ensures that individuals or businesses accurately file their tax returns on time, report their tax liabilities, and adhere to the tax payment deadlines.

How does tax accounting work?

The tax accountant professionals help the business determine its total taxable income (the company’s annual income after expenses) and minimize tax liability while following the tax code. The procedure includes all the elements of tax accounting.

• Profit and loss:

It defines the company’s revenue, costs, and expenses over some time. It frequently displays the amount of money the business earned before taxes, which helps the tax accountant determine whether profits are subject to taxes and what obligations the business has.

• Liabilities:

            Liabilities are of two types: 

• Current-year liabilities include short-term obligations due within one year or within a current fiscal year. Some examples are payroll taxes, short-term notes payable, rental fees, interest payable, income taxes, accounts payable, utilities, payroll due, and other short-term debts.

• Future year liabilities: These include long-term financial commitments. Some of the examples are government or state employee pension.

• Accounting method:

Cash or accrual are the two techniques that organizations must employ according to IRS regulations. The business records revenue in the period that is received by using cash-based accounting. 

Therefore, revenue would be recorded and reported in tax returns in the next year if it received an order for products it sells late in the year, but no money changed hands until after the first of the following year. 

By using the accrual basis method, businesses can record revenues and expenses as they occur rather than when money is actually transferred.

Who has to pay taxes in the USA?

In the U.S. taxation system, all levels of government, from federal to state to municipality, have the authority to tax, legislate, and regulate. Understanding who has authority over a particular matter is very important.

The federal, state, and municipal governments in the United States impose various taxes. These include income, payroll, property, sales, capital gains, dividends, imports, estates, and gifts.

The United States levies taxes on the income of its citizens and residents globally. One of the unique aspects of the U.S. taxation system is its treatment of non-resident citizens. All the non-resident aliens are taxed on their income sourced in the U.S. and functionally related to a U.S. trade or activity. 

Everyone has to pay taxes as per the U.S. taxation system:

• Individuals: They are the ones who pay their annual individual income taxes to the IRS and state revenue departments.
• Professionals: They are those who earn income from salary or anyone practicing a profession, such as a doctor, teacher, or lawyer.
• Corporates ( for-profit organizations): All the business entities that are registered under the law of the United States. In addition to their owners, corporations are required to pay taxes on their taxable income. Taxes are levied on dividends that shareholders receive from corporations.

S corporations, or corporations wholly owned by citizens or residents of the United States, have the option to choose to be treated like partnerships. Certain additional business entities, such as limited liability companies, have the option of being regarded as partnerships or corporations. Partnership do not pay income tax. The partners do include their portions of partnership items in their tax calculations.

• Non-profit organizations: Non-profit organizations are legal entities formed and organized for charitable or socially beneficial purposes. Charitable organizations must pay business income taxes. 

Understanding Corporate Taxation in the USA?

With the passage of U.S. tax reform legislation on December 22, 2017 (P.L. 115-97), the U.S. transitioned from a “worldwide” to a “territorial” tax system.

P.L. 115-97, among other things, permanently lowered resident corporations’ 35% CIT rate to a flat 21% rate for tax years starting after December 31, 2017.

For non-US persons, the U.S. taxation is determined by two key factors:

• The amount and duration of their presence in the U.S.
• The relationship of their income to the U.S.

These factors play a crucial role in deciding whether their income is subject to U.S. taxation or not.

• Tax Returns

Tax returns in the United States are reports submitted with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or a state or local tax collection body that contain information used to calculate income taxes or other taxes. Tax returns are prepared using forms provided by the IRS or another applicable taxing authority. 

The U.S. tax system is built on the premise of self-assessment and voluntary reporting. A corporation taxpayer must file an annual tax return (usually Form 1120) by the 15th day of the fourth month following the end of the tax year.

A taxpayer may request an additional six-month extension of time to file their tax return. If you fail to file your return on time, you may face fines. Additional fines may apply for late returns on certain information returns that must be filed on time.

• Alternative minimum tax (AMT)

The Inflation Reduction Act, P.L. 117-169 (IRA), established a new corporate alternative minimum tax (also known as the CAMT) based on financial statement income. The CAMT is a 15% minimum tax applied on adjusted C corporation financial statement income (AFSI).

The CAMT increases the taxpayer’s tax when the base erosion and anti-abuse tax (BEAT) and regular tax surpass the preliminary minimum tax.

A minimum tax credit is created when a taxpayer pays CAMT because the tentative minimum tax exceeds regular tax plus BEAT. This credit can be claimed against regular tax in subsequent years to the extent that regular tax exceeds CAMT plus BEAT, and it can be carried forward.

• Base erosion and anti-abuse tax (BEAT)

A new U.S. federal tax known as the “base erosion and anti-abuse tax” (BEAT) was established by P.L. 115-97.

It has targeted the erosion of the U.S. tax base by imposing the following:

• Additional corporate tax liability on corporations (apart from S corporations, REITs, and regulated investment companies [RICs]) and their affiliates
• Average annual gross receipts for the three years ending with the previous tax year of at least USD 500 million

There are some exceptions, as certain banks and securities dealers made certain base-eroding payments to related foreign persons during the tax year of 3% (2% for certain banks and securities dealers) or more of all their deductible expenses.

The BEAT is applied to the amount after most tax credits have been deducted. The taxpayer’s regular tax liability is less than 10% (or 5% in 2018) of their “modified taxable income.”

• State and local income taxes

The CIT rates keep on from state to state, ranging from 1% to 12%.

• Sales taxes

It refers to the tax imposed on the finished goods and services. Value-added taxes and sales taxes are not allowed at the federal level. If your firm sells to clients in the United States, you must follow sales tax rules in the states where you meet registration requirements. These thresholds, tax rules, and the applicable rates vary by state and product, typically falling between 2.9% and 7.25%.

• Customs duties and import tariffs

All goods imported into the United States are subject to U.S. Customs entry regulations and are duty-free depending on their categorization under the applicable product in the United States Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

Liability for payment of duty and other customs fees is established when an entry is filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The person or legal entity on whose behalf the entry is made is responsible for paying the Importer of Record (IoR). However, the amount of duty payable may alter later if any of the information disclosed on entry is later shown to be inaccurate.

• Excise taxes

The federal and state governments levy excise taxes on various goods and activities, such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fuel, foreign insurance, ozone-depleting chemicals, and superfund taxes. Excise tax rates vary based on the goods and activities.

• Stamp taxes

Stamp taxes are government-imposed taxes on legal documents related to the transfer of real estate or assets. Stamp taxes, often known as transfer taxes, are imposed by state and local governments when a real property transaction is formally recorded. The value of the real property being transferred often determines the tax.

• Payroll taxes

Payroll tax refers to the taxes that employees and employers pay on earnings, tips, and salaries. Employees have taxes taken from their paychecks and paid to the government by their employer. These taxes include income taxes at the federal, state, and local levels.

Employers are normally responsible for a 6% federal unemployment tax (FUTA) on the first USD 7,000 in salaries paid to employees who meet specified criteria, with state unemployment taxes potentially reducing this amount by up to 5.4%.

For 2024, social security tax is levied on the first USD 168,600 in salaries received by employees.

Employers are obligated to withhold an equivalent amount of FICA taxes from employee pay, federal income tax at graded rates, and a 0.9% additional Medicare tax on wages over USD 200,000.

Furthermore, states may levy state income tax, state unemployment tax, workers’ compensation insurance tax, and other state-level benefit requirements at variable rates based on state legislation and the type of employees’ activities.

For 2024 and 2023, the federal supplemental withholding rates are 22% on supplemental income less than USD 1 million in the aggregate and 37% on supplemental income more than USD 1 million.

• Property taxes

Local and state governments levy property taxes on real property, and most states charge a tax on company personal property.

• Tax Period

The tax period is between January 1 and April 15 of each year when taxpayers prepare to report their taxable income for the previous year. U.S. corporation taxpayers are taxed on an annual basis. Corporate taxpayers may select a tax year other than the calendar year. New corporations may choose a short tax year for their first tax period and for changing tax years.

Types of Tax Identification Numbers (TIN)

For filing taxes, the IRS allows different identification numbers to different taxpayers.

• Social Security number (SSN):

It is a 9-digit unique number assigned by the Social Security Administration to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary working residents. These numbers are commonly written as three fields separated by hyphens: XXX-XXX-XXXX. The three parts are:

• The first part is the Area number.
• The second part is the Group number.
• The third part is the Serial number.

The SSN is needed to secure legal employment in the U.S., receive social security benefits, and access certain government services.

• Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN):

It is a 9-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to non-residents and resident aliens, their spouses, and dependents who cannot get a Social Security Number. These numbers are written as 9XX-XXX-XXX (always start with the number “9”) and have a range of numbers from 50 to 65, 70 to 88, 90 to 92, and 94 to 99 for the fourth and fifth digits.

To apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, the applicant must fill out the W-7 form, along with another application form. This process ensures that the ITIN is issued to those who meet the eligibility requirements.

• Employer Identification Number (EIN):

It is a 9-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue Service to the business entity. It is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number. These numbers are written as XX-XXXXXXX.

Eligible applicants should fill out Form SS-4 (available on the IRS website) and should use it to report their capital gains and income for taxation purposes. The IRS offers it for free, and business entities must apply for an EIN by phone, fax, online, or mail before they begin operating.

• Adoption Tax Identification Number:

It is a 9-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue Service to individuals who are legally adopting a child but cannot obtain an SSN to complete their tax return. It is a temporary number that expires after every two years, with certain exceptions. 

The need for ATIN occurs when the child’s SSN is unknown or the child has never had an SSN. To apply for ATIN, use the W-7A tax form and provide below-mentioned information:

• Child’s name
• Birth information
• Name of the placement agency

While applying, make sure that the individual is a U.S. citizen or resident child and that the adoption procedure is pending.

• Preparer Tax Identification Number:

It is an 8-digit unique number issued by the Internal Revenue Service to paid tax return preparers. It was created to protect the privacy of tax preparers. All the enrolled agents ( the ones who assist or prepare the federal taxes for compensation ) must have a valid PTIN. You can get your PTIN by following the below-mentioned steps:

1. Create your account.
2. Apply for your PTIN.
3. Pay your fee.

Once the fee payment is done, you will get the PTIN.  

What are the different types of tax accounting?

• Tax Accounting for Individuals – Individuals’ main focus in tax accounting is factors such as income, investment outcomes, deductions, and other aspects impacting tax obligations. General accounting incorporates all financial funds ( inflows and outflows ), including personal expenses that do not have tax implications.
• Tax accounting for Businesses – Tax accounting involves a more detailed analysis for businesses than for individuals. In addition to tracking the company’s earnings, businesses must also account for outgoing funds related to business obligations. This includes specific business expenses and distributions to shareholders. 
• Tax Accounting for Tax-Exempt Organizations – Even tax-exempt organizations require tax accounting. These organizations must file annual returns detailing incoming funds, such as grants or donations, and how these funds are used in their operations. This ensures compliance with laws and regulations governing tax-exempt entities.

Tax Accounting professionals 

Hiring a professional tax accountant is optional, but if you have a tax accounting professional handling all your accounts, then handling the record is much easier. Tax accountants easily deal with confidential and complex data that is regulated by law. 

There are different types of tax accountants based on the work industry or the client industry. Some of them are mentioned below:

• Management Tax Accountants: They are responsible for managing financial and tax matters for businesses or organizations.
• Small Business Tax Accountants: They are responsible for managing the finances of smaller and privately owned businesses.
• CPA Tax Accountants: They provide services related to tax filing, replying to IRS notices, and are eligible to testify tax statements and declarations.
• Personal Tax Accountants: They are responsible for managing individuals’ taxes.
• Forensic Tax Accountants: They are responsible for investigating businesses and individuals in anticipation of legal proceedings.
• Government Tax Accountants: They are the ones who work with state, federal, and local government agencies.

What are the services offered by a Tax Accountant?

• Maintaining annual tax-related plans for clients.
• Managing tax audits with authorities ( if needed).
• Making sure clients meet the tax deadlines quarterly or annually.
• Maintaining federal and state tax returns.
• Providing tax planning advice.
• Informing clients about tax laws and liabilities
• Ensuring that the client pays less.

Outsource your tax accounting for a Stressfree tax season – eBetterBooks

If you are someone who needs tax services for a small business, it’s time for you to try out eBetterBooks for tax assistance. 

eBetterBooks offer the most affordable plans and the best domain specialists to help you with all tax services, like generating accurate documents, adhering to IRS tax guidelines, classifying income and expenses, tracking tax credits, etc.

From tax planning to tax preparation, their dedicated professionals will provide you with tax consultation, online tax filing support, and VAT return submission. 

eBetterBooks, the tax service provider will also assist you in detecting possible deductions or exemptions, conducting audits, developing future tax strategies, and presenting tax projections.

Using tax accountant software 

In order to handle your tax finances, there are different software available in the market. One of the well-known software is QuickBooks by Intuit. They offer both desktop and cloud-based accounting setups to the business. While handling the financial data, you may encounter some errors. The reasons behind this are:

1. There could be a damaged program file in the system.
2. Your company name may be too long.
3. The software installation is not done correctly.
4. Your windows may not be updated.
5. Your program files may be damaged.
6. The software is not updated.
7. The data files are not synced with the software.

eBetterBooks will assist you in resolving these errors and help you get a better understanding of your financial record.

Conclusion

Tax accounting is a useful accounting tool that helps companies understand their tax liability and avoid penalties. It helps both businesses and individuals declare their correct income and pay appropriate taxes while following GAAP regulations.