In addition to business taxes required by the federal government, you will have to pay some state and local taxes. Each state and locality has its own tax laws. I have added links below to key resources that will help you learn about your state tax obligations. Having knowledge of your state tax requirement can help you avoid problems and your business save money. The most common types of tax requirements for small business are income taxes and employment taxes.
Income Taxes
Nearly every state requires a business or corporate income tax. Your tax requirement depends on the legal structure of your business. For example, if your business is a Limited Liability Company (LLC), the LLC gets taxed separately from the owners, while sole proprietors report their personal and business income taxes using the same form. Visit the General Tax Information link under your state for specific requirements.
Employment Taxes
In addition to federal employment taxes, business owners with employees are also responsible for paying certain taxes required by the state. All states require payment of state workers’ compensation insurance and unemployment insurance taxes. The following states/territories also require a business to pay for temporary disability insurance:
- California
- Hawaii
- New Jersey
- New York
- Rhode Island
State and Territory Tax Resources
Use the links below to find out more about what you have to do to register and be open for business in your state.
- Alabama
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Alaska
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Arizona
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Arkansas
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- California
- Colorado
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Connecticut
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Delaware
- Delaware Business One Stop
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- District of Columbia
- FR-500 Combined Business Tax Registration
- Business Tax Service Center
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Florida
- Register Online to Collect and/or Report Taxes
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Georgia
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Hawaii
- Hawaii Business Express
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Disability Insurance
- Idaho
- Idaho Business Registration System
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Illinois
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Kansas
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Kentucky
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Louisiana
- Application for Louisiana Revenue Account Number
- Instructions for Louisiana Tax Number Application
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Maine
- Sales & Use, Withholding and Service Provider Tax Registration Service
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Maryland
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Massachusetts
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Mississippi
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Missouri
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Montana
- Business Tax Express
- Income Tax Withholding Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Nebraska
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Nevada
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- New Hampshire
- Guide to New Hampshire Taxes
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- New Jersey
- New Jersey Complete Business Registration Packet
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Disability Insurance
- New Mexico
- New York
- Tax Guide for New Businesses
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Disability Insurance
- North Carolina
- Business Tax Registration Application
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- North Dakota
- New Business Registration
- Application to Register For Income Tax Withholding and Sales and Use Tax Permit
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Ohio
- Electronic Filing and Registration Services
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Oklahoma
- Business Tax Registration Packet
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Oregon
- Guide to Oregon Business Taxes
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Pennsylvania
- Online Business Tax Registration (Form PA-100)
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Rhode Island
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Disability Insurance
- South Carolina
- South Carolina Business One Stop
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- South Dakota
- Sales and Contractors’ Excise Tax License Application
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Tennessee
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Texas
- Texas Online Tax Registration Application
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Utah
- Online Business Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Business Tax Registration Forms
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Wisconsin
- Business Tax Registration
- General Tax Information and Forms
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- Unemployment Insurance Tax
- Wyoming
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