Starting a small business is an enormous task, and as you move forward, there are many important decisions to make. Are you operating under the calendar or fiscal year? As a small business owner, you might have the opportunity to choose the fiscal or calendar tax year that your organization operates under.

Which Tax Year is Right for My Small Business?

The tax year is the accounting period that your small business uses to report your business expenses, along with your business income. Most U.S. businesses report their income to the IRS on a calendar year; however, some are allowed to report on a fiscal year. There are pros and cons to each option. What’s important to remember is the law requires you to be consistent, from year to year.

The Calendar Tax Year

Many small business owners use the calendar year reporting method because of its simplicity and similarity to individual taxpayer procedures. The calendar method works just as it sounds. Reporting takes place on an annual basis, from the first of January to the end of December. If you are a sole proprietor, partnership, limited liablity company or S corporation calendar year method may be required. For the most part, anyone can adopt the calendar year. If any of the following are applicable, the IRS requires that you adopt the calendar year:

• You do not keep formal business records
• You have no annual accounting period
• A provision of the Internal Revenue Code or tax regulations require you to use a calendar year.

The Fiscal Tax Year

For larger companies such as C corporations, reporting on a consecutive 12-month period, that does not end the last day of December, may be the best option. Some small businesses, which operate on a seasonal basis, also benefit from utilizing this method, which can better represent its business cycle. For example, if your business primarily receives the bulk of its income in the last quarter of the year with the majority of expenses in the first quarter of the year, a fiscal calendar will better align your income and expenses. Whereas, reporting using a calendar year could split the season, presenting a distorted view of income and expenses.

Changing Your Tax Year

Small businesses that qualify may elect to switch their tax year, if there is a legitimate business reason for doing so by filing IRS Form 1128. The IRS must grant approval before officially switching your business tax year. If you are wondering if a small business fiscal calendar method will work best for your business, Ernst Wintter & Associates LLP can help you. Our firm has worked with all types of business entities. Contact us at 925.933.2626 or send us an email, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.