This section briefly discusses the employment taxes you must pay, the forms you must file to report them, and other forms that must be filed when you have employees.
Employment taxes include the following:
Federal income tax withholding
Social security and Medicare taxes
Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax
If you have employees, you will need to get Publication 15, Circular E, Employer's Tax Guide. If you have agricultural employees, get Publication 51, Circular A, Agricultural Employer's Tax Guide. These publications explain your tax responsibilities as an employer.
If you are not sure whether the people working for you are your employees, see Publication 15-A, Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide. That publication has information to help you determine whether an individual is an employee or an independent contractor. If you classify an employee as an independent contractor, you can be held liable for employment taxes for that worker plus a penalty. An independent contractor is someone who is self-employed. You do not generally have to withhold or pay any taxes on payments to an independent contractor.
Federal Income, Social Security, and Medicare Taxes
Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax
Hiring Employees
Form W-2 Wage Reporting
After the calendar year is over, you must furnish copies of
Form W-2 (pdf), Wage and Tax Statement,
to each employee to whom you paid wages during the year. You must also send copies to the
Social Security Administration. See Information Returns for more information
on Form W-2.
Information courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service.
Business Taxes:
Income Tax
Self-Employment Tax
Employment Taxes
Excise Taxes
Depositing Taxes
