Federal taxes make up a large part of the responsibility of any business owner in the United States. From applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) in order to pay federal taxes to learning about federal business taxes to filing federal taxes (including federal income tax), business owners have a lot to learn in regards to federal taxes.

All business owners in the United States should look to the website of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for assistance with all of their federal tax responsibilities. Business owners should be sure to use the Internet to:

1. Obtain information about federal taxes for businesses.

2. Gather and review the necessary federal tax forms.

3. File federal tax returns online.

4. Use online federal tax tools to aid with tax related tasks for your business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about federal taxes

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides business owners with a wealth of online federal tax resources. These resources provide information about federal income taxes, withholding, corporations and partnerships. Look at the website of the IRS to answer any questions you may have about federal taxes for businesses.

I recommend: View tax publications and notices by number. Review answers to frequently asked questions about federal taxes. Obtain important information about employment taxes online. Look up important business information online in the A-Z Index for Business.

Obtain applicable federal tax forms

Any business owner or other business tax professional can look to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for applicable federal tax forms. Download various tax forms, such as federal income tax forms and withholding forms, directly from the website of the Internal Revenue Service. Alternatively, order the necessary tax forms by mail.

I recommend: Locate federal tax forms and instructions online by form number. Order tax forms by mail from the Internal Revenue Service. Order tax forms for information returns and employer returns by mail.

File a federal tax return for your business using the Internet

United States business owners have several options available to them for filing their business taxes using the Internet. You can use the website of the Internal Revenue Service to help you locate an approved e-file provider or partner to aid you with filing your taxes online. You can also obtain information on the Modernized e-file (MeF) tax filing system and even pay your federal taxes, including federal income taxes, online for free using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).

I recommend: View a list of approved IRS e-file for Business Providers. Locate an approved IRS e-file for Business Partner. Obtain information on the Modernized e-file (MeF) for partnerships. Pay your business taxes online using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).

Take advantage of online federal tax tools

The Internal Revenue Service has several online federal tax tools to assist both new and seasoned small business owners in the United States. New business owners should obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) using the EIN Assistant online. All business owners should use the tax calendar for information about important tax due dates.

I recommend: Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) using the online EIN Assistant. Review the online tax calendar for small businesses.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider viewing the Online Classroom presentation of the IRS's small business tax workshop for information about federal taxes for small businesses. Find information about the Online Classroom on the website of the Internal Revenue Service.