Alabama state taxes may be the source of your unease come April of each year. Perhaps there's good reason. The Alabama local tax for businesses is relatively high.

Tax season can be a daunting time, full of incomprehensible instructions and looming payments. Luckily, all you need to start and finish your Alabama tax filing this year is in this article. You should find Alabama state and local tax resources that will allow you to:

1. Better understand the ins and outs of Alabama state taxes

2. Download your Alabama tax forms or complete your Alabama taxes online

3. Find a good certified public accountant (CPA) to take the burden off of you and file your Alabama state tax return

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

Learn more about how to file your Alabama state taxes

In any competition, they say you should know your opponent before the match. The same is true with taxes. The more you know about the Alabama local tax, the more you'll be able to maximize your Alabama tax refunds.

I recommend: Sign-up for a brief, yet comprehensive New Business training course through the Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR). The ADOR holds these courses throughout the state, so there's sure to be one near your business. With a little more patience and time you can get the same information by looking at Alabama local tax corporate rules and the corporate FAQ on the ADOR website.

Get your Alabama tax forms

All of the paper work you need to file your Alabama taxes is available online. You can either download forms to print and mail into the Department of Revenue, or you can file your Alabama local tax online.

I recommend: Start by registering your business online, if you haven't already. Once you have a registration code, you can look up the Alabama tax forms you need. Download the instructions for these forms too. Of course, you could bypass all of this downloading: File your Alabama taxes online.

Hire a professional to guide you through Alabama tax filing

Maybe you don't have the skills needed to file your own taxes or maybe your time is just too valuable right now to sort through Alabama state and local tax resources. No sweat! Hire a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a tax lawyer to help you out.

I recommend: Find a CPA through the Alabama Society of CPAs. You can also hone your search for lawyers by searching Alabama Tax Lawyer's website.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Do some research. Even if you have all intentions to hire a CPA, it will help you and your business in the long run to understand some of your local tax laws and rules.
• •  Keep the pressure off yourself, and start researching Alabama state and local taxes long before April.