What is excise tax? An excise tax is a legislated tax imposed on some goods, services, and activities. In order to be compliant with IRS requirements, small businesses need to know whether or not they need to pay and file excise taxes.
Excise taxes are usually paid by businesses. Businesses pay an excise tax when an item or activity is considered either a luxury or socially harmful.
Businesses that sell these excise-taxed items must pay the corresponding tax.
Sometimes, these taxes are state-based, and other times they are federal. The amount owed is dependent on local, state, and federal tax requirements.
In Tennessee, the Department of Revenue states,
The excise tax is based on net earnings or income for the tax year."
Related: 10 Everyday Business Purchases That Are Tax-Deductible
Federal excise taxes should be paid quarterly.
Businesses can file by mail or use the IRS Electronic Funds Tax Payment System (EFTPS). IRS Form 720 will provide you with the instructions you need to file federal excise taxes.
Excise taxes in Tennessee must be filed electronically.
The best way to do this is through the Tennessee Taxpayer Access Point (TNTAP). Businesses will need to have a TNTAP account to fulfill this requirement.
If your small business wants to ensure total compliance with federal and state requirements, a great strategy is to use a small business CPA.
Instead of worrying about doing it all yourself, choose a qualified and experienced CPA to help. Your CPA can handle the details about what is an excise tax and other areas of your business.
Related: How Can A CPA Help Your Small Business?
Small businesses in Tennessee have someone on their side: Chaliff + Associates.
We pride ourselves on delivering superior accounting services to the Mid-South along with an exceptional customer experience!
Schedule a free consultation with a member of our Chaliff + Associates team today to learn more about accounting best practices and how we can alleviate stress and give you more time to focus on growing your business.