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andydufrane
Wed 8th Apr 2009, 15:43
Hello all,

I am new here, first time poster. I need some help, I have a very small business that I do in my spare time from my garage at home. I make a particular automotive item from scratch using parts that I purchase out of state. The business makes about $2000 a year in gross income. Off of that I net about $1200. For the first two years I took all that money and put it back into the business, buying tools and parts. I have never filed income for this business, not for 2007 or 2008. I have a full time job and pay income tax jointly with my wife who also works. The business has never been something that we include in any of our personal taxes. I filed a DBA business name with the county and put up a website. I have a sales tax use permit so that I could get an account with a good parts wholesaler. They have my tax id # on file and they do not charge me tax on my parts, whether that is due to me being out of state or the fact that I have a tax id # I am unsure. I only sell to "dealers" who in turn mark my product up and then charge tax to the end consumer. However, I file my quarterly sales tax report religiously and never have anything to put down but zero. The county has been sending me a form every year that I fill out detailing all my property that I use for the business (About $500). Then I pay tax on that yearly which is not much.

Ok! on to the question. Should I close my business and just operate it as a hobby? The only reason that I got a tax use permit was so that I could get an account with this big parts wholesaler, who would not sell to me otherwise. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Fergal
Wed 8th Apr 2009, 20:13
Hi Andy, welcome to Business Advice Forum and thanks for posting your question.

Have you any plans to increase the sales from your business or are you content at the level it is at currently?

Would it be legal in your State, to run the business as a hobby and continue to earn money from it?

Do you have a personal accountant or know anyone who is an accountant? I'm a firm believer that a good accountant will cover their own fees in what they save you in tax.

I know that's a lot of questions, but it will be easier to give you more advice if you can provide us a little more info on your circumstances and your ambitions for the business.

Kay
Thu 9th Apr 2009, 15:03
Hi andy, welcome to BAF. :)


The only reason that I got a tax use permit was so that I could get an account with this big parts wholesaler, who would not sell to me otherwise.

It would be wise to check if you'll ever need to show them proof again in the future to continue to do business with them. You might want to look over the IRS Business or Hobby? page (http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=169490,00.html) and see if that can help. The IRS website also has a whole section devoted to online learning and education (http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/content/0,,id=146331,00.html) for the small business/self employed.

Your best bet is to check with a local tax adviser. State laws vary so much and change so often the professional are often the only ones that can keep up, especially when it's something a bit out of the ordinary.

Nazreen
Fri 10th Apr 2009, 19:03
Welcome to the Business Advice Forum Andy.

It would be better if you check with IRS directly to see if you can operate your current business as a hobby instead. If you're paying only a very small additional amount for your taxes, why'd you need to change things?