Form 1120 is the corporate income tax return form that US corporations need to file with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It is used to report the company’s income, deductions, and tax liability. The due date for filing Form 1120 is typically April 15th, but it can be extended until October 15th by filing Form 7004. Visit our C-Corporation tax deadlines calendar to see the current year deadlines.
To complete Form 1120, companies will need various documents and financial statements related to their business, including the IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) letter, basic business information, shareholder SSN/address info, existing tax communications, prior year tax returns, local tax returns (if applicable), financial statements, and a capitalization table.
We strongly recommend keeping track of these materials throughout the year to avoid any last-minute rush! And for newly incorporated startups, the biggest issue we find founders have with gathering materials is the EIN. The EIN is required to complete Form 1120 and is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to identify a business entity for tax purposes.Look for your EIN confirmation letter: When you initially applied for an EIN, the IRS would have sent you a confirmation letter that includes your EIN. Search for this letter in your records.
While the standard 1120 is what most of Kruze’s client use, since they are C-Corps, there are a few other popular versions that may be applicable to your business - this can be confusing, and is why you should work with an experienced CPA to get your business’ taxes done. The most common other version are the 1120-S, for S-Corps, and the 1120-F, for foreign corporations. And if you want to get obscure, try the Form 1120-ND, the return filing for nuclear decommissioning.
Tax season can be a busy time for startup founders, and there are a lot of different forms to complete and regulations to follow. One of the most important is Form 1120, which startups use to report income, deductions, and credits every year. We’ll go into more detail, but first let’s look at the top five things founders need to know about this tax form.
Most folks only think about the annual Form 1120 Tax return, but there’s actually a ton of taxes and tax deadlines for Delaware C-Corps.
And Yes, even bootstrapped pre-revenue startups must pay taxes. You might not be subject to Income Taxes (which are based on profitability) but you will still be subject to a wide variety of other taxes which aren’t always connected to Revenue.
To start, here are 4 Startup Tax Calendars, based on metro:
Quick caveat though, these startup tax checklists aren’t complete. There are actually a bunch of taxes out there, some of which may or may not apply to you (depending on your unique circumstances, of course). Here’s a list of just some of the different types of taxes out there that you may need to consider:
A very common misconception is that the CPA or firm that filed your annual tax return (the 1120) will have taken care of all these types of taxes: that is never the case!! It is always the CEO’s responsibility to make sure that these taxes are addressed and paid on time. Granted, a CEO can only know so much… and the CPA can only guess as to which types of taxes a company might be subject to. Hence, it’s really important to sit down with a CPA to make sure that all bases are covered based on your company’s unique situation.
You can find the official Form 1120 on the IRS’ website. Always go directly to the IRS’ site to get the form, as they tend to have minor changes from year to year. You can get the IRS Form 1120 by clicking here to visit the Internal Revenue Service’s page about Form 1120.
For most US corporations, April 15th is the due date for the Form 1120, the corporate income tax return. This can be extended six months.
If a corporation wishes to extend its Form 1120 due date, it can request an extension of time to file. To obtain an extension, the corporation must file Form 7004, “Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns,” by the original due date of the return. The extension will generally allow the corporation to file its tax return up to six months after the original due date.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is responsible for enforcing the federal income tax laws and for administering the tax system in the United States. The IRS is a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and is responsible for collecting taxes, enforcing the tax laws, and providing tax assistance to taxpayers.
Due to a Federal holiday, the IRS moved the 2023 Form 1120 deadline to April 18th, 2023 and this could have been extended until October 16th, 2023.
If the due date for filing a tax return falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date is moved to the next business day. This means that if April 15 falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the due date for filing the tax return would be the next business day. Recently, a combination of Emancipation day, a holiday in Washington DC, where the IRS is headquartered, and the 15th falling on a weekend, have pushed out the Form 1120 due date.
Corporations wishing to file the Corporate Income Tax Form 1120 with the IRS by mail must use the correct mailing address for the IRS based on the corporation’s location, and in some instances, the corporation’s total assets at year end. Visit the IRS’ website here to find the correct mailing address.
To file Form 1120, a startup founder will need several documents and financial statements related to their business. Here’s a good starting list of the materials you’ll need to have on hand to complete Form 1120:
Getting these materials together will help you produce your tax return Form 1120 more quickly and efficiently. One good tip is that it makes sense to keep track of these materials as you create them during the year, so that there isn’t a rush in March trying to get everything pulled together!
And, answering a common question we get:
Yes, you need your EIN to complete a Form 1120. An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to identify a business entity for tax purposes. It’s quite similar to a social security number for an individual trying to do their taxes. A startup founder will need to provide their EIN when filling out Form 1120, along with other financial and business information such as the date of incorporation, total assets, gross receipts and sales, cost of goods sold (COGS), tax deductions, tax credits, capital gains, dividend, interest, and royalties earned, liabilities, and shareholder equity. The EIN is used by the IRS to track the startup’s tax returns, payments, and other tax-related activities, so make sure you have it on hand when it’s time to do your federal returns.
Here is a high-level set of instructions for filling out Form 1120; we strongly recommend working with an experienced tax preparer for your corporate tax returns.
Remember to attach all required schedules and forms, such as Schedule C, Schedule D, etc.
When filing your corporate tax return, startup founders will typically need to complete several key schedules as part of Form 1120. Here are some of the most common tax forms and schedules that VC-backed startups file in association with their annual corporate tax return:
A required questionnaire about your corporation’s activities and structure that uses a straightforward “Yes/No” format. This schedule helps ensure compliance by gathering critical information about ownership, investments in other companies, and various business activities throughout the tax year. Schedule K must be completed by all C-Corporations, including both domestic and foreign corporations doing business in the United States. Learn about Form 1120 Schedule K - Other Information.
Explains differences between your company’s book income and taxable income, which is especially important for venture-backed startups that often have significant differences between their GAAP financial statements and tax reporting. This schedule helps the IRS understand how your company arrived at its taxable income by listing all items that create differences between financial accounting and tax treatment. Learn about Form 1120 Schedule M-1 - Reconciliation of Income (Loss).
Shows changes in your corporation’s retained earnings during the tax year, which is particularly relevant for startups tracking their accumulated losses. This schedule helps shareholders understand important details such as basis calculations, dividend distributions, and previously taxed income, while also serving as a statement of retained earnings for financial reporting purposes. Learn about Form 1120 Schedule M-2 - Analysis of Unappropriated Retained Earnings.
These schedules are crucial components of your corporate tax return. We recommend working with an experienced CPA to ensure they’re completed accurately and consistently with your other financial reporting.
Filling out IRS Form 1120, the U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, can be a complex process for startup companies. We strongly recommend that you work with an experienced startup CPA to make sure the form is completed accurately and completely. The form is used by C corporations to report their income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits, and to calculate their income tax liability.
Here are step-by-step Form 1120 instructions to help startup companies complete this tax form:
Before starting Form 1120, gather the following documents:
Download Form 1120 from the IRS website to ensure you have the most current version and the Form 1120 instructions. Familiarize yourself with the form’s instructions and any changes or updates relevant to the tax year you’re filing for.
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While startups can follow these Form 1120 instructions, it’s a good idea to work with tax professionals who understand the unique needs and requirements of early-stage companies, since there are specific considerations and opportunities (like the R&D Tax Credit) for startups.
Here are some tips for companies trying to prepare their federal tax return:
Remember to work with a trusted tax advisor who specializes in startups to make sure all criteria are met and potential tax incentives aren’t missed.
Form 1120 Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service
U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return
For calendar year 2022 or tax year beginning _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, 2022, ending _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , 20_ _
▶ Go to www.irs.gov/Form1120 for instructions and the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0123
2022
A Check if:
TYPE
OR
PRINT
Warning: This information is for informational purposes only and should not be used for official tax matters. Use the official Form 1120 and instructions, generally found at: https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions. Rely on this information at your own risk. Visit https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions for official IRS information. Consult with a tax professional.
Warning: This information is for informational purposes only and should not be used for official tax matters. Use the official Form 1120 and instructions, generally found at: https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions. Rely on this information at your own risk. Visit https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions for official IRS information. Consult with a tax professional.
Warning: This information is for informational purposes only and should not be used for official tax matters. Use the official Form 1120 and instructions, generally found at: https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions. Rely on this information at your own risk. Visit https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions for official IRS information. Consult with a tax professional.
Warning: This information is for informational purposes only and should not be used for official tax matters. Use the official Form 1120 and instructions, generally found at: https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions. Rely on this information at your own risk. Visit https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions for official IRS information. Consult with a tax professional.
Warning: This information is for informational purposes only and should not be used for official tax matters. Use the official Form 1120 and instructions, generally found at: https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions. Rely on this information at your own risk. Visit https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions for official IRS information. Consult with a tax professional.
Warning: This information is for informational purposes only and should not be used for official tax matters. Use the official Form 1120 and instructions, generally found at: https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions. Rely on this information at your own risk. Visit https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions for official IRS information. Consult with a tax professional.