Small Business Week

Small businesses should be on the lookout for scams. Use these tips to help protect your business, data and employees and how to report suspicious activity.

• Watch out for common scams targeting you as a business owner. The 2026 Dirty Dozen list highlights some persuasive scams impacting businesses, including:
  • AI-enabled IRS impersonation by phone
  • New client scams and spear phishing
  • Bad tax advice on social media
  • Bogus “Self-Employment Tax Credit” promotion.
• Take proactive steps today to safeguard your business and employees by using anti-malware/anti-virus software with automatic updates and requiring strong passwords with multi-factor authentication. Ensure you only enter personal data on secure websites (https) to prevent unauthorized access. See Publication 5961, Protect your business from tax scams PDF, for more information.
• Educate employees on data security to protect your business. Use valuable resources like IRS Identity Theft Central and security awareness publications to provide comprehensive training and awareness.
• Protect your Employer Identification Number. Keep it secure and up to date. Use Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party — Business PDF, to make any necessary updates to your EIN promptly, ensuring its integrity and minimizing the risk of identity theft or fraudulent activity.
• Report suspicious IRS or tax-related scams through the new IRS fraud webpage. This page can be found by selecting the new ‘Report Fraud’ button on the IRS.gov homepage or at IRS.gov/SubmitATip. Taxpayers are encouraged to report suspected tax-related wrongdoing as soon as possible to help the IRS address fraud and noncompliance.

• Correctly classify your business. Choose the appropriate business entity (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, S corporation or LLC) to determine tax filing requirements and legal considerations.
• Get your employer identification number . An EIN, also known as a federal tax identification number, is used to identify a business entity.
  • Apply online. Get an EIN now, free, direct from the IRS.
  • If you lost or misplaced your EIN, follow these steps.
• Keep adequate records. Good records help you monitor the progress of your business, prepare your financial statements, identify sources of income, keep track of deductible expenses, keep track of your basis in property, prepare your tax returns and support items reported on your tax returns. Choose a recordkeeping system that clearly shows income and expenses.
• Hire the right tax professional. Choosing a qualified tax professional helps ensure accurate and timely tax preparation. By asking the right questions and verifying credentials, businesses can avoid potential scams and protect their financial interests.

• IRS Nationwide Tax Forum registration is open. For sessions in five U.S. cities. The Forum offers valuable continuing education credits and networking opportunities for enrolled agents, CPAs, attorneys and other tax professionals. Attendees can earn up to 18 continuing education credits, enhancing their professional development and expertise.
• Tax Pro Account can help tax professionals save time. Tax Pro Account makes it easy to view your clients’ tax information, view and withdraw from active authorizations, make payments or create payment plans on behalf of individual taxpayers and request Powers of Attorney or Tax Information Authorizations from your clients – in real time.
• Stay updated on tax regulations and resources provided by the IRS to help you navigate tax season effectively. Subscribe to weekly e-News for tax professionals to get the latest IRS updates for the tax professional community. This is a weekly summary generally issued on Fridays, that highlights key information for tax professionals.

It’s not too early to start planning for next year’s filing season. These steps can help set your business up for success.

• Work with your tax professional year-round. Early planning can help with your tax strategy for the remainder of the year.
• Take advantage of credits and deductions. Businesses may qualify for credits such as the Work Opportunity Credit, Employer-Provided Childcare Credit or Employer Credit for Paid Family and Medical Leave. A list of business expense resources can be found on IRS.gov.
• Pay your estimated tax on time. Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, and S corporation shareholders, generally must make estimated tax payments if they expect to owe tax of $1,000 or more when their return is filed. For estimated tax purposes, the year is divided into four payment periods. Each period has a specific payment due date. If you don’t pay enough tax by the due date of each of the payment periods, you may be charged a penalty even if you are due a refund when you file your income tax return.
  • If you owe the IRS, payments can be made through the following methods:
    • Pay from your bank account
    • Debit card, credit card or digital wallet
    • From your IRS account - Individual Online Account, Business Tax Account, & Electronic Federal Tax Payment System
    • Same-day wire — Bank fees may apply
    • Check or money order — Through U.S. mail
    • Cash — Through a retail partner and other methods
    • Electronic funds withdrawal — During e-filing only
    • Payment Plan
    • Offer in Compromise

Gig economy workers and entrepreneurs should plan ahead. Gig work includes  income earned through a digital platform like an app or website. Some examples are driving a car for booked rides or deliveries, renting property or equipment, selling goods online or freelance work. Income is taxable.

The IRS’s digital tools and resources help manage tax responsibilities efficiently and save small businesses time.

• Business Tax Account.  A secure, one-stop tool to view balances, make payments, view transcripts such as payroll and income and access other tax information. BTA recently expanded access to millions of  more users, including partnerships and tax-exempt organizations.
• E-file information returns for tax years 2022 and later with the Information Returns Intake System (IRIS). This system lets you file corrections and requests automatic extensions.
• Digital and mobile-friendly forms. The IRS now provides certain forms that allow taxpayers to easily complete and submit forms from their computer, cell phone or tablet. This gives taxpayers a safe and fast way to electronically engage with IRS. For forms that require signatures, you need an IRS Online Account to complete the mobile friendly forms.
• IRS Secure Messaging. A secure way for taxpayers and authorized representatives of a taxpayer/business to directly interact with IRS representatives. Messages can be securely sent to you by IRS representatives.

Disasters can happen anytime and anywhere. Even the smallest events can have a large impact on small businesses. Planning ahead can help protect your records and speed up recovery.

• Take advantage of paperless recordkeeping for financial and tax records. Store critical documents in waterproof containers and duplicate important paperwork.
• Document valuables and business equipment. After a disaster hits, photographs and videos of a home or business's contents can help support claims for insurance or tax benefits. The IRS disaster-loss workbooks can help individuals PDF and businesses PDF compile lists of belongings or business equipment.
• Get IRS support during disasters PDF. Following a federal disaster declaration, the IRS will automatically provide administrative disaster tax relief and special tax law provisions. This grants additional time for individuals and businesses to file returns, pay taxes, and perform certain other time-sensitive acts to taxpayers affected by a federally declared disaster. Taxpayers living in a federally declared disaster can visit IRS Tax relief in disaster situations or Around the nation to check for the available disaster tax relief.
• Check whether your employer has an employer fiduciary bond. Employers using payroll service providers should check if their provider has a fiduciary bond in place to protect the employer in the event of a default by provider. Employers are encouraged to create an Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) to monitor their payroll tax deposits and receive email alerts.

• Gig economy tax center
• Business taxes
• SECURE 2.0 Act changes affect how businesses complete Forms W-2
• IRS tax tips