• What is the due date for business returns?
• Must a partnership or corporation file a tax form even though it had no income for the year?
• Can the entire acquisition cost of a computer that I purchased for my business be deducted as a business expense or do I have to use depreciation?
• I'm concerned because my check for payment to the IRS has not been cashed yet. What should I do?

What is the due date for business returns?

Some forms and entities have due dates other than the well-known April 15th due date. The instructions for the each type of form used will have the appropriate due date(s) noted. In general, sole proprietor's schedule of income and expenses is attached to the Form 1040. Therefore, the due date is the same as the Form 1040.

A Corporation may use either the calendar year, or a different tax year. An S corporation generally must use the calendar year, unless the entity can establish a business purpose for having a different tax year. The due date is March 15th for corporations on a calendar year and the 15th day of the third month following the end of the tax year for other corporations.

A partnership generally must conform its tax year of the partners unless the partnership can establish a business purpose for having a different tax year.

Must a partnership or corporation file a tax form even though it had no income for the year?

A domestic partnership must file an income tax form unless it neither receives gross income nor pays or incurs any amount treated as a deduction or credit for federal tax purposes.

A domestic corporation must file an income tax form whether it has taxable income or not.

Can the entire acquisition cost of a computer that I purchased for my business be deducted as a business expense or do I have to use depreciation?

The entire acquisition cost of a computer purchased for business use can be expensed under Code section 179 in the first year if qualified, or depreciated over a 5-year recovery period. Under section 179, you can elect to recover all or part of the cost of certain qualifying property, up to a dollar limit, by deducting it in the year you place the property in service. You can elect to expense the cost of qualifying property instead of recovering the cost by taking depreciation.

I'm concerned because my check for payment to the IRS has not been cashed yet. What should I do?

If it had been at least two weeks since the payment was sent to IRS, you should check with your financial institution immediately before you call the IRS. If the check has still not cleared your account call (800) 829-1040 and ask an IRS representative if the payment has been credited to your account. If the payment has not been credited and your check has not cleared you may choose to place a stop-payment on the original check and send another payment.