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New & Small Business Education

The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) wants to ensure you have the best opportunity to succeed in your business—because people like you bring jobs, innovation and progress to our state. We created the New and Small Business Education Center to help you better understand state laws, the tax-filing process, and what services are available to support you as your business evolves. This page provides a basic overview on these issues. For more detailed information, see our Indiana Tax Handbook for New and Small Business Owners and watch our "Start Strong and Stay Strong" webinars for small businesses.

Update: Nonprofit Requirements and Annual Reporting

Nonprofit customers with an open, active account and a recorded sales tax exemption received a letter in Nov. 2022 detailing upcoming changes to sales tax requirements and annual report filings. Legislation has passed new laws for nonprofit customers effective July 1, 2023. Visit the Nonprofit page to view updates.

Business Registration with INBiz

DOR has partnered with several state agencies to create a streamlined process to help register and manage your business. INBiz is a one-stop portal that allows you to register your business with:

  • Department of Revenue: Registration is required for all tax types applicable to your business including Indiana retail sales, withholding, out-of-state sales, gasoline use taxes and metered pump sales, tire fees, fuel taxes, prepaid wireless service charges, food and beverage taxes, county innkeeper's taxes, heavy vehicle rental tax and motor vehicle rental taxes (see Tax Types section for more information)
  • Secretary of State: Registration is required for formally organized businesses such as C corporations, S corporations, LLCs, nonprofits, LPs and LLPs
  • Department of Workforce Development: Registration is required for businesses with employees in order to pay state unemployment insurance premiums

DOR recommends using INBiz to register a new business because it's the simplest way to get started.

Business Structure

Your specific tax requirements will depend on your business type and several other factors such as if you have employees, sell products and so on. Below, we've outlined the general registration requirements and tax obligations for the most common small business structures.

  • Sole Proprietorship

    If you’re one person who conducts business for profit, and you assume all liabilities and debts of the business, then you meet the definition of a sole proprietorship. You'll report your business income on your own individual tax return. You may also need to register with DOR for certain tax types if you sell products or have employees.

    Examples

    Example 1: Geoffrey decides to open a booth at an antique mall. His booth sells restored antique furniture. He hires his niece, Molly, to help him run the booth. Geoffrey’s business sells tangible items (furniture), and he has an employee. He must register for sales and withholding taxes.

    Example 2: Harriett is a seamstress. She repairs and alters clothing and drapes for her friends and family. Harriett is not selling any tangible property, so she is not required to register her business with DOR. She will report the income from her services on her individual income tax return.

    Example 3: Juanita opens a computer store. She sells computer components and offers repair services for electronics. The store sells products so Juanita needs to register for sales tax with DOR.

    Note: These examples show some of the many possibilities for sole proprietorships. They are not meant to provide legal advice for organizing your business.

  • General Partnership

    When two or more people own a for-profit business, they could form a general partnership. In this case, all partners are responsible for the liabilities and debts of the business. And when tax time rolls around, each partner must report the income from the business on their individual tax returns.

    Example

    Alison and Jaime run a winery in Fort Wayne. The winery has a small café that allows customers to pair wines with appetizer-style foods. The winery employs 10 people to assist with the café and processing the grapes. Alison and Jaime will need to register their business for food and beverage tax, withholding tax and sales tax. Selling bottles of wine and food requires the company to register for sales tax; being in Allen County requires the company to collect a food and beverage tax; and having employees requires the company to withhold taxes for employees' wages. The business will register with DOR to set up the proper tax accounts. And because they'll be selling alcohol, they will need to get a license from the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission.

    Note: This example shows one of the many possibilities for a partnership. It is not meant to provide legal advice for organizing your business.

  • Corporation

    A corporation is a legal entity that's created by filing Articles of Incorporation and owned by shareholders. The corporation assumes all liabilities and debts of the company and shareholders are protected from them. The income of a corporation is taxed twice. The corporation entity is taxed, and individual income taxes are withheld from employees' wages. The same is true for corporate shareholders when dividends are distributed from their shareholdings.

    Example

    Jackson Conventions Inc. is a convention center in Rockport. The company has an area where they sell concessions in addition to renting booth areas for convention attendees. The company employs several hundred people to manage and run the facilities. The company will need to register for withholding tax, sales tax, food and beverage tax and county innkeeper’s tax. Sales tax and food and beverage tax should be added to the purchase of any concessions, and the employees must all have withholding tax paid from their salaries. Since the corporation operates in Spencer County, they must collect innkeeper's tax and a food and beverage tax. At the end of the year, the corporation must file taxes as well as pass out W-2s for all it's employees.

    Note: This example shows one of the many possibilities for corporation. It is not meant to provide legal advice for organizing your business.

    Additional Resources

  • Nonprofit

    A nonprofit is similar to a corporation, but its purpose is to engage in activities that provide no financial profit to its members.
    To qualify properly as a nonprofit, a business must secure tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS provides a nonprofit organization with a Federal Determination letter that shows the exemption from federal tax.
    For more information, visit the Nonprofits page.

    Additional Resources

  • Other Business Types

    There are several other potential entity structures for your business including S corporations, limited liability companies (LLC), limited partnerships (LP) and limited liability partnerships (LLP). For more information about these structures see the INBiz overview on business registration and DOR's guide to choosing the proper income tax form.

    If you are unsure of which business type your business is considered, consult a lawyer or contact the nearest Indiana Small Business Development Center. The Indiana Secretary of State also may be able to assist you. Sole proprietors and general partnerships do not have to file with the Secretary of State. However, limited liability companies, corporations, limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships and other formally organized companies must register with the Secretary of State.

Tax Types

You will need to register for all tax types applicable to your business. See this chart for information on some of the most common tax types for new and small businesses. Please also see our calendar of tax filing deadlines to make sure you file on time.

If you...Register for...
Sell products or tangible items Sales tax
Have employees Withholding tax
Sell food and beverages* Food and beverage tax
Rent accommodations for less than 30 days* County innkeeper's tax
Rent motor vehicles Motor vehicle rental tax
Distribute gasoline or special fuel Gasoline use tax
Sell tires Tire fee
Sell fireworks Safety fee

*In certain counties/municipalities, see our map of tax rates by county

Filing and Paying Taxes

DOR offers electronic filing and payment services for businesses. Please note, state law requires businesses to file and pay sales, withholding, alcohol, cigarette, other tobacco products and motor carrier fuel taxes electronically.

INTIME, DOR's e-services portal at intime.dor.in.gov, enables customers to manage their taxes in one convenient location 24/7.

Additional Resources

Running and succeeding in a new or small business is a dream, and a challenge. Understanding taxes is often one of the biggest challenges. DOR is here to help.

Contact the Indiana Department of Revenue or stop by in person at one of our district offices for assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

State Tax Forms

Administrative Changes

Several administrative changes can now be completed via INTIME. An INTIME Guide for Business Customers is available if needed to complete these tasks:

  • Add a new location
  • Close my business
  • Update address, phone number, and e-mail
  • Update responsible officer

Other State and Federal Resources