Small Business Tax Fundamentals: What You Must File (and When)

Understanding your tax and compliance obligations is essential for protecting your business and avoiding costly surprises. Structured as a guided FAQ, the presentation breaks down the key points every small business owner should know for their local, state, and federal filings to stay compliant and confidently manage tax responsibilities throughout the year.

Learn:

• What local taxes and licenses your business may need
• How county-level business property tax and meals tax may apply to you
• Which businesses must collect and remit state sales and use tax
• What state unemployment tax means for employers
• Industry-specific taxes (fuel, tobacco, and others) you may encounter
• When and why your business needs an EIN
• The difference between W-2 and 1099 income—and how self-employment tax works 
• Federal unemployment requirements and filing expectations

This session is ideal for business owners who want to clearly understand their tax landscape before tax season arrives.

Brought to you by Capital Pathways, a no-cost program from the Virginia SBDC that helps small businesses get the funding they need to grow. The program is designed for very small (fewer than 10 employees), emerging, and growth-ready businesses that face challenges accessing traditional financing. It offers hands-on group learning, guided implementation, and extended one-on-one support focused on strengthening your finances, loan applications, and legal setup.