Complete Schedule C for a Sole Proprietorship or Single-member LLC

Where and How to File this Form
The information from Schedule C showing the net profit of the business is included on Line 12 of the individual's Form 1040, and on Schedule SE (to determine self-employment tax). Schedule C is included with the tax filing for the individual income tax return.

Information needed to complete this form
General information needed to complete this form includes:

• Principal business or profession
  
• Name and address of business (if different from owner's name)
  
• Employer ID Number of the business, or Social Security Number of owner
  
• You will need to know if the business operates on a cash accounting or accrual accounting basis. If you are not sure which one to choose, read the article on Cash vs. Accrual accounting and talk with your tax adviser.

Information on Income
Collection information on your business income, including income from products or services, returns and allowances, and other income (tax credits or refunds, for example).

Calculate Cost of Goods Sold
To calculate Cost of Goods Sold, you will need to know:

• Beginning inventory
  
• Additional goods produced or purchased
  
• Inventory sold or disposed of
  
• Ending inventory.

The calculation of COGS is in Part III, lines 34-42. You will also need to know the ending inventory valuation method (line 33). You will probably need help from your CPA or tax adviser for this section.

Calculate Gross Profit - Part I
Now that you have information on your income and cost of goods sold, you can calculate Gross Profit. The calculation is:

• Gross Receipts from sales
  
• Less returns and allowances
  
• Equals Net Receipts
  
• Less Cost of Goods Sold
  
• Equals Gross Profits
  
• Plus other income (from tax credits or other sources
  
• Equals Gross Income

List Business Expenses.
Business expenses which you may deduct are listed alphabetically on lines 8-27. They include:

• Advertising
• Vehicle expenses (at actual miles or standard mileage deduction)
  
• Commissions and Fees to sales people and agents
  
• Contract labor (includes contractors on whom you filed Form 1099-MISC).
  
• Depletion, depreciation, and Section 179 expenses
  
• Employee benefits
  
• Insurance, including malpractice, property insurance, but not health insurance
  
• Interest on mortgages and other business debts
  
• Legal and Professional fees
  
• Office expenses
  
• Pension and profit-sharing plans
  
• Rent or lease of vehicles or other business equipment
  
• Repairs and Maintenance
  
• Supplies, including office supplies
  
• Taxes and licenses
  
• Travel expenses(at 100%), meals and entertainment (at 50%)
  
• Utilities
  
• Wages
  
• Other - including bank fees, uniforms and clothing, dues for clubs and organizations, internet and web site charges, books,magazines, and software, phone and cell phone costs

Wages and other Payroll expenses
Wages, salaries, and payroll tax expenses are deductible costs. The total wages paid, the employer portion of FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare), unemployment insurance, and workers compensation insurance (federal and state), are all deductible expenses.

Other Expenses
Part V allows you to provide more detail on other expenses you are deducting. This is the place to include cell phone, internet provider and website expenses, as well as bank charges and other miscellaneous expenses. Try to fit as many of these as possible within lines 8-27. The total of these other expenses goes on line 27.

Business Use of Home
If you want to deduct expenses from business use of your home, you must complete Form 8829 and include the total allowable expenses on line 30 of Schedule C.

Calculating Net Profit
The final calculation is for Net Profit.
Subtract the Total Expenses on Line 28 from Gross Income on Line 7. Then subtract Expenses from Business Use of your home (line 30), to get the Net Profit/Loss. This number is what you must report on your income tax return.

Filing the Schedule C
When you have completed Schedule C, take the Net Profit/(Loss) from Line 31 to your Form 1040, Line 12. Add/subtract your income from this business to other income from other businesses (not your wages from an employer).

Calculating Self-Employment Tax
The total Net Profit from the Schedule C is also used to calculate self-employment taxes to be paid by the owner of the business. If the business has a loss, no self-employment tax is owed. Self-employment tax is calculated on Schedule SE.

Important Disclaimer
The information on Schedule C is provided for general information purposes and is not intended to be used for the purpose of completing a tax return without the assistance of a tax professional. This Guide is not an attorney or CPA or Enrolled Agent.