Generally, income from eligible businesses, including domestic partnerships, S corporations, sole proprietorships, and certain real estate activities, may qualify for the deduction.

Suppose you fail to file a 7004 tax extension or tax return within the appropriate deadline (March 15, 2023, for S-corporations and partnerships and April 18, 2023, for corporations and other businesses). In that case, the IRS will charge interest and penalties on any unpaid Federal taxes.

If you do not file and owe taxes, the failure-to-file penalty is 5% per month (up to 5 months) of the amount due. If your return is over 60 days late, you may be subject to a $135 minimum penalty. The IRS will also impose a failure-to-pay penalty of 0.5% per month (up to 25%) of the amount due if you file a return or extension but don’t pay all your taxes on time.

Foreign Inwards Remittance Advice (FIRA) is a document used in the Indian cross-border payments context. It is used as proof of a foreign currency conversion to Indian Rupees. FIRA is required to claim a GST refund for services or goods exported from India. We provide you with a free FIRA on your dashboard for every transfer, simplifying the process for you.

Some specific exceptions and exemptions exist for certain types of transactions and entities. For example, certain de minimis transactions may be exempt from reporting.

No, the batch deadlines are only for founders. Investors will stay in out database and receive all batches.

Accounting software can empower small businesses to manage their own bookkeeping efficiently, thanks to automated operations ensuring accurate financial records. Know more with Inkle.

Required if US corporation did any reportable transactions at any time during tax year AND has any 25%+ foreign shareholder. See here https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i5472

Inkle offers a flat fee revenue-sharing model based on the volume of referrals and the services your clients use. Apply to learn more about your earning potential.

We enforce stringent password security policies and MFA (Multi-factor Authentication) based access for all our employees via a central active directory. We strictly monitor access to customer data and only permit it on an as-needed basis.

Your chosen tax year dates are normally Jan-Dec unless you specific asked for it to be something else in your EIN application (SS-4). - for example Apr-Mar is common for those with Indian subsidiaries to match the underlying India tax year. You can check your chosen US dates in your SS-4 (field 12)or your EIN issuance letter (paragraph 3). Depending on your chosen tax year dates, and only if you want a 6-month extension to your corporate tax deadline, you will need to file the Form 7004 either by 15th April (if your tax year is Jan-Dec) or 15th Jul (if your tax year is Mar-Apr). This buys you a 6 month breather.

You can complete Form 2553 by providing information about your corporation, shareholders, and the S corporation election. The completed form is then submitted to the IRS.

It's good practice (but not mandatory with Inkle).

In our experience, many founders tend to just "leave it to the deadline" - and then rush or miss the deadline. And they have little visibility into their books at any given time.

If you come to us days before the deadline, it's really tough for us to catch up your books if you have lots of transactions and missing invoices. And almost impossible to use Accrual method. So we'll be forced to used Cash method accounting, which isn't ideal for you.

Many US tax filing services compel you to pay a high monthly bookkeeping charge of more than $500/month and subscribe to Quickbooks, even if you have low activity at the start. We have fair pricing and nudge you for monthly bookkeeping because it's better for you, and it will cost you about half of the total monthly cost over 12 months in terms of annual cleanup anyway. Why not have monthly visibility instead.

Reporting companies formed or registered on or after January 1, 2024, are required to report their company applicants. A company may have up to two potential applicants:

1. The person directly filing the document for company creation or registration.
2. If multiple individuals are involved, the person primarily responsible for directing or controlling the filing.

It's best to do a tax consultation with our certified professional tax experts who can help you determine the answer.

As a general rule of thumb: if you don't have a formal physical office, permanent employees in attendance, stock or inventory and business operations, then you won't need to file a State return. This is even if your US company address is located in that state. Basically: it depends on what you're doing in the state.

Yes, both Form 8938 and FBAR might be necessary since they serve different purposes and have separate reporting thresholds. While FBAR has its requirements, Form 8938 is part of your annual tax return and may need to be filed, even if you're already submitting FBAR.

Generally this is the bulk of software development expense, which is often in the form of software engineer salaries. However, you can exclude the time they spend on maintenance (such as support and bug fixes).

C Corporations must file Form 7004 on or before the original deadline of their tax return Form 1120, which is by the 15th day of the 4th month after the taxable year ends.

The deadline for C-Corporations following the calendar tax year is April 18, 2023.

Our team will assist you every step of the way. Before we kickstart your incorporation process with Inkle, please prepare the following information:

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• Brand Name: what will your brand name be? It's perfectly fine (and normal) for this to be completely different to your various entity names. Check that there is no US/India trademark violation or similar-named entities.
• Entity name/s: decide on the entity names (follow the specific regulatory requirements).

The exempted companies that do not need to file BOI are:

• Big operational companies with over 20 full-time employees in the United States maintain a physical office presence in the US and have filed a federal income tax or information return demonstrating gross receipts or sales exceeding $5 million in the previous year.
• Companies involved in investments, along with advisors for investments and venture capital funds, are officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
• Pooled investment vehicles operated or advised by specific financial entities.

S corporations are pass-through entities, meaning profits and losses are passed to shareholders, who report them on their tax returns. Understanding these tax implications is essential.

No, our assisted service eliminates the need for expensive legal consultations. However, if you need legal advice, Clerky offers an optional attorney collaboration portal.

Nil return means your US Corporation has no transactions in the concerned tax year.

Individuals, estates, and trusts with qualified company income from pass-through entities, like partnerships, S corporations, and sole proprietorships, may be eligible to use Form 8995.

Detailed reporting on foreign corporation ownership, finances, operations, including key data, related-party transactions, and essential info.

Individuals employ Form 1040 to file personal income taxes, whereas C corporations utilise Form 1120 for corporate tax returns. The primary distinction lies in the taxpayer type: 1040 is for individuals, and 1120 is for corporations.

Yes, S corporations have restrictions on the types of shareholders they can have. Certain entities, such as other corporations, partnerships, and non-resident aliens, are generally not eligible shareholders.

No. It's free.

If you have paid a US resident contractor or an LLC as a contractual payment or rent, during the Concerned Tax Year, then yes you must file a Form 1099 by 31st January of the following year annually. One filing per person/LLC. If you've missed the deadline, discuss with us how to proceed.

These include ongoing compliance support, charter amendments, NDAs, foreign qualifications, and more, ensuring your business remains in good standing.

Yes, a 409A valuation can and should be updated if there are material changes in your company's financial situation or other significant events.

C corporations can electronically file Form 926 through the IRS's Modernized e-File (MeF) system.

Yes, our platform adheres to the SOC2 Type 2 security framework. We undergo regular third-party audits to maintain compliance and improve our security practices.

BE-12 is a survey conducted by the Bureau of Economic Analysis every five years to collect data on foreign investment in the US. US businesses with foreign ownership or control must participate.

Yes, IRS permits electronic filing using the Electronic Tax Administration system, offering convenience and extended deadlines.

You must still file a Form 1040 tax return to reconcile your estimated tax payments with your actual tax liability.

Auto-categorization may not be working for several reasons:

• Unrecognized Transaction Descriptions: The system might not recognize certain transaction descriptions or vendor names. Ensure your transactions have clear and consistent descriptions.
• Rule Misconfiguration: Review your categorization rules to ensure they are set up correctly and apply to the appropriate transactions.
• Data Sync Issues: Check if there are any issues with data synchronization between your bank accounts and Inkle Books. Ensure all accounts are correctly linked and updated.
• Custom Categories: If you have custom categories or exceptions, ensure these are configured properly within your settings.

If auto-categorization issues persist, consider reaching out to Inkle Books’ support team for further assistance.

No fees to participate.

Form 1040-ES estimates and pays your federal income taxes if you are not subject to withholding, such as self-employed individuals or those with significant additional income.

Form 1120 is a crucial tax document utilized by corporations in the United States to disclose their income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits for federal income tax goals. In Delaware, corporations are expected to submit Form 1120 if they are operating within the state or have obtained income from sources within its boundaries.

Inkle Books allows you to track payroll by integrating with payroll services or manually entering payroll data. If you use a payroll service, connect it through available integrations to automatically sync payroll information. For manual entry, record payroll expenses under the appropriate categories, ensuring accurate tracking of wages, taxes, and other deductions. You can also use Inkle Books’ reporting features to generate payroll summaries and review compensation costs.

If you have a Delaware C-Corp which was in existence during any calendar tax year (1st January to 31st December), then yes you must file the Annual Report and pay the Delaware Franchise Tax. This is going to cost you a minimum of $400 tax + $50 government filing fee, and possibly much more if you've raised in the millions.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has introduced a significant update to its electronic filing requirements, effective for the 2023 tax year and onwards (to be filed in 2024). This new mandate stipulates that businesses filing ten or more information returns within a calendar year are obliged to submit these returns electronically. This marks a substantial change from the previous regulation, which set the electronic filing requirement at over 250 annual information returns.

Issued in February 2023, the updated IRS regulations encompass various information return types, including forms such as 1099s and W-2s. Under this new rule, businesses are required to aggregate the total number of all return types to determine if they meet or exceed the ten-return threshold. For instance, a company that needs to file two Form W-2s and eight Form 1099-NECs would have to file all of these returns electronically, as the combined total crosses the ten-return limit.

The mandate is quite inclusive, with few exceptions. It applies to almost all returns if their cumulative number exceeds ten. This regulation significantly impacts how businesses manage and file their information returns, especially those dealing with independent contractors' payments.

Inkle strongly recommends Accrual Method (over Cash Method,) because:

- it's gives a much truer picture of your finances.

- prevents you from getting any nasty surprises.- it is easier for forecasting.

- it is GAAP-standard, and most VCs will ask for it.

- you will eventually have to do Accrual Method anyway after you cross $25mm in revenue (by law) or sooner, so why not start with it.

- the IRS does not permit you to switch to Accrual (from Cash) in the middle of a year.

- restating and translating prior years' Cash books into Accrual method would be a nightmare, if you want to compare later.

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Cash Method is possibly OK if you have very little activity, or just started out or have no real revenue operations in US, but consult us for a discussion on this.

Because Accrual Method is more complex, we can only offer this to monthly customers. Trying to do Accrual Method once per year would just be too difficult for you and us, as we would have to discuss every transaction and invoice.

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We open a Virtual Account with JP Morgan Chase for your Indian entity. You need to make a domestic wire from US Bank A/C to this Virtual Account, and then funds are credited in INR in Indian Bank A/C after currency conversion. Funds do not touch Inkle anywhere.

The updated IRS electronic filing mandate has significant implications for businesses employing independent contractors. While many companies are accustomed to electronically filing W-2 forms, the inclusion of 1099-NEC forms, typically used for freelancers and 1099 workers, into this process is a new requirement. Businesses with many independent contractors must now develop standardized procedures for filing 1099-NEC forms to maintain organized records, including tax verifications and invoices, for smooth filing at year-end.

The change from a 250-return threshold to just ten is considerable, affecting many businesses that previously relied on manual filing methods.

This oversight can lead to compliance risks and unregulated spending. With the new mandate, it becomes crucial for businesses working with independent contractors to maintain a comprehensive overview of all 1099-NEC forms required for end-of-year filing.

To adapt, companies may need to assign specific roles, possibly within human resources, to manage independent contractor engagements. This would ensure consistent onboarding and payment processes across the organization, facilitating accurate reporting at the end of the year.

Additionally, implementing automated and centralized systems could significantly reduce administrative workload and the likelihood of manual errors.

If you overpay your estimated taxes, you can apply the overpayment as a credit toward your next year's estimated taxes or request a refund when you file your tax return.

Yes! India-resident founders should use the other tab to incorporate their US entity.

Form 8995 provides a step-by-step calculation process to determine the QBID. It involves determining your qualified business income, limitations, and other factors.

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Inkle is Stripe's India Crossborder Compliance Partner for the purpose of helping Indian resident founders use Stripe's Atlas product. We give end-to-end guidance and help smoothen the process. Stripe Atlas is actually a self-serve product, so you don't need Inkle, but we're always here to help.

US-as-a-parent: LLPs take about a month to create (formation, getting a bank account, starting the ODI process). Then the paperwork for the US parent takes just minutes to handle. Subsequently setting up a wholly owned subsidiary in India (a private limited company) takes about another month or so.

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US-as-a-subsidiary: setting up a India Private Limited (Pvt Ltd) company takes a few weeks to do fully. The US subsidiary just takes a few minutes. Wiring the ODI payment from the Indian parent to US subsidiary takes a week or two more.

In such cases, you need to rectify the mistake by amending the form. Utilise Form 1120X, the Amended U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, for this purpose. Form 1120X must be submitted within three years from the original return.

To complete Form 1120X, you'll need the following information:

1. Business name
2. Explanation of changes
3. Business address
4. Details on payments and credits
5. Data on income and deductions
6. Tax amount due or overpayment
7. Employer Identification Number (EIN)
8. Signature

A Delaware C Corporation (C Corp) is a type of business entity formed under the laws of Delaware and is taxed separately from its owners. A C Corp is considered a separate legal entity from its shareholders, meaning it can enter into contracts, own assets, and conduct business in its name.

Partners receive earnings on a monthly basis.

There is a flat 0.25% forex markup fee on live mid-market rates. There are no other hidden fees, such as flat fees or GST deductions. Since we don't charge a flat fee, GST is not applicable.

All reporting companies should include the following information in the Beneficial Ownership Information report -

Reporting Company Details:

1. Legal name
2. Trade names
3. Current U.S. business address
4. Jurisdiction of Formation
5. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or foreign-issued tax identification number and issuing jurisdiction.

Beneficial Owner Details:For each beneficial owner, the reporting company must provide:

1. Name
2. Date of birth
3. Residential address
4. Identifying numbers from an acceptable ID document (e.g., passport or U.S. driver's license) and the issuing state or jurisdiction. (Include a copy of the identification document used for obtaining the identifying number).

Company Applicant Details:Only applicable for companies incorporated on or after 1st Jan 2024. For each company applicant, the reporting company must provide:

1. Name
2. Date of birth
3. Address
4. Identifying numbers from an acceptable ID document (e.g., passport or U.S. driver's license) and the issuing state or jurisdiction. (Include a copy of the identification document used for obtaining the identifying number).

You are eligible to pitch once every six months.

Generally, foreign real estate isn't reported on an FBAR except when held through a foreign financial account like a foreign bank account, where exceptions may apply.

High tech early stage product startups with at least one founder or a subsidiary based in India. Even if you are in the pre-product or pre-revenue stage, you are encouraged to apply. We have no restrictions on valuation size and are open to evaluating startups from any business model focusing on building a US or global business. Being an Inkle customer is not a prerequisite for submitting a pitch, but we'd love to help!

Corporations must provide detailed financial data, including gross receipts, deductions, credits, and other pertinent details essential for calculating net income and tax liability.

Delaware is tax-friendly due to no sales tax, business-friendly tax laws, and favourable corporate income tax rates.

Bookkeeping providers offer comprehensive bookkeeping, accounting, and tax services. Learn about key functions such as journal entries, ledger maintenance, reconciliation, and trial balances with Inkle.

Inkle Raise is not a accelerator, incubator or investor. We provide warm introductions, events and tools for free to the community of founders who apply. Many of these founders will hopefully elect to do business with Inkle.

FBAR requires reporting on various foreign financial accounts, including bank and investment accounts, and certain foreign retirement or pension accounts if they meet the reporting threshold.

A beneficial owner is an individual who either directly or indirectly:

1. Owns or controls at least 25% of the reporting company’s ownership interests.
2. Exercises substantial control over the reporting company.

An individual is considered to exercise substantial control over a reporting company if they:

• Hold a senior officer position (e.g., president, CFO, general counsel).
• Possess the authority to appoint or remove specific officers or a majority of directors.
• Serve as an important decision-maker for the company.
• Exercise any other form of substantial control over the reporting company.

In 2022, all companies that have foreign ownership or interests exceeding 10% at the end of the year are required to submit BE-12. This requirement applies to e-commerce platforms involved in digital product distribution as well as partnerships that hold real estate for non-personal purposes.

Instead of a full deduction of the R&D expenses upfront in the year it was incurred, you'll now have to spread (amortize) them over 5 years (US R&D) or 15 years (foreign R&D).

Inkle Books offers a variety of financial reports to help you manage and analyze your business finances. These include:

• Income Statements: Show your company’s revenues, expenses, and profits over a period.
• Balance Sheets: Provide a snapshot of your assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time.
• Cash Flow Statements: Track cash inflows and outflows, helping you understand your liquidity.

• Entity formation (Delaware C-Corp)
• EIN application (Employer Identification Number)
• Bank account setup
• Registered agent services
• Founder stock issuance
• Lifetime documentation & compliance support

You can seek assistance from tax professionals, use tax software like Inkle, or refer to the IRS website for guidance and resources on completing Form 8995 and understanding the QBID.

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Form 8995 is used to calculate and claim the Qualified Business Income Deduction (QBID) for individuals, estates, and trusts.

Regardless of taxable income, every US-based domestic corporation must file tax Form 1120. 

The following entities fall under the obligation to file tax Form 1120:

1. Businesses opting for corporate taxation. These businesses must also complete Form 8832 and include a copy of Form 1120.
2. Limited liability companies (LLCs). LLCs file Form 1120 only if they've chosen corporate taxation. Partnership LLCs use Form 1065, while single-member LLCs typically file taxes through the owner's personal federal tax return.
3. Farming corporations. They are required to file Form 1120 to report their income/losses.
4. Corporations with an ownership interest in a FASIT (Financial Asset Securitization Investment Trust).
5. Foreign-owned domestic disregarded entities. If a foreign entity owns 100 percent of a domestic disregarded entity (D.E.), the D.E. is treated as separate from its foreign owner. The foreign entity must file Form 1120 and attach Form 5472.

Additionally, some types of corporations may need to complete additional forms, such as Form 1120 (Schedule N), for foreign operations in the U.S. Small corporations might not be required to fill out these additional forms. You can locate them by searching for "Form 1120" using the IRS Forms and Publications tool.

We appreciate your help in reporting bugs and have a vulnerability reporting system set up as documented here. Please reach out to security@inkle.io to report a bug.

Yes, there are exceptions based on ownership thresholds and specific circumstances. It's essential to review the IRS guidelines to determine if you meet the criteria for exemption from filing Form 5471.

Yes, you may still be able to claim the QBID even if you have W-2 wage income, but some limitations and calculations take W-2 wages into account.

Providing false information or failing to report/update beneficial ownership may lead to penalties. Civil fines are $500 per day, and criminal penalties include fines up to $10,000.

If a report with inaccurate information is filed without the reporting company's knowledge, there's a 90-day safe harbor to submit a corrected report.

You can find Form 1040-ES and its instructions on the official IRS website. Tax professionals and tax software like Inkle can also guide you in completing the form.

No. There will be no government fee for submitting your beneficial ownership information report to FinCEN.

The specific information required may vary depending on the calculator, but typically, you'll need details such as the number of authorised shares, par value of shares, gross assets, and any additional factors relevant to Delaware's franchise tax calculation methods.

To elect S corporation status for a tax year, Form 2553 generally must be filed two months and 15 days after the beginning of that tax year.

Both are trusted incorporation partners, but they offer different features:

Clerky – Best for founders needing flexibility in share issuance, add-ons like SAFEs and stock plans, and an attorney collaboration portal.

Stripe Atlas – Best for ease of use, fixed share issuance, and perks like cashless founder stock purchase and massive Stripe discounts.

You can find Form 2553 and its instructions on the official IRS website. Additionally, tax professionals and software can guide you in completing the form.

While bookkeeping focuses on recording financial transactions, accounting involves interpreting, classifying, and reporting those transactions.

Due to the high volume of submissions, we regretfully cannot offer personalised feedback on individual pitch submissions. Nevertheless, you can enhance your pitch or prepare for future submissions by participating in our expert sessions or exploring our published content on our blog.

FinCen will issue a penalty of $10,000 fine for intentionally not filing it and $250,000 to $500,000 for reporting incorrect information.

You typically need to attach Form 8995 or its related schedules to your tax return to claim the QBID. The exact attachments required may depend on your situation.

Yes if your US corporation had a foreign subsidiary at any time during the concerned tax year.

C corporations use Form 926 to report property transfers to foreign corporations.

You can revoke the S corporation election under certain circumstances, but it typically requires shareholder consent and IRS approval.

Filing Form 926 is crucial because it allows the IRS to monitor and track investments made by C corporations in foreign entities, ensuring compliance with tax laws.

Specific criteria must be met, such as having a valid business structure (typically a domestic corporation), a particular number of shareholders, and meeting other requirements.

Yes Inkle has already partnered with dozens of Indian CA/CS firms to help them help their clients with US+India incorporations. Inkle outsources India work to Indian professionals, so there is no overlap.

Delaware Franchise Tax Calculators are freely available online. However, it's essential to ensure you're using a reputable and accurate calculator provided by a trusted source, such as the Delaware Division of Corporations or reputable financial websites.

You can get Form 1099 from the IRS website, request it from the IRS, or use tax software like Inkle for assistance.

Indian CA/CS/law firms can direct their customers to this page, or handle the process for them end-to-end. We will need certain documents/details from the founders, which can be routed through you.

We use the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm with a key size of 256 bits and with a unique and proper encryption key rotation policy for each customer.

Foreign corporations conducting business in California must file Form 100 if they earn income from sources within the state.

Indian FEMA residents may not directly hold control-level stock in any foreign corporation if that foreign corporation is going to have a step-down subsidiary anywhere in the world. The founders must hold their foreign stock through a personal Indian LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) or RP (Registered Partnership) vehicle in India. Think of this LLP or RP as the "personal family office" of each founder. So each LLP/RP would contain only the founder and her/his family member, not any other co-founder.

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Consider your residency status (U.S. or abroad) and the value of foreign financial assets on the last day of the tax year and at any time during the year. If thresholds are exceeded, file Form 8938.

Indian FEMA residents who wish to set up a US parent or subsidiary. Such founders may be all India residents or "mixed groups" (where one or more of the founders is India-resident, and one or more is not).

FEMA residency is a complex matter but the overall definition is: "The residential status under FEMA follows the main criteria that if an individual is in India for more than 182 days during the preceding financial year, he/ she shall be considered a Person Resident in India." More detailed discussion is required to establish the FEMA residency status of individuals, as there are other clauses which must be considered.

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If you don’t have a Mercury or Brex account, you can still connect your bank account to Inkle Books using Plaid, a secure financial data aggregator. Simply navigate to the “Data Sources” section in Inkle Books, select “Connect,” and click on “Other banking institutions” in the connect modal. Follow the prompts to connect your bank via Plaid.

Plaid supports over 12,000 US financial institutions, so you should be able to link your bank account without issues.