Sole proprietorships

A sole proprietor is someone who owns an unincorporated business by themselves. If you are the sole member of a domestic limited liability company (LLC) and elect to treat the LLC as a corporation, you are not a sole proprietor.

Forms you may need to file

Use this table to help determine some forms you may be required to file as a sole proprietor.

IF you are liable for: THEN use Form:
Income tax

1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return 

or 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors

and Schedule C (Form 1040 or 1040-SR), Profit or Loss from Business
Self-employment tax Schedule SE (Form 1040 or 1040-SR), Self-Employment Tax
Estimated tax 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals
Social Security and Medicare taxes and income tax withholding

941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return

943, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees

944, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return
Providing information on Social Security and Medicare taxes and income tax withholding

W-2, Wage and Tax Statement (to employee)

and W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements (to the Social Security Administration)
Federal unemployment (FUTA) tax 940, Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return
Filing information returns for payments to nonemployees and transactions with other persons Find forms in E-file information returns and A guide to information returns
Excise taxes Find forms in Excise tax

Business tax account

If you file with an EIN as a sole proprietor, view your information on file with a business tax account.

E-file information returns with IRIS

E-file Form 1099 with the Information Returns Intake System (IRIS) for tax year 2022 and later.

Related

Self-employed individuals tax center
Business structures
Forms for sole proprietorship

Publications

About Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business (For Individuals Who Use Schedule C)
About Publication 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 13-Dec-2024