Reporting companies who are obligated to file are:

• Domestic reporting companies include Corporations, LLCs, and other entities created by filing with a U.S. secretary of state or a similar office.
• Foreign reporting companies include entities formed under foreign law registered to do business in the U.S. through filing with a secretary of state or similar office.

Yes, based on the complexity of a corporation's finances, additional schedules like Schedule R, Schedule K, and others might be required with Form 100.

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.

Inkle has partnered with dozens of companies to bring founders the best of the startup ecosystem, including perks from platforms like Stripe, Notion, Mercury, Brex, Gusto, Carta and more - helping you build your startup stack at cost-efficient rates.

Check out our long list of partners and perks on our perks page - https://www.inkle.ai/perks

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

We ensure that data is backed up across multiple locations and can be retrieved within our recovery time objective if a failure does occur.

Additionally, we have a tested and detailed business continuity and disaster recovery plan in the event of a major disruption to one of our key service providers.

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C corporations conducting business in Delaware must pay an annual fee known as the Delaware state franchise tax, a privilege fee for operating within the state's jurisdiction.

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.

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.

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.

We offer post-incorporation maintenance services, including compliance tracking, bookkeeping assistance, and tax filing support for US entities. Inkle doesn't maintain Indian entities, but we'll connect you to partners that do.

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.

Stripe for US entity formation.

Inkle for India entity formation.

Stripe Atlas handles the US entity incorporation (Inkle can give guidance, although Atlas is actually a self-serve platform). Inkle handles the India entities formation through our network of partner CA/CS firms in India.

Inkle's panel vets each startup on primary factors which all investors look for, such as team, market size, macro themes, product, disruption, progress. We do not conduct any due diligence or recommend investments. Investors do this themselves.

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).

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.

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 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.

Electing S corporation status can offer tax advantages, including pass-through taxation and avoiding double taxation on corporate income.

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.f

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.

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

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

Yes, there are income limits and phase-out ranges for claiming the QBID. The limits can vary based on filing status and taxable income.

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).

Take the guesswork out and see the numbers for yourself.

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

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.

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.

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.

The IRS grants tax-exempt status to specific organisations, such as:

1. Charitable organisations
2. Social welfare organisations
3. Social clubs
4. Trade associations
5. Labor organisations
6. Veterans' organisations
7. Political organisations

The IRS maintains a comprehensive list of tax-exempt organisations, available here. These organisations are required to submit an information return, which may include Form 990, Form 990-EZ, and Form 990-PF.

Just put your new address on your new Tax Filing, and they'll update their systems. Or see here for other methods: https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/address-changes/address-changes

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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.

We provide an option to delete customer data upon request and will ensure that the data is erased within a set timeframe.

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 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.

The burn rate is calculated by taking the total expenses incurred over a specific period and dividing it by the number of months in that period. For example, if your monthly expenses are $20,000, your burn rate is $20,000 per month.

The runway is determined by dividing your current cash balance by the monthly burn rate. If you have $100,000 in cash and a burn rate of $20,000 per month, your runway is 5 months. This means you have 5 months of operational funds left before needing additional capital.

Tax laws and forms can change from year to year. It's essential to check the latest IRS instructions and publications for any updates to Form 8995.

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.

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

• 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).

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

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

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.

You should adjust your estimated tax payments to reflect the change in income. You can recalculate your estimated tax and make larger or smaller payments as necessary.

Companies exporting goods or services from India need to furnish a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) on the GST portal. This allows them to make these exports without paying IGST upfront.  It is recommended to include the LUT Application Reference Number (ARN) on the Transfer Pricing invoice.

Here's a sample Invoice: drive.google.com/file/d/1sHgIx7AwswLQkUYnAaiGudN7ZMCh4XSi/view?usp=sharing

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.

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

Bookkeeping fees are usually monthly, based on volume, accounts, and complexity.
For small to mid-sized businesses, pricing ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per month.
Compare not just cost, but the value of accuracy, visibility, and peace of mind.

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

Click on the "Get My Referral Link" button. You will be redirected to the Inkle app, where you will be able to copy your referral link & share it with your community.

No, it also includes compliance. You can pre-fix the purpose code and download e-FIRA for free from the dashboard to claim GST exemptions.

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

If you primarily work with US-based companies that can benefit from Inkle’s accounting and tax solutions, we’d love to have you on board.

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

Professional bookkeepers handle end-to-end financial management — categorizing transactions, reconciling accounts, managing payables/receivables, and closing books monthly.

Form 8938 includes various foreign financial assets like bank accounts, investments, foreign entity ownership, etc. For a complete list of reportable assets, refer to IRS instructions.

Yes, Inkle Books supports accrual accounting. The platform allows you to record revenues and expenses when they are incurred, rather than when cash is exchanged. This helps in tracking accounts receivable and payable, and in generating accurate financial statements that reflect your company’s financial position and performance over time.

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

You earn rewards by sharing your referral link. When a friend signs up using your link and completes their first service, both you and your friend will receive $100 worth of Inkle Credits or an Amazon Gift Voucher.

A Transfer Pricing Benchmarking Study is conducted to determine the margin rate for transactions between the related parties. It is required annually from the second year of starting such transactions. A Transfer Pricing Audit (Form 3CEB) is a mandatory annual report that companies engaging in Transfer Pricing must file with the Indian tax authorities. Inkle can help you with both of these processes through our network of empaneled CA firms.

Book a meeting using the button at the top of this page, and we'll get you started.

No, Form 2553 is typically for corporations. However, some states allow LLCs to elect S corporation status for federal tax purposes.

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

If a business fails to e-file information returns like Forms W-2 and 1099-series when required, it may face penalties as outlined in IRC Section 6721. These penalties can be imposed for not filing electronically and for late filing or submitting returns with incorrect information.

In 2023, the potential penalty can reach up to $310 for each return, with a yearly cap of $3,783,000. However, for smaller businesses with annual gross receipts not exceeding $5 million, the maximum penalty is limited to $1,261,000. These penalty amounts are subject to annual adjustments based on indexing.

Additionally, hardship waivers are available for those who would encounter significant difficulties meeting the e-filing requirements.

The QBID is a tax deduction that allows taxpayers to deduct a portion of their qualified business income from eligible businesses, potentially reducing their taxable income.

Nothing. Inkle is free for you. Your end customers will pay Inkle and Stripe the normal rack rates. You can charge your customers whatever fees you wish. Alternatively, you can add your fees on top and quote a combined fee to your customers.

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.

In 2021, Congress passed the Corporate Transparency Act to establish a beneficial ownership information reporting requirement. The aim is to enhance transparency and deter individuals with malicious intentions from using shell companies or unclear ownership structures to conceal or profit from illicit gains.

Starting from January 1, 2024, certain U.S. companies must share details about the people who own or manage the company (beneficial owners) with FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network). The CTA became law in 2020 as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.

Beneficial ownership information refers to identifying information about theindividuals who directly or indirectly own or control a company.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

You can make electronic payments for Form 1040-ES through the IRS's Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) or by credit/debit card.

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.

For your 2022 tax year and beyond, your taxable income might increase, possibly leading to due taxes even if you think you were loss making.

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.

While the Delaware Franchise Tax Calculator can offer a reasonable estimate of your tax obligations, it's essential to remember that it may only account for some possible scenarios or nuances in Delaware's tax laws. For precise tax estimates, especially for complex business structures, it's advisable to consult with a tax professional familiar with Delaware tax regulations.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the US subsidiary takes a week or two more.

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.

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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