Small business owners who want to learn about their tax obligations should watch the Small Business Virtual Tax Workshop. This online workshop is an easy way for new small business owners to dive in and for experienced small business owners to brush up on topics relevant to their business. It’s free and available 24/7.

People can watch the video lessons in any order. The topics include:

• Federal taxes and your new business

• Schedule C and other small business taxes

• Filing and paying taxes electronically

• Business use of your home

• Federal taxes when hiring employees or independent contractors

• Managing payroll to withhold the correct amount of taxes

• Tax deposits and filing a return to report payroll taxes

• Hiring people who live in the U.S. who aren't citizens

Each lesson links to more specific topics within that lesson, like chapters in a book. Viewers can choose the lessons that apply to their small business. They can also pause and bookmark lessons so they can review information later.

In addition to English, the workshop is also available in Spanish, Chinese Traditional, Chinese Simplified, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, and Haitian Creole. Transcripts and closed caption options are also available.

Business owners can watch the workshop at IRS.gov.

Year-round tax planning is for everyone. An important part of that is recordkeeping. Gathering tax documents throughout the year and having an organized recordkeeping system can make it easier when it comes to filing a tax return or understanding a letter from the IRS.

Good records help:

• Identify sources of income. Taxpayers may receive money or property from a variety of sources. The records can identify the sources of income and help separate business from nonbusiness income and taxable from nontaxable income.

• Keep track of expenses. Taxpayers can use records to identify expenses for which they can claim a deduction. This will help determine whether to itemize deductions at filing. It may also help them discover potentially overlooked deductions or credits.

• Prepare tax returns. Good records help taxpayers file their tax return quickly and accurately. Throughout the year, they should add tax records to their files as they receive them to make preparing a tax return easier.

• Support items reported on tax returns. Well-organized records make it easier to prepare a tax return and help provide answers if the return is selected for examination or if the taxpayer receives an IRS notice.

In general, the IRS suggests that taxpayers keep records for three years from the date they filed the tax return. Taxpayers should develop a system that keeps all their important information together. They can use a software program for electronic recordkeeping. They could also store paper documents in labeled folders.

Records to keep include:

• Tax-related records.

• IRS letters, notices and prior year tax returns.

• Property records.

• Business income and expenses.

• Health insurance