All businesses, large and small, are required by the U.S. tax code to pay payroll taxes. The IRS considers payroll taxes to be their money before it ever leaves your hands, so failure to pay your company's payroll taxes on time amounts to stealing from the federal government in their eyes. The results are large tax penalties and aggressive collection efforts from the IRS.
If you've missed a payroll tax deposit accidentally, high tax penalties and interest charges begin to accrue immediately and will compound each pay period. By the time you realize your mistake, the fees are gaining steam and you're faced with a mammoth tax bill that your business can't afford to pay.
Another reason businesses experience payroll tax problems, is because the funds set aside for payroll tax deposits are used for other expenses or are mismanaged. If a business owner is experiencing a lag in cash flow, he might decide to borrow from the company's payroll withholdings to pay off some bills with the intention of catching up before the IRS takes notice. But the IRS is watching and before long the tax penalties and interest build up and lead to major tax problems that can threaten the life of the business. If your business doesn't have the cash or assets to pay your back payroll taxes, the IRS will not hesitate to go after individual owners. And in serious cases, they may even choose to criminally prosecute the offenders.
Before your payroll tax problems escalate, contact the Charleston, SC CPAs and tax professionals at 843-725-3838 for a consultation. We can work directly with the IRS to initiate a payment plan like an offer in compromise or installment agreement that will allow you to pay off your tax debt over time and get your business back in good standing with the IRS.