Starting a Small Business | Growing Your Business | Where to Turn for Help
Haines Small Business Resource & Support Center
Helping to Diversify the Local Economy through the Support and Encouragement of Original Entrepeneurial Thinking
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Starting a Small Business
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Accounting, Taxes and Employees

Accounting

Most small businesses these days have a computer and that makes keeping the books a lot simpler than it used to be. In order of popularity, local businesses use the following accounting packages to keep their books. It is highly recommended that you invest in one of these packages:

These websites also contain a lot of accounting and business tips aimed at small businesses.

Also, check out Bookeeping basics from American Express and for local resources, consult the Haines Chamber of Commerce Business Listings.

CPA Online's FindAccountingSoftware.com offers visitors detailed information on accounting and business management software, consulting firms who provide these systems and articles of interest for business owners, accounting professionals and software developers and consultants.

Accounting Software 411 is a website for finding accounting software news and information. The website features custom software searches with side-by-side comparisons, consultants' directory, message boards, and software downloads.

Taxes

All Haines businesses are responsible for the following taxes:

Federal Taxes
All small businesses need to submit a federal tax return and many need to pay estimated taxes on a quarterly basis.

State Taxes
Although there is no state income tax in Alaska, there are many other types of state taxes that you might be responsible for. Download the forms you need to comply with State of Alaska Tax regulations.

Borough Sales Taxes
Sales taxes are submitted monthly to the Borough Office for income derived from all sales and services within the borders of the Haines Borough (including the townsite). Obtain sales tax forms by stopping by the Haines Borough office.

    Rates: Borough: 1.5%, Townsite: 4% (totalling 5.5% for townsite businesses).
    Tour operators must charge an additional 4% and lodging operators charge an additional 2%

    Basic Sales Tax Rules:

    • if you sell something out of your store in the townsite, charge 5.5%
    • if you sell something out of your store in the borough, charge 1.5%
    • if you perform a service (tour, plumber, lawyer, accountant, etc.) and any part of the service takes place in the townsite, charge 5.5% (even if your main office is outside the townsite)
    • if you perform a service (plumber, lawyer, accountant, etc.) and the service takes place entirely outside of the townsite, charge 1.5%
    • if you sell goods over the Internet, charge no tax

    View the Sales Tax portion of the Haines Borough Code for yourself.

Employees

For information on employing people in your business, refer to Establishing a Business in Alaska, the complete business start-up guide courtesy of the State of Alaska (PDF).

Starting a Small Business | Growing Your Business | Where to Turn for Help

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