Proof of Business refers to a document that proves that your business is correctly registered with the state and has followed all state requirements. It's proof that the entity exists and is authorized to conduct business in the state.
Here are the examples of Proof of Business documents:
- BUSINESS LICENSE - This document serves as a company's legal registration, granting the owner the right to start and run a particular type of business in the city, county, state, or country that issues it. It's a permit indicating the company has the government's approval to operate.
- DBA FILING - DBA stands for "Doing Business As." It's another type of registration used by the state or local jurisdiction. It enables your business to use an assumed, fictitious, or trade name. A DBA Filing is helpful if you want to name your business something else instead of its legal name.
- SCHEDULE C - If you're a sole proprietor or single-member LLC, this is the document to use for reporting income and expenses from a business you own. However, If you are self-employed or receive 1099-NEC Forms, you'll likely need to use Schedule C to report your trade or business income and expenses.
- EIN Confirmation Letter - EIN stands for Employer Identification Number. It's also called a Federal Tax Identification Number, used to identify a business entity. When an EIN application is processed, the IRS sends an EIN verification letter (CP-575). The Internal Revenue Service issues a CP 575 EIN Confirmation Letter to confirm the unique Employer Identification Number (EIN) they have given to a new business. Your assigned EIN identifies your business for tax purposes and can act as a social security number for a business.
- ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION - Otherwise known as Certificate of Incorporation, these are formal documents filed with a government body. This certificate legally documents the creation of a corporation. They generally contain relevant information such as a company's name, address, agent for service of process, and capital stock, among other things.
- ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION - These are documents like the articles of incorporation. They outline the initial statements needed to start a limited liability company in many U.S. states. Some states refer to them as a certificate of organization or a certificate of formation. The filing of this document is necessary to establish a status of a Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- BUSINESS INCOME TAX RETURN - This document contains the details of your company's income, tax deductions, and tax payments. Filing the business income tax return is an absolute requirement when running a business. Also, you must submit your return annually to the IRS to calculate your business's tax liability.