What business structure and tax forms are needed for a new homeschool co-op?

What business structure and tax forms are needed for a new homeschool co-op?
Hi,
I am a 15 year homeschooling veteran who started a co-op last fall.  I am now being asked by my church for ‘official’ documents to include:  business status, liability insurance, tax information.  I have a checking account for our co-op.
We offer 30 classes, one day a week, for 5 hours.  Six of the 30 classes are paid classes.  The student gives the co-op ~$2.00 each class.  I write a check to the teacher for $20.00 each time they teach.  The teacher always makes $20.00.  The student pays a varying rate dependant upon how many students are in the class.What business status do I need?

What tax forms am I required to file?
What type of liability insurance do I need if the parents are always on site and never drop off students?
Thank you greatly for the information.
Sincerely,
Lauren T
Lauren,
Good for you for starting a homeschool co-op. I’m sure it is a blessing for many families.Your business status could be a for-profit or a nonprofit. It depends on whether you own and run the co-op  as your businessor whether you have a board to make decisions. It also depends on how you opened up the checking account (although that can be changed). Did you use your personal name and SSN? Then you would be a for profit sole proprietorship.

Or did you organize without a profit motive and assemble a board to lead the group? Then you are a nonprofit.

These articles might be helpful:
Getting an EIN from the IRS
Checklist for new  homeschool organizations.pdf
Choosing a leadership teamThe tax forms depend on your business structure. Sole proprietors report business income on Schedule C of their 1040.

Most nonprofits apply for 501c3 tax exempt status to avoid paying taxes on their surplus.

There can still be a need for insurance, even if parents stay on site. Accidents can happen, damage to property can happen. You might benefit from reading my article on  Insurance for homeschool groups.

Since you are paying teachers, you should read my ebook Paying Workers in a Homeschool Organization. You need to determine their worker status as either employees or independent contractors and be giving them a W-2 or Form 1099MISC showing their wages.
You can learn a lot by listening to a podcast I recorded on Paying Workers.
HS Co-ops Cover_400My book Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out covers a lot of your questions. It is available in print or electronic format. Read more here.I hope that helps!

Carol Topp, CPA

One comment

  1. Our group found Carol’s book extremely helpful with the questions our organization had in these areas. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

Leave a Reply