Schedule C PDF form

Understand your document

What is Schedule C?

Schedule C reports profit or loss from a sole-proprietor business. It separates business receipts, expenses and, where relevant, cost of goods sold. Start with reconciled bookkeeping records rather than only the total shown on a 1099.

Records to gather

• Proprietor identity, business activity, accounting method and business address
• Gross receipts, returns/allowances and other business income records
• Expense totals by category with receipts and business-purpose support
• Inventory, vehicle-use and asset/depreciation records when applicable

Fields you will work through

The guided editor groups the supported fields into practical steps. The available fields follow the chosen revision.

Proprietor and business

Name of proprietor · Return this schedule will accompany · Social security number (SSN)

Income

Gross receipts or sales · Returns and allowances · Subtract line 2 from line 1

Expenses and profit or loss

Advertising · Car and truck expenses · Commissions and fees

Cost of goods sold

Change in inventory valuation · Inventory at beginning of year. If different from last year's closing inventory, attach explanation · Purchases less cost of items withdrawn for personal use

Vehicle information

Vehicle placed in service · Business miles driven during the tax year · Commuting

Check before using your PDF

• Avoid counting the same receipt twice when it appears in payment-platform records and an information return.
• Separate personal spending from business expenses and review loss limits and required companion forms.

After you prepare the document

Carry the appropriate totals to the associated return and determine any Schedule SE, Form 4562 or Form 8829 requirements separately.