Shareware

xgp · Post by **xgp** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 6:26 pm

Does anyone know where can we get this kind of information(company, laws, taxes, etc).

Thanks in advance

xgp

DoubleDutch · Post by **DoubleDutch** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:55 pm

in the uk you go to www.companieshouse.co.uk , tax is inlandrevenue.gov.uk (i think)

-Anthony

kake26 · Post by **kake26** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 8:07 pm

ivory wrote:
if i am not wrong selling software/shareware(to be software) you MUST own a company, and you MUST declare your sales and stuff ... or i am wrong?
In the US (at least in the states I have worked) you do not need to incorporate are create a company. Anyone can say they are a business if the name of their business includes their NAME. It would be a sole proprietorship. So it is a company, but it's no big deal.

Yes. You do need to declare your sales, local, state and federal, but if you shareware sales are enough to influence your taxable income, good for you!

If you have a business name, that is not your surname, you will want to register it with the local municipality at least. It can still be a sole proprietorship.

In either case, you don't need to file separate taxes, it can be rolled into your personal filing.

Of course, local, state and national laws may vary.

Ivory is correct. I should know because I've been through the process of creating and setting up a LLC(Limited Liability Company). As for the bit of having to have you're name in it if you don't officially register, that is dependent on the state you live in. Setting up something like a LLC is easy and can be done via the internet through any number of companys that can make it easy to do. Thats how I did mine and it was simple as can be. Having a LLC gives you tax benefits. The best one is writting stuff off as a business expense. Allot of stuff can be written off meaning the money spent to do what you wrote off is counted as non-taxable, but I suggest you check the laws of your state on what can and can't be written off.

johnnyutah · Post by **johnnyutah** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 4:19 pm

On a related topic, if you offer your program as freeware is there any point in registering as a limited company just for the limited liability? Or are you not liable for data loss etc. because the product is not being sold?

If you ask people to donate on your website does this have to be declared to the tax man?

Are there any disclaimers freely available for freeware or shareware (in particular relating to UK law)?