Bookkeeping, payroll and tax help for Dallas businesses
Dallas businesses pay no state income tax, but they collect 8.25% sales tax, render business property to the Dallas Central Appraisal District by April 15 and file a Texas franchise tax report every May. We keep your books current, run payroll and file your federal and Texas returns for one flat monthly fee.
Updated November 2026
What's different about running a business in Dallas?
Dallas is a city of service businesses. Consultants, agencies, medical and dental practices, real estate teams, staffing firms and restaurants make up most of the owners we talk to here. Many of them started as a single-member LLC and grew into payroll, a second location or an S-Corp election without ever setting up the books to match.
Sales tax here is 8.25%, and 1% of that goes to DART. If you sell taxable items or services, you collect the full 8.25% at a Dallas location and file with the Texas Comptroller, not the city. Remember that Texas taxes some services that other states don't, like data processing and certain repair work.
The city sits across five counties. Most of Dallas is in Dallas County and the Dallas Central Appraisal District, but addresses in the north and east can fall in Collin, Denton, Kaufman or Rockwall counties, each with its own appraisal district. Business personal property, meaning your furniture, equipment and inventory, gets rendered to the right district by April 15. It's a form a lot of new owners don't know exists until a penalty notice arrives.
Opening a storefront or office? The City of Dallas requires a certificate of occupancy for most commercial space before you move in. And if your business name differs from your LLC's legal name, you file an assumed name certificate with the Texas Secretary of State.
What does a typical Dallas client need from us?
Most come to us for one of three reasons. Their books are a year behind and a lender or buyer wants clean financials. Their profit has grown to the point where an S-Corp election with a reasonable salary would save real money. Or they hired their first employees and want payroll, the quarterly 941s and the TWC wage reports off their plate. One accountant handles all three, and we file your federal return with the IRS and your franchise report with the state.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sales tax rate | 8.25%: 6.25% state, 1% city and 1% for DART, the regional transit authority |
| County | Dallas County, with parts of the city in Collin, Denton, Kaufman and Rockwall counties |
| Appraisal district | Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) for most of the city. Business personal property renditions are due April 15 |
| State income tax | None on wages or business profit |
| Franchise tax | Report due May 15. No tax due at or under $2,650,000 of revenue, but the information report is still required |
| Payroll | Federal withholding plus Texas unemployment tax (TWC) on the first $9,000 of wages |
Nearby areas we also serve
Sources
- Texas Comptroller: Sales and use tax
- Texas Comptroller: Franchise tax
- Texas Workforce Commission: Employers
- Texas Comptroller: Property tax rendition
General information, not tax advice for your situation.
Running a business in Dallas?
One accountant for your books, payroll, sales tax and both returns, on one monthly fee.
Book a callWhich Dallas businesses do we work with?
Owners who want one person on their numbers all year.
Professional services
Consultants, agencies and staffing firms with S-Corp payroll and quarterly estimates.
Medical and dental practices
Payroll for staff, owner salary planning and clean monthly books.
Real estate teams and investors
Commission tracking, rental books and 1099s for contractors.
Restaurants and food trucks
Daily sales tax, tip reporting and payroll that keeps up with shifts.
Trades and home services
Job costing, taxable repair work and crew payroll.
Online sellers based in Dallas
A Texas permit, the local rate and nexus checks in other states.
What can we take off your plate?
Every service works the same wherever you are. One job, or all of it every month.
Bookkeeping
from $250/mo
Monthly books in QuickBooks Online or Xero, plus catch-up work when you're behind.
See the servicePayroll
setup from $200
Gusto or ADP set up, run and filed for your whole team.
See the serviceSales tax
from $75/mo
Nexus checks, permits and returns in every state where you owe.
See the serviceBusiness tax returns
from $650
Form 1065, 1120-S or 1120 plus your state returns, prepared and e-filed.
See the servicePersonal tax returns
from $450
Form 1040 and your state return for owners, freelancers and families.
See the serviceTax planning and CFO
review from $350
Entity choice, owner salary, quarterly estimates and forecasts.
See the serviceLLC formation
from $299 + state fee
Your LLC in any state, the EIN and an S-Corp election if it fits.
See the serviceITIN and cross-border
from $300
ITINs, US expat returns, non-resident returns and Form 5472.
See the serviceWhat is the sales tax rate in Dallas?
It's 8.25%: the 6.25% state rate, 1% for the city and 1% for DART. You file and pay it to the Texas Comptroller.
Do Dallas businesses pay city income tax?
No. Neither Texas nor the City of Dallas taxes income. You still owe federal income tax and, for most entities, a yearly Texas franchise tax report.
Do I need to file anything with the Dallas Central Appraisal District?
If your business owns furniture, equipment or inventory, you file a business personal property rendition with your county appraisal district by April 15.
Can you work with my Dallas business without meeting in person?
Yes. Everything runs online, with calls when you want them. Most of our clients never visit an office.
Tell us what's messy. We'll tell you what it takes.
Tell us what you need and get a fixed price before any work starts. No pressure and no contract.