Bookkeeping, payroll and tax help for Fort Worth businesses
Fort Worth businesses pay no state income tax, but they collect 8.25% sales tax, render business property to the Tarrant Appraisal District by April 15 and file a Texas franchise tax report every May. We keep the books, run payroll for your crew and file federal and Texas returns for one monthly fee.
Updated November 2026
What's different about running a business in Fort Worth?
Fort Worth owners tend to run businesses with trucks, tools and crews. Construction and remodeling contractors, logistics and freight businesses around the Alliance corridor, aviation and manufacturing suppliers, auto repair shops and landscapers make up a big share of the clients we see here, along with the restaurants and shops that serve the city's fast-growing neighborhoods.
That mix brings its own bookkeeping problems. Job costing matters, because a contractor who can't see profit by job can't price the next one. Equipment purchases bring depreciation choices, like Section 179 or bonus depreciation, that change your tax bill by thousands. And Texas sales tax treats new construction and repair work differently, so how you write a contract decides whether you collect tax on labor.
The city spreads across five counties. Most of it is in Tarrant County and the Tarrant Appraisal District, but some addresses fall in Denton, Johnson, Parker or Wise counties. Your trucks, trailers, tools and inventory are business personal property, and the rendition goes to the right appraisal district by April 15.
What does a typical Fort Worth client need from us?
Usually it's payroll first. Crews get paid weekly, overtime adds up, and someone has to file the 941s every quarter and the TWC wage reports. After that comes clean job costing in QuickBooks Online, a sales tax setup that matches the way you contract, and a business return that takes full advantage of equipment you bought. One accountant handles all of it, so nothing falls between the bookkeeper, the payroll company and the tax preparer.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sales tax rate | 8.25%: 6.25% state plus 2% for the city and its special districts, including transit and crime control |
| County | Tarrant County, with parts of the city in Denton, Johnson, Parker and Wise counties |
| Appraisal district | Tarrant Appraisal District 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 Fort Worth?
One accountant for your books, payroll, sales tax and both returns, on one monthly fee.
Book a callWhich Fort Worth businesses do we work with?
Owners who want one person on their numbers all year.
Construction and remodeling
Job costing, sales tax on materials and labor, and weekly crew payroll.
Logistics and trucking
Fuel, mileage and equipment records, plus contractor 1099s.
Manufacturing and aviation suppliers
Inventory, cost of goods sold and depreciation on equipment.
Auto repair shops
Parts and labor split for sales tax, and technician payroll.
Landscaping and home services
Seasonal cash flow, crew payroll and equipment write-offs.
Restaurants and retail
Daily sales, tip reporting and monthly sales tax returns.
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 Fort Worth?
It's 8.25%, the 6.25% state rate plus 2% for the city and its special districts. You file and pay it to the Texas Comptroller.
Do contractors in Fort Worth charge sales tax on labor?
It depends on the job. Texas doesn't tax labor on new construction or on residential repair and remodeling, but it does tax labor to repair or remodel nonresidential property, like offices and stores. How the contract is written matters too.
Which appraisal district do I file with in Fort Worth?
Most of the city is in the Tarrant Appraisal District, but addresses in Denton, Johnson, Parker or Wise counties file with their own district.
Can you run weekly payroll for my crew?
Yes. We run payroll in Gusto or ADP on whatever schedule you pay, and file the federal and TWC reports every quarter.
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.