Plan for Winston-Salem, NC

Winston-Salem Business Filing Deadlines & Ongoing Requirements

What a business in Winston-Salem keeps doing after it opens: recurring filings, renewals and the events that trigger new obligations. Change the business details to fit yours.

Your businessThe plan below updates as you change these.
Details

Where Winston-Salem, NC filings and renewals are tracked

City of Winston-SalemChecked: no general business license or tax of its own. Checked 2026-10-13.
Forsyth CountyHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below). Checked 2026-10-16.
Local items to renew or file
  • File Forsyth County business personal property return · Forsyth County Tax Administration (county)
File and renew with these North Carolina agencies

Official sources: canons.sog.unc.edu

Renewals, filing triggers and recurring deadlines in Winston-Salem

13 items in your plan repeat on a schedule. Each one lists its authority and when it comes due.

Recurring filings and renewals

  • File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C · every year · April 15 · IRS
  • Deposit federal payroll taxes · every month · 15th day of the following month · IRS
  • File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return) · every quarter · April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31 · IRS
  • File Form 940 (Federal Unemployment Tax) · every year · January 31 · IRS
  • Issue Forms W-2 and file W-3 · every year · January 31 · IRS / SSA
  • File Annual Report (North Carolina) · every year · April 15 · North Carolina Secretary of State
  • Register for and file North Carolina entity-level taxes · every year · North Carolina Department of Revenue
  • File sales tax returns and remit tax (North Carolina) · every month · Monthly, quarterly or annually as assigned by the state · North Carolina Department of Revenue
  • File wage reports and pay unemployment insurance contributions (North Carolina) · every quarter · North Carolina Division of Employment Security
  • File the annual unclaimed property holder report (North Carolina) · every year · November 1 · North Carolina unclaimed property program
  • Obtain food service establishment / health permit · every year · Forsyth County health department (North Carolina)
  • City/county business registration — Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina · every year · City or county: Winston-Salem / Forsyth County
  • File Forsyth County business personal property return · every year · January 31 · Forsyth County Tax Administration

Filings triggered by an event

  • Complete Form I-9 for each new hire: applies when Business has employees
  • Report new hires to the North Carolina new hire directory: applies when 3 employees in North Carolina
Start planObligations (25)
Find an obligationShowing 25 of 25 obligations

Federal

8

State

13

County

2

City

2

Common questions about Winston-Salem

The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Winston-Salem:

  • Contractor licensing: North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
  • Real estate licensing: North Carolina Real Estate Commission
  • Alcohol licensing: North Carolina ABC Commission
  • Child care licensing: North Carolina DHHS, Division of Child Development and Early Education
  • Health facility licensing: North Carolina DHHS, Division of Health Service Regulation
  • File Forsyth County business personal property return (Forsyth County Tax Administration, county)

With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: North Carolina sales and use tax registration (North Carolina); Obtain food service establishment / health permit; Ensure certified food protection manager on staff; City/county business registration — Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Winston-Salem. Change the industry above to see yours.

Sources: canons.sog.unc.edu, sosnc.gov, ncdor.gov, des.nc.gov

In your plan for Winston-Salem, requirements come from four levels. North Carolina sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.

  • Federal (8): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C; Deposit federal payroll taxes; File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return)…
  • State (13): Maintain a registered agent in North Carolina; File Annual Report (North Carolina); Register for and file North Carolina entity-level taxes; North Carolina sales and use tax registration (North Carolina)…
  • County (2): Obtain food service establishment / health permit; File Forsyth County business personal property return
  • City (2): City/county business registration — Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Winston-Salem

Sources: canons.sog.unc.edu, sosnc.gov, ncdor.gov

  • Register for unemployment insurance with North Carolina Division of Employment Security.
  • Workers' compensation: North Carolina Industrial Commission. Required when: 3 employees
  • Register to withhold North Carolina income tax from wages.
  • Your plan adds these employer steps: Report new hires to the North Carolina new hire directory; Carry workers' compensation insurance (North Carolina); Display required federal labor law posters; Complete Form I-9 for each new hire; Display required North Carolina workplace notices.

Sources: des.nc.gov, labor.nc.gov, ncdor.gov

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