New Hampshire Business Taxes: 2026 Rates, Thresholds & Forms

Core New Hampshire Business Tax Agencies and Accounts

Running a business in New Hampshire means working with three state agencies alongside the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Each office manages a separate registration, portal, and filing schedule.

The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) administers and collects state business taxes, including the Business Profits Tax (BPT), Business Enterprise Tax (BET), Meals and Rentals Tax, Communications Services Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax, Utility Property Tax, and Tobacco Tax. During Fiscal Year 2025, the DRA collected $2.7 billion in taxes, accounting for about 80% of New Hampshire general taxes. You file and pay your DRA returns online through Granite Tax Connect (GTC) or the Modernized e-File (MeF) system, where you can also opt for direct deposit refunds.

The New Hampshire Secretary of State Corporation Division maintains the state business registry. All businesses operating in New Hampshire must register with the Secretary of State, and anyone doing business under a name other than their own must register a trade name. You manage formations, trade names, and annual reports online through NH QuickStart.

New Hampshire Employment Security (NHES) manages state unemployment compensation taxes. Every employer in the state must file a quarterly tax and wage report using the NHES Web Tax and New Hire Reporting System. Each new employer starts with a tax rate of 2.7% (minus any applicable quarterly Fund Balance Reduction) on the first $14,000 in annual wages paid to each employee. In 2026, compliant positive-rated employers receive a 1.0% Trust Fund Reduction when their account is in balance with all quarterly reports and payments submitted by April 30, while negative-rated employers have a 0.5% Inverse Minimum Rate added.

Aldro is the cheapest way to get your business taxes done: $399 flat, with bookkeeping at $20 a month. The flat price covers everything tax for the year (every federal and state or provincial business return: Schedule C, 1065, 1120-S, 1120 and state returns. T2 and T1 with T2125 in Canada), multi-state returns at the same price, and the owner's personal return when the business income needs it. Extensions and quarterly estimate reminders are included, 1099-NEC slips are included, and we work out quarterly estimates. Bookkeeping covers unlimited bank and card accounts, monthly reconciliation and statements, but not payroll processing or sales-tax filing. If you are switching from Bench or another service, we start within a week of getting the documents.

• nhes.nh.gov: Tax Rate Chart
• nhes.nh.gov: Employer Claims & Taxes

Business Profits Tax (BPT): 7.5% Rate, $109,000 Threshold, and Entity Rules

Enacted in 1970 under RSA 77-A, the Business Profits Tax (BPT) is assessed on taxable business profits from conducting business activity within New Hampshire. The BPT rate is 7.5% for taxable periods ending on or after December 31, 2023 (down from 7.6% for periods ending on or after December 31, 2022).

Any business organization organized for gain or profit carrying on business activity in the state is subject to the BPT. However, you only file a BPT return if your gross business income from all activities exceeds the statutory filing threshold. Pursuant to RSA 77-A:6, the DRA Commissioner adjusts this threshold every two years for inflation using the June Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, Northeast Region, rounded to the nearest $1,000. For taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2025, the BPT filing threshold is gross business income in excess of $109,000 (up from $103,000 for periods beginning January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024, and $92,000 for periods ending on or after December 31, 2022).

Unlike the federal tax system, New Hampshire taxes pass-through entities directly at the entity level. Sub-S corporations are treated the same as C corporations for Business Profits Tax purposes. Flow-through items on federal Schedule K are incorporated into corporate income when determining New Hampshire taxable business profits, using Form DP-120 (Computation of S-Corporation Gross Business Profits) or Form DP-120-P for partnerships.

When you file an original or amended New Hampshire BPT return, you must attach all applicable federal schedules. For business tax purposes, New Hampshire is a static conformity state tied to the Internal Revenue Code in effect on December 31, 2018. Because New Hampshire has not adopted newer federal tax acts like the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, you must reconcile differences between current federal tax law and the 2018 Internal Revenue Code using Schedule IV (Other Internal Revenue Code Reconciling Adjustments).

If you operate across state lines, your income is apportioned to New Hampshire using a single sales factor for taxable periods ending on or after December 31, 2022 (via Form DP-80). Organizations operating a unitary business, where related entities share unity of ownership, operation, use, or interdependence in functions under RSA 77-A:1 XIV, must use combined reporting on Form NH-1120-WE.

• Proprietorships and single-member LLCs: File Form NH-1040 (Proprietorship or Jointly Owned Property Business Profits Tax Return) and attach federal Schedules C, D, E, F, Form 4797, and Form 6252 if applicable. Married spouses cannot split rental or proprietorship income unless two separate and distinct proprietorships exist under Rev 307.04(e).
• Partnerships and multi-member LLCs: File Form NH-1065 (Partnership Business Profits Tax Return) along with Form DP-120-P.
• Corporations and S corporations: File Form NH-1120 (Corporate Business Profits Tax Return). S corporations also attach Form DP-120.
• Fiduciaries and Trusts: File Form NH-1041 (Fiduciary Business Profits Tax Return).
• Installment sales rule: Under Rev 302.07(f), your obligation to file a BPT return for an installment sale is determined in the year of the sale. If gross business income exceeded the threshold in the sale year, you must file each subsequent year until all installments are reported.
• Net Operating Losses (NOL) and Credits: An NOL may only be carried forward for the 10 years following the loss year, capped at a maximum of $10,000,000 for losses generated on or after January 1, 2013, and requires Form DP-132 in the year used. Businesses may also claim the NH Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) credit, the Research and Development Tax Credit (Form DP-165), or the Granite Patron of the Arts (GPA) Tax credit (up to 50% of any donation made to the DNCR Division of the Arts or the New Hampshire Council of the Arts on Forms GPA-01 and GPA-02, applied first against BPT and then BET).

• revenue.nh.gov: Business Taxes
• revenue.nh.gov: Business Profits Tax

Business Enterprise Tax (BET): .55% Rate, $298,000 Threshold, and the BPT Credit

Enacted in 1993 under RSA 77-E, the Business Enterprise Tax (BET) applies even if your business did not turn a net profit for the year. The tax is assessed at a rate of .55% (for taxable periods ending on or after December 31, 2022) on your taxable enterprise value tax base.

Your enterprise value tax base is the sum of three items paid or accrued by your business during the taxable period: all compensation paid or accrued, all interest paid or accrued, and all dividends paid. Multi-state enterprises apportion their base using Form BET-80 (or BET-80-WE for combined groups).

For taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2025, every business enterprise with more than $298,000 of gross business receipts from all activities, or an enterprise value tax base of more than $298,000, must file a BET return alongside Form BT-SUMMARY. Like the BPT threshold, the BET threshold is adjusted biennially.

Every dollar of BET you pay can be used as a credit against your Business Profits Tax (BPT) liability, calculated on Form BET-CW (Business Enterprise Tax Credit Worksheet). If your BET paid exceeds your BPT owed for the year, any unused portion of the BET credit may be carried forward and applied against your BPT for ten taxable periods from the period in which the BET was paid (for credits attributable to taxable periods ending on or after December 31, 2014).

• revenue.nh.gov: Business Taxes
• revenue.nh.gov: NH Department of Revenue Administration Shares 2026 Tax Tips and Filing Guidance

Worked Example: Calculating BET, BPT, and the BET Credit Together

Below is a worked calculation created by our team using the official DRA rates (.55% BET and 7.5% BPT) and post-January 1, 2025 thresholds ($298,000 and $109,000).

Suppose you own a New Hampshire S corporation operating entirely inside the state during calendar year 2026. Your company brings in $450,000 in gross business receipts. During the year, the business pays $260,000 in total W-2 compensation, pays $15,000 in business loan interest, pays $25,000 in qualifying dividends, and has $90,000 in other deductible operating expenses. That leaves $60,000 in net taxable business profits.

Because gross business income ($450,000) is over $109,000 and gross receipts ($450,000) are over $298,000, the corporation must file both the BET return and Form NH-1120 (BPT) under the Form BT-SUMMARY cover sheet.

• Step 1 (Calculate the BET Base): Add compensation paid or accrued ($260,000) + interest paid or accrued ($15,000) + dividends paid ($25,000). Your taxable enterprise value tax base is $300,000.
• Step 2 (Calculate BET Owed): Multiply the $300,000 enterprise value tax base by the .55% (0.0055) BET rate = $1,650 in BET owed.
• Step 3 (Calculate Gross BPT Owed): Multiply your $60,000 net taxable business profits by the 7.5% (0.075) BPT rate = $4,500 in gross BPT owed.
• Step 4 (Apply the BET Credit Against BPT): Subtract your $1,650 BET credit from your $4,500 gross BPT liability on Form BET-CW. Your remaining BPT balance is $2,850.
• Step 5 (Total State Business Tax Paid): You pay $1,650 in BET plus $2,850 in net BPT on Form BT-SUMMARY, for a combined New Hampshire business tax bill of $4,500. If your net profits had been only $10,000 (creating a $750 gross BPT bill), your $1,650 BET credit would wipe out the $750 BPT completely, and the remaining $900 of unused BET credit would carry forward for up to 10 taxable periods.

• revenue.nh.gov: NH Department of Revenue Administration Shares 2026 Tax Tips and Filing Guidance
• revenue.nh.gov: Business Taxes

Important New Hampshire Business Tax Deadlines and Quarterly Estimates

Partnership BPT and BET returns are due on the 15th day of the 3rd month following the end of the taxable period. Corporate, proprietorship, fiduciary, and combined returns are due on the 15th day of the 4th month following the end of the taxable period.

If your business tax liability is greater than $200, you must make four quarterly estimated tax payments. Each payment is 25% of your estimated liability, due on the 15th day of the 4th, 6th, 9th, and 12th month of your taxable period (using forms NH-1040-ES, NH-1065-ES, NH-1120-ES, or NH-1041-ES). First-year businesses must also pay quarterly estimates if their tax liability exceeds $200, though you may check if you qualify for an underpayment penalty exception under RSA 21-J:32, IV(d) by filing Form DP-2210/2220. On Form DP-2210/2220, each quarter stands on its own, so you do not have to use the same penalty exception for all four quarters.

Requesting a filing extension (Form BT-EXT) does not extend your time to pay. Full payment of any tax due is required by the original due date to avoid interest and penalties. For calendar-year business filers on an approved extension, the extended return due date is November 15. For Meals and Rentals Tax operators filing Form DP-14 on the 15th of the following month, M&R tax must be calculated using the full sales price before any cash rounding is applied, though operators may round to the nearest dollar when filing M&R tax returns.

Because USPS postmarks reflect regional facility processing dates rather than local drop-off times, the DRA recommends filing electronically on Granite Tax Connect or getting a hand-stamped postmark or Certified Mail receipt when mailing.

• revenue.nh.gov: NH Department of Revenue Administration Shares 2026 Tax Tips and Filing Guidance
• revenue.nh.gov: Business Profits Tax

Federal Self-Employment Tax and Single-Member LLC Rules

If you carry on a trade or business as a sole proprietor, work as an independent contractor, are a member of a partnership, or work for yourself in a part-time or gig business, the IRS classifies you as self-employed. According to the IRS, you must file an annual federal income tax return and Schedule SE (Form 1040) if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more (or $108.28 or more for church employee income). Sole proprietors calculate net profit or loss on Schedule C (Form 1040) and pay federal income and self-employment taxes quarterly using Form 1040-ES.

The federal self-employment tax rate is 15.3%, consisting of 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. For 2026, the first $184,500 of your combined wages, tips, and net earnings is subject to the 12.4% Social Security portion, while all net earnings remain subject to the 2.9% Medicare portion. An extra 0.9% Medicare tax applies if your wages, compensation, or self-employment income exceed $250,000 for married filing jointly, $125,000 for married filing separately, or $200,000 for single, head of household, or qualifying surviving spouse filers. You can deduct the employer-equivalent portion of your self-employment tax when figuring your federal adjusted gross income, alongside qualifying self-employed health insurance costs and business use of your home.

At the state level, the New Hampshire Interest and Dividends Tax was repealed for tax periods beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and 2025 forms are no longer available. For a single-member LLC or sole proprietorship in New Hampshire, state filing obligations depend on gross business income rather than net profit. For example, if your single-member LLC brings in $130,000 in gross business income and has $40,000 in expenses ($90,000 net profit), you file federal Form 1040 with Schedule C and Schedule SE, have no NH BET filing because gross receipts are below $298,000, and must file NH Form BT-SUMMARY and Form NH-1040 (with federal Schedule C attached) by the 15th day of the 4th month because your $130,000 gross business income exceeds the $109,000 BPT threshold.

• IRS: Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes)
• IRS: Self-employed individuals tax center

New Business Registration and Compliance Checklist

To keep your New Hampshire company in good standing across all three state agencies, our team built this compliance checklist from official Secretary of State, DRA, and NHES rules.

• Register with the NH Secretary of State: File your LLC, corporation, or trade name online at NH QuickStart. Standard processing takes up to 5 business days, or you can expedite a pending (HOLD) filing in person at the Customer Lobby in Concord (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday) for an additional $25 fee.
• Get your Federal EIN (or DIN): Apply for an IRS Employer Identification Number online, or file Form DP-200 with the NHDRA if you are an entity requesting a state Department Identification Number (DIN).
• Set up Granite Tax Connect (GTC): Create your online NHDRA login at gtc.revenue.nh.gov to schedule automatic estimated payments, file returns, view 1099-G forms, and enroll in direct deposit refunds.
• Apply for industry licenses if required: Submit Form CD-3 for a Meals and Rentals license or Form DP-139 for a Communications Services Tax registration number before collecting tax from customers.
• Register as an employer with NHES: Set up your NHES Web Tax account to report new hires and submit quarterly wage and tax reports, keeping your account balanced by April 30 each year to preserve the 1.0% Trust Fund rate reduction.
• File your Annual Report on NH QuickStart: Keep your entity active each year with the Secretary of State. If you have no changes to your business or principal information, use the One Click Annual Report tool on NH QuickStart.

• nhes.nh.gov: Tax Rate Chart
• nhes.nh.gov: Employer Claims & Taxes