NH
New Hampshire Small Business Tax Guide
New Hampshire's two business taxes and its meals and rentals tax, quoted from the Department of Revenue Administration with the date checked. General information, not tax advice.
Disclaimer: This page is educational content only. Tax laws change, and your situation may differ. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional licensed in New Hampshire before making filing or planning decisions.
Tax landscape for small businesses
New Hampshire's Business Taxes page describes two taxes that work together. On the Business Profits Tax, the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (New Hampshire, checked October 31, 2026) says: "The tax rate is 7.6% for taxable periods ending on or after December 31, 2022, and 7.5% for taxable periods ending on or after December 31, 2023." On the Business Enterprise Tax: "The tax is assessed on the taxable enterprise value tax base, which is the sum of all compensation paid or accrued, interest paid or accrued, and dividends paid by the business enterprise at the rate of .55% for taxable periods ending on or after December 31, 2022." The two connect: "The BET paid may be used as a credit against the Business Profits Tax (BPT)."
Filing depends on size. The DRA (checked October 31, 2026) says: "For taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2025, every business organization with gross business income from all business activities of more than $109,000 must file a BPT return." and "For taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2025, every business enterprise with more than $298,000 of gross receipts from all activities, or an enterprise value tax base of more than $298,000, must file a BET return." Both thresholds move over time: "The filing threshold is adjusted biennially."
Worked example (sample figures, not tax advice): a short-term rental host bills a guest $400.00 for a two-night stay. The DRA (checked October 31, 2026) gives the Meals and Rooms (Rentals) Tax as "8.5%", so the tax is $400.00 × 8.5% = $34.00 and the guest's bill comes to $434.00.
Tax overview
Each row lists a tax area and its notes. Confirm current figures with your state's tax agency or the IRS.
| Tax type | Rate or basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Business Profits Tax (BPT) | "7.5% for taxable periods ending on or after December 31, 2023" (the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (New Hampshire, checked October 31, 2026)) | "assessed on the taxable business profits of business organizations conducting business activity within the state". For businesses active in more than one state, the DRA (New Hampshire, checked October 31, 2026) says: "For taxable periods ending on or after December 31, 2022, income is apportioned using single sales factor." |
| Business Enterprise Tax (BET) | ".55%" of the enterprise value tax base (New Hampshire DRA, New Hampshire, checked October 31, 2026) | "The BET paid may be used as a credit against the Business Profits Tax (BPT)." |
| Meals and Rooms (Rentals) Tax | "8.5%" (New Hampshire DRA, New Hampshire, checked October 31, 2026) | "assessed upon patrons of hotels (or any facility with sleeping accommodations) and restaurants, as well as on motor vehicle rentals". On certificates, the DRA's resale and exempt certificates page (New Hampshire, checked November 1, 2026) says: "The State of New Hampshire does not have a general sales and use tax." and "The Department does not issue Certificates for Resale or Tax Exemptions, nor does the Department issue tax exempt numbers." |
Filing requirements
This list isn't a complete checklist for your business.
BPT return
The DRA (New Hampshire, checked October 31, 2026) says: "For taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2025, every business organization with gross business income from all business activities of more than $109,000 must file a BPT return."
BET return
The DRA (New Hampshire, checked October 31, 2026) says: "For taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2025, every business enterprise with more than $298,000 of gross receipts from all activities, or an enterprise value tax base of more than $298,000, must file a BET return."
Meals and Rooms (Rentals) license and returns
The DRA (New Hampshire, checked October 31, 2026) says: "RSA 78-A:4 requires each owner/operator to register with the Department prior to opening a hotel, offering sleeping accommodations, selling taxable meals, or renting motor vehicles by applying for a license." The tax is "collected and remitted to the State on the 15th of each month" by operators.
Deductions and write-offs
Confirm with your state how it treats each item.
- Self-employment tax deduction (IRS, In the US (federal), last reviewed or updated October 30, 2026): "You can deduct the employer-equivalent portion of your self-employment tax in figuring your adjusted gross income."
- Health insurance for the self-employed (same IRS page): "Under Section 2042 of the Small Business Jobs Act, a deduction, for income tax purposes, is allowed to self-employed individuals for the cost of health insurance."
- Whether New Hampshire's business taxes follow these federal rules isn't covered here; check with the DRA or a tax professional.
Practical tips
- Compare your gross business income with the BPT filing line each year; the DRA (New Hampshire, checked October 31, 2026) says "The filing threshold is adjusted biennially."
- If you rent rooms or sell meals, get the license first: the DRA (New Hampshire, checked October 31, 2026) says "RSA 78-A:4 requires each owner/operator to register with the Department prior to opening a hotel, offering sleeping accommodations, selling taxable meals, or renting motor vehicles by applying for a license."
- Show the Meals and Rooms (Rentals) Tax as its own line on a guest's bill; the DRA (New Hampshire, checked October 31, 2026) says it "is assessed upon patrons".
- Keep a record of what each client paid and when. Billed's invoice software page says: "Billed keeps the complete history of an invoice and its payments from the moment it is created."
Frequently asked questions
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At a glance
| Tax | Source wording |
|---|---|
| Business Profits Tax | "7.5%" (New Hampshire DRA, checked October 31, 2026) |
| Business Enterprise Tax | ".55%" (New Hampshire DRA, checked October 31, 2026) |
| Meals and Rooms (Rentals) Tax | "8.5%" (New Hampshire DRA, checked October 31, 2026) |
| Federal self-employment tax | "The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%." (IRS, In the US (federal), last reviewed or updated October 30, 2026) |
When this isn't for you
This page is limited to New Hampshire's Business Profits, Business Enterprise and Meals and Rooms (Rentals) taxes for small businesses. Property tax, other DRA taxes and the details of multi-state apportionment are outside it, and it doesn't give tax advice; the DRA or a tax professional can speak to your case.