woman comparing tax considerations by business type
Compliance22 ledna, 2021|Aktualizovánoúnora 19, 2022

Compare tax considerations by business type

One of the most important decisions to make when starting a business is the legal form (sole proprietorship, corporation, limited liability company, etc.) in which you will operate. And as your business grows, you may want to change forms to accommodate more owners, a different capital structure, or shield your growing wealth from business liability. Be sure to weigh the tax considerations associated with the business type you choose.

Choosing an incorporation type

You have many choices when it comes to incorporating a business, including:

Sole proprietorship tax considerations

The business and the owner are legally the same. From the IRS's perspective, the business is not a taxable entity. Instead, all of the business assets and liabilities and income are treated as belonging directly to the business owner.

General partnership tax considerations

As with sole proprietorships, the business and the owners (two or more) are legally the same. A partnership is not a taxable entity under federal law. There is no separate partnership income tax, as there is a corporate income tax. Instead, income from the partnership is taxed to the individual partners, at their own individual tax rates. For tax purposes, all of the income of the partnership must be reported as distributed or “passed-through” to the partners, who will then be taxed on it through their individual returns.

Limited liability company (LLC) tax considerations

A separate legal entity created by a state filing. Under state laws, LLC owners are given the liability protection that was previously afforded only to owners of a corporation (shareholders). Now, LLCs are treated like partnerships for federal tax purposes (unless they elect to be treated like a corporation, which most don’t). LLCs have “pass-through” taxation, which means that no tax on the LLC’s income is paid at the business level. Income/loss is instead reported on the personal tax returns of the owners, and any tax due is paid at the individual level. Keep in mind, even though LLCs are treated as partnerships for federal tax purposes, the same is not always true for state tax purposes.

Business Incorporation Options

C corporation tax considerations

A separate legal entity created by a state filing. The C corporation, also called the "regular" corporation, is subject to corporate income tax. Income earned by a C corporation is normally taxed at the corporate level using the corporate income tax rates. C corporation income is also subject to what is called “double taxation,” when the income of the business is distributed to the owners in the form of dividends, because dividends are taxable. Tax is paid first by the corporation on its income and then again by the owners on the dividends received. If the owner draws a salary from the corporation, that salary is also subject to income tax (and FICA).

S corporation tax considerations

A separate legal entity created by a state filing. The S corporation is a corporation that has filed a special election with the IRS to be treated like a partnership (or LLC) for tax purposes. Therefore, S corporations are not subject to corporate income tax. Instead, their income is subject to what is often called “pass-through” taxation, where the income or loss of the business is passed through the company to the owners (shareholders). Having pass-through taxation means that S corporation income is not subject to double taxation like C corporation income.

As you can imagine, there are significant income tax consequences that flow from each of these choices. Don't forget to weigh the tax issues against the non-tax issues, such as which business form will best help you to operate and grow the business or is easier for you to pass to your heirs.

Taxation Comparison Table

Business entity type Is business separate from owners? Taxation Tax forms filed with the IRS
Sole Proprietorship No Income/loss reported by owner Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ to Form 1040, Individual Income Tax Return
General Partnership No Income/loss reported by owners Form 1065, Return of Partnership Income (info only) and Form 1040, Individual Income Tax Return
LLC Yes Income/loss reported by owners Form 1065, Return of Partnership Income (info only) and Form 1040, Individual Income Tax Return
C Corporation Yes Corporate tax paid. Second tax paid by owners if corporate income is distributed to owners in the form of dividends (double taxation). Form 1120, Corporation Income Tax Return Dividend income reported on Form 1040, Individual Income Tax Return
S Corporation Yes Income/loss reported by owners Form 1120S, Income Tax Return for S Corporation (info only) and Form 1040, Individual Income Tax Return
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Heather Huston
Assistant Service Manager
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