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How should you set up your New business?
When you form a small business, you have many options. For starters, you can set
up your business as a Sole Proprietorship, C-Corporation, S-Corporation, LLP
(Limited Liability Partnership) or an LLC (Limited Liability Company).
How can you narrow down these possibilities? You may want to decide against a
C-Corporation, because C-Corps generate two levels of federal income tax. The
C-corporation pays one level of tax when it files its federal corporate tax return,
Form 1120. A second layer of tax is imposed when the C-Corporation’s profits
are distributed to the shareholders as dividends. Those dividends are reported and
taxed on the individual’s federal tax return, Form 1040. Together, these two levels of
taxes are referred to as “double taxation.” In addition, state taxes also typically apply
to both C-corporation profits and distributed dividends. All in all, the tax picture for
C-corps is far from ideal for small businesses. Even the reduced tax rate on
dividends in the 2003 Tax Act does not completely do away with the disadvantages
of double taxation.
Becoming a sole-proprietor eliminates the double taxation curse. There are no
corporate taxes to pay, since no corporate entity exists. In other words, you only pay individual taxes on your net
profits, which are typically reported on Federal Form 1040, Schedule C. However, as a sole proprietor, you lack the
legal protection that corporate status gives you. Owners of corporations enjoy limited liability, but sole proprietors
do not. Simply stated, if you’re a sole-proprietor, your personal assets are at risk if the business is sued—very risky
indeed!
That leaves LLCs, LLPs and S-Corporations. LLPs and LLCs are similar in many ways. One key difference is that
LLPs must be owned by more than one individual. Remember, the “P” in LLP stands for partnership---by definition
a single individual can’t own a partnership. So if you had an LLP with two owners and one dies, serious problems
that could even cause the business to close may result.
The remaining choice has now been narrowed. S-Corporation or LLC? Which is more appropriate for your
business?
Well, they share one crucial tax attribute in common; they are “pass-through” entities. That means both S-
corporations and LLCs allow you to avoid double taxation and operate a business without paying corporate taxes.
As with a sole proprietorship, net profits are attributed to the owners and are taxed when you file your individual tax
return.
When choosing between an S-Corporation and an LLC you need to consider many things. What may be
appropriate under one set of circumstances may not be in another. For example, just because your friend formed
an S Corporation doesn’t automatically mean that you should form one as well. Every business is different, and
every owner has different needs and expectations.
The S Corporation
Created in 1958, the S Corporation was, for many years, the standard form of organization for conducting a small
business. S Corporation status provides a way for you to avoid the double taxation (business & personal taxes)
imposed upon C Corporations. One advantage of the S Corporation is that income is taxed personally to the
shareholders. However, your personal risk remains limited to your investment. In other words, double taxation is
avoided and you get the protection of limited liability.
Your corporation chooses “S-Status” by filing a special election form. Bear in mind that the “S” status of the
Corporation only impacts taxes. Shareholders of S Corporations have all of the same legal protections as those in
C Corporations. But as once said by a famous Tax Court judge, “a corporation is like a lobster pot. It’s easy to get
into…difficult to get out of.” In other words, once you have established an S Corporation, it would first have to be
liquidated if you wanted to change to an LLC.
The Limited Liability Company (LLC)
LLCs started in 1977 in Wyoming and have quickly become the preferred manner of doing business across the
country. By default, LLCs with more than one owner (member) are taxed as Partnerships, while single-member
LLCs are taxed as sole proprietorships. As with S corporations, with an LLC you only pay taxes with your personal
return. However, if you decide to do business as an LLC, you are not stuck with it. Through special arrangements,
an LLC can be set up to become an S Corporation without having to liquidate. There is little risk of triggering a tax
by changing from this form of doing business.
Setting Up Shop
Establishing an S corporation is relatively simple and inexpensive. An attorney, or even you, can form a corporation
by completing a series of “boilerplate” documents. These forms require you to complete the following information:
who will own the business, the business’s activity, address, and other miscellaneous details. Aside from being
registered as an “Inc., Co. or Corp.”, a corporation can also be registered as P.C. (Professional Corporation). This
designation is for professionals who choose to operate in corporate form and is popular with doctors, lawyers, and
accountants.
An LLC requires a bit more work to get started. Articles of Organization, to be filed with the state and an Operating
Agreement (like a Partnership Agreement), must be drafted by a lawyer. In addition, business information about the
LLC must be placed in a published ad to give notice to the public that the company is being started. An LLC can
choose to be registered as a P.L.L.C. (Professional Limited Liability Company) when its owners are licensed by
the state to engage in a professional practice -- doctors, lawyers, accountants, and so forth.
Distinguishing Characteristics
An S Corporation can often be more restrictive than an LLC. There can’t be more than 100 shareholders in an S
Corporation. In addition, only individuals, estates & qualifying trusts can qualify as shareholders. An S Corporation
may not have any non-resident alien shareholders. There can only be one class of stock ownership. Adding a
second category or class of ownership terminates the “S” Election, which could lead to unintended and unexpected
tax consequences. The income and expenses from an S Corporation are allocated on a per-share/per-day basis.
However, your businesses’ net income would be exempt from self-employment taxes on your individual return.
The amount of your investment in the S Corporation---your cost basis--is comprised of:
1) Your contributions of cash & property
2) Your share of loans made directly to the Corporation
This “Basis” calculation is important because it is your tax cost. The more you have invested, the more losses you
are entitled to claim against your investment. In other words, bigger basis means more “write-offs when there are
losses.”
LLCs offer more flexibility than S Corporations. They can have an unlimited number of owners and any person,
business or trust can be a member. With an LLC you can choose to allocate particular types of income and
expenses between the owners. Doing this can get pretty complicated, so be sure to speak with our office about
"special allocations." In addition, note that the business’s net income will be subject to Self-Employment taxes.
The amount of your basis in an LLC (your tax cost basis) is comprised of:
1) Your contributions of cash & property
2) Your share of the LLCs debts to others. (In an LLC, loans to the company can increase your tax basis if they are
guaranteed by you. In an S corporation, only direct loans to the company by you can increase your tax basis.)
Note: LLCs provide more ways to increase your tax cost basis. This illustrates a significant advantage of LLCs over
S Corporations. Because of the way these calculations are done, your cost basis may be higher for an investment
in an LLC than if you set up shop as an S Corporation.
So when it comes to cost basis, why is bigger better?
Like we said before, because bigger basis means more “write-offs” when there are losses.
Bear in mind, these “write-offs” are not permanent. They are merely a deferral. The more you “write-off” now, the
bigger your eventual gain will be when you dispose of your investment in the business. However, with current write-
offs you still get to:
Take advantage of the time value of money - A deduction allowed now puts money in your pocket today and isn’t
taxed until tomorrow. This allows you to use the funds in the interim.
Beat the rate game –The tax deduction now (maximum 35%) could be at a higher rate than the capital gains tax
rate (maximum 15%) that could be imposed when the business is disposed of.
The Bottom Line
So which is better, the LLC or the S-Corporation? It depends. LLCs are often preferable when setting up leveraged
ventures such as a real estate or investments. They may also be better for businesses that would like to allocate
specific items of income and expense to specific owners.
S Corporations may be better when the business is not a service-oriented venture. Non-service S Corporations do
not have the obligation to pay out all profits as wages. This allows the shareholders to distribute profits without
being subjected to payroll taxes. S Corporations may also utilize rules in the Tax Code (Section 144) which allow
increased deductions if the business fails.
The ultimate decision as to which entity is best for you is not an easy one. In addition to the points mentioned here,
there are also estate planning, pension and state tax implications.
These laws are complicated and mistakes can prove extremely costly. We are highly experienced with these
issues. Please feel free to consult our office if you have any questions.
When you form a small business, you have many options. For starters, you can set
up your business as a Sole Proprietorship, C-Corporation, S-Corporation, LLP
(Limited Liability Partnership) or an LLC (Limited Liability Company).
How can you narrow down these possibilities? You may want to decide against a
C-Corporation, because C-Corps generate two levels of federal income tax. The
C-corporation pays one level of tax when it files its federal corporate tax return,
Form 1120. A second layer of tax is imposed when the C-Corporation’s profits
are distributed to the shareholders as dividends. Those dividends are reported and
taxed on the individual’s federal tax return, Form 1040. Together, these two levels of
taxes are referred to as “double taxation.” In addition, state taxes also typically apply
to both C-corporation profits and distributed dividends. All in all, the tax picture for
C-corps is far from ideal for small businesses. Even the reduced tax rate on
dividends in the 2003 Tax Act does not completely do away with the disadvantages
of double taxation.
Becoming a sole-proprietor eliminates the double taxation curse. There are no
corporate taxes to pay, since no corporate entity exists. In other words, you only pay individual taxes on your net
profits, which are typically reported on Federal Form 1040, Schedule C. However, as a sole proprietor, you lack the
legal protection that corporate status gives you. Owners of corporations enjoy limited liability, but sole proprietors
do not. Simply stated, if you’re a sole-proprietor, your personal assets are at risk if the business is sued—very risky
indeed!
That leaves LLCs, LLPs and S-Corporations. LLPs and LLCs are similar in many ways. One key difference is that
LLPs must be owned by more than one individual. Remember, the “P” in LLP stands for partnership---by definition
a single individual can’t own a partnership. So if you had an LLP with two owners and one dies, serious problems
that could even cause the business to close may result.
The remaining choice has now been narrowed. S-Corporation or LLC? Which is more appropriate for your
business?
Well, they share one crucial tax attribute in common; they are “pass-through” entities. That means both S-
corporations and LLCs allow you to avoid double taxation and operate a business without paying corporate taxes.
As with a sole proprietorship, net profits are attributed to the owners and are taxed when you file your individual tax
return.
When choosing between an S-Corporation and an LLC you need to consider many things. What may be
appropriate under one set of circumstances may not be in another. For example, just because your friend formed
an S Corporation doesn’t automatically mean that you should form one as well. Every business is different, and
every owner has different needs and expectations.
The S Corporation
Created in 1958, the S Corporation was, for many years, the standard form of organization for conducting a small
business. S Corporation status provides a way for you to avoid the double taxation (business & personal taxes)
imposed upon C Corporations. One advantage of the S Corporation is that income is taxed personally to the
shareholders. However, your personal risk remains limited to your investment. In other words, double taxation is
avoided and you get the protection of limited liability.
Your corporation chooses “S-Status” by filing a special election form. Bear in mind that the “S” status of the
Corporation only impacts taxes. Shareholders of S Corporations have all of the same legal protections as those in
C Corporations. But as once said by a famous Tax Court judge, “a corporation is like a lobster pot. It’s easy to get
into…difficult to get out of.” In other words, once you have established an S Corporation, it would first have to be
liquidated if you wanted to change to an LLC.
The Limited Liability Company (LLC)
LLCs started in 1977 in Wyoming and have quickly become the preferred manner of doing business across the
country. By default, LLCs with more than one owner (member) are taxed as Partnerships, while single-member
LLCs are taxed as sole proprietorships. As with S corporations, with an LLC you only pay taxes with your personal
return. However, if you decide to do business as an LLC, you are not stuck with it. Through special arrangements,
an LLC can be set up to become an S Corporation without having to liquidate. There is little risk of triggering a tax
by changing from this form of doing business.
Setting Up Shop
Establishing an S corporation is relatively simple and inexpensive. An attorney, or even you, can form a corporation
by completing a series of “boilerplate” documents. These forms require you to complete the following information:
who will own the business, the business’s activity, address, and other miscellaneous details. Aside from being
registered as an “Inc., Co. or Corp.”, a corporation can also be registered as P.C. (Professional Corporation). This
designation is for professionals who choose to operate in corporate form and is popular with doctors, lawyers, and
accountants.
An LLC requires a bit more work to get started. Articles of Organization, to be filed with the state and an Operating
Agreement (like a Partnership Agreement), must be drafted by a lawyer. In addition, business information about the
LLC must be placed in a published ad to give notice to the public that the company is being started. An LLC can
choose to be registered as a P.L.L.C. (Professional Limited Liability Company) when its owners are licensed by
the state to engage in a professional practice -- doctors, lawyers, accountants, and so forth.
Distinguishing Characteristics
An S Corporation can often be more restrictive than an LLC. There can’t be more than 100 shareholders in an S
Corporation. In addition, only individuals, estates & qualifying trusts can qualify as shareholders. An S Corporation
may not have any non-resident alien shareholders. There can only be one class of stock ownership. Adding a
second category or class of ownership terminates the “S” Election, which could lead to unintended and unexpected
tax consequences. The income and expenses from an S Corporation are allocated on a per-share/per-day basis.
However, your businesses’ net income would be exempt from self-employment taxes on your individual return.
The amount of your investment in the S Corporation---your cost basis--is comprised of:
1) Your contributions of cash & property
2) Your share of loans made directly to the Corporation
This “Basis” calculation is important because it is your tax cost. The more you have invested, the more losses you
are entitled to claim against your investment. In other words, bigger basis means more “write-offs when there are
losses.”
LLCs offer more flexibility than S Corporations. They can have an unlimited number of owners and any person,
business or trust can be a member. With an LLC you can choose to allocate particular types of income and
expenses between the owners. Doing this can get pretty complicated, so be sure to speak with our office about
"special allocations." In addition, note that the business’s net income will be subject to Self-Employment taxes.
The amount of your basis in an LLC (your tax cost basis) is comprised of:
1) Your contributions of cash & property
2) Your share of the LLCs debts to others. (In an LLC, loans to the company can increase your tax basis if they are
guaranteed by you. In an S corporation, only direct loans to the company by you can increase your tax basis.)
Note: LLCs provide more ways to increase your tax cost basis. This illustrates a significant advantage of LLCs over
S Corporations. Because of the way these calculations are done, your cost basis may be higher for an investment
in an LLC than if you set up shop as an S Corporation.
So when it comes to cost basis, why is bigger better?
Like we said before, because bigger basis means more “write-offs” when there are losses.
Bear in mind, these “write-offs” are not permanent. They are merely a deferral. The more you “write-off” now, the
bigger your eventual gain will be when you dispose of your investment in the business. However, with current write-
offs you still get to:
Take advantage of the time value of money - A deduction allowed now puts money in your pocket today and isn’t
taxed until tomorrow. This allows you to use the funds in the interim.
Beat the rate game –The tax deduction now (maximum 35%) could be at a higher rate than the capital gains tax
rate (maximum 15%) that could be imposed when the business is disposed of.
The Bottom Line
So which is better, the LLC or the S-Corporation? It depends. LLCs are often preferable when setting up leveraged
ventures such as a real estate or investments. They may also be better for businesses that would like to allocate
specific items of income and expense to specific owners.
S Corporations may be better when the business is not a service-oriented venture. Non-service S Corporations do
not have the obligation to pay out all profits as wages. This allows the shareholders to distribute profits without
being subjected to payroll taxes. S Corporations may also utilize rules in the Tax Code (Section 144) which allow
increased deductions if the business fails.
The ultimate decision as to which entity is best for you is not an easy one. In addition to the points mentioned here,
there are also estate planning, pension and state tax implications.
These laws are complicated and mistakes can prove extremely costly. We are highly experienced with these
issues. Please feel free to consult our office if you have any questions.
| Overview |
| Drafting you business |
