Tag: llc

Income Taxes for LLC Businesses

Business owners often choose to protect themselves for legal purposes by forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC). An LLC is a state-defined legal structure that business owners use to protect their personal assets in case their business is sued, or another event exposes them to financial liability. However, forming an LLC doesn’t automatically tell the business owner(s) – or the tax preparer – how the LLC operates for tax purposes

How an LLC files its business income taxes depends on the number of business owners and a few other considerations. Determining the best option depends on your objectives and circumstances. The decision can get complicated, so it’s probably a good idea to get professional advice. Here are the basics to get you started.

Income taxes for LLC businesses can be filed in one of three different ways:

  1. Sole Proprietorship

An individual business owner who has not incorporated is, by default, a Sole Proprietor. This is the simplest tax filing option. A Sole Proprietor reports income and expenses on a separate form filed with the owner’s individual income tax return, IRS Schedule C, “Profit or Loss from Business.” Net business profits are subject to income tax and to Medicare and Social Security taxes (i.e., 15.3% of net business profit).

  1. Partnership

Two or more individuals in business together without incorporating have, by default, formed a Partnership. Partnerships are considered a separate tax entity and are required to file a separate income tax return, IRS Form 1065, “U.S. Return of Partnership Income.” Partners receive an IRS Form K-1 for everyone’s pro-rata share of non-wage income, based on the operating agreement. 

  1. Subchapter S Corporation

Businesses with one to 100 domestic owners can take the Subchapter-S election. Sub-S Corps are considered a separate tax entity and are required to file a separate income tax return, IRS Form 1120S, “U.S. Income Tax Return for an S corporation.” Shareholders receive an IRS Form K-1 for their share of non-wage income, based on the operating agreement. Owners are considered employees, must be paid wages, and get a W-2.

How an LLC files its business income taxes depends on several considerations, including the number of business owners. Determining the best income tax option for your LLC isn’t easy. You’ll probably want more information, and some professional advice. Check the IRS website for income tax options and resources for business owners at https://www.irs.gov/businesses.

Tax Options for Your LLC

New tax clients and workshop participants who own a business often ask about their taxes when they have formed an LLC. My answer is, “It depends.” I realize that is not a satisfying response, but unless I know more about the business and its ownership, I cannot provide an accurate reply. It’s often the case that correctly answering tax questions depends a lot on your circumstances. 

Here’s why. An LLC is a state-defined limited liability legal business structure. Business owners often form an LLC to protect their personal assets in case their business is sued. How an LLC operates for tax purposes has some default provisions and other options that primarily depend on the number of business owners.

An LLC can file business income taxes in one of three different ways:

  • Sole Proprietorship

An individual business owner that has not incorporated is, by default, a Sole Proprietor. Sole Proprietors report income and expenses on a separate form filed with the owner’s individual income tax return, IRS Schedule C, “Profit or Loss from Business.” Net business profits are subject to income tax and the employer and employee portions of Medicare and Social Security taxes (i.e., 15.3% of net business profit).

  • Partnership

Two or more individuals in business together without incorporating are, by default, a Partnership. Partnerships are considered a separate tax entity and are required to file a separate income tax return, IRS Form 1065, “U.S. Return of Partnership Income.” Partners receive an IRS Form K-1 for each one’s pro rata share of non-wage income and expenses, based on the operating agreement (a MUST). 

  • Subchapter S Corporation

Qualifying businesses can take the Subchapter-S election and avoid the double taxation of a C Corp. A number of rules apply to see if a business owner(s) qualifies. Sub-S Corps are considered a separate tax entity and are required to file a separate income tax return, IRS Form 1120S, “U.S. Income Tax Return for an S corporation.” Shareholders receive an IRS Form K-1 for their share of non-wage income and expenses, based on the operating agreement (again, a MUST). Owner/employees earn wages and get a W-2.

Determining how your LLC operates for tax purposes is not easy. It depends on the circumstances and many rules apply. Need more information? The IRS has you covered, as usual. Check out their tax information, tools and resources for business and self-employed individuals at https://www.irs.gov/businesses.

Taxes and LLCs

Regular readers of my blog posts know I’ve addressed LLCs and taxes before. Questions about how to file taxes for an LLC still come up all the time, including last week at my Start-Up with Financial Success workshop at BizLaunch/Arlington Economic Development. So I decided to pull up a blog from “the Archives” and update it to share again.

Piece of paper that says "TAX" with hand holding pen

The first question I ask new tax clients who own a business is, “What type of business do you have?” The response I often get is “I have an LLC.” That answer isn’t enough information for me to know how and when to file their business taxes. I need to ask more questions at that point, like “and how do you operate for tax purposes?” Answering that one can be tough. 

An LLC is a state-defined limited liability legal business structure. Business owners often form an LLC to protect their personal assets in case their business is sued. An LLC can file business income taxes in one of three different ways, depending on the circumstances:

  1. Sole Proprietorship

Individual business owners that have not incorporated are, by default, a Sole Proprietor. Sole Proprietors report income and expenses on a separate form filed with the owner’s individual income tax return, IRS Schedule C, “Profit or Loss from Business.” A separate Schedule C must be filed for each business that the owner operates. Net business profits are subject to income tax and the employer and employee portions of Medicare and Social Security taxes (i.e., 15.3% in 2019).

  1. Partnership

Two or more individuals in business together without incorporating are, by default, a Partnership. Partnerships are considered a separate tax entity and are required to file a separate income tax return, IRS Form 1065, “U.S. Return of Partnership Income.” Partners receive an IRS Form K-1 for each one’s pro-rata share of non-wage income and expenses, based on the operating agreement (a MUST). Partners are responsible for tracking the basis of their shares to determine how distributions are taxed.

  1. Subchapter S Corporation

Qualifying businesses can take the Subchapter-S election and avoid the double taxation of a C Corp. A number of rules apply to see if a business owner(s) qualifies. Sub-S Corps are also considered a separate tax entity and are required to file a separate income tax return, IRS Form 1120S, “U.S. Income Tax Return for an S corporation.” Shareholders receive an IRS Form K-1 for their share of non-wage income and expenses, based on the operating agreement (again, a MUST). Owner/employees earn wages and get a W-2.

Determining how your LLC operates for tax purposes is not easy. It depends on the circumstances and many rules apply. Need more information? The IRS has you covered, as usual. Check out their tax information, tools and resources for business and self-employed individuals at https://www.irs.gov/businesses.

Tax Options for LLC Businesses

Readers who have been reading my blog posts for a while know I’ve addressed LLCs and taxes before. Questions about how to file taxes for an LLC still come up all the time. Consequently, I’ve pulled up a blog from last summer and updated it to share again.

 

New business clients often tell me that they have an LLC. But that isn’t enough information for me to know how to file their business taxes. An LLC is a legal definition for a  limited liability business structure.

 

An LLC can file income taxes in one of three ways:

 

  1. Sole Proprietorship

Individual business owners that have not incorporated will report income and expenses on IRS Schedule C, “Profit or Loss from Business,” filed with the owner’s individual income tax return. A separate Schedule C must be filed for each business. Net business profits are also subject to the employer and employee portions of Medicare and Social Security taxes (i.e., 15.3% in 2017).

 

  1. Partnership

Two or more individuals in business together without incorporating must operate as a partnership. Partnerships file a separate income tax return, IRS Form 1065. Partners receive an IRS Form K-1 for their pro rata share of non-wage income and expenses. Partners are responsible for tracking the basis of their shares, which impacts how distributions are taxed.

 

  1. Subchapter S Corporation

Qualifying businesses can take the Subchapter -S election and avoid the double taxation of a C Corp. Additional legal documents are required. No outside capital funding is allowed. Sub-S Corporations file a separate income tax return, IRS Form 1120S. Shareholders receive an IRS Form K-1 for their share of non-wage income and expenses. Owner/employees earn wages and get a W-2. Owner’s basis must be tracked.

 

Taxes can be complicated. Knowing how to file your business taxes might not be as simple as you think. Consult a qualified tax professional to keep it all straight, minimize errors, and leave more time for managing your business.