Taxing a Limited Liability Company (LLC)
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Mary Martin
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Mary Martin has been a legal writer and editor for over 20 years, responsible for ensuring that content is straightforward, correct, and helpful for the consumer. In addition, she worked on writing monthly newsletter columns for media, lawyers, and consumers. Ms. Martin also has experience with internal staff and HR operations. Mary was employed for almost 30 years by the nationwide legal publi...
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UPDATED: Oct 9, 2024
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UPDATED: Oct 9, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right legal decisions.
We strive to help you make confident insurance and legal decisions. Finding trusted and reliable insurance quotes and legal advice should be easy. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
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One main advantage of a limited liability company rests in how the IRS treats the business under tax rules. Usually, an LLC is taxed as a partnership or a sole proprietorship, which means that the LLC pays no federal income taxes. The profits and losses are passed through to the members. Each member reports his or her share of profit or loss on his or her personal tax return. If each member owns 50 percent of the LLC, then each member will be responsible for paying 50 percent of the federal income taxes. Because only the partners or members are taxed, owners tend to avoid double taxation that would regularly apply to a corporation. In a corporate setting, the corporation would be taxed once for their profits, and then any recipients of profits (like shareholders) would also be taxed on their disbursements. With an LLC, owners are only taxed once under federal tax rules.
LLCs and Election to Be Taxed
Even though an LLC is a company, not a corporation, the LLC can file an election to be taxed like a regular corporation. Some LLCs, after consulting with a lawyer or Certified Public Accountant (CPA), decide that they would prefer to be taxed like a C corporation, which is a corporation that has not elected S corporation status. If the LLC makes that decision, its profits will be subject to the federal income tax. Especially if the business expects to earn profits that can be left in the business for future expansion, this arrangement can save on taxes since the LLC may be taxed at a lower tax rate than its members. Unlike partnership-style taxation, corporate taxation of an LLC is not automatic. You will need to file an election form with the IRS.
In addition to federal income taxes, an LLC may be required to pay any other types of state or federal taxes that are applicable to the business entity. Other taxes can include taxes relating to the employees who work for the LLC or franchise taxes imposed by the state.
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LLCs and State Rules
The designation as a C corporation or a Sub S corporation will affect federal tax guidelines and rules. These designations may or may not affect state taxing requirements. Because limited liability companies are a relatively new form of business entity, the states do not have uniform rules regarding the creation and taxing of LLCs. Some states will accept and use the designation required for the federal government. Other states require a separate designation and filing to invoke changes in a LLCs tax status. Some states will tax an LLC as a corporation, regardless of their federal designation.
Case Studies: Taxing a Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Case Study 1: The Advantage of Pass-Through Taxation
Mr. Smith established an LLC with a partner, opting for pass-through taxation. As a result, the LLC itself paid no federal income taxes. Instead, the profits and losses were passed through to the members, who reported their share on personal tax returns. This setup allowed Mr. Smith and his partner to avoid double taxation and minimized their overall tax liability.
Case Study 2: Electing Charlie Corporation Taxation
Ms. Garcia, the owner of an LLC, consulted with a CPA and decided to elect Charlie corporation taxation for her business. By doing so, the LLC’s profits became subject to federal income tax. Although this increased the tax burden at the business level, it provided potential tax savings if profits were reinvested for future expansion.
Case Study 3: Navigating Varying State Tax Rules
Mr. Johnson’s LLC operates in multiple states, and he encountered varying tax rules. Some states recognized the federal designation, while others required separate filing and designation for tax purposes. Mr. Johnson sought the guidance of a corporate attorney well-versed in both federal and state tax laws to ensure compliance and avoid penalties.
Getting Help
Neglecting federal or state tax rules can result in stiff monetary penalties. If you are considering forming or converting your business to a limited liability company, make sure that you consult with a corporate attorney that understands that overlap in federal and state tax laws applicable to your LLC.
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Mary Martin
Published Legal Expert
Mary Martin has been a legal writer and editor for over 20 years, responsible for ensuring that content is straightforward, correct, and helpful for the consumer. In addition, she worked on writing monthly newsletter columns for media, lawyers, and consumers. Ms. Martin also has experience with internal staff and HR operations. Mary was employed for almost 30 years by the nationwide legal publi...
Published Legal Expert
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about legal topics and insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.