Do you have to pay taxes on an llc

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) usually treats a limited liability company (LLC) as a pass-through entity for federal tax purposes. Pass-through taxation means that the business's profits and losses pass through the company to individual members. Rather than the company, the individual members must report the members' share of the profits on their individual tax returns.

On rare occasions, an LLC's members will choose to be treated as a corporation for federal tax purposes. However, in most cases, businesses structure themselves as LLCs to enjoy the same pass-through tax status as sole proprietorships and partnerships.

Follow along as FindLaw introduces you to the tax advantages and disadvantages of structuring your business as an LLC.

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How Are LLCs Taxed?

Pass-through taxation is a benefit that is available for business owners who choose the LLC business structure to avoid double taxation. Double taxation happens with corporations when the business itself pays tax on its income and that income is taxed a second time when it is distributed to the shareholders.

When an LLC chooses pass-through taxation, the owners will report the business's income or losses on their personal income tax return instead of the business paying the tax on its income. Essentially, the business's income is treated as the personal income of the LLC members.

Filing Federal Tax Returns as a One-Member LLC

When an LLC has a sole owner, the IRS automatically classifies it as a sole proprietorship for tax filing purposes. This is called a single member LLC.

The single LLC member must file a Form 1040 income tax return and report profits and losses on a Schedule C, Profits or Loss From a Business.

Filing Federal Tax Returns as a Multiple-Member LLC

The IRS automatically taxes an LLC with more than one member in the same manner as a partnership unless the LLC opts for tax treatment as a corporation.

Like a business partnership, the LLC must file an informational return on a Form 1065, U.S. Partnership Return of Income, including a Schedule K-1. The Schedule K-1 is used to report the profits and losses that pass through to the members. Each member must then report that information on their personal Form 1040 tax return and attach a Schedule E, Supplemental Income and Loss.

The IRS requires LLC members to pay taxes on their distributive share, which is equal to the percentage of each member's interest in the company. An LLC can distribute its profits as a special allocation where one or more members gets more than their distributive share and other members get less. However, unless the company can show an economic reason for the special allocation, each member will still be taxed on their distributive share of the income.

Paying Estimated Taxes

An employer's taxpayer usually pays much of their state and federal taxes through withholdings from their paycheck. But, because no taxes are withheld from the profit distributions made to members in an LLC, the members must pay estimated taxes on a quarterly basis to the IRS.

A member's tax payments are based on rough estimates of the tax they will owe at year's end and you should receive a refund of any overpayments made during the year after you have filed your personal tax return.

Paying Self-Employment Taxes

The IRS requires LLC members to pay the federal self-employment tax on the profits received by the company if they have been active in the business. The self-employment taxes will cover both the employee and employer's portion of the Social Security and Medicare taxes that an employee owes. The current self-employment tax rate is 15.3%.

As a general rule, the self-employment tax applies when a member participates in the trade or business for more than 500 hours in the tax year. It also applies when the member works in an LLC that is a professional service business in the field of health, law, engineering, architecture, accounting, actuarial, or consulting. The IRS may not require non-active LLC members to pay self-employment taxes.

Members must report self-employment taxes on a Schedule SE. LLC members are responsible for paying the entire 15.3% (12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare). Members can deduct half of the self-employment tax paid from their adjusted gross income.

Electing Corporate Tax Treatment

An LLC can choose corporate tax treatment because members must pay taxes on all profits, regardless of whether they are distributed to the members. The corporate tax option may be beneficial if the LLC chooses to keep a significant amount of profits in the business to contribute to its growth. That is because the corporate tax rate is generally lower than the individual income tax rate would be on that income if it was distributed and, since there is no distribution, those profits are not double-taxed as income to the members.

An LLC may elect corporate tax treatment by filing a Form 8832, Entity Classification Election, with the IRS. The LLC must also file Form 1120 each year the election applies.

Filing State Income Taxes

LLC members must also file state income tax returns. Like the federal government, most states allow LLC members to pay taxes on profits through personal tax returns. A few states also require members to pay an additional tax on the income made by the LLC.

For instance, in some states a member may have to pay a tax on LLC income that exceeds a certain amount. Other states may require the LLC to pay an annual fee, sometimes called a "franchise tax" or a "renewal fee."

LLC Tax Questions? Get Peace of Mind With a Tax Attorney's Help

There is some flexibility when it comes to paying your LLC taxes. There are advantages and disadvantages to paying as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. Sitting down with a qualified tax attorney can help you determine which one works best for you. Speak with a tax law attorney near you today.

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