What is an S Corporation?

An S corporation is a type of business entity that is taxed differently than a traditional corporation. S corporations are pass-through entities, which means that the income and losses of the business are passed through to the shareholders on their personal tax returns. This can provide significant tax savings for small businesses.

Who Can Form an S Corporation?

To form an S corporation, the business must meet certain requirements. These requirements include:

• The business must be a corporation.
• The business must have no more than 100 shareholders.
• The shareholders must be U.S. citizens or residents.
• The shareholders must be individuals, estates, or trusts.
• The business cannot be a publicly traded company.

How to Form an S Corporation

To form an S corporation, you must file Form 8832 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This form is used to elect S corporation status. Once you have filed Form 8832, your business will be taxed as an S corporation for all future tax years.

Tax Benefits of S Corporations

There are several tax benefits to forming an S corporation. These benefits include:

• Pass-through taxation. As mentioned above, S corporations are pass-through entities. This means that the income and losses of the business are passed through to the shareholders on their personal tax returns. This can provide significant tax savings for small businesses, as they can avoid double taxation.
• Reduced self-employment taxes. Shareholders of S corporations are not subject to self-employment taxes on their salary. This can save shareholders a significant amount of money, as self-employment taxes are a form of Social Security and Medicare taxes.
• Increased flexibility. S corporations offer more flexibility than traditional corporations. For example, S corporations can have more than one class of stock. This can be beneficial for businesses that want to offer different levels of ownership to different shareholders.

If you are considering forming an S corporation, it is important to consult with a tax advisor to discuss whether S corporation status is right for your business.

Here are some additional tips for small business owners who are considering forming an S corporation:

• Make sure that your business meets the requirements to form an S corporation.
• Consider the tax benefits of S corporation status.
• Consult with a tax advisor to discuss whether S corporation status is right for your business.