If you’re going to form or have already created an LLC, you must learn about how to file taxes for an LLC.
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Updated: 9/16/24
LLC tax filing isn’t a simple topic, mainly because the IRS doesn’t recognize LLCs for tax purposes, and they have no LLC tax return. If you own an LLC, you could be taxed in one of four ways: as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, an S corporation, or a C corporation. We’ll go through each method so that you’ll know how to file taxes for an LLC.
A limited liability company (LLC) is a popular business type that combines the personal asset protection of a corporation with the tax benefits and flexibility of a sole proprietorship. But filing business taxes for an LLC for the first time can be intimidating. First, you should understand some basics about small business tax tips.
Unless you tell the IRS otherwise, your limited liability company will be taxed as a sole proprietorship if you’re the only owner; owners of an LLC are called “members.” If your LLC has more than one member, you’ll automatically be taxed as a partnership. Whether your LLC has one or multiple members, though, you’ll also have the option of being taxed as a corporation if you submit the proper forms.
Before you file LLC taxes for the first time, we highly recommend consulting a tax professional for guidance.
The IRS considers a single-member entity a “disregarded entity.” Basically, that means that they don’t recognize the business for tax purposes, only the owner. So, the LLC is taxed as a sole proprietorship.
The nice thing about this is that sole proprietorships and partnerships have “pass-through taxation,” meaning that the business itself isn’t taxed on its income, just the owners (see pass-through taxation definition). A typical corporation has “double taxation,” meaning that the business’s profits are taxed twice, first at the business level and again when they’re distributed to the owners.
In most cases, a single-member LLC’s profits would be reported on Schedule C (“Profit or Loss From Business”) and included with the owner’s personal tax return, Form 1040. One possible exception to this would be money made from rental property, which is often reported on Part 1 of Schedule E. See the IRS’s instructions for Schedule E for more specifics.
It’s important to know that, as a single-member LLC or a multi-member LLC, you need to report all income from the business, even if you leave it in the business instead of taking it as a personal draw. So, even if that business income is still in your business bank account, you still need to report it.
A multi-member LLC also has pass-through taxation by default, so (unless you choose to be taxed as a corporation) the business itself won’t pay federal income taxes on its profits. The difference is that the LLC must file an informational return with the IRS letting the government know how much each LLC member has profited or lost from the business.
The multi-member LLC will need to file Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income. The LLC will also need to issue a Schedule K-1 to each member of the LLC to report the member’s income or losses from the business. The members will then report the information from the K-1 on Part II of Schedule E and include it with their personal income tax returns.
Again, remember that each member must pay federal income tax on their share of earnings, regardless of whether they’re distributed to the members or not.
Some LLCs choose to be taxed as an S corporation (please see our What is an S Corp? page) in order to save on self-employment taxes (the taxes that pay for Social Security and Medicare). Having your LLC taxed as an S corp has pass-through taxation like a single-member or multi-member LLC, but you’ll first need to make sure you meet the IRS’s requirements for S corp election and file Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation.
If the IRS approves your LLC for S corp election, each year you’ll be required to file Form 1120-S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation, for the business. Like a multi-member LLC or partnership, the LLC will need to issue a Schedule K-1 to each member of the LLC to report the member’s income or losses from the business. Each member of the LLC filing as an S corp will then report the information from the K-1 on Part II of Schedule E on include it with their personal tax return.
See our S corporation page to learn more about how to form an S corp and the differences between an LLC and an S corp.
A C corporation is the default form of corporation. One of its main disadvantages is “double taxation,” meaning that the corporation’s profits are taxed twice, once at the business level and again when distributed to the individual business owners. A C corporation pays corporate taxes on its own federal tax return, and each owner (shareholder) also pays taxes on their share of the profits on their individual tax return.
Most LLCs, especially when they’re starting out, won’t opt to be taxed as a C corporation so as to avoid the double taxation and complexity of filing corporate taxes. Still, certain larger LLCs sometimes find it to their advantage to file as a C corporation for a variety of reasons. For example, C corporations have the widest range of possible deductions, meaning that things like employee health insurance premiums may be deducted.
An LLC wanting to file taxes as a What is a C corporation? will first need to file Form 8832, Entity Classification Election, to make C corp election. Then, it will need to report the business’s taxes annually on Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return. The individual owners of the LLC will also need to report their income from the business on their individual tax returns.
Learn more about C corp vs. LLC.
A single-member LLC will need to file taxes (Form 1040 and Schedule C) by April 15. A multi-member LLC will need to file Form 1065 and Schedule K-1 by March 15. An LLC filing as an S corp has the same March 15 deadline.
LLCs filing as C corporations can use either a fiscal year or the calendar year for its tax due date. The corporate tax return would be due on the 15th day of the fourth month of the corporation’s tax year.
When you’re working for yourself as an LLC taxed as a sole proprietor or a partnership, you need to pay self-employment taxes, which are the taxes that go toward Social Security and Medicare. These total 15.3%. If you were working for someone else, they would pay half of them, and the remaining half would be deducted from your paycheck.
You’ll need to figure out how much you’ll owe in self-employment taxes by using Schedule SE. The IRS does let you deduct half of what you pay in self-employment taxes on your annual personal tax return.
Being self-employed as an LLC owner means you’ll have to make estimated tax payments every tax quarter. If you have an LLC filing as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or an S corporation and you expect to owe more than $1,000 when you file your return, you’ll have to make estimated tax payments using Form 1040-ES.
If your LLC is filing as a C corporation, you’ll need to make estimated tax payments if you expect to owe $500 or more on your return.
Estimated quarterly taxes must usually be paid by April 15th for quarter 1, June 15th for quarter 2, September 15th for quarter 3, and January 15th of the following year for quarter 4.
Learn more about estimated taxes.
This article is only covering LLC taxes at the federal level. Not all states treat LLCs the same way the federal government does when it comes to state taxes. You’ll need to research your LLC’s state of origin and your local tax authorities to determine what taxes you’ll be responsible for.
When managing an LLC, understanding the full spectrum of potential tax liabilities is crucial for compliance and financial planning. Aside from the well-known income and self-employment taxes, LLCs may be subject to several other taxes, depending on their activities, location, and specific elections made. Here’s a breakdown of additional taxes that LLCs may owe:
If your LLC employs staff, you’re responsible for payroll taxes. This includes withholding federal and state income taxes, Social Security and Medicare taxes (also known as FICA taxes), and paying the employer’s share of FICA, along with federal and state unemployment taxes. Payroll taxes require diligent record-keeping and timely deposits to the appropriate tax authorities.
LLCs that sell goods or certain services may need to collect sales tax and remit it to the state and possibly local tax authorities. If your LLC purchases goods or services for use in the business without paying sales tax, you may owe use tax on those purchases. The obligation to collect and remit sales tax depends on your business’s physical presence or nexus in the state and, increasingly, on economic criteria such as sales volume or transaction count in states where you do business.
LLCs that own real property may be liable for property taxes assessed by local or state governments. Property tax rates and the basis for assessment vary widely, but they typically depend on the property’s assessed value. If your LLC also owns tangible personal property used in the business, such as equipment or furniture, you may be subject to personal property taxes in some jurisdictions.
Some states impose a franchise tax on LLCs for the privilege of operating within their jurisdiction. Franchise taxes are not based on income but rather may be calculated based on the LLC’s assets, capital, net worth, or a flat fee, depending on the state’s laws.
LLCs involved in specific industries, such as manufacturing, distribution, or selling certain products (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, and fuel), may be subject to federal and state excise taxes. Excise taxes are often included in the price of the product, and businesses are responsible for reporting and paying these taxes to the tax authority.
When filing taxes for an LLC for the first time, one of the most critical decisions you’ll make is selecting how you want your LLC to be taxed. This choice significantly impacts your tax responsibilities, paperwork requirements, and potentially your bottom line. Understanding the options and their implications is key to making an informed decision. Here’s how to navigate this crucial choice:
By default, the IRS taxes single-member LLCs as sole proprietorships and multi-member LLCs as partnerships. In both cases, the LLC is considered a “pass-through” entity, meaning the business itself doesn’t pay income taxes. Instead, profits and losses “pass through” to the owners’ personal tax returns, and they pay taxes at their individual income tax rates. This setup simplifies tax filing and avoids the double taxation faced by corporations.
LLCs have the option to elect to be taxed as either an S corporation (S corp) or a C corporation (C corp), each with distinct tax treatments and operational requirements.
The members of a standard LLC are considered self-employed. They’re compensated by receiving their share of profits from the LLC, but they can’t be employed by the LLC. Being self-employed means paying self-employment taxes (about 15.3%) on all profits they receive from the LLC. This is more than the taxes they’d pay when working for someone else because their employer would pay part of them.
When the members elect S corp status, though, they can be compensated in two ways, by receiving their share of the profits and by being paid as an employee. Once they do that, they only pay self-employment taxes on their salary and not the profits they receive. (Of course, this is only for self-employment taxes; LLC members still must pay income and other applicable taxes on their profits.) This can add up to quite a lot for certain profitable LLCs.
One caveat to this is that the IRS expects you to pay yourself a “reasonable salary” as an employee of the LLC. Otherwise, you could pay yourself an annual salary of $1 and avoid contributing anything to Social Security and Medicare. The IRS generally considers “reasonable” to be something similar to what others in your field are earning.
Given the complexity of tax laws and the nuances of how they apply to different business situations, consulting with a tax professional or accountant is highly advisable. They can provide personalized advice based on your LLC’s specific circumstances, help you understand the implications of each option, and assist in filing the necessary paperwork to elect your chosen tax status.
Making an informed choice on how your LLC will be taxed is foundational to setting up your business for financial success. This decision should be revisited periodically as your business grows and evolves, ensuring your tax strategy continues to align with your business goals and the changing tax landscape.
An LLC can change its tax status, but there are restrictions on how frequently these changes can be made to prevent abuse of tax benefits. According to IRS regulations, once an LLC elects to change its tax classification, it generally cannot change that classification again for 60 months (five years) without IRS approval. This rule applies after making an election that does not match the LLC’s default classification. For example, if a single-member LLC elects to be taxed as an S corporation, it cannot elect to change back to a disregarded entity or switch to C corporation status without IRS approval for five years.
There are exceptions to this rule, such as if the IRS believes the election to change was made with the principal purpose of tax avoidance or if there is a change in the business’s ownership or business structure that necessitates a new classification for tax purposes.
Because tax laws and regulations are subject to change and can have significant implications for your business, it’s advisable to consult with a tax professional or accountant before making any decisions regarding changing your LLC’s tax status. This helps ensure not only compliance with current regulations but also that your business is making the most advantageous tax election based on its specific circumstances.
There are a few ways you can reduce your tax bill. Beginning in 2018, the IRS introduced the Qualified Business Income Deduction. This deduction allows many small business owners to deduct 20% of their business income each year. It’s available regardless of whether you itemize or take the standard deduction.
Like any business, you can also write off certain costs, such as supplies for your business, mileage you travel for business purposes, advertising costs, and more. If you pay for your own insurance plan or take a training course, you can probably deduct those costs, too. You might even be able to make a compensation deduction for some of the wages and benefits you extend to your employees.
If you choose to take these deductions, be sure to keep good records of your receipts and be mindful of deduction limits. We also recommend hiring a business tax expert to assist with your taxes. For even more small business tax insights, check out our tax tips guide.
Although not always referred to as a tax, most states require LLCs to file either an annual report or biennial report with the state, accompanied by a fee. The purpose of the report in most states is to keep the state updated on your LLC’s basic information, such as contact person, address, registered agent, etc. See more on annual report definition.
The annual report fees vary widely by state. Some states have no fee, while a state like California charges $800 annually. Some states have substantial penalties for not filing the report and paying the fee, which could include fines or dissolving your LLC altogether.
We can help you with this task with our annual report filing service.
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Filing taxes as an LLC or any business can get complicated, so it helps to stay organized. Our ZenBusiness Money tool can help you track income and expenses with a few simple clicks, allowing you to track, categorize, and manage all your expenses and small business tax deductions.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
Do I file my personal and LLC taxes together?
Unless you’re filing as a corporation, a single-member LLC would report income from the business on the owner’s personal tax return with Schedule C, while multi-member LLCs would need to submit a separate informational return, Form 1065, and distribute K-1s to each LLC member showing their income from the business.
A single-member or multi-member LLC filing as an S corporation would need to submit a separate tax form, Form 1120-S, while an LLC filing as a C corporation would need to file Form 1120 as a separate filing.
How is an LLC taxed by the IRS?
By default, single-member LLCs are taxed as sole proprietorships, and multi-member LLCs are taxed as partnerships. Both function as pass-through entities where profits and losses are reported on members’ personal tax returns. LLCs also have the option of being taxed as a C corporation or an S corporation.
Does an LLC always file a tax return?
No, a single-member LLC that isn’t being taxed as a corporation wouldn’t need to file a separate tax return for the business. Earnings and losses for the LLC would be reported on Schedule C.
Is it better to be a multi-member LLC or a single-member LLC?
Single-member LLCs or multi-member LLCs aren’t inherently better than each other; which choice is best depends on what your business needs are. The advantage of a multi-member LLC is that the creativity (and finances) of multiple entrepreneurs come together. However, single-member LLC owners enjoy complete business autonomy by operating alone.
In a few states, courts have ruled unfavorably against single-member LLCs, treating them like sole proprietorships and dismantling their personal liability protection. But in most states, single-member LLCs are just as secure as multi-member LLCs.
How do I pay myself from a multi-member LLC?
It depends on what your operating agreement says. Members of a multi-member LLC get paid through distributions. But when those distributions happen — and what share of profits each member receives (called your distributive share) — is dictated completely by the operating agreement. Read more about how to pay yourself from an LLC.
Can a multi-member LLC be taxed as an S corporation?
Yes. Often, multi-member LLCs can elect S corporation status, and many do in order to reduce their tax burden for Social Security and Medicare. But they have to meet the IRS criteria to do so. That means the LLC can’t have more than 100 members, all of which must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and/or certain trusts and estates (not other entities like partnerships or corporations).
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