Encasing your Pennsylvania rental property in an LLC fortifies your investment with the Keystone of legal protection and financial optimization, paving a cobblestone path to prosperity in the Keystone State’s historic real estate market.
Starts at $0 + Pennsylvania state fees and only takes 5-10 minutes
Whether you have a vacation rental, residential home, or apartment building, you might not think of yourself as a business when you’re considering renting a property out to someone else. But the truth is you’ll be entering into contracts, collecting revenue, and managing expenses. Your tenants can sue you if things go wrong, just like any business. It’s a good idea to take advantage of legal protections for yourself, like forming a limited liability company (LLC).
The benefits of forming an LLC are immense for real estate investors for a fairly low cost. When you use our services to form your Pennsylvania LLC, we can make the process quick and easy. And after formation, our other products and services can help make running your rental property business as smooth as possible.
As mentioned above, an LLC is a limited liability entity. This means that, in general, the LLC is responsible for its own debts and liabilities. Owners of an LLC are typically liable in only more extreme circumstances, such as illegal activity or fraud.
One of the advantages of an LLC over a corporation is pass-through taxation. Most corporations are taxed at the corporate level. When it comes time to pay the owners of the corporation, there is usually an additional tax for each owner personally. This often creates double taxation issues. Fortunately, this is usually not an issue for LLCs. If you own an LLC, its income will likely pass directly to you for tax purposes.
You can also use an LLC to keep your business and personal assets separated. It’s a good idea to keep these assets separated to avoid unnecessary liability exposure. You may also want to separate these assets if there will be multiple owners of the LLC.
Series LLCs are a special type of LLC found in certain states. A series LLC allows you to create multiple subsidiaries with a streamlined formation process. You may be able to create an additional liability buffer by holding rental properties in separate subsidiaries. Series LLCs are not currently available in Pennsylvania.
What makes an LLC so great? LLCs feature some of the key benefits of a corporation, such as limited liability and the ability to separate assets. But LLCs can also be easier to set up and more flexible than a corporation.
We try to keep forming a Pennsylvania LLC fast and easy with our Formation Services. Our typical formation process involves just a few steps:
If you have existing rental properties, you will probably need to take some additional steps as discussed below.
You will likely need to file a deed in the county recorder’s office to transfer the title of the property to the LLC. The deed will usually need to be filed in the same county where the property is located. The transfer may also be subject to a realty transfer tax.
If there is a mortgage or loan on the property, you will likely need to inform the lender. The lender may need to adjust the paperwork of the loan to reflect the transfer. The transfer might also affect the terms or rate of your loan.
You may also want to consider notifying any tenants of the change. It’s a good idea to amend any active lease or rental agreements. If you do not currently have any tenants, it may still be wise to update any lease or rental forms you have.
A Pennsylvania LLC can be a fantastic option for both veteran and new real estate investors. You can use a rental property LLC in Pennsylvania for vacation and rental properties. It’s usually a good idea to form an LLC before you buy your first rental property. Forming the LLC first can make property transfers easier. If you already own a few rental properties, don’t worry. You can still use an LLC, but you may need to take some additional steps.
Our Formation Services were designed to help you skip past the confusing parts of how to set up a real estate LLC in Pennsylvania. Once you’ve got your company going, we offer even more great services. If you’re just starting out or looking to expand your business, our Business Plan services can help you take things to the next level. If you just want to make sure you’re keeping up with your requirements, check out our Worry-Free Compliance Service. From forming your company to keeping it going, we’re here to help.
Pennsylvania LLC for Rental Property FAQs
LLCs have many benefits for rental properties include limited liability, pass-through taxation, and the ability to separate business and personal assets.
Many people choose to use a street address for their rental property LLC (123 Main Street LLC), but you can pick any name that doesn’t violate state law and isn’t already taken.
This usually depends on if the LLC is doing business in your home state. If it’s not, then registration might not be required, but it’s still a good idea to check with your home state.
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.
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