What are S Corporations?

S Corporation is an elective provision that permitscomputing tax liability, income is "passed-through"
small business corporations and their shareholdersto the shareholders in S corporation. Thus, the
to elect special income tax treatment. In Sindividual shareholder's tax return will report the
corporation status, corporate income tax can begain or loss generated by the S corporation.
avoided and shareholders can claim corporateThe IRS treats corporate income and corporate
losses. These are domestic corporations that canlosses very differently when a corporation has
avoid double taxation by electing to be taxedelected S Corporation status. Therefore,
under Subchapter S of the Internal Revenuebusinesses that need the limited liability of a
Code. The S corporation cannot have more thancorporation and the pass-through tax treatment
75 shareholders. Only certain entities andof a partnership will elect S corporation. In general,
individuals are allowed to be shareholders. All SS corporation structure is preferred only when
Corporation shareholders must be U.S. citizens orshareholders are employed at least half of the
permanent resident aliens. S Corporations maytime within the corporation. In other words, the
have only one class of stock. It is exemptedshareholders intemperately manage the
from federal income tax other than tax oncorporation's daily activities and income is
certain capital gains and passive income.distributed to them each year.
S corporation is a for-profit corporation thatA financial advisor would be able to guide you in
begins to exist upon filing the Articles ofterms of S corporation status as to whether it
Incorporation at the state level. S Corporationwould yield a profit for your business. If you plan
status can be obtained by submitting IRS formto draw a very low salary and leave most of the
2553 to the Internal Revenue Service. Taxation iscorporate earnings in the corporation for
done as a partnership or sole proprietorship ratherreinvestment, S corporation may not be the right
than as a separate entity. For purposes ofchoice for you.