S Corp Tax Calculator: Uncover Tax Savings for Your Business

Understanding S Corporations

There are many reasons S Corps are better than LLCs, but tax savings might be our favorite one.

S Corps, offer a unique blend of corporate structure and tax efficiency, making them ideal for businesses of one. They allow profits and losses to pass directly to shareholders, avoiding the double taxation commonly seen in C Corporations. Pass-through taxation only taxes income once at the individual shareholder level, not at the corporate and personal levels.

In addition to tax benefits, S Corps provide vital protection for personal assets. As separate legal entities, they shield shareholders' personal properties from corporate liabilities and debts. Limited liability protects personal assets, benefiting solopreneurs who want financial efficiency and security in their operations.

S Corp vs LLC

Running a business as an S Corporation saves more taxes than being a sole proprietor or an LLC.

You pay self-employment tax on all your earned income if you are a sole proprietor or an LLC. An S Corp can save you money by lowering the amount of your income that is subject to these taxes.

In an S Corp, you pay yourself a salary (as the employee of your business). You can then receive the remaining business income as distributions, which aren't subject to self-employment tax.

S Corp vs C Corp

If a S Corp vs C Corp Tax Calculator search brought you here, that gets a bit more complex. C Corps can sometimes benefit self-employed individuals, but S Corps typically offer more advantages.

💡 Try our blog: Comparing the difference between an LLC, S Corp, and C Corp to dive into all three.

Calculating S Corp Taxes: A Step-by-Step Guide

S Corp taxes are complicated, so talk to a tax expert to ensure you follow the rules correctly. Here's the general process to calculate your S Corp taxes:

1. Determine Reasonable Salary. First, you need to pay yourself a reasonable salary for your work in the S Corp. This salary is subject to standard payroll taxes (like Social Security and Medicare taxes).
2. Calculate Payroll Taxes on Salary. Calculate taxes on your salary. This includes both the employee and employer portions of Social Security and Medicare taxes.
3. Distribute Remaining Profits. After you pay your salary, you can distribute the remaining profits of the S Corp to yourself. Payroll taxes do not apply to these distributions, but you still need to report them on your personal income tax return.
4. Report Income on Personal Tax Return. As an S Corp owner, you'll report both the salary and the distributions on your personal income tax return. The salary is wages, and the distributions are income from an S Corp on Schedule E.
5. Apply for Deductions and Credits. You can lower your taxable income by applying for deductions and credits, just like with personal income taxes.
6. Calculate Personal Income Tax. Finally, calculate your personal income tax based on your total income, which includes your salary and S Corp distributions. This will be taxed according to your individual tax bracket.

Key Considerations for S Corp Tax Calculation

How to Set a Reasonable Salary

Setting a reasonable salary means paying yourself a wage that's comparable to what someone else would earn for similar work in your industry and region.

It's important to set an appropriate salary that's in compliance and doesn't raise any red flags with the IRS.

If your salary is too low compared to your overall profits, it may raise red flags with the IRS. Finding balance is key to staying compliant and taking advantage of the tax benefits of an S Corp structure.

How to Calculate LLC Taxes

To show how taxes can affect someone, let's look at a marketing consultant who earns $150,000 annually. Please note in this s corp vs llc calculator these are simplified estimates and actual tax liabilities will vary based on factors like state taxes, specific deductions, and other individual circumstances.

Online, you might find other s corp tax calculator excel style, if that is easier for you to navigate.

Self-Employment Tax: 15.3% of $150,000 = $22,950

Income Tax (assumed at a 24% effective rate): 24% of $150,000 = $36,000

Total Tax as LLC:

$22,950 (Self-Employment) + $36,000 (Income Tax) = $58,950

As an S Corporation

💡 Remember that your reasonable contribution is key when searching for an S Corp tax rate calculator.

Salary Taxes (on $75,000 salary):

• Payroll Tax: Approximately 7.65% = $5,737.50
• Income Tax (24% rate): 24% of $75,000 = $18,000

Distribution Taxes (on $75,000 distribution):

• Income Tax (24% rate): 24% of $75,000 = $18,000

Total S Corp Tax Estimator:

$5,737.50 (Payroll Tax) + $18,000 (Income Tax on Salary) + $18,000 (Income Tax on Distribution) = $41,737.50

Comparison

Total Taxes Paid as LLC: $58,950

Total Taxes Paid as S Corp: $41,737.50

In this example, by opting for an S Corp, the consultant could potentially save $17k in taxes.

Try our S Corp tax savings calculator to see how this could impact your business.