The Launch Blog: Expert Advice from the CorpNet Team
What Is IRS Form 2553?
IRS Form 2553 (Election by a Small Business Corporation) is the form that a corporation (or other entity eligible to be treated as a corporation) files to be treated as an S corporation for federal tax purposes. The IRS has specific criteria that entities must meet to qualify for S Corporation election. Here’s an overview of their requirements: Must be a domestic corporation or a domestic entity eligible to elect to be treated as a corporation Must timely file Form 2553 Must have no more than 100 shareholders (or LLC members). Shareholders are individuals, [...]
What Is IRS Form 8832?
IRS Form 8832 (Entity Classification Election) is the form an eligible business entity uses to elect federal income tax treatment other than its default treatment. Eligible entities include: Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) Partnerships (a business entity that has at least two members and is not a corporation) According to the IRS, a corporation is usually not considered an eligible entity unless: It is an eligible entity that previously submitted Form 8832 to be an association taxable as a corporation. The IRS may then allow it to use Form 8832 to change its classification. It [...]
What is a Corporate Resolution?
A corporate resolution is a formal record of a corporation's board of directors' decisions and actions on behalf of the company. States require incorporated companies to use corporate resolutions for recording major business decisions. The company's board of directors must vote to approve resolutions either during board meetings or in writing.
The Best Business Entity for Professionals
In most states, professionals, such as attorneys, doctors, optometrists, certified public accountants, architects, psychologists, and psychiatrists, have fewer choices when it comes to selecting a legal structure for their businesses. Legal entities (such as corporations and Professional Corporations) and the rules that govern them vary state-by-state, so it’s crucial to understand what you need to do to protect your professional company. What is the Difference Between a Corporation and a Professional Corporation? Business owners choose to incorporate their companies primarily for the personal liability protection it offers the owners and shareholders. In a C [...]
What You Need to Know About Sole Proprietorships
By far, sole proprietorships are the most popular form of business ownership. Starting your entrepreneurial journey as a sole proprietorship is also the easiest route for a startup business owner to take as the paperwork and compliance requirements are minimal. However, there are risks inherent in this type of legal structure, too. Here’s what you need to know about sole proprietorships. What is a Sole Proprietorship? By default, states consider a single-owner business (or a married couple who co-own a business) to be a sole proprietorship unless the owner or owners register the business [...]
What Business Owners Need to Know About Filing Taxes in 2021
It may be hard to believe, but tax season will soon be here again. A lot has changed, tax-wise, in the past year due to new coronavirus-related legislation. Here’s a quick look at what business owners need to know about filing their taxes in 2021 and how to make sense of the latest pandemic-related tax incentives. Sole Proprietorship A sole proprietor does not have any legal separation from their business’s property and liability. Therefore they file a Schedule C (IRS Form 1040) “Profit or Loss From Business,” and it’s considered personal income. The deadline [...]
The S Corp Election Deadline is Right Around the Corner
March 15, 2021 is the deadline for electing S Corporation tax status for your Limited Liability Company (LLC) or C Corporation. There are a lot of tax advantages that come with the S Corp election, so this date should be on your radar. Let's explore what the S Corp election is, why you would want it, and how you can request it. S Corporation Election Deadline For the S Corp election to be valid for 2021, existing LLCs and C Corporations (with a tax year that began on January 1) will need to file [...]
How Should Real Estate Investors Structure Their Businesses?
Owning investment properties can be exciting and lucrative. However, investments in real estate, whether vacation rentals, long-term rentals, or properties for resale, can also create liabilities. That's why it's critical for real estate investors to wisely choose how they will structure their businesses. For example, a renter might trip on an unstable staircase. A guest could slip on an uneven sidewalk. Faulty electrical wiring could shock a tenant or cause a fire. Or a slow leak in a building's plumbing might cause mold that affects a tenant's health. Accidents happen and they can potentially [...]
What Is the Difference Between Sales Tax and Sellers Use Tax?
Whether you sell products or services in one state or many states, it’s imperative to understand your business’s sales tax compliance requirements. To correctly register a business in a state and then file and the proper sales tax, you need to know the difference between sales tax and sellers use tax and how nexus affects your obligations. Sales Tax Sales tax is a “transaction” tax paid by a consumer for a product or service and is a percentage of the sales price. Although not all states charge a sales tax, it is the seller’s [...]
What Is a Pass-Through Entity?
A pass-through entity refers to a business that does not pay income tax of its own. Its income, losses, credits, and deductions “pass-through” to each business owner’s personal tax return, where its profits are taxed according to each owner’s individual income tax rate. Sole proprietorships, general partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability companies, and S Corporations are all pass-through entities. Corporations, and limited liability companies that elect to be taxed as a corporation, are not pass-through entities. Many entrepreneurs choose pass-through business structures for various reasons, including their relative tax-filing ease compared [...]
Tax Saving Features of Corporations, S Corporations, and LLCs
I regularly speak to business owners about entity types and their potential impact from a tax perspective. A while back, I created a webinar for accountants (and other professional services providers that work with businesses) on the topic of business structures and taxes. It is focused on the possible tax advantages and disadvantages of C Corporations, S Corporations, and Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). In this article, I’ll break down the important considerations that I discussed in that presentation. Benefits of Business Incorporation Overview of the C Corporation, S Corporation, and [...]
How to Properly Handle Your Company’s Annual Meeting Minutes
Businesses that have incorporated as a corporation or formed a limited liability company (LLC) must carefully document their compliance activities. For example, when a corporation holds its annual general meeting (a.k.a, annual shareholder meeting), it must keep a record on file for regulatory compliance purposes. Most states require that C Corporations (including those that have elected for S Corporation tax treatment) hold a general meeting for their shareholders every year. Usually, they are also required to hold at least one meeting with their board of directors yearly. Businesses structured as an LLC may need [...]
How to Find the Right Niche for Your Business
How many times have you heard about a new business idea and said to yourself, “I wish I’d thought of that!”? We’ve all been there. But business ideas don’t just spring up out of the blue. Most successful business concepts are a result of months (or years) of thorough market research, financial considerations, and fine-tuning the idea. Today, when consumers have so many options at their fingertips, a generic business idea has little chance of survival. If you want to build a unique business, you need to narrow your focus and look for an [...]
10 Ways to Promote Your New Business
Excited to start your new business in the coming year? Whether you’re forming your company as a sole proprietorship or a Limited Liability Company (LLC), promoting a new business takes strategizing and fresh ideas. Otherwise, it’s challenging to get your new business noticed. Here are 10 ways to promote a new small business in 2021. Business Name Not to be overdramatic, but your business’s name could mean the difference between failure and success. You want to pick a name that not only tells consumers (whether B2B or B2C) what your company does but also [...]
Incorporating a Business 101
As a business owner, the day will come when you inevitably will have to address the legal aspects of your business – and the sooner the better. And, fortunately, the process can be relatively painless and hassle-free. I talk to countless small business owners and freelancers who consider themselves too small to worry about incorporation. After all, you don't have mazes of cubicles…you may not even have any employees. However, incorporation can still be a smart idea even for the self-employed graphic designer or wedding planner and in this post we discuss the benefits of incorporating your small business.