Paying Yourself from Your LLC S Corp: A Guide for Small Business Owners

How do I pay myself from my LLC S Corp?
As a single-member LLC owner, you can pay yourself: a distribution (or draw) that by default passes through to your individual tax return, or. a reasonable salary and distribution as an S corporation (S corp)
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You have a lot to do as the owner of a small company. You are in charge of overseeing the daily operations of your company, handling the finances, and making sure your staff is content. Paying yourself is a crucial component of managing your business. You might be asking how to pay yourself if you have an LLC or S Corp. The various ways you can pay yourself from your LLC or S Corp are covered in this post, along with some advice on how to do it as easily as possible.

When need to you switch from an LLC to an S-Corp?

Let’s briefly explore when you should think about switching from an LLC to an S-Corp before we get into the specifics of paying yourself from your LLC S Corp. Small business owners frequently choose an LLC because it offers liability protection and is relatively simple to set up and run. However, you might profit from changing to an S-Corp if your company is bringing in a sizable amount of money.

An S-Corp’s key benefit is that it enables tax savings for its owners. All of your business income as an LLC is subject to self-employment taxes, which can quickly accumulate. You can accept distributions from an S-Corp and pay yourself a salary that is not subject to self-employment taxes. If your business is making a lot of money, this could lead to big tax savings.

LLC or Corporation: Which is Better for a Small Business?

For small business owners, choosing between an LLC and a corporation can be challenging. Both offer benefits and drawbacks, so it’s crucial to carefully weigh your options before choosing one.

In general, forming and running an LLC is less complicated and expensive than doing so for a corporation. Additionally, it offers management and tax freedom. However, if you intend to raise money or eventually go public, an LLC might not be the best option.

An LLC, on the other hand, offers less structure and solidity than a corporation. Additionally, it provides the option to raise money by issuing stock. However, corporations need more effort to establish and manage, and they are subject to two levels of taxation—a corporate level tax and an individual level tax.

The Distinction Between an S-Corp and a Single-Member LLC

If you choose to form an LLC, you must choose between a single-member LLC and a multi-member LLC. A multi-member LLC has two or more owners as opposed to a single-member LLC, which is owned and run by only one person.

For taxation purposes, if you decide to create a single-member LLC, you will be regarded as a sole proprietor. This implies that self-employment taxes will apply to all of your business income.

You must submit a specific tax election to the IRS if you decide to set up an S-Corp. You’ll be able to do this to pay yourself a wage and get distributions that are exempt from self-employment taxes.

The Best Way to Use Your LLC S Corp to Pay Yourself

Let’s now address the main issue: how to get payment from your LLC S Corp. There are various methods for doing this:

1. Take a pay check: You are permitted to pay yourself a wage as an employee of your S-Corp. Payroll taxes, such as Social Security and Medicare, are due on this salary.

2. Receive distributions: You may also receive S-Corp distributions. These cannot be deducted as business costs and are not subject to payroll taxes. 3. Employ a combination of salary and distributions: A lot of small business owners opt to compensate themselves through a combination of salary and distributions. They are still able to receive a regular wage while also saving money on taxes. Reinvest profits: If you don’t immediately need to withdraw money from your firm, you can put your profits back into it. In the long run, this can aid in the expansion and profitability of your company.

Summary

Self-employment from an LLC or S Corp need not be difficult. Making the process go as smoothly as you can is achievable if you are aware of the various ways you can pay yourself and properly weigh your options. Make sure you are abiding by all applicable tax laws and regulations to prevent future problems whether you decide to take a salary, distributions, or a combination of the two.