C Corporation Considerations

A C Corp has the widest range of deductions andThere are many things you can do to avoid the
expenses allowed by the IRS, especially in the area ofdouble-taxation scenario. Structure the C Corp so that
employee fringe benefits. A C Corp can set upthere are no profits left over -- use all of the write-offs
medical reimbursement and other employee benefits,and deductions allowed by the IRS to reduce the C
and deduct the costs of running these programs,Corp's net income. Offer great benefit plans! Pay
including all premiums paid. The employees, includinghigher salaries to yourself and the other owner
you as the owner/shareholder, will also not pay taxesemployees than you would if you were using a
on the value of those benefits. This is not the case in aflow-through entity such as an S Corp. Yes, you will
flow-through entity, such as an S Corp, LLC or LP. Inhave to pay payroll taxes and personal income taxes
each of those cases the entity may write off theon those monies, but you would pay personal taxes on
costs of the benefits, but any employee/shareholderdividends paid to you anyway. And it may be that in
who owns more than 2% of the entity will pay taxesthe big picture, the savings on one side outweigh the
on the value of their benefits received. So, if having theadditional taxes paid on the other side.
maximum deductions and all of the employee fringeThe decision as to what entity is best for you really
benefits on a tax-free basis is important to you, a Cdoes, in so many cases, hinge on taxes, and that is
Corp may be your entity choice.why, with any corporate-related decision, you are wise
C corporations are great for a business that sellsto seek the advice and assistance of a good CPA.
products, has a storefront and employees, and may orSome quick things to note on C Corps:
may not have a warehouse where it keeps its· They can have an unlimited amount of shareholders,
inventory. C Corps don't work well with businessesfrom anywhere in the world.
that want to hold appreciating assets, such as real· For Nevada and Wyoming corporations, officers
estate, because of the tax treatment on the sale ofand directors can reside anywhere in the world;
these assets.· They can have several different classes of shares.
The most often-cited disadvantage of using a C Corp· They are the most widely recognized business
is the "double-taxation" issue. Double-taxation happensentity in the world, and are the premier entity for going
when a C Corp has a profit left over at the end of thepublic.
year and wants to distribute it to the shareholders as aIn Nevada and Wyoming, nominee, or stand-in, officers
dividend. The C Corp has already paid taxes on thatand directors can be utilized, adding extra levels of
profit, but once it distributes the profit to itsprivacy.
shareholders, those shareholders will have to declareWhile we like and often use S Corporations, we
the dividends they receive as income on their personalkeenly appreciate that C Corporations have their merit
tax returns, and pay taxes again, at their own personaland place in your entity structure strategy.
rates.