What Makes a Business an S Corporation?

An S corporation is a corporation that for taxone kind of stock and no more than 100 investors.
purposes that decides to be taxed under the RevenueSpouses and families are thought of as a single
Code Subchapter S of chapter 1.shareholder. They must be U. S. Residents or citizens,
For the most part, these companies, or corporations,and must be a physical a true person. Gains and
do not pay income taxes. What happens is they dividelosses must be given according to the interest in the
the corporation's return or losses among to thebusiness of the investor.
shareholders. It is then up to the shareholders to reportIf a corporation is able to meet those requirements and
the gains or losses on their tax returns.wishes to be taxed under those rules, its shareholders
The status of S corporation gives a lot of the samemay file the required form with the IRS 2553. This
benefits as a partnership while providing the ownersform has to be signed by all of the corporation's
with partial responsibility protection from creditors. Theinvestors. If an investor lives in a community property
rules are written in Internal Revenue Code.state, then his/her spouse must also sign the form.
S corporations are normally a business according toThe election to be considered an S corporation must
law of the state in where the company is located.be done by March 15th of the same tax year that the
They are separate from the shareholders. For taxcorporation intends for the election to be effective. It
reasons S corporation taxes are close to partnershipscan also be done during the year before the tax year.
taxes. In a partnership, the return, losses, and taxThe IRS has been told by Congress to show kindness
credits of an S corporation go to shareholders yearly,with regard to late S elections.
even if distributions are not made. This is why theThe inability to meet the necessary stipulations to be
return is taxed at the investor not the corporate level.considered an S corporation will cause the entity to
Compensation to the shareholders is given outlose that status and be considered and C corporation
tax-free according the previous earnings that wereagain.
previously taxed. Certain corporate penalty taxes doFICA and unemployment taxes do not change
not apply to S corporations.because a business obtains the status of an S
These corporations are ineligible for dividend receivedcorporation. The status change only affects the
deductions.income tax of the corporation.
S corporations also do not have the 10 percent ofAn employee's wages are what the FICA taxes are
taxable return limitation that is applied to charitableenforced on, not profits. The IRS, or any state agency,
contribution deductions.can choose to re-categorize the profits of an
For a corporation to be considered an S corporation,employee shareholder, if they deem that the wages
they have to meet certain requirements. Thepaid are not enough to cover the services given by
corporation must be eligible. They can only have onlythe employee shareholder.