<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none;" alt="" src="https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=938154&amp;fmt=gif">

Reasons an LLC Might Be the Ideal Choice for Your Small to Medium-Size Business



Choosing the right business entity is a key decision for any business. The entity you pick can affect your tax bill, your personal liability, and other issues.

For many businesses, a limited liability company (LLC) is an attractive choice. It can be structured to resemble a corporation for owner liability purposes and a partnership for federal tax purposes. This duality may provide the owners with several benefits.

Like the shareholders of a corporation, the owners of an LLC (called members rather than shareholders or partners) generally aren’t liable for business debts except to the extent of their investment. Therefore, an owner can operate a business with the security of knowing that personal assets (such as a home or individual investment account) are protected from the entity’s creditors.

This protection is far greater than that afforded by partnerships. In a partnership, the general partners are personally liable for the debts of the business. Even limited partners, if they actively participate in managing the business, can have personal liability.

Electing Classification

LLC owners can elect, under the “check-the-box rules,” to have the entity treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes. This can provide crucial benefits to the owners.

For example, partnership earnings aren’t subject to an entity-level tax. Instead, they “flow through” to the owners in proportion to the owners’ respective interests in the profits and are reported on the owners’ individual returns and taxed only once. To the extent the income passed through to you is qualified business income (QBI), you’ll be eligible to take the QBI deduction, subject to various limitations.

In addition, since you’re actively managing the business, you can deduct on your individual tax return your ratable shares of any losses the business generates. This, in effect, allows you to shelter other income that you (and your spouse, if you’re married) may have.

An LLC that’s taxable as a partnership can provide special allocations of tax benefits to specific partners. This can be an important reason for using an LLC over an S corporation (a form of business that provides tax treatment that’s similar to a partnership).

Another reason for using an LLC over an S corporation is that LLCs aren’t subject to the restrictions the federal tax code imposes on S corporations regarding the number of owners and the types of ownership interests that may be issued. (For example, an S corp can’t have more than 100 shareholders and can only have one class of stock.)

Evaluate the Options

To sum up, an LLC can give you protection from creditors while providing the benefits of taxation as a partnership. Be aware that the LLC structure is allowed by state statute, and states may use different regulations.

Contact us to discuss in more detail how use of an LLC or another option might benefit you and the other owners.

Request More Information

© 2024

Share this post:


Biz Tip Topic Expert: Molly Taylor - CPA, MT

Molly Taylor - CPA, MT

Molly is a Manager with SVA and specializes in individual and corporate taxation with an emphasis on federal and multistate tax issues. In addition to tax preparation services, she works closely with clients throughout the year advising on tax planning opportunities and strategies.

Awards and Affiliations

milwaukee-business-journal-largest-milwaukee-area-accounting-firms-2022-logo2
sva-certified-public-accountant-affiliation-wicpa
SVA_US_English_2024_Certification_Badge-white
AT-Regional Leaders-Logo-white-2024
IPA - Award Logo - Top 200 Firms-02
sva-certified-public-accountant-affiliation-m-power-business-champion-program
sva-certified-public-accountant-affiliation-aicap-ebpaqc-member
2023ECA_Finalist-white
sva-certified-public-accountant-affiliation-aicpa

Locations

Madison, WI
1221 John Q Hammons Dr, Suite 100
Madison, WI 53717
(608) 831-8181

Milwaukee, WI
18650 W. Corporate Drive, Suite 200
Brookfield, WI 53045
(262) 641-6888

Colorado Springs, CO
1880 Office Club Pointe, Suite 128
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
(719) 413-5551

SVA BBB Business Review Man Standing

Contact

(888) 574-4782
info@SVAaccountants.com
BizTips

Are you in the know on the latest business trends, tips, strategies, and tax implications? SVA’s Biz Tips are quick reads on timely information sent to you as soon as they are published.

Connect With Us

Copyright © 2024 SVA Certified Public Accountants | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | CCPA