Archive for the ‘Converting to an S Corporation’ Category

Award Winning Atlanta CPA Serving Suwanee/Tucker/DeKalb on Successful IRS Negotiations: Obtaining $80,000 Refund

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Award Winning Atlanta CPA Serving Suwanee/Tucker/DeKalb on Successful IRS Negotiations: Obtaining $80,000 Refund 

We just received notice that the IRS issued a check to refund one of our Atlanta based clients over $80,000. “Though it took a bit longer than expected,” the client was able to deposit the monies back into their accounts and to gain a refund from the IRS which ultimately resulted in a tax savings to a client of approximately $80,000 in tax savings dollars.

The IRS has long had a process where a company who was an LLC or a C Corporation and who desires to be an S Corporation to make an election to do so. This process is documented and performed by the filing of IRS Form 2553, which is the Election to be a Small Business Corporation. To file for S Corporation status the easy way, this election should be filed within 75 days of incorporation date (if an new company) or within seventy-five days of the tax year to which it relates. S Corporations status allows for the legal avoidance of “double taxation” as C Corporations have to pay taxes first at the corporate level on any retained profits and then again at the shareholder level when monies are paid out to owners in either the form of dividends or salaries. LLC’s continue to be responsible to pay FICA/Medicaid taxes on all of their net earnings out of the business, whereas an S Corporation are only required to pay these FICA/Medicaid taxes on salaries paid out to all employees, including active employee owners. Care should be exercised as tax law requires that all active employee owners take a fair and reasonable salary given position and profit. 

If you fail to make the seventy-five day time requirement the IRS has long had a process where one you can formally appeal requesting the S Corporation date you prefer. Care should be taken when performing this procedure and working with a CPA is your best bet to ensure that your S Election request is granted. Talking with the IRS about any substantive tax issue that it is widely recommended that you sign a Power of Attorney, which if Form 2848, to have your CPA talk to the IRS on your behalf, which will dramatically and exponentially ensure a higher success rate than going it alone. 

http://www.hiscpa.com/what_we_do.htm Atlanta/Northpoint CPA Financial Accounting Services
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John Dillard is a Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant (All Rights Reserved). To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ (An Atlanta CPA firm) and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and to learn about his ministry visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ To contact John Dillard CPA (Atlanta Christian Author/Speaker) today call 770. 814.9304 proudly serving Duluth, GA, Gwinnett County and Beyond. 

“Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!” What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 Why are these verses here? Learn how His CPA became a Christian Accounting firm visit http://www.hiscpa.com/christian-CPA.html 

Helping Clients with Corporate & Personal Income Taxes, Incorporation Advice, Tax Planning, Virtual CFO, Financing, Business Plans, Back Taxes, Offer in Compromise, Tax Advocacy, Business Acquisitions & Sales, Business Plans, and IRS Representation.

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas.

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Forsyth/Gwinnett CPA Assist Taxpayers with Converting Atlanta Business Taxpayers to an S Corporation

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

Forsyth/Gwinnett CPA Assist Taxpayers with Converting Atlanta Business Taxpayers to an S Corporation 

His CPA PC: Providing Bookkeeping & Accounting Services to Metro Atlanta

About S Corporations/What Entity is Best for Your Georgia Business

Subchapter S Corporations can have no more than one hundred shareholders and they all need to be U.S. citizens or resident aliens. This corporation type almost always has to have a calendar year as the fiscal year. S Corporation rules have been around since the 1950s and were set up to simplify the rules and regulations of being a business owner.

Liability Protection and Subchapter S Corporations

A subchapter S Corporation, like a C Corporation, affords the business owner personal liability protection from business risks. Some of the keys to maximizing that protection are to treat the corporation like one by doing all your business in the corporate name, signing all of your documents listing your corporate title, not co-mingling any personal issues/bills in the corporation, and by having your annual Board of Directors and Annual Shareholder Minutes Meeting.

Tax Advantages of S Corporations/Incorporating in Georgia

No income taxes are paid with the corporate return. The profits of the business are reported on the personal tax return of the S corporation’s shareholders. As long as you pay yourself a reasonable salary, you may also take shareholder distributions out of the business that are devoid of FICA/Medicaid taxes.

Another advantage of S Corporations is that if you have corporate losses, and you fund (you put the money in the business) those losses personally, then you can deduct those losses on your personal return. Any losses that are funded by the bank (a direct loan from the bank to the corporation) or by trade creditors are not deductible. Below is a sample letter one might send to the IRS to ensure that the S election has been properly received and timely processed by the IRS.

Taxpayer Advocate Office

Atlanta GA  

Dear Sir/Madam, 

I am writing to follow up on your IRS Letter dated 1-16-10  (copy enclosed). Please note I have enclosed a copy of the S Corporation election and the signed S Corporation return as requested. Please fix your records accordingly to show that the client was an S Corporation for the tax year in question. 

Accordingly please refund any monies previously paid. 

I appreciate your attention to this matter and please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions. 

Very Sincerely Yours, John C. Dillard, CPA, President 

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant of His CPA PC (An Atlanta CPA Firm). To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304

His CPA PC (An Atlanta CPA Firm)

 Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!  

His CPA PC: We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Business Acquisitions/Sales, Forensic Accounting, Business Valuations and Bookkeeping.

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, Walton, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder and Woodstock

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Duluth GA on Utilizing Entity Selection for Your New Georgia Business

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Duluth GA on Utilizing Entity Selection for Your New Georgia Business 

Choosing the correct entity for your new Georgia business is not the faint hearted or ill prepared. “Learning the Ropes” and how best to Incorporate Your New Metro Atlanta Business will do much to ensure that you only Pay Your Lowest Legal Possible Tax. Below is a sample of a recent inquiry received: 

On December 2, 2009, I formed an LLC. I am doing professional services as by business and it is in the State of Georgia. I have registered my company with the State and also have FEIN #. I have a business checking account and payment for my work is paid into that account. I draw my expenses from that. My revenue so far is small and for the last few months.

My question is: I want to convert to S-Corp by filing with IRS. How soon this should be done? Can I do this retroactively?

That is do I have to a 1099 or C-Corp till today and S-Corp from the day I file with IRS for S-Corp.

Appreciate a general reply, if not specific points.
Can I avail your CPA services? What are the charges? Thanks
 

Below is my response: 

Thanks for visiting www.HisCPA.com I can help you with all of that. 

I will send you under separate cover a information about converting your LLC to an S Corporation for tax purposes and yes we can get the Incorporation Date as the S Corporation effective date if we act soon. 

Quality wise we strive to be second to no one, while fee wise we strive to be mid-range. 

I would welcome talking to you about your becoming a client and us serving your CPA needs for many years to come. 

All the Best, John Dillard CPA  

 LLC’s can Legally Convert to an S Corporation Saving Thousands Annually 

LLC’s came in vogue approximately fifteen years ago when the state of Georgia enacted legislation allowing an LLC (Limited Liability Company) to be established. Although the LLC does allow for some greater flexibility and ease of operation it often results in a higher tax obligation that might not have been incurred if the business was an S Corporation.  

Tax law treats all the earned income from an LLC as being subject to both FICA & Medicaid taxes whereas an S Corporation has to pay those taxes reflected on W-2’s. For tax purposes, the law allows an S Corporation to legally convert to being an S Corporation as long as all active employee/owners pay themselves a fair and reasonable salary. This number is best determined by the facts, position, and profit of a business and the truest test of this calculation is what a business owner would have to pay someone else to perform their position.  

All businesses are unique and therefore all saving opportunities are different. But even the smallest of businesses with the smallest of profits may save approximately $6000 by converting from an LLC to an S Corporation. Already this year, we completed this process for an LLC saving them $25,274 of FICA/Medicaid taxes.  

There are only four rules to qualify for being an S Corporation.  You must:

-Have a December 31st year-end.

-Have less than 100 shareholders.

-Have shareholders who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens.

-Have only one class of stock.

 We offer a free initial consultation to see if converting your business to an S Corporation for tax purposes makes sense to you. Put our decades of experience to work for you ensuring you pay your lowest legal possible tax.

Contact HIS CPA PC (A Christian Atlanta CPA Firm) today.

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and an Atlanta CPA. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and a Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 (All Rights Reserved) Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!    

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Bookkeeping.

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas.

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Duluth GA CPA Provides Tax Advice for S Corporation Owners & LLC Electing to be Taxed as an S Corporation

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Duluth GA CPA Provides Tax Advice for S Corporation Owners &  C Corporations and LLC’s Electing to be Taxed as an S Corporation 

To help keep your payroll fees down I suggest issuing a monthly paycheck, whenever possible, that way you will save payroll processing fees and unnecessary administrative time. 

Also it is prudent that S Corporation owners estimate what they believe their net profit will be for the year so that I might advise them what to tell the payroll service withhold, and so that you can tax plan for accordingly. This will preclude you from the additional responsibility of also having to do quarterly estimated tax payments. 

Christian CPA Offers Free Tax Advice for Business Owners

When was the last time you got any good FREE Business and Tax Management Information you can use 24 Hours a day & 7 Days a week.

http://www.hiscpa.com/business_plans.htm Atlanta CPA Teaches Business Plan Writing
http://www.hiscpa.com/article8.html How to Select a CPA in Metro Atlanta
http://www.hiscpa.com/top-ten.html Top Ten Reasons to Hire a Christian CPA Firm
http://www.hiscpa.com/initial-meeting.html Georgia CPA Gives Free Initial Consultations
http://www.hiscpa.com/business-funding.html Georgia CPA Teaches Business Financing Techniques
http://www.hiscpa.com/alternative-funding.html Gwinnett CPA Helps Discover Alternative Funding Sources
http://www.hiscpa.com/banking-relationships.html Banking Relationships as Taught by Atlanta CPA
http://www.hiscpa.com/mortgages.html Atlanta Home Mortgages: How to Chose the Right One
http://www.hiscpa.com/keeping-books.html Serving Atlanta Bookkeeping Needs for 30 Years
http://www.hiscpa.com/financial-statements.html Atlanta CPA Guides in Financial Statement Preparation
http://www.hiscpa.com/monthend.html Georgia CPA Helps with Month-End Procedures
http://www.hiscpa.com/managing-financials.html Duluth CPA Shows How to Read your Business’s Financials
http://www.hiscpa.com/profit-loss-statements.html Your Atlanta Business and its Profit & Loss
http://www.hiscpa.com/attestation-services.html Atlanta CPA Teaches Nuances in Financial Statements
http://www.hiscpa.com/cash-flow.html Cash Flow Forecasting as Taught by Atlanta CPA
http://www.hiscpa.com/creditworthy.html Knowing the Credit Score of Your Georgia Business
http://www.hiscpa.com/recession-finances.html Georgia CPA Teaches Recession Proofing Your Business   And this is only some of the information available on our web site. You also have at our blog a host of other varied and timely tax and business management issues you can use.   John Dillard, CPA of His CPA, PC (An Atlanta Christian CPA firm) 1940 Woods River Lane, Duluth, GA 30097  Phone 770-814-9304   http://www.hiscpa.com/    http://www.john-dillard.com/   Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!   To retain John Dillard CPA (An Atlanta Christian Speaker/Author) for your business group or church congregation, you can contact him today at 770.814.9304  

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Business Acquisitions/Sales, Forensic Accounting, Business Valuations and Bookkeeping.

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas.

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Duluth GA CPA Lifts the Veil Surrounding Entity Selection

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Duluth GA CPA Lifts the Veil Surrounding Entity Selection 

Choosing the correct entity for your new Georgia business is not the faint hearted or ill prepared. “Learning the Ropes” and how best to Incorporate Your New Metro Atlanta Business will do much to ensure that you only Pay Your Lowest Legal Possible Tax. Below is a sample of a recent inquiry received: 

On December 2, 2009, I formed an LLC. I am doing professional services as by business and it is in the State of Georgia. I have registered my company with the State and also have FEIN #. I have a business checking account and payment for my work is paid into that account. I draw my expenses from that. My revenue so far is small and for the last few months.

My question is: I want to convert to S-Corp by filing with IRS. How soon this should be done? Can I do this retroactively?

That is do I have to a 1099 or C-Corp till today and S-Corp from the day I file with IRS for S-Corp.

Appreciate a general reply, if not specific points.
Can I avail your CPA services? What are the charges? Thanks
 

Below is my response: 

Thanks for visiting www.HisCPA.com I can help you with all of that. 

I will send you under separate cover a information about converting your LLC to an S Corporation for tax purposes and yes we can get the Incorporation Date as the S Corporation effective date if we act soon. 

Quality wise we strive to be second to no one, while fee wise we strive to be mid-range. 

I would welcome talking to you about your becoming a client and us serving your CPA needs for many years to come. 

All the Best,  John Dillard CPA  

LLC’s can Legally Convert to an S Corporation Saving Thousands Annually 

LLC’s came in vogue approximately fifteen years ago when the state of Georgia enacted legislation allowing an LLC (Limited Liability Company) to be established. Although the LLC does allow for some greater flexibility and ease of operation it often results in a higher tax obligation that might not have been incurred if the business was an S Corporation.  

Tax law treats all the earned income from an LLC as being subject to both FICA & Medicaid taxes whereas an S Corporation has to pay those taxes reflected on W-2’s. For tax purposes, the law allows an S Corporation to legally convert to being an S Corporation as long as all active employee/owners pay themselves a fair and reasonable salary. This number is best determined by the facts, position, and profit of a business and the truest test of this calculation is what a business owner would have to pay someone else to perform their position.  

All businesses are unique and therefore all saving opportunities are different. But even the smallest of businesses with the smallest of profits may save approximately $6000 by converting from an LLC to an S Corporation. Already this year, we completed this process for an LLC saving them $25,274 of FICA/Medicaid taxes.  

There are only four rules to qualify for being an S Corporation.  You must:

-Have a December 31st year-end.

-Have less than 100 shareholders.

-Have shareholders who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens.

-Have only one class of stock.

 We offer a free initial consultation to see if converting your business to an S Corporation for tax purposes makes sense to you. Put our decades of experience to work for you ensuring you pay your lowest legal possible tax.

Contact HIS CPA PC (A Christian Atlanta CPA Firm) today.

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and an Atlanta CPA. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and a Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 (All Rights Reserved) Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!    

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Bookkeeping.

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas.

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Atlanta CPA on How You Can Convert your Georgia C Corporation to an S Corporation Thereby Avoiding Double Taxation

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Atlanta CPA on How You Can Convert your Georgia C Corporation to an S Corporation Thereby Avoiding Double Taxation 

More Georgia based businesses are incorporating as an Limited Liability Company (LLC) because of the ease of the initial set up of the business entity. However, frequently this may not be the best “tax choice” for the business as an C Corporation is subject first to taxes at the corporate level initially and then the profits are taxed again at the personal level when these profits are paid out to the company’s respective shareholders/stockholders. C Corporations were once much more popular as an entity choice but as consumers and entrepreneurs became more aware and informed, C Corporations are much less pursued as a viable option as business owners sought to legally avoid the “double taxation” exposure of C Corporations as they are taxed first at the corporate level and then again at the personal level when monies are paid out of the corporation to the companies’ respective owners.  

Though being an S Corporation is note ideal for all business it is often a good fit for the following types of business. This list is not intended to be comprehensive and it is prudent to work closely with your CPA in making this election. 

-Computer technicians such as contractors, retailers, repairs, programmers, etc.

-Sales Representatives  including residential and commercial real estate agents, brokers, including those of most all types and territories.

-Distribution companies, resellers, wholesalers, and those in the distribution chain of a product of service.

-Service companies including consultants of all  types, single owner physicians, dentists, doctors, chiropractors, etc. 

-Trade Contractors such as builders, painters, landscapers, electricians, plumbers, etc.

-Retail shops such as boutiques, restaurants, clothing stores, furniture, appliances, video equipment, etc. 

Taxation of S Corporations 

There is no income tax paid by as S Corporation when the annual tax return is filed to the IRS. However, as a part of the corporate return which is prepared, a Form 1120S, there is an attached schedule which shows each owners respective ownership percentage and via a Form K-1 for which each shareholder should reflect on their personal return. K-1 profits, losses, and shareholder distributions are all required by tax law to be issued based upon the each shareholders ownership percentage. In order for losses to be deductible a shareholder has to have a positive tax basis, which is a component of past profits, losses, and loans to and from the business. If a shareholder has no basis to cover losses reported on a K-1, they are by tax law considered to be “suspended losses” and can be rolled forward to future years when the shareholder has positive basis, which can be created by future years profits or the shareholder loaning money to the business. 

 An owner should report the K-1 profit, which is based upon their share of the business and not the amount of their shareholder distributions. This is a common misnomer about S Corporations and often leads to confusion for the new business owner. To that end it is best to remember that you pay taxes on the profits when you make them and not when you take them. For example generally speaking if your business nets $100,000 and you are the sole owner, you will pay taxes on $100,0000 whether you take zero dollar of shareholder distributions, a $100,000 or any number in between. Thus if you were to have a $100,000 profit in any given year and take no distributions then you would be able, absent any other issues, to take shareholder distributions in subsequent years with no additional tax responsibility as these monies would have already been taxed.

The rules of being an S Corporation are only four and many businesses will qualify. To be an S Corporation you must have:

  • Have a December 31st year-end.
  • Have less than 100 shareholders.
  • Shareholders have to be U.S. citizens or resident aliens.
  • Only one class of stock

 For LLC’s that change from an LLC for legal purposes to an S Corporation for tax purposes, the LLC remains an LLC with the Georgia Secretary of State along with all other legal purposes. Thus, your LLC makes solely a tax election which affects none of the other contracts, licenses, trademarks, legal filings, and legal obligations of the LLC. 

Contact HIS CPA PC (A Christian CPA Firm) today. 

To learn more about tax entities and the taxation thereof visit http://www.hiscpa.com/article2.html  There you will also discover a wide host of resources for American Entrepreneurs.

 John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant in Duluth, GA. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and a Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 (All Rights Reserved) Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!     

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Bookkeeping. 

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas

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Atlanta CPA Advises on Whether Your Georgia LLC Should Convert Over to an S Corporation for Tax Purposes

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Atlanta CPA Advises on Whether Your Georgia LLC Should Convert Over to an S Corporation for Tax Purposes

If You Have Just Incorporated in Georgia

Today I both met with a real estate broker and spoke with a distributor who were evaluating on whether or not to convert their LLC over to an S Corporation for tax purposes. For business owners who qualify to be an S Corporation, this is often a prudent and tested technique. To be an S Corporation you have to have a December 31 year-end, have less than an 100 shareholders and all of your owners have to be either U.S. citizens or resident aliens.

Small Business Election: Filing Form 2553

Whether you have just incorporated and you have had an LLC for years. It is prudently evaluate your tax election and to ensure that your entity selection is right for your business. If it is not we can convert your Georgia Business to a  Georgia S Corporation by filing Form 2553: Election by a Small Business Corporation. S Elections have been for decades required to be filed within either seventy-five days of the beginning of a tax year or within 75 days of the incorporation date, if a new corporation. For example, if you are a new business and incorporate on 3-1-09 then you would have 75 days from 3-1-09 to file the S Corporation for it to be timely. Similarly, if you are a C Corporation or an LLC and wish to become an S Corporation for the 2009 tax year then you would have 75 days or until March 15, 2009 to file for a timely election. However if you have missed this deadline the IRS has allowed business owners still to gain a “current” tax entity selection; please be sure to work closely with your CPA to ensure that this is done correctly.

For an LLC that converts to an S Corporation for tax purposes, it remains an LLC for all other issues thus maintaining the advantages initially desired. When an LLC changes over to an S Corporation all active employee/owners are required to take a fair and reasonable salary. The best test of a reasonable salary is what an owner would have to pay someone else to perform their position and it is a function of their position, responsibilities, and the business’s profit. If an LLC converts over to an S Corporation for tax purposes its federal and state income taxes will remain essentially the same. However, an LLC pays FICA & Medicaid taxes on all of its net earnings/earned income whereas an S Corporation will be obligated solely on its salary/W-2 wages.

To learn more about tax entities and the taxation thereof visit http://www.hiscpa.com/article2.html  There you will also discover a wide host of resources for American Entrepreneurs.

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and an Atlanta CPA. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and a Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 (All Rights Reserved) Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!  

Contact HIS CPA PC (A Christian Atlanta CPA Firm) today.

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Bookkeeping.

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas.

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Atlanta CPA Advises on How to Determine What Your Withholding Should be for S Corporation Owners

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Atlanta CPA Advises on How to Determine What Your Withholding Should be for S Corporation Owners 

To preclude the responsibility for an S Corporation owner to also have to pay estimated tax payments to both the IRS & Georgia, it is prudent to work closely with your CPA to adjust/increase your withholdings accordingly.

A Georgia LLC, LLP, partnership or sole proprietorship, you are subject to the 15.3% Self Employment/FICA tax on all of your net earnings. The S corporation, on the other hand, pays you a deductible salary (which is subject to FICA), and then the profits flow through your personal return via a Schedule K-1. This K-1 income allows for permanent deferral of the FICA tax. The Georgia S corporation allows small business owners to legally save taxes as long as they pay a fair and reasonable salary to themselves. To learn more about how different entities are taxed visit http://www.hiscpa.com/article6.html

There is no income tax paid by as S Corporation when the annual tax return is filed to the IRS. However, as a part of the corporate return which is prepared, a Form 1120S, there is an attached schedule which shows each owners respective ownership percentage and via a Form K-1 for which each shareholder should reflect on their personal return. K-1 profits, losses, and shareholder distributions are all required by tax law to be issued based upon the each shareholders ownership percentage. In order for losses to be deductible a shareholder has to have a positive tax basis, which is a component of past profits, losses, and loans to and from the business. If a shareholder has no basis to cover losses reported on a K-1, they are by tax law considered to be “suspended losses” and can be rolled forward to future years when the shareholder has positive basis, which can be created by future years profits or the shareholder loaning money to the business.

An owner should report the K-1 profit, which is based upon their share of the business and not the amount of their shareholder distributions. This is a common misnomer about S Corporations and often leads to confusion for the new business owner. To that end it is best to remember that you pay taxes on the profits when you make them and not when you take them. For example generally speaking if your business nets $100,000 and you are the sole owner, you will pay taxes on $100,0000 whether you take zero dollar of shareholder distributions, a $100,000 or any number in between. Thus if you were to have a $100,000 profit in any given year and take no distributions then you would be able, absent any other issues, to take shareholder distributions in subsequent years with no additional tax responsibility as these monies would have already been taxed.

Converting Your LLC to an S Corporation for Tax Purposes

An LLC is legally allowed to convert over to an S Corporation for tax purposes which can legally allows the savings of thousands annually. Although being an LLC offers some flexibility (no Board of Directors/ease of formation), being an LLC will typically result in many businesses paying an higher tax bill on its earned income.

If an LLC converts to an S Corporation for tax purposes, it remains an LLC for all other issues thus maintaining the advantages initially desired. When a business converts over to an S Corporation all active employee/owners are required to take a fair and reasonable salary. The best test of a reasonable salary is what an owner would have to pay someone else to perform their position and it is a function of their position, responsibilities, and the business’s profit. If an LLC converts over to an S Corporation for tax purposes its federal and state income taxes will remain essentially the same. However, an LLC pays FICA & Medicaid taxes on all of its net earnings/earned income whereas an S Corporation will be obligated solely on its salary/W-2 wages.

 John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and an Atlanta CPA. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and a Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 (All Rights Reserved) Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!  

 Contact HIS CPA PC (A Christian Atlanta CPA Firm) today.

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Bookkeeping.

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas.

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Gwinnett CPA on Whether You Should Incorporate Your New Georgia Business or Convert Your LLC to an S Corporation for tax purposes

Friday, November 20th, 2009

 

Recently I received an inquiry from my website which is listed below: 

I found your website…love the Christian approach. I’m in need of a Profit and Loss statement from a CPA quickly for a loan modification I’ve applied for. I am a Realtor…and have some minor expenses from my commission checks. I can drum up receipts for the desk fee and website fee, but the rest is minor for gas (lunches with prospects) and one rebate I have not gotten a cashed check back for. They don’t add up to much, and would almost be willing to take them out if you would have to have receipts to prepare?

I need this very quickly or we might lose our loan mod. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. 

Incorporating your business and knowing what is best from Day 1 is what your CPA may be best utilized for to protect you personally, legally mitigate your income taxes and planning for your retirement. Below is my response to the client’s inquiry: 

Thanks for visiting www.HisCPA.com I can certainly help you quickly with your need but would need to talk to you further and to get a copy of your prior personal return in order to gain a good understanding of your business and to advise/quote accordingly. Feel free to give me a call and I will be happy to discuss. 

If you have not yet incorporated might I suggest you review the article on our web-site at http://www.hiscpa.com/article2.html as being an S Corporation might both legally save you taxes as well as limit you personally from corporate liability. 

Also if you have already incorporated your business as an LLC, we can look to convert your business to an S Corporation for tax purposes and potentially also legally limiting your annual tax oblations. 

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant in Duluth, GA. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and a Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 (All Rights Reserved) Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!  

Contact HIS CPA PC (A Christian CPA Firm) today.

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Bookkeeping.

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Gwinnett CPA on Converting Your Georgia C Corporation or Georgia LLC to an S Corporation

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Gwinnett CPA on Converting Your Georgia C Corporation or Georgia LLC to an S Corporation

Incorporating in Georgia 

With changes over the last ten plus years in state law, more and more Georgia based businesses are incorporating as an LLC because of the ease of the initial set up of the business entity. However, frequently this may not be the best “tax choice” for the business as an LLC pays FICA and Medicaid taxes on all of its net earnings out of the business, whereas an active S Corporation owner will pay FICA and Medicaid taxes on its W-2. Tax law does require, however, that all S Corporation owners are to take a fair and reasonable salary given position and profit. Though the election is not in the best interest for all business’s as many LLC’s should stay an LLC for both legal and tax purposes, becoming an S Corporation is often a prudent decision for the following types of business: 

-Trade Contractors such as builders, painters, landscapers, electricians, plumbers, etc.

-Retail shops such as boutiques, restaurants, clothing stores, furniture, appliances, video equipment, etc.

-Computer technicians such as contractors, retailers, repairs, programmers, etc.

-Sales Representatives  including residential and commercial real estate agents, brokers, including those of most all types and territories.

-Distribution companies, resellers, wholesalers, and those in the distribution chain of a product of service.

-Service companies including consultants of all  types, single owner physicians, dentists, doctors, chiropractors, etc. 

C Corporations were once much more popular as an entity choice but as consumers and entrepreneurs became more aware and informed, C Corporations are much less pursued as a viable option as business owners sought to legally avoid the “double taxation” exposure of C Corporations as they are taxed first at the corporate level and then again at the personal level when monies are paid out of the corporation to the companies’ respective owners. 

How S Corporations are Taxed 

There is no income tax paid by as S Corporation when the annual tax return is filed to the IRS. However, as a part of the corporate return which is prepared, a Form 1120S, there is an attached schedule which shows each owners respective ownership percentage and via a Form K-1 for which each shareholder should reflect on their personal return. K-1 profits, losses, and shareholder distributions are all required by tax law to be issued based upon the each shareholders ownership percentage. In order for losses to be deductible a shareholder has to have a positive tax basis, which is a component of past profits, losses, and loans to and from the business. If a shareholder has no basis to cover losses reported on a K-1, they are by tax law considered to be “suspended losses” and can be rolled forward to future years when the shareholder has positive basis, which can be created by future years profits or the shareholder loaning money to the business. 

An owner should report the K-1 profit, which is based upon their share of the business and not the amount of their shareholder distributions. This is a common misnomer about S Corporations and often leads to confusion for the new business owner. To that end it is best to remember that you pay taxes on the profits when you make them and not when you take them. For example generally speaking if your business nets $100,000 and you are the sole owner, you will pay taxes on $100,0000 whether you take zero dollar of shareholder distributions, a $100,000 or any number in between. Thus if you were to have a $100,000 profit in any given year and take no distributions then you would be able, absent any other issues, to take shareholder distributions in subsequent years with no additional tax responsibility as these monies would have already been taxed.

The rules of being an S Corporation are only four and many businesses will qualify. To be an S Corporation you must have:

  • Have a December 31st year-end.
  • Have less than 100 shareholders.
  • Shareholders have to be U.S. citizens or resident aliens.
  • Only one class of stock

 For LLC’s that change from an LLC for legal purposes to an S Corporation for tax purposes, the LLC remains an LLC with the Georgia Secretary of State along with all other legal purposes. Thus, your LLC makes solely a tax election which affects none of the other contracts, licenses, trademarks, legal filings, and legal obligations of the LLC.

Contact HIS CPA PC (A Christian CPA Firm) today.

To learn more about tax entities and the taxation thereof visit http://www.hiscpa.com/article2.html  There you will also discover a wide host of resources for American Entrepreneurs.

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant in Duluth, GA. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey and a Voice of One: Nehemiah’s Prayer visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ or call John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 (All Rights Reserved) Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!    

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Offer in Compromise, Back Taxes, Bookkeeping.

Serving Atlanta, Duluth, Gwinnett, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Atlanta, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Smyrna, Marietta, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Decatur. Sandy Springs, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Newnan, Griffin, Woodstock, Carrollton, Forest Park, Canton, College Park, Cartersville, McDonough, Riverdale, Fayetteville, Covington, Stockbridge, Conyers, Clarkston, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Dawson, and Douglas.

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