C Corp vs S Corp

Difference Between C Corp vs S Corp

Forming a company structure and getting it registered is in itself is a difficult task to be dealt with. When an individual starts a business, he should get it registered with the concerned authorities under a corporate structure or an LLC structure. When registering for a company, the founders should also consider whether to get a company registered as a C corporation or an S corporation for income tax purposes which sometimes becomes critical. In this C Corp vs S Corp article, we will understand the key differences between C Corp vs S Corp.

Head to Head Comparison Between C Corp vs S Corp (Infographics)

Below is the top 6 difference between C Corp vs S Corp

Key Differences Between C Corp vs S Corp

Let us discuss some of the major differences:

• The key difference between S Corp vs C Corp is that the corporation pays the current year’s income tax under C Corp. In S Corp, the individual pays income tax on the percentage of their shareholding in the corporation and, income tax is not charged at the corporation level.
• Under C Corp corporation is treated as a separate legal entity, and the income tax is filed under Form 1120, and tax is paid at the corporate level. Although this gives rise to double taxation if the profits earned by the business are distributed among the partners, they will also have to pay taxes on the profits earned from the corporation. On the other hand, under S Corp, it is treated as a pass-through entity, and income tax is filed under form 1120S, but no income tax is paid at the corporate level.
• The profit and loss under S Corp are pass-through by the business to the partners. These profits and losses are instead paid at the individual level by the business owners, but no tax is paid at the corporate level. Whereas Under C Corp tax is paid by the corporate and again at the individual level on the profit/loss earned by the business
• Both C Corp and S Corp income tax, which is due, are on the salaries drawn by the partners and the dividends received from the corporation.
• Under C Corp, the corporation is treated as a limited liability partnership, which means that the partners are not personally liable for the business’s debts or obligations, hence having limited liability towards the business. On the other hand, in S Corp, the partners can be held personally liable for the debts and the business’s obligations, so most companies opt for C Corp for ownership and taxation purposes.
• Under C Corp, it is a default type of Corporation; when a company files articles of incorporation with the secretary of the state, the company becomes a standard C Corp. On the other hand, under S Corp, one must file for IRS Form 2553; after filing the form, the partner will become an S Corp for federal tax purposes.

C Corp vs S Corp Comparison Table

Let’s look at the top 6 Comparison:

Conclusion

Selecting between the above methods can impact the business long-term plans and growth strategies of the corporations. Looking at the differences and the options, the owners of the business should be clear whether to file for C Corp or S Corp, which also depends on factors like the stage of the business, long-term plans of the business, and the amount of capital the owners intend to invest in the business. Generally, S Corp is more popular with smaller businesses because of likely tax savings, and C Corp is popular with larger companies because of the greater flexibility to raise capital.

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This has been a guide to the top difference between C Corp vs S Corp. Here, we also discuss the C Corp vs S Corp key differences with infographics and a comparison table. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more.

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