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 very critical. In this C Corp vs S Corp article, we will try and 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 between C Corp vs S Corp:

• The key difference between S Corp vs C Corp is that under C Corp the corporation pays the income tax for the current year due whereas 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 which are 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 the 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 profit and loss are instead paid at the individual level by the owners of the business, 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
• With both C Corp and S Corp income tax which is due is both on the salaries drawn by the partners and also on the dividends which are received from the corporation
• Under C Corp the shareholders the corporation is treated as a limited liability partnership which simply means that the partners are not personally liable for the debts or obligation of the business 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 obligations of the business which is why most of the companies opt for C Corp for ownership and taxation purposes
• Under C Corp it is a default type of Corporation when a company file 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 the federal tax purposes.

C Corp vs S Corp Comparison Table

Let’s look at the top 6 Comparison between C Corp vs S Corp

Conclusion –

Selecting between both the above methods can have an impact on 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.

Recommended Articles

This has a 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 comparison table. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more.

1. Comparison Of Tax Credit And Tax Deduction
2. Differences Between Dividends And Capital Gain
3. Loans vs Advances
4. Assets vs Liabilities – Top Differences