Corporation | S Corp | LLC | |
---|---|---|---|
Formation | Must draft and file articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State. | Must draft and file articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State. Then file IRS form 2553 for S corporation status. | File Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State. |
Ownership | Unlimited stock | Limited to 100 shares for domestic ownership. | Unlimited membership certificates. |
Management | Officers, directors, and share holders. | Officers, directors, and share holders. | Managers / Members |
Taxation | Taxed at the corporate level as well as the personal level. | Profits and losses “flow through” to the owner who reports them on his personal income taxes. | Profits and losses “flow through” to the owner who reports them on his personal income taxes. Or can opt to pay tax as a regular corporation. |
Stock | Yes. Unlimited stock and multiple classes of stock. | Yes. Limited to 75 domestic share holders and can only issue one class of stock. | Can sell membership certificates. |
Limits personal liability | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
Lifespan | Unlimited. | Unlimited. | Some state imposed limitations. |
Can a non resident alien form entity? | Yes. | No. | Yes. |
Corporate name protection | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
Can be owned by other corporation or LLC | Yes. | No. | Yes. |
Required to hold annual meetings and record annual minutes | Yes. | Yes. | No. |
Raising funds | Able to sell shares of stock, go public, accept business loans and utilize corporate credit. | Able to sell shares of stock, go public, accept business loans or utilize corporate credit. Although the S corporation is limited to 75 domestic share holders and can only issue one class of stock. | Can sell membership certificates to public, accept business loans, and utilize corporate credit. |
Fringe benefits | Yes. Fringe benefits are fully deductible for employees of the corporation. | Yes. Restrictions apply. | Yes. Restrictions apply. |
Taxation | Profits are taxed. | Profits are taxed at the shareholder level. The shareholders report profits and losses on their individual income tax returns. The S corporation itself does not pay any tax. (Certain restrictions apply) | Members report profits on individual income tax return. An LLC is taxed like an S corporation although it has the option of being taxed as a corporation. |