A limited liability company in general does not have to pay any business taxes. When we talk about the classification of LLC taxes in New York, we know that it is a pass-through taxation structure. Typically, the profit LLC makes passes through the LLC to its members. Based on the profit share, members file their income tax returns. LLCs, unlike other corporations, do not have to pay income taxes based on profit or revenue.
IRS (Internal Revenue Service) allows LLCs to choose their preferable classification of tax at the beginning of the LLC formation. In general, a single-member LLC is taxed as a sole proprietor and a multi-member LLC is taxed as a partnership. As there is no fixed tax structure for LLCs, anyone certainly wants to opt for the most beneficial one. Keep reading till the end to know more about the tax structure of a New York LLC and related aspects.
On this page, you’ll learn about the following:
Classification of New York LLC Taxes
An LLC is considered a Pass-through Entity because it allows the income to pass through & become self-employment income. The members of the LLC have to pay Self-employment tax or Self-Employment Taxes on any income they earn through the LLC. The LLC has to pay Franchise Tax on its income. In addition to the Self-employment tax, there are some other requirements that an LLC has to consider, such as:
- Franchise Tax – Franchise tax applies to or levies upon LLCs, C-corporations, & S-corporations. Sole Proprietorship & Partnerships (directly owned by individuals) are exempted from the Franchise Tax. This tax is to be paid with the office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts.
- Federal Tax Identification Number – An LLC with employees must obtain a Federal Tax Identification Number. New York does not have a separate State Tax Identification number.
- State Employer Taxes – If an LLC has employees on the payroll, it must pay state employer taxes in New York. These taxes are handled through New York Workforce Commission.
- Franchise Tax Report – In New York, the LLCs file a Franchise Tax Report. This report has to be submitted to New York State.
Federal Tax Classifications
When LLCs were recognized as one of the types of Business Corporations, IRS did not create a new tax classification just for the LLC. LLCs were allowed to choose from the current tax classifications.
LLC Taxes to be Paid in New York
One of the biggest tax advantages of an LLC is the ability to avoid double taxation. The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) considers LLC as a “pass-through entity” hence all the taxes are to be paid by the members of the LLC to the state as well as to the Federal Government. An LLC in the state of New York has to pay two types of taxes to the New York Department of Taxation and Finance:
State Income Tax
As an LLC owner in New York, you pay yourself through the earnings. These earnings get reflected in your personal Tax return & are calculated at the time of paying the Income Tax.
The Standard New York State Tax rate ranges between 4% to 8.82% depending on your earnings. The state tax rate varies based on multiple factors such as the place you live, your adjusted gross income, and your taxable income amount. You may also get the opportunity to claim all the standard allowances & deductions upon filing the tax return.
Sales and Use Tax
The State Sales and Use tax rate in New York is 4%. Tax-exempted goods are food, medications, clothing, and gas. Other local taxing jurisdictions, such as cities and counties may impose an additional sales tax.
Corporate Franchise Tax
New York levies a tax on certain businesses for the right to exist as a legal entity and do certain business in the state. LLCs are exempt from paying the corporation business tax unless they file their taxes as corporations.
Federal Self-Employment Tax
Anyone earning profit from the LLC must pay the self-employment tax. The Federal Self-Employment Tax applies to all the earnings of an LLC member or manager. The tax covers security, Medicare, and other benefits. The Federal Self-Employment Tax rate in New York is 15.3%. To deduct your LLC’s expenses from the income earned, you must calculate the Self-Employment Tax your LLC owes.
Federal Income Tax
Nearly all working Americans are required to file a tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) every year. Like State Income Tax, this tax also applies to the earnings you make in your LLC.
The Federal Income Tax Rate is subject to the earnings you make, the type of your LLC’s industry, the current income tax bracket that is applicable, deductions applicable, and filing status. One only pays Federal income tax on profits you take out of the business, allowances, and less certain deductions.
Employee & Employer Taxes
The Employee & employer tax implications are different from all the other types mentioned above. All the employees of an LLC have to collect and withhold the Payroll tax at the time of receiving the salary. Each employee has to mandatorily file an individual tax return, irrespective of whether they withhold the Federal Tax or not.
Default LLC Tax Classification Rules
By default, the LLCs are categorized as below (In both the categories, separate filing of income is not required):
Disregarded Entity (Single-Member LLC)
A single-member LLC is usually disregarded from the taxes. Hence a single-member LLC is also called a disregarded entity. Under the U.S. tax law, it is assumed that a single-member LLC is owned by an individual (& not by another LLC), so the U.S. tax law levies rules on it as a Sole Proprietor. Single-member LLC’s owner (Sole Proprietor) has to report all the income of the LLC via his own income tax return.
Sole Proprietorship Taxes
As mentioned earlier, the single owner of the LLC is treated as the Sole proprietor of the LLC & has to file the Self-Employment Tax on all of the LLC’s earnings. New York does not levy State Income Tax, so a single-member LLC must file only the Federal Income Tax.
Partnership (Multi-Member LLC)
Any LLC with more than one owner is referred to as Multi- Member LLC & it is taxed as a partnership by default. Similar to the Single Owner or Single Member LLC, this LLC is also a pass-through entity. This means that the income of the LLC passes through the income of the members & they have to file taxes through their own earnings.
Partnership Taxes
Partnership or Multi-Member LLC has to pay taxes similar to the Single Member LLC. If the Partnership LLC is directly owned by individuals, it is exempted from the Franchise Tax. All the members of the Multi-Member LLC are liable to pay Self-Employment Tax & Federal Income Tax.
Options to Change Default Tax Classification
The LLCs are categorized either as sole proprietorships or as partnerships, depending on the number of members the LLC has. This is the default tax classification applicable to LLCs. However, the LLCs have an option of changing the default classification & opting to register under the following categories for taxation purposes:
C-Corporation
An LLC can prefer to be treated as a C-corporation by filing form 8832 (the Entity Classification Election Form) with the IRS. The C-corporation is a regular corporation that is subject to corporate taxes & it is not a pass-through entity.
C-corporation Taxes
An LLC taxed as a C-Corporation is not a pass-through entity. In a C-corporation, the members/shareholders/ owners are taxed separately. The shareholders of the C-corporation are taxed twice on the dividends that they earn. The dividends of the shareholders are taxed at the corporate level – with a Corporate Tax filed with Form 1120 & at a Shareholder level – an Income Tax filed with Form 1040. Shareholders are subjected to Federal Income Tax.
S-Corporation
The S-Corporation is the most common type of corporate structure used by small businesses. It was created to provide corporations with limited liability protection while maintaining the benefits of being a separate legal entity. An LLC can prefer to be treated as S-Corporation by filing Form 2553. S-corporations are small business corporations, that choose to pass through the corporate income, losses, deductions, & credits to the shareholders for the purposes of Federal Taxes.
S-corporation Taxes
An S-Corporation is similar to an LLC except that it is treated by the IRS as a corporation for tax purposes. S-Corps do pay corporate income taxes; however, they are still considered disregarded entities for federal tax purposes.
Like an LLC, an S-Corp reports its annual earnings on a separate Schedule E on the member’s personal account. An S-Corp is treated by the IRS much like a partnership for tax purposes. Unlike Partnership, in S Corporation, the shareholders are required to pay Federal Self Income tax on their share of the company’s profits.
Choosing a Classification for Your LLC
In terms of owners’ protection against liability, perpetual existence, & savings in Taxation, Both LLCs (Limited Liability Companies) & Corporations are very much alike. However, with regard to formalities, Taxation, & capital, LLCs & Corporations differ in New York.
Liabilities
Both LLCs and Corporations provide liability protection to their owners. The LLC provides protection against inside liability (towards the employee) & outside liability (towards the creditor). The Corporation usually provides only the inside liability.
Tax Classification Flexibility
For taxation purposes, an LLC has a choice of being treated as a sole proprietorship, Partnership or C-corporation or S-corporation. A corporation can choose to be treated only as C or S Corporation.
Taxation
As mentioned earlier, the LLC can choose to be treated as a corporation; the Corporation does not have the option of being treated as the LLC. A New York LLC is subjected to Franchise tax, Federal Income Tax, Sales & Use Taxes & State Employment Taxes (for LLCs that have employees)
A regular corporation or a C- Corporation is subjected to corporate tax, which can be filed through Form 1120 every year. The shareholders have to pay the Income-tax, only when they receive dividends from the Corporation. These dividends are taxed twice at the corporate level (on a corporate form)& at the shareholder level (on shareholder form).
An S- Corporation in LLC is not subjected to corporate taxes. But the shareholders are subjected to Taxation – even if they do not receive any dividends. A member of a New York S-corporation has to pay Federal Self employment Tax only on his salary; any other profits that he makes through the LLC are not subject to the 15.3% Self Employment Tax.
Classification of LLC Taxes – At a Glance
| Points of Difference | LLC | S- Corporation | C-Corporation | Sole Proprietorship |
| Taxation | As an LLC, by default, there is no tax levied at the entity level. The members’ income or even the loss is passed through to members or owners. | Similar to LLC, no tax is levied on an S-Corporation at the entity level. The members’ income or even the loss is passed through to members or owners. | The C-Corporation is often taxed at the entity level. The Dividends are taxed at the shareholders’ level. | The Sole- proprietorship as an entity is not taxable. The Sole Proprietor pays taxes as an Individual. |
| Double Taxation | The LLC does not have Double Taxation | There is no Double Taxation in S-Corporation | There is Double Taxation in C-Corporation, only when the Shareholders earn in the form of dividends. | No Double Taxation in a sole proprietorship. |
| Self Employment Tax | The net income of the members or owners is subject to self-employment tax. | The salaries of the shareholder are subject to self-employment tax, but any other profits that the shareholder makes are not subject to the employment tax. | The C-Corporation is subject to self-employment tax. | The Sole-proprietorship is subject to self-employment tax |
| Pass-Through Income/Loss | An LLC is often referred to as a Pass-through entity because its income passes through/ passes to its members. | Yes, An S Corporation is a Pass-through Entity. | No, A C-Corporation is not a Pass-through Entity. | Yes, A Sole-proprietorship is a Pass-through Entity. |
How Do LLCs Pay Taxes in New York
Any LLC operating in New York is liable to pay 2 kinds of taxes- state taxes as well as federal taxes.
In New York, LLCs are treated as a pass-through entity for tax purposes. What this means is that the LLC itself does not pay income taxes at the federal or state level. Instead, the responsibility for taxes passes on to the individual owners or members of the LLC. This is a crucial distinction, as it allows for a more simplified tax filing process for LLCs and provides potential tax advantages for its members.
LLC income, losses, deductions, and credits “pass through” to the members, who then report them on their personal tax returns. In most cases, the LLC’s income is subject to personal income tax rates rather than the corporate tax rates that apply to regular corporations. This ability to avoid the double taxation that corporations face is one of the key attractions for businesses considering the LLC structure.
When it comes to federal taxes, members of an LLC can choose to have the business taxed as a partnership or as an S Corporation. If the LLC has only a single member, it is automatically taxed as a sole proprietorship unless the member elects for it to be treated as a corporation. The flexibility to choose the most advantageous tax treatment for the LLC is a significant advantage for businesses in New York.
In New York state, LLCs are subject to a filing fee and must pay an annual filing fee known as the minimum income tax. The minimum income tax is a fixed fee based on the LLC’s New York source gross income, with rates varying depending on specified bracket breakdowns. The specific rates are subject to change, so it is essential for businesses to stay informed about any updates to avoid unexpected fees or penalties.
It is worth noting that certain industries like banking, insurance, or transportation are subject to additional taxes and regulations. These complexities underline the importance of consulting with a tax professional and familiarizing oneself with specific industry rules. Knowledge of the tax laws that pertain to your LLC’s operations is necessary to ensure compliance and maximize tax advantages.
In summary, the tax treatment of LLCs in New York offers businesses increased flexibility and potential benefits. With their pass-through tax structure, LLCs provide a simpler and more cost-effective tax filing process for businesses while enabling their owners to report profits and losses on their personal tax returns. Additionally, the ability to choose how the LLC is taxed at the federal level further supports the attractive nature of the LLC structure. However, it is crucial for businesses to stay informed about the relevant tax laws and rules that apply to their industry to maintain compliance and take full advantage of available tax benefits.
FAQ
C-Corporation. It taxes the dividends of the shareholders at the corporate level as well as at an individual level.
An LLC is often referred to as the pass-through entity because the income or the assets pass through the members or owners of the LLC.
The LLCs have two default classifications. It can be termed as a single-member LLC or a multi-member LLC.
When choosing a different classification for taxation, it is essential to understand the liabilities & taxes applicable in that classification.
In Conclusion
Every Tax classification has its own set of benefits & restrictions. Every state will have different taxation rules for each of the categories of business corporations. Depending on the objective of formation of the business entity (Eg. To avoid dual Taxation- one can choose S Corporation, for more flexibility, one can choose the LLC format). It is essential to understand the taxing structure of each country & each Classification; to decide how you wish to treat your LLC.
I am trying to find out whether, as the only member and owner of a small LLC, a visual media production company, devoted mostly to the production of my own documentary films, can be tax-exempt for the purposes of financing and distributing the film/s and paying for insurance, the way it would under a fiscal sponsorship arrangement. And would it still be the case if I pay myself a salary, or I get profits from the distribution and sale of my films, or, at least, I recoup costs incurred on to make the film, before getting fiscal sponsorship (such as those caused by the purchase of equipment, and the traveling expenses to the places where the filming took place).
I’ve spent the entirety of my meager savings on my film project, and I’m not even done with production. Before I register as an LLC, I’d like to know whether it’s more convenient for me to try to get my own tax-exempt status or pitch my project to a Fiscal Sponsorship Program, which will take an 8% cut, does not provide accounting or tax filing services, and keeps a very tight control over the donor’s money, which is understandable when the project’s expenses occur in a developed country, but less so when cash-on-hand must be relied upon in countries with less formal transaction systems.