S-Corp vs. C-Corp: How They Differ (and How to Decide)

S-Corp vs. C-Corp Differences at a Glance

If you choose to structure your business entity as a corporation, you’ll be faced with an important decision—whether to set up your business as an S-corp vs. C-corp. This choice has big implications for how much you’ll pay in taxes, your ability to raise money, and the ease with which you can expand your business.

And when you’re a small business owner—not a lawyer or accountant—it can be hard to understand the differences between S-corporations vs. C-corporations. Fortunately, the differences come down to three main areas: formation, taxes, and ownership. In most other respects, S-corps and C-corps are similar.

Although you might not be looking at the granular things your accountant or lawyer looks for, small businesses owners do need to know certain things about how these two business entities compare. That way, you’ll have the tools to choose which type of corporation is right for you. Discover the similarities and differences between an S-corp vs. C-corp, with particular focus on the tax differences that can affect your business’s bottom line. 

What Is a C-Corporation?

A C-corporation is the standard, most common type of corporation. Shareholders who have purchased stock in a company own the corporation, and these shareholders enjoy limited liability protection. Put simply, this means that shareholders of corporations are not personally liable for the business’s debts or obligations. This is a major selling point of a corporation.

Although the shareholders of a C-corporation own the business, they don’t make most of the decisions. Management and policy issues are left to the company’s shareholder-elected board of directors. And the normal, day-to-day work of running the business is on the officers of the C-corporation—like the CEO, COO, and CTO.

If you want to structure your business as a C-corporation, you have to file articles of incorporation with your state government. And once you’re up and running, you have certain compliance and documentation obligations as a corporation—like issuing stock, paying fees, and holding shareholder and director meetings.

What Is an S-Corporation?

The owners of a corporation can elect to structure the business as an S-corporation. S-corporations are also called subchapter S corporations, after the section of the tax code that regulates these types of businesses.

Like C-corps, S-corps also come with limited liability for shareholders. The big difference, however, is that the owners of an S-corp can take advantage of pass-through taxation. This means the profits and losses of the corporation are reported on the owners’ personal tax returns. There’s no corporate income tax on S-corps.

An S-corporation has similar documentation and compliance obligations as a C-corp. S-corps need to file their articles of incorporation, and also need to issue stock, hold shareholder and director meetings, etc.

S-Corp vs. C-Corp: The 3 Main Differences

The differences between S-corps vs. C-corps come down to three major categories: formation, taxation, and ownership. The last two are the most important.

While C-corporations are subject to the corporate tax rate, S-corps allow for pass-through taxation, where business profits and losses are reported on the owners’ personal income tax returns. It’s also easier to raise money from investors as a C-corporation.

Let’s dig into these differences between S-corporations vs. C corporations a little more, since these are ultimately what will have the biggest impact on your business’s bottom line.

1. S-Corp vs. C-Corp: Differences in Formation

The most basic difference between S-corps and C-corps is formation. The C-corp is the default type of corporation. When you file articles of incorporation with your secretary of state, your company will become a standard C-corp.

To structure your company as a S-corp, you must file IRS Form 2553. After filing the form, you will become an S-corp for federal tax purposes. You might have to file additional papers at the state level to be treated as S-corp for state taxes.

Whether you choose to structure your company as an S-corp or C-corp, you’ll need to follow some of the same steps for corporate formation. You’ll need to file articles of incorporation, appoint a registered agent, and create corporate bylaws. Our step-by-step guide to incorporation has more details.

2. S-Corp vs. C-Corp: Differences in Taxation

Taxation is the biggie when comparing S-corps vs. C-corps. Many business owners choose to structure their companies as S-corps to save money on taxes. 

C-corps are subject to “double taxation.” First, the C-corp is taxed at the corporate level when the owners file a corporate income tax return (Form 1120). A C-corp can then be taxed again, on the owners’ personal income tax returns, if corporate income is distributed to the corporation’s shareholders as dividends.

The only ways to avoid double taxation is if you don’t make any profits (i.e. operate at a loss) or if you reinvest profits back into the business instead of providing a dividend. Wages and salary, including the owner’s salary, are generally considered deductible expenses, so you won’t have to pay taxes on that. However, the IRS can “re-label” excessive salaries as a taxable dividend.

Paying taxes as an S-corp is a bit different. An S-corp is a pass-through entity for tax purposes, which means that shareholders report their share of the business’ income and losses on their personal tax return. Owners only have to pay taxes once at their personal income tax rate—they aren’t subject to a corporate tax. As a shareholder of a S-corp, your business’s income is taxed on your personal income when you file Form 1120S.

C-Corps Pay a Flat Corporate Tax Rate

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—which you might know as the Trump tax plan—has brought changes to both C-corp and S-corp taxation. C-corporations now pay a flat 21% business tax rate, regardless of income or company size.

The law provides for a large tax cut for C-corps, but you still can’t escape double taxation as a C-corp. The company will first be taxed at the 21% corporate tax rate, and dividends are subject to taxes on the personal income tax return. However, if your business is in growth stage and you’re planning to reinvest most profits back into the business (instead of paying frequent dividends), C-corp taxes could work in your favor.

S-Corps Can Claim a 20% Business Income Deduction

Owners of S-corporations and other pass-through entities (like LLCs, sole proprietorships, and partnerships) can deduct 20% of qualified business income from their personal tax returns. This deduction expires in 2025, unless Congress extends the law. 

Let’s say your business earns $100,000. To take a very simple example, you could deduct 20% of that income and only pay taxes on the remaining $80,000. Which businesses are eligible for the deduction changes every year based on inflation. Currently, businesses with less than $157,500 in annual income (for single filers) or $315,000 (for married joint filers) can take full advantage of the deduction. Above those thresholds, the deduction is limited by the amount of wages that you pay to your employees. Businesses in specific service trades or professions, such as consulting, medicine, or law, face limits on the deduction at high income levels.

When deciding between an S-corp vs. C-corp, make sure your lawyer and accountant take into account these tax laws.

S-Corp vs. C-Corp Tax Example

Let’s take a simple example to better understand the tax differences between S-corps vs. C-corps.

Suppose your business, a C-corp, has a taxable income of $100,000 (calculate taxable income by subtracting deductible expenses from your business revenue). A C-corp would first have to pay the 21% corporate income tax rate, bringing the tax bill to $21,000. That leaves $79,000 left over. If you take all of that money as a dividend, it will be subject to a dividend tax rate, normally 15%.  Your dividend tax bill be $11,850, bringing the total tax bill to $32,850.

In contrast, assume you have an S-corp with a taxable income of $100,000. That entire amount will flow through to your personal income tax return. For the 2019 tax year, that would put you in the 24% tax bracket, and the tax bill would be $18,289.50.

In this example, an S-corp saves you more money in taxes, but this isn’t always the case. There are certain types of tax deductions, such as charitable donations and fringe benefits, that are fully deductible only for a C-corporation. The only way to know whether a S-corp vs. C-corp structure is better from a tax standpoint is to crunch the numbers for your business, based on your projected profits for this year and future years. Your accountant or business lawyer will help you figure out the structure friendliest to your bottom line.

3. S-Corp vs. C-Corp: Differences in Ownership

Another major difference between S-corp vs. C-corp structures is the restrictions on corporate ownership. C-corporations provide a bit more flexibility if you’re looking to expand your business or sell it to another company.

C-corporations have no restrictions on ownership. You can have an unlimited number of shareholders, as well as different classes of shareholders. Venture capital firms and angel investors prefer to hold preferred stock in a corporation, which is only an option for C-corps. That makes it much more difficult to fundraise as an S-corp. 

S-corporations can have only up to one hundred shareholders. Shareholders of an S-corp must be United States citizens or resident aliens, whereas C-corps are open to foreign investors. S-corporations are limited to one class of stock, meaning that there’s only one kind of shareholder. There’s no hierarchy or difference between shareholders of the business, which makes fundraising harder.

If you plan to sell your business down the line or spin off a subsidiary, a C-corp could be a better choice. An S-corp can’t be owned by a C-corp, other S-corps, LLCs, general partnerships, or most trusts. C-corporations can be owned by other corporations, LLCs, or trusts.

S-Corporation vs. C-Corporation: How to Decide Between the Two

Now that you know the three major differences between an S-corp vs. C-corp, how can you decide between the two business entities? Many small business owners opt for S-corp status to save money on taxes. But, if you’re planning to raise investor money in the future or have plans to grow into a very large company, a C-corp might be the better option.

A lot of the benefits and disadvantages of both entities lie in those three differences we just outlined. Here’s another look at the advantages and disadvantages of S-corporations vs. C-corporations. 

C-Corporations: Advantages and Disadvantages

Here’s when you might lean toward a C-corp:

Advantages of a C-Corp

• Easier to form. The C-corp is the default type of corporation, so there’s no additional paperwork to fill out.

• Fringe benefits. C-corporations can deduct the cost of fringe benefits provided to employees—like disability and health insurance. Shareholders of a C-corporation don’t pay taxes on their fringe benefits, as long as 70% of the corporation receives those same fringe benefits.

• Charitable donations – C-corporations are the only type of business entity that can deduct 100% of charitable contributions. The donations can’t exceed 10% of the business’s total income.

• Easier to raise money. It’s easier to raise money for your business if it’s a C-corp, since C-corps can issue multiple classes of stock to an unlimited number of shareholders. Plus, investors face no liability for the corporation’s mistakes—making it much easier to put money toward the business. Another benefit to note is that other businesses can own C-corps outright, which might be a better fit for companies looking to be acquired.

• No shareholder limit. C-corps can have as many shareholders as they want. Also, C-corps can have foreign (non-resident alien) shareholders, making it an ideal business entity for any company that intends to deal overseas.

Disadvantages of a C-Corp

• Double taxation. C-corps might pay more in taxes due to double taxation. The company’s revenue will be taxed at the corporate level and then again at the personal level if it’s distributed as shareholder dividends.

• No personal write-offs. Another tax-related downside is that owners can’t write off the losses of the business in their personal income statements—offsetting income from other sources.

Bigger companies benefit from having unlimited growth potential under a C-corp but typically pay a little more in taxes, reducing their net income. They also spend a little more effort complying with more regulation. But this calculus could change with the new tax laws, however, as C-corporation owners will end up paying less in taxes.

S-Corporations: Advantages and Disadvantages

Here’s when you might lean toward an S-corp:

Advantages of an S-Corp

• Pass-through taxation. The taxation structure of a S-corp is undoubtedly its biggest benefit. S-corps don’t have to pay taxes on the business’s income twice. Avoiding double taxation is a huge benefit for smaller businesses.

• Deduction of business income. Current law allows owners of most S-corps and other pass-through entities to deduct 20% of their business income on their personal tax return, which can significantly reduce your tax burden.

• Tax filing requirements. Owners of S-corps can write off their business’s losses on their individual tax returns. This is a benefit for newer corporations that are likely operating at a loss for the first few years. As the owner, you can write off the losses of the business on your personal income statements, offsetting your income from other sources.

Disadvantages of an S-Corp

• Harder to form. You have to file Form 2553 with the IRS and possibly additional state paperwork to elect S-corp status. You also have to make sure you stay within any restrictions (e.g. such as the 100 shareholders limit) to maintain S-corp status and avoid penalties.

• Limited ownership. Unlike C-corps, S-corps have a set cap on the number of shareholders they can take on—up to 100 shareholders. Plus, shareholders have to be legal residents of the United States. This poses a problem for high-growth businesses or businesses looking to conduct business affairs internationally.

• Limited stock flexibility. S-corps also prevent you from issuing preferred stock and different classes of stock, which can make it harder to raise money from investors and incentivize early owners.

• Tax qualifications. In general, S-corps tend to have more IRS scrutiny. If you make a mistake (like going over 100 shares or missing a filing deadline), the IRS can terminate your S-corp status—and you’ll be taxed as a C-corp.

Before finally settling on a S-corp or C-corp structure, don’t forget to consider other types of business entities. LLCs, in particular, are a very small business-friendly type of ownership structure. LLCs offer limited liability and less burdensome paperwork and regulatory requirements than corporations.

Setting Up Your Business as an S-Corp or C-Corp

You’ve run through the pros and cons of S-corp vs. C-corp structures and are all systems go on one of the two. Now, you actually have to set up your business.

The steps vary a bit depending on what state your business operates in. In most cases, you’ll begin by choosing a name for your business and filing articles of incorporation. You’ll also have to draft corporate bylaws, hold your first board of director meeting, and issue stock certificates to your shareholders.

Online legal services such as LegalZoom and IncFile make it fast and easy to file incorporation documents if you’re doing things yourself. But ideally, you should hire a lawyer to help you set up your corporation.

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How to Elect S-Corporation Status

Becoming an S-corp takes one more step after setting up a C-corp. New businesses should file Form 2553 with the IRS within 75 days of the company’s formation date. If you’re an existing business that has switched over to S-corp status, then you should file your form no later than March 15.

Some states also require you to file additional paperwork to elect S-corp status.

Once you elect S-corp status, it’s certainly possible to go back to a C-corp. However, doing so can have important tax consequences, so make sure to consult your accountant or a tax attorney first.

Making the Right Choice Between S-Corp vs. C-Corp

Now that you know the differences between an S-corp vs. C-corp, plus their advantages and disadvantages, you’re well equipped to make a smart choice for your business. S-corps allow many small businesses to save money on taxes, but C-corps give you more options to expand and raise money.

Remember, the way you structure your business is a big decision and has big implications on your business’s future. If you don’t feel sure about choosing your business entity or correctly structuring your company, consider talking to a small business lawyer or accountant.