Llc Vs Scorp
Once your self-employment income consistently exceeds $50,000–$60,000/year, electing S-Corp status can reduce your self-employment tax bill significantly. The strategy: pay yourself a "reasonable salary" (subject to FICA) and take the remainder as an owner distribution (not subject to SE tax). Our calculator shows exactly how much you would save at different income levels and salary splits.
Total business revenue minus deductible business expenses
The IRS requires S-Corp owner-employees to pay themselves a reasonable salary. Typically 40–60% of net income.
Salary cannot exceed your total net income.
Your state's individual income tax rate (optional — enter 0 if none)
Estimated Annual Savings
LLC
SE Tax
S-Corp
FICA Tax
What is an S-Corp Election?
An S-Corp election (Form 2553) allows your LLC or corporation to be taxed as an S-Corporation by the IRS. Rather than paying self-employment tax on all of your net business income as a sole proprietor or single-member LLC would, an S-Corp splits your income into two parts: a reasonable W-2 salary and distributions.
Self-employment tax — which funds Social Security and Medicare at a combined rate of 15.3% — applies only to your salary, not to the distributions. This is where the tax savings come from. If you earn $120,000 and pay yourself a $60,000 salary, you avoid SE tax on the other $60,000 in distributions.
The trade-off is additional complexity and cost: S-Corps typically require a separate business bank account, payroll processing (even for just the owner), quarterly payroll tax filings, and a separate corporate tax return (Form 1120-S). These costs often run $1,500–$3,000 per year, which means S-Corp status generally makes sense when your savings exceed those costs — typically at $50,000+ in net income.
Is an S-Corp Right for You?
Most tax professionals recommend considering an S-Corp election once your net business income consistently exceeds $50,000 to $70,000 per year. Below that threshold, the administrative costs of running payroll and filing a corporate return often eliminate the tax savings.
The IRS requires that your salary be "reasonable" for the services you perform — meaning you cannot pay yourself $1 to avoid FICA taxes. A common guideline is to pay yourself 40–60% of net income as salary. Your salary must be comparable to what a comparable employee in your field would earn.
Always consult a CPA or tax professional before making an S-Corp election. While the numbers may look attractive on paper, factors like your state's franchise tax, your specific income trajectory, and retirement account strategy can all affect whether the election makes sense for your situation.
About the LLC vs S-Corp Tax Calculator
Once your self-employment income consistently exceeds $50,000–$60,000/year, electing S-Corp status can reduce your self-employment tax bill significantly. The strategy: pay yourself a "reasonable salary" (subject to FICA) and take the remainder as an owner distribution (not subject to SE tax). Our calculator shows exactly how much you would save at different income levels and salary splits.
How to use it
- Enter your estimated annual net self-employment income.
- For S-Corp mode, set your proposed "reasonable salary" (IRS requires this to be market-rate for your role).
- The calculator computes SE tax under LLC and FICA + distribution tax under S-Corp.
- See annual tax savings and the break-even point where S-Corp setup costs pay off.
Formula & methodology
LLC SE tax = Net income × 0.9235 × 0.153. S-Corp FICA = Salary × 0.153 (employer + employee). S-Corp distribution: no SE tax. Annual savings = LLC SE tax − S-Corp FICA. Break-even ≈ Annual S-Corp costs (CPA, payroll) ÷ Monthly savings.
Common use cases
- Deciding when to elect S-Corp status as a growing freelancer
- Calculating how much to pay yourself as S-Corp salary vs distribution
- Comparing LLC (pass-through) vs S-Corp for a new business
- Modeling tax savings before speaking with a CPA
- Understanding why high-earning sole proprietors switch to S-Corps
Frequently asked questions
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