See exactly how much you'd save (or lose) by electing S Corp status at your income level. Side-by-side comparison with real numbers.
As a default LLC (sole proprietorship), all of your net business income is subject to self-employment tax at 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on 92.35% of net income.
With an S Corp election, you split income into salary (subject to payroll taxes) and distributions (not subject to payroll taxes). The savings come from avoiding the 15.3% tax on the distribution portion.
However, S Corp status adds costs: payroll software ($40-50/month), a separate business tax return ($1,000-2,500/year from a CPA), and quarterly payroll filings. This calculator accounts for those costs to show your true net savings.
The "reasonable salary" must reflect what someone with your skills would earn doing similar work. Setting it too low triggers IRS scrutiny. A common guideline is 40-60% of net income, but this varies by industry. Consult a CPA for your specific situation.
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