Discussion:New Company starting as LLC, then electing S-Corp

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{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=JR1|Date=January 19, 2007|Text=I happen to like most attorneys. And that said, don't let him drive. The problem is that the attorney doesn't live with the tax issues later and many times doesn't care. He's got the legal structure set and done, and it's over as far as he's concerned. Unless that attorney understands tax law, and many do not, sadly...you're the one who will be living and maintaining whatever he cooks up. He has to understand the consequences or help you understand that there are none.}} {{ForumReplyPost|UserID=JR1|Date=January 19, 2007|Text=I happen to like most attorneys. And that said, don't let him drive. The problem is that the attorney doesn't live with the tax issues later and many times doesn't care. He's got the legal structure set and done, and it's over as far as he's concerned. Unless that attorney understands tax law, and many do not, sadly...you're the one who will be living and maintaining whatever he cooks up. He has to understand the consequences or help you understand that there are none.}}
 +
 +{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=DianeOffutt|Date=19 January 2007|Text=I agree (and now that I just finished discussing this with my client, he agrees). My client is meeting with his attorney and requesting Articles of Incorporation. I advised my client as soon as I SEE those papers we can file the necessary S-Corp election, Georgia Dept of Labor and Revenue ID numbers. The federal EIN number will be applied for today (now that we are clear on the legal structure).
 +
 +Thanks again for all the great feedback.
 +
 +Diane}}

Revision as of 15:40, 19 January 2007

Discussion Forum Index --> Tax Questions --> New Company starting as LLC, then electing S-Corp

DianeOffutt (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
Hi all,

I have a client, we are applying for an LLC then filing Form 2553 to elect S-Corp status. My question, when we file for LLC, since we know we will elect S-Corp shouldn't we file as CORP and the legal name of the company will be XYZ, Corp.

I am not sure if we must start with XYZ, LLC, then AFTER we file Form 2553 we can change the company name to XYZ, Corp.

Not sure if I am making too much of this, maybe either way is ok...but thought I would run it by this forum to see if anyone else has had the experience.

Thanks for all your help,

Diane Offutt Woodstock, Georgia

Bottom Line (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
Don't know anything about GA law but an LLC and a Corp are two different types of entities. Don't think you can use the "corp" name for an LLC (but every state is different). The real question is which type of entity is best.

DianeOffutt (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
LLC is easier to form and S-Corp status will allow profits free of SE taxation (client will be taking a reasonable salary. I will check the GA law before filing the articles of organization and go from there.

Thanks for replying Bottom Line.

Diane Offutt

Kevinh5 (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
Hi Dianne, I used to be in Woodstock.

In GA, the name needs to say "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company". You can get the rules at the Secretary of State's website.

Kevin

Pegoo (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
I don't see how it is easier to form vs a CORP / then electing S status. The only difference I see is State Filing Fees may be differnt for each type of entity.

Kevinh5 (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
Sometimes the client comes to us after the attorney has already LLC'ed them (they used to incorporate them). In our discussion with the client, we realize they SHOULD be taxed as an S-Corp. The election can save them from the IRS without having to go back to the attorney.

DianeOffutt (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
Thanks Kevinh5. Yes, I did go to the SOS website and found exactly what you said. Other than Articles of Organization for an LLC versus Articles of Incorporation and stating shares issued it seems it WOULD have been easier to form the corp THEN the S-corp election. Now when I see LLC instead of thinking either a PARTNERSHIP return form 1065 (more than one member in the LLC) or a Schedule C (single-member LLC) I need to truly see the letter from IRS advising what tax form to use. So far all my clients were either form 1065 or schedule c...so this problem is my first encounter.

Thank you again for all your help Kevinh5.

Diane Offutt

Kevinh5 (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
Diane - where is your practice? I was on Bells Ferry Rd north of Eagle Drive.

DianeOffutt (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
Company name Accounting Connections, LLC, in Towne Lake (The Fairways), home based business since Jan 04. My website is accountingconnections.org.

Do you still have a practice and if so, where?

Kevinh5 (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
I'm up in Asheville, NC now. Trying to sell my building on Bells Ferry in front of the new Super(?)WalMart and 1031 into something up here. We still have a home in Marietta - used to live in Sturbridge off Eagle Drive before Towne Lake was started. My website is www.myhdvest.com\blue

DianeOffutt (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
I will check out your website. If my business was larger I would look into purchasing a brick and morter office. However it is still managable as a home based business; most of my clients are via remote access or they are located within 10 minutes from me.

Nice to meet you and hope to talk to you more in this forum.

Diane

DianeOffutt (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
Kevin,
I just went to your site and noticed you are an enrolled agent. I am in the MAcc program at Kennesaw State College. I plan on sitting for the EA exam after graduation. It is nice to meet a fellow Georgian. I will keep you and your firm in mind if ever I come across a client in need of your financial services. My firm specializes in QuickBooks and income tax returns. We do not offer financial planning. 

Take care, Diane

JR1 (talk|edits) said:

January 18, 2007
Not to hijack the love-fest..(and hey, I was in Kennesaw last spring!) but my pref would be to definitely form a corp if a corp is what you want. There's just too much uncertainty in all this check the box stuff going on. Since you want a corp, form one.

Will (talk|edits) said:

18 January 2007
Not to mention the 100+ years of law backing the corporation in state and federal courts...

DianeOffutt (talk|edits) said:

19 January 2007
I agree, but for some reason my client's attorney seems to think this way is better???? I meet with my client today, so you KNOW I will be discussing this further with him. It just makes more sense to call the company WHAT it really is (in my simplistic approach to issues).

Thanks for all the input. Oh, and JR1 I hope you enjoyed your stay in Kennesaw.

Thanks for all the feedback. This is a great forum...informative and friendly.

Diane

JR1 (talk|edits) said:

January 19, 2007
I happen to like most attorneys. And that said, don't let him drive. The problem is that the attorney doesn't live with the tax issues later and many times doesn't care. He's got the legal structure set and done, and it's over as far as he's concerned. Unless that attorney understands tax law, and many do not, sadly...you're the one who will be living and maintaining whatever he cooks up. He has to understand the consequences or help you understand that there are none.

DianeOffutt (talk|edits) said:

19 January 2007
I agree (and now that I just finished discussing this with my client, he agrees). My client is meeting with his attorney and requesting Articles of Incorporation. I advised my client as soon as I SEE those papers we can file the necessary S-Corp election, Georgia Dept of Labor and Revenue ID numbers. The federal EIN number will be applied for today (now that we are clear on the legal structure).

Thanks again for all the great feedback.

Diane