LLC vs. S-Corp Tax Calculator
The S-Corp election is one of the most powerful tax strategies available to small business owners — but it only makes sense above a certain income threshold. Enter your numbers and see exactly where you stand.
How the S-Corp Election Saves Money
As an LLC, 100% of your net profit is subject to self-employment tax (15.3%). As an S-Corp, only your salary is subject to payroll taxes — your distributions are not. That difference is the core of the strategy.
SE Tax on All Profit
As an LLC, every dollar of net profit is subject to the 15.3% self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare). On $150k of profit, that's ~$21,000 in SE tax alone.
Salary + Distributions
As an S-Corp, you split income into a reasonable salary (subject to payroll tax) and distributions (not subject to payroll tax). Only the salary portion is taxed at 15.3%.
The Breakeven Point
S-Corps cost ~$2,000-$4,000/year more to operate (payroll service, extra accounting, state fees). The election only makes sense when your SE tax savings exceed that overhead.
At a Glance
When Does the Election Make Sense?
Under ~$50k profit
Overhead usually outweighs the SE tax savings. Stay an LLC.
~$50k-$80k profit
The breakeven zone — savings start to cover S-Corp overhead.
$80k+ profit
SE tax savings clearly exceed overhead. The election pays off.
The calculator below will tell you exactly where your numbers fall on this curve.
Run Your Numbers
All fields use 2025 federal tax law. State taxes are not included.
Not sure? Use our S-Corp Salary Calculator
Typical range: $2,000-$4,500/year
2025 standard: $14,600 (single) / $29,200 (MFJ)
Common Questions
What income level does an S-Corp election make sense?+
As a general rule of thumb, the S-Corp election starts to make financial sense when your net business profit consistently exceeds $50,000-$60,000 per year. Below that threshold, the overhead costs of running an S-Corp (payroll service, additional accounting, state fees) typically exceed the SE tax savings. The exact breakeven depends on your salary, overhead costs, and state taxes.
What is 'reasonable compensation' and why does it matter?+
The IRS requires S-Corp owner-employees to pay themselves a 'reasonable salary' — meaning a salary comparable to what you would pay someone else to do the same work. If your salary is too low, the IRS can reclassify distributions as wages and assess back payroll taxes, penalties, and interest. Our S-Corp Salary Calculator uses BLS May 2024 national wage data to help you establish a defensible reasonable compensation figure.
Does this calculator include state taxes?+
No — this calculator models federal taxes only. State income taxes vary significantly by state. Montana, for example, has a top marginal rate of 5.9%, while Washington has no state income tax. Your actual savings will differ based on your state. Contact us for a state-specific analysis.
What is the QBI deduction (Section 199A)?+
The Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction allows eligible S-Corp owners to deduct up to 20% of their qualified business income (essentially, the S-Corp distributions/K-1 income) from their taxable income. This deduction is subject to income phase-outs and W-2 wage limitations for certain service businesses. The calculator applies a simplified 20% deduction to distributions — your actual deduction may differ.
Can I switch from an LLC to an S-Corp mid-year?+
Yes, but there are timing rules. To be treated as an S-Corp for the current tax year, the election (IRS Form 2553) generally must be filed by March 15 of that year (for calendar-year businesses). Elections filed after that date take effect the following year, unless you qualify for late election relief. We can help you time the election correctly.
Ready to Make the Switch?
The calculator gives you the federal picture. We'll give you the full picture — including state taxes, retirement plan opportunities, health insurance deductions, and the exact steps to elect S-Corp status correctly.