How much would S-Corp election save you in taxes?
Enter your business profit and a reasonable owner salary. We calculate the self-employment tax you would save by electing S-Corp status (IRS Form 2553) vs staying on default LLC pass-through taxation.
Three things that make S-Corp savings calculator useful in the real world.
Not a calculator that ships you to a paywall after the result.
Plug in your real numbers
Net income, state, and filing status. We compute the SE-tax delta against staying default LLC.
See the actual breakeven
We surface the income point where the payroll cost flips the math in favor of S-Corp.
File when you are ready
One click to Form 2553 with the IRS. Penalty-free guarantee covers the deadline.
Your numbers
Where the savings come from.
By default, an LLC owner pays self-employment tax (15.3% combined Social Security + Medicare) on the entire net profit. At $120,000 net profit, that is about $16,948 in SE tax alone (the 15.3% applies up to the Social Security wage base of $168,600 for 2026).
With an S-Corp election (filed via IRS Form 2553), the owner is treated as both shareholder and employee. The owner pays themselves a "reasonable salary" via payroll, which is subject to payroll tax (15.3% combined employer + employee FICA). The remaining profit is taken as a distribution, which is NOT subject to self-employment tax.
At $120,000 net profit with a $60,000 salary: payroll tax applies to $60,000 (around $9,180), and the remaining $60,000 distribution is exempt from SE tax. Savings: about $7,768 per year.
Important caveat: the IRS requires the salary to be "reasonable" for the work performed. Setting an unreasonably low salary to maximize distributions is a known audit trigger. Most CPAs recommend 40 to 60 percent of net profit as a defensible salary, depending on the industry and the owner's actual work.
The thresholds where it is worth it.
Below $50-60k net profit, S-Corp election usually is not worth the payroll complexity (~$40/mo + year-end filings). Between $60-80k, the math starts working. Above $80k, the savings typically justify the election decisively. Above $168,600 (the SS wage base), savings cap on the Social Security portion but Medicare savings continue.
Related reading, from the library.
The service handles it for you. These guides explain it, for the owners who want the whole picture first.
What Is an S Corp? S Corporations Explained (2026)What is an S corp? A plain-English 2026 guide: the election (Form 2553), eligibility rules, how salary plus distributions saves...
Read the article →
S-Corp Reasonable Salary: How to Set It and Defend It (2026)S-corp reasonable salary in 2026: the IRS reasonable compensation standard, the factors that set your number, why the 60/40 rule is...
Read the article →
LLC vs S-Corp election: when to actually switchThe S-Corp election can save thousands in self-employment tax. It also adds payroll costs. Where the breakeven is, and how to file Form...
Read the article →Common questions.
How accurate is this calculator?
This is a federal-only estimate. State tax impacts (state income tax, state-level S-Corp taxes like CA's 1.5% on S-Corps) are not included. It assumes a single owner-employee. Multi-shareholder S-Corps have more complex math.
What is "reasonable compensation"?
The IRS requires owner-employees of S-Corps to be paid a salary "reasonable" for the work they perform, comparable to what an outside hire would earn. Common benchmarks: 40 to 60 percent of net profit for service businesses, or industry-comparable salary data. Setting it too low is a known audit trigger.
Do I have to be an LLC first?
No. Both LLCs and Corporations can elect S-Corp tax treatment via Form 2553. If you do not have an entity yet, you form the entity first (LLC or Corp), then file Form 2553.
When is the deadline to file Form 2553?
For new entities: within 2 months and 15 days of formation, for the current tax year. For existing entities: by March 15 of the year you want the election to apply. Late filings sometimes qualify for relief under Rev. Proc. 2013-30.
What does it actually cost to be an S-Corp?
The election itself is free with the IRS. Ongoing: payroll for the owner-employee (~$40/mo service fee + 15.3% payroll tax on salary), Form 1120-S annual return (more complex than Schedule C; typically $500-$1,500 in CPA fees), and additional state filings depending on state.
Can I undo an S-Corp election?
Yes, by filing a statement with the IRS revoking the election. After revocation, you generally cannot re-elect for 5 years.
What states do not recognize federal S-Corp election?
Most states recognize it automatically. A few (New Jersey, New York, others) require separate state-level S-Corp elections. California taxes S-Corps at 1.5% of net income at the state level despite federal pass-through treatment.
Make the savings real.
We file IRS Form 2553 for $99, or include it on the Growth plan. Setup takes about 15 minutes; the election applies for the current tax year if filed before March 15.
How we deliver, end-to-end.
Four-step path from request to confirmation. State and IRS turnaround varies; our steps run in parallel where possible to compress the timeline.
Intake + scope
You tell us what you need through a short intake form (or a call for complex matters). We confirm scope, surface any gating issues (deadlines, missing documents, entity status), and quote any state fees that pass through at cost.
Prepare + verify
Our specialists draft the filing, verify entity details against state databases, run internal QA, and route any items needing your sign-off. You see drafts before anything gets submitted.
File with the authority
We submit directly to the state Secretary of State, FinCEN, IRS, USPTO, or whichever authority your filing requires. We pay state fees at cost and track the submission identifier in your account.
Confirmation + vault
Stamped certificate, IRS notice, or filing receipt arrives in your encrypted document vault the moment we receive it. Next filing deadline auto-added to your compliance calendar where applicable.
Built on the same infrastructure used by 220,000+ businesses.
Security-first, encrypted
Independent annual security audit covering access control, change management, incident response, and data handling. Current report on request.
All 51 US jurisdictions
Every state plus DC plus Puerto Rico - direct filings, not third-party reseller. We hold registered-agent qualifications in every state we operate.
Deadline guarantee
If we miss a filing deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we pay the state penalty. Specific to each plan and the filings it includes.
4.9 from 8,200+ verified reviews
Independently verified by Trustpilot + Google + our own NPS infrastructure. Customer success team within reach by email, chat, or phone.
60-day money-back promise
Change your mind in the first 60 days and we refund our service fee in full. State filing fees pass through at cost and are non-refundable once paid to the state.
E&O insured
Errors and omissions coverage protects you from service errors. Carrier and certificate available on request for enterprise clients.