Question 1

What is the difference between owner salary and distributions?

Accepted Answer

Salary is a fixed, regular payment subject to payroll taxes (Social Security, Medicare, federal and state income tax). Distributions are profit withdrawals taxed only at income tax rates, with no payroll taxes. S-corp owners must pay themselves a reasonable salary before taking distributions.

Question 2

What is a reasonable salary for an S-corp owner?

Accepted Answer

The IRS requires S-corp owners to pay themselves a salary comparable to what they would earn doing similar work for another company. Research industry salary data for your role, location, and experience level. Setting it too low invites an IRS audit.

Question 3

How much can I save with the salary vs. distribution split?

Accepted Answer

The savings come from avoiding the 15.3% self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare) on distributions. If your business earns $150,000 and you pay yourself $80,000 in salary, you avoid roughly $10,700 in payroll taxes on the $70,000 distributed.

Question 4

Do I need to be an S-corp to split salary and distributions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this strategy primarily benefits S-corps. Sole proprietors and single-member LLCs taxed as disregarded entities pay self-employment tax on all net income. Electing S-corp status enables the salary/distribution split, but it comes with additional filing requirements and costs.

Question 5

What happens if the IRS says my salary is too low?

Accepted Answer

The IRS can reclassify your distributions as salary, which means you owe back payroll taxes, penalties, and interest on the reclassified amount. They look at industry salary surveys, your hours worked, your experience, and the company's revenue. The safest approach is to document why your salary is reasonable before setting it.

Question 6

How do I decide the right salary-to-distribution ratio?

Accepted Answer

A common starting point is 60% salary and 40% distribution, but the right split depends on your industry, role, and total business income. Set salary based on comparable market rates for your position. Everything above that (after taxes and expenses) can flow as distributions.

Question 7

Are S-corp distributions subject to any taxes?

Accepted Answer

Distributions avoid payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare), but they are still subject to federal and state income tax. They flow through to your personal return on Schedule K-1. The tax savings come specifically from skipping the 15.3% self-employment tax portion.

Salary vs Distribution Calculator for Law Firm

Salary vs Distribution Calculator

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