The Benefits of an S-Corporation: How to Set Up an S-Corp for Optimal Savings

Priscilla Wolfe
Feb 8
2 min read

Updated: Aug 1

Setting up an S-Corporation (S-Corp) can offer significant financial benefits for business owners. If you're contemplating taking your business to the next level, an S-Corp might just be your golden ticket. Let’s dive into how it works and the potential advantages it can bring to your wallet and lifestyle.

Two Income Streams: Wages (W2) and K1 Distributions

With an S-Corp, you have the flexibility to pay yourself in two ways:

Wages (W2): This is your regular salary, much like any other employee.
K1 Distributions: These are your share of the profits from the business.
The Benefits of an S-Corporation: How to Set Up an S-Corp for Optimal Savings

Tax Implications on Wages and K1 Distributions

When you pay yourself wages, you are subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes, also known as FICA taxes. Here’s the breakdown:

Social Security Taxes: 12.4% total (shared between employer and employee)
Medicare Taxes: 2.9% total (shared between employer and employee)
Total FICA Taxes: 15.3%

The Savings on K1 Income

Here’s where the magic happens: K1 distributions are not subject to FICA taxes. This means you save the combined 15.3% Social Security and Medicare taxes on all of the K1 income.

The Financial Advantage

Per IRS guidelines, a reasonable wage is approximately $5000/month. Let’s take a look at how much you can save:

On the $5000 monthly wages, you'll pay the 15.3% FICA taxes.
However, on your K1 income, you don't pay any FICA taxes.

The savings from not paying 15.3% FICA taxes on the K1 income can add up significantly, allowing you to allocate these savings towards other things, like a fantastic vacation. And because Social Security has a regressive formula, this won’t greatly impact your benefits as you might think.

Conclusion

Setting up an S-Corp can be a strategic move for those looking to maximize their income by minimizing tax burdens. By structuring your income in the form of wages and K1 distributions, you can take advantage of the tax benefits and keep more of your hard-earned money.