Corporations |
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forming a corporation, prospective shareholders exchange money, property, or both, for the corporation's capital stock. A corporation generally takes the same deductions as a sole proprietorship to figure its taxable income. A corporation can also take special deductions. For federal income tax purposes, a C corporation is recognized as a separate taxpaying entity. A corporation conducts business, realizes net income or loss, pays taxes and distributes profits to shareholders.
The profit of a corporation is taxed to the corporation when earned, and then is taxed to the shareholders when distributed as dividends. This creates a double tax. The corporation does not get a tax deduction when it distributes dividends to shareholders. Shareholders cannot deduct any loss of the corporation.
If you are a C corporation or an S corporation use the information in the charts below to help you determine some of the forms that you may be required to file.
Corporations that have assets of $10 million or more and file at least 250 returns annually are required to electronically file their Forms 1120 and 1120S for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2006. For more e-file information, see References/Related Topic listed below.
Chart 1 - Corporation or S Corporation
If you are a C corporation or an S corporation then you may be liable for... |
Use Form... |
Income Tax |
1120 (PDF) or 1120S (PDF) (S corporation)
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Estimated tax |
1120-W (PDF) (corporation only) and 8109 |
Employment taxes:
- Social security and Medicare taxes and income tax withholding
- Federal unemployment (FUTA) tax
- Depositing employment taxes
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941 (PDF) ( 943 (PDF) for farm employees)
940 (PDF) 8109
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Excise Taxes |
Refer to the Excise Tax Web page |
Chart 2 - S Corporation Shareholders
If you are an S corporation
shareholder then you may be liable for... |
Use Form... |
Income Tax |
1040 and Schedule E (PDF) |
Estimated tax |
1040-ES (PDF) |
References/Related Topics
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Page Last Reviewed or Updated: April 23, 2009