Unit 1: Business Entitles & Requirements Flashcards
Can a sole proprietorship have more than one owner?
No, it must be owned by a single person.
A sole proprietorship can have multiple employees though.
Can a sole proprietorship’s ownership be passed onto a new owner?
No, if the business is sold, the new owner must operate under a different sole proprietorship or a different type of entity.
*Sole proprietorships are tied directly to an individual taxpayer.
Do partnerships have to pay income taxes?
No, but they are required to report any income, deductions, gains, or losses from its operation.
In the event that a partnership is audited and found to have underreported its income, who is responsible for paying the income tax?
The partnership itself. This is also known as the “Centralized Partnership Audit Regime” (CPAR)
Requirements for a partnership to elect out of CPAR:
- Must have 100 or fewer partners during the year
- Hos only “Eligible” partners which include
- Individuals (Natural persons only)
- C Corporations or foreign entities classified as corporations
- S corporations
- Estates of deceased partners
In a CPAR, does the partnership representative have to be a partner?
No, the representative can be either an individual or a business entity and must have a substantial presence in the United States
In a CPAR, what does the partnership representative do?
They have the authority to make decisions for the partnership during the course of an audit, and decisions made by the representative are binding on the partnership and all of its partners
How many partners can a single partnership have?
An unlimited amount
1065
A partnership annual tax return
K-1
Given to each partner of a partnership. It shows the income and losses allocated to each partner
Limited Partnership: how is it created
LPs are created at the state level
- You a required to obtain a Certificate of Limited Partnership or Certificate of Formation which must generally be filed with the Secretary of State where the partnership chooses to do business.
What is an LLP?
Limited Liability Partnership
- LLP is an entity that is formed under state law and is generally used for specific professional services, such as those offered by a law firm or CPA firm.
In a LLP, what partners are allowed to actively participate?
All partners actively participate in management affairs but are provided limited liability protection.
LLP: What are the partners liable for?
A partner in a LLP generally would not be personally liable for the partnership debts or the malpractice of other partners. They would only be at risk for their own malpractice and/or interest in the partnership’s assets.
If both spouses materially participate as the only members of a jointly owned and operated business, the business may be treated as:
Qualified Joint Venture (QVJ)
What is the main filing benefit of a QJV?
It allows a married couple to avoid the complexity of filing a partnership return but still allows each spouse to take credit for self-employment earnings from the business for Social Security purposes
QJV: How are business items reported and how do taxes flow to partners?
- Items of business income, gain, loss deduction, and credit are split between the spouses in accordance with their respective interests in the business.
- Spouses then file separate Schedules C and separate Schedules SE.
QVJ: Can spouses use MFS?
No, you must MFJ to qualify
Are state-approved entities (such as LLCs) allowed to file as qualified joint ventures?
No
QVJ: What is the narrow exception that allows a state-approved entity to file as a qualified joint venture?
Married couples who co-own and operate an MMLLC (multi-member LLC) in a community property state may still file on two Schedules C, as long as they agree to file a joint return.
Are QVJs required to file a 1065?
No, both spouses directly report on their Schedules C
Are MMLLCs required to file a 1065?
Yes
What is the main difference between C & S corporations? (General answer)
How they are taxed
How many shareholders can a C corporation have?
An unlimited amount
1120
Used by a C corporation to file an annual tax return. It’s used to report its net income and losses and pay tax on its income.
Does a C corporation receive a tax deduction when it distributes dividends to shareholders?
No
Can shareholders of a C corporation deduct any losses from the corporation?
No
What rate are C corporations taxed at?
A flat 21% rate, regardless of their size or business activity.
Are C corporations subject to AMT?
No, the TCJA permanently repealed the corporate alternative minimum tax.
How is a S corporation taxed?
They are generally not subject to tax; instead, their income, losses, deductions, and credits are passed through directly to their shareholders in a manner similar to a partnership.
Is an S corporation itself responsible for income tax on certain built-in gains and passive investment income?
Yes, but it’s not common.
1120-S
Annual income tax return used by S corporations to report its income or loss.
Do S corps use a K-1?
Yes, to report each shareholder’s applicable share of income or losses.
What is special about S corporations?
Because shareholders report pass-through income or loss on their individual tax returns, the shareholders of S corporations are able to avoid double federal taxation on their corporate income.