How to Form an S Corporation

A subchapter "S" Corporation is a business that chooses special tax status after it becomes incorporated. An S Corporation limits the owners' liability of business debts and allows them to save money by taking distribution payments as opposed to salary. Once your business becomes incorporated, it's simple to change to S Corporation status.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Begin by forming a regular corporation (C Corporation). The Company Corporation can help you form a corporation in any state. Call them at [phone] and have them file the proper paperwork with your state to form the corporation.
2. Receive the paperwork back from the state. The papers will include your Employer Identification Number. You need this number to become an S Corporation.
3. Obtain the form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation. You can download this form from the Internal Revenue Service website.
4. Follow the instructions and fill out the form completely. Be sure to include your Employer Identification Number, date and state of incorporation.
5. Select a type of tax year and fill out the additional information on the second page of the form, if necessary. Sign and date the form before returning it to the IRS.
6. Mail the form to the proper IRS office. If your business is incorporated in Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Virginia, West Virginia or Wisconsin, mail the form to: Internal Revenue Service Center, Cincinnati, OH 45999. In all other states, mail the form to IRS Center, Ogden, UT 84201. Once the form is filed, that's all you need to do to achieve S Corporation status.