What is Form 1120-S?

Form 1120-S is the U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation. S corporations use this IRS form to report income, deductions, and other tax-related information but do not pay corporate taxes themselves. Instead, profits and losses pass through to shareholders, who report them on their tax returns.

For businesses using Homebase payroll, understanding how Form 1120-S works helps ensure tax compliance and proper payroll reporting for S corporations.

Who needs to file Form 1120-S?

An S corporation must file Form 1120-S if:

It has elected S corporation status with the IRS by filing Form 2553.
It has shareholders who report business profits and losses on their tax returns.
It has business activity within the U.S. and is structured as a corporation.

Information required on Form 1120-S

Form 1120-S includes several key sections:

Income Statement – Reports total revenue, cost of goods sold (if applicable), and net income.
Deductions – Lists business expenses, including salaries, rent, and operating costs.
Shareholder Allocations (Schedule K-1) – Details each shareholder’s profits, losses, and deductions share.
Tax Credits and Payments – Includes applicable business tax credits and estimated tax payments.

When is Form 1120-S due?

The deadline for filing Form 1120-S is March 15 of each year. If an extension is needed, businesses can file Form 7004 to request an automatic 6-month extension, moving the due date to September 15.

How does Form 1120-S affect payroll and taxes?

Since S corporations pass income through to shareholders, payroll tax rules differ from those for C corporations:

Reasonable Compensation Requirement – Shareholders who actively work in the business must be paid a reasonable salary subject to payroll taxes.
No Self-Employment Tax on Distributions – Unlike sole proprietors, S corporation owners pay self-employment taxes only on their salaries, not profit distributions.
Payroll Tax Compliance – Employers must withhold and remit payroll taxes correctly for employee and shareholder wages.

With Homebase payroll, businesses can easily track and manage payroll taxes, ensuring compliance with IRS requirements while avoiding penalties.

How Homebase helps S corporations stay compliant

Filing Form 1120-S is just one part of managing an S corp’s tax obligations. Homebase payroll simplifies payroll tax compliance by:

Automating payroll tax calculations and filings to prevent errors and missed deadlines.
Tracking reasonable shareholder salaries to meet IRS requirements.
Ensuring accurate payroll expense reporting for tax filings.
Providing detailed payroll reports to make tax preparation easier.

Using Homebase, S corporations can focus on running their business without worrying about payroll tax headaches.

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