IRS Treatment of One-Member LLCs
The IRS treats one-member LLCs as sole proprietorships for tax purposes. This means that the LLC itself does not pay taxes and does not have to file a return with the IRS. You must report all profits (or losses) of the LLC on Schedule C and submit it with your 1040 tax return.
Failure to File Penalty
If you fail to file your taxes on time, you’ll likely encounter a Failure to File Penalty. The penalty represents 5% of your unpaid tax liability for each month your return is late, up to 25% of your total unpaid taxes.
LLC Tax Options
LLCs can choose corporate tax status by making a tax election. This allows the LLC to file taxes as a C-corporation or S-corporation. To do so, the LLC must file paperwork with the IRS. The LLC will continue operating legally as an LLC if it chooses corporate tax status.
Filing Taxes
You may not need to file a personal tax return if your income is below a certain level. However, there are reasons you may need or want to file, like claiming tax credits. Use IRS tools to determine if you should file a return.