- March 1, 2018
- By Heather
Sometimes a limited liability company or LLC has a year with no business income or activity. Maybe it’s a newly formed LLC, which hasn’t started doing business yet. Is it an older LLC that hasn’t been formally dissolved? Whatever the reason for no activity, does the LLC need to file a tax return?
LLC tax filingrequirements depend on the way the LLC is taxed. An LLC may bedisregarded as an entity (sole proprietor) for tax purposes, or it may be taxed as a partnership or a corporation.
Let’s take a look at the different scenarios.
LLC treated as a Sole Proprietor or Disregarded Entity
If an LLC has only one owner, or member, the IRS automatically disregards it for federal income tax purposes. This type of LLC is treated the same as a sole proprietor. The member reports the LLC business income and expenses on his or her personal tax return Schedule C.
Filing Requirements for Sole Proprietors
An LLC that is not considered a separate entity from its owner is taxed as a sole proprietor. Therefore, the LLC’s income and expenses are reported as self-employment income on Schedule C of the owner’s personal tax return. A taxpayer is required to file Schedule C if the LLC’s income exceeds $400 for the tax year.
A taxpayer would also want to file a Schedule C to take a loss on a business. The IRS recognizes that many businesses will have a loss in the first few years. Therefore, the IRS allows a loss on a business 3 out of 5 years. After three years of losses, the business would become a hobby in the eyes of the IRS. This would disallow any further loss unless there is a substantial change in the operation to try to turn the business around. I recommend consulting with a tax professional to know if a loss is allowed for your business.
If a sole proprietor LLC did not have business income exceeding $400 nor does it have any expenses to deduct, the taxpayer does not have to file Schedule C. However, the taxpayer still files a personal tax return to report other income.
LLC treated as Partnership
If an LLC has two or more members or owners, the IRS automatically treats it as a partnership. The LLC files an informational partnership tax return (Form 1065). The income and expenses of the partnership pass through to the owners’ personal tax returns. To learn more about pass through income, read this post.
Filing Requirements for an LLC Partnership
An LLC taxed as a partnership files an informational partnership tax return using tax Form 1065. However, if it did not receive any income during the year AND did not have any expenses that it will claim as deductions, then it is not required to file a return.
Thus, an LLC with no business activity that is taxed as a partnership is not required to file a partnership tax return unless there are expenses or credits that the LLC wants to claim.
Taken directly from the IRS website.
Must a partnership or corporation file an information return or income tax return even though it had no income for the year?
Answer:
Partnerships and corporations have different standards for filing an information return or income tax return. A domestic partnership must file an information return unless it neither receives gross income nor pays or incurs any amount treated as a deduction or credit for federal tax purposes.
I would suggest filing the partnership return without any income or expenses just to make sure the IRS doesn’t send you a notice of failure to file. Receiving this notice then makes you prove you had no reason to file in the first place. Generally, I say be proactive. If you have a registered partnership, then file the return for it.
The penalty forlate filingof thepartnership returnis $195 per partner per month or part of a month for which thepartnershipinformationreturnis filedlate, with the penalty capped at 12 months.
LLC treated as a S-Corporation
When an LLC elects to be taxed as a corporation using a Form 8832 with the IRS, the LLC must file a corporate tax return, even if it do not have any income. To clarify, all corporations including S-Corporations MUST file a tax return, even if they do not have any income.
The S-Corporation status happens by filing Form 2553and having approval from ALL shareholders or owners. Without 100% approval from all owners, members or shareholders of S-Corporation election, it cannot happen.
Once an LLC has elected to be treated as a corporation (including an S-Corporation) for tax purposes, it must file a federal income tax return even if the LLC did not engage in any business during the year.
Filing Requirements for an LLC S-Corporation
An LLC that is taxed as an S-Corporation files a tax return usingForm 1120S.
Once again the income and expenses get passed through to its owner, members and/or shareholders. Therefore, the S-Corporation doesn’t itself pay taxes. It simply sends the business income information to the IRS which can be checked on personal returns.
If your business is taxed as an S-corporation and files Form 1120S after the deadline, the IRS charges EACH shareholder a late filing penalty in the amount of $195 for each month, or part of the month, that the return is late for up to 12 months.
To recap
Even if your LLC has no business activity, it is important to understand your LLC tax filing status to know whether it is obligated to file a federal income tax return. Filing required returns on time can help your LLC avoid fines and penalties.
If you’re ready to get started, I suggest using Northwest Registered Agent to help you get registered and for their registered agent service.
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11 Comments
Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.
Kevanreply
at
Hi Heather, I created an LLC sole prop in 2018 and applied for an EIN. I have not had any business activity, received any income or opened a business bank account or Credit Card. It’s all been dormant since I had my business idea. Just got ahead of myself. Do i need to file a separate tax return for the business?
Heather @ Tax Queenreply
at
– In reply to: Kevan
As a sole proprietor there’s no need to file unless you earned over $400 for the business. Since your business had no activity there is no filing requirement.
Kenyetta Johnsonreply
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Hello Tax Queen, I am on disability since 2008, in 2013 I filed for and EIN, and had no profit or revenue. On Jan. 23rd I became an LLC, and I was told that I had to file taxes before I get fined. My question is, without sales, business account and being on disability how can I file taxes for a business that never got off the ground and not filing personal taxes since 2010 because I couldn’t phyiscally work anymore, how do I file?
Heather @ Tax Queenreply
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– In reply to: Kenyetta Johnson
Is the LLC a sole proprietorship?
There are many ways to file a tax return. The IRS has a free e-file option. You can use software like TurboTax or you can higher a professional to help with your return. There are also many places with volunteers who will help file your return for free. You would need to search that out in your community.
Kenyetta Johnsonreply
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– In reply to: Heather @ Tax Queen
ok thank you
Larry Wayne Leachreply
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I don’t believe the advice about LLCs taxed as partnerships not needing to file a return if it had no income and no expenses is accurate. We didn’t file a return for our LLC partnership in 2016 because there was no activity yet and the IRS sent us a letter and fined us. We had to petition them with a letter and file a return to get the fine waived.
Heather Ryanreply
at
– In reply to: Larry Wayne Leach
Here’s the information directly from the IRS website.
Must a partnership or corporation file an information return or income tax return even though it had no income for the year?
Answer:
Partnerships and corporations have different standards for filing an information return or income tax return.
A domestic partnership must file an information return unless it neither receives gross income nor pays or incurs any amount treated as a deduction or credit for federal tax purposes.
Sophia D Jeffriereply
at
Hello Tax Queen, I start a Sole Proprietorship Business as a Ministry in September 2018. I have not had any income for the Ministry but I did purchase a computer and created a website to use for the business. Do I need to file taxes on this or can I place this on my personal returns?
Heather @ Tax Queenreply
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– In reply to: Sophia D Jeffrie
You are allowed to take up to $5,000 of startup expenses. You have to depreciate the computer because it is considered an asset of the business. Startup expenses can result in a loss the first year.
Sophia D Jeffriereply
at
– In reply to: Heather @ Tax Queen
Ok. So, do I have to file this year or can the taxes be carried over to next year without being penalized or without using the benefits of being a startup expense?
Do You Need to File Taxes for an LLC with No Income?reply
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[…] to officially commence operations. Nonetheless, it is vital to know whether your LLC is required to file a tax return even with no […]
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