South Carolina LLC Taxes

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LLC TaxesAfter you start a South Carolina LLC, you’ll need to pay taxes.

Paying taxes is an important part of running a business, but figuring out which taxes you need to pay can be a pain.

This lesson will provide you with general resources and the basics of South Carolina LLC tax filing requirements.

What taxes does a Limited Liability Company pay in South Carolina?

Each LLC has a different tax situation, so the taxes paid for a South Carolina LLC varies.
LLC Cost

The amount of taxes owed for your LLC depends on rules like:

  • how your LLC is taxed
  • state and local tax rules
  • any sales and use tax requirements, or
  • whether you have employees

Additionally, some business types are required to register for industry-specific taxes.

Matt Horwitz, founder of LLC University®
Pro Tip: We recommend hiring an accountant to ensure your LLC meets all of its tax obligations.

We also recommend getting an EIN Number for your LLC. An EIN is also called a Federal Tax Identification Number. They mean the same thing.

Not only will an EIN number be used to open an LLC bank account, but it will also be used for filing taxes with the local, state, and federal governments.

LLC pass-through taxation (Who pays the taxes?)

By default, LLCs don’t pay taxes.

Instead, the LLC Members are responsible for reporting the income (or losses) on their personal 1040 tax return. The Members pay taxes on any LLC profits. This is because of LLC pass-through taxation.

Simply put, pass-through taxation means the responsibility for reporting tax information from an LLC “passes through” the LLC to the LLC Members.

How are LLCs taxed in South Carolina?

By default, a South Carolina LLC is taxed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) based on the number of Members the LLC has. Then the South Carolina Department of Revenue honors this and taxes your LLC the same way at the state level.

An LLC with 1 owner (Single-Member LLC) is taxed like a Sole Proprietorship.

An LLC with 2 or more owners (Multi-Member LLC) is taxed like a Partnership.

The above are referred to as the “default status“. Meaning, they are automatically applied based on the number of LLC Members.

Alternatively, you have the option of requesting an “elective status” for your LLC. This is done by filing an extra form with the IRS. Once granted, this elective status means the IRS will treat your LLC as a Corporation (either an S-Corporation or C-Corporation) for tax purposes.

Note: Your South Carolina LLC Operating Agreement should also include information about how your LLC is taxed.

State Tax ID Number

After your LLC is approved, you can obtain a South Carolina State Tax ID Number with the Department of Revenue.

You can register for an SC Tax ID Number online using MyDORWAY.

Federal Income Taxes

There are several different options for how the IRS can treat your LLC for tax purposes.

Single-Member LLC taxes (default status)

The IRS treats all Single-Member LLCs as Disregarded Entities for tax purposes. This just means that the IRS doesn’t expect the LLC to file its own federal income tax return.

Instead, the owner of the Single-Member LLC files the return (and pays the federal income taxes).

How the LLC pays federal income tax is determined by who owns the LLC:

Multi-Member LLC taxes (default status)

If an LLC has two or more owners, the LLC is taxed like a Partnership.

The LLC needs to file a 1065 Partnership Return and issue a Schedule K-1 to the LLC owners.

The K-1s report each owner’s distributive share of profits. And the K-1 income “flows through” to the owners. The income taxes are then paid by each owner on their personal income tax return (Form 1040).

Husband and Wife LLC taxes

You may have heard that in some states, a husband and wife LLC has the option to file taxes as a Single-Member LLC (aka Qualified Joint Venture) instead of a Multi-Member LLC.

This is true for community property states (like Texas). That said, South Carolina isn’t a community property state, which means Qualified Joint Ventures are not available in this state.

Electing to have your LLC taxed as a Corporation

Instead of the default statuses above, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) can be taxed like a Corporation.

Note: We recommend speaking with an accountant before making a corporate election.

There are two types of corporate elections:

  • S-Corporation
  • C-Corporation

LLC taxed as an S-Corporation (elective status)

By filing Form 2553 with the IRS, your LLC can request to be taxed like an S-Corporation.

Being taxed as an S-Corp can help businesses (with established profits) save money on self-employment taxes.

Tip: There are additional expenses to having your LLC taxed as an S-Corporation Most new business owners shouldn’t make this tax election until their business is established and revenue is consistent. Once there is at least $70,000 in annual net income per LLC Member, we recommend speaking to your accountant about this option.

LLC taxed as an C-Corporation (elective status)

By filing Form 8832 with the IRS, your LLC can request to be taxed like a C-Corporation.

Being taxed as a C-Corp can help large employers save money on healthcare fringe benefits.

Note: This election is not common. Most of our readers don’t choose to have their LLC taxed as a C-Corporation.

South Carolina State Income Tax for South Carolina LLCs

Single-Member LLCs in South Carolina: The LLC itself usually doesn’t file a state-level return. However, the owner files a personal state-level return that includes the LLC’s profits or losses.

Multi-Member LLCs in South Carolina: The LLC itself may need to file a Partnership return at the state-level. And the owners file a personal state-level return that include the LLC’s profits or losses.

There are other types of South Carolina business tax that apply to certain industries and types of businesses.

We recommend hiring an accountant to prepare and file your state income taxes.

You can also contact the South Carolina Department of Revenue for more information about South Carolina state taxes.

Local Income Tax for South Carolina LLCs

You and/or your LLC may need to file and pay income taxes with your local municipality (town, city, county, etc.).

We recommend hiring an accountant to prepare and file your local income taxes.

You can also contact your municipality to check on their requirements.

South Carolina Sales Tax

If you sell products to consumers in South Carolina, you may need to collect sales tax and get a Seller’s Permit.

A Seller’s Permit is the license that allows you to collect sales tax on retail sales in the state where you do business. It’s sometimes also called a:

  • resale license
  • wholesale license
  • sales tax permit/license
  • reseller permit

They all mean the same thing and we may use these terms interchangeably.

You can get a Seller’s Permit online from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) using the Business Tax Application.

And you can read more information about South Carolina sales tax from these South Carolina DOR resources:

For more information on permits, read South Carolina Business Licenses and Permits.

And if you have any questions about whether you need a Seller’s Permit, you can contact the South Carolina Department of Revenue at 1-844-898-8542.

Tip: Save time by hiring an expert. We recommend using TaxJar. They'll help you register for, collect, and pay sales tax.

Business Personal Property Tax

All businesses that have personal property or lease equipment to a business must file a Business Personal Property Tax return.

The Business Personal Property Tax is a tax on the furniture, fixtures and equipment that are owned and used to operate a business. Inventory, land and buildings should not be included.

It is due each year within 4 months following the end of your business accounting period (so April 30th if year-end is December 31).

Once you file this tax return, the State will send an assessment to the County where your business is registered. Then, the County will send a bill for the taxes due to the business after September 1st.

Payment must be made to the County Treasurer no later than January 15th of the following year.

You can set up your account online at MyDORWAY, or by submitting Form PT-100 by mail.

South Carolina LLC Payroll Taxes

If your South Carolina LLC will have employees, you must submit payroll taxes. Payroll taxes are essentially a group of taxes and filings, including:

  • Federal income tax withholding
  • State income tax withholding
  • Social Security tax
  • Medicare tax
  • Federal unemployment taxes (FUTA)
  • State unemployment taxes (SUTA)
  • Local/county deductions
  • Employee deductions

As an employer in South Carolina, you need to set up payroll, withhold payroll taxes from employees’ paychecks, and then submit those filings and taxes to various state and government agencies.

Although you can file payroll taxes yourself, the calculations can be burdensome and very complex. And if done improperly can lead to penalties and fines. Most people hire a payroll company or ask their accountant for help.

Our favorite payroll company is Gusto Payroll. They’ll automate and take care of your payroll taxes.

For more South Carolina payroll tax resources, please see the references section at the bottom of this page.

Managing your books & staying organized

You can keep track of income and expenses using Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. Or you can use software to help automate things and save time.

The accounting software we recommend is Quickbooks Online.

Working with an accountant

As you can see, figuring out the different types of taxes you owe can be complicated, let alone how to properly fill out all the forms. And doing taxes improperly or missing deadlines can be harmful to your business

We strongly recommend working with an experienced accountant in South Carolina to help make sure you file your federal, state, and local taxes correctly.

Check out our guide on how to find an accountant.

South Carolina Department of Revenue Contact Information

There are other types of South Carolina business tax that apply to certain industries and types of businesses.

You can contact the South Carolina Department of Revenue at 803-898-5444 for more information about South Carolina state taxes.

South Carolina LLC Taxes FAQs

Do I have to pay an annual fee for my LLC in South Carolina?

No, you don’t have to pay an annual fee to keep your LLC open in South Carolina.

While many states require businesses to file an Annual Report, South Carolina doesn’t require this annual filing.

How much is an LLC in South Carolina?

A South Carolina LLC Costs $110 to form (to file your LLC Articles of Organization).

Do I need to file a South Carolina state tax return for my LLC?

Maybe – it depends on what type of LLC you have.

Single-Member LLC taxed as a Sole Proprietorship: No. You only need to file your personal tax return (Federal Form 1040 and South Carolina Form SC 1040) and include your LLC profits on the return.

Multi-Member LLC taxed as a Partnership: Yes. Your LLC must file an IRS Form 1065 and a South Carolina Partnership Return (SC 1065).

LLC taxed as a Corporation: Yes. Your LLC must file tax returns with the IRS and the South Carolina Department of Revenue to pay your South Carolina income tax. Check with your accountant to make sure you file all the correct documents.

How do I know my LLC tax classification?

You can tell your LLC’s tax classification by looking at how many Members are in your LLC.

This is because LLCs receive their tax classification from the IRS based on the number of Members (owners) your LLC has.

If you have one Member, your LLC is taxed as a Sole Proprietorship.

If your LLC has more than one Member, your LLC is taxed as a Partnership.

This is called being taxed in your default status. Meaning, you don’t have to file any paperwork to let the IRS know that’s how your LLC will be taxed because they tax LLCs that way by default.

However, in order for your LLC to be taxed as a Corporation, you or your accountant would have to file paperwork with the IRS letting them know you’ve chosen to be taxed as a Corporation.

And then the IRS would mail you an Approval Letter to confirm you’ve chosen the Corporate tax election for your LLC.

Note: Being taxed as a Corporation is rare for LLCs, so most people don’t need to worry about this.

And if you’re still unsure about how your LLC is taxed, we recommend calling your accountant or the IRS (1-800-829-4933). To speak to a live person at the IRS, press option 1, option 1 again, and then option 3.

How to start an LLC in South Carolina?

Here are the steps for starting an LLC in South Carolina:

  1. Choose an LLC name and make sure it’s available
  2. Choose who will be your South Carolina Registered Agent
  3. File the South Carolina LLC Articles of Organization
  4. Complete and sign an LLC Operating Agreement
  5. Get a Tax ID Number (EIN) from the IRS
  6. Open an LLC bank account
  7. Check whether you need a business or sales tax license in South Carolina
Matt Horwitz
Matt Horwitz
Matt Horwitz has been the leading expert on LLC education for the past decade. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed simple and actionable instructions to start an LLC that other companies weren't offering. He's cited by Entrepreneur Magazine, Yahoo Finance, and the US Chamber of Commerce, and was featured by CNBC and InventRight.
 
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.

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2 comments on “South Carolina Taxes”

Disclaimer: Nothing on this page shall be interpreted as legal or tax advice. Rules and regulations vary by location. They also change over time and are specific to your situation. Furthermore, this comment section is provided so people can share their thoughts and experience. Please consult a licensed professional if you have legal or tax questions.

  1. Matt,
    Thank you, thank you, thank you. I would not have been able to set up my LLC confidently without your very clear step-by-step video instructions.
    Bless you,
    Guy

    • Guy, thank you so much for the kind words! It means a lot. I’m so glad we were able to help you in your entrepreneurial journey!

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