T
The Daily Insight

Are LLC profits taxed as ordinary income?

Author

James Williams

Published Mar 28, 2026

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. As the sole owner of your LLC, you must report all profits (or losses) of the LLC on Schedule C and submit it with your 1040 tax return.

Do you pay self-employment tax on LLC income?

Owners of a single-member LLC are not employees and instead must pay self-employment tax on their earnings from the business. Multi-member LLCs and Self-Employment Taxes – Generally, the IRS treats multi-member LLCs as partnerships.

How are LLC members taxed on their income?

Most states tax LLC profits the same way the IRS does: The LLC owners pay taxes to the state on their personal returns, while the LLC itself does not pay a state tax. Additional taxes in some states. A few states, however, do charge the LLC a tax based on the amount of income the LLC makes, in addition to the income tax its owners pay.

How is a LLC taxed as a sole proprietorship?

Being a disregarded entity means that the LLC is taxed in the same way as a sole proprietorship. That is, the information about the LLC’s income and expenses, and its net income is calculated by preparing a Schedule C. The net income from the Schedule C is brought over to the owner’s personal tax return (Form 1040 or 1040-SR). 1 

How is becoming a LLC could save taxes under the tax cuts?

How Becoming an LLC Could Save Taxes Under Trump. Trump’s tax plan emphasizes cutting the corporate tax rate and simplifying the individual income tax system. Whether a hugely profitable multinational corporation or a tiny sole proprietorship, every business income is now taxed at a flat rate of 15%.

How is a co-owner LLC treated by the IRS?

Multi-Owner LLCs. The IRS treats co-owned LLCs as partnerships for tax purposes. Like one-member LLCs, co-owned LLCs do not pay taxes on business income; instead, the LLC owners each pay taxes on their share of the profits on their personal income tax returns (with Schedule E attached).