How are owners of C Corp taxed?
Henry Morales
Published Mar 31, 2026
This means a C corporation pays corporate income tax on its income, after offsetting income with losses, deductions, and credits. A corporation pays its shareholders dividends from its after-tax income. The shareholders then pay personal income taxes on the dividends. This is the often-mentioned “double taxation”.
Are C corporations taxed at the corporate rate?
A C corp uses Form 1120 to report its earnings and claim its tax credits and deductions. Its income is typically taxed at the corporate level based on the following corporate income tax rates: $0 + 15 percent of an amount above $0 for a taxable income above $0 to $50,000.
Are C corporations taxed twice?
C corporations are not flow-through entities. That’s why they are subject to double taxation. If the corporation doesn’t distribute earnings as dividends to shareholders, earnings are only taxed once, at the corporate rate. Pay salaries instead of dividends.
A corporation is a separate tax-paying entity unless it makes an election to be taxed as an S corporation. This means a C corporation pays corporate income tax on its income, after offsetting income with losses, deductions, and credits. The shareholders then pay personal income taxes on the dividends.
How does a C Corp pay income tax?
A c corp pays income tax by filing a tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) using Form 1120-U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return and paying the calculated taxes.
Can a business start out as a C corporation?
On the flip side, a business can start out as a C corporation, and later elect to become an S corporation—which would change its tax structure to a pass-through tax structure. Since C corps offer the most liability protection for their shareholders, they are also best for higher-risk businesses. What are the benefits of a C corporation?
What are the downsides of owning shares in a C corporation?
The major downside of owning shares in a C corporation for officers, is that taxation of those business earnings is double. The IRS requires C corporations to file business income tax reports, including record of apportionment. Income after business expense and salary deductions is subject to tax.
What do you need to know about C Corporation Form 1120?
Basic information C corporations need to complete and file income tax Form 1120. Paying Taxes as a C Corporation C corporations, or c corps, are considered separate entities to their owners (shareholders); therefore, owners do not include the corporation’s income tax as part of their personal tax return.