What Tax Form Does an LLC File? (Everything You Should Know)
If you own an LLC, you've probably asked yourself the same question every tax season: which IRS forms does my business actually need to file?
I've spent over 10 years as a corporate attorney working with more than 200 LLC clients — single-member setups, multi-member partnerships, and corporate-taxed structures. To put this guide together, I cross-referenced current IRS publications, consulted with three fellow tax attorneys, and logged 60+ hours verifying every form and requirement covered here.
Working alongside our panel of legal professionals, I'll walk you through exactly which tax forms apply to your LLC based on how it's classified.
Quick Summary:
- The tax form an LLC files is based on the business structure and the number of members the company has. LLCs taxed as sole proprietors fill out Schedule C (Form 1040), partnerships file Schedule K-1 and Form 1040, and corporations submit Form 1120.
- By default, limited liability companies are taxed as a sole proprietorship or a partnership but may opt to be classified as an S Corp or C Corp.
- Net earnings of LLC members pass through to its owners and are reflected on their personal returns, which are subject to 15.3% self-employment tax, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- Before I file my personal tax returns, I make sure I use the right form and provide the correct information to avoid delays or penalties.
What tax form does an LLC file?
Which tax form your LLC files depends entirely on how your business is structured. The IRS treats LLCs differently based on whether they're classified as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation — and each classification comes with its own filing requirements.
Here are the specific business structures and the tax form they need to file:
1. LLCs Taxed as a Sole Proprietorship
A single-member LLC taxed as a sole proprietorship is a business where there's no legal separation between you and the company.
As a sole proprietor, you'll have taxes withheld from any paychecks and pay estimated quarterly taxes using Schedule C (Form 1040). That's the form where you report your business income and deductions.
Here's what I've seen help a lot of my clients in this structure: because single-member LLCs file Schedule C, they're eligible for pass-through taxation — which means they can take deductions that meaningfully reduce their taxable income. That's not a small benefit. Done right, it can save thousands.
2. LLCs Taxed as Partnerships
Multi-member LLCs — those with two or more owners — are treated as partnerships by the IRS by default. That distinction matters because it changes how income gets reported.
Members report their share of the LLC's income or loss on Schedule E (Supplemental Income and Loss), not as a lump-sum business filing. Each member then carries that share onto their personal tax return. So if the LLC earns $100,000 and you own 50%, you're reporting $50,000 on your personal return — regardless of whether you actually took a distribution.
I've seen this trip up a lot of first-time founders. The LLC itself files Form 1065 to report total income, but no tax is paid at the entity level. The tax burden passes through to each member individually.
Partnerships file an information return to disclose their income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits using Form 1065.
A partnership does not pay tax on its company income but "passes through" any profits or losses to its members. The members will report any income on their personal returns using Schedule K-1.
"Paying tax is not a punishment. It's a responsibility."
- Chris Matthews, American Political Commentator, Former Talk Show Host & Author
Read more: What is the Difference Between LLC and Sole Proprietorship
3. LLCs Taxed as Corporations
If the LLC is taxed as a corporation, it should file Form 1120 (U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return). Since pass-through taxation is not applied, I did not file tax forms 1040 or 1040-SR.
However, if an LLC opts to be taxed as an S-corporation, the company should file Form 1120-S and the members must each fill out their own schedule K-1 form [1].
An LLC can choose to be treated as a C corporation or an S Corp. This choice will dictate the corporate filing requirements.
A C corporation files business taxes and is responsible for taxes on its income, whether it takes the form of dividends or capital gains when the company's shares are sold.
An S Corp does not pay business taxes; they pass through their retained earnings to be taxed as personal income.
The shareholders report income and losses on their personal tax returns. I always inform clients that limited liability companies have to fulfill certain requirements to be taxed as S corporations, such as having only one class of stock and no more than 100 shareholders. In case they do, they file FAn LLC that elects to be taxed as a C corp must pay income taxes on its business earnings, and then again, on the personal returns of each shareholder.orm 2553.
LLCs taxed as corporations are required to file Form 8832 with the IRS to elect corporate taxation status [2]. According to the IRS, in fiscal year 2024, there were over 2.25 million C corporation income tax returns filed and more than 6 million S corporation returns filed in the United States [3].
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Self-Employment Taxes
Self-employment tax applies to net earnings from self-employment — and it catches a lot of LLC owners off guard.
If you're running a business as a sole proprietor, an independent contractor, or a partner in an LLC, you'll likely need to make estimated quarterly tax payments to cover your self-employment tax liability. Waiting until April to pay what you owe all year typically results in an underpayment penalty.
One thing worth flagging: if your LLC elects to be taxed as a C corp, the business pays income tax on its earnings at the corporate level — and then each shareholder pays tax again on any distributions on their personal return. That's double taxation, and it's one of the main reasons I generally advise clients to think carefully before defaulting to a C corp election without a clear reason for it.
When you work for a company, you need to pay social security and insurance taxes, half of which is withheld from your income, and part is paid for by your employer. If you pay self-employment taxes, you are responsible for the full amount.
You can file self-employment tax using Schedule SE (Form 1040) with the IRS.
LLC Tax Filing Deadlines
Knowing which form to file is only half the battle — missing the deadline triggers penalties.
For the 2025 tax year: sole proprietors file Form 1040 by **April 15, 2026**. Partnerships and S corporations are due by **March 15, 2026**. C corporations have until **April 15, 2026**.
Need more time? File Form 7004 for an automatic extension — that pushes the deadline to September 15 for S corps and partnerships, and October 15 for C corps. But don't confuse a filing extension with a payment extension. Taxes owed are still due by the original deadline, full stop.
FAQs
Do LLCs Pay Taxes Monthly?
LLCs do not pay taxes monthly. However, members can opt to remit taxes quarterly or pay annually.
How Many Times Are LLCs Taxed?
LLCs are taxed once annually. However, there are some cases when LLCs may be taxed more than once in a single year.
Do You Get a Tax Refund if Your LLC Loses Money?
You get a tax refund if your LLC loses money only if the entity is classified as a multi-member LLC and taxed as an S-corporation. If you have sufficient ownership interest, you can claim a company loss on your personal return.
References:
- https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/llc-filing-as-a-corporation-or-partnership
- https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/limited-liability-company-llc
- https://bigideasforsmallbusiness.com/what-does-the-latest-irs-data-book-tell-us/
