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Paying Your Children Through Your S-Corp or LLC:

A Strategic Guide

Regulations and Compliance
Business and Financial Management
Tax Planning and Strategies

Employing your children in your S-Corp or LLC can be a strategic move that offers numerous financial and tax benefits. Not only does it provide your children with valuable work experience, but it also allows you to potentially reduce your taxable income and utilize family income-splitting strategies. Here’s a detailed look at how you can pay your children through your business and the key considerations involved.

Benefits of Paying Your Children

1. Tax Savings:

TaxLower Tax Bracket: Income paid to your children may be taxed at their lower tax rate instead of your higher rate.Savings:

Income Shifting: This strategy can shift income from your higher tax bracket to your child’s lower bracket.

Standard Deduction: For 2023, the standard deduction is $13,850, which means your child may not owe any federal income tax if their total income is below this amount.

2. Deductible Wages:

Wages paid to your children for legitimate work are deductible business expenses, reducing your company’s taxable income.

3. FICA Tax Exemption:

If your business is a sole proprietorship or a partnership where both partners are parents of the child, wages paid to children under 18 are exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes.

When paying a child through S-Corp or LLC, you are generally not exempt from Medicare and Social Security.

Key Considerations

1. Reasonable Compensation:

The wages must be reasonable and reflect the fair market value for the work performed. Overpaying can attract IRS scrutiny.

2. Actual Work Performed:

Your children must perform real and necessary work for your business. Examples include administrative tasks, social media management, filing, or cleaning.

3. Documentation:

Maintain thorough records, including timesheets, job descriptions, and payroll records. This documentation is crucial in case of an IRS audit.

4. Child Labor Laws:

Ensure compliance with federal and state child labor laws, which dictate the types of work minors can perform and the hours they are allowed to work.

How to Pay Your Children

1. Determine Job Responsibilities:

Assign age-appropriate tasks that add value to your business. Clearly define these responsibilities in a job description.

2. Set Up Payroll:

Process your child’s wages through your regular payroll system. This includes withholding the appropriate federal and state taxes and providing a W-2 form at year-end.

3. Utilize Tax-Advantaged Accounts:

Consider paying a portion of your child’s wages into tax-advantaged accounts such as a Roth IRA, which can grow tax-free.

Example Scenario

Imagine you own an S-Corp and employ your 15-year-old child to manage your company’s social media accounts.
You decide to pay them $10 per hour for 10 hours of work each week.

Annual Wages: $10/hour * 10 hours/week * 52 weeks = $5,200

Since this amount is below the standard deduction limit, your child will not owe federal income taxes on these wages.

Your S-Corp can deduct the $5,200 as a business expense, reducing your taxable income.

This income will be subject to FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare)

Paying your children through your S-Corp or LLC can be a savvy financial strategy, offering tax savings and valuable work experience for your kids. Ensure that the compensation is reasonable, the work is legitimate, and all necessary documentation is maintained. Consulting with a tax professional can help you navigate the specifics and maximize the benefits of this strategy.

For personalized advice and to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, contact Gordon & Associates CPA, P.A. Our experts are here to help you optimize your tax strategies and achieve your financial goals.