StructureCost2026

LLC vs S corp in Arkansas: which costs less (2026)

At $100,000 profit in Arkansas, a single-member LLC costs $25,730 a year in tax and fees and an LLC taxed as an S corp costs $20,848. An LLC taxed as an S corp starts to cost less from about $50,000 of profit.

More settings revenue, salary, filing status, payroll costs, PTET

$4,882 a year

saved by switching from a single-member LLC to an LLC taxed as an S corp in Arkansas, at these numbers.

Switching from a single-member LLC to an LLC taxed as an S corp starts to pay at about $50,000 of profit, with the same settings. As an LLC taxed as an S corp this uses the state's pass-through entity tax election, which lowers the cost here.

Arkansas, 2026: $100,000 profit, single filer

ItemLLCLLC as S corpChange
Arkansas LLC franchise taxsos.arkansas.gov, checked Oct 23, 2026$150$150$0
Self-employment taxirs.gov, 2026 rates$14,108$0−$14,108
Federal income taxirs.gov, 2026 rates$8,210$9,259+$1,049
State income tax, after the PTET exclusiondfa.arkansas.gov, checked Oct 23, 2026$3,262$1,309−$1,953
Payroll tax on your salaryirs.gov, 2026 rates$0$6,302+$6,302
Payroll service and tax return (estimate)$0$1,800+$1,800
Arkansas pass-through entity tax, paid by the company (elected)dfa.arkansas.gov, checked Oct 23, 2026$0$2,028+$2,028
Yearly cost$25,730$20,848−$4,882
What these figures count
  • State income tax, and state taxes on the business itself: franchise, LLC, S corp, gross receipts and excise taxes.
  • Social Security and Medicare on both sides of an owner salary, federal unemployment tax and the state's new-employer rate.
  • The 20% qualified business income deduction with its income limits and the professional-service rule.
  • Yearly report fees, and a cost you can change for payroll and the business tax return.

Many S corp calculators leave out state taxes and the QBI deduction, which can make the election look better than it is.

Yearly cost at each profit level

ProfitLLCLLC as S corpDifference
$30,000$6,154$7,543+$1,389
$50,000$11,391$11,097−$294
$75,000$18,013$14,333−$3,680
$100,000$25,730$20,848−$4,882
$150,000$42,693$34,974−$7,719
$200,000$60,249$49,892−$10,357
$300,000$102,531$82,292−$20,239

Federal and Arkansas tax and fees, single filer, revenue 1.5 times profit, default salary for S and C corps. "Difference" is LLC taxed as an S corp minus Single-member LLC.

What the switch takes in Arkansas

  1. Check the business can elect: no more than 100 shareholders, all of them US citizens or residents (no nonresident alien owners), and one class of stock. IRS
  2. File IRS Form 2553 to elect S corp tax treatment, within 2 months and 15 days of the start of the tax year it should apply to. See how the S corp election works.
  3. Register with Arkansas as an employer and run payroll for your own salary: federal Forms 941 each quarter, Form 940 and a W-2 each year. New employers pay Arkansas unemployment tax at 2% on the first $7,000 of wages. dws.arkansas.gov See what payroll costs.
  4. Federal return each year: Form 1120-S, due March 15, plus your own Form 1040.
  5. State upkeep each year: Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report, no fee, due May 1, starting the year after formation.

What changes between the two

A plain LLC pays self-employment tax of 15.3% on 92.35% of all profit, up to the Social Security wage base of $184,500. Taxed as an S corp, the business pays you a salary, and only the salary carries Social Security and Medicare tax. The rest comes out as a distribution.

The election adds costs: a payroll service, a separate business tax return (Form 1120-S), federal and Arkansas unemployment tax on the salary. The calculator counts $1,800 a year for payroll and the return. The IRS expects a reasonable salary for the work, so it cannot be set near zero.

Questions

At what profit does an S corp election pay in Arkansas?

About $50,000 a year, on the default salary (40% of profit, at least $30,000 where profit allows) and $1,800 of yearly payroll and return costs. Change the salary in the calculator to see how the point moves.

How much does it save at $100,000 in Arkansas?

$4,882 a year: Single-member LLC $25,730, LLC taxed as an S corp $20,848.

Does Arkansas recognise the S corp election?

Yes. No separate state form is needed.

More for Arkansas

Common cases in Arkansas

Other states