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

At $100,000 profit in South Carolina, a single-member LLC costs $25,459 a year in tax and fees and an LLC taxed as an S corp costs $19,628. An LLC taxed as an S corp starts to cost less from about $50,000 of profit.

$5,831 a year

saved by switching from a single-member LLC to an LLC taxed as an S corp in South Carolina, 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.

South Carolina, 2026: $100,000 profit, single filer

Item	LLC	LLC as S corp	Change
Self-employment taxirs.gov, 2026 rates	$14,130	$0	−$14,130
Federal income taxirs.gov, 2026 rates	$8,235	$9,347	+$1,112
State income tax, after the PTET exclusiondor.sc.gov, checked Oct 22, 2026	$3,094	$498	−$2,596
Payroll tax on your salaryirs.gov, 2026 rates	$0	$6,310	+$6,310
Payroll service and tax return (estimate)	$0	$1,800	+$1,800
South Carolina corporate license feedor.sc.gov, checked Oct 22, 2026	$0	$25	+$25
South Carolina pass-through entity tax, paid by the company (elected)dor.sc.gov, checked Oct 22, 2026	$0	$1,648	+$1,648
Yearly cost	$25,459	$19,628	−$5,831

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

Profit	LLC	LLC as S corp	Difference
$30,000	$5,437	$6,871	+$1,434
$50,000	$10,405	$10,164	−$241
$75,000	$17,379	$13,334	−$4,045
$100,000	$25,459	$19,628	−$5,831
$150,000	$43,122	$33,741	−$9,381
$200,000	$61,367	$48,800	−$12,567
$300,000	$105,202	$81,566	−$23,636

Federal and South Carolina 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 South Carolina

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
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.
Register with South Carolina 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 South Carolina unemployment tax at 1% on the first $14,000 of wages. dew.sc.gov See what payroll costs.
Federal return each year: Form 1120-S, due March 15, plus your own Form 1040.
State upkeep each year: no yearly report fee, due None. New for you: South Carolina corporate license fee.

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 South Carolina unemployment tax on the salary, and South Carolina corporate license fee. 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 South Carolina?

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 South Carolina?

$5,831 a year: Single-member LLC $25,459, LLC taxed as an S corp $19,628.

Does South Carolina recognise the S corp election?

Yes. No separate state form is needed.

More for South Carolina

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