Discussion:S Corp Loan - Imputed Interest

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{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=AEM CPA|Date=24 March 2009|Text= Correct but incomplete. The default for single-member LLCs is disregarded entity, and the default for multi-member LLCs is partnership. But any LLC, even a single-member LLC, can elect to be taxed as a corporation.}} {{ForumReplyPost|UserID=AEM CPA|Date=24 March 2009|Text= Correct but incomplete. The default for single-member LLCs is disregarded entity, and the default for multi-member LLCs is partnership. But any LLC, even a single-member LLC, can elect to be taxed as a corporation.}}
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 +{{ForumReplyPost|UserID=Dnc0716|Date=24 March 2009|Text=Okay.Overlooked the elect status. You can elect to be a s-corp by filing an form 8832, if that isn't filed, the IRS treats the entity as a sole-proprietorship. Correct? Sorry for the confusion.}}

Revision as of 14:45, 24 March 2009

Discussion Forum Index --> Basic Tax Questions --> S Corp Loan - Imputed Interest
Discussion Forum Index --> Tax Questions --> S Corp Loan - Imputed Interest

BeachCPA (talk|edits) said:

23 March 2009
My client has made distributions in excess of basis of his S Corp interest (LLC). So, to avoid capital gain treatment on the distribution, I'm suggesting he reclassify distributions as shareholder loan. Loan is $36,000 at year end.

There was an earlier thread from 2006 that referenced Rev. Ruling 97-57 and concluded that no imputed interest was required on an S Corp shareholder loan because there was no net tax effect to the shareholder (interest income to the shareholder, lower S Corp earnings passed through). I disagree. And I read Rev. Ruling 97-57 and I really disagree.

I think shareholder needs to impute interest at AFR. Right?

Rkrcpa1 (talk|edits) said:

23 March 2009
I've always imputed interest on shareholder loans. It's not always a wash. Say a 1% shareholder loans $1,000,000 to the corp. The deduction for the expense will go to somebody else as a passthrough but I'm pretty sure the IRS is going to want tax from the lender anyway.

Harry Boscoe (talk|edits) said:

23 March 2009
I'm pretty sure that the rules will require that interest be imputed in this situation. Most of all because the shareholder's interest expense will likely be *nondeductible* and that's what the rules seem to be looking for. My cynicism is peeking out...

BeachCPA (talk|edits) said:

23 March 2009
He's a sole member LLC (S Corp). Could actually be beneficial to the shareholder if he has investment interest so I figured the IRS couldn't possibly have ruled it a wash not worth calculating.

I guess the real question is if he imputes interest, that decreases his S Corp income and so his loan is larger; larger interest calculation means lower S Corp earnings which means .... make it stop, make it stop!

Harry Boscoe (talk|edits) said:

23 March 2009
PBR makes it stop. But then it starts up again...

Dnc0716 (talk|edits) said:

24 March 2009
I thought a single-member LLC is a "disregarded entity" and therefore reported on sch C or E, depending on the income type. So why would you impute interest?

AEM CPA (talk|edits) said:

24 March 2009
Dnc -

A SMLLC has no inherent tax status. It is treated either as a sole proprietorship (disregarded entity) or as a corporation (C or S) depending on what the owner elects to do.

AEM CPA (talk|edits) said:

24 March 2009
That's true for LLCs in general. A MMLLC is either treated as a partnership or a corporation.

AEM CPA (talk|edits) said:

24 March 2009
Beach -

The loan is an asset on the corp's books, so the interest will be paid by the owner to the corp. It's interest income to the corp. The loan is for the initial amount; the interest is income in the following year. You won't get caught in a recursive function. That does happen when a tax is based on post-tax income (like the Philadelphia BPT when using Method I).

Dnc0716 (talk|edits) said:

24 March 2009
I understand that, but I do not understand why you would impute interest on a single member LLC which should be filed on sch c or e? I understand that you have to have more than 1 member to be a partnership and you can elect for, tax purposes, its tax treatment-partnership or s-corp.

AEM CPA (talk|edits) said:

24 March 2009
Correct but incomplete. The default for single-member LLCs is disregarded entity, and the default for multi-member LLCs is partnership. But any LLC, even a single-member LLC, can elect to be taxed as a corporation.

Dnc0716 (talk|edits) said:

24 March 2009
Okay.Overlooked the elect status. You can elect to be a s-corp by filing an form 8832, if that isn't filed, the IRS treats the entity as a sole-proprietorship. Correct? Sorry for the confusion.