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After you start a District of Columbia LLC, there are two main types of ongoing filings. The first is the Biennial Report with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, and the other is taxes.
Paying taxes is an important part of running a business, but figuring out which taxes you need to pay can be a pain.
This lesson will provide you with general resources and the basics of District of Columbia LLC tax filing requirements.
What taxes does a Limited Liability Company pay in DC?
Each LLC has a different tax situation, so the taxes paid for a District of Columbia LLC varies.
The amount of taxes owed for your LLC depends on rules like:
- how your LLC is taxed
- state and local tax rules
- any sales and use tax requirements, or
- whether you have employees
Additionally, some business types are required to register for industry-specific taxes.
Pro Tip: We recommend hiring an accountant to ensure your LLC meets all of its tax obligations.
We also recommend getting an EIN Number for your LLC. An EIN is also called a Federal Tax Identification Number. They mean the same thing.
Not only will an EIN number be used to open an LLC bank account, but it will also be used for filing taxes with the local, state, and federal governments.
LLC pass-through taxation (Who pays the taxes?)
By default, LLCs don’t pay taxes.
Instead, the LLC Members are responsible for reporting the income (or losses) on their personal 1040 tax return. The Members pay taxes on any LLC profits. This is because of LLC pass-through taxation.
Simply put, pass-through taxation means the responsibility for reporting tax information from an LLC “passes through” the LLC to the LLC Members.
How are LLCs taxed in DC?
By default, a District of Columbia LLC is taxed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) based on the number of Members the LLC has. Then the DC Office of Tax and Revenue honors this and taxes your LLC the same way at the state (district) level.
An LLC with 1 owner (Single-Member LLC) is taxed like a Sole Proprietorship.
An LLC with 2 or more owners (Multi-Member LLC) is taxed like a Partnership.
The above are referred to as the “default status“. Meaning, they are automatically applied based on the number of LLC Members.
Alternatively, you have the option of requesting an “elective status” for your LLC. This is done by filing an extra form with the IRS. Once granted, this elective status means the IRS will treat your LLC as a Corporation (either an S-Corporation or C-Corporation) for tax purposes.
Note: Your District of Columbia LLC Operating Agreement should also include information about how your LLC is taxed.
Federal Income Taxes
There are several different options for how the IRS can treat your LLC for tax purposes.
Single-Member LLC taxes (default status)
The IRS treats all Single-Member LLCs as Disregarded Entities for tax purposes. This just means that the IRS doesn’t expect the LLC to file its own federal income tax return.
Instead, the owner of the Single-Member LLC files the return (and pays the federal income taxes).
How the LLC pays federal income tax is determined by who owns the LLC:
- If the LLC is owned by an individual, the LLC is taxed like a Sole Proprietorship.
- If the LLC is owned by another company, the LLC is taxed as a branch/division of the parent company.
Multi-Member LLC taxes (default status)
If an LLC has two or more owners, the LLC is taxed like a Partnership.
The LLC needs to file a 1065 Partnership Return and issue a Schedule K-1 to the LLC owners.
The K-1s report each owner’s distributive share of profits. And the K-1 income “flows through” to the owners. The income taxes are then paid by each owner on their personal income tax return (Form 1040).
Husband and Wife LLC taxes
You may have heard that in some states, a husband and wife LLC has the option to file taxes as a Single-Member LLC (aka Qualified Joint Venture) instead of a Multi-Member LLC.
This is true for community property states (like Texas). That said, DC isn’t a community property state, which means Qualified Joint Ventures are not available in the District.
Electing to have your LLC taxed as a Corporation
Instead of the default statuses above, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) can be taxed like a Corporation.
Note: We recommend speaking with an accountant before making a corporate election.
There are two types of corporate elections:
- S-Corporation
- C-Corporation
LLC taxed as an S-Corporation (elective status)
By filing Form 2553 with the IRS, your LLC can request to be taxed like an S-Corporation.
Being taxed as an S-Corp can help businesses (with established profits) save money on self-employment taxes.
Tip: There are additional expenses to having your LLC taxed as an S-Corporation Most new business owners shouldn’t make this tax election until their business is established and revenue is consistent. Once there is at least $70,000 in annual net income per LLC Member, we recommend speaking to your accountant about this option.
LLC taxed as an C-Corporation (elective status)
By filing Form 8832 with the IRS, your LLC can request to be taxed like a C-Corporation.
Being taxed as a C-Corp can help large employers save money on healthcare fringe benefits.
Note: This election is not common. Most of our readers don’t choose to have their LLC taxed as a C-Corporation.
DC Income Tax for District of Columbia LLCs
Single-Member LLCs in DC: The LLC itself usually doesn’t file a state-level return. However, the owner files a personal state-level return that includes the LLC’s profits or losses.
Multi-Member LLCs in DC: The LLC itself may need to file a Partnership return at the state-level. And the owners file a personal state-level return that include the LLC’s profits or losses.
There are other types of District of Columbia business tax that apply to certain industries and types of businesses.
We recommend hiring an accountant to prepare and file your DC income taxes.
You can also contact the DC Office of Tax and Revenue for more information about DC taxes.
Local Income Tax for District of Columbia LLCs
You and/or your LLC may need to file and pay income taxes with your local municipality (town, city, county, etc.).
We recommend hiring an accountant to prepare and file your local income taxes.
You can also contact your municipality to check on their requirements.
District of Columbia Sales Tax
If you sell products to consumers in DC, you may need to collect sales tax and get a Seller’s Permit.
A Seller’s Permit is the license that allows you to collect sales tax on retail sales in the state where you do business. It’s sometimes also called a:
- resale license
- wholesale license
- sales tax permit/license
- reseller permit
They all mean the same thing and we may use these terms interchangeably.
You can get a Seller’s Permit online from the DC Office of Tax and Revenue using MyTax DC. That said, if you’ve already filed DC Form FR-500, then your LLC should already be registered for sales tax.
If you haven’t registered your LLC with the Office of Tax & Revenue, please see our prior lesson for step-by-step instructions: DC LLC Tax Registration.
You can read more information about District of Columbia sales tax from these DC Office of Tax and Revenue resources:
For more information on permits, read DC Business Licenses and Permits.
And if you have any questions about whether you need a Seller’s Permit, you can contact the DC Office of Tax and Revenue at 202-727-4829.
Tip: Save time by hiring an expert. We recommend using TaxJar. They'll help you register for, collect, and pay sales tax.
DC Unincorporated Business Franchise Tax
LLCs in DC that are taxed as Sole Proprietorships or Partnerships at the federal level are required to pay the Unincorporated Business Franchise (UBF) Tax.
The UBF Tax in DC is a tax on your LLC’s gross receipts. Meaning, it’s a tax on how much money your LLC made that year.
You need to file the UBF Tax if your DC LLC:
- is taxed as a Sole Proprietorship or a Partnership, and
- has $12,000 or more in annual gross receipts
If your LLC meets these requirements, you must file Form D-30 (“DC Unincorporated Business Franchise Tax”) and pay taxes on the net income with the DC Office of Tax & Revenue each year.
How much will I pay in UBF Tax?
The amount of UBF tax your LLC will owe varies depending on your net income. That said, there is a minimum amount you will need to pay based on your LLC’s gross receipts.
This is sometimes referred to as the Minimum Franchise Tax.
What does Minimum Franchise Tax mean?
This means that regardless of your LLC’s net income, you owe a minimum amount of taxes based on your LLC’s gross receipts (all money received from all sources):
- If your LLC’s gross receipts are between the $12,000 threshold and $1,000,000, then the minimum franchise tax your LLC will owe is $250
- If your LLC’s gross receipts are $1,000,000 or more, the minimum franchise tax your LLC will owe is $1,000
Of course, depending on your LLC’s net income, you may certainly owe more franchise tax than the minimum franchise tax. The $250 minimum franchise tax is the lowest amount that can be owed.
Remember, only LLCs with annual gross receipts of $12,000 or more are required to file Form D-30 and pay the Minimum Franchise Tax.
This means that if your LLC’s annual gross receipts are less than $12,000:
- You don’t have to file a Form D-30, and
- You don’t have to pay the $250 Minimum Franchise Tax
Declaration of Estimated Franchise Tax for Unincorporated Businesses
If your LLC’s total franchise tax payment for a taxable year will be more than $1,000, then you must file quarterly estimated payments (similar to how quarterly federal taxes work).
Estimated payment vouchers are called D-30ES and there are 4 of them, one for each quarter.
Your accountant may provide you with the estimated payment vouchers, or you can download them from the OTR’s Forms and Publication page.
Quarterly DC estimated payments are due:
- Voucher 1: April 15th
- Voucher 2: June 15th
- Voucher 3: September 15th
- Voucher 4: December 15th
Note: If the 15th day falls on a weekend, then the payment voucher is due the following business day.
Penalty: If your estimated tax is underestimated or underpaid, you will be charged an “underpayment penalty”. This penalty is 10% per year, compounded daily.
DC Corporate Franchise Tax
In DC, LLCs taxed as S-Corporations or C-Corporations (LLC/C-Corps and LLC/S-Corps) must pay a tax on their net income. This tax is called the “Corporation Franchise Tax” and is filed every year using DC Form D-20.
This tax return (and the franchise tax payment) must be filed and paid by all LLC/C-Corps and LLC/S-Corps, regardless of their gross receipts, net income, or activity levels.
And the DC Corporate Franchise Tax Rates from the Office of Tax and Revenue may vary from year to year.
S-Corporations in DC
Unlike most states that recognize an LLC’s federal election to be taxed as an S-Corporation, DC doesn’t. Instead, for DC tax purposes, an S-Corporation is treated as a C-Corporation and must meet all C-Corporation filing requirements in the District.
Although an S-Corporation may not have Schedules attached to its federal tax return (1120S), the S-Corporation still must complete the Schedules on the D-20.
Make sure you attach your 1120 (LLC/C-Corps) or 1120S (LLC/S-Corps) federal income tax return to your Form D-20.
Declaration of Estimated Franchise Tax for Corporations
If your LLC/C-Corp’s or LLC/S-Corp’s total franchise tax payment for a taxable year will exceed $1,000, then you must file quarterly estimated payments (similar to how quarterly federal taxes work).
Estimated payment vouchers are called D-20ES and there are 4 of them, one for each quarter.
Your accountant may provide you with the estimated payment vouchers, or you can download them from the OTR’s website.
Quarterly DC estimated payments are due:
- Voucher 1: April 15th
- Voucher 2: June 15th
- Voucher 3: September 15th
- Voucher 4: December 15th
The above due dates are for LLCs that have their tax year as the calendar year. If you run a different fiscal year, then Voucher 1 is due the 15th day of the 4th month of your taxable year, Voucher 2 is due the 15th day of the 6th month of your taxable year, Voucher 3 is due the 15th day of the 9th month of your taxable year, and Voucher 4 is due the 15th day of the 12th month of your taxable year.
Note: If the 15th day falls on a weekend, then the payment voucher is due the following business day.
Penalty: If your estimated tax is underestimated or underpaid, you will be charged an “underpayment penalty”. This penalty is 10% per year, compounded daily.
Combined Reporting
If you’re involved in a “Unitary Business” with one or more people (called a “Unitary Group”) who are related by common ownership, you must determine and report your tax liability based on the activities of the Unitary Group as a whole.
A “Unitary Business” is defined in Section 47-1801.04(55):
“A single economic enterprise that is made up either of separate parts of a single business entity or of a commonly controlled group of business entities that are sufficiently interdependent, integrated, and interrelated through their activities so as to provide synergy and mutual benefit that produces a sharing or exchange of value among them and a significant flow of value to the separate parts.”
Note: Combined Reporting requirements apply to both Incorporated Businesses and Unincorporated Businesses in the District. Said another way, if applicable, Combined Reporting applies to all Washington DC LLCs.
For more information, please see the OTR’s page about Combined Reporting for Business Entities.
DC Personal Property Tax
All DC LLCs must file a Personal Property Tax Return (FP-31). However, you’ll only pay tax on your personal property (FR-31P) if the value of your LLC’s personal property is greater than $225,000.
You must pay your DC Personal Property Tax paid online using MyTaxDC.
District of Columbia LLC Payroll Taxes
If your District of Columbia LLC will have employees, you must submit payroll taxes. Payroll taxes are essentially a group of taxes and filings, including:
- Federal income tax withholding
- DC income tax withholding
- Social Security tax
- Medicare tax
- Federal unemployment taxes (FUTA)
- DC unemployment taxes (SUTA)
- Local/county deductions
- Employee deductions
As an employer in DC, you need to set up payroll, withhold payroll taxes from employees’ paychecks, and then submit those filings and taxes to various government agencies.
Although you can file payroll taxes yourself, the calculations can be burdensome and very complex. And if done improperly can lead to penalties and fines. Most people hire a payroll company or ask their accountant for help.
Our favorite payroll company is Gusto Payroll. They’ll automate and take care of your payroll taxes.
For more DC payroll tax resources, please see the references section at the bottom of this page.
Managing your books & staying organized
You can keep track of income and expenses using Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. Or you can use software to help automate things and save time.
The accounting software we recommend is Quickbooks Online.
Working with an accountant
As you can see, figuring out the different types of taxes you owe can be complicated, let alone how to properly fill out all the forms. And doing taxes improperly or missing deadlines can be harmful to your business
We strongly recommend working with an experienced accountant in DC to help make sure you file your federal, District, and local taxes correctly.
Check out our guide on how to find an accountant.
DC Office of Tax and Revenue Contact Information
There are other types of District of Columbia business tax that apply to certain industries and types of businesses.
You can contact the DC Office of Tax and Revenue at 202-727-4829 for more information about DC state taxes. Their hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:15am to 5:30pm, Eastern Time.
District of Columbia LLC Taxes FAQs
Do I have to pay an annual fee for my LLC in DC?
Sort of. All District of Columbia LLCs have to pay a fee every 2 years by filing a District of Columbia LLC Biennial Report. This is separate from the federal, District, and local taxes that you pay.
The LLC Biennial Report is filed with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). It is not a tax paid to the DC Office of Tax and Revenue.
The Biennial Report for District of Columbia LLCs costs $300. This is paid every 2 years for the life of your LLC.
How much is an LLC in DC?
District of Columbia LLC Costs include:
$99 to form your District of Columbia LLC (to file your LLC Articles of Organization).
$300 in fees every 2 years (to file your LLC Biennial Report).
Do I need to file a DC income tax return for my LLC?
Maybe – it depends on what type of LLC you have.
Single-Member LLC taxed as a Sole Proprietorship: No. You only need to file your personal tax return (Federal Form 1040 and District of Columbia Form D-40) and include your LLC profits on the return.
Multi-Member LLC taxed as a Partnership: Yes. Your LLC must file an IRS Form 1065 and a District of Columbia Partnership Return (Form D-65).
LLC taxed as a Corporation: Yes. Your LLC must file tax returns with the IRS and the DC Office of Tax and Revenue to pay your DC income tax. Check with your accountant to make sure you file all the correct documents.
How do I know my LLC tax classification?
You can tell your LLC’s tax classification by looking at how many Members are in your LLC.
This is because LLCs receive their tax classification from the IRS based on the number of Members (owners) your LLC has.
If you have one Member, your LLC is taxed as a Sole Proprietorship.
If your LLC has more than one Member, your LLC is taxed as a Partnership.
This is called being taxed in your default status. Meaning, you don’t have to file any paperwork to let the IRS know that’s how your LLC will be taxed because they tax LLCs that way by default.
However, in order for your LLC to be taxed as a Corporation, you or your accountant would have to file paperwork with the IRS letting them know you’ve chosen to be taxed as a Corporation.
And then the IRS would mail you an Approval Letter to confirm you’ve chosen the Corporate tax election for your LLC.
Note: Being taxed as a Corporation is rare for LLCs, so most people don’t need to worry about this.
And if you’re still unsure about how your LLC is taxed, we recommend calling your accountant or the IRS (1-800-829-4933). To speak to a live person at the IRS, press option 1, option 1 again, and then option 3.
How do I start an LLC in Washington DC?
Here are the steps to starting an LLC in the District of Columbia:
- Choose an LLC business name and make sure it’s available
- Choose who will be your DC Registered Agent
- File the District of Columbia LLC Articles of Organization
- Complete and sign an Operating Agreement
- Get a Tax ID Number (EIN) from the IRS
- File your DC LLC Tax Registration
- Obtain a Certificate of Occupancy or Home Occupation Permit
- Get the DC Basic Business License
- Open an LLC bank account
References
DC Office of Tax and Revenue
DC Code: Section 47-1810.07
DC Code: Section 47-1805.02a
DC Code: Section 47-1808.06a
IRS: Tax Information for Businesses
DC Office of Tax and Revenue: About MyTax
DC Office of Tax and Revenue: Business Tax
DC Department of Employment Services: UI Taxes
DC Office of Tax and Revenue: Individual Tax Returns
DC Office of Tax and Revenue: Customer Service Center
DC Office of Tax and Revenue: Common Taxpayer Errors
DC Office of Tax and Revenue: New Business Registration
DC Office of Tax and Revenue: Tax Forms and Publications
DC Office of Tax and Revenue: Individual Income Taxpayers
DC Office of Tax and Revenue: Business Franchise Tax Returns
DC Office of Tax and Revenue: Penalty for Underpaying Estimated Tax
DC Office of Tax and Revenue: Combined Reporting for Business Entities
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
District of Columbia LLC Guide
Looking for an overview? See District of Columbia LLC
If my LLC is registered in DC, but all of my work is done outside of DC and the physical location is IL, do I file personal state taxes in DC?
The D of C has told me I must file and declare some kind of ‘property tax’ for my LLC. Is that true and how do I find out where and how to send it, considering my expenses far outweigh any profits?
Hi Desson, yes, that’s correct. In Washington DC, all LLCs must file a Personal Property Tax Return (Form FP-31). However, you only owe tax if your LLC’s personal property is valued at more than $225,000.
Here’s what you need to do:
File Form FP-31 (Personal Property Tax Return) every year.
If your LLC’s personal property is valued under $225,000, you won’t owe any tax, but you still must file the form.
If your LLC’s personal property is valued at $225,000 or more, you’ll owe tax.
You can file and pay online through MyTaxDC. Since your expenses outweigh your profits, you might not owe any tax, but you still must file the return. Hope that helps.
Husband and wife formed LLC and only income to LLC is from medical consulting like provide expert opinion or lecture on a subject or analysis for testing. No physical address and work at client site or from internet. Have income more than 12000.00.
Do I need to use D-65 or D-30?
I f no other attachment except Federal 1065, can I mail it need to send USB drive?
I used TurboTax and they do not support DC state LLC tax return.
Thanks
Anil
Hi Anil, we can’t comment on exactly what forms you need to file. We recommend speaking with an accountant. Thank you for your understanding.
Hello,
Can you help me to know more about processes on how foreign persons can establish a LLC in Washington DC ?
Thank you,
Nomunsor
Mongolia
Hi Nomunsor, are you doing business in Washington DC? Do you have an address in Washington DC? Curious why you want to form an LLC there as Washington DC LLCs are much more complicated than other states/jurisdictions.