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After you start a North Carolina LLC, there are two main types of ongoing filings. The first is the Annual Report with the state, 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 North Carolina LLC tax filing requirements.
What taxes does a Limited Liability Company pay in North Carolina?
Each LLC has a different tax situation, so the taxes paid for a North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
By default, a North Carolina LLC is taxed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) based on the number of Members the LLC has. Then the North Carolina Department of Revenue honors this and taxes your LLC the same way at the state 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 North Carolina 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, North Carolina isn’t a community property state, which means Qualified Joint Ventures are not available in this state.
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.
North Carolina State Income Tax for North Carolina LLCs
Single-Member LLCs in North Carolina: 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 North Carolina: 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 North Carolina business tax that apply to certain industries and types of businesses.
We recommend hiring an accountant to prepare and file your state income taxes.
You can also contact the North Carolina Department of Revenue for more information about North Carolina state taxes.
Local Income Tax for North Carolina 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.
North Carolina Sales Tax
If you sell products to consumers in North Carolina, you may need to collect sales tax and get a Seller’s Permit. You can get a Seller’s Permit from the North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) using their Online Business Registration.
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 read more information about North Carolina sales tax from these NCDOR resources:
For more information on permits, read North Carolina Business Licenses and Permits.
And if you have any questions about whether you need a Seller’s Permit, you can contact the North Carolina Department of Revenue at 1-877-252-3052.
Tip: Save time by hiring an expert. We recommend using TaxJar. They'll help you register for, collect, and pay sales tax.
North Carolina LLC Payroll Taxes
If your North Carolina LLC will have employees, you must submit payroll taxes. Payroll taxes are essentially a group of taxes and filings, including:
- Federal income tax withholding
- State income tax withholding
- Social Security tax
- Medicare tax
- Federal unemployment taxes (FUTA)
- State unemployment taxes (SUTA)
- Local/county deductions
- Employee deductions
As an employer in North Carolina, you need to set up payroll, withhold payroll taxes from employees’ paychecks, and then submit those filings and taxes to various state and 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina to help make sure you file your federal, state, and local taxes correctly.
Check out our guide on how to find an accountant.
North Carolina Department of Revenue Contact Information
There are other types of North Carolina business tax that apply to certain industries and types of businesses.
You can contact the North Carolina Department of Revenue at 1-877-252-3052 for more information about North Carolina state taxes.
North Carolina LLC Taxes FAQs
Do I have to pay an annual fee for my LLC in North Carolina?
Yes, all North Carolina LLCs have to pay an annual fee by filing a North Carolina LLC Annual Report every year. This is separate from the federal, state, and local taxes that you pay.
The LLC Annual Report is filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State. It is not a tax paid to the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
The Annual Report for North Carolina LLCs costs $200 per year. This is paid every year for the life of your LLC.
How much is an LLC in North Carolina?
North Carolina LLC Costs include:
$125 to form your North Carolina LLC (to file your LLC Articles of Organization).
$200 in annual fees (to file your LLC Annual Report).
Do I need to file a North Carolina state 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 North Carolina Form NC-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 North Carolina Partnership Return (Form D-403).
LLC taxed as a Corporation: Yes. Your LLC must file tax returns with the IRS and the North Carolina Department of Revenue to pay your North Carolina 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 to start an LLC in North Carolina?
Here are the steps for starting an LLC in North Carolina:
- Choose an LLC name and make sure it’s available
- Choose who will be your North Carolina Registered Agent
- File the North Carolina LLC Articles of Organization
- Complete and sign an LLC Operating Agreement
- Get a Tax ID Number (EIN) from the IRS
- Open an LLC bank account
- Check whether you need a business or sales tax license in North Carolina
References
IRS: Tax Information for Businesses
North Carolina DOR: Partnership Tax
North Carolina DOR: Withholding Tax
North Carolina DOR: Individual Income Tax
North Carolina DOR: Other Taxes and Fees
North Carolina Department of Employment Security: Employers
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina: Start a Business
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.
NORTH CAROLINA LLC GUIDE
Follow the lessons below to form your North Carolina LLC.
Hi Matt, Thanks so much for helping with filing for my LLC in NC, I was ALMOST going to hire someone to do this VERY SIMPLE thing for me. You are the best!! You definitely didn’t have to make this content free, and I TRULY appreciate you!
Billie! Thanks for the awesome comment! You’re so welcome. Seriously though, it’s messages like yours which remind us of why we do what we do. We’re so happy to hear you were able to do it all yourself and save money! Whoohoo!!
The lessons are awesome, friendly, easy to follower and more. I didn’t realize it would be so easy to do this without consulting with an attorney. And, you save viewers so much. You rock!!!!
is an annual report for 4/15/18 necessary if you create the LLC IN 3/2018
Hi Angela, no. Your first Annual Report will be due the year following the year of formation… so your first Annual Report will be due in 2019. Hope that helps.
Except Taxing ( which I understand is huge topic ) , all other videos are awesome. Keep up the great work. Do you have anything related to documentation on import business ?
Thanks for the kind words Tejas! Yes, taxes are so wide, varied, and complicated, so apologies our tax information is not the greatest (yet). We will work on improving it and making it better with time. No, we don’t have any information on import/export businesses.
Taxes are the tricky piece to owning a business in any state. We found it best to take a trip to our local NC Department of Revenue to find out what we need to know.
We’ve found your lessons as a wealth of information. We have now realized that we can do this on our own.
Hey Kathy, going to the local NC Department of Revenue is an excellent idea! We’ve decided to add that as a helpful tip in our guides going forward, so thank you :) And I’m so happy to hear the lessons were helpful and you were able to do get your North Carolina LLC started on your own. Best wishes!
Amazing information with great attention to detail. Instruction rolls along very smoothly. I will also visit my local Department of Revenue.
Thank you so much!
You’re very welcome Lisa!
You didn’t answer the question as to what taxes and LLC must pay. You simply said to hire somebody to answer this question. I’m trying to see if the person I hired is doing it right, and this lesson is no help at all.
Hi Amy, sorry to let you down with this lesson. Honestly, our tax information is our “weakest” content. Taxes vary tremendously from business to business so there isn’t one single answer (or a few) to address everyone. Apologies for not being as helpful as we could. I recommend trying our “knights of the roundtable” strategy and calling a few accountants to double-check on what’s being done. But if you feel something like this already, there’s a good chance your intuition is picking up on something. If you see any specific areas we can improve, please let us know. We’re all for making our information as best as it can be. Thanks for your comment.