Should I elect S corp status?
An S corp is not a different kind of company. It is a tax election you file for the LLC you already have, and it changes one main thing: how much of your profit is exposed to self-employment tax.
That one change can be worth five figures a year. It can also cost more than it saves. Which one you get depends on a number most people never actually run — your net profit after expenses, weighed against the cost of running payroll and filing a second tax return every year.
For a solo service business, the honest answer is a threshold. Below roughly $100,000 of net profit, the election usually does not pay for itself. Above $150,000, it usually does. In between it is a judgment call that turns on your state, your salary, and how much administrative work you are willing to absorb.
If any one of these is true for you, a CPA is probably a great investment:
Five signs an S corp makes sense
You don’t need to meet all of these, but the first one is the most important factor
Your net profit clears ~$125,000
At that level self-employment tax alone runs well into five figures, and entity choice and retirement plan design are each worth thousands. A return filed in April can only report those decisions - it cannot make them.
You are weighing an S corporation election
An S corp can cut self-employment tax meaningfully, but it adds bookkeeping, payroll, and an additional tax return. State & local taxes also come into play, especially if you operate in NYC. See Should I elect S corporation status? for the full framework.
Your quarterly estimates are a guess
Nobody likes tracking expenses, and the four tax payments a year that depend on those records are easy to let slide. Getting them wrong or skipping entirely can mean penalties and a looming tax bill.
Your business finances are getting harder to keep organized
As the business grows, so does the number of accounts, expenses, payments, and tax deadlines to keep track of. If you are spending too much time piecing everything together - or still are not sure the numbers are right - it may be time to get help.
You’re making big financial moves without knowing the tax impact
Buying or selling property, making a large investment, changing how you pay yourself, or taking money out of the business can all create tax consequences. A CPA can help you understand those consequences before you make the move, when there is still time to plan around them.
When you may not need a CPA yet
Sure, it’s nice to have someone handle your taxes. But if your situation looks like this, and you don’t need an advisor during the year, DIY software probably works well enough.
What a CPA does that software cannot
Most of the value is not in the return. It’s in the decisions you make before the year ends.
| DIY software | Tax preparer | Proactive CPA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Files the return accurately | Usually | Yes | Yes |
| Tells you what to do before Dec 31 | No | Rarely | Core of the work |
| Entity & compensation strategy | No | Sometimes | Yes |
| Quarterly estimates that match reality | Prior-year guess | Prior-year guess | Updated during the year |
| Answers a question in July | No | Often closed | Year-round |
Four common misconceptions people make
“I will hire someone when I get audited.”
By then your options are defensive. You want a professional to minimize the risk of audit.
“Paying someone to file taxes means strategy should be included.”
Filing and planning are two different engagements. Preparation reports what already happened; strategy changes what happens next.
“A big refund means my tax pro did a good job.”
A big refund means you overpaid all year. A good tax pro aims for the lowest total tax, not the flashiest number in April — sometimes the best outcome is a small balance due.
“An S corp always saves money.”
An S corp can be an expensive mistake if you're below a certain profit, as bookkeeping, payroll and filing costs eat the savings.
Ready for personalized advice?
General guidance helps keep you informed, but the right answer depends on your specific situation. Income mix, state taxes, and future plans should all be considered. Our Tax Advisors can give you the right game plan.
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