Choose a business name for your S corp. File articles of incorporation. Issue stock for your S corp. Elect a board of directors and appoint officers. Meet other S corp eligibility requirements. Obtain an employer identification number. Elect S corp status. Apply for state and local S corp business licenses.
While both the Florida LLC and Florida S-Corporation protect the owners' individual assets from business liabilities, only the LLC shields business ownership from creditors of the shareholders. An S-Corp offers similar liability protection but requires specific ownership and tax structure considerations.
To complete the steps and gain S corp status, fill out and submit IRS Form 2553. This form allows a corporation to elect to be treated as an S corp in Florida. After completing IRS Form 2553, you'll fax it to the IRS.
Because of the one-class-of-stock restriction, an S corporation cannot allocate losses or income to specific shareholders. Allocation of income and loss is governed by stock ownership, unlike partnerships or LLCs taxed as partnerships where the allocation can be set in the partnership agreement or operating agreement.
If previously registered, you must provide a copy of the IRS Notice of Acceptance as an S corporation or provide a copy of the first page of the federal form 1120-S. You can submit your status change request online.
Now that you know what an S corp is and its requirements, follow these five steps to form your business as an S corp in Florida. Step 1: Choose a Business Name. Step 2: Articles of Incorporation. Step 3: Apply for a Business License. Step 4: Obtain EIN. Step 5: Complete and Submit IRS Form 2553.