‘Loan Payments’ Can Be Taxable Corporate Distributions to Shareholders

Corporate Distribution Basics

For federal income tax purposes, non-liquidating distributions paid by C corporations to individual shareholders can potentially fall into three different layers. Withdrawals from each layer have different tax consequences.

First Layer: Taxable Dividends to Extent of Earnings and Profits. Corporate distributions of cash or property are classified as taxable dividends to the extent of the corporation’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, which is a tax accounting concept that is somewhat similar to the financial accounting concept of retained earnings.

Dividends may be formally declared or they may be constructive. A constructive dividend arises when a corporation distributes earnings and profits to shareholders without formally declaring a dividend but without the expectation of repayment.

The maximum federal income tax rate on C corporation dividends is 20% for single people with taxable income above $400,000 ($450,000 for married joint-filing couples). Upper-income individuals may also owe the 3.8% Medicare net investment income tax on dividend income. For other taxpayers, the tax rate on dividends remains 15%.

Second Layer: Tax-Free Return of Capital to Extent of Stock Basis. After the distributing corporation’s E&P is exhausted, subsequent distributions reduce each shareholder’s basis in his or her stock. In other words, distributions up to basis are treated as tax-free returns of shareholder capital.

Third Layer: Capital Gain after Stock Basis Is Exhausted. After a shareholder’s stock basis is reduced to zero, any additional distributions are treated as capital gains. Assuming the gains are long-term because the stock has been held for more than a year, the maximum individual federal income tax rate is 20% for high income taxpayers.

This applies to singles with taxable income above $400,000, (married joint-filing couples with income above $450,000). For taxpayers with income below that, the maximum long-term capital gains rate is 15%.

Steer Clear of Negative Tax Consequences

Whenever cash or property passes between closely held corporations and their shareholders, there are tax consequences. The only way to control the tax consequences is to document what the transactions are intended to be and follow through by acting accordingly.

When transactions are intended to be loans, the objective factors in the right-hand box must be considered and respected. Otherwise, the IRS can re-characterize the transactions in ways that have negative tax consequences for shareholders, their corporations, or both. Consult with your tax advisor for guidance in your situation.

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