LLC to S Corp: How to Make the Switch
Last updated November 5, 2026 · Written by the EIN Registration filing team
Your LLC needs an EIN before it can elect. We prepare and file the application and email you the number.
Start Now →Who qualifies
- A domestic LLC with no more than 100 owners.
- Owners who are individuals, or certain trusts and estates, and not nonresident aliens.
- One class of ownership, so profits follow ownership percentages.
The steps
- Check that your LLC has an EIN. Form 2553 asks for it. See how to get one.
- Choose the start date and check the deadline for it.
- Have every owner sign Form 2553. The Form 2553 instructions cover each line.
- Send it to the IRS by fax or mail, and keep proof.
- Set up payroll for any owner who works in the business.
What changes
| LLC taxed by default | LLC taxed as an S corp | |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employment tax | On the owner’s share of profit | Not on distributions, but payroll tax applies to wages |
| Owner pay | Draws | A reasonable salary, plus distributions |
| Federal return | Schedule C or Form 1065 | Form 1120-S |
| Payroll | None for owners | Required for working owners |
When it may be worth it
It tends to make sense only when profit is well above a reasonable salary for the work you do, since the saving has to cover payroll and a separate return. Estimate your current tax with our self-employment tax calculator, then ask a tax professional to compare the two.
Quick answers
Does my LLC stop being an LLC?
No. It stays an LLC under state law. S corporation status only changes how it is taxed.
Do I need a new EIN to become an S corp?
No. An existing LLC keeps its EIN through the election.
When is Form 2553 due?
Within 2 months and 15 days of the start of the tax year it should take effect, or at any time in the year before. Late relief may be available.
Do I also need Form 8832?
Generally no. An eligible LLC that files Form 2553 is treated as also having elected corporate status.
Can I undo it?
Yes, by revoking the election, but there are limits on electing again, so talk to a tax professional first.
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Related guides
- Form 2553 Instructions: How to File the S Corporation Election Who can elect S status, the 2 months and 15 days deadline with the IRS's worked example, every line of the form, the two fax numbers and addresses by state, late relief under Rev. Proc. 2013-30, and what the IRS sends back.
- Where to File Form 2553: Fax Number and Mailing Address by State 855-887-7734 for the Kansas City states, 855-214-7520 for the rest. The state lists, the mailing addresses, the cover sheet, proof of the filing date, and what to do when no acceptance letter comes.
- Form 8832 Instructions: Entity Classification Election for an LLC How an LLC elects to be taxed as a corporation, when Form 2553 alone is the right form instead, the 75 day and 12 month window, the 60 month rule, every line, the two mailing addresses, and Rev. Proc. 2009-41 late relief.
- How to Apply for an EIN for an LLC (LLC Tax ID Number) Nearly every LLC needs its own EIN for the bank, and multi-member LLCs and S corporation elections make it mandatory. The LLC lines on the SS-4, the timing after state approval, and the mistakes that get applications rejected.
- Do I Need a New EIN? The Full Scenario Table A new EIN is needed when the taxpayer changes, not when its details do. Name changes, new partners, and S-corp elections keep it; incorporating, sole prop to partnership, and a trust turning irrevocable need a new one.
You can also apply for an EIN directly with the IRS at irs.gov at no cost.