Pass-Through Entity vs. C Corporation

There has been much recent debate about whether the difference between the amount of taxes paid by a C corporation, as compared to those paid by a pass-through entity (“PTE”, e.g., an S corporation, partnership or a limited liability company), would result in different values for each entity, with all else being equal.  Since the value of a company is driven by the present value of its expected future cash flows, it stands to reason that if a C corporation pays more in taxes than does an S corporation, it is possible that the C corporation would be worth less.

To understand how this may apply to your company (C corporation or PTE), it is important to first understand the differences in how each entity type is taxed. (This is meant to be an illustrative example; for tax consequences specific to your organization, please consult your tax advisor).

A C corporation generally pays taxes on its earnings while its shareholders pay taxes on any dividends and are also subject to capital gains taxes when they sell their C corp shares. 

PTE owners, on the other hand, generally only pay personal income taxes on earnings of the PTE regardless of distributions received. 

The simple example below illustrates these differences at the federal tax level (state and local taxes are not considered here).

Assumptions:

Federal corporate tax rate – 21%

Federal dividend and capital gains tax rates – 20%

Individual (pass-through) tax rate – 35%

Earnings before taxes – $100

Earnings distributed to owners – 50%

  C Corporation PTE
Earnings Before Taxes $            100.0 $            100.0
Corporate Income Tax 21.0 -
Net Income Availbale to Shareholders 79.0 100.0
Earnings Retained in Company 39.5 50.0
Dividends  39.5 50.0
Dividend Tax/Personal Income Tax 7.9 35.0
Net Distribution Cash Flow to Shareholders $              31.6 $              15.0

If the hypothetical entity were then sold immediately after the first year of activity, the C corporation would be subject to capital gains taxes on the earnings retained by the entity, while the PTE owners would not, as indicated below:

  C Corporation PTE
Capital Gain $39.5 $50.0
Less Capital Gains Tax/No Tax 7.9 -
Net Cash Flow $     31.6 $     50.0

In this example, the owner of a PTE receives $65 while the owner of the C corporation receives only $63.2, indicating the value of the PTE is higher.

But it should be noted that this an overly simplified example and  does not take into account specific factors like the time value of money, nor does it cover every potential difference between a C corporation and PTE.

Given the significant complexities of valuing C corporations and PTEs, it is important to consult with advisors to make sure all appropriate factors are considered.  Schneider Downs has significant experience preparing business valuations for both PTEs and C corporations for a wide range of purposes. Please contact Steve Thimons (412-697-5281; [email protected]) or Joel Rosenthal (412-697-5387; [email protected]) if you need any business valuation services.

You’ve heard our thoughts… We’d like to hear yours

The Schneider Downs Our Thoughts On blog exists to create a dialogue on issues that are important to organizations and individuals. While we enjoy sharing our ideas and insights, we’re especially interested in what you may have to say. If you have a question or a comment about this article – or any article from the Our Thoughts On blog – we hope you’ll share it with us. After all, a dialogue is an exchange of ideas, and we’d like to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Material discussed is meant for informational purposes only, and it is not to be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice. Please note that individual situations can vary. Therefore, this information should be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice.

© 2023 Schneider Downs. All rights-reserved. All content on this site is property of Schneider Downs unless otherwise noted and should not be used without written permission.

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