Executive summary
- Single-member LLC or sole proprietor: no separate return. The owner reports the business on Schedule C with Form 1040, due April 15, 2027.
- LLC with two or more members: taxed as a partnership by default and files Form 1065, due March 15, 2027.
- S corporation (including an LLC that filed Form 2553): files Form 1120-S, due March 15, 2027. Shareholders pay the tax.
- C corporation (including an LLC that filed Form 8832): files Form 1120, due April 15, 2027, and pays tax at 21%.
Bottom line: Confirm how the IRS classifies your business, put that form's due date on your calendar now, and file the return or an extension on time, even after a loss.
How to file taxes for an LLC or corporation starts with one fact: your state paperwork says LLC or corporation, but the IRS decides which federal return you file. So what tax form does a corporation file, and what about an LLC? It depends on the number of owners and any election on Form 8832 or Form 2553. Here are the four options, with 2027 due dates for calendar-year 2026 returns.
Which tax form, at a glance
| Your business | Federal form | Due date (2026 returns) | Who pays the tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor or single-member LLC (individual owner) | Schedule C with Form 1040 | April 15, 2027 (October 15 with Form 4868) | The owner, plus self-employment tax |
| LLC with two or more members, or a partnership | Form 1065 | March 15, 2027 (September 15 with Form 7004) | Each member, through a Schedule K-1 |
| S corporation, or an LLC that filed Form 2553 | Form 1120-S | March 15, 2027 (September 15 with Form 7004) | Each shareholder, through a Schedule K-1 |
| C corporation, or an LLC that filed Form 8832 | Form 1120 | April 15, 2027 (October 15 with Form 7004) | The corporation at 21%; shareholders again on dividends |
None of these dates falls on a weekend or federal holiday in 2027. Extensions give more time to file, not to pay.
Federal filing status for an LLC: the default rules
Without an election, an LLC's classification is:
- One member: disregarded as separate from its owner for income tax, with no return of its own. An individual owner reports it on the Schedule C tax form (or Schedule E or F) with Form 1040.
- Two or more members: a partnership filing Form 1065. See our Form 1065 guide for LLCs.
So the usual single-member LLC tax form is Schedule C, plus Schedule SE if net self-employment earnings are $400 or more. For employment taxes, though, the LLC is treated as separate, so it runs any payroll under its own name and EIN.
What tax form does a corporation file?
A corporation files Form 1120 unless it elected S status, whether or not it has taxable income. It pays 21% on taxable income, and shareholders are taxed again on dividends, which the IRS calls a double tax.
A corporation with an S election (no more than 100 shareholders, allowable shareholders only, one class of stock) files Form 1120-S. It generally pays no federal income tax; profit passes to shareholders on Schedules K-1. Our Form 1120-S guide covers distributions and owner pay.
Changing it: an LLC taxed as an S corp or C corp
- Form 2553 (S corporation): an LLC taxed as an S corp files Form 2553 only, not Form 8832. For S status from January 1, 2027, file during 2026 or by March 15, 2027.
- Form 8832 (C corporation): it can take effect up to 75 days before or 12 months after filing. After a change, an LLC generally can't change again for 60 months.
An S election adds payroll and a separate return, so run the numbers first with our S corp tax savings calculator.
New Jersey returns
Which NJ LLC tax return you file depends on how the business is taxed. A multi-member LLC with New Jersey income or NJ resident partners files the NJ-1065, and an S corporation files the CBT-100S, both due April 15, 2027. A C corporation files the CBT-100. Every date by entity is in our 2027 business tax deadlines tool.
FAQs
For 2026: March 15, 2027 for a multi-member LLC or an LLC taxed as an S corporation; April 15, 2027 for a single-member LLC or an LLC taxed as a C corporation.
A multi-member LLC can skip Form 1065 only if it had no income and no deductible expenses or credits. A C corporation files Form 1120 even with no taxable income, and an S corporation files Form 1120-S every year its election is in effect.
April 15, 2027 for calendar-year 2026, or October 15, 2027 with Form 7004. Tax is still due April 15.
Generally no, it files Form 1065. The qualified joint venture election that lets spouses each file Schedule C isn't available for a business held in an LLC.
$260 per partner or shareholder per month or part of a month, up to 12 months, for returns due in 2027, even with no tax owed.
Merchant Financial Advisory (MFA), an accounting, tax and business solutions provider in Princeton, New Jersey, helps individuals and small and mid-sized businesses in New Jersey, New York and nationwide get their tax setup right. See our business tax and bookkeeping services, start a new company with our LLC formation service, or browse the tax tools and calculators.
Save the key dates
- Mon, Mar 15, 2027Form 1065 (multi-member LLCs) and Form 1120-S (S corporations) due for calendar-year 2026 File the return or Form 7004 for a 6-month extension to September 15, 2027. Late penalty: $260 per partner or shareholder per month, up to 12 months.
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- Mon, Mar 15, 2027Last day to file Form 2553 for S corporation status starting January 1, 2027 An LLC electing S status files Form 2553 only; it doesn't need Form 8832 first.
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- Thu, Apr 15, 2027Form 1040 with Schedule C (single-member LLCs and sole proprietors) due Form 4868 extends filing, not payment, to October 15, 2027.
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- Thu, Apr 15, 2027Form 1120 due for calendar-year 2026 C corporations Form 7004 extends filing, not payment, to October 15, 2027.
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- Thu, Apr 15, 2027NJ: NJ-1065 and CBT-100S due (calendar-year 2026) NJ-1065 for partnerships with New Jersey income or NJ resident partners; CBT-100S for New Jersey S corporations.
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Sources
- IRS Publication 3402: Taxation of Limited Liability Companies
- IRS: Form 8832 and instructions (Entity Classification Election)
- IRS: Instructions for Form 2553
- IRS: Instructions for Schedule C (Form 1040) (2025)
- IRS: Instructions for Schedule SE (Form 1040) (2025)
- IRS: Instructions for Form 1065 (2025)
- IRS: Instructions for Form 1120 (2025)
- IRS: Instructions for Form 1120-S (2025)
- IRS Publication 542: Corporations
- IRS: Forming a corporation
- IRS: Instructions for Form 7004 (Rev. December 2025)
- IRS: Publication 509 (2027 draft), Tax Calendars
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32: penalty amounts for returns required to be filed in 2027
- NJ Division of Taxation: 2025 NJ-1065 instructions
- NJ Division of Taxation: 2025 CBT-100S instructions
Facts checked against the sources above as of October 21, 2026. This article is general information, not tax, legal, or financial advice, and reading it does not create a client relationship. Tax rules change and every situation is different; confirm the details for your situation with a qualified professional before acting.