Michigan LLC
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Advantages and Disadvantages of a Michigan LLC
Advantages of LLC
- Limited Liability: Owners of a LLC have the limited liability protection of a corporation.
- Flexible Profit Distribution: Limited liability companies can select varying forms of distribution of profits. Unlike a common partnership where the split is 50-50, LLC have much more flexibility.
- No Minutes: Corporations are required to keep formal minutes, have meetings, and record resolutions. The LLC business structure requires no corporate minutes or resolutions and is easier to operate.
- Flow Through Taxation: All your business losses, profits, and expenses flow through the company to the individual members. You avoid the double taxation of paying corporate tax and individual tax. Usually, this will be a tax advantage, but circumstances can favor a corporate tax structure.
Disadvantages of LLC
- Limited Life: Corporations can live forever, whereas a LLC is dissolved when a member dies or undergoes bankruptcy.
- Going Public: Business owners with plans to take their company public, or issuing employee shares in the future, may be best served by choosing a corporate business structure.
- Added Complexity: Running a sole-proprietorship or partnership will have less paperwork and complexity. A LLC may federally be classified as a sole-proprietorship, partnership, or corporation for tax purposes. Classification can be selected or a default may apply.
By Michigan and other state law in order to proceed with forming a llc, you need to prepare a written abstract detailing your llc purpose, the names of your initial Michigan LLC members, the name and address of your Michigan registered agent, the details of which will be introduced into the body of your LLC operating agreement and related Michigan LLC formation documents assembled for application to the state of Michigan.
Michigan's 2011 Business Tax Climate Ranks 17th
Michigan ranks 17th in the Tax State Business Tax Climate Index. The Index compares the states in five areas of taxation that impact business: corporate taxes; individual income taxes; sales taxes; unemployment insurance taxes; and taxes on property, including residential and commercial property. Neighboring states ranked as follows: Indiana (10th), Ohio (46th), and Wisconsin (40th).Michigan's Individual Income Tax System
Michigan's personal income tax system consists of a simple 4.35% tax on an individual's federal adjusted gross income (with some modifications). Among states levying individual income taxes, Michigan's flat tax rate is 40th highest. Michigan's 2008 state-level individual income tax collections were $716 per person, which ranked 36th highest nationally.Michigan's Corporate Income Tax System
Michigan levies a Single Business Tax (SBT), which is a modified value-added tax (VAT). The rate is 4.95% and there is an additional modified gross receipts tax at a rate of .8%. In 2008, state-level corporate tax collections (excluding local taxes) were $177 per capita, ranking it 14th highest nationally.Michigan Sales and Excise Taxes
Michigan levies a 6% general sales or use tax on consumers, slightly above the national median of 5.85%. In 2007 combined state and local general and selective sales tax collections were $1,180 per person, which ranks 38th highest nationally. Michigan's gasoline tax stands at 35 cents per gallon, ranking 13th highest nationally. Additionally, Michigan's 6% general sales tax is levied on the sale of gasoline purchases. Michigan's cigarette tax stands at $2.00 per pack of twenty, which ranks 10th highest nationally. The sales tax was adopted in 1933, the gasoline tax in 1925 and the cigarette tax in 1947.Home | Michigan LLC Advantages and Disadvantages | Site-Map