S Corp Tax Preparation in San Diego County
Form 1120-S and California Form 100S prepared with the owner-level details that most S corp returns get wrong: salary, basis and distributions.
- CPA-led team
- Tax preparation and CFO planning in one place
- Built for $1M to $30M companies
S corp tax preparation for growing San Diego County companies
An S corporation can save owners real money, but only when it is run correctly. The return itself is just the start. Reasonable compensation, shareholder basis, distributions, health insurance for owners and accountable plan reimbursements all have to line up across payroll, the books and the tax return. Scalesight prepares S corp tax returns with that full picture in view.
We prepare the federal Form 1120-S, the California Form 100S and the Schedule K-1s that carry income to each shareholder's personal return. When we also prepare the owners' personal returns, the K-1s, estimated payments and state taxes are coordinated from the start.
What our S corp tax preparation covers
- Federal Form 1120-S and shareholder Schedule K-1s
- California Form 100S and the 1.5 percent franchise tax, with the $800 minimum
- Reasonable compensation review for shareholder-employees
- Shareholder stock and debt basis tracking, year over year
- Treatment of health insurance premiums for more-than-2-percent shareholders
- Accountable plan setup for reimbursed owner expenses
- California elective pass-through entity tax analysis
- Late S election relief when an election was missed or filed incorrectly
Who this is for
- Owner-operated S corporations with one or several shareholders
- LLCs that elected S corporation tax treatment
- Companies converting from a sole proprietorship or partnership
- Owners unsure whether their salary and distributions are defensible
S corporation rules specific to California
California recognizes the federal S election but still taxes the corporation itself at 1.5 percent of net income, with an $800 minimum franchise tax. That entity-level tax belongs in any comparison between S corporation and LLC or partnership treatment.
California also offers an elective pass-through entity tax that lets qualifying S corporations pay state tax at the entity level. For some owners that creates a federal deduction they would otherwise lose to the cap on state and local tax deductions. The election has strict payment deadlines, so we review it with you well before year end.
How it works
Payroll and books check
We confirm owner wages, distributions and balance sheet accounts.
Basis review
We update each shareholder's basis before preparing K-1s.
Prepare returns
Form 1120-S, Form 100S and K-1s with CPA review.
Owner planning
Salary, estimates and PTE election decisions for the next year.
S corp tax preparation across San Diego County
We provide s corp tax preparation to businesses in all 18 cities in the county. Local pages:
- CPA in San DiegoCity overview and services
- CPA in Chula VistaCity overview and services
- CPA in OceansideCity overview and services
- CPA in EscondidoCity overview and services
- CPA in CarlsbadCity overview and services
Also serving El Cajon, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, La Mesa, Santee, National City, Poway, Lemon Grove, Imperial Beach, Coronado, Solana Beach, Del Mar, plus unincorporated communities such as Fallbrook, Ramona, Lakeside, Spring Valley, Alpine and Rancho Santa Fe. See every area we serve.
More detail on this service: S corp, C corp and LLC filings | Tax strategy planning
Why owners choose Scalesight
CPA-led
Tax preparation, books and CFO work are led and reviewed by a CPA, not handed to a call center.
Built for $1M to $30M
Our process is designed for owner-led companies that have outgrown a basic tax preparer.
One team
The people who close your books also plan your taxes and prepare your returns, so nothing gets lost between firms.
Fixed scope in writing
You know what is included and what it costs before work starts.
S Corp Tax Preparation questions
When is the S corp tax return due?
For calendar-year S corporations, Form 1120-S is due March 15. A six-month extension is available with Form 7004, which moves the filing deadline to September 15 but does not extend the time to pay any tax owed.
How much salary should an S corp owner pay themselves?
The IRS expects shareholder-employees to take reasonable compensation for the services they perform before taking distributions. There is no fixed percentage. We look at your role, hours, industry pay data and company profits to document a defensible number.
Why does shareholder basis matter?
Basis determines whether distributions are tax-free and whether you can deduct losses passed through on your K-1. Many S corporations never track it, which causes problems in loss years and when the company is sold. We maintain basis schedules every year.
Is an S corporation always better than an LLC?
No. The savings depend on profit levels, payroll costs, California's 1.5 percent entity tax and your plans for the business. For some owners partnership or sole proprietor treatment is simpler and nearly as efficient. We compare the options with your actual numbers.
Talk with a CPA about s corp tax preparation
Start with a free Growth Audit. We review your situation and tell you what we would change, whether or not you hire us.
- Financial health review of recent statements and trends
- Cash flow and profitability analysis
- Review of your current tax approach
- Scalability readiness scorecard
- A written action plan you can use with or without us