Lesson · Facts First

Entity Structures & ROBS

The entity is the chassis: pick the wrong one and you overpay tax or invite personal liability every year you run.

The facts

  • 01LLC: pass-through by default, flexible management, strongest asset-shielding for real estate holdings. S-corp: pass-through plus payroll-based self-employment tax savings on active profits - reasonable salary is mandatory (IRS S corporations guidance).
  • 02C-corp: flat 21% federal corporate rate since 2017 (IRC 11(b)), but dividends out to you are taxed again - the classic double tax.
  • 03ROBS (Rollover for Business Startups) uses your 401(k)/IRA funds to buy C-corp stock without a distribution - legal under ERISA and IRC 4975 when structured by a provider, but audit-sensitive and irreversible in spirit. Get professional help before touching this.
  • 04Real estate investors typically hold each property in its own LLC and keep operating activity separate - insurance plus entity, not entity alone.

Sources

  • IRC Section 11(b) (21% corporate rate)
  • IRS: S Corporation Compensation and Medical Insurance Issues
  • ERISA / IRC 4975 prohibited transaction rules

Educational content only — not tax, legal, investment, or VA-benefits advice. Figures verified against the cited sources for 2026; confirm your own situation with a qualified professional before acting.

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