Professional Services Corp

Jul 03, 2006 1 Replies

I am a CPA in New York State, and I am a bit embarassed asking this since as a CPA I should probably know this. I have decided to form a professional services corporation for the side tax work that I do (I am currently filing Schedule C since I am not incorporated, I also do work for a CPA firm



3-4 days a week but I am a salaried employee receiving a W-2 from that firm) While I have opened C-Corps/S-Corps for clients, I have never opened a professional services corporation. I have searched the IRS website and other search engines. I do know that form DOS-1523 is what I would use for the New York Certificate of Incorporation. What I don't know is what needs to be done after that (besides filing form SS-4 to get an EIN). Some of the information that I have read online seems to say that a professional services corporation can be a C-Corp/S-Corp or LLC. I am also confused as sometimes when I do searches for professional service corporation, I get information for personal service corporations. What I am looking for is what if any is the difference between a professional service corporation and a personal service corporation. Also, is it true that a professional service corporation can be set up as an S-Corp (which is what I would prefer if possible). If not, then what forms need to be filed besides the DOS-1523 and SS-4? If anyone has a better suggestion for opening a professional services corporation for my situation other than as an S-Corp, please let me know. Thanks in advance for any help on this!



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The term Professional Corp. or Professional Services Corp. is defined by the state in which one incorporates. Usually, you can opt for C or S status. To the IRS for tax purposes, there is no such entity as a Professional Corp. or Professional Services Corp. If you are an S Corp., the profits and losses are passed through to the owners and get reported on the owners' individual tax returns. If you are a C corporation you pay tax using the corporate graduated rates unless you are a "qualified personal services corporation" as defined in IRC Sec. 448(d)(2). If you meet that definition, you pay a flat rate of 35%. These entities are usually identified as PSCs. It is likely that a "C" type Professional Corp. in a given state, is probably a PSC for tax purposes.

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