When must a Single Member LLC with zero income file taxes - 2025 deadline?
I established a Single Member LLC last year but haven't generated any revenue yet. With the recent announcement about tax filing extensions, I'm confused about whether this applies to my SMLLC as well. Since I'm the only member and there's no income to report, does my LLC filing follow the same extended deadline as my personal taxes? Or are there different rules for business entities even if they're pass-through with zero activity? Not trying to miss any important deadlines here!
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Mateo Silva
Great question about your Single Member LLC! The tax filing rules can definitely be confusing. Since a Single Member LLC is typically treated as a "disregarded entity" for federal tax purposes, you generally don't file a separate tax return for the LLC itself. Instead, you report any LLC business activity on your personal tax return using Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business). This means your SMLLC filing deadline is the same as your personal tax return deadline - so yes, any extension to the individual filing deadline would apply to your situation as well. Even with zero income, it's still important to maintain proper records for your LLC. Some states may have separate filing requirements or annual fees for LLCs regardless of income, so be sure to check your state's specific requirements.
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Victoria Jones
•If the LLC was formed in the middle of the year, do you still need to file anything for that partial year even with zero income? Also wondering if there are any minimum documentation requirements even for zero-activity businesses?
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Mateo Silva
•Yes, if you formed your LLC in the middle of the year, you would still include it on your personal tax return for that partial year, even with zero income. You would simply report zero income and any applicable startup expenses on Schedule C. For documentation requirements, even with zero activity, you should maintain basic business records including: your LLC formation documents, operating agreement, EIN confirmation (if you obtained one), business bank account statements (even if showing zero activity), and documentation of any startup costs or expenses. This creates a paper trail showing your business exists as a legitimate entity, which can be important for liability protection and potential future audits.
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Cameron Black
Just wanted to share my experience that saved me so much headache with my SMLLC tax situation. After spending hours trying to figure out the filing requirements for my no-income LLC, I stumbled across https://taxr.ai and it was a total game-changer. I uploaded my LLC docs and got crystal clear guidance tailored specifically to my state requirements and filing deadlines. It even explained which forms I needed to file (even with zero income) and identified some startup expenses I could actually deduct that I had no idea about!
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Jessica Nguyen
•How does it work with state-specific requirements? My LLC is registered in Wyoming but I live in California, and I'm getting conflicting info about filing requirements.
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Isaiah Thompson
•Does it actually check if you're doing things correctly? I'm worried I'm missing something with my LLC and don't want to risk getting in trouble with the IRS down the road.
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Cameron Black
•For state-specific requirements, that's actually one of the best features. The tool analyzes both your home state and where your LLC is registered, then breaks down the different filing requirements for each. In your Wyoming/California situation, it would explain both the Wyoming requirements (which are pretty minimal) and California's requirements (which can include the $800 franchise tax even for zero-income businesses depending on your situation). The verification aspect is definitely solid. It uses actual tax code references and compares your situation against filing requirements. I was making a mistake with how I was handling my home office expenses for my LLC, and it flagged that for me before it became an issue. It gives you a compliance checklist specific to your business structure so you can be confident you're not missing anything.
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Jessica Nguyen
Just wanted to update here - I tried https://taxr.ai after posting my question and it was really helpful! Turns out I DID need to file something called the "Statement of Information" for my LLC in California even though my LLC is registered in Wyoming. There was also something called "economic nexus" I had no idea about. The system walked me through exactly what I needed to file for both states and gave me all the deadline info. Saved me from what could have been a nasty surprise when California came looking for their fees!
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Ruby Garcia
If you're having trouble getting clear answers from the IRS about your SMLLC filing requirements (which is super common), I highly recommend using https://claimyr.com to get through to an actual IRS agent. I spent WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone about my specific LLC situation last year. With Claimyr, I got through in about 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait or just getting disconnected. There's a good demo video of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c
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Alexander Evans
•How does this actually work? I'm confused how a third-party service can get you through to the IRS faster than just calling directly?
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Evelyn Martinez
•This sounds like total BS. If it was that easy to get through to the IRS, everyone would be doing it. I've tried literally everything and still end up on hold for hours or getting disconnected.
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Ruby Garcia
•It works by basically navigating the IRS phone system for you and holding your place in line. When they get through to an agent, your phone rings and connects you directly. It's not skipping the line - it's just automating the hold process so you don't have to sit there listening to the hold music for hours. I was skeptical too until I tried it. The reason everyone isn't doing it is simply because many people don't know about it. The IRS phone system is deliberately difficult to navigate, and most people give up after being disconnected multiple times. This service just handles that frustrating part for you.
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Evelyn Martinez
I have to eat my words and apologize for my skepticism. After posting my doubtful comment, I was desperate enough to try Claimyr when I got another CP2000 notice about my LLC's EIN that I couldn't resolve online. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of my usual routine of calling for days without getting through. The agent confirmed that my zero-income SMLLC didn't need a separate filing but did need to be reported on my Schedule C even with no income. Problem solved in one call that I couldn't get handled for weeks. Guess sometimes things actually work as advertised!
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Benjamin Carter
Don't forget about state filing requirements! Even if federal is simple for SMLLCs with no income, many states require annual reports or have minimum franchise taxes. California charges $800 annually even if you made $0. New York has a filing fee. Check your state's specific requirements so you don't get hit with penalties.
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Maya Lewis
•Do you know if Texas has any requirements for a zero-income SMLLC? Their website is so confusing, I can't tell if I need to file anything.
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Benjamin Carter
•Texas doesn't have a state income tax, but they do have a franchise tax that applies to LLCs. The good news is there's a "No Tax Due" threshold - if your revenue is below $1,230,000 (as of last year), you can file a "No Tax Due" report. Even with zero income, you are still required to file this report annually. Texas also requires a Public Information Report to be filed annually with the Comptroller's office, even for zero-income LLCs. Missing these filings can result in penalties or even having your LLC's legal status forfeited, so definitely don't skip them even with no activity.
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Isaac Wright
Quick question - I have an SMLLC with no income but I did put about $5,000 into a business bank account. Does this count as "income" for tax purposes that I need to report somewhere? Really confused about what counts as activity.
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Lucy Taylor
•Depositing money into your business account isn't considered income - it's considered capital contribution. Income would be money your business earned from operations. So no, you wouldn't report that $5k as income. You'd only report actual revenue earned from business activities.
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Connor O'Neill
For anyone still confused about SMLLC filing requirements, here's a quick summary that might help: Since your Single Member LLC is a "disregarded entity" for tax purposes, you don't file a separate business tax return. Instead, you report everything on your personal return using Schedule C - even if it's all zeros. The key thing to remember is that "zero income" doesn't mean "no filing" - you still need to show the IRS that your business exists but just didn't generate revenue that year. Also, make sure you're not mixing up federal and state requirements. While federal might be straightforward, your state could have completely different rules about annual reports, franchise taxes, or minimum fees regardless of income level. I learned this the hard way when I got hit with a $200 penalty for missing a state filing I didn't even know existed!
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