S-corp break-even for a $180k freelance dev in CA — does the math actually work?
had this convo with a client yesterday. $180k net SE, California resident, single. already on a Solo 401(k). thinking about S-corp for 2026.
napkin math:
- SE tax savings at 50/50 split (~$90k salary / $90k distribution) → roughly $6-7k saved on SE
- BUT: payroll provider ~$1.5k/year, SUTA/FUTA ~$500, extra accounting ~$1.5k
- California $800 min franchise tax + 1.5% S-corp tax on net income → that's basically $2.7k
- reasonable salary has to be defensible — $90k might be low for a senior dev in SF, so real salary probably closer to $120k which eats into the savings
i'm landing on: maybe $2-3k net benefit, not worth the complexity. am i missing something?
3 replies
your math tracks. the CA 1.5% S-corp tax is the thing most people forget — it applies at the entity level in addition to the individual tax on the K-1 income. effectively partial double taxation on the distribution portion.
for CA specifically the break-even tends to start around $200-220k with a defensible ~$110k salary. below that the entity costs + 1.5% eat most of the SE tax savings. you're right to push back.
also: if he ever moves out of CA the math improves dramatically — states without a franchise tax or entity-level tax make S-corp election worthwhile at lower income.
yeah that's where i landed. told him to revisit in 2027 when he's likely at $220k+. also flagged the PTET election for CA (AB 150) as a separate lever if he did elect — gets around the SALT cap.
the reasonable-salary piece always makes me nervous. IRS CCA 202050014 tightened the standard — "what would you pay an arm's length replacement" is the test. for senior devs in SF that number is scary high and erodes the savings.
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