Accounting Expert David Riggs Explains S Corp Reasonable Salary and Distributions in HelloNation

The article explains how owner compensation affects payroll taxes and why salary decisions need supporting records.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Working S corporation owners must receive reasonable compensation before taking shareholder distributions.
• Duties, experience, hours worked, and comparable wages help determine an appropriate salary.
• The IRS may reclassify distributions as wages, resulting in back payroll taxes, interest, and penalties.

YORK, Pa., Nov. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- How much salary should an S corporation owner pay themselves? HelloNation has published a HelloNation article that provides the answer through insights from David Riggs, Accounting Expert of York, Pennsylvania, explaining how salary and shareholder distributions affect payroll taxes.

Why Do Salary and Distributions Receive Different Tax Treatment?

The HelloNation article explains that working S corporation owners serve as both shareholders and employees. Their compensation can include wages paid through payroll and shareholder distributions.

Salary is subject to payroll taxes, including Social Security and Medicare. Shareholder distributions generally are not subject to those taxes, creating potential savings alongside compensation requirements.

The article notes that owners cannot simply replace reasonable wages with distributions. Working owners must receive compensation that reflects the services they provide.

How Is an S Corp Reasonable Salary Determined?

The article explains that no single dollar amount applies to every owner. An s corp reasonable salary depends on the work performed and what comparable businesses would pay for similar services.

Relevant factors include training, experience, responsibilities, and time devoted to the business. The article also describes how business size, complexity, revenue, and profits can influence compensation decisions.

Owners may handle management, sales, technical work, and bookkeeping. The article outlines approaches that compare market wages or assign compensation to each role.

Why Do Documentation and Annual Reviews Matter?

The HelloNation article cautions that percentage splits, such as 60 percent salary and 40 percent distributions, are not official IRS guidelines. Compensation decisions should reflect business facts rather than a fixed formula.

The article recommends keeping salary research, job descriptions, and records of hours worked. Reviewing compensation annually helps owners account for changing responsibilities and business growth.

Salary should also run through formal payroll, with required withholding, filings, and a year-end W-2. These practices help support the distinction between employee wages and shareholder distributions.

How the IRS Views S Corp Owner Salary and Shareholder Distributions features insights from David Riggs, Accounting Expert of York, Pennsylvania, in HelloNation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does the IRS Approve a Standard Salary Percentage?

According to David Riggs, Accounting Expert of York, Pennsylvania, no fixed percentage replaces a review of the owner's actual work. Comparable pay and documented responsibilities provide a stronger basis.

What Happens When an Owner Takes Too Little Salary?

David Riggs, Accounting Expert of York, Pennsylvania, explains that the IRS may reclassify distributions as wages. Owners can then face back payroll taxes, interest, and penalties.

Can a New Business Justify a Lower Salary?

Based on insights from David Riggs, Accounting Expert of York, Pennsylvania, limited profit or cash may support lower compensation. The article emphasizes scrutiny when significant distributions accompany little salary.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America's Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative "edvertising" approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation