In New Mexico, you may incorporate a S corporation (S corp) by founding a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation and then choosing S corp status from the IRS when applying for your EIN.
An S corporation is a tax categorization, not a company structure, according to the IRS. The S corp classification is used to lower a company’s tax burden.
In our How to Start a S Corp in New Mexico tutorial, we’ll walk you through the steps.
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Considerations Before Forming a S Corp
You must examine the following things before founding a S corporation:
Is a S corporation the best option for your company?
S corporation limitations
Why is an LLC the ideal structure for the S corporation tax status?
Are the tax benefits of a S corporation good for you?
Is a S Corporation the Best Business Structure for You?
Restrictions on S Corporations
S corporations are restricted to one class of stock and 100 stockholders, among other things. For more information, see our What Is a S Corporation? guide.
Why is an LLC the best structure for S Corporation tax status?
As entrepreneurs, we feel that incorporating a S corporation via an LLC is the best option since the benefits of founding a corporation are offset by S corp limitations. LLCs are also less difficult to manage than corporations.
Are S Corporation Tax Benefits Right for You?
You must determine if the S corp tax status is preferable to the default LLC tax status for your company. Read our LLC vs. S corp tutorial to fully grasp the tax benefits of a S corp.
How to Form a S Corporation
There are two major methods to form a S corporation:
When requesting your employee identification number, organize an LLC and obtain S corp tax status from the IRS (EIN)
By creating a company and applying to the IRS for S corp status
We do not advocate forming a company with the S corp tax status since it undermines all of the advantages of forming a corporation.
Forming an LLC and Choosing S Corp Status in New Mexico
To form an LLC and elect S corp status, follow these five simple steps:
Step 1: Give Your LLC a Name
Step 2: Select a Registered Agent.
Step 3: Submit the Articles of Incorporation.
Create an Operating Agreement in Step 4
Step 5: Obtain an EIN and submit Form 2553 to elect S Corporation tax status.
Step 1: Give Your LLC a Name
The first and most significant step in forming an LLC in New Mexico is deciding on a name.
Make certain that the name you chose conforms with New Mexico naming rules and is readily searched by prospective customers.
1. Follow the New Mexico LLC naming guidelines:
Your firm’s name must contain the words “limited liability company” or “limited company” or one of its acronyms (LLC or L.L.C., LC, or L.C.). The term “limited” may be shortened to “ltd.,” while the word “company” can be shortened to “co.”
Your LLC’s name cannot include terms that may be confused with a government organization (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
Restricted terms (for example, bank, attorney, university) may need extra documentation and the participation of a licensed professional, such as a doctor or lawyer, in your LLC.
Your name must be distinct from any other current company in the state. This covers reserved names in New Mexico.
2. Does the name exist in New Mexico? You may check the New Mexico Secretary of State website’s company search to discover whether your selected LLC name is available.
3. Is the URL accessible?
We suggest that you check to see whether your company’s name is accessible as a web domain. Even if you don’t intend to construct a company website right away, you may want to purchase the URL to prevent others from gaining it.
Step 2: Select a New Mexico Registered Agent
Your New Mexico LLC must have a registered agent.
A registered agent for your LLC will accept legal papers and tax notifications on your behalf. When you submit your LLC’s Articles of Organization, you will name your registered agent.
Many company owners opt to use the services of a registered agent. Many of these firms will incorporate your LLC for a modest price and provide free registered agent services for the first year.
Consent to Appointment of a New Mexico Registered Agent
In New Mexico, registered agents must assent to their appointment by submitting a Statement of Acceptance of Appointment form.
The following information should be included in the consent statement:
The name of the registered agent
The name of your LLC
The signature of the registered agent
During the online formation procedure, the completed form must be submitted.
Step 3: Submit the Articles of Organization for the New Mexico LLC.
To properly register an LLC, the New Mexico Articles of Organization are utilized.
Step 4: Draft an Operating Agreement for your LLC.
An LLC operating agreement is a legal document that defines your LLC’s ownership and member responsibilities.
Read our New Mexico LLC Operating Agreement guide for more details.
Step 5: Apply for an EIN and fill out Form 2553 on the IRS website.
An EIN is a number assigned by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to companies in order to identify and tax them. It is basically a business’s Social Security number.
When you apply directly with the IRS, EINs are free.
Select S Corporation Tax Status
The IRS will give a link to Form 2553, the Election by a Small Business form, during the online EIN application process.