S-Corp · Dallas–Fort Worth
S-Corp Accountant in Dallas
I’m Krystal Le, CPA — S-Corp CPA work for DFW owner-operators: Form 2553, reasonable compensation, owner payroll, and Form 1120-S. Compare stays the decision tool.
The difference
How we approach the work.
An S-Corp CPA does the operating loop, not a checkbox. I file Form 2553 when the election makes sense, set a reasonable salary I can defend, run owner payroll, and prepare Form 1120-S with K-1s. The IRS pages on S corporations and About Form 2553 are the source — not a formation-mill brochure. If you are still choosing a structure, use LLC vs S-Corp. If you do not have a Texas entity yet, start with entity formation. That page forms. This page does the election and salary work.
The Instructions for Form 2553 say to file no more than 2 months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year the election should take effect, or at any time during the prior tax year. For a calendar-year company that is generally March 15. Miss it and you are looking at late-election relief under the Form 2553 instructions (including Revenue Procedure 2013-30). I will not promise the IRS accepts every late filing. A timely 2553 can make Form 8832 unnecessary; I will tell you if 8832 is actually required.
Reasonable compensation is not a percentage. The IRS page “S corporation compensation and medical insurance issues” requires reasonable compensation for services before non-wage distributions. The Form 1120-S instructions treat officer payments as wages to the extent they are reasonable compensation. There is no official IRS percentage. A rule of thumb is not the IRS test. I set a DFW-specific number from your role and what generates the receipts, then we pay it by W-2. QBI still matters — that conversation lives on tax planning, not as a re-teach here. I tell DFW owners to wait when profit is below the published compare range: below about $40,000–$50,000, extra payroll and filing cost often eats the savings. Passive rentals are not an S-Corp forced election — that work is real estate tax.
How it works
Five steps, start to finish.
Free consult + profit picture
We look at current profit, how you take money out and what an S-Corp would cost to run. There’s no single break-even number.Salary position
I write a defensible reasonable-compensation position from your role and the receipts — not a token wage designed to maximize distributions.Form 2553
I prepare and file the election on the Instructions for Form 2553 timeline. Late relief is discussed only as the instructions describe it, including Revenue Procedure 2013-30.Owner payroll live
Shareholder-employees go on W-2. Payroll runs withholdings, Form 941, and year-end W-2/W-3 even if you are the only person on payroll.Annual 1120-S + planning
Form 1120-S and K-1s, plus a quarterly look at distributions versus salary. Year-round moves stay on tax planning; the individual return on tax preparation.
Who it’s for
Who this fits.
- Consultant above the threshold: A DFW service business with steady profit in the range where payroll cost is worth measuring against self-employment tax.
- LLC ready to elect: The Texas entity already exists. You want Form 2553, a salary, and payroll — not another comparison table. Compare is for the decision; this page is the work. If the SOS filing is not done, start with entity formation.
- $0 salary S-Corp: The election is in and you still pay yourself by transfer. I set reasonable compensation and put owner W-2s on payroll.
- Multi-owner needing consents: More than one shareholder has to understand salary versus distributions and sign the election. I will not file 2553 with incomplete consents.
- Formation-mill, no payroll: Someone “made you an S-Corp” and never ran owner payroll. I fix the operating loop — salary, 941s, and the next 1120-S.
- Calculator user who wants the work done: You already ran the S-Corp calculator. This page is the engagement: election, salary, payroll, and 1120-S.
Pricing
Pricing explained before work begins.
Every engagement is scoped on the discovery call, then priced in writing before anything starts. What sets the scope:
- Current-year versus next-year election timing
- Number of owners and who must consent
- Reasonable-compensation complexity
- Whether owner payroll is already running
- Whether books are ready for 1120-S
Already a client? A one-hour Tax Strategy session is $275, invoiced separately after booking. Book it here.
Questions
Common questions.
Are you an S-Corp accountant in Dallas, or do you only file the election?
I am a Texas CPA in Richardson, Texas, serving all of DFW. S-Corp work here is the full operating loop: Form 2553, a reasonable salary I can defend, owner payroll, and Form 1120-S with K-1s. If you only need help choosing LLC vs S-Corp, use the comparison page first. If you do not have an entity yet, start with entity formation.
When is Form 2553 due?
The Instructions for Form 2553 say to file no more than 2 months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year the election should take effect, or at any time during the prior tax year. For a calendar-year company that is generally March 15. Miss it and you are looking at late-election relief under the Form 2553 instructions — I will not promise the IRS accepts every late filing.
What is a “reasonable salary” for an S-Corp owner?
The IRS page “S corporation compensation and medical insurance issues” requires reasonable compensation for services before non-wage distributions. The Form 1120-S instructions treat officer payments as wages to the extent they are reasonable compensation. There is no official IRS percentage. I set a DFW-specific number from your role and what generates the receipts, then we pay it by W-2.
How much will an S-Corp save me?
It depends on your profit and the salary you can support. Use the calculator for an illustrative estimate; Krystal checks your real numbers on a call.
Do I still need payroll if I am the only employee?
Yes. An S-Corp owner who works in the business is a shareholder-employee. That means W-2 wages, withholdings, Form 941, and year-end W-2/W-3 — even if you are the only person on payroll. Our payroll service runs that calendar; this page is why it has to exist.
Can we meet in person, or is this virtual only?
Either. I serve all of Dallas–Fort Worth. Meet in Richardson, Texas, Monday–Friday 9:30 AM–5:00 PM CT, or do the work by portal and video. Book a discovery call or call (469) 987-0618.
From a client.
Working with Krystal Le on our tax return was easy and stress free. She is very professional and always reply in a timely manner if we have questions. Highly recommend!
Talk it through with Krystal.
Fifteen minutes on what you need and whether LeCPA fits. Krystal calls you.