A LLC is a Company not a Corporation

The form 1099 filing season is coming up next month and the IRS just released CCA 201447025 dealing with whether a business needs to issue a 1099 to a LLC.  A common misconception that we see very often is the assumption that a limited liability company (LLC) is a corporation.  We even see this terminology in some of our internal documents (i.e. a reference to a limited liability corporation).  A LLC is a company, not a corporation.  It can elect to be taxed as a corporation, but this has to be an affirmative election.  By default, a LLC is either a sole proprietorship (only one member) or a partnership (more than one member).

Therefore, unless the LLC has affirmatively elected to be a corporation by filing form 8832, a business is required to issue a form 1099 to any LLC providing services in excess of $600 for the year.

On a similar note, a business that receives services from a medical service provider (including veterinary services) are required to issue a form 1099 even if the business is a corporation.  Therefore, make sure to update your form 1099 reporting system to reflect these items.