Are LLC Members Required to Pay Self-Employment Taxes?

According to the IRS, members of limited liability corporations (LLCs) are subject to self-employment taxes. In a nutshell, if you are an LLC member, you must pay self-employment taxes on your share of the profits if any one of the following

• You work more than 501 hours during the LLC’s tax year;
• Your LLC offers professional services in the areas of consulting, health, law, engineering, architecture, accounting, or actuarial science;
• You are allowed to execute contracts for your LLC;
• With the current self-employment tax rate at 15.3 percent, many business owners choose to form an S corporation rather than an LLC. In an S corporation, only shareholders are required to pay self-employment taxes on money paid to them as compensation for services. Also, profits from an S corporation are not taxed.