3 Ways to Pay Yourself from Your North Carolina LLC
1
Owner's Draw
You withdraw money from your LLC's business account as needed, treating it as a distribution of profits rather than wages. The amount you can draw is limited to your ownership percentage and the LLC's available cash flow.
Tax treatment: Owner's draws are not subject to payroll taxes, but the entire net profit of your North Carolina LLC is subject to self-employment tax at the federal level. North Carolina taxes LLC income as personal income at rates ranging from 4.99% to 5.25% for 2026.
How to do it
Transfer money from your LLC business account to your personal account
Record the transaction as an owner's draw in your accounting system
Report your share of LLC profits on your personal tax return using Schedule C (single-member) or Schedule K-1 (multi-member)
2
Guaranteed Payment
The LLC makes regular payments to members for services rendered, similar to a salary but without payroll tax withholdings. These payments are made regardless of the LLC's profitability and are deductible business expenses for the LLC.
Tax treatment: Guaranteed payments are subject to self-employment tax and must be reported as income on your personal tax return. In North Carolina, these payments are also subject to state income tax at rates from 4.99% to 5.25%.
How to do it
Establish guaranteed payment amounts in your LLC operating agreement
Make regular payments according to the agreed schedule and document them properly
Report guaranteed payments on Schedule K-1 and pay self-employment tax on the full amount
3
Salary via S-Corp Election
Your LLC elects to be taxed as an S-Corporation, allowing you to become an employee who receives a W-2 salary subject to payroll taxes. Additional profits can be distributed as non-wage distributions, avoiding self-employment tax.
Tax treatment: Your salary is subject to payroll taxes (Social Security, Medicare, unemployment), while distributions above your salary avoid self-employment tax. North Carolina requires withholding state income tax from your salary and taxes distributions as personal income.
How to do it
File Form 2553 with the IRS to elect S-Corp taxation and register for payroll taxes in North Carolina
Set up payroll to pay yourself a reasonable salary with proper tax withholdings
Distribute additional profits as S-Corp distributions, which are not subject to self-employment tax
North Carolina Tax Notes for LLC Owners
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Income Tax
North Carolina imposes state income tax on LLC owners' distributive share of profits at rates ranging from 4.99% to 5.25% for 2026, depending on income level.
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Self-Employment Tax
North Carolina LLC owners must pay federal self-employment tax (15.3%) on their share of LLC profits, but North Carolina does not impose additional state self-employment tax beyond regular income tax.
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Estimated Taxes
North Carolina LLC owners must make quarterly estimated tax payments to both the IRS and North Carolina Department of Revenue if they expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal taxes or $1,000 or more in state taxes for the year.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Mixing personal and business finances by using business accounts for personal expenses instead of taking proper owner's draws
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Failing to make quarterly estimated tax payments and facing penalties from both the IRS and North Carolina Department of Revenue
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Not documenting owner's draws properly, making it difficult to track distributions for tax reporting and business analysis
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Over-paying yourself when cash flow is tight or under-paying yourself below market rates, which can create tax issues with S-Corp elections