Corporations: Watch out for the PHC tax

Description

Abstract: Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reduced the top federal corporate income tax rate to 21%, an increasing number of business owners are contemplating establishing their businesses as C corporations or switching their pass-through entities to C corporation status. However, entity choice is a complex decision that involves consideration of several financial, tax and legal factors. This article details one factor that a closely held C corporation shouldn’t overlook: potential liability for the personal holding company (PHC) tax. A sidebar explains the accumulated earnings tax (AET).