Delaware LLC tax calculator
See what your Delaware LLC owes both ways — as a default pass-through and as an LLC taxed as an S-corporation, with Delaware's 6.6% state income tax pre-filled.
Your LLC
S-corp election saves
$4,653
Before payroll-filing and accounting costs, typically $1,200–$2,500 a year.
Default LLC (Schedule C)
- Self-employment tax
- $16,955
- Federal income tax
- $11,057
- State tax
- $7,920
- Total tax
- $35,932
LLC taxed as an S-corp
- Payroll tax on salary
- $9,180
- Distribution (no payroll tax)
- $60,000
- Federal income tax
- $14,179
- State tax
- $7,920
- Total tax
- $31,279
LLC taxes in Delaware
Delaware tops out at 6.6% with no state sales tax.
An LLC is a legal structure, not a tax structure. By default the IRS taxes a single-member Delaware LLC like a sole proprietorship, so every dollar of profit carries the 15.3% self-employment tax on top of income tax.
An S-corp election moves part of that profit out of payroll tax by paying yourself a defensible salary. The savings are federal — Delaware income tax still applies to the whole profit — and they only clear the cost of payroll, quarterly 941s and an 1120-S return once profit is high enough.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax does an LLC pay in Delaware?
A default Delaware LLC pays no entity-level federal tax — profit flows to your personal return, where it faces 15.3% self-employment tax and federal income tax after the QBI deduction. Delaware uses graduated brackets topping out near 6.6%, layered on top of federal income tax and the 15.3% self-employment tax.
Is an S-corp election worth it in Delaware?
The savings come from federal payroll tax, not Delaware income tax, which still applies to all profit. The crossover is usually around $80,000–$100,000 of profit, and any state franchise or LLC fee pushes it slightly higher.
What is a reasonable S-corp salary in Delaware?
What you would pay an unrelated person to do your job in your Delaware market, supported by pay data and hours worked. An artificially low salary to shift profit into distributions is a well-known audit trigger.
Does an Delaware LLC owe quarterly estimated taxes?
Yes — the owner makes federal estimates once expected tax reaches $1,000, and Delaware runs a parallel state estimate schedule.
Are there local taxes on LLC income in Delaware?
Wilmington charges a 1.25% earned income tax.
Estimates only, using projected 2026 federal figures and state rates for planning. Not tax advice.
Run the same numbers for another state
State income tax is the biggest variable in the result. Pick your state for a pre-filled estimate.