S Corp Articles of Incorporation Explained: Your Guide to Getting Started

S Corp articles of incorporation unlock serious tax savings for solopreneurs, often $8,000 or more per year, by letting you split income into salary and distributions. This guide walks you through what articles of incorporation are, what information you need to file, and how the S Corp election cuts your tax bill without the typical complexity. With the right system, you can skip the paperwork maze and start keeping more of what you earn.

What if you could cut your tax bill by thousands of dollars with a single document filing? Your S Corp Form 2553 election is exactly that powerful. You don’t need to be a large company to see meaningful tax savings: S Corps often deliver their biggest advantages to smaller businesses and solopreneurs once they begin generating steady profits.

But here's what most solopreneurs don't realize: S Corps aren't reserved for boardrooms and corner offices. For years, S Corps carried a reputation for being too complicated or costly for solo business owners. Accountants often advised against them because of confusing forms, payroll requirements, and compliance risks. Lettuce makes that complexity disappear. By turning every step into a streamlined process built for solopreneurs, what once felt out of reach is now simple.

Lettuce automates every step of S Corp formation and keeps working after: handling payroll, compliance, and tax filings so you can focus on your work. Get started today with a streamlined system built for solopreneurs.

S Corp Advantages: What are Articles of Incorporation?

Think of articles of incorporation as your business’s official passport. Just like a passport opens international doors, these documents establish your corporation and set the stage for S Corp tax advantages once you file the IRS election.

When you file with your state’s secretary of state, you create a legal entity that exists separately from you. That separation gives you limited liability protection while opening the door to pass-through taxation. The IRS requires your business to be an official entity — such as a corporation or LLC — before you can submit Form 2553 to claim S Corp status. At this stage, your corporation can have up to 100 shareholders and one class of stock.

Here’s where solopreneurs often get tripped up: thinking they must choose between an LLC and an S Corp. The truth is, you don’t. An LLC is your legal structure, while an S Corp is simply a tax election layered on top. Together, they form a “smart stack”: liability protection from the LLC plus tax savings from the S Corp. With Lettuce, you don’t have to figure out the combo — we handle both the LLC formation and the S Corp election in one seamless system.

Curious if an S Corp is right for you?

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What Information Do You Need? The Anatomy of S Corp Articles of Incorporation

The structure of articles becomes public record, so getting it right means faster approval and quicker access to those S Corp benefits. Here's what you need to make it official:

• Business Name: Pick a unique name that is available in your state. Your creative brand deserves both legal protection and professional credibility.

• Business Address: This is the address where you conduct business and receive official mail. Your home office counts, so there is no need for a fancy corporate headquarters.

• Registered Agent: This is the person who accepts legal documents on behalf of your corporation. As a solopreneur, you can appoint yourself as the registered agent (if your state allows and you meet its requirements) and save the associated fees.

• Share Structure: Keep it simple. Most solopreneurs choose a modest number of shares with a set par value, which satisfies state requirements without adding Wall Street complexity. (Note: S corporations must have only one class of stock.)

• Directors and Officers: You are in charge, so appoint yourself as president, secretary, and director. This way, you can run your business without dealing with boardroom politics.

• Purpose Statement: Write a simple description of what your business does. Keep it broad enough to allow for growth without needing to file amendments later.

How to File S Corp Articles of Incorporation as a Solo Business Owner

Filing for S Corp status on your own means tackling a stack of forms, state-specific rules, and IRS deadlines. Every step has to be figured out manually, and a single oversight can delay your approval or cost you extra fees. Here’s the typical roadmap if you decide to go it alone:

• Start by forming a legal entity: Set up either a corporation (by filing articles of incorporation) or an LLC (by filing articles of organization).

• Grab your business tax ID number: Apply for your Employer Identification Number (EIN) through the IRS website. It only takes a few minutes, costs nothing, and you will need it for everything that follows.

• File Form 2553 within 75 days: Submit your S corporation election to the IRS within the deadline. This step transforms your LLC into a tax-saving powerhouse.

• Handle the business basics: Create simple operating procedures, document your first business decisions, and set up the framework that keeps your legal protections intact.

• Keep your benefits flowing: Manage payroll, make quarterly tax payments, and complete annual filings to maintain your S corporation advantages year after year.

Or, skip the steps entirely with Lettuce.

Instead of filing forms, chasing deadlines, and running payroll yourself, Lettuce does it all for you. We file your articles with the state, submit your S Corp election to the IRS, handle payroll, track compliance deadlines, and file your taxes automatically, so you get the benefits of an S Corp without the busywork.

Stop Leaving Money on the Table: Tax Benefits of S Corp Articles of Incorporation

Once your articles of incorporation are approved (or your LLC is formed) and you file your S Corp election, you can split your income into two parts: salary (subject to FICA taxes ) and distributions (not subject to it). This simple shift can save thousands each year, often $10,000 or more, depending on your salary and distribution allocation.

You don’t need to hit six figures to see results. The tipping point comes once your solo business consistently earns around $60,000 in profit. At that level, S Corp tax savings usually outweigh the extra admin. At $80K+, it’s almost always a no-brainer; Lettuce customers save an average of $8,000 per year. You also don’t have to wait until January 1st; a mid-year election can unlock partial-year savings if Form 2553 is filed on time.

Your freelance income stays the same, but the IRS now taxes it differently. You pay FICA tax only on your reasonable salary, while the rest flows through as tax-advantaged distributions. Think of it as a built-in discount on the government’s cut of your creative work.

S Corp Articles of Incorporation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You've got questions about S Corp setup, and that's smart business thinking. These are the most common questions solopreneurs ask when they're ready to stop overpaying taxes and start keeping more of what they earn.

Do I need a lawyer to file the S Corp articles of incorporation?

Absolutely not. Most solopreneurs handle this themselves using their state's online portal, which is typically as straightforward as completing a form and paying a fee. While a lawyer may be helpful for complex setups or multi-owner businesses, single-owner corporations rarely need one. The real question is whether you want to manage all the follow-up steps, deadlines, and ongoing compliance yourself or let an AI-powered system like Lettuce handle the entire process.

What happens if I make a mistake on my filing?

Don't panic. Mistakes happen, and they're usually fixable. Most states allow you to submit amendments to correct errors in your articles of incorporation, though you'll likely pay an additional fee. The bigger risk is missing deadlines or compliance requirements after your S Corp is established, which is why having streamlined compliance tracking keeps you out of trouble without the stress.

How long does it take to get approved?

State approval times for articles of incorporation vary by state, sometimes as quick as 24–48 hours online, but often 5–10 business days for standard processing. Many states offer expedited service for a fee. The IRS usually issues an acknowledgment of your S Corp election if Form 2553 is filed on time, though the letter itself may take about 8 weeks to arrive.

Does every state require the same information?

States have similar requirements but different forms and fees. All states need your business name, registered agent, and basic corporate structure, but some require additional details about directors or specific language in your purpose statement, while others (like New York, California, or Delaware) impose unique compliance steps. Skip the state-by-state research—AI-powered systems handle these variations so you never miss a state-specific detail or regulatory requirement.

Make S Corp Setup Effortless, Let Lettuce Handle the Rest

Whether you file Articles of Corporation or form an LLC, and then choose S-Corp tax election, you open a door to tax savings , but managing the ongoing compliance shouldn't consume your creative energy. The complete Lettuce financial system for businesses-of-one automates every step of your S Corp journey, from formation and banking to expense tracking and tax payments.

Lettuce backs every dollar with our guarantee: keep more of what you earn or get your money back, no questions asked. Your business deserves the same strategic advantages that big companies get from their accounting teams, powered by smart automation that never sleeps. Get started with the platform and watch your S Corp deliver the same results you do.