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Below is a brief description of the various forms in which a business may organize under Indiana law. Caveat : Formally organizing a business carries both great advantages and legal consequences. Care should be taken when deciding which business form to utilize and while operating the venture. The Corporations Division is eager to help, but cannot offer legal advice. It is strongly suggested that an attorney be contacted for additional guidance.

The following informal business associations DO NOT require filing with the Indiana Secretary of State:

Sole Proprietorship : One person who conducts business for profit. The sole owner assumes complete responsibility for all liabilities and debts of the business.
TAX : The income of the business is reported as part of the owner's personal income.

General Partnership : Two or more individuals as co-owners of a for-profit business. Partnerships should operate under a written Partnership Agreement to avoid future problems. All partners are responsible for the liabilities and debts of the partnership.
TAX : Partnerships enjoy single taxation. Income is reported as part of each partner's personal income.

The following formal business associations require the filing of organizational documents with the Corporations Division of the Secretary of State:

Corporation : A legal entity which is created by filing Articles of Incorporation. The Corporation itself assumes all liabilities and debts of the Corporation. A corporation is owned by shareholders. A shareholder enjoys protection from the corporation's debts and liabilities.
TAX : Income is taxed twice: 1) at the corporate level; and 2) at the employee level when a wage is paid or at the shareholder level when distributed as a dividend.
S-Corporation : After filing Articles of Incorporation (see “Corporation” above), a Corporation may seek to obtain S Corporation status for federal income tax purposes. The income of an S Corporation is taxed only once: at the employee or shareholder level. To qualify, the corporation may not have more than 75 shareholders and must meet other certain Internal Revenue Service criteria. The corporation must submit IRS Form #2553 to the IRS. An S-Corporation is considered a corporation in all other respects and is subject to no additional or special filing requirements with the Secretary of State.
Limited Liability Company : An LLC is a formal association which combines the advantage of a corporation's limited liability and the flexibility and single taxation of a general partnership. An LLC has members rather than shareholders. A member enjoys protections from the liabilities and debts of the LLC. Although not required by law, an LLC should operate under an Operating Agreement which is like a Partnership Agreement.
TAX : If the LLC qualifies under IRS guidelines, it may be taxed only once, like a partnership, at the employee or member level, while not having the same restrictions as an S-Corporation.
Nonprofit Corporation : A corporation whose purpose is to engage in activities which do not provide financial profit to the benefit of its members. Such corporations must obtain nonprofit or tax exempt status from the IRS and Indiana Department of Revenue to be free from certain tax burdens.
Limited Partnership : A partnership with at least one General Partner and one Limited Partner. A limited partner's liability is limited to the amount invested, while the General Partner(s) assumes all the liabilities and debts of the partnership.
TAX: The income is taxed in the same manner as a General Partnership.
Limited Liability Partnership : A General Partnership which elects to operate as an LLP. To operate as an LLP, a Registration must be filed with the Secretary of State. Unlike a General Partnership, the partners in an LLP enjoy protection from many of the partnership's debts and liabilities.
TAX : The income of an LLP is taxed in the same manner as a General Partnership.

Domestic and Foreign

For the purposes of business entity filings, Domestic refers to an entity formed in the State of Indiana . Foreign refers to an entity formed in another state that is registering to do business in Indiana .