So what is an LLC anyway? – Entrepreneur of the Week – Natalie Alter – Post 1 + Post 2

Natalie Alter

# Post 2

** Possession of property in the United States under private registration or under LLC? **

One of the most common questions asked by US real estate developers is whether to hold the property in a private registry or under an LLC.

I will try to explain in a simple way the concepts that are worth knowing about the subject, and especially – the advantages and disadvantages of each choice.

** So what is an LLC anyway? **

Similar to Company Ltd. LLC is considered a separate legal entity from the holders of its rights.

Those who hold the LLC rights are called ** members **.

The LLC is registered with the Registrar of the LLC in the specific country in which it is incorporated in the United States.

** What is important to know? **

The obligations of the rights holders in this form of holding are under limited warranty.

That is to say – the debt is limited to the amount that the rights holders undertook to invest in the establishment documents of the LLC.

The liability of the shareholders of the company is limited to the amount of their investment in the company, the so-called ** limitation of liability **.

This is the main reason that motivates investors to hold the property under LLC and not in a private listing.

** Why is incorporation within an LLC considered flexible and easier to operate? **

This form of incorporation is considered more flexible and easier for both the LLC manager and investors for the following reasons:

1. Incorporation within the LLC is not subject to company laws and does not require institutions such as a board of directors and a shareholders’ meeting at all.

2. It can be determined that a dividend will not be distributed proportionally among the rights holders.

3. The establishment of the LLC and its activities are based on an establishment agreement similar to the establishment of a partnership and not on an official document as the company’s articles of association.

4. Limitation of Liability.

** How is LLC registered in the United States? **

A distinction must be made between an LLC with a single member and one with two or more members.

** Single member LLC ** – Held by a single rights holder.
Is considered a completely transparent body for tax purposes in the United States and all of its income and losses are directly attributable to its sole rights holder.
In addition, it does not file reports in the United States.

** With two or more members ** – The holding of the company is conducted in a similar way to a partnership.

* Partnership – a form of association designed to enable a person to work with others to generate income together, regardless of whether the parties to that partnership are individuals or companies, and whether a partnership is registered in the Partnership Registry or not.

The LLC in this case files Report 1065 and gives each member their share of the partnership capital.

Under U.S. tax law, as long as the LLC’s account in the LLC is higher than zero, the distribution of funds will not be considered income, as it is a distribution at the expense of funds that the member has transferred to the LLC.

Finally, we need to fill out two reports – Report 1040 which is a federal report (to the US) plus the state level report.

** How is all this reflected in the State of Israel? **

► ** According to Income Tax Circulars 3/2002 and 5/2004 – LLC is a company for all intents and purposes (this even received support in the ruling). **

► ** The Mismatch Problem **: In Israel, tax law treats LLC as a company – that is, profits that are distributed will be considered as a dividend, while in the US the reference is as a transparent partnership.

* Transparent partnership – an arrangement according to which the company’s income and expenses are attributed to the shareholders in accordance with their shares in the right to profits in the company.

* Dividend tax – a tax imposed on a dividend distributed by a company to its shareholders.
In Israel, receiving a dividend is taxable income like any other income.
The result: an Israeli resident will pay taxes without having any income under Israeli law.

In the future when the profits continue we will see them as a dividend without the ability to offset the foreign tax.

► ** Solution proposed by the Tax Authority under Circular 5/2004 ** ** – As long as the LLC is transparent in the United States, its rights holders may report its income in Israel on an ongoing basis and use it as a credit for foreign taxes paid in the United States. After that, the distribution of its profits is not dissolved. Must be consistent and take the same approach every year, starting with the first year.

—————————————

You can contact us on the site – we have more then 10,000 articles in 12 languages:
www.ForumNadlanUSA.com

Or join the Facebook group –

Hebrew:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ForumNadlanUSA

English:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/USARealEstateForum

Related News Real Estate Entrepreneurs

Responses