Georgia LLC Taxes: The Complete Filing Guide (2025)
Running an LLC in Georgia means dealing with taxes at federal, state, and sometimes local levels. This guide simplifies everything you need to know to stay compliant and avoid surprises, from income tax and sales tax to city-specific requirements.
Recommended: Schedule a free consultation with 1-800Accountant to stay on top of your taxes.
Georgia LLC Tax Basics
Navigating your Georgia LLC tax obligations doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ll walk you through the essentials of pass-through taxation, explain Georgia’s specific requirements, and highlight strategies to stay compliant and organized. This guide covers everything from federal income taxes to city-specific requirements and filing deadlines.
Use the links below to jump directly to the section you need:
- Georgia LLC Taxes at a Glance
- Understanding LLC Taxation Basics
- Federal Tax Obligations
- Georgia State Taxes
- Local Tax Considerations
- Tax Calendar and Filing Tips
- Tax Strategies for Georgia LLCs
- Forms and Resources
Georgia LLC Taxes at a Glance
| Tax Type | Rate | Filing Deadline | Forms Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | 10%-37% (personal brackets) | April 15, 2025 | Form 1040 + Schedule C or Schedule E/K-1 |
| Self-Employment Tax | 15.3% | April 15, 2025 | Schedule SE |
| Georgia Income Tax | 5.39% (flat rate) | April 15, 2025 | Form 500 |
| Georgia Corporate Income Tax | 5.39% | April 15, 2025 | Form 600 |
| Georgia Partnership Tax | 5.39% | March 15, 2025 | Form 700 |
| Federal Payroll Taxes (If Employees) | 7.65% employer + 7.65% employee (FICA) | Quarterly (April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31) | Form 941 |
| Georgia Unemployment Tax (If Employees) | 2.7% for new employers | Quarterly | Filed online |
| Federal Unemployment (FUTA) | 6% on first $7,000 per employee (0.6% after credits) | January 31, 2026 (annual) | Form 940 |
| Sales & Use Tax | 4% | Monthly, quarterly, or annually based on sales volume | Form CRF-002 |
| Annual Registration | $55-$60 | January 1-April 1, 2025 | Filed online |
Understanding LLC Taxation Basics
How Georgia LLCs Are Taxed By Default
Your Georgia LLC doesn’t pay taxes itself. Instead, profits flow through to you and your members, who report them on personal tax returns. This is called pass-through taxation.
Here’s how it works:
- Your LLC earns income from business activities
- The LLC itself files no tax return (unless you elect otherwise)
- Profits “pass through” to members based on ownership percentage
- Each member reports their share on their personal tax return
- Members pay tax at their individual income tax rates
What this means for you: Unlike corporations, your business profits are only taxed once, which typically saves money.
Time-Saving Tip: If you’re uncertain about your LLC’s tax classification, a tax professional can review your LLC’s tax setup in 30 minutes and help you choose the most tax-efficient option.
Tax Classification Options
While pass-through taxation is the default, your Georgia LLC can choose alternative tax treatments:
Default LLC Tax Status:
- Single-member LLC: Taxed as a sole proprietorship
- Multi-member LLC: Taxed as a partnership
Optional Tax Classifications:
- S Corporation: Can reduce self-employment taxes by paying “reasonable salaries”
- C Corporation: LLC pays corporate tax on profits, members pay personal tax on distributions (creates double taxation)
Not sure which tax classification is right for your business? Schedule a free consultation with 1-800Accountant.
Federal Tax Obligations
Income Tax
As a Georgia LLC owner, you’ll report your share of business profits on your personal tax return using:
- Form 1040 + Schedule C (single-member LLCs)
- Form 1040 + Schedule E + Schedule K-1 (multi-member LLCs)
Federal income tax rates range from 10% to 37% based on your tax bracket (actual brackets will depend on inflation adjustments and any tax law changes).
Simply Put: Whatever money your business makes (after expenses) gets added to your personal tax return, just like income from a job.
Self-Employment Tax
LLC members actively involved in the business must pay self-employment tax of 15.3% (covering Social Security and Medicare) on their share of LLC profits.
Key points:
- Applies to net earnings of $400 or more
- Calculated on Schedule SE
- You can deduct 50% of the self-employment tax as an “above-the-line” deduction, which lowers your adjusted gross income
What happens if I miss this payment? The IRS charges penalties of 0.5% per month plus interest. However, first-time mistakes can often qualify for penalty abatement if you have a clean compliance history.
Employment Taxes
If your LLC has employees, you must:
- Withhold federal income tax
- Pay and withhold FICA taxes (7.65% each for employer and employee)
- Pay federal unemployment tax (FUTA)
- File quarterly employment tax returns (Form 941)
- Provide W-2 forms annually
Estimated completion time: 2-3 hours per quarter (significantly less with payroll software or professional help)
Estimated Tax Payments
Because no tax is withheld from your LLC profits, you’ll likely need to make quarterly estimated tax payments using Form 1040-ES. These payments cover both income and self-employment taxes on your share of the business income. Missing deadlines or underpaying can lead to IRS penalties, even if you pay in full later.
Working with an accountant can help ensure accurate calculations, on-time payments, and a smarter overall tax strategy.
Key deadlines:
- April 15
- June 16
- September 15
- January 15
Pro Tip: Set calendar reminders 15 days before each deadline. This gives you time to prepare without the last-minute rush that leads to mistakes.
Georgia State Taxes
Georgia Income Tax
Georgia has a flat personal income tax rate of 5.39% that applies to your LLC’s profits on your personal return.
Filing requirements:
- Use Georgia Form 500
- Due April 15, 2025
Bottom Line: For every $1,000 your LLC earns, expect to pay about $53.90 in Georgia state income tax (in addition to federal taxes).
Georgia Corporate Income Tax
If you’ve elected to have your LLC taxed as a c corp, you are required to file and pay a 5.39% flat rate Georgia corporate income tax.
Filing requirements:
- Use Georgia Form 600
- Due April 15, 2025
- Only applicable to LLCs taxed as c corps
Georgia Partnership Tax
If you’ve elected to have your LLC taxed as a partnership, you are required to file and pay a 5.39% flat rate Georgia corporate income tax.
Filing requirements:
- Use Georgia Form 700
- Due March 15, 2025
Sales and Use Tax
If your Georgia LLC sells physical products or certain services:
- Collect 4% sales tax on taxable sales
- Register your business through the Georgia Tax Center
- File and pay collected taxes monthly, quarterly, or annually based on sales volume using Georgia Form CRF-002
- Due dates vary based on filing frequency
60-Second Check: Do I Need to Collect Sales Tax?
- Do you sell physical products in Georgia? → Yes, collect tax
- Do you sell digital products? → Certain digital products are exempt
- Do you provide services? → Certain services are exempt
- Do you sell online to Georgia customers? → Yes, collect tax
Products typically subject to sales tax include:
- Tangible personal property
- Prepared food
- Non-subscription based digital products
Payroll Taxes
If you have employees in Georgia, you will be responsible for two types of payroll taxes.
Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax
- Register through the Georgia Department of Labor
- Rate is 2.7% for new employers
- Due quarterly
- Employers must also submit an Annual Tax and Wage Report for Domestic Employment by January 31st
Withholding Tax
- Register through the Georgia Tax Center (if you haven’t already)
- Rate varies per employee
- Due monthly, quarterly, or annually
- Use Georgia Form G-1003
Annual Registration Filing
While not a tax, your Georgia LLC must file an annual registration:
- Due between January 1-April 1 annually
- $55-$60 filing fee
- Filed with Georgia Corporations Division
Calendar Alert: Set a reminder for January 1 to ensure you don’t miss this easy but required filing.
Local Tax Considerations
City-Specific Taxes
Georgia allows cities to impose local taxes of their own including Atlanta and Savannah.
Atlanta Business Occupational Certificate tax
- Based on estimated gross revenue, number of employees, and tax class
- Annual registration fee is $75
- The per employee fee is $25 (first employee is exempt)
- Apply for a Business Tax Certificate with the City of Atlanta
Savannah Lodging Tax
- Flat 8% rate
- Applies to short-term rentals, hotels, and other lodging establishments
- Apply for a New STVR Certificate with the City of Savannah
Local Sales and Use Taxes
In addition to state sales tax, some Georgia jurisdictions impose their own sales tax rate that is applicable to businesses selling physical goods or services.
Jurisdictions with sales tax requirements (state and local rate combined):
- Fulton (Atlanta) (8.9%)
- Macon (8%)
- Richmond (8.5%)
- Other Georgia jurisdictions
Filing requirements:
- Register with the Georgia Tax Center (if you haven’t already)
- File and pay collected taxes monthly, quarterly, or annually alongside state sales and use tax
Property Taxes
If your LLC owns real property in Georgia:
- Rates vary by locality
- Assessed annually
- Due between January 1-April 1 to county tax officials
- Personal property tax may apply to business equipment
Tax Calendar and Filing Tips
Key Deadlines for Georgia LLCs
January:
- January 1: Payment period for property tax begins
- January 1: Submission period for annual registration begins
- January 15: Final estimated tax payment for previous year
- January 31: Issue W-2s/1099s to employees/contractors
- January 31: Fourth quarter payroll tax payment due (state and federal)
- January 31: Annual Tax and Wage Report for Domestic Employment due
March:
- March 15: Partnership tax due
April:
- April 1: Annual registration filing deadline
- April 15: Personal and/or corporate tax returns due
- April 15: Federal income and self-employment tax returns due
- April 15: First quarter estimated tax payment due
- April 30: First quarter payroll tax payment due (state and federal)
June:
- June 16: Second quarter estimated tax due
July:
- July 31: Second quarter payroll tax payment due (state and federal)
September:
- September 15: Third quarter estimated tax payment due
October:
- October 31: Third quarter payroll tax payment due (state and federal)
Record-Keeping Checklist
Keep these records for at least 7 years:
- Business income records (invoices, receipts)
- Expense receipts and documentation
- Bank and credit card statements
- Asset purchase and improvement records
- Vehicle mileage logs
- Home office documentation
- Payroll records
- Previous tax returns
Tax Strategies for Georgia LLCs
S Corporation Election Benefits
Converting your LLC to an S Corporation for tax purposes can save on self-employment taxes:
- File Form 2553 with the IRS
- Pay yourself a “reasonable salary” subject to employment taxes
- Take remaining profits as distributions exempt from self-employment tax
Example: An LLC making $100,000 in profit pays 15.3% self-employment tax on the entire amount. As an S Corp, if $60,000 is a reasonable salary and $40,000 is taken as distributions, only the $60,000 is subject to employment taxes.
Potential Savings: In this example, you’d save about $6,120 in self-employment taxes.
Business Expense Deductions
Common deductions Georgia LLC owners often overlook:
- Home office deduction
- Business mileage (70¢ per mile for 2025)
- Health insurance premiums
- Retirement plan contributions
- Professional development expenses
- Business meals (50% deductible)
Forms and Resources
Federal Tax Forms
- Schedule C: Profit or Loss From Business (sole proprietors)
- Form 1065: U.S. Return of Partnership Income
- Schedule K-1: Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits
- Form 1120-S: U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation
- Form 2553: Election by a Small Business Corporation (S Corp)
- Form 8832: Entity Classification Election
Georgia Tax Forms
- Form 500: Georgia Individual Income Tax Return
- Form 600: Georgia Corporate Income Tax Return
- Form 700: Georgia Partnership Tax Return
- Form CRF-002: Sales and Use Tax Return
Helpful Resources
Georgia LLC Taxes FAQs
In Georgia, LLCs must pay income taxes on their earnings at a state level in addition to any federal income taxes. In addition to Georgia income tax, LLCs are liable to pay a number of other state taxes, including sales taxes, payroll taxes, and other employer taxes.
To find out more about this topic, see our LLC Taxes article.
LLCs in Georgia benefit from pass-through taxation, meaning income is only taxed once at the individual member level and avoiding corporate income tax. This structure provides flexibility in profit distribution and can result in lower overall tax liabilities compared to some other business structures.
To find out how you can start benefiting from this structure today, see our Georgia LLC formation article.
Net worth tax is a tax levied against the net value of all a business’s assets. While LLCs aren’t subject to net worth tax by default, they can be if they elect to be taxed as a C Corporation. It’s advisable for LLCs, especially those considering C corp taxation, to consult with a tax professional for guidance on their specific tax obligations.
The annual fee for an LLC in Georgia is $50 if filed online and $60 if filed with a paper form. This fee is for the annual registration required by the Georgia Secretary of State and must be paid in addition to any other state federal taxes to keep the LLC in good standing.
Need Professional Help? While this guide covers the essentials, tax laws are complex and constantly changing. Schedule a free consultation with 1-800Accountant to ensure your Georgia LLC remains fully compliant while minimizing your tax burden.