S-Corp Year-End Checklist

Direct Answer

Before year-end, an S corporation should review whether shareholder-employees received reasonable compensation, whether distributions match basis and cash flow, whether payroll and benefits are correct, whether retirement contributions are on track, and whether QBI, estimated taxes, and California tax exposure have been projected.

Key Takeaways

- Review reasonable salary before the final payroll of the year.

- Reconcile distributions, loans, reimbursements, and personal expenses.

- Confirm books, payroll reports, health insurance, and retirement contributions.

- Model QBI, federal tax, California tax, and estimated payment exposure.

- Collect documents early so the S-corp return and shareholder K-1s are not delayed.

Year-End Checklist

- Review shareholder-employee reasonable compensation.

- Run final payroll adjustments before payroll deadlines.

- Confirm distributions and shareholder basis.

- Reconcile shareholder loans and accountable plan reimbursements.

- Review health insurance treatment for 2% shareholder-employees.

- Confirm retirement plan contributions, deferrals, and employer funding.

- Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards, payroll, and loan balances.

- Clean up owner personal expenses in the books.

- Review fixed assets, depreciation, and equipment purchases.

- Project QBI and taxable income before December 31.

- Review federal and California estimated tax payments.

- Prepare Form 1099 vendor review and W-9 cleanup.

- Confirm records needed for Form 1120-S and shareholder K-1s.

Common Mistakes

- Waiting until March to fix salary and payroll issues.

- Taking distributions without checking shareholder basis.

- Missing retirement plan or employee benefit deadlines.

- Failing to separate owner loans, reimbursements, and distributions.

- Ignoring California tax and owner estimated payments.

Simple Example

An S corporation had strong profit, low payroll, and several owner transfers during the year. A year-end review can classify payments, adjust payroll if appropriate, document reasonable compensation, review retirement contributions, project QBI, and estimate federal and California tax before the books close.

FAQ

When should an S-corp year-end review happen?

Ideally in Q4, before the final payroll, before December 31, and before large distributions or retirement contributions are finalized.

What documents should I send my CPA?

Send payroll reports, profit and loss statement, balance sheet, bank reconciliations, distribution records, loan details, retirement plan information, health insurance records, and estimated tax payment confirmations.

Can payroll be fixed after year-end?

Some corrections may be possible, but year-end planning is much better before payroll closes. Waiting can limit options and increase compliance risk.

Do S-corp owners need estimated tax payments?

Often yes. Payroll withholding may not fully cover tax on pass-through income, distributions, investment income, or California tax exposure.

Should QBI be reviewed every year?

Yes. QBI can change with profit, salary, taxable income, business type, W-2 wages, retirement contributions, and other deductions.

Related S-Corp Planning Guides

S-Corp Tax Planning: /tax-planning/s-corp-tax-planning

S-Corp Reasonable Salary: /tax-planning/s-corp-reasonable-salary

S-Corp Salary vs Distribution: /tax-planning/s-corp-salary-vs-distribution

Year-End Tax Planning: /tax-planning/year-end-tax-planning

Authoritative Sources

IRS: S corporation compensation and medical insurance issues

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/s-corporation-compensation-and-medical-insurance-issues

IRS: Qualified business income deduction

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/qualified-business-income-deduction

IRS Publication 560: Retirement Plans for Small Business

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p560

Schedule an S-Corp Year-End Review

Year-end S-corp planning works best before December 31 and before final payroll. Contact JH Group CPA to review salary, distributions, payroll, QBI, retirement plan options, books, and California tax exposure.

Phone: (626) 943-2888

Email: info@jhgroupcpa.com

Offices: Alhambra and Irvine, California

Reviewed by Jeff Huang, CPA, MBA

Last updated: May 22, 2026

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