How to Determine a “Reasonable Salary” as a Physician S Corp Owner

Illustration of a physician S Corp owner reviewing reasonable salary, pay stub, salary benchmarks, and compensation analysis with a tax advisor.

In a Nutshell The IRS requires you to pay yourself a fair salary before taking distributions from your S Corp. “Reasonable” means what another physician with your specialty, experience, and workload would earn doing the same job. Pay yourself too little, and the IRS can reclassify your distributions as wages, plus add penalties and back…

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The Basics of S Corps for Business Owners: A Physician’s Beginner Guide

S Corp Basics physician guide with tax planning forms, calculator, stethoscope, and office tools on a blue desk.

In a nutshell: If you’re a physician running your own practice or doing locum work, an S Corp can lower your self-employment tax bill by splitting your income into a “reasonable salary” plus distributions. You only pay payroll taxes on the salary portion. It’s not magic, and it’s not for everyone, but for high-earning doctors,…

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How to Reduce Taxes on Physician Side Income

Desk with tax forms, calculator, stethoscope, and notes for physician side income tax planning

You can earn a strong income as a physician and still feel like taxes are taking too much. That is especially true when side income enters the picture. Maybe you have a W-2 job and pick up telemedicine shifts. Maybe you do locum tenens work. Maybe you consult, review charts, serve as a medical director,…

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Do S Corps Get a 1099? S Corp 1099 Rules Explained

S corp 1099 rules illustration with desk, calculator, pen, and 1099 form for physicians and practice owners

If you run an S corporation, or you pay one, this question comes up a lot. Do S corps get a 1099? The short answer is usually no. But not always. That is where people get tripped up. I have seen this confuse physicians with side income, practice owners, and even bookkeepers who handle vendor…

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CME Travel Deductions for Doctors: What Counts and What Does Not

Illustration of doctor CME travel deduction expenses with luggage, airplane, cash, calculator, and medical items

You go to a CME conference. You sit through sessions all day. You pay for the flight, hotel, rideshare, meals, maybe even the registration fee months earlier. Then the question shows up. Can you deduct it? A lot of doctors assume the answer is simple. It is not. Some CME travel costs count. Some do…

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How Tax Advisors Help Investors Keep More of Their Returns

Illustration of a tax advisor helping a physician investor review charts and tax planning strategies

You can make a solid return in the market and still feel a little annoyed at tax time. That part catches people off guard. You look at your brokerage statement, see gains, dividends, maybe a few distributions, and think things went well. Then your tax bill shows up and takes a bite out of the…

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