As I’m sure many of you know, 2% shareholders have their health insurance reported as Box 1 wages, and then take the SEHI deduction to effectively zero out those wages for income tax.

Box 1 wages are subject to withholding, but it is clearly silly to remit income tax in payroll that IRS will not keep because of your SEHI deduction. Interest-free loans to the government are a bad idea.

Ergo, I would like to arrange my W4 with the payroll service (I use Gusto, if it matters) such that my net withholding effectively ignores my health insurance as taxable income while payroll correctly withholds income and FICA taxes on my cash wages. Is this possible and how is it done?

  • etoptech@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I would talk to your CPA and payroll company. An s corp requires reasonable pay so you’re paying social taxes on yourself. Be careful trying to game the system.

    • bizwig@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I don’t see what “reasonable compensation” has to do with the question.

      Gaming the system? I’m paying every cent of tax owed, this isn’t a tax evasion scheme. I just don’t want to overpay withheld taxes. No business owner should.