Making the Most of North Carolina Corporation and Partnership Law

Protect your assets with NC incorporation

By Emmet McMahan
The key to making the most of North Carolina corporation and partnership law is the decision to incorporate your business. A corporation affects your ability to gain capital, controls the amount of debt you assume and determines your tax obligations. However, these advantages must be balanced against the additional taxes your business will incur.

North Carolina partnership law makes a partnership subject only to personal income tax, unlike a corporation. On the other hand, business partners may be held responsible for business debts.

There are several options for forming a company under NC corporate law. These include:

1. North Carolina incorporation as a profit or non-profit corporation. An S corporation (S-corp) is taxed under Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code which generally does not include income taxes.

2. A North Carolina limited partnership. This type of partnership has limited partners in addition to general partners.

3. A North Carolina limited partnership. This type of partnership has limited partners in addition to general partners.

 

Determine the type of corporation that best suits your business under North Carolina corporate law

The most important factors to consider are the personal liability obligations and tax implications. You should also familiarize yourself with the operating requirements and reporting regulations.
Try: The North Carolina Department of Commerce provides specific guidelines for starting a business in North Carolina. The Company Corporation provides a summary of the different business types and filing requirements that is specific to North Carolina.

Find an attorney that specializes in North Carolina corporation and partnership law

Incorporating in North Carolina must comply with the disclosure, operating and reporting requirements. North Carolina corporation law specifies these requirements in detail.
Try: Prevatte, Prevatte & Campbell in Southport provides expertise in multiple specialties of corporate law. Rayburn Cooper & Durham is in Charlotte and has specific experience in forming businesses for a variety of clients.

Find sites to help you perform North Carolina corporation registration

You must file the registration forms and pay the associated fees as required by North Carolina corporation law in order to perform North Carolina LLC registration. You may also need to file Articles of Incorporation, depending on the type of corporation you decide to register.
Try: Inc. Plan allows you to create a business in North Carolina and also provides an extensive list of other services. The Department of the Secretary of State provides the forms you will need for creating your own business and also offers a variety of resources for forming a business.

 

  • North Carolina corporation law requires annual fees and filings to maintain your corporation. Corporations are automatically C-corps unless they specifically register as S-corps with the primary difference being the way they are taxed. One person may frequently hold more than one position in these corporations and many if not all shareholders are also directors in a small corporation.