What is the difference between a C Corporation and a LLC?

A limited liability corporation offers limited liability to its owners, but may elect to be taxed as a partnership which passes all the income and losses through to its owners. A C corporation is taxed at the federal level and profits are either retained by the corporation or distributed to the shareholders. A profit distribution is called issuing a dividend. These profits are then taxed as income in the shareholders personal taxes. With a LLC, the owner has options of how to be taxed. The IRS allows 3 choices. A Corporation tax like a general C corporation, Partnership taxation like a S corporation or as a Sole Proprietorship.