Mrs. Doubtfire is a heartwarming 1993 comedy about divorce, parenting, elaborate disguises, and—apparently—how not to comply with household employment law….

What the movie does not show is much in the way of employee onboarding. There’s no Form I-9. No payroll setup. No Social Security number. No new-hire reporting. No discussion of payroll taxes. Mrs. Doubtfire appears to be paid directly by Miranda, with everyone happily pretending that employment law doesn’t exist.

When physicians and other business owners elect S corporation status, one of the first questions they ask is:

"Should I put my car in the business?"

It seems logical. If the business uses the vehicle, shouldn't the business own it?

Surprisingly, the answer is often no.

While there are situations where S corporation ownership makes sense, personally owning your vehicle and using an accountable plan is frequently the cleaner, more tax-efficient option.