Which deduction is available only to C corporations and not to S corporations, partnerships, LLCs and their owners?

The dividends received deduction is a tax benefit specifically available to C corporations. This deduction allows C corporations to reduce their taxable income by a portion of the dividends they receive from other corporations in which they own stock. This provision prevents double taxation of income at both the corporate level and the shareholder level, as shareholders are also taxed on dividends they receive.

S corporations, partnerships, LLCs, and their owners are generally pass-through entities, meaning that the income is taxed only at the individual level, and they do not pay corporate income tax. Consequently, the mechanics of how dividends are treated differ, and those entities do not have access to the dividends received deduction.

In contrast, while other options like the domestic production activities deduction, net operating loss carryforwards, and Section 179 expense deduction may have relevance for various types of businesses, they are not exclusive to C corporations. Therefore, the dividends received deduction stands out as the only deduction applicable strictly to C corporations.