PLR 200626032: Company may file late S election for its first tax year

Plain-English summary

A new corporation's sole shareholder intended S corporation treatment from the incorporation date, but no Form 2553 was filed by the deadline. The IRS found reasonable cause for the missed election. It agreed to treat the election as timely for the first tax year if the company filed a completed Form 2553 within 60 days of the ruling and attached the letter. The IRS did not decide whether the company met the separate small business corporation eligibility rules.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: May a late S election take effect from the company's incorporation date?
• Outcome: Approved, contingent on filing Form 2553 within 60 days.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1361(b) and 1362(b)(5).

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224
Number: 200626032
Release Date: 6/30/2006
Index Number: 1362.01-03

--------------------------------------
Person To Contact:
------------------------------------
-----------------------, ID No. -------------
Telephone Number:
------------------------------------------- ---------------------
------------------------------------------ Refer Reply To:
CC:PSI:B02 – PLR-157551-05
Date:
March 21, 2006

Legend

X: --------------------------------------
------------------------
----------------

A: ---------------------
------------------------------------------

State: ---------

d1: -------------------------

Dear --------------:

This responds to a letter dated October 1, 2005, and additional correspondence submitted on behalf of X by X’s authorized representative, requesting a ruling under § 1362(b)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The information submitted states that X was incorporated in State on d1. A, the sole shareholder of X, intended for X to be an S corporation effective d1. However, no Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation, was timely filed for X.

Section 1362(b)(5) provides that if -- (A) an election under § 1362(a) is made for any taxable year after the date prescribed by § 1362(b) for making such election for such taxable year or no such election is made for any taxable year, and (B) the Secretary determines that there was reasonable cause for the failure to timely make such election, the Secretary may treat such an election as timely made for such taxable year.
PLR-157551-05
2

Based solely on the facts and the representations submitted, we conclude that X has established reasonable cause for failing to make a timely election to be an S corporation effective d1. Accordingly, provided that X makes an election to be an S corporation by filing a completed Form 2553 with the appropriate service center effective d1 within 60 days following the date of this letter, then such election will be treated as timely made for X’s taxable year beginning d1. A copy of this letter should be attached to the Form 2553.

Except as specifically set forth above, no opinion is expressed concerning the federal tax consequences of the facts described above under any other provision of the Code, including whether X was or is a small business corporation under § 1361(b).

This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer who requested it. Section 6110(k)(3) provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

Pursuant to a power of attorney on file with this office, a copy of this letter is being forwarded to X’s authorized representative.

Sincerely yours,

Bradford R. Poston
Senior Counsel, Branch 2
Associate Chief Counsel
(Passthroughs and Special Industries)

Enclosures (2)
Copy of this letter
Copy for § 6110 purposes

cc: