PLR 201042020: IRS grants relief for an inadvertently late S election

Plain-English summary

The IRS considered a corporation's request for relief after its intended S corporation election was not timely filed. It found that the corporation had established reasonable cause for the failure and was entitled to relief under IRC § 1362(b)(5). The IRS ruled that the corporation would be treated as an S corporation effective on the requested date, provided it otherwise qualified as an S corporation. It directed the corporation to file a completed Form 2553 with a copy of the ruling within 60 days.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Can the corporation's late S election be treated as timely after an inadvertent failure to file?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1362(a), 1362(b)(2), 1362(b)(3), 1362(b)(5), and 6110(k)(3)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201042020
Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 10/22/2010
Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1362.01-03
Person To Contact:
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Telephone Number:
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Refer Reply To:
CC:PSI:B01
PLR-121939-10
Date:
July 08, 2010

LEGEND:

X = --------------------------------------------
----------------------------

D1 = -----------------------------------

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

This responds to the letter dated May 14, 2010, submitted on behalf of X, requesting relief under § 1362(b)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code.

FACTS

The shareholder of X intended that X be treated as an S corporation effective on D1, but the election to be treated as an S corporation was inadvertently not filed. Accordingly, X requests a ruling that it will be treated as an S corporation effective D1.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 1362(a) provides that a small business corporation may elect to be an S corporation.

Section 1362(b) provides the rule on when an S election will be effective. Section 1362(b)(2) provides in relevant part that if an S election is made within the first two and one-half months of a corporation's taxable year, then the corporation will be treated as an S corporation for the year in which the election is made. Under § 1362(b)(3), however, if an S election is made after the first two and one-half months of a corporation's taxable year, then that corporation will not be treated as an S corporation until the taxable year after the year in which the S election is filed.
PLR-121939-10
2

Section 1362(b)(5) provides that if (1) no § 1362(a) election is made for any taxable year and (2) the Secretary determines that there was reasonable cause for the failure to timely make such election, then the Secretary may treat such an election as timely made for such taxable year and § 1362(b)(3) shall not apply.

X did not timely file an election to be treated as an S corporation under § 1362(a). X has, however, established reasonable cause for not making a timely S election and is entitled to relief under § 1362(b)(5).

CONCLUSION

Based solely on the facts submitted and the representations made, and provided that X otherwise qualifies as an S corporation, we conclude that X will be treated as an S corporation effective D1. Within 60 days from the date of this letter, X should submit a properly completed Form 2553, with a copy of this letter attached, to the appropriate service center.

Except as specifically set forth above, no opinion is expressed or implied as to the federal tax consequences of the facts described above under any other provision of the Code. Specifically, no opinion is expressed concerning whether X is, in fact, an S corporation for federal tax purposes.

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

David R. Haglund
David R. Haglund
Chief, Branch 1
Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
(Passthroughs and Special Industries)

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

cc: