Missing ESBT election causes inadvertent S termination

Plain-English summary

A grantor trust owned stock in an S corporation, but its grantor-trust status later ended. Although the trust was eligible to become an electing small business trust, its trustee did not timely file the ESBT election, making the trust an impermissible shareholder and terminating the corporation's S election. The corporation represented that the mistake was not tax-motivated, began corrective action after discovery, and agreed with its shareholders to make any required adjustments. The IRS treated the S termination as inadvertent. Relief required the trustee to file an ESBT election effective on the termination date within 120 days and attach the ruling letter.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Was the S election termination caused by a trustee's failure to file an ESBT election inadvertent?
• Outcome: Approved, subject to a corrective ESBT filing within 120 days.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1361(c), 1361(e), 1362(f); Treas. Reg. § 1.1361-1(m)(2).

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201445003 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 11/7/2014 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1362.04-00
Person To Contact:
----------------------------------- -------------------------, ID No. -----------------
------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------------
------------------------ Telephone Number:
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Refer Reply To:
CC:PSI:B2
PLR-103989-14
Date: July 21, 2014

LEGEND

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

A = -------------------

Trust = ----------------------------------

State = --------------

Date 1 = ------------------

Date 2 = ----------------------

Date 3 = ----------------------

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

  This responds to a letter dated January 14, 2014, submitted on behalf of X,

requesting a ruling under § 1362(f) of the Internal Revenue Code.

   The information submitted states that X was incorporated in State on Date 1 and

elected to be treated as an S corporation effective Date 1. Trust, a trust that was
treated under subpart E of part I of subchapter J of chapter 1 of the Code as entirely
owned by A, became a shareholder of X on Date 2. On Date 3, Trust’s grantor trust
status terminated.

   Trust qualified under § 1361(c)(2)(A)(i) as an eligible X shareholder after Date 3.

X represents that Trust was eligible to be an electing small business trust (“ESBT”)
PLR-103989-14 2

within the meaning of § 1361(e) effective Date 3. However, the trustee of Trust failed to
properly file the ESBT election. As a result, Trust was not a permissible shareholder
and X’s S corporation election terminated on Date 3.

   X represents that the failure to file the ESBT election for Trust and the resulting

termination of X’s S corporation election was not motivated by tax avoidance or
retroactive tax planning. X represents that after it discovered the possible terminating
event, X initiated corrective action. X and its shareholders have agreed to make any
adjustments that the Commissioner may require, consistent with the treatment of X as
an S corporation.

    Section 1362(f) provides that if (1) an election under § 1362(a) by any

corporation (A) was not effective for the taxable year for which made (determined
without regard to § 1362(b)(2)) by reason of a failure to meet the requirements of
§ 1361(b) or to obtain shareholder consents or (B) was terminated under § 1362(d)(2)
or (3), (2) the Secretary determines that the circumstances resulting in the
ineffectiveness or termination were inadvertent, (3) no later than a reasonable period of
time after discovery of the circumstances resulting in the ineffectiveness or termination,
steps were taken (A) so that the corporation is a small business corporation or (B) to
acquire the shareholder consents, and (4) the corporation and each person who was a
shareholder of the corporation at any time during the period specified pursuant to
§ 1362(f), agrees to make such adjustments (consistent with the treatment of the
corporation as an S corporation) as may be required by the Secretary with respect to
such period, then, notwithstanding the circumstances resulting in the ineffectiveness or
termination, the corporation will be treated as an S corporation during the period
specified by the Secretary.

   Based solely on the facts submitted and the representations made, we conclude

that the termination of X’s S corporation election on Date 3 was inadvertent within the
meaning of § 1362(f). Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of § 1362(f), X will be
treated as continuing to be an S corporation from Date 3 and thereafter, provided X’s S
corporation election was valid and provided that the election was not otherwise
terminated under § 1361(d). This ruling is contingent on the trustee of Trust filing an
electing small business trust (ESBT) election pursuant to the procedures in § 1.1361-
1(m)(2) with an effective date of Date 3 with the appropriate service center within 120
days of the date of this letter. A copy of this letter should be attached to the ESBT
election. If X or its shareholders fail to treat themselves as described above, this letter
shall be null and void.

   Except as specifically ruled above, we express no opinion concerning the federal

tax consequences of the transactions described above under any other provisions of the
Code. Specifically, we express no opinion as to whether X is otherwise eligible to be
treated as an S corporation or Trust is eligible to be treated as an ESBT.
PLR-103989-14 3

  This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer that requested it. Section 6110(k)(3)

provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

     In accordance with the Power of Attorney on file with this office, a copy of this

letter is being sent to your authorized representative.

  The rulings contained in this letter are based upon information and

representations submitted by the taxpayer and accompanied by a penalty of perjury
statement executed by an appropriate party. While this office has not verified any of
the material submitted in support of the request for rulings, it is subject to verification on
examination.

                                    Sincerely,



                                    Bradford R. Poston
                                    Senior Counsel, Branch 3
                                    (Passthroughs & Special Industries)