Missing ESBT election receives conditional S termination relief

Plain-English summary

An S corporation shareholder transferred stock to a trust that met the electing small business trust requirements, but the trustee did not timely file an ESBT election. The trust also failed to file its returns consistently with ESBT treatment, terminating the corporation's S election. The IRS found the termination inadvertent and allowed S status to continue. Within 120 days, the parties must make the required redacted adjustment payment, file original or amended returns reflecting ESBT and S corporation treatment, and file a retroactive ESBT election. Failure to meet any condition makes the ruling void.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Can the corporation retain S status after a shareholder trust failed to make and report consistently with an ESBT election?
• Outcome: Approved, subject to payment, return corrections, and a retroactive ESBT election within 120 days.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1361(e) and 1362(f); Treas. Reg. § 1.1361-1(m).

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201516015 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 4/17/2015 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1362.04-00, 1362.02-03
Person To Contact:
---------------------------------- --------------, ID No. ----------------
--------------------------------- Telephone Number:
------------------------ --------------------
---------------------------- Refer Reply To:
CC:PSI:B01
PLR-123961-14
Date:
December 12, 2014

LEGEND

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

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

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

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

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

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

Years1= ---------------------------------------

Years2= ---------------------------

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

$a = ---------------------------------------------------

Dear ----------:
PLR-123961-14 2

This responds to a letter signed May 30, 2014, and supplemental information, submitted
on behalf of X by X’s authorized representative, requesting relief under section 1362(f)
of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code).

FACTS

According to the information submitted and representations within, X was incorporated
on Date1, under the laws of State. Effective Date 2, X elected to be taxed as an S
corporation. A was a shareholder of X. On Date 3, A transferred X shares to Trust. A
timely election to treat Trust as an ESBT was not made.

X represents that Trust has at all times met the requirements of an ESBT within the
meaning of § 1361(e). X further represents that it has filed its returns consistent with
being an S corporation. Throughout the period that Trust has been a shareholder of X,
however, Trust has not filed its federal income tax returns consistent with being an
ESBT. X represents that its S corporation election termination was inadvertent and was
not motivated by tax avoidance or retroactive tax planning. Further, X represents that X
and its shareholders agree to make any adjustments required as a condition of
obtaining relief under the inadvertent termination rule as provided under § 1362(f) of the
Code that may be required by the Secretary.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 1361(a)(1) of the Code provides that the term “S corporation” means, with
respect to any taxable year, a small business corporation for which an election under §
1362(a) is in effect for such year.

Section 1361(b)(1) defines a “small business corporation” as a domestic corporation
which is not an ineligible corporation and which does not (A) have more than 100
shareholders, (B) have as a shareholder a person (other than an estate, a trust
described in § 1361(c)(2), or an organization described in § 1361(c)(6)) who is not an
individual, (C) have a nonresident alien as a shareholder, and (D) have more than 1
class of stock.

Section 1361(c)(2)(A)(v) provides that, for purposes of § 1362(b)(1)(B), an electing
small business trust (ESBT) may be an S corporation shareholder.

Section 1361(e) an ESBT means any trust if (i) such trust does not have as a
beneficiary any person other than (I) an individual, (II) an estate, (III) an organization
described in § 170(c)(2), (3), (4), or (5), or (IV) an organization described in § 170(c)(1)
which holds a contingent interest in such trust and is not a potential current beneficiary,
(ii) no interest in such trust was acquired by purchase, and (iii) an election under
§ 1361(e) applies to such trust.
PLR-123961-14 3

Section 1361(e)(1)(B) provides that the term “electing small business trust” shall not
include (i) any qualified subchapter S trust (as defined in § 1361(d)(3)) if an election
under § 1361(d)(2) applies to any corporation the stock of which is held by such trust,
(ii) any trust exempt from tax under subtitle A, and (iii) any charitable remainder annuity
trust or charitable remainder unitrust (as defined in § 664(d)).

Section 1361(e)(3) provides that an election under § 1361(e) shall be made by the
trustee. Any such election shall apply to the taxable year of the trust for which made
and all subsequent taxable years of such trust unless revoked with the consent of the
Secretary.

Section 1.1361-1(m)(2)(i) provides that the trustee of an ESBT must make the ESBT
election by signing and filing, with the service center where the S corporation files its
income tax return, a statement that meets the requirements of § 1.1361-1(m)(2)(ii).

Section 1.1361-1(m)(2)(iii) provides that the trustee of an ESBT must file the ESBT
election within the time requirements prescribed in § 1.1361-1(j)(6)(iii) for filing a QSST
election (generally within the 16-day-and-2-month period beginning on the day that the
stock is transferred to the trust).

Section 1362(f) provides, in relevant part, that if (1) an election under § 1362(a) by any
corporation 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
was terminated under § 1362(d)(2) or (3); (2) the Secretary determines that the
circumstances resulting in such ineffectiveness or termination were inadvertent; (3) no
later than a reasonable period of time after discovery of the circumstances resulting in
such ineffectiveness or termination, steps were taken so that the corporation for which
the election was made or termination occurred is a small business corporation; and (4)
the corporation for which the election was made or termination occurred, and each
person who was a shareholder in such corporation at any time during the period
specified pursuant to § 1362(f), agrees to make the adjustments (consistent with the
treatment of such corporation as an S corporation) as may be required by the Secretary
with respect to such period, then, notwithstanding the circumstances resulting in such
ineffectiveness or termination, such corporation shall be treated as an S corporation
during the period specified by the Secretary.

CONCLUSION

Based solely on the facts submitted and the representations made, we conclude that
X’s S election terminated on Date 3 because of the failure to timely file an ESBT
election for Trust. We further conclude that the termination of X’s S election was
inadvertent within the meaning of § 1362(f). Therefore, X will be treated as an S
corporation effective Date 3 and thereafter, provided X’s S corporation election is
otherwise valid and not otherwise terminated under § 1362(d).
PLR-123961-14 4

This letter ruling is subject to the following conditions: Within 120 days from the date of
this letter, (1) an adjustment payment in the amount of $a and a copy of this letter must
be sent to the following address: Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati Service Center,
201 West Rivercenter Blvd., Covington, KY 41011, Stop 31, Terri Lackey, Manual
Deposit; (2) X and each of its shareholders must file any original and amended returns
for Years2 and make such adjustments that are both consistent with treating Trust as an
ESBT and are necessary to properly reflect the reporting of X’s items of S corporation
income; and (3) An election to treat Trust as an ESBT effective Date 3, must be made
with the appropriate service center. A copy of this letter should be attached to the
ESBT election. If these conditions are not met, then this ruling is null and void.

Except as specifically ruled upon above, we express or imply no opinion concerning the
federal tax consequences of the facts of this case under any other provision of the
Code. Specifically, we express or imply no opinion regarding X’s eligibility to be an S
corporation.

This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Section 6110(k)(3) of the Code
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.

                                   Sincerely,


                                   Faith Colson
                                   Faith Colson
                                   Senior Counsel, Branch 1
                                   Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
                                   (Passthroughs & Special Industries)

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

cc: