Inadvertently late QSub election received extra time

Plain-English summary

An S corporation owned all of a domestic subsidiary and intended to elect qualified subchapter S subsidiary status for it from the parent’s S election date. The parent inadvertently failed to file Form 8869 on time but filed its tax returns consistently with QSub treatment. The IRS concluded that the parent acted reasonably and in good faith and that an extension would not prejudice the government. It gave the parent 120 days from the ruling date to file the election with a copy of the ruling attached. The IRS did not decide whether the parent was a valid S corporation or whether the subsidiary otherwise qualified as a QSub.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Could an S corporation receive an extension for an inadvertently late QSub election?
• Outcome: Approved, with 120 days to file Form 8869
• Key authorities: IRC § 1361(b)(3); Treas. Reg. §§ 1.1361-3 and 301.9100-1 through 301.9100-3

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201523012 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 6/5/2015 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1361.01-00, 1361.01-02,
9100.00-00 Person To Contact:
----------------, ID No. ------------------
Telephone Number:
---------------------------------------- ----------------------
---------------------------------- Refer Reply To:
---------------------------- CC:PSI:B01
-------------------------------- PLR-139437-14
Date:
February 24, 2015

LEGEND

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

Y = ---------------------------------------

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

State = ---------

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

This responds to a letter dated October 13, 2014, submitted on behalf of X by X’s
authorized representative, requesting relief pursuant to § 301.9100-3 of the Procedure
and Administration Regulations that X be granted an extension of time to elect to treat Y
as a qualified subchapter S subsidiary (QSub) under section § 1361(b)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code (the Code).

FACTS

According to the information submitted and representations within, X was incorporated
under the laws of State and elected to be treated as an S corporation effective Date 1.
X represents that it owns 100% of Y and intended to elect to treat Y as a QSub effective
Date 1. However, due to inadvertence, X failed to timely file a QSub election for Y. X
PLR-139437-14 2

represents that X has filed tax returns for all tax years consistent with the treatment of Y
as a QSub.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 1361(b)(3)(A) generally provides that a QSub shall not be treated as a separate
corporation and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of a
QSub shall be treated as assets, liabilities, and such items (as the case may be) of the
S corporation.

Section 1361(b)(3)(B) defines a QSub as a domestic corporation which is not an
ineligible corporation, if 100 percent of the stock of the corporation is owned by the S
corporation, and the S corporation elects to treat the corporation as a QSub.

Section 1.1361-3(a) of the Income Tax Regulations prescribes the time and manner for
making an election to be classified as a QSub. Section 1.1361-3(a)(4) provides that an
election may be effective up to two months and 15 days prior to the date the election is
filed or not more than 12 months after the election is filed. The proper form for making
the election is Form 8869, QSub Election.

Section 301.9100-1(c) provides that the Commissioner may grant a reasonable
extension of time to make a regulatory election, or a statutory election (but no more than
6 months except in the case of a taxpayer who is abroad), under all subtitles of the
Code except subtitles E, G, H, and I. Section 301.9100-1(b) defines the term “regulatory
election” as an election whose due date is prescribed by a regulation published in the
Federal Register or a revenue ruling, revenue procedure, notice, or announcement
published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.

Section 301.9100-2 provides the rules governing automatic extensions of time for
making certain elections.

Section 301.9100-3 provides the standards the Commissioner will use to determine
whether to grant an extension of time for regulatory elections that do not meet the
requirements of § 301.9100-2. Under § 301.9100-3, a request for relief will be granted
when the taxpayer provides evidence to establish to the satisfaction of the
Commissioner that (1) the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith, and (2) granting
relief will not prejudice the interests of the Government.

CONCLUSION

Based solely on the facts submitted and representations made, we conclude that the
requirements of § 301.9100-3 have been satisfied. Accordingly, X is granted an
extension of time of 120 days from the date of this letter to elect to treat Y as a QSub,
effective Date 1. The election should be made by filing Form 8869 with the appropriate
PLR-139437-14 3

service center, and a copy of this letter should be attached to the election. A copy is
enclosed for that purpose.

Except as specifically set forth above, we express or imply no opinion concerning the
federal tax consequences of the facts described above under any other provision of the
Code. Specifically, we express or imply no opinion concerning whether X is a valid S
corporation, or whether Y is eligible to be a QSub.

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.

In accordance with the power of attorney on file with this office, a copy of this letter is
being mailed to X's authorized representative.

                                    Sincerely,

                                    Curt G. Wilson
                                    Associate Chief Counsel
                                    (Passthroughs & Special Industries)



                              By: David Haglund
                                  David Haglund, Branch Chief
                                  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