S corporation receives relief for missed trust elections

Plain-English summary

S corporation stock was transferred to a trust that qualified first as a qualified subchapter S trust and later as an electing small business trust. The income beneficiary did not timely make the QSST election, and the trustee did not timely make the ESBT election, causing the corporation's S election to terminate. The IRS ruled that the termination was inadvertent and allowed the corporation to continue to be treated as an S corporation. Relief required both late elections within 120 days, amended trust returns and adjustments, and a specified payment.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Can the corporation retain S status after a shareholder trust missed its QSST and ESBT elections?
• Outcome: Approved, subject to late elections, return adjustments, and a required payment.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1361 and 1362(f); Treas. Reg. § 1.1361-1.

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201527007 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 7/2/2015 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1362.04-00
Person To Contact:
-------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------, ID No. ----------------
--------------------------------------------------- -----------------
-------------------------------------------------- Telephone Number:
----------------------------------- ----------------------
Refer Reply To:
CC:PSI:B03
PLR-128709-14
Date:
January 22, 2015

Legend

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

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

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

D2 = ----------------------

D3 = -------------------

D4 = --------------------

D5 = ----------------------

D6 = ------------------------

D7 = --------------------

Shareholder = -------------------------------

Income Beneficiary = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trust1 = ---------------------------------------------------------------

Trust 2 = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------

PLR-128709-14 2

Years = ------------------------------

n = ----------------

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

   This letter responds to a letter dated July 25, 2014, and subsequent

correspondence submitted on behalf of X by its authorized representative, requesting a
ruling under § 1362(f) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code).

                                              FACTS

    The information submitted states that X was organized under the laws of State

on D1 and elected to be an S corporation effective D2. Shareholder transferred shares
in X to Trust1 on D3. Shareholder died on D4. On D5, Trust1 transferred the shares in
X to Trust2 for the benefit of Income Beneficiary. On D6, Income Beneficiary died.

    During the years between D5 and D6, X represents that Trust2 was eligible to be

a qualified subchapter S trust (QSST) within the meaning of § 1361(d), but the Income
Beneficiary did not timely file a QSST election. X also represents that Trust2 was
eligible to be an electing small business trust (ESBT) within the meaning of § 1361(e)
on D6 and thereafter, but the trustee did not timely file an ESBT election. Therefore, on
D5, X’s S corporation election terminated.

   X represents that the termination was not motivated by tax avoidance or

retroactive tax planning. X further represents that it has filed consistently as an S
corporation since D2. 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.

                                    LAW AND ANALYSIS

  Section 1362(a) provides that, except as provided in § 1362(g), a small business

corporation may elect, in accordance with the provisions of § 1362, to be an S
corporation.

    Section 1361(a)(1) 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) provides that the term “small business corporation” means a

PLR-128709-14 3

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 one class of stock.

   Section 1361(c)(2)(A)(i) provides that for purposes of § 1361(b)(1)(B), a trust all

of which is treated (under subpart E of part 1 of subchapter J of Chapter 1) as owned by
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States may be a shareholder.

 Section 1361(c)(2)(A)(v) provides that for purposes of § 1361(b)(1)(B) an ESBT

may be a shareholder.

   Section 1361(d)(1) provides that a QSST whose beneficiary makes an election

under § 1361(d)(2) will be treated as a trust described in § 1361(c)(2)(A)(i), and the
beneficiary of such trust shall be treated as the owner (for purposes of § 678(a)) of that
portion of the trust which consists of stock in an S corporation with respect to which the
election under § 1361(d)(2) is made.

   Section 1361(d)(2)(A) provides that a beneficiary of a QSST (or his legal

representative) may elect to have § 1361(d) apply. Section 1361(d)(2)(D) provides that
an election under § 1361(d)(2) shall be effective up to 15 days and 2 months before the
date of the election.

    Section 1.1361-1(j)(6)(ii) of the Income Tax Regulations provides that the current

income beneficiary of the trust must make the election under § 1361(d)(2) by signing
and filing with the service center where the corporation files its income tax return the
applicable form or a statement including the information listed in § 1.1361-1(j)(6)(ii).

     Section 1361(e) defines an ESBT. Section 1361(e)(1)(A) provides that, except as

provided in § 1361(e)(1)(B), 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. Section 1361(e)(3) provides that an election under
§ 1361(e) shall be made by the trustee.

    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 1362(d)(2)(A) provides that an election under § 1362(a) will be

terminated whenever (at any time on or after the first day of the first taxable year for

PLR-128709-14 4

which the corporation is an S corporation) such corporation ceases to be a small
business corporation. Section 1362(d)(2)(B) provides that any termination under
§ 1362(d)(2)(A) is effective on and after the date of cessation.

    Section 1362(f) provides, in relevant part, that if (1) an election under § 1362(a)

by any corporation was terminated under § 1362(d)(2) or (3), (2) the Secretary
determines that the circumstances resulting in the termination were inadvertent, (3) no
later than a reasonable period of time after discovery of the circumstances resulting in
the termination, steps were taken (A) so that the corporation is a small business
corporation, 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 termination, the corporation will 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 corporation election terminated on D5 when X had an ineligible shareholder.
In addition, had X’s S corporation election not terminated on D5, it would have
terminated on D6. We conclude that the circumstances resulting in the termination
were inadvertent within the meaning of § 1362(f). Accordingly, under § 1362(f), X will
be treated as an S corporation from D5 and thereafter, provided X’s S corporation
election was otherwise valid and has not otherwise terminated under § 1362(d) for
reasons not addressed in this letter.

   This ruling is conditioned on: 1) the estate of Income Beneficiary filing, on behalf

of Income Beneficiary, a QSST election for Trust2, effective D5, with the appropriate
service center within 120 days of the date of this letter, and 2) the trustee of Trust2 filing
an ESBT election, effective D6, with the appropriate service center within 120 days of
the date of this letter. A copy of this letter should be attached to the QSST and ESBT
elections.

  In addition, this ruling is conditioned on Trust2 filing any amended returns and

making adjustments that are necessary to properly reflect the treatment of Trust2 as an
ESBT for Years taxable years.

    Furthermore, as an adjustment under § 1362(f), a payment of $n and a copy of

this letter ruling 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. The payment and a copy of this letter must be sent no
later than D7.

PLR-128709-14 5

   If all of the above conditions are not met, then this ruling is null and void.

Furthermore, if these conditions are not met, X must send a notification that its S
corporation election has terminated to the service center with which X’s S corporation
election was filed.

   Except as specifically ruled above, we express or imply no opinion concerning

the federal tax consequences of the facts described above under any other provisions
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 that requested it. Section 6110(k)(3)

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

  In accordance with a power of attorney on file with this office, we are sending a

copy of this letter to X’s authorized representative.

                                      Sincerely,



                                      Mary Beth Carchia
                                      Senior Technician Reviewer, Branch 3
                                      Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
                                      (Passthroughs and Special Industries)

Enclosures (2):

   Copy of this letter
   Copy for § 6110 purposes