Late ESBT elections receive inadvertent termination relief

Plain-English summary

Two trusts acquired shares of an S corporation and otherwise qualified as electing small business trusts, but their trustees failed to file timely ESBT elections. The corporation and its shareholders consistently reported as though the S election remained effective and represented that the failures were inadvertent. The IRS granted relief under IRC § 1362(f), subject to an adjustment payment, late ESBT elections, and amended returns within 120 days. If those conditions were met, the corporation would be treated as continuously maintaining S corporation status.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Could the corporation retain S status after two shareholder trusts failed to file timely ESBT elections?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1361(e), 1362(f); Treas. Reg. § 1.1361-1(m)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201546001
Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 11/13/2015
Date of Communication: Not Applicable
1362.04-00, 1361.03-03
Person To Contact:
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Telephone Number:
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Refer Reply To:
CC:PSI:B01
PLR-101602-15
Date:
June 30, 2015

Legend

X =

Trust 1 =

Trust 2 =

Date 1 =

Date 2 =

Date 3 =

Years =

State =

$a =

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

This responds to a letter dated December 19, 2014, and subsequent correspondence, submitted on behalf of X by X’s authorized representative, requesting relief under section 1362(f) of the Internal Revenue Code.

FACTS

According to the information submitted, X was incorporated under the laws of State and elected to be treated as an S corporation effective Date 1. On Date 2, X shares were transferred to Trust 1. On Date 3, X shares were transferred to Trust 2. X represents that Trust 1 and Trust 2 have at all times met the requirements of an Electing Small Business Trust (ESBT) except that the trustees of Trust 1 and Trust 2 did not make timely ESBT elections under §1361(e)(3).

X represents that X and its shareholders have treated X as an S corporation at all relevant times. X represents that the failure to file ESBT elections for Trust 1 and Trust 2 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 (consistent with the treatment of X as an S corporation) that may be required by the Secretary.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

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) 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 § 1361(b)(1)(B), an ESBT may be an S corporation shareholder.

Section 1361(e)(1)(A) provides that 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)(1)(B) provides that an ESBT does 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) of the Income Tax Regulations 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 terminated under § 1362(d)(2) or (3); (2) the Secretary determines that the circumstances resulting in such termination were inadvertent; (3) no later than a reasonable period of time after discovery of the circumstances resulting in such termination, steps were taken so that the corporation for which the termination occurred is a small business corporation; and (4) the corporation for which the 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 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 2 because of the failure to timely file an ESBT election for Trust 1. In addition, we conclude that X’s S election would have terminated on Date 3 if it had not already terminated on Date 2 because of the failure of Trust 2 to file a timely ESBT election. 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 2 and thereafter, provided X’s S corporation election is otherwise valid and not otherwise terminated under § 1362(d).

This letter ruling is subject to the following conditions. Within 120 days of 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) an election to treat Trust 1 as an ESBT, effective Date 2, must be made with the appropriate service center; (3) an election to treat Trust 2 as an ESBT, effective Date 3, must be made with the appropriate service center; and (4) X and its shareholders must amend their tax returns for Years consistent with the relief granted in this letter. A copy of this letter should be attached to the ESBT elections. If these conditions are not met, then this ruling is null and void. Furthermore, if these conditions are not met, X must send notification that its S election has terminated to the service center with which X’s S election was filed.

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 who requested it. According to § 6110(k)(3), this ruling may not be used or cited as precedent.

Pursuant to the power of attorney on file with this office, we are sending a copy of this letter to your authorized representative.

Sincerely,

Joy C. Spies
Joy C. Spies
Senior Technician Reviewer
Office of the Chief Counsel
(Passthroughs & Special Industries)

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

cc: