Private Letter Ruling 201639010 Released September 23, 2016 Approved

S corporation receives coordinated relief for trust and QSub defects

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This page covers one taxpayer's ruling from 2016, which can't be cited as precedent. Ezel answers your situation under the current Code and IRS guidance, with citations.

Currency note: this determination was released in 2016
Statutory amendments, regulation changes, court decisions, or later IRS guidance may have changed the analysis since then. Treat this page as historical context, not current tax advice. Verify current law before relying on any specific rule, threshold, or position mentioned here.
Not precedent. Under 26 U.S.C. § 6110(k)(3), this written determination may not be used or cited as precedent. It resolved one taxpayer's situation on its specific facts, and identifying details were redacted by the IRS before release. The official IRS release (linked on this page as a PDF) is the authoritative source.
About this page: The plain-English summary and ruling snapshot below were written by Ezel based on the official IRS release. The full text is the IRS's own document.
View official IRS release (PDF)

Plain-English summary

An S corporation's election was ineffective because numerous shareholder trusts lacked valid QSST or ESBT elections. That defect also invalidated elections involving 18 qualified subchapter S subsidiaries, while several trusts did not properly complete intended conversions from QSSTs to ESBTs. The IRS treated the S election as continuously effective, conditioned on the affected beneficiaries, former guardians, and trustees filing corrective elections within 120 days. It granted the corporation 120 days to file corrected QSub elections for eight subsidiaries and treated the remaining subsidiaries as QSubs from their intended dates, assuming each otherwise qualified.

Ruling snapshot

  • Question: Could the corporation preserve its intended S corporation, trust-election, and QSub treatment despite multiple election defects?
  • Outcome: Approved, subject to corrective trust and QSub elections within 120 days.
  • Key authorities: IRC §§ 1361, 1362(f), 368(a)(1)(F); Treas. Reg. §§ 1.1361-1, 1.1361-3, 301.9100-3.

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service                                       Department of the Treasury
                                                               Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201639010                                              Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 9/23/2016                                        Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1362.04-00, 1361.03-02,
              1361.03-03, 1361.05-00                           Person To Contact:
                                                               ----------------, ID No. ------------------
                                                               Telephone Number:
                                                               ----------------------
---------------------------------------                        Refer Reply To:
-------------------------------------------------------        CC:PSI:B01
-------------------------------------------                    PLR-141501-15
-------------------------                                      Date:
                                                               June 08, 2016




LEGEND

X                 =         ----------------------------------------------------------
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Y                 =         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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A                 =         ---------------------------
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B                 =         ------------------------------
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C                 =         ----------------------------
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D                 =         ----------------------
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E                 =         ------------------------------
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Sub 1             =         ----------------------------------------------------------
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PLR-141501-15                                             2


Sub 2             =         -------------------------------------------------
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Sub 3             =         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Sub 8             =         -------------------------------------------------------
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Sub 9             =         --------------------------------------------------------
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Sub 10            =         -------------------------------------------------
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Sub 11            =         ------------------------------------
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Sub 12            =         ---------------------------------------------------------
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Sub 13            =         ----------------------------------------------------------
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Sub 14            =        ----------------------------------------------
PLR-141501-15                                             3

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Sub 15            =         ---------------------------------------
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Sub 16            =         ---------------------------------
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Sub 17            =         ----------------------------------
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Sub 18            =         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Trust 1           =         --------------------------------------------------
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Trust 2           =         ---------------------------------------------------
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Trust 3           =         -------------------------------------------
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Trust 4           =         ----------------------------------------------------
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Trust 5           =         -------------------------------------------------------
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Trust 6           =         -----------------------------------------------------
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Trust 8           =         ---------------------------------------------------------
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Trust 9           =         --------------------------------------
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PLR-141501-15                                             4

Trust 10          =         ------------------------------------------
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Trust 11          =         ------------------------------------------
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Trust 12          =         ------------------------------------------------------------------
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Trust 13          =         ------------------------------------------------------------------
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Trust 14          =         ------------------------------------------------
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Trust 15          =         ------------------------------------------------
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Trust 16          =         --------------------------------------------------------------
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Trust 17          =         -------------------------------------------------------
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Trust 19          =         ----------------------------------------------------------
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Trust 22          =         ----------------------------------------------
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Trust 23          =         -----------------------------------------
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Trust 24          =         -------------------------------------------
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PLR-141501-15                                               5


Trust 25          =         ---------------------------------------
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Trust 26          =         -------------------------------------------------
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Trust 27          =         -------------------------------------------
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Trust 28          =         ------------------------------------------------
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Date 1            =        -----------------------

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

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

Date 4            =        --------------------------

Date 5            =        --------------------

Date 6            =        ---------------------------

Date 7            =        ---------------------------

Date 8            =        ----------------------

Date 9            =        ------------------

Date 10           =        --------------------------

Date 11           =        --------------------------

Date 12           =        ---------------------------

Date 13           =        ----------------------

Date 14           =        ------------------------

Date 15           =        ------------------------------

Date 16           =        ---------------------------
PLR-141501-15                                         6

Date 17         =       ---------------------------

Date 18         =       ----------------------

Date 19         =       --------------------

Date 20         =       ---------------------

Date 21         =       ---------------------

Year 1          =       -------

Year 2          =       -------

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

State           =       ---------




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

This responds to a letter dated December 16, 2015, and subsequent correspondence,
submitted on behalf of X, by X’s authorized representative, requesting relief under
section 1362(f) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and 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 Sub 1, Sub 2, Sub 3, Sub 4, Sub 5, Sub 6, Sub 7, and
Sub 9, as a qualified subchapter S subsidiaries (QSub) under section § 1361(b)(3) of
the Code.

FACTS

According to the information submitted and representations within, X, formerly Y, was
incorporated on Date 1, under the laws of State and elected to be treated as an S
corporation effective Date 2.

As of Date 2, Trust 1, Trust 2, Trust 3, Trust 4, Trust 5, Trust 6, Trust 7, Trust 8, Trust 9,
Trust 10, Trust 11, Trust 12, Trust 13, Trust 14 and Trust 15 were shareholders of X. X
represents that Trust 1, Trust 2, Trust 3, Trust 4, Trust 5, Trust 6, Trust 7, Trust 8, Trust
9, Trust 10, Trust 11, Trust 12, Trust 13, Trust 14 and Trust 15 were eligible to make
Qualified Subchapter S Trust (QSST) elections as of Date 2. However, the income
beneficiaries of Trust 3, Trust 6, Trust 7, Trust 8, Trust 11, Trust 12, and Trust 14
inadvertently failed to timely file QSST elections, thereby causing Trust 3, Trust 6, Trust
PLR-141501-15                                7

7, Trust 8, Trust 11, Trust 12, and Trust 14 to become ineligible shareholders of X. In
addition, the guardians of the minor beneficiaries of Trust 1, Trust 2, Trust 4, Trust 5,
Trust 10, Trust 13, and Trust 15 failed to timely file QSST elections, thereby causing
Trust 1, Trust 2, Trust 4, Trust 5, Trust 10, Trust 13, and Trust 15 to become ineligible
shareholders of X. As a result, X’s S election on Date 2 was invalid. E, the beneficiary
of Trust 9, timely filed a QSST election for Trust 9; however, X’s S election was not valid
on Date 2, thus invalidating Trust 9’s QSST election.

On Date 2, A was an eligible S corporation shareholder of X. A died on Date 4. A’s
shares in X were transferred to Trust 16, Trust 17, and Trust 18 on Date 5. X
represents that Trust 16, Trust 17, and Trust 18 were eligible to make QSST elections
as of Date 8 and that the beneficiary of Trust 16, Trust 17, and Trust 18 timely filed
QSST elections on Date 8. However, X’s S election was not valid on Date 2, thus
invalidating Trust 16, Trust 17, and Trust 18’s QSST elections.

On Date 3, Trust 8 distributed all of its holdings in X to B, an eligible S corporation
shareholder. On Date 9, Trust 5 distributed all of its holdings in X to C, an eligible S
corporation shareholder. On Date 12, Trust 4 distributed all of its holdings in X to D. D
then immediately contributed the X shares to Trust 28, an eligible S corporation
shareholder. On Date 20, E, the beneficiary of Trust 9 died. Trust 9 remains an eligible
shareholder until Date 21.

X represents that Trust 19, Trust 20, Trust 21, Trust 22, Trust 23, Trust 24, Trust 25,
Trust 26 and Trust 27 were eligible to make Electing Small Business Trust (ESBT)
elections as of Date 2. X represents that the trustee of Trust 19, Trust 20, Trust 21,
Trust 22, Trust 23, Trust 24, Trust 25, Trust 26 and Trust 27 timely filed ESBT elections.
However, X’s S election was not valid on Date 2, thus invalidating Trust 19, Trust 20,
Trust 21, Trust 22, Trust 23, Trust 24, Trust 25, Trust 26 and Trust 27’s ESBT elections.

X represents that the trustee of Trust 7, Trust 11, and Trust 12 decided to convert Trust
7, Trust 11, and Trust 12 from QSSTs to ESBTs effective Date 6. X represents that
Trust 7, Trust 11, and Trust 12 were eligible to make ESBT elections effective Date 6.
X represents that the trustee of Trust 7, Trust 11, and Trust 12 timely filed ESBT
elections. However, X’s S election was not valid on Date 2, thus invalidating Trust 7,
Trust 11, and Trust 12’s ESBT elections. In addition, the conversions of Trust 7, Trust
11, and Trust 12 from QSSTs to ESBTs were not valid because the trustees and
beneficiaries of Trust 7, Trust 11, and Trust 12 did not file the trust conversions
pursuant to Rev. Proc. 98-23.

X represents that the trustee of Trust 2, Trust 6, and Trust 15 decided to convert Trust
2, Trust 6, and Trust 15 from QSSTs to ESBTs effective Date 19. X represents that
Trust 2, Trust 6, and Trust 15 were eligible to make ESBT elections effective Date 19.
X represents that the trustee of Trust 2, Trust 6, and Trust 15 timely filed ESBT
PLR-141501-15                                 8

elections. However, X’s S election was not valid on Date 2, thus invalidating Trust 2,
Trust 6, and Trust 15’s ESBT elections.

Effective Date 2, X elected to treat Sub 1, Sub 2, Sub 3, Sub 4, Sub 5, Sub 6, and Sub
7 as Qualified Subchapter S Subsidiaries (QSubs). X also made QSub elections for
Sub 8, Sub 9, Sub 10, Sub 11, and Sub 12 effective Date 7; Sub 13 effective Date 10;
Sub 14 effective on Date 11; Sub 15 effective Date 13; Sub 16 effective Date 14; Sub
17 effective Date 15; and Sub 18 effective Date 18. However, X’s S election was not
valid on Date 2, thus invalidating X’s QSubs elections. In addition, Sub 4 and Sub 9’s
QSub elections were invalid due to an improperly completed Form 8869, Qualified
Subchapter S Subsidiary Election. Furthermore, Sub 1, Sub 2, Sub 3, Sub 5, Sub 6,
and Sub 7’s Form 8869s were invalid due to a processing error.

X represents that late in Year 1, it entered into a series of transactions that qualified as
an F reorganization within the meaning of § 368(a)(1)(F) in which Y, which at that time
was the “parent” S corporation, formed Sub 16 as a wholly-owned subsidiary, followed
by a QSub election effective Date 14. Sub 16 formed Sub 17, followed by a QSub
election effective Date 15. Sub 17 then merged into Y, the then “parent” S corporation,
on Date 17, with Y surviving the merger. As a result of this merger, Sub 16 became the
new “parent” S corporation, X, and Y became Sub 18, a wholly-owned subsidiary of X,
with X filing a QSub election for Sub 18 effective Date 18. X represents that as a result
of this merger no new S corporation election was required pursuant to Rev. Rul. 2008-

18. X changed its name to its current name on Date 18 and Sub 18 changed its name
to its current name on Date 16.

X represents that on, and at all relevant dates after, Date 2, the date of X’s intended S
election, X has owned all of the outstanding stock of Sub 1, Sub 2, Sub 3, Sub 4, Sub 5,
Sub 6, Sub 7, Sub 8, Sub 9, Sub 10, Sub 11, Sub 12, Sub 13, Sub 14, Sub 15, Sub 16,
Sub 17 and Sub 18 as of the effective dates X intended to elect to treat each as a
QSub. X represents that it intended to elect to treat Sub 1, Sub 2, Sub 3, Sub 4, Sub 5,
Sub 6, and Sub 7 as QSubs effective Date 2, Sub 8, Sub 9, Sub 10, Sub 11, and Sub
12 as QSubs effective Date 7; Sub 13 as a QSub effective Date 10, Sub 14 as a QSub
effective Date 11, Sub 15 as a QSub effective Date 13, Sub 16 as a QSub effective
Date 14, Sub 17 as a QSub effective Date 15, and Sub 18 as a QSub effective Date 18.
X also represents that X has filed tax returns for all tax years consistent with the
treatment of Sub 1, Sub 2, Sub 3, Sub 4, Sub 5, Sub 6, Sub 7, Sub 8, Sub 9, Sub 10,
Sub 11, Sub 12, Sub 13, Sub 14, Sub 15, Sub 16, Sub 17 and Sub 18 as QSubs.

X represents that Trust 1, Trust 3, Trust 4, Trust 5, Trust 8, Trust 9, Trust 10, Trust 13,
Trust 14, Trust 16, Trust 17, and Trust 18 have qualified as QSSTs under § 1361(d) at
all times since the date that each trust first acquired stock in X. X represents that the
trusts have filed consistently as if valid QSST elections were in place for Years. X
further represents that the failure to file QSST elections for the trusts was discovered in
Year 2. X represents that the minor beneficiaries of Trust 1, Trust 4, Trust 5, Trust 10,
PLR-141501-15                                 9

Trust 13, and Trust 15 have all reached the age of majority as of the date of this ruling
request.

X represents that Trust 19, Trust 20, Trust 21, Trust 22, Trust 23, Trust 24, Trust 25,
Trust 26 and Trust 27 have at all times met the requirements of an ESBT under
§ 1361(d)(3) since the date that each trust first acquired stock in X. X represents that
the trusts have filed consistently as if valid ESBT elections were in place for Years. X
further represents that the failure to file ESBT elections for the trusts was discovered in
Year 2.

X represents that Trust 2, Trust 6, Trust 7, Trust 11, Trust 12, and Trust 15 have
qualified as QSSTs under § 1361(d) at all times since the date that each trust first
acquired stock in X until the date that each trust converted to an ESBT. X represents
that Trust 2, Trust 6, Trust 7, Trust 11, Trust 12, and Trust 15 have filed consistently as
if valid QSST elections were in place for the years the trusts were QSSTs and that Trust
2, Trust 6, Trust 7, Trust 11, Trust 12, and Trust 15 have filed consistently as if a valid
ESBT election was in place for the years the trusts were ESBTs. X further represents
that the failure to file QSST and ESBT elections for the trusts was discovered in Year 2.
X represents that the minor beneficiary of Trust 2 has reached the age of majority as of
the date of this ruling request.

X represents that the circumstances resulting in the failure to make the QSST and
ESBT elections were inadvertent and not motivated by tax avoidance or retroactive tax
planning. X further represents that X has filed its income tax returns consistent with
having a valid S election in effect for all taxable years since X elected to be an S
corporation. X represents that other than the failure to make valid QSST elections on
Date 2 and Date 8, and valid ESBT elections on Date 2, Date 6, and Date 19, X has
qualified as a small business corporation at all times since its election on Date 2.
Lastly, X and its shareholders agree to make any adjustments required as a condition of
obtaining relief under § 1362(f) that may be required by the Secretary.

X represents that the inadvertent invalid election of its S corporation election was
inadvertent and was not motivated by tax avoidance or retroactive tax planning.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 1361(a) provides that an S corporation is a small business corporation for which
an election under § 1362(a) is in effect.

Section 1361(b)(1) provides that the terms “small business corporation” means 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
PLR-141501-15                                 10

than 1 class of stock.

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 Qualified
subchapter S subsidiary .

Section 1361(c)(2)(A)(i) provides that, for purposes of section 1361(b)(1)(B), a trust all
of which is treated (under subpart E of part I of subchapter J of chapter 1) as owned by
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States may be an S corporation
shareholder.

Section 1361(c)(2)(A)(v) provides that for purposes of § 1361(b)(1)(B), an ESBT is a
permissible S corporation shareholder.

Section 1361(d)(1) provides that, in the case of a QSST with respect to which a
beneficiary makes an election under paragraph 1361(d)(2), such trust shall be treated
as a trust described in subsection 1361(c)(2)(A)(i) and for purposes of section 678(a),
the beneficiary of such trust shall be treated as the owner of that portion of the trust
which consists of stock in an S corporation with respect to which the election under
paragraph 1362(d)(2) is made.

Section 1361(d)(3) defines a QSST as a trust all of the income (within the meaning of
section 643(b)) of which is distributed (or required to be distributed) currently to one
individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States. In addition, the terms of the
trust must require that (i) during the lifetime of the current income beneficiary, there
shall be only one income beneficiary of the trust, (ii) any corpus distributed during the
life of the current income beneficiary may be distributed only to such beneficiary, (iii) the
income interest of the current income beneficiary in the trust shall terminate on the
earlier of such beneficiary's death or the termination of the trust, and (iv) upon the
termination of the trust during the life of the current income beneficiary, the trust shall
distribute all of its assets to such beneficiary.

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
PLR-141501-15                                 11

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 1.1361-3(a) 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, Qualified
subchapter S subsidiary Election.

Section 1362(a)(1) 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 1362(a)(2) provides that an election under § 1362(a) shall be valid
only if all persons who are shareholders in such corporation on the day on which such
election is made consent to such election.

Section 1362(d)(2)(A) provides that an election under § 1362(a) shall be terminated
whenever (at any time on or after the 1st day of the 1st taxable year for which the
corporation is an S corporation) such corporation ceases to be a small business
corporation.

Section 1362(f) provides, in relevant part, that if (1) an election under § 1362(a) or
§ 1361(b)(3)(B)(ii) by any corporation (A) was not effective for the taxable year for which
made (determined without regard to § (b)(2)) by reason of a failure to meet the
requirements of § 1361(b) or to obtain shareholder consents, or (B) was terminated
under paragraph (2) or (3) § 1362(d) or § 1361(b)(3)(C); (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 (A) so that the
corporation for which the election was made or the termination occurred is a small
business corporation or a QSub, as the case may be, or (B) to acquire the required
shareholder consents; and (4) the corporation for which the election was made or 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 such
adjustments (consistent with the treatment of such corporation as an S corporation or a
Qsub, as the case may be) as may be required by the Secretary with respect to such
period, then, notwithstanding the circumstances resulting in such ineffectiveness or
PLR-141501-15                                12

termination, such corporation shall be treated as an S corporation or a Qsub, as the
case may be, during the period specified by the Secretary.

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.

Rev. Rul. 2008-18, situation 2, holds that, consistent with Rev. Rul. 64-250, a
reorganization under § 368(a)(1)(F) did not cause the termination of an S corporation
election under § 1362. In Rev. Proc. 2008-18, C, an individual, owned all of the stock of
Z, an S corporation. In Year 1, Z formed Newco, which in turn forms Mergeco. Pursuant
to a plan of reorganization, Mergeco merges with and into Z, with Z surviving and C
receiving solely Newco stock in exchange for Z stock. Newco meets the requirements
for qualification as a small business corporation and timely elects to treat Z as a QSub,
effective immediately following the transaction. The transaction met the requirements of
a reorganization under § 368(a)(1)(F) and Z’s original S corporation election continued
for Newco. Newco must obtain a new EIN. Z must retain its EIN even though a QSub
election is made for Z and must use its original EIN any time the QSub is otherwise
treated as a separate entity for federal tax purposes (including for employment and
certain excise taxes) or if the QSub election terminates.

Rev. Rul. 64-250, 1964-2, C.B. 333, holds that a reorganization under § 368(a)(1)(F) did
not cause a termination of an election under form § 1372, the predecessor to § 1362. In
that revenue ruling, an electing small business corporation within the meaning of former
§ 1371(b) was reincorporated in another state through the corporation's shareholders
organizing a new corporation in the other state and merging the existing corporation into
the new corporation. The revenue ruling states that the surviving corporation also met
the requirements for qualification as a small business corporation.

Rev. Proc. 98-23, section 4.01, provides, in relevant part, that a trust may convert from
PLR-141501-15                                   13

a QSST to an ESBT if the trust (1) meets all the requirements to be an ESBT, except for
the requirement that the trust not have a QSST election in place under § 1361(d)(2); (2)
the trustee and the current income beneficiary of the trust make the ESBT election
pursuant to section 4.02 of this Rev. Proc. with respect to the stock of each S
corporation held by the trust; (3), the trust has not converted from an ESBT to a QSST
within the 36 month period preceding the effective date of the new ESBT election; (4)
except as provided in section 6 of this Rev. Proc., the effective date of the ESBT
election cannot be more than 15 days and 2 months prior to the date on which the
election is filed and cannot be more than 12 months after the date on which the election
is filed. If an election specifies an effective date more than 15 days and 2 months prior
to the date on which the election is filed, it will be effective 15 days and 2 months prior
to the date on which it is filed. If an election specifies an effective date more than 12
months after the date on which the election is filed, it will be effective 12 months after
the date it was filed.

Rev. Proc. 98-23, section 4.02, provides, in relevant part, that the current income
beneficiary and the trustee of the trust must sign the ESBT election and file it with the
service center where the S corporation files its income tax return. This ESBT election
must state at the top of the document “ATTENTION ENTITY CONTROL –
CONVERSION OF A QSST TO AN ESBT PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 98-23”
(emphasis in original) and include all the information otherwise required for an ESBT
election. A separate election must be made with respect to the stock of each S
corporation held by the trust.

CONCLUSION

Based solely on the facts submitted and the representations made, we conclude that
X’s S election was ineffective on Date 2. We further conclude that the missed QSST
elections that caused the ineffectiveness were 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. No later than 120 days from the
date of this letter: (1) the beneficiaries of Trust 3, Trust 6, Trust 7, Trust 8, Trust 9, Trust
11, Trust 12, and Trust 14 must file a QSST election for Trust 3, Trust 6, Trust 7, Trust
8, Trust 9, Trust 11, Trust 12, and Trust 14 effective Date 2; (2) both the former
guardians and the beneficiaries of Trust 1, Trust 2, Trust 4, Trust 5, Trust 10, Trust 13,
and Trust 15 must sign and file the QSST election for Trust 1, Trust 2, Trust 4, Trust 5,
Trust 10, Trust 13, and Trust 15 effective Date 2; (3) the beneficiaries of Trust 16, Trust
17, and Trust 18 must file a QSST election for Trust 16, Trust 17, and Trust 18 effective
Date 8; (4) the trustee of Trust 19, Trust 20, Trust 21, Trust 22, Trust 23, Trust 24, Trust
25, Trust 26 and Trust 27 must file an ESBT election for Trust 19, Trust 20, Trust 21,
Trust 22, Trust 23, Trust 24, Trust 25, Trust 26 and Trust 27 effective Date 2; (5) the
PLR-141501-15                                 14

trustee and beneficiaries of Trust 7, Trust 11, and Trust 12 must file the trust
conversions to convert Trust 7, Trust 11, and Trust 12 from QSSTs to ESBTs effective
Date 6 pursuant to Rev. Proc. 98-23; and (6) the trustee and beneficiaries of Trust 2,
Trust 6, and Trust 15 must file the trust conversions to convert Trust 2, Trust 6, and
Trust 15 from QSSTs to ESBTs effective Date 19 pursuant to Rev. Proc. 98-23.

These elections must be made with the appropriate service center within 120 days from
the date of this letter. A copy of this letter should be attached to the 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.

Furthermore, 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 Sub
1, Sub 2, Sub 3, Sub 4, Sub 5, Sub 6, and Sub 7 as QSubs, effective Date 2 and Sub 9
as a QSub effective Date 7. The election should be made by filing Form 8869 with the
appropriate service center, and a copy of this letter should be attached to the election.
A copy is enclosed for that purpose.

Furthermore, Sub 8, Sub 10, Sub 11, and Sub 12 will be treated as QSubs effective
Date 7 and thereafter, provided Sub 8, Sub 10, Sub 11, and Sub 12 otherwise are
eligible to be treated as QSubs. Lastly, Sub 13, Sub 14, Sub 15, Sub 16, Sub 17 and
Sub 18 will be treated as QSubs effective Date 10, Date 11, Date 13, Date 14, Date 15
and Date 18, respectively, and thereafter, provided Sub 13, Sub 14, Sub 15, Sub 16,
Sub 17 and Sub 18 otherwise are eligible to be treated as QSubs.

Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning the
tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or referenced in
this letter. Specifically, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning whether X
otherwise qualifies as an S corporation, or whether Sub 1, Sub 2, Sub 3, Sub 4, Sub 5,
Sub 6, Sub 7, Sub 8, Sub 9, Sub 10, Sub 11, Sub 12, Sub 13, Sub 14, Sub 15, Sub 16,
Sub 17 and Sub 18 are eligible to be QSubs, for federal tax purposes. In addition, we
express or imply no opinion on whether the transactions in Year 1 qualified as F
reorganizations within the meaning of § 368(a)(1)(F).

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.
PLR-141501-15                                  15




In accordance with the power of attorney on file with this office, a copy of this letter is
being sent to the taxpayer’s authorized representatives.



                                        Sincerely,


                                        David R. Haglund
                                        David R. 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


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