Late ESBT election received inadvertent-termination relief

Plain-English summary

A trust acquired shares of an S corporation from an estate but its trustees failed to make a timely electing small business trust election. The missed election terminated the corporation's S status, although the corporation, its shareholders, and the trust consistently filed as if the S and ESBT elections remained effective. The IRS found the termination inadvertent under Section 1362(f). It treated the corporation as continuing to be an S corporation, provided the trust filed an ESBT election within 120 days effective on the termination date.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Could the corporation preserve S status after its shareholder trust missed the ESBT election deadline?
• Outcome: Approved, conditioned on filing the ESBT election within 120 days.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1361(c)(2), 1361(e), and 1362(f); Treas. Reg. § 1.1361-1(m)(2).

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201820001
Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 5/18/2018
Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1361.00-00, 1361.03-00,
1361.03-03, 1362.00-00,
Person To Contact:
1362.04-00
-----------------------------,
ID No. ----------------
-------------------------------
Telephone Number:
------------------------------------
----------------------
-------------------------
Refer Reply To:
------------------------------
CC:PSI:B01
PLR-103993-18
Date:
February 16, 2018

LEGEND

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This responds to a letter dated August 11, 2017, and subsequent correspondence, submitted on behalf of X, by the authorized representative of X, requesting relief under section 1362(f) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Facts

According to the information submitted and representations made within, X was incorporated and made a valid S corporation election effective Date 1, under the laws of State.

PLR-103993-18
2

On Date 2, Trust acquired shares of X from an estate pursuant to the terms of a will. X represents that Trust has at all times since Date 2 met the requirements of an Electing Small Business Trust (ESBT) except that the trustees of Trust did not make a timely ESBT election under §1361(e)(3), thus causing X’s S corporation election to terminate effective Date 3.

X represents that X and its shareholders have treated X as an S corporation at all relevant times. X further represents that Trust has filed its income tax returns consistent with being an ESBT.

X represents that the failure to file an ESBT election for Trust 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)(iii) provides that a trust may be an S corporation shareholder with respect to stock transferred to it pursuant to a will, but only for the 2- year period beginning on the day on which such stock is transferred to it.

Section 1361(c)(2)(A)(v) provides that, for purposes of § 1362(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

PLR-103993-18
3

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, in relevant part, 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). Generally, only one ESBT election is made for the trust, regardless of the number of S corporations whose stock is held by the ESBT. However, if the ESBT holds stock in multiple S corporations that file in different service centers, the ESBT election must be filed with all the relevant service centers where the corporations file their income tax returns. This requirement applies only at the time of the initial ESBT election; if the ESBT later acquires stock in an S corporation which files in a different service center, a new ESBT election is not required.

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); (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 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 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 of Trust to timely file an

PLR-103993-18
4

ESBT election. We further conclude that the terminations 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).

This letter ruling is subject to the condition that within 120 days from the date of this letter, an election to treat the 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 this condition is not met, then this ruling is null and void. Furthermore, if this condition is not met, X must send notification that its S election has terminated to the service center with which its 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 representatives.

Sincerely,

Wendy L. Kribell

Wendy L. Kribell
Assistant to the Branch Chief, Branch 1
Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
(Passthroughs and Special Industries)

Enclosures (2)

Copy of this letter
Copy of this letter for section 6110 purposes