S-corporation status restored after two trusts missed their ESBT elections

Plain-English summary

A company (X) had elected to be taxed as an S corporation, which limits who can own its stock. Over time, two trusts came to hold X shares. Each trust qualified as an eligible S-corporation shareholder only for a limited window (one for two years after the grantor died, the other for two years after the stock passed under a will), after which the trust had to file an "electing small business trust" (ESBT) election to keep holding the shares. The trustees of both trusts failed to file those elections, so each trust became an ineligible shareholder and X's S-corporation status was terminated. X asked the IRS for relief under section 1362(f), which lets the IRS disregard a termination that was inadvertent. The IRS concluded the terminations were inadvertent and ruled that X is treated as continuing to be an S corporation, on the condition that the trustees file the late ESBT elections within 120 days. This spares the company and its owners from a potentially costly switch to C-corporation taxation over a paperwork slip.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Were the terminations of X's S-corporation election (caused by two trusts failing to file ESBT elections) inadvertent under § 1362(f), so that X may be treated as continuing as an S corporation?
• Outcome: Approved (inadvertent termination relief granted, subject to filing the late ESBT elections within 120 days)
• Key authorities: IRC § 1362(f); IRC § 1361(c)(2), (e); Treas. Reg. § 1.1361-1(m)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 202325004 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 6/23/2023 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1362.00-00, 1362.04-00
Person To Contact:
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----------------------- Telephone Number:
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------------------------------- Refer Reply To:
-------------------------------- CC:PSI:01
PLR-118533-22
Date:
March 29, 2023

                                            LEGEND

X = -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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State = ---------

A = -----------------

B = ------------------

C = -----------------------

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trust 1 = -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Trust 2 = -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Dear ------------:

This responds to a letter dated September 20, 2022, and subsequent correspondence,
submitted on behalf of X by its authorized representative, requesting a ruling under
§ 1362(f) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code).

                                             FACTS

The information submitted states that X was incorporated under the laws of State on
Date 1. X filed an election in accordance with provisions of § 1362(a) of the Code to be
taxed as an S corporation effective Date 1.

A, an individual, transferred shares of X stock to Trust 1. Trust 1 was treated (under
subpart E of part I of subchapter J of chapter 1 of the Code) as a grantor trust owned by
A until Date 2 when A died and Trust 1 ceased to qualify as a shareholder under
§ 1361(c)(2)(A)(i). Trust 1 continued to qualify as an eligible S corporation shareholder
for the two-year period beginning on the day of A's death and ending Date 3 under
§ 1361(c)(2)(A)(ii).

X represents that beginning on Date 3, Trust 1 met the requirements of an Electing
Small Business Trust (ESBT) within the meaning of § 1361(e)(1)(A). However, the
trustees of Trust 1 failed to file an election under § 1361(e)(3) for the trust to be an
ESBT effective Date 3. Consequently, Trust 1 was an ineligible shareholder of X and X's
S corporation status was terminated on Date 3. Subsequently, on Date 9, the trustees of
Trust 1 distributed all the shares of X stock owned by Trust 1 to the individual
beneficiaries of Trust 1.

B and C, a married couple, each owned shares of X stock. B died on Date 4 and C died
a day later on Date 5. On Date 6, C's estate transferred shares of X stock to Trust 2
pursuant to the terms of C's will. Trust 2 qualified as an eligible S corporation
shareholder for the two-year period beginning on the day the shares of X stock were
transferred to it and ending Date 7 under § 1361(c)(2)(A)(iii).

X represents that beginning on Date 7, Trust 2 met the requirements of an ESBT within
the meaning of § 1361(e)(1)(A). However, the trustees of Trust 2 failed to file an
election under § 1361(e)(3) for the trust to be an ESBT effective Date 7. Consequently,
Trust 2 was an ineligible shareholder of X and X's S corporation status would have
terminated on Date 7, had it not already terminated on Date 3. Subsequently, on or
around Date 8, the trustees of Trust 2 distributed all the shares of X stock owned by
Trust 2 to the individual beneficiaries of Trust 2.

X represents that the circumstances resulting in the termination of X's S corporation
election were not motived by tax avoidance or retroactive tax planning considerations. X
further represents that for each taxable year since X elected to be an S corporation, X
and its shareholders have filed their federal income tax returns consistent with having a
valid S corporation election in effect for X. Further, X and its shareholders have agreed
to make any adjustments consistent with the treatment of X as an S corporation as may
be required by the Secretary with respect to the period specified by § 1362(f).

                              LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 1361(a)(1) of the Code 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)(B) provides that the term "small business corporation" means a
domestic corporation which is not an ineligible corporation and which does not 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.

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)(ii) provides that a trust that was described in § 1361(c)(2)(A)(i)
immediately before the death of the deemed owner and that continues in existence after
the owner's death may be a shareholder, but only for the two-year period beginning on
the day of the deemed owner's death.

Section 1361(c)(2)(A)(iii) provides that, for purposes of § 1361(b)(1)(B), a trust with
respect to stock transferred to it pursuant to the terms of a will may be a shareholder,
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 § 1361(b)(1)(B), an ESBT is a
permitted shareholder of a small business corporation.

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)(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).

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
Qualified Subchapter S Trust election (generally within the 16-day-and-2-month period
beginning on the day that the stock is transferred to the trust).

Section 1362(d)(2) provides that (A) in general, an election under § 1362(a) shall be
terminated whenever (at any time on or after the first day of the first taxable year for
which the corporation is an S corporation) such corporation ceases to be a small
business corporation, and (B) any termination under § 1362(d)(2) shall be effective on
and after the date of cessation.

Section 1362(f) provides, in part, that if (1) an election under § 1362(a) by any
corporation (A) 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) or to obtain shareholder consents or (B) was terminated under § 1362(d)(2)
or (3), (2) the Secretary determines that the circumstances resulting in the
ineffectiveness or termination were inadvertent, (3) no later than a reasonable period of
time after discovery of the circumstances resulting in the ineffectiveness or termination,
steps were taken (A) so that the corporation is a small business corporation or (B) to
acquire the shareholder consents, 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 ineffectiveness or
termination, the corporation will be treated as an S corporation during the period
specified by the Secretary.

                                  CONCLUSION

Based solely on the information submitted and the representations made, we conclude
that X's S corporation election terminated on Date 3 when Trust 1 became an ineligible
shareholder. We also conclude that X's S corporation election would have terminated
on Date 7 when Trust 2 became an ineligible shareholder, had it not already terminated
on Date 3.

We further conclude that the circumstances resulting in the termination of X's S
corporation election were inadvertent within the meaning of § 1362(f). Accordingly,
pursuant to the provisions of § 1362(f), X will be treated as continuing to be an S
corporation from Date 3 and thereafter, provided that X's S corporation election was
valid and was not otherwise terminated under § 1362(d) for reasons not addressed in
this letter.

We further conclude that: (1) Trust 1 will be treated as an ESBT for the period beginning
on Date 3 and ending on Date 9; and (2) Trust 2 will each be treated as an ESBT for the
period beginning on Date 7 and ending on or around Date 8.

This letter is subject to the following conditions that must occur within 120 days from the
date of this letter: (1) the trustees of Trust 1 must file an election to treat Trust 1 as an
ESBT effective Date 3 with the appropriate service center; (2) the trustees of Trust 2
must file an election to treat Trust 2 as an ESBT effective Date 7 with the appropriate
service center.

A copy of this letter should be attached to each ESBT election. Furthermore, if these
conditions are not met, X must notify the service center where X's S corporation
election is filed that its S corporation election has terminated effective Date 3.

Except as specifically set forth above, we express or imply no opinion concerning the
federal tax consequences of the transactions described above under any other
provision of the Code. Specifically, we express or imply no opinion regarding X's
eligibility to be an S corporation or the eligibility of Trust 1 or Trust 2 to be an ESBT.

The ruling contained in this letter is based on information and representations submitted
by the taxpayer and accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed by an
appropriate party. While this office has not verified any of the material submitted in
support of the ruling request, it is subject to verification on examination.

This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Section 6110(k)(3) of the Code
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 sent to your authorized representative

                                               Sincerely,

                                               Jennifer N. Keeney
                                               Senior Counsel, Branch 1
                                               Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
                                               (Passthroughs and Special Industries)

Enclosure
Copy of letter for § 6110 purposes

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