Missed QSST election did not end S corporation status

Plain-English summary

An S corporation shareholder's stock passed from a grantor trust to a successor trust after the grantor's death. The successor trust qualified to be a qualified subchapter S trust, but its sole beneficiary failed to make the required QSST election on time, which terminated the corporation's S election. The corporation represented that the failure was inadvertent, was not motivated by tax avoidance, and had not changed how returns were filed. The IRS allowed the corporation to continue as an S corporation, provided the beneficiary files the QSST election effective on the transfer date within 120 days. The trust must also file amended returns for all affected years within 120 days, and failure to satisfy either condition makes the ruling void.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Was the S corporation's termination from a missed QSST election inadvertent and eligible for relief?
• Outcome: approved, subject to a QSST election and amended returns within 120 days
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1361(d) and 1362(d)(2) and (f); Treas. Reg. § 1.1361-1(j)(6)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service                                      Department of the Treasury
                                                              Washington, DC 20224

Number: 202412004
                                                              Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 3/22/2024                                       Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1362.04-00
                                                              Person To Contact:
---------------------------------                             -----------------, ID No. -----------------
                                                              Telephone Number:
                                                              -------------------
-------------------------------------------------------       Refer Reply To:
------------------------------------------                    CC:PSI:B03
-----------------------                                       PLR-113315-23

-                                                             Date:
                                                              December 20, 2023


Legend:

X                =     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       -----------------------
A                =     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       -------------------------
B                =     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       -------------------------
Company          =     ----------------

State            =     --------

Trust 1          =     ----------------------------------------

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

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

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

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

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

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

PLR-113315-23                                2


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

        This letter responds to a letter dated June 13, 2023, and subsequent
correspondence, submitted on behalf of X by its authorized representatives, requesting
a ruling under § 1362(f) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code).


                                         FACTS

       According to the information submitted and representations within, prior to
formation of X, Company was formed on Date 1 under the laws of State. Effective Date
1, Company elected to be treated as an S corporation. X was incorporated on Date 2
under the laws of State. Company merged into X pursuant to a reorganization and X
was treated as succeeding to Company’s S election.

       A, a shareholder of X died on Date 3 owning shares of X. Information provided
and representations made state that shares of X held by A were subsequently
transferred to Trust 1, a grantor trust, on Date 3 which was owned by B. Following B’s
death on Date 4, the shares of X were transferred to and owned by Trust 2 on Date 5. X
represents that Trust 2 was eligible to make a Qualified Subchapter S Trust (QSST)
election under § 1361(d)(3) as of Date 5. However, the sole beneficiary of Trust 2 failed
to timely make the QSST election effective Date 5 causing X’s S corporation election to
terminate on Date 5.

      X represents that Trust 2 has met all the requirements for qualifying as a QSST
under § 1361(d)(3), other than filing of a timely QSST election under § 1361(d)(2).

       X further represents that the circumstances resulting in the termination of X’s S
election were inadvertent and were not motivated by tax avoidance or retroactive tax
planning. Additionally, X represents that X and its shareholders have filed all returns
consistent with X’s status as an S Corporation. X and its shareholders agree to make
any adjustments (consistent with the treatment of X as an S Corporation) as may be
required by the Secretary.


                                  LAW AND ANALYSIS

       Section 1362(a) of the Code 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) defines an “S corporation” as a small business corporation for
which an election under § 1362(a) is in effect for the taxable year.

PLR-113315-23                                 3

       Section 1361(b)(1) provides that a small business corporation means a domestic
corporation which is not an ineligible corporation for such year, and which does not,
among other limitations, 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 is a permitted 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 § 1361(d)(2), such trust shall be treated as a trust
described in § 1361(c)(2)(A)(i) and for purposes of § 678(a), the beneficiary of such
trust shall be treated as the owner of that portion of the trust which consists of stock in
the S corporation with respect to which the election under § 1361(d)(2) is made.

         Section 1361(d)(3) defines a QSST as a trust (A) the terms of which require that
(i) during the life 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 the 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 that
beneficiary, and (B) all of the income (within the meaning of § 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.

       Section 1.1361-1(j)(6)(iii) provides that the QSST election must be filed within the
time requirements of § 1.1361-1(j)(6)(ii)(A) through (E).

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

        Section 1362(f) provides, in pertinent 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), or terminated under § 1362(d)(2) or (3), (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 event resulting in the
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, and (4)

PLR-113315-23                                 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 such ineffectiveness or termination, the corporation shall be
treated as an S corporation during the period specified by the Secretary.


                                      CONCLUSION

        Based solely on the facts submitted and representations made, we conclude that
X’s S corporation election terminated on Date 5 because the sole beneficiary of Trust 2
failed to file a timely QSST election under § 1361(d)(2).

              We further conclude that the termination of X’s S election on was
inadvertent within the meaning of § 1362(f). Therefore, under § 1362(f), X will be treated
as continuing to be an S corporation on and Date 1, and thereafter, provided X’s S
corporation election was otherwise valid and not otherwise terminated under § 1362(d).


         This ruling is contingent on the sole beneficiary of Trust 2 filing a QSST election
for Trust 2 effective Date 5, with the appropriate service center within 120 days from the
date of this letter. A copy of this letter should be attached to the QSST election. In
addition, Trust 2 must file within 120 days from the date of this letter amended returns
for all years consistent with the requested relief to properly reflect the treatment
of Trust 2 as a QSST and attach a copy of this letter to such returns.

        If the above conditions are not met, then this ruling is null and void. Furthermore,
if these conditions are not met, X must notify the service center with which it filed its
S corporation election that its election terminated on Date 5.

       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 and the regulations thereunder, including whether X was otherwise a valid
S Corporation and whether Trust 2 is a valid QSST within the meaning of § 1361(d)(3).
Specifically, we express or imply no opinion concerning Company’s eligibility to be an S
corporation. Further we express or imply no opinion concerning the validity or tax
consequences of the merger of Company and X.

      The rulings contained in this letter are based upon 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 ant of the
material submitted in support of the ruling request, it is subject to verification on
examination.

PLR-113315-23                                 5

      These rulings are directed only to the taxpayer requesting them. §6110(k)(3) of
the Code provides that it 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 X’s authorized representatives.


                                                  Sincerely,


                                                  Robert D. Alinsky
                                                  Chief, Branch 3
                                                  Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
                                                  (Passthroughs & Special Industries)


Enclosure:
      Copy for §6110 purposes

PLR-113315-23                                           6

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