Corporation receives 120 days to make late S election

Plain-English summary

A corporation was eligible and intended to elect S corporation treatment from its incorporation date but failed to file Form 2553. The IRS found reasonable cause for the missed deadline and granted relief under IRC § 1362(b)(5). If the corporation files a completed Form 2553 within 120 days using the intended effective date, the election will be treated as timely. The corporation and its shareholders must also file all required open-year returns consistently within that period. The ruling does not determine whether the corporation otherwise qualifies for S status.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: May the corporation make a late S election effective from its intended date?
• Outcome: Approved, with a 120-day filing period
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1361(a), 1362(a), 1362(b)(1), 1362(b)(3), 1362(b)(5)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 202548001 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 11/28/2025 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1362.00-00, 1362.01-00,
1362.01-03 Person To Contact:
--------------------, ID No. -----------------
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---------------------------------------- Refer Reply To:
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------------------------- PLR-109081-25
----------------------------- Date:
August 25, 2025

                                               LEGEND

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

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

This letter responds to a letter dated April 18, 2025, submitted on behalf of X by X’s
authorized representatives and subsequent correspondence, requesting a ruling under
§ 1362(b)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code.

                                                 FACTS

According to the information submitted, X was incorporated under the laws of State on
Date. X was eligible to elect S corporation treatment effective Date; however, X
inadvertently failed to file Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation.

                                       LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 1361(a) 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 1362(a)(1) provides that, except as provided in § 1362(g), a small business
corporation may elect, in accordance with § 1362, to be an S corporation.

PLR-109081-25 2

Section 1362(b)(1) provides that an election under § 1362(a) may be made by a small
business corporation for any taxable year (A) at any time during the preceding taxable
year, or (B) at any time during the taxably year and on or before the 15th day of the third
month of the taxable year.

Section 1362(b)(3) provides that if (A) a small business corporation makes an election
under § 1362(a) for any taxable year, and (B) such election is made after the 15th day
of the third month of the taxable year and on or before the 15th day of the third month of
the following taxable year, then such election will be treated as made for the following
taxable year.

Section 1362(b)(5) provides that if (A) an election under § 1362(a) is made for any
taxable year after the date prescribed by § 1362(b) for making such election for such
taxable year or no such election is made for any taxable year, and (B) the Secretary
determines that there was reasonable cause for the failure to timely make such election,
the Secretary may treat such an election as timely made for such taxable year.

                                  CONCLUSION

Based solely upon the facts submitted and representations made, we conclude that X
has established reasonable cause for not making a timely election to be an S
corporation and is eligible for relief under § 1362(b)(5). Accordingly, if X makes an
election to be an S Corporation by filing a completed Form 2553 containing an effective
date of Date with the appropriate service center within 120 days of this letter, then such
election will be treated as timely made. A copy of this letter should be attached to the
Form 2553 filed with the service center.

Further, this ruling is contingent on X and its shareholders filing within 120 days from
the date of this letter all required returns for all open years consistent with the requested
relief. A copy of this letter should be attached to any such returns.

Except as specifically provided herein, we express or imply no opinion concerning the
federal tax consequences of the facts described above under any other provision of the
Code. Specifically, we express or imply no opinion concerning whether X otherwise
qualifies as an S corporation for federal tax purposes.

The ruling contained in this letter is 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 any of the material submitted
in support of this ruling request, it is subject to verification on examination.

This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Section 61110(k)(3) of the
Code provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

PLR-109081-25 3

In accordance with a Power of Attorney on file with this office, a copy of this letter is
being sent to X’s authorized representatives.

                                                Sincerely,


                                                ________/s/__________
                                                Laura C. Fields
                                                Branch Chief, Branch 1
                                                Office of Associate Chief Counsel
                                                (Passthroughs, Trusts, and Estates)

Enclosure
Copy for § 6110 purposes

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