S election restored after missed QSST election

Plain-English summary

An S corporation requested relief after stock was transferred to a trust whose beneficiary did not timely make a Qualified Subchapter S Trust election. The IRS concluded that the corporation's S election terminated when the trust became an ineligible shareholder. The IRS also determined that the termination was inadvertent and allowed the corporation to continue to be treated as an S corporation from the termination date, subject to conditions. The beneficiary had to file the QSST election, and the corporation and shareholders had to file any required original or amended returns within 120 days.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Can the corporation receive relief after its S election terminated because a trust beneficiary missed a QSST election?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1361, 1362, 6110

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 202633009
Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 8/14/2026
Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1362.02-00, 1362.04-00
Person To Contact:
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Refer Reply To:
CC:PSI:B03
PLR-119965-25

Date:
May 13, 2026

LEGEND

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

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

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

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

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

This responds to a letter dated November 19, 2025 and subsequent correspondence, submitted on behalf of X by its authorized representatives, requesting relief under § 1362(f) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code).

FACTS

The information submitted states that X was incorporated under the laws of State on Date 1 and elected to be treated as an S corporation effective Date 2. On Date 3, shares of X were transferred to Trust.
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X represents that Trust was eligible to make a Qualified Subchapter S Trust (QSST) election under § 1361(d)(2) effective Date 3. However, the Trust’s beneficiary failed to make a QSST election for the trust to be an eligible S corporation shareholder.

X represents that X and its shareholders filed their income tax returns consistently with X having an S corporation election effective Date 2. X and its shareholders agree to make any adjustments required by the Secretary as a condition of obtaining relief under § 1362(f).

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(d)(1) provides, in part, that in the case of a QSST with respect to which a beneficiary makes an election under § 1361(d)(2), the trust is treated as a trust described in § 1361(c)(2)(A)(i) and, for purposes of § 678(a), the beneficiary of the trust is 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 § 1361(d)(2) is made.

Section 1361(d)(2)(A) provides that a beneficiary of a QSST (or his legal representative) may elect to have § 1361(d) apply.

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 will 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 will 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 will distribute all of its assets to such 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 1362(d)(2) provides that an S corporation election will 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
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corporation.

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) or was 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 circumstances resulting in such ineffectiveness or termination, steps were taken so that the corporation for which the election was made or termination occurred is a small business corporation; and (4) the corporation for which the election was made or 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 will 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 3 because the Trust’s beneficiary failed to timely make a QSST election under § 1361(d)(2). However, the termination of X’s S corporation election was inadvertent within the meaning of § 1362(f). Accordingly, X will be treated as an S corporation from Date 3 and thereafter, provided its S corporation election is not otherwise terminated under § 1362(d).

This ruling is subject to the conditions that within 120 days from the date of this letter (1) the Trust’s beneficiary files a QSST election with respect to Trust, effective Date 3, with the appropriate service center and (2) X and its shareholders file any necessary original or amended returns for all open taxable years, consistent with the relief granted in this letter. A copy of this letter should be attached to the QSST election and any original or amended return.

If the above conditions are not met, then this ruling is null and void. Further, 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 3.

Except as specifically ruled above, we express or imply no opinion concerning the federal tax consequences of the facts described above under any other provision of the Code and the regulations thereunder, including whether X is otherwise a valid S corporation or whether Trust is a valid QSST within the meaning of § 1361(d).

The ruling contained in this letter is based on information and representations submitted by X and accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed by an
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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, we are sending a copy of this letter to X’s authorized representatives.

Sincerely,

_______
Elizabeth V. Zanet
Senior Technician Reviewer, Branch 3
Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
(Passthroughs, Trusts, and Estates)

Enclosure
Copy for § 6110 purposes

cc: -------------------------
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