S corporation's inadvertent termination is excused after three trusts missed ESBT elections, subject to an adjustment payment

Plain-English summary

A corporation elected to be taxed as an S corporation, the pass-through regime that avoids corporate-level tax. Shares were later acquired by three trusts. A trust can hold S corporation stock only if it fits an allowed category, and each of these trusts was meant to be an "electing small business trust" (ESBT), which requires the trustee to file an ESBT election on time. None of the three trustees made timely elections, so the corporation had ineligible shareholders and its S election terminated (first when Trust 1 missed its deadline, and it would have terminated again when Trusts 2 and 3 missed theirs). The corporation asked the IRS to treat the lapse as an "inadvertent termination" under IRC § 1362(f), which lets the IRS restore S status when the break was accidental, promptly corrected, and everyone agrees to conforming tax treatment. The IRS agreed the termination was inadvertent and ruled the corporation will be treated as continuing to be an S corporation, but attached firm conditions: within 120 days the taxpayer must send a specified adjustment payment, file ESBT elections for all three trusts, and have the shareholders and trust beneficiaries amend their returns to reflect ESBT treatment. If those conditions are not met, the ruling is void and the corporation must report that its S election terminated. Anyone whose S corporation status broke because trusts missed their ESBT elections would recognize this cure, including the possibility of a required catch-up payment.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Was the termination of the S corporation election (from three trusts' missed ESBT elections) an inadvertent termination the IRS will excuse under § 1362(f)?
• Outcome: Approved (S status treated as continuing, contingent on an adjustment payment, ESBT elections, and amended returns within 120 days)
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1362(f), 1362(d)(2), 1361(e) (ESBT); Treas. Reg. § 1.1361-1(m)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service                                       Department of the Treasury
                                                               Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201852001                                              Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 12/28/2018                                       Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1361.03-03, 1362.02-02,
              1362.04-00                                       Person To Contact:
                                                               -------------------, ID No. ------------------
--------------------------------------------------             Telephone Number:
----------------------------------------------                 --------------------
-----------------------                                        Refer Reply To:
-------------------------------                                CC:PSI:B01
                                                               PLR-105041-18
                                                               Date:
                                                               August 20, 2018

LEGEND

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

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

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

Trust 3           =         ---------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------

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

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

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

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

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

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

Years 1           =        ---------------

Years 2           =        ---------------

State             =        ---------

$a              =         ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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

This responds to a letter dated February 16, 2018, and subsequent correspondence,
submitted on behalf of X by X's authorized representative, requesting relief under
section 1362(f) of the Internal Revenue Code.

FACTS

According to the information submitted and representations within, X was incorporated
on Date 1 under the laws of State. Effective Date 2, X elected to be taxed as an S
corporation. On Date 3, Trust 1 acquired shares in X. On Date 4, Trust 2 and Trust 3
acquired shares in X. The trustee of Trust 1 did not make a timely election by Date 5 to
treat X as an Electing Small Business Trust (ESBT), causing an inadvertent termination
of X's S corporation status. In addition, the trustees of Trust 2 and Trust 3 did not make
timely elections by Date 6 to treat Trust 2 and Trust 3 as ESBTs. Therefore, had X's S
corporation election not terminated on Date 5, it would have terminated on Date 6.

X represents that Trust 1, Trust 2 and Trust 3 have at all times met the requirements of
an ESBT within the meaning of § 1361(d)(3), except that the trustees of Trust 1, Trust 2,
and Trust 3 did not make timely ESBT elections under § 1361(e)(3). X further
represents that Trust 1, Trust 2, and Trust 3 have not filed their income tax returns
consistent with being ESBTs for Years 1.

X represents that, other than the failure to make valid ESBT elections by Date 5 and
Date 6, X has qualified as a small business corporation at all times since its election on
Date 2. X further represents that X and its shareholders have treated X as an S
corporation at all relevant times. In addition, X represents that X has filed its income tax
returns consistent with having a valid S election in effect for all taxable years since X
elected to be an S corporation.

X further represents that X, its shareholders, and the beneficiaries of Trust 1, Trust 2,
and Trust 3, will amend their income tax returns for Years 2 within 120 days of the date
of this ruling letter to reflect treatment of Trust 1, Trust 2, and Trust 3 as ESBTs.

X represents that its S corporation election termination 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 required as a condition of
obtaining relief under the inadvertent termination rule as provided under § 1362(f) 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)(v) provides that, for purposes of § 1362(b)(1)(B), an electing
small business trust (ESBT) may be an S corporation shareholder.

Section 1361(e) 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)(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 the term ESBT does not include (i) any qualified
subchapter S trust (as defined in § 1361(d)(3)) if an election under § 1361(d)(2) applies
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) provides 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 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(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 corporation.

Section 1362(f) provides, in relevant part, that if (1) an election under § 1362(a) by any
corporation was (A) 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) or § 1361(b)(3)(C); (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 election was made
or 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
the termination 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 not otherwise terminated under § 1362(d).

This letter ruling is subject to the following conditions: (1) Within 120 days from the date
of this letter, an adjustment payment in the amount of $a and a copy of this letter must
be sent to the following address: Internal Revenue Service, Kansas City Service
Center; 333 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, Stop 7777, Manual Deposit ;
(2) within 120 days from the date of this letter, an election to treat Trust 1 as an ESBT
effective Date 5 must be made with the appropriate service center; (3) within 120 days
from the date of this letter, an election to treat Trust 2 and Trust 3 as ESBTs effective
Date 6 must be made with the appropriate service center; and (4) X's shareholders, and
the beneficiaries of Trust 1, Trust 2, and Trust 3, must amend their income tax returns
for Years 2 within 120 days of the date of this ruling letter to reflect the treatment of
Trust 1, Trust 2, and Trust 3 as ESBTs. A copy of this letter should be attached to the
ESBT elections. If these conditions are not met, then this letter ruling is null and void.
Furthermore, if these conditions are not met, X must send notification that its S election
has terminated to the service center with which X's 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,

                                      Joy C. Spies

                                      Joy C. Spies
                                      Senior Technician Reviewer, Branch 1
                                      Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
                                      (Passthroughs & Special Industries)

Enclosures (2)
 Copy of this letter
 Copy of this letter for section 6110 purposes