what to do when attorney doesn't get s-corp election

by Jeremie Grant V 10 min read

To do so: Attach Form 2553 to your current year Form 1120S, as long as the form is filed within three years and 75 days after the intended date of S-Corp election. Attach to a late-filed Form 1120S, which will be under the same time restrictions (three years and 75 days of intended S-Corp election date).

Full Answer

How do I terminate an S corp election?

Terminating the S Corp election can happen one of two ways. Preferably by revocation, or the next best alternative, violating one of the S Corp rules. Violating one of the S corporation rules is not an elegant option however.

What happens if an S corporation does not elect?

An S corporation must affirmatively and validly elect to be classified as an S corporation. If the entity is organized as a corporation, failure to validly elect S corporation status means the corporation is taxed as a C corporation, which is generally not the desired result.

Do all shareholders have to agree to an S corp election?

All shareholders need to agree to the S Corp election. How to Make an S Corporation Election Once you make sure that you meet all the needs to have an S Corporation election, you need to send in a completed Form i2553 (Election by a Small Business Corporation). All the shareholders must sign.

How to file a late election for an S-Corp?

How to File a Late S-Corp Election. Submit directly to the IRS Service Center. If you would like to file for election in a timely manner, allowing your corporation to file taxes as an S-Corp for its current tax year, you must: File Form 2553 within two months and 15 days of the beginning of your fiscal year.

What is a reasonable cause for late S-Corp election?

Reasonable causes are that your company's president, chief executive officer or similar responsible person neglected to file the election, or your corporation's tax professional or accountant neglected to do so.

Can you make a retroactive S-Corp election?

Electing S-Corp Status Retroactively is Possible However, it is possible to go back as far as 3 years and 75 days from the date the change is requested (IRS Late Election Relief). Going back that far means you'll need to amend your tax returns (as if the election was in place – this means making new W-2's, too).

How do I file a late S-Corp election?

Attach Form 2553 to your current year Form 1120S, as long as the form is filed within three years and 75 days after the intended date of S-Corp election. Attach to a late-filed Form 1120S, which will be under the same time restrictions (three years and 75 days of intended S-Corp election date).

How long does it take to get S-Corp election?

How long does the S-Corporation election filing take? Normally, the IRS will send you your S corporation application determination up to 60 days after you send in your application, known as Form 2553. Sometimes the determination might be delayed for various reasons.

Can you elect S corp status at any time?

You can file an election for S corporation tax status at any time after setting up your SMLLC. However, there are limitations on when the election can take effect. Specifically, your S corporation tax status must become effective within the 75-day period before you file the form or within 12 months after you file it.

Can I still elect S corp status for 2020?

If you want to elect S-Corp status for 2020, technically you are too late. The instructions say to Complete and file Form 2553: No more than 2 months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year the election is to take effect, or. At any time during the tax year preceding the tax year it is to take effect.

What is the penalty for filing S-Corp late?

When S corporations fail to file Form 1120S by the due date or by the extended due date, the IRS will impose a minimum penalty of $205 for each month or part of the month the return is late multiplied by the number of shareholders.

Can you file S Corp election online?

You need to file Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation to be treated as an S corporation by the IRS. You may file the form online, but only from the ElectSCorp website.

Can I still elect S corp for 2022?

For these businesses, if they want to become an S corp in 2022, the due date is March 15, 2022. It's possible to file form 2553 after the deadline, however you won't be granted S corp status until the following tax year.

How do I get an S corp acceptance letter?

To request an S corp verification letter, contact the IRS' Business & Specialty Tax Line at 1-800-829-4933. It's open from Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. taxpayer local time.

Can you file form 2553 electronically?

Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation, can't be filed electronically. The form instructions state that the corporation needs to mail or fax the original copy of the form to the IRS.

Can I file form 2553 late?

Form 2553 generally must be filed no later than 2 months and 15 days after the date entered for item E. For details and exceptions, see When To Make the Election and Relief for Late Elections, earlier.

What is an S corp election?

What Is an S Corporation Election? An S Corporation, also known as an S Corp, is a specific type of corporation that is created by filing and IRS tax election. This allows those that are able to avoid double taxation while protecting the owner from liability. S Corps are the most common type of corporation.

How long does it take to elect an S corporation?

A corporation or LLC needs to file an S Corporation election within the first two months and 15 days of the time of starting .

What is an S corp?

An S Corporation, also known as an S Corp, is a specific type of corporation that is created by filing and IRS tax election. 5 min read. 1.

What are the disadvantages of S corporations?

Despite all the advantages of electing an S Corporation, there are still a few disadvantages to filing as an S Corporation: S Corporations need to follow the rules of all other corporations, meaning higher legal and tax service fees.

How long can you hold S corp?

If you make this deadline, you will be able to hold S Corp status for your first tax year. If your business has been incorporated for a few years, you can file the election at any time from the first day of your tax year until two months and 15 days after that date. You will then hold S Corp status for the next tax year.

How many shareholders can a S corporation have?

S Corporation Requirements. There are many requirements that a company needs to meet to file as an S Corporation. The corporation can't have more than 75 shareholders. When counting the 75-shareholder limit, a husband and wife count as one.

How long does it take for a company to be recognized?

The recognition period of a company is the time after they first file as an S Corporation. It is usually 10 years. During this 10-year period, if an S Corporation sells or distributes any of their assets, they will be subject to the highest corporate income tax rate.

What information is needed to file a late S corp?

Even if you file a late S-Corp election, the most important information will be the date of incorporation and your corporation's fiscal year. This form will need to be signed by an officer, as well as all associated shareholders.

What does it mean to file for S corp?

When filing for S-Corp election, this means that you make a tax election with the IRS. By placing the business under new tax provisions, as outlined in Subchapter S, it will be taxed differently than a C-Corp.

How long does it take to file Form 2553?

If you would like to file for election in a timely manner, allowing your corporation to file taxes as an S-Corp for its current tax year, you must: File Form 2553 within two months and 15 days of the beginning of your fiscal year. File within 2 months and 15 days of incorporation, if it is newly formed. Request relief when filing ...

How many shareholders can an S corp have?

The corporation must be domestic with only one class of stock. It may also have no more than 100 shareholders.

What is an S corp?

Once a business becomes an S-Corp, it will be referred to as a "pass-through" taxation entity. Income, deductions, credits, and losses can then be passed on to the owners, instead of being taxed at the corporate level. This applies for federal and most state-level tax requirements.

What form do I need to fill out if I missed the deadline?

If you have missed the deadline, you will need to download Form 2553. It can either be filled out on your computer or printed and completed by hand. On this form, all of the relevant information is requested. This helps the IRS determine whether or not your corporation is eligible.

Where to fill out Form 2553?

To do so, fill out the narrative section of Form 2553, found on the bottom of Page 1. When you request relief from the IRS, you must state on the late-election form: "FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2013-30.". Write this on the top of the form. To better understand what is required, refer to this IRS document.

Why is the S Corp election not terminated?

election is not terminated because of A’s investment through her LLC because it is a disregarded entity so that A is treated as if she owns her stock in the S Corp. directly. At a later date, A transfers a 10% membership interest in her LLC to X, a key employee in her business.

What happens if you violate the eligibility rules?

If these eligibility rules are violated, the election is defective from the outset. Should, however, the election be discovered and remedied the taxpayer can make a new automatic election immediately. However, the new election does not relate back to the filing or effective date of the original defective election.

How many shareholders does S Corp have?

S Corp. has two shareholders, A and B. Each owns 500 shares of stock in the corporation. The corporation’s shareholder agreement provides that A will be in charge of the day-to-day operation of the business and, in lieu of a salary, A will receive 70% of the cash distributed by the corporation. B will receive 30% of the cash distributed. Because the corporate shareholder agreement does not confer identical distribution and liquidation rights for the outstanding shares of stock in the corporation, the corporation has a second class of stock, which violates the one class of stock rule. I.R.C. §1361 (b) (1) (D); Treas. Reg. §1361 (l) (2).

Is the Ineligible Shareholder Rule violated?

Ineligible shareholder rule is commonly violated. Two persons start a new business and elect to be an S Corp. A is a Texas native. B is from Texas but has moved to the United Kingdom and relinquished his U.S. citizenship.

Can a terminated S corp be retroactively reinstated?

Retroactive reinstatement of a terminated S Corp. election is possible if certain conditions are met and a ruling is obtained from the IRS Chief Counsel’s Office in Washington, D.C. allowing the reinstatement .

What is the election process for S corp?

However, deciding whether to make the election requires consideration of several factors, including the amount of anticipated profits, whether dividends will be distributed to shareholders, whether you have employees, the benefits offered to employees, and how your state will tax the corporation.

What is an S corp election?

What Is an S Corp. Election? If you choose to have your corporation taxed as an S. corporation, or S corp., by the IRS, here's what you need to know. If you have organized your business as a corporation, you have a choice as to how your business will be taxed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It can be taxed as either a C corporation (or C ...

What is a sub-S corp?

The provision of the IRS regulations that covers this method of taxation is Subchapter S of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code. A corporation using the Subchapter S method is commonly called an “S corporation," an “S corp.," or a “Sub S corp.".

How long does it take to file Form 2553?

An S corp. election can be made by filing Form 2553 no later than two months and 15 days after the beginning of the corporation's tax year. As stated in the instructions for Form 2553, “the 2-month period begins on the day of the month the tax year begins and ends with the close of the day before the numerically corresponding day ...

Do you have to report profits on 1040?

Any profits will be taxed at the corporate tax rate. If any portion of those profits are passed on to the shareholders as dividends, each shareholder will need to report his or her share on their individual Form 1040, along with Schedule B, Interest and Ordinary Dividends. Therefore, the profits are taxed once to the corporation, ...

Can a C corp be taxed as an S corp?

If you organize your business as a corporation and do nothing else, it will be taxed as a C corp. In order to have it taxed as an S corp., you need to notify the IRS that you are choosing, or “electing," to have it taxed as an S corp.

Can a corporation have more than 100 shareholders?

Not all corporations can file for S corp. status. For example, the corporation cannot have more than 100 shareholders and must be a closely held corporation (i.e., one that does not have publicly traded shares).

What happens if you don't have an S corp?

The second benefit – and perhaps the most important one – is tax savings. If you aren’t an S Corporation, you will have to deal with double taxation. This means you are going to get taxed as an individual and as a business owner.

Why do we have S corp election?

The main reason for making the S corp election is so that the part of the economic gain of the entity can be treated as the profit of the enterprise rather than wages. Unlike wages, S corp profits are not subject to self-employment taxes.

What is the difference between an S corp and an LLC?

An LLC can have owners manage the business or managers manage the business. While an S Corp has to have directors and officers, not owners, manage the business . The main difference in taxes with an S Corp vs LLC is that S corporations avoid self-employment taxes altogether.

How long does it take to file a C corp tax return?

You must file Form 2553 within the first two months and fifteen days of the beginning of the tax year in which the election is to take effect.

What are the advantages of an S corp?

The advantages of an S Corporation include liability protection, avoiding self-employment taxes, credibility, and ownership transfer. Liability protection: An s corp protects the owners from the debts and liabilities of the business in most cases.

Why do businesses convert to S corporations?

The main two are limited liability and tax savings. The first benefit is asset protection. Even though you are embarking on a journey to become a business owner, you are still your person.

What is an S corporation?

An S Corporation is a special type of corporation created through the IRS. By electing to be treated as an S Corporation, the corporation can avoid double taxation. What makes the S Corporation different from a traditional C Corporation is that profits and losses can pass through to your tax return.

S Corp Late Election Relief

If your entity is formed 3 years or less and you want to apply for S Corp Late election relief its available under IRS Rev.Proc. 2013-30

Rules for S Corp Late Election Relief (General Rules)

The requesting Entity wanted to be treated as an S corporation, and only reason it couldn’t be a S Corp because election was not filed on time.

S Corp Late Election Relief under Rev.Procedure 2021-1 (Private Letter Ruling)

If you cannot get relief under Reven Procedure 2013-30 then we recommend you look into getting a Private Letter Ruling under Rev. Procedure 2021-1. You May need to hire a Tax Attorney, CPA or an EA who has experience with Private Letter Ruling.

Conclusion

In Summary there are two different method of receiving Relief for your S Corp. First is though Rev. Pro. 2013-30 and second is though Private Letter ruling Rev Procedure 2021-1. We highly recommend hiring a expert to help and guide you through this process as the rules can be quite confusing and complex.