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TERMINATION OF ELECTION WAS INADVERTENT.

JUN. 23, 2000

LTR 200039009

DATED JUN. 23, 2000
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
  • Institutional Authors
    Internal Revenue Service
  • Code Sections
  • Subject Area/Tax Topics
  • Index Terms
    S corporations, terminations, inadvertent
  • Jurisdictions
  • Language
    English
  • Tax Analysts Document Number
    Doc 2000-25009 (4 original pages)
  • Tax Analysts Electronic Citation
    2000 TNT 191-25
Citations: LTR 200039009

Index Number: 1362.04-00

 

Release Date: 9/29/2000

 

 

                                             Date: June 23, 2000

 

 

             Refer Reply To: CC:DOM:P&SI:1-PLR-105655-00

 

 

LEGEND:

 

X = * * *

 

Y = * * *

 

Date 1 = * * *

 

Date 2 = * * *

 

Date 3 = * * *

 

State = * * *

 

A = * * *

 

B = * * *

 

 

Dear * * *

[1] This responds to a letter dated March 6, 2000, submitted on behalf of X, requesting a ruling under section 1362(f) of the Internal Revenue Code.

FACTS

[2] The information submitted discloses that X is a corporation organized under the laws of State on Date 1. On Date 2, A and B transferred their shares in X to Y, an ineligible shareholder. X's S corporation election terminated effective Date 2. When X discovered that Y was an ineligible shareholder they submitted this request for a ruling.

[3] X represents that the stock held by Y was distributed back to A and B on Date 3. Further X represents that during the termination period it has timely and consistently filed its tax returns consistent with its treatment as an S corporation.

[4] X and each person who was a shareholder of X during the termination period agree to make the adjustments (consistent with X's treatment as an S corporation) that are required by the Secretary with respect to the termination period. In addition, X represents that A and B have and shall continue to report their pro rata share of X's items of income, loss, deduction and credit.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

[5] Section 1361(a)(1) defines an S corporation as a small business corporation for which an election under section 1362(a) is in effect. Section 1361(b)(1) defines "small business corporation" as a domestic corporation that is not an ineligible corporation and that does not (A) have more than 75 shareholders, (B) have as a shareholder a person (other than an estate, other than a trust described in section 1361(c)(2), and other than an organization described in (c)(6)) who is not an individual, (C) have a nonresident alien as a shareholder, and (D) have more than one class of stock.

[6] Section 1362(d)(2)(A) of the Code provides that an election to be treated as an S corporation terminates whenever (at any time on or after the first day of the first taxable year for which the corporation is an S corporation) the corporation ceases to be a small business corporation. The termination is effective on and after the date the S corporation ceases to meet the requirements of a small business corporation. Section 1362(d)(2)(B).

[7] Section 1362(f) of the Code provides that if (1) an election to be treated as an S corporation was terminated under section 1362(d)(2) or (3), (2) the Secretary determines that the termination was inadvertent, (3) no later than a reasonable period of time after discovery of the event resulting in such termination, steps were taken so that the corporation is once more a small business corporation, and (4) the corporation, and each person who was a shareholder of the corporation at anytime during the period specified pursuant to this subsection, agrees to make the adjustments (consistent with the treatment of the corporation as an S corporation) as may be required by the Secretary with respect to that period, then, notwithstanding the terminating event, the corporation shall be treated as continuing to be an S corporation during the period specified by the Secretary.

[8] S. Rep. No. 640, 97th Cong., 2d Sess. 12-13 (1982), 1982-2 C.B. 718, 723-24, in discussing section 1362(f) of the Code, provides, in part, as follows:

     If the Internal Revenue Service determines that a corporation's

 

     subchapter S election is inadvertently terminated, the Service

 

     can waive the effect of the terminating event for any period if

 

     the corporation timely corrects the event and if the corporation

 

     and the shareholders agree to be treated as if the election had

 

     been in effect for such period.

 

 

     The committee intends that the Internal Revenue Service be

 

     reasonable in granting waivers, so that corporations whose

 

     subchapter S eligibility requirements have been inadvertently

 

     violated do not suffer the tax consequences of a termination if

 

     no tax avoidance would result from the continued subchapter S

 

     treatment. In granting a waiver, it is hoped that taxpayers and

 

     the government will work out agreements that protect the

 

     revenues without undue hardship to taxpayers . . . It is

 

     expected that the waiver may be made retroactive for all years,

 

     or retroactive for the period in which the corporation again

 

     became eligible for subchapter S treatment, depending on the

 

     facts.

 

 

CONCLUSIONS

[9] Based upon the information submitted and the representations set forth above, we conclude that the termination of X's S corporation election was inadvertent within the meaning of section 1362(f).

[10] Pursuant to the provisions of section 1362(f), X will be treated as continuing to be an S corporation from Date 2 and thereafter, provided that X's subchapter S election is not otherwise terminated under section 1362(d). In addition, for federal tax purposes, A and B will be treated as owning their shares in X during the period from Date 2 to Date 3.

[11] Except as specifically set forth above, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning the federal tax consequences of the above-described facts under any other provision of the Code. In particular, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning whether X's S election was valid under section 1362.

[12] This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer that requested it. Section 6110(k)(3) of the Code provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

[13] Pursuant to the power of attorney on file with this office, a copy of this letter is being sent to your authorized representative.

                                   Sincerely,

 

 

                                   David R. Haglund

 

                                   Senior Technician Reviewer

 

                                   Branch 1

 

                                   Office of the Assistant Chief

 

                                     Counsel

 

                                   (Passthroughs and Special

 

                                     Industries)

 

 

Enclosures (2)

 

  Copy of this letter

 

  Copy for section 6110 purposes
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
  • Institutional Authors
    Internal Revenue Service
  • Code Sections
  • Subject Area/Tax Topics
  • Index Terms
    S corporations, terminations, inadvertent
  • Jurisdictions
  • Language
    English
  • Tax Analysts Document Number
    Doc 2000-25009 (4 original pages)
  • Tax Analysts Electronic Citation
    2000 TNT 191-25
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