Browse: Departments   Dates   Agencies  

CFR Citation: 26 CFR Part 301

RIN ID: RIN 1545-BD24

TD ID: [TD 9139]

NOTICE: RULES

ACTION: Procedure and administration:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Final and temporary regulation.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Deemed Election To Be an Association Taxable as a Corporation for a Qualified Electing S Corporation

DATES: Effective Date: These regulations are effective July 20, 2004.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: This document contains a temporary regulation that deems certain eligible entities that file timely S corporation elections to have elected to be classified as associations taxable as corporations. This regulation affects certain eligible entities filing timely elections to be S corporations on or after July 20, 2004. The text of this temporary regulation also serves as the text of the proposed regulations set forth in a notice of proposed rulemaking (REG131786 03) on this subject published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

SUMMARY: Entity classification changes; eligible associations taxable as a corporation for qualified electing S corporation,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Section 301.77013(a) provides that an eligible entity with two or more owners may elect to be classified as an association (and thus a corporation under Sec. 301.77012(b)(2)) or a partnership, and an eligible entity with a single owner may elect to be classified as an association or to be disregarded as an entity separate from its owner. Section 301.77013(b) provides that, unless the entity elects otherwise, a domestic eligible entity is a partnership if it has two or more owners or is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner if it has a single owner.
[[Page 43318]]
Section 301.77013(c) describes the time and place for filing an entity classification election. Section 301.77013(c)(1)(i) provides that an eligible entity may elect to be classified as other than its default classification or to change its classification by filing Form 8832, ``Entity Classification Election'', with the service center designated on the form.

A taxpayer whose default classification is a partnership or a disregarded entity may seek to be classified as an S corporation. In these cases, the taxpayer must elect to be classified as an association under Sec. 301.77013(c)(1)(i) by filing Form 8832 and must elect to be an S corporation under section 1362(a) by filing Form 2553, ``Election by a Small Business Corporation.'' In some cases, an entity may timely file the Form 2553 but fail to file the Form 8832. The entity must then submit a letter ruling request for an extension of time under Sec. 301.9100 to file a late entity classification election. The temporary regulation provides relief for these entities. In other cases, the Form 2553 and the Form 8832 are filed late, and the entity must submit a ruling request under Sec. 301.9100 to file a late entity classification election and under section 1362(b)(5) to file a late S corporation election. Rev. Proc. 200448, I.R.B. 200432, provides relief for these entities.

Explanation of Provisions

Requiring eligible entities to file two elections in order to be classified as S corporations creates a burden on those entities and on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The temporary regulation simplifies these paperwork requirements by eliminating, in certain cases, the requirement that the entity elect to be classified as an association. Instead, an eligible entity that makes a timely and valid election to be classified as an S corporation will be deemed to have elected to be classified as an association taxable as a corporation.

The temporary regulation amends Sec. 301.77013(c)(1)(v) to provide that, if an eligible entity makes a timely and valid election to be an S corporation under section 1362(a)(1), it is treated as having made an election to be classified as an association under Sec. 301.77013. However, if the eligible entity's election is not timely and valid, the default classification rules provided in Sec. 301.7701 3(b) will apply to the entity unless the Service provides late S corporation election relief or inadvertent invalid election relief. If the late or invalid election is not perfected, the default rules will maintain the passthrough taxation treatment by classifying the entity as a partnership or a disregarded entity.

Effective Date

The regulations apply to elections to be an S corporation filed on or after July 20, 2004. However, eligible entities that timely filed S elections before July 20, 2004, may also rely on the provisions of the regulation.

Special Analysis

It has been determined that this Treasury decision is not a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. Therefore a regulatory assessment is not required. For the applicability of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6), refer to the Special Analysis section of the preamble to the Notice of proposed rulemaking on this subject published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

Drafting Information

The principal author of this regulation is Rebekah A. Myers, Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Passthroughs and Special Industries). However, other personnel from the IRS and Treasury Department participated in their development.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 301

Employment taxes, Estate and excise taxes, Gift taxes, Income taxes, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Adoption of Amendments to the Regulations
Accordingly, 26 CFR part 301 is amended as follows:
PART 301PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 301 continues to read, in part, as follows:

Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
Par. 2. Section 301.77013 is amended by adding paragraphs (c)(1)(v)(C) and (h)(3) to read as follows:
Sec. 301.77013 Classification of certain business entities. (c) * * *
(1) * * *
(v) * * *
(C) S corporations. [Reserved] For further guidance, see Sec. 301.77013T(c)(1)(v)(C).
* * * * *
(h) * * *
(3) Deemed elections for S corporations. [Reserved] For further guidance, see Sec. 301.77013T(h)(3).
Par. 3. Section 301.77013T is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 301.77013T Classification of certain business entities (temporary).
(a) through (c)(1)(v)(B) [Reserved] For further guidance, see Sec. 301.77013(a) through (c)(1)(v)(B).
(c)(1)(v) (C) S corporations. An eligible entity that timely elects to be an S corporation under section 1362(a)(1) is treated as having made an election under this section to be classified as an association, provided that (as of the effective date of the election under section 1362(a)(1)) the entity meets all other requirements to qualify as a small business corporation under section 1361(b). Subject to Sec. 301.77013(c)(1)(iv), the deemed election to be classified as an association will apply as of the effective date of the S corporation election and will remain in effect until the entity makes a valid election, under Sec. 301.77013(c)(1)(i), to be classified as other than an association.
(c)(2) through (h)(2)(iii) [Reserved] For further guidance, see Sec. 301.77013(c)(2) through (h)(2)(iii).
(3) Deemed elections for S corporations. Paragraph (c)(1)(v)(C) of this section applies to timely S corporation elections under section 1362(a) filed on or after July 20, 2004. Eligible entities that filed timely S elections before July 20, 2004, may also rely on the provisions of the regulation.
Mark E. Matthews,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.

Approved: July 6, 2004.
Gregory F. Jenner,
Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax Policy).
[FR Doc. 0416232 Filed 71904; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 483001P

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Rebekah A. Myers, (202) 622-3050 (not a toll free number).