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ARTICLE IV. GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 4. RELIEF FOR LATE S

Internal Revenue Bulletin 2003-23 · 2026-10-03 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · United States

CORPORATION, ESBT, QSST AND QSUB ELECTIONS UNDER THIS REVENUE PROCEDURE

.01 Definitions . (1) Election Under Subchapter S : For purposes of this revenue procedure, Election Under Subchapter S refers to the filing of a Form 2553 by a corporation to be treated as a subchapter S corporation under § 1362, an election by a trustee to treat a trust as an ESBT under § 1361(e), an election by a trust beneficiary to treat a trust as a QSST under § 1361(d), or the filing of a Form 8869 by a parent S corporation to treat a subsidiary as a QSub under § 1361(b)(3).

(2) Due Date of Election Under Sub- chapter S : The Due Date of the Election Under Subchapter S will vary depending on the type of election sought. For a corporation that requests to be treated as a subchapter S corporation, the Due Date of the

2003–23 I.R.B. 1000 June 9, 2003

of ESBT elections) or § 1.1361–1(j)(6)(ii) (in the case of QSST elections);

(ii) In the case of a QSST, a statement from the trustee that the trust satisfies the QSST requirements of § 1361(d)(3) and that the income distribution requirements have been and will continue to be met;

(iii) In the case of an ESBT, a statement from the trustee that all potential current beneficiaries meet the shareholder requirements of § 1361(b)(1) and that the trust satisfies the requirements of an ESBT under § 1361(e)(1) other than the requirement to make an ESBT election;

(iv) A statement from the trustee of the ESBT or the current income beneficiary of the QSST that the beneficiary or trustee acted diligently to correct the mistake upon its discovery;

(v) Statements from all shareholders during the period between the date the S corporation election terminated or was to have become effective and the date the completed election was filed that they have reported their income (on all affected returns) consistent with the S corporation election for the year the election should have been made and for all subsequent years; and

(vi) A dated declaration, signed by the trustee of the ESBT or the current income beneficiary of the QSST which states: “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the facts presented in support of this election are true, correct, and complete.”

(c) QSubs . An S corporation seeking relief for a late QSub election for a subsidiary must file a completed Form 8869. The completed election form must include the following material:

(i) A statement that the corporation satisfies the QSub requirements of § 1361(b)(3)(B), and that all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of the QSub have been treated as assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of the S corporation (on all affected returns) consistent with the QSub election for the year the election was intended and for all subsequent years;

(ii) A dated declaration signed by an officer of the S corporation authorized to sign which states: “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the facts presented in support of this election are true, correct, and complete.”

or QSub elections), on any affected return for the year the Election Under Subchapter S was intended; or

(b) all of the following requirements are met: (i) the entity seeking to make the election has filed a tax return (in the case of QSubs, the parent has filed a tax return) for the first year in which the election was intended within 6 months of the due date of the tax return (excluding extensions), and (ii) all taxpayers whose tax liability or tax returns would be affected by the Election Under Subchapter S (including all shareholders of the S corporation) have reported consistently with the S corporation election (as well as any ESBT, QSST or QSub elections), on all affected returns for the year the Election Under Subchapter S was intended, as well as for any subsequent years.

.03 Procedural Requirements for Re- lief .

(1) Procedural Requirements When a Tax Return Has Not Been Filed for the First Year of the Intended Election Under Sub- chapter S . If the entity seeking the election has not filed a tax return for the first taxable year of the intended Election Under Subchapter S, the entity may request relief for the late Election Under Subchapter S by filing with the applicable service center the properly completed election form(s). The election form(s) must be filed within 18 months of the original Due Date of the intended Election Under Subchapter S (but in no event later than 6 months after the due date of the tax return (excluding extensions) of the entity (in the case of QSubs, the due date of the tax return of the parent) for the first year in which the election was intended) and must state at the top of the document “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2003–43.” Attached to the election form must be a statement establishing either reasonable cause for the failure to file the Election Under Subchapter S timely (in the case of S corporation or QSub elections), or a statement establishing that the failure to file the Election Under Subchapter S timely was inadvertent (in the case of ESBT or QSST elections.)

(2) Procedural Requirements When a Tax Return Has Been Filed for the First Year of the Intended Election Under Subchap- ter S . If the entity seeking the election has filed a tax return for the first taxable year of the intended Election Under Subchapter S within 6 months of the due date of that tax return (excluding extensions), then the

entity may request relief for the late Election Under Subchapter S by filing with the applicable service center the properly completed election form(s) and the supporting documents described below. The election form(s) must be filed within 24 months of the original Due Date for the Election Under Subchapter S and must state at the top of the document “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2003–43.” Attached to the election form must be a statement establishing either reasonable cause for the failure to file the Election Under Subchapter S timely (in the case of S corporation or QSub elections), or a statement establishing that the failure to file the Election Under Subchapter S timely was inadvertent (in the case of ESBT or QSST elections.) The following additional documents must be attached to the election form (if applicable):

(a) S Corporations . An entity seeking relief for a late S corporation election must file a completed Form 2553, signed by an officer of the corporation authorized to sign and all persons who were shareholders at any time during the period that began on the first day of the taxable year for which the election is to be effective and ends on the day the election is made. The completed election form must include the following material:

(i) Statements from all shareholders during the period between the date the S corporation election was to have become effective and the date the completed election was filed that they have reported their income (on all affected returns) consistent with the S corporation election for the year the election should have been made and for all subsequent years; and

(ii) A dated declaration signed by an officer of the corporation authorized to sign which states: “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the facts presented in support of this election are true, correct, and complete.”

(b) ESBTs and QSSTs . The trustee of an ESBT or the current income beneficiary of a QSST must sign and file the appropriate election with the applicable service center. The completed election form must include the following material:

(i) A statement from the trustee of the ESBT or the current income beneficiary of the QSST that includes the information required by § 1.1361–1(m)(2)(ii) (in the case

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ments for obtaining relief have been met. The collection of information is required to obtain a benefit. The likely respondents are business or other for-profit institutions.

The estimated total annual reporting burden is 25,000 hours.

The estimated annual burden per respondent varies from .5 hours to 7 hours, depending on individual circumstances, with an estimated average burden of 1 hour to complete the statement. The estimated number of respondents is 25,000.

The estimated annual frequency of responses is on occasion.

Books or records relating to a collection of information must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any internal revenue law. Generally tax returns and tax return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.

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▸Contents — Internal Revenue Bulletin 2003-23

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