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

AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Final regulations and removal of temporary regulations.

SUMMARY:

This document contains final regulations that deem certain eligible entities that file timely S corporation elections to have elected to be classified as associations taxable as corporations. These regulations affect certain eligible entities filing timely elections to be S corporations on or after July 20, 2004.

DATES:

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

This document contains amendments to 26 CFR part 301. On July 20, 2004, temporary regulations (TD 9139) relating to entity classification elections for entities that elect to be S corporations under section 1362(a) were published in the Federal Register (69 FR 43317). A notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-131786-03) cross-referencing the temporary regulations also was published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2004. No public hearing was requested or held. No written or electronic comments responding to the notice of proposed rulemaking were received. The proposed regulations are adopted by this Treasury decision, and the corresponding temporary regulations are removed.

Section 301.7701-3(a) provides that an eligible entity with two or more owners may elect to be classified as an association (and thus a corporation under § 301.7701-2(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 301.7701-3(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. Section 301.7701-3(c) describes the time and place for filing an entity classification election. Section 301.7701-3(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. For S elections that were filed prior to the effective date of these regulations, the taxpayer was required to elect to be classified as an association under § 301.7701-3(c)(1)(i) by filing Form 8832 and to elect to be an S corporation under section 1362(a) by filing Form 2553, “Election by a Small Business Corporation.” These regulations simplify 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.

If the S election and the entity classification election are filed late, the entity may need to submit a ruling request under § 301.9100-3 to file a late entity classification election and under section 1362(b)(5) to file a late S corporation election. However, Rev. Proc. 2004-48 (2004-32 I.R.B. 172) provides relief for these entities in some cases.

Effective Dates

These final 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. It has also been determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these regulations, and because the regulations do not impose a collection of information on small entities, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) does not apply. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, the notice of proposed rulemaking that preceded these regulations was submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on small business.

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 301—PROCEDURE 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 301.7701-3 is amended by revising paragraphs (c)(1)(v)(C) and (h)(3) to read as follows:

Par. 3. Section 301.7701-3T is removed.