Fill Your IRS 2553 Template

Fill Your IRS 2553 Template

The IRS Form 2553 is a document that allows a corporation to elect to be taxed as an S corporation. This election can provide significant tax benefits, including the avoidance of double taxation on corporate income. Understanding how to complete this form is essential for any business looking to optimize its tax strategy.

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The IRS 2553 form plays a crucial role for small business owners who wish to elect S Corporation status for their companies. This form allows eligible domestic corporations to avoid double taxation on their income by passing profits and losses directly to shareholders. To qualify, businesses must meet specific requirements, including having a limited number of shareholders and only one class of stock. Completing the form accurately is essential, as it requires detailed information about the corporation, including its name, address, and tax identification number. Additionally, the form must be filed within a certain timeframe, typically within two months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year. Understanding the implications of this election and the process involved in submitting the IRS 2553 form is vital for business owners aiming to optimize their tax situation.

Documents used along the form

The IRS Form 2553 is an essential document for small businesses looking to elect S Corporation status. However, it is often accompanied by other forms and documents that help streamline the process and ensure compliance with tax regulations. Below is a list of common forms and documents that may be used alongside Form 2553, each serving a specific purpose in the overall application and tax management process.

  • Form 1120S: This is the annual tax return for S Corporations. Once the S Corporation status is approved, this form must be filed each year to report income, deductions, and credits.
  • Form SS-4: This form is used to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). An EIN is necessary for tax purposes and is required for the S Corporation to operate legally.
  • Form 941: This quarterly form reports income taxes, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax withheld from employee paychecks. It is crucial for payroll management within the S Corporation.
  • Form W-2: This form is issued to employees to report their annual wages and the amount of taxes withheld. It is important for both the employer and employee for tax filing purposes.
  • Form W-3: This is a summary form that accompanies Form W-2 when submitted to the Social Security Administration. It consolidates the information from all W-2 forms issued by the S Corporation.
  • Form 1065: If the business has partners or members, this form may be required to report income, deductions, and credits for partnerships, though it is not typically needed for S Corporations.
  • Form 2553-A: This is a supplemental form used when the S Corporation is owned by a trust or an estate, providing additional information required for the election process.
  • State-specific forms: Many states have their own forms for S Corporation elections or tax filings. These vary by state and are essential for compliance with local laws.
  • Operating Agreement: While not a tax form, this internal document outlines the management structure and operating procedures of the S Corporation, which can be important for governance and legal clarity.
  • Recommendation Letter Form: To assist in documenting qualifications, you can utilize our concise Recommendation Letter form template for a professional touch in your application endorsements.
  • Shareholder Consent: A document that may be required to show that all shareholders agree to the S Corporation election, ensuring that all parties are on the same page regarding the business's tax status.

In conclusion, while the IRS Form 2553 is a critical step in electing S Corporation status, it is often accompanied by various other forms and documents. Each of these plays a vital role in ensuring that the business remains compliant with tax laws and operates smoothly. Understanding these requirements can help business owners navigate the complexities of tax filings and corporate governance effectively.

Document Preview Example

Note: Form 2553 begins on the next page.

Where To File Form 2553 after 6/17/19

If the corporation’s principal business, office,

Use the following address

or agency is located in

or fax number

 

 

Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia,

Department of the Treasury

Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine,

Internal Revenue Service

Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New

Kansas City, MO 64999

Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,

 

Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina,

 

Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia,

Fax # 855-887-7734

Wisconsin

 

 

 

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,

Department of the Treasury

Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas,

Internal Revenue Service

Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,

Ogden, UT 84201

Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North

 

Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas,

 

Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Fax # 855-214-7520

 

 

Form 2553

(Rev. December 2017)

Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service

Election by a Small Business Corporation

(Under section 1362 of the Internal Revenue Code)

(Including a late election filed pursuant to Rev. Proc. 2013-30)

You can fax this form to the IRS. See separate instructions.

Go to www.irs.gov/Form2553 for instructions and the latest information.

OMB No. 1545-0123

Note: This election to be an S corporation can be accepted only if all the tests are met under Who May Elect in the instructions, all shareholders have signed the consent statement, an officer has signed below, and the exact name and address of the corporation (entity) and other required form information have been provided.

Part I

 

Election Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name (see instructions)

A Employer identification number

Type

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number, street, and room or suite no. If a P.O. box, see instructions.

B Date incorporated

 

or

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Print

 

 

 

 

 

 

City or town, state or province, country, and ZIP or foreign postal code

C State of incorporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D

Check

the applicable box(es) if the corporation (entity), after applying for the EIN shown in A above, changed its

name or

address

EElection is to be effective for tax year beginning (month, day, year) (see instructions) . . . . . .

Caution: A corporation (entity) making the election for its first tax year in existence will usually enter the beginning date of a short tax year that begins on a date other than January 1.

FSelected tax year:

(1) Calendar year

(2) Fiscal year ending (month and day)

(3) 52-53-week year ending with reference to the month of December

(4) 52-53-week year ending with reference to the month of

If box (2) or (4) is checked, complete Part II.

GIf more than 100 shareholders are listed for item J (see page 2), check this box if treating members of a family as one shareholder results in no more than 100 shareholders (see test 2 under Who May Elect in the instructions)

HName and title of officer or legal representative whom the IRS may call for more information

Telephone number of officer or legal representative

IIf this S corporation election is being filed late, I declare I had reasonable cause for not filing Form 2553 timely. If this late election is being made by an entity eligible to elect to be treated as a corporation, I declare I also had reasonable cause for not filing an entity classification election timely and the representations listed in Part IV are true. See below for my explanation of the reasons the election or elections were not made on time and a description of my diligent actions to correct the mistake upon its discovery. See instructions.

 

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this election, including accompanying documents, and, to the best of my

Sign knowledge and belief, the election contains all the relevant facts relating to the election, and such facts are true, correct, and complete.

Here

Signature of officer

 

 

 

Title

Date

For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see separate instructions.

Cat. No. 18629R

Form 2553 (Rev. 12-2017)

Form 2553 (Rev. 12-2017)

Page 2

Name

Employer identification number

Part I Election Information (continued) Note: If you need more rows, use additional copies of page 2.

J

Name and address of each

shareholder or former shareholder required to consent to the election.

(see instructions)

K

Shareholder’s Consent Statement

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I consent to the election of the above-named corporation (entity) to be an S corporation under section 1362(a) and that I have examined this consent statement, including accompanying documents, and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the election contains all the relevant facts relating to the election, and such facts are true, correct, and complete. I understand my consent is binding and may not be withdrawn after the corporation (entity) has made a valid election. If seeking relief for a late filed election, I also declare under penalties of perjury that I have reported my income on all affected returns consistent with the S corporation election for the year for which the election should have been filed (see beginning date entered on line E) and for all subsequent years.

Signature

Date

L

Stock owned or

percentage of ownership

(see instructions)

Number of

 

shares or

 

percentage

Date(s)

of ownership

acquired

M

 

Social security

 

number or

N

employer

Shareholder’s

identification

tax year ends

number (see

(month and

instructions)

day)

Form 2553 (Rev. 12-2017)

Form 2553 (Rev. 12-2017)

Page 3

Name

 

Employer identification number

 

 

Part II

Selection of Fiscal Tax Year (see instructions)

 

Note: All corporations using this part must complete item O and item P, Q, or R.

 

O Check the applicable box to indicate whether the corporation is:

 

1.

A new corporation adopting the tax year entered in item F, Part I.

 

2.

An existing corporation retaining the tax year entered in item F, Part I.

 

3.

An existing corporation changing to the tax year entered in item F, Part I.

 

PComplete item P if the corporation is using the automatic approval provisions of Rev. Proc. 2006-46, 2006-45 I.R.B. 859, to request (1) a natural business year (as defined in section 5.07 of Rev. Proc. 2006-46) or (2) a year that satisfies the ownership tax year test (as defined in section 5.08 of Rev. Proc. 2006-46). Check the applicable box below to indicate the representation statement the corporation is making.

1. Natural Business Year

I represent that the corporation is adopting, retaining, or changing to a tax year that qualifies

as its natural business year (as defined in section 5.07 of Rev. Proc. 2006-46) and has attached a statement showing separately for each month the gross receipts for the most recent 47 months. See instructions. I also represent that the corporation is not precluded by section 4.02 of Rev. Proc. 2006-46 from obtaining automatic approval of such adoption, retention, or change in tax year.

2. Ownership Tax Year

I represent that shareholders (as described in section 5.08 of Rev. Proc. 2006-46) holding more

than half of the shares of the stock (as of the first day of the tax year to which the request relates) of the corporation have the same tax year or are concurrently changing to the tax year that the corporation adopts, retains, or changes to per item F, Part I, and that such tax year satisfies the requirement of section 4.01(3) of Rev. Proc. 2006-46. I also represent that the corporation is not precluded by section 4.02 of Rev. Proc. 2006-46 from obtaining automatic approval of such adoption, retention, or change in tax year.

Note: If you do not use item P and the corporation wants a fiscal tax year, complete either item Q or R below. Item Q is used to request a fiscal tax year based on a business purpose and to make a back-up section 444 election. Item R is used to make a regular section 444 election.

QBusiness Purpose—To request a fiscal tax year based on a business purpose, check box Q1. See instructions for details including payment of a user fee. You may also check box Q2 and/or box Q3.

1. Check here if the fiscal year entered in item F, Part I, is requested under the prior approval provisions of Rev. Proc. 2002-39, 2002-22 I.R.B. 1046. Attach to Form 2553 a statement describing the relevant facts and circumstances and, if applicable, the gross receipts from sales and services necessary to establish a business purpose. See the instructions for details regarding the gross receipts from sales and services. If the IRS proposes to disapprove the requested fiscal year, do you want a conference with the IRS National Office?

Yes

No

2.Check here to show that the corporation intends to make a back-up section 444 election in the event the corporation’s business purpose request is not approved by the IRS. See instructions for more information.

3.Check here to show that the corporation agrees to adopt or change to a tax year ending December 31 if necessary for the IRS to accept this election for S corporation status in the event (1) the corporation’s business purpose request is not approved and the corporation makes a back-up section 444 election, but is ultimately not qualified to make a section 444 election, or (2) the corporation’s business purpose request is not approved and the corporation did not make a back-up section 444 election.

RSection 444 Election—To make a section 444 election, check box R1. You may also check box R2.

1.Check here to show that the corporation will make, if qualified, a section 444 election to have the fiscal tax year shown in item F, Part I. To make the election, you must complete Form 8716, Election To Have a Tax Year Other Than a Required Tax Year, and either attach it to Form 2553 or file it separately.

2.Check here to show that the corporation agrees to adopt or change to a tax year ending December 31 if necessary for the IRS to accept this election for S corporation status in the event the corporation is ultimately not qualified to make a section 444 election.

Form 2553 (Rev. 12-2017)

Form 2553 (Rev. 12-2017)

Page 4

Name

Employer identification number

Part III Qualified Subchapter S Trust (QSST) Election Under Section 1361(d)(2)* Note: If you are making more than

one QSST election, use additional copies of page 4.

Income beneficiary’s name and address

Social security number

Trust’s name and address

Employer identification number

Date on which stock of the corporation was transferred to the trust (month, day, year) . . . . . . . .

In order for the trust named above to be a QSST and thus a qualifying shareholder of the S corporation for which this Form 2553 is filed, I hereby make the election under section 1361(d)(2). Under penalties of perjury, I certify that the trust meets the definitional requirements of section 1361(d)(3) and that all other information provided in Part III is true, correct, and complete.

Signature of income beneficiary or signature and title of legal representative or other qualified person making the election

 

Date

*Use Part III to make the QSST election only if stock of the corporation has been transferred to the trust on or before the date on which the corporation makes its election to be an S corporation. The QSST election must be made and filed separately if stock of the corporation is transferred to the trust after the date on which the corporation makes the S election.

Part IV Late Corporate Classification Election Representations (see instructions)

If a late entity classification election was intended to be effective on the same date that the S corporation election was intended to be effective, relief for a late S corporation election must also include the following representations.

1The requesting entity is an eligible entity as defined in Regulations section 301.7701-3(a);

2The requesting entity intended to be classified as a corporation as of the effective date of the S corporation status;

3The requesting entity fails to qualify as a corporation solely because Form 8832, Entity Classification Election, was not timely filed under Regulations section 301.7701-3(c)(1)(i), or Form 8832 was not deemed to have been filed under Regulations section 301.7701-3(c)(1)(v)(C);

4The requesting entity fails to qualify as an S corporation on the effective date of the S corporation status solely because the S corporation election was not timely filed pursuant to section 1362(b); and

5a The requesting entity timely filed all required federal tax returns and information returns consistent with its requested classification as an S corporation for all of the years the entity intended to be an S corporation and no inconsistent tax or information returns have been filed by or with respect to the entity during any of the tax years, or

bThe requesting entity has not filed a federal tax or information return for the first year in which the election was intended to be effective because the due date has not passed for that year’s federal tax or information return.

Form 2553 (Rev. 12-2017)

Guidelines on How to Fill Out IRS 2553

Filling out the IRS Form 2553 is an important step for certain businesses that wish to elect S corporation status. This process involves providing specific information about your business and its shareholders. Follow the steps below to complete the form accurately.

  1. Obtain the IRS Form 2553. You can download it from the IRS website or request a physical copy.
  2. Enter the name of your corporation exactly as it appears in your articles of incorporation.
  3. Provide the corporation's address, including the city, state, and ZIP code.
  4. Fill in the date of incorporation. This should match the date on your articles of incorporation.
  5. Indicate the tax year you are choosing. Most corporations select a calendar year, but you can choose a fiscal year if it applies.
  6. List all shareholders who own stock in the corporation. Include their names, addresses, and the number of shares owned by each.
  7. Confirm that all shareholders consent to the S corporation election. Each shareholder must sign and date the form.
  8. Complete the section regarding the corporation’s eligibility. Ensure that your corporation meets all the requirements to elect S status.
  9. Review the form for any errors or omissions. Double-check names, addresses, and signatures.
  10. Mail the completed form to the appropriate IRS address. This is usually the address for your state.

After submitting the form, keep a copy for your records. The IRS will process your election, and you will receive confirmation once it is approved. Make sure to stay informed about any further requirements or deadlines related to your S corporation status.

Similar forms

The IRS Form 8832, also known as the Entity Classification Election, allows businesses to choose how they want to be classified for federal tax purposes. Similar to Form 2553, which is used to elect S Corporation status, Form 8832 provides flexibility in choosing between different tax classifications, such as a corporation or a partnership. Both forms require timely submission to ensure that the chosen tax status is effective for the desired tax year.

Form 1065, the U.S. Return of Partnership Income, is another document that shares similarities with Form 2553. While Form 2553 is used to elect S Corporation status, Form 1065 is filed by partnerships to report income, deductions, and other important financial information. Both forms involve multiple stakeholders and require accurate reporting to ensure compliance with IRS regulations, though they serve different business structures.

Form 1120 is the U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, which is filed by C Corporations. Like Form 2553, Form 1120 deals with corporate taxation, but it applies to businesses that do not elect S Corporation status. Both forms require detailed financial information and must be filed annually, but they differ in terms of tax treatment and eligibility criteria.

The IRS Form 941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return, is relevant for businesses that have employees. While Form 2553 focuses on corporate classification, Form 941 is concerned with reporting payroll taxes. Both forms require timely filing and accurate reporting, as they play significant roles in a business's overall tax obligations.

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Form 1040, the U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, is used by individuals to report their income and calculate their tax liability. While Form 2553 is specific to corporate tax status, both forms require detailed financial information and affect how income is taxed. The choice to elect S Corporation status through Form 2553 can ultimately impact the individual tax returns of shareholders.

Form 1065-B, the U.S. Return of Income for Electing Large Partnerships, is similar to Form 2553 in that it pertains to specific business structures. Both forms allow for unique tax treatment options, but while Form 2553 is for S Corporations, Form 1065-B is for large partnerships that elect to be taxed as partnerships. Each form requires careful attention to eligibility requirements and deadlines.

Lastly, Form 2553 itself is similar to state-level S Corporation election forms. Many states require their own forms to recognize the federal S Corporation election made on Form 2553. These state forms often mirror the federal requirements and serve to align state tax treatment with federal tax treatment, ensuring that businesses benefit from the same S Corporation status at both levels.

Consider Common Documents

Misconceptions

  • Only corporations need to file Form 2553. Many believe that only corporations can elect to be treated as S corporations. In reality, eligible entities such as limited liability companies (LLCs) and partnerships can also file this form to gain S corporation status.
  • Filing Form 2553 is optional for all businesses. Some assume that filing this form is entirely optional. However, if a business wants to be taxed as an S corporation, filing Form 2553 is necessary to make that election.
  • The deadline to file Form 2553 is the same for all businesses. A common misconception is that the deadline is uniform. The deadline varies depending on when the business was formed. Typically, Form 2553 must be filed within two months and 15 days of the beginning of the tax year for which the election is to take effect.
  • Form 2553 guarantees automatic S corporation status. Some people think that simply filing Form 2553 guarantees S corporation status. The IRS must approve the election, and failure to meet eligibility requirements can lead to denial.
  • All shareholders must be U.S. citizens. It is a common belief that all shareholders in an S corporation must be U.S. citizens. While shareholders must be individuals, there are exceptions, such as certain trusts and estates that can hold shares.
  • Once filed, the S corporation status cannot be revoked. Many assume that once a business elects S corporation status, it cannot change. In fact, businesses can revoke their S corporation status by following specific IRS procedures, although it may have tax implications.
  • Form 2553 can be filed at any time during the year. Some think that Form 2553 can be submitted whenever it is convenient. However, to ensure the election is effective for the current tax year, it must be filed by the established deadline.

File Features

Fact Name Description
Purpose The IRS Form 2553 is used by small businesses to elect to be taxed as an S Corporation, allowing them to avoid double taxation on corporate income.
Eligibility To qualify for S Corporation status, a business must meet certain criteria, including having no more than 100 shareholders and only one class of stock.
Filing Deadline The form must be filed within 75 days of the beginning of the tax year in which the election is to take effect.
State-Specific Forms Some states require their own forms for S Corporation election. For example, California requires Form 100S, governed by the California Revenue and Taxation Code.
Consequences of Late Filing If Form 2553 is filed late, the business may lose its S Corporation status for that tax year, which can lead to increased tax liabilities.