IRS Form 2553 · S corporation election

Elect S corporation status

Answer a few questions and we fill in the official IRS Form 2553. You sign it, and we fax it to the right IRS office.

01Answer
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02Pay $78.99
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03Sign in ink
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04We fax the IRS
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05Delivery report

Form 2553Step 1 of 6

Can this company be an S corporation?

These are the IRS tests. If one of them is not true, the IRS will not accept the election, or it is a case we do not prepare: please talk to a tax professional.

It is a US corporation, or an LLC that can choose to be taxed as a corporation.

It has 100 shareholders or fewer. A married couple and their family count as one.

Every shareholder is a person: no companies or partnerships. (Estates and certain trusts can also qualify, but we do not prepare those.)

Every shareholder is a US citizen or resident.

It has one class of stock: all shares have the same rights to distributions and on liquidation.

It is not a bank using the reserve method, an insurance company or a DISC.

Its tax year ends on December 31.

What the IRS publishes

About Form 2553

When it is due

To take effect for a tax year, Form 2553 must be filed no more than 2 months and 15 days after that year begins, or at any time during the year before it.

A late election may still be accepted under Rev. Proc. 2013-30, within 3 years and 75 days of the date it was meant to start, if the company meets that procedure's conditions.

Who signs it

An officer signs for the company, and every shareholder consents by signing too. Form 2553 is not on the IRS's list of forms it accepts with an electronic signature, so these are signatures in ink.

Where to fax it

The IRS takes Form 2553 by fax at two numbers, chosen by the state of the principal business:

KANSAS CITY · FAX 855-887-7734: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
OGDEN · FAX 855-214-7520: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

After it is filed

The IRS generally answers within 60 days with a notice, CP261, when it accepts the election. Without an answer by then, you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-4933.

Form 2553 on IRS.gov ↗