26 USC 1361 - S corporation defined

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 03, 2024

§ 1361.

S corporation defined

(a)

S corporation defined

(1)

In general

(2)

C corporation

(b)

Small business corporation

(1)

In general

For purposes of this subchapter, the term “small business corporation” means a domestic corporation which is not an ineligible corporation and which does not—

(A)

have more than 100 shareholders,

(B)

have as a shareholder a person (other than an estate, a trust described in subsection (c)(2), or an organization described in subsection (c)(6)) who is not an individual,

(C)

have a nonresident alien as a shareholder, and

(D)

have more than 1 class of stock.

(2)

Ineligible corporation defined

For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “ineligible corporation” means any corporation which is—

(A)

a financial institution which uses the reserve method of accounting for bad debts described in section 585,

(B)

an insurance company subject to tax under subchapter L, or

(C)

a DISC or former DISC.

(3)

Treatment of certain wholly owned subsidiaries

(A)

In general

Except as provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, for purposes of this title—

(i)

a corporation which is a qualified subchapter S subsidiary shall not be treated as a separate corporation, and

(ii)

all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of a qualified subchapter S subsidiary shall be treated as assets, liabilities, and such items (as the case may be) of the S corporation.

(B)

Qualified subchapter S subsidiary

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “qualified subchapter S subsidiary” means any domestic corporation which is not an ineligible corporation (as defined in paragraph (2)), if—

(i)

100 percent of the stock of such corporation is held by the S corporation, and

(ii)

the S corporation elects to treat such corporation as a qualified subchapter S subsidiary.

(C)

Treatment of terminations of qualified subchapter S subsidiary status

(i)

In general

(ii)

Termination by reason of sale of stock

If the failure to meet the requirements of subparagraph (B) is by reason of the sale of stock of a corporation which is a qualified subchapter S subsidiary, the sale of such stock shall be treated as if—

(I)

the sale were a sale of an undivided interest in the assets of such corporation (based on the percentage of the corporation’s stock sold), and

(II)

the sale were followed by an acquisition by such corporation of all of its assets (and the assumption by such corporation of all of its liabilities) in a transaction to which section 351 applies.

(D)

Election after termination

If a corporation’s status as a qualified subchapter S subsidiary terminates, such corporation (and any successor corporation) shall not be eligible to make—

(i)

an election under subparagraph (B)(ii) to be treated as a qualified subchapter S subsidiary, or

(ii)

an election under section 1362(a) to be treated as an S corporation,

before its 5th taxable year which begins after the 1st taxable year for which such termination was effective, unless the Secretary consents to such election.

(E)

Information returns

(c)

Special rules for applying subsection (b)

(1)

Members of a family treated as 1 shareholder

(A)

In general

For purposes of subsection (b)(1)(A), there shall be treated as one shareholder—

(i)

a husband and wife (and their estates), and

(ii)

all members of a family (and their estates).

(B)

Members of a family

For purposes of this paragraph—

(i)

In general

(ii)

Common ancestor

(iii)

Applicable date

The term “applicable date” means the latest of—

(I)

the date the election under section 1362(a) is made,

(II)

the earliest date that an individual described in clause (i) holds stock in the S corporation, or

(III)

October 22, 2004.

(C)

Effect of adoption, etc.

(2)

Certain trusts permitted as shareholders

(A)

In general

For purposes of subsection (b)(1)(B), the following trusts may be shareholders:

(i)

A trust all of which is treated (under subpart E of part I of subchapter J of this chapter) as owned by an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States.

(ii)

A trust which was described in clause (i) immediately before the death of the deemed owner and which continues in existence after such death, but only for the 2-year period beginning on the day of the deemed owner’s death.

(iii)

A trust with respect to stock transferred to it pursuant to the terms of a will, but only for the 2-year period beginning on the day on which such stock is transferred to it.

(iv)

A trust created primarily to exercise the voting power of stock transferred to it.

(v)

An electing small business trust.

(vi)

In the case of a corporation which is a bank (as defined in section 581) or a depository institution holding company (as defined in section 3(w)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (

This subparagraph shall not apply to any foreign trust.

(B)

Treatment as shareholders

For purposes of subsection (b)(1)—

(i)

In the case of a trust described in clause (i) of subparagraph (A), the deemed owner shall be treated as the shareholder.

(ii)

In the case of a trust described in clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), the estate of the deemed owner shall be treated as the shareholder.

(iii)

In the case of a trust described in clause (iii) of subparagraph (A), the estate of the testator shall be treated as the shareholder.

(iv)

In the case of a trust described in clause (iv) of subparagraph (A), each beneficiary of the trust shall be treated as a shareholder.

(v)

In the case of a trust described in clause (v) of subparagraph (A), each potential current beneficiary of such trust shall be treated as a shareholder; except that, if for any period there is no potential current beneficiary of such trust, such trust shall be treated as the shareholder during such period. This clause shall not apply for purposes of subsection (b)(1)(C).

(vi)

In the case of a trust described in clause (vi) of subparagraph (A), the individual for whose benefit the trust was created shall be treated as the shareholder.

(3)

Estate of individual in bankruptcy may be shareholder

(4)

Differences in common stock voting rights disregarded

(5)

Straight debt safe harbor

(A)

In general

(B)

Straight debt defined

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “straight debt” means any written unconditional promise to pay on demand or on a specified date a sum certain in money if—

(i)

the interest rate (and interest payment dates) are not contingent on profits, the borrower’s discretion, or similar factors,

(ii)

there is no convertibility (directly or indirectly) into stock, and

(iii)

the creditor is an individual (other than a nonresident alien), an estate, a trust described in paragraph (2), or a person which is actively and regularly engaged in the business of lending money.

(C)

Regulations

(6)

Certain exempt organizations permitted as shareholders

For purposes of subsection (b)(1)(B), an organization which is—

(A)

described in section 401(a) or 501(c)(3), and

(B)

exempt from taxation under section 501(a),

may be a shareholder in an S corporation.

(d)

Special rule for qualified subchapter S trust

(1)

In general

In the case of a qualified subchapter S trust with respect to which a beneficiary makes an election under paragraph (2)—

(A)

such trust shall be treated as a trust described in subsection (c)(2)(A)(i),

(B)

for purposes of section 678(a), the beneficiary of such trust shall be treated as the owner of that portion of the trust which consists of stock in an S corporation with respect to which the election under paragraph (2) is made, and

(C)

for purposes of applying sections 465 and 469 to the beneficiary of the trust, the disposition of the S corporation stock by the trust shall be treated as a disposition by such beneficiary.

(2)

Election

(A)

In general

(B)

Manner and time of election

(i)

Separate election with respect to each corporation

(ii)

Elections with respect to successive income beneficiaries

(iii)

Time, manner, and form of election

(C)

Election irrevocable

(D)

Grace period

(3)

Qualified subchapter S trust

For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified subchapter S trust” means a trust—

(A)

the terms of which require that—

(i)

during the life of the current income beneficiary, there shall be only 1 income beneficiary of the trust,

(ii)

any corpus distributed during the life of the current income beneficiary may be distributed only to such beneficiary,

(iii)

the income interest of the current income beneficiary in the trust shall terminate on the earlier of such beneficiary’s death or the termination of the trust, and

(iv)

upon the termination of the trust during the life of the current income beneficiary, the trust shall distribute all of its assets to such beneficiary, and

(B)

all of the income (within the meaning of section 643(b)) of which is distributed (or required to be distributed) currently to 1 individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States.

A substantially separate and independent share of a trust within the meaning of section 663(c) shall be treated as a separate trust for purposes of this subsection and subsection (c).

(4)

Trust ceasing to be qualified

(A)

Failure to meet requirements of paragraph (3)(A)

(B)

Failure to meet requirements of paragraph (3)(B)

(e)

Electing small business trust defined

(1)

Electing small business trust

For purposes of this section—

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term “electing small business trust” means any trust if—

(i)

such trust does not have as a beneficiary any person other than (I) an individual, (II) an estate, (III) an organization described in paragraph (2), (3), (4), or (5) of section 170(c), or (IV) an organization described in section 170(c)(1) which holds a contingent interest in such trust and is not a potential current beneficiary,

(ii)

no interest in such trust was acquired by purchase, and

(iii)

an election under this subsection applies to such trust.

(B)

Certain trusts not eligible

The term “electing small business trust” shall not include—

(i)

any qualified subchapter S trust (as defined in subsection (d)(3)) if an election under subsection (d)(2) applies to any corporation the stock of which is held by such trust,

(ii)

any trust exempt from tax under this subtitle, and

(iii)

any charitable remainder annuity trust or charitable remainder unitrust (as defined in section 664(d)).

(C)

Purchase

(2)

Potential current beneficiary

(3)

Election

(4)

Cross reference

(f)

Restricted bank director stock

(1)

In general

(2)

Restricted bank director stock

For purposes of this subsection, the term “restricted bank director stock” means stock in a bank (as defined in section 581) or a depository institution holding company (as defined in section 3(w)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(w)(1))), if such stock—

(A)

is required to be held by an individual under applicable Federal or State law in order to permit such individual to serve as a director, and

(B)

is subject to an agreement with such bank or company (or a corporation which controls (within the meaning of section 368(c)) such bank or company) pursuant to which the holder is required to sell back such stock (at the same price as the individual acquired such stock) upon ceasing to hold the office of director.

(3)

Cross reference

(g)

Special rule for bank required to change from the reserve method of accounting on becoming S corporation

(Added Pub. L. 97–354, § 2, Oct. 19, 1982, 96 Stat. 1669; amended Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, § 721(c), (f), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 967; Pub. L. 99–514, title IX, § 901(d)(4)(G), title XVIII, § 1879(m)(1)(A), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2380, 2910; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1018(q)(2), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3585; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7811(c)(6), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2407; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, §§ 1301–1302(c), 1303, 1304, 1308(a), (b), (d)(1), 1315, 1316(a), (e), 1616(b)(15), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1777, 1779, 1782, 1783, 1785, 1786, 1857; Pub. L. 105–34, title XVI, § 1601(c)(1), (3), (4)(B), (C), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1087; Pub. L. 105–206, title VI, § 6007(f)(3), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 810; Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title III, § 316(b)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–644; Pub. L. 108–357, title II, §§ 231(a), 232(a), 233(a), (b), 234(a), 236(a), 239(a), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1433–1435, 1437; Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, §§ 403(b), 413(a)(1), (c), Dec. 21, 2005, 119 Stat. 2620, 2641; Pub. L. 110–28, title VIII, §§ 8232(a), 8233(a), 8234(a), May 25, 2007, 121 Stat. 197, 198; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13541(a), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2154; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title I, § 109(a), title IV, § 401(a)(190), (d)(1)(D)(xvi), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1171, 1193, 1208.)

cite as: 26 USC 1361