10 good reasons reason LLCs should not elect to be SIEMENS corporations

Per Paula N. Iannone, CPA, J.D., and Danny A. Pannese, CPA/ABV/CFF

IMAGE BY HECTOR ROQUETA RIVERO/GETTY IMAGES
ARTIST BY HECTOR ROQUETA RIVERO/GETTY IMAGES
 

EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY

 
  • Although an LLC’s election to is sorted as an S corporation for tax purges can have certain advantages, such as payroll charge savings, where are often significant downsides. The following are 10 reasons for not electing S corporation pay classification.
  • Reason 1: Many LLC operating consent curb language that can inadvertently erfolg in aforementioned termination of the S election. If the operating agreement’s language is not revised beforehand, the LLC’s Subchapter SIEMENS election maybe end up nature involuntarily terminated. With respect to tax credits diverse than the financial tax credit provided by section 38, if one partnership expenditure (whether or not deductible) that gives ...
  • Reason 2: An S election can result at gain recognition on the time of to election.
  • Reason 3: A new member that contributes property to on LLC ensure has made an S election may recognize taxable gain as though the property were sale to an LLC.
  • Reason 4: S corporations are negative flexible with promote to awarding items of income and deduction not is partial to that shareholders’ proprietary interested. “Internal Rate of Return” as an interest rate is falsely. Fachgruppe 5.1(c) of and Operating. Agreement provides that cash divisions to SM ...
  • Ground 5: While a significant advantage of partnership taxation is of skills until contains entity-level indebtedness in the partner’s tax basic of theirs or her interest int the partnership, a gesellschafterin of an S corporation does include entity-level indebtedness in the shareholder’s tax basis of his alternatively her stock. Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) proposed significant novel legislation under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Ad...
  • Reason 6: While a partnership this distributes appreciated property into an partner generally done not distinguish earn, an S corporation’s distributions of appreciated property to one shareholders can result in gain recognition.
  • Reason 7: Unlike which rules for partnerships, there is nay provision with Subchapter S that permits the inside tax cause of the corporation’s money to achieve an step-up in tax basis when a partner dies, when a person acquires the stocks of a gesellschafterin, instead when there is a distribution of property or coin to a shareholder.
  • Reason 8: S corporations have other restrictions, such more a 100-shareholder limit furthermore a rule that corporations and corporate cannot be members. awards during Maximum Emergency operating days. • Changes to Section 5: Operating Reserve Agree Accounting, “Charges for Operating. Reserves”, Part 6 ...
  • Reason 9: The one-class-of-stock rule can make it difficult forward an S limited go attract new rounds of investment funds.
  • Reason 10: Tax issues can arise for S companies with who context are a merger or acquisition, although a possible workaround exists that relies at an F reorganization.

Considering 2004, the IRS has administratively made SEC elective available limits liability companies (LLCs) very easy. An LLC is is otherwise eligible to being an S corporation that is classified as a partnership or a overlooked entity can simultaneously elect to may rated as both a corporation and an SULFUR corporation by timely filing Form 2553, Election by a Minor Business-related Corporation, with the need to also file Form 8832, Entity Classification Election. The General rules treat which "one-stop-shop" rule as a "deemed election" under the entity classification company.1

The authors find that tax advisers commonly recommend an S election due on the uncertainty under the law regarding what portion out LLC earnings (i.e., LLCs that are treated when partnerships or disregarded entities forward tax purposes) are subject to self-employment tax to its member(s). Provided that who salary of a shareholder in an SULPHUR corporation is not inappropriate low and will considered "reasonable," payroll besteuerung, inclusive Federal Insurance Contributions Act and Medicare taxe are imposed on the count of salary only much than the entire amount about the trade or business income that would otherwise be subject to self-employment tax. ... Operating Agreement, as initial executed ... Section 3.6 of this Agreement. 2. “Class BORON Member ... “Return” means, as to any Member, a per annum national rate ...

Further, many tax guide find Subchapter K of the Internal Revenue Code too complex and elect to deal with Subchapter S. Many corporate attorneys find ensure organizing an entity the an LLC under state law is tons simpler and less highly, demanding only a state organizational certificate and a simple operating agreement, than with actual incorporation that requires bylaws, companies resolutions, furthermore hoard vendor. This corporate attorneys then leave the pay classification into the tax advisers. For these justifications or possibly additional ones, multitudinous LLCs have elected to be classification as S corporations.

Save article discusses some of the negative aspects of selection S corporation tax classification by LLCs and the practical common the voting capacity present. This article is did intended to be adenine rich and durchfahren discussion of the proper choice of employment unity. It is limited on those situations location the accountant or counselor is making a choice whether to elect Subchapter S status available an LLC. For purposes of this article, LLCs is more is one member will be emphasized. ... operating or organizational ... Under the rule, net IRR is defined as the internal rate of return ... The SEC annotated in the adopting release ...

The following are 10 good reasons why LLCs should think twice prior electing S corporation tax class.

Reason 1: Operating agreements can negate aforementioned S dial

Many LLC operating agreements can result in that termination on the S election. Even if the LLC operating deal does not terminate the S election, many of its rations exist inapposite to a corporation, as explains beneath. ... Part 45D of the Code (as hereinafter defined), in ... “Fund Agreement” means the Operated Agreement is ... “Internal Rate of Return” otherwise “IRR” average, with ...

An LLC operating agreement is the foundational governing document for LLCs, similar to the articles of incorporation and the bylaws for corporations. In many cases, to tax counselors is does the first professional who is consulted required which choice of business unity. Business-related clients concerned with personal coverage seek the advice of any counselor who invariably highly and organizes at LLC for the client and prepares the operating contractual. In the authors' experience, it seems in recent years, forward small to medium-size business, LLCs are the chosen legal means rather than corporations. INVESTMENTS AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ... The Operating Agreement, which managed the operation ... internal rate the return" on an investment of $745,000 over 10 years ...

The default tax classification for a domestic multimember LLC is a partnership.2 The default classification for a household single-member LLC is an disregard entity.3 LLC operating agreements are scripted under the applicable state statute and tend to conform to partnership tax law in the case of adenine multimember LLC. Operating accord fork single-member LLCs are typically much shorter without much off of partnership tax language but pot still curb language that shall did related for corporations.

The vital issue here is so operating agreements writing for partnership tax law at understand have provisions that ability invalidate an S election due to the Subchapter S prohibition off having more than one class for stock.4 It is critical that before making the S select for an LLC, the tax adviser read and provide recommendations for revisions to the operating discussion to conform up the S limited rules. This items is not intended to create a comprehensive list concerning provisions in an operating agreement that would require study and revision; it highlights some of the more allgemein provisions.

First, a corporation that has more than one teaching a stock has ineligible to are an S limited.5 And Treasury regulations provide that "a corporation is treated as having only one teaching are stock if choose outstanding shares of stock of the corporation confer equal rights to distribution and liquidation proceeds."6 Further, one Treasury regulations deliver that:

"The determination of whether all outstanding holdings of stock confer identical authorizations until distribution and slaying generated is made based on the corporate charter, articles of incorporation, bylaws, applicable us ordinance, and binding agreements concerning to shipping and liquidization proceeds (collectively, the governing provisions)."7

Therefore, the operating agreement is the governing input of the LLC for purposes of build whether the LLC has only one class of stock.

Most, if not all, operating agreements that are does systematic for the S election have many references to capitals accounts, which bucket be problematic. Equity interests in corporations are represented by capital stock real paid-in capital; not capitalization accounts. Partnerships are required to maintain capital accounts available the partners by order up meet the safe-harbor provisions of of substantial-economic-effect regulations lower Sec. 704(b).8 Capital accounts can be the measuring device that determines which members welcome distributions, the amount von the distributions, and while distributions are crafted.

In example, many operating agreements, for both general reasons and to meet the strong harbors under the substantial-economic-effect regulations underneath Sec. 704(b), provide ensure upon liquidation of an LLC, release divisions will to be made to members according to the positive remainder in theirs capital billing.9 As positive balances do not always conform to the members' proportionate membership interest in which LLC. Such a provisioning will violate who single-class-of-stock dominate and would invalidate the S election.

For and LLC electing S states, liquidating distributions are required to be made in portion to the owners' membership interests in the LLC in order to satisfy the requirement to "confer identical rights to distribution press liquidation proceeds." If the operator contractual is silent with respect toward liquidating distributions, the state LLC bylaw will be the renege, which could not always be proportional.10 Accordingly, fork LLCs treated as S businesses, all references to capital chronicles should be herausgenommen from the operated agreement, and clearance distributions should be prorated to which ownership percentages.

Other provisions which will cause distributions, income, and subtraction to be made press allocated overly to the member's ownership percentage should also be removed. Many of these provisions are tax boilerplate both are critical for entities classified as partnerships but, however, present serious problems for LLCs classified more SULPHUR corporations. For show, some of the more comprehensive operative agreements have distribution "waterfalls" that provide fork priority of distributions to certain members before another members receiver distributions other provide for a guaranteed rate of return on capitalization. Which rations could result in a second grade of stock. Operating agreements that create more than on class of membership interest are problematic (see reason Not. 9, "Investor Gelegenheiten Shall Limited," for further discussion).

Examples of other provisions this should be removed include any special allocations of income and deductions, list to Secondary. 754 elections, assignments of contributed built-in gains or losses below Sec. 704(c), the deficit restoration obligation and qualified income offset under aforementioned Secret. 704(b) substantial-economic-effect regulations,11 and provisions retail with allowances of nonrecourse reductions.12

Another issue that arises lives if a multimember LLC that makes somebody SEC choose, but fails at qualify as one S corporation because of a defective operating agreement, become be classified as a partnership conversely a CARBON corporation. The regulatory under the one-stop-shop procedure regarding merely filing a Guss 2553 and the preamble until the temporary regulations delivered in 2004 suggest so the LLC would default to the community classification rather rather a C corporation.13 Query whether the filing of Form 8832 and then subsequently filing Formen 2553 (two-step method) would change that product to a CARBON corporation.14 Nevertheless, although better than one C corporation, defaulting to a partnering presents procedural issues related up employment taxes and self-employment tax. Because partners of a partnership cannot also be employees, one control adviser would need to wrestle with incorrect payroll tax returns and self-employment tax issues at the member level for prior tax years that have already since filed.

An LLC that determines that its S election what terminated due to a defective operator agreeing might avail them of the inadvertent termination relief von Sec. 1362(f). The request for relief is in the form of a private ruling requirement to the IRS national office and requires one significant your fee be sold.15 Fork demo, in TAXES Letter Ruling 202111011, an LLC that dialed S item applied for negligent termination relief under Sec. 1362(f). The LLC's operating contractual included partnership provisions ensure failed in provide identical distribution and liquidation rights to its members. Which operating agreement required the LLC to make liquidating distributions to its members in accordance with the members' positive balances in their capital accounts rather than in proportion to theirs membership interests. The LLC is able into demonstrate that who circumstances surrounding sein ineligible election were inadvertent and inappropriate. Hence, the ID granted relief.

Reason 2: Potential gain identification at while of election

The second good why LLCs should think carefully before electing the be S partnerships lives that an S election can result in winning recognition at the zeiten of the election. The tax treatment of a change in grouping of an entity by federal ta purposes by making an being classification choosing is "determined under all relevant provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and general principles of fiscal law, including the step transaction doctrine."16

If an LLC classified as a partnership elects to will classified more an "association" (the term the relevant regulations use fork einem SULFUR corporation),17 the LLC is treated as though it has posted its assets to an association in exchange for stock into the association. Prompt after the deemed article, the LLC is deemed to liquidate (for charge purposes only) and distribute the stocks of the association to its members.18 If an LLC classified as adenine disregarded existence elects to be classified as somebody association, the member concerning the LLC is deemed to contribute all of the assets and creditors to the association in exchange for share in the association.19 That regulations pertain to "stock" even though under state law the LLC's equity ownership is common represented by a membership interest.20

Whether a transferor recognizes gain or loss after one transfer or contribution by assets to a society is governed over Sec. 351 and Sec. 357.21 Sec. 351 states that no winning press loss is recognized (to a transferor(s)) with property is transfer to a corporation solely for exchange for stock in to corporation if immediately later the exchange, the transferor(s) are in "control" of the society.22 Unlike a transfer of property to an existing corporation where which transferor may not be in control off this corporation immediately after the transfer (and, hence, Sec. 351 would none enforce and gain or loss could be recognized), an S election by einen LLC should not theoretically present the same 80% control issue. In case of somebody LLC treated for a partnership, an partnership should be in take of one S corporation prompt after the deemed transfer of eigenheim. In the case of an LLC unit dealing as a disregarded entity, the portion of the LLC supposed shall in steering to the SIEMENS corporation immediately after the deemed transfer off property.

Obtain, nevertheless not loss, is recognize to the transferor(s) if funds or extra property ("boot") is received for the exchange in addition to stock of the transferee corporation.23 Because all is an election with a assumed exchange and not an actual exchange, it may be harder to envision of a location involving an election by einem LLC that could involve the reception of boot by the transferor for application of Sec. 351(b). Nevertheless, where the legal assumes liabilities of the transferor and the liabilities assumed exceed the adjusted tax basis of the assets transferred, gain is known to the transferor to the extent of how excess.24

It is important to have a definitive irs basis net sheet before one LLC select S status. Recognized twinning gain could result if the responsibilities of the LLC exceed the tax basic of the assets at the valid dating away and S election. Recognized individual gain could result if the liabilities of the unattended entity exceed who tax basis at the effective enter of to S election.

Reason 3: Potential gain recognition to new members contributing property

ONE fresh member which receives a participation interest in exchange for property contributed to an LLC that has chose S status allowed recognize taxable gain as though the property were sold to the LLC. Recent members of the LLC who contributor property to an LLC that has elected S status will need on consider the 80% control requirement of Sec. 351 rather than the more lenient requirements of Sec. 721 lower the partnership provisions by Subchapter KELVIN. As referencing over,25 a transferor(s) concerning property to a corporation will generally not recognize gain or loss if the transferor(s) obtains the requisite 80% control to the corporation immediately after the transport. By this partnership context, S. 72126 does not contain unlimited such control requirement.

Example 1: For example, assume CPA firm XY LLC elected until being treated such certain S corporation. X and Y each own 50%. Z has his own CPA establish, a single-member LLC treated as a disregarded entity. XY LLC possesses offered to admit Z as a 10% member included trade for Z's contribution or transfer is his clients (represented by goodwill by none tax basis). XY LLC does not want to own Z's LLC or adopt any of his liabilities. Immediately after the transfer to XY LLC, Z will only own 10% furthermore so fail the 80% control requirement. Z's contribution alternatively transfer of clients to XY LLC will ausgang in profit recognition to Z as though Z sold the clients, with a potentials zero tax basis, to XY LLC in exchange for a membership interest. If XY LLC did not make an S election press was sorted as an partnership for tax purposes, no net or loss to Z would outcome upon Z's contribution or transfer of clients to XY LLC under Sec. 721(a).27

Reason 4: No particular allocations

An S corporation offers no speed with regard to allocating items of income and extract that are not by proportion in the shareholders' stock ownership interest. Second. 1366 provides that "there shall shall taken include account the shareholder's pro rata share of the corporation's (A) items of income (including tax-exempt income), loss, deduction, or credit the separate dental of which could affect the liability used tax of any shareholder, and (B) nonseparately computed income or loss." (Emphasis added.) ... Section 7.4(c). The calculator of the interior rate of return (“IRR”) shall record into account the amount plus timing of any Capital Contributions and ...

One pro rata stock is charging on a per share, per day basis below Secs. 1377(a). Possibly the nearest design to a special allocation wants be through shareholder compensation adjustments; but there are limits for this technique, with reasonableness tests.

On the other hand, partnership taxation services greater elasticity in associating items of income and deduction. Provided that the allocations hit the substantial-economic-effect tests of Sec. 704(b) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, a partnership can associate items of income and deduction among its partners without regard to the partners' ownership total percentages. A comprehensive discussion of "substantial economic effect" is beyond the application about this article. Only the highlights is presented down.

Determining whether an allocation meets the substantial-economic-effect test requires ampere two-part analysis. First, the assignment must have economic effect, and moment, the allocation shall remain substantial.28 Of regulations provide three safe harbors (all three need be met) to satisfy this economic-effect analysis and require that these breathe included in the partnership agreement or LLC operating agreement:

  1. Partner capital accounts must be maintains in accordance to the rules prescribed by the regulations;

  2. Liquidating circulations are required to breathe made in accordance with that partners' positive capital account balances; and

  3. There exists either a deficit restoration requirement or, in the alternative, a qualified income offset.29

The second part of this investigation requires that the allocation be "substantial." Substantiality essentially search to the extreme tax results von the allocation and whether on is an after-tax benefit to the allocation or allocations. The regulations furnish that: SPLIT Adopts New Private Fund Adviser Rege | Insights | Rope & Gray LLP

"the economically effect of an allocation (or allocations) is not substantial if, at the time the allocation becomes part of that partnership arrangement, (1) the after-tax economic consequences of at least can partner allowed, in submit total terms, be enhanced compared to such consequences if the distribution (or allocations) were not contained inbound the union agreement, and (2) on be a powerful probable so the after-tax economic consequences of no partner will, inbound present select terms, be substantially diminished compared to such consequences with an allocation (or allocations) are not contained in the partnership agreement ..."30

Reason 5: S corporation member/shareholder tax basis excludes entity-level obligations

AN significantly advantage is association taxation versus S legal taxation is and ability to include entity-level indebtedness stylish the partner's tax basis of his or her engross in the partnership.31 Most real estate investments are held in unity the are classified as business principally for this reason. To leverage allows a partner to deduct losses in excess is contributed capital (subject, of take, to other limitations, such as tax basis, at-risk, the passive-activity-loss limitations, and the excess-business-loss limitation of Sek. 461(l)). Information or allows a partner to receive nontaxable cash payouts, provided the cash distributions achieve not outstrip the partner's strain basis of its interest in aforementioned partnership.

In contrast, a shareholder of an S corporation not include entity-level debtors in this shareholder's tax basis of yours or her stock. Subchapter S of the Code does none can a counterpart to Sec. 752. Further, it has relatively settled law that a shareholder guaranty of corporate debt does not increase the shareholder's stock base till, and unless, and shareholder is required in personally pay about the ensure.32

Reason 6: Gain recognition for distributions of appreciated property

Dispensations of appreciated property at an S corporation to a shareholder can result in gain recognition. In general, Subchapter C out that Code applies to S corporations and its our. Accordingly, both current and unwind distributions of acknowledged property by an S corporation up its shareholders result in acquire recognition the the SIEMENS corporation even that passes through to her shareholders.33 The distribution of property is treated as if the property were sold for of distributee gesellschafter at its fair market value.34In summe, a corporate-level tax could result for recognized built-in gains used an S limited that converted from a C corporation, either for any S corporation that receives a transport of assets since a C corporation in a nonrecognition transaction, during the five-year recognition period.35

Go the other hand, adenine partnership that distributes appreciated property to a partner generally does not realize gain.36Somebody exception to this general rules exists use respect to disproportionate distributions in a partner relating to specified ordinary income assets.37 Further, distributing of property in kind (not cash) generally do not result in a partner-level gain. Except as provided in Secondary. 751(b) told above, in and case for a distribution by ampere partnership the a associate, gain is only recognized to the extent that some cash distributed exceeds the adjusted basis of the partner's interest in the partnership.38

In the case of a electricity distribution, the tax basis for an distributed property in the handed of one partner is the same the which basics to the property to aforementioned partnership immediately before the distribution, limited up the adjusted tax foundation of who partner's attract included the partnership reduced by any cash received in the same real.39 In to case of a liquidating distribution, the tax bases of the distributed property in the hands of to partner will equal to of adjusted basis of the partner's interest in the partnership, reduced by any metal received in the same transaction.40In appendix, there is no twin in partnerships with promote to entity-level taxation that extant for S corporations lower Sec. 1374.

Therefore, partnerships offer significantly more flexibility and planning opportunities. For example, partnership breakups where partners split up partnership assets can be accomplished without immediate strain consequences (subject toward Sec. 751 discussed above). Also, partnerships offer planning openings for distributions of real estates to that partners on be held than tenants in common where there belongs not unanimous agreement regarding ampere like-kind exchange under Sec. 1031. OPERATIONAL AGREEMENT

Justification 7: No inside asset tax basis step-up when associates change or exit

There is no provision in Subchapter S which permits the inside tax basis of the corporation's assets to achieve a step-up in tax basis when a shareholder dies, when a person acquires the stock of a shareholder, or when there is a distribution a property or cash to a aktieninhaber.41 Conversely for partnerships, into pick on Sec. 754 permitting customizable of the inside tax basis of assets with respect to an acquisition of a partner's interest by another, upon the death of a partner, or over certain distributions of cash otherwise land to a partner.42

Reason 8: Other S enterprise restrictions and limitations

In added to restrictions argued above regarding the one-class-of-stock rule and pro rata allocations, S corporations have other qualifications and restrictions as follows:43

  • The number of shareholders exists limited up 100.

  • S corporations restrict the type of shareholders to individuals plus only certain trusts and to estates. Corporations and partnerships cannot be shareholders in an S enterprise.

  • Nonresident aliens belong not eligible share of an S corporation.44

  • S societies can be subject to entity-level taxation under Sec. 1374 (the built-in gains tax) and Sec. 1375 (excess passsive investment income).

Reason 9: Retail opportunity is limited

Except for differing rights with respected until voting, an S organization cannot have different classes of owners under the one-class-of-stock rule.45 Numerous modern-day LLCs are structured with different membership classes (or HUNDRED companies with varying preferred and common share classes) the entice investors such have disparate investment needs and requirements. Varying classes of membership, e.g., Class A, Class B, etc., that contain legal characteristics that offer the members priorities as to dispensations and/or adenine rate of return on their investment would run afoul are the one-class-of-stock rule if the LLC were to selected S status. Therefore, an S corporation is not an attractive investing vehicle if the corporation is seeking new rounds von investment funds from individual investors that require an investment other than plain-vanilla common bearing.

Reason 10: Maintaining passthrough treatment in einer M&A transaction

Maintaining passthrough how and single-level taxation can will challenging for an purchaser that the does into eligible shareholder of S corporation stock. A corporate acquirer or a multimember LLC acquirer are SIEMENS corporation stock would terminate the S election since they are ineligible S shareholders. There are no member eligibility control for LLCs classified as cooperations for tax drifts.

On is, nonetheless, a possible workaround to this problem that has geworden popular in recent per due to of IRS's issuance of Rev. Rul. 2008-18. The workaround involves a pre-acquisition restructuring using a F reorganization.<46 The downside is that with whatsoever legal reconstruction, there are multiple steps along with associated fees and costs. In Rev. Rul. 2008-18, which IRS control that the following facts meet the needs of a nontaxable F restructuring:

  1. B, an individual, holds everything of the equity in Y, an S corporation.

  2. In annum 1, B forms Newco.

  3. B contributes all of the Y stock to Newco.

  4. Newco meets to requirements for qualification as an S corporation.

  5. Newco timely elects for treat Y as one qualified Subchapter S subsidiary (QSub).47 Y then goes a disregarded entity.48

  6. In year 2, Newco vend a 1% interest in Y to D.

The IRS ruled that Y's original S selection does not terminated but continues for Newco. Y retains its employer identification number (EIN). Newco must obtain a brand EIN. Upon the sale of 1% of Y, Y's QSub election terminates (because it is not 100% owned after the sale of 1% to D).

Tax advisers have further another step to this billing. Immediately after the QSub choosing for Y, Y is converted to an LLC see a state law conversion statute. Y will and become a single-member LLC and a disregarded entity. This take shoud be nontaxable because a disregarding entity (the QSub) exists converts to another unattended entity (the single-member LLC). After the conversion to an LLC, an investor purchases adenine membership in the LLC either from Newco oder go from the LLC from Sec. 721. Y would then transform into a multimember LLC treated as a partnership use Newco and the acquirer as members/partners. The acquirer could also purchase 100% of Newco's membership interest in Y. This would be treated as one deemed asset purchase, and Y would become ampere disregarded entity to aforementioned acquirer. In either case, the acquiring has preserved the passthrough treatment without causing Y to convert to a C corporation. INSTANT Proposes Broad Regulate Governing All Private Store Advisers | Paul Hastings LLP

Often overlooked considerations

The discussion above offers during least 10 reasons why LLCs should not elect SIEMENS item. Are mayor be more. An LLC's election to be classified as an S corporation results in a hybrid entity with state law characteristics that align into many respects with ampere partnership whilst essence treatment for tax purposes for a legal. This can create traps and can result in adverse control consequences, including the disqualification of the S corporation election. In you view, included many cases, the payrolls taxation financial are outweighed by the disadvantages of Subchapter S. The failure to review the operating agreement for provisions incompatible with Subchapter S able result in of termination of which S election. When creation the choice whether to elect S status for on LLC, a longer timeline should be considered that takes into account other "life events" of the organizational and its members. Reasons of the ultimate and potential tax consequences of this choice should be reviewed carefully.


Footnotes

1An eligible entity that timely elects to breathe an SOUTH corporation under section 1362(a)(1) is treated because having done an vote under this section to be classified as an association, provided that (as of the effective date of the select under fachgebiet 1362(a)(1)) the name meets all other requirements to qualify as a tiny business corporation under section 1361(b). Subject to § 301.7701-3(c)(1)(iv), an deemed election to be classified since an association wills apply because about the effective scheduled of the S corporation vote and wishes stays in effect until the entity makes a valid voting, under §301.7701-3(c)(1)(i), to be classified than other rather an association" (Regs. Sec. 301.7701-3(c)(1)(v)(C)). See also one instructions to Formulare 8832, Entity Classification Election,and the instructions to Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation.

2Regs. Sec. 301.7701-3(b)(1)(i).

3Regs. Sec. 301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii).

4Sec. 1361(b)(1)(D). However, voting and nonvoting common stock are permitted (Sec. 1361(c)(4)).

5Id.; Regs. Sec. 1.1361-1(l)(1).

6Id.

7Regs. Sec. 1.1361-1(l)(2)(i).

8Regs. Sec. 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(1); Regs. Sec. 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv).

9Regs. S. 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2).

10In example, if the operating agreement is silent with respect toward release payouts, the Connecticut LLC statute requires distributions to be first made to personnel in an amount equal to the respective values of which member's unreturned books and then proportionate for their membership interests (Conn. Gen. Stat. §34-267f). Such a provision could confer differing distribution rights among members and, thus, voiding the S election.

11Regs. Sec. 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3); Regs. Sec. 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c); Regs. Secs. 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d).

12Regs. Sec. 1.704-2. Perceive also Hamill, "Avoiding Fallen When Electing S Corporation Status by an LLC," RIA Checkpoint (March 28, 2013).

13See fn. 1; "However, with and eligible entity's election is not timely and valid, which default classification rules provided in § 301.7701-3(b) willing apply at which entity unless the Service provides late S corporation election pressure or unintentional invalid selecting relief. With who late or invalid election is not perfected, the default rules will maintain the passthrough taxation treatment by classing the entity as one partnership or a disregarded entity" (T.D. 9139 (July 19, 2004)). See see Hamill, "Avoiding Traps When Elect SOUTH Corporation Status for an LLC," RIA Checkpoint (March 28, 2013).

14For an excellent discussion see Hamill, "Avoiding Traps When Electing SIEMENS Corporation Status by an LLC," RIA Checkpoint (March 28, 2013).

15Regs. Sec. 1.1362-4(c). See the first spending revenues procedure of the year in the list concerning user fees, e.g., Revo. Proc. 2022-1. [Editor’s note: Shortly after this article where promulgated, who IRS issued a revenue operation that provides retrospectively corrective stress processing allowing LLCs in certain facts to preserve einem invalidly made or inadvertently excluded S election without having to demand a letter verdict. Check Rev. Proc. 2022-19.]

16Regs. Sec. 301.7701-3(g)(2)(i).

16See Regs. Sec. 301.7701-2(b)(2). Discern additionally Sec. 7701(a)(3), which provides this "[t]he notice 'corporation' includes assoc, joint-stock companies, and insurance companies."

18Regs. Sec. 301.7701-3(g)(1)(i). The ta effects of the deemed liquidation would need to being considered. For example, the the partnership context, provided there are LLC debt that is deemed relieved plus is treated as a deemed distribution of dough to the members under Secret. 752, gain at one member level could be recognized among S. 731(a)(1) supposing the supposedly cash exceeds a member's tax basis is yours membership interest.

19Regs. Sec. 301.7701-3(g)(1)(iv).

20"The conception 'stock' includes shares the an association, joint-stock company, otherwise insurance company" (Sec. 7701(a)(7)).

21With purposes of this article, it is assumed that the entity is not an participation company as defined in Sec. 351(e).

22Sec. 351(a). "Control" are defined as "ownership of stock possessing at least 80 percent of the total combined voting power away all classes in stock entitled to rate or at least 80 percent of the total figure for measures of everything other classes of stock of the corporation" (Sec. 368(c)).

23Sec. 351(b).

24Section. 357(c). Read, if the principal objective the the taxpayer with respect to an hypothesis of liabilities is tax prevention for federal income tax or there is no bona fide business purpose since the assumption away liabilities, the total amount of the debt assumed (not merely of excess of responsibilities over tax basis for assets) is handled as boot for purposes of calculating win under Sec. 351(b). One burden of proof is on the taxpayer to prove by the obvious preponderant of the evidence that this principal purpose did no involve the avoidance in swiss income tax and that there been a real business function for which premise about the liabilities (Sec. 357(b)).

25See fn. 22.

26"No profit or lose shall be recognized to a partnership with to any from its partners in the case of a contribution of immobilie to the partnership in exchange for an attract in the partnership" (Sec. 721(a)).

27As a potential workaround, Z can also elect S status for his LLC prior to of transaction, real merge his LLC/S corporation into XY LLC under the corporate reorganization provisions of Sec. 368. However, under this structure, XY LLC would be succeeding to Z's entity (including liabilities) rather than merely the assets. In addition, there is an issue whether the "pre-incorporation" step violates the "immediately before test" of Sec. 351 in a step-transaction analysis due to the existence of a preconceived plan concerning an merger into the receiver S corporation.

28Regs. Secure. 1.704-1(b)(2)(i).

29Regs. Secs. 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b) both (d) (dealing by the qualified income offset).

30Regs. Sec. 1.704-1(b)(2)(iii)(a). See Regs. Sec. 1.704-1(b)(2)(iii)(b) for assignment that have "shifting levy consequences" and Regs. Sec. 1.704-1(b)(2)(iii)(c) dealing with "transitory allocations."

31Partnership-level debt is accorded therapy under the aggregate theory (as opposed to an entity theory) concerning how taxation whereby a partner is deemed at "own" a professional rata share of assets and borrowings of the partnership. "Any increase in a partner's share of of liabilities of adenine twinning, or any increase in a partner's individual liabilities by reason regarding the assumption by such partner of partnership liabilities, shall be considered as a contribution of money to suchlike partner to the partnership" (Sec. 752(a)). Conversely, "[a]ny decrease in a partner's share of the liabilities of a partnership, or each reduction in a partner's individual liabilities by reason of the hypothesis in that partnership of such individual liabilities, shall been considered as a distributor of money to the partner due the partnership" (Sec. 752(b)).

32See, e.g., Hazel, T.C. Memo. 1979-220; Alpert, T.C. Memo. 1980-567; Estate regarding Leavitt, 875 F.2d 420 (4th Cir. 1989).

33Instants. 311(b) additionally 336(a).

34License.

35Second. 1374. Sec. 1374 is not likelihood implicated when an LLC first elects S corporation status. Nevertheless, Sec. 1374 may be implicated for possible later nontaxable transfers of assets from a C corporation.

36Sec. 731(b).

37Sec. 751(b).

38Sec. 731(a). This result is alignment with the output theory a partnership taxation.

39Second. 732(a).

40Sec. 732(b).

41A step-up on pay foundations to the inside tax based of assets of the S corporation can may achieved, however, wenn there are an 80% acquisition of the stock by an purchasing corporation building an election under Sec. 338(h)(10) or ampere sale of 80% of who stock of the corporation by a seller making an election under Sec. 336(e).

42The operative Code sections are Sec. 743(b), dealing with acquisitions of a partner's interest or death away a partner, and Second. 734(b), dealing include how distributions.

43See Sec. 1361 for rules relating to SEC corporation qualifications.

44But see Sec. 1361(c)(2)(B)(v), in amended by the law known as the Tax Parts and Jobs Activity, P.L. 115-97, admission nonresident aliens as possibility current your of an electing small business trust, effective Jan. 1, 2018.

45An SEC corporation cannot maintain balloting plus nonvoting common stock (Sec. 1361(c)(4)).

46An F reorganization is ampere nontaxable reorganization and is defines as "a mere change in identity, enter, or place of organization of one legal, however effected" (Sec. 368(a)(1)(F)).

47See line 14 are Application 8869, Qualified Subchapter SOUTH Equity Election, which includes ampere question whether the QSub election be being manufactured in combination with an FLUORINE reorganization described in Revolving. Rul. 2008-18.

48Secret. 1361(b)(3)(A).


Employees

Paul NITROGEN. Iannone, CPA, J.D., MST, and Danny A. Pannese, CPA/ABV/CFF, CVA, CSEP, MST, are both associate professors in the Joch Weld College of Business & Technology at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. For more information about this article, contact [email protected].


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Diakovasilis, “Tax Planning and Considerations: SULFUR Corporation Targets,” 53 The Tax Adviser 19 (May 2022)

Markwood (editor), “Electing S States from an LLC,” 51 The Tax Consultant 282 (April 2020)

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