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Official form guide
Form 2553: 2553
Form 2553 is the IRS election to be taxed as an S corporation. File it when a qualifying small business wants pass‑through taxation instead of corporate tax.
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IRS Form 2553 - 2553
Form 2553 is the IRS election to be taxed as an S corporation. File it when a qualifying small business wants pass‑through taxation instead of corporate tax.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1A single missing signature can void the entire S‑corp election.
- 2Missing shareholder consent signature
- 3Incorrect effective date
- 4Filing after the 2‑month/15‑day deadline
- 5Wrong EIN entered
Plain English
If you run a corporation or LLC and want the profits to flow to owners’ personal tax returns, you submit Form 2553. The IRS then treats the entity as an S corporation for tax purposes.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2025-01-13 22:10:46
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use when a domestic corporation or eligible LLC wants S‑corp status.
- Do not use if the entity has more than 100 shareholders or disallowed shareholders.
- Check Form 1120‑S if you need to file the S‑corp tax return after election.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Changing fiscal year
Requires IRS consent for a change of accounting period
✓ Verify eligibility first
Revoking S election
Must attach to a timely filed Form 1120‑S
✓ Confirm revocation timing
Late election relief
Allows election after deadline if reasonable cause shown
✓ Follow Rev. Proc. 2013‑30
Deadline or filing window
The election must be filed no later than the 15th day of the third month of the tax year it applies to (generally by March 15 for calendar‑year entities). If filed after that, a late‑election relief request is required and must be attached to the same submission.
- —Effective date of election | Manual entry – must be within 2 months 15 days of tax year start | Effective date field | Verify against entity’s tax year
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Entity name and EIN
Articles of Incorporation or EIN confirmation letter · IRS notice or EIN issuance letter
Shareholder consent
Signed consent statements · Individual shareholder signatures
Tax year selection
Tax year box in Part I · Entity’s fiscal calendar
Shareholder ownership %
Schedule of ownership · Shareholder agreements
Before you submit
- 1Use the current edition of Form 2553
- 2Confirm EIN matches IRS records
- 3Enter correct tax year and effective date
- 4Include all shareholder names, addresses, and consent signatures
- 5Verify shareholder eligibility (U.S. person, ≤100 shareholders)
- 6Check that total shares equal 100% ownership
- 7Sign and date the form as required
- 8Attach any required late‑election relief statement if past deadline
- 9Mail/fax to the address/fax number in the instructions
- 10Keep a copy of the completed form and proof of mailing
How to file this form
- 1Download the latest Form 2553 PDF from IRS.gov
- 2Fill Part I with entity information and tax year
- 3Complete Part II for each shareholder, capturing consent
- 4Have an authorized officer sign Part III
- 5If filing late, attach a written statement explaining reasonable cause
- 6Mail or fax to the service center indicated for your state
- 7Track delivery confirmation and retain the receipt
Known limitations
- 1IRS instructions are the only definitive source; third‑party guides may be outdated
- 2Electronic filing is limited to certain entity types and not universally available
- 3The form does not collect state‑level election information
- 4IRS processing times can vary; the 60‑day estimate is not guaranteed
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
General Info
2 items
Full legal name and taxpayer identification number (SSN or EIN).
Current mailing address.
Details
2 items
Complete all applicable sections of this form according to the official IRS instructions.
Enter the relevant dollar amount if this form involves tax calculation.
Certification
1 items
Read and acknowledge any certifications required by this form.
Signatures
1 items
Sign and date. Unsigned forms cannot be processed.
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->The IRS processes Form 2553 within 60 days of receipt. You will receive a confirmation notice if the election is accepted.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date – verify you have the latest 2024 revision
- Fee – no filing fee for Form 2553
- Mailing address – use the address in the current instructions for your state
- Fax number – if electing to fax, confirm the current fax number
- Electronic filing option – check if your entity type is eligible for e‑file
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Wait for the IRS acceptance notice (usually within 60 days)
- 2If no notice, call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line to confirm status
- 3File Form 1120‑S for the first tax year after the election is effective
- 4Update your accounting software to reflect S‑corp tax treatment
- 5Retain the acceptance notice with corporate records
- 6Monitor shareholder changes; any change may affect S‑corp eligibility
Sources
- SRCIRS Form 2553 PDFofficial instructions
- SRCIRS Publication 542Corporations
- SRCIRS Rev. Proc. 2013‑30Late election relief
- SRCIRS Business & Specialty Tax Line phone number
- SRCIRS Service Center mailing addresses list
- SRCNot clearly stated in the provided official source
Common confusion points
Effective date vs. filing date
Users think filing later changes the start date
→ Verify deadline rules
Shareholder count
Some count parent companies as one shareholder
→ Count each eligible shareholder individually
Resident status
Non‑resident alien shareholders are ineligible
→ Confirm U.S. person status for each
Late election relief
Not all late filings qualify
→ Attach proper Rev. Proc. 2013‑30 statement
Tax year selection
Calendar vs. fiscal year confusion
→ Match the entity’s actual tax year
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
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