IRS Form 2553 Instructions: How to Fill Out Form 2553

Last reviewed: August 27, 2026. IRS filing locations and contact information were checked against current IRS guidance.

IRS Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation, is the form an eligible corporation or business entity uses to make an S corporation election for federal tax purposes. These Form 2553 instructions explain who can make the election, how to complete each part of the form, when it is due, the current IRS 2553 fax number and mailing address for each region, the IRS phone number for follow-up, and the tax changes that can follow after the election is accepted.

What Is IRS Form 2553?

Form 2553 is the federal election used by an eligible corporation or other eligible entity to ask the IRS to treat the business as an S corporation under Internal Revenue Code section 1362(a). The IRS explains that an eligible entity that makes a valid S election generally does not also need to file Form 8832 simply to obtain corporate classification for the S election.

This distinction matters for LLC owners. An LLC can remain an LLC under state law while electing to be taxed as an S corporation for federal tax purposes. The federal tax election does not, by itself, turn an LLC into a corporation under state business-entity law. If you are still deciding between entity structures, see our guide to S corps vs. C corps and our explanation of an LLC operating agreement.

What Is an S Election?

An S election is a federal tax election that allows an eligible corporation or eligible business entity to be taxed under Subchapter S. Instead of the corporation generally paying federal income tax on its operating income and shareholders then potentially paying tax again when profits are distributed, an S corporation generally passes income, losses, deductions and credits through to its shareholders.

For a deeper comparison of C corporation and S corporation treatment, read S Corp vs. C Corp. After an S election is effective, the corporation generally files Form 1120-S rather than Form 1120, and shareholders commonly receive a Schedule K-1 showing their share of pass-through items.

Tax Implications of Becoming an S Corporation

An S election can change how income is reported and how owner compensation is handled, but it does not create an automatic tax savings for every business. The result depends on profits, owner services, wages, distributions, basis, state taxes and other facts. A CPA or tax attorney should model the impact before the election is made.

The IRS specifically emphasizes reasonable compensation for S corporation shareholder-employees. A business should not assume it can simply classify all owner payments as distributions to avoid payroll taxes. Shareholders should also track basis because it can affect the deductibility of losses and the taxation of distributions.

Who Can File IRS Form 2553?

The IRS imposes specific eligibility rules. In general, an entity making an S election must be a domestic corporation or an eligible domestic entity, have no more than 100 shareholders, have only eligible shareholders, have no nonresident alien shareholders, and have only one class of stock (differences in voting rights can be disregarded for this purpose). Certain banks, insurance companies and domestic international sales corporations are ineligible.

You will also need an EIN. If the business needs to locate its EIN documentation, see our guide to on how to Find your EIN or Tax ID Number

When Is Form 2553 Due?

For an established calendar-year corporation that wants its S election effective January 1, the familiar deadline is generally March 15 of that year. A new business with a short first tax year can have a different date, so use the actual effective-date rules rather than assuming every election is due March 15.

If the deadline has passed, do not automatically assume the business has lost the election for the year. The IRS provides late-election relief procedures in many situations, discussed below.

IRS Form 2553 S Corporation Election Instructions: Step by Step

Most businesses will spend the most time on Part I. Parts II, III and IV apply only when the business has the facts described in those sections.

Part I: Election Information

Enter the entity’s legal name and mailing address exactly as reflected in its formation and IRS records. Complete the EIN, date and state of incorporation, effective date of the S election and selected tax year. If the name or address changed after the EIN application, use the appropriate checkbox in item D.

Item E — effective date: for a business making the election for its first year in existence, the IRS instructions say to use the earliest of the date it first had owners/shareholders, first had assets, or began doing business. For an existing business that wants the election effective for a later year, use the beginning date of the first tax year for which S status is desired.

Shareholder consent: columns J through N

List the required shareholder information and obtain each required consent. Column K contains the shareholder consent statement and signature/date fields. The ownership and identifying information in columns L through N should match the company’s actual ownership and tax records.

Part II: Selection of Fiscal Tax Year

Many S corporations use a calendar year. Part II becomes important when the corporation requests a fiscal year, natural business year, ownership tax year, Section 444 election or another permitted tax year. If this section applies, coordinate it with a tax professional because additional forms or a ruling request can be required.

Part III: Qualified Subchapter S Trust Election

Part III is used in connection with certain Qualified Subchapter S Trust elections. It does not apply to every S corporation. Trust ownership of S corporation stock is a specialized area, so confirm that the trust is an eligible shareholder and that all required elections and consents are made.

Part IV: Late Corporate Classification Election Representations

Part IV can apply when an eligible entity is requesting relief for both a late entity-classification election and a late S corporation election intended to take effect on the same date. Do not complete this part merely because Form 2553 is late; use the IRS late-election rules that match the entity’s facts.

Where to File Form 2553: IRS Address and Fax Number

Where you mail Form 2553 depends on the state in which the corporation’s principal business, office or agency is located. As of August 27, 2026, the IRS lists two service centers for standard Form 2553 mail and fax filings.

For the latest official location table, use the IRS page for where to file Form 2553. The IRS warns that filing information can change. Private delivery services can also require a different street address than regular U.S. mail, so follow the IRS private-delivery-service instructions if you are not using USPS.

Can Form 2553 Be Filed Electronically?

There is an important nuance. In certain corporate e-file workflows, Form 2553 can appear as a PDF attachment to an electronically filed return. IRS guidance for a C corporation changing to S corporation filing status, for example, says the PDF attachment should be named Form2553.pdf when it is submitted with a timely e-filed return, while also directing the taxpayer to timely file the paper Form 2553 with the correct service center. Late-election procedures can also allow Form 2553 to be attached to an initial Form 1120-S when the requirements are met.

The safest SEO and user-facing wording is therefore: Form 2553 is generally filed by mail or fax; there is not a general standalone IRS online e-file option for the election. If your tax software or tax professional is attaching Form 2553 to an e-filed corporate return, follow the exact IRS instructions for that filing situation.

IRS 2553 Phone Number: How to Follow Up

The IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line is 800-829-4933. Current IRS telephone guidance lists regular hours as Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, with Alaska and Hawaii following Pacific time.

The Form 2553 instructions state that a business should generally receive a determination within about 60 days after filing. If the corporation receives no acceptance or nonacceptance notice within two months of the filing date—or within five months when the special tax-year ruling box described in the instructions applies—the IRS says to follow up at 800-829-4933.

What If Form 2553 Is Filed Late?

Late S corporation elections are common enough that the IRS has a formal relief procedure. Revenue Procedure 2013-30 can provide relief in qualifying cases, including many elections filed within three years and 75 days of the intended effective date when the entity had reasonable cause and acted diligently to correct the mistake.

The exact requirements depend on whether the entity was already classified as a corporation or also needs late entity-classification relief. The IRS instructions require specific statements and, in many cases, the notation “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2013-30”. Because a late election can affect multiple tax returns and shareholders, use the current official Form 2553 instructions and obtain tax advice when the election was missed.

What Happens After the IRS Accepts the S Election?

Frequently Asked Questions About Form 2553

Editorial disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and is not tax, legal or accounting advice. Federal and state rules can change and individual facts matter. Verify current IRS instructions and consult a qualified tax professional regarding your business.