How to Amend Form 2553 for S-Corporation Election Date Change?

That sounds straightforward enough. Should I also include a copy of the original Form 2553 that was filed? And what about filing status - do I need to check any special boxes to indicate this is an amendment rather than an initial filing?

No need to include the original form - the IRS already has it in their system. Just make sure your explanation letter references the taxpayer's name, EIN, and date of the original filing so they can match them up easily. As for the form itself, there's no specific "amendment" box to check. Just clearly write "CORRECTED" at the top of the form in bold letters, and complete it as you normally would but with the correct effective date. The explanation letter does the heavy lifting in explaining why you're submitting a corrected form.

How long did it take for you to get a response from the IRS after you submitted the corrected form? I've heard horror stories about waiting 6+ months for anything S-corp related these days.

Did taxr.ai help with actually filling out the new form or just give you instructions? I'm in a similar boat but I'm paranoid about making another mistake and having to start this whole process over again.

We got the confirmation letter from the IRS in about 8 weeks, which was actually faster than I expected given current processing times. The key was having all the documentation organized exactly how they wanted it. They didn't fill out the form for me, but they provided a template where I just had to plug in the specific information for my client. They also had a checklist to make sure I included all the required information and attachments. What I found most helpful was their specific wording suggestions for the explanation letter - apparently certain phrases work better with the IRS than others.

Wait, how does this actually work? The IRS phone system is designed to be impossible to navigate. How does some service magically get you through?

Sounds sketchy tbh. Why would I pay someone else to call the IRS for me? Couldn't they just be making up whatever the "agent" supposedly told you?

It's actually pretty ingenious - they use technology to navigate the IRS phone tree and wait on hold for you. When they finally reach an agent, they call you and connect you directly to that agent. You're the one talking to the IRS, not them. They're not calling on your behalf or making anything up. They're literally just handling the hold time and phone tree navigation, then connecting you directly with the IRS agent. I was skeptical too until I tried it. The time I saved was well worth it, especially since my client was getting anxious about the whole situation.

That's an interesting angle I hadn't considered. The client has only been in business since late 2022, so they haven't actually filed any tax returns yet. Would Rev Proc 2013-30 still apply in this case since we're trying to fix the issue before any returns are filed?

Since they haven't filed any returns yet, you're in an even better position. Rev Proc 2013-30 would definitely apply, but you might not even need to use it since you're correcting the issue before any tax filings. In your explanation letter with the corrected 2553, I'd specifically mention that: 1) This is the first year of business, 2) No tax returns have been filed yet, and 3) The client has maintained S corporation books and records from inception. This makes it clear that there's no tax avoidance motivation and should make the process smoother.

In California, you generally need to file Form 3560 within 3 months and 15 days of the federal S election. If you're correcting the effective date with the IRS, you should send a copy of that corrected 2553 and the IRS acceptance letter to the FTB once you receive it.

This is really solid advice about the certified mail and requesting written confirmation. I'm relatively new to handling S-corp elections and hadn't thought about the audit trail implications down the road. Quick question - when you say "fax with delivery receipt," do you mean faxing directly to the IRS processing center, or is there a specific fax number for amended 2553 forms? I've been hesitant to use fax because I wasn't sure if it would get to the right department. Also, do you have a template for that cover letter requesting written confirmation, or any specific language that tends to work well with the IRS?

For faxing, you can use the general business entity fax line at most IRS processing centers - just make sure to include a cover sheet clearly marked "CORRECTED FORM 2553" and the EIN prominently displayed. The Ogden processing center (855-214-7519) handles most business entity forms, but double-check which center serves your state. For the cover letter language, I typically include something like: "Please process this corrected Form 2553 and provide written confirmation of the accepted effective date for our records. This correction is being filed to remedy an inadvertent error in the original filing date on the previously submitted form." Keep it simple and professional - the IRS appreciates brevity. The key is being explicit about what you want (written confirmation) rather than just hoping they'll send it automatically.

From my recent experience, timing-wise you're in a great position since you're still in the same tax year and catching this early. The IRS tends to be much more accommodating when corrections are filed before any tax returns are due or filed. I'd recommend getting the corrected form submitted sooner rather than later though - don't wait until the end of the tax year. As for processing times, I just had a corrected 2553 approved last month and it took about 10 weeks from submission to receiving the acceptance letter. That was using certified mail to the Cincinnati processing center. The key was having all documentation organized exactly as they wanted it - no back-and-forth requests for additional information. One tip: if you're concerned about timing, consider calling the IRS business entity line after you submit to confirm they received it and get a rough timeline. The wait times are brutal, but having that confirmation can give you and your client peace of mind.

This is excellent advice about documentation! I'm actually dealing with my first S-corp amendment case and hadn't thought about the affidavit approach. That makes a lot of sense to have something in writing from the client confirming their intent. Quick question about the supporting documentation - when you mention bank account opening dates and first transactions, are you suggesting to include copies of these with the corrected 2553 submission, or just keep them on file in case the IRS requests them later? I don't want to overwhelm them with paperwork, but I also want to be thorough. Also, do you have any specific language you typically use for that client affidavit, or is it pretty straightforward? I want to make sure I get the wording right the first time.