IRS Form 2553 Fax Numbers
Where and How to Fax a 2553 Form?
IRS Form 2553, “Election by a Small Business Corporation,” is used by eligible corporations to elect to be taxed as an S corporation for federal tax purposes.
What is an IRS Form 2553?
Form 2553 allows a corporation or an LLC (that wants to be taxed as a corporation) to make an S corporation election with the IRS. This election enables the business to pass corporate income, losses, deductions, and credits directly to shareholders, avoiding double taxation.
IRS Form 2553 Fax Numbers
To fax IRS Form 2553, you need to use a specific fax number based on the state where your business is located. Here is the complete list of states and their corresponding fax numbers:
- 855-887-7734: Eastern States includes states like Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
- 855-214-7520: Western States includes states like Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
Make sure to include a cover sheet with your contact information and any necessary details to ensure proper processing of your submission.
Once your fax is sent, keep the transmission confirmation showing the destination number, timestamp, and page count. That confirmation is your proof of timely filing if the IRS ever questions when you filed, since the standard IRS acceptance letter (CP261) can take up to 60 days to arrive.
How to Fax Your Form 2553 to the IRS
Fax.Plus lets you send Form 2553 straight from your computer, phone, or email, no fax machine required. Every fax you send returns a timestamped delivery confirmation you can save as proof the IRS received it on time.
Fax From Computer
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Why File Form 2553, and What's the Deadline?
Filing Form 2553 is essential if you want your corporation or eligible LLC to be taxed as an S corporation. Benefits include:
- Avoiding double taxation (profits/losses pass through to shareholders)
- Potentially lowering self-employment taxes
- Providing flexibility in how the business income is distributed and taxed
Filing deadline, in plain words:
- File no more than 2 months and 15 days after the start of the tax year the election should take effect. For a business on a standard calendar year, that works out to March 15.
- Missed it? You may still qualify for automatic late-election relief under Rev. Proc. 2013-30, which can treat a late Form 2553 as if it had been filed on time, without a Private Letter Ruling or user fee, as long as you file within 3 years and 75 days of the intended effective date and meet the IRS's reasonable-cause conditions.
Who needs to file an IRS Form 2553?
- Domestic corporations that want to elect S corp status.
- LLCs that want to be taxed as an S corp (must first file Form 8832 to be classified as a corporation)
The entity must meet eligibility requirements:
- Be a domestic corporation
- Have no more than 100 shareholders
- Shareholders must be U.S. individuals, estates, or certain trusts
- Have only one class of stock
When is the deadline to fax Form 2553?
File no more than 2 months and 15 days after the start of the tax year you want the S corp election to take effect. For a calendar-year business, that deadline lands around March 15.
What if I miss the Form 2553 deadline?
You may still qualify for automatic relief under Rev. Proc. 2013-30, which treats a late election as timely filed if you had reasonable cause, intended S corp status from the start, and file within 3 years and 75 days of your intended effective date.
How do I prove the IRS received my faxed Form 2553?
Keep your fax transmission confirmation, it shows the destination number, timestamp, and page count. That's your proof of timely filing if the IRS's official confirmation (CP261 notice) takes a while to arrive.
Does Form 8869 use the same IRS fax number as Form 2553?
No. Form 8869 (Qualified Subchapter S Subsidiary election) doesn't have a published IRS fax number, it's filed with the service center where the subsidiary's most recent return was filed. Don't assume it routes to the same 855 number as Form 2553.
Can I e-file Form 2553 instead of faxing it?
No. The IRS only accepts a standalone Form 2553 by fax or mail, there's no e-file option. Faxing is the faster of the two and gives you an instant confirmation receipt as proof of filing.
Filing your S corp election is one step in setting up your business. Here's what else you'll likely need to fax the IRS along the way.
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DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for general information purposes only, and Alohi cannot guarantee that all the information on this site is current or accurate. This is not intended to be legal, accounting or tax advice and should not be a substitute for professional legal, accounting or tax advice. For legal advice, consult a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal questions.
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