S Corp election deadline calculator
Your Form 2553 deadline depends on when your business started — not on a single date everyone shares. Tell us your situation and get the exact date, how long you have left, and what to do if it has already passed.
For informational purposes only. These dates come from the general rules and may not be correct for your situation — nothing here is tax advice. Confirm with your CPA, enrolled agent, or tax advisor before relying on a deadline.
How the deadline is actually calculated
The rule is two months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year the election takes effect. For most businesses on a calendar year that means March 15.
The part people get wrong is the day counting. The IRS treats the first day of the tax year as day one, so the two-month period ends the day before the two-month anniversary. Their own example: a tax year beginning January 7 has a two-month period ending March 6, and 15 days after that is March 21 — not March 22.
One more wrinkle worth knowing: if the deadline lands on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, IRC §7503 pushes it to the next business day. That is why the 2026 calendar-year deadline is Monday, March 16 rather than Sunday, March 15.
You can file Form 2553 during the entire tax year before the one you want it to take effect. There is no advantage to waiting and no partial credit for being close — the election either lands in the window or it needs a reasonable-cause statement.
Common questions
What is the deadline to file Form 2553?+
Two months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year you want the election to take effect. For a calendar-year business that is March 15. The IRS counts the first day of the tax year as day one, so a tax year beginning January 7 has a deadline of March 21 — the two-month period ends March 6, and 15 days after that is March 21. If the resulting date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, IRC section 7503 moves it to the next business day.
What is the S Corp deadline for the 2026 tax year?+
March 15, 2026 falls on a Sunday, so the deadline for a calendar-year business electing S Corp status effective for 2026 is Monday, March 16, 2026. A business formed during 2026 measures from its own formation date instead, not from January 1.
Can I file Form 2553 early, before the tax year starts?+
Yes. You may file at any time during the tax year preceding the year the election takes effect. Filing early is generally a good idea because it removes deadline risk entirely, and the IRS processes it the same way.
What happens if I miss the S Corp election deadline?+
In most cases you can still elect retroactively. Revenue Procedure 2013-30 provides relief for up to three years and 75 days after the intended effective date, provided you have reasonable cause for filing late and the business has been operating consistently as an S corporation. You attach a reasonable-cause statement to Form 2553. Past that window, the remaining option for a retroactive election is a private letter ruling, which is expensive — most businesses simply elect for the next tax year instead.
Does the deadline change for a newly formed business?+
The rule is the same but the clock starts at a different point. A new entity's first tax year begins on the date it is formed, so the deadline is two months and 15 days from that formation date rather than from January 1. That is why a business formed in, say, September has an autumn deadline rather than a March one.
Is the deadline different if I have a fiscal year?+
No, the same two months and 15 days rule applies, measured from the first day of your fiscal year. Note that most S corporations are required to use a calendar year unless they establish a business purpose for a different year or make a Section 444 election, so a fiscal year adds complexity worth discussing with your tax advisor.