March 15 Is Tax Deadline For S-Corp And Partnership Extensions And Elections

March 15, 2019, is the deadline for filing 2018 S-Corp and partnership tax returns, or extensions, 2019 S-Corp elections for existing entities, and 2019 Section 475 elections for a pass-through entity. Don’t miss any of these tax filings or elections; it could cost you.

2018 S-Corp and partnership tax extensions

Extensions are easy to prepare and file for S-Corps and partnerships since they pass through income and loss to the owner, usually an individual. Generally, pass-through entities are tax-filers, but not taxpayers. 2018 individual and calendar-year C-Corp tax returns or extensions, and Section 475 elections are due April 15, 2019. (See IRS Tax Calendars For 2019.)

For S-Corps and partnerships use Form 7004 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns). 2018 S-Corp and partnership extensions give six additional months to file a federal tax return, by Sep. 16, 2019.

Some states require a state extension filing, whereas others accept the federal extension. Some states have S-Corp franchise taxes, excise taxes, or minimum taxes, and payments are usually due with the extensions by March 15. LLCs filing as a partnership may have minimum taxes or annual reports due with the extension by March 15.

Late Filing Penalties: The IRS late filing penalty regime for S-Corps and partnerships is similar. The IRS assesses $210 for partnerships, $200 for S-Corps, per owner, per month, for a maximum of 12 months. Taxpayers may request penalty abatement based on reasonable cause after the IRS mails a penalty notice. Ignoring the extension deadline is not reasonable cause. There is also a $270 penalty for failure to furnish a Schedule K-1 to an owner on time, and the penalty is higher if intentionally disregarded. States assess penalties and interest, often based on payments due. (See more details about penalties and interest in Form 1065 and 1120S instructions.)

The new tax law TCJA’s Section 199A “qualified business income” (QBI) tax treatment might apply to TTS partnerships and S-Corps, whether they use Section 475 or not. TTS trading expenses are QBI losses. In my recent blog post, Uncertainty About Using QBI Tax Treatment For Traders, I suggest filing extensions to have additional time for a resolution of this matter.

2019 S-Corp elections

Traders qualifying for trader tax status and interested in employee benefit plan deductions, including health insurance and retirement plan deductions, probably need an S-Corp. They should consider a 2019 S-Corp election for an existing trading entity, due by March 15, 2019, or form a new entity and file an S-Corp election within 75 days of inception. Most states accept the federal S-Corp election, but a few states do not; they require a separate S-Corp election filing by March 15. If you overlooked filing a 2018 S-Corp election by March 15, 2018, and intended to elect S-Corp tax treatment as of that date, you may qualify for IRS relief. (See Late Election Relief.) (Sole proprietor traders do not have self-employment income, which means they cannot have self-employed health insurance and retirement plan deductions. TTS partnerships face significant obstacles in achieving self-employment income.)

2019 Section 475 MTM elections for S-Corps and partnerships

Traders, eligible for trader tax status, should consider attaching a 2019 Section 475 election statement to their 2018 tax return or extension due by March 15, 2019, for partnerships and S-Corps, or by April 15, for individuals and C-corps. Section 475 turns capital gains and losses into ordinary gains and losses thereby avoiding the capital loss limitation and wash sale loss adjustments (tax loss insurance). There might also be benefits to 475 income per the new tax law (TCJA) “qualified business income” (QBI) deduction subject to taxable income limitations. However, QBI tax treatment for traders is uncertain at this time. (Read Traders Elect Section 475 For Massive Tax Savings.)

If a trader wants to revoke a prior year Section 475 election, a revocation election statement is due by March 15, 2019. (See New IRS Rules Allow Free And Easy Section 475 Revocation.)

If you need help, consider a consultation or our tax compliance service.