Filing guide
The S-Corp Election Deadline, With Actual Math
The rule: file Form 2553 no more than 2 months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year the election covers — or any time during the year before. For calendar-year businesses that's March 15. For new entities, the clock starts earlier than most founders think.
New entities: your year started when the business became real
The first tax year begins the earliest of: first shareholders, first assets, or first business activity. Form your LLC in March, open the bank account in March, and 'I'll deal with taxes later' means your 2-month-15-day clock has been running since March.
The math, precisely
The 2-month period ends the close of the day before the numerically corresponding day two months later, then add 15 days. Tax year starting January 1 → deadline March 15. Starting February 5 → April 19. Our checker does this to the day for any start date.
Want it handled?
S-Corp Election Filing does this for $149 — or follow the steps above yourself, free.
See pricingStraight answers
Missed it — now what?
Late-election relief under Rev. Proc. 2013-30 covers you for up to 3 years and 75 days — see the late-election guide, or run the free checker for your exact window.
Can I elect for NEXT year instead?
Yes — file any time during the current year for an election effective the next tax year. No deadline pressure, same form.