I will also say that there are probably more of these that are "found" in files, properly dated, than anything else I can think of. I would never tell a client to do this, nor do I advocate it, but I must say that in a business that is rife with ridiculous requirements, requiring a signed election prior to the time income is known is mentally arthritic. Someday, when I'm elected dictator, this is the type of foolishness that the IRS will be prohibited from enforcing. (As dictator, I could abolish the IRS, but I'll need someone to collect my income for me!!)