[4830-01-u]
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
26 CFR Parts 1 and 602
[TD 8701]
RIN 1545-AC06
Treatment of Shareholders of Certain Passive Foreign Investment
Companies
AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury
ACTION: Final and temporary regulations.
SUMMARY: This document contains final regulations that provide
rules for making the deemed sale and deemed dividend elections
under section 1291(d)(2). These regulations reflect changes to
the law made by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and the Technical and
Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, and apply to a shareholder of
a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) that elects under
section 1295 to treat the PFIC as a qualified electing fund (QEF)
for a taxable year after the first taxable year during the
shareholder's holding period that the foreign corporation was a
PFIC.
DATES: These regulations are effective December 27, 1996.
Applicability: For the specific dates of applicability, see
1.1291-9(k) and 1.1291-10(i).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gayle Novig, (202) 622-3880
(not a toll-free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Paperwork Reduction Act
The collections of information contained in these final
regulations have been reviewed and approved by the Office of
Management and Budget in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act (44 U.S.C. 3507) under control numbers 1545-1028 and 1545-
1304. All of these paperwork requirements will be consolidated
under control number 1545-1507. Responses to these collections
of information are mandatory.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of information unless the
collection of information displays a valid control number.
The estimated annual burden per respondent varies from .75
hour to 1 hour, depending on individual circumstances, with an
estimated average of .76 hour.
Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden estimate and
suggestions for reducing this burden should be sent to the
Internal Revenue Service, Attn: IRS Reports Clearance Officer,
T:FP, Washington, DC 20224, and to the Office of Management and
Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for the Department of the Treasury,
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC
20503.
Books or records relating to this collection of information
must be retained as long as their contents may become material in
the administration of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax
returns and tax return information are confidential, as required
by 26 U.S.C. 6103.
Background
This document contains final regulations to be added to the
Income Tax Regulations (26 CFR part 1) under section 1291(d)(2)
of the Internal Revenue Code. The final regulations provide
rules for making a deemed sale or deemed dividend election to
purge a shareholder's holding period of stock of a PFIC of those
taxable years during which the PFIC was not a QEF. The Tax
Reform Act of 1986 added section 1291(d)(2)(A), relating to the
deemed sale election, effective for taxable years of foreign
corporations beginning after December 31, 1986. The Technical
and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 amended section 1291(d)(2)
to add new section 1291(d)(2)(B), relating to the deemed dividend
election, effective for taxable years of foreign corporations
beginning after December 31, 1986.
On March 2, 1988, temporary regulations (TD 8178) relating
to the deemed sale election under section 1291(d)(2)(A), in
addition to elections under sections 1294, 1295, and 1297, were
published in the Federal Register (53 FR 6770). A notice of
proposed rulemaking (INTL-941-86) cross-referencing the temporary
regulations was also published in the Federal Register for the
same day (53 FR 6781).
On April 1, 1992, temporary regulations (TD 8404) relating
to both the deemed sale and deemed dividend elections under
section 1291(d)(2)(A) and (B), were published in the Federal
Register (57 FR 10992). A notice of proposed rulemaking (INTL-
941-86; INTL-656-87; INTL-704-87) cross-referencing the temporary
regulations was published in the Federal Register for the same
day (57 FR 11024).
Written comments responding to these notices were received.
No public hearing was held for the notice of proposed rulemaking
published on March 2, 1988. A public hearing was held November
23, 1992, for the notice of proposed rulemaking published April
1, 1992. After consideration of all the comments, the proposed
regulations under section 1291(d)(2) are adopted as revised by
this Treasury decision, and the corresponding temporary
regulations are removed. Substantive revisions are discussed
below. All other revisions are stylistic, and are primarily
intended to conform the regulations under 1.1291-10 to those
under 1.1291-9.
Explanation of Provisions and Revisions and Summary of Comments
1. Introduction
A shareholder of a foreign corporation that qualifies as a
PFIC under the income or asset test of section 1296 is subject to
the special interest charge regime of section 1291 with respect
to certain distributions by the PFIC and dispositions of the
stock of the PFIC. Provided the PFIC complies with certain
election requirements, a shareholder may elect under section 1295
to treat the PFIC as a QEF. If the election is made, the
shareholder is subject to the current inclusion regime of section
1293. If the shareholder makes the section 1295 election for the
first year of its holding period for the foreign corporation
during which year the foreign corporation is a PFIC, the
shareholder is only subject to PFIC taxation under the current
inclusion regime. Such a PFIC is a pedigreed QEF with respect to
the shareholder. ob体育ever, if the shareholder makes the section
1295 election for a later year, the shareholder is subject to
both the interest charge regime of section 1291 and the current
inclusion regime of section 1293. Such a PFIC is an unpedigreed
QEF with respect to the shareholder. To limit its PFIC taxation
to the current inclusion regime of section 1293, a shareholder
that makes the section 1295 election may also make a section
1291(d)(2) election to purge its holding period of the years, or
parts of years, before the effective date of the QEF election
during which the foreign corporation was a PFIC (nonQEF years).
Thereafter, the PFIC will be treated as a pedigreed QEF with
respect to the shareholder.
Section 1291(d)(2) provides two methods to purge the nonQEF
years from a shareholder's holding period of PFIC stock. A
shareholder may elect under section 1291(d)(2)(A) to be treated
as having sold the stock of the PFIC. The gain on the deemed
sale is subject to the interest charge regime and therefore taxed
as an excess distribution under section 1291. Alternatively, if
the PFIC is a controlled foreign corporation (CFC), any U.S.
person that is a shareholder of the PFIC may elect under section
1291(d)(2)(B) to be treated as receiving a dividend in the amount
of its pro rata share of the post-1986 undistributed earnings and
profits of the PFIC. The deemed dividend is taxed to the
shareholder as an excess distribution under the interest charge
regime. If either election is made, the shareholder's holding
period is treated, for purposes of the PFIC rules, as beginning
on the date of the deemed sale or dividend (qualification date).
2. Revisions to the Regulations
Section 1.1291-9 provides the rules for making the deemed
dividend election under section 1291(d)(2)(B) with respect to a
PFIC that is a CFC. Section 1.1291-10 provides the rules for
making the deemed sale election under section 1291(d)(2)(A). The
final regulations generally follow the proposed regulations with
the exceptions described below.
a. Qualification Date
The 1988 temporary regulations under 1.1291-10T provided
that, in general, the date of the deemed sale, referred to as the
qualification date, is the first day of the first taxable year of
the corporation that it is treated as a QEF under section 1295
(first QEF year). ob体育ever, the temporary and proposed amendments
to 1.1291-10T published in 1992 changed the qualification date
for elections made after May 1, 1992, to the first day of the
taxable year for which the shareholder made the QEF election
(shareholder's election year). Similarly, under the temporary
and proposed 1.1291-9 regulations, the qualification date is
the first day of the shareholder's election year.
Commenters described a potential problem with the
designation of the first day of the shareholder's election year
as the qualification date where the corporation and the
shareholder have different taxable years. In this circumstance,
the purging election would not avoid application of the interest
charge regime to distributions and dispositions during the period
between the first day of the corporation's first QEF year and the
first day of the shareholder's election year.
In response to comments, the final regulations adopt the
definition of qualification date used in the 1988 temporary
regulations for purposes of both the deemed sale and deemed
dividend elections made on or after January 27, 1997. For the
period after March 31, 1995, to January 26, 1997, the final
regulations adopt the definition of qualification date of the
1992 temporary regulations. In addition, the final regulations
permit a shareholder that made the deemed sale or deemed dividend
election after May 1, 1992 and on or before January 27, 1997, to
amend its election and treat the deemed sale or deemed dividend
as occurring on the first day of the PFIC's first QEF year,
provided the periods of limitations on assessment for the taxable
year that includes that date and for the shareholder's election
year have not expired.
In response to comments, the final regulations also clarify
that if the shareholder's holding period under section 1223
includes the first day of the first QEF year, the shareholder
will be treated as holding the stock on that date. Therefore,
the shareholder may make a section 1291(d)(2) election for the
first QEF year.
b. Elections made with respect to former PFICs
Section 1.1291-9(h) of the proposed regulations provides
that a shareholder cannot apply the deemed dividend rules of
section 1291(d)(2)(B) to purge PFIC taint, pursuant to section
1297(b)(1), from the stock of a foreign corporation that no
longer is a PFIC under either the asset or income test of section
1296(a), but whose stock nevertheless is treated as stock of a
PFIC with respect to a shareholder pursuant to section 1297(b)(1)
(former PFIC). In addition, the proposed regulations provide
that the section 1291(d)(2)(B) election cannot be made with
respect to a corporation that will not qualify as a PFIC under
section 1296(a)(1) or (2) in the first QEF year.
Several commenters disagreed with the position taken in
1.1291-9(h) of the proposed regulations. Section 1.1291-
9(i)(1) of the final regulations does not accept these comments
and adopts the rule of the proposed regulation denying
application of the rules of section 1291(d)(2)(B) for purposes of
a section 1297(b)(1) election. In addition, 1.1291-9(i)(2)
modifies the rule of proposed regulation 1.1291-9(h)(2) to
clarify that the section 1295 and 1291(d)(2)(B) elections cannot
be made with respect to a former PFIC. Section 1.1291-10(h) of
the final regulations adopts a similar rule, clarifying that a
shareholder of a former PFIC cannot make the section 1295 and
1291(d)(2)(A) elections. Thus, section 1295 and section
1291(d)(2) elections may only be made with respect to a foreign
corporation that is a PFIC by definition under section 1296.
Accordingly, the deemed sale election of section 1297(b)(1)
remains the only means by which a shareholder may purge a former
PFIC of its PFIC taint.
c. Qualification as a CFC.
The final regulations, in response to comments, clarify that
a shareholder may make the deemed dividend election provided the
PFIC qualifies as a CFC for its first QEF year.
d. Time for making the elections
In response to comments, the final regulations clarify the
time for making the deemed sale and dividend elections. The
regulations provide that if the shareholder and the PFIC have the
same taxable year, and therefore the first day of the shareholder's
election year and the qualification date are the same, the
shareholder may make the election in the same return in which it
makes the section 1295 election or in an amended return. The
regulations also provide that if the shareholder and the PFIC have
different taxable years and therefore the qualification date
precedes the first day of the shareholder's election year, the
shareholder must make the deemed sale or deemed dividend election
in an amended return. If the shareholder is making the section
1291(d)(2) election in an amended return, the amended return must
be filed within three years of the due date, as extended under
section 6081, for the return for the taxable year that includes the
qualification date.
e. Post-1986 accumulated earnings and profits
The proposed regulations provide that the shareholder's old
holding period for purposes of the PFIC rules ends on the
qualification date, but also provide that its new holding period
begins on the qualification date. These rules may have caused
confusion concerning the last day of the holding period for
purposes of determining post-1986 accumulated earnings and
profits. The final regulations revise the holding period rules
to provide that the shareholder's holding period ends on the day
before the qualification date for purposes of calculating the
amount of the deemed dividend.
Special Analyses
It has been determined that this Treasury Decision is not a
significant regulatory action as defined in EO 12866. Therefore,
a regulatory assessment is not required. It also has been
determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure
Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these regulations, and
because the notice of proposed rulemaking preceding the
regulations was issued prior to March 29, 1996, the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) does not apply. These
regulations, which have a retroactive effective date, satisfy the
Administrative Procedure Act's requirement in section 553(d) for
good cause because they provide necessary guidance for the period
after March 31, 1995, and because they are not detrimental to
taxpayers. These regulations are necessary because they provide
taxpayers with the rules needed to make the elections under
section 1291(d)(2). Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal
Revenue Code, the notices of proposed rulemaking preceding these
regulations were submitted to the Small Business Administration
for comment on their impact on small business.
Drafting Information
The principal author of these regulations is Gayle Novig,
Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (International). ob体育ever,
other personnel from the IRS and Treasury Department participated
in their development.
List of Subjects
26 CFR Part 1
Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
26 CFR Part 602
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Adoption of Amendments to the Regulations
Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1 and 602 are amended as follows:
PART 1--INCOME TAXES
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended
by removing the entry for section 1.1291-9T and the entry for
sections 1.1291-10T, 1.1294-1T, 1.1295-1T, and 1.1297-3T, and by
adding entries in numerical order to read as follows:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 ***
Section 1.1291-9 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1291(d)(2).
Section 1.1291-10 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1291(d)(2).
Section 1.1294-1T also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1294.
Section 1.1297-3T also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1297(b)(1).***
Par. 2. Section 1.1291-0 is added to read as follows:
1.1291-0 Treatment of shareholders of certain passive foreign
investment companies; table of contents.
This section contains a listing of the headings for
1.1291-9 and 1.1291-10.
1.1291-9 Deemed dividend election.
(a) Deemed dividend election.
(1) In general.
(2) Post-1986 earnings and profits defined.
(i) In general.
(ii) Pro rata share of post-1986 earnings and profits
attributable to shareholder's stock.
(A) In general.
(B) Reduction for previously taxed amounts.
(b) Who may make the election.
(c) Time for making the election.
(d) Manner of making the election.
(1) In general.
(2) Attachment to Form 8621
(e) Qualification date.
(1) In general.
(2) Elections made after March 31, 1995, and before January
27, 1997.
(i) In general.
(ii) Exception.
(3) Examples.
(f) Adjustment to basis.
(g) Treatment of holding period.
(h) Coordination with section 959(e).
(i) Election inapplicable to shareholder of former PFIC.
(1) Coordination with section 1297(b)(1).
(2) Former PFIC.
(j) Definitions.
(1) Passive foreign investment company (PFIC).
(2) Types of PFICs.
(i) Qualified electing fund (QEF).
(ii) Pedigreed QEF.
(iii)Unpedigreed QEF.
(iv) Former PFIC.
(3) Shareholder.
(k) Effective date.
1.1291-10 Deemed sale election.
(a) Deemed sale election.
(b) Who may make the election.
(c) Time for making the election.
(d) Manner of making the election.
(e) Qualification date.
(1) In general.
(2) Elections made after March 31, 1995, and before January
27, 1997.
(i) In general.
(ii) Exception.
(f) Adjustments to basis.
(1) In general.
(2) Adjustment to basis for section 1293 inclusion with
respect to deemed sale election made after March 31, 1995, and
before January 27, 1997.
(g) Treatment of holding period.
(h) Election inapplicable to shareholder of former PFIC.
(i) Effective date.
1.1291-0T [Amended]
Par. 3. Section 1.1291-0T is amended as follows:
1. Remove from the introductory text the language
"1.1291-9T, 1.1291-10T,".
2. Remove the entries for 1.1291-9T and 1.1291-10T from
the table.
Par. 4. Section 1.1291-9 is added to read as follows:
1.1291-9 Deemed dividend election.
(a) Deemed dividend election--(1) In general. This
section provides rules for making the election under section
1291(d)(2)(B) (deemed dividend election). Under that section, a
shareholder (as defined in paragraph (j)(3) of this section) of a
PFIC that is an unpedigreed QEF may elect to include in income as
a dividend the shareholder's pro rata share of the post-1986
earnings and profits of the PFIC attributable to the stock held
on the qualification date (as defined in paragraph (e) of this
section), provided the PFIC is a controlled foreign corporation
(CFC) within the meaning of section 957(a) for the taxable year
for which the shareholder elects under section 1295 to treat the
PFIC as a QEF (section 1295 election). If the shareholder makes
the deemed dividend election, the PFIC will become a pedigreed
QEF with respect to the shareholder. The deemed dividend is
taxed under section 1291 as an excess distribution received on
the qualification date. The excess distribution determined under
this paragraph (a) is allocated under section 1291(a)(1)(A) only
to those days in the shareholder's holding period during which
the foreign corporation qualified as a PFIC. For purposes of the
preceding sentence, the holding period of the PFIC stock with
respect to which the election is made ends on the day before the
qualification date. For the definitions of PFIC, QEF,
unpedigreed QEF, and pedigreed QEF, see paragraph (j)(1) and (2)
of this section.
(2) Post-1986 earnings and profits defined--(i) In
general. For purposes of this section, the term post-1986
earnings and profits means the undistributed earnings and
profits, within the meaning of section 902(c)(1), as of the day
before the qualification date, that were accumulated and not
distributed in taxable years of the PFIC beginning after 1986 and
during which it was a PFIC, but without regard to whether the
earnings relate to a period during which the PFIC was a CFC.
(ii) Pro rata share of post-1986 earnings and profits
attributable to shareholder's stock--(A) In general. A
shareholder's pro rata share of the post-1986 earnings and
profits of the PFIC attributable to the stock held by the
shareholder on the qualification date is the amount of post-1986
earnings and profits of the PFIC accumulated during any portion
of the shareholder's holding period ending at the close of the
day before the qualification date and attributable, under the
principles of section 1248 and the regulations under that
section, to the PFIC stock held on the qualification date.
(B) Reduction for previously taxed amounts. A
shareholder's pro rata share of the post-1986 earnings and
profits of the PFIC does not include any amount that the
shareholder demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Commissioner
(in the manner provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this section) was,
pursuant to another provision of the law, previously included in
the income of the shareholder, or of another U.S. person if the
shareholder's holding period of the PFIC stock includes the
period during which the stock was held by that other U.S. person.
(b) Who may make the election. A shareholder of an
unpedigreed QEF that is a CFC for the taxable year of the PFIC
for which the shareholder makes the section 1295 election may
make the deemed dividend election provided the shareholder held
stock of that PFIC on the qualification date. A shareholder is
treated as holding stock of the PFIC on the qualification date if
its holding period with respect to that stock under section 1223
includes the qualification date. A shareholder may make the
deemed dividend election without regard to whether the
shareholder is a United States shareholder within the meaning of
section 951(b). A deemed dividend election may be made by a
shareholder whose pro rata share of the post-1986 earnings and
profits of the PFIC attributable to the PFIC stock held on the
qualification date is zero.
(c) Time for making the election. The shareholder makes
the deemed dividend election in the shareholder's return for the
taxable year that includes the qualification date. If the
shareholder and the PFIC have the same taxable year, the
shareholder makes the deemed dividend election in either the
original return for the taxable year for which the shareholder
makes the section 1295 election, or in an amended return for that
year. If the shareholder and the PFIC have different taxable
years, the deemed dividend election must be made in an amended
return for the taxable year that includes the qualification date.
If the deemed dividend election is made in an amended return, the
amended return must be filed by a date that is within three years
of the due date, as extended under section 6081, of the original
return for the taxable year that includes the qualification date.
(d) Manner of making the election--(1) In general. A
shareholder makes the deemed dividend election by filing Form
8621 and the attachment to Form 8621 described in paragraph
(d)(2) of this section with the return for the taxable year of
the shareholder that includes the qualification date, reporting
the deemed dividend as an excess distribution pursuant to section
1291(a)(1), and paying the tax and interest due on the excess
distribution. A shareholder that makes the deemed dividend
election after the due date of the return (determined without
regard to extensions) for the taxable year that includes the
qualification date must pay additional interest, pursuant to
section 6601, on the amount of the underpayment of tax for that
year.
(2) Attachment to Form 8621. The shareholder must attach a
schedule to Form 8621 that demonstrates the calculation of the
shareholder's pro rata share of the post-1986 earnings and
profits of the PFIC that is treated as distributed to the
shareholder on the qualification date pursuant to this section.
If the shareholder is claiming an exclusion from its pro rata
share of the post-1986 earnings and profits for an amount
previously included in its income or the income of another U.S.
person, the shareholder must include the following information:
(i) The name, address, and taxpayer identification number
of each U.S. person that previously included an amount in income,
the amount previously included in income by each such U.S.
person, the provision of the law pursuant to which the amount was
previously included in income, and the taxable year or years of
inclusion of each amount; and
(ii) A description of the transaction pursuant to which the
shareholder acquired, directly or indirectly, the stock of the
PFIC from another U.S. person, and the provisions of law pursuant
to which the shareholder's holding period includes the period the
other U.S. person held the CFC stock.
(e) Qualification date--(1) In general. Except as
otherwise provided in this paragraph (e), the qualification date
is the first day of the PFIC's first taxable year as a QEF (first
QEF year).
(2) Elections made after March 31, 1995, and before January
27, 1997--(i) In general. The qualification date for deemed
dividend elections made after March 31, 1995, and before January
27, 1997, is the first day of the shareholder's election year.
The shareholder's election year is the taxable year of the
shareholder for which it made the section 1295 election.
(ii) Exception. A shareholder who made the deemed dividend
election after May 1, 1992, and before January 27, 1997, may
elect to change its qualification date to the first day of the
first QEF year, provided the periods of limitations on assessment
for the taxable year that includes that date and for the
shareholder's election year have not expired. A shareholder
changes the qualification date by filing amended returns, with
revised Forms 8621 and the attachments described in paragraph
(d)(2) of this section, for the shareholder's election year and
the shareholder's taxable year that includes the first day of the
first QEF year, and making all appropriate adjustments and
payments.
(3) Examples. The rules of this paragraph (e) are
illustrated by the following examples:
Example 1--(i) Eligibility to make deemed dividend
election. A is a U.S. person who files its income tax return on
a calendar year basis. On January 2, 1994, A purchased one
percent of the stock of M, a PFIC with a taxable year ending
November 30. M was both a CFC and a PFIC, but not a QEF, for all
of its taxable years. On December 3, 1996, M made a distribution
to its shareholders. A received $100, all of which A reported in
its 1996 return as an excess distribution as provided in section
1291(a)(1). A decides to make the section 1295 election in A's
1997 taxable year to treat M as a QEF effective for M's taxable
year beginning December 1, 1996. Because A did not make the
section 1295 election in 1994, the first year in its holding
period of M stock that M qualified as a PFIC, M would be an
unpedigreed QEF and A would be subject to both sections 1291 and
1293. A, however, may elect under section 1291(d)(2) to purge
the years M was not a QEF from A's holding period. If A makes
the section 1291(d)(2) election, the December 3 distribution will
not be taxable under section 1291(a). Because M is a CFC, even
though A is not a U.S. shareholder within the meaning of section
951(b), A may make the deemed dividend election under section
1291(d)(2)(B).
(ii) Making the election. Under paragraph (e)(1) of this
section, the qualification date, and therefore the date of the
deemed dividend, is December 1, 1996. Accordingly, to make the
deemed dividend election, A must file an amended return for 1996,
and include the deemed dividend in income in that year. As a
result, M will be a pedigreed QEF as of December 1, 1996, and the
December 3, 1996, distribution will not be taxable as an excess
distribution. Therefore, in its amended return, A may report the
December 3, 1996, distribution consistent with section 1293 and
the general rules applicable to corporate distributions.
Example 2. X, a U.S. person, owned a five percent interest
in the stock of FC, a PFIC with a taxable year ending June 30.
X never made the section 1295 election with respect to FC. X
transferred her interest in FC to her granddaughter, Y, a U.S.
person, on February 14, 1996. The transfer qualified as a gift
for federal income tax purposes, and no gain was recognized on
the transfer (see Regulation Project INTL-656-87, published in
1992-1 C.B. 1124; see 601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of this chapter).
As provided in section 1223(2), Y's holding period includes the
period that X held the FC stock. Y decides to make the section
1295 election in her 1996 return to treat FC as a QEF for its
taxable year beginning July 1, 1995. ob体育ever, because Y's
holding period includes the period that X held the FC stock, and
FC was a PFIC but not a QEF during that period, FC will be an
unpedigreed QEF with respect to Y unless Y makes a section
1291(d)(2) election. Although Y did not actually own the stock
of FC on the qualification date (July 1, 1995), Y's holding
period includes that date. Therefore, provided FC is a CFC for
its taxable year beginning July 1, 1995, Y may make a section
1291(d)(2)(B) election to treat FC as a pedigreed QEF.
(f) Adjustment to basis. A shareholder that makes the
deemed dividend election increases its adjusted basis of the
stock of the PFIC owned directly by the shareholder by the amount
of the deemed dividend. If the shareholder makes the deemed
dividend election with respect to a PFIC of which it is an
indirect shareholder, the shareholder's adjusted basis of the
stock or other property owned directly by the shareholder,
through which ownership of the PFIC is attributed to the
shareholder, is increased by the amount of the deemed dividend.
In addition, solely for purposes of determining the subsequent
treatment under the Code and regulations of a shareholder of the
stock of the PFIC, the adjusted basis of the direct owner of the
stock of the PFIC is increased by the amount of the deemed
dividend.
(g) Treatment of holding period. For purposes of applying
sections 1291 through 1297 to the shareholder after the deemed
dividend, the shareholder's holding period of the stock of the
PFIC begins on the qualification date. For other purposes of the
Code and regulations, this holding period rule does not apply.
(h) Coordination with section 959(e). For purposes of
section 959(e), the entire deemed dividend is treated as included
in gross income under section 1248(a).
(i) Election inapplicable to shareholder of former PFIC--
(1) Coordination with section 1297(b)(1). The rules of this
section do not apply to an election made under section
1297(b)(1).
(2) Former PFIC. A shareholder may not make the section
1295 and deemed dividend elections if the foreign corporation is
a former PFIC (as defined in paragraph (j)(2)(iv) of this
section) with respect to the shareholder. For the rules
regarding the election by a shareholder of a former PFIC, see
1.1297-3T.
(j) Definitions--(1) Passive foreign investment company
(PFIC). A passive foreign investment company (PFIC) is a foreign
corporation that satisfies either the income test of section
1296(a)(1) or the asset test of section 1296(a)(2). A
corporation will not be treated as a PFIC with respect to a
shareholder for those days included in the shareholder's holding
period when the shareholder, or a person whose holding period of
the stock is included in the shareholder's holding period, was
not a United States person within the meaning of section
7701(a)(30).
(2) Types of PFICs--(i) Qualified electing fund (QEF). A
PFIC is a qualified electing fund (QEF) with respect to a
shareholder that has elected, under section 1295, to be taxed
currently on its share of the PFIC's earnings and profits
pursuant to section 1293.
(ii) Pedigreed QEF. A PFIC is a pedigreed QEF with respect
to a shareholder if the PFIC has been a QEF with respect to the
shareholder for all taxable years during which the corporation
was a PFIC that are included wholly or partly in the
shareholder's holding period of the PFIC stock.
(iii) Unpedigreed QEF. A PFIC is an unpedigreed QEF for a
taxable year if--
(A) An election under section 1295 is in effect for that
year;
(B) The PFIC has been a QEF with respect to the shareholder
for at least one, but not all, of the taxable years during which
the corporation was a PFIC that are included wholly or partly in
the shareholder's holding period of the PFIC stock; and
(C) The shareholder has not made an election under section
1291(d)(2) and this section or 1.1291-10 with respect to the
PFIC to purge the nonQEF years from the shareholder's holding
period.
(iv) Former PFIC. A foreign corporation is a former PFIC
with respect to a shareholder if the corporation satisfies
neither the income test of section 1296(a)(1) nor the asset test
of section 1296(a)(2), but whose stock, held by that shareholder,
is treated as stock of a PFIC, pursuant to section 1297(b)(1),
because at any time during the shareholder's holding period of
the stock the corporation was a PFIC that was not a QEF.
(3) Shareholder. A shareholder is a U.S. person that is a
direct or indirect shareholder as defined in Regulation Project
INTL-656-87 published in 1992-1 C.B. 1124; see
601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of this chapter.
(k) Effective date. The rules of this section are
applicable as of April 1, 1995.
1.1291-9T [Removed]
Par. 5. Section 1.1291-9T is removed.
Par. 6. Section 1.1291-10 is added to read as follows:
1.1291-10 Deemed sale election.
(a) Deemed sale election. This section provides rules for
making the election under section 1291(d)(2)(A) (deemed sale
election). Under that section, a shareholder (as defined in
1.1291-9(j)(3)) of a PFIC that is an unpedigreed QEF may elect to
recognize gain with respect to the stock of the unpedigreed QEF
held on the qualification date (as defined in paragraph (e) of
this section). If the shareholder makes the deemed sale
election, the PFIC will become a pedigreed QEF with respect to
the shareholder. A shareholder that makes the deemed sale
election is treated as having sold, for its fair market value,
the stock of the PFIC that the shareholder held on the
qualification date. The gain recognized on the deemed sale is
taxed under section 1291 as an excess distribution received on
the qualification date. In the case of an election made by an
indirect shareholder, the amount of gain to be recognized and
taxed as an excess distribution is the amount of gain that the
direct owner of the stock of the PFIC would have realized on an
actual sale or other disposition of the stock of the PFIC
indirectly owned by the shareholder. Any loss realized on the
deemed sale is not recognized. For the definitions of PFIC, QEF,
unpedigreed QEF, and pedigreed QEF, see 1.1291-9(j)(1) and (2).
(b) Who may make the election. A shareholder of an
unpedigreed QEF may make the deemed sale election provided the
shareholder held stock of that PFIC on the qualification date. A
shareholder is treated as holding stock of the PFIC on the
qualification date if its holding period with respect to that
stock under section 1223 includes the qualification date. A
deemed sale election may be made by a shareholder that would
realize a loss on the deemed sale.
(c) Time for making the election. The shareholder makes the
deemed sale election in the shareholder's return for the taxable
year that includes the qualification date. If the shareholder
and the PFIC have the same taxable year, the shareholder makes
the deemed sale election in either the original return for the
taxable year for which the shareholder makes the section 1295
election, or in an amended return for that year. If the
shareholder and the PFIC have different taxable years, the deemed
sale election must be made in an amended return for the taxable
year that includes the qualification date. If the deemed sale
election is made in an amended return, the amended return must be
filed by a date that is within three years of the due date, as
extended under section 6081, of the original return for the
taxable year that includes the qualification date.
(d) Manner of making the election. A shareholder makes the
deemed sale election by filing Form 8621 with the return for the
taxable year of the shareholder that includes the qualification
date, reporting the gain as an excess distribution pursuant to
section 1291(a), and paying the tax and interest due on the
excess distribution. A shareholder that makes the deemed sale
election after the due date of the return (determined without
regard to extensions) for the taxable year that includes the
qualification date must pay additional interest, pursuant to
section 6601, on the amount of the underpayment of tax for that
year. A shareholder that realizes a loss on the deemed sale
reports the loss on Form 8621, but does not recognize the loss.
(e) Qualification date--(1) In general. Except as
otherwise provided in this paragraph (e), the qualification date
is the first day of the PFIC's first taxable year as a QEF (first
QEF year).
(2) Elections made after March 31, 1995, and before January
27, 1997--(i) In general. The qualification date for deemed
sale elections made after March 31, 1995, and before January 27,
1997, is the first day of the shareholder's election year. The
shareholder's election year is the taxable year of the
shareholder for which it made the section 1295 election.
(ii) Exception. A shareholder who made the deemed sale
election after May 1, 1992, and before January 27, 1997, may
elect to change its qualification date to the first day of the
first QEF year, provided the periods of limitations on assessment
for the taxable year that includes that date and for the
shareholder's
election year have not expired. A shareholder changes the
qualification date by filing amended returns, with revised Forms
8621, for the shareholder's election year and the shareholder's
taxable year that includes the first day of the first QEF year,
and making all appropriate adjustments and payments.
(f) Adjustments to basis--(1) In general. A shareholder
that makes the deemed sale election increases its adjusted basis
of the PFIC stock owned directly by the amount of gain recognized
on the deemed sale. If the shareholder makes the deemed sale
election with respect to a PFIC of which it is an indirect
shareholder, the shareholder's adjusted basis of the stock or
other property owned directly by the shareholder, through which
ownership of the PFIC is attributed to the shareholder, is
increased by the amount of gain recognized by the shareholder.
In addition, solely for purposes of determining the subsequent
treatment under the Code and regulations of a shareholder of the
stock of the PFIC, the adjusted basis of the direct owner of the
stock of the PFIC is increased by the amount of gain recognized
on the deemed sale. A shareholder shall not adjust the basis of
any stock with respect to which the shareholder realized a loss
on the deemed sale.
(2) Adjustment of basis for section 1293 inclusion with
respect to deemed sale election made after March 31, 1995, and
before January 27, 1997. For purposes of determining the amount
of gain recognized with respect to a deemed sale election made
after
March 31, 1995, and before January 27, 1997, by a shareholder
that treats the first day of the shareholder's election year as
the qualification date, the adjusted basis of the stock deemed
sold includes the shareholder's section 1293(a) inclusion
attributable to the period beginning with the first day of the
PFIC's first QEF year and ending on the day before the
qualification date.
(g) Treatment of holding period. For purposes of applying
sections 1291 through 1297 to the shareholder after the deemed
sale, the shareholder's holding period of the stock of the PFIC
begins on the qualification date, without regard to whether the
shareholder recognized gain on the deemed sale. For other
purposes of the Code and regulations, this holding period rule
does not apply.
(h) Election inapplicable to shareholder of former PFIC. A
shareholder may not make the section 1295 and deemed sale
elections if the foreign corporation is a former PFIC (as defined
in 1.1291-9(j)(2)(iv)) with respect to the shareholder. For
the rules regarding the election by a shareholder of a former
PFIC, see 1.1297-3T.
(i) Effective date. The rules of this section are
applicable as of April 1, 1995.
1.1291-10T [Removed]
Par. 7. Section 1.1291-10T is removed.
PART 602--OMB CONTROL NUMBERS UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
Par. 8. The authority citation for part 602 continues to
read as follows:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805.
602.101 [Amended]
Par. 9. In 602.101, paragraph (c) is amended by removing
the entries for 1.1291-9T and 1.1291-10T from the table and
adding entries in numerical order to the table to read as
follows:
602.101 OMB Control numbers.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
_________________________________________________________________
CFR part or section where Current OMB
identified and described Control No.
* * * * *
1.1291-9.............................................1545-1507
1.1291-10............................................1545-1507
* * * * *
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Approved:
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury