[4380-01-u]
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
26 CFR parts 1 and 602
[TD 8688]
RIN 1545-AS14
Certain Elections Under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1993
AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.
ACTION: Final regulations.
SUMMARY: This document contains final regulations relating to
the time and manner of making certain elections under the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. These regulations provide
guidance to persons making the elections.
EFFECTIVE DATE: December 12, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Bradley, 202-622-4920
(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 number 1545-1421. Responses
to these collections of information are required to obtain the
benefits of the particular election that is the subject of the
collection.
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 15
minutes to 45 minutes, depending on individual circumstances,
with an estimated average of 30 minutes.
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 relating to
elections under the following sections of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (Code) and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1993 (Pub. L. 103-66, 107 Stat. 312) (Act):
Act Code
Section Section
13114 1044(a)
13150 108(c)(3)(C)
13206(d) 163(d)(4)(B)(iii)
13225 6655(e)(2)(C)
On December 27, 1993, the Federal Register published
temporary regulations (TD 8509) and a cross-reference notice of
proposed rulemaking (IA-62-93), 58 FR 68300 and 58 FR 68336,
respectively, relating to these elections. Three written
comments responding to the regulations were submitted. Since
none of the commentators requested a public hearing, one was not
held. After consideration of the comments, the proposed
regulations are adopted as final regulations subject to
modifications to proposed 1.108(c)-1, and the corresponding
temporary regulations are removed. The comments and a
description of the modifications to proposed 1.108(c)-1 are
discussed below.
Summary of Comments and Modifications
All three comments related to the election under section
163(d)(4)(B)(iii), which allows a taxpayer to take all or a
portion of certain net capital gains, attributable to
dispositions of property held for investment, into account as
investment income. As a consequence, the capital gains affected
by this election are not eligible for the maximum capital gain
rate of 28 percent. The election must be made on Form 4952,
Investment Interest Expense Deduction, on or before the due date
(including extensions) of the income tax return for the taxable
year in which the net capital gain is recognized.
The commentators questioned the authority of the IRS to
require a formal election, stated that a formal election will add to the complexity of filing individual income tax returns, and
suggested that taxpayers be allowed to freely change the manner
in which they treat long-term capital gains, as long as the
taxable year is open. These comments were given careful
consideration. However, they have not been incorporated into
these final regulations. The IRS and the Treasury Department
believe that the requirement of a formal election is supported by
the language of section 163(d)(4)(B)(iii), is not unduly
burdensome, and provides taxpayers with flexibility, since the
election is revocable.
The final regulations modify the requirements for making the
election for discharge of qualified real property business
indebtedness under section 108(c). Under the previous temporary
regulations a taxpayer was required to make the election with the
taxpayer's income tax return for the taxable year in which the
discharge occurred, but was permitted to file an election with an
amended return or claim for credit or refund if the taxpayer
established reasonable cause for failure to file the election
with the original return. The final regulations require the
taxpayer to make the election on the timely-filed (including
extensions) Federal income tax return for the taxable year in
which the taxpayer has discharge of indebtedness income that is
excludible under section 108(a). Therefore, a taxpayer that
fails to make the election on that return must request the
Commissioner's consent to file a late election under 301.9100-3T
or any regulations that supersede 301.9100-3T. Special Analyses
It has been determined that these regulations are not
significant rules as defined in Executive Order 12866. 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, a
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required. Pursuant to
section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, the notice of
proposed rulemaking preceding these regulations was submitted to
the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on
small business.
Drafting Information
The principal author of these regulations is George Bradley,
Office of Assistant Chief Counsel (Income Tax and Accounting),
Internal Revenue Service. However, personnel from other offices
of the Internal Revenue Service and the 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, parts 1 and 602 of title 26 of the Code of
Federal Regulations are amended as follows:
PART 1--INCOME TAXES
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended
by removing the entry for section 1.108(c)-1T and by adding an
entry in numerical order to read as follows:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
Section 1.108(c)-1 also issued under the authority of 26
U.S.C. 108(d)(9); * * *
1.108(c)-1T [Removed]
Par. 2. Section 1.108(c)-1T is removed.
1.163(d)-1T [Removed]
Par. 3. Section 1.163(d)-1T is removed.
1.1044(a)-1T [Removed]
Par. 4. Section 1.1044(a)-1T is removed.
1.6655(e)-1T [Removed]
Par. 5. Section 1.6655(e)-1T is removed.
Par. 6. Section 1.108(c)-1 is added to read as follows:
1.108(c)-1 Time and manner for making election under the
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.
(a) Description. Section 108(c)(3)(C), as added by section
13150 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Public
Law 103-66, 107 Stat. 446), allows certain noncorporate taxpayers
to elect to treat certain indebtedness described in section
108(c)(3) that is discharged after December 31, 1992, as
qualified real property business indebtedness. This discharged
indebtedness is excluded from gross income to the extent allowed
by section 108.
(b) Time and manner for making election. The election
described in this section must be made on the timely-filed
(including extensions) Federal income tax return for the taxable
year in which the taxpayer has discharge of indebtedness income
that is excludible from gross income under section 108(a). The
election is to be made on a completed Form 982, in accordance
with that Form and its instructions.
(c) Revocability of election. The election described in
this section is revocable with the consent of the Commissioner.
(d) Effective date. The rules set forth in this section are
effective December 27, 1993.
Par. 7. Section 1.163(d)-1 is added to read as follows:
1.163(d)-1 Time and manner for making election under the
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.
(a) Description. Section 163(d)(4)(B)(iii), as added by
section 13206(d) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993
(Public Law 103-66, 107 Stat. 467), allows an electing taxpayer
to take all or a portion of certain net capital gains,
attributable to dispositions of property held for investment,
into account as investment income. As a consequence, the capital
gains affected by this election are not eligible for the maximum
capital gain rate of 28 percent. The election may be made for
net capital gains recognized by noncorporate taxpayers during any
taxable year beginning after December 31, 1992.
(b) Time and manner for making the election. The election
under section 163(d)(4)(B)(iii) must be made on or before the due
date (including extensions) of the income tax return for the
taxable year in which the net capital gain is recognized. The
election is to be made on Form 4952, Investment Interest Expense
Deduction, in accordance with the Form and its instructions.
(c) Revocability of election. The election described in
this section is revocable with the consent of the Commissioner.
(d) Effective date. The rules set forth in this section are
effective December 12, 1996.
Par. 8. Section 1.1044(a)-1 is added to read as follows:
1.1044(a)-1 Time and manner for making election under the
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.
(a) Description. Section 1044(a), as added by section 13114
of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-
66, 107 Stat. 430), generally allows individuals and C
corporations that sell publicly traded securities after August 9,
1993, to elect not to recognize certain gain from the sale if the
taxpayer purchases common stock or a partnership interest in a
specialized small business investment company (SSBIC) within the
60-day period beginning on the date the publicly traded
securities are sold.
(b) Time and manner for making the election. The election
under section 1044(a) must be made on or before the due date
(including extensions) for the income tax return for the year in
which the publicly traded securities are sold. The election is
to be made by reporting the entire gain from the sale of publicly
traded securities on Schedule D of the income tax return in
accordance with instructions for Schedule D, and by attaching a
statement to Schedule D showing --
(1) How the nonrecognized gain was calculated;
(2) The SSBIC in which common stock or a partnership
interest was purchased;
(3) The date the SSBIC stock or partnership interest
was purchased; and
(4) The basis of the SSBIC stock or partnership
interest.
(c) Revocability of election. The election described in
this section is revocable with the consent of the Commissioner.
(d) Effective date. The rules set forth in this section are
effective December 12, 1996.
Par. 9. Section 1.6655(e)-1 is added to read as follows.
1.6655(e)-1 Time and manner for making election under the
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.
(a) Description. Section 6655(e)(2)(C), as added by section
13225 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Public
Law 103-66, 107 Stat. 486), allows a corporate taxpayer to make
an annual election to use a different annualization period to
determine annualized income for purposes of paying any required
installment of estimated income tax for a taxable year beginning
after December 31, 1993.
(b) Time and manner for making the election. An election
under section 6655(e)(2)(C) must be made on or before the date
required for the payment of the first required installment for
the taxable year. For a calendar or fiscal year corporation,
Form 8842, Election to Use Different Annualization Periods for
Corporate Estimated Tax, must be filed by the 15th day of the 4th
month of the taxable year for which the election is to apply.
Form 8842 must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service Center
where the corporation files its income tax return.
(c) Revocability of election. The election described in
this section is irrevocable.
(d) Effective date. The rules set forth in this section are
effective December 12, 1996.
PART 602--OMB CONTROL NUMBERS UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
Par. 10. The authority citation for part 602 continues to
read as follows:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805.
Par. 11. In 602.101, paragraph (c) is amended as follows:
1. The following entries are removed from the table:
602.101 OMB Control numbers.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
CFR part or section where Current OMB
identified and described control No.
* * * * *
1.108(c)-1T............................................1545-1421
* * * * *
1.163(d)-1T............................................1545-1421
* * * * *
1.1044(a)-1T...........................................1545-1421
* * * * *
1.6655(e)-1T...........................................1545-1421
* * * * *
2. The following entries are added in numerical order to the
table:
602.101 OMB Control numbers.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
CFR part or section where Current OMB
identified and described control no.
* * * * *
1.108(c)-1.............................................1545-1421
* * * * *
1.163(d)-1.............................................1545-1421
* * * * *
1.1044(a)-1............................................1545-1421
* * * * *
1.6655(e)-1............................................1545-1421
* * * * *
/s/ Margaret Milner Richardson
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Approved: November 1, 1996
/s/ Donald C. Lubick
Acting, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury