Safe Harbor for Valuation Under Section 475., 32172-32181 [E7-11146]

Agencies

• Internal Revenue Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 12, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32172-32181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11146]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Parts 1 and 602

[TD 9328]
RIN 1545-BB90


Safe Harbor for Valuation Under Section 475.

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Final regulations.

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SUMMARY: This document sets forth an elective safe harbor that permits 
dealers in securities and dealers in commodities to elect to use the 
values of positions reported on certain financial statements as the 
fair market values of those positions for purposes of section 475 of 
the Internal Revenue Code (Code). This safe harbor is intended to 
reduce the compliance burden on taxpayers and to improve the 
administrability of the valuation requirement of section 475 for the 
IRS.

DATES: Effective Date: These regulations are effective on June 12, 
2007.
    Applicability Dates: Section 1.475(a)-4, concerning a safe harbor 
to use applicable financial statement values for purposes of section 
475, applies to taxable years ending on or after June 12, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marsha A. Sabin or John W. Rogers III 
(202) 622-3950 (not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collection of information contained in these final regulations 
has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507(d)) under control number 1545-1945. Comments on the accuracy of 
the estimated burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be 
sent to the Internal Revenue Service, Attn: IRS Reports Clearance 
Officer, SE:W:CAR:MP:T:T:SP, Washington, DC 20224.
    The collection of information in these regulations is in Sec.  
1.475(a)-4(f)(1) and Sec.  1.475(a)-4(k). This information is required 
by the IRS to avoid any uncertainty about whether a taxpayer has made 
an election and to verify compliance with section 475 and the safe 
harbor method of accounting described in Sec.  1.475(a)-4(d). This 
information will be used to facilitate examination of returns and to 
determine whether the amount of tax has been calculated correctly. The 
collection of the information is required to properly determine the 
amount of income or deduction to be taken into account. The taxpayers 
providing this information are sophisticated dealers in securities or 
commodities.
    Estimated total annual recordkeeping burden: 49,232 hours.
    Estimated average annual burden per recordkeeper: 4-6 hours.
    Estimated number of recordkeepers: 12,308.
    Estimated frequency of recordkeeping: Annually.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid 
control number.
    Books and records relating to the collection of information must be

[[Page 32173]]

retained as long as their contents might 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 amendments to 26 CFR Part 1 under section 
475 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). Section 475 was added to the 
Code by section 13223(a) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 
1993 (Pub. L. 103-66, 107 Stat. 312). Section 475(a) generally provides 
that the securities held by dealers in securities must be valued as of 
the last business day of the year at fair market value. Section 475(e) 
allows dealers in commodities to elect similar treatment for their 
commodities. Under section 475(f), if a person is engaged in a trade or 
business as a trader in securities or a trader in commodities, the 
person may elect for the section 475 mark-to-market regime to apply to 
their trade or business.
    Section 475(g) directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations that 
may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of section 
475. The legislative history of section 475 indicates that, under this 
authority, the Secretary may issue regulations to permit the use of 
valuation methodologies that reduce the administrative burden of 
compliance on the taxpayer but clearly reflect income for Federal 
income tax purposes. On May 5, 2003, the Treasury Department and the 
IRS published in the Federal Register an advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking (Safe Harbor for Satisfying Certain Statutory Requirements 
for Valuation under Section 475 for Certain Securities and Commodities) 
(REG-100420-03) [68 FR 23632] (the ANPRM); Announcement 2003-35, 2003-1 
CB 956 (see Sec.  601.601(d)(2)). The ANPRM solicited comments on 
whether a safe harbor approach using values reported on an applicable 
financial statement for certain securities may be used for purposes of 
section 475. On May 24, 2005, the Treasury Department and the IRS 
published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (Safe 
Harbor for Valuation under Section 475) (REG-100420-03) [70 FR 29663] 
(the NPRM). The NPRM set forth a possible safe harbor for valuing these 
securities and asked for comments on various aspects of the safe 
harbor. A public hearing was held on September 15, 2005. The IRS 
received written and electronic comments responding to the NPRM. After 
consideration of all comments, the proposed regulations are adopted as 
amended by this Treasury decision. The amendments are discussed in this 
preamble.

Explanation of Provisions and Summary of Contents

Overview

    Section 475(a) requires dealers in securities to mark their 
securities to market. Section 475(e) allows dealers in commodities to 
elect similar treatment for their commodities. If the security or 
commodity is inventory, it must be included in inventory at its fair 
market value. If it is not inventory and is held at the end of the 
taxable year, gain or loss is recognized as if the security or 
commodity had been sold for its fair market value on the last business 
day of the taxable year.
    Although the term ``fair market value'' has a long-standing and 
well-established meaning within the tax law, it is sometimes difficult 
to determine the fair market value of certain securities and 
commodities. This has impeded the efficient administration of the mark-
to-market system under section 475. Consequently, with a view to 
improving the administrability of the valuation requirements of section 
475, the Treasury Department and the IRS issued the NPRM, which set 
forth a safe harbor for valuing securities and commodities under 
section 475.
    These final regulations adopt the approach of the NPRM with the 
modifications discussed in this preamble.

Underlying Principles of the Safe Harbor

    The safe harbor generally permits eligible taxpayers to elect to 
have the values that are reported for eligible positions on certain 
financial statements treated as the fair market values of those 
eligible positions for purposes of section 475, if certain conditions 
are met. The safe harbor is based upon the principle that if the mark-
to-market method used for financial reporting is sufficiently 
consistent with the mark-to-market method required by section 475, then 
the values used for financial reporting should be acceptable values for 
purposes of section 475. To ensure minimal divergence from fair market 
value under tax principles, these regulations impose certain 
restrictions on the financial accounting methods and financial 
statements that are eligible for the safe harbor and also require 
certain adjustments to the values of the eligible positions on those 
financial statements that may be used under the safe harbor.
    The safe harbor and its various requirements and limitations are 
based upon the business model for derivatives dealers that was 
described in comments received in response to the ANPRM and the NPRM. 
According to these comments, dealers seek to capture and profit from 
bid-ask spreads in the marketplace by entering into balanced portfolios 
for their derivatives, that is, positions that offset each other, 
either individually or in the aggregate. Although dealers may have some 
open positions, they seek to have balanced portfolios with a majority 
of positions offsetting each other. Those offsetting positions 
generally remain on dealers' books over the terms of the positions.
    The spread between bid and ask values contains the dealer's profit, 
which compensates the dealer for all risks and expenses. The creation 
of a balanced portfolio may be seen as giving rise to a synthetic 
annuity, with a value that is largely immune from market-related 
changes in the values of the component positions. At the time the 
dealer has entered into the offsetting positions and created the 
synthetic annuity, all steps required to earn the income from the 
synthetic annuity have been completed. Recognizing the present value of 
the income attributable to the bid-ask spread is appropriate in the 
taxable year the synthetic annuity is created. For a matched book of 
eligible positions, such as a dealer's portfolio of interest rate swap 
contracts, use of bid or ask values approximates realization accounting 
and fails to recognize in income the present value of the synthetic 
annuity in the taxable year that the synthetic annuity is created. The 
final regulations are to be applied in a manner consistent with the 
premise that the present value of the synthetic annuity should be 
recognized in income not later than the taxable year in which the 
synthetic annuity is created.
    Commentators described a different business model for securities 
that are not derivatives, commonly known as physicals. Under this 
model, dealers plan on rapid turnover of the physicals that are traded 
on qualified boards or exchanges or on liquid over-the-counter markets. 
Except for those acquired at the end of the taxable year, the 
acquisition and disposition of a physical occurs within a single 
taxable year, so that the effect of capturing a bid-ask spread also 
occurs entirely within that year. Consequently, for securities traded 
on a qualified board or exchange, as defined under section 1256(g)(7), 
there is little difference between the results of realization and mark-
to-market accounting, and little opportunity for manipulation.

[[Page 32174]]

Eligible Taxpayers

    The NPRM provided that traders could elect to use the safe harbor. 
In both the ANPRM and the NPRM, the Treasury Department and IRS asked 
for comments addressing whether traders in securities and commodities 
should be able to elect the safe harbor and whether the business model 
for traders differs from the business model for dealers. The 
commentators that recommended that the safe harbor apply to traders did 
so without providing information about the business model for traders 
and without suggesting how the limitations set forth in the NPRM would 
apply to traders. Without a full understanding of the business model 
for traders, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that 
it would be unwise to include traders in the safe harbor at this time. 
Accordingly, the final regulations provide that the safe harbor is 
available only to taxpayers who are dealers in securities under section 
475(a) or who are dealers in commodities and are subject to the 
election described in section 475(e)(1).

Eligible Positions

    Because financial markets and products evolve rapidly, listing the 
securities and commodities in the regulations would make the 
regulations less flexible and dynamic in the future. To ensure that the 
safe harbor will be adaptable and administrable in a changing 
environment, the Commissioner will issue concurrently with these final 
regulations a revenue procedure that will list the types of securities 
and commodities that are subject to the safe harbor. This revenue 
procedure may be updated as necessary.
    It is important to note, however, that the valuation methodology 
under the safe harbor applies only for positions that, taking into 
account any elections and identifications that are in effect, are 
required to be marked to market under section 475. That is, the safe 
harbor only addresses valuation and does not expand or contract the 
scope or application of section 475. For example, if a security is not 
marked to market under section 475 because it has been properly 
identified as held for investment, then it may not be marked to market 
for Federal income tax purposes even though the safe harbor election is 
in effect and the security is properly marked to market on the 
financial statement in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted 
Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP). Similarly, if a security is not 
marked to market on the applicable financial statement because, for 
example, it is a hedge for financial statement purposes but section 
475(a) applies because the security is not a hedging transaction for 
tax purposes, then the security must nevertheless be marked to market 
under section 475.

Eligible Method

    The NPRM set forth four core requirements that a financial 
accounting method must satisfy in order to be eligible for the safe 
harbor. First, the method must mark eligible positions to market 
through valuations made as of the last business day of each taxable 
year. Second, it must recognize into income on the income statement any 
gain or loss from marking eligible positions to market. Third, it must 
recognize into income on the income statement any gain or loss on 
disposition of an eligible position as if a year-end mark occurred 
immediately before the disposition. Fourth, it must arrive at fair 
value in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
    In addition to these core requirements, the NPRM imposed certain 
limitations to ensure minimal divergence from fair market value. Under 
the first limitation, the financial accounting method must not result 
in values at or near the bid or ask values, even if the use of bid or 
ask values is permissible under U.S. GAAP. This limitation applies to 
all eligible positions except those that are traded on a qualified 
board or exchange, as defined in section 1256(g)(7). This limitation 
ensures that a sufficient portion of the synthetic annuity captured by 
a dealer is reported in the correct accounting period of that dealer.
    Under the second limitation in the NPRM, if a method of valuation 
is based on the present value of projected cash flows from an eligible 
position or positions, that method must not take into account any 
income or expense attributable to a period or time on or before the 
valuation date. This limitation ensures that items of income or expense 
will not be accounted for twice, first through current recognition and 
then again in the mark.
    Under the third limitation in the NPRM, no cost or risk may be 
accounted for more than once, either directly or indirectly. For 
example, a financial accounting method may allow a special adjustment 
for credit risk. If, however, a method computes the present value of 
projected cash flows using a discount rate that takes credit risk into 
account and the method employs a special adjustment that takes some or 
all of the credit risk into account, then the method does not satisfy 
this limitation. This limitation ensures that items of income or 
expense will not be accounted for twice.
    Most of the comments received on the NPRM focused on the core 
requirements and limitations for eligible methods. As explained in this 
preamble, the final regulations address those comments, rejecting some 
suggestions and modifying the regulations in response to others. The 
majority of the comments focused on (1) requiring changes in value to 
be reported on the income statement, (2) limiting the use of bid and 
ask values, and (3) excepting certain types of physical securities from 
the bid-ask limitation.

Income Statement Requirement--Sec.  1.475(a)-4(d)(2)(ii)

    Some commentators suggested that eligible taxpayers be allowed to 
report changes in value on either the balance sheet or the income 
statement, because both are rigorously reviewed. They also expressed 
concern that, because certain items of other comprehensive income 
generally appear on the balance sheet and not on the income statement, 
the methodology used by many taxpayers for financial reporting would 
fail to be an eligible method and, therefore, would not satisfy the 
safe harbor.
    When changes in value appear on the income statement, they also 
appear in retained earnings and in earnings-per-share. This creates a 
tension between the benefits of higher earnings for financial reporting 
and the benefit of lower income for tax reporting. This tension helps 
to ensure the reliability of values for tax purposes, a fundamental 
concept underlying the safe harbor. Balance sheet items, such as other 
comprehensive income, do not have the same tension. Therefore, the 
final regulations retain the income statement requirement of the NPRM.

Bid-Ask Limitation

    Some commentators suggested that the bid-ask limitation be 
eliminated to make it easier for taxpayers to qualify for the safe 
harbor. These commentators indicated that dealers generally do not 
retain records of individual positions' bid-ask spreads for any 
meaningful period of time, and it would be burdensome to monitor the 
spreads of those positions for which records do exist.
    The safe harbor set forth in the NPRM does not add to taxpayers' 
existing recordkeeping burden. Without the safe harbor, other sections 
of the Code would require taxpayers to keep records to prove the values 
of individual positions or to keep records of spreads if taxpayers 
account for their income and loss based on those spreads. The safe

[[Page 32175]]

harbor simply allows taxpayers to use those same records to prepare 
both the applicable financial statement and their tax return. 
Accordingly, the bid-ask limitation has been retained in the final 
regulations.
    Additionally, according to some commentators, the requirement in 
the NPRM that values should be nearer to the mid-market value than to 
the bid or ask value could be interpreted in two ways. First, it could 
be a requirement that, if not met for a particular position, would 
disqualify an entire financial accounting method as an eligible method. 
Second, it could be a safe harbor that, if not met for a particular 
position, would not disqualify the method but would require the 
taxpayer to prove that the method consistently produces values nearer 
to mid-market than to bid or ask. The final regulations make it clear 
that this provision is a safe harbor and that a method that may 
occasionally produce a value that is not nearer to mid-market than to 
bid or ask will not preclude use of the safe harbor.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS also received suggestions from 
commentators seeking expansion of the exceptions to the bid-ask 
limitations. Some commentators noted that the exception for exchange-
traded positions in the NPRM was too narrow because it did not cover 
those equities and debt securities, such as Treasury obligations, that 
are traded in very liquid, over-the-counter markets and have easily 
determinable values. These commentators suggested that, rather than 
limit the exception to positions on qualified boards or exchanges as 
defined in section 1256(g)(7), the regulations should include within 
the exception all positions for which there is an established financial 
market within the meaning of Sec.  1.1092(d)-1(b).
    The exception for positions that are traded on a qualified board or 
exchange described in section 1256(g)(7) was included in the NPRM to 
except those positions with spreads so small that applying the bid-ask 
limitation would have little effect on the determination of fair market 
value. Because section 1092 is an anti-abuse provision that Congress 
intended to be broad in scope, the definition of established financial 
market in Sec.  1.1092(d)-1(b) reflects a corresponding breadth. Thus, 
expansion of the exception for exchange-traded positions by reference 
to Sec.  1.1092(d)-1(b) might inappropriately except too many positions 
from the general bid-ask limitation. For example, many derivative 
contracts for which dealers lock in spreads are positions for which 
there is an established financial market. See Sec.  1.1092(d)-1(b), 
(c). Consequently, the reference to section 1256(g)(7) has been 
retained.
    Some of the comments about the bid-ask exception were prompted by 
the view that debt instruments should be excepted from the bid-ask 
limitation for some of the same reasons as positions traded on a 
1256(g)(7) board or exchange.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS, however, decline at this time 
to adopt the suggestion that debt instruments be generally excepted 
from the bid-ask limitation. The Treasury Department and the IRS 
recognize that dealers' business model for debt instruments generally 
is to turn over debt securities very rapidly and that dealers have a 
strong economic incentive to do so because holding debt securities 
consumes balance sheet resources and poses risk management issues. 
Nevertheless, based on comments received, the Treasury Department and 
the IRS do not possess sufficient information to conclude that spreads 
in the over-the-counter debt markets are de minimis. Additionally, debt 
instruments may be used to lock in spreads with respect to open 
positions in other instruments, such as derivatives. Therefore, 
excepting over-the-counter debt instruments from the bid-ask limitation 
may be contrary to the tenets of the dealer business model for 
derivatives. Moreover, excepting debt instruments from the bid-ask 
limitation might introduce a tax-motivated distortion into the 
marketplace, as taxpayers may decide to lock in spreads with tax-
advantaged instruments rather than with instruments that are selected 
on the basis of their non-tax economic attributes. The Commissioner 
may, however, designate additional positions as being exempt from the 
bid-ask limitation.
    Understanding the need for a limitation on the use of bid and ask 
values, one commentator suggested an open position exception to the 
bid-ask limitation. Under this alternative, offsetting positions in the 
balanced portion of a portfolio would not be valued at or near the bid 
or ask values. Open positions, however, would not be subject to this 
limitation. Instead, they could be valued at any value between and 
including the bid and ask values. According to this commentator, the 
bid-ask limitation ensures that the present value of the income 
attributable to the bid-ask spread is recognized in the taxable year 
the synthetic annuity is created. Open positions, it was noted, do not 
create a synthetic annuity so the bid-ask limitation need not apply to 
them.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS decline to adopt the rule 
suggested by this commentator. Under a mark-to-market system, when a 
dealer enters into an open position with a customer, that dealer has 
captured the spread inherent in that customer position, even if the 
customer position is not offset by another position. Although it can be 
argued that a dealer may be forced to pay a spread to obtain a position 
offsetting the open customer position, to assume a dealer would do so 
across the board would be to ascribe customer status (which is paying 
spreads) to the dealer, a result inconsistent with the dealer business 
model (which is charging spreads). Additionally, in the event a dealer 
actually pays a spread to offset the open customer position, the 
disadvantageous terms of the offsetting position will be reflected in 
the mark-to-market valuation of that position. Administrability is also 
a concern. Before accepting the suggestion that a dealer should 
recognize no mark-to-market income from any open position until the 
position is offset by one or more other positions, the Treasury 
Department and the IRS would need more information regarding the manner 
in which to verify the process for determining the proper amounts of 
adjustments taxpayers will use to achieve this result.

Eligible Methods, Eligible Positions and the Safe Harbor Election

    The final regulations modify the NPRM by providing that the 
election to use the safe harbor is made by filing a statement with the 
taxpayer's return declaring that the taxpayer makes the safe harbor 
election for all eligible positions for which it has an eligible 
method. An example elaborating on this concept has been added to the 
final regulations.

Applicable Financial Statements

    Not all financial statements qualify under the safe harbor. 
Consequently, these regulations set forth a system that enables a 
taxpayer to determine which one of its financial statements, if any, 
may be used when applying the safe harbor. The final regulations adopt 
the provisions of the NPRM on applicable financial statements.
    Some commentators expressed concern that U.S. branches of foreign 
banks would not be eligible to use the safe harbor because they do not 
prepare financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The comments 
suggested that many of these branches prepare their financial 
statements in accordance with rules that are substantially similar to 
U.S. GAAP and, therefore, should be

[[Page 32176]]

permitted to use those non-U.S. GAAP financial statements for purposes 
of the safe harbor. The commentators also suggested that call reports 
submitted to U.S. bank regulators by foreign banks have sufficient 
indicia of reliability to merit use in the safe harbor, even though 
changes over time in the values in those reports may not be directly 
reflected in income statements prepared according to U.S. GAAP.
    As noted in this preamble, the safe harbor is based on the concept 
that, with appropriate limitations, mark-to-market values used on 
certain financial statements can be sufficiently consistent with fair 
market values under section 475. The IRS and Treasury Department have 
concluded that the requirements and limitations of the safe harbor 
ensure sufficient consistency when applied to financial statements 
prepared according to U.S. GAAP. This conclusion is less clear when the 
requirements and limitations are applied to financial statements 
prepared under other accounting regimes. Consequently, the final 
regulations retain the requirement that applicable financial statements 
be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The final regulations retain 
the requirement in the NPRM that, to be an eligible method, a financial 
statement method of accounting must cause changes in value to be 
recognized into income on the income statement.
    Nevertheless, making it practical for foreign banks to use the safe 
harbor for their U.S. branches could be valuable not only to the 
foreign banks but also to the IRS in its administration and application 
of section 475. Therefore, the IRS and Treasury Department are 
interested in expanding the scope of these regulations so that they may 
apply in the future to foreign banks. Answers to the following 
questions would facilitate efforts to achieve that expansion. First, 
should the safe harbor require that the values reported in the call 
report of the foreign bank be the same values that are reported in the 
income statement filed in the foreign bank's home country? If so, 
should the foreign bank, together with its certified independent 
registered public accountant, file with the U.S. tax return, subject to 
penalties of perjury, a statement to that effect?
    Second, should the valuation standards used in the foreign bank's 
home country be identical to the valuation standards under U.S. GAAP, 
and if not identical, in what ways may they differ? If so, should the 
foreign bank, together with its certified independent registered public 
accountant, file a statement with the U.S. tax return, subject to 
penalties of perjury, describing the differences, if any, between the 
foreign country valuation standards and those under U.S. GAAP? Further, 
should the foreign valuation standards be fully consistent with, and 
should the foreign country have formally adopted, International 
Financial Reporting Standards as published by the International 
Accounting Standards Board?
    Third, should the income statement filed by the foreign bank be 
filed with the foreign bank's home country bank regulator (as distinct 
from a market regulator like the SEC)?
    Fourth, for purposes of these questions, should the term ``home 
country'' mean the country in which the foreign bank is chartered or 
incorporated?

Record Retention and Production

    The safe harbor will be administrable only if the IRS can readily 
verify that the financial statements at issue are taxpayers' applicable 
financial statements, that the accounting methods used are eligible 
methods, and that the values used on the applicable financial 
statements are also used on the Federal income tax return. 
Consequently, recordkeeping and record production are critical to the 
effective administration of the safe harbor.
    These final regulations retain the provisions of the NPRM regarding 
record retention and production. They provide specific requirements for 
the types of records that must be maintained and provided, to enable 
ready verification. In general, electing taxpayers must clearly show: 
(1) That the same value used for financial reporting was used on the 
Federal income tax return; (2) that no eligible position subject to 
section 475 is excluded from the application of the safe harbor; and 
(3) that only eligible positions subject to section 475 are carried 
over to the Federal income tax return under the safe harbor.
    Commentators expressed concern that the language of the NPRM 
requiring all schedules, exhibits, computer programs, and other 
information used to produce values was too broad, making it difficult 
to know what materials must be retained and produced. They also 
expressed concern that a requirement to keep computer programs and 
information used in producing values not only would require taxpayers 
to keep information about models that are changed frequently but also 
would encourage IRS employees to examine valuation models not just for 
compliance with the definition of ``eligible method'' but also for 
examining the accuracy of the underlying valuations.
    The final regulations retain the record retention and production 
requirements set forth in the NPRM. Other sections of the Code already 
require taxpayers to maintain records sufficient to support the 
accuracy of items reported on their Federal tax returns. Except for a 
possible increase in the retention period in some instances, therefore, 
the final regulations create no additional burden. To avoid confusion 
or undue burden, the final regulations permit a taxpayer to enter into 
an agreement with the IRS specifying which records must be maintained, 
how they must be maintained, and for how long they must be maintained. 
These agreements may include terms covering the maintenance of computer 
programs and information used in producing values.
    The maintenance and production requirements of the regulations 
preclude undue delay in producing records. One commentator suggested 
that the 30-day deadline provided too little time to produce records. 
During the development of these regulations, the IRS conducted a test 
program to determine not only whether values could be traced from 
financial statements to the tax return but also how long it would take 
for taxpayers to produce the necessary records. This test program 
demonstrated that 30 days was generally a sufficient period of time. 
For specific cases, the Commissioner may excuse failures to provide 
records within 30 days if the taxpayer shows reasonable cause for the 
failure and has made a good faith effort to comply. As noted above, the 
taxpayer may also enter into an agreement with the Commissioner that 
sets forth a different time period. Accordingly, the final regulations 
retain the general 30-day requirement.

Special Analyses

    It has been determined that this Treasury decision is not a 
significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. 
Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It has also been 
determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 
U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these regulations. It is hereby 
certified that the collection of information in these regulations will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. This certification is based upon the expectation that the 
safe harbor will be used primarily by dealers in securities that are 
financial institutions with a sophisticated understanding of the 
capital markets. Because section 475 is

[[Page 32177]]

elective for dealers in commodities, some small businesses could 
qualify for the safe harbor if they make two voluntary elections: (1) 
An election to mark to market commodities under section 475 and (2) an 
election to apply the safe harbor. Because both elections are 
voluntary, it is unlikely any small business taxpayer who thinks the 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements are too burdensome will make 
these elections. Furthermore, the total average estimated burden per 
taxpayer is small, as reported earlier in the preamble. This is because 
most of the recordkeeping requirements do not require taxpayers to 
generate new records, but instead require records used for financial 
reporting purposes to be kept for tax reporting purposes. For all of 
these reasons, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) is not required. Pursuant to 
section 7805(f) of the Code, the notice of rulemaking preceding this 
regulation was submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration for comment on their impact on small business.

Drafting Information

    The principal authors of these regulations are Marsha A. Sabin and 
John W. Rogers III, Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (Financial 
Institutions and Products). However, other personnel from the IRS 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

0
Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1 and 602 are amended as follows:

PART 1--INCOME TAXES

0
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by adding an 
entry in numerical order to read in part as follows:

    Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
    Section 1.475(a)-4 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 475(g). * * *


0
Par. 2. Section 1.475-0 is amended by:
0
1. Revising the introductory text.
0
2. Adding entries to the table for Sec.  1.475(a)-4.
0
3. Redesignating the entry for Sec.  1.475(e)-1 as Sec.  1.475(g)-1.
    The revision and addition reads as follows:


Sec.  1.475-0  Table of contents.

    This section lists the major captions in Sec. Sec.  1.475(a)-3, 
1.475(a)-4, 1.475(b)-1, 1.475(b)-2, 1.475(b)-4, 1.475(c)-1, 1.475(c)-2, 
1.475(d)-1 and 1.475(g)-1.
* * * * *

Sec.  1.475(a)-4 Safe Harbor for Valuation Under Section 475.

    (a) Overview.
    (1) Purpose.
    (2) Dealer business model.
    (3) Summary of paragraphs.
    (b) Safe harbor.
    (1) General rule.
    (2) Example. Use of eligible and non-eligible methods.
    (3) Scope of the safe harbor.
    (c) Eligible taxpayer.
    (d) Eligible method.
    (1) Sufficient consistency.
    (2) General requirements.
    (i) Frequency.
    (ii) Recognition at the mark.
    (iii) Recognition on disposition.
    (iv) Fair value standard.
    (3) Limitations.
    (i) Bid-ask method.
    (A) General Rule.
    (B) Safe harbor.
    (ii) Valuations based on present values of projected cash flows.
    (iii) Accounting for costs and risks.
    (4) Examples.
    (e) Compliance with other rules.
    (f) Election.
    (1) Making the election.
    (2) Duration of the election.
    (3) Revocation.
    (i) By the taxpayer.
    (ii) By the Commissioner.
    (4) Re-election.
    (g) Eligible positions.
    (h) Applicable financial statement.
    (1) Definition.
    (2) Primary financial statement.
    (i) Statement required to be filed with Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC).
    (ii) Statement filed with a Federal agency other than the IRS.
    (iii) Certified audited financial statement.
    (3) Example. Primary financial statement.
    (4) Financial statements of equal priority.
    (5) Consolidated groups.
    (6) Supplement or amendment to a financial statement.
    (7) Certified audited financial statement.
    (i) [Reserved.]
    (j) Significant business use.
    (1) In general.
    (2) Financial statement value.
    (3) Management of a business as a dealer.
    (4) Significant use.
    (k) Retention and production of records.
    (1) In general.
    (2) Specific requirements.
    (i) Reconciliation.
    (A) In general.
    (B) Values on books and records with supporting schedules.
    (C) Consolidation schedules.
    (ii) Instructions provided by the Commissioner.
    (3) Time for producing records.
    (4) Retention period for records.
    (5) Agreements with the Commissioner.
    (l) [Reserved.]
    (m) Use of different values.
* * * * *


Sec.  1.475(g)-1  Effective dates.

0
Par. 3. Section 1.475(a)-4 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.475(a)-4  Valuation safe harbor.

    (a) Overview--(1) Purpose. This section sets forth a safe harbor 
that, under certain circumstances, permits taxpayers to elect to use 
the values of positions reported on certain financial statements as the 
fair market values of those positions for purposes of section 475. This 
safe harbor is based on the principle that, if a mark-to-market method 
used for financial reporting is sufficiently consistent with the 
requirements of section 475 and if the financial statement employing 
that method has certain indicia of reliability, then the values used on 
that financial statement may be used for purposes of section 475. If 
other provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or regulations require 
adjustments to fair market value, use of the safe harbor does not 
eliminate the need for those adjustments. See paragraph (e) of this 
section.
    (2) Dealer business model. The safe harbor is based on the business 
model for a derivatives dealer. Under this model, the dealer seeks to 
capture and profit from bid-ask spreads in the marketplace by entering 
into substantially offsetting positions with customers that will remain 
on the derivatives dealer's books over their terms. Because the 
positions in the aggregate tend to offset each other, the dealer has 
achieved a predictable net cash flow (for example, a synthetic annuity) 
that reflects the captured bid-ask spread. This net cash flow is 
generally impervious to market fluctuations in the values on which the 
component derivatives are based. Section 475 requires current 
recognition of the present value of the net cash flow attributable to 
the capture of these spreads.
    (3) Summary of paragraphs. Paragraph (b) of this section sets forth 
the safe harbor. To determine who may use the safe harbor, paragraph 
(c) of this section defines the term ``eligible taxpayer.'' Paragraph 
(d) of this section sets forth the basic requirements for determining 
whether the method used for financial reporting is sufficiently 
consistent with the requirements of

[[Page 32178]]

section 475. Paragraph (e) of this section describes adjustments to the 
financial statement values that may be required for purposes of 
applying this safe harbor. Paragraph (f) of this section describes the 
procedure for making the safe harbor election and the conditions under 
which the election may be revoked. Paragraph (g) of this section 
provides that the Commissioner will issue a revenue procedure that 
lists the types of securities and commodities that are eligible 
positions for purposes of the safe harbor. Using rules for determining 
priorities among financial statements, paragraph (h) of this section 
defines the term ``applicable financial statement'' and so describes 
the financial statement, if any, whose values may be used in the safe 
harbor. In some cases, as required by paragraph (j) of this section, 
the safe harbor is available only if the taxpayer's operations make 
significant business use of financial statement values. Paragraph (k) 
of this section sets forth requirements for record retention and record 
production. Paragraph (m) of this section provides that the 
Commissioner may use fair market values that clearly reflect income, 
but which differ from values used on the applicable financial 
statement, if an electing taxpayer fails to comply with the 
recordkeeping and record production requirements of paragraph (k) of 
this section.
    (b) Safe harbor--(1) General rule. Subject to any adjustment 
required by paragraph (e) of this section, if an eligible taxpayer uses 
an eligible method for the valuation of an eligible position on its 
applicable financial statement and the eligible taxpayer is subject to 
the election described in paragraph (f) of this section, the value that 
the eligible taxpayer assigns to that eligible position on its 
applicable financial statement is the fair market value of the eligible 
position for purposes of section 475 and must be used for purposes of 
section 475, even if that value is not the fair market value of the 
position for any other purpose of the internal revenue laws. 
Notwithstanding the rule set forth in this paragraph, the Commissioner 
may, in certain circumstances, use fair market values that clearly 
reflect income but differ from the values used on the applicable 
financial statement. See paragraph (m) of this section.

    (2) Example. Use of eligible and non-eligible methods. X uses 
eligible methods on its applicable financial statement for some, but 
not all, securities and commodities that are eligible positions. 
When X elects into the safe harbor, the election applies to all 
eligible positions for which X has an eligible method. Therefore, 
once the election is in effect, the financial statement values for 
eligible positions for which X has an eligible method are the fair 
market values of those eligible positions for purposes of section 
475. Since X, however, does not have an eligible method for all 
eligible positions, those eligible positions for which X does not 
have an eligible method remain subject to the fair market value 
requirements of section 475 as set out in case law and otherwise.

    (3) Scope of the safe harbor. The safe harbor may be used only to 
determine values for eligible positions that are properly marked to 
market under section 475. It does not determine whether any positions 
may or may not be subject to mark-to-market accounting under section 
475.
    (c) Eligible taxpayer. An eligible taxpayer is--
    (1) A dealer in securities, as defined in section 475(c)(1); or
    (2) A dealer in commodities, as defined in section 475(e), that is 
subject to an election under section 475(e).
    (d) Eligible method--(1) Sufficient consistency. An eligible method 
is a mark-to-market method that is sufficiently consistent with the 
requirements of a mark-to-market method under section 475. To be 
sufficiently consistent with the requirements of a mark-to-market 
method under section 475, the eligible method must satisfy all of the 
requirements of paragraph (d)(2) and paragraph (d)(3) of this section.
    (2) General requirements. The method--
    (i) Frequency. Must require a valuation of the eligible position no 
less frequently than annually, including a valuation as of the last 
business day of the taxable year;
    (ii) Recognition at the mark. Must recognize into income on the 
income statement for each taxable year mark-to-market gain or loss 
based upon the valuation or valuations described in paragraph (d)(2)(i) 
of this section;
    (iii) Recognition on disposition. Must require, on disposition of 
the eligible position, recognition into income (on the income statement 
for the taxable year of disposition) as if a year-end mark occurred 
immediately before such disposition; and
    (iv) Fair value standard. Must require use of a valuation standard 
that arrives at fair value in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted 
Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP).
    (3) Limitations--(i) Bid-ask method--(A) General rule. Except for 
eligible positions that are traded on a qualified board or exchange, as 
defined in section 1256(g)(7), or eligible positions that the 
Commissioner designates in a revenue procedure or other published 
guidance, the valuation standard used must not, other than on a de 
minimis portion of a taxpayer's positions, permit values at or near the 
bid or ask value. Consequently, the valuation method described in Sec.  
1.471-4(a)(1) fails to satisfy this paragraph (d)(3)(i)(A).
    (B) Safe harbor. The restriction in paragraph (d)(3)(i)(A) of this 
section is satisfied if the method consistently produces values that 
are closer to the mid-market values than they are to the bid or ask 
values.
    (ii) Valuations based on present values of projected cash flows. If 
the method of valuation consists of projecting cash flows from an 
eligible position or positions and determining the present value of 
those cash flows, the method must not take into account any cash flows 
attributable to a period or time on or before the valuation date. In 
addition, adjustment of the gain or loss recognized on the mark may be 
required with respect to payments that will be made after the valuation 
date to the extent that portions of the payments have been recognized 
for tax purposes before the valuation and appropriate adjustment has 
not been made for purposes of determining financial statement value.
    (iii) Accounting for costs and risks. Valuations may account for 
appropriate costs and risks, but no cost or risk may be accounted for 
more than once, either directly or indirectly. Further, no valuation 
adjustment for any cost or risk may be made for purposes of this safe 
harbor if that valuation adjustment is not also permitted by, and taken 
for, U.S. GAAP purposes on the taxpayer's applicable financial 
statement. If appropriate, the costs and risks that may be accounted 
for include, but are not limited to, credit risk (appropriately 
adjusted for any credit enhancement), future administrative costs, and 
model risk. An adjustment for credit risk is implicit in computing the 
present value of cash flows using a discount rate greater than a risk-
free rate. Accordingly, a determination of whether any further downward 
adjustment to value for credit risk is warranted, or whether an upward 
adjustment is required, must take that implicit adjustment into 
consideration.
    (4) Examples. The following examples illustrate this paragraph (d):

    Example 1. (i) X, a calendar year taxpayer, is a dealer in 
securities within the meaning of section 475(c)(1). X generally 
maintains a balanced portfolio of interest rate swaps and other 
interest rate derivatives, capturing bid-ask spreads and keeping its 
market exposure within desired limits (using, if necessary, 
additional derivatives for this purpose). X uses a mark-to-market 
method on a statement that it is required to file with the United

[[Page 32179]]

States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and that satisfies 
paragraph (d)(2) of this section with respect to both the contracts 
with customers and the additional derivatives. When determining the 
amount of any gain or loss realized on a sale, exchange, or 
termination of a position, X makes a proper adjustment for amounts 
taken into account respecting payments or receipts. All of X's 
counterparties on the derivatives have credit ratings of AA/aa, 
according to standard credit ratings obtained from private credit 
rating agencies.
    (ii) Under X's valuation method, as of each valuation date, X 
determines a mid-market probability distribution of future cash 
flows under the derivatives and computes the present values of these 
cash flows. In computing these present values, X uses an industry 
standard yield curve that is appropriate for obligations by persons 
with credit ratings of AA/aa. In addition, based on information that 
includes its own knowledge about the counterparties, X adjusts some 
of these present values either upward or downward to reflect X's 
reasonable judgment about the extent to which the true credit status 
of each counterparty's obligation, taking credit enhancements into 
account, differs from AA/aa.
    (iii) X's methodology does not violate the requirement in 
paragraph (d)(3)(iii) of this section that the same cost or risk not 
be taken into account, directly or indirectly, more than once.
    Example 2. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except 
that X uses a AAA/aaa rate to discount the payments to be received 
under the derivatives. Based on information that includes its own 
knowledge about the counterparties, X adjusts these present values 
to reflect X's reasonable judgment about the extent to which the 
true credit status of each counterparty's obligation, taking credit 
enhancements into account, differs from a AAA/aaa obligation.
    (ii) X's methodology does not violate the requirement in 
paragraph (d)(3)(iii) of this section that the same cost or risk not 
be taken into account, directly or indirectly, more than once.
    Example 3. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except 
that, after computing present values using the discount rates that 
are appropriate for obligors with credit ratings of AA/aa, and based 
on information that includes X's own knowledge about the 
counterparties, X adjusts some of these present values either upward 
or downward to reflect X's reasonable judgment about the extent to 
which the true credit status of each counterparty's obligation, 
taking credit enhancements into account, differs from AAA/aaa.
    (ii) X's methodology violates the requirement in paragraph 
(d)(3)(iii) of this section that the same cost or risk not be taken 
into account, directly or indirectly, more than once. By using a AA/
aa discount rate, X's method takes into account the difference 
between risk-free obligations and AA/aa obligations. This difference 
includes the difference between a rating of AAA/aaa and one of AA/
aa. By adjusting values for the difference between a rating of AAA/
aaa and one of AA/aa, X takes into account risks that it had already 
accounted for through the discount rates that it used. The same 
result would occur if X judged some of its counterparties' 
obligations to be of AAA/aaa quality but X failed to adjust the 
values of those obligations to reflect the difference between a 
rating of AAA/aaa and one of AA/aa.
    Example 4. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except 
that X determines the mid-market value for each derivative and then 
subtracts the corresponding part of the bid-ask spread.
    (ii) X's methodology violates the rule in paragraph (d)(3)(i) of 
this section that forbids valuing positions at or near the bid or 
ask value.
    Example 5. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1, and, in 
addition, X's adjustments for all risks and costs, including credit 
risk, future administrative costs and model risk, may occasionally 
cause the adjusted value of an eligible position to be at or near 
the bid value or ask value.
    (ii) X's methodology does not violate the rule in paragraph 
(d)(3)(i)(A) of this section that forbids valuing eligible positions 
at or near the bid or ask value.

    (e) Compliance with other rules. Notwithstanding any other 
provisions of this section, the fair market values for purposes of the 
safe harbor must be consistent with section 482, or rules that adopt 
section 482 principles, when applicable. For example, if a notional 
principal contract is subject to section 482 or section 482 principles, 
the values of future cash flows taken into account in determining the 
value of the contract for purposes of section 475 must be consistent 
with section 482.
    (f) Election--(1) Making the election. Unless the Commissioner 
prescribes otherwise, an eligible taxpayer elects under this section by 
filing with the Commissioner a statement declaring that the taxpayer 
makes the safe harbor election in this section for all eligible 
positions for which it has an eligible method. In addition to any other 
information that the Commissioner may require, the statement must 
describe the taxpayer's applicable financial statement for the first 
taxable year for which the election is effective and must state that 
the taxpayer agrees to provide upon the request of the Commissioner all 
information, records, and schedules in the manner required by paragraph 
(k) of this section. The statement must be attached to a timely filed 
Federal income tax return (including extensions) for the taxable year 
for which the election is first effective.
    (2) Duration of the election. Once made, the election continues in 
effect for all subsequent taxable years unless revoked.
    (3) Revocation--(i) By the taxpayer. An eligible taxpayer that is 
subject to an election under this section may revoke the election only 
with the consent of the Commissioner.
    (ii) By the Commissioner. The Commissioner, after consideration of 
the relevant facts and circumstances, may revoke an election under this 
section, effective beginning with the first open year for which the 
election is effective or with any subsequent year, if--
    (A) The taxpayer fails to comply with paragraph (k) of this section 
(concerning record retention and production) and the taxpayer does not 
show reasonable cause for this failure;
    (B) The taxpayer ceases to have an applicable financial statement 
or ceases to use an eligible method; or
    (C) For any other reason, no more than a de minimis number of 
eligible positions, or no more than a de minimis fraction of the 
taxpayer's eligible positions, are covered by the safe harbor in 
paragraph (b) of this section.
    (4) Re-election. If an election is revoked, either by the 
Commissioner or by the taxpayer, the taxpayer (or any successor in 
interest of the taxpayer) may not make the election without the consent 
of the Commissioner for any taxable year that begins before the date 
that is six years after the first day of the earliest taxable year 
affected by the revocation.
    (g) Eligible positions. For any taxpayer, an eligible position is 
any security or commodity that the Commissioner in a revenue procedure 
or other published guidance designates as an eligible position with 
respect to that taxpayer for purposes of this safe harbor.
    (h) Applicable financial statement--(1) Definition. An eligible 
taxpayer's applicable financial statement for a taxable year is the 
taxpayer's primary financial statement for that year if that primary 
financial statement is described in paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this section 
(concerning statements required to be filed with the SEC) or if that 
primary financial statement both meets the requirements of paragraph 
(j) of this section (concerning significant business use) and is 
described in either paragraph (h)(2)(ii) or (iii) of this section. 
Otherwise, or if the taxpayer does not have a primary financial 
statement for the taxable year, the taxpayer does not have an 
applicable financial statement for the taxable year.
    (2) Primary financial statement. For any taxable year, an eligible 
taxpayer's primary financial statement is the financial statement, if 
any, described in one or more of paragraphs (h)(2)(i), (ii), and (iii) 
of this section. If more than one financial statement of the taxpayer 
for the year is so described, the primary financial statement is the 
one first

[[Page 32180]]

described in paragraphs (h)(2)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this section. A 
taxpayer has only one primary financial statement for any taxable year.
    (i) Statement required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC). A financial statement that is prepared in accordance 
with U.S. GAAP and that is required to be filed with the SEC, such as 
the 10--K or the Annual Statement to Shareholders.
    (ii) Statement filed with a Federal agency other than the Internal 
Revenue Service. A financial statement that is prepared in accordance 
with U.S. GAAP and that is required to be provided to the Federal 
government or any of its agencies other than the Internal Revenue 
Service (IRS).
    (iii) Certified audited financial statement. A certified audited 
financial statement that is prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP; that 
is given to creditors for purposes of making lending decisions, given 
to equity holders for purposes of evaluating their investment in the 
eligible taxpayer, or provided for other substantial non-tax purposes; 
and that the taxpayer reasonably anticipates will be directly relied on 
for the purposes for which it was given or provided.

    (3) Example. Primary financial statement. X prepares financial 
statement FS1, which is required to be filed with a Federal 
government agency other than the SEC or the IRS. FS1 is thus 
described in paragraph (h)(2)(ii) of this section. X also prepares 
financial statement FS2, which is a certified audited financial 
statement that is given to creditors and that X reasonably 
anticipates will be relied on for purposes of making lending 
decisions. FS2 is thus described in paragraph (h)(2)(iii) of this 
section. Because FS1, which is described in paragraph (h)(2)(ii) of 
this section, is described before FS2, which is described in 
paragraph (h)(2)(iii) of this section, FS1 is X's primary financial 
statement.

    (4) Financial statements of equal priority. If the rules of 
paragraph (h)(2) of this section cause two or more financial statements 
to be of equal priority, then the statement that results in the highest 
aggregate valuation of eligible positions being marked to market under 
section 475 is the primary financial statement.
    (5) Consolidated groups. If the taxpayer is a member of an 
affiliated group that files a consolidated return, the primary 
financial statement of the taxpayer is the primary financial statement, 
if any, of the common parent (within the meaning of section 1504(a)(1)) 
of the consolidated group.
    (6) Supplement or amendment to a financial statement. A financial 
statement includes any supplement or amendment to the financial 
statement.
    (7) Certified audited financial statement. For purposes of this 
paragraph (h), a financial statement is a certified audited financial 
statement if it is certified by an independent certified public 
accountant from a Registered Public Accounting firm, as defined in 
section 2(a)(12) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Public Law 107-204, 
116 Stat. 746 (July 30, 2002), 15 U.S.C. Sec.  7201(a)(12), and rules 
promulgated under that Act, and is--
    (i) Certified to be fairly presented (a ``clean'' opinion);
    (ii) Certified to be fairly presented subject to a concern about a 
contingency, other than a contingency relating to the value of eligible 
positions (a qualified ``subject to'' opinion); or
    (iii) Certified to be fairly presented except for a method of 
accounting with which the Certified Public Accountant disagrees and 
which is not a method used to determine the value of an eligible 
position held by the eligible taxpayer (a qualified ``except for'' 
opinion).
    (i) [Reserved].
    (j) Significant business use--(1) In general. A financial statement 
is described in this paragraph (j) if--
    (i) The financial statement contains values for eligible positions;
    (ii) The eligible taxpayer makes significant use of financial 
statement values in most of the significant management functions of its 
business; and
    (iii) That use is related to the management of all or substantially 
all of the eligible taxpayer's business.
    (2) Financial statement value. For purposes of this paragraph (j), 
the term financial statement value means--
    (i) A value that is taken from the financial statement; or
    (ii) A value that is produced by a process that is in all respects 
identical to the process that produces the values that appear on the 
financial statement but that is not taken from the statement because 
either--
    (A) The value was determined as of a date for which the financial 
statement does not value eligible positions; or
    (B) The value is used in the management of the business before the 
financial statement has been prepared.
    (3) Management functions of a business. For purposes of this 
paragraph (j), the term management functions of a business refers to 
the financial and commercial oversight of the business. Oversight 
includes, but is not limited to, senior management review of business-
unit profitability, market risk measurement or management, credit risk 
measurement or management, internal allocation of capital, and 
compensation of personnel. Management functions of a business do not 
include either tax accounting or reporting the results of operations to 
persons other than directors or employees.
    (4) Significant use. If an eligible taxpayer uses financial 
statement values for some significant management functions and uses 
values that are not financial statement values for other significant 
management functions, then the determination of whether the taxpayer 
has made significant use of the financial statement values is made on 
the basis of all the facts and circumstances. This determination must 
particularly take into account whether the taxpayer's reliance on the 
financial statement values exposes the taxpayer to material adverse 
economic consequences if the values are incorrect.
    (k) Retention and production of records--(1) In general. In 
addition to all records that section 6001 otherwise requires to be 
retained, an eligible taxpayer subject to the election provided by this 
section must keep, and timely provide to the Commissioner upon request, 
records and books of account that are sufficient to establish that the 
financial statement to which the income tax return conforms is the 
taxpayer's applicable financial statement, that the method used on that 
statement is an eligible method, and that the values used for eligible 
positions for purposes of section 475 are the values used in the 
applicable financial statement. This obligation extends to all records 
and books that are required to be maintained for any period for 
financial or regulatory reporting purposes, even if these records or 
books may not otherwise be specifically covered by section 6001. All 
records and books described in this paragraph (k) must be maintained 
for the period described in paragraph (k)(4) of this section, even if a 
lesser period of retention applies for financial statement or 
regulatory purposes.
    (2) Specific requirements--(i) Verification and reconciliation. 
Unless the Commissioner otherwise provides--
    (A) In general. An eligible taxpayer must provide books and records 
to verify the appropriate use of the safe harbor and reconciliation 
schedules between the applicable financial statement for the taxable 
year and the Federal income tax return for that year. The required 
verification materials and reconciliation schedules include all 
supporting schedules, exhibits, computer programs, and any other 
information used in producing the

[[Page 32181]]

values and schedules, including the documentation of rules and 
procedures governing determination of the values. The required 
reconciliation schedules must also include a detailed explanation of 
any adjustments necessitated by the imperfect overlap between the 
eligible positions that the taxpayer marks to market under section 475 
and the eligible positions for which the applicable financial statement 
uses an eligible method. In the time and manner provided by the 
Commissioner, a corporate taxpayer subject to this paragraph (k) must 
reconcile the net income amount reported on its applicable financial 
statement to the amount reported on the applicable forms and schedules 
on its Federal income tax return (such as the Schedule M-1, ``Net 
Income(Loss) Reconciliation for Corporations With Total Assets of $10 
Million or More''; Schedule M-3, ``Net Income(Loss) Reconciliation for 
Corporations With Total Assets of $10 Million or More''; and Form 
1120F, ``U.S. Income Tax Ret