Information Reporting Requirements Under Internal Revenue Code Section 6039, 59087-59092 [E9-27451]

Agencies

• Internal Revenue Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 17, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59087-59092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27451]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[TD 9470]
RIN 1545-BH69


Information Reporting Requirements Under Internal Revenue Code 
Section 6039

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Final regulations.

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SUMMARY: This document contains the final regulations relating to the 
return and information statement requirements under section 6039 of the 
Internal Revenue Code (Code). These regulations reflect changes to 
section 6039 made by section 403 of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act 
of 2006. These regulations affect corporations that issue statutory 
stock options and provide guidance to assist corporations in complying 
with the return and information statement requirements under section 
6039.

DATES: Effective Date: These regulations are effective on November 17, 
2009.
    Applicability Date: For dates of applicability, see Sec. Sec.  
1.6039-1(g) and 1.6039-2(e).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Scholz or Ilya Enkishev at 
(202) 622-6030 (not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collection of information contained in these 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 1545-2129. Responses to this collection of 
information are required to assist taxpayers with the completion of 
their income tax returns for the taxable year in which a disposition of 
stock acquired under a statutory option occurs.
    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 assigned by the Office of 
Management and Budget.
    Books or records relating to a 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.

[[Page 59088]]

Background

    Section 403 of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (Act) 
amended the information reporting requirements of section 6039. Prior 
to its amendment, section 6039 required corporations to furnish a 
written statement to each employee, in a manner prescribed by the 
Secretary in the regulations, regarding: (i) The corporation's transfer 
of stock pursuant to the employee's exercise of an incentive stock 
option described in section 422(b); and (ii) the transfer of stock by 
the employee where the stock was acquired pursuant to the exercise of 
an option described in section 423(c). Corporations must furnish 
employees with the information statements required by section 6039 on 
or before January 31 of the year following the year for which the 
statement is required. Prior to the amendment of section 6039 made by 
the Act, the regulations under section 6039 were last updated in 2004. 
See TD 9144 (69 FR 46401).
    As amended by the Act, section 6039 requires corporations to file 
an information return with the IRS, in addition to providing employees 
with an information statement, following a stock transfer. Section 
6039, as amended by the Act, applies to stock transfers occurring on or 
after January 1, 2007. However, in Notice 2008-8, 2008-3 IRB 276 
(December 19, 2007) (see Sec.  601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b)), the IRS waived 
the obligation to file an information return for 2007 stock transfers 
governed by section 6039.
    On July 17, 2008, the Department of Treasury published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (REG-103146-08) in the Federal Register (73 FR 
40999) under section 6039. In addition to describing the return and 
information reporting requirements pursuant to section 6039, the notice 
of proposed rulemaking waived the obligation to file an information 
return for 2008 stock transfers governed by section 6039. A public 
hearing on the proposed regulations was held on October 30, 2008. 
Written and electronic comments responding to the notice of proposed 
rulemaking were received. After consideration of these comments, the 
Department of Treasury adopts the proposed regulations as final 
regulations, with the modifications set forth in this Treasury 
decision. The significant revisions are discussed in this preamble.

Explanation of Provisions

1. Overview

    These final regulations describe the information that is required 
in the return filed with the IRS and the information statement 
furnished to employees pursuant to section 6039. There are two sections 
under these final regulations: Sec.  1.6039-1, Returns required in 
connection with certain options; and Sec.  1.6039-2, Statements to 
persons with respect to whom information is reported. A principal 
objective of these final regulations is to require corporations to 
furnish employees with sufficient information to enable them to 
calculate their tax obligations upon disposition of the shares acquired 
by the exercise of a statutory option. As discussed further in this 
preamble, the IRS will issue two forms (with accompanying instructions) 
that corporations must use to satisfy the return and information 
statement requirements under section 6039.
    Comments received in response to the proposed regulations were 
generally favorable. Commenters observed that the proposed regulations 
improved the existing regulations by requiring corporations to provide 
additional information useful to employees for purposes of computing 
tax liability with respect to the disposition of shares acquired 
pursuant to the exercise of a statutory option. These final regulations 
are generally similar to the proposed regulations with the 
modifications described below in response to the comments submitted by 
taxpayers.

2. Return and Information Statement Requirements for Stock Acquired 
Pursuant to Incentive Stock Options

    With respect to the transfer of stock pursuant to the exercise of 
an incentive stock option, the information required in the return and 
the information statement pursuant to Sec.  1.6039-1(a) and Sec.  
1.6039-2(a) of these final regulations is the same information that is 
required pursuant to the proposed regulations.

3. Return and Information Statement Requirements for Stock Acquired 
Under Employee Stock Purchase Plans

a. Transfers of Legal Title for Stock Acquired Under an Employee Stock 
Purchase Plan
    Section 6039(a)(2) requires every corporation which records (or has 
by its agent recorded) a transfer of the legal title of a share of 
stock acquired by the employee where the stock was acquired pursuant to 
the exercise of an option described in section 423(c) to file a return 
with respect to each transfer made during a particular year. Section 
6039(c)(2) provides that the return under section 6039(a)(2) is 
required only with respect to the first transfer of such stock by the 
person who exercised the option. Section 6039(b) requires every 
corporation filing a return under section 6039(a)(2) to furnish to each 
employee named in such return a written statement with respect to the 
transfer or transfers made by the employee during a particular year.
    Several commenters noted that it has become common practice for 
employers to maintain a system in which shares acquired by employees 
under an employee stock purchase plan are deposited directly into a 
brokerage account established on behalf of the employee. In the typical 
arrangement, a contractual agreement exists with a recognized broker or 
financial institution, and employees who elect to participate in the 
employee stock purchase plan direct that all shares acquired upon the 
exercise of the option be immediately deposited into a brokerage 
account established on behalf of the employee. The legal title of the 
shares deposited into the brokerage account is typically held by 
another entity acting as a securities depository, which holds the 
shares in the street name of the broker. The employee has a beneficial 
interest in the shares, but the securities depository holds legal title 
of the shares.
    The final regulations modify Sec.  1.6039-1(b)(3) of the proposed 
regulations to provide that a transfer of legal title to a recognized 
broker or financial institution immediately following the exercise of 
an option is treated as the first transfer of legal title for purposes 
of the section 6039(a)(2) filing requirement. Accordingly, if an 
employer operates an employee stock purchase plan pursuant to which 
shares acquired upon exercise of the option will be immediately 
deposited into a brokerage account established on behalf of the 
employee, then the deposit of shares by the employee into the brokerage 
account following the exercise of the option is the first transfer of 
legal title of the shares acquired by the employee and the corporation 
is only required to file a return relating to such transfer of legal 
title.
    For employees whose shares are immediately deposited into a 
brokerage account following the exercise of an option, the exercise of 
the option and the first transfer of legal title occur on the same 
date. In such a case, the dates to be provided under Sec. Sec.  1.6039-
1(b)(1)(vii) (the date the option was exercised) and (ix) (the date 
legal title was first transferred) will be the same.
    If, instead of establishing a brokerage arrangement, an employer 
either issues a stock certificate directly to an employee who purchases 
stock pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan, or

[[Page 59089]]

registers the shares in the employee's name on the employer's record 
books and the employer or its transfer agent holds the shares for the 
employee in book-entry form, then, for purposes of section 6039(a)(2) 
and (c)(2), the issuance of the stock certificate or the registration 
of the stock ownership on the record books is not considered the first 
transfer of legal title of the stock acquired by the employee. 
Accordingly, the employer is not required to file a return and furnish 
an information statement to the employee (pursuant to section 
6039(a)(2) and (b)) with respect to such transfer of the stock to the 
employee. Instead, the employer is required to file a return and 
furnish an information statement to the employee with respect to the 
first transfer of the legal title of the stock acquired by the employee 
(for example, when the employee sells the stock or transfers the stock 
to a brokerage account established on behalf of the employee). 
Consequently, if a stock certificate is issued or the ownership of the 
shares is registered on the employer's record books following the 
exercise of an option, the exercise of the option and the first 
transfer of legal title occur on different dates, unless the shares are 
immediately sold or otherwise transferred. Accordingly, in such a case, 
the dates to be provided under Sec. Sec.  1.6039-1(b)(1)(vii) (the date 
the option was exercised) and (ix) (the date legal title was first 
transferred) will be different.
b. Reporting of Information With Respect to the Special Tax Rule Under 
Section 423(c)
    Acknowledging that one of the primary purposes of these regulations 
is to provide information to employees for purposes of computing their 
tax liability with respect to the disposition of shares acquired 
pursuant to statutory options, commenters suggested that the return and 
information statement provided with respect to options granted under an 
employee stock purchase plan contain additional information necessary 
to calculate the tax liability in the case of a qualifying disposition 
of the stock. Under section 423(a), a qualifying disposition occurs if 
the stock acquired under an employee stock purchase plan is disposed of 
no earlier than two years after the date of grant of the option and one 
year after the date of exercise of the option.
    Section 423(c) provides a special rule for calculating the timing 
and amount of compensation income that must be recognized in the event 
of a qualifying disposition when the exercise price is less than 100 
percent of the value of a share on the date of grant. Generally, the 
compensation income recognized is the lesser of: (a) The excess of the 
fair market value of the share on the date of grant over the exercise 
price, and (b) the excess of the fair market value of a share at the 
time of disposition (or death) over the price paid per share. The flush 
language of section 423(c) provides that if the exercise price is not 
known on the date of grant, the exercise price shall be determined as 
if the option were exercised on the date of grant.
    There are various circumstances under which the exercise price will 
not be known on the date of grant. For example, the exercise price will 
not be known on the date of grant if the exercise price is equal to the 
lesser of 85 percent of the fair market value of the stock on the date 
of grant or 85 percent of the fair market value of the stock on the 
date of exercise. In addition, the exercise price will not be known on 
the date of grant if the exercise price is calculated based on a 
certain percentage (not less than 85 percent) of the fair market value 
of the stock on the date of exercise. In order to compute the tax 
liability resulting from a qualifying disposition of the stock acquired 
using either of the foregoing pricing formulas, the employee needs to 
know the exercise price determined as if the option were exercised on 
the date of grant of the option.
    In response to the comments, these final regulations modify the 
proposed regulations by adding Sec.  1.6039-1(b)(vi) to these final 
regulations. If the exercise price per share of an option is not fixed 
or determinable on the date the option was granted to the employee, 
Sec.  1.6039-1(b)(vi) of these final regulations requires corporations 
to include in the return and information statement the exercise price 
per share determined as if the option were exercised on the date of 
grant.
c. Requirement of Return and Information Statement Under Section 
6039(a)(2) and (b)
    Commenters asked for clarification regarding whether the return and 
information statement requirements of section 6039(a)(2) and (b) apply 
only to the transfer of shares pursuant to a qualifying disposition. 
Section 6039(a)(2) requires that an information return be filed by 
every corporation which in any calendar year records (or has by its 
agent recorded) a transfer of the legal title of a share of stock 
acquired by the transferor pursuant to his or her exercise of an option 
described in section 423(c). The IRS and the Treasury Department have 
concluded that the reference in section 6039(a)(2) to an option 
described in 423(c) relates to the exercise price of the option (as 
evidenced by the parenthetical phrase in 6039(a)(2) following the 
reference to section 423(c)) rather than whether or not the shares are 
disposed of in a qualifying disposition as also described in 423(c). 
Furthermore, section 6039(c)(2) provides that the return and 
information statement requirements of section 6039(a)(2) and (b) are 
triggered by the first transfer of the legal title of the shares. This 
provision would be unnecessary if section 6039(a)(2) only applied to 
qualifying dispositions. Therefore, these final regulations provide 
that the return and information statement requirements are not 
dependent upon whether such transfer of legal title is a qualifying or 
disqualifying disposition.
    Commenters also asked for clarification regarding whether the 
return and information statement requirements of section 6039(a)(2) and 
(b) only apply to the transfer of shares acquired pursuant to an option 
described in section 423(c) where the exercise price is less than 100 
percent of the value of a share on the date of grant. These final 
regulations provide that the return and information statement 
requirements of section 6039(a)(2) and (b) also apply to the transfer 
of shares acquired pursuant to an option where the exercise price is 
not fixed or determinable on the date of grant, as well as to the 
transfer of shares acquired pursuant to an option described in section 
423(c) where the exercise price is less than 100 percent of the value 
of a share on the date of grant.

4. Nonresident Aliens

    Several commenters suggested that the return and information 
statement requirements of section 6039 should not apply to nonresident 
aliens (as defined in section 7701(b)) who perform services outside the 
United States. These commenters point out that the reported information 
may not be useful to nonresident aliens because they likely will not 
have any U.S. tax liability.
    In response to comments, these final regulations modify the 
proposed regulations by adding Sec.  1.6039-1(e) which provides an 
exception to the return requirements of section 6039(a) for certain 
nonresident aliens. With respect to incentive stock options, the return 
requirement of section 6039(a)(1) is not applicable to the exercise of 
an incentive stock option by an employee who is a nonresident alien and 
to whom the corporation is not required to

[[Page 59090]]

provide a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement (or its designated 
successor) for any calendar year within the time period beginning with 
the first day of the calendar year in which the option was granted to 
the employee and ending on the last day of the calendar year in which 
the employee exercised the incentive stock option. With respect to 
employee stock purchase plans, the return requirement of section 
6039(a)(2) is not applicable to the first transfer of legal title of a 
share of stock by an employee who is a nonresident alien and to whom 
the corporation is not required to provide a Form W-2 for any calendar 
year within the time period beginning with the first day of the 
calendar year in which the option was granted to the employee and 
ending on the last day of the calendar year in which the employee first 
transferred legal title to shares acquired under the option. For 
purposes of Sec.  1.6039-1(e) of these final regulations, the term 
corporation is defined in section 7701(a) and includes, but is not 
limited to, the corporation issuing the stock, a related corporation of 
the corporation, any agent of the corporation, any party distributing 
shares of stock or other payments in connection with the plan (for 
example, a brokerage firm), and any party in control of the payment of 
remuneration for employment to the employee.

5. Forms To Satisfy the Return and Information Statement Requirements

    Returns required by Sec.  1.6039-1(a) of these final regulations 
and information statements required by Sec.  1.6039-2(a) of these final 
regulations must be made using Form 3921, Exercise of an Incentive 
Stock Option Under Section 422(b) (or its designated successor) and 
filed in the manner provided in the instructions thereto. Returns 
required by Sec.  1.6039-1(b) of these final regulations and 
information statements required by Sec.  1.6039-2(b) of these final 
regulations must be made using Form 3922, Transfer of Stock Acquired 
Through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan under Section 423(c) (or its 
designated successor) and filed in the manner provided in the 
instructions thereto. Section 1.6039-1(c) of the proposed regulations 
provided that Forms 3921 and 3922 must be filed on or before January 31 
of the year following the year for which the return and statement are 
required. Section 1.6039-1(c) of these final regulations has been 
revised to provide that Forms 3921 and 3922 must be filed in accordance 
with the guidelines and procedures set forth in the instructions to 
Forms 3921 and 3922. The IRS expects to release Forms 3921 and 3922 in 
the near future.
    Several commenters suggested that taxpayers be allowed to satisfy 
the information statement requirements of Sec.  1.6039-2(a) and (b) of 
these final regulations by delivering a substitute form that includes 
all of the information required to be included on the Forms 3921 or 
3922, as applicable. Taxpayers may satisfy the return requirements of 
Sec.  1.6039-1(a) and (b) as well as the information statement 
requirements of Sec.  1.6039-2(a) and (b) by submitting substitute 
Forms 3921 and 3922 in accordance with the guidelines set forth in 
Publication 1179 (or its designated successor). For example, it would 
be permissible for a taxpayer to satisfy the return requirements of 
Sec.  1.6039-1(a) and (b) by submitting Forms 3921 and 3922 to the IRS, 
and satisfy the information statement requirements of Sec.  1.6039-2(a) 
and (b) by delivering substitute Forms 3921 and 3922 to the appropriate 
recipients in accordance with the guidelines set forth in Publication 
1179 (or its designated successor).

Effective/Applicability Date

    These final regulations will apply as of January 1, 2007. However, 
taxpayers are not required to comply with the return requirements of 
Sec.  1.6039-1(a) and (b) of these final regulations for stock 
transfers that occur during the 2007, 2008 and 2009 calendar years. 
Notwithstanding the waiver of the return requirements for 2007, 2008 
and 2009 stock transfers, taxpayers must furnish information statements 
to employees for such stock transfers. For purposes of furnishing 
information statements for stock transfers that occur during the 2007 
or 2008 calendar years, taxpayers may rely on Sec.  1.6039-1 of the 
2004 final regulations (69 FR 46401) or Sec.  1.6039-2 of the 2008 
proposed regulations (REG-103146-08) (73 FR 40999). For purposes of 
furnishing information statements for stock transfers that occur during 
the 2009 calendar year, taxpayers may rely on Sec.  1.6039-1 of the 
2004 final regulations (69 FR 46401), Sec.  1.6039-2 of the 2008 
proposed regulations (REG-103146-08) (73 FR 40999), or these final 
regulations.

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 is hereby 
certified that the regulations will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. This certification is 
based on the fact that the filing of a return with the IRS and the 
provision of employee statements required under this Treasury decision 
will impose a minimal administrative burden on small entities. It is 
estimated that it will take approximately 30 minutes to prepare and 
provide the information required by these regulations. Further, the 
information to be provided is readily available. Therefore, an analysis 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) is not 
required. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, the 
notice of proposed rulemaking that preceded these regulations was 
submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration for comment on its impact on small business.

Drafting Information

    The principal authors of these regulations are Thomas Scholz and 
Ilya Enkishev, Office of the Division Counsel/Associate Chief Counsel 
(Tax Exempt and Government Entities). However, other personnel from the 
IRS and Treasury Department participated in their development.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

    Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Adoption of Amendments to the Regulations

0
Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is amended as follows:

PART 1--INCOME TAXES

0
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read in 
part as follows:

    Authority:  26 U.S.C. 7805.

0
Par. 2. Section 1.6039-1 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  1.6039-1  Returns required in connection with certain options.

    (a) Requirement of return with respect to incentive stock options 
under section 6039(a)(1). (1) Every corporation which in any calendar 
year transfers to any person a share of stock pursuant to such person's 
exercise of an incentive stock option shall, for such calendar year, 
file a return with respect to each transfer made during such year. This 
return must include the following information--
    (i) The name, address, and employer identification number of the 
corporation transferring the stock;
    (ii) If other than the corporation identified in paragraph 
(a)(1)(i) of this section, the name, address and employer 
identification number of the

[[Page 59091]]

corporation whose stock is being transferred;
    (iii) The name, address, and identifying number of the person to 
whom the share or shares of stock were transferred pursuant to the 
exercise of the option;
    (iv) The date the option was granted to the person;
    (v) The exercise price per share;
    (vi) The date the option was exercised by the person;
    (vii) The fair market value of a share of stock on the date the 
option was exercised by the person; and
    (viii) The number of shares of stock transferred to the person 
pursuant to the exercise of the option.
    (2) Each return required by this paragraph (a) shall be made on 
Form 3921, Exercise of an Incentive Stock Option Under Section 422(b) 
(or its designated successor) and shall be filed in such manner as 
provided in the instructions thereto.
    (b) Requirement of return with respect to stock purchased under an 
employee stock purchase plan under section 6039(a)(2). (1) Every 
corporation which in any calendar year records, or has by its agent 
recorded, a transfer of the legal title of a share of stock acquired by 
the transferor (person who acquires the shares pursuant to the exercise 
of the option) pursuant to the transferor's exercise of an option 
granted under an employee stock purchase plan as described in section 
423(c) and where the exercise price is less than 100 percent of the 
value of the stock on date of grant or is not fixed or determinable on 
the date of the grant, shall, for such calendar year, file a return 
with respect to each transfer made during such year. This return must 
include the following information--
    (i) The name, address, and identifying number of the transferor;
    (ii) The name, address and employer identification number of the 
corporation whose stock is being transferred;
    (iii) The date the option was granted to the transferor;
    (iv) The fair market value of the stock on the date the option was 
granted;
    (v) The actual exercise price paid per share;
    (vi) The exercise price per share determined as if the option were 
exercised on the date the option was granted to the transferor (to be 
provided only if the exercise price per share is not fixed or 
determinable on the date the option was granted);
    (vii) The date the option was exercised by the transferor;
    (viii) The fair market value of the stock on the date the option 
was exercised by the transferor;
    (ix) The date the legal title of the shares was transferred by the 
transferor (see paragraph (b)(3) of this section); and
    (x) The number of shares to which legal title was transferred by 
the transferor.
    (2) Each return required by this paragraph (b) shall be made on 
Form 3922, Transfer of Stock Acquired Through an Employee Stock 
Purchase Plan Under Section 423(c) (or its designated successor) and 
shall be filed in such manner as provided in the instructions thereto.
    (3) A return is required by reason of a transfer described in 
section 6039(a)(2) only with respect to the first transfer of legal 
title of the shares by the transferor, including the first transfer of 
legal title to a recognized broker or financial institution. If a 
contractual agreement exists or is entered into with a recognized 
broker or financial institution pursuant to which shares acquired upon 
exercise of the option will be immediately deposited into a brokerage 
account established on behalf of the transferor, then the deposit of 
shares by the transferor into the brokerage account following the 
exercise of the option is the first transfer of legal title of the 
shares acquired by the transferor, and the corporation is only required 
to file a return relating to such transfer of legal title.
    (4) Every corporation that transfers any share of stock pursuant to 
the exercise of an option described in this paragraph shall identify 
such stock in a manner sufficient to enable the accurate reporting of 
the transfer of legal title to such shares. Such identification may be 
accomplished by assigning to the certificates of stock issued pursuant 
to the exercise of such options a special serial number or color.
    (c) Time for filing returns. Each return required by this section 
for a calendar year must be filed in accordance with the guidelines and 
procedures set forth in the instructions to Form 3921 and Form 3922.
    (d) Penalty. For provisions relating to the penalty applicable to 
the failure to file a return under this section, see section 6721.
    (e) Exception to return requirements of section 6039(a) for certain 
nonresident aliens--(1) Return requirement under section 6039(a)(1). 
The return requirement of section 6039(a)(1) is not applicable to the 
exercise of an incentive stock option by an employee who is a 
nonresident alien (as defined in section 7701(b)) and to whom the 
corporation is not required to provide a Form W-2, Wage and Tax 
Statement (or its designated successor) for any calendar year within 
the time period beginning with the first day of the calendar year in 
which the option was granted to the employee and ending on the last day 
of the calendar year in which the employee exercised the option.
    (2) Return requirement under section 6039(a)(2). The return 
requirement of section 6039(a)(2) is not applicable to the first 
transfer of legal title of a share of stock by an employee who is a 
nonresident alien (as defined in section 7701(b)) and to whom the 
corporation is not required to provide a Form W-2 for any calendar year 
within the time period beginning with the first day of the calendar 
year in which the option was granted to the employee and ending on the 
last day of the calendar year in which the employee first transferred 
legal title to shares acquired under the option as described in 
paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
    (3) For purposes of this paragraph (e), the term corporation is 
defined in section 7701(a) and includes, but is not limited to, the 
corporation issuing the stock, a related corporation of the 
corporation, any agent of the corporation, any party distributing 
shares of stock or other payments in connection with the plan (for 
example, a brokerage firm), and any party in control of the payment of 
remuneration for employment to the employee.
    (f) Effective/applicability date--(1) In general. This section is 
effective on November 17, 2009. This section will apply as of January 
1, 2007.
    (2) Transition period. Taxpayers are not required to comply with 
the return requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section for 
stock transfers that occur during the 2007, 2008 and 2009 calendar 
years.

0
Par. 3. A new Sec.  1.6039-2 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.6039-2  Statements to persons with respect to whom information 
is reported.

    (a) Requirement of statement with respect to incentive stock 
options under section 6039(b). (1) Every corporation filing a return 
under Sec.  1.6039-1(a) shall furnish to each person whose name is set 
forth in such return a written statement with respect to the transfer 
or transfers made to such person during such year. This statement must 
include the information described in Sec.  1.6039-1(a)(1).
    (2) Each statement required by this paragraph (a) to be furnished 
to any person must be furnished to such person on Form 3921, Exercise 
of an Incentive Stock Option Under Section 422(b) (or its designated 
successor) and be delivered at such time and in such

[[Page 59092]]

manner as provided in the instructions thereto.
    (b) Requirement of statement with respect to stock purchased under 
an employee stock purchase plan under section 6039(a)(2). (1) Every 
corporation filing a return under Sec.  1.6039-1(b) shall furnish to 
each person whose name is set forth in such return a written statement 
with respect to the transfer or transfers made by such person during 
such year. This statement must include the information described in 
Sec.  1.6039-1(b)(1).
    (2) Each statement required by this paragraph (b) to be furnished 
to any person must be furnished to such person on Form 3922, Transfer 
of Stock Acquired Through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan Under Section 
423(c) (or its designated successor) and be delivered at such time and 
in such manner as provided in the instructions thereto.
    (3) If the statement required by this paragraph is made by the 
authorized transfer agent of the corporation, it is deemed to have been 
made by the corporation. The term transfer agent, as used in this 
section, means any designee authorized to keep the stock ownership 
records of a corporation and to record a transfer of title of the stock 
of such corporation on behalf of such corporation.
    (c) Time for furnishing statements--(1) In general. Each statement 
required by this section to be furnished to any person for a calendar 
year must be furnished to such person on or before January 31 of the 
year following the year for which the statement is required.
    (2) Extension of time. An extension of time to furnish statements 
required by this section may be granted in accordance with the 
guidelines and procedures set forth in the instructions to Form 3921 
and Form 3922.
    (d) Penalty. For provisions relating to the penalty applicable to 
the failure to furnish a statement under this section, see section 
6722.
    (e) Effective/applicability date--(1) In general. This section is 
effective on November 17, 2009. This section will apply as of January 
1, 2007.
    (2) Reliance and transition period. Notwithstanding Sec.  1.6039-
1(g), corporations must furnish information statements to employees in 
accordance with this section for stock transfers that are subject to 
Sec.  1.6039-1(a) and (b), and occur during the 2007, 2008 and 2009 
calendar years. For purposes of furnishing information statements for 
stock transfers that occur during the 2007 or 2008 calendar years, 
taxpayers may rely on Sec.  1.6039-1 of the 2004 final regulations (69 
FR 46401) or Sec.  1.6039-2 of the 2008 proposed regulations REG-
103146-08 (73 FR 40999). For purposes of furnishing information 
statements for stock transfers that occur during the 2009 calendar 
year, taxpayers may rely on Sec.  1.6039-1 of the 2004 final 
regulations (69 FR 46401), Sec.  1.6039-2 of the 2008 proposed 
regulations (REG-103146-08) (73 FR 40999), or this section.

 Linda E. Stiff,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
    Approved: November 9, 2009.
 Michael Mandaca,
Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax Policy).
[FR Doc. E9-27451 Filed 11-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P