Withholding of Tax and Information Reporting With Respect to Interests in Partnerships Engaged in the Conduct of a U.S. Trade or Business, 21198-21225 [2019-09515]

Agencies

• Internal Revenue Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 92 (Monday, May 13, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21198-21225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09515]



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Vol. 84

Monday,

No. 92

May 13, 2019

Part V





Department of the Treasury





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 Internal Revenue Service





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21 CFR Part 1





 Withholding of Tax and Information Reporting With Respect to Interests 
in Partnerships Engaged in the Conduct of a U.S. Trade or Business; 
Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 92 / Monday, May 13, 2019 / Proposed 
Rules

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[REG-105476-18]
RIN 1545-BO60


Withholding of Tax and Information Reporting With Respect to 
Interests in Partnerships Engaged in the Conduct of a U.S. Trade or 
Business

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document contains proposed regulations implementing 
certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code, including sections added 
to the Internal Revenue Code by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, that relate 
to the withholding of tax and information reporting with respect to 
certain dispositions of interests in partnerships engaged in the 
conduct of a trade or business within the United States. The proposed 
regulations affect certain foreign persons that recognize gain or loss 
from the sale or exchange of an interest in a partnership that is 
engaged in the conduct of a trade or business within the United States, 
and persons that acquire those interests. The proposed regulations also 
affect partnerships that, directly or indirectly, have foreign persons 
as partners.

DATES: Written or electronic comments and requests for a public hearing 
must be received by July 12, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send submissions to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-105476-18), Internal 
Revenue Service, Room 5203, P.O. Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station, 
Washington, DC 20044. Submissions may be hand-delivered Monday through 
Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-
105476-18), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224, or sent electronically via the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov (IRS REG-105476-18).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the proposed regulations, 
Chadwick Rowland, 202-317-6937; concerning submissions of comments or 
requests for a public hearing, Regina L. Johnson (202) 317-6901 (not 
toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

I. Section 1446(f)

    Section 1446(f), which was added to the Internal Revenue Code (the 
``Code'') by section 13501 of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Public Law 
115-97 (2017) (the ``Act''), provides rules for withholding on the 
transfer of a partnership interest described in section 864(c)(8). 
Section 1446(f)(1) provides that, except as otherwise provided in 
section 1446(f), if a portion of the gain (if any) on any disposition 
of an interest in a partnership would be treated under section 
864(c)(8) as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or 
business within the United States, the transferee is required to deduct 
and withhold a tax equal to 10 percent of the amount realized on the 
disposition.
    Section 1446(f)(2)(A) provides an exception to the general 
withholding requirement described in section 1446(f)(1) if the 
transferor furnishes an affidavit to the transferee stating, under 
penalties of perjury, the transferor's United States taxpayer 
identification number and that the transferor is not a foreign person. 
Section 1446(f)(2)(B)(i) provides that the exception to withholding 
described in section 1446(f)(2)(A) will not apply if the transferee has 
actual knowledge that the affidavit furnished is false, or if the 
transferee receives a notice from a transferor's agent or transferee's 
agent that the affidavit is false.
    Section 1446(f)(3) provides that, at the request of the transferor 
or transferee, the Secretary may prescribe a reduced amount to be 
withheld under this section if the Secretary determines that reducing 
the amount to be withheld will not jeopardize the collection of tax on 
gain treated under section 864(c)(8) as effectively connected with the 
conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
    Section 1446(f)(4) provides that if a transferee fails to withhold 
any amount required to be withheld under section 1446(f)(1) then the 
partnership must deduct and withhold from distributions to the 
transferee a tax in an amount equal to the amount the transferee failed 
to withhold, plus interest.
    Section 1446(f)(6) generally provides that the Secretary shall 
prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the 
purposes of section 1446(f), including regulations providing for 
exceptions from the provisions of section 1446(f). Section 1446(f) is 
effective for sales, exchanges, and other dispositions after December 
31, 2017.
    On December 29, 2017, the Department of the Treasury (the 
``Treasury Department'') and the Internal Revenue Service (the ``IRS'') 
released Notice 2018-08, 2018-7 I.R.B. 352, which temporarily suspends 
the requirement to withhold on amounts realized in connection with the 
sale, exchange, or disposition of certain interests in a publicly 
traded partnership not treated as a corporation under section 7704 and 
the regulations thereunder. On April 2, 2018, the Treasury Department 
and the IRS released Notice 2018-29, 2018-16 I.R.B. 495, which provides 
temporary guidance and announces an intent to issue proposed 
regulations under section 1446(f) with respect to the sale, exchange, 
or disposition of certain interests in non-publicly traded 
partnerships. Notice 2018-29, and section 1446(f)(1) generally, rely on 
the principles contained within the section 1445 withholding regime. 
Under section 1445, if a foreign person disposes of a United States 
real property interest (``U.S. real property interest''), as defined in 
section 897(c), a withholding obligation is imposed on the transferee 
of the interest.
    On December 27, 2018, the Treasury Department and the IRS published 
in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking at 83 FR 66647 
(REG-113604-18) under section 864(c)(8) (the ``proposed section 
864(c)(8) regulations''). The proposed section 864(c)(8) regulations 
provide rules for determining the amount of gain or loss treated as 
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within 
the United States (``effectively connected gain'' or ``effectively 
connected loss'') described in section 864(c)(8), including rules 
coordinating section 864(c)(8) with sections 741 and 751 (relating to 
the character of gain or loss realized in connection with the sale or 
exchange of an interest in a partnership). They also provide rules for 
coordination of section 864(c)(8) with section 897 (relating to amounts 
treated as effectively connected gain or loss with respect to U.S. real 
property interests), tiered partnerships, and U.S. income tax treaties.

II. Rules for Withholding Under Section 1446(a) on Distributions by 
Publicly Traded Partnerships

    Generally, withholding under section 1446(a) is required by a 
partnership when effectively connected taxable income (``ECTI'') is 
allocable to a foreign person. See Sec. Sec.  1.1446-2 and 1.1446-3. 
However, withholding on ECTI earned by a publicly traded partnership is 
required when the ECTI is distributed to the foreign person. See Sec.  
1.1446-4. Often, an interest in the publicly traded partnership is held 
by a nominee, such

[[Page 21199]]

as a domestic financial institution that holds the publicly traded 
partnership interest as a custodian for a foreign partner. Section 
1.1446-4 provides rules for applying the withholding tax under section 
1446(a) to distributions by publicly traded partnerships. Under those 
rules, when a publicly traded partnership provides a qualified notice 
(within the meaning of Sec.  1.1446-4(b)(4)), a nominee, which must be 
a domestic person, may be treated as a withholding agent with respect 
to a distribution. See Sec.  1.1446-4(b)(4) and 1.1446-4(d). The 
qualified notice must be given in accordance with notice requirements 
with respect to dividends under regulations under the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934. Section 1.1445-8(f) provides similar qualified 
notice rules that apply to certain distributions subject to withholding 
when attributable to the disposition of a U.S. real property interest.
    Section 1.1446-4(f)(3) provides an ordering rule for situations in 
which the distribution is attributable to multiple types of income 
(such as amounts attributable to income described in section 1441 or 
1442 or amounts subject to withholding under section 1446). However, no 
rule is provided for situations in which a qualified notice does not 
provide information regarding the types of income being distributed.

Explanation of Provisions

    The proposed regulations provide rules for withholding, reporting, 
and paying tax under section 1446(f) upon the sale, exchange, or other 
disposition of an interest in a partnership described in section 
864(c)(8) and proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1.\1\ The proposed regulations 
would, when finalized, adopt many of the rules that were described in 
Notice 2018-29, with certain modifications provided, in part, in 
response to comments. In addition, the proposed regulations provide 
reporting rules relating to section 864(c)(8) and rules implementing 
withholding under section 1446(f)(4). They also contain rules 
clarifying the reporting rules applicable to transfers of partnership 
interests subject to section 6050K. Further, the proposed regulations 
provide rules implementing withholding by brokers on transfers of 
certain interests in publicly traded partnerships subject to section 
1446(f)(1), and make related changes to the reporting rules and 
procedures for adjusting withholding under sections 1461, 1463, and 
1464. They also make changes to the rules regarding withholding on 
distributions by publicly traded partnerships under Sec.  1.1446-4, 
including the rules that apply to qualified notices and nominees. 
Finally, the proposed regulations provide rules coordinating 
withholding under section 1446(f) with other withholding regimes to 
prevent overwithholding of tax.
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    \1\ Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1 was proposed to be added on December 27, 
2018; 83 FR 66647, 66651.
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I. Reporting Requirements for Foreign Transferors and Partnerships With 
Foreign Transferors

    A partnership that is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business 
within the United States is required to file an annual information 
return, Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income, and also provide 
information to its partners on Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Partner's 
Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc., with respect to each 
partner's distributive share of partnership items and other 
information. See section 6031 and Sec. Sec.  1.6031(a)-1 and 1.6031(b)-
1T. Domestic partners generally report the information from the 
Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) on their income tax return, typically Form 
1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for an individual, or Form 
1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, for a corporation. A foreign 
partner with a U.S. income tax return filing obligation generally files 
Form 1040NR, U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return, or Form 1120-F, 
U.S. Income Tax Return of a Foreign Corporation.
    A partner (foreign or domestic) that transfers an interest in a 
partnership in an exchange described in section 751(a) (relating to an 
exchange of an interest in a partnership that holds unrealized 
receivables or inventory) generally has an obligation both to inform 
the partnership of the transfer and to include a statement with respect 
to the exchange on the partner's income tax return under Sec.  1.751-
1(a)(3). See section 6050K(c) and Sec.  1.6050K-1(d). A partnership 
also has an obligation to provide information with respect to the 
exchange to the transferee and transferor under section 6050K(c) and 
Sec.  1.6050K-1(c). See also Form 8308, Report of a Sale or Exchange of 
Certain Partnership Interests.
    Because section 864(c)(8) requires a deemed sale at the partnership 
level to determine a foreign partner's effectively connected gain or 
loss, a foreign person that transfers its partnership interest 
generally will not be able to compute its income tax liability under 
section 864(c)(8) unless the partnership provides certain information 
to the foreign partner. The proposed regulations therefore provide 
rules that facilitate the transfer of information between a foreign 
partner and the partnership for purposes of section 864(c)(8).
    The proposed regulations generally provide that a notifying 
transferor (generally, any foreign person and certain domestic 
partnerships that have a foreign person as a direct or indirect 
partner) that transfers (within the meaning of proposed Sec.  
1.864(c)(8)-1(g)(5)) an interest in a partnership (other than certain 
interests in a publicly traded partnership) in a transaction described 
in section 864(c)(8) must notify the partnership within 30 days of the 
transfer by providing a statement that includes information relevant to 
the partnership for making calculations under section 864(c)(8), 
including the date on which the notifying transferor transferred its 
interest, and other identifying information regarding the transferor 
and transferee. See proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(a). This rule 
generally parallels Sec.  1.6050K-1, including the content of the 
information and when it must be provided.
    Proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(b) requires a specified partnership 
(generally, a partnership that is engaged in the conduct of a trade or 
business within the United States or a partnership that owns, directly 
or indirectly, an interest in a partnership so engaged) to furnish to a 
notifying transferor the information necessary for the transferor to 
comply with section 864(c)(8) by the due date of the Schedule K-1 (Form 
1065) for the tax year of the partnership in which the transfer 
occurred. Proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(b) applies if a specified 
partnership receives the notification described in proposed Sec.  
1.864(c)(8)-2(a), or otherwise knows that a relevant transfer has 
occurred, and the notifying transferor would have had a distributive 
share of deemed sale EC gain or deemed sale EC loss (within the meaning 
of proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1(c)) at the time of the transfer. For 
these purposes, a notifying transferor that is a partnership is treated 
as a nonresident alien. Proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(b) provides that, 
for purposes of the reporting requirements described in proposed Sec.  
1.864(c)(8)-2, a partnership that makes a distribution to a transferor 
that qualifies as a transfer under section 864(c)(8) and proposed Sec.  
1.864(c)(8)-1(b) will be treated as having actual knowledge that a 
transfer occurred, thereby triggering the reporting requirement of 
proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(b) to the extent that the transferee would 
have had a distributive share of deemed sale EC gain or deemed sale EC 
loss within the meaning of proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1(c).

[[Page 21200]]

    Relatedly, the proposed regulations clarify that the information a 
partnership must provide under section 6050K upon being notified of a 
transfer includes the information necessary for a transferor to make 
the transferor's required statement under Sec.  1.751-1(a)(3). See 
proposed Sec.  1.6050K-1(c)(2).

II. Definitions and General Rules of Applicability

A. Definitions

    For purposes of the proposed regulations under section 1446(f), the 
term ``transfer'' means a sale, exchange, or other disposition, and 
includes a distribution from a partnership to a partner. See proposed 
Sec.  1.1446(f)-1(b)(9). A ``transferee'' is any person, foreign or 
domestic, that acquires a partnership interest through a transfer. See 
proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-1(b)(10). The term ``transferor'' generally 
means any person, foreign or domestic, that transfers a partnership 
interest, and therefore refers to the person that directly owns the 
interest in the partnership. For a trust, to the extent all or a 
portion of the trust is treated as owned by the grantor or another 
person under sections 671 through 679 (such trust, ``a grantor 
trust''), the term ``transferor'' means the grantor or other person. 
See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-1(b)(11). See also Rev. Rul. 85-13, 1985-1 
C.B. 184.

B. Certifications and Books and Records

    Similar to the approach described in Notice 2018-29, the proposed 
regulations provide various exceptions to withholding and procedures 
for determining the amount to withhold. Under these rules, the person 
required to withhold may generally rely on information provided in 
certifications that it receives or that is contained in its own books 
and records. The general rules of applicability provide the 
requirements for providing a valid certification and for retaining 
certifications or information in books and records. See proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-1(c)(2). A certification includes any documents associated 
with the certification, such as statements from the partnership, IRS 
forms, withholding certificates, withholding statements, 
certifications, or other documentation. Id.

C. Determination Dates

    Notice 2018-29 required determinations to be made as of the date of 
transfer when applying many of its rules and exceptions. Because it may 
be difficult to make these determinations on the precise date of 
transfer, the proposed regulations generally allow the choice of one of 
several dates solely for purposes of making determinations under 
section 1446(f)(1) with regard to a transfer. This date is referred to 
as the determination date. It is chosen on a transfer-by-transfer basis 
and must be used for a transfer for all purposes of section 1446(f). 
The determination date must be one of the following: the date of the 
transfer, any date no more than 60 days before the transfer, or, with 
respect to a transferor that is not a controlling partner, the later of 
either the first day of the partnership's taxable year in which the 
transfer occurs or the date before the transfer of the most recent 
revaluation described in Sec.  1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(5) or 1.704-
1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(1). See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-1(c)(4). As the 
determination date applies only for purposes of determining the 
withholding obligation under section 1446(f), the calculation of tax 
resulting from the application of section 864(c)(8) and the reporting 
requirements under proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2 are determined based on 
the date of the transfer.

D. IRS Forms and Instructions

    Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-1(c)(5) provides that any reference in the 
proposed regulations to an IRS form includes its successor form and 
that any form must be filed in the manner provided in the instructions 
to the forms or in other guidance. The IRS intends to modify 
publications, instructions and forms (including forms discussed in this 
Explanation of Provisions) as appropriate to take into account sections 
864(c)(8) and 1446(f).

E. Coordination With Other Withholding Rules

    Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-1(d) provides a rule coordinating section 
1446(f)(1) with section 1445. Specifically, the rule provides that if a 
transferee is required to withhold under section 1445(e)(5) or Sec.  
1.1445-11T(d)(1) and section 1446(f)(1), then the transferee will be 
subject to the payment and reporting requirements of section 1445 only. 
This rule clarifies that even though proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1(d) 
provides that section 897(g) does not apply to a transfer that is also 
subject to section 864(c)(8), the withholding regime provided in 
section 1445 and the regulations thereunder applies under these 
circumstances, rather than the rules described in section 1446(f)(1). 
Thus, if a foreign transferor disposes of an interest in a partnership 
that is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business within the United 
States (not taking into account the application of section 897(a)) and 
in which fifty percent or more of the value of the gross assets consist 
of U.S. real property interests, and ninety percent or more of the 
value of the gross assets consist of U.S. real property interests plus 
any cash or cash equivalents, a transferee must generally withhold 
under section 1445(a) (at 15 percent of the amount realized) and not 
section 1446(f). However, this rule applies only if the transferor has 
not applied for a withholding certificate under Sec.  1.1445-11T(d)(1). 
See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-1(d). If the transferor has applied for a 
withholding certificate, then the transferee must withhold the greater 
of the amounts required under section 1445(e)(5) or section 1446(f)(1).
    Because gain that an upper-tier partnership recognizes on the 
transfer of an interest in a lower-tier partnership engaged in the 
conduct of a trade or business within the United States is included 
when calculating the upper-tier partnership's ECTI, the proposed 
regulations also provide a coordination rule that allows a partnership 
that is withheld upon under section 1446(f)(1) (in its capacity as a 
transferor) to claim a credit for the amount withheld against its 
withholding tax liability under section 1446(a) (if any). See proposed 
Sec.  1.1446-3(c)(4). See also Sec.  1.1446-3(d)(2) for rules on how 
the partnership or its partners may claim a credit or refund for tax 
paid under section 1446.

III. Withholding on the Transfer of a Non-Publicly Traded Partnership 
Interest by a Foreign Person

A. In General

    Under section 1446(f)(1), a transferee of a partnership interest 
must withhold a tax equal to 10 percent of the amount realized on any 
disposition when the disposition results in gain that is treated as 
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within 
the United States under section 864(c)(8). Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
2(a) implements this rule by requiring any transferee to withhold a tax 
equal to 10 percent of the amount realized on any transfer of a 
partnership interest (other than certain publicly traded partnership 
interests) under section 1446(f)(1), unless an exception to withholding 
applies under proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b). If an exception does not 
apply and withholding is required, proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c) 
provides rules for determining and adjusting the amount required to be 
withheld under section 1446(f)(1). The exceptions and determination 
procedures in the proposed regulations apply solely for purposes of 
section 1446(f)(1) and do not affect a foreign person's filing 
obligation under the Code or a foreign

[[Page 21201]]

person's tax liability resulting from the application of section 
864(c)(8).

B. Exceptions to Withholding

1. In General
    The proposed regulations provide six exceptions to withholding by a 
transferee under section 1446(f)(1). These exceptions generally allow 
the transferee to rely on certain certifications that it receives from 
the transferor or partnership unless it has actual knowledge that the 
certifications are incorrect or unreliable. See proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(b)(1). When the partnership is a transferee because it 
makes a distribution, it may instead rely on its books and records 
unless it knows, or has reason to know, that the information is 
incorrect or unreliable. Id.
2. Certification of Non-Foreign Status by Transferor
    Consistent with section 6.01 of Notice 2018-29, proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(b)(2) provides the requirements for a certification of non-
foreign status (including the requirement that it include the 
transferor's TIN), and clarifies that a valid Form W-9, Request for 
Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, may be used for this 
purpose, including a Form W-9 for the transferor that is already in the 
transferee's possession. The proposed regulations also clarify that a 
Form W-9 may be used to establish non-foreign status of a transferor 
for purposes of section 1445. See proposed Sec. Sec.  1.1445-2(b)(2)(v) 
and 1.1445-5(b)(3)(iv).
3. No Realized Gain by Transferor
    Section 1446(f)(1) applies only when there is gain described in 
section 864(c)(8) on the transfer of a partnership interest. Consistent 
with section 6.02 of Notice 2018-29, the proposed regulations provide 
that a transferee is not required to withhold if the transferor 
provides the transferee with a certification stating that the 
transferor would not realize any gain on the transfer of the 
partnership interest determined as if the transfer occurred on the 
determination date. Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(3)(i) provides that 
this certification of no realized gain must take into account any 
ordinary income arising from application of section 751(a) and the 
regulations thereunder. Therefore, a transferor may not provide the 
certification if section 751(a) and the regulations thereunder require 
the transferor to realize ordinary income, even if the transferor would 
realize an overall loss on the transfer.
    A similar rule in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(3)(ii) applies to 
partnership distributions. Section 731 generally provides that if a 
distribution of money to a partner exceeds the partner's adjusted basis 
in its interest in the partnership, then gain will be recognized to the 
extent of the difference between the money distributed and the 
partner's basis. That gain or loss is considered as gain or loss from 
the sale or exchange of the partnership interest of the distributee 
partner. See section 731(a). Consistent with section 9 of Notice 2018-
29, proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(3)(ii) provides that for purposes of 
determining whether withholding is required on a distribution, a 
partnership is permitted to rely on its books and records or on a 
certification provided by the transferor (the distributee partner) to 
determine if there is realized gain to the distributee partner.
4. Effectively Connected Gain Upon a Partnership's Deemed Sale
    To make the determination of whether there is a transfer to which 
withholding applies more administrable for transferors and transferees, 
proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(4) provides that no withholding is 
required if the transferee receives a certification from the 
partnership stating that if the partnership sold all of its assets at 
fair market value, the amount of net effectively connected gain 
resulting from the deemed sale would be less than 10 percent of the 
total net gain. Section 6.04 of Notice 2018-29 provided a similar rule, 
but at a threshold of 25 percent. Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(4) 
lowers the percentage threshold in accordance with section 2 of Notice 
2018-29, which stated that the Treasury Department and the IRS intend 
to provide future guidance reducing the percentage threshold provided 
in section 6.04 of Notice 2018-29. The proposed regulations also allow 
a partnership that is a transferee because it makes a distribution to 
use this exception when it determines that the 10-percent test is 
satisfied from its books and records.
    To make it easier for the partnership to calculate its effectively 
connected gain from the deemed sale, the proposed regulations allow 
this amount to be determined as of the determination date. Further, the 
proposed regulations allow a partnership to make this determination 
when no gain on the deemed sale would have been effectively connected 
with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States (for 
example, when the deemed sale would result in a loss that would have 
been effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business 
within the United States). See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(4)(i)(B).
5. Allocable Share of ECTI
    Section 6.03 of Notice 2018-29 provided an exception to withholding 
under section 1446(f)(1) for situations in which a transferor's 
distributive share of ECTI during the previous three taxable years was 
less than 25 percent of the transferor's total distributive share of 
income in each year (the ``three-year ECTI exception''). Section 2 of 
Notice 2018-29 provided that the Treasury Department and the IRS 
intended to lower the three-year ECTI exception's 25 percent threshold 
in proposed regulations, and that other limitations for this rule were 
under consideration. See also section III.B.4 of this Explanation of 
Provisions (describing modifications to the threshold set forth in 
section 6.04 of Notice 2018-29).
    The three-year ECTI exception was intended to relieve potentially 
significant overwithholding that could arise when a partner transfers 
an interest in a partnership, recognizes relatively little effectively 
connected gain under section 864(c)(8), but cannot obtain information 
from the partnership at the time of the transfer necessary to qualify 
for the deemed sale exception described in section III.B.4 of this 
Explanation of Provisions. The three-year ECTI exception uses a 
transferor's allocable share of ECTI as a proxy for distributive share 
of effectively connected gain recognized in connection with a deemed 
sale described in section 864(c)(8)(B). The Treasury Department and the 
IRS are aware that the amount of a partner's recent allocable share of 
ECTI may not accurately indicate whether, and to what extent, the 
partner would recognize gain taxable under section 864(c)(8) and 
proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1. For example, a partnership may recognize 
relatively little effectively connected income for several years while 
nonetheless holding assets with significant built-in gain that would be 
taxable as effectively connected gain. The three-year ECTI exception 
may in certain cases increase compliance and collection risks if 
foreign partners with limited connections to the United States and 
significant tax liability under section 864(c)(8) are not withheld on 
under section 1446(f)(1).
    In the interest of striking the appropriate balance between the 
risk of noncompliance and the potential for overwithholding, the 
proposed regulations adopt the three-year ECTI exception from Notice 
2018-29 with the

[[Page 21202]]

modifications described in this section III.B.5 of this Explanation of 
Provisions. The Treasury Department and the IRS continue to study 
whether the three-year ECTI exception is appropriate in light of the 
risk of noncompliance, and request comments on the utility of the rule 
and modifications to the rule that would reduce that risk.
    Accordingly, proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(5)(i) provides that no 
withholding is required if a transferee receives a certification from a 
transferor stating that the transferor was at all times a partner in 
the partnership for the immediately prior taxable year and the two 
taxable years that precede it and that the transferor's allocable share 
of ECTI for each of those taxable years was less than 10 percent of the 
transferor's total distributive share of the partnership's net income 
for that year. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(5)(i)(A) and (C). In 
addition, a transferor must certify that, in the immediately prior 
taxable year and the two that preceded it, the transferor's allocable 
share of ECTI was less than $1 million (including ECTI allocated to 
certain persons related to the transferor). See proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(b)(5)(i)(B). A transferor must also certify that its 
distributive share of income or gain that is effectively connected with 
the conduct of a trade or business within the United States or 
deductions or losses properly allocated and apportioned to that income 
in each of the taxable years described in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
2(b)(5)(i)(A) has been reported on a Federal income tax return (filed 
on or before the due date (including extensions) for filing the return 
(and all amounts due with respect to the return are timely paid)) for 
each of the three preceding taxable years, if required to be filed, 
before the date on which the transferor furnishes the certification. 
See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(5)(i)(D). For this purpose, if the 
transferor is a nonresident alien individual or foreign corporation, 
the Federal income tax return is the transferor's Form 1040NR or Form 
1120-F; if the transferor is a partnership, the Federal income tax 
returns are the Forms 1040NR or 1120-F of the direct or indirect 
partners of the transferor.
    For purposes of this rule, the immediately prior taxable year is 
the transferor's most recent taxable year with or within which a 
taxable year of the partnership ended and for which a Schedule K-1 
(Form 1065) was due or furnished (if earlier) before the date of the 
transfer. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(5)(ii). Consistent with the 
three-year ECTI exception described in Notice 2018-29, a transferor 
does not satisfy this requirement if for any of the relevant years it 
did not receive Form 8805, Foreign Partner's Information Statement of 
Section 1446 Withholding Tax, unless the transferor was allocated an 
item of deduction or loss that is effectively connected with the 
conduct of a trade or business within the United States, in which case 
it is treated as having an allocable share of ECTI for that year of 
zero. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(5)(iii).
    When a transferor has had neither ECTI nor a net distributive share 
of income allocated to it in the previous three taxable years, the 
composition of the income the partnership allocates to the transferor 
does not provide any indication of the amount of effectively connected 
gain realized by the transferor in connection with the transfer. 
Accordingly, the proposed regulations also provide that a transferor 
does not qualify for the exception provided in proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(b)(5) if the transferor did not have a net distributive 
share of income allocated to it in any of its previous three taxable 
years. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(5)(iv).
    Section 6.03 of Notice 2018-29 provided that the three-year ECTI 
exception does not apply when a partnership is a transferee by reason 
of making a distribution. Comments noted that, particularly in tiered 
partnership structures, a distributing partnership may not be able to 
obtain the information necessary to use the deemed sale exception 
described in section 6.04 of Notice 2018-29, such that the partnership 
would be required to withhold under section 1446(f)(1) in cases in 
which there was relatively limited effectively connected income earned 
by the partnership. In response to the comments, the proposed 
regulations allow a distributing partnership to use this exception when 
it determines that the three-year ECTI exception is applicable based on 
its books and records, provided that it receives a representation from 
the transferor stating that income tax returns have been filed, and tax 
has been paid, for each of the relevant years for which the transferor 
was allocated effectively connected income (or loss). See proposed 
Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(5)(v).
    Finally, proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(5)(vi) provides that a 
transferor may not make the certification if it has actual knowledge 
that the information relevant to the certification that is reported by 
the partnership on any Form 8805 or Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) is 
incorrect.
6. Nonrecognition by Transferor
    Section 864(c)(8) and proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1 provide that 
gain from the transfer of a partnership interest that is treated as 
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within 
the United States is limited to gain otherwise recognized under the 
Code. If a nonrecognition provision of the Code applies to all of the 
gain realized on a transfer, withholding under section 1446(f)(1) does 
not apply. Accordingly, section 6.05 of Notice 2018-29 provided an 
exception to withholding for certain nonrecognition transactions if the 
transferee receives a notice from the transferor describing the 
application of a nonrecognition provision. This exception was based on 
the rules in Sec.  1.1445-2(d)(2).
    Consistent with the rule provided in Notice 2018-29, the proposed 
regulations generally permit a transferee to rely on a certification of 
nonrecognition from the transferor. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
2(b)(6). The certification provided by the transferor must include a 
brief description of the transfer and the relevant law and facts 
relating to the application of the nonrecognition provision.
    If only a portion of the gain realized on the transfer is subject 
to a nonrecognition provision, an adjustment to the amount required to 
be withheld may be permitted under proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c)(4), 
discussed in section III.C.4 of this Explanation of Provisions 
(describing the rules in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c)(4)(vi) for the 
certification of maximum tax liability that may be relied upon in these 
situations).
7. Claim of Treaty Benefits
    Notice 2018-29 did not contain specific rules addressing the 
application of income tax treaties, instead including them in section 
6.05 by adopting a modified version of Sec.  1.1445-2(d) (providing an 
exception from withholding under section 1445 when the transferor 
certifies that it is not required to recognize gain either under a 
provision of the Code or under a treaty). The proposed regulations 
provide an exception to withholding under section 1446(f)(1) when a 
transferor certifies that it is not subject to tax on any gain from the 
transfer pursuant to an income tax treaty in effect between the United 
States and a foreign country. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(7)(i). 
This exception applies only when a transferor (as opposed to owners of 
an interest in the transferor, including partners in a partnership that 
is a transferor) qualifies

[[Page 21203]]

for the benefits of an income tax treaty in order to reduce the burden 
on a transferee of reviewing documentation from multiple persons. The 
certification to the transferee must include a valid Form W-8BEN, 
Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax 
Withholding and Reporting (Individuals), or W-8BEN-E, Certificate of 
Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and 
Reporting (Entities) (as applicable), that contains the information 
necessary to support the claim for treaty benefits, and the transferee 
must mail a copy of the certification to the IRS by the 30th day after 
the date of the transfer in order to rely upon it. Id. See also Form 
8833, Treaty-Based Return Position Disclosure Under Section 6114 or 
7701(b), and the instructions to the form regarding the requirement for 
the transferor to disclose a claim for treaty benefits with a return.
    To ensure that these procedures are followed for claims involving 
treaty benefits, this exception is the sole method by which a 
transferor may claim an exception to withholding by reason of a claim 
of treaty benefits. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(7)(iii). For 
claims involving transfers with respect to which treaty benefits apply 
to only a portion of the gain from the transfer, see section III.C.4 of 
this Explanation of Provisions (describing the rules in proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(c)(4)(vi) for the certification of maximum tax liability 
that that may be relied upon in these situations).

C. Determining the Amount To Withhold

1. In General
    The proposed regulations provide certain procedures for determining 
the amount to withhold under section 1446(f)(1). The rules are intended 
to provide administrable procedures for transferees to determine the 
amount to withhold, and in some cases, provide procedures intended to 
better reflect the amount of the transferor's actual tax liability 
under section 864(c)(8). When applicable, these procedures generally 
allow the transferee to rely on certifications that it receives from 
the transferor (or, in certain cases, from the partnership) to 
determine the amount to withhold unless it has actual knowledge that 
the certification is incorrect or unreliable. See proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(c)(1). In cases in which a partnership is the transferee 
because it makes a distribution, it may instead rely on its books and 
records unless it knows, or has reason to know, that the information is 
incorrect or unreliable. Id.
2. Amount Realized
i. In General
    The amount required to be withheld under section 1446(f)(1) is 
determined by reference to the transferor's amount realized on the 
transfer. See section 1446(f)(1). The proposed regulations provide that 
the amount realized for purposes of proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2 is 
determined under section 1001 and the regulations thereunder and 
section 752 and the regulations thereunder. See proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(c)(2)(i); see also Sec. Sec.  1.752-1(h) and 1.1001-2.
    The proposed regulations also clarify that in the case of a 
distribution, the amount realized is the sum of the amount of cash 
distributed (or to be distributed), the fair market value of property 
distributed (or to be distributed), and the reduction in the 
transferor's share of partnership liabilities. Id.
ii. Procedures To Determine Share of Partnership Liabilities
    Comments stated that the allocation of liabilities to a partner 
under section 752 is not information that normally would be available 
to a transferee and may be difficult for a transferor to determine as 
of the date of transfer. To address these issues, section 7.02 of 
Notice 2018-29 provided that a transferee may in certain cases rely on 
a certification from the transferor as to the amount of the 
transferor's share of partnership liabilities reported on the 
transferor's most recently received Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), provided 
that the form was for a partnership taxable year that closed no more 
than 10 months before the date of transfer and the transferor is not a 
controlling partner. Section 7.03 of Notice 2018-29 allowed a 
transferee to rely on a certification from the partnership that 
provided the transferor's share of partnership liabilities as reflected 
on the most recently prepared Schedule K-1 (Form 1065).
    The proposed regulations provide procedures similar to sections 
7.02 and 7.03 of Notice 2018-29 that allow a transferee to rely on a 
certification from the transferor or the partnership. Proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(c)(2)(ii)(B) provides that a transferee may generally rely 
on a certification from a transferor that provides the amount of the 
transferor's share of partnership liabilities reported on the most 
recent Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) issued by the partnership. In response 
to comments stating that a transferor may not possess a Schedule K-1 
(Form 1065) that satisfies the 10 month requirement in Notice 2018-29 
because of the timing of the extended due date for Schedule K-1 (Form 
1065), the proposed regulations provide that a transferee may generally 
rely on a certification if the last day of the partnership taxable year 
for which the Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) was provided was no more than 22 
months before the date of the transfer. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
2(c)(2)(ii)(B). Consistent with Notice 2018-29, a transferor that is a 
controlling partner may not provide this certification because it will 
generally be able to require the partnership to provide a partnership-
level certification as to the controlling partner's share of 
partnership liabilities. Id.
    Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c)(2)(ii)(C) allows a transferee to rely 
on a certification from the partnership that provides the amount of the 
transferor's share of partnership liabilities. However, unlike the rule 
in Notice 2018-29, the partnership is required to make this 
determination as of the determination date rather than relying on its 
most recently prepared Schedule K-1 (Form 1065). Id. The proposed 
regulations also provide a new procedure that allows a partnership that 
is a transferee because it makes a distribution to rely on its books 
and records to determine the transferor's share of partnership 
liabilities as of the determination date. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
2(c)(2)(iii).
    If a transferee does not use one of these determination procedures, 
the reduction in the transferor's share of partnership liabilities must 
be determined as of the date of the transfer for purposes of computing 
the amount realized.
iii. Modified Amount Realized for Foreign Partnerships
    As discussed in section III.B of this Explanation of Provisions, 
section 1446(f)(2) and proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(2) provide an 
exception to withholding when the transferor is not a foreign person. A 
transferor that is a foreign partnership may not rely on this exception 
even though it may have U.S. persons (which are not subject to tax 
under section 864(c)(8)) as its partners. To avoid overwithholding when 
a foreign partnership transfers its interest in a partnership, proposed 
Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c)(2)(iv) provides a procedure to limit the amount 
realized for withholding purposes to the portion of the amount realized 
that is attributable to foreign persons. For this purpose, the portion 
of the amount realized attributable to a direct or indirect partner is 
determined based on the percentage of gain allocable to that partner. 
Any partner that does not provide a valid

[[Page 21204]]

certification of non-foreign status (including a Form W-9) is treated 
as a foreign person for this purpose.
    To make the certification for a modified amount realized, the 
transferor must provide to the transferee a Form W-8IMY, Certificate of 
Foreign Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through Entity, or Certain U.S. 
Branches for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting, that includes 
a certification of non-foreign status for each partner that is treated 
as a U.S. person. It must also include a withholding statement that 
provides the percentage of gain allocable to each direct or indirect 
partner and that indicates whether that person is a U.S. person or is 
treated as a foreign person.
3. Lack of Money or Property or Lack of Knowledge Regarding Liabilities
    As described in section 8 of Notice 2018-29, in some cases, a 
reduction in the transferor's share of partnership liabilities may 
cause the amount otherwise required to be withheld to exceed the cash 
or other property that the transferee actually pays to the transferor. 
In other cases, a transferee may have not received, or cannot rely 
upon, a certification regarding the transferor's share of partnership 
liabilities, and may not otherwise know the transferor's share of 
partnership liabilities. In these situations, the proposed regulations 
generally provide that the amount required to be withheld is equal to 
the amount realized determined without regard to the decrease in the 
transferor's share of partnership liabilities. See proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(c)(3).
4. Certification of Maximum Tax Liability
    To more closely align the amount to withhold with the transferor's 
tax liability under section 864(c)(8), the proposed regulations provide 
a procedure to determine the amount to withhold that is intended to 
estimate the amount of tax the transferor is required to pay under 
section 864(c)(8). See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c)(4).
    For this procedure to apply, a transferee must receive a 
certification from the transferor containing certain information 
relating to the transferor and the transfer. See proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(c)(4)(iii). One of the requirements for this certification 
is for the transferor to identify the amount of outside capital gain 
and outside ordinary gain that would be treated as effectively 
connected gain on the determination date. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
2(c)(4)(iii)(E). Further, to provide this certification, the transferor 
must represent that it has obtained a statement from the partnership 
that includes, among other things, information relating to the 
transferor's distributive share of effectively connected gain in 
connection with a deemed sale described in section 864(c)(8)(B) as of 
the determination date. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c)(4)(iii)(G).
    When a transferor provides a transferee this information, proposed 
Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c)(4)(i) allows the transferee to withhold based on 
the transferor's maximum tax liability on the transfer. The 
transferor's maximum tax liability is the amount of the transferor's 
effectively connected gain multiplied by the applicable percentage. See 
section 1446(b) and Sec.  1.1446-3(a)(2). The applicable percentage 
applies the highest rate of tax for each particular type of income or 
gain allocable to a foreign person. Id.
    Special rules apply for a transfer in which only a portion of the 
gain is subject to tax under section 864(c)(8) because a nonrecognition 
provision of the Code or an income tax treaty in effect between the 
United States and a foreign country applies (for example, when the 
partnership carries on one trade or business through a U.S. permanent 
establishment, and another trade or business that is not carried on 
through a U.S. permanent establishment). See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
2(c)(4)(v) and (vi). These rules provide that the transferor must, in 
addition to providing the maximum tax liability certification, comply 
with the procedural requirements that would otherwise apply when 
claiming a full exception to withholding based on a nonrecognition 
provision or treaty benefits.

D. Reporting and Paying Withheld Amounts

1. In General
    A transferee required to withhold must report and pay any tax 
withheld by the 20th day after the date of the transfer. See proposed 
Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(d)(1). To report and pay the amount withheld, the 
proposed regulations direct the transferee to use Forms 8288, U.S. 
Withholding Tax Return for Dispositions by Foreign Persons of U.S. Real 
Property Interests, and 8288-A, Statement of Withholding on 
Dispositions by Foreign Persons of U.S. Real Property Interests. The 
IRS will stamp a valid Form 8288-A to show receipt and mail a copy to 
the transferor.
2. Transferee's Obligation To Certify the Amount Withheld to the 
Partnership
    As discussed in section IV of this Explanation of Provisions, a 
partnership must withhold on distributions to a transferee under 
section 1446(f)(4) to the extent the transferee fails to properly 
withhold under section 1446(f)(1) and proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(a). 
See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3. In order for the partnership to 
determine whether it must withhold under these rules, proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(d)(2) requires a transferee to timely furnish certain 
information regarding its compliance with section 1446(f)(1) to the 
partnership.
    Specifically, proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(d)(2) requires a 
transferee (other than a partnership that is a transferee because it 
makes a distribution) to furnish, no later than 10 days after the 
transfer, a certification to the partnership that either includes a 
copy of the Form 8288-A that it files with the IRS, or states the 
amount realized on the transfer and any amount withheld by the 
transferee. The certification must also include any underlying 
certifications that the transferee has relied upon that claim an 
exception or adjustment to withholding. As discussed in section IV.B of 
this Explanation of Provisions, the partnership must conduct its own 
review of the certification provided by the transferee, including any 
underlying certifications. Therefore, a transferee that has relied on a 
certification claiming an exception or adjustment to withholding may 
want to ensure that the partnership has determined the certification to 
be correct and reliable before the due date for payment of any withheld 
amounts to the IRS.

E. Effect of Withholding on Transferor

    Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(e) states that a foreign person must 
file a U.S. tax return and pay any tax due with respect to a transfer 
that is subject to section 864(c)(8) regardless of whether there is 
withholding under section 1446(f)(1) and proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2. To 
claim a credit under section 33, a transferor that is an individual or 
corporation must attach to its return the stamped copy of Form 8288-A, 
as referenced in section III.D of this Explanation of Provisions. See 
proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(e)(2)(i). If a stamped copy of Form 8288-A 
has not been provided to the transferor by the IRS, proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(e)(3) provides that a transferor may establish the amount 
of tax withheld by furnishing substantial evidence of the amount. For a 
discussion of the rule regarding a transferor that is a foreign

[[Page 21205]]

partnership claiming a credit for withholding under section 1446(f)(1), 
see section II.E of this Explanation of Provisions.

IV. Partnership's Requirement To Withhold Under Section 1446(f)(4) on 
Distributions to Transferee

A. In General

    Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3 provides rules under section 1446(f)(4) 
that would implement the partnership's requirement to withhold on 
distributions to a transferee on any amount that the transferee failed 
to properly withhold under section 1446(f)(1), plus any interest on 
this amount. The rules, when made applicable as final rules, would end 
the suspension of section 1446(f)(4) withholding provided in section 11 
of Notice 2018-29.

B. Requirement To Withhold

    The proposed regulations provide that, if a transferee fails to 
withhold any amount required to be withheld under proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2 in connection with the transfer of a partnership interest, 
the partnership must withhold from any distributions made to the 
transferee in accordance with the rules in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3. 
Under the general rule, a partnership determines whether a transferee 
has withheld the amount required to be withheld under proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2 by relying on the certification described in proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(d)(2) that it receives from the transferee. See proposed 
Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(a)(1). The partnership may rely on this certification 
unless it knows, or has reason to know, that the certification is 
incorrect or unreliable. Id. Therefore, the partnership must review the 
certification received from the transferee, which includes any 
underlying certifications that the transferee relied on to reduce or 
eliminate withholding. Because the partnership may have information 
that may not be available to the transferee (for example, information 
in its books and records), a partnership may know, or have reason to 
know, that an underlying certification is incorrect or unreliable even 
though the transferee properly relied on the certification. In this 
case, the partnership would be required to withhold on the transferee 
under section 1446(f)(4) to the extent required in proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-3.
    If the partnership timely receives (within 10 days from the 
transfer), and may rely on, a certification from the transferee stating 
that an exception to withholding applies or establishing that the 
transferee has withheld the amount required to be withheld under 
proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2, then the partnership is not required to 
withhold under the general rule in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(a)(1). 
See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(b)(1). For this purpose, the amount 
required to be withheld may take into account any adjustment procedures 
under Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c) (for which any documents, including 
underlying certifications, are attached to the certification provided 
by the transferee). The proposed regulations thus reduce the burden 
imposed by section 1446(f)(4) by allowing transferees and partnerships 
to rely on the information produced under the regulations implementing 
section 1446(f)(1).
    The proposed regulations provide an additional rule that allows the 
IRS, in limited circumstances, to require a partnership to withhold 
under section 1446(f)(4) when the IRS notifies the partnership that it 
has determined that the transferee has provided incorrect information 
on the certification described in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(d)(2) 
regarding the amount realized or the amount withheld, or that the 
transferee failed to pay the amounts reported as withheld to the IRS. 
See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(a)(2). This rule is meant to induce the 
transferee to properly determine the amount realized on transfer (in 
accordance with the rules in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c)(2)), and to 
correctly report to the partnership the amount of tax withheld and paid 
to the IRS.
    Under the proposed regulations, withholding under section 
1446(f)(4) does not apply when a partnership is a transferee because it 
makes a distribution. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(b)(3). Section 
1446(f)(4) imposes a withholding obligation on a secondary party, the 
partnership, when the transferee fails to withhold under section 
1446(f)(1). When the partnership is the transferee because it made a 
distribution and failed to withhold under section 1446(f)(1) and 
proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2, imposing a section 1446(f)(4) withholding 
obligation on it does not provide an additional party to ensure the 
1446(f) liability is paid. Furthermore, the partnership remains liable 
for its failure to withhold in its capacity as a transferee. See 
section VI.A of this Explanation of Provisions.
    A publicly traded partnership generally is also not required to 
withhold on distributions made to a transferee under section 
1446(f)(4). See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(b)(2)(i). As described in 
section V of this Explanation of Provisions, it would be 
administratively difficult for a publicly traded partnership to 
determine when a transfer of its interest has occurred, and whether the 
correct amount has been withheld under section 1446(f)(1). However, the 
proposed regulations do require a publicly traded partnership to 
withhold under section 1446(f)(4) in certain limited instances. 
Specifically, a publicly traded partnership may publish a qualified 
notice that states that withholding under section 1446(f)(1) does not 
apply with respect to a distribution. See section V.B.2 and 3 of this 
Explanation of Provisions. To ensure that publicly traded partnerships 
exercise due diligence when publishing these qualified notices, 
proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(b)(2)(ii) provides that the exception from 
section 1446(f)(4) withholding applicable to publicly traded 
partnerships does not apply if a publicly traded partnership determines 
(including by reason of having received notification from the IRS) that 
it has published a qualified notice that falsely states that an 
exemption applied. When a publicly traded partnership makes this 
determination, it must withhold on distributions to the transferees an 
amount equal to the amount that any brokers failed to withhold under 
proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 due to reliance on the qualified notice, 
plus interest.

C. Withholding Rules

    A partnership that does not receive, or cannot rely on, a timely 
certification from a transferee stating that an exception to 
withholding applies or that the proper amount has been withheld must 
begin to withhold under the general rule on distributions made to the 
transferee on the later of the date that is 30 days after the transfer 
or the date that is 15 days after the partnership acquires actual 
knowledge of the transfer. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(c)(1)(i).
    The partnership must withhold on the entire amount of each 
distribution made to the transferee until it may rely on a 
certification from the transferee that states that an exception to 
withholding applies or that provides the information necessary to 
determine the amount required to be withheld. See proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-3(c)(1)(ii). The partnership may rely on this certification 
to determine its withholding obligation regardless of whether it is 
provided within the time prescribed in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
2(d)(2). If the partnership has not already satisfied the amount 
required to be withheld, as determined from the certification from the 
transferee, it must continue to withhold on distributions to the 
transferee until it has done so. Id. However, the partnership may stop 
withholding if the transferee disposes of all of its interest

[[Page 21206]]

in the partnership, unless the partnership has actual knowledge that 
any successor to the transferee is related to the transferee or the 
transferor from which the transferee acquired the interest. Id.
    The amount required to be withheld under proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
3(a)(1), as determined from the certification provided by the 
transferee, is a tax equal to 10 percent of the amount realized on the 
transfer, reduced by any amount already withheld by the transferee, 
plus any computed interest. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(c)(2)(i). 
The proposed regulations provide that a partnership that is required to 
withhold under proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(a)(1) may not take into 
account any adjustment procedures that would otherwise affect the 
amount required to be withheld under proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
2(c)(2)(i). See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(c)(2)(i)(A). Thus, for 
example, a partnership may not reduce the amount that it is required to 
withhold under the procedures described in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
2(c)(4) (adjusting the amount subject to withholding based on a 
transferor's maximum tax liability). The Treasury Department and the 
IRS have determined that it would be inappropriate to permit 
adjustments that may reduce the amount required to be withheld under 
section 1446(f)(4). Withholding on distributions to transferees under 
section 1446(f)(4) applies only after the transferee has either failed 
to properly withhold under section 1446(f)(1) or has not complied with 
the applicable procedural requirements in the proposed regulations. 
Accordingly, permitting adjustments to the amount a partnership is 
required to withhold under section 1446(f)(4) would reduce transferees' 
incentive to comply with their obligations under section 1446(f)(1) 
while potentially increasing the partnership's administrative burden 
associated with that withholding.
    Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(c)(2)(ii) provides rules for the 
partnership to compute interest on the amount that the transferee 
failed to withhold. Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(c)(3) provides that any 
amount required to be withheld on a distribution under any other 
withholding provision in the Code is not required to be withheld under 
section 1446(f)(4). For example, if a partnership is required to 
withhold $30 under section 1441 on a $100 distribution, the maximum 
amount required to be withheld on that distribution under section 
1446(f)(4) is $70.
    Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(d) provides that a partnership required 
to withhold under section 1446(f)(4) must report and pay the tax 
withheld using Forms 8288, U.S. Withholding Tax Return for Dispositions 
by Foreign Persons of U.S. Real Property Interests, and 8288-C, 
Statement of Withholding Under Section 1446(f)(4) for Withholding on 
Dispositions by Foreign Persons of Partnership Interests, as provided 
in forms, instructions, or other guidance.

D. Effect of Withholding on the Transferor and Transferee

    The withholding of tax under section 1446(f)(4) does not relieve a 
nonresident alien individual or foreign corporation subject to tax 
under section 864(c)(8) from filing a U.S. income tax return with 
respect to the transfer and paying any tax due with the return. See 
proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(e)(1). Because this tax is withheld from the 
transferee rather than from the transferor, the transferor is not 
allowed a credit under section 33. Id. However, the proposed 
regulations clarify that tax will not be collected from the transferor 
to the extent it has already been collected from another person under 
these rules. See section VI.A of this Explanation of Provisions. 
Therefore, the transferor will not be required to pay tax to the extent 
the tax (but not any portion treated as interest) has been paid through 
withholding on the transferee.
    A transferee remains liable under section 1446(f)(1) even when the 
partnership is required to withhold under section 1446(f)(4). However, 
the transferee is treated as satisfying this withholding tax liability 
under section 1446(f)(1) to the extent that it is withheld upon under 
section 1446(f)(4). See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(e)(2). Any amount 
withheld that is treated as interest is not treated as satisfying the 
transferee's liability under section 1446(f)(1), but that amount will 
instead be treated as interest paid by the transferee with respect to 
its section 1446(f)(1) liability. Id. Under the proposed regulations, 
if the amount of tax withheld from the transferee exceeds its liability 
under section 1446(f)(1), only the partnership may claim a refund on 
behalf of the transferee for the excess amount. Id. This rule is meant 
to make the refund process more administrable by having the partnership 
act on behalf of each of its transferees for purposes of claiming any 
excess amounts withheld under section 1446(f)(4). The Treasury 
Department and the IRS anticipate that partnerships and transferees 
will make arrangements by contract so that the transferees may be 
reimbursed for amounts refunded to the partnership. The Treasury 
Department and the IRS request comments on this issue.

V. Withholding on the Transfer of a Publicly Traded Partnership 
Interest by a Foreign Person

    The proposed regulations provide rules for withholding and 
reporting on the transfer of an interest in a publicly traded 
partnership if the interest is publicly traded on an established 
securities market or is readily tradable on a secondary market or the 
substantial equivalent thereof (such interests, ``PTP interests''). The 
rules, when made applicable as final rules, would end the suspension of 
section 1446(f)(1) withholding on the disposition of PTP interests 
provided in Notice 2018-08.

A. In General

    A transfer of a PTP interest raises unique issues for withholding 
under section 1446(f). For example, when a transfer of a PTP interest 
is effected through one or more brokers, the transferee will generally 
not know the identity of the transferor. Accordingly, the Conference 
Report for the Act acknowledged that transfers involving PTP interests 
could require withholding rules different from those that apply to 
transfers involving non-PTP interests. See Conference Report on H.R. 1, 
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, H. Rep. No. 115-466, at 511 (``[T]he Secretary 
may provide guidance permitting a broker, as agent of the transferee, 
to deduct and withhold the tax . . . such guidance may provide that if 
an interest in a publicly traded partnership is sold by a foreign 
partner through a broker, the broker may deduct and withhold the 10-
percent tax on behalf of the transferee.'').
    Consistent with the Conference Report, proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
4(a)(1) provides that if a transfer of a PTP interest is effected 
through one or more brokers, the transferee is not required to 
withhold, and the withholding obligation is instead imposed on certain 
brokers involved with the transfer. Generally, the proposed regulations 
define a broker to include any person, foreign or domestic, that in the 
ordinary course of a trade or business during the calendar year stands 
ready to effect sales made by others, and that, in connection with a 
transfer of a PTP interest, receives all or a portion of the amount 
realized on behalf of the transferor. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
1(b)(1). For example, when a transfer of a PTP interest occurs through 
a cash on delivery account, a delivery versus payment account, or other 
similar account or transaction, this definition would include a broker 
that receives an amount realized from the sale against delivery of the 
PTP interest and any other broker that receives an amount

[[Page 21207]]

realized from that broker. Therefore, the withholding obligation under 
proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 is generally limited to brokers that receive 
proceeds from the sale and act on behalf of the transferor. The 
definition of broker also includes any clearing organization that 
effects a transfer of a PTP interest on behalf of the transferor. While 
comments have stated that clearing organizations may not have the 
capability to complete the withholding required under section 1446(f), 
the Treasury Department and the IRS anticipate that clearing 
organizations will make arrangements to ensure that, when effecting the 
transfer of a PTP interest on behalf of foreign brokers, they act on 
behalf of brokers that assume withholding responsibility when clearing 
sales of PTP interests (such as a qualified intermediary (``QI'')).
    If a transfer of a PTP interest is effected through multiple 
brokers, proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(a)(2) provides rules that specify 
which broker or brokers have a withholding obligation. Under proposed 
Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(a)(2)(i), a broker that pays the amount realized to a 
foreign broker is required to withhold unless the foreign broker is 
either a U.S branch treated as a U.S. person or a QI that assumes 
primary withholding responsibility for the payment. Consistent with 
this rule, the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to modify the QI 
agreement provided in Revenue Procedure 2017-15, 2017-3 I.R.B. 437, to 
allow QIs to assume primary withholding responsibility on the amount 
realized. Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(a)(2)(ii) provides an additional 
rule requiring the broker that effects a transfer for the transferor as 
its customer to satisfy the withholding obligation. This rule ensures 
that withholding will be completed on payment of the amount realized to 
the transferor when another broker has not already satisfied the 
withholding.
    To avoid withholding by multiple brokers, proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
4(a)(2)(iii) provides the general rule that a broker is not required to 
withhold when it knows that the withholding obligation has been 
satisfied by another broker. Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(a)(2)(iv) 
provides that a broker must treat another broker as a foreign person 
unless it obtains documentation (including a certification of non-
foreign status) establishing that the other broker is a U.S. person.
    If the transfer of a PTP interest is not effected through one or 
more brokers, then proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 does not apply, and the 
general rules of section 1446(f)(1) and proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2 
apply. A transfer that is effected through a broker includes a 
distribution with respect to a PTP interest held through an account 
with a broker.

B. Exceptions to Withholding

    The proposed regulations provide five exceptions to withholding 
that apply to the transfer of a PTP interest. The exceptions are 
intended to both reduce the compliance burden placed on brokers and 
provide rules that are administrable.
1. Certification of Non-Foreign Status
    As mentioned in section III.B.2 of this Explanation of Provisions, 
withholding under section 1446(f)(1) is limited to transfers by foreign 
partners. Accordingly, a broker is not required to withhold to the 
extent that it relies on a certification of non-foreign status that it 
receives from the transferor that claims an exception to withholding. 
See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(2). For purposes of proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-4, a certification of non-foreign status means a Form W-9, or 
valid substitute form, that meets the requirements of Sec.  1.1441-
1(d)(2). A broker may rely on a valid Form W-9 that it already 
possesses, and in certain cases, may instead rely on a certification 
that it receives from another broker that states the TIN and status of 
the transferor when that other broker acts as an agent for the 
transferor and possesses the Form W-9 (for example, from an introducing 
broker). A broker will not qualify for the exception provided in 
proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(2) if it has actual knowledge that the 
certification is incorrect or unreliable.
2. 10-Percent Exception
    The proposed regulations include an exception to withholding that 
may apply if, on a deemed sale of the assets of the publicly traded 
partnership the interest in which is transferred, the amount of 
effectively connected gain would be less than 10 percent of the total 
gain. Specifically, proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(3) provides that a 
broker is not required to withhold under proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 if 
it properly relies on a qualified notice stating that the 10-percent 
exception applies.
    The 10-percent exception applies if a hypothetical sale by the 
publicly traded partnership of all of its assets at fair market value 
on a specified date would result in an amount of gain effectively 
connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United 
States that is less than 10 percent of the total gain. The specified 
date must be a date designated by the publicly traded partnership that 
is within the 92-day period ending on the date that it posts a 
qualified notice. Unlike the similar exception described in section 
III.B.4 of this Explanation of Provisions that applies to transfers of 
non-PTP interests, this rule requires a publicly traded partnership to 
designate a date for this purpose that generally occurs within the most 
recent calendar quarter. Cf. proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(4) 
(permitting the deemed sale computation to occur on a determination 
date, which would allow the deemed sale date to be determined as of the 
first day of a partnership's taxable year in which the transfer 
occurred in certain cases). The Treasury Department and the IRS have 
determined that it is appropriate to limit the availability of this 
exception to cases in which a publicly traded partnership has 
designated a deemed sale date occurring within the most recent calendar 
quarter because publicly traded partnerships are in a better position 
to determine the value of their assets, and in some cases determine the 
basis of their assets, on a quarterly basis. The proposed regulations 
limit reliance on a qualified notice depending on its date of posting. 
See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(3)(iii).
    For a discussion of rules regarding when a publicly traded 
partnership may be liable under section 1446(f)(4) because it falsely 
states on a qualified notice that this exception applies, see section 
IV.B of this Explanation of Provisions. For a discussion of the 
proposed changes to existing qualified notice rules, see section VII of 
this Explanation of Provisions.
3. Qualified Current Income Distributions
    As discussed in section III.B.3 of this Explanation of Provisions, 
the proposed regulations allow a transferor of a non-PTP interest to 
provide a certification stating that the transferor would not realize 
any gain on the transfer. Because it would be administratively 
difficult for a broker to timely obtain this type of certification from 
the transferor of a PTP interest, and difficult for the transferor to 
determine its basis in the PTP interest, the proposed regulations do 
not provide a similar exception for transfers of PTP interests.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined, however, that 
it would be appropriate to eliminate withholding under section 
1446(f)(1) on distributions (the full amount of which is generally 
treated as an amount realized under the proposed regulations) by a 
publicly traded partnership when it is likely that the transferor would 
realize no gain. In general, under section 705(a)(1), a partner's basis 
in its interest is increased by its distributive share of income for 
the taxable year, such that a distribution by the partnership not in

[[Page 21208]]

excess of that income generally does not result in the recognition of 
gain under section 731(a)(1). Accordingly, the proposed regulations 
provide that when a qualified notice posted by a publicly traded 
partnership indicates that the distribution does not exceed the net 
income the partnership earned since the record date of the 
partnership's last distribution, no withholding is required with 
respect to the distribution. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(4).
4. Proceeds Subject to Withholding Under Section 3406
    A broker may also be required to withhold on gross proceeds from 
the transfer of a PTP interest under section 3406 when a payment is 
treated as being made to a non-exempt U.S. recipient. To prevent 
withholding twice on the same payment, proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(5) 
provides an exception to withholding under section 1446(f)(1) if the 
amount realized is subject to withholding under section 3406.
5. Claim of Treaty Benefits
    The proposed regulations provide an exception similar to the one 
described in section III.B.6 of this Explanation of Provisions when a 
transferor states that it is not subject to tax on any gain from the 
transfer pursuant to an income tax treaty in effect between the United 
States and a foreign country. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(6). The 
exception also requires the transferor to furnish a valid Form W-8 with 
the information necessary to support the claim. Id. Unlike the 
exception for non-PTP interests, a broker is not required to mail the 
certification to the IRS because under the proposed regulations brokers 
are required to file a Form 1042-S, Foreign Person's U.S. Source Income 
Subject to Withholding, to report a transfer of a PTP interest that 
includes information about the claim of treaty benefits. See section 
V.D of this Explanation of Provisions for reporting requirements with 
respect to transfers of PTP interests.

C. Determining the Amount To Withhold

1. Amount Realized
i. In General
    A broker that is required to withhold under proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-4(a) must withhold 10 percent of the amount realized on the 
transfer of a PTP interest. As explained in section III.C.2 of this 
Explanation of Provisions, a reduction in a partner's share of 
partnership liabilities is treated as an amount realized under proposed 
Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c). However, because of the difficulties involved 
with requiring a broker to timely determine a transferor's share of 
partnership liabilities, proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(c)(2)(i) provides a 
special rule that treats the amount realized on the transfer of a PTP 
interest as the amount of gross proceeds (as defined in Sec.  1.6045-
1(d)(5)) paid or credited to the customer or another broker (as 
applicable). If a publicly traded partnership makes a distribution to a 
partner, the amount realized is the amount of cash distributed (or to 
be distributed) and the fair market value of property distributed (or 
to be distributed).
ii. Modified Amount Realized for Foreign Partnerships
    Consistent with the rule described in section III.C.2.iii of this 
Explanation of Provisions that applies to transfers of non-PTP 
interests, the proposed regulations include a rule that allows brokers 
to rely on a certification from a foreign partnership to modify the 
amount realized based on the extent to which the amount realized is 
attributable to persons who are (or are presumed to be) foreign 
persons. See proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(c)(2)(ii).

D. Reporting and Paying Withheld Amounts

    A broker required to withhold under Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 must pay the 
withheld tax pursuant to the deposit rules in Sec.  1.6302-2, and 
report the withholding on Forms 1042, Annual Withholding Tax Return for 
U.S. Source Income of Foreign Persons, and 1042-S pursuant to the 
procedures in Sec.  1.1461-1(b) and (c). The proposed regulations treat 
as a recipient for Form 1042-S reporting purposes a partner that 
receives an amount realized from a transfer of a PTP interest subject 
to Sec.  1.1446(f)-4. See proposed Sec.  1.1461-1(c)(1)(ii)(A)(8). This 
rule also clarifies that a foreign partnership is treated as a 
recipient for this purpose to ensure that the foreign partnership 
receives a Form 1042-S that it may use to claim credit for any 
withholding under proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 against its tax liability 
under section 1446(a). See section II.E of this Explanation of 
Provisions for discussion of the general coordination rule.
    To implement the reporting requirements, the proposed regulations 
add to the list of amounts subject to reporting on Form 1042-S an 
amount realized on the transfer of a PTP interest subject to Sec.  
1.1446(f)-4 (with limited exceptions). See proposed Sec.  1.1461-
1(c)(2). The proposed regulations also add to this list any 
distributions of effectively connected income by a publicly traded 
partnership subject to Sec.  1.1446-4 to clarify that these amounts are 
reportable on Form 1042-S. Id.

E. Effect of Withholding on Transferor

    As mentioned in section III.E of this Explanation of Provisions, 
the proposed regulations neither relieve a transferor of its 
substantive tax liability under section 864(c)(8), nor relieve a 
transferor subject to section 864(c)(8) from its filing obligation. See 
proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(e)(1). However, a transferor is allowed a 
credit under section 33 for the amount withheld under section 
1446(f)(1) and proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4. Id. To claim the credit, the 
transferor must attach to its return a copy of the Form 1042-S that 
includes the transferor's TIN. Id. For a discussion of the rules 
regarding a transferor that is a foreign partnership claiming a credit 
for withholding under section 1446(f)(1), see section II.E of this 
Explanation of Provisions.

F. Procedures To Adjust Overwithholding

    Section 1.1461-2(a) allows a withholding agent that overwithheld 
under chapter 3 of the Code, and made a deposit of tax as provided in 
Sec.  1.6302-2(a), to adjust the overwithheld amount using either a 
reimbursement or a set-off procedure. Because these rules are meant to 
allow withholding agents to adjust overwithholding for any deposited 
amounts that are reportable on Forms 1042 and 1042-S, the proposed 
regulations modify Sec.  1.1461-2(a) to allow use of the adjustment 
procedures for amounts withheld by a broker pursuant to proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-4 (which are reported on Forms 1042 and 1042-S, as noted in 
section V.D. of this Explanation of Provisions).

G. Procedures To Adjust Underwithholding

    In general, Sec.  1.1461-2(b) allows a withholding agent that 
underwithheld on a beneficial owner under chapter 3 of the Code to 
withhold from future payments made to the beneficial owner, or satisfy 
the tax from property or additional contributions of the beneficial 
owner, before the earlier of the due date for filing Form 1042 or the 
date on which the form is actually filed. The proposed regulations 
amend this provision to allow the use of this procedure by brokers that 
underwithheld under proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 on the transfer of a PTP 
interest.

[[Page 21209]]

H. Refunds and Credits

    Section 1.1464-1 generally provides that if an overpayment of tax 
has actually been withheld from the beneficial owner of the income, any 
refund or credit will be made to that beneficial owner. If, however, 
the tax was not withheld at source, but was instead paid by the 
withholding agent, the refund or credit will be made to the withholding 
agent. The proposed regulations clarify that these rules apply for 
purposes of section 1446(f). See proposed Sec.  1.1464-1(a).

VI. Liability for Failure To Withhold

A. In General

    Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-5(a) provides that every person required 
to deduct and withhold tax under section 1446(f), including under 
proposed Sec. Sec.  1.1446(f)-2 through 1.1446(f)-4, but that fails to 
do so is liable under section 1461. If the tax required to be withheld 
is paid by another person required to withhold, or by the nonresident 
alien individual or foreign corporation subject to tax under section 
864(c)(8), section 1463 and the proposed regulations clarify that the 
tax will only be collected once. However, the satisfaction of this 
liability does not relieve a person that failed to withhold under 
section 1446(f) from any interest, penalties, or additions to tax that 
would otherwise apply. The proposed regulations also provide that a 
partnership that fails to withhold under proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3 is 
liable under section 1461 only for the amount of tax that it failed to 
withhold, and not any interest computed under Sec.  1.1446(f)-
3(c)(2)(ii). This rule ensures that interest will be computed and 
assessed only once with respect to the same underlying tax liability.

B. Liability of Agents

    Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-5(b) provides rules for the liability of 
agents, which generally require an agent of a transferor or transferee 
to notify the transferee (or other person required to withhold) if it 
has knowledge that a certification furnished to that person is false. A 
person that receives notice from an agent may not rely on the 
certification to apply an exception to withholding or for determining 
the amount to withhold. Proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-5(b)(2) provides 
procedural rules regarding the timing and content of the notice, and 
requires the agent to furnish a copy of the notice to the IRS. An agent 
that fails to provide the required notice is liable for the tax that 
the person that should have received the notice would have been 
required to withhold under section 1446(f). However, under proposed 
Sec.  1.1446(f)-5(b)(4), this liability is limited to the amount of 
compensation that the agent derives from the transaction (and any civil 
or criminal penalties that may apply). The proposed regulations clarify 
that brokers required to withhold under Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 are not 
treated as agents for purposes of this rule, and are instead liable for 
any failure to withhold under the rules described in section V of this 
Explanation of Provisions.

VII. Amendments to Existing Section 1446 Regulations Relating to 
Distributions by Publicly Traded Partnerships

    In response to comments received outside the context of section 
1446(f), the proposed regulations also contain changes to the existing 
qualified notice rules that apply to distributions that publicly traded 
partnerships make to foreign partners. The Treasury Department and the 
IRS are aware that in certain cases nominees receive notices of 
distribution from publicly traded partnerships that do not provide 
detailed information regarding the amounts of income comprising the 
distribution as specified in Sec.  1.1446-4(f)(3) (such as amounts 
described in section 1441 or section 1442 or subject to withholding 
under section 1446). The term ``qualified notice'' under Sec.  1.1446-
4(b)(4) is currently defined by reference to the reporting requirements 
of 17 CFR 240.10b-17(b)(1) or (3), which do not include a requirement 
to report information regarding the types of income comprising the 
distribution. Unless a notice provides that information, however, a 
nominee will not have the information necessary to apply the ordering 
rule of Sec.  1.1446-4(f)(3) to the distribution for purposes of 
determining the amount required to be withheld.
    The proposed regulations make two changes to resolve this issue. 
First, proposed Sec.  1.1446-4(b)(4) revises the method for a publicly 
traded partnership to provide a nominee a qualified notice by requiring 
that the notice be posted in a readily accessible format in an area of 
the primary public website of the publicly traded partnership that is 
dedicated to this purpose. Second, proposed Sec.  1.1446-4(d) creates a 
default withholding rule subjecting gross distributions to the higher 
of the withholding percentage required under sections 1441 and 1442 or 
the applicable percentage under section 1446(b)(2), unless a qualified 
notice provides the nominee sufficient detail to determine the types of 
income distributed and the appropriate withholding rates to apply. 
Thus, if a publicly traded partnership is unable to determine the 
makeup of a distribution when it is made, the nominee must withhold at 
the highest applicable rate.
    The proposed regulations also expand the definition of a nominee 
for withholding under Sec.  1.1446-4 to include certain foreign persons 
that agree to assume primary withholding responsibility. Therefore, a 
QI or a U.S. branch treated as a U.S. person that assumes primary 
withholding responsibility for a distribution by a publicly traded 
partnership under proposed Sec.  1.1446-4(b)(3) can act as a nominee 
with respect to the distribution. The Treasury Department and the IRS 
intend to modify the QI agreement provided in Revenue Procedure 2017-15 
to allow QIs to assume primary withholding responsibility for 
distributions by publicly traded partnerships under section 1446(a).
    The proposed regulations also make changes to the qualified notice 
rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, publicly traded 
trusts, and real estate investment trusts (``REITs'') under section 
1445 that conform to proposed Sec.  1.1446-4(b)(4) so that those rules 
also provide more readily available information for nominees. See 
proposed Sec.  1.1445-8(f).
    As discussed in sections V.F and V.G of this Explanation of 
Provisions, the proposed regulations modify Sec.  1.1461-2(a) and (b) 
to allow use of procedures to adjust overwithholding and 
underwithholding for amounts withheld by a broker pursuant to proposed 
Sec.  1.1446(f)-4. The proposed regulations also amend Sec.  1.1461-
2(a) to allow the use of reimbursement and set-off procedures with 
respect to amounts withheld under section 1446(a) on distributions of 
ECTI by publicly traded partnerships (which are reported on Forms 1042 
and 1042-S, as opposed to Forms 8804, Annual Return for Partnership 
Withholding Tax (Section 1446), and 8805 used by non-publicly traded 
partnerships to report withholding on ECTI allocable to foreign 
partners). They also amend Sec.  1.1461-2(b) to clarify that the 
existing reference to ``distributions of effectively connected income 
under section 1446'' is meant to apply only to those distributions that 
are made by publicly traded partnerships.

Applicability Dates

    Proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(a) and proposed Sec.  1.6050K-1(d)(3) 
apply to transfers that occur on or after the date that these 
regulations are published as final regulations in the Federal Register 
(the ``finalization date''). Proposed

[[Page 21210]]

Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(b) and (c) and proposed Sec.  1.6050K-1(c)(2) and 
(c)(3) apply to returns filed on or after the finalization date. 
Proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(d) applies beginning on the finalization 
date.
    Proposed Sec. Sec.  1.1445-2(b)(2)(v) and 1.1445-5(b)(3)(iv) apply 
to certifications provided on or after May 7, 2019, except that a 
taxpayer may apply those provisions with respect to certifications 
provided before that date. A taxpayer may rely on the proposed 
amendments to Sec. Sec.  1.1445-2 and 1.1445-5 with respect to any 
period before the finalization date. Proposed Sec.  1.1445-8(f)(1) 
applies to distributions made on or after the date that is 60 days 
after the finalization date.
    Proposed Sec.  1.1446-3(c)(4) applies to partnership taxable years 
that include transfers that occur on or after the date that is 60 days 
after the finalization date. Proposed Sec.  1.1446-4(b)(2), (b)(3), 
(c), (d), and (f) apply to distributions made on or after the date that 
is 60 days after the finalization date.
    Proposed Sec. Sec.  1.1446(f)-1 through 1.1446(f)-5 apply to 
transfers that occur on or after the date that is 60 days after the 
finalization date. For transfers that occur before the date that is 60 
days after the finalization date, taxpayers may apply the rules 
described in Notice 2018-08 and Notice 2018-29. Alternatively, instead 
of applying the rules described in Notice 2018-29, taxpayers and other 
affected persons may choose to apply Sec. Sec.  1.1446(f)-1, 1.1446(f)-
2, and 1.1446(f)-5 of the proposed regulations in their entirety to all 
transfers as if they were final regulations.
    The proposed amendments to Sec.  1.1461-1(a)(1), (c)(1)(i), 
(c)(1)(ii), (c)(2)(i) and (c)(4) apply with respect to returns for 
transfers occurring on or after the date that is 60 days after the 
finalization date. The proposed amendments to Sec.  1.1461-2(a)(1) and 
(b) apply to transfers occurring on or after the date that is 60 days 
after the finalization date. The proposed amendments to Sec.  1.1461-3 
apply to returns for transfers occurring on or after the date that is 
60 days after the finalization date.
    The proposed amendments to Sec.  1.1463-1(a) apply to transfers 
that occur on or after the date that is 60 days after the finalization 
date.
    The proposed amendments to Sec.  1.1464-1(a) apply to transfers 
that occur on or after the date that is 60 days after the finalization 
date.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS intend to obsolete Notice 2018-
08 and Notice 2018-29 effective on the date that is 60 days after the 
finalization date.

Special Analyses

I. Regulatory Planning and Review

    This regulation is not subject to review under section 6(b) of 
Executive Order 12866 pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement (April 
11, 2018) between the Treasury Department and the Office of Management 
and Budget regarding review of tax regulations.

II. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collection of information in these proposed regulations is in 
proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2 regarding reporting for transactions 
described in section 864(c)(8) and proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1, and 
proposed Sec. Sec.  1.1446(f)-1, 1.1446(f)-2, 1.1446(f)-3, and 
1.1446(f)-4 regarding the withholding, reporting, and paying of tax 
under section 1446(f) following the transfer of an interest described 
in section 864(c)(8) and proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1. Section II.1 of 
this Special Analyses discusses the collections of information that 
will be conducted using IRS forms. The information collections that 
will not be conducted through IRS forms are discussed in section II.2 
of this Special Analyses.

A. Collections of Information--Forms 1042, 1042-S, 8288, 8288-A, 8288-
C, W-8IMY, W-8BEN, and W-8BEN-E

    Under proposed Sec. Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(2) and 1.1446(f)-4(b)(2), 
a transferor qualifies for an exception from withholding if it provides 
to the transferee or broker (as applicable) a certification of non-
foreign status, which includes a valid Form W-9 (at the transferor's 
option). The IRS has determined that Form W-9 is not a collection of 
information under 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(1) and is exempt from the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) (``PRA'').
    The collection of information in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(7) 
is provided by the transferor by submitting a certification and Form W-
8BEN or W-8BEN-E to the transferee and is optional. The information 
will be used by the transferor to determine whether an exception to 
withholding applies based on an income tax treaty.
    The information in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c)(2)(iv)(C) by the 
transferor to the transferee is provided on Form W-8IMY and is 
optional. This information will be used by the transferee to determine 
the modified amount realized.
    The collection of information in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(d)(1) 
will be provided on Forms 8288 and 8288-A by the transferee to the IRS 
and is mandatory if the transferee withholds tax under section 
1446(f)(1). These forms will be used by the transferee to report and 
pay any tax under section 1446(f)(1) and proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2.
    The information provided in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(d) by the 
partnership to the IRS will be used by the partnership to report and 
pay any tax under section 1446(f)(4) and proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3 and 
will be provided on new Form 8288-C. The IRS anticipates that the 
burden associated with this collection of information will be reflected 
in OMB control number 1545-0902.
    The collection of information provided in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
4(a)(2)(i) from certain U.S. branches of foreign persons and qualified 
intermediaries to the broker that effected the transfer of an interest 
described in section 864(c)(8) and proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 will be 
provided on Form W-8IMY. This information will be used by the broker to 
determine its withholding obligation under section 1446(f)(1) and 
proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4.
    The collection of information in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(6) 
is provided by the transferor by submitting a certification and Form W-
8BEN or W-8BEN-E to the broker and is optional. The information will be 
used by the broker to determine whether an exception to withholding 
applies based on an income tax treaty.
    The information in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(c)(2)(ii)(C) by the 
transferor to the broker is provided on Form W-8IMY and is optional. 
This information will be used by the broker to determine the modified 
amount realized.
    The information in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(d) will be provided 
on Forms 1042 and 1042-S submitted by the broker to the IRS and is 
mandatory if the broker withholds tax under section 1446(f)(1) or if it 
applies the exception described in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(6). 
These forms will be used to report and pay any tax under section 
1446(f)(1) and proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4.
    The information in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(e)(2) provided by the 
transferor to the IRS will be used to claim a credit for an amount 
withheld under section 1446(f)(1) and proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4, and 
will be satisfied by submitting Form 1042-S with an income tax return 
(Form 1040NR or 1120-F) to the IRS.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS intend that the information 
collection requirements described in this section II.1 will be set 
forth in the forms and instructions identified in the Revision of

[[Page 21211]]

Existing Forms and New Forms table. As a result, for purposes of the 
PRA, the reporting burdens associated with the collections of 
information in those forms will be reflected in the PRA submissions 
associated with those forms.

                Revision of Existing Forms and New Forms
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Number of
                                                            additional
                                          Revision of      respondents
                             New         existing form     (estimated,
                                                            rounded to
                                                          nearest 1,000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 1042-S..........  ...............               Y           <6,000
Form 8288............  ...............               Y          <70,000
Form 8288-A..........  ...............               Y          <70,000
Form 8288-C..........               Y   ...............         <70,000
Form W-8BEN..........  ...............               Y          <70,000
Form W-8BEN-E........  ...............               Y          <70,000
Form W-8IMY..........  ...............               Y          <70,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: RAAS:CDW and SOI.

    The numbers of respondents in the Revision of Existing Forms and 
New Forms table were estimated by the Research, Applied Analytics and 
Statistics Division of the IRS from the Compliance Data Warehouse and 
Statistics of Income, using tax years 2013 through 2015. Data for each 
of the Forms 1042, 1042-S, 8288, 8288-A, W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, and W-8IMY 
represent preliminary estimates of the total number of additional 
taxpayers that are expected to file these forms. The tax data for 2016 
and 2017 are not yet available. Data for Forms 8288, 8288-A, W-8BEN, W-
8BEN-E, and W-8IMY represent preliminary estimates of the total number 
of interests in partnerships, other than publicly traded partnership 
interests, engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United 
States that will be transferred by foreign persons. Data for Form 8288-
C represent preliminary estimates of the total number of transferees on 
whom partnerships must withhold tax under section 1446(f)(4) if the 
transferees do not fully withhold tax under section 1446(f)(1). Data 
for Form 1042-S represent preliminary estimates of the total number of 
interests in publicly traded partnership engaged in the conduct of a 
trade or business in the United States that will be transferred by 
foreign persons.
    The current status of the PRA submissions related to the tax forms 
that will be used to conduct the information collections in the 
proposed regulations is provided in the Current Status of PRA 
Submissions table. The overall burden estimates provided for the OMB 
control numbers below are aggregate amounts that relate to the entire 
package of forms associated with the applicable OMB control number and 
will in the future include, but not isolate, the estimated burden of 
the tax forms that will be created or revised as a result of the 
information collections in the proposed regulations. These numbers are 
therefore unrelated to the future calculations needed to assess the 
burden imposed by the proposed regulations. No burden estimates 
specific to the forms affected by the proposed regulations are 
currently available. The Treasury Department and the IRS have not 
estimated the burden, including that of any new information 
collections, related to the requirements under the proposed 
regulations. The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments on 
all aspects of information collection burdens related to the proposed 
regulations, including estimates for how much time it would take to 
comply with the paperwork burdens described above for each relevant 
form and ways for the IRS to minimize the paperwork burden.

                                        Current Status of PRA Submissions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Type of filer          OMB No.(s)              Status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 1042, Form 1042-S..................  All filers (Legacy Model).       1545-0096  Approved 12/27/2016 until
                                                                                       12/31/2019.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201606-1545-025 025.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 8288, Form 8288-A..................  All filers (Legacy system)       1545-0902  Approved 1/2/2017 until 1/
                                                                                       31/2020.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201608-1545-015 015.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form W-8BEN, Form W-8BEN-E, Form W-8IMY.  Business (NEW Model)......       1545-0123  Approved 12/21/2018 until
                                                                                       12/31/2019.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201805-1545-019 019.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          All other filers (Legacy         1545-1621  Approved 12/19/18 until 12/
                                           system).                                    31/2021.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201708-1545-002 002.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 21212]]

B. Collections of Information--Proposed Sec. Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(a) and 
(b), 1.1446(f)-1(c)(3), 1.1446(f)-2(b)(2) Through (7), (c)(2), and 
(c)(4), 1.1446(f)-4(b)(2) and (6), 1.1446(f)-4(b)(3) and (4), and 
1.1446(f)-2(d)(2)

    These proposed regulations contain collections of information that 
are not on existing or new IRS forms. These collections of information 
include:
    (a) Notification by a transferor to a partnership that a transfer 
has occurred (proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(a));
    (b) Statement provided by a partnership to a transferor necessary 
for the transferor to calculate its tax liability (proposed Sec.  
1.864(c)(8)-2(b));
    (c) Retention of information by partnership in its books and 
records (proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-1(c)(3));
    (d) Certifications from a transferor (or partnership) to a 
transferee for an exception from withholding or adjustment to amount 
realized (proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(2) through (7), (c)(2), and 
(c)(4));
    (e) Certification from a transferee to partnership regarding the 
transferee's withholding (proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(d)(2)).
    (f) Certifications from a transferor to a broker to apply an 
exception from withholding (proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(2) and (6)); 
and
    (g) Information provided by a publicly traded partnership to a 
broker (proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(3) and (4)).
    The collections of information contained in this notice of proposed 
rulemaking has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget 
for review in accordance with the PRA. Comments on the collection of 
information should be sent to the Office of Management and Budget, 
Attn: Desk Officer for the Department of the Treasury, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503, with copies 
to the Internal Revenue Service, Attn: IRS Reports Clearance Officer, 
SE:W:CAR:MP:T:T:SP, Washington, DC 20224. Comments on the collection of 
information should be received by July 12, 2019. Comments are 
specifically requested concerning:
    Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the IRS, including whether the information will 
have practical utility;
    The accuracy of the estimated burden associated with the proposed 
collection of information (including underlying assumptions and 
methodology);
    How the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected may be enhanced;
    How the burden of complying with the proposed collections of 
information may be minimized, including through the application of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology; and
    Estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of service to provide information.
    The collections of information provided in proposed Sec.  
1.864(c)(8)-2 will be used by both the partnership engaged in the 
conduct of a trade or business in the United States and the foreign 
partner that transfers an interest in the partnership and are 
mandatory. The notification provided to the partnership by the foreign 
transferor in proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(a) will serve as notice to 
the partnership that a transfer described in section 864(c)(8) and 
proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1 occurred. The statement provided to the 
foreign transferor by the partnership in proposed Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-
2(b) is necessary for the foreign transferor to determine its 
effectively connected gain or loss as described in proposed Sec.  
1.864(c)(8)-1(b) and (c).
    The collection of information provided in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
1(c)(3) requires a partnership to retain certain identified information 
in its books and records regarding its obligation to withhold under 
section 1446(f). The identified information will be used by a 
partnership to determine the application, and the extent, of 
withholding under section 1446(f).
    The collections of information provided in proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(b)(2) through (7), (c)(2), and (c)(4) from the transferor 
of an interest described in section 1446(f), or from the partnership 
whose interest is transferred, to the transferee of the interest will 
be used by the transferee to determine whether an exception applies or 
to determine the amount realized. These collections of information are 
optional. The certification in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b)(7) 
includes the submission of Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E and is also 
discussed in section II.1 of this Special Analyses.
    The information provided in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(d)(2) by the 
transferee to the partnership will be used by the partnership to 
determine whether it has a withholding obligation under section 
1446(f)(4) and proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-3.
    The collection of information provided in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-
4(b)(6) by the transferor to the broker will be used by the broker to 
determine if an exception applies that relieves the broker from its 
withholding obligation under section 1446(f)(1) and proposed Sec.  
1.1446(f)-4. The certification in proposed Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(6) 
includes the submission of Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E and is also 
discussed in section II.1 of this Special Analyses.
    Estimated total annual reporting burden: 50,920 hours.
    Estimated average annual burden hours per respondent: Approximately 
0.67 hours (40 minutes).
    Estimated cost per respondent ($2016): $26.00.
    Estimated total annual monetized cost ($2016): $1,827,938.00.
    Estimated number of respondents: 76,000.
    Estimated annual frequency of responses: 0.4 (as the collections of 
information do not occur on an annual basis).
    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 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.

III. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    It is hereby certified that this notice of proposed rulemaking will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities within the meaning of section 601(6) of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6).
    The proposed regulations affect (i) foreign persons that recognize 
gain or loss from the sale or exchange of an interest in a partnership 
that is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business within the United 
States, and who are not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, (ii) 
U.S. persons that are transferors providing Forms W-9 to transferees to 
certify that they are not foreign persons, (iii) persons who acquire 
those interests, (iv) partnerships that, directly or indirectly, have 
foreign persons as partners, and (v) brokers that effect transfers of 
interests in publicly traded partnerships.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS do not have data readily 
available to assess the number of small entities potentially affected 
by the proposed regulations. However, entities potentially affected by 
these proposed regulations are generally not small entities, because of 
the resources and investment necessary to acquire a

[[Page 21213]]

partnership interest from a foreign person or to directly, or 
indirectly, have foreign persons as partners. Therefore, the Treasury 
Department and the IRS do not believe that a substantial number of 
domestic small entities will be subject to the proposed regulation's 
information collections. Consequently, the Treasury Department and the 
IRS certify that the proposed regulations will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The IRS 
invites the public to comment on the impact of these regulations on 
small entities.
    Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Code, these regulations will be 
submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration for comment on their impact on small businesses.

Comments and Requests for Public Hearing

    Before the proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, 
consideration will be given to any comments that are submitted timely 
to the IRS as prescribed in this preamble under the ADDRESSES heading. 
The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments on all aspects of 
the proposed rules. All comments will be available at 
www.regulations.gov or upon request. A public hearing will be scheduled 
if requested in writing by any person that timely submits written 
comments. If a public hearing is scheduled, notice of the date, time, 
and place for the public hearing will be published in the Federal 
Register.

Drafting Information

    The principal authors of the proposed regulations are Subin Seth, 
Ronald M. Gootzeit, and Chadwick Rowland, Office of Associate Chief 
Counsel (International). However, other personnel from the Treasury 
Department and the IRS participated in their development.

Statement of Availability of IRS Documents

    IRS Revenue Procedures, Revenue Rulings, notices, and other 
guidance cited in this document are published in the Internal Revenue 
Bulletin and are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. 
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, or by visiting the 
IRS website at https://www.irs.gov.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

    Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Proposed Amendments to the Regulations

    Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 1--INCOME TAXES

0
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by adding 
sectional authorities for Sec. Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2, 1.1445-5, 1.1445-8, 
1.1446-3 through 1.1446-4, 1.1446(f)-1 through 1.1446(f)-5, and 
1.6050K-1 in numerical order to read in part as follows:

    Authority:  26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *

    Section 1.864(c)(8)-2 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 864(c)(8)(E), 
6001 and 6031(b).
* * * * *

    Section 1.1445-5 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1445(e)(7).
* * * * *
    Section 1.1445-8 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1445(e)(7).
* * * * *
    Section 1.1446-3 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1446(g).
* * * * *
    Section 1.1446-4 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1446(g).
* * * * *
    Section 1.1446(f)-1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1446(f)(6) and 
1446(g).
* * * * *
    Section 1.1446(f)-2 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1446(f)(6) and 
1446(g).
* * * * *
    Section 1.1446(f)-3 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1446(f)(6) and 
1446(g).
* * * * *
    Section 1.1446(f)-4 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1446(f)(6) and 
1446(g).
* * * * *
    Section 1.1446(f)-5 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1446(f)(6) and 
1446(g).
* * * * *
    Section 1.6050K-1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 6050K(a).
* * * * *
0
Par. 2. Section 1.864(c)(8)-2 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2  Notification and reporting requirements.

    (a) Notification by foreign transferor--(1) In general. Except as 
provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, a notifying transferor 
that transfers an interest in a specified partnership must notify the 
partnership of the transfer in writing within 30 days of the transfer. 
The notification must include--
    (i) The names and addresses of the notifying transferor and the 
transferee or transferees;
    (ii) The U.S. taxpayer identification number (TIN) of the notifying 
transferor and, if known, of the transferee or transferees; and
    (iii) The date of the transfer.
    (2) Exceptions--(i) Certain interests in publicly traded 
partnerships. Paragraph (a)(1) of this section does not apply to a 
notifying transferor that transfers an interest in a publicly traded 
partnership if the interest is publicly traded on an established 
securities market or is readily tradable on a secondary market (or the 
substantial equivalent thereof).
    (ii) Certain distributions. Paragraph (a)(1) of this section does 
not apply to a notifying transferor that is treated as transferring an 
interest in a specified partnership because it received a distribution 
from that specified partnership.
    (3) Section 6050K. The notification described in paragraph (a)(1) 
of this section may be combined with or provided at the same time as 
the notification described in Sec.  1.6050K-1(d), provided that it 
satisfies the requirements of both sections.
    (4) Other guidance. The notification described in paragraph (a)(1) 
of this section must also include any information required in forms, 
instructions, or other guidance.
    (b) Reporting by specified partnerships with notifying transferor--
(1) In general. (i) A specified partnership must provide to a notifying 
transferor the statement described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section 
if--
    (A) The partnership receives the notice described in paragraph (a) 
of this section, or otherwise has actual knowledge that there has been 
a transfer of an interest in the partnership by a notifying transferor; 
and
    (B) At the time of the transfer, the notifying transferor would 
have had a distributive share of deemed sale EC gain or deemed sale EC 
loss within the meaning of Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1(c).
    (ii) Distributions. For purposes of paragraph (b)(1)(i)(B) of this 
section, a partnership that is a transferee because it makes a 
distribution is treated as having actual knowledge of that transfer.
    (2) Contents of statement. The statement required to be furnished 
by the specified partnership under paragraph (b)(1) of this section 
must include--
    (i) The items described in Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1(c)(3)(ii) (foreign 
transferor's aggregate deemed sale EC items, which includes items 
derived from lower-tier partnerships); and
    (ii) Any other information as provided in forms, instructions, or 
other guidance.
    (3) Time for furnishing statement. The specified partnership must 
furnish the required information on or before the due date (with 
extensions) for issuing

[[Page 21214]]

Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Partner's Share of Income, Deductions, 
Credits, etc., or its successor, to the transferor for the year of the 
transfer. See Sec.  1.6031(b)-1T(b).
    (4) Manner of furnishing statement. No specific format is required 
for the information except as provided in any forms, instructions, or 
other guidance.
    (5) Partnership notifying transferor. For purposes of this 
paragraph (b), a specified partnership must treat a notifying 
transferor that is a partnership as a nonresident alien individual.
    (c) Statement may be provided to agent. A partnership may provide a 
statement required under paragraph (b)(2) of this section to a person 
other than the notifying transferor if the person is described in Sec.  
1.6031(b)-1T(c).
    (d) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of 
this section.
    (1) Notifying transferor. The term notifying transferor means any 
foreign person, any domestic partnership that has a foreign person as a 
direct partner, and any domestic partnership that has actual knowledge 
that a foreign person indirectly holds, through one or more 
partnerships, an interest in the domestic partnership.
    (2) Specified partnership. The term specified partnership means a 
partnership that is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business 
within the United States or that owns (directly or indirectly) an 
interest in a partnership that is engaged in the conduct of a trade or 
business within the United States, and may include a publicly traded 
partnership as defined in section 7704 and Sec. Sec.  1.7704-1 through 
1.7704-4, but does not include a publicly traded partnership treated as 
a corporation under that section.
    (3) Transfer. The term transfer has the meaning provided in Sec.  
1.864(c)(8)-1(g)(5).
    (e) Applicability dates. Paragraph (a) of this section applies to 
transfers that occur on or after the date that these regulations are 
published as final regulations in the Federal Register. Paragraphs (b) 
and (c) of this section apply to returns filed on or after the date 
that these regulations are published as final regulations in the 
Federal Register. Paragraph (d) of this section applies beginning on 
the date that these regulations are published as final regulations in 
the Federal Register.
0
Par. 3. Section 1.1445-2 is amended by adding paragraph (b)(2)(v) and a 
sentence to the end of paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.1445-2  Situations in which withholding is not required under 
section 1445(a).

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (v) Form W-9. For purposes of paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section, 
a certification of non-foreign status includes a valid Form W-9, 
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, or its 
successor, submitted to the transferee by the transferor.
* * * * *
    (e) Applicability dates. * * * Paragraph (b)(2)(v) of this section 
applies to certifications provided on or after May 7, 2019, except that 
a taxpayer may apply it with respect to certifications provided before 
that date.
0
Par. 4. Section 1.1445-5 is amended by adding paragraph (b)(3)(iv) and 
a sentence to the end of paragraph (h) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.1445-5   Special rules concerning distributions and other 
transactions by corporations, partnerships, trusts, and estates.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iv) Form W-9. For purposes of paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, 
a certification of non-foreign status includes a valid Form W-9, 
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, or its 
successor, submitted to the transferee by the transferor.
* * * * *
    (h) Applicability dates. * * * Paragraph (b)(3)(iv) of this section 
applies to certifications provided on or after May 7, 2019, except that 
a taxpayer may apply it with respect to certifications provided before 
that date.
0
Par. 5. Section 1.1445-8 is amended by revising paragraph (f) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  1.1445-8  Special rules regarding publicly traded partnerships, 
publicly traded trusts and real estate investment trusts (REITs).

* * * * *
    (f) Qualified notice--(1) In general. A qualified notice for 
purposes of paragraph (b)(3)(iv) of this section is a notice provided 
in the manner described in Sec.  1.1446-4(b)(4) by a partnership, 
trust, or REIT regarding a distribution that is attributable to the 
disposition of a United States real property interest. In the case of a 
REIT, a qualified notice is only a notice of a distribution, all or any 
portion of which the REIT actually designates, or characterizes in 
accordance with paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, as a capital 
gain dividend in the manner described in Sec.  1.1446-4(b)(4), with 
respect to each share or certificate of beneficial interest. A deemed 
designation under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(A) of this section may not be 
the subject of a qualified notice under this paragraph (f). A person 
described in paragraph (b)(3) of this section is treated as receiving a 
qualified notice when the notice is provided in accordance with Sec.  
1.1446-4(b)(4).
    (2) Applicability dates. Paragraph (f)(1) of this section applies 
to distributions made on or after the date that is 60 days after the 
date that these regulations are published as final regulations in the 
Federal Register.
* * * * *
0
Par. 6. Section 1.1446-3 is amended:
0
1. In the first sentence of paragraph (a)(2)(i), by removing ``section 
11(b)(1)'' and adding in its place ``section 11(b)''.
0
2. By adding paragraph (c)(4).
    The addition reads as follows:


Sec.  1.1446-3  Time and manner of calculating and paying the 1446 tax.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (4) Coordination with section 1446(f). A partnership that is 
directly or indirectly subject to withholding under section 1446(f)(1) 
during its taxable year may credit the amount withheld under section 
1446(f)(1) against its section 1446 tax liability for that taxable year 
only to the extent the amount is allocable to foreign partners.
* * * * *
0
Par. 7. Section 1.1446-4 is amended by:
0
1. By revising paragraphs (b)(3) and (4).
0
2. By removing the second sentence of paragraph (c).
0
3. By revising paragraphs (d) and (f)(3).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.1446-4  Publicly traded partnerships.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Nominee. For purposes of this section, the term nominee means a 
person that holds an interest in a publicly traded partnership on 
behalf of a foreign person and that is either a U.S. person, a 
qualified intermediary (as defined in Sec.  1.1441-1(e)(5)(ii)) that 
assumes primary withholding responsibility for a payment, or a U.S. 
branch of a foreign person that agrees to be treated as a U.S. person 
(as described in Sec.  1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv)) with respect to a payment.
    (4) Qualified notice. For purposes of this section, a qualified 
notice is a notice posted by a publicly traded partnership that states 
the amount of a

[[Page 21215]]

distribution that is attributable to each type of income described in 
paragraphs (f)(3)(i) through (v) of this section. A qualified notice 
may also include the information described in Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(3), 
relating to an exception from withholding under section 1446(f)(1) for 
transfers of certain partnership interests. The notice must be posted 
in a readily accessible format in an area of the primary public website 
of the publicly traded partnership that is dedicated to this purpose. A 
qualified notice must be posted by the date required for providing 
notice with respect to dividends described in 17 CFR 240.10b-17(b)(1) 
or (3) (or any successor regulation) issued pursuant to the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a) and contain the information 
described therein as it would relate to the distribution. The publicly 
traded partnership must keep the notice accessible to the public for 
ten years on its primary public website or the primary public website 
of any successor organization. No specific format is required unless 
provided in forms, instructions, or other guidance. See paragraph (d) 
of this section regarding when a nominee is considered to have received 
a qualified notice.
* * * * *
    (d) Rules for designation of nominees to withhold tax under section 
1446. A nominee that receives a distribution from a publicly traded 
partnership subject to withholding under this section, and which is to 
be paid to (or for the account of) any foreign person, may be treated 
as a withholding agent under this section. A nominee is treated as 
receiving a qualified notice on the date that the notice is posted in 
accordance with paragraph (b)(4) of this section. When a nominee is 
treated as a withholding agent with respect to a foreign partner of the 
partnership, the obligation to withhold on distributions to the foreign 
partner in accordance with the rules of this section is imposed solely 
on the nominee. A nominee responsible for withholding under the rules 
of this section is subject to liability under sections 1461 and 6655, 
as well as all applicable penalties and interest, as if the nominee 
were a partnership responsible for withholding under this section. A 
nominee may rely on a qualified notice that meets the requirements in 
paragraph (b)(4) of this section to determine the amounts on which it 
must withhold. If a notice a publicly traded partnership issues 
relating to its distribution does not meet the requirements in 
paragraph (b)(4) of this section, the nominee must withhold on the 
distribution with respect to--
    (1) Foreign partners that are corporations, at the greater of the 
highest rate of tax specified in section 11(b) or section 881; and
    (2) Foreign partners that are not corporations, at the greater of 
the highest rate of tax specified in section 1 or section 871.
* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (3) Ordering rule relating to distributions. Distributions from 
publicly traded partnerships are deemed to be paid out of the following 
types of income in the order indicated--
    (i) Amounts attributable to income described in section 1441 or 
1442 that are not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or 
business in the United States but are subject to withholding, before 
taking into account any treaty exemptions;
    (ii) Amounts attributable to income described in section 1441 or 
1442 that are not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or 
business in the United States and are not subject to withholding 
because of an exemption under a provision of the Code;
    (iii) Amounts attributable to income effectively connected with the 
conduct of a trade or business in the United States that are not 
subject to withholding under Sec. Sec.  1.1446-1 through 1.1446-6 (for 
example, amounts exempt by treaty);
    (iv) Amounts subject to withholding under Sec. Sec.  1.1446-1 
through 1.1446-6; and
    (v) Amounts not listed in paragraphs (f)(3)(i) through (iv) of this 
section.
* * * * *
0
Par. 8. Section 1.1446-7 is amended by revising the section heading and 
adding two sentences at the end of the section to read as follows:


Sec.  1.1446-7   Applicability dates.

    * * * The addition of Sec.  1.1446-3(c)(4) applies to partnership 
taxable years that include transfers that occur on or after the date 
that is 60 days after the date that these regulations are published as 
final regulations in the Federal Register. The revisions to Sec.  
1.1446-4(b)(3) and (4), the removal of the second sentence of Sec.  
1.1446-4(c), and the revisions to Sec.  1.1446-4(d) and (f)(3) apply to 
distributions made on or after the date that is 60 days after the date 
that these regulations are published as final regulations in the 
Federal Register.
0
Par. 9. Sections 1.1446(f)-1 through 1.1446(f)-5 are added to read as 
follows:

Sec.
* * * * *
1.1446(f)-1 General rules.
1.1446(f)-2 Withholding on the transfer of a non-publicly traded 
partnership interest.
1.1446(f)-3 Partnership's requirement to withhold under section 
1446(f)(4) on distributions to transferee.
1.1446(f)-4 Withholding on the transfer of a publicly traded 
partnership interest.
1.1446(f)-5 Liability for failure to withhold.
* * * * *


Sec.  1.1446(f)-1  General rules.

    (a) Overview. These regulations provide rules for withholding, 
reporting, and paying tax under section 1446(f) upon the sale, 
exchange, or other disposition of certain interests in partnerships. 
This section provides definitions and general rules of applicability 
that apply for purposes of section 1446(f). Section 1.1446(f)-2 
provides withholding rules for the transfer of a non-publicly traded 
partnership interest under section 1446(f)(1). Section 1.1446(f)-3 
provides rules that apply when a partnership is required to withhold 
under section 1446(f)(4) on distributions made to the transferee in an 
amount equal to the amount that the transferee failed to withhold plus 
interest. Section 1.1446(f)-4 provides special rules for the sale, 
exchange, or disposition of publicly traded partnership interests, for 
which the withholding obligation under section 1446(f)(1) is generally 
imposed on certain brokers that act on behalf of the transferor. 
Section 1.1446(f)-5 provides rules that address the liability for 
failure to withhold under section 1446(f) and rules regarding the 
liability of a transferor's or transferee's agent.
    (b) Definitions. This paragraph (b) provides definitions that apply 
for purposes of Sec. Sec.  1.1446(f)-1 through 1.1446(f)-5.
    (1) The term broker means any person, foreign or domestic, that, in 
the ordinary course of a trade or business during the calendar year, 
stands ready to effect sales made by others, and that, in connection 
with a transfer of a PTP interest, receives all or a portion of the 
amount realized on behalf of the transferor. The term broker also 
includes any clearing organization (as defined in Sec.  1.1471-
1(b)(21)) that effects the transfer of a PTP interest on behalf of the 
transferor. The term broker does not include an escrow agent that 
effects no sales other than such transactions that are incidental to 
the purpose of escrow (such as sales to collect on collateral).
    (2) The term controlling partner means a partner that, together 
with any person that bears a relationship described in sections 267(b) 
or 707(b)(1) to the partner, owns directly or indirectly a 50 percent 
or greater

[[Page 21216]]

interest in the capital, profits, deductions, or losses of the 
partnership in the 12 months before the determination date.
    (3) The term effect has the meaning provided in Sec.  1.6045-
1(a)(10).
    (4) The term foreign person means a person that is not a United 
States person.
    (5) The term PTP interest means an interest in a publicly traded 
partnership if the interest is publicly traded on an established 
securities market or is readily tradable on a secondary market (or the 
substantial equivalent thereof).
    (6) The term publicly traded partnership has the same meaning as in 
section 7704 and Sec. Sec.  1.7704-1 through 1.7704-4 but does not 
include a publicly traded partnership treated as a corporation under 
that section.
    (8) The term TIN means the tax identifying number assigned to a 
person under section 6109.
    (9) The term transfer means a sale, exchange, or other disposition, 
and includes a distribution from a partnership to a partner.
    (10) The term transferee means any person, foreign or domestic, 
that acquires a partnership interest through a transfer, and includes a 
partnership that makes a distribution.
    (11) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the term 
transferor means any person, foreign or domestic, that transfers a 
partnership interest. In the case of a trust, to the extent all or a 
portion of the income of the trust is treated as owned by the grantor 
or another person under sections 671 through 679 (such trust, a grantor 
trust), the term transferor means the grantor or other person.
    (12) The term transferor's agent or transferee's agent means any 
person who represents the transferor or transferee (respectively) in 
any negotiation with another person relating to the transaction or in 
settling the transaction. A person will not be treated as a 
transferor's agent or a transferee's agent solely because it performs 
one or more of the activities described in Sec.  1.1445-4(f)(3) 
(relating to activities of settlement officers and clerical personnel).
    (13) The term United States person or U.S. person means a person 
described in section 7701(a)(30).
    (c) General rules of applicability--(1) In general. This paragraph 
(c) provides general rules that apply for purposes of Sec. Sec.  
1.1446(f)-1 through 1.1446(f)-5.
    (2) Certifications--(i) In general. This paragraph (c)(2) provides 
rules that are applicable to certifications described in Sec. Sec.  
1.1446(f)-1 through 1.1446(f)-5, except as otherwise provided therein, 
or in forms, instructions, or other guidance. A certification must 
provide the name and address of the person providing it. A 
certification must also be signed under penalties of perjury and, if 
the certification is provided by the transferor, must include a TIN if 
the transferor has, or is required to have, a TIN. A transferee (or 
other person required to withhold) may not rely on a certification if 
it knows that a transferor has, or is required to have, a TIN, and that 
TIN has not been provided with the certification. A certification 
includes any documents associated with the certification, such as 
statements from the partnership, IRS forms, withholding certificates, 
withholding statements, certifications, or other documentation. 
Documents associated with the certification form an integral part of 
the certification, and the penalties of perjury statement provided on 
the certification also applies to the documents. A certification (other 
than the certification described in Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(d)(2)) may not be 
relied upon if it is obtained earlier than 30 days before the transfer 
or any time after the transfer.
    (ii) Penalties of perjury. A certification signed under penalties 
of perjury must provide the following: ``Under penalties of perjury, I 
declare that I have examined the information on this document, and to 
the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and 
complete.''
    (iii) Authority to sign certifications on behalf of a business 
entity. A certification provided by a business entity must be signed by 
an individual who is an officer, director, general partner, or managing 
member of the entity, or, if the general partner or managing member is 
itself a business entity, an individual who is an officer, director, or 
managing member of the entity that is the general partner or managing 
member.
    (iv) Electronic submission. A certification may be sent 
electronically, including as text in an email, an image embedded in an 
email, or a Portable Document Format (.pdf) attached to an email. An 
electronic certification, however, may not be relied upon if the person 
receiving the submission knows that the certification was transmitted 
by a person not authorized to do so by the person required to execute 
the certification.
    (v) Retention period. Any person that relies on a certification 
pursuant to Sec. Sec.  1.1446(f)-1 through 1.1446(f)-5 must retain the 
certification (including any documentation) for the longer of five 
calendar years following the close of the last calendar year in which 
it relied on the certification or for as long as it may be relevant to 
the determination of its withholding obligation under section 1446(f) 
or its withholding tax liability under section 1461.
    (vi) Submission to IRS. Except as provided in Sec.  1.1446(f)-
2(b)(7) and 1.1446(f)-2(c)(4)(vi) (involving certifications relating to 
an income tax treaty), or in any forms, instructions, or other 
guidance, the recipient of a certification is not required to mail a 
copy to the IRS.
    (vii) Grantor trusts. A certification provided by a transferor that 
is a grantor or other owner of a grantor trust must identify the 
portion of the amount realized that is attributable to the grantor or 
other owner.
    (3) Books and records. A partnership that relies on its books and 
records pursuant to Sec. Sec.  1.1446(f)-1 through 1.1446(f)-5 
(including for purposes of providing a certification or other 
statement) must identify in its books and records the date on which the 
transfer occurred, the information on which the partnership relied, and 
the provisions of Sec. Sec.  1.1446(f)-1 through 1.1446(f)-5 supporting 
an exception from, or adjustment to, the partnership's obligation to 
withhold. The identification required by this paragraph (c)(3) must be 
made no later than 30 days after the date of the transfer. The 
partnership must retain the identified information in its books and 
records for the longer of five calendar years following the close of 
the last calendar year in which it relied on the information or for as 
long as it may be relevant to the determination of its withholding 
obligation under section 1446(f) or its withholding tax liability under 
section 1461.
    (4) Determination date--(i) In general. This paragraph (c)(4) 
provides rules for the determination date. The same determination date 
must be used for all purposes with respect to a transfer. Any 
statement, certification, or books and records with regard to a 
transfer must state the determination date. The determination date of a 
transfer must be one of the following--
    (A) The date of the transfer;
    (B) Any date that is no more than 60 days before the date of the 
transfer; or
    (C) The date that is the later of--
    (1) The first day of the partnership's taxable year in which the 
transfer occurs, as determined under section 706; or
    (2) The date, before the date of the transfer, of the most recent 
event described in Sec.  1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(5) or Sec.  1.704-
1(b)(2)(iv)(s)(1) (revaluation event), irrespective of whether the 
capital accounts of the partners are

[[Page 21217]]

adjusted in accordance with Sec.  1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f).
    (ii) Controlling partner. The determination date for a transferor 
that is a controlling partner is determined without regard to paragraph 
(c)(4)(i)(C) of this section.
    (5) IRS forms and instructions. Any reference to an IRS form 
includes its successor form. Any form must be filed in the manner 
provided in the instructions to the forms or in other guidance.
    (d) Coordination with section 1445. A transferee that is otherwise 
required to withhold under section 1445(e)(5) or Sec.  1.1445-11T(d)(1) 
with respect to the amount realized, as well as under section 
1446(f)(1), will be subject to the payment and reporting requirements 
of section 1445 only, and not section 1446(f)(1), with respect to that 
amount. However, if the transferor has applied for a withholding 
certificate under the last sentence of Sec.  1.1445-11T(d)(1), the 
transferee must withhold the greater of the amounts required under 
section 1445(e)(5) or section 1446(f)(1). A transferee that has 
complied with the withholding requirements under either section 
1445(e)(5) or section 1446(f)(1), as applicable under this paragraph 
(d), will be deemed to satisfy the other withholding requirement.
    (e) Applicability date. This section applies to transfers that 
occur on or after the date that is 60 days after the date that these 
regulations are published as final regulations in the Federal Register.


Sec.  1.1446(f)-2   Withholding on the transfer of a non-publicly 
traded partnership interest.

    (a) Transferee's obligation to withhold. Except as otherwise 
provided in this section, a transferee is required to withhold under 
section 1446(f)(1) a tax equal to 10 percent of the amount realized on 
any transfer of a partnership interest. This section does not apply to 
a transfer of a PTP interest that is effected through one or more 
brokers, including a distribution made with respect to a PTP interest 
held in an account with a broker. For rules regarding those transfers, 
see Sec.  1.1446(f)-4.
    (b) Exceptions to withholding--(1) In general. A transferee is not 
required to withhold under this section if it properly relies on a 
certification or its books and records as described in this paragraph 
(b). A transferee may not rely on a certification if it has actual 
knowledge that the certification is incorrect or unreliable. A 
partnership that is a transferee because it makes a distribution may 
not rely on its books and records if it knows, or has reason to know, 
that the information is incorrect or unreliable.
    (2) Certification of non-foreign status by transferor. A transferee 
may rely on a certification of non-foreign status from the transferor 
that states that the transferor is not a foreign person, states the 
transferor's name, TIN, and address, and is signed under penalties of 
perjury. For this purpose, a certification of non-foreign status 
includes a valid Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number 
and Certification. For purposes of this paragraph (b)(2), a transferee 
may rely on a valid Form W-9 from the transferor that it already 
possesses if the form meets these requirements.
    (3) No realized gain by transferor--(i) In general. A transferee 
(other than a partnership that is a transferee because it makes a 
distribution) may rely on a certification from the transferor that 
states that the transfer of the partnership interest would not result 
in any realized gain (including ordinary income arising from 
application of section 751 Sec.  1.751-1) to the transferor as of the 
determination date. See paragraph (b)(6) of this section for rules that 
apply when the transferor realizes gain but is not required to 
recognize the gain under a provision of the Internal Revenue Code.
    (ii) Partnership distributions. A partnership that is a transferee 
because it makes a distribution may rely on its books and records, or 
on a certification from the transferor, to determine that the 
distribution would not result in any realized gain to the transferor as 
of the determination date.
    (4) Less than 10 percent effectively connected gain--(i) In 
general. A transferee (other than a partnership that is a transferee 
because it makes a distribution) may rely on a certification from the 
partnership that states that if the partnership sold all of its assets 
at fair market value as of the determination date in the manner 
described in Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1(c), either--
    (A) The amount of net gain that would have been effectively 
connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United 
States would be less than 10 percent of the total net gain; or
    (B) No gain would have been effectively connected with the conduct 
of a trade or business within the United States.
    (ii) Partnership distributions. A partnership that is a transferee 
because it makes a distribution may rely on its books and records to 
determine that as of the determination date either paragraph 
(b)(4)(i)(A) or (B) of this section is satisfied.
    (5) Less than 10 percent effectively connected taxable income--(i) 
In general. A transferee (other than a partnership making a 
distribution) may rely on a certification from the transferor that 
states that--
    (A) For the transferor's immediately prior taxable year and the two 
preceding taxable years, the transferor was at all times a partner in 
the partnership;
    (B) The transferor's allocable share of effectively connected 
taxable income determined under Sec.  1.1446-2 (as provided on Form 
8805, Foreign Partner's Information Statement of Section 1446 
Withholding Tax) (ECTI), including any ECTI allocable to a partner that 
bears a relationship to the transferor described in sections 267(b) or 
707(b)(1), was less than $1 million in each of the taxable years 
described in paragraph (b)(5)(i)(A) of this section;
    (C) The transferor's allocable share of ECTI in each of the taxable 
years described in paragraph (b)(5)(i)(A) of this section was less than 
10 percent of the transferor's total distributive share of net income 
from the partnership for that year as determined under subchapter K of 
the Internal Revenue Code (as provided on Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), 
Partner's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc.); and
    (D) The transferor's distributive share of income or gain that is 
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within 
the United States or deductions or losses properly allocated and 
apportioned to that income in each of the taxable years described in 
paragraph (b)(5)(i)(A) of this section has been reported on a Federal 
income tax return (either filed by the transferor or, in the case of 
transferor that is a partnership, filed by its direct or indirect 
nonresident alien individual or foreign corporate partners) on or 
before the due date (including extensions), and all amounts due with 
respect to the reported amounts has been timely paid to the IRS, 
provided that the return was required to be filed when the transferor 
furnishes the certification (taking into account any extensions of time 
to file).
    (ii) Immediately prior taxable year--(A) In general. The 
transferor's immediately prior taxable year is the transferor's most 
recent taxable year--
    (1) With or within which a taxable year of the partnership ended; 
and
    (2) For which a Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) was due (including 
extensions) or furnished (if earlier) before the transfer.
    (B) Limitation. A transferee may not rely on a certification that 
is provided before the transferor's receipt of the Schedule K-1 (Form 
1065) described in paragraph (b)(5)(ii)(A) of this section.
    (iii) No Form 8805--(A) In general. Except as provided in paragraph 
(b)(5)(iii)(B) of this section, a transferor that does not receive Form 
8805 because

[[Page 21218]]

it had no ECTI for which the partnership paid section 1446 tax (within 
the meaning in Sec.  1.1446-2(a)) in any of the years described in 
paragraph (b)(5)(i)(A) of this section may not make the certification 
provided in this paragraph (b)(5).
    (B) Exception. If, in any of the years described in paragraph 
(b)(5)(i)(A) of this section, a transferor has an allocable share of 
loss that is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or 
business within the United States, or has deductions properly allocated 
and apportioned to income that is effectively connected with the 
conduct of a trade or business within the United States from the 
partnership, paragraph (b)(5)(iii)(A) of this section does not apply by 
reason of a lack of Form 8805 with respect to that year, and the 
transferor is treated as having an allocable share of ECTI of zero in 
that year for purposes of paragraph (b)(5)(i)(C) of this section.
    (iv) No net distributive share of income. A transferor that did not 
have a net distributive share of income in any year described in 
paragraph (b)(5)(i)(A) of this section cannot provide the certification 
described in this paragraph (b)(5).
    (v) Partnership distributions. A partnership that is a transferee 
by reason of making a distribution may rely on its books and records to 
determine that the requirements in paragraphs (b)(5)(i)(A) through (C) 
of this section have been satisfied (subject to the rules in paragraphs 
(b)(5)(ii) through (iv) of this section). The partnership must also 
obtain a representation from the transferor stating that the 
requirement in paragraph (b)(5)(i)(D) of this section has been 
satisfied.
    (vi) No certification when reporting is incorrect. A transferor may 
not make the certification described in this paragraph (b)(5) if it has 
actual knowledge that the information relevant to the certification 
that is reported by the partnership on any Form 8805 or Schedule K-1 
(Form 1065) is incorrect.
    (6) Certification of nonrecognition by transferor--(i) In general. 
A transferee may rely on a certification from the transferor that 
states that by reason of the operation of a nonrecognition provision of 
the Internal Revenue Code the transferor is not required to recognize 
any gain or loss with respect to the transfer. The certification must 
briefly describe the transfer and provide the relevant law and facts 
relating to the certification.
    (ii) Partial nonrecognition. Paragraph (b)(6)(i) of this section 
does not apply if only a portion of the gain realized on the transfer 
is subject to a nonrecognition provision. However, see paragraph 
(c)(4)(v) of this section for rules applicable to a transferor's claim 
for partial nonrecognition.
    (7) Income tax treaties--(i) In general. A transferee may rely on a 
certification from the transferor that states that the transferor is 
not subject to tax on any gain from the transfer pursuant to an income 
tax treaty in effect between the United States and a foreign country if 
the requirements of this paragraph (b)(7) are met. The transferor must 
include with the certification a withholding certificate (on a Form W-
8BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United 
States Tax Withholding and Reporting (Individuals), or Form W-8BEN-E, 
Certificate of Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax 
Withholding and Reporting (Entities)) that meets the requirements for 
validity under Sec.  1.1446-1(c)(2)(iv) (or an applicable substitute 
form that meets the requirements under Sec.  1.1446-1(c)(5)) and that 
contains the information necessary to support the claim for treaty 
benefits. A transferee may rely on a certification of treaty benefits 
only if, within 30 days after the date of the transfer, the transferee 
mails a copy of the certification to the Internal Revenue Service, at 
the address provided in Sec.  1.1445-1(g)(10), together with a cover 
letter providing the name, TIN, and address of the transferee and the 
partnership in which an interest was transferred.
    (ii) Treaty claim for less than all of the gain. Paragraph 
(b)(7)(i) of this section does not apply if treaty benefits apply to 
only a portion of the gain from the transfer. However, see paragraph 
(c)(4)(vi) of this section for rules applicable to situations in which 
treaty benefits apply to only a portion of the gain.
    (iii) Exclusive means to claim an exception from withholding based 
on treaty benefits. A transferor claiming treaty benefits with respect 
to all of the gain from the transfer must use the exception in this 
paragraph (b)(6) and not any other exception or determination procedure 
in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section to claim an exception to 
withholding by reason of a claim of treaty benefits.
    (c) Determining the amount to withhold--(1) In general. A 
transferee that is required to withhold under this section must 
withhold 10 percent of the amount realized on the transfer of the 
partnership interest, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph 
(c). Any procedures in this paragraph (c) apply solely for purposes of 
determining the amount to withhold under section 1446(f)(1) and this 
section. A transferee may not rely on a certification if it has actual 
knowledge that the certification is incorrect or unreliable. A 
partnership that is a transferee because it makes a distribution may 
not rely on its books and records if it knows, or has reason to know, 
that the information is incorrect or unreliable.
    (2) Amount realized--(i) In general. The amount realized on the 
transfer of the partnership interest is determined under section 1001 
(including Sec. Sec.  1.1001-1 through 1.1001-5) and section 752 
(including Sec.  1.752-1 through 1.752-7). Thus, the amount realized 
includes the amount of cash paid (or to be paid), the fair market value 
of other property transferred (or to be transferred), the amount of any 
liabilities assumed by the transferee or to which the partnership 
interest is subject, and the reduction in the transferor's share of 
partnership liabilities. In the case of a distribution, the amount 
realized is the sum of the amount of cash distributed (or to be 
distributed), the fair market value of property distributed (or to be 
distributed), and the reduction in the transferor's share of 
partnership liabilities.
    (ii) Alternative procedures for transferee to determine share of 
partnership liabilities--(A) In general. A transferee (other than a 
partnership that is a transferee because it makes a distribution), as 
an alternative to determining the share of partnership liabilities 
under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, may use the procedures of 
this paragraph (c)(2)(ii) to determine the extent to which a reduction 
in partnership liabilities is included in the amount realized.
    (B) Certification of liabilities by transferor. Except as otherwise 
provided in this section, a transferee may rely on a certification from 
a transferor, other than a controlling partner, that provides the 
amount of the transferor's share of partnership liabilities reported on 
the most recent Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) issued by the partnership. If 
the transferor's actual share of liabilities at the time of the 
transfer differs from the amount reported on that Schedule K-1 (Form 
1065), the certification will not be treated as incorrect or unreliable 
if the transferor also certifies that it does not have actual knowledge 
of any events occurring after receiving the Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) 
that would cause the amount of the transferor's share of partnership 
liabilities at the time of the transfer to differ by more than 25 
percent from the amount shown on the Schedule K-1 (Form 1065). A 
transferee may not rely on a certification if the last

[[Page 21219]]

day of the partnership taxable year for which the Schedule K-1 (Form 
1065) was provided was more than 22 months before the date of the 
transfer.
    (C) Certification of liabilities by partnership. A transferee may 
rely on a certification from a partnership that provides the amount of 
the transferor's share of partnership liabilities on the determination 
date. If the transferor's actual share of liabilities at the time of 
the transfer differs from the amount on the certification, the 
certification will not be treated as incorrect or unreliable if the 
partnership also certifies that it does not have actual knowledge of 
any events occurring after the determination date that would cause the 
amount of the transferor's share of partnership liabilities at the time 
of the transfer to differ by more than 25 percent from the amount shown 
on the certification by the partnership for the determination date.
    (iii) Partnership's determination of partnership liabilities for 
distributions. A partnership that is a transferee because it makes a 
distribution may rely on its books and records to determine the extent 
to which the transferor's share of partnership liabilities on the 
determination date are included in the amount realized. The information 
in the books and records will not be treated as incorrect or unreliable 
unless the partnership has actual knowledge, on or before the date of 
the distribution, of any events occurring after the determination date 
that would cause the amount of the transferor's share of partnership 
liabilities at the time of the transfer to differ by more than 25 
percent from the amount determined by the partnership as of the 
determination date.
    (iv) Certification by a foreign partnership of non-foreign status 
of its partners--(A) In general. When a transferor is a foreign 
partnership, a transferee may use the procedures of this paragraph 
(c)(2)(iv) to determine the amount realized. For this purpose, the 
transferee may rely on a certification from the transferor providing 
the modified amount realized, and may treat the modified amount 
realized as the amount realized.
    (B) Determining modified amount realized. The modified amount 
realized is determined by multiplying the amount realized (as 
determined under this paragraph (c)(2), without regard to this 
paragraph (c)(2)(iv)) by the aggregate percentage computed as of the 
determination date. The aggregate percentage is the percentage of the 
gain (if any) arising from the transfer that would be allocated to 
presumed foreign persons. For this purpose, a presumed foreign person 
is any direct or indirect partner of the transferor that has not 
provided a certification of non-foreign status that meets the 
requirements of paragraph (b)(2) of this section. For purposes of this 
paragraph (c)(2)(iv), an indirect partner is a person that owns an 
interest in the transferor indirectly through one or more foreign 
partnerships.
    (C) Certification. The certification is made by providing a 
withholding certificate (on Form W-8IMY, Certificate of Foreign 
Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through Entity, or Certain U.S. Branches for 
United States Tax Withholding and Reporting) and a withholding 
statement that provides the percentage of gain allocable to each direct 
or indirect partner and that provides whether each such person is a 
United States person or presumed foreign person. The certification must 
also include a certification of non-foreign status that meets the 
requirements of paragraph (b)(2) of this section from each of the 
United States persons that are direct or indirect partners of the 
transferor that are identified as a United States person on the 
withholding statement.
    (3) Lack of money or property or lack of knowledge regarding 
liabilities. The amount to withhold equals the amount realized 
determined without regard to any decrease in the transferor's share of 
partnership liabilities if--
    (i) The amount otherwise required to be withheld under this 
paragraph (c) would exceed the amount realized determined without 
regard to the decrease in the transferor's share of partnership 
liabilities; or
    (ii) The transferee is unable to determine the amount realized 
because it does not have actual knowledge of the transferor's share of 
partnership liabilities (and has not received or cannot rely on a 
certification described in paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(B) or (C) of this 
section).
    (4) Certification of maximum tax liability--(i) In general. A 
transferee may use the procedures of this paragraph (c)(4) for 
determining the amount to withhold for purposes of section 1446(f)(1) 
and paragraph (a) of this section. A transferee (other than a 
partnership that is a transferee because it makes a distribution) may 
rely on a certification from a transferor that is a foreign 
corporation, a nonresident alien individual or a foreign partnership 
regarding the transferor's maximum tax liability as described in 
paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of this section. A partnership that is a 
transferee because it makes a distribution may instead rely on its 
books and records to determine the transferor's maximum tax liability 
if the books and records includes the information required by 
paragraphs (c)(4)(iii) and (c)(4)(iv) of this section. A transferor 
that is a foreign partnership is treated as a nonresident alien 
individual for purposes of determining the transferor's maximum tax 
liability.
    (ii) Maximum tax liability. For purposes of this paragraph (c)(4), 
the term maximum tax liability means the amount of the transferor's 
effectively connected gain (as determined under paragraph 
(c)(4)(iii)(E) of this section) multiplied by the applicable 
percentage, as defined in Sec.  1.1446-3(a)(2).
    (iii) Required information. The certification must include--
    (A) A statement that the transferor is either a nonresident alien 
individual, a foreign corporation, or a foreign partnership;
    (B) The transferor's adjusted basis in the transferred interest on 
the determination date;
    (C) The transferor's amount realized (determined in accordance with 
paragraph (c)(2) of this section) on the determination date;
    (D) Whether the transferor remains a partner immediately after the 
transfer;
    (E) The amount of outside ordinary gain and outside capital gain 
that would be recognized and treated as effectively connected gain 
under Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1(b) on the determination date (effectively 
connected gain);
    (F) The transferor's maximum tax liability on the determination 
date;
    (G) A representation from the transferor that the transferor 
determined the amounts described in paragraph (c)(4)(iii)(E) of this 
section based on the statement described in paragraph (c)(4)(iv) of 
this section; and
    (H) A representation from the transferor that it has provided the 
transferee with a copy of the statement described in paragraph 
(c)(4)(iv) of this section.
    (iv) Partnership statement. A transferor may make the 
representation in paragraph (c)(4)(iii)(G) of this section only if the 
partnership provides to the transferor a statement (that meets the 
requirements for a certification under the general rules for 
applicability in Sec.  1.1446(f)-1(c)) that includes--
    (A) The partnership's name, address, and TIN; and
    (B) The transferor's aggregate deemed sale EC ordinary gain, within 
the meaning of Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1(c)(3)(ii)(A) (if any) and the 
transferor's aggregate deemed sale EC capital gain, within the meaning 
of Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1(c)(3)(ii)(B) (if any), in each case, on the 
determination date.

[[Page 21220]]

    (v) Partial nonrecognition. If a nonrecognition provision applies 
to only a portion of the gain realized on the transfer, a certification 
described in this paragraph (c)(4) may be relied upon only if the 
certification also includes the information required in paragraph 
(b)(6) of this section.
    (vi) Income tax treaties. If only a portion of the gain on the 
transfer is not subject to tax pursuant to an income tax treaty in 
effect between the United States and a foreign country, a certification 
described in paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section may be relied upon 
only if the certification also complies with the requirements of 
paragraph (b)(7) of this section, including the requirement that the 
determination that gain from the transfer is not subject to tax 
pursuant to an income tax treaty be made with respect to the 
transferor, and that the transferee mail a copy of the relevant 
certification described in this paragraph (c)(4) to the IRS.
    (d) Reporting and paying withheld amounts--(1) In general. A 
transferee required to withhold under this section must report and pay 
any tax withheld by the 20th day after the date of the transfer using 
Forms 8288, U.S. Withholding Tax Return for Dispositions by Foreign 
Persons of U.S. Real Property Interests, and 8288-A, Statement of 
Withholding on Dispositions by Foreign Persons of U.S. Real Property 
Interests, in accordance with the instructions to those forms. The IRS 
will stamp Form 8288-A to show receipt and mail a stamped copy to the 
transferor (at the address reported on the form). See paragraph (e)(2) 
of this section for the procedures for the transferor to claim a credit 
for amounts withheld. Forms 8288 and 8288-A must include the TINs of 
both the transferor and the transferee. If any required TIN is not 
provided, the transferee must still report and pay any tax withheld on 
Form 8288.
    (2) Certification of withholding to partnership for purposes of 
section 1446(f)(4). A transferee (other than a partnership that is a 
transferee because it makes a distribution) must certify to the 
partnership the extent to which it has satisfied its obligation to 
withhold under this section no later than 10 days after the transfer. 
The certification must either include a copy of Form 8288-A that the 
transferee files with respect to the transfer, or state the amount 
realized and the amount withheld on the transfer of the partnership 
interest. The certification must also include any certifications that 
the transferee relied on to apply an exception to withholding under 
paragraph (b) of this section or to determine the amount to withhold 
under paragraph (c) of this section. See Sec.  1.1446(f)-3 for rules 
regarding a partnership's obligation to withhold on distributions to a 
transferee when this certification establishes only partial 
satisfaction of the required amount, is not provided, or cannot be 
relied upon.
    (e) Effect of withholding on transferor--(1) In general. The 
withholding of tax by a transferee under this section does not relieve 
a foreign person from filing a U.S. tax return with respect to the 
transfer. See Sec. Sec.  1.6012-1(b)(1), 1.6012-2(g)(1), and 1.6031(a)-
1. Further, the withholding of tax by a transferee does not relieve a 
nonresident alien individual or foreign corporation subject to tax 
under section 864(c)(8) from paying any tax due with the return that 
has not been fully satisfied through withholding.
    (2) Manner of obtaining credit--(i) Individuals and corporations. 
Except as provided in paragraph (e)(3) of this section, an individual 
or corporation may claim a credit under section 33 for the amount 
withheld under this section by attaching to its applicable return the 
stamped copy of Form 8288-A provided to it under paragraph (d)(1) of 
this section. See also Sec.  1.1462-1.
    (ii) Partnerships. For a rule allowing a foreign partnership that 
is a transferor to claim a credit for the amount withheld under this 
section against its tax liability under section 1446(a), see Sec.  
1.1446-3(c)(4).
    (3) Failure to receive Form 8288-A. If a stamped copy of Form 8288-
A has not been provided to the transferor by the IRS, the transferor 
may establish the amount of tax withheld by the transferee by attaching 
to its return substantial evidence of the amount. The transferor must 
attach to its return a statement that includes all of the information 
otherwise required to be provided on Form 8288-A.
    (f) Applicability date. This section applies to transfers that 
occur on or after the date that is 60 days after the date that these 
regulations are published as final regulations in the Federal Register.


Sec.  1.1446(f)-3  Partnership's requirement to withhold under section 
1446(f)(4) on distributions to transferee.

    (a) Partnership's obligation to withhold amounts not withheld by 
the transferee--(1) In general. If a transferee fails to withhold any 
amount required to be withheld under Sec.  1.1446(f)-2, the partnership 
in which the interest was transferred must withhold from any 
distributions made to the transferee pursuant to this section. To 
determine its withholding obligation under this paragraph (a)(1), a 
partnership may rely on a certification received from the transferee 
described in Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(d)(2) unless it knows, or has reason to 
know, that the certification is incorrect or unreliable.
    (2) Notification by IRS. A partnership that receives notification 
from the IRS that a transferee has provided incorrect information 
regarding the amount realized or amount withheld on the certification 
described in Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(d)(2), or has failed to pay the IRS the 
amount reported as withheld on the certification, must withhold the 
amount prescribed in the notification on distributions to the 
transferee made on or after the date that is 15 days after it receives 
the notification. For this purpose, the amount realized is not treated 
as incorrect if the transferee properly relied on a certification to 
compute the amount realized pursuant to Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c)(2).
    (b) Exceptions to withholding--(1) Withholding has been satisfied 
by transferee. A partnership is not required to withhold under 
paragraph (a)(1) of this section if it relies on a certification 
described in Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(d)(2) received from the transferee 
(within the time prescribed in that section) that states that an 
exception to withholding described in Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b) applies or 
that the transferee withheld the full amount required to be withheld 
(taking into account any adjustments under Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c)) under 
Sec.  1.1446(f)-2.
    (2) PTP interests--(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraph 
(b)(2)(ii) of this section, a partnership is not required to withhold 
under this section on distributions made with respect to a PTP 
interest.
    (ii) Exception for a false qualified notice. If a publicly traded 
partnership determines (including by reason of notification from the 
IRS) that it has published a qualified notice that falsely states that 
either the exception described in Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(3) (the 10-
percent exception) or the exception described in Sec.  1.1446(f)-
4(b)(4) (the qualified current income exception) applies, the publicly 
traded partnership must withhold under this section on distributions to 
the transferee in an amount equal to the amount that a broker failed to 
withhold under Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 due to reliance on the qualified 
notice, plus interest.
    (3) Distributing partnerships. A partnership that is a transferee 
because it makes a distribution is not required to withhold under this 
section.
    (c) Withholding rules--(1) Timing of withholding--(i) In general. A 
partnership required to withhold under paragraph (a)(1) of this section 
must withhold on distributions made to the transferee beginning on the 
later of--

[[Page 21221]]

    (A) The date that is 30 days after the date of transfer; or
    (B) The date that is 15 days after the date on which the 
partnership acquires actual knowledge that the transfer has occurred.
    (ii) Satisfaction of withholding obligation. A partnership is 
treated as satisfying its withholding obligation under paragraph (a)(1) 
of this section and may stop withholding on distributions to the 
transferee on the earlier of--
    (A) The date on which the partnership completes withholding and 
paying the amount required to be withheld under paragraph (c)(2) of 
this section;
    (B) The date on which the partnership receives and may rely on a 
certification from the transferee described in Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(d)(2) 
(without regard to whether the certification is received by the time 
prescribed in that section) that claims an exception to withholding 
under Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(b); or
    (C) If a partnership interest is not a PTP interest, the date on 
which the transferee no longer owns an interest in the partnership, 
unless the partnership has actual knowledge that any successor to the 
transferee is a person that bears a relationship described in section 
267(b) or 707(b)(1) with respect to the transferee or the transferor 
from which the transferee acquired the interest.
    (2) Amount to withhold--(i) In general. A partnership required to 
withhold under paragraph (a)(1) of this section must withhold the full 
amount of each distribution made to the transferee until it has 
withheld--
    (A) A tax of 10 percent of the amount realized (determined solely 
under Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(c)(2)(i) or, in the case of a publicly traded 
partnership, solely under Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(c)(2)(i)) on the transfer, 
reduced by any amount withheld by the transferee, plus
    (B) Any interest computed under paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this 
section.
    (ii) Computation of interest. The amount of interest required to be 
withheld under paragraph (a)(1) of this section is the amount of 
interest that would be required to be paid under section 6601 and Sec.  
301.6601-1 if the amount that should have been withheld by the 
transferee was considered an underpayment of tax. For this purpose, 
interest is payable between the date that is 20 days after the date of 
the transfer and the date on which the tax due under paragraph (a)(1) 
of this section is paid to the IRS.
    (iii) Certifications required. For purposes of paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(A) of this section, a partnership must determine the amount 
realized on the transfer and any amount withheld by the transferee 
based on a certification from the transferee described in Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2(d)(2), without regard to whether the certification is 
received by the time prescribed in that section. A partnership that 
does not receive or cannot rely on a certification from the transferee 
described in Sec.  1.1446(f)-2(d)(2) must withhold tax equal to the 
full amount of each distribution made to the transferee until it 
receives a certification that it can rely on.
    (3) Coordination with other withholding provisions. Any amount 
required to be withheld on a distribution under any other provision of 
the Internal Revenue Code is not also required to be withheld under 
section 1446(f)(4) or this section.
    (d) Reporting and paying withheld amounts. The partnership must 
report and pay the tax withheld using Forms 8288, U.S. Withholding Tax 
Return for Dispositions by Foreign Persons of U.S. Real Property 
Interests, and 8288-C, Statement of Withholding Under Section 
1446(f)(4) for Withholding on Dispositions by Foreign Persons of 
Partnership Interests, as provided in forms, instructions, or other 
guidance.
    (e) Effect of withholding on transferor and transferee--(1) 
Transferor. The withholding of tax by a partnership under this section 
does not relieve a foreign person from filing a U.S. income tax return 
with respect to the transfer. See Sec. Sec.  1.6012-1(b)(1), 1.6012-
2(g)(1), and 1.6031(a)-1. Further, the withholding of tax by a 
partnership does not relieve a nonresident alien individual or foreign 
corporation subject to tax under section 864(c)(8) from paying any tax 
due with the return that has not been fully satisfied through 
withholding. An individual or corporation is not allowed a credit under 
section 33 for amounts withheld on distributions to the transferee 
under this section. See, however, Sec. Sec.  1.1446(f)-5(a) and 1.1463-
1(a), which generally provide that tax will not be recollected if paid 
by another person.
    (2) Transferee. A transferee is treated as satisfying its 
withholding tax liability under Sec.  1.1446(f)-2 to the extent that a 
partnership withholds tax (which does not include interest) from the 
transferee under this section. Interest computed under paragraph 
(c)(2)(ii) of this section that is withheld by the partnership from the 
transferee is treated as interest paid by the transferee with respect 
to its withholding tax liability under Sec.  1.1446(f)-2. A transferee 
may not obtain a refund when the amount of tax withheld under this 
section exceeds the transferee's withholding tax liability under Sec.  
1.1446(f)-2. Instead, only the partnership may claim a refund on behalf 
of the transferee for the excess amount under this section.
    (f) Applicability date. This section applies to transfers that 
occur on or after the date that is 60 days after the date that these 
regulations are published as final regulations in the Federal Register.


Sec.  1.1446(f)-4  Withholding on the transfer of a publicly traded 
partnership interest.

    (a) Broker's obligation to withhold on a transfer of a PTP 
interest--(1) In general. If a transfer of a PTP interest is effected 
through one or more brokers, the transferee is not required to withhold 
under section 1446(f)(1) and Sec.  1.1446(f)-2. Rather, any broker 
required to withhold under paragraph (a)(2) of this section must 
withhold a tax equal to 10 percent of the amount realized (as defined 
in paragraph (c)(2) of this section) on the transfer of a PTP interest, 
except as otherwise provided in this section. For rules regarding the 
application of section 1446(f)(4) and Sec.  1.1446(f)-3 to a publicly 
traded partnership, see Sec.  1.1446(f)-3(b)(2).
    (2) Broker's requirement to withhold--(i) Payments to foreign 
brokers. A broker that pays the amount realized from the transfer of a 
PTP interest to another broker that is a foreign person must withhold 
under this section unless the foreign person is--
    (A) A qualified intermediary (as defined in Sec.  1.1441-
1(e)(5)(ii)) that provides a valid qualified intermediary withholding 
certificate (as described in Sec.  1.1441-1(e)(3)(ii)) that states that 
it assumes primary withholding responsibility under chapter 3; or
    (B) A U.S. branch of a foreign person (as described in Sec.  
1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv)) that provides a valid U.S. branch withholding 
certificate (as described in Sec.  1.1441-1(e)(3)(v)) that states that 
it agrees to be treated as a U.S. person with respect to any payment 
associated with the certificate.
    (ii) Brokers with customer relationship with transferor. A broker 
that effects the transfer for the transferor as its customer (as 
defined in Sec.  1.6045-1(a)(2)) is required to withhold under this 
section.
    (iii) Exception. A broker is not required to withhold under this 
section if it knows that the withholding obligation has already been 
satisfied.
    (iv) Determination of foreign broker's status. For purposes of 
paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section, a broker must treat another broker 
as a foreign person unless it obtains documentation (including a 
certification of non-foreign status) establishing that the other broker 
is a U.S. person.
    (b) Exceptions to withholding--(1) In general. A broker is not 
required to

[[Page 21222]]

withhold under this section if it properly relies on a certification 
described in paragraph (b)(2) or (b)(6) of this section, a qualified 
notice described in paragraph (b)(3) or (b)(4) of this section, or if 
the exception described in paragraph (b)(5) of this section applies. A 
broker may not rely on a certification described in this paragraph (b) 
if it has actual knowledge that the certification is incorrect or 
unreliable.
    (2) Certification of non-foreign status. A broker may rely on a 
certification of non-foreign status that it obtains from the 
transferor. A certification of non-foreign status under this section 
means a Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and 
Certification, or valid substitute form, that meets the requirements of 
Sec.  1.1441-1(d)(2). For this purpose, a broker may rely on a valid 
form that it already possesses from the transferor. A broker may 
instead rely on certification from a second broker (as defined in Sec.  
1.6045-1(a)(1)) that acts as an agent for the transferor when the 
second broker does not receive the amount realized from the transfer of 
the PTP interest. This certification must state that the second broker 
has collected a valid certification of non-foreign status (within the 
meaning of this paragraph (b)(2)) from the transferor, and it must 
include the transferor's TIN and status as a foreign or U.S. person.
    (3) Less than 10 percent effectively connected gain by 
partnership--(i) In general. A broker may rely on a qualified notice 
described in paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section that states that the 
10-percent exception applies, as determined under paragraph (b)(3)(ii) 
of this section.
    (ii) 10-percent exception--(A) In general. The 10-percent exception 
applies to a transfer if, on the PTP designated date described in 
paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(B) of this section, had the publicly traded 
partnership sold all of its assets at fair market value in the manner 
described in Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-1(c), either--
    (1) The amount of gain that would have been effectively connected 
with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States would 
be less than 10 percent of the total gain; or
    (2) No gain would have been effectively connected with the conduct 
of a trade or business within the United States.
    (B) PTP designated date. The PTP designated date for a transfer is 
any date for a deemed sale determination that is designated by the 
publicly traded partnership in a qualified notice described in 
paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section, provided that the PTP designated 
date occurs on or after the date that is 92 days before the date on 
which the publicly traded partnership posted the qualified notice 
naming the PTP designated date.
    (iii) Qualified notice--(A) In general. Except as provided in 
paragraph (b)(3)(iii)(B) and (C) of this section, a qualified notice 
described in this paragraph (b)(3)(iii) is the most recent qualified 
notice (within the meaning of Sec.  1.1446-4(b)(4)) posted by the 
publicly traded partnership.
    (B) Qualified notice posting date requirement. A qualified notice 
is described in this paragraph (b)(3)(iii) only if the publicly traded 
partnership has posted it within the 92-day period ending on the date 
of the transfer.
    (C) Recent posting of qualified notice. If the most recent 
qualified notice posted by the publicly traded partnership was posted 
during the 10-day period ending on the date of the transfer, a broker 
may instead rely on the immediately preceding qualified notice (within 
the meaning of Sec.  1.1446-4(b)(4)) posted by the publicly traded 
partnership, provided that it satisfies the condition described in 
paragraph (b)(3)(iii)(B) of this section.
    (4) Distribution made from current income--(i) In general. A broker 
is not required to withhold under this section on a distribution by a 
publicly traded partnership if the entire amount of a distribution is 
designated, on a qualified notice (within the meaning of Sec.  1.1446-
4(b)(4)) posted with respect to that distribution, as a qualified 
current income distribution (within the meaning of paragraph (b)(4)(ii) 
of this section).
    (ii) Qualified current income distribution. A qualified current 
income distribution is a distribution that does not exceed the net 
income of the publicly traded partnership since the record date (within 
the meaning of 17 CFR 240.14a-1(h) or its successor provision) of the 
immediately preceding distribution made by the publicly traded 
partnership.
    (5) Amount subject to withholding under section 3406. A broker is 
not required to withhold under this section if the amount realized from 
the transfer of the PTP interest is subject to withholding under Sec.  
31.3406(b)(3)-2 of this chapter.
    (6) Income tax treaties. A broker may rely on a certification from 
the transferor that states that the transferor is not subject to tax on 
any gain from the transfer pursuant to an income tax treaty in effect 
between the United States and a foreign country if the requirements of 
this paragraph (b)(6) are met. The transferor must include with the 
certification a withholding certificate (on a Form W-8BEN, Certificate 
of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding 
and Reporting (Individuals), or Form W-8BEN-E, Certificate of Status of 
Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting 
(Entities)) that meets the requirements for validity under Sec.  
1.1446-1(c)(2)(iv) (or an applicable substitute form that meets the 
requirements under Sec.  1.1446-1(c)(5)) and that contains the 
information necessary to support the claim for treaty benefits. For 
purposes of this paragraph (b)(6), a broker may rely on a withholding 
certificate that it already possesses from the transferor unless it has 
actual knowledge that the information is incorrect or unreliable. This 
exception does not apply if treaty benefits apply to only a portion of 
the gain from the transfer.
    (c) Determining the amount to withhold--(1) In general. A broker 
that is required to withhold under this section must withhold 10 
percent of the amount realized on the transfer of the PTP interest, 
except as provided in this paragraph (c). Any procedures in this 
paragraph (c) apply solely for purposes of determining the amount to 
withhold under section 1446(f)(1) and this section. A broker may not 
rely on a certification described in this paragraph (c) if it has 
actual knowledge that the certification is incorrect or unreliable.
    (2) Amount realized--(i) In general. Solely for purposes of this 
section, the amount realized is the amount of gross proceeds (as 
defined in Sec.  1.6045-1(d)(5)) paid or credited upon the transfer to 
the customer or other broker (as applicable), or, in the case of a 
distribution, the amount of cash distributed (or to be distributed) and 
the fair market value of property distributed (or to be distributed).
    (ii) Certification by a foreign partnership of non-foreign status 
of its partners--(A) In general. When a transferor is a foreign 
partnership, a broker may use the procedures of this paragraph 
(c)(2)(ii) to determine the amount realized. For this purpose, the 
broker may rely on a certification from the transferor providing the 
modified amount realized, and may treat the modified amount realized as 
the amount realized.
    (B) Determining modified amount realized. The modified amount 
realized is determined by multiplying the amount realized (as 
determined under this paragraph (c)(2), without regard to this 
paragraph (c)(2)(ii)) by the aggregate percentage computed as of the 
determination date. The aggregate percentage is the percentage of the 
gain

[[Page 21223]]

(if any) arising from the transfer that would be allocated to presumed 
foreign persons. For this purpose, a presumed foreign person is any 
direct or indirect partner of the transferor that has not provided a 
certification of non-foreign status that meets the requirements of 
paragraph (b)(2) of this section. For purposes of this paragraph 
(c)(2)(ii), an indirect partner is a person that owns an interest in 
the transferor indirectly through one or more foreign partnerships.
    (C) Certification. The certification is made by providing a 
withholding certificate (on Form W-8IMY, Certificate of Foreign 
Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through Entity, or Certain U.S. Branches for 
United States Tax Withholding and Reporting) and a withholding 
statement that provides the percentage of gain allocable to each direct 
or indirect partner and that provides whether each such person is a 
United States person or presumed foreign person. The certification must 
also include a certification of non-foreign status that meets the 
requirements of paragraph (b)(2) of this section from each of the 
United States persons that are direct or indirect partners of the 
transferor that are identified as a United States person on the 
withholding statement. For purposes of this paragraph (c)(2)(ii), a 
broker may rely on a withholding certificate and withholding statement 
that it already possesses from the partnership unless it has actual 
knowledge that the information is incorrect or unreliable.
    (d) Reporting and paying withheld amounts. A broker that is 
required to withhold under this section must pay the withheld tax 
pursuant to the deposit rules in Sec.  1.6302-2. For rules regarding 
reporting on Forms 1042, Annual Withholding Tax Return for U.S. Source 
Income of Foreign Persons, and 1042-S, Foreign Person's U.S. Source 
Income Subject to Withholding, that apply to a broker that withholds 
under this section, see Sec.  1.1461-1(b) and (c). For rules regarding 
when an amount realized on the transfer of a PTP interest is an amount 
subject to reporting, see Sec.  1.1461-1(c)(2)(i)(Q). A broker that 
pays the amount realized to a foreign partnership must issue a Form 
1042-S directly to the partnership rather than issuing a form to each 
of the partners of the partnership. See Sec.  1.1461-1(c)(1)(ii)(A)(8) 
(treating the foreign partnership as a recipient for reporting 
purposes). A broker making a payment to a U.S. branch treated as a U.S. 
person must not treat the branch as a U.S. person for purposes of 
reporting the payment made to the branch. Therefore, a payment to that 
U.S. branch must be reported on Form 1042-S. See Sec.  1.1461-1(c). A 
Form 1042-S issued directly to the transferor must include the TIN of 
the transferor unless the broker does not know the TIN at the time of 
issuance.
    (e) Effect of withholding on transferor--(1) In general. The 
withholding of tax under this section does not relieve a foreign person 
from filing a U.S. tax return with respect to the transfer. See 
Sec. Sec.  1.6012-1(b)(1), 1.6012-2(g)(1), and 1.6031(a)-1. Further, 
the withholding of tax by a broker does not relieve a nonresident alien 
individual or foreign corporation subject to tax under section 
864(c)(8) from paying any tax due with the return that has not been 
fully satisfied through withholding.
    (2) Manner of obtaining credit--(i) Individuals and corporations. 
An individual or corporation may claim a credit under section 33 for 
the amount withheld under this section by attaching to its applicable 
return a copy of a Form 1042-S that includes its TIN.
    (ii) Partnerships. For a rule allowing a foreign partnership that 
is a transferor to claim a credit for the amount withheld under this 
section against its obligation to withhold under section 1446(a), see 
Sec.  1.1446-3(c)(4).
    (f) Applicability date. This section applies to transfers that 
occur on or after the date that is 60 days after the date that these 
regulations are published as final regulations in the Federal Register.


Sec.  1.1446(f)-5  Liability for failure to withhold.

    (a) Liability for failure to withhold. Every person required to 
withhold and pay tax under section 1446(f), but that fails to do so, is 
liable for the tax under section 1461. Under section 1463, if the tax 
required to be withheld is paid by another person required to withhold 
under section 1446(f) or by the nonresident alien individual or foreign 
corporation subject to tax under section 864(c)(8), the tax will not be 
recollected. However, any person that failed to withhold under section 
1446(f) is in no case relieved from liability for any interest, 
penalties, or additions to tax that would otherwise apply. A 
partnership that failed to withhold and pay tax under Sec.  1.1446(f)-3 
is only liable for the amount of tax that it failed to collect (but not 
any interest computed on that amount under Sec.  1.1446(f)-
3(c)(2)(ii)), plus any interest, penalties, or additions to tax with 
regard to the partnership's failure to withhold.
    (b) Liability of agents--(1) Duty to provide notice of false 
certification. A transferee's or transferor's agent (other than a 
broker required to withhold under Sec.  1.1446(f)-4) must provide 
notice to a transferee (or other person required to withhold) if that 
person is furnished with a certification described in Sec. Sec.  
1.1446(f)-1 through 1.1446(f)-4 and the agent knows that the 
certification is false. A person required to withhold may not rely on a 
certification if it receives the notice described in this paragraph 
(b)(1).
    (2) Procedural requirements. Any agent who is required to provide 
notice under paragraph (b)(1) of this section must do so in writing 
(including by electronic submission) as soon as possible after learning 
of the false certification. If the agent first learns of the false 
certification before the date of transfer, notice must be given by the 
third day following that discovery but no later than the date of 
transfer (before the transferee's payment of consideration). If an 
agent first learns of a false certification after the date of transfer, 
notice must be given by the third day following that discovery. The 
notice must also explain the possible consequences to the recipient of 
a failure to withhold. The notice need not disclose the information on 
which the agent's statement is based. The agent must also furnish a 
copy of the notice to the IRS by the date on which the notice is 
required to be given to the recipient. The copy of the notice must be 
delivered to the address provided in Sec.  1.1445-1(g)(10) and must be 
accompanied by a cover letter stating that the copy is being filed 
pursuant to the requirements of Sec.  1.1446(f)-5(b)(2).
    (3) Failure to provide notice. Any agent who is required to provide 
notice under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, but fails to do so in 
the manner required in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, is liable for 
the tax that the person who should have been provided notice in 
accordance with paragraph (b)(2) of this section was required to 
withhold under section 1446(f) if the notice had been given.
    (4) Limitation on liability. An agent's liability under paragraph 
(b)(3) of this section is limited to the amount of compensation that 
the agent derives from the transaction. In addition, an agent that 
assists in the preparation of, or fails to disclose knowledge of, a 
false certification may be liable for civil and criminal penalties.
    (c) Applicability date. This section applies to transfers that 
occur on or after the date that is 60 days after the date that these 
regulations are published as final regulations in the Federal Register.
0
Par. 10. Section 1.1461-1 is amended:
0
1. As proposed to be amended December 18, 2018, at 83 FR 64757:

[[Page 21224]]

0
i. Paragraph (a)(1) is further amended by revising the sixth, seventh, 
and eighth sentences.
0
ii. Paragraph (c)(1)(i)(A) is further amended by revising the second 
and third sentences.
0
2. By revising paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(A)(8).
0
3. By adding paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(B)(5).
0
4. In paragraph (c)(2)(i) introductory text, by revising the first and 
second sentences.
0
5. In paragraph (c)(2)(i)(N), by removing the word ``and'' that follows 
the semi-colon.
0
6. In paragraph (c)(2)(i)(O), by removing the period at the end of the 
paragraph and adding ``; and'' in its place.
0
7. By adding paragraphs (c)(2)(i)(P) and (Q).
0
8. By adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (c)(4)(ii)(A).
0
9. Revising paragraph (i).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.1461-1  Payment and returns of tax withheld.

    (a) * * *
    (1) Deposits of tax. * * * With respect to withholding under 
section 1446, this section shall apply only to publicly traded 
partnerships and nominees that withhold under Sec.  1.1446-4 and 
brokers that withhold under Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 on transfers of publicly 
traded partnership interests. See Sec.  1.1461-3 for penalties that 
apply for failure to withhold under section 1446(a) on effectively 
connected taxable income allocable to foreign partners or under section 
1446(f) on transfers of partnership interests by foreign partners. The 
references in the previous two sentences to Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 and 
section 1446(f) shall apply to transfers of partnership interests that 
occur on or after 60 days after the date that these regulations are 
published as final regulations in the Federal Register.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (A) In general. * * * Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any 
person that withholds or is required to withhold an amount under 
sections 1441, 1442, 1443, Sec.  1.1446-4(a) (applicable to publicly 
traded partnerships required to pay tax under section 1446(a) on 
distributions), or Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(a) (applicable to brokers required 
to withhold on transfers of publicly traded partnership interests) must 
file a Form 1042-S for the payment withheld upon whether or not that 
person is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business and whether or 
not the payment is an amount subject to reporting. The reference in the 
previous sentence to Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(a) shall apply with respect to 
returns for transfers that occur on or after 60 days after the date 
that these regulations are published as final regulations in the 
Federal Register. * * *
* * * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) * * *
    (8) A partner (including a foreign partnership) receiving a 
distribution from a publicly traded partnership subject to withholding 
under section 1446(a) and Sec.  1.1446-4 on distributions of 
effectively connected income, and a partner (including a foreign 
partnership) receiving an amount realized from a transfer of a publicly 
traded partnership interest subject to withholding under section 
1446(f)(1) and Sec.  1.1446(f)-4. The references in this paragraph 
(c)(1)(ii)(A)(8) to section 1446(f)(1) and Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 shall 
apply with respect to returns for transfers that occur on or after 60 
days after the date that these regulations are published as final 
regulations in the Federal Register.
* * * * *
    (B) * * *
    (5) A foreign broker withheld upon under Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(a)(2)(i) 
by another broker paying an amount realized from the transfer of a PTP 
interest.
* * * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) In general. Subject to the exceptions described in paragraph 
(c)(2)(ii) of this section, amounts subject to reporting on Form 1042-S 
are amounts paid to a foreign payee or partner (including persons 
presumed to be foreign) that are amounts subject to withholding as 
defined in Sec.  1.1441-2(a), Sec.  1.1446-4(a) (addressing publicly 
traded partnerships required to pay withholding tax under section 
1446(a) on distributions of effectively connected income), or Sec.  
1.1446(f)-4(a) (addressing brokers required to withhold and pay tax on 
the amount realized on the transfer of an interest in a publicly traded 
partnership). The reference in the previous sentence to withholding 
under Sec.  1.1446-4(f) shall apply with respect to returns for 
transfers that occur on or after 60 days after the date that these 
regulations are published as final regulations in the Federal Register. 
* * *
* * * * *
    (P) The amount of any distribution made by a publicly traded 
partnership that is an amount subject to withholding under Sec.  
1.1446-4, or that is paid to a qualified intermediary that assumes 
primary withholding responsibility for the payment or a U.S. branch of 
a foreign person that agrees to be treated as a U.S. person described 
in Sec.  1.1446-4(b)(2); and
    (Q) An amount realized on the transfer of a publicly traded 
partnership interest subject to Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 (unless an exception 
to withholding applies under Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(b)(2) through (5)).
* * * * *
    (4) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) Amounts paid to a nonqualified intermediary, a flow-through 
entity, and certain U.S. branches. * * * For a payment to a foreign 
partnership on the transfer of a publicly traded partnership interest 
subject to Sec.  1.1446(f)-4(a), see paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(A)(8) of this 
section (treating the foreign partnership as a recipient).
* * * * *
    (i) Applicability date--(1) In general. Except as provided in 
paragraph (i)(2) of this section, this section applies to returns 
required for payments made on or after January 6, 2017. For payments 
made after June 30, 2014, and before January 6, 2017, see this section 
as in effect and contained in 26 CFR part 1, as revised April 1, 2016. 
For payments made after December 31, 2000, and before July 1, 2014, see 
this section as in effect and contained in 26 CFR part 1, as revised 
April 1, 2013.
    (2) Exceptions. Paragraphs (a)(1), (c)(1)(i)(A), (c)(1)(ii)(A)(8), 
(c)(2)(i), and (c)(2)(iii) of this section apply as provided in those 
paragraphs. Paragraphs (c)(1)(ii)(A)(11), (c)(1)(ii)(B)(5), 
(c)(2)(i)(P) and (Q), and (c)(4)(ii)(A) apply with respect to returns 
for transfers that occur on or after 60 days after the date that these 
regulations are published as final regulations in the Federal Register.
0
Par. 11. Section 1.1461-2 is amended:
0
1. By revising paragraph (a)(1).
0
2. As proposed to be amended April 13, 2016, at 81 FR 21795, by 
revising the first and last sentences of paragraph (b).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


Sec.  1.1461-2  Adjustments for overwithholding or underwithholding of 
tax.

    (a) * * *
    (1) In general. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph 
(a)(1), a withholding agent that has overwithheld under chapter 3 of 
the Internal Revenue Code, and made a deposit of the tax as provided in 
Sec.  1.6302-2(a), may adjust the overwithheld amount either pursuant 
to the reimbursement procedure described in paragraph (a)(2) of this 
section or pursuant to the set-off procedure

[[Page 21225]]

described in paragraph (a)(3) of this section. These rules do not apply 
to partnerships or nominees required to withhold under section 1446(a), 
other than on a distribution by a publicly traded partnership subject 
to withholding under Sec.  1.1446-4(a) and a payment of an amount 
realized on the transfer of an interest in a publicly traded 
partnership subject to Sec.  1.1446(f)-4. The reference in the previous 
sentence to withholding under Sec.  1.1446-4(f) shall apply with 
respect to returns for transfers that occur on or after 60 days after 
the date that these regulations are published as final regulations in 
the Federal Register.
* * * * *
    (b) * * * A withholding agent may withhold from future payments 
(including distributions of effectively connected income subject to 
withholding under Sec.  1.1446-4 and the amount realized from the 
transfer of a partnership interest subject to Sec.  1.1446(f)-4) made 
to a beneficial owner the tax that should have been withheld from 
previous payments to that beneficial owner under chapter 3 of the Code. 
* * * The reference in this paragraph (b) to withholding under Sec.  
1.1446-4(f)-4 shall apply with respect to returns for transfers that 
occur on or after 60 days after the date that these regulations are 
published as final regulations in the Federal Register.
* * * * *
0
Par. 12. Section 1.1461-3 is amended by revising the first sentence and 
last sentences to read as follows:


Sec.  1.1461-3   Withholding under section 1446.

    For rules relating to the withholding tax liability of a 
partnership, nominee, or transferee under section 1446, see Sec. Sec.  
1.1446-1 through 1.1446-7 and 1.1446(f)-1 through 1.1446(f)-5. * * * 
The references in this section to Sec. Sec.  1.1446-1 through 1.1446-7 
apply to partnership taxable years beginning after May 18, 2005, or 
such earlier time as the regulations under Sec. Sec.  1.1446-1 through 
1.1446-5 apply by reason of an election under Sec.  1.1446-7, and the 
references in this section to Sec.  1.1446(f)-1 through 1.1446(f)-5 
shall apply with respect to returns for transfers that occur on or 
after 60 days after the date that these regulations are published as 
final regulations in the Federal Register.
0
Par. 13. Section 1.1463-1 is amended by revising the fourth and fifth 
sentences of paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.1463-1  Tax paid by recipient of income.

    (a) * * * See Sec. Sec.  1.1446-3(e), 1.1446-3(f) and 1.1446(f)-
5(a) for application of the rule of this paragraph (a), and for 
additional rules, in which the withholding tax was required to be paid 
under section 1446. The references in the previous sentence to Sec.  
1.1446-3(e) and 1.1446-3(f) apply to partnership taxable years 
beginning after May 18, 2005, or such earlier time as the regulations 
under Sec. Sec.  1.1446-1 through 1.1446-5 apply by reason of an 
election under Sec.  1.1446-7, and the reference in the previous 
sentence to Sec.  1.1446(f)-5(a) shall apply to the tax required to be 
withheld under section 1446(f) for transfers that occur on or after 60 
days after the date that these regulations are published as final 
regulations in the Federal Register.
* * * * *
0
Par. 14. Section 1.1464-1 is amended by revising the last sentence of 
paragraph (a) and by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.1464-1   Refunds or credits.

    (a) In general. * * * With respect to section 1446 (other than 
section 1446(f)), this section applies only to a publicly traded 
partnership described in Sec.  1.1446-4.
* * * * *
    (c) Applicability date. The last sentence of paragraph (a) applies 
to publicly traded partnerships described in Sec.  1.1446-4 for 
partnership taxable years beginning after April 29, 2008, and to 
brokers required to withhold under Sec.  1.1446(f)-4 on transfers that 
occur on or after the date that is 60 days after the date that these 
regulations are published as final regulations in the Federal Register.
0
Par. 15. Section 1.6050K-1 is amended by:
0
1. Redesignating the introductory text of paragraph (c) and paragraphs 
(c)(1) through (3) as the introductory text of paragraph (c)(1) and 
paragraphs (c)(1)(i) through (iii), respectively.
0
2. Adding a subject heading to newly-redesignated paragraph (c)(1).
0
3. Adding paragraphs (c)(2) and (3), (d)(3), and (h).
    The revision and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.6050K-1  Returns relating to sales or exchanges of certain 
partnership interests.

* * * * *
    (c) Statements to be furnished to transferor and transferee--(1) In 
general. * * *
    (2) Information to be provided to transferors. The statement a 
partnership must provide to a transferor partner pursuant to paragraph 
(c)(1) of this section must also include the information necessary for 
the transferor to make the transferor's required statement under Sec.  
1.751-1(a)(3).
    (3) Transfers of partnership interests by foreign persons. For 
additional information required to be provided by the partnership if 
section 864(c)(8) applies to the transfer of a partnership interest by 
a foreign person, see Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(b).
    (d) * * *
    (3) Transfers of partnership interests by foreign persons. For 
notifications required by foreign transferors of partnership interests, 
see Sec.  1.864(c)(8)-2(a).
* * * * *
    (h) Applicability date. Paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) of this section 
apply to returns filed on or after the date that these regulations are 
published as final regulations in the Federal Register. Paragraph 
(d)(3) of this section applies to transfers that occur on or after the 
date that these regulations are published as final regulations in the 
Federal Register.

Kirsten Wielobob,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2019-09515 Filed 5-7-19; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 4830-01-P