Foreign Tax Credit Guidance Related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Overall Foreign Loss Recapture, and Foreign Tax Redeterminations, 69022-69123 [2019-24848]

Download as PDF 69022 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Background Internal Revenue Service I. Proposed Regulations Implementing the TCJA 26 CFR Part 1 [TD 9882] RIN 1545–BP19; 1545–BK55; 1545–AC09 Foreign Tax Credit Guidance Related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Overall Foreign Loss Recapture, and Foreign Tax Redeterminations Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury. AGENCY: Final and temporary regulations, and removal of temporary regulations. ACTION: This document contains final regulations that provide guidance relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code. The guidance relates to changes made to the applicable law by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was enacted on December 22, 2017. This document finalizes the proposed regulations published on December 7, 2018. This document also finalizes proposed regulations on overall foreign losses that were published on June 25, 2012, and finalizes certain portions of proposed regulations published on November 7, 2007, relating to a U.S. taxpayer’s obligation to notify the IRS of a foreign tax redetermination. SUMMARY: DATES: Effective Date: These regulations are effective on December 17, 2019. Applicability Dates: For dates of applicability, see §§ 1.861–8(h), 1.861– 9(k), 1.861–10(f), 1.861–11(h), 1.861– 13(d), 1.861–17(i), 1.901(j)–1(b), 1.904– 1(e), 1.904–2(k), 1.904–3(h), 1.904–4(q), 1.904–5(o), 1.904–6(d), 1.904(b)–3(f), 1.904(f)–12(j)(6), 1.904(g)–3(l), 1.905– 3(d), 1.954–1(h), 1.960–7, 1.965–9(c), and 1.986(a)–1(f). jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861– 13, 1.861–17, and 1.904(b)–3, Jeffrey P. Cowan, (202) 317–4924; concerning §§ 1.901(j)–1, 1.904–1 through 1.904–6, 1.904(f)–12, 1.904(g)–3, 1.905–3, 1.954– 1, 1.986(a)–1, Jeffrey L. Parry, (202) 317– 4916, or Larry R. Pounders, (202) 317– 5465; concerning § 1.960–1 through 1.960–7, Suzanne M. Walsh, (202) 317– 4908; concerning §§ 1.965–5 and 1.965– 9, Karen J. Cate, (202) 317–4667 (not toll-free numbers). On December 7, 2018, the Department of the Treasury (the ‘‘Treasury Department’’) and the IRS published proposed regulations (REG–105600–18) relating to foreign tax credits in the Federal Register (83 FR 63200) (the ‘‘2018 FTC proposed regulations’’). The 2018 FTC proposed regulations relate to changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 115–97, 131 Stat. 2054, 2208 (2017)) (the ‘‘TCJA’’) and other foreign tax credit issues. Terms used but not defined in this preamble have the meaning provided in these regulations (the ‘‘final regulations’’). A public hearing on the proposed regulations was scheduled for March 14, 2019, but it was not held because there were no requests to speak. The Treasury Department and the IRS also received written comments with respect to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations. Certain portions of the proposed regulations relating to §§ 1.78–1, 1.861–12(c)(2), and 1.965–7(e) were finalized as part of TD 9866, published in the Federal Register (84 FR 29288) on June 21, 2019. Comments received that do not pertain to the rules in the proposed regulations or that are otherwise outside the scope of this rulemaking are generally not addressed in this preamble but may be considered in future guidance projects addressing the issues discussed in the comments. All written comments received in response to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations are available at www.regulations.gov or upon request. II. Proposed Regulations Relating to Overall Foreign Loss Recapture on Property Dispositions On June 25, 2012, the Federal Register published a notice of proposed rulemaking at 77 FR 37837 (the ‘‘2012 OFL proposed regulations’’) proposing rules for the coordination of the rules for determining high-taxed income with capital gains adjustments and the allocation and recapture of overall foreign losses and overall domestic losses, as well as the coordination of the recapture of overall foreign losses on certain dispositions of property and other rules concerning overall foreign losses and overall domestic losses. One comment was received concerning the 2012 OFL proposed regulations. A public hearing was not requested and none was held. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 III. Proposed and Temporary Regulations Under Sections 905(c) and 986(a) On June 23, 1988, the Federal Register published a notice of proposed rulemaking by cross-reference to temporary regulations (TD 8210) (the ‘‘1988 temporary regulations’’) at 53 FR 23659 and 53 FR 23611, respectively, relating to a taxpayer’s obligation under section 905(c) to notify the IRS of a foreign tax redetermination or to make adjustments to the pools of post-1986 undistributed earnings and foreign income taxes of the taxpayer’s foreign subsidiaries. The 1988 temporary regulations also provided guidance regarding the civil penalty under section 6689 for failure to file the notice required under section 905(c). In response to the written comments received on the 1988 temporary regulations, on March 16, 1990, the Treasury Department and the IRS issued Notice 90–26, 1990–1 C.B. 336, which suspended the portion of the 1988 temporary regulations that provided rules for accounting for foreign tax redeterminations that affect the calculation of the indirect foreign tax credit under sections 902 and 960. On May 15, 2006, the Treasury Department and the IRS issued Notice 2006–47, 2006–1 C.B. 892, which provides interim rules allowing a taxpayer that otherwise would be required to use an average exchange rate translation convention to elect to translate foreign income taxes into U.S. dollars (dollars) using the exchange rates when the taxes were paid, either for all foreign income taxes or only for those foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency that are attributable to qualified business units within the meaning of section 989(a) (QBUs) with dollar functional currencies. On November 7, 2007, the Federal Register published new temporary regulations (T.D. 9362) (the ‘‘2007 temporary regulations’’) at 72 FR 62771 and published a partial withdrawal of the notice of proposed rulemaking relating to the 1988 temporary regulations and a new notice of proposed rulemaking by cross-reference to the 2007 temporary regulations at 72 FR 62805. Corrections to the temporary and proposed regulations were published on December 19, 2007, in the Federal Register (72 FR 71787 and 72 FR 71842, respectively). Comments were received concerning the 2007 temporary regulations. A public hearing was not requested and none was held. The 2007 temporary regulations expired on November 5, 2010. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations As part of the TCJA, section 905(c) was amended to reflect the repeal of section 902, by eliminating the provisions allowing for adjustments to pools of post-1986 undistributed earnings and foreign income taxes. The TCJA made no changes to section 986(a) or 6689. This Treasury decision adopts certain portions of the proposed regulations under sections 905(c) and 986(a) that were published in connection with the 2007 temporary regulations. References in this preamble to the 2007 temporary regulations are understood to refer to the corresponding provisions of the accompanying proposed regulations. In particular, this Treasury decision finalizes (1) the currency translation rules (which are moved from § 1.905– 3T(b) to § 1.986(a)–1)), (2) the definition of foreign tax redetermination in § 1.905–3T(c), (3) the rules under § 1.905–3T(d)(1) requiring a redetermination of U.S. tax liability with respect to foreign income taxes other than those that are deemed paid under section 960, and (4) the rules in § 1.905–3T(e) relating to foreign income taxes imposed on foreign tax refunds. Portions of the 2007 temporary regulations relating to prospective pooling adjustments are not included in the final regulations in light of the TCJA’s repeal of section 902 and related amendments to section 905(c). Section 1.905–3T(d)(2), which addresses redeterminations that affect foreign taxes deemed paid under section 960, § 1.905–4T, which in general provides the procedural rules for how to notify the IRS of a foreign tax redetermination, and § 301.6689–1T, which provides rules for the penalty for failure to notify the IRS of a foreign tax redetermination, are not included in this Treasury decision. Although the underlying substantive rule requiring redeterminations of U.S. tax liability has not changed, in light of the elimination of prospective pooling adjustments (which in many cases obviated the need for U.S. tax redeterminations), the Treasury Department and the IRS anticipate that there will be significantly more instances in which taxpayers must redetermine their U.S. tax liability with respect to a prior taxable year by reason of a foreign tax redetermination with respect to a controlled foreign corporation (‘‘CFC’’). As a result, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the rules under §§ 1.905–3T(d)(2), 1.905–4T, and 301.6689–1T should be reissued as a notice of proposed rulemaking in order to allow taxpayers an additional opportunity to comment on those rules. These regulations are available in a VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 notice of proposed rulemaking in the Proposed Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register (the ‘‘2019 FTC proposed regulations’’). IV. Technical Amendment to Regulations Issued Under Section 905 This Treasury Decision also makes a technical amendment to § 1.905–2(a)(2). Regulations issued under § 1.905–2 address the forms, information, and evidence required to claim a foreign tax credit. On December 31, 1964, the Federal Register published changes (T.D. 6789) at 29 FR 19241 to the then existing regulations under § 1.905–2, including a sentence at § 1.905–2(a)(2) providing that if a foreign receipt or return is in a foreign language, a certified translation thereof must be furnished by the taxpayer. On January 27, 1998, the Federal Register published additional changes (T.D. 8759) at 63 FR 3812 to § 1.905–2. However, the Federal Register inadvertently deleted the sentence in § 1.905–2(a)(2) requiring certified translations of a foreign receipt or return in a foreign language. This Treasury Decision restores the inadvertently deleted sentence to § 1.905–2(a)(2). Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions I. Overview The final regulations retain the basic approach and structure of the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, with certain revisions. Parts I through III and V of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions discuss those revisions as well as comments received in response to the solicitation of comments in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations. Part III.I of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions discusses the revisions and comments received with respect to the 2012 OFL proposed regulations. Part IV of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions discusses the revisions with respect to the 2007 temporary regulations relating to sections 905(c) and 986(a). Finally, Part VI of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions addresses the applicability dates for the final regulations. II. Allocation and Apportionment of Deductions and the Calculation of Taxable Income for Purposes of Section 904(a) A. Allocation of Expenses to Section 951A Category A taxpayer determines its foreign tax credit limitation under section 904, in part, based on the taxpayer’s taxable income from sources without the United PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69023 States. The 2018 FTC proposed regulations provide that, in general, the regulations under sections 861 through 865 that provide rules for allocating and apportioning deductions to determine the taxpayer’s taxable income from sources without the United States apply to income described in section 904(d)(1)(A) (the ‘‘section 951A category’’). Some comments requested that regulations provide that no expenses should be allocated to the section 951A category in order to ensure that income of a United States shareholder (‘‘U.S. shareholder’’) derived through a CFC would be effectively exempt from additional U.S. tax if the foreign effective tax rate is greater than or equal to a particular rate. These comments generally cite language in H.R. Rep. 115–466 (2017) (the ‘‘Conference Report’’) illustrating that no U.S. ‘‘residual tax’’ applies to foreign earnings subject to a foreign effective tax rate of 13.125 percent or more. These comments suggest that not requiring expenses to be allocated to the section 951A category allows GILTI to function as a ‘‘minimum tax.’’ Alternatively, some comments suggested that expense allocation be eliminated if the taxpayer establishes that net CFC tested income is subject to a minimum foreign effective tax rate of 13.125 percent, or that expense allocation to the section 951A category be eliminated until section 864(f)(1) (providing an election to allocate interest expense on a worldwide basis) becomes effective. One comment suggested a fundamentally different approach to expense allocation that would allow taxpayers to prorate the allocation of expenses to certain foreign source income based on a ratio of the foreign tax rate with the U.S. tax rate, and recalculate U.S. income tax liability after disallowing the prorated expenses allocated to foreign source income. One comment suggested that after the TCJA the United States no longer relies on the general principle of a foreign tax credit to relieve double taxation, and that allocation of any expenses to section 951A category income is therefore inconsistent with U.S. treaty obligations to exempt the income from U.S. tax. One comment agreed with the approach of the proposed regulations requiring expense allocation to the section 951A category, noting that the application of the expense allocation rules is important to minimize the potential for base erosion. As explained in Part I of the Explanation of Provisions section of the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, the TCJA did not provide for any changes to E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69024 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations how the generally applicable rules for computing taxable income within each separate category should apply with respect to the new section 951A category, and other provisions added in the TCJA are inconsistent with the notion that Congress intended effectively to exempt section 951A category income that was subject to a certain foreign effective tax rate. Therefore, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the statute requires that expenses be allocated and apportioned to the section 951A category. This approach is also consistent with U.S. treaty obligations, which preserve the right of the United States to limit allowable foreign tax credits ‘‘in accordance with the provisions and subject to the limitations of the law of the United States (as it may be amended from time to time without changing the general principles hereof) . . . ’’ See Article 23, Par. 2 of the 2016 U.S. Model Treaty. This approach is confirmed by the Joint Committee on Taxation’s Explanation of the TJCA, which states that Congress intended that the foreign tax credit limitation in the section 951A category, like any other separate category, is calculated by taking into account expenses allocable to income in that category. See Joint Comm. on Tax’n, General Explanation of Public Law 115– 97, at 381 n. 1753 (‘‘As under the law prior to enactment of the Act, U.S. shareholders are required to allocate expenses to foreign-source income for foreign tax credit limitation purposes based on principles applicable prior to the enactment of the Act.’’). The Joint Committee’s explanation also elaborates on the statement cited in the Conference Report that is cited by the comments, and clarifies that the ability to fully utilize foreign tax credits to eliminate U.S. tax liability at a foreign effective tax rate of 13.125 percent is possible only if it is assumed, ‘‘among other things, . . . that the domestic corporation has no expenses.’’ Id. at 381. The Explanation acknowledges that absent the assumption of there being no expenses, ‘‘the results . . . may change.’’ Id. Accordingly, the final regulations do not alter the requirement under the Code for deductions to be allocated and apportioned to the section 951A category. However, the 2019 FTC proposed regulations provide certain additional rules under §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–17, including rules that will have the effect of precluding the allocation and apportionment of certain research and experimentation expenses to the section 951A category. In addition, Part I.A.5 of the Explanation of VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 Provisions of the 2019 FTC proposed regulations states that the Treasury Department and the IRS are studying whether further guidance with respect to the allocation and apportionment of interest expenses is necessary, and request comments on this topic. B. General Rules Relating to the Allocation and Apportionment of Expenses 1. Definitions of Exempt Income and Exempt Asset The 2018 FTC proposed regulations make certain clarifying changes to the definitions of exempt income and exempt asset in proposed § 1.861– 8(d)(2)(ii). Additionally, those regulations address the treatment of the deduction under section 250(a)(1) (the ‘‘section 250 deduction’’) for purposes of the exempt income and assets rule. Under proposed § 1.861– 8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(1), the portion of a domestic corporation’s income that is foreign derived intangible income (‘‘FDII’’) or results from an inclusion under section 951A(a) (a ‘‘GILTI inclusion’’), and the corresponding amount treated as a dividend under section 78 (‘‘section 78 dividend’’), is treated as exempt income based on the amount of the section 250 deduction allowed to the U.S. shareholder. Proposed § 1.861–8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2) treats an equivalent portion of the domestic corporation’s assets that give rise to FDII, or the stock of the CFC that gives rise to the GILTI inclusion, as an exempt asset. One comment argued that the full allocation of expenses to the section 951A is needed to prevent base erosion. The comment recommended that the rules in proposed § 1.861–8(d)(2)(ii)(C) that treat income offset by the section 250 deduction as exempt income and the assets that give rise to that income as exempt assets are inappropriate and should be withdrawn. Another comment agreed with the approach of the proposed regulations. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the treatment of the section 250 deduction as giving rise to exempt income is consistent with the legislative history, which states that Congress ‘‘intends for the [section 250 deduction to] be treated as exempting the deducted income from tax.’’ See Senate Committee on Finance, Explanation of the Bill, S. Prt. 115–20 at 376 n.1210 (November 22, 2017). The approach is also consistent with the treatment under section 864(e)(3) of certain deductions allowed under sections 243 and 245(a). Accordingly, the final regulations adopt the rules PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 from the 2018 FTC proposed regulations regarding the treatment of the section 250 deduction for purposes of the exempt income and asset provisions. See § 1.861–8(d)(2)(ii)(C). One comment requested that the final regulations clarify the requirement to identify assets that produce gross income included in FDII for purposes of determining the portion of a taxpayer’s assets that are treated as exempt by reason of having FDII. In particular, the comment stated that it would be difficult to identify assets that produce FDII, and that tangible assets should be treated differently due to the exemption for qualified business asset investment (‘‘QBAI’’) under section 250(b)(2)(B). As a result, the comment recommended that FDII-related assets should not be treated as exempt assets. Alternatively, the comment recommended a formulary approach, which would take into account only basis of intangible assets that gave rise to either deduction eligible income (as defined in section 250(b)(3)) or foreign derived deduction eligible income (‘‘FDDEI’’) (as defined in section 250(b)(4)). Another comment suggested that the rule be modified to refer to assets that produce FDDEI rather than FDII. Following the issuance of the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, the Treasury Department and the IRS issued rules under section 250 providing that the determination of FDDEI requires applying §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T and 1.861–17 to allocate and apportion deductions between gross income derived from sales and services that are FDDEI (‘‘gross FDDEI’’) versus gross income that is not gross FDDEI. See proposed § 1.250(b)–1. In light of these changes, the Treasury Department and the IRS agree with the comment that proposed § 1.861–8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2) should be revised to refer to assets that produce gross FDDEI. As a result of this change, the final regulations generally do not impose any additional requirements for identifying assets that produce gross FDDEI beyond what is necessary in order to determine the amount of the section 250 deduction. In addition, the final regulations do not limit application of the exempt asset rule to intangible assets because the effect of QBAI is already taken into account in determining the amount of the section 250 deduction and therefore reduces the fraction used in § 1.861– 8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2) to determine the portion of an asset that is exempt. Under proposed § 1.861– 8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(1), the amount of income treated as exempt as a result of the section 250 deduction is the amount of gross income offset by the section 250 E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 deduction. In order to conform the exempt asset rule with respect to FDII to the exempt income rule, § 1.861– 8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2) provides that the portion of assets that produce gross FDDEI which is treated as exempt is determined by dividing the portion of the section 250 deduction relating to FDII by the taxpayer’s gross FDDEI, instead of its FDII. This recognizes that gross FDDEI, and not FDII, reflects the gross income which the section 250 deduction is effectively exempting. The final regulations will have the effect of significantly reducing the portion of assets that are exempt by reason of FDII and, therefore, the revisions address the comments that the 2018 FTC proposed regulations’ approach overstated the portion of assets that are exempt by reason of the section 250 deduction with respect to FDII. The 2018 FTC proposed regulations also confirm that earnings and profits excluded from income under section 959 (‘‘previously taxed earnings and profits’’) do not result in any portion of the stock in a CFC being treated as an exempt asset. Proposed § 1.861– 8(d)(2)(iv). One comment suggested adding the word ‘‘solely’’ to proposed § 1.861–8(d)(2)(iv) in order to clarify that stock that is not exempt by reason of earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1) or (c)(2) can nonetheless be partially exempt under other rules. The adjustment to stock value in respect of earnings and profits under section 864(e)(4) and § 1.861– 12(c)(2) precedes the application of the exempt asset rules of section 864(e)(3) and § 1.861–8(d)(2), and the determination of whether stock is exempt is unrelated to whether the value of the stock was adjusted by reference to previously taxed earnings and profits. Proposed § 1.861–8(d)(2)(iv) was merely intended to clarify existing law in order to preclude taxpayers from taking unreasonable positions inconsistent with section 864(e)(4), and the rule is clear that it is limited to precluding arguments that stock is exempt ‘‘by reason of’’ an adjustment under § 1.861–12(c)(2) for previously taxed earnings and profits. Therefore, the addition of the word ‘‘solely’’ is unnecessary, and the comment is not adopted. 2. Application to Insurance Companies in Connection With Certain Dividends and Tax-Exempt Interest One comment to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations suggested that insurance companies reduce exempt income and assets to reflect prorated amounts of dividends and tax exempt interest. See sections 805(a)(4), 807, 812, VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 and 832(b)(5)(B). This comment is addressed in Part I.A.4 of the Explanation of Provisions of the 2019 FTC proposed regulations. 3. Allocation and Apportionment of the Section 250 Deduction Proposed § 1.861–8(e)(13) and (14) provide rules for allocating and apportioning (i) the portion of the section 250 deduction for FDII and (ii) the portion of the section 250 deduction for the GILTI inclusion and the amount of the section 78 dividend attributable to foreign taxes deemed paid with respect to the GILTI inclusion. In particular, proposed § 1.861–8(e)(13) provides that the portion of the section 250 deduction for FDII is treated as definitely related and allocable to the specific class of gross income that is included in the taxpayer’s FDDEI, and that the deduction is apportioned between the statutory and residual grouping based on the FDDEI in each grouping. A comment expressed concern that, to the extent that the portion of the section 250 deduction for FDII is allocated to foreign source income, it would reduce the ability to claim foreign tax credits. The comment recommended not apportioning this portion of the deduction to FDDEI. Under sections 861 and 862, a taxpayer must determine its taxable income by deducting from gross income the deductions properly apportioned or allocated thereto. Under § 1.861–8, deductions are generally allocated and apportioned based on a factual relationship between the deductions and gross income. Because a portion of the section 250 deduction for FDII is factually related to the taxpayer’s FDDEI, under the principles of § 1.861– 8 that portion of the section 250 deduction is allocated to that income, regardless of whether the FDDEI is U.S. or foreign source. Accordingly, this comment is not adopted. 4. Allocation and Apportionment of State Income Taxes The 2018 FTC proposed regulations did not make any changes to the rules in § 1.861–8(e)(6) for allocating and apportioning state income taxes, which were finalized in 1991 (T.D. 8337). The final regulations also make no changes to these rules but remove Examples 28 through 33 in § 1.861–8(g), which apply the rules in § 1.861–8(e)(6) to fact patterns involving foreign subsidiaries, pending further study by the Treasury Department and the IRS as to whether the rules in § 1.861–8(e)(6) should be revised. See Part II.B of the Explanation of Provisions to the 2019 FTC proposed PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69025 regulations (requesting comments on § 1.861–8(e)(6)). C. Allocation and Apportionment of Interest Expense 1. Special Rule for Specified Partnership Loans The 2018 FTC proposed regulations included rules addressing the source and separate category of interest income and expense related to loans to a partnership by a U.S. person (or a member of its affiliated group) that owns an interest (directly or indirectly) in the partnership. These loans are referred to as specified partnership loans. Proposed § 1.861–9(e)(8)(vi)(C). Under proposed § 1.861–9(e)(8)(ii), the lender in these transactions is generally required to match the source and separate category of the interest income and expense by assigning the interest income to the same statutory and residual groupings from which the interest expense is deducted. The portion of the loan that corresponds to the matched income and expense is not taken into account for purposes of allocating and apportioning the lender’s remaining interest expense. Proposed § 1.861–9(e)(8)(i). The 2018 FTC proposed regulations also include antiavoidance rules to extend the application of these provisions to certain back-to-back loans or loans made through CFCs. See proposed § 1.861– 9(e)(8)(iii) and (iv). One comment suggested modifying the language in proposed § 1.861– 9(e)(8)(ii) to clarify that the rules for specified partnership loans apply solely to match existing income and expense related to the loan, and therefore the rules do not create additional gross income. The final regulations clarify the language of the 2018 FTC proposed regulations consistent with the comment. See § 1.861–9(e)(8)(ii). The same comment requested clarification with respect to the antiavoidance rule in proposed § 1.861– 9(e)(8)(iii). Proposed § 1.861–9(e)(8)(iii) provides that if instead of loaning directly to a partnership, a partner instead enters into a back-to-back loan structure through an unrelated person, then the series of loans will be recharacterized as a direct loan to the partnership if there was a principal purpose of avoiding the rules in proposed § 1.861–9(e)(8). A per se rule provides that a series of loans will be subject to the recharacterization rule without regard to the principal purpose test if the loan to the unrelated person would not have been made or maintained on substantially the same terms irrespective of the loan of funds E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69026 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations by the unrelated person to the partnership. The comment requested that the per se rule be converted to an adverse factor in determining whether a principal purpose of avoidance exists. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that a loan to an unrelated person that would not have been made or maintained on substantially the same terms if the unrelated person did not loan the funds to the partnership in which the original lender (or an affiliate of the original lender) has a direct or indirect interest is necessarily made with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules in § 1.861–9(e)(8). In addition, this rule is parallel to a similar anti-avoidance rule in § 1.861–11T(e)(3) that applies to loans between members of an affiliated group. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that a similar standard should apply in both cases. Therefore, the comment is not adopted. The comment also requested clarification with respect to the antiavoidance rule in proposed § 1.861– 9(e)(8)(iv), which provides that certain loans to a partnership held by a CFC will be treated as held directly by the U.S. shareholder of the CFC if the loan was made or transferred with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules of proposed § 1.861–9(e)(8). The comment requested further guidance as to when a CFC loan to a partnership is considered to have a principal purpose of avoidance. The final regulations do not provide further guidance on the determination of principal purpose, which is a highly factual and case specific inquiry. The comment further requested clarification as to the tax consequences that arise when the loan is deemed to be held by the U.S. shareholder under the rule, and requested an example that would illustrate the operation of these rules. The final regulations clarify the operation of § 1.861–9(e)(8)(i), which generally requires that the U.S. person that owns a direct or indirect interest in the partnership disregard a portion of the loan receivable for purposes of allocating any other interest expense of the U.S. person. Where this antiavoidance rule applies, the loan receivable is held by the CFC rather than its U.S. shareholder (which has the direct or indirect interest in the partnership), and thus merely disregarding the loan receivable would not affect the interest expense allocated by the U.S. shareholder because the relevant asset to the U.S. shareholder is the stock of the CFC that holds the loan receivable. Accordingly, the final regulations provide that appropriate adjustments are made to the value and VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 characterization of the U.S. shareholder’s stock in the CFC to reflect the amount of the loan that is disregarded under § 1.861–9(e)(8)(i). The final regulations also provide examples that illustrate the application of § 1.861–9(e)(8) in general. See § 1.861–9(e)(8)(vii). Several comments requested that the rules for specified partnership loans be expanded to cover loans made by a partnership to a partner (‘‘upstream partnership loans’’) so that the treatment of loans by partners to partnerships and vice versa would be parallel for purposes of determining the source and separate category of the associated interest income and expense. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that providing similar rules for upstream partnership loans is appropriate. Therefore, the 2019 FTC proposed regulations provide similar rules for determining the source and separate category of interest income and expense with respect to upstream partnership loans. These rules are being proposed in order to provide taxpayers an additional opportunity to comment on the rule. To better coordinate the terminology between § 1.861–9(e)(8) and the rules addressing upstream partnership loans in the 2019 FTC proposed regulations, all references in the final regulations to a specified partnership loan, or SPL, are changed to downstream partnership loan, or DPL, respectively. 3. Direct Allocation of Interest Expense for Certain Financing Companies 2. Treatment of Limited Partners Under § 1.861–9(e)(4) 4. Election To Use the Alternative Tax Book Value Method Proposed § 1.861–9(e)(4)(i) requires that limited partners and corporate general partners with less than 10 percent ownership in a partnership directly allocate their distributive share of partnership interest expense to their share of partnership gross income, which is generally treated as passive category income under proposed § 1.904–4(n)(1)(ii). One comment requested that the direct allocation rule be revised such that individuals that are partners with less than 10 percent ownership in a limited liability company or limited liability partnership be treated per se as limited partners. Whether a partner is a general partner or limited partner is determined under general partnership law principles and therefore further guidance on this issue is outside the scope of the regulations. Accordingly, the comment is not adopted. See also Part III.E of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions for changes conforming the treatment of corporate and individual general partners. One comment requested that the final regulations suspend restrictions on changing any elections under either the foreign tax credit or expense allocation rules, including any elections included in these final regulations, whether from year-to-year or a retroactive basis, for a three-year period beginning in 2018. The only election identified by the comment letter is the election to use the alternative tax book value method for apportioning interest expense. Allowing annual or retroactive changes to the decision to use the alternative tax book value method would create significant compliance concerns for taxpayers and administrability concerns for the IRS because each change in method will require adjusting asset bases and depreciation schedules to reflect the new method. Therefore, the comment is not adopted. However, the final regulations provide additional time for taxpayers to change between the sales and gross income methods for purposes of allocating and apportioning research PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 The general method to allocate and apportion interest expense, as provided in § 1.861–9T(a), is based on the principle that money is fungible and interest expense is attributable to all activities and property regardless of any specific purpose for incurring an obligation on which interest is paid. See H.R. Rep. No. 99–426, at 374 (1986) (‘‘With limited exceptions, the committee believes that it is appropriate for taxpayers to allocate and apportion interest expense on the basis that money is fungible.’’). The 2018 FTC proposed regulations do not alter this approach. However, one comment requested that a finance company that borrowed money to fund loans to customers should be permitted to directly allocate the expense to the extent of interest income from the financing activity. The comment does not identify any reasons why debt of a financing company cannot be used to fund income of the entire group (either directly through the proceeds or by freeing up capital elsewhere in the group). To the extent the financing entity is a ‘‘financial corporation,’’ the rules in § 1.861– 11T(d)(4) allow for separate treatment of income of financial corporations versus nonfinancial corporations. Therefore, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that an exception to the general rule of fungibility for finance companies is unwarranted. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 and experimental (‘‘R&E’’) expenditures. See Part II.D. of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions. 5. Valuation of Assets for Purposes of Apportioning Interest Expense In general, under the tax book value method or alternative tax book value method of interest apportionment, a taxpayer must determine the value of its assets based on an average of the tax book value of the asset at the beginning and end of the year. See proposed § 1.861–9(g)(2)(i)(A). Before the TCJA, taxpayers could elect to use the fair market value method, which required a determination of the fair market value of the asset as of the last day of the year. However, the fair market value method was repealed as part of the TJCA. See section 864(e)(2). In order to provide transitional relief with respect to the TJCA’s repeal of the fair market value method, proposed § 1.861–9(g)(2)(i)(A) provides that for the first taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, a taxpayer that had been using the fair market value method may choose to determine asset values using an average of the end of the first quarter and the year-end values of its assets, provided that all the members of an affiliated group (as defined in § 1.861–11T(d)) make the same choice and no substantial distortion would result. One comment requested that for a given asset, taxpayers be permitted to average the prior taxable year’s end of year fair market value with the current year-end value, which would be based on tax book value. This approach, however, would be inconsistent with the repeal of the fair market value method for interest apportionment as part of the TCJA. Furthermore, because the fair market value and tax book value methods rely on different methodologies, this approach could lead to a substantial distortion. Therefore, the comment is not adopted. Another comment requested either that taxpayers be permitted to rely solely on the year-end tax book value of assets (and thus not requiring averaging) or that taxpayers electing to use first quarter values be permitted to do so without the earnings adjustment under § 1.861–12(c)(2)(i)(A) when the asset being valued is stock in a 10 percent owned corporation. The comment argues that this is necessary because otherwise taxpayers would have to determine the amount of the earnings adjustment at the end of the taxpayer’s first quarter, which would be burdensome to comply with. However, the regulations already provide that taxpayers do not need to determine the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 earnings adjustment described in § 1.861–12(c)(2)(i)(A) as of the end of the first quarter. Under proposed § 1.861–9(g)(2)(ii)(B), with respect to stock in a 10 percent owned corporation, the tax book value of the stock at the end of the first quarter is determined before the adjustment required by § 1.861–12(c)(2)(i)(A), and a single earnings and profits adjustment is made based on the earnings and profits determined as of the end of the taxable year. This rule is maintained in the final regulations. 6. Clarification of Application of the Asset Method Under § 1.861–9T(g) Section 1.861–9T(g) provides rules for purposes of allocating and apportioning interest expense of a CFC under the asset method, which also apply to characterize the stock of a first-tier CFC under § 1.861–12 for purposes of allocating and apportioning expenses of the CFC’s U.S. shareholders. Under the rules in § 1.861–12, the adjusted basis of the stock of the first-tier CFC is adjusted by the earnings and profits of the CFC and other lower-tier foreign corporations owned by the CFC. One comment requested that the asset method under § 1.861–9T(g) be clarified to confirm that when applying § 1.861– 9 at the level of a CFC, the rules in § 1.861–12 apply for purposes of characterizing stock owned directly and indirectly by the CFC, and that such rules apply for all operative sections, not just section 904. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that in applying the asset method at the level of a CFC (including for purposes of characterizing CFC stock in applying section 904 as the operative section), the CFC must apply the rules in § 1.861– 12(c) with respect to any lower-tier CFCs. For example, a CFC applying the asset method must make basis adjustments to reflect earnings and profits of lower-tier corporations when valuing and characterizing the assets of the CFC. Otherwise, the value of the lower-tier corporations would be underor over-represented in characterizing the assets of the CFC. Furthermore, any lower-tier CFCs must also apply the same rules, starting with the lowest-tier CFC and moving up. Therefore, the final regulations provide in § 1.861–9(g)(4) that § 1.861– 12 applies to characterize lower-tier stock in the hands of a CFC. Consistent with the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, § 1.861–12(a) clarifies that the rules of that section apply for all operative sections and are not limited to section 904. PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69027 7. Treatment of Tested Income in Allocating and Apportioning Interest Expense of a CFC Under the Modified Gross Income Method Section 1.861–9T(j)(2) provides rules for purposes of allocating and apportioning interest expense of a CFC under the modified gross income method, which also apply to characterize the stock of a first-tier CFC under § 1.861–12 for purposes of allocating and apportioning expenses of the CFC’s U.S. shareholders. In general, § 1.861–9T(j)(2) requires each CFC in a chain of ownership, beginning with the lowest-tier CFC, to allocate and apportion its interest expense and then tier up its income (net of interest expense) to the next-highest CFC in the chain, which then allocates and apportions its interest expense. Under proposed § 1.861–9(j)(2)(ii), gross tested income (net of interest expense) of a lower-tier corporation does not tier up to a higher-tier corporation, which is consistent with how the rules applied to subpart F income before the TCJA. One comment recommended that the regulations be revised to allow uppertier CFCs to take into account gross tested income (net of interest expense) of lower-tier CFCs, noting that this would be consistent with the groupbased approach of section 951A, would minimize differences between the modified gross income method and the asset method in § 1.861–9T(g), and would eliminate distortions that could arise in the case of an upper-tier holding company. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree with the comment, and therefore § 1.861–9(j)(2)(ii) eliminates the rule that excludes gross tested income from tiering up to higher-tier corporations for purposes of allocating and apportioning interest expense of the CFC. Additionally, modifications were made to § 1.861–13(c)(3) (Example 3) to reflect this change. 8. Characterization of Stock of Certain Foreign Corporations Under Proposed §§ 1.861–12(c)(3) and 1.861–13 Proposed § 1.861–12(c)(3) provides rules for characterizing the stock of a CFC for purposes of allocating and apportioning expenses under an asset method. If the operative section is not section 904, the stock of a CFC is characterized under either the asset method or the modified gross income method. Proposed § 1.861–12(c)(3)(i)(A). Where section 904 is the operative section, proposed § 1.861–13 applies to characterize the stock of the CFC as producing foreign source income in the separate categories or as producing U.S. source income. Proposed § 1.861– E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69028 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations 12(c)(3)(i)(B). Under proposed § 1.861– 13(a)(1), the stock of the CFC is first characterized according to the described statutory groupings under the asset method or the modified gross income method. If the CFC owns stock in a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation, the assets or income of the foreign corporation is assigned to a gross subpart F income grouping to the extent the income of the foreign corporation, when distributed to the CFC, would be gross subpart F income of the CFC. The stock of the CFC is then assigned to the section 951A category, a treaty category, or other separate category under subsequent steps. The stock of the CFC may be assigned, in whole or in part, to the section 951A category if the CFC has gross tested income, even if the CFC has a tested loss. See proposed § 1.861– 13(a)(2). One comment requested that proposed § 1.861–13 provide that stock of a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation owned by a CFC is instead assigned to the groupings for specified foreign source general category income or specified foreign source passive category income (as described in proposed § 1.861–13(a)(1)(i)(A)(9)). The comment notes this would be appropriate because proposed § 1.861– 13 characterizes stock based on the income to which the stock gives rise, and a distribution by a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation to a CFC should be eligible for the dividends received deduction in section 245A (the ‘‘section 245A deduction’’) under § 1.952–2. As noted in Part III.B of the Explanation of Provisions to the temporary regulations under section 245A, the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to address issues related to the application of § 1.952–2, taking into account various comments received in connection with the TCJA (including in connection with regulations issued under section 951A), in a future guidance project. See T.D. 9865; 84 FR 28405. This guidance will clarify that, in general, any provision that is expressly limited in its application to domestic corporations does not apply to CFCs by reason of § 1.952–2. The Treasury Department and the IRS continue to study whether, and to what extent, proposed regulations should be issued that provide that dividends received by a CFC are eligible for a section 245A deduction notwithstanding the fact that the deduction is only available to domestic corporations. Given that no proposed regulations have been issued, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that it is appropriate to VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 continue to characterize the stock of a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation as giving rise to subpart F income, and accordingly, the comment is not adopted. Any changes that may be necessary to § 1.861–13 if proposed regulations under section 245A are issued providing that dividends received by a CFC are eligible for a section 245A deduction will be considered as part of that guidance. Another comment suggested that the gross income and assets of tested loss CFCs should be exempt from the expense apportionment rules due to the existence of special rules for tested loss CFCs in the context of calculating GILTI, including the disallowance of any foreign tax credits related to the tested loss under section 960(d)(3). Section 864(e)(2) requires that interest expense be apportioned on the basis of the adjusted bases of assets. Whether or not a CFC is profitable does not change the fact that a taxpayer’s borrowings can fund the operations of the CFC. In addition, a CFC may be highly valuable (and have a large and positive amount of accumulated earnings and profits) even if it happens to be in a loss position for a particular year. Exempting the assets of tested loss CFCs would also result in distortive incentives whereby a CFC with a small amount of tested income would have an incentive to shift into a tested loss in order to have the entire value of the CFC be excluded for purposes of interest expense apportionment. Finally, the special treatment of tested losses in the determination of the GILTI inclusion is already accounted for by reducing the value of the stock of any CFC that is assigned to the section 951A category based on the inclusion percentage. See § 1.861–13(a)(2). Accordingly, this comment is not adopted. Finally, the final regulations clarify in § 1.861–13(a)(1)(i) and (ii) that for purposes of characterizing the stock of a CFC in the various statutory groupings, the U.S. shareholder of the CFC must use the same method (either the asset method or modified gross income method) that the CFC uses to apportion its interest expense. This is consistent with the rule in existence before the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, which is still reflected in § 1.861–12(c)(3)(i)(A). 9. Assets Funded by Disallowed Interest Under § 1.861–12T(f)(1), to the extent that interest expense is capitalized, deferred, or disallowed, the adjusted basis of an asset connected to the interest expense is reduced to account for the interest that was capitalized, deferred, or disallowed. One comment PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 suggested a revision to clarify, and narrow, the scope of this rule. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that this rule should be clarified and have proposed changes in the 2019 FTC proposed regulations. D. Allocation and Apportionment of Research and Experimental Expenditures Proposed § 1.861–17 provides a onetime exception to the five-year binding election period by allowing taxpayers to switch between the sales method and gross income method in the first taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017. This exception is finalized without change. Comments requested revisions to the approach for allocating and apportioning R&D expenditures under § 1.861–17, which the 2018 FTC proposed regulations do not otherwise modify. These comments are discussed in the 2019 FTC proposed regulations, which propose changes to the application of the sales method and allow taxpayers that are on the sales method to rely on those changes for taxable years before the proposed rulemaking is in effect. In order to give taxpayers an additional opportunity after the 2019 FTC proposed regulations have been issued to switch to the sales method, the final regulations provide that taxpayers may change to the sales method up to their last taxable year that begins before January 1, 2020, without the prior consent of the Commissioner. E. Section 904(b)(4) Section 904(b)(4) makes certain adjustments to both the taxpayer’s foreign source taxable income and the taxpayer’s entire taxable income for purposes of computing the applicable foreign tax credit limitation, based on the foreign-source portion (as defined in section 245A(c)) of any dividend from a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation (as defined in section 245A(b)) and the deductions allocated and apportioned to, in general, income with respect to stock of the foreign corporation that will generally be eligible for a section 245A deduction or the stock of the foreign corporation that gives rise to that income. Proposed § 1.904(b)–3(c)(1) and (2) provide rules for determining what amount of the stock of the foreign corporation gives rise to income that, if distributed, is generally eligible for a section 245A deduction. The rules subdivide a portion of the value of the stock into a section 245A subgroup and a nonsection 245A subgroup within each separate category. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations One comment requested that the regulations clarify the treatment of stock basis of a CFC that is associated with a hybrid instrument when the stock would give rise to dividends for which a deduction is disallowed under section 245A(e), and suggested that the amount of the basis of that stock should be assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup. Under proposed § 1.861–13(a)(5), stock is assigned to a section 245A subgroup without regard to whether a dividend paid (either in the current or future year) with respect to the stock may actually qualify for a section 245A deduction (for example, the deduction could be disallowed due to section 245A(e) or section 246(c)). The Treasury Department and the IRS considered a rule that would assign a portion of stock to a section 245A subgroup only if the earnings and profits reflected in the stock’s value were allowed (or would be allowed in the future) a section 245A deduction. However, taxpayers generally could not know in a current year whether a distribution of the current earnings and profits would be allowed a section 245A deduction in a future year, and a rule requiring taxpayers to recalculate their section 245A subgroups through amended returns would create compliance burdens for taxpayers and administrative burdens for the IRS. Therefore, the final regulations retain the rules in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, which determine the amount of stock in a section 245A subgroup without regard to whether a section 245A deduction is or would be allowed with respect to dividends paid with respect to the stock. The comment also suggested that stock associated with hybrid instruments owned directly by a U.S. shareholder should be assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup due to a concern that the value of stock assigned to a section 245A subgroup would be excluded for purposes of valuing the stock under the beginning- and end-ofyear averaging rule in § 1.861–9(g)(2). However, neither § 1.861–13(a)(5) nor § 1.904(b)–3 provides that stock assigned to the section 245A subgroup is excluded. Instead, deductions allocated and apportioned to stock assigned to the section 245A subgroup are added back to the numerator and denominator determined under section 904(a). Therefore, contrary to the comment, the assignment of stock to the section 245A subgroup (as opposed to the non-section 245A subgroup) does not impact the calculation of the total value of stock under the beginning- and end-of-year averaging rule in § 1.861– VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 9(g)(2). Thus, the comment is not adopted. Another comment recommended that proposed § 1.904(b)–3 be amended to provide that the treatment of deductions allocated and apportioned to the section 245A subgroup not be added back to entire taxable income for purposes of applying section 904(a) to section 951A category income. The comment is not adopted. Section 904(b)(4) is clear that deductions described in that provision are disregarded for purposes of ‘‘entire taxable income,’’ which means that the computation under section 904(a) (which describes a fraction, the denominator of which is ‘‘entire taxable income’’) with respect to all separate categories, including the section 951A category, are affected by deductions allocated and apportioned to the section 245A subgroup. However, the amount of income in the section 951A category (the numerator of the section 904(a) fraction when section 904(a) applies to that category) is not affected by deductions allocated and apportioned to the section 245A subgroups of other separate categories. III. Foreign Tax Credit Limitation Under Section 904 A. Transition Rules Accounting for New Separate Categories 1. Carryovers and Carrybacks of Unused Foreign Taxes Under Section 904(c) The 2018 FTC proposed regulations provide transition rules for assigning carryforwards of unused foreign taxes paid or accrued, or deemed paid or accrued, in pre-2018 taxable years to post-2017 separate categories, which include new categories for section 951A category income and foreign branch category income. Proposed § 1.904– 2(j)(1)(ii) provides that if unused foreign taxes paid or accrued or deemed paid with respect to a separate category of income are carried forward to a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, those taxes are allocated to the same post-2017 separate category as the pre2018 separate category from which the unused foreign taxes are carried. Proposed § 1.904–2(j)(1)(iii) provides an exception that permits taxpayers to assign unused foreign taxes in the pre2018 separate category for general category income to the post-2017 separate category for foreign branch category income to the extent they would have been assigned to that separate category if the taxes had been paid or accrued in a post-2017 taxable year. Any remaining unused taxes are assigned to the post-2017 separate category for general category income. PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69029 Several comments requested a simplified rule for assigning a portion of the pre-2018 unused foreign taxes to the post-2017 separate category for foreign branch category income. One comment recommended a simplified rule under which unused foreign taxes are assigned to the foreign branch category in the same proportions as foreign taxes paid or accrued by the taxpayer’s foreign branches in the relevant pre-2018 year bear to all foreign taxes paid or accrued by the taxpayer in that year. Another comment recommended a simplified rule that assigns the pre-2018 unused foreign taxes to the post-2017 separate categories by reference to a single year. Another comment recommended either allowing taxpayers to allocate pre-2018 unused foreign taxes freely between the post-2017 separate categories for general category income and foreign branch category income, or in the alternative, using any reasonable method. Finally, one comment recommended that if the reconstruction option is maintained in the final regulations that it be simplified by not requiring taxpayers to reconstruct disregarded payments between a branch and its owner. After considering the comments, the Treasury Department and the IRS agree that a simplified safe harbor option with respect to the reconstruction option should be provided. Section 1.904– 2(j)(1)(iii)(B) provides a safe harbor that allocates unused foreign taxes from a particular pre-2017 taxable year to the post-2018 separate category for foreign branch category income based on a ratio equal to the amount of foreign income taxes that were paid or accrued by the taxpayer’s foreign branches divided by the amount of all foreign income taxes assigned to the general category that were paid or accrued, or deemed paid by the taxpayer with respect to the taxable year. The Treasury Department and the IRS adopt this recommendation because it combines administrative convenience, a low potential for manipulation, and a reasonable approximation of a full reconstruction. Furthermore, in light of the addition of a safe harbor option, no changes are made to the requirements for reconstruction if the safe harbor option is not chosen. Taxpayers that do not choose the safe harbor must determine the unused foreign taxes with respect to foreign branch category income as if that separate category (and thus, all the rules in § 1.904–4(f)) had applied in the year the taxes were paid or accrued. Another comment requested that when applying the reconstruction option, the final regulations provide that for purposes of determining whether excess credits relate to direct or indirect E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69030 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations foreign taxes, taxpayers may treat indirect credits as having been used first. However, under the reconstruction option, taxpayers must allocate unused foreign taxes by applying the rules for foreign branch category income to the origin year and determining the amount of taxes that would have been unused foreign taxes and would have been allocated to foreign branch category income had the foreign branch category applied for that year. Because deemed paid taxes can never relate to the foreign branch category, no deemed paid taxes will be treated as giving rise to unused foreign taxes that would have been allocated to foreign branch category income. Therefore, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that no special rules are needed. See § 1.904–2(j)(1)(iii). Another comment requested that taxpayers be allowed to apply the general category exception in proposed § 1.904–2(j)(1)(iii) to post-2017 tax years on a year-by-year basis, rather than to all post-2017 tax years. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the use of different methods in different years could result in inconsistent allocations of the same foreign tax credit carryovers and create significant complexity for taxpayers and the IRS. Accordingly the comment is not adopted. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 2. Separate Limitation Losses, Overall Foreign Losses, Overall Domestic Losses, and Net Operating Loss Carryforwards Proposed § 1.904(f)–12(j) generally provides that any separate limitation loss (‘‘SLL’’) or overall foreign loss (‘‘OFL’’) accounts in a pre-2018 separate category remain in the same post-2017 separate category. However, to the extent there are any unused foreign taxes with respect to the pre-2018 separate category for general category income that are allocated between the post-2017 separate categories for general category income and foreign branch category income, then any SLL or OFL account in the pre-2018 separate category for general category income is allocated to those post-2017 separate categories in the same proportion that the unused foreign taxes were allocated. Similar rules were provided in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations with respect to the recapture of SLLs or overall domestic losses (each an ‘‘ODL’’) that reduced income in a separate category in a pre-2018 taxable year, as well as for foreign losses that are part of a net operating loss that is incurred in a pre2018 taxable year and carried forward to post-2017 taxable years. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 One comment suggested that it was not clear that the allocation of losses should follow the allocation of unused foreign taxes, and that it was inflexible not to allow an allocation of losses with respect to the pre-2018 separate category for general category income between the post-2017 separate categories for general category income and branch category income when there were no unused foreign taxes with respect to that category to be allocated. The comment suggested that a true reconstruction of the losses would be too complex, but requested that the Treasury Department and the IRS consider some other unspecified approach that was independent from the allocation of unused foreign taxes. Another comment on the same issue requested that the Treasury Department and the IRS allow taxpayers to elect to reconstruct the losses. In other words, this approach would allow taxpayers to allocate a portion of loss accounts with respect to the pre-2018 separate category for general category income to the post2017 separate category for foreign branch category income to the extent they were attributable to losses that either related to, or offset, pre-2018 general category income that would have been foreign branch category income if recognized in a post-2017 taxable year, regardless of the taxpayer’s treatment of unused foreign taxes. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that additional options should be added under the transition rules for loss accounts that relate to the pre-2018 separate category for general category income. Accordingly, § 1.904(f)–12(j)(2) provides that a SLL or OFL account incurred in the pre-2018 separate category for general category income by default remains in the general category, but that the taxpayer may choose to reconstruct how much of the loss account would have been in the foreign branch category had that category been in effect before 2018. As an alternative to reconstruction, a safe harbor provides that the taxpayer may instead recapture the pre-2018 loss account by recharacterizing the first available income in the post-2017 separate category for either general category income or foreign branch category income. To the extent the income in both separate categories available for recapture exceeds the balance in the loss account, the loss account is recaptured proportionately from each separate category. An ordering rule provides that the balance in a pre-2018 loss account is recaptured before any post-2017 additions to the account. This safe harbor follows similar transition PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 rules provided in § 1.904(f)–12(a) for pre-1987 loss accounts. Similarly, § 1.904(f)–12(j)(3) provides that an SLL or OFL that reduced pre2018 general category income is by default recaptured in post-2018 years as general category income, but that a taxpayer may choose to reconstruct how much of the balance in the loss account would have offset foreign branch category income had that separate category applied in the year the loss was incurred, and recapture that amount in post-2017 taxable years as income in the foreign branch category. As an alternative to reconstruction, the final regulations retain the rule in proposed § 1.904(f)–12(j)(3)(ii) as a safe harbor, which provides that the taxpayer may instead recapture the balance in the loss account in subsequent taxable years ratably as income in the taxpayer’s post2017 separate categories for general category and foreign branch category income based on the proportion in which any unused foreign taxes in the pre-2018 separate category for general category income are allocated under the transition rules in § 1.904–2(j)(1)(iii)(A) or (B). Section 1.904(f)–12(j)(4) provides that foreign losses that are part of general category net operating losses incurred in pre-2018 taxable years which are carried forward to post-2017 taxable years are by default treated as general category net operating losses, but that the taxpayer may choose to reconstruct how much of that loss would have been attributable to the foreign branch category had that separate category applied in the year the net operating loss arose. As an alternative to reconstruction, a safe harbor provides that the taxpayer may instead choose to treat the net operating loss carryforward as attributable to the general category and foreign branch category to the extent of any general category income and foreign branch category income, respectively, that is available in the year to be offset by the net operating loss carryforward (the carryforward year). To the extent the net operating loss carryforward offsets any other income in the carryforward year, it is treated as attributable to the general category. If the sum of taxpayer’s general category income and foreign branch category income in the carryforward year exceeds the amount of the net operating loss carryforward, then the amount of each type of separate category income that is offset by the net operating loss carryforward, and therefore the separate category treatment of the net operating loss carryforward, is determined on a proportionate basis. An ordering rule provides that a pre-2018 general E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations category net operating loss is applied before any post-2017 general category net operating loss. Finally, § 1.904(f)–12(j)(5) sets forth a coordination rule that provides that for purposes of applying the transition rules for unused foreign taxes or any of the rules for loss accounts, the choice whether to default to the general category or to reconstruct must be made consistently in all cases. However, if the taxpayer chooses to reconstruct, the choice to apply a safe harbor may be made independently under each set of transition rules. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 B. Foreign Branch Category Income 1. Policy Considerations Comments recommended that the final regulations, or preamble to the final regulations, include a discussion of the tax policy considerations relevant to proposed § 1.904–4(f). In general, proposed § 1.904–4(f) defines the term foreign branch category income, which affects both the limitation on foreign tax credits under section 904 and the deduction for FDII under section 250(a)(1)(A). Under section 904(d)(2)(J), foreign branch income is defined as the business profits attributable to one or more QBUs in one or more foreign countries, with the amount of business profits attributable to a QBU determined under rules established by the Secretary. Accordingly, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations provide guidance regarding the attribution of profits to a foreign branch. The legislative history to the TCJA does not discuss the attribution of business profits to a QBU. In drafting the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, the Treasury Department and the IRS balanced various policy objectives, including: Attributing gross income to a foreign branch in a manner that is commensurate with its business activities; administrability for taxpayers and the IRS; conformity with local country tax law; and giving effect to the policies of sections 250(b)(3)(A)(i)(VI) and 904(d)(1)(B), which limit, respectively, the deduction under section 250 and the allowance of a credit under section 901 by reference to the amount of business profits attributable to a QBU. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the 2018 FTC proposed regulations’ approach to attributing gross income to a foreign branch strikes the appropriate balance among those goals. In general, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations attribute gross income by reference to the books and records maintained with respect to a foreign branch, subject to certain VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 adjustments (including adjustments to reflect Federal income tax principles). Proposed § 1.904–4(f)(2)(i). Reliance on a foreign branch’s books and records promotes administrability for both taxpayers and the IRS. In addition, gross income reflected on the books and records of a foreign branch generally reflects payments for economic activity of that foreign branch, such that the proposed regulations’ approach is broadly consistent with the policy of attributing gross income based on the relative economic activity of a foreign branch. Furthermore, the rule will promote conformity between the income attributed to a foreign branch under § 1.904–4(f) and the income subject to tax in the foreign jurisdiction. To further those policies, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations also give effect to payments made in connection with certain transactions that are disregarded for Federal income tax purposes (such payments, ‘‘disregarded payments’’). Proposed § 1.904– 4(f)(2)(vi). These payments are generally reflected on the books and records of a foreign branch, represent compensation for economic activity performed by or for a foreign branch, and are frequently given effect for foreign income tax purposes. Accordingly, giving effect to those transactions generally aligns with the policies furthered by the general rule for attributing gross income to a foreign branch. For additional discussion regarding the policies and rules relating to disregarded payments, see Part III.B.2 of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions. 2. Disregarded Payments i. In General Several comments were received regarding proposed § 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi), under which gross income attributable to a foreign branch that is not passive category income must be adjusted to reflect disregarded payments between a foreign branch and its foreign branch owner, and between foreign branches (the ‘‘disregarded payment rule’’). Some comments expressed support for the rule, while others indicated that they believed that proposed § 1.904–4(f) would be more administrable without the disregarded payment rule. As described in Part III.B.1 of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the disregarded payment rule furthers the various policies related to the attribution of gross income to a foreign branch. The disregarded payment rules are designed to utilize information that PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69031 is already available to taxpayers, making the rule more administrable. Taking disregarded payments into account will also give effect to the economic activity of a foreign branch (or a foreign branch owner) while reducing mismatches between the amount of gross income attributable to a foreign branch and the foreign tax base. Accordingly, the final regulations retain the disregarded payment rule, subject to the modifications described in this Part III.B.2 of the Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions. ii. Source and Character of Income Allocated in Connection With Disregarded Payments Comments recommended that the character and source of gross income that is reattributed under the disregarded payment rule be determined by reference to the disregarded transaction giving rise to the reattribution. For example, if a foreign branch owner earned $50 of U.S. source royalty income, and made a $50 disregarded payment to its foreign branch for services performed that if regarded would be allocable to the royalty income under the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, the proposed regulations would attribute $50 of U.S. source royalty income to the foreign branch. Because attributing U.S. source royalty income to the foreign branch would not increase the taxpayer’s limitation under section 904(d)(2)(B) (the foreign branch category), the comments recommended that the source and character of the reattributed gross income be determined by reference to the disregarded payment, such that the $50 of U.S. source royalty income would be converted to foreign source services income, potentially increasing the creditability of taxes attributable to the foreign branch (including taxes imposed by reason of the disregarded transaction). The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that it would be inappropriate to issue rules under section 904 converting the source and character, as opposed to the separate category, of a taxpayer’s gross income. Generally, section 904(d) and the regulations under § 1.904–4(f) provide rules regarding the separate application of section 904 with respect to certain categories of regarded gross income of a taxpayer. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that section 904 does not provide for the redetermination of the character or source of a taxpayer’s gross income. Converting U.S. source income to foreign source income would also be inconsistent with the purpose of section E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69032 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 904, which is to ensure that the foreign taxes may not be used as a credit against U.S. tax on U.S. source income. Finally, rules allowing taxpayers to increase foreign source income through transactions with foreign branches would be prone to significant manipulation. Accordingly, the final regulations do not include special rules for determining the source and character of gross income that is reattributed under the disregarded payment rule. Similarly, the final regulations clarify that § 1.904–4(f) does not affect the analysis of whether an amount of gross income can be resourced under an applicable bilateral tax treaty. Such analysis is based solely on the treaty text and related authorities. iii. Netting of Disregarded Payments Comments recommended that disregarded payments be netted before determining the amount of gross income attributable to a foreign branch and its owner. For example, under a netting rule, if a foreign branch made a $100 disregarded payment to its foreign branch owner, and the foreign branch owner made an $85 disregarded payment to the foreign branch during the same year, no more than $15 of the gross income reflected on the books and records of the foreign branch would be attributed to the foreign branch owner, regardless of the factual relationship between the two payments. Similarly, if a foreign branch owner made a $50 disregarded payment to one branch, and received a $50 disregarded payment from a second branch, none of the gross income reflected on the books and records of the second foreign branch would be attributed to its owner and none of the gross income earned by the foreign branch owner would be attributed to the first foreign branch. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that disregarded payments should not be netted before making adjustments under the disregarded payment rule. As described in Part III.B.2.ii of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions, the disregarded payment rule affects only the separate category of gross income, and not the source or character of a taxpayer’s gross income. Accordingly, when a disregarded payment is made between a foreign branch owner and a foreign branch, the payment must be allocated to gross income of the payor to determine the source and character of the amount that is reattributed. When there is an increase to the amount of gross income attributable to a foreign branch, for example, there must be a corresponding decrease to income of the foreign branch VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 owner with the same source and character. Moreover, the disregarded payment rule only affects the assignment of gross income in the foreign branch category and the general category, or a specified separate category that is associated with the foreign branch or general categories. Passive income, for example, is always excluded from the foreign branch category. Thus, to the extent that a disregarded payment from a foreign branch owner to a foreign branch would be allocable to passive income of the foreign branch owner, there can be no adjustment as a result of that payment to the taxpayer’s gross income in the passive category, even though the amount of passive category income that is attributable to the foreign branch (and the foreign branch owner) may change. Netting disregarded payments would distort these rules by preventing the disregarded payment rule from accurately identifying the source and character of gross income that is attributable to the foreign branch and its owner, respectively. For example, if a foreign branch earned $100 of foreign source royalty income that was initially attributable to the foreign branch, and made a $90 disregarded payment to its foreign branch owner that if regarded would be allocable to that foreign source royalty income, only $10 of that foreign source royalty income should be treated as foreign branch category income. Under a netting rule, however, a $90 disregarded payment by the foreign branch owner to that foreign branch (or another foreign branch of the foreign branch owner) that would be allocable to U.S. source passive category income of the foreign branch owner would offset the payment, such that U.S. source passive category income that could not increase foreign branch category income itself would effectively increase foreign branch category income, by increasing the non-passive foreign source royalty income attributable to a foreign branch. Accordingly, to prevent this and similarly arbitrary outcomes under the disregarded payment rule, the final regulations do not include a rule netting disregarded payments between a foreign branch owner and its foreign branches. A comment further recommended that disregarded payments between foreign branches should be disregarded, and stated that taking those transactions into account added administrative complexity to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations without changing the categorization of any item of gross income as foreign branch category income. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that this PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 comment is incorrect, and the final regulations retain the 2018 FTC proposed regulations’ rules regarding transactions between foreign branches. The items of gross income attributable to a particular foreign branch vary based on the nature of the disregarded transaction, which could include multiple back-to-back disregarded payments between foreign branches and the foreign branch owner; further, the amount, character, and source of gross income allocable to a particular foreign branch may vary, and knowing which gross income items are attributable to a particular foreign branch is necessary to determine the amount, character, and source of gross income that is attributed to a foreign branch or the foreign branch owner as the result of a particular disregarded payment. The final regulations clarify this point, including through clarifications to the ordering rule in § 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi)(F), and a new example illustrating the effects of transactions between foreign branches. See § 1.904–4(f)(4)(xi) (Example 11). However, the final regulations also clarify that in the case where there is no disregarded payment between the foreign branch and foreign branch owner, disregarded payments between foreign branches have no effect. See § 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi)(A). iv. Interest and Other Financial Transactions Under the proposed regulations, the disregarded payment rules do not apply to disregarded payments of interest or interest equivalents (‘‘disregarded interest payments’’). See proposed § 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi)(C)(1). The preamble to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations stated that, like remittances from a foreign branch or contributions to a foreign branch, disregarded interest payments reflect a shift of, or return on, capital. Several comments disagreed with that statement, arguing that disregarded interest payments reflect business profits with respect to the payee, particularly with respect to the financial services industry. Comments also indicated that distinguishing among different types of disregarded payments based on their character presented administrative challenges. Finally, a comment noted that failing to reattribute gross income on the basis of disregarded interest payments resulted in incongruities between the gross income attributed to a foreign branch for section 904 purposes and the gross income subject to tax under foreign law. The final regulations adopt the 2018 FTC proposed regulations’ approach to disregarded interest payments. The Treasury Department and the IRS have E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 determined that a general rule reattributing gross income by reference to disregarded interest payments would be inappropriate. As one comment noted, reattributing gross income by reference to disregarded interest payments, but not by reference to remittances and contributions, would allow taxpayers to ‘‘strip’’ the foreign branch category, potentially resulting in manipulation of the limitations in sections 250(b)(3)(A)(i)(VI) and 904(d)(1)(B). Similarly, a taxpayer seeking to increase foreign branch category income could instead borrow money from the foreign branch and shift income from the general category through disregarded interest payments made to the foreign branch. However, as described in Part III.B.4.iii of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions, the Treasury Department and the IRS are considering future guidance providing special rules for certain financial institutions, including rules that would provide for adjustments to the attribution of gross income by reference to disregarded interest payments. v. Disregarded Transfers of Intangible Property Proposed § 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi)(D) (the ‘‘intangible property rule’’) requires the use of section 367(d) principles to impute payments, over time, for certain transfers of intangible property in a disregarded transaction. Comments requested that the intangible property rule be withdrawn, either in whole or in part (for example, by limiting the application of the rule to transfers from a foreign branch owner to a foreign branch). The comments argued that (i) there is no compelling policy rationale for the intangible property rule; (ii) the intangible property rule undermines a legislative objective of the TCJA, which was to achieve neutrality as to whether to locate intellectual property in a domestic corporation or its foreign subsidiary; (iii) the anti-abuse rule in § 1.904–4(f)(2)(v) is sufficient to prevent abusive tax-avoidance through disregarded remittances or contributions; (iv) the absence of a similar rule for tangible property or money evidences the lack of a need for a special rule for certain intangible property; (v) the intangible property rule would result in mismatches between the gross income attributable to a foreign branch and the gross income of the foreign branch for foreign tax purposes; and (vi) the rule would present administrative and compliance challenges. Certain comments acknowledged that the intangible property rule may be theoretically VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 accurate, but argued that the compliance burdens that the rule posed outweighed its benefits. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that retaining the intangible property rule is appropriate, and that it should apply to any disregarded transfer between a foreign branch owner and a foreign branch, as well as to transfers between foreign branches. While the intangible property rule may increase compliance burdens and increase the disparity between the gross income attributable to a foreign branch and the gross income taxable by a foreign country, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that those concerns are outweighed by the benefits derived from the rule. In general, § 1.904– 4(f)(2)(vi)(A) adjusts the attribution of gross income when disregarded payments are made between a foreign branch and a foreign branch owner, or between foreign branches. Disregarded remittances or contributions, however, do not result in the reattribution of gross income. Section 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi)(C)(2) and (3). Accordingly, when a disregarded transaction with a foreign branch may be structured as either a remittance or contribution, on the one hand, or as a sale, exchange, or license, on the other hand, the amount of gross income attributed to a foreign branch could be manipulated. This concern is heightened when the property in question is highly mobile and highly valuable, as is generally true of intangible property (and less frequently true of tangible property). In light of the higher risk of manipulation for transfers of intangible property, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the anti-abuse rule in § 1.904–4(f)(2)(v) does not sufficiently protect against manipulation, necessitating the more specific and mechanical intangible property rule. The Treasury Department and the IRS have, however, modified the intangible property rule in response to comments. First, comments recommended that the intangible property rule be limited to disregarded transfers occurring after the enactment of the TCJA, after the date on which the proposed regulations were issued, or after the date on which the final regulations become effective. In response to these comments, the final regulations provide that the intangible property rule does not apply to transfers that occurred before December 7, 2018 (the date on which the proposed regulations were published). Section 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi)(D)(2). The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that limiting the application of the intangible property rule to PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69033 transfers occurring on or after the date on which the rule was proposed strikes the appropriate balance between providing taxpayers with sufficient notice regarding the intangible property rule, on the one hand, and preventing manipulation of the amount of gross income attributable to a foreign branch, on the other hand. Second, several comments indicated that the intangible property rule inappropriately captures transient ownership of intangible property that was neither developed nor exploited by the foreign branch (or foreign branch owner) before a transfer. For example, several comments suggested that the intangible property rule would apply to certain repatriations of intangible property from a foreign subsidiary that elected to be treated as a disregarded entity (within the meaning of § 1.904– 4(f)(3)(iv)), and immediately thereafter distributed intangible property to its U.S. owner. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the potential distortions that the intangible property rule addresses generally are not implicated in the situation described in the comments. Accordingly, the final regulations adopt the recommendation. Specifically, the final regulations provide that the intangible property rule does not apply to transfers by a foreign branch or foreign branch owner that owns the intangible property transitorily, subject to certain limitations. See § 1.904– 4(f)(2)(vi)(D)(3)(i) through (iii). For this purpose, whether or not a foreign branch owner that is a transferor of intangible property is treated as satisfying the transitory ownership requirements is determined by reference to both the foreign branch owner transferor and any predecessor to the foreign branch owner. See § 1.904– 4(f)(2)(vi)(D)(3)(iv). Finally, comments requested additional guidance and examples illustrating the application of section 367(d) principles in the context of a remittance of intangible property from a foreign branch to the foreign branch owner. In response to the comments, the final regulations specify that if a foreign branch remits property described in section 367(d)(4) to its foreign branch owner, the foreign branch is treated as having sold the transferred property to the foreign branch owner in exchange for annual payments contingent on the productivity or use of the property, the amount of which are determined under the principles of section 367(d) and the regulations under that section. The final regulations also include an example illustrating the application of the intangible property rule to a remittance E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69034 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 of intangible property from a foreign branch to a foreign branch owner. See § 1.904–4(f)(4)(xii) (Example 12). The final regulations do not address comments regarding the operation of section 367(d), which are outside of the scope of the final regulations. vi. Special Rule for Certain Disregarded Payments A comment recommended that the final regulations clarify that disregarded payments that would be capitalized into amortizable or depreciable basis may produce adjustments under § 1.904– 4(f)(2)(vi) in the year or years that the amortization or depreciation deductions would be allowed if those payments had been regarded. The final regulations adopt this recommendation. See §§ 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi)(B)(1) (specifically including disregarded cost recovery deductions, such as depreciation and amortization, in the disregarded payment allocation rules) and 1.904– 4(f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) (clarifying the timing of those reattributions). The final regulations also provide additional guidance regarding certain disregarded payments that would, if regarded, not be deductible, including guidance regarding disregarded sales of property that reattribute gross income when basis would be recovered other than through depreciation, amortization, or other disregarded cost recovery deductions. Under these rules, for example, a foreign branch owner’s sale of property with a zero basis to its foreign branch for $100, followed by a sale by the foreign branch of that property to a third party for $110, would generally result in $110 of income that is reflected on the books and records of a foreign branch. The final regulations clarify that, in this example, $100 of gross income must be attributed to the foreign branch owner. Specifically, the foreign branch would be treated as having an adjusted disregarded basis in the property of $100, resulting in $10 of gain from the sale of the property being attributed to the foreign branch, and $100 of adjusted disregarded gain being attributed to its foreign branch owner. See § 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi)(B)(2) (concerning disregarded sales of property). Attributions of income under this rule are adjusted to the extent that the basis would otherwise have been recovered by the transferee (for example, through a disregarded cost recovery deduction). See § 1.904–4(f)(3)(i) (defining adjusted disregarded basis). vii. Certain Disregarded Transactions The 2018 FTC proposed regulations provide for certain adjustments to the amount of gross income that would VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 otherwise be attributed to a foreign branch under proposed § 1.904– 4(f)(2)(i). For example, gross income attributable to a foreign branch generally does not include gain attributable to a sale of stock by the foreign branch. See proposed § 1.904–4(f)(2)(iii). The final regulations clarify that consistent adjustments must be made when attributing income under the disregarded payment rule. See § 1.904– 4(f)(2)(vi)(C)(4). Thus, for example, a disregarded payment from a foreign branch owner to its foreign branch with respect to a disregarded sale of stock from the foreign branch to the foreign branch owner would not result in adjustments to the attribution of gross income between the foreign branch owner and the foreign branch. 3. Foreign Branch Definition i. Trade or Business Requirement The proposed regulations define a foreign branch by reference to the definition of a QBU in § 1.989(a)– 1(b)(2)(ii) and (b)(3), which require that the branch maintain a separate set of books and records with respect to its activities and conduct of a trade or business outside of the United States (among other things). For this purpose, the trade or business standard described in § 1.989(a)–1(c) applies, subject to certain modifications. See proposed § 1.904–4(f)(3)(iii). The proposed regulations provide that activities conducted outside the United States that constitute a permanent establishment under the terms of an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the activities are carried out are presumed to constitute a trade or business conducted outside the United States for purposes of determining whether the activities meet the trade or business standard of the foreign branch definition. A comment indicated that it is not clear when activities that constitute a permanent establishment should ever be treated as failing to satisfy this requirement. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that, consistent with the policy of promoting conformity between the gross income attributable to a foreign branch and the gross income subject to tax in a foreign jurisdiction, no exception to this rule is warranted. Accordingly, the final regulations provide that activities conducted outside the United States that constitute a permanent establishment under the terms of an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the activities are carried out constitute a PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 trade or business conducted outside the United States for purposes of determining whether the activities meet the trade or business standard of the foreign branch definition, and do not adopt the presumption rule in the proposed regulations. § 1.904– 4(f)(3)(vii)(B). ii. Separate Set of Books and Records The proposed regulations include a special rule treating a partnership as maintaining a separate set of books and records with respect to the activities of a foreign trade or business, whether or not a separate set of books and records was actually maintained. See proposed § 1.904–4(f)(3)(iii)(C)(2). Thus, for example, a foreign branch exists when a partnership records on a single set of books income from a trade or business conducted outside the United States and also income earned from unrelated investment activity. The proposed regulations deem the partnership to maintain a separate set of books and records with respect to the trade or business conducted outside the United States, and the taxpayer must determine, as the context requires, the items that would be reflected on such books and records. Id. A comment recommended that the final regulations provide additional guidance regarding the attribution of income items to any deemed set of books and records. In particular, the comment recommended that the principles of sections 864(c)(2), (c)(4), and (c)(5) should apply in constructing any deemed books and records in a manner analogous to the approach taken under the dual consolidated loss regulations with respect to genuine branches (although the comment recommended that the rule apply whether the QBU was a genuine branch or was held in a disregarded entity). See § 1.1503(d)–5(c)(2)(i). The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that, when a foreign branch does not have a separate set of books and records, the regulations should include a standard to construct hypothetical books and records. Accordingly, the final regulations adopt the recommendation. See § 1.904–4(f)(3)(vii)(C)(2). 4. Other Comments and Revisions i. Attribution of Gain or Loss on Disposition of a Foreign Branch To the extent that gross income (as adjusted to conform to Federal income tax principles) is reflected on the books and records of a foreign branch, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations generally treat the income as attributable to a foreign branch. Thus, E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations for example, gain from the sale of an asset held by a foreign branch that is reflected on the books and records of the foreign branch is generally attributable to the foreign branch under proposed § 1.904–4(f)(2)(i). Similarly, gain from the sale of all of the assets of a foreign branch would, to the extent reflected on the books and records of the foreign branch, generally be attributable to the foreign branch. By contrast, when a foreign branch owner sells its interests in a disregarded entity through which it operates a foreign branch, and the gain or loss is not reflected on the books and records of a foreign branch, the income would not generally be attributable to the foreign branch under proposed § 1.904–4(f)(2)(i). Furthermore, the regulations provide a special rule providing that gross income from the disposition of an interest in a partnership or other pass-through entity, or an interest in a disregarded entity, generally is not included in the foreign branch category. See proposed § 1.904– 4(f)(2)(iv)(A). Comments recommended that gain or loss from the disposition of a foreign branch be treated as attributable to a foreign branch whether or not the gain or loss is reflected on the books and records of a foreign branch, including the disposition of a foreign branch held through a disregarded entity. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the rules for attributing gain from the sale of an interest in a foreign branch in the proposed regulations are appropriate. In general, the proposed regulations’ treatment of the disposition of a foreign branch promotes conformity with local country taxation. Gain on the sale of assets properly reflected on the books of a foreign branch will generally be included in the taxable income of the foreign branch in its local country, and will generally reflect income associated with the trade or business activities of the foreign branch. In contrast, a foreign branch owner’s sale of an entity that includes a foreign branch will not be reflected on the books of the foreign branch being sold, and will generally not give rise to local country tax on the transferred entity. Furthermore, proposed § 1.904–4(f)(2)(i), which relies on the books and records of a foreign branch, sets forth a rule that is administrable for taxpayers and the IRS. In the case of a sale by a foreign branch of another entity that includes a foreign branch, the sale generally reflects gain that is not associated with the selling branch’s trade or business activities, except when there is a sufficiently close business connection between the selling branch and the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 entity being sold. As described in Part III.B.4.ii of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions, the proposed and final regulations include an exception that allows gain or loss on the sale of another entity to be included in foreign branch category income when that connection exists. The exception to this rule in proposed § 1.904–4(f)(2)(iv)(A) (excluding the disposition of certain interests reflected on the books and records of a foreign branch), appropriately prevents gain from the sale of interests unrelated to the trade or business conducted by a foreign branch from being treated as the ‘‘business profits’’ of the foreign branch. Accordingly, the final regulations adopt the rules set forth in the proposed regulations, subject to the modifications described in Part III.B.4.ii of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions. ii. Ordinary Course of Business Exception The proposed regulations provide that the disposition of an interest in a partnership or other pass-through entity is treated as occurring in the ordinary course of the foreign branch’s active trade or business to the extent that the foreign branch ‘‘engages in the same or a related trade or business as the partnership or other pass-through entity (other than through a less than 10 percent interest)’’ (the ‘‘same or related trade or business rule’’). Proposed § 1.904–4(f)(2)(iv)(B). A comment suggested that the reference to a ‘‘10 percent interest’’ in the same or related trade or business rule is unclear. To address the comment, the final regulations clarify that the same or related trade or business rule applies only when the foreign branch owns 10 percent or more of the interests in the partnership or other pass-through entity, and the foreign branch directly engages in the same, or a related, trade or business as that partnership or other pass-through entity. iii. Comments Outside the Scope of the Final Regulation; Future Guidance Several comments to proposed § 1.904–4(f) were received that are outside the scope of this rulemaking, including: Comments related to the allocation of expenses to foreign branch category income; comments relating to the trade or business and books and records standards of § 1.989(a)–1(c) and (d); comments relating to the interaction of § 1.1502–13 with § 1.904–4(f); comments relating to the operation of section 367(d); and comments relating to the application of the step transaction doctrine. These comments are not PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69035 addressed in this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions, but may be considered in future guidance projects addressing the issues discussed in the comments. In particular, the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to issue future guidance coordinating the allocation and apportionment of expenses with the determination of foreign branch category income. In particular, the Treasury Department and the IRS are considering proposing rules applicable to regulated financial institutions regarding the allocation of interest expense to foreign branch category income. Under one approach, interest expense on demand deposits of a foreign banking branch would be directly allocated to foreign branch category income that is denominated in the same currency. Interest expense with respect to U.S. dollar-denominated demand deposits could similarly be directly allocated to interest income earned on U.S. dollar-denominated assets. Assets and liabilities would then be adjusted and residual interest expense would be allocated fungibly under the generally-applicable rules. This approach would take account of the fact that regulated financial institutions typically invest foreign currency-denominated deposits in interest-bearing assets denominated in the same currency, in part because interest rates vary across different currencies and this practice is more likely to yield a predictable return. Under another approach, interest expense would be allocated to the foreign branch category using an approach similar to the rules applicable to foreign corporations that are engaged in the conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Generally, those rules provide for the allocation of interest expense by reference to the liabilities reflected on the books and records of a branch, and make adjustments to the amount of interest expense allocable to a branch by reference to the leverage ratio of the taxpayer as a whole. See generally § 1.882–5. Under this approach to allocating interest expense to foreign branch category income, it is anticipated that the amount of interest expense allocated to the foreign branch category would take into account both regarded and disregarded transactions reflected on the books and records of the foreign branch. Furthermore, in connection with this approach, disregarded interest payments would be subject to the general disregarded payment rule, resulting in adjustments to the attribution of gross income by reason of disregarded interest payments. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69036 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 The Treasury Department and the IRS also recognize that the existing expense allocation rules, including with respect to R&E expenditures, depreciation, or losses, when applied to allocate and apportion expenses to gross income that has been reattributed under the disregarded payment rule in § 1.904– 4(f)(2)(vi), may lead to results that are inconsistent with the policy goal of identifying income attributable to the foreign branch that is commensurate with its business activities. The Treasury Department and the IRS are studying whether additional rules for allocating and apportioning expenses to foreign branch category income or limiting the amount of the adjustments to the attribution of gross income as a result of certain disregarded payments are appropriate. The Treasury Department and the IRS welcome comments on issues relating to allocation and apportionment of expenses to the foreign branch category. Comments on this topic should be submitted as part of the notice and comment process for the 2019 FTC proposed regulations. See Part I.A.5 of the Explanation of Provisions to the 2019 FTC proposed regulations. C. Section 951A and Passive Category Income Proposed § 1.904–4(g) generally provides that section 951A category income means amounts included in the gross income of a United States person (‘‘U.S. person’’) under section 951A(a), but does not include passive category income. See also section 904(d)(1)(A). Additionally, proposed § 1.904–4(c)(1) provides that passive income that is considered to be high-taxed income under section 904(d)(2)(B)(iii)(II) (‘‘the section 904 high-tax kickout’’) is treated as general category income, foreign branch category income, section 951A category income, or income in a specified separate category, depending on the application of the general rules in § 1.904–4. One comment suggested that the regulations should provide that income included under section 951A is never assigned to the passive category. The comment also suggested that passive category income that qualifies for the section 904 high-tax kickout should never be assigned to the section 951A category. The comment assumed that all passive category income earned by a CFC was necessarily foreign personal holding company income and therefore could never be included under section 951A. The Treasury Department and the IRS note that although it is generally unlikely that passive category income would be included under section 951A, VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 nothing in section 904 eliminates this possibility. To the contrary, the parenthetical in section 904(d)(1)(A) contemplates that all or part of a GILTI inclusion could be passive category income by expressly excluding passive category income from the section 951A category. Further, to the extent that income included under section 951A is excluded from passive category income under the section 904 high-tax kickout, it is appropriate under the rules of section 904(d) and § 1.904–4 that the income be reclassified as section 951A category income rather than income in another separate category. The section 904 high-tax kickout does not specify the category to which high-taxed income is assigned; it merely specifies that the high-taxed income is not passive category income. Therefore, the comment is not adopted. Additionally, under section 904(c) as amended by the TCJA, unused foreign taxes with respect to section 951A category income may not be carried back or carried forward. Proposed § 1.904–2(a) incorporated this statutory change into the regulations. One comment recommended that unused foreign taxes with respect to section 951A category income should be eligible to be carried back or carried forward. However, because the statutory language of section 904(c) is clear, the comment is not adopted. D. Items Resourced Under Treaties The 2018 FTC proposed regulations include rules regarding section 904(d)(6), which applies when a taxpayer elects the benefits of a treaty obligation to resource an item of income. Proposed § 1.904–4(k)(2) adopts a grouping methodology for purposes of section 904(d)(6) whereby the relevant portions of sections 904, 907, and 960 apply separately to the aggregate amount of items of income that are in a single separate category and resourced under a particular treaty rather than separately to each item resourced under the treaty. The proposed regulations also provide that § 1.904–6 applies to allocate foreign income taxes to a separate category determined under section 904(d)(6). The preamble to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations requested comments on whether special rules should apply to limit the taxes allocated to a separate category determined under section 904(d)(6) to taxes imposed by the foreign jurisdiction that was a party to the relevant treaty, or whether taxes imposed by a third-party jurisdiction should continue to be allocated to the separate category determined under section 904(d)(6). PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 One comment addressed the issue of foreign taxes imposed by third-party jurisdictions, noting that any rule that allocated such taxes away from the income on which it was imposed under § 1.904–6 would be a departure from the framework of the foreign tax credit regime, which generally aims to attribute foreign taxes to the income to which they relate. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree with the comment, and therefore the final regulations reaffirm that taxes imposed by a third-party jurisdiction should continue to be allocated to the separate category determined under section 904(d)(6) or 865(h). See § 1.904– 4(k)(1)(iii) and (k)(2). Another comment recommended that the final regulations apply the approach under section 904(d)(6) to income resourced under section 865(h). The comment indicated that there was no compelling reason why similar grouping rules should not also be extended to income subject to section 865(h). The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that consistent application of the similar rules in sections 865(h) and 904(d)(6) that assign items of income resourced under a treaty to a separate category is appropriate. Accordingly, the final regulations provide that, with respect to gains described in section 865(h)(2)(A), the provisions of section 904(a), (b), (c), (d), (f), and (g), and sections 907 and 960 are applied separately with respect to each treaty under which the taxpayer has claimed benefits and, within each treaty, to each separate category of income. See § 1.904–4(k)(2). Therefore, if a taxpayer recognizes gain described in section 865(h)(2)(A) from multiple sales and other U.S. source income that is resourced and subject to section 904(d)(6), the gains and other income are all passive category income, and the gains and other income are resourced under the same treaty, then the aggregate amount of the resourced gains are included in a single section 865(h) separate category for passive category income resourced under a tax treaty, and the other passive income is included in a single section 904(d)(6) separate category for passive category income resourced under a tax treaty. In addition, the high-taxed income rules of section 904(d) (including the grouping rules in § 1.904–4(c)) apply separately to the items of income included in each separate category for passive category income resourced under a particular tax treaty. E. Distributive Shares of Partnership Income Under former § 1.904–5(h) (as in effect before the final regulations) and E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations proposed § 1.904–4(n), a partner’s distributive share of partnership income is characterized as passive income to the extent that the distributive share is a share of income earned or accrued by the partnership in the passive category. However, this rule does not apply to any limited partner or corporate general partner that owns less than 10 percent of the value in a partnership. Instead, that partner’s entire distributive share of partnership income is assigned to the passive category. The preamble to the proposed regulations requested comments on whether this rule should be modified. One comment stated that, if a general partner is a CFC, its distributive share should be characterized on a look-through basis by referencing the income earned or accrued by the partnership, regardless of whether the CFC owns 10 percent of the value in a partnership, and that consideration should be given to making this rule elective. The comment also suggested considering a look-through approach for all corporate general partners that own less than 10 percent of the partnership. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that in the case of corporate general partners in a partnership, the corporation’s distributive share of income of the partnership should be characterized based on the income of the partnership regardless of the corporate partner’s ownership threshold. The rule in former § 1.904– 5(h) assigning income of a less than 10percent partner to the passive category reflected the concern that partners would have difficulty obtaining information from the partnership in order to determine the partnership’s income. However, the comment states that corporate general partners are generally able to obtain information to determine their distributive shares of the partnership’s income. In addition, with respect to CFCs, section 951A requires the CFC to determine whether each item of partnership income is tested income, subpart F income, or excluded from tested income under section 951A(c)(2)(A)(i)(I) through (V) regardless of the CFC’s ownership percentage in the partnership. Furthermore, with respect to individuals, the prior final regulations at § 1.904–5(h)(1) already provided that general partners with less than 10 percent ownership in the partnership apply a look-through approach. Therefore, there is minimal administrative benefit to assigning all of a less-than-10-percent corporate general partner’s income to the passive category rather than following the general rule VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 that assigns the distributive share based on the income of the partnership. Therefore, § 1.904–4(n)(1)(ii) provides that all general partners apply the general rule even if the partner owns less than 10 percent of the partnership. The same change is made to the expense allocation rules under § 1.861–9(e)(4), which provides rules for assigning partnership interest expense in the case of a less-than-10-percent limited partner or corporate general partner. F. Look-Through Rules 1. Section 951A Category The proposed regulations generally provide that the look-through rules under section 904(d)(3) provide lookthrough treatment solely with respect to payments allocable to the passive category. See proposed § 1.904–5. Other payments described in section 904(d)(3) are assigned to a separate category other than the passive category based on the general rules in § 1.904–4. Proposed § 1.904–5(b)(1). Accordingly, dividends, interest, rents, or royalties paid from a CFC to a U.S. shareholder are not assigned to the section 951A category, because only amounts included in the gross income of a U.S. shareholder under section 951A (and the related gross-up amount for foreign taxes deemed paid) are assigned to the section 951A category. Comments requested that § 1.904–4 be revised to provide that the look-through rules under section 904(d)(3) apply to characterize interest, rents, and royalties paid by a CFC to a U.S. shareholder as income in the section 951A category. However, section 904(d)(3) provides that look-through payments not allocable to passive category income are not treated as passive category income, but does not assign the income to a particular category. Section 904(d)(1) generally defines the separate categories, and section 904(d)(1)(A) is clear that only amounts includible in gross income under section 951A are assigned to the section 951A category. Accordingly, under the clear terms of the statute, look-through payments cannot give rise to section 951A category income and must be assigned to other separate categories, such as the foreign branch category (if described in section 904(d)(1)(B)), a separate category for income described in section 901(j) or income resourced under a tax treaty, or the general category. Therefore, the comment is not adopted. 2. Treatment of Interest Deductions That Are Disallowed Proposed § 1.861–9(c)(5) provides that if a taxpayer’s deduction for business PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69037 interest expense is disallowed under section 163(j) in a given year but permitted in a future taxable year, that the deduction for the business interest expense is apportioned under the rules of § 1.861–9 as though it were incurred in the year in which the expense is deductible. This is consistent with the existing general rule in § 1.861–9T(c) that in order for interest expense to be allocated and apportioned, the expense must be currently deductible. See also § 1.861–9T(c)(3) (applying the same rule to interest deductions deferred under section 163(d)). One comment requested guidance on how to apply the look-through rules, which require allocating and apportioning interest expense under § 1.861–9 in order to match the interest with gross income of the payor, when the interest expense is not allowed as a deduction at the CFC level. The comment noted that the disallowance at the CFC level does not defer a recipient income inclusion that must be assigned to a separate category. In response to the comment, the final regulations provide in § 1.904–5(c)(2)(i) that the allocation and apportionment rule described in § 1.904–5(c)(2)(ii) is applied in the year the interest income is taken into account even if the interest expense is not actually deductible by the CFC in that year. G. Allocation and Apportionment of Foreign Taxes Proposed § 1.904–6(a) provides rules for the allocation and apportionment of taxes to the separate categories of income. Consistent with section 904(d)(2)(H)(i), proposed § 1.904– 6(a)(1)(iv) provides that foreign taxes imposed with respect to base differences are assigned to the separate category in section 904(d)(1)(B), which is the foreign branch category. Comments stated that Congress had inadvertently failed to revise the cross-reference in section 904(d)(2)(H)(i) and that the regulations should assign taxes associated with base differences to the general category, or should provide a rule assigning the taxes to the general category or the foreign branch category depending on the types of income that the taxpayer earns. Because the statute is clear that taxes associated with base differences are assigned solely to the foreign branch category, the final regulations confirm that such taxes are assigned to the category specified in section 904(d)(2)(H)(i). Several comments to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations requested additional guidance clarifying the allocation and apportionment of foreign income taxes under § 1.904–6. These E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69038 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 rules apply not only for purposes of assigning taxes to separate categories, but also apply under § 1.960–1(d) for purposes of associating foreign income taxes with income groups and PTEP groups in determining the amount of deemed paid credits under section 960. In particular, the comments requested additional rules clarifying the meaning of base and timing differences as well as new examples, and rules on assigning taxes incurred with respect to disregarded payments, and clarification on how those rules interact with the foreign branch category rules. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that proposed § 1.904– 6(a)(1)(iv) generally reflects the appropriate principles regarding what constitutes a base or timing difference, but agree that additional guidance regarding how those principles apply in specific fact patterns is warranted. In order to provide final rules for taxpayers to apply, while also providing an additional opportunity for taxpayers to comment on the new additional guidance, the final regulations finalize the rules in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations in § 1.904–6(a)(1)(iv). New rules relating to the allocation and apportionment of foreign income taxes are contained in the 2019 FTC proposed regulations. H. Separate Limitation Loss and Overall Foreign Loss Rules Under Section 904(f) Other than a provision coordinating the application of the adjustments in proposed § 1.904(b)–3 with the ordering rules for allocation and recapture of losses, including SLLs and OFLs, see proposed § 1.904(b)–3(d), the 2018 FTC proposed regulations did not make any changes to the rules governing SLLs and OFLs. However, a number of comments requested changes to the application of those rules with respect to the section 951A category. One comment recommended that income in the section 951A category be excluded for purposes of the OFL recapture rule in § 1.904(f)–2(c)(1), which generally provides that the OFL recapture amount in a separate category is the lesser of the maximum recapture amount in that category (the lesser of the OFL account balance or income in that category) or 50 percent of total foreign source income. The comment suggested that for most taxpayers, GILTI inclusions will significantly exceed foreign source income in other separate categories and as a result the foreign source income in those other separate categories will always be fully subject to the recapture rule, up to the amount of the OFL account balance in that category. Comments also recommended VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 that the final regulations provide that the separate limitation loss rules under section 904(f)(5) do not apply with respect to the section 951A category, that the ODL rules in section 904(g) do not apply to reduce income in the section 951A category, and that foreign tax credits assigned to the section 951A category that are not allowed by reason of a separate limitation loss or ODL ‘‘hover’’ until the loss is recaptured, at which time the ‘‘hovering’’ foreign tax credits would be allowed. The current OFL recapture rule reflects the intended application of section 904(f)(1) as expressed in legislative history from 1986. In addition, section 904(f)(5) and (g) are clear that foreign source losses must be allocated to foreign source income in other separate categories before reducing U.S. source income and that ODLs reduce foreign source income in each separate category and must be recaptured out of income in those categories. The TCJA did not modify the operation of section 904(f) or (g) with respect to the section 951A category, nor is there any indication in the TCJA or legislative history that Congress intended the rules under section 904(f) and (g) to apply differently to section 951A category income as compared to other separate categories. In addition, no authority is provided in section 904 to allow taxes assigned to the section 951A category that accrue in one year to be deferred and claimed as a credit in a future year. Such a rule would be inconsistent with sections 901 and 905(a), which allow a foreign tax credit only when the foreign tax is paid or accrued (or deemed paid), and section 904(c) which, as amended by the TCJA, explicitly provides that foreign income taxes assigned to the section 951A category that are not credited in the current year cannot be carried to different taxable years. Accordingly, the comments are not adopted. I. Overall Foreign Loss Recapture on Property Dispositions The 2012 OFL proposed regulations revise the ordering rules under § 1.904(g)–3 that generally provide for the coordination of section 904(f) and (g) to include specific references for taking into account OFL recapture on property dispositions under section 904(f)(3). In the case of dispositions in which gain is recognized irrespective of section 904(f)(3), the proposed regulations provide that the OFL recapture is included in Step Five along with other general OFL recapture. In the case of dispositions in which gain would not otherwise be recognized on a disposition, the 2012 OFL proposed PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 regulations add a new Step Eight to those ordering rules to address the recognition of the additional income under section 904(f)(3) and the corresponding recapture of the applicable OFL account. New Step Eight also provides that if the additional recognition of gain increases the allowable amount of the net operating loss deduction, then the recapture of the OFL account occurs first before the additional net operating loss carryover is taken into account to offset all or a portion of that gain. Step Eight did not address the case where additional recognition of gain reduces the amount of a current year net operating loss. The final regulations revise the new Step Eight to provide that the allocation rules for additional net operating loss carryovers apply similarly to reductions in current year net operating losses, because both cases involve loss offsetting the additional recognized gain. One comment was received with respect to the 2012 OFL proposed regulations, which recommended addressing dispositions that result in additional income recognition under branch loss recapture and dual consolidated loss recapture rules. The 2019 FTC proposed regulations provide a new Step Nine addressing branch loss recapture and dual consolidated loss recapture amounts. The new Step Nine is being proposed in order to provide taxpayers an additional opportunity to comment on the rule. IV. Translation of Foreign Income Taxes and Foreign Tax Redeterminations A. Currency Translation Rules 1. Relevant Taxable Year and Definition of the Term ‘‘Two Years’’ The 2007 temporary regulations provide currency translation rules to reflect the statutory changes made to sections 905(c) and 986(a) by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105–34, 111 Stat. 788 (1997)) and to section 986(a) by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108–357, 118 Stat. 1418 (2004)). Consistent with section 986(a)(1)(A), § 1.905–3T(b)(1)(i) of the 2007 temporary regulations generally provides that accrued foreign income taxes are translated into dollars at the average exchange rate for the taxable year to which such taxes relate. The 2007 temporary regulations also provide, consistent with section 986(a), several exceptions to this rule, including that, under section 986(a)(1)(B), the exchange rate on the date the taxes are paid is used to translate accrued foreign income taxes E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations that are paid before, or more than two years after the close of, the taxable year to which the taxes relate. Section 905(c)(1)(B) also provides that, if accrued taxes are not paid before the date two years after the close of the taxable year to which such taxes relate, the taxpayer must notify the IRS and redetermine its U.S. tax liability for the year or years in which it claimed a credit for such taxes. Consistent with sections 905(c)(1)(B) and 986(a)(1)(A), § 1.905–3T(b)(1)(ii) and (c) of the 2007 temporary regulations use the term ‘‘two years,’’ raising the issue of whether the term refers to two taxable years or two calendar years (that is, 24 months). The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that a short taxable year, such as could result from a restructuring or other event, should not reduce the period within which a taxpayer can pay an accrued tax without triggering a foreign tax redetermination and thereby requiring the tax to be translated into dollars at the exchange rate on the date of payment. Accordingly, the final regulations at §§ 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(i) and (c) and 1.905–3(a) use the term ‘‘24 months’’ instead of the term ‘‘two years.’’ See also § 1.905–3(b)(1)(ii)(E) (Example 5). The relevant taxable year of a partner or beneficiary that is legally liable for foreign income tax on a distributive share of income is the partner’s or beneficiary’s taxable year. On the other hand, in the case of a partnership that has legal liability under foreign law for foreign income tax and that uses a different U.S. taxable year than its partners who take their distributive shares of the partnership’s tax into account under section 901(b)(5) and § 1.702–1(a)(6), the rules under § 1.905– 3T(b)(1)(i) of the 2007 temporary regulations does not specify whether the taxable year of the partnership or of the partner is the relevant ‘‘taxable year to which such taxes relate’’ for purposes of determining the applicable exchange rate, including whether the tax is denominated in inflationary currency, as well as whether the tax is paid within two years. A similar issue may arise with respect to a beneficiary of a trust who takes into account a distributive share of foreign income taxes paid by the trust. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the relevant taxable year is that of the person, including a partnership or trust, that has legal liability for the tax within the meaning of § 1.901–2(f) (the ‘‘section 901 taxpayer’’). Measuring the period with reference to the taxable year of a partnership or trust that is the section VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 901 taxpayer is simpler and more administrable than a rule that would vary the applicable translation convention and determine whether a foreign tax has been redetermined by reference to the taxable year of each partner or beneficiary. It will also generally conform the average exchange rate translation convention used to translate the taxes with the translation rate used to translate the income out of which the tax is paid by using the same taxable year to determine the average rate for both purposes. See section 989(b)(4). Accordingly, the final regulations at § 1.986(a)–1(a)(1) and (2) clarify that the relevant taxable year to which the tax relates is that of the person that is considered to pay the tax under § 1.901–2(f). 2. Definition of Inflationary Currency Under section 986(a)(1)(C) and section 986(a)(2), a foreign tax liability denominated in an inflationary currency (as determined under regulations) is translated into dollars at the exchange rate on the date of payment of the foreign tax. Section 1.905–3T(b)(1)(ii)(C) of the 2007 temporary regulations defines an inflationary currency as the currency of a country in which there is cumulative inflation of at least 30 percent during the 36-month base period immediately preceding the last day of the taxable year. The 2007 temporary regulations do not address which year or years are relevant to determining whether a currency in which a foreign tax liability is denominated is inflationary. The purpose of the payment date translation rule for tax denominated in inflationary currency is to more accurately reflect the dollar cost of satisfying a foreign tax liability when the currency experiences significant inflation between the time the tax accrues and the date the tax is paid, including when the average exchange rate would otherwise apply because the tax is paid within 24 months of the close of the taxable year to which the tax relates. To avoid overstating the dollar cost of the foreign tax liability, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that it is appropriate to translate a foreign tax liability into dollars at the spot rate (as defined in § 1.988–1(d)) on the date of payment of the foreign taxes if the taxes are denominated in a currency that is inflationary in the accrual year or in any subsequent taxable year up to and including the taxable year of the section 901 taxpayer in which the tax is paid. See § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iii). The final regulations also reflect editorial changes to the definition of an PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69039 inflationary currency that adopt the principles of § 1.985–1(b)(2)(ii)(D) as modified by cross-reference instead of restating the method described in that paragraph. No substantive change to the computation was intended as a result of this rephrasing of the rule. 3. Year-End Translation Rate Section 1.905–3T(b)(1)(ii)(C) and (D) of the 2007 temporary regulations and § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iii) and (a)(2)(iv)(A) of the final regulations provide that, in the case of accrued taxes, the liability for which is denominated in an inflationary currency, or in the case of a taxpayer that elects to translate accrued taxes into dollars using the spot rate as of the date of payment, any accrued but unpaid taxes are translated into dollars at the spot rate on the last day of the U.S. taxable year to which such taxes relate. If the currency is not inflationary in the accrual year, but is inflationary when paid, under the general rule of § 1.986(a)–1(a)(1) of the final regulations, the tax will be provisionally translated into dollars at the average rate for the year of accrual. In each of these cases, when the taxes are subsequently paid they are translated into dollars at the spot rate on the date of payment. If this amount differs from the provisional year-end rate or average rate initially used to assign a dollar value to the credit, the later payment of the tax will constitute a foreign tax redetermination requiring an adjustment to reflect the difference between the accrued amount and the actual dollar cost of paying the tax. See § 1.905–3T(c) of the 2007 temporary regulations and § 1.905–3(a) of the final regulations for the definition of a foreign tax redetermination. The final regulations at § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iii) and (iv) include a cross reference to § 1.905–3 to clarify that there generally will be a foreign tax redetermination when the accrued tax is subsequently paid, which may result in a U.S. tax redetermination. The 2007 temporary regulations effectively require that two returns be filed in the case of accrued taxes subject to § 1.905–3T(b)(1)(ii)(C) (inflationary currency) or (D) (spot rate election) that accrue in one taxable year and are paid in the next taxable year before the return for the accrual year has been filed: First, the original return on which the accrued but unpaid taxes are translated at the provisional year-end rate, and, second, an amended return, filed after such taxes are paid, on which such taxes are translated at the rate on the date of payment. To minimize compliance burdens for taxpayers, the final regulations at § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iii) and (iv) provide that taxpayers may translate E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69040 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 accrued but unpaid taxes (including foreign taxes deemed paid under section 960) into dollars using the spot rate on the date of payment, in lieu of the provisional year-end rate, on the original return for the year for which the credit is claimed if such taxes are paid before the due date (with extensions) of such original return and such return is timely filed. 4. Election To Translate Accrued Taxes Using the Rate on the Date of Payment Section 1.905–3T(b)(1)(ii)(D) of the 2007 temporary regulations provides that, pursuant to section 986(a)(1)(D), a taxpayer that otherwise would be required to translate foreign taxes using the average exchange rate may elect to translate all foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency using the exchange rate as of the date of payment (spot rate election). Although using the spot rate on the date of payment most accurately reflects the dollar cost of paying the foreign income tax, the 2007 temporary regulations reflect the view that taxpayers should not be permitted to use hindsight to select the more favorable of the spot rate or average exchange rate conventions to translate nonfunctional currency taxes on a QBU-by-QBU basis. Rather, in addition to a spot rate election for all of a taxpayer’s nonfunctional currency foreign income taxes, the 2007 temporary regulations also permit an election to use the spot rate to translate less than all of a taxpayer’s nonfunctional currency foreign income taxes, but only in situations that would reduce compliance burdens or avoid a mismatch between the exchange rates used to translate creditable foreign taxes and the same nonfunctional currency amount of income used to pay the tax. As noted in the preamble to the 2007 temporary regulations, such a mismatch may occur in the case of a QBU that has a dollar functional currency (dollar QBU) if the average exchange rate is used to translate nonfunctional currency tax that is paid out of nonfunctional currency income earned by the dollar QBU, because in that case income from transactions involving foreign currency are accounted for using the spot rate on a transaction-by-transaction basis. Accordingly, § 1.905–3T(b)(1)(ii)(D) of the 2007 temporary regulations provides that a taxpayer may make a spot rate election for all foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency, or for only those foreign income taxes that are denominated in nonfunctional currency and are attributable to dollar QBUs. Section 1.905–3T(b)(1)(ii)(D) of the 2007 temporary regulations refers only VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 to a ‘‘taxpayer’’ and not also to a section 902 corporation (a qualified group member described in section 909(d)(5) before its repeal in the TCJA), raising a question whether a foreign corporation with a U.S. shareholder eligible to compute deemed paid taxes should be considered a separate ‘‘taxpayer’’ that is eligible to make the spot rate election. To address this issue, the final regulations at § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iv)(A) and (B) provide that the taxpayer for purposes of making the spot rate election under section 986(a)(1)(D) is any individual or corporation, and revise the references to section 902 corporations to reflect the repeal of sections 902 and 909(d)(5). Accordingly, a foreign corporation that is a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation may elect separately from any of its U.S. shareholders to translate either all of the foreign corporation’s foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency, or only those nonfunctional currency taxes of the foreign corporation’s dollar QBUs, using the spot rate on the date of payment. Section 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iv)(B) of the final regulations also clarifies that a spot rate election by a U.S. shareholder does not further require that the shareholder’s foreign subsidiaries make a spot rate election. Section 986(a)(1)(D)(i) provides that a spot rate election is available only for foreign taxes denominated in a taxpayer’s nonfunctional currency. The final regulations clarify at § 1.986(a)– 1(a)(2)(iv)(A) that whether a tax that is attributable to a QBU of a taxpayer is denominated in nonfunctional currency is determined by reference to the functional currency of the taxpayer (which includes a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation), and not that of the QBU. Accordingly, taxes denominated in a QBU’s functional currency that is a nonfunctional currency of the taxpayer are considered nonfunctional currency taxes for purposes of these rules. The final regulations at § 1.986(a)– 1(a)(2)(iv)(B) also confirm that, in the case of a taxpayer (including a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation) that makes the spot rate election only with respect to nonfunctional currency taxes that are attributable to dollar QBUs, the election must be made for all of the taxpayer’s dollar QBUs and cannot be made separately for each dollar QBU. Finally, the final regulations clarify that foreign tax is attributable to a dollar QBU for purposes of these rules if it is properly recorded on the books and records of the QBU in accordance with the regulations under sections 985 through PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 989. This rule will help ensure matching of the exchange rate used to determine the dollar amount of the credit with the exchange rate used to determine the dollar amount of income that is used to pay the tax. The 2007 temporary regulations do not permit the spot rate election to be used to translate taxes that are denominated in a nonfunctional currency of the taxpayer and attributable to QBUs with non-dollar functional currencies (non-dollar QBUs), other than as part of an election to translate all foreign taxes at the spot rate on the date of payment. As noted, one of the rationales for providing an election for taxpayers to translate less than all of their nonfunctional currency taxes using the rate on the date of payment is to allow taxpayers to avoid a mismatch due to the use of different translation conventions in determining the translated dollar amount of foreign tax credit and the translated dollar amount of the foreign income used to pay the tax. However, there is generally no mismatch between the translation rate for taxes on income earned through nondollar QBUs and the income used to pay the taxes. Under sections 986(a)(1)(A), 987(2), and 989(b)(4), such taxes and income generally are translated into dollars at the average exchange rate, minimizing administrative and compliance burdens. Although § 1.987– 3T(c)(2)(v), issued in 2016, requires section 987 income or loss equal to the creditable tax amount to be translated at the same exchange rate that is used to translate the creditable taxes for purposes of section 901, the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to amend the regulations under section 987, deferring the applicability date of § 1.987–3T(c)(2)(v) (along with other portions of the regulations under section 987). See Notice 2018–57. Because in the absence of applicable final regulations the spot rate election to translate taxes paid by non-dollar QBUs would generally create a mismatch between the translated dollar amount of the foreign tax credit and the translated dollar amount of the foreign income used to pay the tax, and would increase, rather than reduce, administrative burdens for the IRS and compliance burdens for taxpayers, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that it is inappropriate to allow selective use of the spot rate election for nonfunctional currency taxes attributable to non-dollar QBUs. Accordingly, the final regulations provide that the spot rate election may not be made for foreign income taxes attributable to non-dollar QBUs, except E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations as part of an election to translate all taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency at the spot rate on the date of payment. 5. Section 988 Gain or Loss When There Is a Change in Functional Currency The 2007 temporary regulations do not address how to determine section 988 gain or loss when there has been a change in functional currency between the time a tax is paid or accrued and when it is refunded. If a QBU receives a refund of nonfunctional currency tax that is denominated in a currency that was the functional currency of the QBU when the tax was claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes, § 1.986(a)– 1(e)(2) of the final regulations provides that the QBU uses the exchange rate used under § 1.985–5(c) when the QBU’s functional currency changed to determine its basis in the refunded nonfunctional currency. If a QBU receives a refund of functional currency tax that was denominated in a nonfunctional currency when the tax was claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes, § 1.986(a)–1(e)(3) of the final regulations provides that the QBU recognizes the section 988 gain or loss that would have been recognized under § 1.985–5(b) if the refund had been received immediately before the QBU’s functional currency changed. The final regulations also add a crossreference to these rules at § 1.988– 2(a)(2)(iii)(C). B. Accounting for Foreign Tax Redeterminations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 1. Definition of a Foreign Tax Redetermination Section 1.905–3T(c) of the 2007 temporary regulations defines a ‘‘foreign tax redetermination’’ as a change in the foreign tax liability that may affect a taxpayer’s foreign tax credit, including accrued taxes that when paid differ from the amounts added to post-1986 foreign income taxes or claimed as credits by the taxpayer (such as corrections to overaccruals and additional payments); accrued taxes that are not paid before the date two years after the close of the taxable year to which such taxes relate; refunds of tax paid; and for accrued taxes translated into dollars when paid, a difference between the dollar value of the accrued tax and the dollar value of the tax paid attributable to fluctuations in the foreign currency’s value. Section 1.905–3(a) of the final regulations reflects several clarifying changes to what constitutes a foreign tax redetermination. First, a foreign tax redetermination includes certain VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 situations covered by section 905(c) that do not involve a change in the foreign tax liability, such as the failure to pay accrued taxes within two years and the subsequent payment of any such accrued but unpaid taxes. Second, a foreign tax redetermination includes adjustments such as a correction to an accrual that determined the tax due with reasonable accuracy, but is revised after additional consideration to reflect the correct final tax liability. Third, the regulations clarify that a foreign tax redetermination occurs if any tax that is claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes is subsequently refunded, regardless of whether the tax was properly treated as paid within the meaning of § 1.901–2(e) (which includes, among other requirements, that the tax was owed and not refundable) when claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes. New examples at § 1.905–3(b)(1)(ii) of the final regulations illustrate these rules, including an example demonstrating that a foreign tax redetermination includes the accrual and payment of contested taxes following the resolution of a dispute with a foreign government. Section 1.905–3T(c) of the 2007 temporary regulations, implementing section 905(c)(1)(B), states that a foreign tax redetermination includes ‘‘accrued taxes that are not paid before the date two years after the close of the taxable year to which such taxes relate.’’ (Emphasis added.) In contrast, the currency translation rule at § 1.905– 3T(b)(1)(ii)(A) of the 2007 temporary regulations, implementing sections 986(a)(1)(B)(i) and 986(a)(2)(A), provides that, ‘‘[a]ny foreign income taxes denominated in foreign currency that are paid more than two years after the close of the U.S. taxable year to which they relate shall be translated into dollars using the exchange rate as of the date of payment of the foreign taxes.’’ (Emphasis added.) If a calendar year taxpayer accrues foreign taxes at the close of calendar Year 1, ‘‘the date two years after the close of the taxable year to which such taxes relate’’ literally refers to December 31 of Year 3, rather than January 1 of Year 4. Thus, if the taxpayer has not paid the taxes before December 31 of Year 3, that is, on or before December 30, a foreign tax redetermination would occur on December 31 of Year 3 even if the tax was paid on December 31 of Year 3, and such payment would constitute a second foreign tax redetermination. Both foreign tax redeterminations generally would require translating the foreign taxes at the same average exchange rate, PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69041 resulting in offsetting foreign tax redeterminations. To better coordinate the application of the foreign tax redetermination and currency translation rules and to ease compliance burdens, the definition of a foreign tax redetermination has been revised to include ‘‘accrued taxes that are not paid on or before the date 24 months after the close of the taxable year to which such taxes relate.’’ (Emphasis added.) The Treasury Department and the IRS also have determined that the foreign tax redetermination resulting from accrued taxes that remain unpaid after two years should be considered to occur on the date that is 24 months after the close of the taxable year to which the taxes relate. Accordingly, § 1.905–3(a) of the final regulations provides that if accrued taxes are not paid on or before the date that is 24 months after the close of the taxable year to which they relate, the resulting foreign tax redetermination will be accounted for as if the unpaid portion of the taxes were refunded on such date. Finally, the final regulations clarify that taxes that first accrue after the date 24 months after the close of the taxable year to which such taxes relate may not be claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes until they are paid. The final regulations also include a crossreference to the rules of section 905(b) and the all-events test under § 1.461– 4(g)(6)(iii)(B), which require the taxpayer to establish the amount of tax that was properly accrued. 2. Adjustments to Foreign Taxes Claimed as a Direct Credit Section 1.905–3T(d)(1) of the 2007 temporary regulations provides that, in the case of a foreign tax redetermination with respect to taxes paid or accrued by a U.S. taxpayer, a redetermination of U.S. tax liability is required ‘‘for the taxable year for which the foreign tax was claimed as a credit.’’ The final regulations clarify how the rules apply when a U.S. taxpayer’s foreign taxes exceed the applicable limitation under section 904(d) and the taxpayer carries its unused foreign taxes back or forward to another year under section 904(c). Section 1.905–3(b)(1)(i) of the final regulations provides that, if a foreign tax redetermination occurs with respect to foreign tax claimed as a direct credit, then a redetermination of U.S. tax liability is required for the taxable year in which the credit was claimed and any year to which unused foreign taxes from such year were carried under section 904(c). Section 1.905–3T(d)(1) of the 2007 temporary regulations provides that a E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69042 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations redetermination of U.S. tax liability is not required if the difference between the dollar value of the accrued tax and the tax paid is attributable to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency and the amount of the foreign tax redetermination with respect to each foreign country is less than the lesser of $10,000 or two percent of the dollar amount of the foreign tax initially accrued with respect to that foreign country. The application of this rule was unclear in the case of foreign tax redeterminations occurring with respect to multiple foreign countries. The final regulations at § 1.905–3(b)(1)(i) clarify that the exception to a redetermination of U.S. tax liability applies only if the $10,000 or two percent threshold is satisfied with respect to each and every foreign country with respect to which a foreign tax redetermination occurs. 3. Foreign Tax Imposed on Refund Section 1.905–3T(e) of the 1988 temporary regulations provided that tax imposed on a refund of foreign tax is considered to reduce the amount of the refund, and no other credit or deduction is allowed with respect to such tax imposed on such refund. This provision was carried over at § 1.905–3T(e) of the 2007 temporary regulations without change. Section 1.905–3(c) of the final regulations modifies this rule to clarify that it applies in the case of any section 901 taxpayer, which includes a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 V. Deemed Paid Taxes Under Section 960 A. Scope of Current Year Taxes Proposed § 1.960–2 deems a corporate U.S. shareholder of a CFC to pay certain of the CFC’s current year foreign income taxes that are attributable to the CFC’s income that the domestic corporation includes under sections 951(a)(1)(A) and 951A(a). Current year taxes are the foreign income taxes that a CFC pays or accrues in its current taxable year, which the rule defines as the U.S. taxable year of a CFC that either is an inclusion year or during which the CFC receives or makes a distribution that is described in sections 959(a) or (b). Proposed § 1.960–1(b)(3), (4). Proposed § 1.960–1(b)(4) preserves current law with respect to the timing of the accrual of foreign income taxes. Under current law, taxes accrue when all the events have occurred that establish the fact of the liability and the amount of the liability can be determined with reasonable accuracy. Therefore, in the case of taxes that are withheld from a payment, the withholding taxes accrue VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 when the payment from which the tax is withheld is made. In the case of taxes that are imposed on net income that a taxpayer recognizes under foreign law with respect to a taxable period, the net income taxes accrue on the last day of the foreign taxable period. See § 1.446– 1(c)(1)(ii) (a liability is incurred and taken into account for Federal income tax purposes in the taxable year in which all the events have occurred that establish the fact of the liability, the amount of the liability can be determined with reasonable accuracy, and economic performance has occurred with respect to the liability); § 1.461– 4(g)(6)(iii)(B) (economic performance with respect to foreign income tax liability occurs when the requirements of the all events test other than economic performance are met). Therefore, under the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, if there is a difference between the U.S. and foreign taxable years, the foreign tax may accrue, for U.S. tax purposes, in a U.S. taxable year that does not include all the income to which the tax relates. The proposed regulations further provide that if current year taxes are imposed on an item of income that U.S. law recognizes in a different taxable year— in other words, if a difference in the foreign and U.S. taxable bases results from a timing difference—the taxes relate to the income group in a section 904 category of the CFC to which they would be assigned if the income item was recognized under U.S. law in the current year. Proposed §§ 1.960– 1(c)(3)(ii)(B) and 1.904–6(a)(1)(iv). Comments requested changes to the definition of ‘‘current year taxes’’ that address timing differences that arise when a CFC has different U.S. and foreign taxable years. Specifically, the comments suggested a number of approaches to match the foreign income taxes that the CFC pays or accrues with respect to a foreign taxable year with the income that it recognizes in a U.S. taxable year. For example, comments requested that the definition take into account foreign income taxes that relate to income recognized during the current taxable year but that are paid or accrued by a CFC with respect to a foreign taxable year that closes after the current taxable year. Comments suggested that a portion of the foreign income taxes could be allocated between U.S. taxable years on the basis of a ratable allocation of the foreign taxable income on which the taxes are imposed to the portion of a foreign taxable year of the CFC that corresponds to the two U.S. taxable years. The foreign income taxes that are allocated to the current taxable year PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 under the proration would then be treated as current year taxes for purposes of computing deemed paid taxes under section 960(a) and section 960(d), even though a portion of the taxes do not accrue under section 461 and the all events test until after the close of the current taxable year. Comments also suggested modifying the current accrual rule for foreign income taxes to treat any foreign income taxes paid or accrued by a CFC that are allocated to a current taxable year under the proration as accruing in that year. In addition, comments suggested a ‘‘closing of the books’’ method for determining the foreign tax that is treated as either a current year tax or as accruing during the next U.S. taxable year, or other approaches such as a ‘‘with-and-without’’ calculation to determine taxes attributable to extraordinary transactions. Differences in the timing of the accrual of foreign income taxes and the inclusion of income by a U.S. shareholder on which the taxes are imposed due to a CFC’s differing U.S. and foreign taxable years will generally resolve over time because although the U.S. and foreign taxable years start and close on different dates, both taxable periods encompass profits earned over the same length of time. A comment noted that this mismatch might not resolve if there are differences in the type or amount of income that a CFC earns from year to year. Unless the CFC earns all of its income ratably every year for both U.S. and foreign tax purposes, however, any method for allocating foreign tax to a different U.S. taxable year may not mitigate or may even exacerbate an ongoing mismatch of the income recognized in the current U.S. taxable year with the foreign income tax that accrues after the close of that year. Moreover, as one comment acknowledged, a rule that relies on estimates of foreign income taxes that have not accrued because they are attributable to a foreign taxable year that closes after the U.S. taxable year would require the ongoing correction of inaccurate estimates through redeterminations under section 905(c) and the filing of amended returns. A comment noted that § 1.901–2(f)(4) requires the allocation of certain foreign taxes to a U.S. taxable year and treats those taxes as accruing in that year. This rule, however, only applies to mismatches that occur with respect to a single foreign taxable year due to the transfer of a disregarded entity or a partnership interest. Section 1.901– 2(f)(4) addresses these narrow fact patterns by treating the foreign taxes that accrue in one U.S. taxable year but E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 that are imposed on foreign taxable income that is likely to be recognized for Federal income tax purposes in a different, short U.S. taxable year of a partnership due to a partnership termination, or in a different U.S. taxable year of an owner of a disregarded entity due to a transfer of a disregarded entity, as having accrued in that short U.S. taxable year or ownership period. In certain cases, the rule may require the filing of an amended return to reflect the allocation of a portion of foreign taxes that accrue under the all events test in one U.S. taxable year to a different U.S. taxable year. This rule is appropriate to resolve a one-time mismatch in the foreign and U.S. taxable years in connection with an ownership change and is not an appropriate mechanism to address ongoing mismatches in U.S. and foreign taxable years that will generally resolve over time. In light of the fact that providing an election to choose among a variety of allocation and accrual methods in respect of foreign income tax would create compliance burdens for taxpayers and administrative burdens for the IRS and may produce results that are no more and possibly less accurate than the current accrual rule, the final regulations do not adopt the comments requesting that taxpayers be allowed to treat foreign taxes as accruing in a taxable year other than the year in which the taxes actually accrue under current law. One comment requested that the fourth sentence in § 1.960–1(b)(4), which provides that net basis foreign income taxes accrue on the last day of the foreign taxable year, be removed or qualified, because the comment asserted that the statement did not reflect current law regarding the accrual of these taxes. However, the comment did not identify any fact patterns in which net basis foreign income taxes could accrue before the last day of the foreign taxable year. By definition, net basis foreign income taxes can only be determined with reasonable accuracy after the foreign taxable year has closed and all income and deductions have been accrued for foreign tax purposes. Therefore, the fourth sentence in § 1.960–1(b)(4) reflects current law regarding when these taxes accrue and the comment is not adopted. B. Other Changes Relating to Current Year Taxes Imposed on Timing Difference Items 1. Assignment of Current Year Taxes to Income Groups One comment suggested that mismatches between the U.S. and VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 foreign taxable years could be addressed by characterizing current year tax, and therefore allocating and apportioning it to an income group, based upon the earnings recognized under Federal income tax law for the current taxable year, regardless of whether that income was included in the foreign tax base upon which the current year tax was imposed. However, this change would nullify the § 1.904–6(a) rules as a mechanism for attributing a current year tax to a statutory grouping of income, namely, income items included under section 951A or 951(a) and distributions of previously taxed earnings and profits, and potentially associate current year taxes with income for section 960 purposes other than the income to which the tax would relate for purposes of section 904. Congress intended, however, that similar principles would apply to treat current year taxes as properly attributable to a statutory grouping of income for purposes of determining deemed paid taxes under section 960 as those that apply for purposes of assigning foreign income tax to a section 904 category. See Conference Report, at 628 (‘‘It is anticipated that the Secretary would provide regulations with rules for allocating taxes similar to rules in place for purposes of determining the allocation of taxes to specific foreign tax credit baskets.’’). In addition, this rule would be inconsistent with the statutory requirement that taxes be ‘‘properly attributable’’ to the income that was included, because no factual connection would exist between the taxes and the income to which the taxes would be assigned. Therefore, the comment is not adopted. 2. Current Year Taxes Assigned to Groups With No Current Year Income Comments also requested changes that would address a broader range of timing differences, such as a difference in the timing of income recognition with respect to a particular transaction or difference in the timing of cost recovery, in addition to taxable year mismatches. Consistent with section 960(a) and (d), the 2018 FTC proposed regulations deem a corporate U.S. shareholder of a CFC to pay foreign income taxes of the CFC, which are allocated and apportioned to an income group under the principles of § 1.904–6, only if there is an inclusion under either section 951(a)(1)(A) or section 951A that is attributable to net income in the income group. See proposed § 1.960–2(b) and (c). A current year tax that is allocated and apportioned to an income group cannot therefore be deemed paid if there is no net income in a particular group PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69043 due to a timing difference or a reduction of the net income under section 952(c) to reflect the earnings and profits limitation or a chain deficit. The comments requested various changes that would have the effect of preserving a current year tax that, applying the principles of § 1.904–6, would otherwise be allocated to an income group with no net income and not deemed paid under section 960. Several comments addressed the ineligibility of a current year tax to be deemed paid because it is associated under the principles of § 1.904–6 with an income group that has no current year income or to which no inclusion is otherwise attributable. Comments requested that, in that circumstance, the current year tax be treated as properly attributable to previously taxed earnings and profits and deemed paid under section 960(b) upon a subsequent distribution of the previously taxed earnings and profits. A similar comment suggested that a current year tax that is assigned to an income group to which no inclusion is attributable nonetheless be treated as deemed paid under section 960 for the current taxable year as long as the income that was included in the foreign tax base either was previously recognized or will be recognized in the future under Federal income tax rules. Section 960 requires an inclusion of subpart F income under section 951(a)(1) or of tested income under section 951A in order for foreign income taxes that are associated with that income to be deemed paid. See Conference Report at 628 (‘‘Tax imposed on income that is not included in subpart F income, is not considered attributable to subpart F income.’’). In the absence of an inclusion, only a distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits may cause a current year tax to be associated with previously taxed earnings and profits instead of current year earnings, and treated as deemed paid by the distribution recipient. Congress intended for § 1.904–6 principles to apply to associate current year tax with those inclusions or distributions so that the taxes that are deemed paid with respect to an inclusion or distribution are also associated, for purposes of applying the limitation under section 904(d), with the separate category to which the inclusion or previously taxed earnings and profits is assigned. Congress also repealed section 902, which tracked multi-year amounts of a CFC’s foreign income taxes and associated those amounts with multi-year amounts of its earnings and profits, in favor of a system that associates, within a single, current E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69044 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations taxable year, the foreign income taxes that a CFC pays or accrues with the income it recognizes in that year. See H.R. Rep. No. 115–409, at 383 (‘‘[O]ffering deemed paid foreign tax credits on a current year basis solely under section 960 reflects what the Committee believes to be a simpler and more appropriate application of the foreign tax credit regime in a 100 percent participation exemption system); Conference Report at 628 (‘‘The provision eliminates the need for computing and tracking cumulative tax pools.’’). In a current year system that relies on § 1.904–6 principles to associate taxes paid or accrued by a CFC with respect to a taxable year with its income for that taxable year, taxes that accrue in a taxable year but relate to income other than the income that is included by a U.S. shareholder in that year are not deemed paid. Section 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii)(B) carries out the legislative intent by assigning taxes under the timing difference rule to current items of income of the same type as the items included in the foreign tax base, even if the tax was factually associated with specific items of income that were recognized for U.S. tax purposes in a different taxable year. Associating the tax with previously taxed earnings and profits rather than current year items of income would be inconsistent with Congress’s intent to eliminate pooling and calculate deemed paid foreign tax credits on a current year basis rather than on a multi-year basis; the change requested by the comments, in other words, would circumvent Congress’s intent that, in the absence of a distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits, the only event that causes a foreign income tax to be deemed paid by a domestic corporation is an inclusion of the income to which the foreign income tax that is paid or accrued by a CFC relates. Conference report at 628. Therefore, the comments are not adopted. Comments also requested the allowance of carryovers or carrybacks at the CFC level if a current year tax is not deemed paid because it is imposed on a timing difference item to which no inclusion is attributable or if the inclusion amount is reduced to reflect the shareholder’s qualified deficit. The requested changes to allow carryovers of foreign income taxes at the CFC level are inappropriate in light of the transition, discussed in this Part V.B, from a system based on multi-year pools of foreign income taxes to a current-year system. Moreover, Congress also expressly disallowed carryovers of section 951A category foreign income taxes paid, accrued, or deemed paid by VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 a domestic corporation. See section 904(c). The allowance of carryovers by a CFC of current year taxes that are not deemed paid by a U.S. shareholder with respect to an inclusion would undermine Congress’s intent to deem a U.S. shareholder to pay foreign income taxes with respect to inclusions only on a current year basis and to allow carryovers only of certain foreign income taxes. Therefore, the comments are not adopted. One comment specifically referenced the rule in proposed § 1.960–2(c)(5) that provides for no deemed paid taxes under section 960(d) and proposed § 1.960–2(c)(1) when the taxpayer has no inclusion under section 951A(a) in arguing for a proportionate carryover of taxes not deemed paid in the current year. The comment noted that if there was no inclusion under section 951A(a) because the taxpayer had no net CFC tested income (as defined in § 1.951A– 1(c)(2)) or had deemed tangible income return (as defined in § 1.951A–1(c)(3)) in excess of its net CFC tested income, the earnings associated with that income may not be eligible for the deduction under section 245A and therefore could be subject to double taxation. In general, earnings and profits related to income that is not included under section 951(a) or section 951A(a) (including income that is not included because of the taxpayer’s deemed tangible income return or a lack of net CFC tested income) are eligible for the dividends received deduction under section 245A when those earnings are distributed to a domestic corporation, if the holding period and other requirements under section 245A are met. Thus, excluding the taxes associated with those earnings from being deemed paid under proposed § 1.960–2(c)(5) does not result in double taxation as asserted by the comment. See also section 245A(d). Accordingly, no changes were made to proposed § 1.960–2(c)(5). 3. Current Year Taxes Attributable to Inclusion Reduced by Qualified Deficit A comment requested an adjustment to the computation of deemed paid taxes if a domestic corporation’s subpart F inclusion that is attributable to net income in a subpart F income group is reduced by the amount of the domestic corporation’s share of a qualified deficit. The requested adjustment would cause all taxes in the subpart F income group to be deemed paid in the year the qualified deficit is used. Under the requested adjustment, the amount of the current year taxes allocated and apportioned to the group that would be PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 deemed paid by the domestic corporation would be disproportionate to the portion of the subpart F income in the group that is included in income by the domestic corporation. Under section 952(c)(1)(B), a qualified deficit reduces the amount of subpart F income of a CFC that a U.S. shareholder includes in its gross income under section 951(a)(1)(A) but does not reduce the subpart F income of the CFC. In contrast, section 952(c)(1)(A) reduces the subpart F income of the CFC at the CFC level. In addition, whereas the current year E&P limitation in section 952(c)(1)(A) can give rise to recapture in a future taxable year of the reduced subpart F income amount, no such recapture occurs with respect to qualified deficits. Therefore, the final regulations retain the rule in § 1.960– 2(b)(3)(ii) that reduces the amount of foreign income taxes deemed paid to the extent the U.S. shareholder reduces its subpart F inclusion by reason of a qualified deficit. Otherwise, taxpayers could be allowed a deemed paid credit in excess of the amount of foreign income taxes the CFC paid with respect to the income that was included. 4. Assignment of Current Year Taxes to Section 904 Categories and Income Groups Determined Under Federal Income Tax Law Comments requested clarification on the application of the timing difference rule in the case of foreign income taxes incurred by a CFC after the enactment of section 951A but imposed on income included in the foreign tax base that may correspond to income recognized under Federal income tax law in a preenactment taxable year (including, for example, income of a CFC that was included in a U.S. shareholder’s income under section 965). In particular, comments noted that the description in proposed § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii)(B)(2) of the timing difference rule as applied to certain taxes with respect to previously taxed earnings and profits suggested that the taxes would relate to the category that existed in the inclusion year, rather than (if different) the category to which the previously taxed earnings and profits would have been assigned in the year in which the taxes are paid or accrued. The comments recommended the rules confirm that taxes incurred by a CFC after the enactment of section 951A can be assigned to a tested income group even if such taxes were imposed on income that accrued for U.S. tax purposes before section 951A was enacted. Under § 1.904–6(a)(1)(iv), a tax imposed on an amount that is not included in U.S. taxable income in the E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 current year is allocated and apportioned to the appropriate separate category or categories to which the tax would be allocated and apportioned if the income were recognized under Federal income tax principles in the year in which the tax was imposed. Therefore, in the context of proposed § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii), which applies the principles of § 1.904–6, a tax imposed in a post-TCJA year with respect to preTCJA income is assigned to a tested income group if the pre-TCJA income, if recognized in the year the tax was imposed, would be tested income. Therefore, no further change to the regulations is necessary to achieve the result requested by the comments. However, the sentence in proposed § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii)(B)(2) is revised to eliminate any inference that the timing difference rule assigns the tax on the basis of the separate categories that existed in the inclusion year. One comment asked for clarifications regarding how current year taxes are allocated and apportioned under proposed § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) when the foreign corporation’s U.S. and foreign taxable years do not match. In addition to the change to proposed § 1.960– 1(d)(3)(ii)(B)(2) described in the previous paragraph, as requested by the comment certain changes were also made to proposed § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to clarify the allocation and apportionment process that applies to associate a current year tax with a particular income group or PTEP group that is treated as an income group. These changes clarify that in order to allocate and apportion a current year tax to the section 904 categories and income groups within those categories, all of the foreign taxable income for the period with respect to which the tax is imposed under foreign law is characterized under Federal income tax law and assigned to the categories or groups as though that foreign taxable income were recognized under Federal income tax law in the year in which the tax is paid or accrued. See § 1.960(d)(3)(ii)(A) and (C). Additionally, as discussed in Part III.G of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions, further guidance relating to the allocation and apportionment of foreign income taxes is contained in the 2019 FTC proposed regulations. C. Application of Section 960 to Inclusions Under Section 1293 Proposed § 1.960–1(a)(1) sets out the general scope of the rules providing for the determination of the foreign income taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation under section 960. Comments requested that proposed VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 § 1.960–1(a)(1) be modified to clarify that the regulations under section 960 do not preclude a credit under section 1293(f). The final regulations in § 1.960– 1(a)(1) clarify that the regulations apply for purposes of any provision that treats a taxpayer as a domestic corporation that is deemed to pay foreign income taxes or treats a foreign corporation as a CFC for purposes of section 960, including for example, section 962(a)(2) or 1293(f). D. Assigning Gross Income to Section 904 Categories and Income Groups 1. Separate Categories to Which Income May Be Assigned With respect to a CFC, proposed § 1.960–1(d) provides rules for assigning gross income, and allocating and apportioning deductions and current year taxes, to section 904 categories and income groups for purposes of determining what taxes are properly attributable to, and therefore deemed paid with respect to, a subpart F inclusion, GILTI inclusion, or a distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits. Under proposed § 1.960–1(d)(2)(i), gross income is first assigned to a section 904 category. The rule also specifies that, other than gross income relating to a section 959(b) distribution, gross income of a CFC cannot be assigned to the section 951A category or foreign branch category. One comment recommended changes to this language, in general, to specify that gross income relating to a section 959(b) distribution can be assigned to the section 951A category, but that gross income of a CFC can never be assigned to the foreign branch category. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that the language could be clarified, and accordingly, the final regulations modify § 1.960–1(d)(2)(i) to omit any references to the foreign branch category. However, the Treasury Department and the IRS are studying whether in certain cases a CFC may have gross income that is assigned to the foreign branch category and therefore the final regulations do not preclude that possibility. 2. Scope of Subpart F Income Groups After assignment of income to section 904 categories, proposed § 1.960– 1(d)(2)(ii)(A) provides that the income is further assigned to income groups within the section 904 categories. Under proposed § 1.960–1(d)(2)(ii)(B), gross subpart F income is assigned to income groups based on the items of income determined under § 1.954–1(c)(1)(iii). Comments requested that all subpart F income in a separate category be PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69045 treated as a single item for purposes of determining what taxes are properly attributable to a subpart F inclusion. However, because the grouping rules in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations are necessary to properly coordinate the calculation of foreign taxes deemed paid under section 960(a) with the application of the subpart F high-tax exception and the section 904 high-tax kickout, the final regulations do not adopt these comments. Section 960(a) requires a determination of the foreign income taxes that are attributable to ‘‘any item of income . . . with respect to [a] controlled foreign corporation’’ that is included in gross income of a domestic corporation under section 951(a)(1). However, under the subpart F high-tax exception, a taxpayer may exclude from a CFC’s foreign base company income an ‘‘item of income’’ that is high-taxed. High-taxed income is excluded from foreign base company income, and therefore is not included in the U.S. shareholder’s income under section 951(a)(1). The regulations under section 954(b)(4) identify items of gross foreign base company income within each section 904 category and allocate and apportion expenses (including foreign tax expense) among these items in order to compute the net items of foreign base company income and determine the foreign effective tax rate with respect to each item. The grouping rules in the section 954(b)(4) regulations further coordinate the application of the subpart F high-tax exception with the section 904 high-tax kickout by adopting the passive category grouping rules used in the section 904 regulations. See § 1.954–1(c)(1)(iii) and sections 904(d)(2)(B)(ii)(II) and 904(d)(2)(F), excluding from passive income any income with respect to which the foreign income taxes paid, accrued, and deemed paid exceed the highest U.S. tax rate. By adopting the same grouping rules used to determine eligibility for the subpart F high-tax exception and the application of the section 904 high-tax kickout, the subpart F income groups of proposed § 1.960–1(d)(2)(ii)(B) ensure that the same amount of foreign tax is treated as attributable to a particular item of a CFC’s foreign base company income for purposes of all three Code sections. This helps minimize the circumstances in which passive subpart F income could fail to qualify for the subpart F high-tax exception, but when included under section 951(a) by the U.S. shareholder with foreign taxes deemed paid trigger the similar (but not identical) section 904 high-tax kickout. Additionally, given that section 960(a) E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69046 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 specifically refers to the foreign income taxes properly attributable to the ‘‘item of income,’’ which has historically been determined in this manner in applying the subpart F high-tax exception and the section 904 high-tax kickout, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that retaining the separate subpart F income groups as provided in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations is appropriate. Accordingly, the comments are not adopted. E. Deemed Paid Credits for Inclusions Under Section 951(a)(1)(B) Proposed § 1.960–2(b)(1) provides that no foreign income taxes are deemed paid under section 960(a) with respect to an inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(B), which is based on the amount determined under section 956 (a ‘‘section 956 inclusion’’). The preamble to the proposed regulations explains that a section 956 inclusion is not an inclusion of an ‘‘item of income’’ of the CFC but instead is an inclusion equal to an amount that is determined under the formula in section 956(a) and therefore section 960(a), which as amended by the TCJA computes deemed paid taxes by reference to foreign taxes attributable to an ‘‘item of income,’’ does not allow for a deemed paid credit. Comments noted that section 960(a) references section 951(a)(1), not merely subpart F inclusions under section 951(a)(1)(A), and argued that a section 956 inclusion is an item of income in respect of the U.S. shareholder and requested that the regulation be modified to allow for a deemed paid credit in connection with a section 956 inclusion. Additionally, comments argued that not allowing credits in respect of section 956 inclusions was inconsistent with the legislative history of the TCJA. However, one comment stated that the rule in proposed § 1.960–2(b)(1) represented sensible policy because, under a pre-TCJA regime that deferred U.S. taxation of a CFC’s earnings until those earnings were repatriated through a dividend distribution, section 956 served the purpose of treating effective repatriations of CFC earnings in the form of investments in certain U.S. property in a manner similar to repatriations in the form of dividends. The TCJA allowed a dividend received deduction for dividends from subsidiary foreign corporations, and no foreign taxes are deemed paid under the TCJA with respect to dividends (including dividends that are not eligible for a deduction under section 245A). The Treasury Department and the IRS disagree that the ‘‘item of income’’ reference in section 960(a) refers to the U.S. shareholder’s inclusion under VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 section 951(a)(1), rather than the item of income of the CFC that is included in the U.S. shareholder’s income. If that were the case, then no foreign taxes of the CFC would be properly attributable to such item of income, since the foreign taxes are imposed on the items of income earned by the CFC and not on the U.S. shareholder’s subpart F inclusion. Therefore, the items to which foreign tax can be properly attributed must refer to the CFC’s income items in order for section 960(a) to allow for a deemed paid credit for foreign taxes paid or accrued by the CFC. Because a section 956 inclusion is not traceable to an item of income of the CFC, section 960(a) does not permit a deemed paid credit for section 956 inclusions. See also Whitlock v. Comm’r, 494 F.2d 1297 (10th Cir. 1974) (earnings that give rise to a section 956 inclusion are ‘‘not an ‘income’ type item of the corporation’’). In addition, section 960(a) does not define what it means for taxes to be ‘‘properly attributable’’ to items of income. The legislative history provides that rules similar to § 1.904–6(a) should apply in attributing foreign income taxes to ‘‘item[s] of subpart F income.’’ H.R. Rep. No. 115–409, at 383. Section 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) accordingly applies the principles of § 1.904–6(a) to allocate a CFC’s current year taxes to the CFC’s income items that comprise its subpart F income and other income earned in the current taxable year. Those principles require attributing foreign income taxes, which are paid or accrued by the CFC, to items of income of the CFC, not to an item of income of the U.S. shareholder, since an inclusion under section 951(a) with respect to the U.S. shareholder is not ‘‘included in the [foreign] base upon which the [CFC’s foreign income] tax is imposed.’’ Section 1.904–6(a)(1). Furthermore, an inclusion under section 951(a) with respect to the U.S. shareholder is not an ‘‘item of subpart F income,’’ and subpart F income excludes earnings relating to section 956. See section 952(a) (defining ‘‘subpart F income’’). The Treasury Department and the IRS have also determined that attributing any foreign income taxes to a section 956 inclusion would be inconsistent with the intent of Congress to eliminate the need for multi-year tracking of income and taxes and move to a foreign tax credit system based solely on current year taxes and income. H.R. Rep. No. 115–409, at 383 (‘‘[O]ffering deemed paid foreign tax credits on a current year basis solely under section 960 reflects what the Committee believes to be a simpler and more appropriate application of the foreign tax credit regime in a 100 percent PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 participation exemption system.’’). Congress intended for the repeal of section 902 and the amendment of section 960 to ‘‘eliminate[ ] the need for computing and tracking cumulative tax pools.’’ Id. Allowing a deemed paid credit for inclusions under section 956, as requested by comments, would require the promulgation of complex rules for tracking annual layers of taxes that were associated with earnings that were not included under section 951(a)(1) or 951A, special ordering rules for determining which layer of taxes were deemed paid with respect to a section 956 inclusion relating to earnings from a prior year, and would also potentially require multifaceted rules to trace movements in layers as a result of distributions of earnings and profits or reorganizations of entities. Therefore, consistent with the proposed regulations, the final regulations provide that no foreign income taxes are deemed paid under section 960(a) with respect to a section 956 inclusion. F. PTEP Groups in Annual PTEP Accounts Under proposed § 1.960–3(c)(1), a CFC must establish a separate, annual account (‘‘annual PTEP account’’) for its earnings and profits for its current taxable year to which subpart F or GILTI inclusions of U.S. shareholders are attributable. The previously taxed earnings and profits in each annual account are then assigned to one of ten possible groups of previously taxed earnings described in proposed § 1.960– 3(c)(2) (each, a ‘‘PTEP group’’). After the proposed regulations were issued, the Treasury Department and the IRS released Notice 2019–01, 2019–2 I.R.B. 275, which announced the intention to issue regulations relating to foreign corporations with previously taxed earnings and profits. Notice 2019–01 affirmed the requirement to maintain annual PTEP accounts, but expanded the number of PTEP groups to 16, which included the original ten PTEP groups in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations as well as six additional groups. Notice 2019–01 provided that these rules would be coordinated with proposed §§ 1.960–1 and 1.960–3. Both the preamble to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations and Notice 2019–01 requested comments on possible ways to simplify the PTEP groups. While no comments made specific suggestions on how to combine or consolidate PTEP groups, one comment noted that the rules were complex and questioned whether tracking all the PTEP groups was necessary. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations After evaluating the various limitations on the creditability of certain foreign income taxes and the application of the foreign currency rules under section 986(c) with respect to PTEP groups, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that it is possible to consolidate certain of the PTEP groups that were listed in Notice 2019–01. Accordingly, the final regulations update the list of the PTEP groups in § 1.960–3 to include ten PTEP groups. This list consolidates the PTEP groups that were included in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations with the PTEP groups that were included in Notice 2019–01. The updated list permits taxpayers to track fewer PTEP groups than those provided for in Notice 2019–01, while still permitting the application of the relevant foreign tax credit and foreign currency provisions. However, the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to issue more comprehensive regulations addressing the maintenance of annual PTEP accounts and the PTEP groups in a separate notice of proposed rulemaking under section 959. It is anticipated that, as part of that guidance, further changes may be made to § 1.960–3 in order to coordinate both sets of regulations. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 G. Transition Rule for Foreign Income Taxes Deemed Paid With Respect to PTEP Groups Proposed § 1.960–3(d)(3) provides rules for how to determine whether foreign income taxes that were paid or accrued by a CFC in a taxable year that began before January 1, 2018, with respect to PTEP groups that were established for an inclusion year beginning before January 1, 2018, are treated as PTEP group taxes for purposes of applying § 1.960–3. The rule requires that the foreign income taxes meet three conditions, including a condition that the taxes were paid or accrued in a taxable year of the CFC that began before January 1, 2018. One comment noted that this condition could be read to provide that taxes imposed after 2017 on a distribution from a PTEP group from an inclusion year before 2018 are not treated as PTEP group taxes. The comment recommended eliminating this condition. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree with the comment that the condition inappropriately limited the foreign income taxes that could qualify as PTEP group taxes under the rule. Accordingly, the final regulations eliminate the requirement in proposed § 1.960–3(d)(3)(i). See § 1.960– 3(d)(3). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 H. Application of Section 960(c) to Inclusions Under Section 951A If certain conditions are met, section 960(c)(1) and § 1.960–4 allow a taxpayer to increase its section 904 limitation in the year of receipt of previously taxed earnings and profits. Because a distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits is excluded from gross income under section 959(a), the distribution will not increase the taxpayer’s section 904 limitation except to the extent of any foreign currency gain recognized under section 986(c). The lack of sufficient section 904 limitation could prevent the taxpayer from claiming a credit for foreign income tax, such as a withholding tax, imposed by reason of the distribution. Section 960(c)(1) and § 1.960–4 permit foreign tax on the distribution to be credited to the extent the taxpayer had excess limitation in the year of inclusion of the income under section 951A or section 951(a). However, in order to limit the increase to the limitation attributable to the inclusion, the increase in the section 904 limitation is reduced by the amount which would have been the section 904 limitation in the inclusion year if the amounts had not been included in gross income under section 951(a) or 951A(a). See § 1.960–4(c) and proposed § 1.960– 4(a)(1). The increase in the section 904 limitation also excludes any excess limitation in the year of the inclusion that was used to claim a credit for foreign taxes in addition to those paid, accrued, or deemed paid with respect to the inclusions under section 951(a) or section 951A. See § 1.960–4(d) and proposed § 1.960–4(a)(1). A comment recommended that § 1.960–4(c) and (d) not apply to GILTI inclusions because GILTI inclusions are segregated in a separate category that cannot include any other income. However, the parenthetical in section 904(d)(1)(A) contemplates that all or part of a GILTI inclusion could be passive category income by expressly excluding passive category income from the section 951A category. Therefore, the comment is not adopted. I. Application of Section 965(g) to Section 960(b) Section 965(g) provides that no credit is allowed under section 901 for the applicable percentage of any taxes paid or accrued (or treated as paid or accrued) with respect to any amount for which a deduction is allowed under section 965(c). On August 9, 2018, the Treasury Department and the IRS published proposed regulations (REG– 104226–18) in the Federal Register (83 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69047 FR 39514) (the ‘‘section 965 proposed regulations’’), which included a provision to disallow credits under section 901 for the applicable percentage of any foreign income taxes attributable to a distribution of section 965(a) previously taxed earnings and profits or section 965(b) previously taxed earnings and profits. The section 965 proposed regulations included a rule for foreign taxes deemed paid under section 960(a)(3) and reserved a rule for foreign taxes deemed paid under section 960(b) in proposed § 1.965–5(c)(1)(iii). Subsequently, in December 2018, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations provided the rule in § 1.965– 5(c)(1)(iii) to disallow credits for the applicable percentage of foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b) with respect to distributions to the domestic corporation of section 965(a) previously taxed earnings and profits or section 965(b) previously taxed earnings and profits, and provided a coordination rule with proposed § 1.960–3, which provides rules for section 960(b). On February 5, 2019, the Federal Register published final regulations under section 965 (T.D. 9846) at 84 FR 1838, and these regulations confirmed, under § 1.965–5(c)(1)(i), that no credit was allowed for the applicable percentage of foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b) with respect to distributions of section 965(a) previously taxed earnings and profits or section 965(b) previously taxed earnings and profits. The final regulations in this Treasury decision finalize the rule in § 1.965–5(c)(1)(iii) limiting the application of section 965(g) to distributions to domestic corporations in order to avoid multiple disallowances, and coordinating the application of § 1.965–5(c)(1)(i) with § 1.960–3. In addition, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations provide a rule similar to the rule that applies to taxes deemed paid under section 960(a)(3) (as in effect on December 21, 2017) that is in § 1.965– 5(c)(1)(ii) in the section 965 proposed regulations. In particular, foreign income taxes that would have been deemed paid under section 960(a)(1) (as in effect on December 21, 2017) with respect to the portion of a section 965(a) earnings amount that was reduced under § 1.965–1(b)(2) or § 1.965–8(b) are not eligible to be deemed paid under section 960(b) and § 1.960–3(b)(1) or any other section of the Code. See proposed § 1.965–5(c)(1)(iii). A comment asserted that these taxes should be considered to meet the requirements of section 960(b) as they are income taxes ‘‘properly attributable’’ to section 965(b) previously taxed E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69048 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations earnings and profits. The comment states that although such earnings are not included in income under section 951(a), they are effectively taxed upon distribution through the reduction of basis under section 961(b). The Treasury Department and the IRS disagree with the comment for several reasons. First, any distribution of PTEP that reduces basis does not necessarily result in U.S. tax; rather, such distribution is excluded from income under section 959(a) to the extent there is sufficient basis. The reasoning suggested by the comment would require that when a U.S. shareholder has a section 951(a) inclusion that is not reduced under section 965(b)(4), a deemed paid credit would be allowed twice, once at the time of the section 951(a) inclusion and then again when a distribution of PTEP is made that results in a reduction of basis under section 961(b), which is plainly contrary to the text of section 960 and the purpose of the foreign tax credit. Second, the comment argues that section 965(b)(4)(A) provides that section 965(a) earnings amounts offset by an aggregate foreign E&P deficit are treated as income previously included under section 951(a) ‘‘solely’’ for purposes of applying section 959, so that such earnings are not treated as previously included under section 951(a) for purposes of applying section 960. However, the application of section 959 is a precondition to the application of section 960(b); section 960(b) cannot result in deemed paid taxes other than with respect to a distribution that is excluded from income under section 959, and in order to be so treated the section 965(b) previously taxed earnings and profits are necessarily treated as previously included under section 951(a) for purposes of section 959. See also Part VI.B of the Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions to the final regulations under section 965 (T.D. 9846, published in the Federal Register (84 FR 1838) on February 5, 2019) (rejecting similar argument in the context of prior law under section 960(a)(3)). Third, section 960(b) allows a credit for foreign income taxes paid by CFCs upon a subsequent distribution of the section 965(b) previously taxed earnings and profits through a chain of CFCs to the domestic corporate shareholder, but does not allow a credit for foreign income taxes that were previously deemed paid (or treated as deemed paid) under section 960(a) when the amounts were included (or treated as included) in income under section 951(a). As explained in Part VI.B of the Summary of Comments and Explanation VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 of Revisions to the final regulations under section 965 (T.D. 9846, published in the Federal Register (84 FR 1838) on February 5, 2019), foreign income taxes attributable to a section 965(a) earnings amount that were offset by an aggregate foreign E&P deficit were treated as deemed paid under section 960(a) when those earnings were treated as included in income under section 951(a) for purposes of section 959. Therefore, such taxes are not available to be deemed paid again under section 960(b) upon a distribution of the section 965(b) previously taxed earnings and profits. Finally, section 960(b) provides that only taxes that are ‘‘properly attributable to’’ a distribution of PTEP are treated as deemed paid. The comment does not explain why foreign income taxes that were paid or accrued in taxable years before the TCJA would be ‘‘properly attributable’’ to a distribution of PTEP in a later taxable year. The legislative history to the TCJA indicates that rules similar to § 1.904– 6(a) should apply to determine the meaning of ‘‘properly attributable.’’ H.R. Rep. No. 115–409, at 383. Under § 1.904–6(a) as in effect at the time of the TCJA, foreign income taxes paid or accrued in a current year are allocated and apportioned to current year income in a separate category (taking into account timing differences under former § 1.904–6(a)(1)(iv)), and not to income in a different taxable year. Section 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) implements this legislative intent by providing that only current year taxes imposed solely by reason of a distribution of PTEP are allocated and apportioned to PTEP groups. Because section 960(b) applies only to distributions of PTEP arising in taxable years covered by the TCJA, foreign income taxes paid or accrued in taxable years before the TCJA can never be ‘‘properly attributable’’ to a distribution of PTEP that is described in section 960(b). Therefore, the final regulations provide that no credit is allowed under section 960(b) or any other provision of the Code for taxes attributable to section 965(a) earnings amounts offset by an aggregate foreign E&P deficit that would have been deemed paid under former section 960(a)(1) had the amounts actually been included in income under section 951(a). J. Treatment of Section 78 Dividend 1. Taxes Deemed Paid Under Section 960(b) Under section 78, as amended by the TCJA, an amount equal to the taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation under section 960(a), (b), and (d) are PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 treated as a dividend received from the foreign corporation. Section 960(b) addresses taxes deemed paid on distributions of previously taxed earnings and profits. Before the TCJA, section 78 did not reference former section 960(a)(3), which at the time addressed taxes deemed paid on distributions of previously taxed earnings and profits. This is consistent with the purpose of the section 78 dividend, which is to ensure that a U.S. shareholder cannot effectively both deduct and credit the foreign taxes paid by a foreign subsidiary that are deemed paid by the U.S. shareholder. See Elizabeth A. Owens & Gerald T. Ball, The Indirect Credit § 2.2B1a n.54 (1975); Stanley Surrey, ‘‘Current Issues in the Taxation of Corporate Foreign Investment,’’ 56 Columbia Law Rev. 815, 828 (June 1956) (describing the ‘‘mathematical quirk’’ that necessitated enactment of section 78). However, there is no deduction taken into account by the U.S. shareholder for U.S. tax purposes with respect to taxes deemed paid under either former section 960(a)(3) or section 960(b) that would need to be reversed by section 78. One comment requested that the final regulations make clear that, notwithstanding the amendment of section 78, deemed paid taxes are not treated as a section 78 dividend to the extent that the taxes are related to previously taxed earnings and profits. The comment states that providing a section 78 dividend on these taxes is inappropriate given the purpose of section 78, and that no changes to the statutory language of section 78 should be needed to achieve this result based on the final regulations in effect before the enactment of the TCJA. Finally, the comment also requested changes to the example in proposed § 1.960–1(f) to show the computation of deemed paid taxes of a U.S. shareholder under section 960(b)(1) and the application of section 78 to the deemed paid taxes. Because section 78 clearly states that taxes deemed paid under section 960(b) give rise to a section 78 dividend, the final regulations do not adopt the comment. Additionally, because an example of the application of section 960(b)(1) is already provided in § 1.960– 3(e)(2), no changes were made to the example in proposed § 1.960–1(f) in the final regulations. 2. Inclusion in Foreign Oil Related Income One comment requested clarification that a section 78 dividend associated with an inclusion under section 951A can be included in foreign oil related income under section 907(c)(3)(B). The E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 TCJA amended section 907(c)(3)(B) to delete references to section 902 and to refer to taxes deemed paid under section 960, instead of section 960(a). The comment requested amendments to § 1.907(c)–2(d)(5). The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that section 78 dividends with respect to inclusions under section 951A can be included in foreign oil related income, and that section 907(c)(3)(B), as amended by the TCJA, clearly provides for this result notwithstanding the existence of outdated regulations. However, the final regulations do not contain revisions to the regulations under section 907, which is beyond the scope of the final regulations. The regulations under section 907 have not been revised since 1991 and substantial revisions are required to conform to statutory changes made since 1991. The Treasury Department and the IRS expect to revise the regulations under section 907 in a future guidance project. Comments are requested on what additional issues should be addressed as part of revising those regulations. VI. Applicability Dates In general, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations provide that the portions of the regulations that relate to statutory amendments made by the TCJA apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. See section 7805(b)(2). In the case of §§ 1.78–1, 1.861–12(c)(2), and 1.965–7(e), these regulations were finalized as part of TD 9866, published in the Federal Register (84 FR 29288) on June 21, 2019. Other portions of the proposed regulations that do not relate to the TCJA apply to taxable years ending on or after December 4, 2018. See section 7805(b)(1)(B). Certain portions of the proposed regulations contain rules that relate to the TCJA as well as rules that do not relate to the TCJA. Those regulations generally apply to taxable years that satisfy both of the following two conditions: (1) The taxable year begins after December 31, 2017, and (2) the taxable year ends on or after December 4, 2018. See section 7805(b)(1)(B). In general, no changes were made to the proposed applicability dates in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations in the final regulations. For §§ 1.904(b)–3 and 1.960–1 through 1.960–6, the applicability dates were revised to apply the regulations to taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018, consistent with section 7805(b)(1)(B). Section 1.904(g)–3, which finalizes the 2012 OFL proposed regulations, is VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 applicable to taxable years ending on or after December 16, 2019. Section 1.905–3, which finalizes proposed § 1.905–3 (other than proposed § 1.905–3(a)) is applicable to foreign tax redeterminations occurring in taxable years ending on or after December 16, 2019. See proposed § 1.905–3(b)(2) and § 1.905–5, contained in the 2019 FTC proposed regulations, for rules that apply to foreign tax redeterminations of foreign corporations. Section 1.986(a)–1, which finalizes proposed § 1.905–3(a), applies to taxable years ending on or after December 16, 2019, and to taxable years of foreign corporations which end with or within a taxable year of a U.S. shareholder ending on or after December 16, 2019. Special Analyses I. Regulatory Planning and Review Executive Orders 13563 and 12866 direct agencies to assess costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. For purposes of Executive Order 13771, this rule is regulatory. The final regulations have been designated by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) as subject to review under Executive Order 12866 pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA, April 11, 2018) between the Treasury Department and the Office of Management and Budget regarding review of tax regulations. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has designated these regulations as economically significant under section 1(c) of the MOA. Accordingly, the OMB has reviewed these regulations. A. Background and Need for the Final Regulations Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the United States taxed its citizens, residents, and domestic corporations on their worldwide income. However, to the extent that a foreign jurisdiction and the United States taxed the same income, this framework could have resulted in double taxation. The U.S. foreign tax credit (FTC) regime alleviated potential double taxation by allowing a non- PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69049 refundable credit for foreign income taxes paid or accrued that could be applied to reduce the U.S. tax on foreign source income. Although the TCJA eliminated the U.S. tax on some foreign source income, the United States continues to provide foreign tax credits for foreign source income subject to U.S. tax. The changes made by TCJA to international taxation necessitate certain changes in this FTC regime. In plain language, the FTC calculation is applied separately to different categories of income (a ‘‘separate category’’), a long-standing framework that is unchanged by TCJA.1 This framework entails the taxpayer allocating income, expenses, and foreign income taxes paid or accrued to each separate category. Taxpayers who pay foreign taxes on income in one separate category cannot claim a credit against U.S. tax owed on income (more precisely, gross income minus deductions) in a different category. For example, suppose a domestic corporate taxpayer has $100 of active foreign source income in the ‘‘general category’’ and $100 of passive foreign source income, such as interest income, in the ‘‘passive category.’’ It also has $50 of foreign taxes associated with the ‘‘general category’’ income and $0 of foreign taxes associated with the ‘‘passive category’’ income. The allowable FTC is determined separately for the two categories. Therefore, none of the $50 of ‘‘general category’’ FTCs can be used to offset U.S. tax on the ‘‘passive category’’ income. This taxpayer has a pre-FTC U.S. tax liability of $42 (21 percent of $200) but can claim a FTC for only $21 (21 percent of $100) of this liability, which is with respect to active foreign source income in the general category. The $21 represents what is referred to as the taxpayer’s foreign tax credit limitation with respect to the general category. The taxpayer may carry the remaining $29 of foreign taxes ($50 minus $21) back to the prior taxable year and then forward for up to 10 years (until used), and is allowed a credit against U.S. tax on general category foreign source income in the carryover year, subject to certain restrictions. Expenses borne by U.S. parents and domestic affiliates that support foreign operations also generally follow this long-standing framework. Deductions that reduce foreign source taxable income in a particular category thereby reduce the allowable FTCs for that 1 Prior to the enactment of the TCJA, these categories were primarily the passive and general categories. The TCJA added new separate categories for global intangible low-taxed income (the section 951A category) and foreign branch category income. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69050 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations category. The rules for expense allocation need updating in light of the changes made by TCJA. The TCJA added new separate categories for global intangible lowtaxed income (the section 951A category) and foreign branch income. The addition of these new categories and other changes 2 necessitate practical guidance for implementation. The final regulations also update outdated portions of the existing regulations to help conform the existing regulations to the post-TCJA world. Finally, the final regulations address comments received on the 2018 FTC proposed regulations. B. Overview of the Final Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 The final regulations specify the methodologies and approaches necessary to conform the existing regulations to the changes specified in the TCJA. The final regulations provide guidance for taxpayers to determine the amount of their foreign tax credits and how to compute their foreign tax credit limitation. Most notably, the final regulations help interpret the statute by providing details regarding how income is assigned and expenses are apportioned to the new separate categories created by the TCJA. In particular, the final regulations specify that, for purposes of applying the expense allocation and apportionment rules, the portion of gross income related to FDII or a GILTI inclusion which is offset by the section 250 deduction is treated as exempt income, and the stock giving rise to GILTI that is offset by the section 250 deduction is treated as a partially exempt asset. Such treatment implies that fewer expenses will be allocated to the section 951A category as a result of this rule, leading to higher computed foreign source taxable income, a larger foreign tax credit limitation, and a larger foreign tax credit offset with respect to GILTI income. Because in the absence of these regulations, these expenses would generally be allocated to the section 951A category (which makes it more difficult to utilize FTCs related to GILTI), this rule will in general reduce the tax burden of U.S. multinational corporations with GILTI income and allocable expenses. 2 TCJA repealed the fair market value method of asset valuation used to apportion interest expense to separate categories and amended Code sections that address deemed paid credits for subpart F income, global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI), and distributions of previously taxed earnings and profits. Further, because repatriated dividends are no longer taxable, the TCJA also repealed section 902 (which allowed a domestic corporation to claim FTCs with respect to dividends paid from a foreign corporation) and made other conforming changes. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 The final regulations also address how FTC carryovers are allocated across the new separate categories. The formation of two new separate categories requires a determination regarding how the balance of FTC carryovers in existence upon enactment of TCJA are to be allocated across new and existing separate categories. The final regulations also address certain potentially abusive borrowing arrangements, such as when a U.S. person lends money to a foreign partnership in order to artificially increase foreign source income (and therefore the FTC limitation) without affecting U.S. taxable income. In addition, they clarify the regulatory environment by updating inoperative language in §§ 1.904–1 through 1.904–3, parts of the regulations that have not previously been updated to reflect changes to section 904 made in 1978. The final regulations also ease transitional administrative burdens associated with the implementation of the TCJA; for example, they allow an exception to the 5 year waiting period for the election of the gross income or sales method for R&E expense allocation, and provide added flexibility for when the average bases of assets is measured by taxpayers who are required to switch to the tax book method of valuation. The final regulations further clarify the § 1.904–6 rules concerning how allocation of taxes across separate categories should be calculated in the presence of base and timing differences and also fill technical gaps in how to implement the statute in practice, for example, by providing a clear rule for how to characterize the value of stock in each separate category in the context of the new separate categories. C. Economic Analysis 1. Baseline The Treasury Department and the IRS have assessed the benefits and costs of the final regulations relative to a noaction baseline reflecting anticipated Federal income tax-related behavior in the absence of these regulations. 2. Summary of Economic Effects The final regulations provide certainty and clarity to taxpayers regarding the allocation of income, expenses, and FTC carryovers to the separate income categories. In the absence of the enhanced specificity provided by these regulations, similarly situated taxpayers might interpret the foreign tax credit provisions of the tax code differently, potentially resulting in inefficient patterns of economic activity. For example, because separate PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 categories for GILTI and foreign branch income did not previously exist, one taxpayer might undertake a particular business activity, based on that taxpayer’s interpretations of how that activity’s income, expenses, and carryover foreign tax credits will be allocated across these categories, that another taxpayer, making a different interpretation of the tax treatment of these allocations, might forego. If this difference in interpretations confers a competitive advantage on the less profitable enterprise, U.S. economic performance may suffer. The guidance provided in these regulations helps to ensure that taxpayers face more uniform incentives when making economic decisions. In general, economic performance is enhanced when businesses face more uniform signals about tax treatment. Because the TCJA is new, the Treasury Department and the IRS do not know with reasonable precision the tax interpretations that taxpayers might make in the absence of this guidance. To the extent that taxpayers would generally have interpreted the foreign tax credit rules as being less favorable to the taxpayer than the final regulations provide, these final regulations may result in additional international activity by these taxpayers relative to the no-action baseline. This additional activity may include both activities that are beneficial to the U.S. economy (perhaps because they represent enhanced international opportunities for businesses with U.S. owners) and activities that are not beneficial (perhaps because they are accompanied by reduced activity in the United States) The Treasury Department and the IRS recognize that additional U.S. economic activity abroad may be a complement or substitute to activity within the United States and that to the extent these regulations change this activity (relative to the no-action baseline or alternative regulatory approaches), a mix of results may occur. The Treasury Department and the IRS have not undertaken quantitative estimates of the economic effects of the final regulations. The Treasury Department and the IRS do not have readily available data or models to estimate with reasonable precision (i) the tax stances that taxpayers would likely take in the absence of these final regulations or under alternative regulatory approaches; (ii) the difference in economic decisions that taxpayers might make between the final regulations and the no-action baseline or alternative regulatory approaches; or (iii) how this difference in business activities will affect U.S. economic E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations activity. In the absence of such quantitative estimates, the Treasury Department and the IRS have undertaken a qualitative analysis of the economic effects of the final regulations relative to the no-action baseline and relative to alternative regulatory approaches. This analysis is presented in Parts I.C.3 and I.C.4. of this Special Analyses. 3. Economic Effects of Important Provisions Revised From the 2018 FTC Proposed Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 i. Transition Rules Relating to Foreign Tax Credit Carryovers a. Background Under the Code, to the extent a taxpayer pays or accrues creditable foreign taxes in excess of its foreign tax credit limitation in a given year, the taxpayer can carry those excess credits back one year or forward ten years (FTC carryover). Because a taxpayer’s FTC limitation is determined on a separate category basis, FTC carryovers are maintained on a separate category basis as well. When there are changes in the number of separate categories, transition rules are generally needed to deal with how to classify the existing FTC carryovers so that they can be allocated to the new separate categories. The TCJA expanded the existing separate categories by subdividing the general category into three categories: General, foreign branch, and section 951A. The TCJA did not, however, provide transition rules for the existing stock of FTC carryovers. To deal with the transition issue, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations provided a default rule that kept FTC carryovers in the general category going forward. However, taxpayers could elect to reconstruct their FTC carryover with respect to the foreign branch (but not the section 951A) category. To do so, a taxpayer would need to determine what portion of its FTC carryover would be in the foreign branch category if the foreign branch category had existed in the year the carryover arose. No amount of the carryover was required to be allocated to the section 951A category because of the difficulty associated with the reconstruction and because under the TCJA carryovers are not allowed for the foreign tax credits in the section 951A category. The provision in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations not to require taxpayers that elected reconstruction to allocate FTC carryovers to the section 951A category is generally favorable to the affected taxpayers because otherwise taxpayers would have had carryover credits allocated to the section 951A category and those taxpayers would not VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 have been allowed to utilize those credits. b. Options Considered for the Final Regulations The Treasury Department and the IRS considered several options to deal with FTC carryovers in response to taxpayer comments.3 The first option was to adopt the rule from the 2018 FTC proposed regulations without modification. A second set of options was to adopt simplified rules to assist taxpayers with allocating the FTC carryovers to the different separate categories. The Treasury Department and the IRS considered three variants of simplified rules: (a) Allow taxpayers to assign FTCs to the foreign branch category proportionately according to the ratio of foreign taxes paid or accrued by the taxpayer’s branches to total foreign taxes paid or accrued by the taxpayer (in that year); (b) allow taxpayers to assign FTCs based on any reasonable method; or (c) allow taxpayers to assign FTCs by reconstructing FTC carryforwards but do not require taxpayers to apply the disregarded payment rule in § 1.904– 4(f)(2)(vi). The final regulations adopt the first simplified rule, (a). Thus, taxpayers may keep FTC carryovers in the general category, allocate them to the foreign branch category in the same manner as they would have been allocated had the foreign branch category always existed, or allocate them to the foreign branch category proportionately. This simplified rule reduces complexity for some taxpayers and is not expected to result in a substantially different allocation of FTCs to the branch basket than full reconstruction. The final rule therefore minimizes the potential for the manipulation of allocations of income, expenses, and foreign taxes to the categories while minimizing taxpayer compliance and IRS administrative costs. c. Number of Affected Taxpayers This provision potentially affects any taxpayer with a general category FTC arising in a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, that is carried to a taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2018. The Treasury Department and the IRS estimate that there are between 2 and 2.25 million individual and business taxpayers that would be affected by the transition rules related to FTC carryovers. This estimate is based on currently available counts of 3 The 2018 FTC proposed regulations requested comments on whether a simplified safe harbor approach was appropriate and several comments requested such a rule. PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69051 taxpayers with FTC carryovers reported on Form 1118 schedule B line 5 and Form 1116 part III line 10 for tax years 2015–2017. ii. Transfers of IP for Purposes of the Foreign Branch Category a. Background The TCJA added a new separate category related to foreign branch income. The statute did not, however, provide specific guidance on what constitutes foreign branch income other than that it is business profits attributable to one or more qualified business units of the taxpayer in one or more foreign countries. To provide greater specificity over the definition of foreign branch income, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations generally determined the foreign branch income based on the U.S.-tax adjusted books and records of the foreign branch. However, certain adjustments were made to those books and records based on certain disregarded transactions that may have occurred between the foreign branch owner and the foreign branch. These adjustments were intended to get to a more accurate representation of the gross income attributable to the branch. The issue of disregarded payments is particularly salient in the context of disregarded transfers of intellectual property (IP). The 2018 FTC proposed regulations included a rule that disregarded transfers of IP between a foreign branch and its owner would result in a deemed payment that reallocates income between the foreign branch category and the general category. This rule has the effect of preventing artificial manipulation of the foreign branch category through changes in ownership of IP between a foreign branch and its owner. This rule applied regardless of when the transfer of IP occurred and regardless of how long the IP remained in the foreign branch. Comments requested that the rule be withdrawn and cited, among other concerns, its administrative and compliance burdens. Other comments requested that the Treasury Department limit the applicability of the rule to a later date and also limit its applicability where ownership of the IP by the foreign branch is transitory. b. Options Considered for the Final Regulations The Treasury Department and the IRS considered three options with respect to the treatment of disregarded transfers of IP for purposes of determining foreign branch income. The first option was to withdraw the rule in its entirety and to provide no specific guidance for E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69052 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 disregarded transfers of IP. The second option was to adopt the rule unchanged from the 2018 FTC proposed regulations. The third option was to adopt the rule with certain modifications that would alleviate some of the compliance and administrative burdens. These modifications include applying the rule to transfers that occurred after the date of publication of the 2018 FTC proposed regulations and providing exceptions for transfers involving transitory ownership by the foreign branch. The final regulations adopt the third option. They retain the structure of the 2018 FTC proposed regulations but limit its applicability to transactions that occurred after the date of publication of the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, and included an exception for transitory ownership. The Treasury Department and the IRS recognize that this rule may result in higher compliance costs relative to the no-action baseline but project that this negative consequence is outweighed by concerns that taxpayers could otherwise structure highly valuable and mobile IP transfers to avoid the purpose of the rules. This avoidance would be difficult for the IRS to address absent the rule. In order to minimize the increase in compliance costs relative to withdrawing the rule (and simultaneously to reduce compliance costs relative to retaining the proposed regulations without change), the rule is limited to IP transfers that occurred after the publication of the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, when taxpayers were aware of the rule and how foreign branch category income would be determined. Furthermore, the Treasury Department and the IRS determined that cases where the foreign branch only owned the IP for brief periods of time were unlikely to pose the risk identified and thus should be excepted. c. Number of Affected Taxpayers This provision affects any taxpayer that transfers IP to or from a foreign branch on or after December 7, 2018. Because transfers of IP are not specifically identified on any tax forms, the Treasury Department and the IRS estimated the number of taxpayers who report nonzero gross income and allocable deductions with respect to a foreign branch as an upper bound on the group of taxpayers potentially affected by this rule. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that there were 1,500 unique taxpayers that meet these conditions in currently available data from taxable years 2015–2017. The number of these taxpayers that transfer IP is likely much smaller than this count VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 because most taxpayers do not transfer IP in any given tax year. iii. Treatment of GILTI for Purposes of the Interest Allocation Rules a. Background The Code provides rules for how the interest expense of a CFC is to be allocated for purposes of claiming the foreign tax credit. Under the Code, a CFC must allocate and apportion its interest expense among groups of income for purposes of determining its tested income, subpart F income, or other types of net foreign source income. At the same time, a U.S. taxpayer must characterize (in terms of separate categories) the value of its CFCs for purposes of allocating and apportioning its own interest expense. Existing rules allow a CFC to allocate its interest using one of two methods (the asset method or the modified gross income (MGI) method) and the U.S. taxpayer characterizes the stock of its CFC (for purposes of allocating its own interest) using the same method that the CFC used to allocate its interest. The MGI method treats subpart F income differently than other types of gross income with respect to interest allocations for tiered CFC ownership structures; in particular, subpart F income of lower tier CFCs is not accounted for by upper tier CFCs (that is, it does not ‘‘tier up’’) for purposes of interest expense allocation, whereas all other types of a CFC’s income do tier up. The 2018 FTC proposed regulations do not take into account gross tested income from a lower-tier CFC with respect to an upper-tier CFC for purposes of allocating the upper tier CFC’s interest expense. A comment requested that gross tested income tier up to the upper-tier CFC under the MGI method in order to minimize differences between the results obtained under the asset method and the MGI method. b. Options Considered for the Final Regulations The Treasury Department and the IRS considered two options with respect to the treatment of interest expense allocation. The first option was to adopt the rule from the 2018 FTC proposed regulations. The second option was to adopt a rule that requires gross tested income to tier up for purposes of applying the MGI method. The final regulations require tested income to tier up to the upper-tier CFC for purposes of allocating interest expense when applying the MGI method. This is an appropriate solution for several reasons. First, the section PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 951A rules do not have special rules for passive income similar to those present in the subpart F regime; the Treasury Department and the IRS have further determined that the existing rule accounts for the special rules that apply to subpart F income. Hence, an exception to the general tiering up rule is not needed for tested income. Second, the solution minimizes differences in the results obtained by taxpayers that elect the asset method rather than the MGI method, thus minimizing arbitrary differences in the tax treatment of similarly situated taxpayers. Finally, the solution is consistent with how the rules in section 951A apply for purposes of determining the CFC’s tested income. c. Number of Affected Taxpayers The Treasury Department and the IRS determined that the group of taxpayers affected by the regulation consists of any taxpayer with at least one secondtier CFC that earns gross tested income. The Treasury Department and the IRS estimate that there are between 11,000 and 14,000 taxpayers that fit that profile based on tax filings for tax years 2015– 2017. 4. Economic Effects of Provisions Not Substantially Revised From the 2018 FTC Proposed Regulations i. Matching Interest Income Allocation to Interest Expense Allocation for Partnerships The existing rules for the foreign tax credit generally specify how taxpayer income, expenses, and FTC carryovers are to be allocated to the separate categories. There remain, however, many allocation rules that would benefit from additional clarity. Regarding interest income and expenses in the case of partnership loan structures, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations specified that the taxpayer’s interest income allocation is to be matched to its interest expense allocation, rather than specifying that the interest expense allocation be matched to the taxpayer’s interest income allocation. This rule reduces opportunities for taxpayers to increase their gross foreign source income based solely on a related party loan to a partnership. Such potentially abusive borrowing arrangements occur, for example, when a U.S. person lends money to a foreign partnership in order to artificially increase foreign source income (and therefore the FTC limitation) without affecting U.S. taxable income. This increase in the FTC limitation is accomplished, for example, by lending to a controlled partnership, which has no effect on U.S. taxable income E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 because the interest income received from the partnership is offset by the lender’s share of the interest expense incurred by the partnership. However, the transaction can increase foreign source income and allowable foreign tax credits, because the existing interest expense allocation rules do not generally allocate interest income and interest expenses similarly. To prevent such artificial inflation of foreign tax credits, the final regulations specify that interest income attributable to borrowing through a partnership will be allocated across separate foreign tax credit categories in the same manner as the associated interest expense. Accordingly, the proposed matching rule achieves a more neutral foreign tax credit limitation result and better minimizes the impact of related party loans on a taxpayer’s foreign tax credit limitation. The final regulations are the same as the 2018 FTC proposed regulations in this regard except for minor technical modifications. ii. Treatment of Income Associated With the Section 250 Deduction as Exempt Income and Treatment of Expenses Allocated to Section 951A Category as Exempt Expenses The statute does not specify how income associated with the section 250 deduction is to be treated for purposes of claiming the FTC. To address this issue, the proposed regulations specified that the income associated with the section 250 deduction is treated as income that is partially exempt from income tax (based on the amount of the section 250 deduction allowed) for purposes of the foreign tax credit. As a result, the taxpayer’s expenses are to be allocated and apportioned without taking into account this income. The partially exempt treatment provided for section 250 income means that fewer expenses are allocated to the section 951A category than would have been if that income were not partially exempt (since the total gross income in the section 951A category would have been higher). The regulations therefore potentially increase the competitiveness of U.S. corporations relative to the noaction baseline, as described in Part I.3.B of this Special Analyses. The 2018 FTC proposed regulations requested comment on the estimated impact of the reduced expense allocation to the section 951A category relative to specifying that no expenses may be allocated against this income. Most comments did not address this issue. One comment expressed the view that the increased incentive to over- VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 allocate expenses to the United States (relative to the no-action baseline) might not be small, because expense allocation responds to effective tax rates rather than statutory rates, and post-TCJA effective tax rates might not have fallen as much as statutory rates. Estimates of post-TCJA marginal effective tax rates suggest that effective tax rates have fallen meaningfully, consistent with a reduced incentive to over-allocate interest expense to the United States.4 The final regulations are the same as the 2018 FTC proposed regulations in this regard except for minor technical modifications. iii. Clarifications to the Look-Through Rules Before the TCJA, dividends, interest, rents and royalties (‘‘look-through payments’’) paid to a United States shareholder by its CFC were generally allocated to the general category to the extent that they were not treated as passive category income. Because TCJA split the general category income into three categories, it created a question of how to assign look-through payments. To address this issue, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations specified that these look-through payments be assigned to the general category or foreign branch category. They may not be assigned to the section 951A category. This treatment is consistent with the fact that payments of dividends, interest, rents, and royalties made directly to a United States shareholder are not included in the new section 951A category. By contrast, certain interest, rents, and royalties earned by a foreign branch can meet the definition of foreign branch category income, and the general category is a residual category that encompasses all income that is not specifically assigned to any other category. The Treasury Department and the IRS considered as an alternative not issuing guidance for the treatment of lookthrough payments but concluded that affected taxpayers and the overall U.S. economy would benefit from the issuance of final regulations on this issue. The final regulations are the same as the 2018 FTC proposed regulations in this regard except for minor technical modifications. II. Paperwork Reduction Act The rules relating to foreign tax credits that were modified by the Act are reflected in several revised and new 4 DeBacker, Jason, and Roy Kasher, ‘‘Effective Tax Rates on Business Investment Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’’, May 2018. PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69053 schedules added to existing forms discussed in this Part II of the Special Analyses. For purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) (‘‘PRA’’), the reporting burden associated with the revised and new schedules will be reflected in the PRA submission associated with the forms described in this Part II. Additionally, a revised collection of information is added with respect to section 986 in § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iv). The collection of information in § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iv) is an election to translate foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency using the spot rate as of the date of payment (rather than the average exchange rate for the year). This election may be made by an individual or corporation and may be made on behalf of a foreign corporation by a U.S. shareholder. A pass-through entity cannot make this election. This election can be made for all foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency, or it can be made only with respect to all foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency that are recorded on the separate books and records of a dollar functional currency QBU of the taxpayer. This election, if made with respect to dollar functional currency QBUs, will match the exchange rate used to determine the dollar amount of the foreign tax credit with the exchange rate used to determine the dollar amount of income that is used to pay the tax. The election is made once and applies to all future years. The election is made by attaching a statement to a timely filed U.S. income tax return for the first year to which the election applies. For purposes of the PRA, the reporting burden associated with § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iv) will be reflected in the PRA submission associated with the Form 1040 series and Form 1120 series. Form 1118, Foreign Tax Credit— Corporations, has been revised to add new Schedule C (Tax Deemed Paid With Respect to Section 951(a)(1) Inclusions by Domestic Corporation Filing Return (Section 960(a)), Schedule D (Tax Deemed Paid With Respect to Section 951A Income by Domestic Corporation Filing the Return (Section 960(d)), and Schedule E (Tax Deemed Paid With Respect to Previously Taxed Income by Domestic Corporation Filing the Return (Section 960(b)). In addition, the existing schedules of Form 1118 have been modified to account for the two new separate categories of income under section 904(d); the repeal of section 902 indirect credits for foreign taxes deemed paid with respect to dividends from foreign corporations; modified indirect E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69054 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations credits under section 960 for inclusions under sections 951(a)(1) and 951A; the modified section 78 gross up with respect to inclusions under sections 951(a)(1) and 951A; the revised sourcing rule for certain income from the sale of inventory under section 863(b); the repeal of the fair market value method for apportioning interest expense under 864(e); new adjustments for purposes of section 904 with respect to expenses allocable to certain stock or dividends for which a dividends received deduction is allowed under section 245A; the election to increase pre-2018 section 904(g) Overall Domestic Loss (ODL) recapture; and limited foreign tax credits with respect to inclusions under section 965. For purposes of the PRA, the reporting burden associated with these changes is reflected in the PRA submission associated with Form 1118 (OMB control number 1545–0123, which represents a total estimated burden time, including all other related forms and schedules, of 3.157 billion hours and total estimated monetized costs of $58.148 billion). Form 5471, Information Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations, has also been revised to add Schedule E–1 (Taxes Paid, Accrued, or Deemed Paid on Accumulated Earnings and Profits (E&P) of Foreign Corporation) and Schedule P (Previously Taxed Earnings and Profits of U.S. Shareholder of Certain Foreign Corporations) and to amend Schedule E (Income, War Profits, and Excess Profits Taxes Paid or Accrued) and Schedule J (Accumulated Earnings & Profits (E&P) of Controlled Foreign Corporations). These changes to the Form 5471 reflect the two new separate categories of income under section 904(d); the repeal of section 902 indirect credits for foreign taxes deemed paid with respect to dividends from foreign corporations; modified indirect credits under section 960 for inclusions under sections 951(a)(1) and 951A; and limited foreign tax credits with respect to inclusions under section 965. For purposes of the PRA, the reporting burden associated with these changes is reflected in the PRA submission associated with Schedules E, E–1, J, and P of Form 5471 (OMB control number 1545–0123). Schedule B (Specifically Attributable Taxes and Income (Section 999(c)(2)) of the Form 5713, International Boycott Report, has also been revised to reflect the repeal of section 902. Schedule C (Tax Effect of the International Boycott Provisions) of the Form 5713 has been revised to account for the new section 904(d) categories of income. For purposes of the PRA, the reporting burden associated with these changes is VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 reflected in the PRA submission associated with Schedules B and C of Form 5713 (OMB control number 1545– 0216, which represents a total estimated burden time, including all other related forms and schedules, of 143,498 hours). Schedules K and K–1 of the following forms have been revised to account for the new section 904(d) categories of income: Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income, Form 1120–S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation, and Form 8865, Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Partnerships. Form 1116, Foreign Tax Credit (Individual, Estate, or Trust), has also been revised to account for the new section 904(d) categories of income. For purposes of the PRA, the reporting burden associated with these changes is reflected in the PRA submission associated with Forms 1065 and 1120S (OMB control number 1545–0123); Form 8865 (OMB control number 1545– 1668, which represents a total estimated burden time, including all other related forms and schedules, of 289,354 hours), and Form 1116 (OMB control numbers 1545–0121, which represents a total estimated burden time, including all other related forms and schedules, of 25,066,693 hours; and 1545–0074, which represents a total estimated burden time, including all other related forms and schedules, of 1.784 billion hours and total estimated monetized costs of $31.764 billion). The IRS estimates the number of affected filers for the aforementioned forms to be the following: Number of respondents * (estimated) Form Form Form Form Form Form Form Form Form Form Form Form Form Form Form 1116 ............................ 1118 ............................ 1040 ............................ 1065 ............................ 1065 Schedule K–1 .... 1120 ............................ 1120–S ........................ 1120–S Schedule K–1 5471 ............................ 5471 Schedule E ........ 5471 Schedule J ......... 5713 Schedule B ........ 5713 Schedule C ........ 8865 ............................ 8,000,000 15,000 150,000,000 4,000,000 24,750,000 1,700,000 4,750,000 7,500,000 28,000 10,000 25,500 <1,000 <1,000 14,500 Data tabulated from 2015 and 2016 Business Return Transaction File and E-file data. * Except for K–1 filings, which count the total number of K–1s received; same issuer K–1s are aggregated at the recipient level. The estimates for the number of impacted filers with respect to the collections of information described in this part II of the Special Analysis section are based on filers of U.S. income tax returns that file a Form 1040 or Form 1120 because only filers of PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 these forms would be subject to the collection of information requirement. The IRS estimates the number of impacted filers to be the following: TAX FORMS IMPACTED Collection of information § 1.986(a)– 1(a)(2)(iv). Number of respondents (estimated) Forms to which the information may be attached 1,625–3,250 Form 1040 series and Form 1120 series. Data tabulated from 2015 and 2016 Business and Individual Return Transaction File and E-file data. The current status of the PRA submissions related to foreign tax credits is provided in the following table. The burden estimates provided in the above narrative are aggregate amounts that relate to the entire package of forms associated with the OMB control numbers 1545–0123 (which represents a total estimated burden time for all forms and schedules for corporations of 3.157 billion hours and total estimated monetized costs of $58.148 billion ($2017)), 1545–0074 (which represents a total estimated burden time, including all other related forms and schedules for individuals, of 1.784 billion hours and total estimated monetized costs of $31.764 billion ($2017)), 1545–0216 (which represents a total estimated burden time, including all other related forms and schedules, of 143,498 hours), 1545–1668 (which represents a total estimated burden time, including all other related forms and schedules of 289,354 hours), and 1545–0121 (which represents a total estimated burden time, including all other related forms and schedules of 25,066,693 hours). 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 only the foreign tax creditrelated forms that are included in the tables in this Part II. These numbers are therefore unrelated to the future calculations needed to assess the burden imposed by the regulations. These burdens have been reported for other regulations related to the taxation of cross-border income and the Treasury Department and the IRS urge readers to recognize that these numbers are duplicates and to guard against overcounting the burden that international tax provisions imposed prior to the TCJA. No burden estimates specific to the forms affected by the regulations are currently available. The Treasury Department and the IRS have not estimated the burden, including that E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations of any new information collections, related to the requirements under the regulations. The Treasury Department and the IRS estimate PRA burdens on a taxpayer-type basis rather than a provision-specific basis. Those estimates would capture both changes made by the Act and those that arise out of discretionary authority exercised in the final regulations. Form Form 1116 ............................... The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments on all aspects of information collection burdens related to these final 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. Proposed revisions (if any) to these Type of filer All other Filers (mainly trusts and estates) (Legacy system). forms that reflect the information collections contained in these final regulations will be made available for public comment at https://apps.irs.gov/ app/picklist/list/draftTaxForms.html and will not be finalized until after these forms have been approved by OMB under the PRA. OMB No.(s) 1545–0121 69055 Status Published in the Federal Register on 3/23/17. Public comment period closed 5/22/18. Approved by OMB through 10/ 30/2020. Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201704-1545-023. Business (NEW Model) .......... 1545–0123 Published in the Federal Register on 10/8/18. Public Comment period closes on 12/10/18. Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/09/2018-21846/proposed-collection-comment-requestfor-forms-1065-1065-b-1066-1120-1120-c-1120-f-1120-h-1120-nd. Individual (NEW Model) .......... 1545–0074 Limited Scope submission (1040 only) on 10/11/18 at OIRA for review. Full ICR submission (all forms) scheduled in 3– 2019. 60 Day Federal Register notice not published yet for full collection. Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201808-1545-031. Form 1118, 1065, 1065 Schedule K–1, 1120–S. Business (NEW Model) .......... 1545–0123 Published in the Federal Register on 10/8/18. Public Comment period closes on 12/10/18. Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/09/2018-21846/proposed-collection-comment-requestfor-forms-1065-1065-b-1066-1120-1120-c-1120-f-1120-h-1120-nd. Form 5471 (including Schedules E, J). Business (NEW Model) .......... 1545–0123 Published in the Federal Register on 10/8/18. Public Comment period closes on 12/10/18. Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/09/2018-21846/proposed-collection-comment-requestfor-forms-1065-1065-b-1066-1120-1120-c-1120-f-1120-h-1120-nd. Individual (NEW Model) .......... 1545–0074 Limited Scope submission (1040 only) on 10/11/18 at OIRA for review. Full ICR submission for all forms in 3–2019. 60 Day Federal Register notice not published yet for full collection. Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201808-1545-031. Form 5713 Schedules B, C ..... All other Filers (mainly trusts and estates) (Legacy system). 1545–0216 Published in the Federal Register on 3/28/18. Public Comment period closed 5/29/18. Renewal submitted on 10/11/ 18 for review to OIRA. New 2018 Forms not included in renewal to OIRA due to timing of submission. Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/29/2018-23515/agency-information-collection-activitiessubmission-for-omb-review-comment-request-multiple-internal. Business (NEW Model) .......... 1545–0123 Published in the Federal Register on 10/11/18. Public Comment period closed on 12/10/18. Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/09/2018-21846/proposed-collection-comment-requestfor-forms-1065-1065-b-1066-1120-1120-c-1120-f-1120-h-1120-nd. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Individual (NEW Model) .......... 1545–0074 Limited Scope submission (1040 only) on 10/11/18 at OIRA for review. Full ICR submission for all forms in 3–2019. 60 Day Federal Register notice not published yet for full collection. Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201808-1545-031. Form 8865 ............................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 All other Filers (mainly trusts and estates) (Legacy system). Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00035 1545–1668 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Published in the Federal Register on 10/1/18. Public Comment period closed on 11/30/18. ICR in process by Treasury as of 10/17/18. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69056 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations Form Type of filer OMB No.(s) Status Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/01/2018-21288/proposed-collection-comment-requestfor-regulation-project. Business (NEW Model) .......... 1545–0123 Published in the Federal Register on 10/8/18. Public Comment period closed on 12/10/18. Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/09/2018-21846/proposed-collection-comment-requestfor-forms-1065-1065-b-1066-1120-1120-c-1120-f-1120-h-1120-nd. Individual (NEW Model) .......... 1545–0074 Limited Scope submission (1040 only) on 10/11/18 at OIRA for review. Full ICR submission for all forms in 3–2019. 60 Day Federal Register notice not published yet for full collection. Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201808-1545-031. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 In 2018, the IRS released and invited comments on drafts of the above forms in order to give members of the public advance notice and an opportunity to submit comments. The IRS received no comments on the portions of the forms that relate to foreign tax credits during the comment period. Consequently, the IRS made the forms available in late 2018 for use by the public. The IRS is contemplating making additional changes to the forms in order to implement final regulations. III. Regulatory Flexibility Act It is hereby certified that this final regulation 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 (RFA) (5 U.S.C. chapter 6). These final regulations provide guidance needed to comply with statutory changes and affect individuals and corporations claiming foreign tax credits. The domestic small business entities that are subject to the foreign tax credit rules in the Code and these final regulations are generally those domestic small business entities that are at least 10 percent corporate shareholders of foreign corporations, and so are eligible to claim dividends-received deductions or compute foreign taxes deemed paid under section 960 with respect to inclusions under subpart F and section 951A from CFCs. Other provisions of the TCJA, such as the new separate foreign tax credit limitation category for foreign branch income and the repeal of the option to allocate and apportion interest expense on the basis of the fair market value (rather than tax basis) of a taxpayer’s assets, might also affect Size (by business receipts) 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 FRACTION OF U.S. CORPORATE TAXPAYERS REPORTING CFC OWNERSHIP, BY GROSS RECEIPTS SIZE CLASS—Continued 200–250 mil .......................... 250–500 mil .......................... >=500 mil .............................. Percentage with a CFC <1 mil .................................... 1–5 mil .................................. 5–10 mil ................................ 10–20 mil .............................. 20–30 mil .............................. 30–50 mil .............................. 50–100 mil ............................ 100–150 mil .......................... 150–200 mil .......................... 0.40 0.80 2.70 4.50 9.30 12.00 19.70 26.80 32.50 The Treasury Department and the IRS project that the final regulations are unlikely to affect a substantial number of domestic small business entities but data are unavailable to estimate with certainty and certify in accordance with RFA that the number of small entities affected will not be substantial. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that these final regulations will not have a significant economic impact on domestic small business entities. Based on published information from 2013, foreign tax credits as a percentage of three different tax-related measures of annual receipts (see Table for variables) by corporations are substantially less than the 3 to 5 percent threshold for significant economic impact. The amount of foreign tax credits in 2013 is an upper bound on the change in foreign tax credits resulting from the final regulations. $500,000 under $1,000,000 $1,000,000 under $5,000,000 $5,000,000 under $10,000,000 $10,000,000 under $50,000,000 $50,000,000 under $100,000,000 $100,000,000 under $250,000,000 (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) 0.03 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 0.00 Frm 00036 0.00 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 0.01 37.40 43.70 63.50 * Data based on 2017 Statistics of Income sample for all 1120 returns except 1120–S (return type = 2) (1120–L, 1120–RIC, 1120–F, 1120–REIT, 1120–PC,1120, 1120–L Consolidated 1504c return (controlling industries 524142 and 524143),1120–PC Consolidated 1504C return (controlling industries 524156, 524159), and 1120 Section 594/1504c consolidated return (controlling industries not 524142, 524143, 524156, 524159), 1120 Non-consolidated return). FRACTION OF U.S. CORPORATE TAXPAYERS REPORTING CFC OWNERSHIP, BY GROSS RECEIPTS SIZE CLASS Gross receipts size class Percentage with a CFC Gross receipts size class Under $500,000 (%) FTC/Total Receipts ........................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 domestic small business entities that operate in foreign jurisdictions. Based on 2017 Statistics of Income data, the Treasury Department and the IRS computed the fraction of taxpayers owning a CFC by gross receipts size class. The smaller size classes have a relatively small fraction of taxpayers that own CFCs, which suggests that many domestic small business entities will be unaffected by these regulations. Many of the important aspects of these final regulations, including all of the rules in §§ 1.861–8(d)(2)(C), 1.861– 10, 1.861–12, 1.861–13, 1.901(j)–1, 1.904–5, 1.904(b)–3, 1.954–1, 1.960–1 through 1.960–3, and 1.965–5(c)(1)(iii) apply only to U.S. persons that operate a foreign business in corporate form, and, in most cases, only if the foreign corporation is a CFC. Because it takes significant resources and investment for a business to operate outside of the United States in corporate form, and in particular to own a CFC, the owners of such businesses will infrequently be domestic small business entities, as indicated by the Table. 0.01 E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 0.03 17DER2 0.09 $250,000,000 or more 0.56 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations Size (by business receipts) Under $500,000 (%) $500,000 under $1,000,000 $1,000,000 under $5,000,000 $5,000,000 under $10,000,000 $10,000,000 under $50,000,000 $50,000,000 under $100,000,000 $100,000,000 under $250,000,000 (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) FTC/(Total Receipts-Total Deductions) .............................................. FTC/Business Receipts ..................... 0.48 0.05 0.03 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.26 0.01 0.22 0.01 0.51 0.04 1.20 0.10 69057 $250,000,000 or more 9.00 0.64 Source: Statistics of Income (2013) Form 1120 available at https://www.irs.gov/statistics. The collection of information in § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iv) of the final regulations (relating to the election to translate creditable foreign taxes at the spot rate on the date of payment instead of the average exchange rate for the year) may affect some small business entities with significant foreign operations. The data to assess the number of small entities potentially affected by § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iv) are not readily available. However, businesses with significant foreign operations are generally not small businesses, as indicated by the data above. Further, as demonstrated in the table in this Part III of the Special Analyses, foreign tax credits generally do not have a significant economic impact on small business entities. Therefore, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that a substantial number of domestic small business entities will not be subject to § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iv). Consequently, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined, and hereby certify, that § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iv) will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Pursuant to section 7805(f), the proposed regulations preceding these final regulations (REG–105600–18) were submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on small businesses and no comments were received. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 IV. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) requires that agencies assess anticipated costs and benefits and take certain other actions before issuing a final rule that includes any Federal mandate that may result in expenditures in any one year by a state, local, or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million in 1995 dollars, updated annually for inflation. In 2019, that threshold is approximately $154 million. This rule does not include any Federal mandate that may result in expenditures by state, local, or tribal governments, or by the private sector in excess of that threshold. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 V. Executive Order 13132: Federalism Executive Order 13132 (entitled ‘‘Federalism’’) prohibits an agency from publishing any rule that has federalism implications if the rule either imposes substantial, direct compliance costs on state and local governments, and is not required by statute, or preempts state law, unless the agency meets the consultation and funding requirements of section 6 of the Executive order. This rule does not have federalism implications and does not impose substantial direct compliance costs on state and local governments or preempt state law within the meaning of the Executive order. VI. Congressional Review Act The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the OMB has determined that this Treasury decision is a major rule for purposes of the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) (‘‘CRA’’). Under section 801(3) of the CRA, a major rule takes effect 60 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register. Notwithstanding this requirement, section 808(2) of the CRA allows agencies to dispense with the requirements of section 801 of the CRA when the agency for good cause finds that such procedure would be impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest and that the rule shall take effect at such time as the agency promulgating the rule determines. Pursuant to section 808(2) of the CRA, the Treasury Department and the IRS find, for good cause, that a 60-day delay in the effective date is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. In general, the statutory provisions to which these rules relate were enacted on December 22, 2017, and apply to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after 2017 and to the taxable years of U.S. persons in which or with which such taxable years of foreign corporations end. In many cases, these taxable years have already ended. This means that the statutory provisions are currently effective, and taxpayers may be subject to Federal income tax liability for their 2018 taxable year reflecting these provisions. In certain cases, PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 taxpayers may be required to file returns reflecting this Federal income liability during the 60-day period that begins after this rule is published in the Federal Register. These final regulations provide crucial guidance for taxpayers on how to apply the relevant statutory rules, compute their tax liability and accurately file their U.S. income tax returns. These final regulations resolve statutory ambiguity, prevent abuse, and grant taxpayer relief that would not be available based solely on the statute. As taxpayers must already comply with the statute, a 60-day delay in the effective date of the final regulations is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. A delay would place certain taxpayers in the unusual position of having to determine whether to file U.S. income tax returns during the preeffective date period based on final regulations that are not yet effective. If taxpayers chose not to follow the final regulations and did not amend their returns after the regulations became effective, it would place significant strain on the IRS to ensure that taxpayers correctly calculated their tax liabilities. For example, these final regulations provide significant guidance on foreign branch category income, a provision added by the TCJA along with a broad grant of regulatory authority to provide additional guidance. Therefore, the rules in this Treasury decision are effective on the date of publication in the Federal Register and apply in certain cases to taxable years of foreign corporations and U.S. persons beginning before such date. The foregoing good cause statement only applies to the 60-day delayed effective date provision of section 801(3) of the CRA and is permitted under section 808(2) of the CRA. The Treasury Department and the IRS hereby comply with all aspects of the CRA and the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.). Drafting Information The principal authors of these regulations are Karen J. Cate, Jeffrey P. Cowan, Jeffrey L. Parry, Larry R. Pounders, and Suzanne M. Walsh of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69058 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (International). However, other personnel from the Treasury Department and the IRS participated in their development. List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1 * Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is amended as follows: PART 1—INCOME TAXES Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by: ■ 1. Revising the entries for §§ 1.861–8, 1.861–9 and 1.861–9T, 1.861–10(e), and 1.861–11. ■ 2. Adding entries for §§ 1.861–13, 1.861–17, 1.901(j)–1, 1.904–1, 1.904–2, and 1.904–3 in numerical order. ■ 3. Revising entries for §§ 1.904–4, 1.904–5, and 1.904–6. ■ 4. Adding entries for §§ 1.904(g)–3 and 1.905–3 in numerical order. ■ 5. Revising the entry for § 1.960–1. ■ 6. Adding entries for §§ 1.960–2, 1.960–3, 1.960–4, and 1.986(a)–1 in numerical order. The revisions and additions read in part as follows: ■ Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805. * * * Section 1.861–8 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 250(c), 26 U.S.C. 864(e)(7), and 26 U.S.C. 882(c). Sections 1.861–9 and 1.861–9T also issued under 26 U.S.C. 863(a), 26 U.S.C. 864(e)(7), 26 U.S.C. 865(i), and 26 U.S.C. 7701(f). Section 1.861–10(e) also issued under 26 U.S.C. 863(a), 26 U.S.C. 864(e)(7), 26 U.S.C. 865(i), and 26 U.S.C. 7701(f). Section 1.861–11 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 863(a), 26 U.S.C. 864(e)(7), 26 U.S.C. 865(i), and 26 U.S.C. 7701(f). * * * * * Section 1.861–13 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 864(e)(7). * * * * * * * * * jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 * * * * Section 1.904–1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(7). Section 1.904–2 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(7). Section 1.904–3 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(7). Section 1.904–4 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 250(c), 26 U.S.C. 865(j), 26. U.S.C. 904(d)(2)(J)(i), 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(6)(C), 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(7), and 26 U.S.C. 951A(f)(1)(B). Section 1.904–5 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(7) and 26 U.S.C. 951A(f)(1)(B). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 * * * * * * * * * * Section 1.960–1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 960(f). Section 1.960–2 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 960(f). Section 1.960–3 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 960(f). Section 1.960–4 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 951A(f)(1)(B) and 26 U.S.C. 960(f). * * * * * Section 1.986(a)–1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 986(a)(1)(C) and 26 U.S.C. 986(a)(1)(D)(ii). * * * * * Par. 2. Section 1.861–8 is amended by: ■ 1. In paragraph (a)(1), removing the last sentence. ■ 2. In paragraph (a)(4), removing the fourth through sixth sentences. ■ 3. Removing paragraph (a)(5). ■ 4. Revising paragraph (c)(2). ■ 5. Adding paragraph (c)(4). ■ 6. Revising paragraph (d)(2). ■ 7. In paragraph (e)(1), adding two sentences after the sixth sentence. ■ 8. In paragraph (e)(6)(i), adding a new first sentence and revising the new second sentence. ■ 9. Removing paragraph (e)(6)(iii). ■ 10. Removing and reserving paragraph (e)(10). ■ 11. Removing paragraph (e)(12)(iv). ■ 12. Adding paragraphs (e)(13) through (15). ■ 13. Removing and reserving paragraph (f)(1)(i). ■ 14. Adding paragraph (f)(1)(ii). ■ 15. Revising paragraphs (f)(4)(ii) and (g). ■ 16. Adding paragraph (h). The revisions and additions read as follows: ■ * Section 1.901(j)–1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 901(j)(4). * * § 1.861–8 Computation of taxable income from sources within the United States and from other sources and activities. Section 1.861–17 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 864(e)(7). * * Section 1.904(g)–3 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 904(g)(4). Section 1.905–3 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 989(c)(4). Adoption of Amendments to the Regulations * * * Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. * Section 1.904–6 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(7). * * * * (c) * * * (2) Apportionment based on assets. Certain taxpayers are required by paragraph (e)(2) of this section and § 1.861–9T to apportion interest expense on the basis of assets. A taxpayer may apportion other deductions based on the comparative value of assets that generate income within each grouping, provided that this method reflects the factual relationship between the deduction and the groupings of income and is applied in accordance with the PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 rules of § 1.861–9T(g). In general, such apportionments must be made either on the basis of the tax book value of those assets or, except in the case of interest expense, on the basis of their fair market value. See § 1.861–9(h). Taxpayers using the fair market value method for their last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, must change to the tax book value method (or the alternative tax book value method) for purposes of apportioning interest expense for their first taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017. The Commissioner’s approval is not required for this change. In the case of any corporate taxpayer that both uses tax book value or alternative tax book value, and owns directly or indirectly (within the meaning of § 1.861–12T(c)(2)(ii)(B)) 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote in any other corporation (domestic or foreign) that is not a member of the affiliated group (as defined in section 864(e)(5)), the taxpayer must adjust its basis in that stock in the manner described in § 1.861–12(c)(2). For the definition of related persons formerly contained in § 1.861–8T(c)(2), see paragraph (c)(4) of this section. * * * * * (4) Cross-referenced definition of related persons. The term related persons means two or more persons in a relationship described in section 267(b). In determining whether two or more corporations are members of the same controlled group under section 267(b)(3), a person is considered to own stock owned directly by such person, stock owned by with the application of section 1563(e)(1), and stock owned by application of section 267(c). In determining whether a corporation is related to a partnership under section 267(b)(10), a person is considered to own the partnership interest owned directly by such person and the partnership interest owned with the application of section 267(e)(3). (d) * * * (2) Allocation and apportionment to exempt, excluded, or eliminated income—(i) In general. For further guidance, see § 1.861–8T(d)(2)(i). (ii) Exempt income and exempt asset defined—(A) In general. For purposes of this section, the term exempt income means any gross income to the extent that it is exempt, excluded, or eliminated for Federal income tax purposes. The term exempt asset means any asset to the extent income from the asset is (or is treated as under paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B) or (C) of this section) E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations exempt, excluded, or eliminated for Federal income tax purposes. (B) Certain stock and dividends. For further guidance, see § 1.861– 8T(d)(2)(ii)(B). (C) Foreign-derived intangible income and inclusions under section 951A(a)— (1) Exempt income. The term ‘‘exempt income’’ includes an amount of a domestic corporation’s gross income included in gross foreign-derived deduction eligible income (or gross FDDEI), and also includes an amount of a domestic corporation’s gross income from an inclusion under section 951A(a) and the gross up under section 78 attributable to such an inclusion, in each case equal to the amount of the deduction allowed under section 250(a) for such gross income (taking into account the reduction under section 250(a)(2)(B), if any). Therefore, for purposes of apportioning deductions using a gross income method, gross income does not include gross income included in gross FDDEI, an inclusion under section 951A(a), or the gross up under section 78 attributable to an inclusion under section 951A(a), in an amount equal to the amount of the deduction allowed under section 250(a)(1)(A), (B)(i), or (B)(ii), respectively (taking into account the reduction under section 250(a)(2)(B), if any). The term gross foreign-derived deduction eligible income, or gross FDDEI, means the portion of the domestic corporation’s gross income (determined without regard to the amounts described in section 250(b)(3)(A)(i)(I) through (VI)) that is derived from sales and services described in section 250(b)(4)(A) and (B). (2) Exempt assets—(i) Assets that produce foreign-derived intangible income. The term ‘‘exempt asset’’ includes the portion of a domestic corporation’s assets that produce gross FDDEI equal to the amount of such assets multiplied by the fraction that equals the amount of the domestic corporation’s deduction allowed under section 250(a)(1)(A) (taking into account the reduction under section 250(a)(2)(B)(i), if any) divided by its gross FDDEI. No portion of the value of stock in a foreign corporation is treated as an exempt asset by reason of this paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(i), including by reason of a transfer of intangible property to a foreign corporation subject to section 367(d) that gives rise to gross FDDEI. (ii) Controlled foreign corporation stock that gives rise to inclusions under section 951A(a). The term ‘‘exempt asset’’ includes a portion of the value of a United States shareholder’s stock in a VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 controlled foreign corporation if the United States shareholder is a domestic corporation that is eligible for a deduction under section 250(a) with respect to income described in section 250(a)(1)(B)(i) and all or a portion of the domestic corporation’s stock in the controlled foreign corporation is characterized as GILTI inclusion stock. The portion of foreign corporation stock that is treated as an exempt asset for a taxable year equals the portion of the value of such foreign corporation stock (determined in accordance with §§ 1.861–9(g), 1.861–12, and 1.861–13) that is characterized as GILTI inclusion stock multiplied by a fraction that equals the amount of the domestic corporation’s deduction allowed under section 250(a)(1)(B)(i) (taking into account the reduction under section 250(a)(2)(B)(ii), if any) divided by its GILTI inclusion amount (as defined in § 1.951A–1(c)(1) or, in the case of a member of a consolidated group, § 1.1502–51(b)) for such taxable year. The portion of controlled foreign corporation stock treated as an exempt asset under this paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(ii) is treated as attributable to the relevant categories of GILTI inclusion stock described in each of paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(C)(3)(i) through (v) of this section based on the relative value of the portion of the stock in each such category. (3) GILTI inclusion stock. For purposes of paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(ii) of this section, the term GILTI inclusion stock means the aggregate of the portions of the value of controlled foreign corporation stock that are— (i) Assigned to the section 951A category under § 1.861–13(a)(2); (ii) Assigned to a particular treaty category under § 1.861–13(a)(3)(i) (relating to resourced gross tested income stock); (iii) Assigned under § 1.861–13(a)(1) to the gross tested income statutory grouping within the foreign source passive category less the amount described in § 1.861–13(a)(5)(iii)(A); (iv) Assigned under § 1.861–13(a)(1) to the gross tested income statutory grouping within the U.S. source general category less the amount described in § 1.861–13(a)(5)(iv)(A); and (v) Assigned under § 1.861–13(a)(1) to the gross tested income statutory grouping within the U.S. source passive category less the amount described in § 1.861–13(a)(5)(iv)(B). (4) Non-applicability to section 250(b). Paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(C)(1) through (3) of this section do not apply when apportioning deductions for purposes of determining deduction eligible income or foreign-derived PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69059 deduction eligible income under the operative section of section 250(b). (5) Example. The following example illustrates the application of the rules in this paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C). (i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, directly owns all of the stock of CFC1 and CFC2, both of which are controlled foreign corporations. The tax book value of CFC1 and CFC2’s stock is $10,000x and $9,000x, respectively. Pursuant to § 1.861–13(a), $6,100x of the stock of CFC1 is assigned to the section 951A category under § 1.861– 13(a)(2) (‘‘section 951A category stock’’) and the remaining $3,900x of the stock of CFC1 is assigned to the general category (‘‘general category stock’’). Additionally, $4,880x of the stock of CFC2 is section 951A category stock and the remaining $4,120x of the stock of CFC2 is general category stock. Under section 951A and the section 951A regulations (as defined in § 1.951A–1(a)(1)), USP’s GILTI inclusion amount is $610x. The portion of USP’s deduction under section 250 described in section 250(a)(1)(B)(i) is $305x. No portion of USP’s deduction is reduced by reason of section 250(a)(2)(B)(ii). (ii) Analysis. For purposes of apportioning deductions where section 904 is the operative section, under paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C)(1) of this section, $305x of USP’s gross income attributable to its GILTI inclusion amount is exempt income. Under paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C)(3) of this section, the GILTI inclusion stock of CFC1 is the $6,100x of stock that is section 951A category stock and the GILTI inclusion stock of CFC2 is the $4,880x of stock that is section 951A category stock. Under paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C)(2) of this section, the portion of the value of the stock of CFC1 and CFC2 that is treated as an exempt asset equals the portion of the value of the stock of CFC1 and CFC2 that is GILTI inclusion stock multiplied by 50% ($305x/ $610x). Accordingly, the exempt portion of the stock of CFC1 is $3,050x (50% × $6,100x) and the exempt portion of CFC2’s stock is $2,440x (50% × $4,880x). Therefore, the stock of CFC1 taken into account for purposes of apportioning deductions is $3,050x of non-exempt section 951A category stock and $3,900x of general category stock. The stock of CFC2 taken into account for purposes of apportioning deductions is $2,440x of non-exempt section 951A category stock and $4,120x of general category stock. (iii) Income that is not considered tax exempt. For further guidance, see § 1.861–8T(d)(2)(iii). (A) For further guidance, see § 1.861– 8T(d)(2)(iii)(A) and (B). (B) [Reserved] (C) Dividends for which a deduction is allowed under section 245A; (D) Foreign earned income as defined in section 911 (however, the rules of § 1.911–6 do not require the allocation and apportionment of certain deductions, including home mortgage interest, to foreign earned income for purposes of determining the deductions disallowed under section 911(d)(6)); and E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69060 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (E) Inclusions for which a deduction is allowed under section 965(c). See § 1.965–6(c). (iv) Value of stock attributable to previously taxed earnings and profits. No portion of the value of stock in a controlled foreign corporation is treated as an exempt asset by reason of the controlled foreign corporation having previously taxed earnings and profits. For example, no portion of the value of stock in a controlled foreign corporation is treated as an exempt asset by reason of the adjustment under § 1.861–12(c)(2) in respect of previously taxed earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1) or (c)(2) (including earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 951A(f)(1) and § 1.951A–6(b)(1)). See also § 1.965– 6(c). (e) * * * (1) * * * Paragraphs (e)(13) and (14) of this section contain rules with respect to the allocation and apportionment of the deduction allowed under section 250(a). Paragraph (e)(15) of this section contains rules with respect to the allocation and apportionment of a taxpayer’s distributive share of a partnership’s deductions. * * * * * * * * (6) * * * (i) * * * The deduction for foreign income, war profits and excess profits taxes allowed by section 164 (including with respect to a controlled foreign corporation)) is allocated and apportioned among the applicable statutory and residual groupings under the principles of § 1.904–6(a)(1)(i), (ii), and (iv). The deduction for state and local taxes (state income taxes) allowed by section 164 is considered definitely related and allocable to the gross income with respect to which such state income taxes are imposed. * * * * * * * * (13) Foreign-derived intangible income. The portion of the deduction that is allowed for foreign-derived intangible income under section 250(a)(1)(A) (taking into account the reduction under section 250(a)(2)(B)(i), if any) is considered definitely related and allocable to the class of gross income included in the taxpayer’s foreign-derived deduction eligible income (as defined in section 250(b)(4)). If necessary, the portion of the deduction is apportioned within the class ratably between the statutory grouping (or among the statutory groupings) of gross income and the residual grouping of gross income based on the relative amounts of foreignderived deduction eligible income in each grouping. (14) Global intangible low-taxed income and related section 78 gross up. The portion of the deduction (taking into account the reduction under section 250(a)(2)(B)(ii), if any) that is allowed for the global intangible lowtaxed income amount described in section 250(a)(1)(B)(i), and that is allowed for the section 78 gross up under section 250(a)(1)(B)(ii), is considered definitely related and allocable to the class of gross income included under section 951A(a) and section 78, respectively. If necessary (for example, because a portion of the inclusion under section 951A(a) is passive category income or U.S. source income), the portion of the deduction is apportioned within the class ratably between the statutory grouping (or among the statutory groupings) of gross income and the residual grouping of gross income based on the relative amounts of gross income in each grouping. (15) Distributive share of partnership deductions. In general, if deductions are incurred by a partnership in which the taxpayer is a partner, the taxpayer’s deductions that are allocated and apportioned include the taxpayer’s distributive share of the partnership’s deductions. See §§ 1.861–9(e), 1.861– 17(f), and 1.904–4(n)(1)(ii) for special rules for apportioning a partner’s distributive share of deductions of a partnership. (f) * * * (1) * * * (ii) Separate foreign tax credit limitations. Section 904(d)(1) and other sections described in § 1.904–4(m) require that a separate foreign tax credit limitation be determined with respect to each separate category of income specified in those sections. Accordingly, the foreign source income within each separate category described in § 1.904– 5(a)(4)(v) constitutes a separate statutory grouping of income. U.S. source income is treated as income in the residual grouping for purposes of determining the limitation on the foreign tax credit. * * * * * (4) * * * (ii) Example—(A) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, purchases and sells consumer items in the United States and foreign markets. Its sales in foreign markets are made to related foreign subsidiaries. USP reported $1,500,000x as sales during the taxable year of which $1,000,000x was domestic sales and $500,000x was foreign sales. USP took a deduction for expenses incurred by its marketing department during the taxable year in the amount of $150,000x. These expenses were determined to be allocable to both domestic and foreign sales and are apportionable between such sales. On audit of USP’s return for the taxable year, the IRS adjusted, under section 482, USP’s sales to related foreign subsidiaries by increasing the sales price by a total of $100,000x, thereby increasing USP’s foreign sales and total sales by the same amount. Before the audit, USP allocated and apportioned the marketing department deduction as follows: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (f)(4)(ii)(A) To gross income from domestic sales: $150,000x × ($1,000,000x/$1,500,000x) .................................................................................. To gross income from foreign sales: $150,000x × ($500,000x/$1,500,000x) ........................................................................................ $100,000x 50,000x Total .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 150,000x (B) Analysis. As a result of the section 482 adjustment, the apportionment of the deduction for the marketing department expenses is redetermined as follows: jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 TABLE 2 TO PARAGRAPH (f)(4)(ii)(B) To gross income from domestic sales: $150,000x × ($1,000,000x/$1,600,000x) .................................................................................. To gross income from foreign sales: $150,000x × ($600,000x/$1,600,000x) ............................................................................................................................................. $93,750x Total .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 150,000x VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 56,250x Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations * * * * * (g) Examples. The following examples illustrate the principles of the rules in this section. In each example, unless otherwise specified, section 904 is the operative section. In addition, in each example, where a method of allocation or apportionment is illustrated as an acceptable method, it is assumed that such method is used by the taxpayers on a consistent basis from year to year. Further, it is assumed that each party named in each example operates on a calendar year accounting basis and, where the party is a U.S. taxpayer, files returns on a calendar year basis. 69061 (1) through (18) [Reserved] (19) Example 19: Supportive expense—(i) Facts—(A) USP, a domestic corporation, purchases and sells products both in the United States and in foreign countries. USP has no foreign subsidiary and no international department. During the taxable year, USP incurs the following expenses with respect to its worldwide activities: TABLE 3 TO PARAGRAPH (g)(19)(i)(A) Personnel department expenses ............................................................................................................................................................. Training department expenses ................................................................................................................................................................ General and administrative expenses ..................................................................................................................................................... President’s salary .................................................................................................................................................................................... Sales manager’s salary ........................................................................................................................................................................... $50,000x 35,000x 55,000x 40,000x 20,000x Total .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 200,000x (B) USP has domestic gross receipts from sales of $750,000x and foreign gross receipts from sales of $500,000x and has gross income from such sales in the same ratio, namely $300,000x from domestic sources and $200,000x from foreign sources that is general category income. (ii) Analysis—(A) Allocation. The above expenses are definitely related and allocable to all of USP’s gross income derived from both domestic and foreign markets. (B) Apportionment. For purposes of applying the foreign tax credit limitation, the statutory grouping is gross income from sources outside the United States in general category income and the residual grouping is gross income from sources within the United States. USP’s deductions for its worldwide sales activities must be apportioned between these groupings. USP does not have a separate international division which performs essentially all of the functions required to manage and oversee its foreign activities. The president and sales manager do not maintain time records. The division of their time between domestic and foreign activities varies from day to day and cannot be estimated on an annual basis with any reasonable degree of accuracy. Similarly, there are no facts which would justify a method of apportionment of their salaries or of one of the other listed deductions based on more specific factors than gross receipts or gross income. An acceptable method of apportionment would be on the basis of gross receipts. The apportionment of the $200,000x deduction is as follows: TABLE 4 TO PARAGRAPH (g)(19)(ii)(B) Apportionment of the $200,000x expense to the statutory grouping of gross income: $200,000x × [$500,000x/($500,000x + $750,000x)] Apportionment of the $200,000x expense to the residual grouping of gross income: $200,000x × [$750,000x/($500,000x + $750,000x)] .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 120,000x Total apportioned supportive expense ............................................................................................................................................. 200,000x (20) Example 20: Supportive expense—(i) Facts. Assume the same facts as in paragraph (g)(19)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 19), except that USP’s president devotes only 5% of his time to the foreign operations and 95% of his time to the domestic operations and that USP’s sales manager devotes approximately 10% of her time to foreign sales and 90% of her time to domestic sales. (ii) Analysis—(A) Allocation. The expenses incurred by USP with respect to its worldwide activities are definitely related, and therefore allocable to USP’s gross income from both its foreign and domestic markets. (B) Apportionment. On the basis of the additional facts it is not acceptable to apportion the salaries of the president and the sales manager on the basis of gross $80,000x receipts. It is acceptable to apportion such salaries between the statutory grouping (gross income from sources without the United States) and residual grouping (gross income from sources within the United States) on the basis of time devoted to each sales activity. Remaining expenses may still be apportioned on the basis of gross receipts. The apportionment is as follows: TABLE 5 TO PARAGRAPH (g)(20)(ii)(B) jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Apportionment of the $200,000x expense to the statutory grouping of gross income: President’s salary: $40,000x × 5% ................................................................................................................................................... Sales manager’s salary: $20,000x × 10% ....................................................................................................................................... Remaining expenses: $140,000x × [$500,000x/($500,000x + $750,000x)] .................................................................................... $2,000x 2,000x 56,000x Subtotal: Apportionment of expense to statutory grouping ...................................................................................................... Apportionment of the $200,000x expense to the residual grouping of gross income: President’s salary: $40,000x × 95% ................................................................................................................................................. Sales manager’s salary: $20,000x × 90% ....................................................................................................................................... Remaining expenses: $140,000x × [$750,000x/($500,000x + $750,000x)] .................................................................................... 38,000x 18,000x 84,000x Subtotal: Apportionment of expense to residual grouping ........................................................................................................ 140,000x Total: Apportioned supportive expense ............................................................................................................................. 200,000x VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 60,000x 69062 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (21) Example 21: Supportive expense—(i) Facts. FC, a foreign corporation doing business in the United States, is a manufacturer of metal stamping machines. FC has no U.S. subsidiaries and no separate division to manage and oversee its business in the United States. FC manufactures and sells these machines in the United States and in foreign countries A and B and has a separate manufacturing facility in each country. Sales of these machines are FC’s only source of income. In Year 1, FC incurs general and administrative expenses related to both its U.S. and foreign operations of $100,000x. It has machine sales of $500,000x, $1,000,000x, and $1,000,000x on which it earns gross income of $200,000x, $400,000x, and $400,000x in the United States, Country A, and Country B, respectively. The income from the manufacture and sale of the machines in countries A and B is not effectively connected with FC’s business in the United States. (ii) Analysis—(A) Allocation. The $100,000x of general and administrative expense is definitely related to the income to which it gives rise, namely a part of the gross income from sales of machines in the United States, in Country A, and in Country B. The expenses are allocable to this class of income, even though FC’s gross income from sources outside the United States is excluded income since it is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. (B) Apportionment. Since FC is a foreign corporation, the statutory grouping is gross income effectively connected with FC’s trade of business in the United States, namely gross income from sources within the United States, and the residual grouping is gross income not effectively connected with a trade or business in the United States, namely gross income from countries A and B. Since there are no facts that would require a method of apportionment other than on the basis of sales or gross income, the amount may be apportioned between the two groupings on the basis of amounts of gross income as follows: TABLE 6 TO PARAGRAPH (g)(21)(ii)(B) Apportionment of general and administrative expense to the statutory grouping, gross income from sources within the United States: $100,000x × [$200,000x/($200,000x + $400,000x + $400,000x)] .......................................................................................... Apportionment of general and administrative expense to the residual grouping, gross income from sources without the United States: $100,000x × [($400,000x + $400,000x)/($200,000x + $400,000x + $400,000x)] .................................................................. Total apportioned general and administrative expense ................................................................................................................... (22) through (24) [Reserved] (25) Example 25: Income taxes—(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, is a manufacturer and distributor of electronic equipment with operations in states A, B, and C. USP also has a foreign branch, as defined in section 904(d)(1)(B) and § 1.904– 4(f), in Country Y which manufactures and distributes the same type of electronic equipment. In Year 1, USP has taxable income from these activities, as described under the Code (without taking into account the deduction for state income taxes), of $1,000,000x, of which $200,000x is foreign source foreign branch category income and $800,000x is domestic source income. States A, B, and C each determine USP’s income subject to tax within their state by making adjustments to USP’s taxable income as determined under the Code, and then apportioning the adjusted taxable income on the basis of the relative amounts of USP’s payroll, property, and sales within each state as compared to USP’s worldwide payroll, property, and sales. The adjustments made by states A, B, and C all involve adding and subtracting enumerated items from taxable income as determined under the Code. However, in making these adjustments to taxable income, none of the states specifically exempts foreign source income as determined under the Code. On this basis, it is determined that USP has taxable income of $550,000x, $200,000x, and $200,000x in states A, B, and C, respectively. The corporate tax rates in states A, B, and C are 10%, 5%, and 2%, respectively, and USP has total state income tax liabilities of $69,000x ($55,000x + $10,000x + $4,000x), which it deducts as an expense for Federal income tax purposes. (ii) Analysis—(A) Allocation. USP’s deduction of $69,000x for state income taxes is definitely related and thus allocable to the gross income with respect to which the taxes are imposed. Since the statutes of states A, B, and C do not specifically exempt foreign source income (as determined under the Code) from taxation and since, in the aggregate, states A, B, and C tax $950,000x of USP’s income while only $800,000x is domestic source income under the Code, it is $20,000x 80,000x 100,000x presumed that state income taxes are imposed on $150,000x of foreign source income. The deduction for state income taxes is therefore related and allocable to both USP’s foreign source and domestic source income. (B) Apportionment. For purposes of computing the foreign tax credit limitation, USP’s income is comprised of one statutory grouping, foreign source foreign branch category gross income, and one residual grouping, gross income from sources within the United States. The state income tax deduction of $69,000x must be apportioned between these two groupings. Corporation USP calculates the apportionment on the basis of the relative amounts of foreign source foreign branch category taxable income and U.S. source taxable income subject to state taxation. In this case, state income taxes are presumed to be imposed on $800,000x of domestic source income and $150,000x of foreign source general category income. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 TABLE 7 TO PARAGRAPH (g)(25)(ii)(B) State income tax deduction apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category income (statutory grouping): $69,000x × ($150,000x/$950,000x) ........................................................................................................................................................................ State income tax deduction apportioned to income from sources within the United States (residual grouping): $69,000x × ($800,000x/$950,000x) ........................................................................................................................................................................ $10,895x Total apportioned state income tax deduction ................................................................................................................................. 69,000x (26) Example 26: Income taxes—(i) Facts. Assume the same facts as in paragraph (g)(25)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 25), except that the language of state A’s statute and the statute’s operation exempt from taxation all foreign source income, as determined under the Code, so that foreign source income is not included in adjusted taxable income subject to apportionment in state A (and factors relating to USP’s Country VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 Y branch are not taken into account in computing the state A apportionment fraction). (ii) Analysis—(A) Allocation. USP’s deduction of $69,000x for state income taxes is definitely related and thus allocable to the gross income with respect to which the taxes are imposed. Since state A exempts all foreign source income by statute, state A is presumed to impose tax on $550,000x of PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 58,105x USP’s $800,000x of domestic source income. USP’s state A tax of $55,000x is allocable, therefore, solely to domestic source income. Since the statutes of states B and C do not specifically exclude all foreign source income as determined under the Code, and since states B and C impose tax on $400,000x ($200,000x + $200,000x) of USP’s income of which only $250,000x ($800,000x¥$550,000x) is presumed to be E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations domestic source, the deduction for the $14,000x of income taxes imposed by states B and C is related and allocable to both foreign source and domestic source income. (B) Apportionment—(1) For purposes of computing the foreign tax credit limitation, USP’s income is comprised of one statutory grouping, foreign source foreign branch category gross income, and one residual grouping, gross income from sources within the United States. The deduction of $14,000x for income taxes of states B and C must be apportioned between these two groupings. 69063 (2) Corporation USP calculates the apportionment on the basis of the relative amounts of foreign source foreign branch category income and U.S. source income subject to state taxation. TABLE 8 TO PARAGRAPH (g)(26)(ii)(B)(2) States B and C income tax deduction apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category income (statutory grouping): $14,000x × ($150,000x/$400,000x) ..................................................................................................................................................................... States B and C income tax deduction apportioned to income from sources within the United States (residual grouping): $14,000x × ($250,000x/$400,000x) ..................................................................................................................................................................... jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Total apportioned state income tax deduction ................................................................................................................................. (3) Of USP’s total income taxes of $69,000x, the amount allocated and apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category income equals $5,250x. The total amount of state income taxes allocated and apportioned to U.S. source income equals $63,750x ($55,000x + $8,750x). (27) Example 27: Income tax—(i) Facts. Assume the same facts as in paragraph (g)(25)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 25), except that state A, in which USP has significant income-producing activities, does not impose a corporate income tax or other state tax computed on the basis of income derived from business activities conducted in state A. USP therefore has a total state income tax liability in Year 1 of $14,000x ($10,000x paid to state B plus $4,000x paid to state C), all of which is subject to allocation and apportionment under paragraph (b) of this section. (ii) Analysis—(A) Allocation—(1) USP’s deduction of $14,000x for state income taxes is definitely related and allocable to the gross income with respect to which the taxes are imposed. However, in these facts, an adjustment is necessary before the aggregate state taxable incomes can be compared with U.S. source income on the Federal income tax return in the manner described in paragraphs (g)(25)(ii) and (g)(26)(ii) of this section (the analysis in Examples 25 and 26). Unlike the facts in paragraphs (g)(25)(i) and (g)(26)(i) of this section (the facts in Examples 25 and 26), state A imposes no income tax and does not define taxable income attributable to activities in state A. The total amount of USP’s income subject to state taxation is, therefore, $400,000x ($200,000x in state B and $200,000x in state C). This total presumptively does not include any income attributable to activities performed in state A and therefore cannot properly be compared to total U.S. source taxable income reported by USP for Federal income tax purposes, which does include income attributable to state A activities. (2)(i) Accordingly, before applying the method used in paragraphs (g)(25)(ii) and (g)(26)(ii) of this section (the analysis in Examples 25 and 26) to the facts of the example in this paragraph (g)(27), it is necessary first to estimate the amount of taxable income that state A could reasonably attribute to USP’s activities in state A, and then to reduce federal taxable income by that amount. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (ii) Any reasonable method may be used to attribute taxable income to USP’s activities in state A. For example, the rules of the Uniform Division of Income for Tax Purposes Act (‘‘UDITPA’’) attribute income to a state on the basis of the average of three ratios that are based upon the taxpayer’s facts—property within the state over total property, payroll within the state over total payroll, and sales within the state over total sales—and, with adjustments, provide a reasonable method for this purpose. When applying the rules of UDITPA to estimate U.S. source income derived from state A activities, the taxpayer’s UDITPA factors must be adjusted to eliminate both taxable income and factors attributable to a foreign branch. Therefore, in the example in this paragraph (g)(27) all taxable income as well as UDITPA apportionment factors (property, payroll, and sales) attributable to USP’s Country Y branch must be eliminated. (3)(i) Since it is presumed that, if state A had had an income tax, state A would not attempt to tax the income derived by USP’s Country Y branch, any reasonable estimate of the income that would be taxed by state A must exclude any foreign source income. (ii) When using the rules of UDITPA to estimate the income that would have been taxable by state A in these facts, foreign source income is excluded by starting with federally defined taxable income (before deduction for state income taxes) and subtracting any income derived by USP’s Country Y branch. The hypothetical state A taxable income is then determined by multiplying the resulting difference by the average of USP’s state A property, payroll, and sales ratios, determined using the principles of UDITPA (after adjustment by eliminating the Country Y branch factors). The resulting product is presumed to be exclusively U.S. source income, and the allocation and apportionment method described in paragraph (g)(26) of this section (Example 26) must then be applied. (iii) If, for example, state A taxable income were determined to equal $550,000x, then $550,000x of U.S. source income for Federal income tax purposes would be presumed to constitute state A taxable income. Under paragraph (g)(26) of this section (Example 26), the remaining $250,000x ($800,000x¥$550,000x) of U.S. source income for Federal income tax purposes would be presumed to be subject to tax in states B and C. Since states B and C impose PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 $5,250x 8,750x 14,000x tax on $400,000x, the application of Example 25 would result in a presumption that $150,000x is foreign source income and $250,000x is domestic source income. The deduction for the $14,000x of income taxes of states B and C would therefore be related and allocable to both foreign source and domestic source income and would be subject to apportionment. (B) Apportionment. The deduction of $14,000x for income taxes of states B and C is apportioned in the same manner as in paragraph (g)(26) of this section (Example 26). As a result, $5,250x of the $14,000x of state B and state C income taxes is apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category income ($14,000x × $150,000x/ $400,000x), and $8,750x ($14,000x × $250,000x/$400,000x) of the $14,000x of state B and state C income taxes is apportioned to U.S. source income. (h) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018. ■ Par. 3. Section 1.861–8T is amended by: ■ 1. Revising paragraphs (c)(2) and (d)(2)(ii)(A). ■ 2. Redesignating paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(B)(1) and (2) as paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(B)(1)(i) and (ii). ■ 3. Designating paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B) introductory text as paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(1) introductory text. ■ 4. Designating the undesignated paragraph following newly redesignated paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(1)(ii) as paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(2). ■ 5. Adding paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C). ■ 6. Adding the word ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (d)(2)(iii)(B). ■ 7. Revising paragraph (d)(2)(iii)(C). ■ 8. Removing and reserving paragraph (d)(2)(iii)(D) and adding reserved paragraph (d)(2)(iii)(E). ■ 9. Revising paragraph (d)(2)(iv). ■ 10. Removing paragraphs (e)(3) through (f)(1)(i), (f)(1)(ii), and (f)(1)(iii) through (g). ■ 11. Adding paragraph (e)(3), reserved paragraphs (e)(4) through (15), paragraph (f), and reserved paragraph (g). E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69064 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations The revisions and additions read as follows: § 1.861–8T Computation of taxable income from sources within the United States and from other sources and activities (temporary). jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 * * * * * (c) * * * (2) Apportionment based on assets. For further guidance, see § 1.861– 8(c)(2). * * * * * (d) * * * (2) * * * (ii) * * * (A) In general. For further guidance, see § 1.861–8(d)(2)(ii)(A). * * * * * (C) Foreign-derived intangible income and inclusions under section 951A(a). For further guidance, see § 1.861– 8(d)(2)(ii)(C). (iii) * * * (C) For further guidance, see § 1.861– 8(d)(2)(iii)(C) through (E). (D) and (E) [Reserved] (iv) Value of stock attributable to previously taxed earnings and profits. For further guidance, see § 1.861– 8(d)(2)(iv). (e) * * * (3) Research and experimental expenditures. For further guidance, see § 1.861–8(e)(3) through (15). (4) through (15) [Reserved] (f) Miscellaneous matters. For further guidance, see § 1.861–8(f) through (g). (g) [Reserved] * * * * * ■ Par. 4. Section 1.861–9 is amended by: ■ 1. Revising the section heading. ■ 2. Removing paragraphs (a) through (e)(1). ■ 3. Adding paragraph (a), reserved paragraph (b), and paragraphs (c), (d), and (e)(1). ■ 4. Removing the last sentence in paragraphs (e)(2) and (3). ■ 5. Removing paragraphs (e)(4) through (f)(3)(i). ■ 6. Adding paragraphs (e)(4) through (10), (f) heading, (f)(1) and (2), (f)(3) heading, and (f)(3)(i). ■ 7. Revising the heading of paragraph (f)(4). ■ 8. Removing the language ‘‘noncontrolled section 902 corporation’’ wherever it appears in paragraphs (f)(4)(i) and (ii) and adding the language ‘‘noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation’’ in its place. ■ 9. Removing the last sentence of paragraph (f)(4)(ii). ■ 10. Revising paragraph (f)(4)(iii). ■ 11. Removing paragraphs (f)(5) through (h)(3). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 12. Adding paragraphs (f)(5), (g), (h) introductory text, and (h)(1) and reserved paragraphs (h)(2) and (3). ■ 13. Revising paragraph (h)(5). ■ 14. In paragraph (i)(2)(i): ■ i. Revising the first and second sentences. ■ ii. Removing the language ‘‘paragraph (i)(2)’’ from the third and fourth sentences and adding the language ‘‘paragraph (i)(2)(i)’’ in its place. ■ 15. Revising paragraphs (j) and (k). The revisions and additions read as follows: ■ § 1.861–9 Allocation and apportionment of interest expense and rules for asset-based apportionment. (a) In general. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(a) through (b). (b) [Reserved] (c) Allowable deductions. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(c) introductory text. (1) Disallowed deductions. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(c)(1) through (4). (2) through (4) [Reserved] (5) Section 163(j). If a taxpayer is subject to section 163(j), the taxpayer’s deduction for business interest expense is limited to the sum of the taxpayer’s business interest income, 30 percent of the taxpayer’s adjusted taxable income for the taxable year, and the taxpayer’s floor plan financing interest expense. In the taxable year that any deduction is permitted for business interest expense with respect to a disallowed business interest carryforward, that business interest expense is apportioned for purposes of this section under rules set forth in paragraph (d), (e), or (f) of this section (as applicable) as though it were incurred in the taxable year in which the expense is deducted. (d) Apportionment rules for individuals, estates, and certain trusts. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(d). (e) Partnerships—(1) In general— aggregate rule. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(e)(1). * * * * * (4) Entity rule for less than 10 percent limited partners—(i) Partnership interest expense. A limited partner (whether individual or corporate), whose ownership, together with ownership by persons that bear a relationship to the partner described in section 267(b) or section 707, of the capital and profits interests of the partnership is less than 10 percent directly allocates its distributive share of partnership interest expense to its distributive share of partnership gross income. Under § 1.904–4(n)(1)(ii), such a partner’s distributive share of foreign source income of the partnership is PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 treated as passive income (subject to the high-taxed income exception of section 904(d)(2)(B)(iii)(II)), except in the case of income from a partnership interest held in the ordinary course of the partner’s active trade or business, as defined in § 1.904–4(n)(1)(ii)(B). A partner’s distributive share of partnership interest expense (other than partnership interest expense that is directly allocated to identified property under § 1.861–10T) is apportioned in accordance with the partner’s relative distributive share of gross foreign source income in each separate category and of gross domestic source income from the partnership. To the extent that partnership interest expense is directly allocated under § 1.861–10T, a comparable portion of the income to which such interest expense is allocated is disregarded in determining the partner’s relative distributive share of gross foreign source income in each separate category and domestic source income. The partner’s distributive share of the interest expense of the partnership that is directly allocable under § 1.861–10T is allocated according to the treatment, after application of § 1.904–4(n)(1), of the partner’s distributive share of the income to which the expense is allocated. (ii) Other interest expense of the partner. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(e)(4)(ii). (5) Tiered partnerships. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(e)(5) through (7). (6) and (7) [Reserved] (8) Special rule for downstream partnership loans—(i) In general. For purposes of apportioning interest expense that is not directly allocable under paragraph (e)(4) of this section or § 1.861–10T, the disregarded portion of a downstream partnership loan is not considered an asset of a downstream partnership loan lender (DPL lender). The disregarded portion of a downstream partnership loan is the portion of the value of the loan (as determined under paragraph (h)(4)(i) of this section) that bears the same proportion to the total value of the loan as the matching income amount that is included by the DPL lender for a taxable year with respect to the loan bears to the total amount of downstream partnership loan interest income (DPL interest income) that is included directly or indirectly in gross income by the DPL lender with respect to the loan during that taxable year. (ii) Treatment of interest expense and interest income attributable to a downstream partnership loan. If a DPL lender (or any other person in the same E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations affiliated group as the DPL lender) takes into account a distributive share of downstream partnership loan interest expense (DPL interest expense), the DPL lender must assign an amount of DPL interest income corresponding to the matching income amount for the taxable year that is attributable to the same loan to the same statutory and residual groupings as the statutory and residual groupings of gross income from which the DPL interest expense is deducted (or would be deducted, without regard to any limitations on the deductibility of interest, such as section 163(j)) by the DPL lender (or any other person in the same affiliated group as the DPL lender). (iii) Anti-avoidance rule for third party back-to-back loans. If, with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules in this paragraph (e)(8), a person makes a loan to a person that is not related (within the meaning of section 267(b) or 707) to the lender, the unrelated person makes a loan to a partnership, and the first loan would constitute a downstream partnership loan if made directly to the partnership, then the rules of this paragraph (e)(8) apply as if the first loan was made directly to the partnership and the interest expense paid by the partnership is treated as made with respect to the first loan. Such a series of loans will be subject to this recharacterization rule without regard to whether there was a principal purpose of avoiding the rules in this paragraph (e)(8) if the loan to the unrelated person would not have been made or maintained on substantially the same terms but for the loan of funds by the unrelated person to the partnership. The principles of this paragraph (e)(8)(iii) also apply to similar transactions that involve more than two loans and regardless of the order in which the loans are made. (iv) Anti-avoidance rule for loans held by CFCs. A loan receivable held by a controlled foreign corporation with respect to a loan to a partnership in which a United States shareholder (as defined in § 1.904–5(a)(4)(vi)) of the controlled foreign corporation owns an interest, directly or indirectly through one or more other partnerships or other pass-through entities (as defined in § 1.904–5(a)(4)(iv)), is recharacterized as a loan receivable held directly by the United States shareholder with respect to the loan to such partnership for purposes of this paragraph (e)(8) if the loan was made or transferred with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules in this paragraph (e)(8). An appropriate amount of income derived by the United States shareholder (or any other person in the same affiliated group as the United States shareholder) from the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 controlled foreign corporation is treated as DPL interest income. Appropriate adjustments must be made to the value and characterization of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation under §§ 1.861–9 and 1.861–12 in order to reflect the portion of the downstream partnership loan held by the controlled foreign corporation that is disregarded under paragraph (e)(8)(i) of this section. (v) Interest equivalents. The principles of this paragraph (e)(8) apply in the case of a partner, or any person in the same affiliated group as the partner, that takes into account a distributive share of an expense or loss (to the extent deductible) that is allocated and apportioned in the same manner as interest expense under §§ 1.861–9(b) and 1.861–9T(b) and has a matching income amount (treating such interest equivalent as interest income or expense for purposes of paragraph (e)(8)(vi)(B) of this section) with respect to the transaction that gives rise to that expense or loss. (vi) Definitions. For purposes of this paragraph (e)(8), the following definitions apply. (A) Affiliated group. The term affiliated group has the meaning provided in § 1.861–11(d)(1). (B) Matching income amount. The term matching income amount means the lesser of the total amount of the DPL interest income included directly or indirectly in gross income by the DPL lender for the taxable year with respect to a downstream partnership loan or the total amount of the distributive shares of the DPL interest expense of the DPL lender (or any other person in the same affiliated group as the DPL lender) with respect to the loan. (C) Downstream partnership loan. The term downstream partnership loan means a loan to a partnership for which the loan receivable is held, directly or indirectly through one or more other partnerships or other pass-through entities, either by a person that owns an interest, directly or indirectly through one or more other partnerships or other pass-through entities, in the partnership, or by any person in the same affiliated group as that person. (D) Downstream partnership loan interest expense (DPL interest expense). The term downstream partnership loan interest expense, or DPL interest expense, means an item of interest expense paid or accrued with respect to a downstream partnership loan, without regard to whether the expense was currently deductible (for example, by reason of section 163(j)). (E) Downstream partnership loan interest income (DPL interest income). The term downstream partnership loan PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69065 interest income, or DPL interest income, means an item of gross interest income received or accrued with respect to a downstream partnership loan. (F) Downstream partnership loan lender (DPL lender). The term downstream partnership loan lender, or DPL lender, means the person that holds the receivable with respect to a downstream partnership loan. If a partnership holds the receivable, then any partner in the partnership (other than a partner described in paragraph (e)(4)(i) of this section) is also considered a DPL lender. (vii) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of the rules in this paragraph (e)(8). (A) Example 1—(1) Facts. US1, a domestic corporation, directly owns 60% of PRS, a foreign partnership that is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. The remaining 40% of PRS is directly owned by US2, a domestic corporation that is unrelated to US1. US1, US2, and PRS all use the calendar year as their taxable year. In Year 1, US1 loans $1,000x to PRS. For Year 1, US1 has $100x of interest income with respect to the loan and PRS has $100x of interest expense with respect to the loan. US1’s distributive share of the interest expense is $60x. Under paragraph (e)(2) of this section, $45x of US1’s distributive share of the interest expense is apportioned to U.S. source income and $15x is apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category income. Under paragraph (h)(4)(i) of this section, the total value of the loan between US1 and PRS is $1,000x. (2) Analysis. The loan by US1 to PRS is a downstream partnership loan and US1 is a DPL lender. Under paragraph (e)(8)(vi)(B) of this section, the matching income amount is $60x, the lesser of the DPL interest income included by US1 with respect to the loan for the taxable year ($100x) and US1’s distributive share of the DPL interest expense ($60x). Under paragraph (e)(8)(ii) of this section, US1 assigns $45x of the DPL interest income to U.S. source income and $15x of the DPL interest income to foreign source foreign branch category income. The source and separate category of the remaining $40x of US1’s DPL interest income is determined under the generally applicable rules. Under paragraph (e)(8)(i) of this section, the disregarded portion of the downstream partnership loan is $600x ($1,000x × $60x/ $100x). (B) Example 2—(1) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph (e)(8)(vii)(A)(1) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that US1 and US2 are part of the same affiliated group, US2’s distributive share of the interest expense is $40x, and under paragraph (e)(2) of this section, $30x of US2’s distributive share of the interest expense is apportioned to U.S. source income and $10x is apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category income. (2) Analysis. The loan by US1 to PRS is a downstream partnership loan and US1 is a DPL lender. Under paragraph (e)(8)(vi)(B) of this section, the matching income amount is $100x, the lesser of the DPL interest income E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69066 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations included by US1 with respect to the loan for the taxable year ($100x) and the total amount of US1 and US2’s distributive shares of the DPL interest expense ($100x). Under paragraph (e)(8)(ii) of this section, US1 assigns $75x of the DPL interest income to U.S. source income and $25x of the DPL interest income to foreign source foreign branch category income. Under paragraph (e)(8)(i) of this section, the disregarded portion of the downstream partnership loan is $1,000x ($1,000x × $100x/$100x). (C) Example 3—(1) Facts. US1, a domestic corporation, owns 80% of PRS, a foreign partnership that is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. The remaining 20% of PRS is owned by US2, a domestic corporation that is unrelated to US1. US1, US2, and PRS all use the calendar year as their taxable year. In Year 1, US1 loans $3,000x to Bank and Bank loans $3,000x to PRS. US1 makes the loan to Bank with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules in this paragraph (e)(8). For Year 1, US1 has $150x of interest income with respect to the loan to Bank and PRS has $175x of interest expense with respect to the loan from Bank. US1’s distributive share of the interest expense is $140x. Under paragraph (e)(2) of this section, $126x of US1’s distributive share of the interest expense is apportioned to U.S. source income and $14x is apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category income. Under paragraph (h)(4)(i) of this section, the total value of the loan between US1 and PRS is $3,000x. (2) Analysis. Under paragraph (e)(8)(iii) of this section, because the loan from US1 to Bank is made with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules of this paragraph (e)(8), the rules of this paragraph (e)(8) apply as if the loan by US1 to Bank was made directly to PRS. Accordingly, the loan by US1 to Bank is a downstream partnership loan and US1 is a DPL lender. Under paragraph (e)(8)(vi)(B) of this section, the matching income amount is $140x, the lesser of the DPL interest income included by US1 with respect to the loan for the taxable year ($150x) and US1’s distributive share of the DPL interest expense ($140x). Under paragraph (e)(8)(ii) of this section, US1 assigns $126x of the DPL interest income to U.S. source income and $14x of the DPL interest income to foreign source foreign branch category income. The source and separate category of the remaining $10x of US1’s DPL interest income is determined under the generally applicable rules. Under paragraph (e)(8)(i) of this section, the disregarded portion of the downstream partnership loan is $2,800x ($3,000x × $140x/$150x). (D) Example 4—(1) Facts. US1, a domestic corporation, directly owns all of the outstanding stock of CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, and 90% of PRS, a foreign partnership that is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. The remaining 10% of PRS is owned by US2, a domestic corporation that is unrelated to US1 and CFC. US1, US2, and PRS all use the calendar year as their taxable year. In Year 1, US1 loans $900x to CFC and CFC loans $900x to PRS. CFC makes the loan with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules in this paragraph (e)(8). For Year 1, CFC has $90x of interest income VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 and $90x of interest expense with respect to the loan to PRS, and US1 has $90x of interest income with respect to the loan to CFC. PRS has $90x of interest expense with respect to the loan, and US1’s distributive share of the interest expense is $81x. Under paragraph (e)(2) of this section, $54x of US1’s distributive share of the interest expense is apportioned to U.S. source income and $27x is apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category income. Under paragraph (h)(4)(i) of this section, the total value of the loan between CFC and PRS is $900x. (2) Analysis. Under paragraph (e)(8)(iv) of this section, because the loan from CFC to PRS is made with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules of this paragraph (e)(8), the loan from CFC to PRS is recharacterized as a loan receivable held directly by US1, and an appropriate amount of income derived by US1, in this case, the $90x of interest income from the loan to CFC, is treated as DPL interest income. Accordingly, the loan from CFC to PRS is a downstream partnership loan and US1 is a DPL lender. Under paragraph (e)(8)(vi)(B) of this section, the matching income amount is $81x, the lesser of the DPL interest income included by US1 ($90x) and US1’s distributive share of the DPL interest expense ($81x). Under paragraph (e)(8)(ii) of this section, US1 assigns $54x of the DPL interest income to U.S. source income and $27x of the DPL interest income to foreign source foreign branch category income. The source and separate category of the remaining $9x of US1’s interest income is determined under the generally applicable rules. Under paragraph (e)(8)(i) of this section, the disregarded portion of the downstream partnership loan is $810x ($900x x $81x/ $90x). Appropriate adjustments are made to the value and characterization of the stock of CFC under §§ 1.861–9 and 1.861–12 in order to reflect the $810x disregarded portion of the downstream partnership loan. (9) [Reserved] (10) Characterizing certain partnership assets as foreign branch category assets. For purposes of applying this paragraph (e) to section 904 as the operative section, a partner that is a United States person that has a distributive share of partnership income that is treated as foreign branch category income under § 1.904– 4(f)(1)(i)(B) characterizes its pro rata share of the partnership assets that give rise to such income as assets in the foreign branch category. (f) Corporations—(1) Domestic corporations. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(f)(1). (2) Section 987 QBUs of domestic corporations—(i) In general. In the application of the asset method described in paragraph (g) of this section, a domestic corporation— (A) Takes into account the assets of any section 987 QBU (as defined in § 1.987–1(b)(2)), translated according to the rules set forth in paragraph (g) of this section; and PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 (B) Combines with its own interest expense any deductible interest expense incurred by a section 987 QBU, translated according to the rules under section 987. (ii) Coordination with section 987(3). For purposes of computing foreign currency gain or loss under section 987(3) (including section 987 gain or loss recognized under § 1.987–5), the rules of this paragraph (f)(2) do not apply. See § 1.987–4. (iii) Example. The following example illustrates the application of the rules in this paragraph (f)(2). (A) Facts. X is a domestic corporation that operates B, a branch doing business in a foreign country. B is a section 987 QBU (as defined in § 1.987–1(b)(2)) as well as a foreign branch (as defined in § 1.904– 4(f)(3)(iii)). In 2020, without regard to B, X has gross domestic source income of $1,000x and gross foreign source general category income of $500x and incurs $200 of interest expense. Using the tax book value method of apportionment, X, without regard to B, determines the value of its assets that generate domestic source income to be $6,000x and the value of its assets that generate foreign source general category income to be $1,000x. Applying the translation rules of section 987, X (through B) earned $500 of gross foreign source foreign branch category income and incurred $100x of interest expense. B incurred no other expenses. For 2020, the average functional currency book value of B’s assets that generate foreign source foreign branch category income translated at the year-end rate for 2020 is $3,000x. (B) Analysis. The combined assets of X and B for 2020 (averaged under § 1.861–9T(g)(3)) consist 60% ($6,000x/$10,000x) of assets generating domestic source income, 30% ($3,000x/$10,000x) of assets generating foreign source foreign branch category income, and 10% ($1,000x/$10,000x) of assets generating foreign source general category income. The combined interest expense of X and B is $300x. Thus, $180x ($300x x 60%) of the combined interest expense is apportioned to domestic source income, $90x ($300x × 30%) is apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category income, and $30x ($300x × 10%) is apportioned to foreign source general category income, yielding net U.S. source income of $820 ($1,000x¥$180x), net foreign source foreign branch category income of $410 ($500x¥$90x), and net foreign source general category income of $470x ($500x¥$30x). (3) Controlled foreign corporations— (i) In general. For purposes of computing subpart F income and tested income and computing earnings and profits for all Federal income tax purposes, the interest expense of a controlled foreign corporation may be apportioned using either the asset method described in paragraph (g) of this section or the modified gross income method described in paragraph E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (j) of this section, subject to the rules of paragraphs (f)(3)(ii) and (iii) of this section. * * * * * (4) Noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations. * * * (iii) Stock characterization. The stock of a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation is characterized under the rules in § 1.861–12(c)(4). (5) Other relevant provisions. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(f)(5). (g) Asset method—(1) In general. (i) For further guidance, see § 1.861– 9T(g)(1)(i). (ii) A taxpayer may elect to determine the value of its assets on the basis of either the tax book value or the fair market value of its assets. However, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the fair market value method is not allowed with respect to allocations and apportionments of interest expense. See section 864(e)(2). For rules concerning the application of an alternative method of valuing assets for purposes of the tax book value method, see paragraph (i) of this section. For rules concerning the application of the fair market value method, see paragraph (h) of this section. (iii) [Reserved] (iv) For rules relating to earnings and profits adjustments by taxpayers using the tax book value method for the stock in certain 10 percent owned corporations, see § 1.861–12(c)(2). (v) [Reserved] (2) Asset values—(i) General rule—(A) Average of values. For purposes of determining the value of assets under this section, an average of values (book or market) within each statutory grouping and the residual grouping is computed for the year on the basis of values of assets at the beginning and end of the year. For the first taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017 (post-2017 year), a taxpayer that determined the value of its assets on the basis of the fair market value method for purposes of apportioning interest expense in its prior taxable year may choose to determine asset values under the tax book value method (or the alternative tax book value method) by treating the value of its assets as of the beginning of the post-2017 year as equal to the value of its assets at the end of the first quarter of the post-2017 year, provided that each member of the affiliated group (as defined in § 1.861– 11T(d)) determines its asset values on the same basis. Where a substantial distortion of asset values would result from averaging beginning-of-year and end-of-year values, as might be the case in the event of a major corporate VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 acquisition or disposition, the taxpayer must use a different method of asset valuation that more clearly reflects the average value of assets weighted to reflect the time such assets are held by the taxpayer during the taxable year. (B) Tax book value method. Under the tax book value method, the value of an asset is determined based on the adjusted basis of the asset. For purposes of determining the value of stock in a 10 percent owned corporation at the beginning and end of the year under the tax book value method, the tax book value is determined without regard to any adjustments under section 961(a) or 1293(d), see § 1.861–12(c)(2)(i)(B)(1), and before the adjustment required by § 1.861–12(c)(2)(i)(A) to the basis of stock in the 10 percent owned corporation. The average of the tax book value of the stock at the beginning and end of the year is then adjusted with respect to earnings and profits as described in § 1.861–12(c)(2)(i). (ii) Special rule for qualified business units of domestic corporations with functional currency other than the U.S. dollar—(A) Tax book value method. For further guidance, see § 1.861– 9T(g)(2)(ii)(A). (1) Section 987 QBU. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(g)(2)(ii)(A)(1). (2) U.S. dollar approximate separate transactions method. In the case of a branch to which the U.S. dollar approximate separate transactions method of accounting described in § 1.985–3 applies, the beginning-of-year dollar amount of the assets is determined by reference to the end-ofyear balance sheet of the branch for the immediately preceding taxable year, adjusted for U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and Federal income tax accounting principles, and translated into U.S. dollars as provided in § 1.985–3(c). The end-of-year dollar amount of the assets of the branch is determined in the same manner by reference to the end-of-year balance sheet for the current taxable year. The beginning-of-year and end-of-year dollar tax book value of assets, as so determined, within each grouping is then averaged as provided in paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this section. (B) Fair market value method. For further guidance, see § 1.861– 9T(g)(2)(ii)(B). (iii) Adjustment for directly allocated interest. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(g)(2)(iii). (iv) Assets in intercompany transactions. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(g)(2)(iv). (3) Characterization of assets. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(g)(3). PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69067 (4) Characterization of lower tier entities at the level of a CFC. In the case of a controlled foreign corporation that is applying the asset method, see for example § 1.861–12T(c)(3)(ii) (requiring the application of § 1.861–9T(g) at the level of the controlled foreign corporation) or paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section, the controlled foreign corporation (and any lower-tier controlled foreign corporations) must characterize stock of a lower-tier 10 percent owned corporation by applying § 1.861–12 and treating the controlled foreign corporation as the relevant taxpayer for such purposes. In the case of a controlled foreign corporation that owns stock in one or more lower-tier corporations, in applying the asset method, the first-tier controlled foreign corporation must take into account the stock in the lower-tier corporations. Therefore, the controlled foreign corporation (and any lower-tier controlled foreign corporations) must make basis adjustments in lower-tier 10 percent owned corporations under § 1.861–12(c)(2) for purposes of valuing and characterizing the assets of such controlled foreign corporation. For purposes of this paragraph (g)(4), the stock of each such lower-tier corporation is characterized by reference to the assets owned during the lower-tier corporation’s taxable year that ends during the first-tier controlled foreign corporation’s taxable year. The analysis of assets under this paragraph (g)(4) and § 1.861–12 of a controlled foreign corporation that is in a chain of 10 percent owned corporations must begin at the lowest-tier 10 percent owned corporation and proceed up the chain to the first-tier controlled foreign corporation. See also § 1.861– 12T(c)(3)(ii). (h) Fair market value method. An affiliated group (as defined in § 1.861– 11T(d)) or other taxpayer (the taxpayer) that elects to use the fair market value method of apportionment values its assets according to the methodology described in this paragraph (h). Effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the fair market value method is not allowed for purposes of apportioning interest expense. See section 864(e)(2). However, a taxpayer may continue to apportion deductions other than interest expense that are properly apportioned based on fair market value according to the methodology described in this paragraph (h). See § 1.861–8(c)(2). (1) Determination of values. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(h)(1) through (3). E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69068 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (2) and (3) [Reserved] * * * * (5) Characterizing stock in related persons. Stock in a related person held by the taxpayer or by another related person shall be characterized on the basis of the fair market value of the taxpayer’s pro rata share of assets held by the related person attributed to each statutory grouping and the residual grouping under the stock characterization rules of § 1.861– 12T(c)(3)(ii), except that the portion of the value of intangible assets of the taxpayer and related persons that is apportioned to the related person under § 1.861–9T(h)(2) shall be characterized on the basis of the net income before interest expense of the related person within each statutory grouping or residual grouping (excluding income that is passive under § 1.904–4(b)). * * * * * (i) * * * (2) * * * (i) Except as provided in this paragraph (i)(2)(i), a taxpayer may elect to use the alternative tax book value method. For the taxpayer’s first taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, the Commissioner’s approval is not required to switch from the fair market value method to the alternative tax book value method for purposes of apportioning interest expense. * * * * * * * * (j) Modified gross income method. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(j) introductory text. (1) For further guidance, see § 1.861– 9T(j)(1). (2) For further guidance, see § 1.861– 9T(j)(2) introductory text. (i) Step 1. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9T(j)(2)(i). (ii) Step 2. Moving to the next highertier controlled foreign corporation, combine the gross income of such corporation within each grouping with its pro rata share (as determined under principles similar to section 951(a)(2)) of the gross income net of interest expense of all lower-tier controlled foreign corporations held by such higher-tier corporation within the same grouping adjusted as follows: (A) Exclude from the gross income of the higher-tier corporation any dividends or other payments received from the lower-tier corporation other than interest income received from the lower-tier corporation; (B) Exclude from the gross income net of interest expense of any lower-tier corporation any gross subpart F income, net of interest expense apportioned to such income; (C) Then apportion the interest expense of the higher-tier controlled jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 * VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 foreign corporation based on the adjusted combined gross income amounts; and (D) Repeat paragraphs (j)(2)(ii)(A) through (C) of this section for each next higher-tier controlled foreign corporation in the chain. (k) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018. ■ Par. 5. Section 1.861–9T is amended by: ■ 1. Adding paragraph (c)(5). ■ 2. Revising paragraph (e)(4)(i). ■ 3. Adding paragraph (e)(8) and reserved paragraphs (e)(9) and (10). ■ 4. Revising paragraph (f)(2) and removing the undesignated paragraph and example paragraphs following paragraph (f)(2)(ii). ■ 5. Removing and reserving paragraph (f)(3)(i). ■ 6. Revising paragraphs (f)(4) and (g)(1)(ii). ■ 7. Removing and reserving paragraphs (g)(1)(iii) through (v) and (g)(2)(i). ■ 8. Revising paragraph (g)(2)(ii)(A)(2). ■ 9. Removing and reserving paragraph (g)(2)(v). ■ 10. Revising paragraphs (h) introductory text and (j)(2)(ii). ■ 11. Removing the undesignated paragraph following paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(B). The additions and revisions read as follows: § 1.861–9T Allocation and apportionment of interest expense (temporary). * * * * * (c) * * * (5) Section 163(j). For further guidance, see § 1.861–9(c)(5). * * * * * (e) * * * (4) * * * (i) Partnership interest expense. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9(e)(4)(i). * * * * * (8) Special rule for downstream partnership loans. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9(e)(8) through (10). (9) and (10) [Reserved] (f) * * * (2) Section 987 QBUs of domestic corporations. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9(f)(2) through (f)(3)(i). * * * * * (4) Noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9(f)(4). * * * * * (g) * * * (1) * * * (ii) For further guidance, see § 1.861– 9(g)(1)(ii) through (g)(2)(i). * * * * * PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 (2) * * * (ii) * * * (A) * * * (2) U.S. dollar approximate separate transactions method. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9(g)(2)(ii)(A)(2). * * * * * (h) Fair market value method. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9(h). * * * * * (j) * * * (2) * * * (ii) Step 2. For further guidance, see § 1.861–9(j)(2)(ii). * * * * * ■ Par. 6. Section 1.861–10 is amended by: ■ 1. Revising paragraph (e)(8)(vi). ■ 2. Removing and reserving paragraph (e)(10). ■ 3. Adding paragraph (f). The revisions and addition read as follows: § 1.861–10 expense. Special allocations of interest * * * * * (e) * * * (8) * * * (vi) Classification of hybrid stock. In determining the amount of its related group indebtedness for any taxable year, a U.S. shareholder must not treat stock in a related controlled foreign corporation as related group indebtedness, regardless of whether the related controlled foreign corporation claims a deduction for interest under foreign law for distributions on such stock. For purposes of determining the foreign base period ratio under paragraph (e)(2)(iv) of this section for a taxable year that ends on or after December 4, 2018, the rules of this paragraph (e)(8)(vi) apply to determine the related group debt-to-asset ratio in each taxable year included in the foreign base period, including in taxable years that end before December 4, 2018. * * * * * (f) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years that end on or after December 4, 2018. ■ Par. 7. Section 1.861–10T is amended by revising paragraph (e) to read as follows: § 1.861–10T Special allocations of interest expense (temporary). * * * * * (e) Treatment of certain related group indebtedness. For further guidance, see § 1.861–10(e). * * * * * ■ Par. 8. Section 1.861–11 is amended by: ■ 1. Removing paragraphs (a) through (c). E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations 2. Adding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c). 3. Removing the language ‘‘, except that section 936 corporations are also included within the affiliated group to the extent provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this section’’ from the first sentence of paragraph (d)(1). ■ 4. Removing and reserving paragraph (d)(2). ■ 5. Adding paragraph (h). The revisions and addition read as follows: ■ ■ § 1.861–11 Special rules for allocating and apportioning interest expense of an affiliated group of corporations. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 (a) In general. For further guidance, see § 1.861–11T(a). (b) Scope of application—(1) Application of section 864(e)(1) and (5) (concerning the definition and treatment of affiliated groups). Section 864(e)(1) and (5) and the portions of this section implementing section 864(e)(1) and (5) apply to the computation of foreign source taxable income for purposes of section 904 (relating to various limitations on the foreign tax credit). Section 864(e)(1) and (5) and the portions of this section implementing section 864(e)(1) and (5) also apply in connection with section 907 to determine reductions in the amount allowed as a foreign tax credit under section 901. Section 864(e)(1) and (5) and the portions of this section implementing section 864(e)(1) and (5) also apply to the computation of the combined taxable income of the related supplier and a foreign sales corporation (FSC) (under sections 921 through 927) as well as the combined taxable income of the related supplier and a domestic international sales corporation (DISC) (under sections 991 through 997). (2) Nonapplication of section 864(e)(1) and (5) (concerning the definition and treatment of affiliated groups). For further guidance, see § 1.861–11T(b)(2). (c) General rule for affiliated corporations. For further guidance, see § 1.861–11T(c). * * * * * (h) Applicability dates. This section applies to taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018. ■ Par. 9. Section 1.861–11T is amended by revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows: § 1.861–11T Special rules for allocating and apportioning interest expense of an affiliated group of corporations (temporary). * * * * * (b) * * * (1) Application of section 864(e)(1) and (5) (concerning the definition and VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 69069 (c) Treatment of stock—(1) In general. For further guidance, see § 1.861– 12T(c)(1). * * * * * (3) Characterization of stock of controlled foreign corporations—(i) Operative sections—(A) Operative sections other than section 904. For purposes of applying this section to an operative section other than section 904, stock in a controlled foreign corporation (as defined in section 957) is characterized as an asset in the relevant groupings on the basis of the asset method described in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section, or the modified gross income method described in paragraph § 1.861–12 Characterization rules and (c)(3)(iii) of this section. Stock in a adjustments for certain assets. controlled foreign corporation whose (a) In general. The rules in this section interest expense is apportioned on the apply to taxpayers apportioning basis of assets is characterized in the expenses under an asset method to hands of its United States shareholders income in the various separate under the asset method described in categories described in § 1.904– paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section. Stock 5(a)(4)(v), and supplement other rules in a controlled foreign corporation provided in §§ 1.861–9 through 1.861– whose interest expense is apportioned 11T. The principles of the rules in this on the basis of modified gross income is section also apply in apportioning characterized in the hands of its United expenses among statutory and residual States shareholders under the modified groupings for any other operative gross income method described in section. See also § 1.861–8(f)(2)(i) for a paragraph (c)(3)(iii) of this section. rule requiring conformity of allocation (B) Section 904 as operative section. methods and apportionment principles For purposes of applying this section to for all operative sections. Paragraph (b) section 904 as the operative section, of this section describes the treatment of § 1.861–13 applies to characterize the inventories. Paragraph (c)(1) of this stock of a controlled foreign corporation section concerns the treatment of as an asset producing foreign source various stock assets. Paragraph (c)(2) of income in the separate categories this section describes a basis adjustment described in § 1.904–5(a)(4)(v), or as an for stock in 10 percent owned asset producing U.S. source income in corporations. Paragraph (c)(3) of this the residual grouping, in the hands of section sets forth rules for characterizing the United States shareholder, and to the stock in controlled foreign determine the portion of the stock that corporations. Paragraph (c)(4) of this gives rise to an inclusion under section section describes the treatment of stock 951A(a) that is treated as an exempt of noncontrolled 10-percent owned asset under § 1.861–8(d)(2)(ii)(C). foreign corporations. Paragraph (d)(1) of Section 1.861–13 also provides rules for this section concerns the treatment of subdividing the stock in the various notes. Paragraph (d)(2) of this section separate categories and the residual concerns the treatment of notes of grouping into a section 245A subgroup controlled foreign corporations. and a non-section 245A subgroup in Paragraph (e) of this section describes order to determine the amount of the the treatment of certain portfolio adjustments required by section securities that constitute inventory or 904(b)(4) and § 1.904(b)–3(c) with generate income primarily in the form of respect to the section 245A subgroup, gains. Paragraph (f) of this section and provides rules for determining the describes the treatment of assets that are portion of the stock that gives rise to a funded by interest that is capitalized, dividend eligible for a deduction under deferred, or disallowed. Paragraph (g) of section 245(a)(5) that is treated as an this section concerns the treatment of exempt asset under § 1.861– FSC stock and of assets of the related 8(d)(2)(ii)(B). supplier generating foreign trade (ii) Asset method. For further income. Paragraph (h) of this section guidance, see § 1.861–12T(c)(3)(ii). concerns the treatment of DISC stock (iii) Modified gross income method. and of assets of the related supplier Under the modified gross income generating qualified export receipts. method, the taxpayer characterizes the tax book value of the stock of the first(b) Inventories. For further guidance, tier controlled foreign corporation based see § 1.861–12T(b). treatment of affiliated groups). For further guidance, see § 1.861–11(b)(1). * * * * * ■ Par. 10. Section 1.861–12 is amended by: ■ 1. Removing paragraphs (a) through (c)(1). ■ 2. Adding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c)(1). ■ 3. Revising paragraphs (c)(3) and (4). ■ 4. Removing paragraph (c)(5) and paragraphs (d) through (j). ■ 5. Adding paragraphs (d) and (e) and reserved paragraphs (f) through (j). The revisions read as follows: PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69070 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations on the gross income, net of interest expense, of the controlled foreign corporation (as computed under § 1.861–9T(j) to include certain gross income, net of interest expense, of lower-tier controlled foreign corporations) within each relevant category for the taxable year of the controlled foreign corporation ending with or within the taxable year of the taxpayer. For purposes of this paragraph (c)(3)(iii), however, the gross income, net of interest expense, of the first-tier controlled foreign corporation includes the total amount of gross subpart F income, net of interest expense, of any lower-tier controlled foreign corporation that was excluded under the rules of § 1.861–9(j)(2)(ii)(B). (4) Characterization of stock of noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations—(i) In general. Except in the case of a nonqualifying shareholder described in paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of this section, the principles of § 1.861– 12(c)(3), including the relevant rules of § 1.861–13 when section 904 is the operative section, apply to characterize stock in a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation (as defined in section 904(d)(2)(E)). Accordingly, stock in a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation is characterized as an asset in the various separate categories on the basis of either the asset method described in § 1.861– 12T(c)(3)(ii) or the modified gross income method described in § 1.861– 12(c)(3)(iii). Stock in a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation the interest expense of which is apportioned on the basis of assets is characterized in the hands of its shareholders under the asset method described in § 1.861–12T(c)(3)(ii). Stock in a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation the interest expense of which is apportioned on the basis of gross income is characterized in the hands of its shareholders under the modified gross income method described in § 1.861–12(c)(3)(iii). (ii) Nonqualifying shareholders. Stock in a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation is characterized as a passive category asset in the hands of a shareholder that either is not a domestic corporation or is not a United States shareholder with respect to the noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation for the taxable year. Stock in a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation is characterized as in the separate category described in section 904(d)(4)(C)(ii) in the hands of any shareholder with respect to whom look-through treatment is not substantiated. See also § 1.904– 5(c)(4)(iii)(B). In the case of a VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation that is a passive foreign investment company with respect to a shareholder, stock in the noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation is characterized as a passive category asset in the hands of the shareholder if such shareholder does not meet the ownership requirements described in section 904(d)(2)(E)(i)(II). (d) Treatment of notes—(1) General rule. For further guidance, see § 1.861– 12T(d)(1). (2) Characterization of related controlled foreign corporation notes. The debt of a controlled foreign corporation is characterized in the same manner as the interest income derived from that debt obligation. See §§ 1.904– 4 and 1.904–5(c)(2) for rules treating interest income as income in a separate category. (e) Portfolio securities that constitute inventory or generate primarily gains. For further guidance, see § 1.861–12T(e) through (i). * * * * * ■ Par. 11. Section 1.861–12T is amended by: ■ 1. Revising paragraph (a). ■ 2. Removing paragraphs (c)(2)(vi). ■ 3. Revising paragraph (c)(3)(i) and removing the undesignated paragraph following paragraph (c)(3)(i)(B). ■ 4. Revising paragraph (c)(3)(iii). ■ 5. Removing paragraph (c)(5). ■ 6. Revising paragraph (d)(2). ■ 7. Removing and reserving paragraph (j). The revisions read as follows: § 1.861–12T Characterization rules and adjustments for certain assets (temporary). (a) In general. For further guidance, see § 1.861–12(a). * * * * * (c) * * * (3) * * * (i) Operative sections. For further guidance, see § 1.861–12(c)(3)(i). * * * * * (iii) Modified gross income method. For further guidance, see § 1.861– 12(c)(3)(iii). * * * * * (d) * * * (2) Characterization of related controlled foreign corporation notes. For further guidance, see § 1.861–12(d)(2). * * * * * ■ Par. 12. § 1.861–13 is added to read as follows: § 1.861–13 Special rules for characterization of controlled foreign corporation stock. (a) Methodology. For purposes of allocating and apportioning deductions PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 for purposes of section 904 as the operative section, stock in a controlled foreign corporation owned directly or indirectly through a partnership or other pass-through entity by a United States shareholder is characterized by the United States shareholder under the rules described in this section. In general, paragraphs (a)(1) through (5) of this section characterize the stock of the controlled foreign corporation as an asset in the various statutory groupings and residual grouping based on the type of income that the stock of the controlled foreign corporation generates, has generated, or may reasonably be expected to generate when the income is included by the United States shareholder. (1) Step 1: Characterize stock as generating income in statutory groupings under the asset or modified gross income method—(i) Asset method. A United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation that apportions its interest expense on the basis of assets must characterize stock of the controlled foreign corporation using the asset method described in § 1.861– 12T(c)(3)(ii) to assign the assets of the controlled foreign corporation to the statutory groupings described in paragraphs (a)(1)(i)(A)(1) through (10) and (a)(1)(i)(B) of this section. If the controlled foreign corporation owns stock in a lower-tier noncontrolled 10percent owned foreign corporation, the assets of the lower-tier noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation are assigned to a gross subpart F income grouping to the extent such assets generate income that, if distributed to the controlled foreign corporation, would be gross subpart F income of the controlled foreign corporation. See also § 1.861–12(c)(4). (A) General and passive categories. Within each of the controlled foreign corporation’s general category and passive category, each of the following subgroups within each category is a separate statutory grouping— (1) Foreign source gross tested income; (2) For each applicable treaty, U.S. source gross tested income that, when taken into account by a United States shareholder under section 951A, is resourced in the hands of the United States shareholder (resourced gross tested income); (3) U.S. source gross tested income not described in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(A)(2) of this section; (4) Foreign source gross subpart F income; (5) For each applicable treaty, U.S. source gross subpart F income that, when included by a United States E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations shareholder under section 951(a)(1), is resourced in the hands of the United States shareholder (resourced gross subpart F income); (6) U.S. source gross subpart F income not described in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(A)(5) of this section; (7) Foreign source gross section 245(a)(5) income; (8) U.S. source gross section 245(a)(5) income; (9) Any other foreign source gross income (specified foreign source general category gross income or specified foreign source passive category gross income, as the case may be); and (10) Any other U.S. source gross income (specified U.S. source general category gross income or specified U.S. source passive category gross income, as the case may be). (B) Section 901(j) income. For each country described in section 901(j), all gross income from sources in that country. (ii) Modified gross income method. A United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation that apportions its interest expense on the basis of modified gross income must characterize stock of the controlled foreign corporation using the modified gross income method under § 1.861– 12(c)(3)(iii) to assign the modified gross income of the controlled foreign corporation to the statutory groupings described in paragraphs (a)(1)(i)(A)(1) through (10) and (a)(1)(i)(B) of this section. For purposes of this paragraph (a)(1)(ii), the rules described in §§ 1.861–12(c)(3)(iii) and 1.861–9T(j)(2) apply to combine gross income in a statutory grouping that is earned by the controlled foreign corporation with gross income of lower-tier controlled foreign corporations that is in the same statutory grouping. For example, foreign source general category gross tested income (net of interest expense) earned by the controlled foreign corporation is combined with its pro rata share of the foreign source general category gross tested income (net of interest expense) of lower-tier controlled foreign corporations. If the controlled foreign corporation owns stock in a lower-tier noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation, gross income of the lowertier noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation is assigned to a gross subpart F income grouping to the extent that the income, if distributed to the upper-tier controlled foreign corporation, would be gross subpart F income of the upper-tier controlled foreign corporation. See also § 1.861– 12(c)(4). (2) Step 2: Assign stock to the section 951A category. A controlled foreign VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 corporation is not treated as earning section 951A category income. The portion of the value of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the section 951A category (as defined in § 1.904–4(g)) equals the value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the foreign source gross tested income statutory groupings within the general category (general category gross tested income stock) multiplied by the United States shareholder’s inclusion percentage. Under § 1.861–8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(ii), a portion of the value of stock assigned to the section 951A category may be treated as an exempt asset. The portion of the general category gross tested income stock that is not characterized as a section 951A category asset remains a general category asset and may result in expenses being disregarded under section 904(b)(4). See paragraph (a)(5)(ii) of this section and § 1.904(b)– 3. No portion of the passive category gross tested income stock or U.S. source gross tested income stock is assigned to the section 951A category. (3) Step 3: Assign stock to a treaty category—(i) Inclusions under section 951A(a). The portion of the value of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to a particular treaty category due to an inclusion of U.S. source income under section 951A(a) that was resourced under a particular treaty equals the value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the resourced gross tested income statutory grouping within each of the controlled foreign corporation’s general or passive categories (resourced gross tested income stock) multiplied by the United States shareholder’s inclusion percentage. Under § 1.861– 8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(ii), a portion of the value of stock assigned to a particular treaty category by reason of this paragraph (a)(3)(i) may be treated as an exempt asset. The portion of the resourced gross tested income stock that is not characterized as a treaty category asset remains a U.S. source general or passive category asset, as the case may be, that is in the residual grouping and may result in expenses being disregarded under section 904(b)(4) for purposes of determining entire taxable income under section 904(a). See paragraph (a)(5)(iv) of this section and § 1.904(b)– 3. (ii) Inclusions under section 951(a)(1). The portion of the value of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to a particular treaty category due to an inclusion of U.S. source income under section 951(a)(1) that was PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69071 resourced under a treaty equals the value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the resourced gross subpart F income statutory grouping within each of the controlled foreign corporation’s general category or passive category. (4) Step 4: Aggregate stock within each separate category and assign stock to the residual grouping. The portions of the value of stock of the controlled foreign corporation assigned to foreign source statutory groupings that were not specifically assigned to the section 951A category under paragraph (a)(2) of this section (Step 2) are aggregated within the general category and the passive category to characterize the stock as general category stock and passive category stock, respectively. The portions of the value of stock of the controlled foreign corporation assigned to U.S. source statutory groupings that were not specifically assigned to a particular treaty category under paragraph (a)(3) of this section (Step 3) are aggregated to characterize the stock as U.S. source category stock, which is in the residual grouping. Stock assigned to the separate category for income described in section 901(j)(1) remains in that category. (5) Step 5: Determine section 245A and non-section 245A subgroups for each separate category and U.S. source category—(i) In general. In the case of stock of a controlled foreign corporation that is held directly or indirectly through a partnership or other passthrough entity by a United States shareholder that is a domestic corporation, stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is general category stock, passive category stock, and U.S. source category stock is subdivided between a section 245A subgroup and a non-section 245A subgroup under paragraphs (a)(5)(ii) through (v) of this section for purposes of applying section 904(b)(4) and § 1.904(b)–3(c). Each subgroup is treated as a statutory grouping under § 1.861– 8(a)(4) for purposes of allocating and apportioning deductions under §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T and 1.861–17 in applying section 904 as the operative section. Deductions apportioned to each section 245A subgroup are disregarded under section 904(b)(4). See § 1.904(b)–3. Deductions apportioned to the statutory groupings for gross section 245(a)(5) income are not disregarded under section 904(b)(4); however, a portion of the stock assigned to those groupings is treated as exempt under § 1.861–8T(d)(2)(ii)(B). (ii) Section 245A subgroup of general category stock. The portion of the E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69072 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations general category stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the section 245A subgroup of the general category equals the value of the general category gross tested income stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is not assigned to the section 951A category under paragraph (a)(2) of this section (Step 2), plus the value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the specified foreign source general category gross income statutory grouping. (iii) Section 245A subgroup of passive category stock. The portion of passive category stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the section 245A subcategory of the passive category equals the sum of— (A) The value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the gross tested income statutory grouping within foreign source passive category income multiplied by a percentage equal to 100 percent minus the United States shareholder’s inclusion percentage for passive category gross tested income; and (B) The value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that was assigned to the specified foreign source passive category gross income statutory grouping. (iv) Section 245A subgroup of U.S. source category stock. The portion of U.S. source category stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the section 245A subgroup of the U.S. source category equals the sum of— (A) The value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the U.S. source general category gross tested income statutory grouping multiplied by a percentage equal to 100 percent minus the United States shareholder’s inclusion percentage for the general category; (B) The value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the U.S. source passive category gross tested income statutory grouping multiplied by a percentage equal to 100 percent minus the United States shareholder’s inclusion percentage for the passive category; (C) The value of the resourced gross tested income stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is not assigned to a particular treaty category under paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section (Step 3); (D) The value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 corporation that is assigned to the specified U.S. source general category gross income statutory grouping; and (E) The value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the specified U.S. source passive category gross income statutory grouping. (v) Non-section 245A subgroup. The value of stock of a controlled foreign corporation that is not assigned to the section 245A subgroup within the general or passive category or the residual grouping is assigned to the nonsection 245A subgroup within such category or grouping. The value of stock of a controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the section 951A category, the separate category for income described in section 901(j)(1), or a particular treaty category is always assigned to a non-section 245A subgroup. (b) Definitions. This paragraph (b) provides definitions that apply for purposes of this section. (1) Gross section 245(a)(5) income. The term gross section 245(a)(5) income means all items of gross income described in section 245(a)(5)(A) and (B). (2) Gross subpart F income. The term gross subpart F income means all items of gross income that are taken into account by a controlled foreign corporation in determining its subpart F income under section 952, except for items of gross income described in section 952(a)(5). (3) Gross tested income. The term gross tested income has the meaning provided in § 1.951A–2(c)(1). (4) Inclusion percentage. The term inclusion percentage has the meaning provided in § 1.960–2(c)(2). (5) Separate category. The term separate category has the meaning provided in § 1.904–5(a)(4)(v). (6) Treaty category. The term treaty category means a category of income earned by a controlled foreign corporation for which section 904(a), (b), and (c) are applied separately as a result of income being resourced under a treaty. See, for example, section 245(a)(10), 865(h), or 904(h)(10). A United States shareholder may have multiple treaty categories for amounts of income resourced by the United States shareholder under a treaty. See § 1.904– 5(m)(7). (7) U.S. source category. The term U.S. source category means the aggregate of U.S. source income in each separate category listed in section 904(d)(1). (c) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of the rules in this section. PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 (1) Example 1: Asset method—(i) Facts— (A) USP, a domestic corporation, directly owns all of the stock of a controlled foreign corporation, CFC1. The tax book value of CFC1’s stock is $20,000x. USP uses the asset method described in § 1.861–12T(c)(3)(ii) to characterize the stock of CFC1. USP’s inclusion percentage is 70%. (B) CFC1 owns the following assets with the following values as determined under §§ 1.861–9(g)(2) and 1.861–9T(g)(3): Assets that generate income described in the foreign source gross tested income statutory grouping within the general category ($4,000x), assets that generate income described in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category ($1,000x), assets that generate specified foreign source general category gross income ($3,000x), and assets that generate income described in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the passive category ($2,000x). (C) CFC1 also owns all of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. The tax book value of CFC1’s stock in CFC2 is $6,000x. CFC2 owns the following assets with the following values as determined under §§ 1.861–9(g)(2) and 1.861–9T(g)(3): Assets that generate income described in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category ($2,250x) and assets that generate specified foreign source general category gross income ($750x). (ii) Analysis—(A) Step 1—(1) Characterization of CFC2 stock. CFC2 has total assets of $3,000x, $2,250x of which are in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category and $750x of which are in the specified foreign source general category gross income statutory grouping. Accordingly, CFC2’s stock is characterized as $4,500x ($2,250x/$3,000x × $6,000x) in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category and $1,500x ($750x/$3,000x × $6,000x) in the specified foreign source general category gross income statutory grouping. (2) Characterization of CFC1 stock. CFC1 has total assets of $16,000x, $4,000x of which are in the foreign source gross tested income statutory grouping within the general category, $5,500x of which are in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category (including the portion of CFC2 stock assigned to that statutory grouping), $4,500x of which are in the specified foreign source gross general category income statutory grouping (including the portion of CFC2 stock assigned to that statutory grouping), and $2,000x of which are in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the passive category. Accordingly, CFC1’s stock is characterized as $5,000x ($4,000x/ $16,000x × $20,000x) in the foreign source gross tested income statutory grouping within the general category, $6,875x ($5,500x/$16,000x × $20,000x) in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category, $5,625x ($4,500x/$16,000x × $20,000x) in the specified foreign source gross general E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations category income statutory grouping, and $2,500x ($2,000x/$16,000x × $20,000x) in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the passive category. (B) Step 2. The value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 that is general category gross tested income stock is $5,000x. USP’s inclusion percentage is 70%. Accordingly, under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, $3,500x of the stock of CFC1 is assigned to the section 951A category and a portion thereof may be treated as an exempt asset under § 1.861–8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(ii). The remainder, $1,500x, remains a general category asset. (C) Step 3. No portion of the stock of CFC1 is resourced gross tested income stock or assigned to the resourced gross subpart F income statutory grouping in any treaty category. Accordingly, no portion of the stock of CFC1 is assigned to a treaty category under paragraph (a)(3) of this section. (D) Step 4—(1) General category stock. The total value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 that is general category stock is $14,000x, which is equal to $1,500x (the value of the portion of the general category stock of CFC1 that was not assigned to the section 951A category in paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(B) of this section (Step 2)) plus $6,875x (the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category) plus $5,625x (the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the specified foreign source gross income statutory grouping within the general category). (2) Passive category stock. The total value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 that is passive category stock is $2,500x. (3) U.S source category stock. No value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 is U.S. source category stock. (E) Step 5—(1) General category stock. Under paragraph (a)(5)(ii) of this section, the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the section 245A subgroup of general category stock is $7,125x, which is equal to $1,500x (the value of the portion of the general category stock of CFC1 that was not assigned to the section 951A category in paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(B) of this section (Step 2)) plus $5,625x (the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the specified foreign source general category gross income statutory grouping). Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of this section, the remainder of the general category stock of CFC1, $6,875x, is assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup of general category stock. (2) Passive category stock. No portion of the passive category stock of CFC1 is in the foreign source gross tested income statutory grouping or the specified foreign source passive category gross income statutory grouping. Accordingly, under paragraph (a)(5)(iii) of this section, no value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 is assigned to the section 245A subgroup of passive category stock. Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of this section, the passive category stock of CFC1, $2,500x is assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup of passive category stock. (3) Section 951A category stock. Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of this section, all of the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 section 951A category stock, $3,500x, is assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup of section 951A category stock. (F) Summary. For purpose of the allocation and apportionment of expenses, $14,000x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as general category stock, $7,125x of which is in the section 245A subgroup and $6,875x of which is in the non-section 245A subgroup; $2,500x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as passive category stock, all of which is in the non-section 245A subgroup; and $3,500x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as section 951A category stock, all of which is in the non-section 245A subgroup. (2) Example 2: Asset method with noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation—(i) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that CFC1 does not own CFC2 and instead owns 20% of the stock of FC2, a foreign corporation that is a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation. The tax book value of CFC1’s stock in FC2 is $6,000x. FC2 owns assets with the following values as determined under §§ 1.861–9(g)(2) and 1.861–9T(g)(3): Assets that generate specified foreign source general category gross income ($3,000x). All of the assets of FC2 generate income that, if distributed to CFC1 as a dividend, would be foreign source gross subpart F income in the general category to CFC1. (ii) Analysis—(A) Step 1—(1) Characterization of FC2 stock. All of the assets of FC2 generate income that, if distributed to CFC1, would be foreign source gross subpart F income in the general category to CFC1. Accordingly, under paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section, all of CFC1’s stock in FC2 ($6,000x) is characterized as in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category. (2) Characterization of CFC1 stock. CFC1 has total assets of $16,000x, $4,000x of which are in the foreign source gross tested income statutory grouping within the general category, $7,000x of which are in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category (including the FC2 stock assigned to that statutory grouping), $3,000x of which are in the specified foreign source general category gross income statutory grouping, and $2,000x of which are in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the passive category. Accordingly, CFC1’s stock is characterized as $5,000x ($4,000x/ $16,000x × $20,000x) in the foreign source gross tested income statutory grouping within the general category, $8,750x ($7,000x/$16,000x × $20,000x) in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category, $3,750x ($3,000x/$16,000x × $20,000x) in the specified foreign source general category gross income statutory grouping, and $2,500x ($2,000x/$16,000x × $20,000x) in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the passive category. (B) Step 2. The analysis is the same as in paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(B) of this section (the analysis of Step 2 in Example 1). (C) Step 3. The analysis is the same as in paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(C) of this section (the analysis of Step 3 in Example 1). PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69073 (D) Step 4—(1) General category stock. The total value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 that is general category stock is $14,000x, which is equal to $1,500x (the value of the portion of the general category stock of CFC1 that was not assigned to the section 951A category in paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(B) of this section (Step 2)) plus $3,750x (the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the specified foreign source gross income statutory grouping within the general category general category) plus $8,750x (the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category). (2) Passive category stock. The analysis is the same as in paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(D)(2) of this section (the analysis of Step 4 in Example 1). (E) Step 5—(1) General category stock. Under paragraph (a)(5)(ii) of this section, the value of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the section 245A subgroup of general category stock is $5,250x, which is equal to $1,500x (the value of the portion of the general category stock of CFC1 that was not assigned to the section 951A category in paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(B) of this section (Step 2)) plus $3,750x (the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the specified foreign source general category gross income statutory grouping). Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of this section, the remainder of the general category stock of CFC1, $8,750x, is assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup of general category stock. (2) Passive category stock. The analysis is the same as in paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(E)(2) of this section (the analysis of Step 5 in Example 1). (3) Section 951A category stock. The analysis is the same as in paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(E)(3) of this section (the analysis of Step 5 in Example 1). (F) Summary. For purpose of the allocation and apportionment of expenses, $14,000x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as general category stock, $5,250x of which is in the section 245A subgroup and $8,750x of which is in the non-section 245A subgroup; $2,500x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as passive category stock, all of which is in the non-section 245A subgroup; and $3,500x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as section 951A category stock, all of which is in the non-section 245A subgroup. (3) Example 3: Modified gross income method—(i) Facts—(A) USP, a domestic corporation, directly owns all of the stock of a controlled foreign corporation, CFC1. The tax book value of CFC1’s stock is $100,000x. CFC1 owns all of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. USP uses the modified gross income method described in § 1.861–12(c)(3)(iii) to characterize the stock in CFC1. USP’s inclusion percentage is 100%. (B) CFC1 earns $1,500x of foreign source gross tested income within the general category and $500x of foreign source gross subpart F income within the passive category. CFC1 incurs $1,000x of interest expense. (C) CFC2 earns $3,000x of foreign source gross tested income within the general E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69074 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations category, $2,000x of foreign source gross subpart F income within the general category, and $1,000x of specified foreign source general category gross income. CFC2 incurs $3,000x of interest expense. (ii) Analysis—(A) Step 1—(1) Determination of CFC2 gross income (net of interest expense). CFC2 has total gross income of $6,000x. CFC2’s $3,000x of interest expense is apportioned among the statutory groupings of gross income based on the gross income of CFC2 to determine the gross income (net of interest expense) of CFC2 in each statutory grouping. As a result, $1,500x ($3,000x/$6,000x × $3,000x) of interest expense is apportioned to foreign source gross tested income within the general category, $1,000x ($2,000x/$6,000x × $3,000x) of interest expense is apportioned to foreign source gross subpart F income within the general category, and $500x ($1,000x/ $6,000x × $3,000x) of interest expense is apportioned to specified foreign source general category gross income. Accordingly, CFC2 has the following amounts of gross income (net of interest expense): $1,500x ($3,000x ¥ $1,500x) of foreign source gross tested income within the general category, $1,000x ($2,000x ¥ $1,000x) of foreign source gross subpart F income within the general category, and $500x ($1,000x ¥ $500x) of specified foreign source general category gross income. (2) Determination of CFC1 gross income (net of interest expense). Before including the gross income consisting of subpart F income (net of interest expense) of CFC2, CFC1 has total gross income of $4,000x, including $1500x of CFC2’s foreign source gross tested income within the general category and $500x of CFC2’s specified foreign source general category gross income which are combined with CFC1’s items of gross income under § 1.861–9(j)(2)(ii). CFC1’s $1,000x of interest expense is apportioned among the statutory groupings of gross income of CFC1 to determine the gross income (net of interest expense) of CFC1 in each statutory grouping. As a result, $750x ($3,000x/$4,000x × $1,000x) of interest expense is apportioned to foreign source gross tested income within the general category, $125x ($500x/$4,000 × $1,000x) to foreign source gross subpart F income within the passive category, and $125x ($500x/$4,000x × $1,000x) to specified foreign source general category gross income. Accordingly, CFC1 has the following amounts of gross income (net of interest expense) before including the gross income consisting of subpart F income (net of interest expense) of CFC2: $2,250x ($3,000x ¥ $750x) of foreign source gross tested income within the general category, $375x ($500x ¥ $125x) of foreign source gross subpart F income within the passive category, and $375x ($500 ¥ $125x) of specified foreign source general category gross income. After including the gross income consisting of subpart F income (net of interest expense) of CFC2, CFC1 has the following amounts of gross income (net of interest expense): $2,250x of foreign source gross tested income within the general category, $1,000x of foreign source gross subpart F income within the general category, $375x of specified foreign source VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 general category gross income, and $375x of foreign source gross subpart F income within the passive category. (3) Characterization of CFC1 stock. CFC1 is considered to have a total of $4,000x of gross income (net of interest expense) for purposes of characterizing the stock of CFC1. Accordingly, CFC1’s stock is characterized as $56,250x ($2,250x/$4,000x × $100,000x) in the foreign source gross tested income statutory grouping within the general category, $25,000x ($1,000x/$4,000x × $100,000x) in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category, $9,375x ($375x/$4,000x × $100,000x) in the specified foreign source general category gross income statutory grouping, and $9,375x ($375x/$4,000x × $100,000x) in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the passive category. (B) Step 2. The value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 that is general category gross tested income stock is $56,250x. USP’s inclusion percentage is 100%. Accordingly, under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, all of the $56,250x of the stock of CFC1 is assigned to the section 951A category and a portion thereof may be treated as an exempt asset under § 1.861–8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(ii). (C) Step 3. No portion of the stock of CFC1 is resourced gross tested income or assigned to the resourced gross subpart F income statutory group in any treaty category. Accordingly, no portion of the stock of CFC1 is assigned to a treaty category under paragraph (a)(3) of this section. (D) Step 4—(1) General category stock. The total value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 that is general category stock is $34,375x, which is equal to $25,000x (the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category income statutory grouping) plus $9,375x (the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the specified foreign source general category gross income statutory grouping). (2) Passive category stock. The total value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 that is passive category stock is $9,375x. (3) U.S. source category stock. No value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 is U.S. source category stock. (E) Step 5—(1) General category stock. All of the value of the general category gross tested income stock of CFC1 was assigned to the section 951A category in paragraph (c)(3)(ii)(B) of this section (Step 2). Accordingly, under paragraph (a)(5)(ii) of this section, the value of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the section 245A subgroup of general category stock is $9,375x, which is equal to the value of the portion assigned to the specified foreign source general category gross income statutory grouping. Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of this section, the remainder of the general category stock of CFC1, $25,000x, is assigned to the nonsection 245A subgroup of general category stock. (2) Passive category stock. No portion of the passive category stock of CFC1 is in the foreign source gross tested income statutory grouping or the specified foreign source passive category gross income statutory PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 grouping. Accordingly, under paragraph (a)(5)(iii) of this section, no value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 is assigned to the section 245A subgroup. Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of this section, the passive category stock of CFC1, $9,375x, is assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup of passive category stock. (3) Section 951A category stock. Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of this section, all of the section 951A category stock, $56,250x, is assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup of section 951A category stock. (F) Summary. For purposes of the allocation and apportionment of expenses, $56,250x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as section 951A category stock, all of which is in the non-section 245A subgroup; $34,375x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as general category stock, $9,375x of which is in the section 245A subgroup and $25,000x of which is in the non-section 245A subgroup; and $9,375x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as passive category stock, all of which is in the nonsection 245A subgroup. (d) Applicability dates. This section applies for taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018. § 1.861–14 [Amended] Par. 13. Section 1.861–14 is amended by: ■ 1. Removing the language ‘‘, except that section 936 corporations (as defined in § 1.861–11(d)(2)(ii)) are also included within the affiliated group to the extent provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this section’’ from the first sentence of paragraph (d)(1). ■ 2. Removing and reserving paragraph (d)(2). ■ Par. 14. Section 1.861–17 is amended by: ■ 1. Adding paragraph (e)(3). ■ 2. Removing and reserving paragraph (g). ■ 3. Adding paragraph (i). The additions and revisions read as follows: ■ § 1.861–17 Allocation and apportionment of research and experimental expenditures. * * * * * (e) * * * (3) Change of method for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2020. A taxpayer otherwise subject to the binding election described in paragraph (e)(1) of this section may change its method for each taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2020, without the prior consent of the Commissioner. The taxpayer’s use of a new method constitutes a binding election to use the new method for its return filed for its last year that begins before January 1, E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations 2020, and for four taxable years thereafter. * * * * * (i) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018. ■ Par. 15. Section 1.901(j)–1 is added to read as follows: § 1.901(j)–1 Denial of foreign tax credit with respect to certain foreign countries. (a) Sourcing rule for certain payments and inclusions. Any income paid or accrued through one or more entities is treated as income from sources within a country described in section 901(j)(2) if the income was, without regard to such entities, from sources within that country. (b) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years that end on or after December 4, 2018. § 1.904–0 [Removed] Par. 16. § 1.904–0 is removed. ■ Par. 17. § 1.904–1 is revised to read as follows: ■ jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 § 1.904–1 taxes. Limitation on credit for foreign (a) In general. For each separate category described in § 1.904–5(a)(4)(v), the total credit for taxes paid or accrued (including those deemed to have been paid or accrued other than by reason of section 904(c)) does not exceed that proportion of the tax against which such credit is taken which the taxpayer’s taxable income from foreign sources (but not in excess of the taxpayer’s entire taxable income) in such separate category bears to the taxpayer’s entire taxable income for the same taxable year. (b) Special computation of taxable income. For purposes of computing the limitation under paragraph (a) of this section, the taxable income in the case of an individual, estate, or trust is computed without any deduction for personal exemptions under section 151 or 642(b). (c) Joint return. In the case of spouses making a joint return, the applicable limitation prescribed by section 904(a) on the credit for taxes paid or accrued to foreign countries and possessions of the United States is applied with respect to the aggregate taxable income in each separate category from sources without the United States, and the aggregate taxable income from all sources, of the spouses. (d) Consolidated group. For rules relating to the computation of the foreign tax credit limitation for a consolidated group, see § 1.1502–4. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (e) Applicability dates. This section applies to taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018. ■ Par. 18. Section 1.904–2 is amended by: ■ 1. Revising paragraphs (a) through (d). ■ 2. Removing the language ‘‘904(d)’’ and adding the language ‘‘904(c)’’ in its place in paragraph (e). ■ 3. Removing and reserving paragraph (g). ■ 4. Revising paragraphs (h) and (i). ■ 5. Adding paragraphs (j) and (k). The revisions and additions read as follows: § 1.904–2 Carryback and carryover of unused foreign tax. (a) Credit for foreign tax carryback or carryover. A taxpayer who chooses to claim a credit under section 901 for a taxable year is allowed a credit under that section not only for taxes otherwise allowable as a credit but also for taxes deemed paid or accrued in that year as a result of a carryback or carryover of an unused foreign tax under section 904(c). However, the taxes so deemed paid or accrued are not allowed as a deduction under section 164(a). Foreign tax paid, accrued, or deemed paid under section 960 with respect to section 951A category income, including section 951A category income that is reassigned to a separate category for income resourced under a treaty, may not be carried back or carried forward or deemed paid or accrued under section 904(c). See § 1.904–6 for rules for allocating and apportioning taxes to separate categories. For special rules regarding these computations in case of taxes paid, accrued, or deemed paid with respect to foreign oil and gas extraction income or foreign oil related income, see section 907(f). (b) Years to which foreign taxes are carried. If the taxpayer chooses the benefits of section 901 for a taxable year, any unused foreign tax paid or accrued in that year is carried first to the immediately preceding taxable year and then, as applicable, to each of the ten succeeding taxable years, in chronological order, but only to the extent not absorbed as taxes deemed paid or accrued under paragraphs (a) and (d) of this section in a prior taxable year. (c) Definitions. This paragraph (c) provides definitions that apply for purposes of this section. (1) Unused foreign tax. The term unused foreign tax means, with respect to each separate category for any taxable year, the excess of the amount of creditable foreign tax paid or accrued, or deemed paid under section 902 (as in PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69075 effect on December 21, 2017) or section 960, in such year, over the applicable foreign tax credit limitation under section 904 for the separate category in such year. Unused foreign tax does not include any amount for which a credit is disallowed, including foreign income taxes for which a credit is disallowed or reduced when the tax is paid, accrued, or deemed paid. (2) Separate category. The term separate category has the same meaning as provided in § 1.904–5(a)(4)(v). (3) Excess limitation—(i) In general. The term excess limitation means, with respect to a separate category for any taxable year (the excess limitation year) and an unused foreign tax carried from another taxable year (the excess credit year), the amount (if any) by which the limitation for that separate category with respect to that excess limitation year exceeds the sum of— (A) The creditable foreign tax actually paid or accrued or deemed paid under section 902 (as in effect on December 21, 2017) or section 960 with respect to the separate category in the excess limitation year; and (B) The portion of any unused foreign tax for a taxable year preceding the excess credit year that is absorbed as taxes deemed paid or accrued in the excess limitation year under paragraphs (a) and (d) of this section. (ii) Deduction years. Excess limitation for a taxable year absorbs unused foreign tax, regardless of whether the taxpayer chooses to claim a credit under section 901 for the year. In such case, the amount of the excess limitation, if any, for the year is determined in the same manner as though the taxpayer had chosen to claim a credit under section 901 for that year. For purposes of this determination, if the taxpayer has an overall foreign loss account, the excess limitation in a deduction year is determined based on the amount of the overall foreign loss the taxpayer would have recaptured if the taxpayer had chosen to claim a credit under section 901 for that year and had not made an election under § 1.904(f)–2(c)(2) to recapture more of the overall foreign loss account than is required under § 1.904(f)–2(c)(1). (d) Taxes deemed paid or accrued— (1) Amount deemed paid or accrued. The amount of unused foreign tax with respect to a separate category that is deemed paid or accrued in any taxable year to which such unused foreign tax may be carried under paragraph (b) of this section is equal to the smaller of— (i) The portion of the unused foreign tax that may be carried to the taxable year under paragraph (b) of this section; or E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69076 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (ii) The amount, if any, of the excess limitation for such taxable year with respect to the separate category of such unused foreign tax. (2) Carryback or carryover tax deemed paid or accrued in the same separate category. Any unused foreign tax, which is deemed to be paid or accrued under section 904(c) in the year to which it is carried, is deemed to be paid or accrued with respect to the same separate category as the category to which it was assigned in the year in which it was actually paid or accrued. However, see paragraphs (h) through (j) of this section for transition rules in the case of certain carrybacks and carryovers. (3) No duplicate disallowance of creditable foreign tax. Foreign income taxes for which a credit is partially disallowed, including when the tax is paid, accrued, or deemed paid, are not reduced again by reason of the unused foreign tax being deemed to be paid or accrued in the year to which it is carried under section 904(c). * * * * * (h) Transition rules for carryovers of pre-2003 unused foreign tax and carrybacks of post-2002 unused foreign tax paid or accrued with respect to dividends from noncontrolled section 902 corporations. For transition rules for carryovers of pre-2003 unused foreign tax, and carrybacks of post-2002 unused foreign tax, paid or accrued with respect to dividends from noncontrolled section 902 corporations, see 26 CFR 1.904–2(h) (revised as of April 1, 2018). (i) Transition rules for carryovers of pre-2007 unused foreign tax and carrybacks of post-2006 unused foreign tax. For transition rules for carryovers of pre-2007 unused foreign tax, and carrybacks of post-2006 unused foreign tax, see 26 CFR 1.904–2(i) (revised as of April 1, 2018). (j) Transition rules for carryovers and carrybacks of pre-2018 and post-2017 unused foreign tax—(1) Carryover of unused foreign tax—(i) In general. For purposes of this paragraph (j), the terms post-2017 separate category, pre-2018 separate category, and specified separate category have the meanings set forth in § 1.904(f)–12(j)(1). The rules of this paragraph (j)(1) apply to reallocate to the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate categories for foreign branch category income, general category income, passive category income, and specified separate categories of income, any unused foreign taxes (as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section) that were paid or accrued or deemed paid under sections 902 and 960 with respect to income in a pre-2018 separate category. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (ii) Allocation to the same separate category. Except as provided in paragraph (j)(1)(iii) of this section, to the extent any unused foreign taxes paid or accrued or deemed paid with respect to a separate category of income are carried forward to a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, such taxes are allocated to the same post-2017 separate category as the pre-2018 separate category from which the unused foreign taxes are carried. (iii) Exception for certain general category unused foreign taxes—(A) In general. To the extent any unused foreign taxes with respect to general category income are carried forward to a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, a taxpayer may choose to allocate those taxes to the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate category for foreign branch category income to the extent the unused foreign taxes would have been allocated to the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate category for foreign branch category income, and would have been unused foreign taxes with respect to foreign branch category income if that separate category had applied in the year or years the unused foreign taxes arose. Any remaining unused foreign taxes paid or accrued or deemed paid with respect to general category income carried forward to a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, are allocated to the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate category for general category income. (B) Safe harbor. In lieu of applying paragraph (j)(1)(iii)(A) of this section, the taxpayer may choose to allocate the unused foreign taxes with respect to general category income in a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, to the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate category for foreign branch category income based on a ratio equal to the amount of foreign income taxes assigned to the general category that were paid or accrued by the taxpayer’s foreign branches (as defined in § 1.904– 4(f)(3)(vii)) bears to all foreign income taxes assigned to the general category that were paid or accrued, or deemed paid by the taxpayer with respect to such taxable year. The amount of taxes paid or accrued by a foreign branch in a taxable year beginning before January1, 2018, means all foreign income taxes properly reflected on the separate set of books and records (as defined in § 1.989(a)–1(d)(1) and (2)) of the foreign branch as an expense (which does not include any taxes deemed paid under section 902 or 960). (C) Rules regarding the exception. A taxpayer applying the exception described in this paragraph (j)(1)(iii) (the branch carryover exception) must PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 apply the exception to all of its unused foreign taxes paid or accrued with respect to general category income that are carried forward to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. A taxpayer may apply the branch carryover exception on a timely filed original return (including extensions) or an amended return. A taxpayer that applies the exception on an amended return must make appropriate adjustments to eliminate any double benefit arising from application of the exception to years that are not open for assessment. (D) Coordination rule. See § 1.904(f)– 12(j)(5) for coordination rule with respect to the exception described in paragraph (j)(1)(iii) of this section and the exceptions described in § 1.904(f)– 12(j)(2) through (4). (2) Carryback of unused foreign tax— (i) In general. The rules of this paragraph (j)(2) apply to any unused foreign taxes that were paid or accrued, or deemed paid under section 960, with respect to income in a post-2017 separate category. (ii) Passive category income and specified separate categories of income described in § 1.904–4(m). Any unused foreign taxes paid or accrued or deemed paid with respect to passive category income or a specified separate category of income in a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, that are carried back to a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, are allocated to the same pre-2018 separate category as the post-2017 separate category from which the unused foreign taxes are carried. (iii) General category income and foreign branch category income. Any unused foreign taxes paid or accrued or deemed paid with respect to general category income or foreign branch category income in a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, that are carried back to a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, are allocated to the taxpayer’s pre-2018 separate category for general category income. (k) Applicability date. Paragraphs (a) through (i) of this section apply to taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018. Paragraph (j) of this section applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. Paragraph (j)(2) of this section also applies to the last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018. ■ Par. 19. Section 1.904–3 is amended by: ■ 1. Revising the section heading. ■ 2. Removing the language ‘‘a husband and wife’’ and adding the language E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations ‘‘spouses’’ in its place in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d). ■ 3. Adding a sentence to the end of paragraph (a). ■ 4. Removing the second and third sentences in paragraph (d). ■ 5. Revising paragraphs (e) and (f)(1) through (3). ■ 6. Removing the language ‘‘904(d)’’ and adding the language ‘‘904(c)’’ in its place in paragraphs (f)(5)(i) and (ii). ■ 7. Removing paragraph (f)(6) and the undesignated paragraph following paragraph (f)(6)(ii). ■ 8. Removing and reserving paragraph (g). ■ 9. Adding paragraph (h). The additions and revisions read as follows: jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 § 1.904–3 Carryback and carryover of unused foreign tax by spouses making a joint return. (a) * * * The rules in this section apply separately with respect to each separate category as defined in § 1.904– 5(a)(4)(v). * * * * * (e) Amounts carried from or through a joint return year to or through a separate return year—(1) In general. It is necessary to allocate to each spouse the spouse’s share of an unused foreign tax or excess limitation for any taxable year for which the spouses filed a joint return if— (i) The spouses file separate returns for the current taxable year and an unused foreign tax is carried thereto from a taxable year for which they filed a joint return; (ii) The spouses file separate returns for the current taxable year and an unused foreign tax is carried to such taxable year from a year for which they filed separate returns but is first carried through a year for which they filed a joint return; or (iii) The spouses file a joint return for the current taxable year and an unused foreign tax is carried from a taxable year for which they filed joint returns but is first carried through a year for which they filed separate returns. (2) Computation and adjustments. In the cases described in paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the separate carryback or carryover of each spouse to the current taxable year shall be computed in the manner described in § 1.904–2 but with the modifications set forth in paragraph (f) of this section. Where applicable, appropriate adjustments are made to take into account the fact that, for any taxable year involved in the computation of the carryback or the carryover, either spouse has combined foreign oil and gas income described in section 907(b) with respect to which the limitation in section 907(a) applies. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (f) * * * (1) Separate category limitation. The limitation in a separate category of a particular spouse for a taxable year for which a joint return is made shall be the portion of the limitation on the joint return which bears the same ratio to such limitation as such spouse’s foreign source taxable income (with gross income and deductions taken into account to the same extent as taken into account on the joint return) in such separate category (but not in excess of the joint foreign source taxable income) bears to the joint foreign source taxable income in such separate category. (2) Unused foreign tax. For purposes of this section, the term unused foreign tax means, with respect to a particular spouse and separate category for a taxable year for which a joint return is made, the excess of the foreign tax paid or accrued by that spouse with respect to that separate category over that spouse’s separate category limitation. (3) Excess limitation. For purposes of this section, the term excess limitation means, with respect to a particular spouse and separate category for a taxable year for which a joint return is made, the excess of that spouse’s separate category limitation over the foreign taxes paid or accrued by such spouse with respect to such separate category for such taxable year. * * * * * (h) Applicability date. This section is applicable for taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018. ■ Par. 20. Section 1.904–4 is amended by: ■ 1. Revising paragraph (a). ■ 2. Removing the word ‘‘or’’ from the end of paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A). ■ 3. Removing the period from the end of paragraph (b)(2)(i)(B) and adding a semicolon in its place. ■ 4. Adding paragraphs (b)(2)(i)(C) and (D). ■ 5. Revising the first and second sentences and adding a sentence after the second sentence of paragraph (b)(2)(ii). ■ 6. Revising paragraph (b)(2)(iv). ■ 7. In paragraph (c)(1): ■ i. Removing the language ‘‘shall not be’’ from the first sentence and adding the language ‘‘is not’’ in its place. ■ ii. Revising the second, third, and fourth sentences and removing the last two sentences. ■ 8. Removing the language ‘‘1.861– 14T’’ in the first sentence of paragraph (c)(2)(i) and adding the language ‘‘1.861–17’’ in its place. ■ 9. Adding paragraph (c)(2)(iii). ■ 10. In paragraph (c)(3) introductory text: PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69077 i. Removing the language ‘‘shall be’’ in the first sentence and adding the language ‘‘are’’ in its place. ■ ii. Revising the second, third, and fourth sentences, and adding a sentence after the fourth sentence. ■ 11. Revising paragraphs (c)(4) and (c)(5)(ii). ■ 12. Removing the second and third sentences of paragraphs (c)(5)(iii)(A) and (B). ■ 13. Revising paragraph (c)(5)(iii)(C). ■ 14. In paragraph (c)(6)(i): ■ i. Revising the first sentence. ■ ii. Removing the language ‘‘deemed paid or accrued’’ and adding the language ‘‘deemed paid’’ in its place and removing the word ‘‘taxable’’ in the second sentence. ■ 15. In paragraph (c)(6)(iii): ■ i. Revising the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth sentences. ■ ii. Removing the word ‘‘taxable’’ in the second and third sentences. ■ iii. Removing the language ‘‘deemed paid or accrued’’ and adding the language ‘‘deemed paid’’ in its place and removing ‘‘(A),’’ ‘‘(B),’’ and ‘‘(C)’’ in the third sentence. ■ 16. Revising paragraph (c)(6)(iv). ■ 17. In paragraph (c)(7)(i): ■ i. Removing the language ‘‘is reduced’’ and adding the language ‘‘would be reduced’’ in its place in the first sentence. ■ ii. Revising the second and sixth sentences. ■ 18. In paragraph (c)(7)(iii): ■ i. Removing the language ‘‘general category income’’ and adding the language ‘‘income in another separate category’’ in its place in the third sentence. ■ ii. Removing the last sentence. ■ 19. Revising paragraph (c)(8). ■ 20. Adding paragraph (d). ■ 21. Revising paragraph (e)(1). ■ 22. Removing and reserving paragraph (e)(2)(i)(W). ■ 23. Removing the seventh sentence of paragraph (e)(3)(i). ■ 24. Removing the last sentence of paragraph (e)(3)(ii). ■ 25. Removing and reserving paragraphs (e)(3)(iv) and (e)(4)(i)(B). ■ 26. Removing paragraph (e)(5). ■ 27. Adding paragraphs (f) and (g). ■ 28. Revising paragraphs (h)(2), (4), and (5) and (k) through (n). ■ 29. Adding paragraphs (o), (p), and (q). The revisions and additions read as follows: ■ § 1.904–4 Separate application of section 904 with respect to certain categories of income. (a) In general. A taxpayer is required to compute a separate foreign tax credit E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69078 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 limitation for income received or accrued in a taxable year that is described in section 904(d)(1)(A) (section 951A category income), 904(d)(1)(B) (foreign branch category income), 904(d)(1)(C) (passive category income), 904(d)(1)(D) (general category income), or paragraph (m) of this section (specified separate categories). For purposes of this section, the definitions in § 1.904–5(a)(4) apply. (b) * * * (2) * * * (i) * * * (C) Distributive shares of partnership income treated as passive category income under paragraph (n)(1) of this section, and income from the sale of a partnership interest treated as passive category income under paragraph (n)(2) of this section; or (D) Income treated as passive category income under the look-through rules in § 1.904–5. (ii) Exceptions. Passive income does not include any export financing interest (as defined in paragraph (h) of this section), any high-taxed income (as defined in paragraph (c) of this section), financial services income (as defined in paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this section), or any active rents and royalties (as defined in paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section). In addition, passive income does not include any income that would otherwise be passive but is excluded from passive category income under § 1.904–5(b)(1) or that is assigned to a separate category other than passive category income under § 1.904– 5(c)(4)(iii). See also paragraph (k) of this section for rules relating to income resourced under a tax treaty. * * * * * * * * (iv) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this paragraph (b)(2). (A) Example 1. For Year 1, USP, a domestic corporation, has a net foreign currency gain that would not constitute foreign personal holding company income if USP were a controlled foreign corporation because the gain is directly related to the business needs of USP. See section 954(c)(1)(D). Under paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A) of this section, the foreign currency gain is, therefore, not passive category income to USP because it is not income of a kind that would be foreign personal holding company income. (B) Example 2. Controlled foreign corporation, CFC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. CFC is regularly engaged in the restaurant franchise business. USP licenses trademarks, tradenames, certain know-how, related services, and certain restaurant designs for which CFC pays USP an arm’s length royalty. USP is regularly engaged in the development and licensing of such property. Some of the franchisees are unrelated to CFC and USP. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 Other franchisees are related to CFC or USP and use the licensed property outside of CFC’s country of incorporation. CFC does not satisfy, but USP does satisfy, the active trade or business requirements of section 954(c)(2)(A). The royalty income earned by CFC from both its related and unrelated franchisees is foreign personal holding company income because CFC does not satisfy the active trade or business requirements of section 954(c)(2)(A) and, in addition, the royalty income from the related franchisees does not qualify for the same country exception of section 954(c)(3) or the look-through exception in section 954(c)(6). However, all of the royalty income earned by CFC is general category income to CFC under § 1.904–4(b)(2)(iii) because USP, a member of CFC’s affiliated group, satisfies the active trade or business test (which is applied without regard to whether the royalties are paid by a related person). USP’s inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) of CFC’s royalty income is general category income to USP under § 1.904–5(c)(5) and paragraph (d) of this section. The royalties received by USP are general category income to USP under § 1.904–5(b)(1) and paragraph (d) of this section. * * * * * (c) * * * (1) * * * Income is considered to be high-taxed income if, after allocating expenses, losses, and other deductions of the United States person to that income under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the sum of the foreign income taxes paid or accrued, and deemed paid under section 960, by the United States person with respect to such income (reduced by any portion of such taxes for which a credit is not allowed) exceeds the highest rate of tax specified in section 1 or 11, whichever applies (and with reference to section 15 if applicable), multiplied by the amount of such income (including the amount treated as a dividend under section 78). If, after application of this paragraph (c), income that would otherwise be passive income is determined to be high-taxed income, the income is treated as general category income, foreign branch category income, section 951A category income, or income in a specified separate category, as determined under the rules of this section, and any taxes imposed on that income are considered related to the same separate category of income under § 1.904–6. If, after application of this paragraph (c), passive income is zero or less than zero, any taxes imposed on the passive income are considered related to the same separate category of income to which the passive income (if not reduced to zero or less than zero) would have been assigned had the income been treated as high-taxed income (general category, foreign branch category, section 951A category, or a specified separate category). * * * PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 (2) * * * (iii) Coordination with section 904(b), (f) and (g). The determination of whether foreign source passive income is high-taxed is made before taking into account any adjustments under section 904(b) or any allocation or recapture of a separate limitation loss, overall foreign loss, or overall domestic loss under section 904(f) and (g). (3) * * * Paragraph (c)(4) of this section provides additional rules for inclusions under section 951(a)(1) or 951A(a) that are passive income, dividends from a controlled foreign corporation or noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation that are passive income, and income that is received or accrued by a United States person through a foreign QBU that is passive income. For purposes of this paragraph (c), a foreign QBU is a qualified business unit (as defined in section 989(a)), other than a controlled foreign corporation or noncontrolled 10percent owned foreign corporation, that has its principal place of business outside the United States. The rules in this paragraph (c)(3) apply whether the income is received from a controlled foreign corporation of which the United States person is a United States shareholder, from a noncontrolled 10percent owned foreign corporation of which the United States person is a United States shareholder that is a domestic corporation, or from any other person. In applying the rules in this paragraph (c)(3), passive income is not treated as subject to a withholding tax or other foreign tax when a credit is disallowed in full for such foreign tax, for example, under section 901(k). * * * * * * * * (4) Dividends and inclusions from controlled foreign corporations, dividends from noncontrolled 10percent owned foreign corporations, and income attributable to foreign QBUs. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(5) of this section, the rules of this paragraph (c)(4) apply to all dividends and all amounts included in gross income of a United States shareholder under section 951(a)(1) or 951A(a) with respect to the foreign corporation that (after application of the look-through rules of section 904(d)(3) and § 1.904–5) are attributable to passive income received or accrued by a controlled foreign corporation, all dividends from a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation that are received or accrued by a United States shareholder that (after application of the lookthrough rules of section 904(d)(4) and § 1.904–5) are treated as passive income, E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 and all amounts of passive income received or accrued by a United States person through a foreign QBU. The grouping rules of paragraphs (c)(3)(i) through (iv) of this section apply separately to dividends, to inclusions under section 951(a)(1) and to inclusions under section 951A(a) with respect to each controlled foreign corporation of which the taxpayer is a United States shareholder, and to dividends with respect to each noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation of which the taxpayer is a United States shareholder that is a domestic corporation. The grouping rules of paragraphs (c)(3)(i) through (iv) of this section also apply separately to income attributable to each foreign QBU of a controlled foreign corporation, noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation, any other look-through entity as defined in § 1.904–5(i), or any United States person. (5) * * * (ii) Treatment of partnership income. A partner’s distributive share of income from a foreign or domestic partnership that is treated as passive income under paragraph (n)(1)(ii) of this section (generally providing that a less than 10 percent partner’s distributive share of partnership income is passive income) is treated as a single item of income and is not grouped with other amounts. A distributive share of income from a partnership that is treated as passive income under paragraph (n)(1)(i) of this section is grouped according to the rules in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, except that the portion, if any, of the distributive share of income attributable to income earned by a domestic partnership through a foreign QBU is separately grouped under the rules of paragraph (c)(4) of this section. * * * * * (iii) * * * (C) Example. The following example illustrates the application of this paragraph (c)(5)(iii). (1) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns all of the stock of CFC, a controlled foreign corporation organized and operating in Country X that uses the ‘‘u’’ as its functional currency. In Year 1, when the highest rate of U.S. tax in section 11 is 21%, CFC earns 100u of passive category foreign personal holding company income subject to no foreign tax. When included in USP’s income under section 951(a), the applicable exchange rate is 1u=$1x. Therefore, USP’s section 951(a) inclusion is $100x and no foreign taxes are deemed paid by USP with respect to the inclusion. At the end of Year 1, CFC has previously taxed earnings and profits of 100u and USP’s basis in those earnings is $100x. In Year 2, CFC has no earnings and profits and distributes 100u to USP. The value of the earnings when VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 distributed is $150x. Assume that under section 986(c), USP must recognize $50x of passive category income attributable to the appreciation of the previously taxed earnings and profits. Country X does not recognize any gain or loss on the distribution, but imposes a 10u withholding tax on USP with respect to the distribution. (2) Analysis. Because the section 986(c) gain is not subject to any foreign withholding tax or other foreign tax, under paragraph (c)(3)(iii) of this section the section 986(c) gain is grouped with other items of USP’s income that are subject to no withholding tax or other foreign tax. Under paragraph (c)(6)(iii) of this section, the 10u withholding tax is related to passive category income. See section 960(c) and § 1.960–4 for rules relating to the increase in limitation in the year of distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits. * * * * * (6) * * * (i) * * * The determination of whether an amount included in gross income under section 951(a)(1) or 951A(a) is high-taxed income is made in the taxable year the income is included in the gross income of the United States shareholder under section 951(a) or 951A(a) (for purposes of this paragraph (c), the year of inclusion). * * * * * * * * (iii) * * * If an item of income is considered high-taxed income in the year of inclusion and paragraph (c)(6)(i) of this section applies, then any increase in foreign income taxes imposed with respect to that item are considered to be related to the same separate category to which the income was assigned in the taxable year of inclusion. * * * The taxpayer shall treat any taxes paid or accrued, or deemed paid, on the distribution in excess of this amount as taxes related to the same category of income to which such inclusion would have been assigned had the income been treated as high-taxed income in the year of inclusion (general category income, section 951A category income, or income in a specified separate category). If these additional taxes are not creditable in the year of distribution, the carryover rules of section 904(c) apply (see section 904(c) and § 1.904–2(a) for rules disallowing carryovers in the section 951A category). For purposes of this paragraph (c)(6), the foreign tax on an inclusion under section 951(a)(1) or 951A(a) is considered increased on distribution of the earnings and profits associated with that inclusion if the total of taxes paid and deemed paid on the inclusion and the distribution (taking into account any reductions in tax and any withholding taxes) exceeds the total taxes deemed paid in the year of inclusion. * * * (iv) Increase in taxes paid by successors. If passive earnings and PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69079 profits previously included in income of a United States shareholder are distributed to a person that was not a United States shareholder of the distributing corporation in the year the earnings were included, any increase in foreign taxes paid or accrued, or deemed paid, on that distribution is treated as taxes related to general category income (or income in a specified separate category, if applicable) in the case of earnings and profits previously included under section 951(a)(1), and is treated as taxes related to section 951A category income (or income in a specified separate category, if applicable) in the case of earnings and profits previously included under section 951A(a), regardless of whether the previously-taxed income was considered high-taxed income under section 904(d)(2)(F) in the year of inclusion. (7) * * * (i) * * * If the inclusion is considered to be high-taxed income, then the taxpayer treats the inclusion as general category income, section 951A category income, or income in a specified separate category as provided in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. * * * For purposes of this paragraph (c)(7)(i), the foreign tax on an inclusion under section 951(a)(1) or 951A(a) is considered reduced on distribution of the earnings and profits associated with the inclusion if the total taxes paid and deemed paid on the inclusion and the distribution (taking into account any reductions in tax and any withholding taxes) is less than the total taxes deemed paid in the year of inclusion. * * * * * * * * (8) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this paragraph (c). All of the examples assume that the highest tax rate under section 11 is 21%, unless otherwise noted. (i) Example 1. CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of domestic corporation USP. CFC is a single qualified business unit (QBU) operating in foreign Country X. In Year 1, CFC earns $130x of gross royalty income that is passive income from Country X sources, and incurs $30x of expenses that do not include any payments to USP. CFC’s $100x of pre-tax passive income from the royalty is subject to $30x of foreign tax, and is included under section 951(a)(1) in USP’s gross income for the taxable year. USP allocates $50x of expenses to the $100x (consisting of the $70x section 951(a)(1) inclusion and $30x section 78 amount), resulting in net passive income of $50x. USP does not elect to exclude from subpart F under section 954(b)(4) the $70x of CFC’s net passive income. After application of the high-tax kick-out rules of paragraph (c) of this section, the $50x of USP’s net passive income is treated as general category income, E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69080 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations and the $30x of taxes deemed paid are treated as taxes imposed on general category income, because the foreign taxes paid and deemed paid on the income exceed the highest U.S. tax rate multiplied by the $50x of net passive income ($30x > $10.5x (21% × $50x)). (ii) Example 2. CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of domestic corporation USP. CFC is incorporated and operating in Country Y and has a branch in Country Z. CFC has two QBUs (QBU Y and QBU Z). In Year 1, CFC earns $65x of gross royalty income that is passive income in Country Y through QBU Y and $65x of gross royalty income that is passive income in Country Z through QBU Z. CFC allocates $15x of expenses to the gross royalty income earned by each QBU, resulting in pre-tax passive income of $50x in each QBU. Country Y imposes $5x of foreign tax on the royalty income earned in Y, and Country Z imposes $10x of tax on royalty income earned in Z. All of CFC’s income constitutes foreign personal holding company income that is passive income and is included under section 951(a)(1) in USP’s gross income for the taxable year. USP allocates $50x of expenses pro rata to the $100x section 951(a)(1) inclusion attributable to the QBUs (consisting of the $45x section 951(a)(1) inclusion derived through QBU Y, the $5x section 78 amount attributable to QBU Y, the $40x section 951(a)(1) inclusion derived through QBU Z, and the $10x section 78 amount attributable to QBU Z), resulting in net passive income of $50x. Pursuant to paragraph (c)(4) of this section, the high-tax kickout rules must be applied separately to the subpart F inclusion attributable to the income earned by QBU Y and the income earned by QBU Z. After application of the high-tax kickout rules, the $25x of net passive income attributable to QBU Y will be treated as passive category income because the foreign taxes paid and deemed paid on the income do not exceed the highest U.S. tax rate multiplied by the $25x of net passive income ($5x < $5.25x (21% × $25x)). The $25x of net passive income attributable to QBU Z will be treated as general category income because the foreign taxes paid and deemed paid on the income exceed the highest U.S. tax rate multiplied by the $25x of net passive income ($10x > $5.25x (21% × $25x)). (iii) Example 3. Domestic corporation USP operates in branch form in foreign countries X and Y. The branches are qualified business units (QBUs), within the meaning of section 989(a). In Year 1, QBU X earns passive royalty income, interest income, and rental income. All of the QBU X passive income is from Country Z sources. The royalty income is not subject to a withholding tax, and is not taxed by Country X, and the interest and the rental income are subject to a 4% and 10% withholding tax, respectively. QBU Y earns interest income in Country Y that is not subject to foreign tax. For purposes of determining whether USP’s foreign source passive income is high-taxed income, the rental income and the interest income earned in QBU X are treated as one item of income pursuant to paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section. The interest income earned in QBU VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 Y and the royalty income earned in QBU X are each treated as a separate item of income under paragraphs (c)(4) and (c)(3)(iii) of this section. If, after allocation of expenses, QBU X’s items of income composed of rental income and interest income are high-taxed income, the income may be treated as foreign branch category income. (iv) Example 4. CFC, a controlled foreign corporation incorporated in foreign Country R, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. USP and CFC have calendar year taxable years for both U.S. and Country R tax purposes. The highest tax rate under section 11 is 34% and 21% in Year 1 and Year 2, respectively. For Year 1, USP is required under section 951(a)(1) to include in gross income $80x (not including the section 78 amount) attributable to the earnings and profits of CFC for such year, all of which is foreign personal holding company income that is passive rent or royalty income. CFC does not make any distributions in Year 1. Foreign income taxes paid by CFC for Year 1 that are deemed paid by USP for such year under section 960(a) with respect to the section 951(a)(1) inclusion equal $20x. USP properly allocates $30x of expenses to the section 951(a)(1) inclusion. The foreign income tax paid with respect to the section 951(a)(1) inclusion does not exceed the highest U.S. tax rate multiplied by the amount of income after allocation of USP’s expenses ($20x < $23.80x (34% × $70x)). Thus, USP’s section 951(a)(1) inclusion for Year 1 is included in USP’s passive category income and the $20x of taxes attributable to that inclusion are treated as taxes related to passive category income. In Year 2, CFC distributes $70x to USP, and under section 959 that distribution is treated as attributable to the earnings and profits with respect to the amount included in income by USP in Year 1 and is excluded from USP’s gross income. Foreign Country R imposes a withholding tax of $14x on the distribution in Year 2. Under paragraph (c)(6)(i) of this section, the withholding tax in Year 2 does not affect the characterization of the Year 1 inclusion as passive category income, nor does it affect the characterization of the $20x of taxes paid in Year 1 as taxes paid with respect to passive category income. No further expenses of USP are allocable to the receipt of that distribution. In Year 2, the foreign taxes paid ($14x) exceed the product of the highest U.S. tax rate and the amount of the inclusion reduced by taxes deemed paid in the year of inclusion ($14x > $3.80x ((34% × $70x) ¥ $20x)). Thus, under paragraph (c)(6)(iii) of this section, $3.80x ((34% × $70x) ¥ $20x) of the $14x withholding tax paid in Year 2 is treated as taxes related to passive category income and the remaining $10.20x ($14x ¥ $3.80x) of the withholding tax is treated as related to general category income. (v) through (viii) [Reserved] (ix) Example 9. USP, a domestic corporation, earns $100x of passive royalty income from sources within the United States. Under the laws of Country X, however, that royalty is considered to be from sources within Country X, and Country X imposes a 5% withholding tax on the payment of the royalty. USP also earns $100x of foreign source passive dividend income PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 from Country Y subject to a 10% withholding tax to which $15x of expenses are allocated. In determining whether USP’s passive income is high-taxed, the $5x withholding tax on USP’s royalty income is allocated to passive income, and to the group of passive income described in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section (passive income subject to a withholding tax of less than 15% (but greater than zero)). For purposes of determining whether the income is high-taxed, however, only the $85x of foreign source dividend income (and not the $100x of U.S. source royalty income) is taken into account. The foreign source dividend income is treated as passive category income because the foreign taxes paid on the passive income in the group ($15x) do not exceed the highest U.S. tax rate multiplied by the $85x of net foreign source income in the group ($15x < $17.85x ($100x ¥ $15x) × 21%). (x) Example 10. In Year 1, P, a U.S. citizen with a tax home in Country X, earns the following items of gross income: $400x of foreign source, passive interest income not subject to foreign withholding tax but subject to Country X income tax of $100x, $200x of foreign source, passive royalty income subject to a 5% foreign withholding tax (foreign tax paid is $10x), $1,300x of foreign source, passive rental income subject to a 25% foreign withholding tax (foreign tax paid is $325x), $500x of foreign source, general category loss, and $2,000x of U.S. source capital gain that is not subject to any foreign tax. P has a $900x deduction allocable to its passive rental income. P’s only other deduction is a $700x capital loss on the sale of stock that is allocated to foreign source passive category income under § 1.865–2(a)(3)(i). The $700x capital loss is initially allocated to the group of passive income described in paragraph (c)(3)(iv) of this section (passive income subject to no withholding tax but subject to foreign tax other than withholding tax). This group comprises the $400x of interest income not subject to foreign withholding tax but subject to Country X income tax. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section, the $300x amount by which the capital loss exceeds the income in the group must be reallocated to the net income in the other groups described in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, but the $500x general category separate limitation loss is not allocated until the high-tax kickout rules are applied to determine whether the passive income is high-taxed income. P’s $200x of royalty income subject to a 5% withholding tax is described in paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this section (passive income that is subject to a withholding tax of less than 15%, but greater than zero). P’s $1,300x of rental income subject to a 25% withholding tax is described in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section (passive income that is subject to a withholding tax of 15% or greater). The $1,300x of rental income is reduced by the $900x deduction allocable to such income. Therefore, the total net income in the other groups under paragraph (c)(3) is $600x, the $200x of royalty income and the $400x of rental income. The ($300x) net loss in the net basis tax group thus reduces the royalty income by $100x to $100x ($200x ¥ ($300x × (200x/ 600x))) and the rental income by $200x to E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 $200x ($400x ¥ ($300x × (400x/600x))). The $100x of net royalty income is not high-taxed and remains passive category income because the foreign taxes of $10x do not exceed the highest U.S. rate of tax on that income, which is 37% for individuals ($10x < $37x (37% × $100x)). Under the high-tax kickout, the $200x of rental income and the $325x of associated foreign tax are assigned to the general category. (xi) Example 11. The facts are the same as in paragraph (c)(8)(x) of this section (the facts in Example 10), except the amount of the capital loss that is allocated under § 1.865– 2(a)(3)(i) and paragraph (c)(2) of this section to the group of foreign source passive income subject to no withholding tax but subject to foreign tax other than withholding tax is $1,200x. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section, the excess deductions of $800x must be reallocated to the $200x of net royalty income subject to a 5% withholding tax and the $400x of net rental income subject to a 15% or greater withholding tax. The income in each of these groups is reduced to zero, and the foreign taxes imposed on the rental and royalty income are considered related to general category income. The remaining loss of $200x constitutes a separate limitation loss with respect to passive category income. (xii) Example 12. In Year 1, USP, a domestic corporation, earns a $100x dividend that is foreign source passive income subject to a 30% withholding tax. The dividend is not paid by a specified 10percent owned foreign corporation (as defined in section 245A(b)(1)). A foreign tax credit for the withholding tax on the dividend is disallowed under section 901(k). A deduction for the tax is allowed, however, under sections 164 and 901(k)(7). In determining whether USP’s passive income is high-taxed, under paragraph (c)(3) of this section the $100x dividend and the $30x deduction are allocated to the group of income described in paragraph (c)(3)(iv) of this section (passive income subject to no withholding tax or other foreign tax). (d) General category income. The term general category income means all income other than passive category income, foreign branch category income, section 951A category income, and income in a specified separate category. Any item that is excluded from the passive category under paragraph (c) or (h) of this section or § 1.904–5(b)(1) is included in general category income only to the extent that such item does not meet the definition of another separate category. General category income also includes income treated as general category income under the lookthrough rules referenced in § 1.904– 5(a)(2). (e) * * * (1) In general—(i) Treatment of financial services income. Passive income that is characterized as financial services income is not assigned to the passive category but is assigned in accordance with this paragraph (e)(1)(i). Financial services income that meets the definition of foreign branch category VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 income (see paragraph (f)(1) of this section) is treated as income in that category. Financial services income of a controlled foreign corporation that is included in gross income of a United States shareholder under section 951A(a) is treated as section 951A category income in the hands of the United States shareholder. Financial services income that is neither treated as foreign branch category income nor treated as section 951A category income is treated as general category income. Distributions, interest, rents, or royalties received from a related person that is a financial services entity that would be assigned to the passive category under the look-through rules in § 1.904–5, but for the fact such amounts are paid by a financial services entity (and, therefore, not attributable to passive category income of the payor), are assigned to separate categories (other than the passive category) under the rules in this section. (ii) Definition of financial services income. The term financial services income means income derived by a financial services entity, as defined in paragraph (e)(3) of this section, that is: (A) Income derived in the active conduct of a banking, insurance, financing, or similar business (active financing income as defined in paragraph (e)(2) of this section); (B) Passive income as defined in section 904(d)(2)(B) and paragraph (b) of this section as determined before the application of the exception for hightaxed income but after the application of the exception for export financing interest; or (C) Incidental income as defined in paragraph (e)(4) of this section. * * * * * (f) Foreign branch category income— (1) Foreign branch category income—(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this section, the term foreign branch category income means income of a United States person, other than a pass-through entity, that is— (A) Income attributable to foreign branches of the United States person held directly or indirectly through disregarded entities; (B) A distributive share of partnership income that is attributable to foreign branches held by the partnership directly or indirectly through disregarded entities, or held indirectly by the partnership through another partnership or other pass-through entity that holds the foreign branch directly or indirectly through disregarded entities; and (C) Income from other pass-through entities determined under principles PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69081 similar to those described in paragraph (f)(1)(i)(B) of this section. (ii) Passive category income excluded from foreign branch category income. Income assigned to the passive category under paragraph (b) of this section is not foreign branch category income, regardless of whether the income is described in paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this section. Income that is treated as passive category income under the look-through rules in § 1.904–5 is also excluded from foreign branch category income, regardless of whether the income is attributable to a foreign branch. However, income that would be passive category income but for the application of section 904(d)(2)(B)(iii) (export financing interest and high-taxed income) or 904(d)(2)(C) (financial services income) and also meets the definition of foreign branch category income is foreign branch category income. (2) Gross income attributable to a foreign branch—(i) In general. Except as provided in this paragraph (f)(2), gross income is attributable to a foreign branch to the extent the gross income (as adjusted to conform to Federal income tax principles) is reflected on the separate set of books and records (as defined in § 1.989(a)–1(d)(1) and (2)) of the foreign branch. Gross income that is not attributable to the foreign branch and is therefore attributable to the foreign branch owner is income in a separate category (other than the foreign branch category) under the other rules of this section. (ii) Income attributable to U.S. activities. Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, gross income attributable to a foreign branch does not include items arising from activities carried out in the United States, regardless of whether the items are reflected on the foreign branch’s separate books and records. (iii) Income arising from stock—(A) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(iii)(B) of this section, gross income attributable to a foreign branch does not include items of income arising from stock of a corporation (whether foreign or domestic), including gain from the disposition of such stock or any inclusion under sections 951(a), 951A(a), 1248, or 1293(a). (B) Exception for dealer property. Paragraph (f)(2)(iii)(A) of this section does not apply to gain recognized from dispositions of stock in a corporation, if the stock would be dealer property (as defined in § 1.954–2(a)(4)(v)) if the foreign branch were a controlled foreign corporation. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69082 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (iv) Disposition of interests in certain entities—(A) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(B) of this section, gross income attributable to a foreign branch does not include gain from the disposition of an interest in a partnership or other pass-through entity or an interest in a disregarded entity. See also paragraph (n)(2) of this section for general rules relating to the sale of a partnership interest. (B) Exception for sales by a foreign branch in the ordinary course of business. The rule in paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(A) of this section does not apply to gain from the sale or exchange of an interest in a partnership or other pass-through entity or an interest in a disregarded entity if the gain is reflected on the books and records of a foreign branch and the interest is held by the foreign branch in the ordinary course of its active trade or business. An interest is considered to be held in the ordinary course of the foreign branch’s active trade or business only if the foreign branch— (1) Directly engages in the same, or a related, trade or business as that partnership, other pass-through entity, or disregarded entity; and (2) In the case of a partnership or other pass-through entity, the foreign branch owns 10 percent or more of the capital or profits interests in the partnership or other pass-through entity. (v) Adjustments to items of gross income reflected on the books and records. If a principal purpose of recording or failing to record an item of gross income on the books and records of a foreign branch, or of making or not making a disregarded payment described in paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, is the avoidance of Federal income tax, the purposes of section 904, or the purposes of section 250 (in connection with section 250(b)(3)(A)(i)(VI)), the item must be attributed to one or more foreign branches or the foreign branch owner in a manner that reflects the substance of the transaction. For purposes of this paragraph (f)(2)(v), interest received by a foreign branch from a related person is presumed to be attributable to the foreign branch owner (and not to the foreign branch) unless the interest income meets the definition of financial services income under paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this section. For purposes of this paragraph (f)(2)(v), a related person is any person that bears a relationship to the foreign branch owner described in section 267(b) or 707. (vi) Attribution of gross income to which disregarded payments are allocable—(A) In general. If a foreign branch makes a disregarded payment to VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 its foreign branch owner and the disregarded payment is allocable to gross income that would be attributable to the foreign branch under the rules in paragraphs (f)(2)(i) through (v) of this section, the gross income attributable to the foreign branch is adjusted downward to reflect the allocable amount of the disregarded payment, and the gross income attributable to the foreign branch owner is adjusted upward by the same amount, translated (if necessary) from the foreign branch’s functional currency to U.S. dollars at the spot rate (as defined in § 1.988–1(d)) on the date of the disregarded payment. For rules addressing multiple disregarded payments in a taxable year, see paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(F) of this section. Similarly, if a foreign branch owner makes a disregarded payment to its foreign branch and the disregarded payment is allocable to gross income attributable to the foreign branch owner, the gross income attributable to the foreign branch owner is adjusted downward to reflect the allocable amount of the disregarded payment, and the gross income attributable to the foreign branch is adjusted upward by the same amount, translated (if necessary) from U.S. dollars to the foreign branch’s functional currency at the spot rate on the date of the disregarded payment. An adjustment to the attribution of gross income under this paragraph (f)(2)(vi) does not change the total amount, character, or source of the United States person’s gross income; does not change the amount of a United States person’s income in any separate category other than the foreign branch and general categories (or a specified separate category associated with the foreign branch and general categories); and has no bearing on the analysis of whether an item of gross income is eligible to be resourced under an income tax treaty. The principles of the rules in this paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) also apply in the case of disregarded payments between a foreign branch and another foreign branch with the same foreign branch owner if either foreign branch makes a disregarded payment to, or receives a disregarded payment from, the foreign branch owner. (B) Allocation of disregarded payments—(1) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2) of this section, whether a disregarded payment is allocable to gross income attributable to a foreign branch or gross income attributable to its foreign branch owner, and the source and separate category of the gross income to which the disregarded payment is allocable, is determined under the following rules: PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 (i) Disregarded payments from a foreign branch owner to its foreign branch are allocable to gross income attributable to the foreign branch owner to the extent a deduction for that payment or any disregarded cost recovery deduction relating to that payment, if regarded, would be allocated and apportioned to gross income attributable to the foreign branch owner under the principles of §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T and 1.861–17 (without regard to exclusive apportionment) by treating foreign source gross income and U.S. source gross income in each separate category (determined prior to the application of this paragraph (f)(2)(vi) to the disregarded payment at issue) each as a statutory grouping; and (ii) Disregarded payments from a foreign branch to its foreign branch owner are allocable to gross income attributable to the foreign branch to the extent a deduction for that payment or any disregarded cost recovery deduction relating to that payment, if regarded, would be allocated and apportioned to gross income attributable to the foreign branch under the principles of §§ 1.861– 8 through 1.861–14T and 1.861–17 (without regard to exclusive apportionment) by treating foreign source gross income and U.S. source gross income in each separate category (determined prior to the application of this paragraph (f)(2)(vi) to the disregarded payment at issue) each as a statutory grouping. (2) Special rule for certain disregarded payments. Whether a disregarded payment made in connection with a sale or exchange of property is allocable to gross income attributable to a foreign branch or its foreign branch owner, and the source and separate category of the gross income to which the disregarded payment is allocable, is determined under the following rules: (i) Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D) of this section, disregarded payments from a foreign branch owner to its foreign branch in respect of noninventory property are allocable to the gross income attributable to the foreign branch owner, if any, that is recognized with respect to a regarded sale or exchange of that property (including gross income arising in a later taxable year) to the extent of the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to the transferred property, and in the same proportions as the source and separate category of the gain recognized on the regarded sale or exchange of the transferred property; (ii) Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D) of this section, disregarded E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations payments from a foreign branch to its foreign branch owner or to another foreign branch in respect of noninventory property are allocable to the gross income attributable to the foreign branch, if any, that is recognized with respect to a regarded sale or exchange of that property (including gross income arising in a later taxable year) to the extent of the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to the transferred property, and in the same proportions as the source and separate category of the gain recognized on the regarded sale or exchange of the transferred property; and (iii) The principles of paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section apply in the case of disregarded payments in respect of inventory property between a foreign branch and its foreign branch owner or between foreign branches to the extent the disregarded payment, if regarded, would, for purposes of determining gross income, be subtracted from gross receipts that are regarded for Federal income tax purposes. (3) Timing of reattribution—(i) In general. The gross income attributable to the foreign branch is adjusted under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(1) of this section only in the taxable year that a disregarded payment, if regarded, would be allowed as a deduction (including by giving rise to disregarded cost recovery deductions), or otherwise would be taken into account as an increase to cost of goods sold. (ii) Disregarded sales of property. The gross income attributable to a foreign branch is adjusted under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2) of this section only in the taxable year or years in which gain is recognized by reason of the disposition of property with an adjusted disregarded basis in a transaction that is regarded for Federal income tax purposes. (C) Exclusion of certain disregarded payments. Paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section does not apply to the following payments, accruals, or other transfers between a foreign branch and its foreign branch owner, or between foreign branches, that are disregarded for Federal income tax purposes: (1) Interest, and interest equivalents that, if regarded, would be described in §§ 1.861–9(b) and 1.861–9T(b); (2) Remittances from the foreign branch to its foreign branch owner, except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D) of this section; (3) Contributions of money, securities, and other property from the foreign branch owner to its foreign branch, except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D) of this section; or VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (4) Any disregarded payment that, if made to a foreign branch and regarded for Federal income tax purposes, could not result in the attribution of gross income to a foreign branch (for example, the sale of an interest in a partnership by a foreign branch to its foreign branch owner, unless the sale or exchange occurred in the ordinary course of business within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(B) of this section). (D) Certain transfers of intangible property—(1) In general. For purposes of applying this paragraph (f)(2)(vi), the amount of gross income attributable to a foreign branch (and the amount of gross income attributable to its foreign branch owner) must be adjusted under the principles of paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B) of this section to reflect all transactions that are disregarded for Federal income tax purposes in which property described in section 367(d)(4) is transferred to or from a foreign branch or between foreign branches, whether or not a disregarded payment is made in connection with the transfer. In determining the amount of gross income that is attributable to a foreign branch that must be adjusted by reason of this paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D), the principles of sections 367(d) and 482 apply. For example, if a foreign branch owner transfers property described in section 367(d)(4) to a foreign branch, the principles of section 367(d) are applied by treating the foreign branch as a separate foreign corporation to which the property is transferred in exchange for stock of the corporation in a transaction described in section 351. Similarly, if a foreign branch remits property described in section 367(d)(4) to its foreign branch owner, the foreign branch is treated as having sold the transferred property to the foreign branch owner in exchange for annual payments contingent on the productivity or use of the property, the amounts of which are determined under the principles of section 367(d). (2) Transactions occurring before December 7, 2018. Paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D)(1) of this section does not apply to a disregarded transfer of property that occurred before December 7, 2018. (3) Transitory ownership—(i) In general. Paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D)(1) of this section does not apply to disregarded transfers of property by a foreign branch or a foreign branch owner (such foreign branch or foreign branch owner, the limited transferor), if the conditions in paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(D)(3)(ii) and (iii) of this section are met. (ii) Transitory ownership period. The limited transferor’s ownership of the property is transitory. PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69083 (iii) Use of property. The limited transferor does not develop, exploit, or otherwise employ the property in a trade or business, other than in the ordinary course of the limited transferor’s business during the period of transitory ownership. (iv) Predecessors. For purposes of paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(D)(3)(ii) and (iii) of this section, a reference to a limited transferor that is a foreign branch owner includes any predecessor to the foreign branch owner. No person is a predecessor with respect to a foreign branch under this paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D)(3)(iv). (E) Amount of disregarded payments. The amount of each disregarded payment used to make an adjustment under this paragraph (f)(2)(vi) (or the absence of any adjustment) must be determined in a manner that results in the attribution of the proper amount of gross income to each of a foreign branch and its foreign branch owner under the principles of section 482, applied as if the foreign branch were a corporation. (F) Multiple disregarded payments. In the case of multiple disregarded payments, this paragraph (f)(2)(vi) is applied with respect to each disregarded payment, and under the ordering rules specified in paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(F)(1) and (2) of this section. For purposes of this paragraph (f)(2)(vi), paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(F)(1) of this section applies before paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(F)(2) of this section. (1) Income initially attributable to a foreign branch. In applying this paragraph (f)(2)(vi) to gross income that would, but for this paragraph (f)(2)(vi), be attributable to a foreign branch, adjustments related to disregarded payments from a foreign branch to another foreign branch are computed first, followed by adjustments related to disregarded payments from a foreign branch to its foreign branch owner, followed by adjustments related to disregarded payments from a foreign branch owner to its foreign branch. (2) Income initially attributable to a foreign branch owner. In applying this paragraph (f)(2)(vi) to gross income that would, but for this paragraph (f)(2)(vi), be attributable to a foreign branch owner, adjustments related to disregarded payments from a foreign branch owner to a foreign branch are computed first, followed by adjustments related to disregarded payments from a foreign branch to another foreign branch, followed by adjustments related to disregarded payments from a foreign branch to its foreign branch owner. (3) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of this paragraph (f). E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69084 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (i) Adjusted disregarded basis. The term adjusted disregarded basis means, with respect to property transferred in a transaction that is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes, the tentative disregarded basis of the property— (A) Reduced by any disregarded cost recovery deductions with respect to the property; and (B) Increased by any disregarded section 1016(a)(1) expenditures with respect to the property. (ii) Adjusted disregarded gain—(A) In general. The term adjusted disregarded gain means, with respect to property transferred in a transaction that is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes, the lesser of— (1) The adjusted disregarded basis of the property, reduced by the adjusted basis of the property at the time the property was transferred in a transaction that is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes; and (2) The gain (if any) attributable to a regarded sale or exchange of the transferred property. (B) Limitation. Adjusted disregarded gain may not be less than zero. (iii) Disregarded cost recovery deduction. For a taxable year, the term disregarded cost recovery deduction means, with respect to property transferred in a transaction that is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes— (A) The amounts that would be allowed as a deduction, and that would give rise to an adjustment described in section 1016(a)(2), with respect to the transferred property if the transfer (and the foreign branch) were regarded for Federal income tax purposes, to the extent that, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(1) of this section, the deduction would be allocable to— (1) Gross income attributable to a foreign branch owner, in the case of property transferred to a foreign branch owner; or (2) Gross income attributable to a foreign branch, in the case of property transferred to a foreign branch; reduced by (B) The amounts that are allowed as a deduction, and that give rise to an adjustment described in section 1016(a)(2), with respect to the transferred property to the extent that, under the principles of paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(1) of this section, the deduction would be allocable to— (1) Gross income attributable to a foreign branch owner, in the case of property transferred to a foreign branch owner; or VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (2) Gross income attributable to a foreign branch, in the case of property transferred to a foreign branch. (iv) Disregarded entity. The term disregarded entity means an entity described in § 301.7701–2(c)(2) of this chapter that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for Federal income tax purposes. (v) Disregarded payment. The term disregarded payment means any amount described in paragraph (f)(3)(v)(A) or (B) of this section. (A) Transfers to or from a disregarded entity. An amount described in this paragraph (f)(3)(v)(A) is an amount that is transferred to or from a disregarded entity in connection with a transaction that is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes and that is reflected on the separate set of books and records of a foreign branch. (B) Other disregarded amounts. An amount described in this paragraph (f)(3)(v)(B) is any amount reflected on the separate set of books and records of a foreign branch that would constitute an item of income, gain, deduction, or loss (other than an amount described in paragraph (f)(3)(v)(A) of this section), a distribution to or contribution from the foreign branch owner, or a payment in exchange for property if the transaction to which the amount is attributable were regarded for Federal income tax purposes. (vi) Disregarded section 1016(a)(1) expenditure. The term disregarded section 1016(a)(1) expenditure means a disregarded payment that, if regarded for Federal income tax purposes, would be described in section 1016(a)(1) and that, under the principles of paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(1) of this section, would be allocable to— (A) General category gross income, in the case of property held by a foreign branch owner; or (B) Foreign branch category income, in the case of property held by a foreign branch. (vii) Foreign branch—(A) In general. The term foreign branch means a qualified business unit (QBU), as defined in § 1.989(a)–1(b)(2)(ii) and (b)(3), that conducts a trade or business outside the United States. For an illustration of the principles of this paragraph (f)(3)(vii), see paragraph (f)(4)(i) of this section (Example 1). (B) Trade or business outside the United States. Activities carried out in the United States, whether or not such activities are described in § 1.989(a)– 1(b)(3), do not constitute the conduct of a trade or business outside the United States. Activities carried out outside the United States that constitute a permanent establishment under the PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 terms of an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the activities are treated as carried out pursuant to a trade or business conducted outside the United States for purposes of this paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(B). In determining whether activities constitute a trade or business under § 1.989(a)–1(c), disregarded payments are taken into account and may give rise to a trade or business, provided that the activities (together with any other activities of the QBU) would otherwise satisfy the rule in § 1.989(a)–1(c). (C) Activities of a partnership, estate, trust, or corporation—(1) Treatment as a foreign branch. For purposes of this paragraph (f)(3)(vii), the activities of a partnership, estate, trust, or corporation that conducts a trade or business that satisfies the requirements of § 1.989(a)– 1(b)(2)(ii)(A) (as modified by paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(B) of this section) are— (i) Deemed to satisfy the requirements of § 1.989(a)–1(b)(2)(ii)(B); and (ii) Comprise a foreign branch. (2) Separate set of books and records. A foreign branch described in this paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(C) is treated as maintaining a separate set of books and records with respect to the activities described in paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(C)(1) of this section, and must determine, as the context requires, the items of gross income, disregarded payments, and any other items that would be reflected on those books and records in applying this paragraph (f) with respect to the foreign branch. The principles of § 1.1503(d)– 5(c) apply for purposes of determining which items would be reflected on such books and records. (viii) Foreign branch owner. The term foreign branch owner means, with respect to a foreign branch, the person (including a foreign or domestic partnership or other pass-through entity) that owns the foreign branch, either directly or indirectly through one or more disregarded entities. For purposes of this paragraph (f)(3)(viii), the foreign branch owner does not include the foreign branch or another foreign branch of the person that owns the foreign branch. (ix) Remittance. The term remittance means a transfer of property (within the meaning of section 317(a)) by a foreign branch that would be treated as a distribution if the foreign branch were treated as a separate corporation. (x) Tentative disregarded basis. The term tentative disregarded basis means, in connection with the transfer of property in a transaction that is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes, the basis that property would have if the disregarded payment made E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 in exchange for the transferred property were treated as the cost of such property under section 1012(a). (4) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this paragraph (f). (i) Example 1: Determination of foreign branches and foreign branch owner—(A) Facts—(1) P, a domestic corporation, is a partner in PRS, a domestic partnership. All other partners in PRS are unrelated to P. PRS conducts activities solely in Country A (the Country A Business), and those activities constitute a trade or business outside the United States within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(B) of this section. PRS reflects items of income, gain, loss, and expense of the Country A Business on the books and records of PRS’s home office. PRS is in the business of manufacturing bicycles. (2) PRS owns FDE1, a disregarded entity organized in Country B. FDE1 conducts activities in Country B (the Country B Business), and those activities constitute a trade or business outside the United States within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(B) of this section. FDE1 maintains a set of books and records that are separate from those of PRS, and the separate set of books and records reflects items of income, gain, loss, and expense with respect to the Country B Business. FDE1 is in the business of selling bicycles manufactured by PRS. (3) FDE1 owns FDE2, a disregarded entity organized in Country C. FDE2 conducts activities in Country C (the Country C Business), and those activities constitute a trade or business outside the United States within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(B) of this section. FDE2 maintains a set of books and records that are separate from those of PRS and FDE1, and the separate set of books and records reflects items of income, gain, loss, and expense with respect to the Country C Business. FDE2’s paper business is not related to FDE1’s bicycle sales business, and FDE1 does not hold its interest in FDE2 in the ordinary course of its trade or business. (B) Analysis—(1) Country A Business’s activities comprise a trade or business conducted outside the United States within the meaning of § 1.989(a)–1(b)(2)(ii)(A) and (b)(3) (in each case, as modified by paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section). PRS does not maintain a separate set of books and records with respect to the Country A Business. However, under paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(C) of this section, the Country A Business’s activities are deemed to satisfy the requirement of § 1.989(a)–1(b)(2)(ii)(B) that a QBU maintain a separate set of books and records with respect to the relevant activities. Thus, for purposes of this paragraph (f), the activities of the Country A Business constitute a QBU as defined in § 1.989– 1(b)(2)(ii) and (b)(3), as modified by paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section, that conducts a trade or business outside the United States. Accordingly, the activities of the Country A Business constitute a foreign branch within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section. PRS, the person that owns the Country A Business, is the foreign branch owner, within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(viii) of this section, with respect to the Country A Business. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (2) Country B Business’s activities comprise a trade or business outside the United States within the meaning of § 1.989(a)–1(b)(2)(ii)(A) and (b)(3) (in each case, as modified by paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section). PRS maintains a separate set of books and records with respect to the Country B Business, as described in § 1.989(a)–1(b)(2)(ii)(B). Thus, for purposes of this section, the activities of the Country B Business constitute a QBU as defined in § 1.989–1(b)(2)(ii) and (b)(3), as modified by paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section, that conducts a trade or business outside the United States. Accordingly, the activities of the Country B Business constitute a foreign branch within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section. Under paragraph (f)(3)(viii) of this section, PRS, the person that owns the Country B Business indirectly through FDE1 (a disregarded entity), is the foreign branch owner with respect to the Country B Business. (3) The same analysis that applies to the Country B Business applies to the Country C Business. Accordingly, the activities of the Country C Business constitute a foreign branch within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section. PRS, the person that owns the Country C Business indirectly through FDE1 and FDE2 (disregarded entities), is the foreign branch owner with respect to the Country C Business. (ii) Example 2: Sale of foreign branch—(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph (f)(4)(i)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that in Year 1, FDE1 sells FDE2 to an unrelated person, recording gain from the sale on its books and records. In Year 2, PRS sells FDE1 to another unrelated person, recording gain from the sale on its books and records. In each year, PRS allocates a portion of the gain to P. (B) Analysis—(1) Sale of FDE2. Under paragraph (f)(1)(i)(B) of this section, P’s distributive share of gain recognized by PRS in connection with the sales of FDE1 and FDE2 constitutes foreign branch category income if it is attributable to a foreign branch held by PRS directly or indirectly through one or more disregarded entities. PRS’s gross income from the Year 1 sale of FDE2 is reflected on the separate set of books and records maintained with respect to the Country B Business (a foreign branch) operated by FDE1. Therefore, absent an exception, under paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section PRS’s gross income from the sale of FDE2 would be attributable to the Country B Business, and would constitute foreign branch category income. However, under paragraph (f)(2)(iv) of this section, gross income attributable to the Country B Business does not include gain from the sale or exchange of an interest in FDE2, a disregarded entity, unless the interest in FDE2 is held by the Country B Business in the ordinary course of its active trade or business (within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(B) of this section). In this case, the Country B Business does not hold FDE2 in the ordinary course of its active trade or business within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(B) of this section. As a result, P’s distributive share of gain from the sale of FDE2 is not attributable to a foreign branch, and is not foreign branch category income. PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69085 (2) Sale of FDE1. The analysis of PRS’s sale of FDE1 in Year 2 is the same as the analysis for the sale of FDE2, except that PRS, through its Country A Business, holds FDE1 in the ordinary course of its active trade or business within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(B) of this section because the Country A Business engages in a trade or business that is related to the trade or business of FDE1. Therefore, P’s distributive share of gain from the sale of FDE1 is attributable to a foreign branch, and is foreign branch category income. (iii) Example 3: Disregarded payment for services—(A) Facts. P, a domestic corporation, owns FDE, a disregarded entity that is a foreign branch within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section. FDE’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar. In Year 1, P accrues and records on its books and records (and not FDE’s books and records) $1,000x of gross income from the performance of services to unrelated parties that is not passive category income, $400x of which is foreign source income in respect of services performed outside the United States by employees of FDE and $600x of which is U.S. source income in respect of services performed in the United States. Absent the application of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, the $1,000x of gross income earned by P would be general category income that would not be attributable to FDE. FDE provides services in support of P’s gross income from services. P compensates FDE for its services with an arm’s length payment of $400x, which is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes. The deduction for the payment of $400x from P to FDE would be allocated to P’s $1,000x of general category gross services income and apportioned entirely to the $400x of foreign source services income under §§ 1.861–8 and 1.861– 8T principles (treating foreign source general category gross income and U.S. source general category gross income each as a statutory grouping) if the payment were regarded for Federal income tax purposes. (B) Analysis. The disregarded payment from P, a United States person, to FDE, its foreign branch, is not recorded on FDE’s separate books and records (as adjusted to conform to Federal income tax principles) within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section because it is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes. However, the disregarded payment is allocable to gross income attributable to P because a deduction for the payment, if it were regarded, would be allocated and apportioned to the $400x of P’s foreign source services income. Accordingly, under paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(A) and (f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) of this section, the amount of gross income attributable to the FDE foreign branch (and the gross income attributable to P) is adjusted in Year 1 to take the disregarded payment into account. As such, $400x of P’s foreign source gross income from the performance of services is attributable to the FDE foreign branch for purposes of this section. Therefore, $400x of the foreign source gross income that P earned with respect to its services in Year 1 constitutes gross income that is assigned to the foreign branch category. (iv) Example 4: Disregarded payment for non-inventory property—(A) Facts. P, a E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69086 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations domestic corporation, owns FDE, a disregarded entity that is a foreign branch within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section. FDE’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar. P holds Asset A, a nondepreciable asset, with an adjusted basis of $200x. In Year 1, P sells Asset A, which will be used in FDE’s manufacturing business, to FDE for $500x. FDE makes no other disregarded payments with respect to Asset A. No adjustments described in section 1016(a) apply with respect to Asset A while FDE holds Asset A. In Year 3, FDE sells Asset A to a third party for $600x and reflects $400x of gross income on its separate set of books and records (that is, $600x amount realized less Asset A’s $200x adjusted basis). Under sections 865(e)(1) and 904(d)(2)(B)(i), the income arising from the sale of Asset A is foreign source income that is not treated as passive category income. Asset A is not inventory property. Absent the application of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, the entire $400x of gross income earned by P by reason of FDE’s sale of Asset A would be attributable to FDE and be treated as foreign branch category income. (B) Analysis—(1) Disregarded basis determinations. If regarded, the $500x payment from FDE to P would result in FDE holding Asset A with a basis of $500x under section 1012. Accordingly, the tentative disregarded basis (within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(x) of this section) with respect to Asset A is $500x. Because there are no adjustments described in section 1016 with respect to Asset A (including any adjustments resulting from any disregarded payments made with respect to the transferred property), the adjusted disregarded basis (within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section) with respect to Asset A is $500x. (2) Adjusted disregarded gain. Under paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section, the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to Asset A is $300x, which is equal to the lesser of $300x (FDE’s adjusted disregarded basis in Asset A ($500x) less the adjusted basis of Asset A at the time that Asset A was transferred to FDE ($200x)) and $400x (the gain (if any) attributable to the regarded sale or exchange of Asset A). (3) Attribution of gross income. Under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, the gross income attributable to FDE ($400x) is adjusted downward to the extent that the $500x disregarded payment from FDE to P is allocable to gross income of FDE that is reflected on FDE’s separate set of books and records. Under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2)(ii) of this section, the $500x payment from FDE to P is allocable to gross income attributable to FDE to the extent of FDE’s adjusted disregarded gain ($300x) with respect to Asset A. The source and separate category of the gross income of FDE to which the payment is allocable is proportionate to the source and separate category of the gain recognized by FDE with respect to Asset A. Accordingly, $300x of the payment is allocable to foreign source income that would be foreign branch category income. Thus, under paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(A) and (f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) of this section, foreign source gross income attributable to P is adjusted VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 upward by $300x (increasing foreign source general category income by $300x) and foreign source gross income attributable to FDE is adjusted downward by $300x (decreasing foreign source foreign branch category income by $300x) in Year 3. (v) Example 5: Disregarded payment for depreciable non-inventory property—(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 4), except as set forth in this paragraph (f)(4)(v)(A). Asset A is depreciable property. In Year 2, P is entitled to a $20x depreciation deduction with respect to Asset A, $18x of which is allocated and apportioned to non-passive category gross income attributable to FDE under §§ 1.861– 8 through 1.861–14T and $2x of which is allocated and apportioned to passive category gross income under §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T. If the transfer of Asset A were regarded for Federal income tax purposes, FDE would be entitled to a $50x depreciation deduction, 90% of which would be allocated and apportioned to non-passive category gross income attributable to FDE under §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T and 10% of which would be allocated and apportioned to passive category gross income under §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T. In Year 2, FDE earns $315x of gross income that it reflects on its books and records that, in the absence of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, would be foreign branch category income. FDE also earns $35x of passive category income in Year 2 from the non-active rental of a portion of Asset A. In Year 3, FDE reflects $420x of gross income on its separate set of books and records by reason of the sale of Asset A (that is, $600x amount realized less Asset A’s $180x adjusted basis), $42x of which is passive category income under paragraph (b) of this section. (B) Analysis—(1) Attribution of gross income in Year 2. The disregarded payment from FDE to P in Year 1 is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes, and does not generate gross income. However, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(1)(ii) of this section, the disregarded payment is allocable to gross income attributable to FDE to the extent of any disregarded cost recovery deduction relating to that payment in Year 2. Under paragraph (f)(3)(iii) of this section, the disregarded cost recovery deduction with respect to Asset A is $30x, which is $50x (the amount that would be allowed as a deduction, and that would give rise to an adjustment described in section 1016(a)(2), with respect to Asset A if the transfer of Asset A to FDE were regarded for Federal income tax purposes, to the extent that the deduction would be allocable to income attributable to a foreign branch), reduced by $20x (the amount allowed as a deduction, and that gives rise to an adjustment described in section 1016(a)(2), with respect to Asset A, to the extent allocable to income attributable to a foreign branch). If regarded, $27x (90% of $30x) of the disregarded cost recovery deduction would be allocated and apportioned to non-passive category gross income attributable to FDE under §§ 1.861– 8 through 1.861–14T and $3x (10% of $30x) would be allocated and apportioned to passive category gross income under PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T. Accordingly, under paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(A) and (f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) of this section, the $315x of non-passive category gross income that would otherwise be attributed to FDE is reduced to $288x ($315x less $27x), and the non-passive category gross income attributable to P is increased by $27x in Year 2. As a result, in Year 2, P’s foreign branch category gross income is $288x, and its general category gross income is increased by $27x. P’s passive category gross income is $35x. See paragraphs (f)(1)(ii) and (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section. (2) Attribution of gross income in Year 3— (i) Adjusted disregarded basis. If regarded, the $500x payment from FDE to P would result in FDE holding Asset A with a basis of $500x under section 1012. Accordingly, the tentative disregarded basis (within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(x) of this section) with respect to Asset A is $500x. To determine FDE’s adjusted disregarded basis with respect to Asset A under paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section, FDE’s tentative disregarded basis is reduced by $30x (the disregarded cost recovery deduction with respect to Asset A), resulting in an adjusted disregarded basis of $470x. (ii) Adjusted disregarded gain. Under paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section, the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to Asset A is $270x, which is equal to the lesser of $270x (FDE’s adjusted disregarded basis in Asset A ($470x) less the adjusted basis of Asset A at the time that Asset A was transferred to FDE ($200x)), and $420x (the gain attributable to the regarded sale or exchange of Asset A). (iii) Sale of Asset A. Under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, the gross income attributable to FDE ($420x) by reason of the sale of Asset A is adjusted downward to the extent that the $500x disregarded payment from FDE to P is allocable to gross income that would be attributable to FDE under paragraphs (f)(2)(i) through (v) of this section. Under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2)(ii) of this section, the $500x payment from FDE to P is allocable to gross income attributable to FDE to the extent of the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to Asset A, which is $270x. The source and separate category of the gross income of FDE to which that amount is allocable is proportionate to the source and separate category of the $420x of gain recognized on the regarded sale of Asset A ($378x of foreign source non-passive category income and $42x of foreign source passive category income). Consequently, under paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(A) and (f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) of this section, in Year 3, gross income attributable to P is adjusted upward by $270x (increasing P’s foreign source general category gross income by $243x, which bears the same proportion to $270x as the foreign source non-passive gain ($378x) bears to P’s overall gain with respect to Asset A ($420x)), and the foreign source gross income attributable to FDE is adjusted downward by $270x (with foreign source foreign branch category gross income reduced by $243x). P also has $42x of foreign source passive category income from the sale of Asset A. See paragraphs (f)(1)(ii) and (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (vi) Example 6: Disregarded payment for non-depreciable non-inventory property— regarded gain limitation—(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 4), except that in Year 3, FDE sells Asset A to a third party for $340x and reflects $140x of gross income on its separate set of books and records (that is, $340x amount realized less Asset A’s $200x adjusted basis), none of which is passive category income. (B) Analysis. The analysis is the same as the analysis in paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(B) of this section (the analysis in Example 4), except that in Year 3, the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to Asset A is $140x, which is equal to the lesser of $300x (FDE’s adjusted disregarded basis in Asset A ($500x) less the adjusted basis of Asset A at the time that Asset A was transferred to FDE ($200x)), and $140x (the gain attributable to the regarded sale or exchange of Asset A). Accordingly, under paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(A) and (f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) of this section, gross income attributable to P is adjusted upward by $140x (increasing P’s foreign source general category gross income by $140x) and gross income attributable to FDE is adjusted downward by $140x (decreasing P’s foreign source foreign branch category gross income by $140x) in Year 3. (vii) Example 7: Disregarded payment for non-depreciable non-inventory property— loss—(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 4), except that in Year 3, FDE sells Asset A to a third party for $175x and reflects a $25x loss on its separate set of books and records (that is, $175x amount realized less Asset A’s $200x adjusted basis). (B) Analysis. The analysis is the same as the analysis in paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(B) of this section (the analysis in Example 4), except that in Year 3, the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to Asset A is $0x, which is equal to the lesser of $300x (FDE’s adjusted disregarded basis in Asset A ($500x) less the adjusted basis of Asset A at the time that Asset A was transferred to FDE ($200x)), and $0x (the gain attributable to the regarded sale or exchange of Asset A). Accordingly, gross income amounts attributable to P and FDE are not adjusted under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section by reason of the transfer of Asset A from P to FDE. (viii) Example 8: Disregarded payment for non-depreciable non-inventory property— disregarded gain limitation—(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 4), except that in Year 1, P sells Asset A to FDE for $65x. (B) Analysis. The analysis is the same as the analysis in paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(B) of this section (the analysis in Example 4), except that in Year 3, the tentative disregarded basis and the adjusted disregarded basis with respect to Asset A are $65x. Under paragraph (f)(3)(ii)(B) of this section, the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to Asset A is $0x. Accordingly, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, gross income amounts attributable to P and FDE are not adjusted under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section by reason of the transfer of Asset A from P to FDE. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (ix) Example 9: Application of the rules to the sale of inventory from a foreign branch owner to a foreign branch for distribution— (A) Facts. P, a domestic corporation, owns FDE, a disregarded entity that is a foreign branch within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section. FDE’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar. P manufactures portable electronic devices, which it sells to FDE for $1,500x during a taxable year in a transaction that is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes. In the same taxable year, FDE sells the portable electronic devices to its customers for $1,750x. P uses an overall accrual method of accounting and has $1,300x of cost of goods sold for the taxable year, $1,200x of which were incurred prior to the disregarded sale to FDE and recorded on P’s separate set of books and records and $100x of which were incurred after the disregarded sale and recorded on the books and records of FDE. P reports $450x of gross income for the taxable year: $1,750x of gross receipts less cost of goods sold of $1,300x. The $450x of gross income from the sale of portable electronic devices is U.S. source income under section 863(b). (B) Analysis—(1) In general. The gross receipts from the sale of portable electronic devices ($1,750x), which results in U.S. source gross income of $450x, is recorded on FDE’s separate books and records (as adjusted to conform to Federal income tax principles). Therefore, the gross income ($450x) generally would be foreign branch category income under paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section. However, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, the amount of gross income attributable to FDE (and the gross income attributable to P) is adjusted to take the disregarded payment for the portable electronic devices from FDE to P into account. If both FDE and the disregarded payment from FDE to P were recognized for Federal income tax purposes, the amount of the payment ($1,500x) would reduce FDE’s gross income. Therefore, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2)(iii) of this section, the principles of paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2)(ii) of this section apply for purposes of determining whether, and to what extent, the disregarded payment is allocable to nonpassive category income attributable to FDE for purposes of determining the extent of any adjustment. (2) Applying the principles of the tangible property rules to sales of inventory. The principles of paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2)(ii) of this section are applied by treating the cost of goods sold with respect to expenses recorded on P’s separate set of books and records ($1,200x) similarly to the adjusted basis at the time of the disregarded sale; the gross income ($450x) similarly to gain from the disposition of non-inventory property; and the lesser of the recognized gross income ($450x) and the disregarded payment less the cost of goods sold attributable to expenses reflected on P’s separate set of books and records ($1,500x less $1,200x) similarly to disregarded gain ($300x). Accordingly, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, general category U.S. source gross income attributable to P is adjusted upward by $300x and the non-passive category U.S. source gross income attributable to FDE is adjusted downward by $300x. PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69087 (x) Example 10: Gross income initially attributable to a foreign branch—(A) Facts— (1) Overview. P, a domestic corporation, owns FDE, which is a disregarded entity that is a foreign branch within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section that has the U.S. dollar as its functional currency. P, which is a foreign branch owner with respect to FDE, also conducts a trade or business in the United States. During a single taxable year, P and FDE engage in the transactions described in paragraphs (f)(4)(x)(A)(2) and (3) of this section. (2) Unrelated party transactions. P, through its U.S. office, accrues and records on its books and records $5,000x of gross income from the performance of accounting services for Customer A, an unrelated party (the Customer A services). The gross income from the Customer A services performed by P is non-passive category income and, under section 861(a)(3), is U.S. source income. Absent the application of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, the gross income earned by P through its U.S. office would be general category income. FDE accrues and records on its books and records $3,400x of gross income from the performance of web design services for Customer B, an unrelated party (the Customer B services). The gross income from the Customer B services performed by FDE is non-passive category income and, under section 862(a)(3), is foreign source income. Absent the application of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, the $3,400x of gross income earned by FDE would be foreign branch category income. (3) Disregarded payments. FDE provides web design services to P. As compensation for those services, P pays $300x to FDE. The deduction for P’s payment to FDE (if regarded) would be allocable to the $5,000x of general category U.S. source gross income earned from P’s performance of the Customer A services. P provides accounting services to FDE from P’s U.S. office. As compensation for those services, FDE pays $300x to P. The deduction for FDE’s payment to P (if regarded) would be allocable to the $3,400x of non-passive category foreign source gross income earned from FDE’s performance of the Customer B services. (B) Analysis—(1) Application of multiple disregarded payments rule. Under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(F) of this section, paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section applies to determine the effects of the disregarded payments described in paragraph (f)(4)(x)(A)(3) of this section on gross income initially attributable to FDE before paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section is applied to gross income initially attributable to P. (2) Disregarded payment from FDE to P. The disregarded payment from FDE to P is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes, and does not generate gross income. However, the disregarded payment is allocable to non-passive category gross income attributable to FDE because a deduction for the payment, if it were regarded, would be allocated to FDE’s $3,400x of non-passive category foreign source gross services income under § 1.861– 8. Under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, the amount of non-passive category foreign source gross income attributable to E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69088 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations FDE is adjusted downward, and the amount of general category foreign source gross income attributable to P (in its capacity as a foreign branch owner) is adjusted upward, to take the disregarded payment into account. Thus, $300x of FDE’s foreign source gross income relating to the Customer B services is attributable to P for purposes of this section, and $3,100x of that income is attributable to FDE. (3) Disregarded payment from P to FDE. The disregarded payment from P to FDE is not recorded on FDE’s separate books and records (as adjusted to conform to Federal income tax principles) within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section because it is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes. However, the disregarded payment is allocable to general category U.S. source gross income attributable to P because a deduction for the payment, if it were regarded, would be allocated to P’s $5,000x of general category U.S. source gross services income under § 1.861–8. Accordingly, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, the amount of general category U.S. source gross income attributable to P is adjusted downward, and the amount of non-passive category U.S. source gross income attributable to FDE is adjusted upward, to take the disregarded payment into account. Thus, $300x of P’s U.S. source gross income from the performance of Customer A services is attributable to FDE for purposes of this section, and $4,700x of that income is attributable to P. (xi) Example 11: Ordering rule—(A) Facts—(1) Overview. P, a domestic corporation, owns FDE1 and FDE2, each of which is a disregarded entity that is a foreign branch within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section that has the U.S. dollar as its functional currency. P, which is a foreign branch owner with respect to FDE1 and FDE2, also conducts a trade or business in the United States. During a single taxable year, P, FDE1, and FDE2 engage in the transactions described in paragraphs (f)(4)(xi)(A)(2) and (3) of this section. (2) Unrelated party transactions. FDE1 accrues and records on its books and records $1,000x of gross income from the performance of services for Customer A, an unrelated party (the Customer A services). The gross income from the Customer A services performed by FDE is non-passive category income and, under section 862(a)(3), is foreign source income. Absent the application of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, the $1,000x of non-passive foreign source gross income earned by FDE1 would be foreign branch category income. FDE2 accrues and records on its books and records $1,100x of gross income from royalties received from Customer B, an unrelated party (the Customer B royalties) on licensed intangible property developed by FDE2 and used by Customer B in the United States. The gross income from the Customer B royalties is non-passive category income and under section 861(a)(4) is U.S. source income. Absent the application of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, the $1,100x of non-passive category U.S. source gross income earned by FDE2 would be foreign branch category income. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (3) Disregarded payments. FDE2 provides services to FDE1. As compensation for those services, FDE1 pays $200x to FDE2. The deduction for FDE1’s payment to FDE2 (if regarded) would be allocable to the $1,000x of non-passive category foreign source gross income earned from the Customer A services. P provides services to FDE2 from P’s U.S. office. As compensation for those services, FDE2 pays $50x to P. The deduction for FDE2’s payment to P (if regarded) would be allocable to the non-passive category foreign source gross income attributable to FDE2 (see paragraph (f)(4)(xi)(B)(1) of this section) relating to gross income from the Customer A services. (B) Analysis—(1) Disregarded payment from FDE1 to FDE2. The $1,000x of gross income earned by FDE1 from the Customer A services would, but for paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, be attributable to FDE1 (a foreign branch). Accordingly, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(F)(1) of this section, adjustments related to disregarded payments from FDE1 to FDE2 are computed before adjustments related to disregarded payments from FDE2 to P (in its capacity as a foreign branch owner). The disregarded payment from FDE1 to FDE2 is not recorded on FDE2’s separate books and records (as adjusted to conform to Federal income tax principles) within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section because it is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes. However, the disregarded payment is allocable to gross income attributable to FDE1 because a deduction for the payment, if it were regarded, would be allocated to FDE1’s $1,000x of non-passive category foreign source gross services income under § 1.861– 8. Accordingly, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, the amount of non-passive category foreign source gross income attributable to FDE1 is adjusted downward, and the amount of non-passive category foreign source gross income attributable to FDE2 is adjusted upward, to take the disregarded payment into account. Thus, $200x of FDE1’s non-passive category foreign source gross income from the performance of Customer A services is attributable to FDE2 for purposes of this section, and $800x of that income is attributable to FDE1. (2) Disregarded payment from FDE2 to P. The disregarded payment from FDE2 to P is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes, and does not generate gross income. However, the disregarded payment is allocable to gross income attributable to FDE2 because a deduction for the payment, if it were regarded, would be allocated to FDE2’s $200x of non-passive category foreign source gross services income under § 1.861– 8. Under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, the amount of non-passive category foreign source gross income attributable to FDE2 is adjusted downward, and the amount of general category foreign source gross income attributable to P is adjusted upward, to take the $50x disregarded payment into account. Thus, $50x of non-passive category foreign source gross income relating to the Customer A services is attributable to P for purposes of this section, $150x of that income is attributable to FDE2, and $800x of that income remains attributable to FDE1. PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 FDE2’s $1,100x of U.S. source royalty income is not adjusted under paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section and remains foreign branch category income. (xii) Example 12: Application of intangible property rules—(A) Facts. P, a domestic corporation that has a calendar taxable year, owns FDE, a disregarded entity that is a foreign branch within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section. FDE’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Asset A, a patent with a useful life ending on December 31, Year 2, was obtained with respect to a discovery that was made by FDE in the course of its trade or business and was used in that trade or business until December 31, Year 1. On December 31, Year 1, FDE remits Asset A to P and receives no consideration. Asset A has an adjusted basis of $0. In Year 2, P uses Asset A to generate general category gross income. P earns $1,000x of general category U.S. source gross income in Year 2, including the income generated by its use of Asset A. If FDE were a domestic corporation, P were a foreign corporation, and Asset A had been transferred in exchange for stock in a transaction described in section 351, such that section 367(d) applied by its terms (but all other facts remained the same), the payment determined under section 367(d) for Year 2 would be $300x. A disregarded payment for the use of Asset A, if it were regarded, would be allocated to FDE’s $1,000x of general category U.S. source gross income under § 1.861–8. (B) Analysis. The remittance of Asset A by FDE to P is a transfer of intangible property described in section 367(d)(4) from a foreign branch to its foreign branch owner. The facts in paragraph (f)(4)(xii)(A) of this section do not implicate an exception in paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D)(2) or (3) of this section. Therefore, this is a transaction to which paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D)(1) of this section applies. The foreign branch is treated as having sold the transferred property to the foreign branch owner in exchange for annual payments contingent on the productivity or use of the property, the amount of which for Year 2 is determined under the principles of section 367(d) to be $300x. Thus, in Year 2, P is treated as making a $300x disregarded payment to FDE. The payment would be allocable to general category U.S. source income under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(1)(i) of this section. Therefore, $300x of P’s nonpassive category U.S. source gross income is attributable to FDE under paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(A) and (f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) of this section. P has $700x of general category U.S. source gross income and $300x of foreign branch category U.S. source gross income in Year 2. (g) Section 951A category income—(1) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (g)(2) of this section, the term section 951A category income means amounts included (directly or indirectly through a pass-through entity) in gross income of a United States person under section 951A(a). (2) Exceptions for passive category income. Section 951A category income does not include any amounts included under section 951A(a) that are allocable E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations to passive category income under § 1.904–5(c)(6). (h) * * * (2) Treatment of export financing interest. Except as provided in paragraph (h)(3) of this section, if a taxpayer (including a financial services entity) receives or accrues export financing interest from an unrelated person, then that interest is not treated as passive category income. Instead, the interest income is treated as foreign branch category income, section 951A category income, general category income, or income in a specified separate category under the rules of this section. * * * * * (4) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of paragraph (h)(3) of this section. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 (i) Example 1. Controlled foreign corporation CFC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of domestic corporation USP. CFC is not a financial services entity and has accumulated cash reserves. USP has uncollected trade and service receivables of foreign obligors. USP sells the receivables at a discount (‘‘factors’’) to CFC. The income derived by CFC on the receivables is related person factoring income. The income is also export financing interest. Because the income is related person factoring income, the income is passive category income to CFC. (ii) Example 2. Domestic corporation USS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of domestic corporation USP. USS is not a financial services entity, does not have any foreign qualified business entities, and has accumulated cash reserves. USP has uncollected trade and service receivables of foreign obligors. USP factors the receivables to USS. The income derived by USS on the receivables is related person factoring income. The income is also export financing interest. The income will be passive category income to USS. (iii) Example 3. The facts are the same as in paragraph (h)(4)(ii) of this section (the facts in Example 2), except that instead of factoring USP’s receivables, USS finances the sales of USP’s goods by making loans to the purchasers of USP’s goods. The interest derived by USS on these loans is export financing interest and is not related person factoring income. The income will be general category income to USS. (5) Income eligible for section 864(d)(7) exception (same country exception) from related person factoring treatment—(i) Income other than interest. If any foreign person receives or accrues income that is described in section 864(d)(7) (income on a trade or service receivable acquired from a related person in the same foreign country as the recipient) and such income would also meet the definition of export financing interest if section 864(d)(1) applied to such income (income on a trade or service receivable VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 acquired from a related person treated as interest), then the income is considered to be export financing interest and is not treated as passive category income. The income is treated as foreign branch category income, section 951A category income, general category income, or income in a specified separate category under the rules of this section. (ii) Interest income. If export financing interest is received or accrued by any foreign person and that income would otherwise be treated as related person factoring income of a controlled foreign corporation under section 864(d)(6) if section 864(d)(7) did not apply, section 904(d)(2)(B)(iii)(I) applies and the interest is not treated as passive category income. The income is treated as general category income in the hands of the controlled foreign corporation. (iii) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this paragraph (h)(5): (A) Example 1. CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of domestic corporation USP. CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation, is a whollyowned subsidiary of CFC1. CFC1 and CFC2 are incorporated in Country M. In Year 1, USP sells tractors to CFC2, which CFC2 sells to X, an unrelated foreign corporation organized in Country M. The tractors are to be used in Country M. CFC2 uses a substantial part of its assets in its trade or business located in Country M. CFC2 has uncollected trade receivables from X that it factors to CFC1. The income is not related person factoring income because it is described in section 864(d)(7) (income eligible for the same country exception) and is tested income. If section 864(d)(1) applied, the income CFC1 derived from the receivables would meet the definition of export financing interest. The income, therefore, is considered to be export financing interest and is general category income to CFC1 and may be section 951A category income to USP. (B) Example 2. CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of domestic corporation, USP. CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation, is a whollyowned subsidiary of CFC1. CFC1 and CFC2 are incorporated in Country M. In Year 1, USP sells tractors to CFC2, which CFC2 sells to X, a foreign partnership that is organized in Country M and is related to CFC1 and CFC2. CFC1 makes a loan to X to finance the tractor sales. The interest earned by CFC1 from financing the sales is described in section 864(d)(7) and is export financing interest and is tested income. Therefore, the income is general category income to CFC1 and may be section 951A category income to USP. * * * * * (k) Separate category under section 904(d)(6) or 865(h) for items resourced under treaties—(1) Section 904(d)(6)— (i) In general. Except as provided in PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69089 paragraph (k)(1)(iv)(A) of this section, sections 904(a), (b), (c), (d), (f), and (g) and sections 907 and 960 are applied separately to any item of income that, without regard to a treaty obligation of the United States, would be treated as derived from sources within the United States, but under a treaty obligation of the United States such item of income would be treated as arising from sources outside the United States, and the taxpayer chooses the benefits of such treaty obligation. (ii) Aggregation of items of income in each other separate category. For purposes of applying the general rule of paragraph (k)(1) of this section, items of income in each other separate category of income that are resourced under each applicable treaty are aggregated in a single separate category for income in that separate category that is resourced under that treaty. For example, all items of passive category income that would otherwise be treated as derived from sources within the United States but which the taxpayer chooses to treat as arising from sources outside the United States pursuant to a provision of a bilateral U.S. income tax treaty are treated as income in a separate category for passive category income resourced under the particular treaty, and the high-tax kickout grouping rules of paragraph (c) of this section are applied separately to the groups of passive income included in that separate category. Any items of resourced hightaxed passive income are assigned to a separate category for general (or other) category income resourced under a tax treaty. Items of income described in paragraph (k)(1) of this section are not combined with other income that is foreign source income under the Code, even if the other income arises from sources within the jurisdiction with which the United States has a bilateral income tax treaty (‘‘treaty jurisdiction’’) and is included in the same separate category to which the resourced income would be assigned without regard to section 904(d)(6). Items of income described in paragraph (k)(1) of this section are also not combined with other items of resourced income that are subject to a separate limitation by reason of a Code provision other than section 904(d)(6). (iii) Related taxes. Foreign taxes, including foreign taxes paid to a foreign jurisdiction other than the treaty jurisdiction on an item of resourced income, are allocated to each separate category described in paragraph (k)(1)(ii) of this section in accordance with § 1.904–6. (iv) Coordination with certain income tax treaty provisions—(A) Exception for E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69090 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations special relief from double taxation for individual residents of treaty jurisdictions. Section 904(d)(6)(A) and paragraph (k)(1) of this section do not apply to any item of income deemed to be from foreign sources by reason of the relief from double taxation rules in any U.S. income tax treaty that is solely applicable to U.S. citizens who are residents of the other Contracting State. (B) U.S. competent authority assistance. For purposes of applying paragraph (k)(1) of this section, if, under the mutual agreement procedure provisions of an applicable income tax treaty, the U.S. competent authority agrees to allow a taxpayer to treat an item of income as foreign source income, where such item of income would otherwise be treated as derived from sources within the United States, then the taxpayer is considered to have chosen the benefits of such treaty obligation to treat the item as foreign source income. (v) Coordination with other Code provisions. Section 904(d)(6)(A) and paragraph (k)(1) of this section do not apply to any item of income to which any of section 245(a)(10), 865(h), or 904(h)(10) applies. See also paragraph (l) of this section. (2) Section 865(h). If any gain, as defined in section 865(h)(2)(A)(i), would be treated as derived from sources within the United States under section 865, but pursuant to a treaty obligation of the United States such gain would be treated as arising from sources outside the United States, and the taxpayer chooses the benefits of such treaty obligation, then that gain will be treated as foreign source income. However, sections 904(a), (b), (c), (d), (f), and (g) and sections 907 and 960 are applied separately to amounts described in the preceding sentence with respect to each treaty under which the taxpayer has claimed benefits and, within each treaty, to each separate category of income. The principles of the rules in paragraphs (k)(1)(ii) through (iv) of this section apply to gains, and foreign taxes on gains, that are subject to a separate limitation under section 865(h). (l) Priority rule. Income that meets the definitions of a specified separate category and another category of income described in section 904(d)(1) is subject to the separate limitation described in paragraph (m) of this section and is not treated as general category income, foreign branch category income, passive category income, or section 951A category income. (m) Income treated as allocable to a specified separate category. If section 904(a), (b), and (c) are applied separately to any category of income VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 under the Internal Revenue Code (for example, under section 245(a)(10), 865(h), 901(j), 904(d)(6), or 904(h)(10)), that category of income is treated for all purposes of the Internal Revenue Code as if it were a separate category listed in section 904(d)(1). For purposes of this section, a separate category that is treated as if it were listed in section 904(d)(1) by reason of the first sentence in this paragraph (m) is referred to as a specified separate category. (n) Income from partnerships and other pass-through entities—(1) Distributive shares of partnership income—(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (n)(1)(ii) of this section, a partner’s distributive share of partnership income is characterized as passive category income to the extent that the distributive share is a share of income earned or accrued by the partnership in the passive category. A partner’s distributive share of partnership income that is not described in the first sentence of this paragraph (n) is treated as foreign branch category income, general category income, or income in a specified separate category under the rules of this section. The principles of the rules in this paragraph (n)(1)(i) also apply to characterize a person’s share of income from any other pass-through entity. (ii) Less than 10 percent partners partnership interests—(A) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (n)(1)(ii)(B) of this section, if any limited partner owns less than 10 percent of the value in a partnership, the partner’s distributive share of partnership income from the partnership is passive income to the partner (subject to the exception for high-taxed income under section 904(d)(2)(B)(iii)(II) and paragraph (c) of this section), and the partner’s distributive share of partnership deductions from the partnership is allocated and apportioned under the principles of § 1.861–8 only to the partner’s passive income from that partnership. See also § 1.861–9(e)(4) for rules for apportioning partnership interest expense. (B) Exception for partnership interest held in the ordinary course of business. If a partnership interest described in paragraph (n)(1)(ii)(A) of this section is held in the ordinary course of a partner’s active trade or business, the rules of paragraph (n)(1)(i) of this section apply for purposes of characterizing the partner’s distributive share of the partnership income. A partnership interest is considered to be held in the ordinary course of a partner’s active trade or business if the partner (or a member of the partner’s affiliated group of corporations (within PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 the meaning of section 1504(a) and without regard to section 1504(b)(3))) engages (other than through a less than 10 percent interest in a partnership) in the same or a related trade or business as the partnership. (2) Income from the sale of a partnership interest—(i) In general. To the extent a partner recognizes gain on the sale of a partnership interest, that income shall be treated as passive income to the partner, subject to the exception for high-taxed income under section 904(d)(2)(B)(iii)(II) and paragraph (c) of this section. (ii) Exception for sale by 25-percent owner. Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(iv) of this section, in the case of a sale of an interest in a partnership by a partner that is a 25-percent owner of the partnership, determined by applying section 954(c)(4)(B) and substituting ‘‘partner’’ for ‘‘controlled foreign corporation’’ every place it appears, for purposes of determining the separate category to which the income recognized on the sale of the partnership interest is assigned such partner is treated as selling the proportionate share of the assets of the partnership attributable to such interest. (3) Value of a partnership interest. For purposes of paragraphs (n)(1) and (2) of this section, a partner will be considered as owning 10 percent of the value of a partnership for a particular year if the partner, together with any person that bears a relationship to the partner described in section 267(b) or 707, owns 10 percent of the capital and profits interest of the partnership. For purposes of this paragraph (n)(3), value will be determined at the end of the partnership’s taxable year. (4) Example. The following example illustrates the application of this paragraph (n). (i) Facts. PRS is a domestic partnership. PRS has two general partners, A and B. A and B each have a greater than 10% interest in PRS. PRS also has two limited partners, C and D. C has a 50% interest in the partnership and D has a 9% interest. D’s partnership interest is not held in the ordinary course of business. A, B, C and D are all United States persons. In Year 1, PRS has $100x of general category non-subpart F income on which it pays no foreign tax. (ii) Analysis. Under paragraph (n)(1)(i) of this section, A’s, B’s, and C’s distributive shares of PRS’s income are not passive category income. Under paragraph (n)(1)(ii)(A) of this section, because D is a limited partner with a less than 10% interest in PRS, D’s distributive share of PRS’s income is passive category income. (o) Separate category of section 78 gross up. The amount included in income under section 78 by reason of taxes deemed paid under section 960 is E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations assigned to the separate category to which the taxes are allocated under § 1.904–6(b). (p) Separate category of foreign currency gain or loss. Foreign currency gain or loss recognized under section 986(c) with respect to a distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits (as described in section 959 or 1293(c)) is assigned to the separate category or categories of the previously taxed earnings and profits from which the distribution is made. See § 1.987–6(b) for rules on assigning section 987 gain or loss on a remittance from a section 987 QBU to a separate category or categories. (q) Applicability dates. This section applies for taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018. ■ Par. 21. Section 1.904–5 is amended by: ■ 1. Revising paragraphs (a), (b), and (c)(1). ■ 2. Revising the third and fourth sentences and adding a sentence to the end of paragraph (c)(2)(i). ■ 3. Removing the language ‘‘noncontrolled section 902 corporation’’ and adding the language ‘‘noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation’’ in its place in the heading and text of paragraph (c)(2)(iii). ■ 4. Revising paragraphs (c)(2)(v) and (c)(3). ■ 5. In paragraph (c)(4)(i): ■ i. Revising the first sentence. ■ ii. Removing the language ‘‘paragraph’’ and adding the language ‘‘paragraph (c)(4)’’ in its place in the second sentence. ■ 6. Revising paragraph (c)(4)(iii). ■ 7. Removing paragraph (c)(4)(iv). ■ 8. Adding paragraphs (c)(5), (6), and (7). ■ 9. Revising paragraphs (d)(1), (2), and (3) and (e)(2). ■ 10. Removing and reserving paragraph (f)(1). ■ 11. Removing paragraph (f)(3). ■ 12. In paragraph (g): ■ i. Removing the language ‘‘section 904(d)(3) and this section’’ and adding the language ‘‘paragraph (c) of this section’’ in its place in the first sentence. ■ ii. Removing the language ‘‘United States corporation’’ and adding the language ‘‘domestic corporation’’ wherever it appears. ■ iii. Removing the last sentence. ■ 13. Revising paragraph (h). ■ 14. In paragraph (i)(1): ■ i. Removing the language ‘‘paragraphs (i)(2), (3), and (4)’’ and adding the language ‘‘paragraphs (i)(2) and (3)’’ in its place in the first sentence. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 ii. In the second sentence: A. Removing the language ‘‘noncontrolled section 902 corporation’’ and adding the language ‘‘noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation’’. ■ B. Removing the language ‘‘paragraph (i)(4)’’ and adding the language ‘‘paragraph (i)(3)’’ in its place. ■ iii. Revising the sixth and seventh sentences. ■ 15. Revising paragraph (i)(2) and (3). ■ 16. Removing and reserving paragraph (i)(4). ■ 17. Revising paragraph (i)(5). ■ 18. Removing the last sentence of paragraph (j). ■ 19. Adding the language ‘‘under § 1.904–4’’ after the language ‘‘characterized’’ in the first sentence of paragraph (k)(1). ■ 20. Revising paragraphs (k)(2)(iii) and (l). ■ 21. In paragraph (m)(1): ■ i. Removing the language ‘‘noncontrolled section 902 corporations’’ and adding the language ‘‘noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations’’ in its place and removing the language ‘‘noncontrolled section 902 corporation’’ and adding the language ‘‘noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation’’ in its place. ■ ii. Removing the language ‘‘or amount treated as a dividend, including’’ and adding the language ‘‘which, for purposes of this paragraph (m), includes’’ in its place in the third sentence. ■ iii. Removing the language ‘‘951(a)(1)(A),’’ and adding the language ‘‘951(a)(1)(A), 951A(a),’’ in its place in the fourth sentence. ■ 22. Revising paragraphs (m)(2)(ii), (m)(3), and (m)(4)(i). ■ 23. Removing paragraph (m)(4)(iii). ■ 24. Revising the heading of paragraph (m)(5), the first sentence of paragraph (m)(5)(i), and paragraph (m)(5)(ii). ■ 25. Removing the language ‘‘section 902(a) and section 960(a)(1)’’ and adding the language ‘‘section 960’’ in its place in paragraph (m)(6). ■ 26. In paragraph (m)(7)(i): ■ i. Removing the language ‘‘904(g)(6)’’ and ‘‘904(g)’’ from the first sentence and adding the language ‘‘904(h)(6)’’ and ‘‘904(h)’’ in its place, respectively. ■ ii. Removing the language ‘‘(d) and (f)’’ from the second sentence and adding the language ‘‘(d), (f), and (g)’’ in its place and removing the language ‘‘902,’’. ■ 27. Revising paragraph (m)(7)(ii). ■ 28. In paragraph (n): ■ i. Removing the language ‘‘noncontrolled section 902 corporation’’ and adding the language ‘‘noncontrolled 10-percent owned ■ ■ PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69091 foreign corporation’’ in its place, and by removing the language ‘‘section 904(d)(1)’’ and adding ‘‘§ 1.904–4’’ in its place in the first sentence. ■ ii. Revising the last sentence. ■ 29. Revising paragraph (o). The additions and revisions read as follows: § 1.904–5 Look-through rules as applied to controlled foreign corporations and other entities. (a) Scope and definitions—(1) Lookthrough rules under section 904(d)(3) to passive category income. Paragraph (c) of this section provides rules for determining the extent to which dividends, interest, rents, and royalties received or accrued by certain eligible persons, and inclusions under sections 951(a)(1) and 951A(a), are treated as passive category income. Paragraph (g) of this section provides rules applying the principles of paragraph (c) of this section to foreign source interest, rents, and royalties paid by a domestic corporation to a related corporation. Paragraph (h) of this section provides rules for assigning a partnership payment to a partner described in section 707 to the passive category. Paragraph (i) of this section provides rules applying the principles of this section to assign distributions and payments from certain related entities to the passive category or to treat the distributions and payments as not in the passive category. (2) Other look-through rules under section 904(d). Under section 904(d)(4) and paragraph (c)(4)(iii) of this section, certain dividends from noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations are treated as income in a separate category. Under section 904(d)(3)(H) and paragraph (j) of this section, certain inclusions under section 1293 are treated as income in a separate category. Paragraph (i) of this section provides rules applying the principles of this section to assign distributions from certain related entities to separate categories. (3) Other rules provided in this section. Paragraph (b) of this section provides operative rules for this section. Paragraph (d) of this section provides rules addressing exceptions to passive category income for certain purposes in the case of controlled foreign corporations that meet the requirements of section 954(b)(3)(A) (de minimis rule) or section 954(b)(4) (high-tax exception). Paragraph (e) of this section provides rules for characterizing a controlled foreign corporation’s foreign base company income and gross insurance income when section 954(b)(3)(B) (full inclusion rule) applies. Paragraph (f) of E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69092 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations this section modifies the look-through rules for certain types of income. Paragraph (k) of this section provides ordering rules for applying the lookthrough rules. Paragraph (l) of this section provides examples illustrating the application of certain rules in this section. Paragraphs (m) and (n) of this section provide rules related to the resourcing rules described in section 904(h). (4) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (i) The term controlled foreign corporation has the meaning given such term by section 957 (taking into account the special rule for certain captive insurance companies contained in section 953(c)). (ii) The term look-through rules means the rules described in this section that assign income to a separate category based on the separate category of the income to which it is allocable. (iii) The term noncontrolled 10percent owned foreign corporation has the meaning provided in section 904(d)(2)(E)(i). (iv) The term pass-through entity means a partnership, S corporation, or any other person (whether domestic or foreign) other than a corporation to the extent that the income or deductions of the person are included in the income of one or more direct or indirect owners or beneficiaries of the person. For example, if a domestic trust is subject to Federal income tax on a portion of its income and its owners are subject to tax on the remaining portion, the domestic trust is treated as a domestic passthrough entity with respect to such remaining portion. (v) The term separate category means, as the context requires, any category of income described in section 904(d)(1)(A), (B), (C), or (D), any specified separate category of income as defined in § 1.904–4(m), or any category of earnings and profits to which income described in such provisions is attributable. (vi) The term United States shareholder has the meaning given such term by section 951(b) (taking into account the special rule for certain captive insurance companies contained in section 953(c)), except that for purposes of this section, a United States shareholder includes any member of the controlled group of the United States shareholder. For purposes of this paragraph (a)(4)(vi), the controlled group is any member of the affiliated group within the meaning of section 1504(a)(1) except that ‘‘more than 50 percent’’ is substituted for ‘‘at least 80 percent’’ wherever it appears in section 1504(a)(2). When used in reference to a VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation described in section 904(d)(2)(E)(i)(II), the term United States shareholder also means a taxpayer that meets the stock ownership requirements described in section 904(d)(2)(E)(i)(II). (b) Operative rules—(1) Assignment of income not assigned under the lookthrough rules. Except as provided by the look-through rules, dividends, interest, rents, and royalties received or accrued by a taxpayer from a controlled foreign corporation in which the taxpayer is a United States shareholder are excluded from passive category income. Income excluded from the passive category under this paragraph (b)(1) is assigned to another separate category (other than the passive category) under the rules in § 1.904–4. (2) Priority and ordering of lookthrough rules. Except as provided in this paragraph (b)(2), to the extent the lookthrough rules assign income to a separate category, the income is assigned to that separate category rather than the separate category to which the income would have been assigned under § 1.904–4 (not taking into account § 1.904–4(l)). See paragraph (k) of this section for ordering rules for applying the look-through rules. However, passive income that is financial services income is assigned to a separate category under the rules in § 1.904– 4(e)(1), (f)(1), and (l), regardless of whether the look-through rules otherwise would have assigned such income to the passive category. (c) * * * (1) Scope. Subject to the exceptions in paragraph (f) of this section, paragraphs (c)(2) through (6) (other than paragraph (c)(4)(iii) of this section) of this section provide lookthrough rules with respect to interest, rents, royalties, dividends, and inclusions under sections 951(a)(1) and 951A(a) that are received or accrued from a controlled foreign corporation in which the taxpayer is a United States shareholder. Paragraph (c)(4)(iii) of this section provides a look-through rule for dividends received from a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation by a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder in the foreign corporation. (2) * * * (i) * * * Related person interest is treated as passive category income to the extent it is allocable to passive category income of the controlled foreign corporation. If related person interest is received or accrued from a controlled foreign corporation by two or more persons, the amount of interest received or accrued by each person that is allocable to passive category income is determined by multiplying the amount of related PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 person interest allocable to passive category income by a fraction. * * * Solely for purposes of assigning interest income to a separate category under section 904(d)(3) and the look-through rule in this paragraph (c)(2), the rules in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section for allocating and apportioning interest expense of a controlled foreign corporation apply for purposes of characterizing interest income in the hands of the recipient, even if a deduction for the interest expense is deferred or disallowed to the controlled foreign corporation. * * * * * (v) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this paragraph (c)(2). (A) Example 1—(1) CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. In Year 1, CFC earns $200x of foreign personal holding company income that is passive category income. CFC also earns $100x of foreign base company sales income that is general category income. CFC has $2,000x of passive category assets and $2,000x of general category assets. In Year 1, CFC makes a $150x interest payment to USP with respect to a $1,500x loan from USP. CFC also pays $100x of interest to an unrelated person on a $1,000x loan from that person. CFC has no other expenses. CFC uses the asset method to apportion interest expense. (2) Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, the $150x related person interest payment is allocable to CFC’s passive category foreign personal holding company income. Therefore, the $150x interest payment is passive category income to USP. Because the entire related person interest payment is allocated to passive category income under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, none of the related person interest payment is apportioned to general category income under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(D) of this section. Under paragraph (c)(2)(iv)(B) of this section, the entire amount of the related person debt is allocable to passive category assets ($1,500x = $1,500x × $150x/$150x). Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of this section, $20x of the interest expense paid to an unrelated person is apportioned to passive category income ($20x = $100x × ($2,000x ¥ $1,500x)/($4,000x ¥ $1,500x)), and $80x of the interest expense paid to an unrelated person is apportioned to general category income ($80x = $100x × $2,000x/($4,000x ¥ $1,500x)). (B) Example 2. The facts are the same as in paragraph (c)(2)(v)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that CFC uses the modified gross income method to apportion interest expense. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of this section, the unrelated person interest expense is apportioned based on gross income. Therefore, $33x of interest expense paid to an unrelated person is apportioned to CFC’s passive category income ($33x = $100x × ($200x ¥ $150x)/ ($300x ¥ $150x)) and $67x of interest expense paid to an unrelated person is E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations apportioned to CFC’s general category income ($67x = $100x × $100x/($300x ¥ $150x)). (C) Example 3—(1) The facts are the same as in paragraph (c)(2)(v)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that CFC has an additional $50x of third person interest expense that is directly allocated to income from a specific property that produces only passive category income. The principal amount of indebtedness to which the interest relates is $500x. CFC also has $50x of additional non-interest expenses that are not definitely related expenses and that are apportioned on an asset basis. (2) Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(B) of this section, the $50x of directly allocated third person interest is first allocated to reduce the passive category income of CFC. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, the $150x of related person interest is allocated to the remaining $150x of passive category income. Under paragraph (c)(2)(iv)(B) of this section, all of the related person debt is allocated to passive category assets ($1,500x = $1,500x × $150x/$150x). (3) Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of this section, the non-interest expenses that are not definitely related are apportioned on the basis of the asset values reduced by the allocated related person debt. Therefore, $10x of these expenses are apportioned to the passive category ($50x × ($2,000x ¥ $1,500x)/($4,000x ¥ $1,500x)) and $40x are apportioned to the general category ($50x × $2,000x/($4,000x ¥ $1,500x)). (4) In order to apportion third person interest (that was not directly allocated third person interest) between the categories of assets, the value of assets in a separate category must also be reduced under the principles of § 1.861–8 by the indebtedness relating to the specifically allocated interest. Therefore, under paragraph (c)(2)(iv)(B) of this section, the value of assets in the passive category for purposes of apportioning the additional third person interest = 0 ($2,000x minus $500x (the principal amount of the debt, the interest payment on which is directly allocated to specific interestproducing properties) minus $1,500x (the related person debt allocated to passive category assets)). Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of this section, all $100x of the non-definitely related third person interest expense is apportioned to the general category ($100x = $100x × $2,000x/($4,000x ¥ $500x ¥ $1,500x)). (D) Example 4—(1) CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. In Year 1, CFC earns $100x of foreign personal holding company income that is passive category income. CFC also earns $100x of foreign base company sales income that is general category income. CFC has $1,000x of general category assets and $1,000x of passive category assets. In Year 1, CFC makes a $150x interest payment to USP on a $1,500x loan from USP and has $20x of general and administrative expenses (G & A) that under the principles of §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T is treated as directly allocable to all of CFC’s gross income. CFC also makes a $25x interest payment to an unrelated person on a $250x loan from the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 unrelated person. CFC has no other expenses. CFC uses the asset method to apportion interest expense. CFC uses the modified gross income method to apportion G & A. (2) Under paragraph (c)(2)(iv)(B) of this section, related person debt allocated to passive category assets equals $1,000x ($1,000x = $1,500x × $100x/$150x).Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, $100x of the interest payment to USP is allocable to CFC’s passive category foreign personal holding company income. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(D) of this section, the additional $50x of related person interest expense is apportioned to CFC’s general category income ($50x = $50x × $1,000x/$1,000x). (3) Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of this section, none of the $25x of interest expense paid to an unrelated person is apportioned to passive category income ($0 = $25x × ($1,000x ¥ $1,000x)/($2,000x ¥ $1,000x)). All $25x of the interest expense paid to an unrelated person is apportioned to general category income ($25x = $25x × $1,000x/ ($2,000x ¥ $1,000x)). Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of this section, none of the G & A is allocable to CFC’s passive category foreign personal holding company income ($0 = $20x × ($100x ¥ $100x)/($200x ¥ $100x)). All $20x of the G & A is apportioned to CFC’s general category income ($20x = $20x × $100x/($200x ¥ $100x)). (E) Example 5. The facts are the same as in paragraph (c)(2)(v)(D) of this section (the facts in Example 4), except that CFC uses the modified gross income method to apportion interest expense. As in paragraph (c)(2)(v)(D) of this section (Example 4), $100x of the interest payment to USP is allocated to passive category income under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(D) of this section, the additional $50x of related person interest expense is apportioned to general category income ($150x—100x × $100x/$100x). Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of this section, none of the unrelated person interest expense and none of the G & A is apportioned to passive category income, because after the application of paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, no income remains in the passive category. (F) Example 6. CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1 is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. CFC1 and CFC2 are incorporated in the same country. In Year 1, USP sells tractors to CFC2, which CFC2 sells to X, a foreign corporation that is related to both CFC1 and CFC2 and is organized in the same country as CFC1 and CFC2. CFC1 makes a loan to × to finance the tractor sales. Assume that the interest earned by CFC1 from financing the sales is export financing interest that is neither related person factoring income nor foreign personal holding company income. Under § 1.904– 4(h), the export financing interest earned by CFC1 is, therefore, general category income. CFC1 earns no other income. CFC1 makes a $100x interest payment to USP. The $100x of interest paid is not allocable under the lookthrough rules and paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section to passive category income of CFC1. The income is general category income to USP. PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69093 (3) Rents and royalties. Any rents or royalties received or accrued from a controlled foreign corporation in which the taxpayer is a United States shareholder are treated as passive category income to the extent they are allocable to passive category income of the controlled foreign corporation under the principles of §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T. (4) * * * (i) * * * Except as provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this section, any dividend paid or accrued out of the earnings and profits of any controlled foreign corporation is treated as passive category income in proportion to the ratio of the portion of earnings and profits attributable to passive category income to the total amount of earnings and profits of the controlled foreign corporation. * * * * * * * * (iii) Look-through rule for dividends from noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations—(A) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(4)(iii)(B) of this section, any dividend that is distributed by a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation and received or accrued by a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of such foreign corporation is treated as income in a separate category in proportion to the ratio of the portion of earnings and profits attributable to income in such category to the total amount of earnings and profits of the noncontrolled 10percent owned foreign corporation. (B) Inadequate substantiation. A dividend distributed by a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation is treated as income in the separate category described in section 904(d)(4)(C)(ii) if the Commissioner determines that the look-through characterization of the dividend cannot reasonably be determined based on the available information. (5) Inclusions under section 951(a)(1)(A). Any amount included in gross income under section 951(a)(1)(A) is treated as passive category income to the extent the amount included is attributable to income received or accrued by the controlled foreign corporation that is passive category income. All other amounts included in gross income under section 951(a)(1)(A) are treated as general category income or income in a specified separate category under the rules in § 1.904–4. For rules concerning a distributive share of partnership income, see § 1.904–4(n). For rules concerning the gross up under section 78, see § 1.904–4(o). For rules concerning inclusions under section E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69094 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 951(a)(1)(B), see paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section. (6) Inclusions under section 951A(a). Any amount included in gross income under section 951A(a) is treated as passive category income to the extent the amount included is attributable to income received or accrued by the controlled foreign corporation that is passive category income. All other amounts included in gross income under section 951A(a) are treated as section 951A category income or income in a specified separate category under the rules in § 1.904–4. For rules concerning a distributive share of partnership income, see § 1.904–4(n). For rules concerning the gross up under section 78, see § 1.904–4(o). (7) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of paragraph (c) of this section. (i) Example 1—(A) Facts. CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. In Year 1, CFC earns $100x of net income, $85x of which is general category foreign base company sales income and $15x of which is passive category foreign personal holding company income. No foreign tax is imposed on the income. CFC’s income of $100x is subpart F income taxed currently to USP under section 951(a)(1)(A). (B) Analysis. Because $15x of the subpart F inclusion is attributable to passive category income of CFC, under section 904(d)(3)(B) and paragraph (c)(5) of this section $15x of the subpart F inclusion is passive category income to USP. The remaining $85x subpart F inclusion is general category income to USP. (ii) Example 2—(A) Facts. CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, is a whollyowned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. CFC2 is a controlled foreign corporation wholly owned by CFC1 and is incorporated and operates all of its business in the same country as CFC1. All of CFC2’s earnings and profits are attributable to passive category foreign personal holding company income. USP elects to exclude CFC2’s income from subpart F income under section 954(b)(4). In Year 1, CFC2 makes a distribution to CFC1 and CFC1 makes a distribution to USP, all of which is attributable to Year 1 earnings and profits. CFC1 has no earnings and profits in Year 1 other than those received from CFC2. (B) Analysis—(1) With respect to the dividend from CFC2 to CFC1, such amount is not subpart F income. See section 954(c)(3). Under section 904(d)(3)(D) and (E) and paragraphs (c)(4) and (d)(2) of this section the dividend income is not passive category income and therefore under § 1.904– 4 it is general category income to CFC1. Under section 951A(c)(2)(A)(i)(IV), such dividend income is not tested income. (2) With respect to the dividend from CFC1 to USP, under section 904(d)(3)(D) and (E) and paragraphs (c)(4) and (d)(2) of this section, such dividend income is not passive category income and therefore under § 1.904– 4 is general category income to USP. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (iii) Example 3—(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph (c)(7)(ii)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 2), except that CFC1 receives interest income from CFC2 instead of dividend income. (B) Analysis. Under section 904(d)(3)(C) and paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, the interest income is passive category income to CFC1 because such interest is properly allocable to the passive category income of CFC2. The interest income from CFC2 is subpart F income of CFC1 taxable to USP because such income reduces the subpart F income of CFC2 or such interest is properly allocable to the subpart F income of CFC2. See section 954(c)(3) and (6). Under section 904(d)(3)(B) and paragraph (c)(5) of this section, the subpart F inclusion is passive category income to USP. Under section 959(a), the distribution from CFC1 to USP is excluded from USP’s gross income. (iv) Example 4—(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph (c)(7)(iii)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 3), except that USP elects to exclude CFC1’s interest income from subpart F income under section 954(b)(4). (B) Analysis. Under section 904(d)(3)(D) and (E) and paragraphs (c)(4) and (d)(2) of this section, the distribution from CFC1 to USP is not a passive category dividend and therefore under § 1.904–4 is general category income to USP. (v) Example 5—(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph (c)(7)(iv)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 4), except that USP receives interest income from CFC1 instead of dividend income. (B) Analysis. Under section 904(d)(3)(C) and paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, the interest income is passive category income to USP because such interest is properly allocable to passive category income of CFC1. (d) * * * (1) De minimis amount of subpart F income. If the sum of a controlled foreign corporation’s gross foreign base company income (determined under section 954(a) without regard to section 954(b)(5)) and gross insurance income (determined under section 953(a)) for the taxable year is less than the lesser of 5 percent of gross income or $1,000,000, then none of that income is treated as passive category income. In addition, if the test in the first sentence of this paragraph (d)(1) is satisfied, for purposes of paragraphs (c)(2)(ii)(D) and (E) of this section (apportionment of interest expense to passive income using the asset method), any passive assets are not treated as passive category assets but are treated as assets in the general category or a specified separate category. The determination in the first sentence of this paragraph (d)(1) is made before the application of the exception for certain income subject to a high rate of foreign tax described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section. (2) Exception for certain income subject to high foreign tax. Except as provided in § 1.904–4(c)(7)(iii) (relating PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 to reductions in tax upon distribution), for purposes of the dividend lookthrough rule of paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section, an item of net income that would otherwise be passive category income (after application of the priority rules of § 1.904–4(l)) and that is received or accrued by a controlled foreign corporation is not treated as passive category income, and the earnings and profits attributable to such income is not treated as passive category earnings and profits, if the taxpayer establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary under section 954(b)(4) that the income was subject to an effective rate of income tax imposed by a foreign country greater than 90 percent of the maximum rate of tax specified in section 11 (with reference to section 15, if applicable). Such income is treated as general category income or income in a specified separate category under the rules in § 1.904–4. The first sentence of this paragraph (d)(2) has no effect on amounts (other than dividends) paid or accrued by a controlled foreign corporation to a United States shareholder of such controlled foreign corporation to the extent those amounts are allocable to passive category income of the controlled foreign corporation. (3) Example. The following example illustrates the application of this paragraph (d). (i) Facts. CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. In Year 1, CFC earns $100x of gross income, $4x of which is interest that is foreign personal holding company income and $96x of which is gross manufacturing income that is not subpart F income. CFC has no other earnings for Year 1. CFC has no expenses and pays no foreign taxes. (ii) Analysis. Under the de minimis rule of section 954(b)(3)(A) and § 1.954–1(b)(1)(i), none of CFC’s income is treated as foreign base company income. All of CFC’s income, therefore, is treated as general category income and tested income. In Year 1, USP has a GILTI inclusion amount with respect to CFC. Such amount is section 951A category income to USP. (e) * * * (2) Example. The following example illustrates the application of this paragraph (e). (i) Facts. Controlled foreign corporation CFC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. CFC earns $100x, $75x of which is foreign personal holding company income and $25x of which is nonsubpart F services income. CFC’s gross and net income are equal. (ii) Analysis. Under the 70 percent full inclusion rule of section 954(b)(3)(B), the entire $100x is foreign base company income currently taxable to USP under section 951. Because $75x of the $100x section 951 inclusion is attributable to CFC’s passive E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations category income, $75x of the inclusion is passive category income to USP. The remaining $25x of the inclusion is treated as general category income to USP. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 * * * * * (h) Application of look-through rules to payments from a partnership or other pass-through entity. Payments to a partner described in section 707 (e.g., payments to a partner not acting in capacity as a partner) are characterized as passive category income to the extent that the payment is attributable under the principles of § 1.861–8 and this section to passive category income of the partnership, if the payments are interest, rents, or royalties that would be characterized under the controlled foreign corporation look-through rules of paragraph (c) of this section if the partnership were a foreign corporation, and the partner who receives the payment owns 10 percent or more of the value of the partnership (as determined under § 1.904–4(n)(3)). A payment by a partnership to a member of the controlled group (as defined in paragraph (a)(4)(vi) of this section) of the partner is characterized under the look-through rules of this paragraph (h) if the payment would be a section 707 payment entitled to look-through treatment if it were made to the partner. The rules in this paragraph (h) do not apply with respect to interest to the extent the interest income is assigned to a separate category under the downstream partnership loan rules described in § 1.861–9(e)(8). The principles of the rules in this paragraph (h) apply to characterize a payment from any other pass-through entity. (i) * * * (1) * * * For purposes of this paragraph (i)(1), indirect ownership of stock is determined under section 318. In the case of a partnership or other pass-through entity, indirect ownership and value is determined under the rules in paragraph (i)(2) of this section. (2) Indirect ownership and value of a partnership interest. A person is considered as owning, directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent of the value of a partnership if the person, together with any other person that bears a relationship to the first person that is described in section 267(b) or 707, owns more than 50 percent of the capital and profits interests of the partnership. For purposes of this paragraph (i)(2), value will be determined at the end of the partnership’s taxable year. The principles of this paragraph (i)(2) apply with respect to a person that owns a pass-through entity other than a partnership. (3) Special rule for dividends between certain foreign corporations. Solely for VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 purposes of dividend payments between controlled foreign corporations, noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations, or a controlled foreign corporation and a noncontrolled 10percent owned foreign corporation, the two foreign corporations are considered related look-through entities if the same person is a United States shareholder of both foreign corporations. * * * * * (5) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this paragraph (i): (i) Example 1. USP, a domestic corporation, owns all of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1 owns 40% of the stock of CFC2, a Country X corporation that is a controlled foreign corporation. The remaining 60% of the stock of CFC2 is owned by V, a domestic corporation, unrelated to USP. The percentages of value and voting power of CFC2 owned by CFC1 and V correspond to their percentages of stock ownership. CFC2 owns 40% (by vote and value) of the stock of CFC3, a Country Z corporation that is a controlled foreign corporation. The remaining 60% of CFC3 is owned by unrelated United States persons. CFC3 earns exclusively general category income that is neither subpart F income nor tested income. In Year 1, CFC3 makes an interest payment of $100x to CFC2. Look-through principles do not apply because CFC2 and CFC3 are not related look-through entities under paragraph (i)(1) of this section (because CFC2 does not own more than 50% of the voting power or value of CFC3). The interest is passive category income to CFC2 and is subpart F income of CFC2 that is taxable to USP and V. Under paragraph (c)(5) of this section, USP and V’s subpart F inclusion with respect to CFC2 is passive category income. (ii) Example 2. The facts are the same as in paragraph (i)(5)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that instead of a $100x interest payment, CFC3 pays a $50x dividend to CFC2 in Year 1. USP and V each own, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of both CFC2 and CFC3, and, therefore, CFC2 and CFC3 have the same United States shareholders. Pursuant to paragraph (i)(3) of this section, because CFC2 and CFC3 have a common United States shareholder, for purposes of applying this section to the dividend from CFC2 to CFC3, CFC2 and CFC3 are treated as related look-through entities. Therefore, look-through principles apply. Because CFC3 has no passive category income or earnings and profits, the dividend income is characterized as general category income to CFC2. The dividend is subpart F income of CFC2 that is taxable to USP and V. Under paragraph (c)(5) of this section, the subpart F inclusions of USP and V are not passive category income to USP and V and therefore under § 1.904–4 the subpart F inclusions are general category income to USP and V. (iii) Example 3. The facts are the same as in paragraph (i)(5)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that CFC3 pays both PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69095 a $100x interest payment and a $50x dividend to CFC2, and CFC2 owns 80% (by vote and value) of CFC3. Under paragraph (i)(1) of this section, CFC2 and CFC3 are related look-through entities, because CFC2 owns more than 50% (by vote and value) of CFC3. Therefore, look-through principles apply to both the interest and dividend income paid or accrued by CFC3 to CFC2, and CFC2 treats both types of income as general category income because CFC3 does not have any passive category earnings. Under paragraph (c)(5) of this section and § 1.904–4, the resulting subpart F inclusions are general category income to USP and V. (iv) Example 4. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 50% of the voting stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1 owns 10% of the voting stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. The remaining 50% of the stock of CFC1 is owned by X. The remaining 90% of the stock of CFC2 is owned by Y. X and Y are each United States shareholders of CFC2 but are not related to USP, CFC1, or each other. In Year 1, CFC2 pays a $100x dividend to CFC1. Under paragraph (i)(3) of this section because no person is a United States shareholder of both CFC1 and CFC2 (USP and X each own only 5% of CFC2), CFC1 and CFC2 are not related look-through entities. Because CFC2 is not a related person to CFC1 within the meaning of section 954(d)(3), section 954(c)(3) and (c)(6) are inapplicable, and the dividend is subpart F income of CFC1 that is taxable to USP and X. Therefore, under section 904(d)(2)(B)(i) and § 1.904– 4(b)(2)(i)(A), because the dividend income is foreign personal holding company income, it is passive category income to CFC1. (v) Example 5. The facts are the same as in paragraph (i)(5)(iv) of this section (the facts in Example 4), except that X owns 10% of the voting stock of CFC2 and Y owns only 80% of the voting stock of CFC2. Because CFC2 is not a related person to CFC1 within the meaning of section 954(d)(3), the dividend is subpart F income of CFC1 that is taxable to USP and X. In addition, because X is a United States shareholder of both CFC1 and CFC2, CFC2 and CFC1 are related lookthrough entities under paragraph (i)(3) of this section, the dividend income is general category income to CFC1 and the subpart F inclusion is general category income to USP and X. * * * * * (k) * * * (2) * * * (iii) Inclusions under sections 951(a)(1)(A) and 951A(a) and distributive shares of partnership income; * * * * * (l) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this section. (1) Example 1—(i) Facts. CFC1 and CFC2, controlled foreign corporations, are whollyowned subsidiaries of USP, a domestic corporation. CFC1 and CFC2 are incorporated in two different foreign countries and CFC2 is a financial services entity. In Year 1, CFC1 earns $100x of gross income that is passive category foreign personal holding company E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69096 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations income. CFC1’s only expense is a $50x interest payment to CFC2. CFC1’s $50x of pre-tax income is subject to $20x of foreign income tax, and USP elects to exclude CFC1’s $30x of net income from subpart F income under section 954(b)(4). (ii) Analysis. The $50x of interest is foreign personal holding company income in CFC2’s hands because section 954(c)(3)(A)(i) (same country exception for interest payments) and section 954(c)(6) do not apply, because the interest payment is allocable to and reduces CFC1’s subpart F income. The $50x of interest income is also passive category income to CFC2 because CFC1 and CFC2 are related look-through entities within the meaning of paragraph (i)(1) of this section and, therefore the look-through rules of paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section apply to characterize the interest payment. However, because CFC2 is a financial services entity, under § 1.904–4(e)(1) and paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the income is treated as financial services income and therefore as general category income in CFC2’s hands. Thus, with respect to CFC2, under § 1.904–4(d) and paragraph (c)(5) of this section, USP includes in its gross income a $50x general category inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) attributable to the general category foreign personal holding company income. (2) Example 2—(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 75% of USS, a domestic corporation. USP and USS are not financial services entities. In Year 1, USS’s earnings consist of $100x of foreign source passive income. USS makes a $100x foreign source royalty payment to USP. (ii) Analysis. Under paragraph (g) of this section, the royalty payment to USP is subject to the look-through rules of paragraph (c)(3) of this section and is characterized as passive category income the extent that it is allocable to such income in USS’s hands. (3) Example 3—(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, and CFC1 owns 100% of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1 has $100x of passive foreign personal holding company income from unrelated persons and $100x of general category income. CFC1 also has $50x of interest income from CFC2. CFC1 pays CFC2 $100x of interest. (ii) Analysis. Under paragraph (k)(2) of this section, the $100x interest payment from CFC1 to CFC2 is reduced for limitation purposes to the extent of the $50x interest payment from CFC2 to CFC1 before application of the rules in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section. Therefore, the interest payment from CFC2 to CFC1 is disregarded. CFC1 is treated as if it paid $50x of interest to CFC2, all of which is allocable to CFC1’s passive category foreign personal holding company income under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section. Therefore, under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, the $50x interest payment from CFC1 to CFC2 is passive category income. (4) Example 4—(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1 owns 100% of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation, and 100% of the stock of CFC3, a controlled foreign corporation. In VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 Year 1, CFC2 pays CFC1 $5x of interest, CFC1 pays CFC3 $10x of interest, and CFC3 pays CFC2 $20x of interest. (ii) Analysis. Under paragraph (k)(2) of this section, the interest payments from CFC1 to CFC3 must be offset by the amount of interest that CFC1 is considered as receiving indirectly from CFC3 and the interest payment from CFC3 to CFC2 is offset by the amount of the interest payment that CFC3 is considered as receiving indirectly from CFC2. The $10x payment by CFC1 to CFC3 is reduced by $5x, the amount of the interest payment from CFC2 to CFC1 that is treated as being paid indirectly by CFC3 to CFC1. Similarly, the $20x interest payment from CFC3 to CFC2 is reduced by $5x, the amount of the interest payment from CFC1 to CFC3 that is treated as being paid indirectly by CFC2 to CFC3. Therefore, under paragraph (k)(2) of this section, CFC2 is treated as having made no interest payment to CFC1, CFC1 is treated as having paid $5x of interest to CFC3, and CFC3 is treated as having paid $15x to CFC2. (5) Example 5—(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, and CFC1 owns 100% of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. In Year 1, CFC1 earns $100x of passive category foreign personal holding company income and $100x of general category non-subpart F sales income from unrelated persons and $100x of general category non-subpart F interest income from a related person. CFC1 pays $150x of interest to CFC2. CFC2 earns $200x of general category sales income from unrelated persons and the $150x interest payment from CFC1. CFC2 pays CFC1 $100x of interest. USP does not have an inclusion under section 951A. (ii) Analysis—(A) Under paragraph (k)(2) of this section, the $100x interest payment from CFC2 to CFC1 reduces the $150x interest payment from CFC1 to CFC2. CFC1 is treated as though it paid $50x of interest to CFC2. CFC2 is treated as though it made no interest payment to CFC1. (B) Under paragraph (k)(2)(ii) of this section, the remaining $50x interest payment from CFC1 to CFC2 is then characterized. The interest payment is first allocable under the rules of paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section to CFC1’s passive category income. Therefore, under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, the $50x interest payment to CFC2 is passive category income. The interest income is foreign personal holding company income in CFC2’s hands. CFC2, therefore, has $50x of passive category subpart F income and $200x of general category non-subpart F income. (C) Under paragraph (k)(2)(iii) of this section, inclusions under section 951(a)(1)(A) are characterized next. USP has an inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) with respect to CFC1 of $50x that is attributable to passive category income of CFC1 and is treated as passive category income to USP. USP has an inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) with respect to CFC2 of $50x that is attributable to passive category income of CFC2 and is treated as passive category income to USP. (6) Example 6—(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% of the stock of PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, and CFC1 owns 100% of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. USP also owns 100% of the stock of CFC3, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 are all incorporated in different foreign countries. In Year 1, CFC1 earns $100x of passive category foreign personal holding company income and $200x of general category non-subpart F income from unrelated persons. CFC1 also receives a $150x distribution from CFC2. CFC1 pays $100x of interest to CFC2 and $100x of interest to CFC3. CFC3 earns $300x of general category non-subpart F income and the $100x of interest received from CFC1. CFC3 pays a $100x royalty to CFC2. The royalty is directly allocable to CFC3’s general category income and the royalty is not subpart F income to CFC2. CFC2 earns the $100x interest payment received from CFC1 and the $100x royalty received from CFC3. USP does not have an inclusion under section 951A. (ii) Analysis—(A) Under paragraph (k)(2)(i) of this section, the royalty paid by CFC3 to CFC2 is characterized first. With respect to CFC2, the royalty is general category nonsubpart F income. (B) Under paragraph (k)(2)(ii) of this section, the interest payments from CFC1 to CFC2 and CFC3 are characterized next. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, the interest payments are first allocable to CFC1’s passive category income. Therefore, under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, $50x of the interest payment to CFC2 is passive category income and $50x of the interest payment to CFC3 is passive category income. The remaining $50x paid to CFC2 is general category income and the remaining $50x paid to CFC3 is general category income. Because $100x of the interest income received or accrued from CFC1 is properly allocable to income of CFC1 which is not subpart F income, under section 954(c)(6) the general category interest income is not treated as foreign personal holding company income to CFC2 and CFC3. The remaining $100x of interest income received or accrued from CFC1 is passive category subpart F foreign personal holding company income to both recipients. Therefore, CFC3 and CFC2 each have $50x of passive category subpart F foreign personal holding company income related to the interest received from CFC1. (C) Under paragraph (k)(2)(iii) of this section, USP’s $50x inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) with respect to CFC2 is characterized next. Under paragraph (c)(5) of this section, USP’s inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) is attributable to the passive category portion of the interest income received by CFC2 from CFC1 and is passive category income to USP. Under paragraph (k)(2)(iii) of this section, USP’s $50x inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) with respect to CFC3 is also characterized next. Under paragraph (c)(5) of this section, USP’s inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) is attributable to the passive category portion of the interest income received by CFC3 from CFC2 and is passive category income to USP. (D) Under paragraph (k)(2)(iv) of this section, the $150x distribution from CFC2 to CFC1 is characterized next. The first $50x of the distribution is out of passive category E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2). The remaining $100x of the distribution is a dividend that is not attributable to CFC2’s passive category income, so under paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section it is general category income to CFC1 in its entirety. Because $100x of the dividend received or accrued from CFC2 is attributable to income of CFC2 which is not subpart F income, under section 954(c)(6) such dividend income is not treated as foreign personal holding company income of CFC1. (7) Example 7—(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, and CFC1 owns 100% of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. USP also owns 100% of the stock of CFC3, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 are all incorporated in different foreign countries. In Year 1, CFC2 earns $100x of general category income that is not subpart F income and distributes the entire amount to CFC1 as a dividend. CFC1 earns $100x of passive category foreign personal holding company income and the $100x dividend from CFC2. CFC1 pays $100x of interest to CFC3. CFC3 earns $200x of general category income that is foreign base company income and the $100x of interest income from CFC1. USP does not have an inclusion under section 951A. (ii) Analysis. This transaction does not involve circular payments and, therefore, the ordering rules of paragraph (k)(2) of this section do not apply. Instead, pursuant to paragraph (k)(1) of this section, income received is characterized first. CFC2’s earnings and, thus, the dividend from CFC2 to CFC1 are characterized first. Under paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section, CFC1 includes the $100x dividend from CFC2 in gross income as general category income because none of CFC2’s earnings are passive category income. CFC1 thus has $100x of passive category foreign personal holding company income and $100x of general category income that is excluded from subpart F income under section 954(c)(6)(A). The interest payment from CFC1 to CFC3 is then characterized as $100x passive category income under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section because it is allocable to passive foreign personal holding company income of CFC1. For Year 1, CFC3 thus has $200x of general category income that is subpart F income, and $100x of passive category foreign personal holding company income. For Year 1, under § 1.904–4(d) and paragraph (c)(5) of this section, USP includes in its gross income an inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) with respect to CFC3, $200x of which is general category income and $100x of which is passive category income. (m) * * * (2) * * * (ii) Interest payments from noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations. If interest is received or accrued by a shareholder from a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation (where the shareholder is a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of such noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 corporation), the rules of paragraph (m)(2)(i) of this section apply in determining the portion of the interest payment that is from sources within the United States, except that the related party interest rules of paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section do not apply. (3) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this paragraph (m). (i) Example 1—(A) Facts. Controlled foreign corporation CFC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. In Year 1, CFC pays USP $300x of interest. CFC has no other expenses. In Year 1, CFC has $3,000x of assets that generate $650x of foreign source general category income and a $1,000x loan to an unrelated foreign person that generates $20x of foreign source passive category interest income. CFC also has a $4,000x loan to an unrelated United States person that generates $70x of U.S. source passive category interest income and $4,000x of assets that generate $100x of U.S. source general category income. CFC uses the asset method to allocate interest expense. The following chart summarizes CFC’s assets and income: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (m)(3)(i)(A) Foreign Assets: Passive ........... General .......... U.S. Totals 1,000x 3,000x 4,000x 4,000x 5,000x 7,000x Total ........ Income: Passive ........... General .......... 4,000x 8,000x 12,000x 20x 650x 70x 100x 90x 750x Total ........ 670x 170x 840x (B) Analysis. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, $90x of the related person interest payment is allocable to CFC’s passive category income. Under paragraph (m)(2) of this section, $70x of USP’s $90x of passive category interest income is from sources within the United States and $20x is from foreign sources. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(D) of this section, the remaining $210x of the related person interest payment is allocated to general category income. Under paragraph (m)(2) of this section, $120x of the remaining $210x of USP’s interest income is treated as general category income from sources within the United States ($120x = $210x × $4,000x/ $7,000x) and $90x is treated as general category income from foreign sources ($90x = $210x × $3,000x/$7,000x). (ii) Example 2. The facts are the same as in paragraph (m)(3)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that CFC uses the modified gross income method to allocate interest expense. The first $90x of related person interest expense is allocated to passive category income in the same manner as in paragraph (m)(3)(i) of this section (Example 1), $70x to U.S. sources and $20x to foreign sources. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(D) of this section, the remaining $210x of the related person interest expense is allocated to CFC’s general category income. Under paragraph (m)(2) of this section, $28x PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69097 of the remaining $210x of USP’s interest income is treated as general category income from U.S. sources ($28x = $210x × $100x/ $750x) and $182x is treated as general category income from foreign sources ($182x = $210x × $650x/$750x). (4) * * * (i) Rule. Any dividend or distribution treated as a dividend under this paragraph (m) (including an amount included in gross income under section 951(a)(1)(B)) that is received or accrued by a United States shareholder from a controlled foreign corporation, or any dividend that is received or accrued by a domestic corporation from a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation with respect to which the shareholder is a United States shareholder, are treated as income in a separate category derived from sources within the United States in proportion to the ratio of the portion of the earnings and profits of the controlled foreign corporation or noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation in the corresponding separate category from U.S. sources to the total amount of earnings and profits of the controlled foreign corporation or noncontrolled 10percent owned foreign corporation in that separate category. * * * * * (5) Treatment of inclusions under sections 951(a)(1)(A), 951A and 1293— (i) * * * Any amount included in the gross income of a United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation under section 951(a)(1)(A), 951A, or in the gross income of a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation described in section 904(d)(2)(E)(i)(II) that is a qualified electing fund under section 1293 is treated as income subject to a separate category that is derived from sources within the United States to the extent the amount is attributable to income of the controlled foreign corporation or qualified electing fund, respectively, in the corresponding category of income from sources within the United States. * * * (ii) Example. The following example illustrates the application of this paragraph (m)(5). (A) Facts. Controlled foreign corporation CFC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of domestic corporation, USP. In Year 1, CFC earns $100x of subpart F foreign personal holding company income that is passive category income. Of this amount, $40x is derived from sources within the United States. CFC also earns $50x of subpart F general category income. None of this income is from sources within the United States. Assume that CFC pays no foreign taxes and has no expenses. (B) Analysis. USP must include $150x in gross income under section 951(a). Of this E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69098 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations amount, $60x is foreign source passive category income to USP, $40x is U.S. source passive category income to USP, and $50x is foreign source general category income to USP. * * * * * (7) * * * (ii) Example. The following example illustrates the application of this paragraph (m)(7). jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 (A) Facts. Controlled foreign corporation CFC is incorporated in Country A and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. In Year 1, CFC earns $80x of general category foreign base company sales income in Country A and $40x of passive category U.S. source interest income. CFC incurs $20x of expenses attributable to its sales business. CFC pays USP $40x of interest that is allocated to CFC’s U.S. source passive category income under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section and so is U.S. source passive category income to USP under paragraphs (c)(2)(i) and (m)(2) of this section. Assume that earnings and profits equal net income. All of CFC’s net income of $60x is subpart F income includible in USP’s gross income under section 951(a)(1). For Year 1, USP also has $100x of foreign source passive category income derived from investments in Country B. Pursuant to section 904(h)(3) and paragraph (m)(2) of this section, the $40x interest payment from CFC is U.S. source income to USP because it is attributable to U.S. source interest income of CFC. The United States–Country A income tax treaty, however, treats all interest payments by residents of Country A as Country A sourced and USP elects to apply the treaty. (B) Analysis. Pursuant to section 904(h)(10) and this paragraph (m)(7), the entire interest payment will be treated as foreign source income to USP. USP thus has $60x of foreign source general category income, $40x of foreign source Country A treaty category passive income from CFC, and $100x of foreign source passive category income. (n) * * * Section 904(d)(3), (d)(4), and (h) and this section are then applied for purposes of characterizing and sourcing income received, accrued, or included by a United States shareholder of the foreign corporation that is attributable or allocable to income or earnings and profits of the foreign corporation. (o) Applicability dates. This section is applicable for taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018. ■ Par. 22. Section 1.904–6 is amended by: ■ 1. In paragraph (a)(1)(i): ■ i. Revising the first sentence and adding two sentences after the fourth sentence. ■ ii. Removing the language ‘‘(unless it is a withholding tax that is not the final tax payable on the income as described in § 1.904–4(d))’’ and adding the language ‘‘(as defined in section VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 901(k)(1)(B))’’ in its place in the new seventh sentence. ■ 3. Revising paragraph (a)(1)(iv). ■ 4. Adding paragraphs (a)(2) and (3). ■ 5. Revising paragraph (b). ■ 6. Removing and reserving paragraph (c). ■ 7. Adding paragraph (d). The revisions and additions read as follows: § 1.904–6 taxes. Allocation and apportionment of (a) * * * (1) * * * (i) * * * The amount of foreign taxes paid or accrued with respect to a separate category (as defined in § 1.904–5(a)(4)(v)) of income (including U.S. source income within the separate category) includes only those taxes that are related to income in that separate category. * * * Income included in the foreign tax base is calculated under foreign law, but characterized as income in a separate category under Federal income tax principles. For example, a foreign tax imposed on an amount realized on the disposition of controlled foreign corporation stock that is characterized as a capital gain under foreign law but as a dividend under section 1248 is generally assigned to the general category, not the passive category. * * * * * * * * (iv) Base and timing differences. If, under the law of a foreign country or possession of the United States, a tax is imposed on a type of item that does not constitute income under Federal income tax principles (a base difference), such as gifts or life insurance proceeds, that tax is treated as imposed with respect to income in the separate category described in section 904(d)(2)(H)(i). If, under the law of a foreign country or possession of the United States, a tax is imposed on an item of income that constitutes income under Federal income tax principles but is not recognized for Federal income tax purposes in the current year (a timing difference), that tax is allocated and apportioned to the appropriate separate category or categories to which the tax would be allocated and apportioned if the income were recognized under Federal income tax principles in the year in which the tax was imposed. If the amount of an item of income as computed for foreign tax purposes is positive but is greater than the amount of income that is currently recognized for Federal income tax purposes, for example, due to a difference in depreciation conventions or the timing of recognition of gross income, or because of a permanent difference between U.S. and foreign tax law in the PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 amount of deductions that are allowed to reduce gross income, the tax is allocated or apportioned to the separate category to which the income is assigned, and no portion of the tax is attributable to a base difference. In addition, a tax imposed on a distribution that is excluded from gross income under section 959(a) or section 959(b) is treated as attributable to a timing difference (and not a base difference) and is treated as tax imposed on the earnings and profits from which the distribution was paid. (2) Special rules for foreign branches—(i) In general. Except as provided in this paragraph (a)(2), any foreign tax reflected on the books and records of a foreign branch under the principles of § 1.987–2(b) is allocated and apportioned under the rules of paragraph (a)(1) of this section. (ii) Disregarded reattribution transactions—(A) Foreign branch to foreign branch owner. In the case of a disregarded payment from a foreign branch to a foreign branch owner that is treated as a disregarded reattribution transaction that results in gross income being attributed to the foreign branch owner under § 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi), any foreign tax imposed solely by reason of that transaction, such as a withholding tax imposed on a disregarded payment, is allocated and apportioned to the reattributed gross income. (B) Foreign branch owner to foreign branch. In the case of a disregarded payment from a foreign branch owner to a foreign branch that is treated as a disregarded reattribution transaction that results in gross income being attributed to the foreign branch under § 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi), any foreign tax imposed solely by reason of that transaction is allocated and apportioned to the reattributed gross income. In the case of a foreign branch owner that is a partnership, a foreign tax imposed solely by reason of a disregarded reattribution transaction that results in general category income being attributed to a foreign branch is allocated and apportioned to the partnership’s general category income that is attributable to the foreign branch (as described in paragraph (b)(4)(ii) of this section). (iii) Other disregarded payments—(A) Foreign branch to foreign branch owner. In the case of a disregarded payment from a foreign branch to a foreign branch owner that is not a disregarded reattribution transaction, foreign tax imposed solely by reason of that disregarded payment is allocated and apportioned to a separate category under paragraph (a)(1) of this section based on the nature of the item (determined under Federal income tax E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations principles) that is included in the foreign tax base. For example, if a remittance of an appreciated asset results in gain recognition under foreign law, the tax imposed on that gain is treated as attributable to a timing difference with respect to recognition of the gain, and is allocated and apportioned to the separate category to which gain on a sale of that asset would have been assigned if it were recognized for Federal income tax purposes. However, a gross basis withholding tax on a remittance is attributable to a timing difference in taxation of the income out of which the remittance is made, and is allocated and apportioned to the separate category or categories to which a section 987 gain or loss would be assigned under § 1.987–6(b). (B) Foreign branch owner to foreign branch. In the case of a disregarded payment from a foreign branch owner that is a United States person to a foreign branch that is neither a disregarded reattribution transaction nor described in § 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi)(C)(4), any foreign tax imposed solely by reason of the receipt of that disregarded payment is allocated and apportioned to the foreign branch category. In the case of a foreign branch owner that is a partnership, a foreign tax imposed solely by reason of the receipt of a disregarded payment by a foreign branch is allocated and apportioned to the partnership’s general category income that is attributable to the foreign branch (as described in paragraph (b)(4)(ii) of this section). (iv) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of this paragraph (a)(2): (A) Disregarded reattribution transaction. The term disregarded reattribution transaction means a disregarded payment or a transfer described in § 1.904–4(f)(2)(vi)(D) to the extent that it results in an adjustment to the gross income attributable to the foreign branch under § 1.904– 4(f)(2)(vi)(A). (B) The terms disregarded payment, foreign branch, foreign branch owner, and remittance have the same meaning given to those terms in § 1.904–4(f)(3). (3) Taxes imposed on high-taxed income. For rules on the treatment of taxes imposed on high-taxed income, see § 1.904–4(c). (b) Allocation and apportionment of deemed paid taxes and certain creditable foreign tax expenditures—(1) Taxes deemed paid under section 960(a) or (d). If a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder includes any amount in gross income under section 951(a)(1)(A) or 951A(a), any foreign tax deemed paid with respect to VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 such amount under section 960(a) or (d) is allocated to the separate category to which the inclusion is assigned. (2) Taxes deemed paid under section 960(b)(1). If a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder receives a distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits from a first-tier corporation that is excluded from the domestic corporation’s income under section 959(a) and § 1.959–1, any foreign tax deemed paid under section 960(b)(1) with respect to such distribution is allocated to the same separate category as the annual PTEP account and PTEP group (as defined in § 1.960–3(c)) from which the distribution is made. (3) Taxes deemed paid under section 960(b)(2). If a controlled foreign corporation receives a distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits from an immediately lower-tier corporation that is excluded from such controlled foreign corporation’s gross income under section 959(b) and § 1.959–2, any foreign tax deemed paid under section 960(b)(2) with respect to such distribution is allocated to the same separate category as the annual PTEP account and PTEP group (as defined in § 1.960–3(c)) from which the distribution is made. See also § 1.960– 3(c)(2). (4) Creditable foreign tax expenditures—(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(4)(ii) of this section, creditable foreign tax expenditures (CFTEs) allocated to a partner under § 1.704–1(b)(4)(viii)(a) are allocated for purposes of this section to the same separate category as the separate category to which the taxes were allocated in the hands of the partnership under the rules of paragraph (a) of this section. (ii) Foreign branch category. CFTEs allocated to a partner in a partnership under § 1.704–1(b)(4)(viii)(a) are allocated and apportioned to the foreign branch category of the partner to the extent that: (A) The CFTEs are allocated and apportioned by the partnership under the rules of paragraph (a) of this section to the general category; (B) In the hands of the partnership, the CFTEs are related to general category income attributable to a foreign branch (as described in § 1.904–4(f)(2)) under the principles of paragraph (a) of this section; and (C) The partner’s distributive share of the income described in paragraph (b)(4)(ii)(B) of this section is foreign branch category income of the partner under § 1.904–4(f)(1)(i)(B). * * * * * PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69099 (d) Applicability dates. This section is applicable for taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018. ■ Par. 23. Section 1.904(b)–3 is added to read as follows: § 1.904(b)–3 Disregard of certain dividends and deductions under section 904(b)(4). (a) Disregard of certain dividends and deductions—(1) In general. For purposes of section 904(a), in the case of a domestic corporation which is a United States shareholder with respect to a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation (as defined in section 245A(b)), the domestic corporation’s foreign source taxable income in a separate category and entire taxable income is determined without regard to the following items: (i) Any dividend for which a deduction is allowed under section 245A; (ii) Deductions properly allocable or apportioned to gross income in the section 245A subgroup as determined under paragraphs (b) and (c)(1) of this section; and (iii) Deductions properly allocable or apportioned to stock of specified 10percent owned foreign corporations in the section 245A subgroup as determined under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. (2) Deductions properly allocable or apportioned to the residual grouping. Deductions that are properly allocable or apportioned to gross income or stock in the section 245A subgroup of the residual grouping (consisting of U.S. source income) are disregarded solely for purposes of determining entire taxable income under section 904(a). (b) Determining properly allocable or apportioned deductions. The amount of deductions properly allocable or apportioned to gross income or stock described in paragraphs (a)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section is determined by subdividing the United States shareholder’s gross income and assets in each separate category described in § 1.904–5(a)(4)(v) into a section 245A subgroup and a non-section 245A subgroup. Gross income and assets in the residual grouping for U.S. source income are also subdivided into a section 245A subgroup and a nonsection 245A subgroup. Each section 245A subgroup is treated as a statutory grouping under § 1.861–8(a)(4). Deductions properly allocable or apportioned to dividends or stock described in paragraphs (a)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section only include those deductions that are allocated and apportioned under §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T and 1.861–17 to the section E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69100 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 245A subgroups. The deduction allowed under section 245A(a) for dividends is allocated and apportioned solely among the section 245A subgroups on the basis of the relative amounts of gross income from such dividends in each section 245A subgroup. (c) Income and assets in the 245A subgroups—(1) In general. For purposes of applying the allocation and apportionment rules under §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T and 1.861–17 to the deductions of a United States shareholder, the only gross income included in a section 245A subgroup is dividend income for which a deduction is allowed under section 245A. The only asset included in a section 245A subgroup is the portion of the value of stock of each specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation that is assigned to the section 245A subgroup determined under paragraph (c)(2) of this section. (2) Assigning stock to a subgroup. The value of stock of a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation is characterized as an asset in a separate category described in § 1.904–5(a)(4)(v) or the residual grouping for U.S. source income under the rules of § 1.861–12(c). If the specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation is not a controlled foreign corporation, all of the value of its stock (other than the portion of stock assigned to the statutory groupings for gross section 245(a)(5) income under §§ 1.861–12(c)(4) and 1.861–13) in each separate category and in the residual grouping for U.S. source income is assigned to the section 245A subgroup in such separate category or residual grouping. If the specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation is a controlled foreign corporation, a portion of the value of stock in each separate category and in the residual grouping for U.S. source income is subdivided between a section 245A and non-section 245A subgroup under § 1.861–13(a)(5). (d) Coordination with OFL and ODL rules—(1) In general. Section 904(b)(4) and this section apply before the operation of the overall foreign loss rules in section 904(f) and the overall domestic loss rules in section 904(g). See § 1.904(g)–3(c). (2) [Reserved] (e) Example. The following example illustrates the application of this section. (1) Facts—(i) Income and assets of USP. USP is a domestic corporation. USP owns a factory in the United States with a tax book value of $27,000x. USP also directly owns all of the stock of each of the following three controlled foreign corporations: CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3. USP’s tax book value in each of CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 is $10,000x. USP VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 incurs $1,500x of interest expense and earns $1,600x of U.S. source gross income. Under section 951A and the section 951A regulations (as defined in § 1.951A–1(a)(1)), USP’s GILTI inclusion amount is $2,200x. USP’s deduction under section 250 is $1,100x (‘‘section 250 deduction’’), all of which is by reason of section 250(a)(1)(B)(i). No portion of USP’s section 250 deduction is reduced by reason of section 250(a)(2)(B). None of the CFCs makes any distributions. (ii) Characterization of CFC stock. After application of § 1.861–13(a), USP determined that $8,000x of the stock of each of CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 is assigned to the section 951A category (‘‘section 951A category stock’’) in the non-section 245A subgroup and the remaining $2,000x of the stock of each of CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 is assigned to the general category (‘‘general category stock’’) in the section 245A subgroup. Additionally, under § 1.861–8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2), $4,000x of the stock of each of CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 that is section 951A category stock is an exempt asset. Accordingly, with respect to the stock of its controlled foreign corporations in the aggregate, USP has $12,000x of section 951A category stock in a non-section 245A subgroup; $6,000x of general category stock in a section 245A subgroup; and $12,000x of stock that is an exempt asset. (iii) Apportioning of expenses. Taking into account USP’s factory and its stock in CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3, the tax book value of USP’s assets for purposes of apportioning expenses is $45,000x (excluding the $12,000x of exempt assets). Under § 1.861–9T(g), USP’s $1,500 of interest expense is apportioned as follows: $400x ($1,500x × $12,000x/ $45,000x) to section 951A category income, $200x ($1,500x × $6,000x/$45,000x) to general category income, and the remaining $900x ($1,500 × $27,000x/$45,000x) to the residual U.S. source grouping. Under § 1.861–8(e)(14), all of USP’s section 250 deduction is allocated and apportioned to section 951A category income. (2) Analysis—(i) USP’s pre-credit U.S. tax. USP’s worldwide taxable income is $1,200x, which equals its GILTI inclusion amount of $2,200x plus its U.S. source gross income of $1,600x, less its deduction under section 250 of $1,100 and its interest expense of $1,500x. For purposes of applying section 904(a), before taking into account any foreign tax credit under section 901, USP’s Federal income tax liability is 21% of $1,200x, or $252x. (ii) Application of section 904(b)(4). Under section 904(d)(1), USP applies section 904(a) separately to each separate category of income. (A) General category income. Before application of section 904(b)(4) and the rules in this section, USP’s foreign source taxable income in the general category is a loss of $200x, which equals $0 (USP’s foreign source general category income) less $200x (interest expense apportioned to general category income), and USP’s worldwide taxable income is $1,200. Under paragraph (d) of this section, the rules in section 904(f) and (g) apply after section 904(b)(4) and the rules in this section. Under paragraphs (b) and (c)(1) of this section, USP has no deductions PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 properly allocable or apportioned to gross income in the section 245A subgroup because USP has no dividend income in the general category for which a deduction is allowed under section 245A. Under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, USP has $200x of deductions for interest expense that are properly allocable or apportioned to stock of specified 10-percent owned foreign corporations in the section 245A subgroup because USP’s only general category assets are the general category stock of CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3, all of which are in the section 245A subgroup. Therefore, under paragraph (a) of this section, USP’s foreign source taxable income in the general category and its worldwide taxable income are determined without regard to the $200x of deductions for interest expense. Accordingly, USP’s foreign source taxable income in the general category is $0 and its worldwide taxable income is $1,400x, and therefore, there is no separate limitation loss for purposes of section 904(f). Under section 904(a) and (d)(1) USP’s foreign tax credit limitation for the general category is $0. (B) Section 951A category income. Before application of section 904(b)(4) and the rules in this section, USP’s foreign source taxable income in the section 951A category is $700x, which equals $2,200x (USP’s GILTI inclusion amount) less $1,100x (USP’s section 250 deduction) less $400x (interest apportioned to section 951A category income). Under paragraphs (b) and (c)(1) of this section, USP has no deductions properly allocable and apportioned to gross income in a section 245A subgroup of the section 951A category. Under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, USP has no deductions properly allocable and apportioned to stock of specified 10-percent owned foreign corporations in a section 245A subgroup of section 951A category stock because no portion of section 951A category stock is assigned to a section 245A subgroup. See § 1.861–13(a)(5)(v). Therefore, under paragraph (a) of this section no adjustment is made to USP’s foreign source taxable income in the section 951A category. However, the adjustments to USP’s worldwide taxable income described in paragraph (e)(2)(ii)(A) of this section apply for purposes of calculating USP’s foreign tax credit limitation for the section 951A category. Accordingly, USP’s foreign source taxable income in the section 951A category is $700x and its worldwide taxable income is $1,400x. Under section 904(a) and (d)(1), USP’s foreign tax credit limitation for the section 951A category is $126x ($252x × $700x/$1,400x). (f) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018. ■ Par. 24. § 1.904(f)–12 is amended by adding reserved paragraph (i) and paragraph (j) to read as follows: § 1.904(f)–12 * Transition rules. * * * * (j) Recapture in years beginning after December 31, 2017, of separate limitation losses, overall foreign losses, and overall domestic losses incurred in E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations years beginning before January 1, 2018—(1) Definitions—(i) The term pre2018 separate categories means the separate categories of income described in section 904(d) and any specified separate categories of income, as applicable to taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018. (ii) The term post-2017 separate categories means the separate categories of income described in section 904(d) and any specified separate categories of income, as applicable to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. (iii) The term specified separate category has the meaning set forth in § 1.904–4(m)). (2) Allocation of separate limitation loss or overall foreign loss account incurred in a pre-2018 separate category—(i) Allocation to the same category. To the extent that a taxpayer has a balance in any separate limitation loss or overall foreign loss account in a pre-2018 separate category at the end of the taxpayer’s last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, the amount of such balance is allocated on the first day of the taxpayer’s next taxable year to the same post-2017 separate category as the pre-2018 separate category of the separate limitation loss or overall foreign loss account. (ii) Exception for general category separate limitation loss or overall foreign loss account—(A) In general. To the extent a taxpayer has a balance in any separate limitation loss or overall foreign loss account in the pre-2018 separate category for general category income at the end of the taxpayer’s last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, a taxpayer may choose to allocate any such balance to the taxpayer’s post2017 separate category for foreign branch category income to the extent the balance in the loss account would have been allocated to the taxpayer’s post2017 separate category for foreign branch category income if that separate category applied in the year or years the losses giving rise to the account were incurred. Any remaining portion of the balance in the separate limitation loss or overall foreign loss account is allocated to the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate category for general category income. (B) Safe harbor. In lieu of applying paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(A) of this section, the taxpayer may choose to recapture the balance in any loss account described in paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(A) of this section from the first available income in the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate category for general category income or foreign branch category income. If the sum of taxpayer’s general category income and foreign branch category income for a VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 taxable year subject to recharacterization exceeds the amount of the loss account described in paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(A) of this section that is to be recaptured, then the amount of general category income and foreign branch category income that will be recharacterized under the relevant recapture provisions is determined on a proportionate basis. The recapture under this paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(B) of any loss account described in paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(A) of this section is made before the recapture of any amount by which the balance of the loss account is increased after the end of the taxpayer’s last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018. (C) Rules regarding the exception. A taxpayer applying the exception described in paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(A) or (B) of this section must apply the exception to all balances in any separate limitation loss or overall foreign loss account in a pre-2018 separate category for general category income at the end of the taxpayer’s last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018. A taxpayer may apply the exception on a timely filed original return (including extensions) or an amended return. A taxpayer that applies the exception on an amended return must make appropriate adjustments to eliminate any double benefit arising from application of the exception to years that are not open for assessment. (3) Recapture of separate limitation loss or overall domestic loss that reduced pre-2018 separate category income—(i) Recapture as income in the same separate category. To the extent that at the end of the taxpayer’s last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, a taxpayer has a balance in any separate limitation loss or overall domestic loss account which offset pre2018 separate category income, such loss is recaptured in subsequent taxable years as income in the same post-2017 separate category as the pre-2018 separate category of income that was offset by the loss. (ii) Exception for separate limitation loss or overall domestic loss that reduced general category income—(A) In general. To the extent that a taxpayer’s separate limitation loss or overall domestic loss account offset pre2018 separate category income that was general category income, a taxpayer may choose to recapture the balance in the loss account at the end of the taxpayer’s last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, in subsequent taxable years as income in the post-2017 separate category for foreign branch category income to the extent the balance in the loss account would have PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69101 offset foreign branch category income had that separate category applied in the year or years the losses were incurred. Any remaining portion of the balance in the loss account is recaptured as income in the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate category for general category income. (B) Safe harbor. In lieu of applying paragraph (j)(3)(ii)(A) of this section, a taxpayer that had unused foreign income taxes in a pre-2018 taxable year that were allocated to the foreign branch category under § 1.904–2(j)(1)(iii)(A) or (B) may choose to recapture the balance in any loss account described in paragraph (j)(3)(ii)(A) of this section in subsequent taxable years ratably as income in the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate categories for general category and foreign branch category income, based on the proportion in which any unused foreign taxes in the pre-2018 separate category for general category income are allocated under § 1.904– 2(j)(1)(iii)(A) or (B). (C) Rules regarding the exception. A taxpayer applying the exception described in paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(A) or (B) of this section must apply the exception to the recapture of all balances at the end of the taxpayer’s last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018 in any separate limitation loss or overall domestic loss account which offset pre2018 separate category income that was general category income. A taxpayer may apply the exception on a timely filed original return (including extensions) or an amended return. A taxpayer that applies the exception on an amended return must make appropriate adjustments to eliminate any double benefit arising from application of the exception to years that are not open for assessment. (4) Treatment of foreign losses that are part of net operating losses incurred in pre-2018 taxable years which are carried forward to post-2017 taxable years—(i) Treatment as a loss in the same separate category. A foreign loss that is part of a net operating loss incurred in a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, which is carried forward, pursuant to section 172, to a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, will be carried forward under the rules of § 1.904(g)–3(b)(2). For purposes of applying the rules of § 1.904(g)–3(b)(2), the portion of a net operating loss carryforward that is attributable to a foreign loss from a pre2018 separate category will be treated as a loss attributable to the same post-2017 separate category as the pre-2018 separate category. (ii) Exception for general category foreign losses that are part of net operating losses—(A) In general. A E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69102 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations taxpayer may choose to treat the portion of a net operating loss carryforward that is attributable to a foreign loss from the pre-2018 separate category for general category income as attributable to the post-2017 separate category for foreign branch category income to the extent the net operating loss would have been attributable to the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate category for foreign branch category income had that separate category applied in the year or years the net operating loss arose. Any remaining portion of the net operating loss carryforward is treated as attributable to the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate category for general category income. (B) Safe harbor. In lieu of applying paragraph (j)(4)(ii)(A) of this section, for the post-2017 taxable year in which a net operating loss carryforward described in paragraph (j)(4)(ii)(A) of this section is used, the taxpayer may choose to treat the net operating loss carryforward as attributable to the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate categories for general category income and foreign branch category income to the extent of any general category income and foreign branch category income, respectively, that is available in the carryforward year to be offset by the net operating loss carryforward. To the extent the net operating loss carryforward offsets any other income in the carryforward year, it is treated as attributable to the taxpayer’s post-2017 separate category for general category income. If the sum of taxpayer’s general category income and foreign branch income in the carryforward year exceeds the amount of the net operating loss carryforward, then the amount of each type of separate income that is offset by the net operating loss carryforward, and therefore the separate category treatment of the net operating loss carryforward, is be determined on a proportionate basis. A general category net operating loss to which the exception is applied is absorbed before any general category net operating loss that is incurred after the end of the taxpayer’s last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018. (C) Rules regarding the exception. A taxpayer applying the exception described in paragraph (j)(4)(ii)(A) or (B) of this section must apply the exception to all of its net operating losses that are attributable to a foreign loss from the pre-2018 separate category for general category income. A taxpayer may apply the exception on a timely filed original return (including extensions) or an amended return. A taxpayer that applies the exception on an amended return must make appropriate adjustments to eliminate any double benefit arising VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 from application of the exception to years that are not open for assessment. (5) Coordination rule with respect to exceptions. A taxpayer that applies any exception described in § 1.904– 2(j)(1)(iii) or paragraph (j)(2)(ii), (j)(3)(ii), or (j)(4)(ii) of this section must apply all such exceptions and cannot apply any of the general rules described in § 1.904–2(j)(1)(ii) or paragraph (j)(2)(i), (j)(3)(i), or (j)(4)(i) of this section. However, in applying each such exception, the taxpayer may choose to apply the safe harbor provision regardless of whether the safe harbor is applied for purposes of any other exception. (6) Applicability date. This paragraph (j) applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. Par. 25. Section 1.904(g)–0 is amended by: ■ 1. Adding an entry for § 1.904(g)–3(i) and removing and reserving the entry for § 1.904(g)–3(j). ■ 2. Revising the entry for § 1.904(g)– 3(k) and adding an entry for § 1.904(g)– 3(l). The revisions and additions read as follows: ■ § 1.904(g)–0 provisions. Outline of regulation * * * * * § 1.904(g)–3 Ordering rules for the allocation of net operating losses, net capital losses, U.S. source losses, and separate limitation losses, and for the recapture of separate limitation losses, overall foreign losses, and overall domestic losses. * * * * * (i) Step Eight: Dispositions under section 904(f)(3) in which gain would not otherwise be recognized. (j) [Reserved] (k) Examples. (l) Applicability date. Par. 26. Section 1.904(g)–3 is amended by: ■ 1. Removing the language ‘‘paragraphs (b) through (i)’’ and adding the language ‘‘paragraphs (b) through (j)’’ in its place in paragraph (a). ■ 2. Adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (c). ■ 3. Revising paragraph (f). ■ 4. Adding paragraph (i). ■ 5. Removing and reserving paragraph (j) and revising paragraph (k). ■ 6. Adding paragraph (l). The revisions and additions read as follows: ■ PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 § 1.904(g)–3 Ordering rules for the allocation of net operating losses, net capital losses, U.S. source losses, and separate limitation losses, and for the recapture of separate limitation losses, overall foreign losses, and overall domestic losses. * * * * * (c) * * * The taxpayer also takes into account any adjustments required under section 904(b)(4) and § 1.904(b)–3. * * * * * (f) Step Five: Recapture of overall foreign loss accounts. If the taxpayer’s separate limitation income for the taxable year (reduced by any losses carried over under paragraph (b) of this section) exceeds the sum of the taxpayer’s U.S. source loss and separate limitation losses for the year, so that the taxpayer has separate limitation income remaining after the application of paragraphs (d)(1) and (e) of this section, then the taxpayer recaptures prior year overall foreign losses, if any, in accordance with § 1.904(f)–2, and reduces overall foreign loss accounts in accordance with § 1.904(f)–2. The recapture in this paragraph (f) includes amounts determined under § 1.904(f)– 2(c) and (d)(3) but not § 1.904(f)–2(d)(4), which is covered in paragraph (i) of this section. * * * * * (i) Step Eight: Dispositions under section 904(f)(3) in which gain would not otherwise be recognized. The taxpayer determines the amount of gain that would otherwise not be recognized but that must be recognized in accordance with § 1.904(f)–2(d)(4) (not exceeding the taxpayer’s applicable overall foreign loss account) and then applies § 1.904(f)–2(a) and (b) to recapture and reduce its overall foreign loss accounts in an amount equal to the gain recognized. To the extent this recognition of gain in a taxable year reduces the amount of a current year net operating loss or increases the amount of a net operating loss carryover to that taxable year, paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section are applied to determine the allocation of any additional net operating loss deduction and other deductions or losses and the applicable increases in the taxpayer’s overall foreign loss, separate limitation loss, and overall domestic loss accounts, but only after the applicable overall foreign loss account has been recaptured as provided in this paragraph (i). * * * * * (k) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules of this section. Unless otherwise noted, all corporations use the calendar year as the U.S. taxable year. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (1) Example 1—(i) Facts—(A) USC is a domestic corporation with foreign branch operations in Country X. For Year 1, USC had the following taxable income and losses after application of section 904(f) and (g) to income and loss in Year 1: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(1)(i)(A) Foreign branch Passive US $400x ........................ $200x $110x (B) For Year 2, USC has a net operating loss of ($500x), determined as follows: (ii) Analysis—(A) Net operating loss allocation. Under paragraph (b) of this section (Step 1), because USC’s total taxable income for Year 2 of $1600x ($1,200x + $500x ¥ $100x) exceeds the total Year 1 net operating loss, the full $1,400x net operating loss is carried forward. Under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, each component of the net operating loss is carried forward and combined with its same category in Year 2. After allocation of the net operating loss, USC has the following taxable income and losses: TABLE 6 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(2)(ii)(A) Foreign branch Passive US $100x ........................ ($300x) $400x TABLE 2 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(1)(i)(B) Foreign branch Passive US ($300x) ...................... $0 ($200x) (ii) Analysis—(A) Net operating loss allocation. Because USC’s taxable income for Year 1 exceeds its total net operating loss for Year 2, the full net operating loss is carried back. Under paragraph (b) of this section (Step 1), each component of the net operating loss is carried back and combined with its same category in Year 1. See paragraph (b)(2) of this section. After allocation of the net operating loss, USC has the following taxable income and losses for Year 1: TABLE 3 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(1)(ii)(A) TABLE 7 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(3)(i) Foreign branch Passive US $100x ........................ $200x ($90x) (B) Loss allocation. Under paragraph (e) of this section (Step 4), the ($90x) of U.S. loss is allocated proportionately to reduce the foreign branch category and passive category income. Accordingly, $30x ($90x × $100x/ $300x) of the U.S. loss is allocated to foreign branch category income and $60x ($90x × $200x/$300x) of the U.S. loss is allocated to passive category income, with a corresponding creation or increase to USC’s overall domestic loss accounts. (2) Example 2—(i) Facts—(A) USC is a domestic corporation with foreign branch operations in Country X. As of January 1, Year 1, USC has no loss accounts subject to recapture. For Year 1, USC has a net operating loss of ($1,400x), determined as follows: TABLE 4 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(2)(i)(A) Foreign branch Passive US ($400x) ...................... ($200x) ($800x) jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 (B) For Year 2, USC has the following taxable income and losses: TABLE 5 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(2)(i)(B) Foreign branch Passive US $500x ........................ ($100x) $1200x VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (B) Loss allocation. Under paragraph (d) of this section (Step 3), $100x of the passive category loss offsets the $100x of foreign branch category income, resulting in a passive category separate limitation loss account with respect to foreign branch category income, and the other $200x of passive category loss offsets $200x of the U.S. source taxable income, resulting in the creation of an overall foreign loss account in the passive category. (3) Example 3—(i) Facts. Assume the same facts as in paragraph (k)(2)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 2), except that in Year 2, USC had the following taxable income and losses: Foreign branch Passive US $200x ........................ ($100x) $1200x (ii) Analysis—(A) Net operating loss allocation. Under paragraph (b) of this section (Step 1), because the total net operating loss for Year 1 of ($1,400x) exceeds total taxable income for Year 2 of $1,300x ($1,200x + $200x ¥ $100x), USC has a partial net operating loss carryover to Year 2 of $1,300x. Under paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, first, the $800x U.S. source component of the net operating loss is allocated to U.S. income for Year 2. The tentative foreign branch category carryover under paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section ($200x) does not exceed the remaining net operating loss carryover amount ($500x). Therefore, $200x of the foreign branch category component of the net operating loss is next allocated to the foreign branch category income for Year 2. Under paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section, the remaining $300x of net operating loss carryover ($1300x ¥ $800x ¥ $200x) is carried over proportionally from the remaining net operating loss components in the foreign branch category ($200x, or $400x total foreign branch category loss ¥ $200x foreign branch category loss already allocated) and passive category ($200x). Therefore, $150x ($300x × $200x/$400x) of the remaining net operating loss carryover is carried over from the foreign branch category for Year 1 and combined with the foreign branch category income for Year 2, and $150x ($300x × PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69103 $200x/$400x) of the remaining net operating loss carryover is carried over from the passive category for Year 1 and combined with the passive category loss for Year 2. After allocation of the net operating loss carryover from Year 1 to the appropriate categories for Year 2, USC has the following taxable income and losses: TABLE 8 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(3)(ii)(A) Foreign branch Passive US ($150x) ...................... ($250x) $400x (B) Loss allocation. Under paragraph (d) of this section (Step 3), the losses in the foreign branch and passive categories fully offset the U.S. source income, resulting in the creation of foreign branch category and passive category overall foreign loss accounts. (4) Example 4—(i) Facts. Assume the same facts as in paragraph (k)(2)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 2), except that in Year 2, USC has the following taxable income and losses: TABLE 9 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(4)(i) Foreign branch Passive US $200x ........................ $200x ($200x) (ii) Analysis—(A) Net operating loss allocation. Under paragraph (b) of this section (Step 1), because the total net operating loss of ($1400x) exceeds total taxable income for Year 2 of $200x ($200x + $200x ¥ $200x), USC has a partial net operating loss carryover to Year 2 of $200x. Because USC has no U.S. source income in Year 2, under paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section no portion of the U.S. source component of the net operating loss is initially carried into Year 2. Because the total tentative carryover under paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section of $400x ($200x in each of the foreign branch and passive categories) exceeds the net operating loss carryover amount, the tentative carryover from each separate category is reduced proportionately by $100x ($200x × $200x/$400x). Accordingly, $100x ($200x ¥ $100x) of the foreign branch category component of the net operating loss is carried forward and $100x ($200x ¥ $100x) of the passive category component of the net operating loss is carried forward and combined with income in the same respective categories for Year 2. After allocation of the net operating loss carryover from Year 1, USC has the following taxable income and losses: TABLE 10 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(4)(ii)(A) Foreign branch Passive US $100x ........................ $100x ($200x) (B) Loss allocation. Under paragraph (e) of this section (Step 4), the $200x U.S. source loss offsets the remaining $100x of foreign branch category income and $100x of passive category income, resulting in the creation of overall domestic loss accounts with respect to the foreign branch and passive categories. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69104 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (5) Example 5—(i) Facts. Assume the same facts as in paragraph (k)(2)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 2), except that in Year 2, USC has the following taxable income and losses: TABLE 11 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(5)(i) Foreign branch Passive US $800x ........................ ($100x) $100x (ii) Analysis—(A) Net operating loss allocation. Under paragraph (b) of this section (Step 1), because USC’s total net operating loss in Year 1 of ($1,400x) exceeds its total taxable income for Year 2 of $800x ($100x + $800x ¥ $100x), USC has a partial net operating loss carryover to Year 2 of $800x. Under paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, $100x of the U.S. source component of the net operating loss is allocated to U.S. income for Year 2. The tentative foreign branch category carryover under paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section does not exceed the remaining net operating loss carryover amount. Therefore, $400x of the foreign branch category component of the net operating loss is allocated to reduce foreign branch category income in Year 2. Under paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section, of the remaining $300x of net operating loss carryover ($800x ¥ $100x ¥ $400x), $200x is carried forward from the passive category component of the net operating loss and combined with the passive category loss for Year 2. Under paragraph (b)(3)(iv) of this section, the remaining $100x ($300x ¥ $200x) of net operating loss carryover is carried forward from the U.S. source component of the net operating loss and combined with the U.S. source income (and the previously allocated U.S. source component of the net operating loss) for Year 2. After allocation of the net operating loss carryover from Year 1, USC has the following taxable income and losses: jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 TABLE 12 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(5)(ii)(A) Foreign branch Passive US $400x ........................ ($300x) ($100x) (B) Loss allocation—(1) Under paragraph (d) of this section (Step 3), the $300x passive category loss offsets the $300x of income in the foreign branch category, resulting in the creation of a passive category separate limitation loss account with respect to the foreign branch category. (2) Under paragraph (e) of this section (Step 4), the $100x U.S. source loss offsets the remaining $100x of the foreign branch category income, resulting in the creation of an overall domestic loss account with respect to the foreign branch category. (6) Example 6—(i) Facts—(A) USC is a domestic corporation with foreign branch operations in Country X. USC has no net operating losses and does not make an election to recapture more than the required amount of overall foreign losses. As of January 1, Year 1, USC has a ($200x) foreign branch category overall foreign loss (OFL) account and a ($200x) foreign branch VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 category separate limitation loss (SLL) account with respect to the passive category. For Year 1, USC has $400x of passive category income that is fully offset by a ($400x) domestic loss in that taxable year, giving rise to the creation of an overall domestic loss (ODL) account with respect to the passive category. As of January 1, Year 2, USC has the following balances in its OFL, SLL, and ODL accounts: TABLE 15 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(6)(ii)(E)(1) Foreign branch Passive US $50x .......................... $400x $450x (2) As of January 1, Year 3, USC has the following balances in its OFL, SLL and ODL accounts: TABLE 13 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(6)(i)(A) Foreign branch TABLE 16 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(6)(ii)(E)(2) US OFL SLL (passive) ODL (passive) $200x ........................ $200x $400x (B) In Year 2, USC has the following taxable income and losses: TABLE 14 TO PARAGRAPH (k)(6)(i)(B) Foreign branch Passive US $400x ........................ ($100x) $600x Foreign branch Passive US OFL SLL (passive) SLL (foreign branch) ODL (passive) $50x ...... $0 $0 $100x (l) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years ending on or after December 16, 2019. § 1.904(i)–1 [Amended] Par. 27. Section 1.904(i)–1 is amended by removing the language ‘‘§ 1.904– 5(a)(1)’’ and adding in its place the language ‘‘§ 1.904–5(a)(4)(v)’’ in the first sentence of paragraph (a)(1)(i). ■ Par. 28. Section 1.905–2 is amended by adding a sentence after the fourth sentence of paragraph (a)(2) to read as follows: ■ (ii) Analysis—(A) Loss allocation. Under paragraph (d) of this section (Step 3), the $100x of passive category loss offsets $100x of the foreign branch category income, creating a passive category SLL account of $100x with respect to the foreign branch category. Because there is an offsetting foreign branch category SLL account of $200x with respect to the passive category from a prior taxable year, the two accounts are netted against each other so that all that remains is a $100x foreign branch category SLL account with respect to the passive category. (B) OFL account recapture. Under paragraph (f) of this section (Step 5), 50% of the remaining $300x, or $150x, of income in the foreign branch category is subject to recharacterization as U.S. source income as a recapture of part of the OFL account in the foreign branch category. (C) SLL account recapture. Under paragraph (g) of this section (Step 6), $100x of the remaining $150x of income in the foreign branch category is recharacterized as passive category income as a recapture of the foreign branch category SLL account with respect to the passive category. (D) ODL account recapture. Under paragraph (h) of this section (Step 7), 50% of the $600, or $300, of U.S. source income is subject to recharacterization as foreign source passive category income as a recapture of a part of the ODL account with respect to the passive category. None of the $150x of foreign branch category income that was recharacterized as U.S. source income under paragraph (f) of this section (Step 5) is included here as income subject to recharacterization in connection with recapture of the ODL account. (E) Results—(1) After the allocation of loss and recapture of loss accounts, USC has the following taxable income and losses for Year 2: PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 § 1.905–2 credit. Conditions of allowance of (a) * * * (2) * * * If the receipt or the return is in a foreign language, a certified translation thereof must be furnished by the taxpayer. * * * * * * * * ■ Par. 29. Section 1.905–3 is added to read as follows: § 1.905–3 Adjustments to U.S. tax liability as a result of a foreign tax redetermination. (a) Foreign tax redetermination. The term foreign tax redetermination means a change in the liability for a foreign income tax, as defined in § 1.960– 1(b)(5), or certain other changes described in this paragraph (a) that may affect a taxpayer’s foreign tax credit. In the case of a taxpayer that claims the credit in the year the taxes are paid, a foreign tax redetermination occurs if any portion of the tax paid is subsequently refunded. In the case of a taxpayer that claims the credit in the year the taxes accrue, a foreign tax redetermination occurs if taxes that when paid or later adjusted differ from amounts accrued by the taxpayer and claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes (as defined in § 1.960– 3(d)(1)). A foreign tax redetermination E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations includes corrections and other adjustments to accrued amounts to reflect the final foreign tax liability, including additional payments of tax that accrue after the close of the taxable year to which the tax relates and, for foreign income taxes taken into account when accrued but translated into dollars on the date of payment, a payment of accrued tax if the value of the foreign currency relative to the dollar has changed between the date or taxable year of accrual and the date of payment. A foreign tax redetermination occurs if any tax claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes is refunded in whole or in part, regardless of whether such tax was paid within the meaning of § 1.901–2(e) at the time the tax was claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes. A foreign tax redetermination also includes accrued foreign income taxes that are not paid on or before the date that is 24 months after the close of the taxable year of the section 901 taxpayer (as defined in § 1.986(a)–1(a)(1)) to which such taxes relate, as well as a subsequent payment of any such accrued but unpaid taxes. If accrued foreign income taxes are not paid on or before the date that is 24 months after the close of the taxable year to which they relate, the resulting foreign tax redetermination is accounted for as if the unpaid portion of the foreign income taxes were refunded on such date. Foreign income taxes that first accrue after the date 24 months after the close of the taxable year to which such taxes relate may not be claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes until paid. See section 905(b) and § 1.461–4(g)(6)(iii)(B), which require the taxpayer to establish the amount of tax that was properly accrued. (b) Redetermination of U.S. tax liability—(1) Foreign income taxes other than taxes deemed paid under section 960—(i) In general. This paragraph (b)(1) applies to foreign income taxes claimed as a credit under section 901 other than foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960. If a foreign tax redetermination occurs with respect to foreign income tax claimed as a credit under section 901 (other than a tax deemed paid under section 960), then a redetermination of U.S. tax liability is required for the taxable year in which the tax was claimed as a credit and any year to which unused foreign taxes from such year were carried under section 904(c). In the case of a taxpayer that claims the credit in the year the taxes are paid, the redetermination of U.S. tax liability is made by reducing the tax paid in such year by the amount VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 refunded. In the case of a taxpayer that claims the credit in the year the taxes accrue, the redetermination of U.S. tax liability is made by treating the redetermined amount of foreign tax as the amount of tax that accrued in the year to which the redetermined tax relates. However, a redetermination of U.S. tax liability is not required (and a taxpayer need not notify the IRS) if the foreign income taxes are taken into account when accrued but translated into dollars on the date of payment, the difference between the dollar value of the accrued foreign income tax and the dollar value of the foreign income tax paid is solely attributable to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency relative to the dollar between the date or taxable year of accrual and the date of payment, and the net dollar amount of the currency fluctuations attributable to the foreign tax redeterminations with respect to each and every foreign country is less than the lesser of $10,000 or two percent of the total dollar amount of the foreign income tax initially accrued with respect to that foreign country for the taxable year. In such case, if no redetermination of U.S. tax liability is made, an appropriate adjustment is made to the taxpayer’s U.S. tax liability in the taxable year during which the foreign tax redeterminations occur. (ii) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this paragraph (b)(1) and § 1.986(a)–1. In all examples, assume that USC is a domestic corporation that uses the calendar year as its taxable year both for Federal income tax purposes and for foreign tax purposes and that it is doing business through a foreign branch operating in Country X, which is a qualified business unit (within the meaning of section 989 and § 1.989(a)– 1) (QBU) the functional currency of which is the ‘‘u.’’ Except as otherwise provided, the ‘‘u’’ is not an inflationary currency within the meaning of § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iii). USC is an accrual basis taxpayer. (A) Example 1: Contested tax—(1) Facts. In Year 1, USC earned 500u of foreign source foreign branch category income through its foreign branch in Country X and accrued and paid 50u of Country X foreign income tax on its earnings. The average exchange rate for Year 1 used to translate the foreign income taxes into dollars was $1x:1u. See § 1.986(a)– 1(a)(1). On its Year 1 income tax return, USC claimed a foreign tax credit under section 901 of $50x (50u translated at the average exchange rate for Year 1, that is, $1x:1u). In Year 4, Country X assessed an additional 20u of tax with respect to USC’s Year 1 earnings. USC did not pay or accrue the additional 20u of tax and contested the assessment. After exhausting all effective and practical PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69105 remedies to reduce, over time, its liability for foreign tax, USC settled the contest with Country X in Year 6, paying 10u of additional tax on September 1, Year 6, when the spot rate was $1.10x:1u. (2) Analysis. USC’s payment in Year 6 of the 10u of additional tax accrued with respect to Year 1 is a foreign tax redetermination under paragraph (a) of this section. Under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, the additional tax is taken into account in Year 1, the year to which the redetermined tax relates, irrespective of when the tax is paid. Under § 1.986(a)– 1(a)(2)(i), because the tax was paid more than 24 months after the close of the year to which the redetermined tax relates, the 10u of tax is translated into dollars at the spot rate on the date of payment in Year 6 (10u at $1.10x:1u = $11x). If USC timely notifies the IRS, it may claim an increased foreign tax credit for Year 1. USC must also make corresponding adjustments in determining its taxable income and net unrecognized section 987 gain or loss in Year 1. See §§ 1.987– 3(c)(2)(v) and 1.987–4(d)(7). (B) Example 2: Refund of tax improperly claimed as a credit—(1) Facts. USC holds a note issued by FC, an unrelated foreign corporation in Country Y. In Year 1, FC owed USC 500u of interest on the loan. The statutory rate of withholding on interest paid to a nonresident of Country Y is 20%. On December 1, Year 1, when the spot rate was $1x:1u, FC withheld and remitted to Country Y 100u of tax and paid 400u to USC Effective for Year 1, USC elected under § 1.986(a)– 1(a)(2)(iv) to translate its taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency into dollars at the spot rate on the date the taxes are paid. Under the United States—Country Y Income Tax Treaty (Treaty), USC was entitled to a reduced 15% rate of withholding that would result in a withholding tax of 75u. However, USC improperly claimed a foreign tax credit under section 901 for 100u = $100x on its Year 1 Federal income tax return. (See § 1.901–2(e)(2)(i) and (e)(5), providing that an amount is not tax paid to the extent it exceeds the taxpayer’s liability for tax or is reasonably certain to be refunded.) In Year 4, USC filed a refund claim with Country Y for 25u, the difference between the amount actually withheld at the 20% statutory rate of tax and the amount owed by USC at the 15% Treaty rate. On March 15, Year 6, when the spot rate was $1.10x:1u, USC received a refund from Country Y of 25u. USC converted the 25u into dollars on the same day. (2) Analysis. Notwithstanding that the 25u of refundable tax did not constitute an amount of tax paid within the meaning of § 1.901–2(e) at the time USC improperly claimed it as a credit, the 25u refund in Year 6 is a foreign tax redetermination under paragraph (a) of this section. Under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, USC must redetermine its U.S. tax liability for Year 1, the taxable year to which the redetermined tax relates. Under § 1.986(a)–1(c), the refund is translated at the exchange rate that was used to translate such amount when originally claimed as a credit. Accordingly, if not previously adjusted by USC or the Internal Revenue Service, USC must file an E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69106 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations amended return for Year 1, reducing the amount of foreign tax credit claimed for Year 1 by $25x (25u translated at the spot rate on December 1, Year 1; that is, $1x:1u). Under § 1.986(a)–1(e)(1), USC’s basis in the 25u is the same dollar value of the refund as determined under § 1.986(a)–1(c), or $25x. When USC converted the 25u to $27.50x (translated at the spot rate on March 15, Year 6, that is, $1.10x:1u), it realized an exchange gain (within the meaning of § 1.988–1(e)) equal to $2.50x ($27.50x¥$25x basis). (C) Example 3: Change in functional currency—(1) Facts. In Year 1, USC earned 500u of foreign source foreign branch category income through its foreign branch in Country X and accrued 100u of Country X foreign income tax on its earnings. The average exchange rate for Year 1 used to translate the foreign income taxes into dollars was $1x:1u. See § 1.986(a)–1(a)(1). On its Federal income tax return for Year 1, USC claimed a foreign tax credit under section 901 of $100x (100u translated at the average exchange rate for Year 1, that is, $1x:1u). As of Year 2, the foreign branch changed its functional currency from the ‘‘u’’ to the dollar, and pursuant to § 1.985–5(d)(2), USC’s foreign branch terminated and USC recognized section 987 gain or loss on December 31, Year 1 (the date of change). The rate of exchange, as determined under § 1.985–5(c), used to calculate the U.S. dollar basis in the foreign branch’s property on the date of the change was $1.10x:1u, the spot rate on December 31, Year 1. On June 15, Year 3, when the spot rate was $1.30x:1u, USC’s foreign branch received a refund from Country X of 10u. The foreign branch converted the 10u into $13x on the same day. (2) Analysis. The 10u refund in Year 3 is a foreign tax redetermination under paragraph (a) of this section. Under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, USC must redetermine its U.S. tax liability for Year 1, the taxable year to which the redetermined tax relates. Under § 1.986(a)–1(c), the refund is translated at the exchange rate that was used to translate such amount when originally claimed as a credit. Accordingly, USC must file an amended return, reducing the amount of foreign tax credit claimed for Year 1 by $10x (10u translated at the average exchange rate for Year 1, that is $1x:1u). USC must also make corresponding adjustments in determining its taxable income and net unrecognized section 987 gain or loss in Year 1. See §§ 1.987–3(c)(2)(v) and 1.987–4(d)(8). Because the foreign branch changed its functional currency to the dollar in Year 2, the 10u it receives is a refund of nonfunctional currency tax that is denominated in a currency that was the functional currency of the foreign branch at the time USC originally claimed a credit for that foreign income tax. Under §§ 1.985– 5(d)(2) and 1.987–4(d), in Year 1 USC must recognize an additional $1x of section 987 gain (or $1x less of section 987 loss) by reason of the 10u being treated as an asset of the foreign branch at the time of the foreign branch’s termination. Under § 1.986(a)– 1(e)(2), USC’s basis in the 10u refund is $11x, which is determined by using the exchange rate used under § 1.985–5(c) when the foreign branch changed its functional currency in VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 Year 2 ($1.10x:1u). When the foreign branch converted the 10u to $13x (translated at the spot rate on June 15, Year 3, which is $1.30x:1u), it realized an exchange gain (within the meaning of § 1.988–1(e)) equal to $2x ($13x¥$11x (10u translated at $1.10x:1u)). (D) Example 4: Inflationary currency—(1) Facts. In Year 1, USC earned 500u of foreign source foreign branch category income through its foreign branch in Country X and accrued 100u of Country X foreign income tax on its earnings. The average exchange rate for Year 1 used to translate the foreign income taxes into dollars was $1x:1u. See § 1.986(a)–1(a)(1). On its Federal income tax return for Year 1, USC claimed a foreign tax credit under section 901 of $100x (100u translated at the average exchange rate for Year 1, that is, $1x:1u). USC paid the 100u of tax on April 15, Year 3, when the spot rate was $1x:2u. In Year 3, but not in Year 1, the u was an inflationary currency within the meaning of § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iii). (2) Analysis. Under § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iii), because the u was an inflationary currency in the year the taxes were paid, USC must translate the 100u of Year 1 tax into dollars using the spot rate on the date of payment of the foreign taxes. Under paragraph (a) of this section, because the translated value of USC’s Year 1 taxes when paid, that is, $50x (100u translated at the spot rate on April 15, Year 3, that is, $1x:2u), differs from the amount claimed as credits, that is, $100x (100u translated at the average exchange rate for Year 1, that is, $1x:1u), a foreign tax redetermination has occurred. Under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, because the $50x foreign tax redetermination resulting from the currency fluctuation exceeds 2% of the $100x initially accrued, USC must redetermine its U.S. tax liability for Year 1, the taxable year to which the redetermined tax relates. Accordingly, USC must notify the IRS, reducing the amount of foreign tax credit claimed for Year 1 by $50x (the excess of the translated value of the Year 1 taxes when accrued, that is, $100x, over the translated value of the Year 1 taxes when paid, that is, $50x). (E) Example 5: Two-year rule—(1) Facts. In Year 1, USC earned 500u of foreign source foreign branch category income through its foreign branch in Country X and accrued 100u of Country X foreign income tax on its earnings. The average exchange rate used to translate the foreign income taxes into dollars for Year 1 was $1x:1u. See § 1.986(a)–1(a)(1). On its Federal income tax return for Year 1, USC claimed a foreign tax credit under section 901 of $100x (100u translated at the average exchange rate for Year 1, that is, $1x:1u). USC did not pay the Year 1 foreign income taxes until March 15, Year 6, when the spot rate was $0.8x:1u. (2) Analysis—(i) Result in Year 3. USC’s failure to pay the tax by the end of Year 3 results in a foreign tax redetermination under paragraph (a) of this section. Because the taxes were not paid on or before the date 24 months after the close of the taxable year to which the tax relates, USC must account for the redetermination as if the unpaid 100u of accrued taxes were refunded on the last day of Year 3. Under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 section, USC must redetermine its U.S. tax liability for Year 1, the taxable year to which the redetermined tax relates. Under § 1.986(a)–1(c), the deemed refund is translated at the exchange rate that was used to translate such amount when originally claimed as a credit. Accordingly, USC must notify the IRS, reducing the amount of foreign tax credit claimed for Year 1 by $100x (100u translated at the average exchange rate for Year 1, that is, $1x:1u). USC must also make corresponding adjustments in determining its taxable income and net unrecognized section 987 gain or loss in Year 1. See §§ 1.987–3(c)(2)(v) and 1.987–4(d)(8). (ii) Result in Year 6. USC’s payment of the Year 1 tax liability of 100u on March 15, Year 6, results in a second foreign tax redetermination under paragraph (a) of this section. Under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, the additional tax is taken into account in Year 1, the year to which the redetermined tax relates, irrespective of when the tax is paid. Under § 1.986(a)– 1(a)(2)(i), because the tax was paid more than 24 months after the close of the year to which the tax relates, USC must translate the 100u of tax at the spot rate on the date of payment of the foreign taxes in Year 6. If USC timely notifies the IRS, it may claim an increased foreign tax credit for Year 1. USC must also make corresponding adjustments in determining its taxable income and net unrecognized section 987 gain or loss in Year 1. See §§ 1.987–3(c)(2)(v) and 1.987–4(d)(7). (F) Example 6: Cash basis taxpayer that pays additional foreign tax—(1) Facts. Individual A, a U.S. citizen resident in Country X, is a cash basis taxpayer who has not made an election under section 905(a) to claim the foreign tax credit in the year the taxes accrue. A uses the calendar year as the taxable year for both U.S. and Country X tax purposes. In Year 2, A pays 100u of foreign income taxes to Country X with respect to Year 1. The exchange rate used to translate the foreign income taxes into dollars was $1x:1u, the spot rate on the date A paid the taxes in Year 2. See section 986(a)(2)(A) and § 1.986(a)–1(b). On A’s Year 2 Federal income tax return, A claims a foreign tax credit under section 901 of $100x. In Year 4, Country X assesses an additional 20u of tax with respect to A’s Year 1 income. A does not pay the additional 20u of tax and contests the assessment. After exhausting all effective and practical remedies to reduce, over time, A’s liability for foreign tax, A settles the contest with Country X in Year 6, paying 10u of additional tax on September 1, Year 6, when the spot rate is $1.10x:1u. (2) Analysis. Because A is a cash basis taxpayer that claims the foreign tax credit in the year the taxes are paid, A’s payment in Year 6 of 10u of additional tax owed with respect to Year 1 is not a foreign tax redetermination requiring a redetermination of U.S. tax liability under paragraph (b)(1) of this section. Rather, A is eligible to claim the additional tax as a credit in Year 6, the year in which the tax is paid. Under § 1.986(a)– 1(b), the 10u of tax is translated into dollars at the spot rate on the date of payment in Year 6 (10u at $1.10x:1u = $11x). (G) Example 7: Cash basis taxpayer that receives a refund of foreign tax—(1) Facts. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations The facts are the same as paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(F) of this section (the facts in Example 6) except that instead of being assessed additional tax in Year 4, A receives a refund in Year 4 of 10u with respect to A’s Year 1 tax that was claimed as a credit in Year 2. (2) Analysis. Under paragraphs (a) and (b)(1) of this section, A must redetermine its U.S. tax liability for Year 2 and any year to which unused foreign taxes were carried from Year 2. Under § 1.986(a)–1(c), the amount of A’s foreign tax credit for Year 2 is reduced by $10x, the 10u refund translated at the exchange rate used to translate the tax when claimed as a credit. Under § 1.986(a)– 1(e)(1), A’s basis in the 10u is $10x. (2) and (3) [Reserved] (c) Foreign income tax imposed on foreign refund. If a redetermination of foreign income tax for a taxable year or years results from a refund to the section 901 taxpayer of foreign income taxes paid to a foreign country or possession of the United States and the foreign country or possession imposed foreign income tax on such refund, then, in accordance with section 905(c)(5), the amount of the refund is considered to be reduced by the amount of any foreign income tax described in section 901 imposed by the foreign country or possession of the United States with respect to such refund. In such case, no other credit under section 901, and no deduction under section 164, is allowed for any taxable year with respect to such tax imposed on such refund. (d) Applicability dates. This section applies to foreign tax redeterminations occurring in taxable years ending on or after December 16, 2019. § 1.905–3T ■ [Removed] Par. 30. Section 1.905–3T is removed. § 1.951A–2 [Amended] Par. 31. Section 1.951A–2 is amended by removing the language ‘‘§ 1.904–5(a)’’ and adding in its place the language ‘‘§ 1.904–5(a)(4)(v)’’ in the first sentence of paragraph (c)(3). ■ § 1.952–1 [Amended] Par. 32. Section 1.952–1 is amended by removing the language ‘‘§ 1.904– 5(a)(1)’’ and adding in its place the language ‘‘§ 1.904–5(a)(4)(v)’’ in paragraph (e)(1)(i), the first sentence of paragraph (e)(5), and the first sentence of paragraph (f)(2)(ii). ■ Par. 33. Section 1.954–1 is amended by: ■ 1. Removing the language ‘‘§ 1.904– 5(a)(1)’’ and adding in its place the language ‘‘§ 1.904–5(a)(4)(v)’’ in the introductory text of paragraph (c)(1)(iii)(A). ■ 2. In paragraph (d)(3)(i): jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 ■ VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 i. Removing the language ‘‘section 960’’ and adding in its place the language ‘‘section 960(a) and § 1.960– 2(b)(1)’’ in the first sentence. ■ ii. Removing the language ‘‘section 960’’ and adding in its place the language ‘‘section 960(a)’’ in the second sentence. ■ iii. Removing the last sentence. ■ 3. Removing the language ‘‘section 960’’ and adding in its place the language ‘‘section 960(a) and § 1.960– 2(b)(1)’’ in paragraph (d)(3)(ii). ■ 4. Adding paragraph (d)(3)(iii). ■ 5. Removing paragraph (g)(4). ■ 6. Adding paragraph (h). The additions read as follows: ■ § 1.954–1 Foreign base company income. * * * * * (d) * * * (3) * * * (iii) Effect of potential and actual changes in taxes paid or accrued. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (d)(3)(iii), the amount of foreign income taxes paid or accrued with respect to a net item of income, determined in the manner provided in this paragraph (d), does not take into account any potential reduction in foreign income taxes that may occur by reason of a future distribution to shareholders of all or part of such income. However, to the extent the foreign income taxes paid or accrued by the controlled foreign corporation are reasonably certain to be returned by the foreign jurisdiction imposing such taxes to a shareholder, directly or indirectly, through any means (including, but not limited to, a refund, credit, payment, discharge of an obligation, or any other method) on a subsequent distribution to such shareholder, the foreign income taxes are not treated as paid or accrued for purposes of this paragraph (d)(3). * * * * * (h) Applicability dates—(1) Paragraph (d)(3) of this section. Paragraph (d)(3) of this section applies to taxable years of a controlled foreign corporation ending on or after December 4, 2018. (2) Paragraph (g) of this section. Paragraph (g) of this section applies to taxable years of a controlled foreign corporation beginning on or after July 23, 2002. ■ Par. 34. Section 1.960–1 is revised to read as follows: § 1.960–1 Overview, definitions, and computational rules for determining foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(a), (b), and (d). (a) Overview—(1) Scope of §§ 1.960–1 through 1.960–3. This section and §§ 1.960–2 and 1.960–3 provide rules to associate foreign income taxes of a PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69107 controlled foreign corporation with the income that a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of the controlled foreign corporation takes into account in determining a subpart F inclusion or GILTI inclusion amount of the domestic corporation, as well as to associate foreign income taxes of a controlled foreign corporation with distributions of previously taxed earnings and profits. This section and §§ 1.960–2 and 1.960–3 provide the exclusive rules for determining the foreign income taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation under section 960. Therefore, only foreign income taxes of a controlled foreign corporation that are associated under these rules with a subpart F inclusion or GILTI inclusion amount of a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of the controlled foreign corporation, or with previously taxed earnings and profits, are eligible to be deemed paid. This section provides definitions and computational rules for determining foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(a), (b), and (d). Section 1.960–2 provides rules for computing the amount of foreign income taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation under section 960(a) and (d). Section 1.960–3 provides rules for computing the amount of foreign income taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation, or by a controlled foreign corporation, under section 960(b). This section and §§ 1.960–2 and 1.960–3 also apply for purposes of any provision that treats a taxpayer as a domestic corporation that is deemed to pay foreign income taxes or treats a foreign corporation as a controlled foreign corporation for purposes of section 960. See, for example, sections 962(a)(2) and 1293(f). (2) Scope of this section. Paragraph (b) of this section provides definitions for purposes of this section and §§ 1.960–2 and 1.960–3. Paragraph (c) of this section provides computational rules to coordinate the various calculations under this section and §§ 1.960–2 and 1.960–3. Paragraph (d) of this section provides rules for computing the income in an income group within a section 904 category, and for associating foreign income taxes with an income group. Paragraph (e) of this section provides a rule for the treatment of taxes associated with the residual income group. Paragraph (f) of this section provides an example illustrating the application of this section. E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69108 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (b) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of this section and §§ 1.960–2 and 1.960–3. (1) Annual PTEP account. The term annual PTEP account has the meaning set forth in § 1.960–3(c)(1). (2) Controlled foreign corporation. The term controlled foreign corporation means a foreign corporation described in section 957(a). (3) Current taxable year. The term current taxable year means the U.S. taxable year of a controlled foreign corporation that is an inclusion year, or during which the controlled foreign corporation receives a section 959(b) distribution or makes a section 959(a) distribution or a section 959(b) distribution. (4) Current year tax. The term current year tax means a foreign income tax paid or accrued by a controlled foreign corporation in a current taxable year (taking into account any adjustments resulting from a foreign tax redetermination (as defined in § 1.905– 3(a)). A foreign income tax accrues when all the events have occurred that establish the fact of the liability and the amount of the liability can be determined with reasonable accuracy. See §§ 1.446–1(c)(1)(ii)(A) and 1.461– 4(g)(6)(iii)(B) (economic performance exception for certain foreign taxes). Withholding taxes described in section 901(k)(1)(B) that are withheld from a payment accrue when the payment is made. A foreign income tax calculated on the basis of net income (or a base in lieu of net income) for a foreign taxable year accrues on the last day of the foreign taxable year. Accordingly, current year taxes include foreign withholding taxes that are withheld from payments made to the controlled foreign corporation during the current taxable year, and foreign income taxes that accrue in the controlled foreign corporation’s current taxable year in which or with which its foreign taxable year ends. Additional payments of foreign income taxes resulting from a redetermination of foreign tax liability, including contested taxes that accrue when the contest is resolved, ‘‘relate back’’ and are considered to accrue as of the end of the foreign taxable year to which the taxes relate. (5) Foreign income tax. The term foreign income tax means each separate levy (as defined in § 1.901–2(d)) that is an income, war profits, and excess profits tax as defined in § 1.901–2(a), and tax included in the term income, war profits, and excess profits tax by reason of section 903 and § 1.903–1(a), that is imposed by a foreign country or a possession of the United States, including any such tax that is deemed VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 paid by a controlled foreign corporation under section 960(b)(2). Income, war profits, and excess profits taxes do not include amounts excluded from the definition of those taxes under section 901. See, for example, section 901(f), (g), and (i). Foreign income tax also does not include taxes paid by a controlled foreign corporation for which a credit is disallowed at the level of the controlled foreign corporation. See, for example, sections 245A(e)(3), 901(k)(1), (l), and (m), 909, and 6038(c)(1)(B). Foreign income tax, however, includes tax that may be deemed paid but for which a credit is reduced or disallowed at the level of the United States shareholder. See, for example, sections 901(e), 901(j), 901(k)(2), 908, 965(g), and 6038(c)(1)(A). (6) Foreign taxable year. The term foreign taxable year has the meaning set forth in section 7701(a)(23), applied by substituting ‘‘under foreign law’’ for the phrase ‘‘under subtitle A.’’ (7) Foreign taxable income. The term foreign taxable income means the base upon which a current year tax is imposed that comprises the items included in gross income under foreign law and the deductions allowed under foreign law. In the case of a current year tax that is imposed with respect to a taxable period, foreign taxable income includes all of the items taken into account under foreign law with respect to that period. See paragraph (d)(3)(ii)(A) of this section for rules for apportioning current year tax to section 904 categories or income groups on the basis of foreign taxable income. (8) GILTI inclusion amount. The term GILTI inclusion amount has the meaning set forth in § 1.951A–1(c)(1) (or, in the case of a member of a consolidated group, § 1.1502–51(b)). (9) Gross tested income. The term gross tested income has the meaning set forth in § 1.951A–2(c)(1). (10) Inclusion percentage. The term inclusion percentage has the meaning set forth in § 1.960–2(c)(2). (11) Inclusion year. The term inclusion year means the U.S. taxable year of a controlled foreign corporation which ends during or with the taxable year of a United States shareholder of the controlled foreign corporation in which the United States shareholder includes an amount in income under section 951(a)(1) or 951A(a) with respect to the controlled foreign corporation. (12) Income group. The term income group means a group of income described in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section. (13) Partnership CFC. The term partnership CFC means, with respect to a U.S. shareholder partnership, a controlled foreign corporation stock of PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 which is owned (within the meaning of section 958(a)) by the U.S. shareholder partnership. (14) Passive category. The term passive category means the separate category of income described in section 904(d)(1)(C) and § 1.904–4(b). (15) Previously taxed earnings and profits. The term previously taxed earnings and profits means earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1) or (2), including earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 951A(f)(1) and § 1.951A– 5(b)(1). (16) PTEP group. The term PTEP group has the meaning set forth in § 1.960–3(c)(2). (17) PTEP group taxes. The term PTEP group taxes has the meaning set forth in § 1.960–3(d)(1). (18) Recipient controlled foreign corporation. The term recipient controlled foreign corporation has the meaning set forth in § 1.960–3(b)(2). (19) Reclassified previously taxed earnings and profits. The term reclassified previously taxed earnings and profits has the meaning set forth in § 1.960–3(c)(4). (20) Reclassified PTEP group. The term reclassified PTEP group has the meaning set forth in § 1.960–3(c)(4). (21) Residual income group. The term residual income group has the meaning set forth in paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(D) of this section. (22) Section 904 category. The term section 904 category means a separate category of income described in § 1.904– 5(a)(4)(v). (23) Section 951A category. The term section 951A category means the separate category of income described in section 904(d)(1)(A) and § 1.904–4(g). (24) Section 959 distribution. The term section 959 distribution means a section 959(a) distribution or a section 959(b) distribution. (25) Section 959(a) distribution. The term section 959(a) distribution means a distribution excluded from the gross income of a United States shareholder under section 959(a). (26) Section 959(b) distribution. The term section 959(b) distribution means a distribution excluded from the gross income of a controlled foreign corporation for purposes of section 951(a) under section 959(b). (27) Section 959(c)(2) PTEP group. The term section 959(c)(2) PTEP group has the meaning set forth in § 1.960– 3(c)(4). (28) Subpart F inclusion. The term subpart F inclusion has the meaning set forth in § 1.960–2(b)(1). (29) Subpart F income. The term subpart F income has the meaning set forth in section 952 and § 1.952–1(a). E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations (30) Subpart F income group. The term subpart F income group has the meaning set forth in paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(1) of this section. (31) Tested foreign income taxes. The term tested foreign income taxes has the meaning set forth in § 1.960–2(c)(3). (32) Tested income. The term tested income means the amount with respect to a controlled foreign corporation that is described in section 951A(c)(2)(A) and § 1.951A–2(b)(1). (33) Tested income group. The term tested income group has the meaning set forth in paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C) of this section. (34) United States shareholder. The term United States shareholder has the meaning set forth in section 951(b). (35) U.S. shareholder partner. The term U.S. shareholder partner means, with respect to a U.S. shareholder partnership and a partnership CFC of the U.S. shareholder partnership, a United States person that is a partner in the U.S. shareholder partnership and that is also a United States shareholder (as defined in section 951(b)) of the partnership CFC. (36) U.S. shareholder partnership. The term U.S. shareholder partnership means a domestic partnership (within the meaning of section 7701(a)(4)) that is a United States shareholder of one or more controlled foreign corporations. (37) U.S. taxable year. The term U.S. taxable year has the same meaning as that of the term taxable year set forth in section 7701(a)(23). (c) Computational rules—(1) In general. For purposes of computing foreign income taxes deemed paid by either a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder with respect to a controlled foreign corporation under § 1.960–2 or § 1.960–3 or by a controlled foreign corporation under § 1.960–3 for the current taxable year, the following rules apply in the following order, beginning with the lowest-tier controlled foreign corporation in a chain with respect to which the domestic corporation is a United States shareholder: (i) First, items of gross income of the controlled foreign corporation for the current taxable year other than a section 959(b) distribution are assigned to section 904 categories and included in income groups within those section 904 categories under the rules in paragraph (d)(2) of this section. The receipt of a section 959(b) distribution by the controlled foreign corporation is accounted for under § 1.960–3(c)(3). (ii) Second, deductions (other than for current year taxes) of the controlled foreign corporation for the current taxable year are allocated and VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 apportioned to reduce gross income in the section 904 categories and the income groups within a section 904 category. See paragraph (d)(3)(i) of this section. Additionally, the functional currency amounts of current year taxes of the controlled foreign corporation for the current taxable year are allocated and apportioned to reduce gross income in the section 904 categories and the income groups within a section 904 category, and to reduce earnings and profits in any PTEP groups that were increased as provided in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section. See paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section. For purposes of computing foreign taxes deemed paid, current year taxes allocated and apportioned to income groups and PTEP groups in the section 904 categories are translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with section 986(a). See paragraph (c)(3) of this section. (iii) Third, current year taxes deemed paid under section 960(a) and (d) by the domestic corporation with respect to income of the controlled foreign corporation are computed under the rules of § 1.960–2. In addition, foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b)(2) with respect to the receipt of a section 959(b) distribution by the controlled foreign corporation are computed under the rules of § 1.960– 3(b). (iv) Fourth, any previously taxed earnings and profits of the controlled foreign corporation resulting from subpart F inclusions and GILTI inclusion amounts with respect to the controlled foreign corporation’s current taxable year are separated from other earnings and profits of the controlled foreign corporation and added to an annual PTEP account, and a PTEP group within the PTEP account, under the rules of § 1.960–3(c). (v) Fifth, paragraphs (c)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section are repeated for each next higher-tier controlled foreign corporation in the chain. (vi) Sixth, with respect to the highesttier controlled foreign corporation in a chain that is owned directly (or indirectly through a partnership) by the domestic corporation, foreign income taxes that are deemed paid under section 960(b)(1) in connection with the receipt of a section 959(a) distribution by the domestic corporation are computed under the rules of § 1.960– 3(b). (2) Inclusion of current year items. For a current taxable year, the items of income and deductions (including for taxes), and the U.S. dollar amounts of current year taxes, that are included in the computations described in this section and assigned to income groups PO 00000 Frm 00089 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69109 and PTEP groups for the taxable year are the items that the controlled foreign corporation accrues and takes into account during the current taxable year. (3) Functional currency and translation. The computations described in this paragraph (c) that relate to income and earnings and profits are made in the functional currency of the controlled foreign corporation (as determined under section 985), and references to taxes deemed paid are to U.S. dollar amounts (translated in accordance with section 986(a)). (d) Computing income in a section 904 category and an income group within a section 904 category—(1) Scope. This paragraph (d) provides rules for assigning gross income (including gains) of a controlled foreign corporation for the current taxable year to a section 904 category and income group within a section 904 category, and for allocating and apportioning deductions (including losses and current year taxes) and the U.S. dollar amount of current year taxes of the controlled foreign corporation for the current taxable year among the section 904 categories, income groups within a section 904 category, and PTEP groups. For rules regarding maintenance of previously taxed earnings and profits in an annual PTEP account, and assignment of those previously taxed earnings and profits to PTEP groups, see § 1.960–3. (2) Assignment of gross income to section 904 categories and income groups within a category—(i) Assigning items of gross income to section 904 categories. Items of gross income of the controlled foreign corporation for the current taxable year are first assigned to a section 904 category of the controlled foreign corporation under §§ 1.904–4 and 1.904–5, and under § 1.960–3(c)(1) in the case of gross income relating to a section 959(b) distribution received by the controlled foreign corporation. Income of a controlled foreign corporation, other than gross income relating to a section 959(b) distribution, cannot be assigned to the section 951A category. See § 1.904–4(g). (ii) Grouping gross income within a section 904 category—(A) In general. Gross income within a section 904 category is assigned to an income group under the rules of this paragraph (d)(2)(ii), or to a PTEP group under the rules of § 1.960–3(c)(3). Gross income other than a section 959(b) distribution is assigned to a subpart F income group, tested income group, or residual income group. (B) Subpart F income groups—(1) In general. The term subpart F income group means an income group within a E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69110 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 section 904 category that consists of income that is described in paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(2) of this section. Gross income that is treated as a single item of income under § 1.954–1(c)(1)(iii) is in a separate subpart F income group under paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(2)(i) of this section. Items of gross income that give rise to income described in paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(2)(ii) of this section are aggregated and treated as gross income in a separate subpart F income group. Similarly, items of gross income that give rise to income described in each one of paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(B)(2)(iii) through (v) of this section are aggregated and treated as gross income in a separate subpart F income group. (2) Income in subpart F income groups. The income included in subpart F income groups is: (i) Items of foreign base company income treated as a single item of income under § 1.954–1(c)(1)(iii); (ii) Insurance income described in section 952(a)(1); (iii) Income subject to the international boycott factor described in section 952(a)(3); (iv) Income from certain bribes, kickbacks and other payments described in section 952(a)(4); and (v) Income subject to section 901(j) described in section 952(a)(5). (C) Tested income groups. The term tested income group means an income group that consists of tested income within a section 904 category. Items of gross tested income in each section 904 category are aggregated and treated as gross income in a separate tested income group. (D) Residual income group. The term residual income group means the income group within a section 904 category that consists of income that is not in a subpart F income group, tested income group, or PTEP group. (E) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this paragraph (d)(2)(ii). (1) Example 1: Subpart F income groups— (i) Facts. CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is incorporated in Country X. CFC uses the ‘‘u’’ as its functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u = $1x. CFC earns from sources outside of Country X portfolio dividend income of 100,000u, portfolio interest income of 1,500,000u, and 70,000u of royalty income that is not derived from the active conduct of a trade or business. CFC also earns 50,000u from the sale of personal property to a related person for use outside of Country X that gives rise to foreign base company sales income under section 954(d). Finally, CFC earns 45,000u for performing consulting services outside of Country X for related persons that gives rise to foreign base company services income under section 954(e). None of the income is taxed by VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 Country X. The dividend income is subject to a 15 percent third-country withholding tax after application of the applicable income tax treaty. The interest income and the royalty income are subject to no third-country withholding tax. CFC incurs no expenses. (ii) Analysis. Under paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section and § 1.904–4, the interest income, dividend income, and royalty income are passive category income and the sales and consulting income are general category income. Under paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B) of this section, CFC has a separate subpart F income group within the passive category with respect to the 100,000u of dividend income, which is foreign personal holding company income described in § 1.954–1(c)(1)(iii)(A)(1)(i) (dividends, interest, rents, royalties and annuities) that falls within a single group of income under § 1.904–4(c)(3)(i) for passive income that is subject to withholding tax of fifteen percent or greater. CFC also has a separate subpart F income group within the passive category with respect to the 1,500,000u of interest income and the 70,000u of royalty income (in total 1,570,000u) which together are foreign personal holding company income described in § 1.954–1(c)(1)(iii)(A)(1)(i) (dividends, interest, rents, royalties and annuities) that falls within a single group of income under § 1.904–4(c)(3)(iii) for passive income that is subject to no withholding tax or other foreign tax. With respect to its 50,000u of sales income, CFC has a separate subpart F income group with respect to foreign base company sales income described in § 1.954– 1(c)(1)(iii)(A)(2)(i) within the general category. With respect to its 45,000u of services income, CFC has a separate subpart F income group with respect to foreign base company services income described in § 1.954–1(c)(1)(iii)(A)(2)(ii) within the general category. (2) Example 2: Tested income groups—(i) Facts. CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is incorporated in Country X. CFC uses the ‘‘u’’ as its functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u = $1x. CFC earns 500u from the sale of goods to unrelated parties. CFC also earns 75u for performing consulting services for unrelated parties. All of its income is gross tested income. CFC incurs no deductions. (ii) Analysis. Under paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section and section 904 and § 1.904–4, the sales income and services income are both general category income. Under paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, with respect to the 500u of sales income and 75u services income (in total 575u), CFC has one tested income group within the general category. (3) Allocation and apportionment of deductions among section 904 categories, income groups within a section 904 category, and certain PTEP groups—(i) In general. Gross income of the controlled foreign corporation in each income group within each section 904 category is reduced by deductions (including losses) of the controlled foreign corporation for the current taxable year under the rules in this paragraph (d)(3)(i). No deductions of the PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 controlled foreign corporation for the current taxable year other than a deduction for current year taxes imposed solely by reason of the receipt of a section 959(b) distribution are allocated or apportioned to reduce earnings and profits in a PTEP group. (A) First, the rules of sections 861 through 865 and 904(d) (taking into account the rules of section 954(b)(5) and § 1.954–1(c), and section 951A(c)(2)(A)(ii) and § 1.951A–2(c)(3), as appropriate) apply to allocate and apportion to reduce gross income (or create a loss) in each section 904 category and income group within a section 904 category any deductions of the controlled foreign corporation that are definitely related to less than all of the controlled foreign corporation’s gross income as a class. See paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section for special rules for allocating and apportioning current year taxes to section 904 categories, income groups, and PTEP groups. (B) Second, related person interest expense is allocated to and apportioned among the subpart F income groups within the passive category under the principles of §§ 1.904–5(c)(2) and 1.954–1(c)(1)(i). (C) Third, any remaining deductions are allocated and apportioned to reduce gross income (or create a loss) in the section 904 categories and income groups within each section 904 category under the rules referenced in paragraph (d)(3)(i)(A) of this section. (ii) Allocation and apportionment of a current year tax—(A) In general. A current year tax is allocated and apportioned among the section 904 categories under the rules of § 1.904– 6(a)(1) based on the portion of the foreign taxable income (as characterized under Federal income tax principles) that is assigned to a particular section 904 category. An amount of the current year tax that is allocated and apportioned to a section 904 category is then allocated and apportioned among the income groups within the section 904 category under the principles of § 1.904–6(a)(1) based on the portion of the foreign taxable income (as characterized under Federal income tax principles) that is assigned to a particular income group. Therefore, the portion of a current year tax that is attributable to a timing difference described in § 1.904–6(a)(1)(iv) is treated as related to the section 904 category and income group within a section 904 category to which the tax would be assigned if the foreign taxable income on which the tax is imposed was recognized under Federal income tax principles in the year in which the tax is paid or accrued. For purposes of E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations determining foreign income taxes deemed paid under the rules in §§ 1.960–2 and 1.960–3, the U.S. dollar amount of a current year tax is assigned to the section 904 categories, income groups, and PTEP groups (to the extent provided in paragraph (d)(3)(ii)(C) of this section) to which the current year tax is allocated and apportioned. (B) Foreign taxable income that includes a base difference. For purposes of allocating and apportioning a current year tax among the income groups within a section 904 category under the rules of this paragraph (d)(3)(ii), the portion of the foreign taxable income that constitutes a base difference described in § 1.904–6(a)(1)(iv) is assigned to a residual income group. An amount of current year tax that is imposed on such portion of the foreign taxable income is therefore allocated and apportioned to the residual income group within a section 904 category. (C) Foreign taxable income that includes previously taxed earnings and profits. For purposes of allocating and apportioning a current year tax under this paragraph (d)(3)(ii), a PTEP group that is increased under § 1.960–3(c)(3) as a result of the receipt of a section 959(b) distribution in the current taxable year of the controlled foreign corporation is treated as an income group within the section 904 category. In such case, under the principles of § 1.904–6(a)(1), the portion of the foreign taxable income that is characterized under Federal income tax principles as a distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits that results in the increase in the PTEP group in the current taxable year is assigned to that PTEP group. If a PTEP group is not treated as an income group under the first sentence of this paragraph (d)(3)(ii)(C), and the principles of § 1.904–6(a)(1) would otherwise apply to assign foreign taxable income to a PTEP group, that foreign taxable income is instead assigned to the income group to which the income that gave rise to the previously taxed earnings and profits would be assigned if the income were recognized by the recipient controlled foreign corporation under Federal income tax principles in the current taxable year. For example, a net basis tax imposed on a controlled foreign corporation’s receipt of a section 959(b) distribution by the corporation’s country of residence is allocated or apportioned to a PTEP group. Similarly, a withholding tax imposed with respect to a controlled foreign corporation’s receipt of a section 959(b) distribution is allocated and apportioned to a PTEP group. In contrast, a withholding tax VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 imposed on a disregarded payment from a disregarded entity to its controlled foreign corporation owner is never treated as related to a PTEP group, even if all of the controlled foreign corporation’s earnings are previously taxed earnings and profits, because the payment that gives rise to the foreign taxable income from which the tax was withheld does not constitute a section 959(b) distribution in the current taxable year. That foreign taxable income, however, may be assigned to a subpart F income group or tested income group under paragraph (d)(3)(ii)(A) of this section (applying the principles of § 1.904–6(a)(1)(iv)). (e) No deemed paid credit for current year taxes related to residual income group. Current year taxes paid or accrued by a controlled foreign corporation that are allocated and apportioned under paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section to a residual income group cannot be deemed paid under section 960 for any taxable year. (f) Example. The following example illustrates the application of this section and § 1.960–3. (1) Facts—(i) Income of CFC1 and CFC2. CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, conducts business in Country X. CFC1 uses the ‘‘u’’ as its functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u=$1x. CFC1 owns all of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1 and CFC2 both use the calendar year as their U.S. and foreign taxable years. In 2019, CFC1 earns 2,000,000u of gross income that is foreign oil and gas extraction income, within the meaning of section 907(c)(1), and 2,000,000u of interest income from unrelated persons, for both U.S. and Country X tax law purposes. Country X exempts interest income from tax. In 2019, CFC1 also receives a section 959(b) distribution from CFC2 of 4,000,000u of previously taxed earnings and profits attributable to an inclusion under section 965(a) for CFC2’s 2017 U.S. taxable year. The inclusion under section 965(a) was income in the general category. There are no PTEP group taxes associated with the previously taxed earnings and profits distributed by CFC2 at the level of CFC2. The section 959(b) distribution is treated as a dividend taxable to CFC1 under Country X law. In 2019, CFC2 earns no gross income and receives no distributions. (ii) Pre-tax deductions of CFC1 and CFC2. For both U.S. and Country X tax purposes, in 2019, CFC1 incurs 1,500,000u of deductible expenses other than current year taxes that are allocable to all gross income. For U.S. tax purposes, under §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T, 750,000u of such deductions are apportioned to each of CFC1’s foreign oil and gas extraction income and interest income. Under Country X law, 1,000,000u of deductions are allocated and apportioned to the 4,000,000u treated as a dividend, and 500,000u of deductions are allocated and apportioned to the 2,000,000u of foreign oil and gas extraction income. PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69111 Under Country X law, no deductions are allocable to the interest income. Country X imposes tax of 900,000u on a base of 4,500,000u (6,000,000u gross income¥1,500,000u deductions) consisting of 3,000,000u (4,000,000u¥1,000,000u) attributable to CFC1’s section 959(b) distribution and 1,500,000u (2,000,000u¥500,000u) attributable to CFC1’s foreign oil and gas extraction income. In 2019, CFC2 has no expenses (including current year taxes). (iii) United States shareholders of CFC1. All of the stock of CFC1 is owned (within the meaning of section 958(a)) by corporate United States shareholders that use the calendar year as their U.S. taxable year. In 2019, the United States shareholders of CFC1 include in gross income subpart F inclusions in the passive category totaling $1,250,000x with respect to 1,250,000u of subpart F income of CFC1. (2) Analysis—(i) CFC2. Under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the computational rules of paragraph (c)(1) of this section are applied beginning with CFC2. However, CFC2 has no gross income or expenses in 2019 (the ‘‘current taxable year’’). Accordingly, the computational rules described in paragraphs (c)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section are not relevant with respect to CFC2. Under paragraph (c)(1)(v) of this section, the rules in paragraph (c)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section are then applied to CFC1. (ii) CFC1—(A) Step 1. Under paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section, CFC1’s items of gross income for the current taxable year are assigned to section 904 categories and included in income groups within those section 904 categories. In addition, CFC1’s receipt of a section 959(b) distribution is assigned to a PTEP group. Under paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section and § 1.904–4, the interest income is passive category income and the foreign oil and gas extraction income is general category income. Under paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section, the 2,000,000u of interest income is assigned to a subpart F income group (the ‘‘subpart F income group’’) within the passive category because it is foreign personal holding company income described in § 1.954– 1(c)(1)(iii)(A)(1)(i) that falls within a single group of income under § 1.904–4(c)(3)(iii) for passive income that is subject to no withholding tax or other foreign tax. The 2,000,000u of foreign oil and gas extraction income is assigned to the residual income group within the general category. Under § 1.960–3(c), the 4,000,000u section 959(b) distribution is assigned to the PTEP group described in § 1.960–3(c)(2)(vii) within the 2017 annual PTEP account (the ‘‘PTEP group’’) within the general category. (B) Step 2—(1) Allocation and apportionment of deductions for expenses other than taxes. Under paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section, CFC1’s deductions for the current taxable year are allocated and apportioned among the section 904 categories, income groups within a section 904 category, and any PTEP groups that were increased as provided in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section. Under paragraph (d)(3)(i) of this section and §§ 1.861–8 through 1.861–14T, 750,000u of deductions are allocated and E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69112 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations apportioned to the residual income group within the general category, and 750,000u of deductions are allocated and apportioned to the subpart F income group within the passive category. Therefore, CFC1 has 1,250,000u (2,000,000u¥750,000u) of pre-tax income attributable to the residual income group within the general category and 1,250,000u (2,000,000u¥750,000u) of pre-tax income attributable to the subpart F income group within the passive category. For U.S. tax purposes, no deductions other than current year taxes are allocated and apportioned to the 4,000,000u in CFC1’s PTEP group. (2) Allocation and apportionment of current year taxes. Under paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section, CFC1’s current year taxes are allocated and apportioned among the section 904 categories, income groups within a section 904 category, and any PTEP groups that were increased as provided in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section. Under paragraphs (d)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section, for purposes of allocating and apportioning taxes to reduce the income in a section 904 category, an income group, or PTEP group, § 1.904– 6(a)(1) and (ii) are applied to determine the amount of foreign taxable income, computed under Country X law but characterized under Federal income tax law, in each section 904 category, income group, and PTEP group that is included in the Country X tax base. For Country X purposes, 1,000,000u of deductions are apportioned to CFC1’s PTEP group within the general category, 500,000u of deductions are apportioned to the residual income group within the general category, and no deductions are apportioned to the subpart F income group in the passive category. Therefore, for Country X purposes, CFC1 has 3,000,000u of foreign taxable income attributable to the PTEP group within the general category, 1,500,000u of foreign taxable income attributable to the residual income group within the general category, and no income attributable to the subpart F income group within the passive category. Under paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section, 600,000u (3,000,000u/4,500,000u × 900,000u) of the 900,000u current year taxes paid by CFC1 are related to the PTEP group within the general category, and 300,000u (1,500,000u/4,500,000u × 900,000u) are related to the residual income group within the general category. No current year taxes are allocated or apportioned to the subpart F income group within the passive category because the interest expense is exempt from Country X tax. Thus, for U.S. tax purposes, CFC1 has 3,400,000u of previously taxed earnings and profits (4,000,000u¥600,000u) in the PTEP group within the general category, 1,250,000u of income in the subpart F income group within the passive category, and 950,000u of income (1,250,000u¥300,000u) in the residual income group within the general category. For purposes of determining foreign taxes deemed paid under section 960, CFC1 has $600,000x of foreign income taxes in the PTEP group within the general category and $300,000x of current year taxes in the residual income group within the general category. Under paragraph (e) of this section, the United States shareholders of CFC1 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 cannot claim a credit with respect to the $300,000x of taxes on CFC1’s income in the residual income group. (C) Step 3. Under paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section, the United States shareholders of CFC1 compute current year taxes deemed paid under section 960(a) and (d) and the rules of § 1.960–2. None of the Country X tax is allocated to CFC1’s subpart F income group. Therefore, there are no current year taxes deemed paid by CFC1’s United States shareholders with respect to their passive category subpart F inclusions. See § 1.960– 2(b)(5) and (c)(7) for examples of the application of section 960(a) and (d) and the rules in § 1.960–2. Additionally, under paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section, foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b)(2) by CFC1 are determined with respect to the section 959(b) distribution from CFC2 under the rules of § 1.960–3. There are no PTEP group taxes associated with the previously taxed earnings and profits distributed by CFC2 in the hands of CFC2. Therefore, there are no foreign income taxes deemed paid by CFC1 under section 960(b)(2) with respect to the section 959(b) distribution from CFC2. See § 1.960–3(e) for examples of the application of section 960(b) and the rules in § 1.960–3. (D) Step 4. Under paragraph (c)(1)(iv) of this section, previously taxed earnings and profits resulting from subpart F inclusions and GILTI inclusion amounts with respect to CFC1’s current taxable year are separated from CFC1’s other earnings and profits and added to an annual PTEP account and PTEP group within the PTEP account, under the rules of § 1.960–3(c). The United States shareholders of CFC1 include in gross income subpart F inclusions totaling $1,250,000x with respect to 1,250,000u of subpart F income of CFC1, and the subpart F inclusions are passive category income. Therefore, under § 1.960–3(c)(2), 1,250,000u of previously taxed earnings and profits resulting from the subpart F inclusions is added to CFC1’s section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within the 2019 annual PTEP account within the passive category. (E) Step 5. Paragraph (c)(1)(v) of this section does not apply because CFC1 is the highest-tier controlled foreign corporation in the chain. (F) Step 6. Paragraph (c)(1)(vi) of this section does not apply because CFC1 did not make a section 959(a) distribution. Par. 35. Section 1.960–2 is revised to read as follows: ■ § 1.960–2 Foreign income taxes deemed paid under sections 960(a) and (d). (a) Scope. Paragraph (b) of this section provides rules for computing the amount of foreign income taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation under section 960(a). Paragraph (c) of this section provides rules for computing the amount of foreign income taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation under section 960(d). PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 (b) Foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(a)—(1) In general. If a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation includes in gross income under section 951(a)(1)(A) its pro rata share of the subpart F income of the controlled foreign corporation (a subpart F inclusion), the domestic corporation is deemed to have paid the amount of the controlled foreign corporation’s foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to the items of income in a subpart F income group of the controlled foreign corporation that give rise to the subpart F inclusion of the domestic corporation that is attributable to the subpart F income group. For each section 904 category, the domestic corporation is deemed to have paid foreign income taxes equal to the sum of the controlled foreign corporation’s foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to the items of income in the subpart F income groups to which the subpart F inclusion is attributable. See § 1.904–6(b)(1) for rules on assigning the foreign income tax to a section 904 category. No foreign income taxes are deemed paid under section 960(a) with respect to an inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(B). (2) Properly attributable. The amount of the controlled foreign corporation’s foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to the items of income in the subpart F income group of the controlled foreign corporation to which a subpart F inclusion is attributable equals the domestic corporation’s proportionate share of the current year taxes of the controlled foreign corporation that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to the subpart F income group. No other foreign income taxes are considered properly attributable to an item of income of the controlled foreign corporation. (3) Proportionate share—(i) In general. A domestic corporation’s proportionate share of the current year taxes of a controlled foreign corporation that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to a subpart F income group within a section 904 category of the controlled foreign corporation is equal to the total U.S. dollar amount of current year taxes that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to the subpart F income group multiplied by a fraction (not to exceed one), the numerator of which is the portion of the domestic corporation’s subpart F inclusion that is attributable to the subpart F income group and the denominator of which is the total net income in the subpart F income group, both determined in the E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 functional currency of the controlled foreign corporation. If the numerator or denominator of the fraction is zero or less than zero, then the proportionate share of the current year taxes that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to the subpart F income group is zero. (ii) Effect of qualified deficits. Neither an accumulated deficit nor any prior year deficit in the earnings and profits of a controlled foreign corporation reduces its net income in a subpart F income group. Accordingly, any such deficit does not affect the denominator of the fraction described in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section. However, the first sentence of this paragraph (b)(3)(ii) does not affect the application of section 952(c)(1)(B) for purposes of determining the domestic corporation’s subpart F inclusion. Any reduction to the domestic corporation’s subpart F inclusion under section 952(c)(1)(B) is reflected in the numerator of the fraction described in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section. (iii) Effect of current year E&P limitation or chain deficit. To the extent that an amount of income in a subpart F income group is excluded from the subpart F income of the controlled foreign corporation under section 952(c)(1)(A) or (C), the net income in the subpart F income group that is the denominator of the fraction described in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section is reduced (but not below zero) by the amount excluded. The domestic corporation’s subpart F inclusion that is the numerator of the fraction described in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section is based on the controlled foreign corporation’s subpart F income computed with the application of section 952(c)(1)(A) and (C). (4) Domestic partnerships. For purposes of applying this paragraph (b), in the case of a domestic partnership that is a U.S. shareholder partnership with respect to a partnership CFC, the distributive share of a U.S. shareholder partner of the U.S. shareholder partnership’s subpart F inclusion with respect to the partnership CFC is treated as a subpart F inclusion of the U.S. shareholder partner with respect to the partnership CFC. (5) Example. The following example illustrates the application of this paragraph (b). (i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 80% of the stock of CFC, a controlled foreign corporation. The remaining portion of the stock of CFC is owned by an unrelated person. USP and CFC both use the calendar year as their U.S. taxable year, and CFC also uses the calendar year as its foreign taxable year. CFC uses the ‘‘u’’ as its functional VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 currency. At all relevant times, 1u=$1x. For its U.S. taxable year ending December 31, 2018, after the application of the rules in § 1.960–1(d) the income of CFC after foreign taxes is assigned to the following income groups: 1,000,000u of dividend income in a subpart F income group within the passive category (‘‘subpart F income group 1’’); 2,400,000u of gain from commodities transactions in a subpart F income group within the passive category (‘‘subpart F income group 2’’); and 1,800,000u of foreign base company services income in a subpart F income group within the general category (‘‘subpart F income group 3’’). CFC has current year taxes, translated into U.S. dollars, of $740,000x that are allocated and apportioned as follows: $50,000x to subpart F income group 1; $240,000x to subpart F income group 2; and $450,000x to subpart F income group 3. USP has a subpart F inclusion with respect to CFC of 4,160,000u = $4,160,000x, of which 800,000u is attributable to subpart F income group 1, 1,920,000u to subpart F income group 2, and 1,440,000u to subpart F income group 3. (ii) Analysis—(A) Passive category. Under paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section, the amount of CFC’s current year taxes that are properly attributable to items of income in subpart F income group 1 to which a subpart F inclusion is attributable equals USP’s proportionate share of the current year taxes that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to subpart F income group 1, which is $40,000x ($50,000x × 800,000u/ 1,000,000u). Under paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section, the amount of CFC’s current year taxes that are properly attributable to items of income in subpart F income group 2 to which a subpart F inclusion is attributable equals USP’s proportionate share of the current year taxes that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to subpart F income group 2, which is $192,000x ($240,000x × 1,920,000u/ 2,400,000u). Accordingly, under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, USP is deemed to have paid $232,000x ($40,000x + $192,000x) of passive category foreign income taxes of CFC with respect to its $2,720,000x subpart F inclusion in the passive category. (B) General category. Under paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section, the amount of CFC’s current year taxes that are properly attributable items of income in subpart F income group 3 to which a subpart F inclusion is attributable equals USP’s proportionate share of the foreign income taxes that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to subpart F income group 3, which is $360,000x ($450,000x × 1,440,000u/1,800,000u). CFC has no other subpart F income groups within the general category. Accordingly, under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, USP is deemed to have paid $360,000x of general category foreign income taxes of CFC with respect to its $1,440,000x subpart F inclusion in the general category. (c) Foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(d)—(1) In general. If a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of one or more controlled foreign corporations includes an amount in gross income under PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69113 section 951A(a) and § 1.951A–1(b), the domestic corporation is deemed to have paid an amount of foreign income taxes equal to 80 percent of the product of its inclusion percentage multiplied by the sum of all tested foreign income taxes in the tested income group within each section 904 category of the controlled foreign corporation or corporations. (2) Inclusion percentage. The term inclusion percentage means, with respect to a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of one or more controlled foreign corporations, the domestic corporation’s GILTI inclusion amount divided by the aggregate amount described in section 951A(c)(1)(A) and § 1.951A–1(c)(2)(i) with respect to the United States shareholder. (3) Tested foreign income taxes. The term tested foreign income taxes means, with respect to a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation, the amount of the controlled foreign corporation’s foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to tested income taken into account by the domestic corporation under section 951A and § 1.951A–1. (4) Properly attributable. The amount of the controlled foreign corporation’s foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to tested income taken into account by the domestic corporation under section 951A(a) and § 1.951A– 1(b) equals the domestic corporation’s proportionate share of the current year taxes of the controlled foreign corporation that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to the tested income group within each section 904 category of the controlled foreign corporation. No other foreign income taxes are considered properly attributable to tested income. (5) Proportionate share. A domestic corporation’s proportionate share of current year taxes of a controlled foreign corporation that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to a tested income group within a section 904 category of the controlled foreign corporation is the U.S. dollar amount of current year taxes that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to a tested income group within a section 904 category of the controlled foreign corporation multiplied by a fraction (not to exceed one), the numerator of which is the portion of the tested income of the controlled foreign corporation in the tested income group within the section 904 category that is included in computing the domestic corporation’s aggregate amount described in section 951A(c)(1)(A) and § 1.951A–1(c)(2)(i), and the denominator of which is the E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69114 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 income in the tested income group within the section 904 category, both determined in the functional currency of the controlled foreign corporation. If the numerator or denominator of the fraction is zero or less than zero, the domestic corporation’s proportionate share of the current year taxes allocated and apportioned under § 1.960– 1(d)(3)(ii) to the tested income group is zero. (6) Domestic partnerships. See § 1.951A–1(e) for rules regarding the determination of the GILTI inclusion amount of a U.S. shareholder partner. (7) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this paragraph (c). (i) Example 1: Directly owned controlled foreign corporation—(A) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% of the stock of a number of controlled foreign corporations, including CFC1. USP and CFC1 each use the calendar year as their U.S. taxable year. CFC1 uses the ‘‘u’’ as its functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u=$1x. For its U.S. taxable year ending December 31, 2018, after application of the rules in § 1.960–1(d), the income of CFC1 is assigned to a single income group: 2,000u of income from the sale of goods in a tested income group within the general category (‘‘tested income group’’). CFC1 has current year taxes, translated into U.S. dollars, of $400x that are all allocated and apportioned to the tested income group. For its U.S. taxable year ending December 31, 2018, USP has a GILTI inclusion amount determined by reference to all of its controlled foreign corporations, including CFC1, of $6,000x, and an aggregate amount described in section 951A(c)(1)(A) and § 1.951A–1(c)(2)(i) of $10,000x. All of the income in CFC1’s tested income group is included in computing USP’s aggregate amount described in section 951A(c)(1)(A) and § 1.951A–1(c)(2)(i). (B) Analysis. Under paragraph (c)(5) of this section, USP’s proportionate share of the current year taxes that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to CFC1’s tested income group is $400x ($400x × 2,000u/2,000u). Therefore, under paragraph (c)(4) of this section, the amount of current year taxes properly attributable to tested income taken into account by USP under section 951A(a) and § 1.951A–1(b) is $400x. Under paragraph (c)(3) of this section, USP’s tested foreign income taxes with respect to CFC1 are $400x. Under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, USP’s inclusion percentage is 60% ($6,000x/$10,000x). Accordingly, under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, USP is deemed to have paid $192 of the foreign income taxes of CFC1 (80% × 60% × $400x). (ii) Example 2: Controlled foreign corporation owned through domestic partnership—(A) Facts—(1) US1, a domestic corporation, owns 95% of PRS, a domestic partnership. The remaining 5% of PRS is owned by US2, a domestic corporation that is unrelated to US1. PRS owns all of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation. In addition, US1 owns all of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. US1, US2, VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 PRS, CFC1, and CFC2 all use the calendar year as their taxable year. CFC1 and CFC2 both use the ‘‘u’’ as their functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u=$1x. For its U.S. taxable year ending December 31, 2018, after application of the rules in § 1.960–1(d), the income of CFC1 is assigned to a single income group: 300u of income from the sale of goods in a tested income group within the general category (‘‘CFC1’s tested income group’’). CFC1 has current year taxes, translated into U.S. dollars, of $100x that are all allocated and apportioned to CFC1’s tested income group. The income of CFC2 is also assigned to a single income group: 200u of income from the sale of goods in a tested income group within the general category (‘‘CFC2’s tested income group’’). CFC2 has current year taxes, translated into U.S. dollars, of $20x that are allocated and apportioned to CFC2’s tested income group. (2) Under § 1.951A–1(e)(1), for purposes of determining the GILTI inclusion amount of US1 and US2, PRS is not treated as owning (within the meaning of section 958(a)) the stock of CFC1; instead, PRS is treated in the same manner as a foreign partnership for purposes of determining the stock of CFC1 owned by US1 and US2 under section 958(a)(2). Therefore, only US1 is a United States shareholder of CFC1. Taking into account both CFC1 and CFC2, US1 has a GILTI inclusion amount in the general category of $485x, and an aggregate amount described in section 951A(c)(1)(A) and § 1.951A–1(c)(2)(i) within the general category of $485x. 285u (95% × 300u) of the income in CFC1’s tested income group and 200u of the income in CFC2’s tested income group is included in computing US1’s aggregate amount described in section 951A(c)(1)(A) and § 1.951A–1(c)(2)(i) within the general category. Because US2 is not a U.S. shareholder with respect to CFC1, US2 does not take into account CFC1’s tested income in determining its GILTI inclusion amount. (B) Analysis—(1) US1—(i) CFC1. Under paragraphs (c)(5) and (6) of this section, US1’s proportionate share of the current year taxes that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to CFC1’s tested income group is $95x ($100x × 285u/300u). Therefore, under paragraph (c)(4) of this section, the amount of the current year taxes properly attributable to tested income taken into account by US1 under section 951A(a) and § 1.951A–1(b) is $95x. Under paragraph (c)(3) of this section, US1’s tested foreign income taxes with respect to CFC1 are $95x. Under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, US1’s inclusion percentage is 100% ($485x/$485x). Accordingly, under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, US1 is deemed to have paid $76x of the foreign income taxes of CFC1 (80% × 100% × $95x). (ii) CFC2. Under paragraph (c)(5) of this section, US1’s proportionate share of the foreign income taxes that are allocated and apportioned under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii) to CFC2’s tested income group is $20x ($20x × 200u/200u). Therefore, under paragraph (c)(4) of this section, the amount of foreign income taxes properly attributable to tested income taken into account by US1 under section 951A(a) and § 1.951A–1(b) is $20x. PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Under paragraph (c)(3) of this section, US1’s tested foreign income taxes with respect to CFC2 are $20. Under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, US1’s inclusion percentage is 100% ($485x/$485x). Accordingly, under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, US1 is deemed to have paid $16 of the foreign income taxes of CFC2 (80% × 100% × $20x). (2) US2. US2 is not a United States shareholder of CFC1 or CFC2. Accordingly, under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, US2 is not deemed to have paid any of the foreign income taxes of CFC1 or CFC2. Par. 36. Section 1.960–3 is revised to read as follows: ■ § 1.960–3 Foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b). (a) Scope. Paragraph (b) of this section provides rules for computing the amount of foreign income taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation, or by a controlled foreign corporation, under section 960(b). Paragraph (c) of this section provides rules for the establishment and maintenance of PTEP groups within an annual PTEP account. Paragraph (d) of this section defines the term PTEP group taxes. Paragraph (e) of this section provides examples illustrating the application of this section. (b) Foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b)—(1) Foreign income taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation with respect to a section 959(a) distribution. If a controlled foreign corporation makes a distribution to a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder with respect to the controlled foreign corporation and that distribution is, in whole or in part, a section 959(a) distribution with respect to a PTEP group within a section 904 category, the domestic corporation is deemed to have paid the amount of the foreign corporation’s foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to the section 959(a) distribution with respect to the PTEP group and that have not been deemed to have been paid by a domestic corporation under section 960 for the current taxable year or any prior taxable year. See § 1.965–5(c)(1)(iii) for rules disallowing credits in relation to a distribution of certain previously taxed earnings and profits resulting from the application of section 965. For each section 904 category, the domestic corporation is deemed to have paid foreign income taxes equal to the sum of the controlled foreign corporation’s foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to section 959(a) distributions with respect to all PTEP groups within the section 904 category. See § 1.904–6(b)(2) for rules on E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations assigning the foreign income tax to a section 904 category. (2) Foreign income taxes deemed paid by a controlled foreign corporation with respect to a section 959(b) distribution. If a controlled foreign corporation (distributing controlled foreign corporation) makes a distribution to another controlled foreign corporation (recipient controlled foreign corporation) and the distribution is, in whole or in part, a section 959(b) distribution from a PTEP group within a section 904 category, the recipient controlled foreign corporation is deemed to have paid the amount of the distributing controlled foreign corporation’s foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to the section 959(b) distribution from the PTEP group and that have not been deemed to have been paid by a domestic corporation under section 960 for the current taxable year or any prior taxable year. See § 1.904–6(b)(3) for rules on assigning the foreign income tax to a section 904 category. (3) Properly attributable. The amount of foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to a section 959 distribution from a PTEP group within a section 904 category equals the domestic corporation’s or recipient controlled foreign corporation’s proportionate share of the PTEP group taxes with respect to the PTEP group within the section 904 category. No other foreign income taxes are considered properly attributable to a section 959 distribution. (4) Proportionate share. A domestic corporation’s or recipient controlled foreign corporation’s proportionate share of the PTEP group taxes with respect to a PTEP group within a section 904 category is equal to the total amount of the PTEP group taxes with respect to the PTEP group multiplied by a fraction (not to exceed one), the numerator of which is the amount of the section 959 distribution from the PTEP group, and the denominator of which is the total amount of previously taxed earnings and profits in the PTEP group, both determined in the functional currency of the controlled foreign corporation. If the numerator or denominator of the fraction is zero or less than zero, then the proportionate share of the PTEP group taxes with respect to the PTEP group is zero. (5) Domestic partnerships. For purposes of applying this paragraph (b), in the case of a domestic partnership that is a U.S. shareholder partnership with respect to a partnership CFC, the distributive share of a U.S. shareholder partner of a U.S. shareholder partnership’s section 959(a) distribution VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 from the partnership CFC is treated as a section 959(a) distribution received by the U.S. shareholder partner from the partnership CFC. (c) Accounting for previously taxed earnings and profits—(1) Establishment of annual PTEP account. A separate, annual account (annual PTEP account) must be established for the previously taxed earnings and profits of the controlled foreign corporation to which inclusions under section 951(a) and GILTI inclusion amounts of United States shareholders of the CFC are attributable. Each account must correspond to the inclusion year of the previously taxed earnings and profits and to the section 904 category to which the inclusions under section 951(a) or GILTI inclusion amounts were assigned at the level of the United States shareholders. Accordingly, a controlled foreign corporation may have an annual PTEP account in the section 951A category or a treaty category (as defined in § 1.861–13(b)(6)), even though income of the controlled foreign corporation that gave rise to the previously taxed earnings and profits cannot initially be assigned to the section 951A category or a treaty category. (2) PTEP groups within an annual PTEP account. The amount in an annual PTEP account is further assigned to one or more of the following groups of previously taxed earnings and profits (each, a PTEP group) within the account: (i) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 965(a) (‘‘reclassified section 965(a) PTEP’’); (ii) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 965(b)(4)(A) (‘‘reclassified section 965(b) PTEP’’); (iii) Earnings and profits described in paragraphs (c)(2)(iii)(A) through (C) of this section (which are aggregated into a single PTEP group, ‘‘general section 959(c)(1) PTEP’’): (A) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) by reason of section 951(a)(1)(B) and not by reason of section 959(a)(2); (B) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 951(a)(1)(A) (other than earnings that were initially described in paragraphs (c)(2)(vi) through (ix) of this section); and (C) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(B), including by reason of section 959(a)(3) (before its repeal); PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69115 (iv) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 951A(f)(2) (‘‘reclassified section 951A PTEP’’); (v) Earnings and profits described in paragraphs (c)(2)(v)(A) through (C) of this section (which are aggregated into a single PTEP group, ‘‘reclassified section 245A(d) PTEP’’): (A) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 245A(e)(2); (B) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 959(e); and (C) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 964(e)(4); (vi) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 965(a) (‘‘section 965(a) PTEP’’); (vii) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 965(b)(4)(A) (‘‘section 965(b) PTEP’’); (viii) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 951A(f)(2) (‘‘section 951A PTEP’’); (ix) Earnings and profits described in paragraphs (c)(2)(ix)(A) through (C) of this section (which are aggregated into a single PTEP group, ‘‘section 245A(d) PTEP’’): (A) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 245A(e)(2); (B) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 959(e); and (C) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 964(e)(4); and (x) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 951(a)(1)(A) not otherwise described in paragraph (c)(2)(vi) through (ix) of this section (‘‘section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP’’). (3) Accounting for distributions of previously taxed earnings and profits. With respect to a recipient controlled foreign corporation that receives a section 959(b) distribution, such distribution amount is added to the annual PTEP account, and PTEP group within the annual PTEP account, that corresponds to the inclusion year and section 904 category of the annual PTEP account, and PTEP group within the annual PTEP account, from which the distributing controlled foreign corporation is treated as making the distribution under section 959. Similarly, with respect to a controlled foreign corporation that makes a section 959 distribution, such distribution amount reduces the annual PTEP E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 69116 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations account, and PTEP group within the annual PTEP account, that corresponds to the inclusion year and section 904 category of the annual PTEP account, and PTEP group within the annual PTEP account, from which the controlled foreign corporation is treated as making the distribution under section 959. Earnings and profits in a PTEP group are reduced by the amount of current year taxes that are allocated and apportioned to the PTEP group under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii), and the U.S. dollar amount of the taxes are added to an account of PTEP group taxes under the rules in paragraph (d)(1) of this section. (4) Accounting for reclassifications of earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) to earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1). If an amount of previously taxed earnings and profits that is in a PTEP group described in paragraphs (c)(2)(vi) through (x) of this section (each, a section 959(c)(2) PTEP group) is reclassified as previously taxed earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1) (reclassified previously taxed earnings and profits), the section 959(c)(2) PTEP group is reduced by the functional currency amount of the reclassified previously taxed earnings and profits. This amount is added to the corresponding PTEP group described in paragraph (c)(2)(i), (ii), (iii) (by reason of paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(B) of this section), (iv) or (v) of this section (each, a reclassified PTEP group) in the same section 904 category and same annual PTEP account as the reduced section 959(c)(2) PTEP group. (d) PTEP group taxes—(1) In general. The term PTEP group taxes means the U.S. dollar amount of foreign income taxes (translated in accordance with section 986(a)) that are paid, accrued, or deemed paid with respect to an amount in each PTEP group within an annual PTEP account. The foreign income taxes that are paid, accrued, or deemed paid with respect to a PTEP group within an annual PTEP account of a controlled foreign corporation are— (i) The sum of— (A) The current year taxes paid or accrued by the controlled foreign corporation that are allocated and apportioned to the PTEP group under § 1.960–1(d)(3)(ii); (B) Foreign income taxes that are deemed paid under section 960(b)(2) and paragraph (b)(2) of this section by the controlled foreign corporation with respect to a section 959(b) distribution received by the controlled foreign corporation, the amount of which is added to the PTEP group under paragraph (c)(3) of this section; and VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (C) In the case of a reclassified PTEP group of the controlled foreign corporation, reclassified PTEP group taxes that are attributable to the section 959(c)(2) PTEP group that corresponds to the reclassified PTEP group. (ii) Reduced by— (A) Foreign income taxes that were deemed paid under section 960(b)(2) and paragraph (b)(2) of this section by another controlled foreign corporation that received a section 959(b) distribution from the controlled foreign corporation, the amount of which is subtracted from the controlled foreign corporation’s PTEP group under paragraph (c)(3) of this section; (B) Foreign income taxes that were deemed paid under section 960(b)(1) and paragraph (b)(1) of this section by a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of the controlled foreign corporation that received a section 959(a) distribution from the controlled foreign corporation, the amount of which is subtracted from the controlled foreign corporation’s PTEP group under paragraph (c)(3) of this section; and (C) In the case of a section 959(c)(2) PTEP group of the controlled foreign corporation, reclassified PTEP group taxes. (2) Reclassified PTEP group taxes. Reclassified PTEP group taxes are foreign income taxes that are initially included in PTEP group taxes with respect to a section 959(c)(2) PTEP group under paragraph (d)(1)(i)(A) or (B) of this section multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the portion of the previously taxed earnings and profits in the section 959(c)(2) PTEP group that become reclassified previously taxed earnings and profits, and the denominator of which is the total previously taxed earnings and profits in the section 959(c)(2) PTEP group. (3) Foreign income taxes deemed paid with respect to PTEP groups established for pre-2018 inclusion years. In the case of foreign income taxes paid or accrued in a taxable year of the controlled foreign corporation that began before January 1, 2018, with respect to an annual PTEP account, and a PTEP group within such account, that was established for an inclusion year that begins before January 1, 2018, the foreign income taxes are treated as PTEP group taxes of a controlled foreign corporation for purposes of this section only if those foreign income taxes were— (i) Not included in a controlled foreign corporation’s post-1986 foreign income taxes (as defined in section 902(c)(2) as in effect on December 21, PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 2017) used to compute foreign taxes deemed paid under section 902 (as in effect on December 21, 2017) in any taxable year that began before January 1, 2018; and (ii) Not treated as deemed paid under section 960(a)(3) (as in effect on December 21, 2017) by a domestic corporation that was a United States shareholder of the controlled foreign corporation. (e) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of this section. (1) Example 1: Establishment of PTEP groups and PTEP accounts—(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns all of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1 owns all of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. USP, CFC1, and CFC2 each use the calendar year as their U.S. taxable year. CFC1 and CFC2 use the ‘‘u’’ as their functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u = $1x. With respect to CFC2, USP includes in gross income a subpart F inclusion of 1,000,000u = $1,000,000x for the taxable year ending December 31, 2018. The inclusion is with respect to passive category income. In its U.S. taxable year ending December 31, 2019, CFC2 distributes 1,000,000u to CFC1. CFC2 has no earnings and profits except for the 1,000,000u of previously taxed earnings and profits resulting from USP’s 2018 taxable year subpart F inclusion. CFC2’s country of organization, Country X, imposes a withholding tax on CFC1 of 300,000u on CFC2’s distribution to CFC1. Under § 1.960– 1(d)(3)(ii), CFC1’s 300,000u of current year taxes are allocated and apportioned to the PTEP group within the annual PTEP account within the section 904 category to which the 1,000,000u of previously taxed earnings and profits are assigned. (ii) Analysis—(A) Under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, a separate annual PTEP account in the passive category for the 2018 taxable year is established for CFC2 as a result of USP’s subpart F inclusion. Under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, this account contains one PTEP group, section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP. (B) Under paragraph (c)(3) of this section, in the 2019 taxable year, the 1,000,000u related to the section 959(b) distribution from CFC2 is added to CFC1’s annual PTEP account for the 2018 taxable year in the passive category and to the section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within such account. Similarly, CFC2’s 2018 taxable year annual PTEP account within the passive category, and the section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within such account, is reduced by the amount of the 1,000,000u section 959(b) distribution to CFC1. Additionally, CFC1’s annual PTEP account for the 2018 taxable year in the passive category, and the section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within such account, is reduced by the 300,000u of withholding tax imposed on CFC1 by Country X. Therefore, CFC1’s annual PTEP account for the 2018 taxable year within the passive category and the section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within such account is 700,000u. (C) Under paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the 300,000u of withholding tax is translated E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations into U.S. dollars and $300,000x is added to the PTEP group taxes with respect to CFC1’s section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within the annual PTEP account for the 2018 taxable year within the passive category. (2) Example 2: Foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b)—(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% of the stock of CFC1, which in turn owns 60% of the stock of CFC2, which in turn owns 100% of the stock of CFC3. USP, CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 all use the calendar year as their U.S. taxable year. CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 all use the ‘‘u’’ as their functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u = $1x. On July 1, 2020, CFC2 distributes 600u to CFC1 and the entire distribution is a section 959(b) distribution (‘‘distribution 1’’). On October 1, 2020, CFC1 distributes 800u to USP and the entire distribution is a section 959(a) distribution (‘‘distribution 2’’). CFC1 and CFC2 make no other distributions in the year ending December 31, 2020, earn no other income, and incur no taxes on distribution 1 or distribution 2. Before taking into account distribution 1, CFC2 has 1,000u of section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an annual PTEP account for the 2016 taxable year within the general category. The previously taxed earnings and profits in CFC2’s PTEP group relate to subpart F income of CFC3 that was included by USP in 2016. CFC3 distributed the earnings and profits to CFC2 before the 2020 taxable year and, solely as a result of the distribution of the previously taxed earnings and profits, CFC2 incurred withholding and net basis tax, resulting in $150 of PTEP group taxes with respect to section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP. Before taking into account distribution 1 and distribution 2, CFC1 has 200u in section 951A PTEP within an annual PTEP account for the 2018 taxable year within the section 951A category. The previously taxed earnings and profits in CFC1’s PTEP group relate to the portion of a GILTI inclusion amount that was included by USP in 2018 and allocated to CFC2 under section 951A(f)(2) and § 1.951A–6(b)(2). CFC2 distributed the earnings and profits to CFC1 before the 2020 taxable year and, solely as a result of the distribution of the previously taxed earnings and profits, CFC1 incurred withholding and net basis tax, resulting in $25x of PTEP group taxes with respect to section 951A PTEP. (ii) Analysis—(A) Foreign income taxes deemed paid by CFC1. With respect to distribution 1 from CFC2 to CFC1, under paragraph (b)(4) of this section CFC1’s proportionate share of PTEP group taxes with respect to CFC2’s section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an annual PTEP account for the 2016 taxable year within the general category is $90x ($150x × 600u/1,000u). Under paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the amount of foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to distribution 1 is $90x. Accordingly, under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, CFC1 is deemed to have paid $90x of general category foreign income taxes of CFC2 with respect to its 600u section 959(b) distribution in the general category. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (B) Adjustments to PTEP accounts of CFC1 and CFC2. Under paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the 600u related to distribution 1 is added to CFC1’s section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an annual PTEP account for the 2016 taxable year within the general category. Similarly, CFC2’s section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an annual PTEP account for the 2016 taxable year within the general category is reduced by 600u, the amount of the section 959(b) distribution to CFC1. Additionally, under paragraph (d) of this section, CFC1’s PTEP group taxes with respect to its section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an annual PTEP account for the 2016 taxable year within the general category are increased by $90 and CFC2’s PTEP group taxes with respect to section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an annual PTEP account for the 2016 taxable year within the general category are reduced by $90x. (C) Foreign income taxes deemed paid by USP. With respect to distribution 2 from CFC1 to USP, because CFC1 has PTEP groups in more than one section 904 category, this section is applied separately to each section 904 category (that is, distribution 2 of 800u is applied separately to the 200u of CFC1’s section 951A PTEP and 600u of CFC1’s section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP). (1) Section 951A category. Under paragraph (b)(4) of this section, USP’s proportionate share of PTEP group taxes with respect to CFC1’s section 951A PTEP within an annual PTEP account for the 2018 taxable year within the section 951A category is $25x ($25x × 200u/200u). Under paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the amount of foreign income taxes within the section 951A category that are properly attributable to distribution 2 is $25x. Accordingly, under paragraph (b)(1) of this section USP is deemed to have paid $25x of section 951A category foreign income taxes of CFC1 with respect to its 200u section 959(a) distribution in the section 951A category. (2) General category. Under paragraph (b)(4) of this section, USP’s proportionate share of PTEP group taxes with respect to CFC1’s section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an annual PTEP account for the 2016 taxable year within the general category is $90x ($90x × 600u/600u). Under paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the amount of foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to distribution 2 is $90x. Accordingly, under paragraph (b)(1), USP is deemed to have paid $90x of general category foreign income taxes of CFC1 with respect to its 600u section 959(a) distribution in the general category. Par. 37. Section 1.960–4 is amended by: ■ 1. Removing the language ‘‘960(b)(1)’’ and adding the language ‘‘960(c)(1)’’ in its place wherever it appears. ■ 2. In paragraph (a)(1): ■ i. Removing the language ‘‘he’’ and adding the language ‘‘the taxpayer’’ in its place. ■ ii. Removing the language ‘‘subparagraph (2) of this paragraph’’ ■ PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69117 and adding the language ‘‘paragraph (a)(2) of this section’’ in its place. ■ iii. Adding two sentences at the end. ■ 3. Revising the last sentence of paragraph (d). ■ 4. Revising paragraph (f). The addition and revisions read as follows: § 1.960–4 Additional foreign tax credit in year of receipt of previously taxed earnings and profits. (a) * * * (1) * * * For purposes of this section, an amount included in gross income under section 951A(a) is treated as an amount included in gross income under section 951(a). The amount of the increase in the foreign tax credit limitation allowed by this section is determined with regard to each separate category of income described in § 1.904–5(a)(4)(v). * * * * * (d) * * * For purposes of this paragraph (d), the term ‘‘foreign income taxes’’ includes foreign income taxes paid or accrued, foreign income taxes deemed paid or accrued under section 904(c), and foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960 (or section 902 with respect to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning before January 1, 2018), for the taxable year of inclusion. * * * * * (f) Examples. The application of this section may be illustrated by the following examples: (1) Example 1. USP, a domestic corporation, owns all of the one class of stock of CFC, a controlled foreign corporation that uses the U.S. dollar as its functional currency. CFC, after paying foreign income taxes of $10x, has earnings and profits for Year 1 of $90x, all of which are attributable to an amount required under section 951(a) to be included in USP’s gross income for Year 1 because the income is general category foreign base company services income of CFC. Both corporations use the calendar year as the taxable year. For Year 2 and Year 3, CFC has no earnings and profits attributable to an amount required to be included in USP’s gross income under section 951(a); for each such year it makes a distribution of $45x (from its section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within the annual PTEP account for Year 1) from which a foreign income tax of $6x is withheld. For each of Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3, USP derives taxable income of $50x from sources within the United States and claims a foreign tax credit under section 901, subject to the limitation under section 904. The U.S. tax payable by USP is determined as follows, assuming a corporate tax rate of 21%: E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69118 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (f)(1) Year 1 Taxable income of USP: U.S. sources ..................................................................................................................................................... Sources without the U.S.: Amount required to be included in USP’s gross income under section 951(a) ....................................... Foreign income taxes deemed paid by USP under section 960(a) and included in USP’s gross income under section 78 ($10x × $90x/$90x) .......................................................................................... ........................ $50.00x $90.00x ........................ 10.00x 100.00x ........................ 150.00x ........................ 31.50x ........................ ........................ 10.00x 21.50x Taxable income of USP, consisting of income from U.S. sources ......................................................................... U.S. tax before credit ($50x × 21%) ........................................................................................................................ Section 904 limitation for Year 2: Limitation for Year 2 before increase under section 960(c)(1) ($10.50x × $0/$50x) ...................................... Plus: Increase in limitation for Year 2 under sec. 960(c)(1): Amount by which Year 1 limitation was increased by reason of inclusion in USP’s gross income under section 951(a) for Year 1 ($21x¥[($50x × 21%) × $0/$50x]) .................................................... Less: Foreign income taxes allowed as a credit for Year 1 which were allowable solely by reason of such section 951(a) inclusion ($10x¥$0) ............................................................................................. ........................ ........................ $50.00x 10.50x ........................ 10 21.00x ........................ 10.00x ........................ Balance .............................................................................................................................................. But: Such balance not to exceed foreign income taxes paid by USP for Year 2 with respect to $45x distribution excluded under section 959(a)(1) ($6x tax withheld) ......................................................... Limitation for Year 2 ......................................................................................................................................... U.S. tax payable for Year 2: U.S. tax before credit ($50x × 21%) ................................................................................................................ Credit: Foreign income taxes of $6x, but not to exceed limitation of $6x for Year 2 ...................................... U.S. tax payable ............................................................................................................................................... 11.00x ........................ 6.00x ........................ 6.00x 6.00x ........................ ........................ ........................ 10.50x 6.00x 4.50x Taxable income of USP, consisting of income from U.S. sources ......................................................................... U.S. tax before credit ($50x × 21%) ........................................................................................................................ Section 904 limitation for Year 3: Limitation for Year 3 before increase under section 960(c)(1) ($10.50x × $0/$50x) ...................................... Plus: Increase in limitation for Year 3 under section 960(c)(1): Amount by which Year 1 limitation was increased by reason of inclusion in USP’s gross income under section 951(a) for Year 1 ($21x¥[ ($50 × 21%) × $0/$50x] ) .................................................... Less: Foreign income taxes allowed as a credit for Year 1 which were allowable solely by reason of such section 951(a) inclusion ($10x¥$0) ............................................................................................. Tentative balance ...................................................................................................................................... Less: Increase in limitation under section 960(c)(1) for Year 2 by reason of such sec. 951(a) inclusion ........................ ........................ $50.00x 10.50x ........................ 0 $21.00x ........................ 10.00x 11.00x 6.00x ........................ ........................ ........................ Balance .............................................................................................................................................. But: Such balance not to exceed foreign income taxes paid by USP for Year 3 with respect to $45x distribution excluded under section 959(a)(1) ($6x tax withheld) ..................................................................... Limitation for Year 3 ......................................................................................................................................... U.S. tax payable for Year 3: U.S. tax before credit ($50x × 21%) ................................................................................................................ Credit: Foreign income taxes of $6, but not to exceed section 904(a) limitation of $5x ................................. U.S. tax payable ............................................................................................................................................... 5.00x ........................ 6.00x ........................ 5.00x 5.00x ........................ ........................ ........................ 10.50x 5.00x 5.50x Total taxable income .......................................................................................................................... U.S. tax payable for Year 1: U.S. tax before credit ($150x × 21%) .............................................................................................................. Credit: Foreign income taxes of $10x, but not to exceed the limitation of $21x for Year 1 ($100x/$150x × $31.50x) ........................................................................................................................................................ U.S. tax payable ............................................................................................................................................... TABLE 2 TO PARAGRAPH (f)(1) Year 2 TABLE 3 TO PARAGRAPH (f)(1) jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Year 3 (2) Example 2. The facts for Year 1 and Year 2 are the same as in paragraph (f)(1) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that in Year 0, in which USP also claimed a foreign tax credit under section 901, USP pays $11x of foreign income taxes in excess VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 of the general category limitation and such excess is not absorbed as a carryback to the prior year under section 904(c). Therefore, there is no increase under section 960(c)(1) in the limitation for Year 2 since the amount ($21x) by which the Year 1 limitation was PO 00000 Frm 00098 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 increased by reason of the inclusion in USP’s gross income for Year 1 under section 951(a), less the foreign income taxes ($21x) allowed as a credit which were allowable solely by reason of such inclusion, is zero. The foreign income taxes so allowed as a credit for Year E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations § 1.960–5 Credit for taxable year of inclusion binding for taxable year of exclusion. services income of CFC. For Year 1, USP chooses to claim a foreign tax credit for the $20x of foreign income taxes which for such year are paid by CFC and deemed paid by USP under section 960(a) and § 1.960–2(b). In Year 2, CFC distributes the entire $80x of Year 1 previously taxed earnings and profits, from which a foreign income tax of $8x is withheld. Also in Year 2, CFC pays $40x of interest to USP, from which a foreign income tax of $4x is withheld. For Year 2, USP chooses to claim deductions for its creditable foreign income taxes under section 164 rather than a foreign tax credit under section 901. (2) Analysis. Although USP does not choose to claim a foreign tax credit for Year 2, under section 960(c)(4) and paragraph (a) of this section it may not deduct the $8x of foreign income taxes under section 164. USP may, however, deduct under such section the foreign income tax of $4x which is withheld from the interest paid by CFC in Year 2. * ■ 1 which were allowable solely by reason of such section 951(a) inclusion consist of the $10 of foreign income taxes deemed paid for Year 1 under section 960(a) and the $11x of foreign income taxes for Year 0 carried over and deemed paid for Year 1 under section 904(c). Par. 38. Section 1.960–5 is amended by: ■ 1. In paragraph (a)(1): ■ i. Removing the language ‘‘951(a)’’ and adding the language ‘‘951(a) or 951A(a)’’ in its place. ■ ii. Removing the comma and adding a semicolon in its place. ■ 2. Revising paragraph (b). The revision reads as follows: ■ * * * * (b) Example. The application of this section may be illustrated by the following example: (1) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns all the one class of stock of CFC, a controlled foreign corporation. Both corporations use the calendar year as the taxable year and the functional currency of CFC is the U.S. dollar. All of CFC’s earnings and profits of $80x for Year 1 (after payment of foreign income taxes of $20x on its total income of $100x for such year) are attributable to amounts required under section 951(a) to be included in USP’s gross income for Year 1 because such income is general category foreign base company Par. 39. Section 1.960–6 is amended by removing the language ‘‘960(b)(1)’’ and adding the language ‘‘960(c)(1)’’ in its place in paragraph (a) and revising paragraph (b) to read as follows: § 1.960–6 Overpayments resulting from increase in limitation for taxable year of exclusion. * * * * * (b) Example. The application of this section may be illustrated by the following example: (1) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns all of the one class of stock of CFC, a controlled foreign corporation. Both 69119 corporations use the calendar year as the taxable year, and the functional currency of CFC is the U.S. dollar. For Year 1, CFC has total income of $100,000x on which it pays foreign income taxes of $20,000x. All of CFC’s earnings and profits for Year 1 of $80,000x are attributable to an amount which is required under section 951(a) to be included in USP’s gross income for Year 1 because such income is general category foreign base company services income of CFC. By reason of such income inclusion USP is deemed for Year 1 to have paid under section 960(a), and is required under section 78 to include in gross income for such year, the $20,000x ($20,000x × $80,000x/$80,000x) of foreign income taxes paid by CFC for such year. USP also derives $100,000x of taxable income from sources within the United States for Year 1. For Year 2, USP has $4,000x of taxable income, all of which is derived from sources within the United States. No part of CFC’s earnings and profits for Year 2 is attributable to an amount required under section 951(a) or section 951A(a) to be included in USP’s gross income. During Year 2, CFC makes one distribution consisting of its $80,000x earnings and profits for Year 1, all of which is excluded under section 959(a)(1) from USP’s gross income for Year 2, and from which distribution foreign income taxes of $1,000x are withheld. For Year 1 and Year 2, USP claims the foreign tax credit under section 901, subject to the limitation of section 904. (2) Analysis. The U.S. tax liability of USP is determined as follows for such years, assuming a corporate tax rate of 21%: TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (b)(2) Year 1 Taxable income of USP: U.S. sources ..................................................................................................................................................... Sources without the U.S.: Amount required to be included in USP’s gross income under section 951(a) ....................................... Foreign income taxes deemed paid by USP under section 960(a) and included in USP’s gross income under section 78 ($20,000x × $80,000x/$80,000x) ..................................................................... ........................ ........................ $80,000.00x $100,000.00x ........................ 20,000.00x 100,000.00x ........................ 200,000.00x Total taxable income .......................................................................................................................... U.S. tax payable for Year 1: U.S. tax before credit ( [$200,000x × 21%] ) ................................................................................................... Credit: Foreign income taxes of $20,000x, but not to exceed limitation of $21,000x ($42,000x × $100,000x/$200,000x) .................................................................................................................................. ........................ 42,000.00x ........................ 20,000.00x U.S. tax payable ........................................................................................................................................ ........................ 22,000.00x Taxable income of USP, consisting of income from U.S. sources ......................................................................... U.S. tax before credit ($4,000x × 21%) ................................................................................................................... Section 904 limitation for Year 2: Limitation for Year 2 before increase under section 960(c)(1) ($840x × $0/$4,000x) .................................... Plus: Increase in section 904 limitation for Year 2 under section 960(c)(1): Amount by which Year 1 limitation was increased by reason of inclusion in USP’s gross income under section 951(a) for Year 1 ($21,000x–[$21,000x × $0/$100,000x]) ............................................. Less: Foreign income taxes allowed as a credit for Year 1 which were allowable solely by reason of such section 951(a) inclusion ($20,000x–$0) ........................................................................................ ........................ ........................ $4,000x 840x ........................ 0 $21,000x ........................ 20,000x ........................ Balance .............................................................................................................................................. 1,000x ........................ TABLE 2 TO PARAGRAPH (b)(2) jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Year 2 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00099 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69120 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 2 TO PARAGRAPH (b)(2)—Continued But: Such balance not to exceed foreign income taxes paid by USP for Year 2 with respect to $80,000x distribution excluded under section 959(a)(1) ($1,000x tax withheld) .................................. Limitation for Year 2 ......................................................................................................................................... U.S. tax payable for Year 2: U.S. tax before credit ($4,000x × 21%) ........................................................................................................... Credit: Foreign income taxes of $1,000x, but not to exceed limitation of $1,000x for Year 2 ........................ U.S. tax payable ............................................................................................................................................... Overpayment of tax for Year 2: Increase in limitation under section 960(c)(1) for Year 2 ................................................................................ Less: Tax imposed for Year 2 under chapter 1 of the Code ........................................................................... Excess treated as overpayment ....................................................................................................................... Par. 40. Section 1.960–7 is revised to read as follows: ■ § 1.960–7 Applicability dates. Sections 1.960–1 through 1.960–6 apply to each taxable year of a foreign corporation that both begin after December 31, 2017, and ends on or after December 4, 2018, and to each taxable year of a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of the foreign corporation in which or with which such taxable year of such foreign corporation ends. ■ Par. 41. Section 1.965–5 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(1)(iii) to read as follows: § 1.965–5 Allowance of a credit or deduction for foreign income taxes. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 * * * * * (c) * * * (1) * * * (iii) Foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b) (as applicable to taxable years of controlled foreign corporations beginning after December 31, 2017, and to taxable years of United States persons in which or with which such taxable years of foreign corporations end). Paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section applies to foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b) (as in effect for a taxable year of a controlled foreign corporation beginning after December 31, 2017, and a taxable year of a United States person in which or with which such controlled foreign corporation’s taxable year ends) only if such taxes are deemed paid under § 1.960–3(b)(1) with respect to distributions to a domestic corporation of section 965(a) previously taxed earnings and profits or section 965(b) previously taxed earnings and profits. See also § 1.960–3(c)(2)(i), (ii), (vi), or (vii). Foreign income taxes that would have been deemed paid under section 960(a)(1) (as in effect on December 21, 2017) with respect to the portion of a section 965(a) earnings amount that was reduced under § 1.965–1(b)(2) or § 1.965–8(b) are not eligible to be deemed paid under section 960(b) and VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 § 1.960–3(b) or any other section of the Code. * * * * * § 1.965–7 [Amended] Par. 42. Section 1.965–7 is amended by removing the language ‘‘§ 1.904–5(a)’’ and adding in its place the language ‘‘§ 1.904–5(a)(4)(v)’’ in the last sentence of paragraph (e)(1)(i). ■ Par. 43. Section 1.965–9 is amended by: ■ 1. Removing the language ‘‘Sections 1.965–1 through 1.965–8 apply’’ and adding in its place the language ‘‘Except as otherwise provided in this section, §§ 1.965–1 through 1.965–8 apply’’ in paragraph (a). ■ 2. Adding paragraph (c). The addition reads as follows: ■ § 1.965–9 Applicability dates. * * * * * (c) Applicability date for certain portions of § 1.965–5. Paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of § 1.965–5 applies to taxable years of foreign corporations that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 2018, and with respect to a United States person, to the taxable years in which or with which such taxable years of the foreign corporations end. § 1.985–3 [Amended] Par. 44. Section 1.985–3 is amended by removing the language ‘‘§ 1.904– 5(a)(1)’’ and adding in its place the language ‘‘§ 1.904–5(a)(4)(v)’’ in the second sentence of paragraph (e)(2)(iv). ■ Par. 45. Section 1.986(a)–1 is added to read as follows: ■ § 1.986(a)–1 Translation of foreign income taxes for purposes of the foreign tax credit. (a) Translation of foreign income taxes taken into account when accrued—(1) In general. For purposes of this section, the term section 901 taxpayer means the ‘‘taxpayer’’ described in § 1.901–2(f)(1) and so includes a partnership or a specified 10percent owned foreign corporation (as defined in section 245A(b)) that has legal liability under foreign law for PO 00000 Frm 00100 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 1,000x ........................ 1,000x 1,000x ........................ ........................ ........................ 840x 1,000x None ........................ ........................ ........................ 1,000x 840x 160x foreign income tax. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, in the case of a section 901 taxpayer that takes foreign income taxes (as defined in section 986(a)(4) (including taxes described in section 903)) into account when accrued, the amount of any foreign income taxes denominated in foreign currency that has been paid or accrued, including additional tax liability denominated in foreign currency, foreign income taxes withheld in foreign currency, or estimated foreign income taxes paid in foreign currency, are translated into dollars using the weighted average exchange rate (as defined in § 1.989(b)–1) (the ‘‘average exchange rate’’) for the section 901 taxpayer’s U.S. taxable year (as defined in § 1.960–1(b)(37)) to which such foreign income taxes relate. See section 986(a)(1)(A). See section 988 and §§ 1.988–1(a)(2)(ii) and 1.988–2(c) for rules for determining whether and the extent to which there is a foreign currency gain or loss when an accrued functional currency amount of foreign income tax denominated in nonfunctional currency differs from the functional currency amount paid. (2) Exceptions—(i) Foreign income taxes not paid within 24 months. Any foreign income taxes denominated in foreign currency that are paid more than 24 months after the close of the section 901 taxpayer’s U.S. taxable year to which they relate are translated into dollars using the spot rate on the date of payment of the foreign income taxes. See section 986(a)(1)(B)(i) and (a)(2)(A). For purposes of this section and § 1.905–3, the term spot rate has the meaning provided in § 1.988–1(d). To the extent any accrued foreign income taxes denominated in foreign currency remain unpaid more than 24 months after the close of the taxable year to which they relate, see § 1.905–3 and paragraph (c) of this section for the required adjustments. (ii) Foreign income taxes paid before taxable year begins. Any foreign income taxes denominated in foreign currency that are paid before the beginning of the E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations section 901 taxpayer’s U.S. taxable year to which such taxes relate are translated into dollars using the spot rate on the date of payment of the foreign income taxes. See section 986(a)(1)(B)(ii) and (a)(2)(A). (iii) Inflationary currency. Any foreign income taxes denominated in a foreign currency that is an inflationary currency in the section 901 taxpayer’s U.S. taxable year to which the foreign income taxes relate, or in any subsequent taxable year up to and including the taxable year in which the taxes are paid, are translated into dollars using the spot rate on the date of payment of such taxes. For purposes of section 986(a)(1)(C) and this paragraph (a)(2)(iii), the term inflationary currency means the currency of a country in which there is cumulative inflation during the base period of at least 30 percent, as determined under the principles of § 1.985–1(b)(2)(ii)(D), where the base period, with respect to any taxable year, is the 36 months ending on the last day of such taxable year (in lieu of the base period described in § 1.985–1(b)(2)(ii)(D), which ends on the last day of the preceding calendar year). Accrued but unpaid foreign income taxes denominated in a foreign currency that is an inflationary currency in the taxable year accrued are translated into dollars at the spot rate on the last day of the section 901 taxpayer’s U.S. taxable year to which such taxes relate (provisional year-end rate). However, a U.S. taxpayer that claims a foreign tax credit under section 901 may choose to translate accrued but unpaid foreign income taxes (including foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960) denominated in a foreign currency that is an inflationary currency into dollars at the spot rate on the date of payment, in lieu of the provisional year-end rate, if such taxes are paid prior to the due date (with extensions) of the original Federal income tax return for the taxable year for which the credit is claimed and such return is timely filed. In all other cases, see § 1.905–3 and paragraph (c) of this section for required adjustments upon payment of accrued foreign income taxes denominated in an inflationary currency. (iv) Election to translate foreign income taxes using the spot rate as of date of payment—(A) Eligibility to make election. An individual or corporate taxpayer (including a specified 10percent owned foreign corporation) that is otherwise required to translate foreign income taxes that are denominated in foreign currency using the average exchange rate may elect to translate foreign income taxes described in this VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 paragraph (a)(2)(iv) into dollars using the spot rate on the date of payment of the foreign income taxes, provided that the liability for such taxes is denominated in nonfunctional currency. For purposes of section 986(a)(1)(D) and this paragraph (a)(2)(iv), whether the currency in which a tax liability attributable to a qualified business unit (within the meaning of section 989(a)) (QBU) is denominated is a nonfunctional currency is determined by reference to the functional currency of the individual or corporate taxpayer and not that of the QBU of the taxpayer. Accrued but unpaid foreign income taxes subject to the election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) are translated at the provisional year-end rate. However, a taxpayer that claims a foreign tax credit under section 901 may choose to translate accrued but unpaid foreign income taxes (including foreign taxes deemed paid under section 960 with respect to a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation that has made an election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv)) into dollars at the spot rate on the date of payment, in lieu of the provisional year-end rate, if such taxes are paid prior to the due date (with extensions) of the original return for the taxable year for which the credit is claimed and such return is timely filed. In all other cases, see § 1.905–3 and paragraph (c) of this section for required adjustments upon payment of accrued foreign income taxes that are translated into dollars at the spot rate on the date of payment. (B) Scope of election. In general, an individual taxpayer may make an election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) for all foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency, or only for those foreign income taxes that are denominated in nonfunctional currency and that are attributable to the individual’s non-QBU activities and all QBUs with dollar functional currencies. A corporate taxpayer may make an election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) for all foreign income taxes that are denominated in nonfunctional currency, or only for those foreign income taxes that are denominated in nonfunctional currency and that are attributable to all QBUs (including the corporate taxpayer) with dollar functional currencies. Therefore, an election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) may not be made for foreign income taxes that are denominated in a nonfunctional currency of the taxpayer and attributable to QBUs with non-dollar functional currencies, except as part of an election to translate all taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency at the spot rate on the date of payment. PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 69121 For purposes of this paragraph (a)(2)(iv)(B), foreign income tax is attributable to a QBU if the tax is properly recorded on the books and records of the QBU in accordance with sections 985 through 989. An election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) by a domestic corporation (or an individual that has made an election under section 962) does not apply to any taxes paid or accrued by foreign corporations with respect to which the individual or corporation is a United States shareholder. However, an election may be made on behalf of a foreign corporation to translate either all of the foreign corporation’s foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency, or only the foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency that are attributable to the foreign corporation’s QBUs with dollar functional currencies, using the spot rate on the date of payment. Such an election is made using the procedures under § 1.964–1(c)(3) that apply to permit controlling domestic shareholders to make or change a tax accounting election on behalf of a foreign corporation. (C) Time and manner of election. The election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) must be made by attaching a statement to the taxpayer’s timely filed Federal income tax or information return (including extensions) for the first taxable year to which the election applies. The statement must identify whether the election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) is made for all foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency or only for those foreign income taxes that are denominated in nonfunctional currency and that are either attributable to the taxpayer’s QBUs with dollar functional currencies or, in the case of an individual, attributable to non-QBU activities. Once made, the election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) applies for the taxable year for which made and all subsequent taxable years unless revoked with the consent of the Commissioner. (D) Example—(1) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation that uses the calendar year as its taxable year, owns a partnership interest in PS, a non-hybrid partnership organized in Country X. USP also owns an equity interest in HPS, a Country X corporation that has filed an entity classification election under § 301.7701–3 of this chapter to be treated as a partnership for Federal income tax purposes. USP also owns 100% of CFC, a Country Y controlled foreign corporation that uses the U.S. dollar as its functional currency. PS and HPS each use a fiscal year ending November 30 as its taxable year both for Federal income tax purposes and for Country X tax purposes, and their functional E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 69122 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 currency is the Euro. HPS is the section 901 taxpayer of foreign income taxes denominated in Euros that it pays to Country X and properly records on its books and records. USP takes its distributive share of the HPS taxes into account under sections 702(a)(6) and 901(b)(5) and §§ 1.702–1(a)(6) and 1.704–1(b)(4)(viii) in computing its foreign tax credit. USP is the section 901 taxpayer of Euro-denominated foreign income taxes it pays to Country X with respect to its distributive share of the income of PS, and also pays Country X taxes withheld in Euros from distributions from HPS to USP and properly records these taxes on its books and records. Pursuant to § 1.985–1(b)(1)(iii), USP’s functional currency is the dollar. USP timely elects under § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iv) to use the spot rate on the date of payment to translate into dollars its foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency that are attributable to all QBUs with dollar functional currencies. (2) Result. The Euro taxes paid by USP with respect to its distributive share of income from PS and the Euro taxes withheld from distributions from HPS are nonfunctional currency taxes attributable to USP, a QBU with a dollar functional currency. Accordingly, these taxes are translated into dollars at the spot rate on the date the taxes are paid. USP’s distributive share of the Euro taxes paid by HPS are attributable to HPS, a Euro functional currency QBU of USP. Because these taxes are not attributable to a dollar QBU of USP, they are not covered by USP’s election and so are translated into dollars at the average exchange rate for HPS’s U.S. taxable year ending on November 30. See § 1.986(a)– 1(a)(1). Foreign income taxes paid by CFC are not covered by USP’s election; however, if USP so chooses it may make a separate election on behalf of CFC to use the spot rate on the date of payment to translate either all of CFC’s nonfunctional currency taxes, or only those taxes that are attributable to CFC’s dollar QBUs (which includes CFC). If instead USP had elected to use the spot rate on the date of payment to translate all of its foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency, rather than only those taxes attributable to QBUs with dollar functional currencies, then the spot rate on the date of payment would apply to translate all of the Euro taxes paid or accrued by USP, including its distributive share of taxes paid by HPS. However, this election would still not apply to taxes paid or accrued by CFC. See § 1.986(a)–1(a)(2)(iv)(B). (v) Regulated investment companies. In the case of a regulated investment company (as defined in section 851) which takes into account income on an accrual basis, foreign income taxes paid or accrued with respect to such income are translated into dollars using the spot rate on the date the income accrues. See section 986(a)(1)(E). (b) Translation of foreign income taxes taken into account when paid. In the case of a section 901 taxpayer that takes foreign income taxes into account VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 when paid, the amount of any foreign income tax liability denominated in foreign currency, including additional income tax liability denominated in foreign currency or estimated foreign income taxes paid in foreign currency, are translated into dollars using the spot rate on the date of payment of such taxes. See section 986(a)(2)(A). Foreign income taxes withheld in foreign currency are translated into dollars using the spot rate on the date on which such taxes were withheld. (c) Refunds or other reductions of foreign income tax liability. In the case of a section 901 taxpayer that takes foreign income taxes into account when accrued, a reduction in the amount of previously-accrued foreign income taxes that is attributable to a refund of foreign income taxes, a credit allowed in lieu of a refund, or a reduction in or other downward adjustment to an accrued amount, including an adjustment on account of accrued foreign income taxes that were not paid by the date 24 months after the close of the U.S. taxable year to which such taxes relate, is translated into dollars using the exchange rate that was used to translate such amount when claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes (as defined in § 1.960–3(d)(1)). In the case of foreign income taxes taken into account when accrued but translated into dollars on the date of payment, see § 1.905–3(b) for required adjustments to reflect a foreign tax redetermination (as defined in § 1.905–3(a)) attributable to a reduction in the amount of previouslyaccrued foreign income taxes that is attributable to a difference in exchange rates between the date or taxable year of accrual and the date of payment. In the case of a section 901 taxpayer that takes foreign income taxes into account when paid, a refund or other reduction in or downward adjustment to the amount of foreign income taxes is translated into dollars using the exchange rate that was used to translate such amount when claimed as a credit. If a refund or other reduction of foreign income taxes relates to foreign income taxes paid or accrued on more than one date, then the refund or other reduction is deemed to be derived from, and reduces, the payments of foreign income taxes in order, starting with the most recent payment of foreign income taxes first, to the extent thereof. (d) Allocation of refunds of foreign income taxes. Refunds of foreign income taxes are allocated to the same separate category as the foreign income taxes to which the refunded taxes relate. Refunds are related to foreign income taxes in a separate category if the foreign income tax that was refunded was PO 00000 Frm 00102 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 imposed with respect to that separate category. See § 1.904–6 concerning the allocation of foreign income taxes to separate categories of income. (e) Basis of foreign currency refunded—(1) Nonfunctional currency tax liability and dollar functional currency. If the functional currency of the QBU that paid the tax and received the refund is the dollar or the person receiving the refund is not a QBU, then the recipient’s basis in the foreign currency refunded is the dollar value of the refund determined under paragraph (c) of this section by using the exchange rate that was used to translate such amount into dollars when claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes. (2) Nonfunctional currency tax liability and non-dollar functional currency. If the functional currency of the QBU receiving the refund is not the dollar and is different from the currency in which the foreign income taxes were paid, then the recipient’s basis in the refunded foreign currency is equal to the functional currency value of the nonfunctional currency refund, translated into functional currency at the appropriate exchange rate between the functional currency and the nonfunctional currency. Such exchange rate is determined under the principles of paragraph (c) of this section, substituting the words ‘‘functional currency’’ for the word ‘‘dollar’’ and using the exchange rate that was used to translate such amount into the QBU’s functional currency when claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes (as defined in § 1.960–3(d)(1)). If a QBU receives a refund of nonfunctional currency tax that is denominated in a currency that was the functional currency of the QBU when the refunded tax was claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes, the QBU’s basis in the nonfunctional currency received in the refund is determined by using the exchange rate used under § 1.985–5(c) when the QBU’s functional currency changed. See § 1.905–3(b)(1)(ii)(C) (Example 3). (3) Functional currency tax liabilities. If the functional currency of the QBU receiving the refund is the currency in which the refund was made, then the recipient’s basis in the currency received is the amount of the functional currency received. If the QBU receives a refund of functional currency tax that was denominated in a nonfunctional currency of the QBU when the tax was claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes, the QBU will recognize the section 988 gain or loss that would have been recognized under § 1.985–5(b) if the refund had been received E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / Rules and Regulations jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 immediately before the QBU’s functional currency changed. (4) Foreign currency gain or loss. For rules for determining subsequent foreign currency gain or loss on the disposition of nonfunctional currency, the basis of which is determined under this paragraph (e), see section 988(c)(1)(C). (f) Applicability dates. This section applies to taxable years ending on or after December 16, 2019, and to taxable years of foreign corporations which end with or within a taxable year of a United States shareholder ending on or after December 16, 2019. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:55 Dec 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 Par. 46. Section 1.988–2 is amended by: ■ 1. Removing the language ‘‘paragraph (a)(2)(iii)(B)’’ and adding the language ‘‘paragraphs (a)(2)(iii)(B) and (C)’’ in its place in paragraph (a)(2)(iii)(A). ■ 2. Adding paragraph (a)(2)(iii)(C). The additions read as follows: ■ § 1.988–2 Recognition and computation of exchange gain or loss. (a) * * * (2) * * * (iii) * * * (C) Basis in refunded foreign income tax. See § 1.986(a)–1(e) for rules relating PO 00000 Frm 00103 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 9990 69123 to the determination of basis in refunded foreign income tax denominated in nonfunctional currency. * * * * * Sunita Lough, Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement. Approved: October 30, 2019. David J. Kautter, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax Policy). [FR Doc. 2019–24848 Filed 12–16–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4830–01–P E:\FR\FM\17DER2.SGM 17DER2

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 17, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69022-69123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24848]



[[Page 69021]]

Vol. 84

Tuesday,

No. 242

December 17, 2019

Part II





Department of the Treasury





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Internal Revenue Service





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26 CFR Part 1





Foreign Tax Credit Guidance Related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, 
Overall Foreign Loss Recapture, and Foreign Tax Redeterminations; Final 
Rule and Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2019 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 69022]]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[TD 9882]
RIN 1545-BP19; 1545-BK55; 1545-AC09


Foreign Tax Credit Guidance Related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, 
Overall Foreign Loss Recapture, and Foreign Tax Redeterminations

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Final and temporary regulations, and removal of temporary 
regulations.

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SUMMARY: This document contains final regulations that provide guidance 
relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit under the 
Internal Revenue Code. The guidance relates to changes made to the 
applicable law by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was enacted on 
December 22, 2017. This document finalizes the proposed regulations 
published on December 7, 2018. This document also finalizes proposed 
regulations on overall foreign losses that were published on June 25, 
2012, and finalizes certain portions of proposed regulations published 
on November 7, 2007, relating to a U.S. taxpayer's obligation to notify 
the IRS of a foreign tax redetermination.

DATES: 
    Effective Date: These regulations are effective on December 17, 
2019.
    Applicability Dates: For dates of applicability, see Sec. Sec.  
1.861-8(h), 1.861-9(k), 1.861-10(f), 1.861-11(h), 1.861-13(d), 1.861-
17(i), 1.901(j)-1(b), 1.904-1(e), 1.904-2(k), 1.904-3(h), 1.904-4(q), 
1.904-5(o), 1.904-6(d), 1.904(b)-3(f), 1.904(f)-12(j)(6), 1.904(g)-
3(l), 1.905-3(d), 1.954-1(h), 1.960-7, 1.965-9(c), and 1.986(a)-1(f).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 
1.861-13, 1.861-17, and 1.904(b)-3, Jeffrey P. Cowan, (202) 317-4924; 
concerning Sec. Sec.  1.901(j)-1, 1.904-1 through 1.904-6, 1.904(f)-12, 
1.904(g)-3, 1.905-3, 1.954-1, 1.986(a)-1, Jeffrey L. Parry, (202) 317-
4916, or Larry R. Pounders, (202) 317-5465; concerning Sec.  1.960-1 
through 1.960-7, Suzanne M. Walsh, (202) 317-4908; concerning 
Sec. Sec.  1.965-5 and 1.965-9, Karen J. Cate, (202) 317-4667 (not 
toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

I. Proposed Regulations Implementing the TCJA

    On December 7, 2018, the Department of the Treasury (the ``Treasury 
Department'') and the IRS published proposed regulations (REG-105600-
18) relating to foreign tax credits in the Federal Register (83 FR 
63200) (the ``2018 FTC proposed regulations''). The 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations relate to changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Pub. 
L. 115-97, 131 Stat. 2054, 2208 (2017)) (the ``TCJA'') and other 
foreign tax credit issues. Terms used but not defined in this preamble 
have the meaning provided in these regulations (the ``final 
regulations'').
    A public hearing on the proposed regulations was scheduled for 
March 14, 2019, but it was not held because there were no requests to 
speak. The Treasury Department and the IRS also received written 
comments with respect to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations. Certain 
portions of the proposed regulations relating to Sec. Sec.  1.78-1, 
1.861-12(c)(2), and 1.965-7(e) were finalized as part of TD 9866, 
published in the Federal Register (84 FR 29288) on June 21, 2019. 
Comments received that do not pertain to the rules in the proposed 
regulations or that are otherwise outside the scope of this rulemaking 
are generally not addressed in this preamble but may be considered in 
future guidance projects addressing the issues discussed in the 
comments. All written comments received in response to the 2018 FTC 
proposed regulations are available at www.regulations.gov or upon 
request.

II. Proposed Regulations Relating to Overall Foreign Loss Recapture on 
Property Dispositions

    On June 25, 2012, the Federal Register published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking at 77 FR 37837 (the ``2012 OFL proposed 
regulations'') proposing rules for the coordination of the rules for 
determining high-taxed income with capital gains adjustments and the 
allocation and recapture of overall foreign losses and overall domestic 
losses, as well as the coordination of the recapture of overall foreign 
losses on certain dispositions of property and other rules concerning 
overall foreign losses and overall domestic losses. One comment was 
received concerning the 2012 OFL proposed regulations. A public hearing 
was not requested and none was held.

III. Proposed and Temporary Regulations Under Sections 905(c) and 
986(a)

    On June 23, 1988, the Federal Register published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking by cross-reference to temporary regulations (TD 
8210) (the ``1988 temporary regulations'') at 53 FR 23659 and 53 FR 
23611, respectively, relating to a taxpayer's obligation under section 
905(c) to notify the IRS of a foreign tax redetermination or to make 
adjustments to the pools of post-1986 undistributed earnings and 
foreign income taxes of the taxpayer's foreign subsidiaries. The 1988 
temporary regulations also provided guidance regarding the civil 
penalty under section 6689 for failure to file the notice required 
under section 905(c). In response to the written comments received on 
the 1988 temporary regulations, on March 16, 1990, the Treasury 
Department and the IRS issued Notice 90-26, 1990-1 C.B. 336, which 
suspended the portion of the 1988 temporary regulations that provided 
rules for accounting for foreign tax redeterminations that affect the 
calculation of the indirect foreign tax credit under sections 902 and 
960.
    On May 15, 2006, the Treasury Department and the IRS issued Notice 
2006-47, 2006-1 C.B. 892, which provides interim rules allowing a 
taxpayer that otherwise would be required to use an average exchange 
rate translation convention to elect to translate foreign income taxes 
into U.S. dollars (dollars) using the exchange rates when the taxes 
were paid, either for all foreign income taxes or only for those 
foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency that are 
attributable to qualified business units within the meaning of section 
989(a) (QBUs) with dollar functional currencies.
    On November 7, 2007, the Federal Register published new temporary 
regulations (T.D. 9362) (the ``2007 temporary regulations'') at 72 FR 
62771 and published a partial withdrawal of the notice of proposed 
rulemaking relating to the 1988 temporary regulations and a new notice 
of proposed rulemaking by cross-reference to the 2007 temporary 
regulations at 72 FR 62805. Corrections to the temporary and proposed 
regulations were published on December 19, 2007, in the Federal 
Register (72 FR 71787 and 72 FR 71842, respectively). Comments were 
received concerning the 2007 temporary regulations. A public hearing 
was not requested and none was held. The 2007 temporary regulations 
expired on November 5, 2010.

[[Page 69023]]

    As part of the TCJA, section 905(c) was amended to reflect the 
repeal of section 902, by eliminating the provisions allowing for 
adjustments to pools of post-1986 undistributed earnings and foreign 
income taxes. The TCJA made no changes to section 986(a) or 6689.
    This Treasury decision adopts certain portions of the proposed 
regulations under sections 905(c) and 986(a) that were published in 
connection with the 2007 temporary regulations. References in this 
preamble to the 2007 temporary regulations are understood to refer to 
the corresponding provisions of the accompanying proposed regulations. 
In particular, this Treasury decision finalizes (1) the currency 
translation rules (which are moved from Sec.  1.905-3T(b) to Sec.  
1.986(a)-1)), (2) the definition of foreign tax redetermination in 
Sec.  1.905-3T(c), (3) the rules under Sec.  1.905-3T(d)(1) requiring a 
redetermination of U.S. tax liability with respect to foreign income 
taxes other than those that are deemed paid under section 960, and (4) 
the rules in Sec.  1.905-3T(e) relating to foreign income taxes imposed 
on foreign tax refunds. Portions of the 2007 temporary regulations 
relating to prospective pooling adjustments are not included in the 
final regulations in light of the TCJA's repeal of section 902 and 
related amendments to section 905(c).
    Section 1.905-3T(d)(2), which addresses redeterminations that 
affect foreign taxes deemed paid under section 960, Sec.  1.905-4T, 
which in general provides the procedural rules for how to notify the 
IRS of a foreign tax redetermination, and Sec.  301.6689-1T, which 
provides rules for the penalty for failure to notify the IRS of a 
foreign tax redetermination, are not included in this Treasury 
decision. Although the underlying substantive rule requiring 
redeterminations of U.S. tax liability has not changed, in light of the 
elimination of prospective pooling adjustments (which in many cases 
obviated the need for U.S. tax redeterminations), the Treasury 
Department and the IRS anticipate that there will be significantly more 
instances in which taxpayers must redetermine their U.S. tax liability 
with respect to a prior taxable year by reason of a foreign tax 
redetermination with respect to a controlled foreign corporation 
(``CFC''). As a result, the Treasury Department and the IRS have 
determined that the rules under Sec. Sec.  1.905-3T(d)(2), 1.905-4T, 
and 301.6689-1T should be reissued as a notice of proposed rulemaking 
in order to allow taxpayers an additional opportunity to comment on 
those rules. These regulations are available in a notice of proposed 
rulemaking in the Proposed Rules section of this issue of the Federal 
Register (the ``2019 FTC proposed regulations'').

IV. Technical Amendment to Regulations Issued Under Section 905

    This Treasury Decision also makes a technical amendment to Sec.  
1.905-2(a)(2). Regulations issued under Sec.  1.905-2 address the 
forms, information, and evidence required to claim a foreign tax 
credit. On December 31, 1964, the Federal Register published changes 
(T.D. 6789) at 29 FR 19241 to the then existing regulations under Sec.  
1.905-2, including a sentence at Sec.  1.905-2(a)(2) providing that if 
a foreign receipt or return is in a foreign language, a certified 
translation thereof must be furnished by the taxpayer. On January 27, 
1998, the Federal Register published additional changes (T.D. 8759) at 
63 FR 3812 to Sec.  1.905-2. However, the Federal Register 
inadvertently deleted the sentence in Sec.  1.905-2(a)(2) requiring 
certified translations of a foreign receipt or return in a foreign 
language. This Treasury Decision restores the inadvertently deleted 
sentence to Sec.  1.905-2(a)(2).

Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions

I. Overview

    The final regulations retain the basic approach and structure of 
the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, with certain revisions. Parts I 
through III and V of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of 
Revisions discuss those revisions as well as comments received in 
response to the solicitation of comments in the 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations. Part III.I of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of 
Revisions discusses the revisions and comments received with respect to 
the 2012 OFL proposed regulations. Part IV of this Summary of Comments 
and Explanation of Revisions discusses the revisions with respect to 
the 2007 temporary regulations relating to sections 905(c) and 986(a). 
Finally, Part VI of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of 
Revisions addresses the applicability dates for the final regulations.

II. Allocation and Apportionment of Deductions and the Calculation of 
Taxable Income for Purposes of Section 904(a)

A. Allocation of Expenses to Section 951A Category

    A taxpayer determines its foreign tax credit limitation under 
section 904, in part, based on the taxpayer's taxable income from 
sources without the United States. The 2018 FTC proposed regulations 
provide that, in general, the regulations under sections 861 through 
865 that provide rules for allocating and apportioning deductions to 
determine the taxpayer's taxable income from sources without the United 
States apply to income described in section 904(d)(1)(A) (the ``section 
951A category'').
    Some comments requested that regulations provide that no expenses 
should be allocated to the section 951A category in order to ensure 
that income of a United States shareholder (``U.S. shareholder'') 
derived through a CFC would be effectively exempt from additional U.S. 
tax if the foreign effective tax rate is greater than or equal to a 
particular rate. These comments generally cite language in H.R. Rep. 
115-466 (2017) (the ``Conference Report'') illustrating that no U.S. 
``residual tax'' applies to foreign earnings subject to a foreign 
effective tax rate of 13.125 percent or more. These comments suggest 
that not requiring expenses to be allocated to the section 951A 
category allows GILTI to function as a ``minimum tax.'' Alternatively, 
some comments suggested that expense allocation be eliminated if the 
taxpayer establishes that net CFC tested income is subject to a minimum 
foreign effective tax rate of 13.125 percent, or that expense 
allocation to the section 951A category be eliminated until section 
864(f)(1) (providing an election to allocate interest expense on a 
worldwide basis) becomes effective. One comment suggested a 
fundamentally different approach to expense allocation that would allow 
taxpayers to prorate the allocation of expenses to certain foreign 
source income based on a ratio of the foreign tax rate with the U.S. 
tax rate, and recalculate U.S. income tax liability after disallowing 
the prorated expenses allocated to foreign source income. One comment 
suggested that after the TCJA the United States no longer relies on the 
general principle of a foreign tax credit to relieve double taxation, 
and that allocation of any expenses to section 951A category income is 
therefore inconsistent with U.S. treaty obligations to exempt the 
income from U.S. tax. One comment agreed with the approach of the 
proposed regulations requiring expense allocation to the section 951A 
category, noting that the application of the expense allocation rules 
is important to minimize the potential for base erosion.
    As explained in Part I of the Explanation of Provisions section of 
the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, the TCJA did not provide for any 
changes to

[[Page 69024]]

how the generally applicable rules for computing taxable income within 
each separate category should apply with respect to the new section 
951A category, and other provisions added in the TCJA are inconsistent 
with the notion that Congress intended effectively to exempt section 
951A category income that was subject to a certain foreign effective 
tax rate. Therefore, the Treasury Department and the IRS have 
determined that the statute requires that expenses be allocated and 
apportioned to the section 951A category. This approach is also 
consistent with U.S. treaty obligations, which preserve the right of 
the United States to limit allowable foreign tax credits ``in 
accordance with the provisions and subject to the limitations of the 
law of the United States (as it may be amended from time to time 
without changing the general principles hereof) . . . '' See Article 
23, Par. 2 of the 2016 U.S. Model Treaty.
    This approach is confirmed by the Joint Committee on Taxation's 
Explanation of the TJCA, which states that Congress intended that the 
foreign tax credit limitation in the section 951A category, like any 
other separate category, is calculated by taking into account expenses 
allocable to income in that category. See Joint Comm. on Tax'n, General 
Explanation of Public Law 115-97, at 381 n. 1753 (``As under the law 
prior to enactment of the Act, U.S. shareholders are required to 
allocate expenses to foreign-source income for foreign tax credit 
limitation purposes based on principles applicable prior to the 
enactment of the Act.''). The Joint Committee's explanation also 
elaborates on the statement cited in the Conference Report that is 
cited by the comments, and clarifies that the ability to fully utilize 
foreign tax credits to eliminate U.S. tax liability at a foreign 
effective tax rate of 13.125 percent is possible only if it is assumed, 
``among other things, . . . that the domestic corporation has no 
expenses.'' Id. at 381. The Explanation acknowledges that absent the 
assumption of there being no expenses, ``the results . . . may 
change.'' Id.
    Accordingly, the final regulations do not alter the requirement 
under the Code for deductions to be allocated and apportioned to the 
section 951A category. However, the 2019 FTC proposed regulations 
provide certain additional rules under Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 
1.861-17, including rules that will have the effect of precluding the 
allocation and apportionment of certain research and experimentation 
expenses to the section 951A category. In addition, Part I.A.5 of the 
Explanation of Provisions of the 2019 FTC proposed regulations states 
that the Treasury Department and the IRS are studying whether further 
guidance with respect to the allocation and apportionment of interest 
expenses is necessary, and request comments on this topic.

B. General Rules Relating to the Allocation and Apportionment of 
Expenses

1. Definitions of Exempt Income and Exempt Asset
    The 2018 FTC proposed regulations make certain clarifying changes 
to the definitions of exempt income and exempt asset in proposed Sec.  
1.861-8(d)(2)(ii). Additionally, those regulations address the 
treatment of the deduction under section 250(a)(1) (the ``section 250 
deduction'') for purposes of the exempt income and assets rule. Under 
proposed Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(1), the portion of a domestic 
corporation's income that is foreign derived intangible income 
(``FDII'') or results from an inclusion under section 951A(a) (a 
``GILTI inclusion''), and the corresponding amount treated as a 
dividend under section 78 (``section 78 dividend''), is treated as 
exempt income based on the amount of the section 250 deduction allowed 
to the U.S. shareholder. Proposed Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2) treats 
an equivalent portion of the domestic corporation's assets that give 
rise to FDII, or the stock of the CFC that gives rise to the GILTI 
inclusion, as an exempt asset.
    One comment argued that the full allocation of expenses to the 
section 951A is needed to prevent base erosion. The comment recommended 
that the rules in proposed Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C) that treat income 
offset by the section 250 deduction as exempt income and the assets 
that give rise to that income as exempt assets are inappropriate and 
should be withdrawn. Another comment agreed with the approach of the 
proposed regulations.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the 
treatment of the section 250 deduction as giving rise to exempt income 
is consistent with the legislative history, which states that Congress 
``intends for the [section 250 deduction to] be treated as exempting 
the deducted income from tax.'' See Senate Committee on Finance, 
Explanation of the Bill, S. Prt. 115-20 at 376 n.1210 (November 22, 
2017). The approach is also consistent with the treatment under section 
864(e)(3) of certain deductions allowed under sections 243 and 245(a). 
Accordingly, the final regulations adopt the rules from the 2018 FTC 
proposed regulations regarding the treatment of the section 250 
deduction for purposes of the exempt income and asset provisions. See 
Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C).
    One comment requested that the final regulations clarify the 
requirement to identify assets that produce gross income included in 
FDII for purposes of determining the portion of a taxpayer's assets 
that are treated as exempt by reason of having FDII. In particular, the 
comment stated that it would be difficult to identify assets that 
produce FDII, and that tangible assets should be treated differently 
due to the exemption for qualified business asset investment (``QBAI'') 
under section 250(b)(2)(B). As a result, the comment recommended that 
FDII-related assets should not be treated as exempt assets. 
Alternatively, the comment recommended a formulary approach, which 
would take into account only basis of intangible assets that gave rise 
to either deduction eligible income (as defined in section 250(b)(3)) 
or foreign derived deduction eligible income (``FDDEI'') (as defined in 
section 250(b)(4)). Another comment suggested that the rule be modified 
to refer to assets that produce FDDEI rather than FDII.
    Following the issuance of the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, the 
Treasury Department and the IRS issued rules under section 250 
providing that the determination of FDDEI requires applying Sec. Sec.  
1.861-8 through 1.861-14T and 1.861-17 to allocate and apportion 
deductions between gross income derived from sales and services that 
are FDDEI (``gross FDDEI'') versus gross income that is not gross 
FDDEI. See proposed Sec.  1.250(b)-1. In light of these changes, the 
Treasury Department and the IRS agree with the comment that proposed 
Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2) should be revised to refer to assets that 
produce gross FDDEI. As a result of this change, the final regulations 
generally do not impose any additional requirements for identifying 
assets that produce gross FDDEI beyond what is necessary in order to 
determine the amount of the section 250 deduction. In addition, the 
final regulations do not limit application of the exempt asset rule to 
intangible assets because the effect of QBAI is already taken into 
account in determining the amount of the section 250 deduction and 
therefore reduces the fraction used in Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2) to 
determine the portion of an asset that is exempt.
    Under proposed Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(1), the amount of income 
treated as exempt as a result of the section 250 deduction is the 
amount of gross income offset by the section 250

[[Page 69025]]

deduction. In order to conform the exempt asset rule with respect to 
FDII to the exempt income rule, Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2) provides 
that the portion of assets that produce gross FDDEI which is treated as 
exempt is determined by dividing the portion of the section 250 
deduction relating to FDII by the taxpayer's gross FDDEI, instead of 
its FDII. This recognizes that gross FDDEI, and not FDII, reflects the 
gross income which the section 250 deduction is effectively exempting. 
The final regulations will have the effect of significantly reducing 
the portion of assets that are exempt by reason of FDII and, therefore, 
the revisions address the comments that the 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations' approach overstated the portion of assets that are exempt 
by reason of the section 250 deduction with respect to FDII.
    The 2018 FTC proposed regulations also confirm that earnings and 
profits excluded from income under section 959 (``previously taxed 
earnings and profits'') do not result in any portion of the stock in a 
CFC being treated as an exempt asset. Proposed Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(iv). 
One comment suggested adding the word ``solely'' to proposed Sec.  
1.861-8(d)(2)(iv) in order to clarify that stock that is not exempt by 
reason of earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1) or (c)(2) 
can nonetheless be partially exempt under other rules. The adjustment 
to stock value in respect of earnings and profits under section 
864(e)(4) and Sec.  1.861-12(c)(2) precedes the application of the 
exempt asset rules of section 864(e)(3) and Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2), and 
the determination of whether stock is exempt is unrelated to whether 
the value of the stock was adjusted by reference to previously taxed 
earnings and profits. Proposed Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(iv) was merely 
intended to clarify existing law in order to preclude taxpayers from 
taking unreasonable positions inconsistent with section 864(e)(4), and 
the rule is clear that it is limited to precluding arguments that stock 
is exempt ``by reason of'' an adjustment under Sec.  1.861-12(c)(2) for 
previously taxed earnings and profits. Therefore, the addition of the 
word ``solely'' is unnecessary, and the comment is not adopted.
2. Application to Insurance Companies in Connection With Certain 
Dividends and Tax-Exempt Interest
    One comment to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations suggested that 
insurance companies reduce exempt income and assets to reflect prorated 
amounts of dividends and tax exempt interest. See sections 805(a)(4), 
807, 812, and 832(b)(5)(B). This comment is addressed in Part I.A.4 of 
the Explanation of Provisions of the 2019 FTC proposed regulations.
3. Allocation and Apportionment of the Section 250 Deduction
    Proposed Sec.  1.861-8(e)(13) and (14) provide rules for allocating 
and apportioning (i) the portion of the section 250 deduction for FDII 
and (ii) the portion of the section 250 deduction for the GILTI 
inclusion and the amount of the section 78 dividend attributable to 
foreign taxes deemed paid with respect to the GILTI inclusion. In 
particular, proposed Sec.  1.861-8(e)(13) provides that the portion of 
the section 250 deduction for FDII is treated as definitely related and 
allocable to the specific class of gross income that is included in the 
taxpayer's FDDEI, and that the deduction is apportioned between the 
statutory and residual grouping based on the FDDEI in each grouping.
    A comment expressed concern that, to the extent that the portion of 
the section 250 deduction for FDII is allocated to foreign source 
income, it would reduce the ability to claim foreign tax credits. The 
comment recommended not apportioning this portion of the deduction to 
FDDEI. Under sections 861 and 862, a taxpayer must determine its 
taxable income by deducting from gross income the deductions properly 
apportioned or allocated thereto. Under Sec.  1.861-8, deductions are 
generally allocated and apportioned based on a factual relationship 
between the deductions and gross income. Because a portion of the 
section 250 deduction for FDII is factually related to the taxpayer's 
FDDEI, under the principles of Sec.  1.861-8 that portion of the 
section 250 deduction is allocated to that income, regardless of 
whether the FDDEI is U.S. or foreign source. Accordingly, this comment 
is not adopted.
4. Allocation and Apportionment of State Income Taxes
    The 2018 FTC proposed regulations did not make any changes to the 
rules in Sec.  1.861-8(e)(6) for allocating and apportioning state 
income taxes, which were finalized in 1991 (T.D. 8337). The final 
regulations also make no changes to these rules but remove Examples 28 
through 33 in Sec.  1.861-8(g), which apply the rules in Sec.  1.861-
8(e)(6) to fact patterns involving foreign subsidiaries, pending 
further study by the Treasury Department and the IRS as to whether the 
rules in Sec.  1.861-8(e)(6) should be revised. See Part II.B of the 
Explanation of Provisions to the 2019 FTC proposed regulations 
(requesting comments on Sec.  1.861-8(e)(6)).

C. Allocation and Apportionment of Interest Expense

1. Special Rule for Specified Partnership Loans
    The 2018 FTC proposed regulations included rules addressing the 
source and separate category of interest income and expense related to 
loans to a partnership by a U.S. person (or a member of its affiliated 
group) that owns an interest (directly or indirectly) in the 
partnership. These loans are referred to as specified partnership 
loans. Proposed Sec.  1.861-9(e)(8)(vi)(C). Under proposed Sec.  1.861-
9(e)(8)(ii), the lender in these transactions is generally required to 
match the source and separate category of the interest income and 
expense by assigning the interest income to the same statutory and 
residual groupings from which the interest expense is deducted. The 
portion of the loan that corresponds to the matched income and expense 
is not taken into account for purposes of allocating and apportioning 
the lender's remaining interest expense. Proposed Sec.  1.861-
9(e)(8)(i). The 2018 FTC proposed regulations also include anti-
avoidance rules to extend the application of these provisions to 
certain back-to-back loans or loans made through CFCs. See proposed 
Sec.  1.861-9(e)(8)(iii) and (iv).
    One comment suggested modifying the language in proposed Sec.  
1.861-9(e)(8)(ii) to clarify that the rules for specified partnership 
loans apply solely to match existing income and expense related to the 
loan, and therefore the rules do not create additional gross income. 
The final regulations clarify the language of the 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations consistent with the comment. See Sec.  1.861-9(e)(8)(ii).
    The same comment requested clarification with respect to the anti-
avoidance rule in proposed Sec.  1.861-9(e)(8)(iii). Proposed Sec.  
1.861-9(e)(8)(iii) provides that if instead of loaning directly to a 
partnership, a partner instead enters into a back-to-back loan 
structure through an unrelated person, then the series of loans will be 
recharacterized as a direct loan to the partnership if there was a 
principal purpose of avoiding the rules in proposed Sec.  1.861-
9(e)(8). A per se rule provides that a series of loans will be subject 
to the recharacterization rule without regard to the principal purpose 
test if the loan to the unrelated person would not have been made or 
maintained on substantially the same terms irrespective of the loan of 
funds

[[Page 69026]]

by the unrelated person to the partnership. The comment requested that 
the per se rule be converted to an adverse factor in determining 
whether a principal purpose of avoidance exists.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that a loan to 
an unrelated person that would not have been made or maintained on 
substantially the same terms if the unrelated person did not loan the 
funds to the partnership in which the original lender (or an affiliate 
of the original lender) has a direct or indirect interest is 
necessarily made with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules in 
Sec.  1.861-9(e)(8). In addition, this rule is parallel to a similar 
anti-avoidance rule in Sec.  1.861-11T(e)(3) that applies to loans 
between members of an affiliated group. The Treasury Department and the 
IRS have determined that a similar standard should apply in both cases. 
Therefore, the comment is not adopted.
    The comment also requested clarification with respect to the anti-
avoidance rule in proposed Sec.  1.861-9(e)(8)(iv), which provides that 
certain loans to a partnership held by a CFC will be treated as held 
directly by the U.S. shareholder of the CFC if the loan was made or 
transferred with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules of proposed 
Sec.  1.861-9(e)(8). The comment requested further guidance as to when 
a CFC loan to a partnership is considered to have a principal purpose 
of avoidance. The final regulations do not provide further guidance on 
the determination of principal purpose, which is a highly factual and 
case specific inquiry. The comment further requested clarification as 
to the tax consequences that arise when the loan is deemed to be held 
by the U.S. shareholder under the rule, and requested an example that 
would illustrate the operation of these rules. The final regulations 
clarify the operation of Sec.  1.861-9(e)(8)(i), which generally 
requires that the U.S. person that owns a direct or indirect interest 
in the partnership disregard a portion of the loan receivable for 
purposes of allocating any other interest expense of the U.S. person. 
Where this anti-avoidance rule applies, the loan receivable is held by 
the CFC rather than its U.S. shareholder (which has the direct or 
indirect interest in the partnership), and thus merely disregarding the 
loan receivable would not affect the interest expense allocated by the 
U.S. shareholder because the relevant asset to the U.S. shareholder is 
the stock of the CFC that holds the loan receivable. Accordingly, the 
final regulations provide that appropriate adjustments are made to the 
value and characterization of the U.S. shareholder's stock in the CFC 
to reflect the amount of the loan that is disregarded under Sec.  
1.861-9(e)(8)(i). The final regulations also provide examples that 
illustrate the application of Sec.  1.861-9(e)(8) in general. See Sec.  
1.861-9(e)(8)(vii).
    Several comments requested that the rules for specified partnership 
loans be expanded to cover loans made by a partnership to a partner 
(``upstream partnership loans'') so that the treatment of loans by 
partners to partnerships and vice versa would be parallel for purposes 
of determining the source and separate category of the associated 
interest income and expense. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree 
that providing similar rules for upstream partnership loans is 
appropriate. Therefore, the 2019 FTC proposed regulations provide 
similar rules for determining the source and separate category of 
interest income and expense with respect to upstream partnership loans. 
These rules are being proposed in order to provide taxpayers an 
additional opportunity to comment on the rule. To better coordinate the 
terminology between Sec.  1.861-9(e)(8) and the rules addressing 
upstream partnership loans in the 2019 FTC proposed regulations, all 
references in the final regulations to a specified partnership loan, or 
SPL, are changed to downstream partnership loan, or DPL, respectively.
2. Treatment of Limited Partners Under Sec.  1.861-9(e)(4)
    Proposed Sec.  1.861-9(e)(4)(i) requires that limited partners and 
corporate general partners with less than 10 percent ownership in a 
partnership directly allocate their distributive share of partnership 
interest expense to their share of partnership gross income, which is 
generally treated as passive category income under proposed Sec.  
1.904-4(n)(1)(ii). One comment requested that the direct allocation 
rule be revised such that individuals that are partners with less than 
10 percent ownership in a limited liability company or limited 
liability partnership be treated per se as limited partners.
    Whether a partner is a general partner or limited partner is 
determined under general partnership law principles and therefore 
further guidance on this issue is outside the scope of the regulations. 
Accordingly, the comment is not adopted. See also Part III.E of this 
Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions for changes conforming 
the treatment of corporate and individual general partners.
3. Direct Allocation of Interest Expense for Certain Financing 
Companies
    The general method to allocate and apportion interest expense, as 
provided in Sec.  1.861-9T(a), is based on the principle that money is 
fungible and interest expense is attributable to all activities and 
property regardless of any specific purpose for incurring an obligation 
on which interest is paid. See H.R. Rep. No. 99-426, at 374 (1986) 
(``With limited exceptions, the committee believes that it is 
appropriate for taxpayers to allocate and apportion interest expense on 
the basis that money is fungible.''). The 2018 FTC proposed regulations 
do not alter this approach. However, one comment requested that a 
finance company that borrowed money to fund loans to customers should 
be permitted to directly allocate the expense to the extent of interest 
income from the financing activity. The comment does not identify any 
reasons why debt of a financing company cannot be used to fund income 
of the entire group (either directly through the proceeds or by freeing 
up capital elsewhere in the group). To the extent the financing entity 
is a ``financial corporation,'' the rules in Sec.  1.861-11T(d)(4) 
allow for separate treatment of income of financial corporations versus 
nonfinancial corporations. Therefore, the Treasury Department and the 
IRS have determined that an exception to the general rule of 
fungibility for finance companies is unwarranted.
4. Election To Use the Alternative Tax Book Value Method
    One comment requested that the final regulations suspend 
restrictions on changing any elections under either the foreign tax 
credit or expense allocation rules, including any elections included in 
these final regulations, whether from year-to-year or a retroactive 
basis, for a three-year period beginning in 2018. The only election 
identified by the comment letter is the election to use the alternative 
tax book value method for apportioning interest expense.
    Allowing annual or retroactive changes to the decision to use the 
alternative tax book value method would create significant compliance 
concerns for taxpayers and administrability concerns for the IRS 
because each change in method will require adjusting asset bases and 
depreciation schedules to reflect the new method. Therefore, the 
comment is not adopted. However, the final regulations provide 
additional time for taxpayers to change between the sales and gross 
income methods for purposes of allocating and apportioning research

[[Page 69027]]

and experimental (``R&E'') expenditures. See Part II.D. of this Summary 
of Comments and Explanation of Revisions.
5. Valuation of Assets for Purposes of Apportioning Interest Expense
    In general, under the tax book value method or alternative tax book 
value method of interest apportionment, a taxpayer must determine the 
value of its assets based on an average of the tax book value of the 
asset at the beginning and end of the year. See proposed Sec.  1.861-
9(g)(2)(i)(A). Before the TCJA, taxpayers could elect to use the fair 
market value method, which required a determination of the fair market 
value of the asset as of the last day of the year. However, the fair 
market value method was repealed as part of the TJCA. See section 
864(e)(2). In order to provide transitional relief with respect to the 
TJCA's repeal of the fair market value method, proposed Sec.  1.861-
9(g)(2)(i)(A) provides that for the first taxable year beginning after 
December 31, 2017, a taxpayer that had been using the fair market value 
method may choose to determine asset values using an average of the end 
of the first quarter and the year-end values of its assets, provided 
that all the members of an affiliated group (as defined in Sec.  1.861-
11T(d)) make the same choice and no substantial distortion would 
result.
    One comment requested that for a given asset, taxpayers be 
permitted to average the prior taxable year's end of year fair market 
value with the current year-end value, which would be based on tax book 
value. This approach, however, would be inconsistent with the repeal of 
the fair market value method for interest apportionment as part of the 
TCJA. Furthermore, because the fair market value and tax book value 
methods rely on different methodologies, this approach could lead to a 
substantial distortion. Therefore, the comment is not adopted.
    Another comment requested either that taxpayers be permitted to 
rely solely on the year-end tax book value of assets (and thus not 
requiring averaging) or that taxpayers electing to use first quarter 
values be permitted to do so without the earnings adjustment under 
Sec.  1.861-12(c)(2)(i)(A) when the asset being valued is stock in a 10 
percent owned corporation. The comment argues that this is necessary 
because otherwise taxpayers would have to determine the amount of the 
earnings adjustment at the end of the taxpayer's first quarter, which 
would be burdensome to comply with. However, the regulations already 
provide that taxpayers do not need to determine the earnings adjustment 
described in Sec.  1.861-12(c)(2)(i)(A) as of the end of the first 
quarter. Under proposed Sec.  1.861-9(g)(2)(ii)(B), with respect to 
stock in a 10 percent owned corporation, the tax book value of the 
stock at the end of the first quarter is determined before the 
adjustment required by Sec.  1.861-12(c)(2)(i)(A), and a single 
earnings and profits adjustment is made based on the earnings and 
profits determined as of the end of the taxable year. This rule is 
maintained in the final regulations.
6. Clarification of Application of the Asset Method Under Sec.  1.861-
9T(g)
    Section 1.861-9T(g) provides rules for purposes of allocating and 
apportioning interest expense of a CFC under the asset method, which 
also apply to characterize the stock of a first-tier CFC under Sec.  
1.861-12 for purposes of allocating and apportioning expenses of the 
CFC's U.S. shareholders. Under the rules in Sec.  1.861-12, the 
adjusted basis of the stock of the first-tier CFC is adjusted by the 
earnings and profits of the CFC and other lower-tier foreign 
corporations owned by the CFC.
    One comment requested that the asset method under Sec.  1.861-9T(g) 
be clarified to confirm that when applying Sec.  1.861-9 at the level 
of a CFC, the rules in Sec.  1.861-12 apply for purposes of 
characterizing stock owned directly and indirectly by the CFC, and that 
such rules apply for all operative sections, not just section 904. The 
Treasury Department and the IRS agree that in applying the asset method 
at the level of a CFC (including for purposes of characterizing CFC 
stock in applying section 904 as the operative section), the CFC must 
apply the rules in Sec.  1.861-12(c) with respect to any lower-tier 
CFCs. For example, a CFC applying the asset method must make basis 
adjustments to reflect earnings and profits of lower-tier corporations 
when valuing and characterizing the assets of the CFC. Otherwise, the 
value of the lower-tier corporations would be under- or over-
represented in characterizing the assets of the CFC. Furthermore, any 
lower-tier CFCs must also apply the same rules, starting with the 
lowest-tier CFC and moving up.
    Therefore, the final regulations provide in Sec.  1.861-9(g)(4) 
that Sec.  1.861-12 applies to characterize lower-tier stock in the 
hands of a CFC. Consistent with the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, 
Sec.  1.861-12(a) clarifies that the rules of that section apply for 
all operative sections and are not limited to section 904.
7. Treatment of Tested Income in Allocating and Apportioning Interest 
Expense of a CFC Under the Modified Gross Income Method
    Section 1.861-9T(j)(2) provides rules for purposes of allocating 
and apportioning interest expense of a CFC under the modified gross 
income method, which also apply to characterize the stock of a first-
tier CFC under Sec.  1.861-12 for purposes of allocating and 
apportioning expenses of the CFC's U.S. shareholders. In general, Sec.  
1.861-9T(j)(2) requires each CFC in a chain of ownership, beginning 
with the lowest-tier CFC, to allocate and apportion its interest 
expense and then tier up its income (net of interest expense) to the 
next-highest CFC in the chain, which then allocates and apportions its 
interest expense. Under proposed Sec.  1.861-9(j)(2)(ii), gross tested 
income (net of interest expense) of a lower-tier corporation does not 
tier up to a higher-tier corporation, which is consistent with how the 
rules applied to subpart F income before the TCJA. One comment 
recommended that the regulations be revised to allow upper-tier CFCs to 
take into account gross tested income (net of interest expense) of 
lower-tier CFCs, noting that this would be consistent with the group-
based approach of section 951A, would minimize differences between the 
modified gross income method and the asset method in Sec.  1.861-9T(g), 
and would eliminate distortions that could arise in the case of an 
upper-tier holding company. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree 
with the comment, and therefore Sec.  1.861-9(j)(2)(ii) eliminates the 
rule that excludes gross tested income from tiering up to higher-tier 
corporations for purposes of allocating and apportioning interest 
expense of the CFC. Additionally, modifications were made to Sec.  
1.861-13(c)(3) (Example 3) to reflect this change.
8. Characterization of Stock of Certain Foreign Corporations Under 
Proposed Sec. Sec.  1.861-12(c)(3) and 1.861-13
    Proposed Sec.  1.861-12(c)(3) provides rules for characterizing the 
stock of a CFC for purposes of allocating and apportioning expenses 
under an asset method. If the operative section is not section 904, the 
stock of a CFC is characterized under either the asset method or the 
modified gross income method. Proposed Sec.  1.861-12(c)(3)(i)(A). 
Where section 904 is the operative section, proposed Sec.  1.861-13 
applies to characterize the stock of the CFC as producing foreign 
source income in the separate categories or as producing U.S. source 
income. Proposed Sec.  1.861-

[[Page 69028]]

12(c)(3)(i)(B). Under proposed Sec.  1.861-13(a)(1), the stock of the 
CFC is first characterized according to the described statutory 
groupings under the asset method or the modified gross income method. 
If the CFC owns stock in a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation, the assets or income of the foreign corporation is 
assigned to a gross subpart F income grouping to the extent the income 
of the foreign corporation, when distributed to the CFC, would be gross 
subpart F income of the CFC. The stock of the CFC is then assigned to 
the section 951A category, a treaty category, or other separate 
category under subsequent steps. The stock of the CFC may be assigned, 
in whole or in part, to the section 951A category if the CFC has gross 
tested income, even if the CFC has a tested loss. See proposed Sec.  
1.861-13(a)(2).
    One comment requested that proposed Sec.  1.861-13 provide that 
stock of a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation owned by 
a CFC is instead assigned to the groupings for specified foreign source 
general category income or specified foreign source passive category 
income (as described in proposed Sec.  1.861-13(a)(1)(i)(A)(9)). The 
comment notes this would be appropriate because proposed Sec.  1.861-13 
characterizes stock based on the income to which the stock gives rise, 
and a distribution by a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation to a CFC should be eligible for the dividends received 
deduction in section 245A (the ``section 245A deduction'') under Sec.  
1.952-2.
    As noted in Part III.B of the Explanation of Provisions to the 
temporary regulations under section 245A, the Treasury Department and 
the IRS intend to address issues related to the application of Sec.  
1.952-2, taking into account various comments received in connection 
with the TCJA (including in connection with regulations issued under 
section 951A), in a future guidance project. See T.D. 9865; 84 FR 
28405. This guidance will clarify that, in general, any provision that 
is expressly limited in its application to domestic corporations does 
not apply to CFCs by reason of Sec.  1.952-2. The Treasury Department 
and the IRS continue to study whether, and to what extent, proposed 
regulations should be issued that provide that dividends received by a 
CFC are eligible for a section 245A deduction notwithstanding the fact 
that the deduction is only available to domestic corporations. Given 
that no proposed regulations have been issued, the Treasury Department 
and the IRS have determined that it is appropriate to continue to 
characterize the stock of a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation as giving rise to subpart F income, and accordingly, the 
comment is not adopted. Any changes that may be necessary to Sec.  
1.861-13 if proposed regulations under section 245A are issued 
providing that dividends received by a CFC are eligible for a section 
245A deduction will be considered as part of that guidance.
    Another comment suggested that the gross income and assets of 
tested loss CFCs should be exempt from the expense apportionment rules 
due to the existence of special rules for tested loss CFCs in the 
context of calculating GILTI, including the disallowance of any foreign 
tax credits related to the tested loss under section 960(d)(3). Section 
864(e)(2) requires that interest expense be apportioned on the basis of 
the adjusted bases of assets. Whether or not a CFC is profitable does 
not change the fact that a taxpayer's borrowings can fund the 
operations of the CFC. In addition, a CFC may be highly valuable (and 
have a large and positive amount of accumulated earnings and profits) 
even if it happens to be in a loss position for a particular year. 
Exempting the assets of tested loss CFCs would also result in 
distortive incentives whereby a CFC with a small amount of tested 
income would have an incentive to shift into a tested loss in order to 
have the entire value of the CFC be excluded for purposes of interest 
expense apportionment. Finally, the special treatment of tested losses 
in the determination of the GILTI inclusion is already accounted for by 
reducing the value of the stock of any CFC that is assigned to the 
section 951A category based on the inclusion percentage. See Sec.  
1.861-13(a)(2). Accordingly, this comment is not adopted.
    Finally, the final regulations clarify in Sec.  1.861-13(a)(1)(i) 
and (ii) that for purposes of characterizing the stock of a CFC in the 
various statutory groupings, the U.S. shareholder of the CFC must use 
the same method (either the asset method or modified gross income 
method) that the CFC uses to apportion its interest expense. This is 
consistent with the rule in existence before the 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations, which is still reflected in Sec.  1.861-12(c)(3)(i)(A).
9. Assets Funded by Disallowed Interest
    Under Sec.  1.861-12T(f)(1), to the extent that interest expense is 
capitalized, deferred, or disallowed, the adjusted basis of an asset 
connected to the interest expense is reduced to account for the 
interest that was capitalized, deferred, or disallowed. One comment 
suggested a revision to clarify, and narrow, the scope of this rule. 
The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that this rule should be 
clarified and have proposed changes in the 2019 FTC proposed 
regulations.

D. Allocation and Apportionment of Research and Experimental 
Expenditures

    Proposed Sec.  1.861-17 provides a one-time exception to the five-
year binding election period by allowing taxpayers to switch between 
the sales method and gross income method in the first taxable year 
beginning after December 31, 2017. This exception is finalized without 
change.
    Comments requested revisions to the approach for allocating and 
apportioning R&D expenditures under Sec.  1.861-17, which the 2018 FTC 
proposed regulations do not otherwise modify. These comments are 
discussed in the 2019 FTC proposed regulations, which propose changes 
to the application of the sales method and allow taxpayers that are on 
the sales method to rely on those changes for taxable years before the 
proposed rulemaking is in effect. In order to give taxpayers an 
additional opportunity after the 2019 FTC proposed regulations have 
been issued to switch to the sales method, the final regulations 
provide that taxpayers may change to the sales method up to their last 
taxable year that begins before January 1, 2020, without the prior 
consent of the Commissioner.

E. Section 904(b)(4)

    Section 904(b)(4) makes certain adjustments to both the taxpayer's 
foreign source taxable income and the taxpayer's entire taxable income 
for purposes of computing the applicable foreign tax credit limitation, 
based on the foreign-source portion (as defined in section 245A(c)) of 
any dividend from a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation (as 
defined in section 245A(b)) and the deductions allocated and 
apportioned to, in general, income with respect to stock of the foreign 
corporation that will generally be eligible for a section 245A 
deduction or the stock of the foreign corporation that gives rise to 
that income. Proposed Sec.  1.904(b)-3(c)(1) and (2) provide rules for 
determining what amount of the stock of the foreign corporation gives 
rise to income that, if distributed, is generally eligible for a 
section 245A deduction. The rules subdivide a portion of the value of 
the stock into a section 245A subgroup and a non-section 245A subgroup 
within each separate category.

[[Page 69029]]

    One comment requested that the regulations clarify the treatment of 
stock basis of a CFC that is associated with a hybrid instrument when 
the stock would give rise to dividends for which a deduction is 
disallowed under section 245A(e), and suggested that the amount of the 
basis of that stock should be assigned to the non-section 245A 
subgroup.
    Under proposed Sec.  1.861-13(a)(5), stock is assigned to a section 
245A subgroup without regard to whether a dividend paid (either in the 
current or future year) with respect to the stock may actually qualify 
for a section 245A deduction (for example, the deduction could be 
disallowed due to section 245A(e) or section 246(c)). The Treasury 
Department and the IRS considered a rule that would assign a portion of 
stock to a section 245A subgroup only if the earnings and profits 
reflected in the stock's value were allowed (or would be allowed in the 
future) a section 245A deduction. However, taxpayers generally could 
not know in a current year whether a distribution of the current 
earnings and profits would be allowed a section 245A deduction in a 
future year, and a rule requiring taxpayers to recalculate their 
section 245A subgroups through amended returns would create compliance 
burdens for taxpayers and administrative burdens for the IRS. 
Therefore, the final regulations retain the rules in the 2018 FTC 
proposed regulations, which determine the amount of stock in a section 
245A subgroup without regard to whether a section 245A deduction is or 
would be allowed with respect to dividends paid with respect to the 
stock.
    The comment also suggested that stock associated with hybrid 
instruments owned directly by a U.S. shareholder should be assigned to 
the non-section 245A subgroup due to a concern that the value of stock 
assigned to a section 245A subgroup would be excluded for purposes of 
valuing the stock under the beginning- and end-of-year averaging rule 
in Sec.  1.861-9(g)(2). However, neither Sec.  1.861-13(a)(5) nor Sec.  
1.904(b)-3 provides that stock assigned to the section 245A subgroup is 
excluded. Instead, deductions allocated and apportioned to stock 
assigned to the section 245A subgroup are added back to the numerator 
and denominator determined under section 904(a). Therefore, contrary to 
the comment, the assignment of stock to the section 245A subgroup (as 
opposed to the non-section 245A subgroup) does not impact the 
calculation of the total value of stock under the beginning- and end-
of-year averaging rule in Sec.  1.861-9(g)(2). Thus, the comment is not 
adopted.
    Another comment recommended that proposed Sec.  1.904(b)-3 be 
amended to provide that the treatment of deductions allocated and 
apportioned to the section 245A subgroup not be added back to entire 
taxable income for purposes of applying section 904(a) to section 951A 
category income. The comment is not adopted. Section 904(b)(4) is clear 
that deductions described in that provision are disregarded for 
purposes of ``entire taxable income,'' which means that the computation 
under section 904(a) (which describes a fraction, the denominator of 
which is ``entire taxable income'') with respect to all separate 
categories, including the section 951A category, are affected by 
deductions allocated and apportioned to the section 245A subgroup. 
However, the amount of income in the section 951A category (the 
numerator of the section 904(a) fraction when section 904(a) applies to 
that category) is not affected by deductions allocated and apportioned 
to the section 245A subgroups of other separate categories.

III. Foreign Tax Credit Limitation Under Section 904

A. Transition Rules Accounting for New Separate Categories

1. Carryovers and Carrybacks of Unused Foreign Taxes Under Section 
904(c)
    The 2018 FTC proposed regulations provide transition rules for 
assigning carryforwards of unused foreign taxes paid or accrued, or 
deemed paid or accrued, in pre-2018 taxable years to post-2017 separate 
categories, which include new categories for section 951A category 
income and foreign branch category income. Proposed Sec.  1.904-
2(j)(1)(ii) provides that if unused foreign taxes paid or accrued or 
deemed paid with respect to a separate category of income are carried 
forward to a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, those 
taxes are allocated to the same post-2017 separate category as the pre-
2018 separate category from which the unused foreign taxes are carried. 
Proposed Sec.  1.904-2(j)(1)(iii) provides an exception that permits 
taxpayers to assign unused foreign taxes in the pre-2018 separate 
category for general category income to the post-2017 separate category 
for foreign branch category income to the extent they would have been 
assigned to that separate category if the taxes had been paid or 
accrued in a post-2017 taxable year. Any remaining unused taxes are 
assigned to the post-2017 separate category for general category 
income.
    Several comments requested a simplified rule for assigning a 
portion of the pre-2018 unused foreign taxes to the post-2017 separate 
category for foreign branch category income. One comment recommended a 
simplified rule under which unused foreign taxes are assigned to the 
foreign branch category in the same proportions as foreign taxes paid 
or accrued by the taxpayer's foreign branches in the relevant pre-2018 
year bear to all foreign taxes paid or accrued by the taxpayer in that 
year. Another comment recommended a simplified rule that assigns the 
pre-2018 unused foreign taxes to the post-2017 separate categories by 
reference to a single year. Another comment recommended either allowing 
taxpayers to allocate pre-2018 unused foreign taxes freely between the 
post-2017 separate categories for general category income and foreign 
branch category income, or in the alternative, using any reasonable 
method. Finally, one comment recommended that if the reconstruction 
option is maintained in the final regulations that it be simplified by 
not requiring taxpayers to reconstruct disregarded payments between a 
branch and its owner.
    After considering the comments, the Treasury Department and the IRS 
agree that a simplified safe harbor option with respect to the 
reconstruction option should be provided. Section 1.904-2(j)(1)(iii)(B) 
provides a safe harbor that allocates unused foreign taxes from a 
particular pre-2017 taxable year to the post-2018 separate category for 
foreign branch category income based on a ratio equal to the amount of 
foreign income taxes that were paid or accrued by the taxpayer's 
foreign branches divided by the amount of all foreign income taxes 
assigned to the general category that were paid or accrued, or deemed 
paid by the taxpayer with respect to the taxable year. The Treasury 
Department and the IRS adopt this recommendation because it combines 
administrative convenience, a low potential for manipulation, and a 
reasonable approximation of a full reconstruction. Furthermore, in 
light of the addition of a safe harbor option, no changes are made to 
the requirements for reconstruction if the safe harbor option is not 
chosen. Taxpayers that do not choose the safe harbor must determine the 
unused foreign taxes with respect to foreign branch category income as 
if that separate category (and thus, all the rules in Sec.  1.904-4(f)) 
had applied in the year the taxes were paid or accrued.
    Another comment requested that when applying the reconstruction 
option, the final regulations provide that for purposes of determining 
whether excess credits relate to direct or indirect

[[Page 69030]]

foreign taxes, taxpayers may treat indirect credits as having been used 
first. However, under the reconstruction option, taxpayers must 
allocate unused foreign taxes by applying the rules for foreign branch 
category income to the origin year and determining the amount of taxes 
that would have been unused foreign taxes and would have been allocated 
to foreign branch category income had the foreign branch category 
applied for that year. Because deemed paid taxes can never relate to 
the foreign branch category, no deemed paid taxes will be treated as 
giving rise to unused foreign taxes that would have been allocated to 
foreign branch category income. Therefore, the Treasury Department and 
the IRS have determined that no special rules are needed. See Sec.  
1.904-2(j)(1)(iii).
    Another comment requested that taxpayers be allowed to apply the 
general category exception in proposed Sec.  1.904-2(j)(1)(iii) to 
post-2017 tax years on a year-by-year basis, rather than to all post-
2017 tax years. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined 
that the use of different methods in different years could result in 
inconsistent allocations of the same foreign tax credit carryovers and 
create significant complexity for taxpayers and the IRS. Accordingly 
the comment is not adopted.
2. Separate Limitation Losses, Overall Foreign Losses, Overall Domestic 
Losses, and Net Operating Loss Carryforwards
    Proposed Sec.  1.904(f)-12(j) generally provides that any separate 
limitation loss (``SLL'') or overall foreign loss (``OFL'') accounts in 
a pre-2018 separate category remain in the same post-2017 separate 
category. However, to the extent there are any unused foreign taxes 
with respect to the pre-2018 separate category for general category 
income that are allocated between the post-2017 separate categories for 
general category income and foreign branch category income, then any 
SLL or OFL account in the pre-2018 separate category for general 
category income is allocated to those post-2017 separate categories in 
the same proportion that the unused foreign taxes were allocated. 
Similar rules were provided in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations with 
respect to the recapture of SLLs or overall domestic losses (each an 
``ODL'') that reduced income in a separate category in a pre-2018 
taxable year, as well as for foreign losses that are part of a net 
operating loss that is incurred in a pre-2018 taxable year and carried 
forward to post-2017 taxable years.
    One comment suggested that it was not clear that the allocation of 
losses should follow the allocation of unused foreign taxes, and that 
it was inflexible not to allow an allocation of losses with respect to 
the pre-2018 separate category for general category income between the 
post-2017 separate categories for general category income and branch 
category income when there were no unused foreign taxes with respect to 
that category to be allocated. The comment suggested that a true 
reconstruction of the losses would be too complex, but requested that 
the Treasury Department and the IRS consider some other unspecified 
approach that was independent from the allocation of unused foreign 
taxes.
    Another comment on the same issue requested that the Treasury 
Department and the IRS allow taxpayers to elect to reconstruct the 
losses. In other words, this approach would allow taxpayers to allocate 
a portion of loss accounts with respect to the pre-2018 separate 
category for general category income to the post-2017 separate category 
for foreign branch category income to the extent they were attributable 
to losses that either related to, or offset, pre-2018 general category 
income that would have been foreign branch category income if 
recognized in a post-2017 taxable year, regardless of the taxpayer's 
treatment of unused foreign taxes.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that additional options 
should be added under the transition rules for loss accounts that 
relate to the pre-2018 separate category for general category income. 
Accordingly, Sec.  1.904(f)-12(j)(2) provides that a SLL or OFL account 
incurred in the pre-2018 separate category for general category income 
by default remains in the general category, but that the taxpayer may 
choose to reconstruct how much of the loss account would have been in 
the foreign branch category had that category been in effect before 
2018. As an alternative to reconstruction, a safe harbor provides that 
the taxpayer may instead recapture the pre-2018 loss account by 
recharacterizing the first available income in the post-2017 separate 
category for either general category income or foreign branch category 
income. To the extent the income in both separate categories available 
for recapture exceeds the balance in the loss account, the loss account 
is recaptured proportionately from each separate category. An ordering 
rule provides that the balance in a pre-2018 loss account is recaptured 
before any post-2017 additions to the account. This safe harbor follows 
similar transition rules provided in Sec.  1.904(f)-12(a) for pre-1987 
loss accounts.
    Similarly, Sec.  1.904(f)-12(j)(3) provides that an SLL or OFL that 
reduced pre-2018 general category income is by default recaptured in 
post-2018 years as general category income, but that a taxpayer may 
choose to reconstruct how much of the balance in the loss account would 
have offset foreign branch category income had that separate category 
applied in the year the loss was incurred, and recapture that amount in 
post-2017 taxable years as income in the foreign branch category. As an 
alternative to reconstruction, the final regulations retain the rule in 
proposed Sec.  1.904(f)-12(j)(3)(ii) as a safe harbor, which provides 
that the taxpayer may instead recapture the balance in the loss account 
in subsequent taxable years ratably as income in the taxpayer's post-
2017 separate categories for general category and foreign branch 
category income based on the proportion in which any unused foreign 
taxes in the pre-2018 separate category for general category income are 
allocated under the transition rules in Sec.  1.904-2(j)(1)(iii)(A) or 
(B).
    Section 1.904(f)-12(j)(4) provides that foreign losses that are 
part of general category net operating losses incurred in pre-2018 
taxable years which are carried forward to post-2017 taxable years are 
by default treated as general category net operating losses, but that 
the taxpayer may choose to reconstruct how much of that loss would have 
been attributable to the foreign branch category had that separate 
category applied in the year the net operating loss arose. As an 
alternative to reconstruction, a safe harbor provides that the taxpayer 
may instead choose to treat the net operating loss carryforward as 
attributable to the general category and foreign branch category to the 
extent of any general category income and foreign branch category 
income, respectively, that is available in the year to be offset by the 
net operating loss carryforward (the carryforward year). To the extent 
the net operating loss carryforward offsets any other income in the 
carryforward year, it is treated as attributable to the general 
category. If the sum of taxpayer's general category income and foreign 
branch category income in the carryforward year exceeds the amount of 
the net operating loss carryforward, then the amount of each type of 
separate category income that is offset by the net operating loss 
carryforward, and therefore the separate category treatment of the net 
operating loss carryforward, is determined on a proportionate basis. An 
ordering rule provides that a pre-2018 general

[[Page 69031]]

category net operating loss is applied before any post-2017 general 
category net operating loss.
    Finally, Sec.  1.904(f)-12(j)(5) sets forth a coordination rule 
that provides that for purposes of applying the transition rules for 
unused foreign taxes or any of the rules for loss accounts, the choice 
whether to default to the general category or to reconstruct must be 
made consistently in all cases. However, if the taxpayer chooses to 
reconstruct, the choice to apply a safe harbor may be made 
independently under each set of transition rules.

B. Foreign Branch Category Income

1. Policy Considerations
    Comments recommended that the final regulations, or preamble to the 
final regulations, include a discussion of the tax policy 
considerations relevant to proposed Sec.  1.904-4(f). In general, 
proposed Sec.  1.904-4(f) defines the term foreign branch category 
income, which affects both the limitation on foreign tax credits under 
section 904 and the deduction for FDII under section 250(a)(1)(A). 
Under section 904(d)(2)(J), foreign branch income is defined as the 
business profits attributable to one or more QBUs in one or more 
foreign countries, with the amount of business profits attributable to 
a QBU determined under rules established by the Secretary. Accordingly, 
the 2018 FTC proposed regulations provide guidance regarding the 
attribution of profits to a foreign branch.
    The legislative history to the TCJA does not discuss the 
attribution of business profits to a QBU. In drafting the 2018 FTC 
proposed regulations, the Treasury Department and the IRS balanced 
various policy objectives, including: Attributing gross income to a 
foreign branch in a manner that is commensurate with its business 
activities; administrability for taxpayers and the IRS; conformity with 
local country tax law; and giving effect to the policies of sections 
250(b)(3)(A)(i)(VI) and 904(d)(1)(B), which limit, respectively, the 
deduction under section 250 and the allowance of a credit under section 
901 by reference to the amount of business profits attributable to a 
QBU.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the 2018 
FTC proposed regulations' approach to attributing gross income to a 
foreign branch strikes the appropriate balance among those goals. In 
general, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations attribute gross income by 
reference to the books and records maintained with respect to a foreign 
branch, subject to certain adjustments (including adjustments to 
reflect Federal income tax principles). Proposed Sec.  1.904-
4(f)(2)(i). Reliance on a foreign branch's books and records promotes 
administrability for both taxpayers and the IRS. In addition, gross 
income reflected on the books and records of a foreign branch generally 
reflects payments for economic activity of that foreign branch, such 
that the proposed regulations' approach is broadly consistent with the 
policy of attributing gross income based on the relative economic 
activity of a foreign branch. Furthermore, the rule will promote 
conformity between the income attributed to a foreign branch under 
Sec.  1.904-4(f) and the income subject to tax in the foreign 
jurisdiction.
    To further those policies, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations also 
give effect to payments made in connection with certain transactions 
that are disregarded for Federal income tax purposes (such payments, 
``disregarded payments''). Proposed Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(vi). These 
payments are generally reflected on the books and records of a foreign 
branch, represent compensation for economic activity performed by or 
for a foreign branch, and are frequently given effect for foreign 
income tax purposes. Accordingly, giving effect to those transactions 
generally aligns with the policies furthered by the general rule for 
attributing gross income to a foreign branch. For additional discussion 
regarding the policies and rules relating to disregarded payments, see 
Part III.B.2 of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions.
2. Disregarded Payments
i. In General
    Several comments were received regarding proposed Sec.  1.904-
4(f)(2)(vi), under which gross income attributable to a foreign branch 
that is not passive category income must be adjusted to reflect 
disregarded payments between a foreign branch and its foreign branch 
owner, and between foreign branches (the ``disregarded payment rule''). 
Some comments expressed support for the rule, while others indicated 
that they believed that proposed Sec.  1.904-4(f) would be more 
administrable without the disregarded payment rule. As described in 
Part III.B.1 of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions, 
the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the 
disregarded payment rule furthers the various policies related to the 
attribution of gross income to a foreign branch. The disregarded 
payment rules are designed to utilize information that is already 
available to taxpayers, making the rule more administrable. Taking 
disregarded payments into account will also give effect to the economic 
activity of a foreign branch (or a foreign branch owner) while reducing 
mismatches between the amount of gross income attributable to a foreign 
branch and the foreign tax base. Accordingly, the final regulations 
retain the disregarded payment rule, subject to the modifications 
described in this Part III.B.2 of the Summary of Comments and 
Explanation of Revisions.
ii. Source and Character of Income Allocated in Connection With 
Disregarded Payments
    Comments recommended that the character and source of gross income 
that is reattributed under the disregarded payment rule be determined 
by reference to the disregarded transaction giving rise to the 
reattribution. For example, if a foreign branch owner earned $50 of 
U.S. source royalty income, and made a $50 disregarded payment to its 
foreign branch for services performed that if regarded would be 
allocable to the royalty income under the 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations, the proposed regulations would attribute $50 of U.S. 
source royalty income to the foreign branch. Because attributing U.S. 
source royalty income to the foreign branch would not increase the 
taxpayer's limitation under section 904(d)(2)(B) (the foreign branch 
category), the comments recommended that the source and character of 
the reattributed gross income be determined by reference to the 
disregarded payment, such that the $50 of U.S. source royalty income 
would be converted to foreign source services income, potentially 
increasing the creditability of taxes attributable to the foreign 
branch (including taxes imposed by reason of the disregarded 
transaction).
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that it would 
be inappropriate to issue rules under section 904 converting the source 
and character, as opposed to the separate category, of a taxpayer's 
gross income. Generally, section 904(d) and the regulations under Sec.  
1.904-4(f) provide rules regarding the separate application of section 
904 with respect to certain categories of regarded gross income of a 
taxpayer. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that 
section 904 does not provide for the redetermination of the character 
or source of a taxpayer's gross income. Converting U.S. source income 
to foreign source income would also be inconsistent with the purpose of 
section

[[Page 69032]]

904, which is to ensure that the foreign taxes may not be used as a 
credit against U.S. tax on U.S. source income. Finally, rules allowing 
taxpayers to increase foreign source income through transactions with 
foreign branches would be prone to significant manipulation. 
Accordingly, the final regulations do not include special rules for 
determining the source and character of gross income that is 
reattributed under the disregarded payment rule. Similarly, the final 
regulations clarify that Sec.  1.904-4(f) does not affect the analysis 
of whether an amount of gross income can be resourced under an 
applicable bilateral tax treaty. Such analysis is based solely on the 
treaty text and related authorities.
iii. Netting of Disregarded Payments
    Comments recommended that disregarded payments be netted before 
determining the amount of gross income attributable to a foreign branch 
and its owner. For example, under a netting rule, if a foreign branch 
made a $100 disregarded payment to its foreign branch owner, and the 
foreign branch owner made an $85 disregarded payment to the foreign 
branch during the same year, no more than $15 of the gross income 
reflected on the books and records of the foreign branch would be 
attributed to the foreign branch owner, regardless of the factual 
relationship between the two payments. Similarly, if a foreign branch 
owner made a $50 disregarded payment to one branch, and received a $50 
disregarded payment from a second branch, none of the gross income 
reflected on the books and records of the second foreign branch would 
be attributed to its owner and none of the gross income earned by the 
foreign branch owner would be attributed to the first foreign branch.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that 
disregarded payments should not be netted before making adjustments 
under the disregarded payment rule. As described in Part III.B.2.ii of 
this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions, the disregarded 
payment rule affects only the separate category of gross income, and 
not the source or character of a taxpayer's gross income. Accordingly, 
when a disregarded payment is made between a foreign branch owner and a 
foreign branch, the payment must be allocated to gross income of the 
payor to determine the source and character of the amount that is 
reattributed. When there is an increase to the amount of gross income 
attributable to a foreign branch, for example, there must be a 
corresponding decrease to income of the foreign branch owner with the 
same source and character. Moreover, the disregarded payment rule only 
affects the assignment of gross income in the foreign branch category 
and the general category, or a specified separate category that is 
associated with the foreign branch or general categories. Passive 
income, for example, is always excluded from the foreign branch 
category. Thus, to the extent that a disregarded payment from a foreign 
branch owner to a foreign branch would be allocable to passive income 
of the foreign branch owner, there can be no adjustment as a result of 
that payment to the taxpayer's gross income in the passive category, 
even though the amount of passive category income that is attributable 
to the foreign branch (and the foreign branch owner) may change.
    Netting disregarded payments would distort these rules by 
preventing the disregarded payment rule from accurately identifying the 
source and character of gross income that is attributable to the 
foreign branch and its owner, respectively. For example, if a foreign 
branch earned $100 of foreign source royalty income that was initially 
attributable to the foreign branch, and made a $90 disregarded payment 
to its foreign branch owner that if regarded would be allocable to that 
foreign source royalty income, only $10 of that foreign source royalty 
income should be treated as foreign branch category income. Under a 
netting rule, however, a $90 disregarded payment by the foreign branch 
owner to that foreign branch (or another foreign branch of the foreign 
branch owner) that would be allocable to U.S. source passive category 
income of the foreign branch owner would offset the payment, such that 
U.S. source passive category income that could not increase foreign 
branch category income itself would effectively increase foreign branch 
category income, by increasing the non-passive foreign source royalty 
income attributable to a foreign branch. Accordingly, to prevent this 
and similarly arbitrary outcomes under the disregarded payment rule, 
the final regulations do not include a rule netting disregarded 
payments between a foreign branch owner and its foreign branches.
    A comment further recommended that disregarded payments between 
foreign branches should be disregarded, and stated that taking those 
transactions into account added administrative complexity to the 2018 
FTC proposed regulations without changing the categorization of any 
item of gross income as foreign branch category income. The Treasury 
Department and the IRS have determined that this comment is incorrect, 
and the final regulations retain the 2018 FTC proposed regulations' 
rules regarding transactions between foreign branches. The items of 
gross income attributable to a particular foreign branch vary based on 
the nature of the disregarded transaction, which could include multiple 
back-to-back disregarded payments between foreign branches and the 
foreign branch owner; further, the amount, character, and source of 
gross income allocable to a particular foreign branch may vary, and 
knowing which gross income items are attributable to a particular 
foreign branch is necessary to determine the amount, character, and 
source of gross income that is attributed to a foreign branch or the 
foreign branch owner as the result of a particular disregarded payment. 
The final regulations clarify this point, including through 
clarifications to the ordering rule in Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(vi)(F), and 
a new example illustrating the effects of transactions between foreign 
branches. See Sec.  1.904-4(f)(4)(xi) (Example 11). However, the final 
regulations also clarify that in the case where there is no disregarded 
payment between the foreign branch and foreign branch owner, 
disregarded payments between foreign branches have no effect. See Sec.  
1.904-4(f)(2)(vi)(A).
iv. Interest and Other Financial Transactions
    Under the proposed regulations, the disregarded payment rules do 
not apply to disregarded payments of interest or interest equivalents 
(``disregarded interest payments''). See proposed Sec.  1.904-
4(f)(2)(vi)(C)(1). The preamble to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations 
stated that, like remittances from a foreign branch or contributions to 
a foreign branch, disregarded interest payments reflect a shift of, or 
return on, capital. Several comments disagreed with that statement, 
arguing that disregarded interest payments reflect business profits 
with respect to the payee, particularly with respect to the financial 
services industry. Comments also indicated that distinguishing among 
different types of disregarded payments based on their character 
presented administrative challenges. Finally, a comment noted that 
failing to reattribute gross income on the basis of disregarded 
interest payments resulted in incongruities between the gross income 
attributed to a foreign branch for section 904 purposes and the gross 
income subject to tax under foreign law.
    The final regulations adopt the 2018 FTC proposed regulations' 
approach to disregarded interest payments. The Treasury Department and 
the IRS have

[[Page 69033]]

determined that a general rule reattributing gross income by reference 
to disregarded interest payments would be inappropriate. As one comment 
noted, reattributing gross income by reference to disregarded interest 
payments, but not by reference to remittances and contributions, would 
allow taxpayers to ``strip'' the foreign branch category, potentially 
resulting in manipulation of the limitations in sections 
250(b)(3)(A)(i)(VI) and 904(d)(1)(B). Similarly, a taxpayer seeking to 
increase foreign branch category income could instead borrow money from 
the foreign branch and shift income from the general category through 
disregarded interest payments made to the foreign branch. However, as 
described in Part III.B.4.iii of this Summary of Comments and 
Explanation of Revisions, the Treasury Department and the IRS are 
considering future guidance providing special rules for certain 
financial institutions, including rules that would provide for 
adjustments to the attribution of gross income by reference to 
disregarded interest payments.
v. Disregarded Transfers of Intangible Property
    Proposed Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(vi)(D) (the ``intangible property 
rule'') requires the use of section 367(d) principles to impute 
payments, over time, for certain transfers of intangible property in a 
disregarded transaction. Comments requested that the intangible 
property rule be withdrawn, either in whole or in part (for example, by 
limiting the application of the rule to transfers from a foreign branch 
owner to a foreign branch). The comments argued that (i) there is no 
compelling policy rationale for the intangible property rule; (ii) the 
intangible property rule undermines a legislative objective of the 
TCJA, which was to achieve neutrality as to whether to locate 
intellectual property in a domestic corporation or its foreign 
subsidiary; (iii) the anti-abuse rule in Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(v) is 
sufficient to prevent abusive tax-avoidance through disregarded 
remittances or contributions; (iv) the absence of a similar rule for 
tangible property or money evidences the lack of a need for a special 
rule for certain intangible property; (v) the intangible property rule 
would result in mismatches between the gross income attributable to a 
foreign branch and the gross income of the foreign branch for foreign 
tax purposes; and (vi) the rule would present administrative and 
compliance challenges. Certain comments acknowledged that the 
intangible property rule may be theoretically accurate, but argued that 
the compliance burdens that the rule posed outweighed its benefits.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that retaining 
the intangible property rule is appropriate, and that it should apply 
to any disregarded transfer between a foreign branch owner and a 
foreign branch, as well as to transfers between foreign branches. While 
the intangible property rule may increase compliance burdens and 
increase the disparity between the gross income attributable to a 
foreign branch and the gross income taxable by a foreign country, the 
Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that those concerns are 
outweighed by the benefits derived from the rule. In general, Sec.  
1.904-4(f)(2)(vi)(A) adjusts the attribution of gross income when 
disregarded payments are made between a foreign branch and a foreign 
branch owner, or between foreign branches. Disregarded remittances or 
contributions, however, do not result in the reattribution of gross 
income. Section 1.904-4(f)(2)(vi)(C)(2) and (3). Accordingly, when a 
disregarded transaction with a foreign branch may be structured as 
either a remittance or contribution, on the one hand, or as a sale, 
exchange, or license, on the other hand, the amount of gross income 
attributed to a foreign branch could be manipulated. This concern is 
heightened when the property in question is highly mobile and highly 
valuable, as is generally true of intangible property (and less 
frequently true of tangible property). In light of the higher risk of 
manipulation for transfers of intangible property, the Treasury 
Department and the IRS have determined that the anti-abuse rule in 
Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(v) does not sufficiently protect against 
manipulation, necessitating the more specific and mechanical intangible 
property rule.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have, however, modified the 
intangible property rule in response to comments. First, comments 
recommended that the intangible property rule be limited to disregarded 
transfers occurring after the enactment of the TCJA, after the date on 
which the proposed regulations were issued, or after the date on which 
the final regulations become effective. In response to these comments, 
the final regulations provide that the intangible property rule does 
not apply to transfers that occurred before December 7, 2018 (the date 
on which the proposed regulations were published). Section 1.904-
4(f)(2)(vi)(D)(2). The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined 
that limiting the application of the intangible property rule to 
transfers occurring on or after the date on which the rule was proposed 
strikes the appropriate balance between providing taxpayers with 
sufficient notice regarding the intangible property rule, on the one 
hand, and preventing manipulation of the amount of gross income 
attributable to a foreign branch, on the other hand.
    Second, several comments indicated that the intangible property 
rule inappropriately captures transient ownership of intangible 
property that was neither developed nor exploited by the foreign branch 
(or foreign branch owner) before a transfer. For example, several 
comments suggested that the intangible property rule would apply to 
certain repatriations of intangible property from a foreign subsidiary 
that elected to be treated as a disregarded entity (within the meaning 
of Sec.  1.904-4(f)(3)(iv)), and immediately thereafter distributed 
intangible property to its U.S. owner. The Treasury Department and the 
IRS have determined that the potential distortions that the intangible 
property rule addresses generally are not implicated in the situation 
described in the comments. Accordingly, the final regulations adopt the 
recommendation. Specifically, the final regulations provide that the 
intangible property rule does not apply to transfers by a foreign 
branch or foreign branch owner that owns the intangible property 
transitorily, subject to certain limitations. See Sec.  1.904-
4(f)(2)(vi)(D)(3)(i) through (iii). For this purpose, whether or not a 
foreign branch owner that is a transferor of intangible property is 
treated as satisfying the transitory ownership requirements is 
determined by reference to both the foreign branch owner transferor and 
any predecessor to the foreign branch owner. See Sec.  1.904-
4(f)(2)(vi)(D)(3)(iv).
    Finally, comments requested additional guidance and examples 
illustrating the application of section 367(d) principles in the 
context of a remittance of intangible property from a foreign branch to 
the foreign branch owner. In response to the comments, the final 
regulations specify that if a foreign branch remits property described 
in section 367(d)(4) to its foreign branch owner, the foreign branch is 
treated as having sold the transferred property to the foreign branch 
owner in exchange for annual payments contingent on the productivity or 
use of the property, the amount of which are determined under the 
principles of section 367(d) and the regulations under that section. 
The final regulations also include an example illustrating the 
application of the intangible property rule to a remittance

[[Page 69034]]

of intangible property from a foreign branch to a foreign branch owner. 
See Sec.  1.904-4(f)(4)(xii) (Example 12). The final regulations do not 
address comments regarding the operation of section 367(d), which are 
outside of the scope of the final regulations.
vi. Special Rule for Certain Disregarded Payments
    A comment recommended that the final regulations clarify that 
disregarded payments that would be capitalized into amortizable or 
depreciable basis may produce adjustments under Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(vi) 
in the year or years that the amortization or depreciation deductions 
would be allowed if those payments had been regarded. The final 
regulations adopt this recommendation. See Sec. Sec.  1.904-
4(f)(2)(vi)(B)(1) (specifically including disregarded cost recovery 
deductions, such as depreciation and amortization, in the disregarded 
payment allocation rules) and 1.904-4(f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) (clarifying the 
timing of those reattributions).
    The final regulations also provide additional guidance regarding 
certain disregarded payments that would, if regarded, not be 
deductible, including guidance regarding disregarded sales of property 
that reattribute gross income when basis would be recovered other than 
through depreciation, amortization, or other disregarded cost recovery 
deductions. Under these rules, for example, a foreign branch owner's 
sale of property with a zero basis to its foreign branch for $100, 
followed by a sale by the foreign branch of that property to a third 
party for $110, would generally result in $110 of income that is 
reflected on the books and records of a foreign branch. The final 
regulations clarify that, in this example, $100 of gross income must be 
attributed to the foreign branch owner. Specifically, the foreign 
branch would be treated as having an adjusted disregarded basis in the 
property of $100, resulting in $10 of gain from the sale of the 
property being attributed to the foreign branch, and $100 of adjusted 
disregarded gain being attributed to its foreign branch owner. See 
Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(vi)(B)(2) (concerning disregarded sales of 
property). Attributions of income under this rule are adjusted to the 
extent that the basis would otherwise have been recovered by the 
transferee (for example, through a disregarded cost recovery 
deduction). See Sec.  1.904-4(f)(3)(i) (defining adjusted disregarded 
basis).
vii. Certain Disregarded Transactions
    The 2018 FTC proposed regulations provide for certain adjustments 
to the amount of gross income that would otherwise be attributed to a 
foreign branch under proposed Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(i). For example, 
gross income attributable to a foreign branch generally does not 
include gain attributable to a sale of stock by the foreign branch. See 
proposed Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(iii). The final regulations clarify that 
consistent adjustments must be made when attributing income under the 
disregarded payment rule. See Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(vi)(C)(4). Thus, for 
example, a disregarded payment from a foreign branch owner to its 
foreign branch with respect to a disregarded sale of stock from the 
foreign branch to the foreign branch owner would not result in 
adjustments to the attribution of gross income between the foreign 
branch owner and the foreign branch.
3. Foreign Branch Definition
i. Trade or Business Requirement
    The proposed regulations define a foreign branch by reference to 
the definition of a QBU in Sec.  1.989(a)-1(b)(2)(ii) and (b)(3), which 
require that the branch maintain a separate set of books and records 
with respect to its activities and conduct of a trade or business 
outside of the United States (among other things). For this purpose, 
the trade or business standard described in Sec.  1.989(a)-1(c) 
applies, subject to certain modifications. See proposed Sec.  1.904-
4(f)(3)(iii). The proposed regulations provide that activities 
conducted outside the United States that constitute a permanent 
establishment under the terms of an income tax treaty between the 
United States and the country in which the activities are carried out 
are presumed to constitute a trade or business conducted outside the 
United States for purposes of determining whether the activities meet 
the trade or business standard of the foreign branch definition.
    A comment indicated that it is not clear when activities that 
constitute a permanent establishment should ever be treated as failing 
to satisfy this requirement. The Treasury Department and the IRS have 
determined that, consistent with the policy of promoting conformity 
between the gross income attributable to a foreign branch and the gross 
income subject to tax in a foreign jurisdiction, no exception to this 
rule is warranted. Accordingly, the final regulations provide that 
activities conducted outside the United States that constitute a 
permanent establishment under the terms of an income tax treaty between 
the United States and the country in which the activities are carried 
out constitute a trade or business conducted outside the United States 
for purposes of determining whether the activities meet the trade or 
business standard of the foreign branch definition, and do not adopt 
the presumption rule in the proposed regulations. Sec.  1.904-
4(f)(3)(vii)(B).
ii. Separate Set of Books and Records
    The proposed regulations include a special rule treating a 
partnership as maintaining a separate set of books and records with 
respect to the activities of a foreign trade or business, whether or 
not a separate set of books and records was actually maintained. See 
proposed Sec.  1.904-4(f)(3)(iii)(C)(2). Thus, for example, a foreign 
branch exists when a partnership records on a single set of books 
income from a trade or business conducted outside the United States and 
also income earned from unrelated investment activity. The proposed 
regulations deem the partnership to maintain a separate set of books 
and records with respect to the trade or business conducted outside the 
United States, and the taxpayer must determine, as the context 
requires, the items that would be reflected on such books and records. 
Id.
    A comment recommended that the final regulations provide additional 
guidance regarding the attribution of income items to any deemed set of 
books and records. In particular, the comment recommended that the 
principles of sections 864(c)(2), (c)(4), and (c)(5) should apply in 
constructing any deemed books and records in a manner analogous to the 
approach taken under the dual consolidated loss regulations with 
respect to genuine branches (although the comment recommended that the 
rule apply whether the QBU was a genuine branch or was held in a 
disregarded entity). See Sec.  1.1503(d)-5(c)(2)(i). The Treasury 
Department and the IRS agree that, when a foreign branch does not have 
a separate set of books and records, the regulations should include a 
standard to construct hypothetical books and records. Accordingly, the 
final regulations adopt the recommendation. See Sec.  1.904-
4(f)(3)(vii)(C)(2).
4. Other Comments and Revisions
i. Attribution of Gain or Loss on Disposition of a Foreign Branch
    To the extent that gross income (as adjusted to conform to Federal 
income tax principles) is reflected on the books and records of a 
foreign branch, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations generally treat the 
income as attributable to a foreign branch. Thus,

[[Page 69035]]

for example, gain from the sale of an asset held by a foreign branch 
that is reflected on the books and records of the foreign branch is 
generally attributable to the foreign branch under proposed Sec.  
1.904-4(f)(2)(i). Similarly, gain from the sale of all of the assets of 
a foreign branch would, to the extent reflected on the books and 
records of the foreign branch, generally be attributable to the foreign 
branch. By contrast, when a foreign branch owner sells its interests in 
a disregarded entity through which it operates a foreign branch, and 
the gain or loss is not reflected on the books and records of a foreign 
branch, the income would not generally be attributable to the foreign 
branch under proposed Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(i). Furthermore, the 
regulations provide a special rule providing that gross income from the 
disposition of an interest in a partnership or other pass-through 
entity, or an interest in a disregarded entity, generally is not 
included in the foreign branch category. See proposed Sec.  1.904-
4(f)(2)(iv)(A).
    Comments recommended that gain or loss from the disposition of a 
foreign branch be treated as attributable to a foreign branch whether 
or not the gain or loss is reflected on the books and records of a 
foreign branch, including the disposition of a foreign branch held 
through a disregarded entity. The Treasury Department and the IRS have 
determined that the rules for attributing gain from the sale of an 
interest in a foreign branch in the proposed regulations are 
appropriate. In general, the proposed regulations' treatment of the 
disposition of a foreign branch promotes conformity with local country 
taxation. Gain on the sale of assets properly reflected on the books of 
a foreign branch will generally be included in the taxable income of 
the foreign branch in its local country, and will generally reflect 
income associated with the trade or business activities of the foreign 
branch. In contrast, a foreign branch owner's sale of an entity that 
includes a foreign branch will not be reflected on the books of the 
foreign branch being sold, and will generally not give rise to local 
country tax on the transferred entity. Furthermore, proposed Sec.  
1.904-4(f)(2)(i), which relies on the books and records of a foreign 
branch, sets forth a rule that is administrable for taxpayers and the 
IRS.
    In the case of a sale by a foreign branch of another entity that 
includes a foreign branch, the sale generally reflects gain that is not 
associated with the selling branch's trade or business activities, 
except when there is a sufficiently close business connection between 
the selling branch and the entity being sold. As described in Part 
III.B.4.ii of this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions, 
the proposed and final regulations include an exception that allows 
gain or loss on the sale of another entity to be included in foreign 
branch category income when that connection exists.
    The exception to this rule in proposed Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(iv)(A) 
(excluding the disposition of certain interests reflected on the books 
and records of a foreign branch), appropriately prevents gain from the 
sale of interests unrelated to the trade or business conducted by a 
foreign branch from being treated as the ``business profits'' of the 
foreign branch. Accordingly, the final regulations adopt the rules set 
forth in the proposed regulations, subject to the modifications 
described in Part III.B.4.ii of this Summary of Comments and 
Explanation of Revisions.
ii. Ordinary Course of Business Exception
    The proposed regulations provide that the disposition of an 
interest in a partnership or other pass-through entity is treated as 
occurring in the ordinary course of the foreign branch's active trade 
or business to the extent that the foreign branch ``engages in the same 
or a related trade or business as the partnership or other pass-through 
entity (other than through a less than 10 percent interest)'' (the 
``same or related trade or business rule''). Proposed Sec.  1.904-
4(f)(2)(iv)(B). A comment suggested that the reference to a ``10 
percent interest'' in the same or related trade or business rule is 
unclear. To address the comment, the final regulations clarify that the 
same or related trade or business rule applies only when the foreign 
branch owns 10 percent or more of the interests in the partnership or 
other pass-through entity, and the foreign branch directly engages in 
the same, or a related, trade or business as that partnership or other 
pass-through entity.
iii. Comments Outside the Scope of the Final Regulation; Future 
Guidance
    Several comments to proposed Sec.  1.904-4(f) were received that 
are outside the scope of this rulemaking, including: Comments related 
to the allocation of expenses to foreign branch category income; 
comments relating to the trade or business and books and records 
standards of Sec.  1.989(a)-1(c) and (d); comments relating to the 
interaction of Sec.  1.1502-13 with Sec.  1.904-4(f); comments relating 
to the operation of section 367(d); and comments relating to the 
application of the step transaction doctrine. These comments are not 
addressed in this Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions, but 
may be considered in future guidance projects addressing the issues 
discussed in the comments.
    In particular, the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to issue 
future guidance coordinating the allocation and apportionment of 
expenses with the determination of foreign branch category income. In 
particular, the Treasury Department and the IRS are considering 
proposing rules applicable to regulated financial institutions 
regarding the allocation of interest expense to foreign branch category 
income. Under one approach, interest expense on demand deposits of a 
foreign banking branch would be directly allocated to foreign branch 
category income that is denominated in the same currency. Interest 
expense with respect to U.S. dollar-denominated demand deposits could 
similarly be directly allocated to interest income earned on U.S. 
dollar-denominated assets. Assets and liabilities would then be 
adjusted and residual interest expense would be allocated fungibly 
under the generally-applicable rules. This approach would take account 
of the fact that regulated financial institutions typically invest 
foreign currency-denominated deposits in interest-bearing assets 
denominated in the same currency, in part because interest rates vary 
across different currencies and this practice is more likely to yield a 
predictable return.
    Under another approach, interest expense would be allocated to the 
foreign branch category using an approach similar to the rules 
applicable to foreign corporations that are engaged in the conduct of a 
trade or business within the United States. Generally, those rules 
provide for the allocation of interest expense by reference to the 
liabilities reflected on the books and records of a branch, and make 
adjustments to the amount of interest expense allocable to a branch by 
reference to the leverage ratio of the taxpayer as a whole. See 
generally Sec.  1.882-5. Under this approach to allocating interest 
expense to foreign branch category income, it is anticipated that the 
amount of interest expense allocated to the foreign branch category 
would take into account both regarded and disregarded transactions 
reflected on the books and records of the foreign branch. Furthermore, 
in connection with this approach, disregarded interest payments would 
be subject to the general disregarded payment rule, resulting in 
adjustments to the attribution of gross income by reason of disregarded 
interest payments.

[[Page 69036]]

    The Treasury Department and the IRS also recognize that the 
existing expense allocation rules, including with respect to R&E 
expenditures, depreciation, or losses, when applied to allocate and 
apportion expenses to gross income that has been reattributed under the 
disregarded payment rule in Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(vi), may lead to 
results that are inconsistent with the policy goal of identifying 
income attributable to the foreign branch that is commensurate with its 
business activities. The Treasury Department and the IRS are studying 
whether additional rules for allocating and apportioning expenses to 
foreign branch category income or limiting the amount of the 
adjustments to the attribution of gross income as a result of certain 
disregarded payments are appropriate.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS welcome comments on issues 
relating to allocation and apportionment of expenses to the foreign 
branch category. Comments on this topic should be submitted as part of 
the notice and comment process for the 2019 FTC proposed regulations. 
See Part I.A.5 of the Explanation of Provisions to the 2019 FTC 
proposed regulations.

C. Section 951A and Passive Category Income

    Proposed Sec.  1.904-4(g) generally provides that section 951A 
category income means amounts included in the gross income of a United 
States person (``U.S. person'') under section 951A(a), but does not 
include passive category income. See also section 904(d)(1)(A). 
Additionally, proposed Sec.  1.904-4(c)(1) provides that passive income 
that is considered to be high-taxed income under section 
904(d)(2)(B)(iii)(II) (``the section 904 high-tax kickout'') is treated 
as general category income, foreign branch category income, section 
951A category income, or income in a specified separate category, 
depending on the application of the general rules in Sec.  1.904-4. One 
comment suggested that the regulations should provide that income 
included under section 951A is never assigned to the passive category. 
The comment also suggested that passive category income that qualifies 
for the section 904 high-tax kickout should never be assigned to the 
section 951A category. The comment assumed that all passive category 
income earned by a CFC was necessarily foreign personal holding company 
income and therefore could never be included under section 951A.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS note that although it is 
generally unlikely that passive category income would be included under 
section 951A, nothing in section 904 eliminates this possibility. To 
the contrary, the parenthetical in section 904(d)(1)(A) contemplates 
that all or part of a GILTI inclusion could be passive category income 
by expressly excluding passive category income from the section 951A 
category. Further, to the extent that income included under section 
951A is excluded from passive category income under the section 904 
high-tax kickout, it is appropriate under the rules of section 904(d) 
and Sec.  1.904-4 that the income be reclassified as section 951A 
category income rather than income in another separate category. The 
section 904 high-tax kickout does not specify the category to which 
high-taxed income is assigned; it merely specifies that the high-taxed 
income is not passive category income. Therefore, the comment is not 
adopted.
    Additionally, under section 904(c) as amended by the TCJA, unused 
foreign taxes with respect to section 951A category income may not be 
carried back or carried forward. Proposed Sec.  1.904-2(a) incorporated 
this statutory change into the regulations. One comment recommended 
that unused foreign taxes with respect to section 951A category income 
should be eligible to be carried back or carried forward. However, 
because the statutory language of section 904(c) is clear, the comment 
is not adopted.

D. Items Resourced Under Treaties

    The 2018 FTC proposed regulations include rules regarding section 
904(d)(6), which applies when a taxpayer elects the benefits of a 
treaty obligation to resource an item of income. Proposed Sec.  1.904-
4(k)(2) adopts a grouping methodology for purposes of section 904(d)(6) 
whereby the relevant portions of sections 904, 907, and 960 apply 
separately to the aggregate amount of items of income that are in a 
single separate category and resourced under a particular treaty rather 
than separately to each item resourced under the treaty. The proposed 
regulations also provide that Sec.  1.904-6 applies to allocate foreign 
income taxes to a separate category determined under section 904(d)(6). 
The preamble to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations requested comments on 
whether special rules should apply to limit the taxes allocated to a 
separate category determined under section 904(d)(6) to taxes imposed 
by the foreign jurisdiction that was a party to the relevant treaty, or 
whether taxes imposed by a third-party jurisdiction should continue to 
be allocated to the separate category determined under section 
904(d)(6).
    One comment addressed the issue of foreign taxes imposed by third-
party jurisdictions, noting that any rule that allocated such taxes 
away from the income on which it was imposed under Sec.  1.904-6 would 
be a departure from the framework of the foreign tax credit regime, 
which generally aims to attribute foreign taxes to the income to which 
they relate. The Treasury Department and the IRS agree with the 
comment, and therefore the final regulations reaffirm that taxes 
imposed by a third-party jurisdiction should continue to be allocated 
to the separate category determined under section 904(d)(6) or 865(h). 
See Sec.  1.904-4(k)(1)(iii) and (k)(2).
    Another comment recommended that the final regulations apply the 
approach under section 904(d)(6) to income resourced under section 
865(h). The comment indicated that there was no compelling reason why 
similar grouping rules should not also be extended to income subject to 
section 865(h). The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that 
consistent application of the similar rules in sections 865(h) and 
904(d)(6) that assign items of income resourced under a treaty to a 
separate category is appropriate. Accordingly, the final regulations 
provide that, with respect to gains described in section 865(h)(2)(A), 
the provisions of section 904(a), (b), (c), (d), (f), and (g), and 
sections 907 and 960 are applied separately with respect to each treaty 
under which the taxpayer has claimed benefits and, within each treaty, 
to each separate category of income. See Sec.  1.904-4(k)(2). 
Therefore, if a taxpayer recognizes gain described in section 
865(h)(2)(A) from multiple sales and other U.S. source income that is 
resourced and subject to section 904(d)(6), the gains and other income 
are all passive category income, and the gains and other income are 
resourced under the same treaty, then the aggregate amount of the 
resourced gains are included in a single section 865(h) separate 
category for passive category income resourced under a tax treaty, and 
the other passive income is included in a single section 904(d)(6) 
separate category for passive category income resourced under a tax 
treaty. In addition, the high-taxed income rules of section 904(d) 
(including the grouping rules in Sec.  1.904-4(c)) apply separately to 
the items of income included in each separate category for passive 
category income resourced under a particular tax treaty.

E. Distributive Shares of Partnership Income

    Under former Sec.  1.904-5(h) (as in effect before the final 
regulations) and

[[Page 69037]]

proposed Sec.  1.904-4(n), a partner's distributive share of 
partnership income is characterized as passive income to the extent 
that the distributive share is a share of income earned or accrued by 
the partnership in the passive category. However, this rule does not 
apply to any limited partner or corporate general partner that owns 
less than 10 percent of the value in a partnership. Instead, that 
partner's entire distributive share of partnership income is assigned 
to the passive category. The preamble to the proposed regulations 
requested comments on whether this rule should be modified. One comment 
stated that, if a general partner is a CFC, its distributive share 
should be characterized on a look-through basis by referencing the 
income earned or accrued by the partnership, regardless of whether the 
CFC owns 10 percent of the value in a partnership, and that 
consideration should be given to making this rule elective. The comment 
also suggested considering a look-through approach for all corporate 
general partners that own less than 10 percent of the partnership.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that in the case of 
corporate general partners in a partnership, the corporation's 
distributive share of income of the partnership should be characterized 
based on the income of the partnership regardless of the corporate 
partner's ownership threshold. The rule in former Sec.  1.904-5(h) 
assigning income of a less than 10-percent partner to the passive 
category reflected the concern that partners would have difficulty 
obtaining information from the partnership in order to determine the 
partnership's income. However, the comment states that corporate 
general partners are generally able to obtain information to determine 
their distributive shares of the partnership's income. In addition, 
with respect to CFCs, section 951A requires the CFC to determine 
whether each item of partnership income is tested income, subpart F 
income, or excluded from tested income under section 
951A(c)(2)(A)(i)(I) through (V) regardless of the CFC's ownership 
percentage in the partnership. Furthermore, with respect to 
individuals, the prior final regulations at Sec.  1.904-5(h)(1) already 
provided that general partners with less than 10 percent ownership in 
the partnership apply a look-through approach. Therefore, there is 
minimal administrative benefit to assigning all of a less-than-10-
percent corporate general partner's income to the passive category 
rather than following the general rule that assigns the distributive 
share based on the income of the partnership. Therefore, Sec.  1.904-
4(n)(1)(ii) provides that all general partners apply the general rule 
even if the partner owns less than 10 percent of the partnership. The 
same change is made to the expense allocation rules under Sec.  1.861-
9(e)(4), which provides rules for assigning partnership interest 
expense in the case of a less-than-10-percent limited partner or 
corporate general partner.

F. Look-Through Rules

1. Section 951A Category
    The proposed regulations generally provide that the look-through 
rules under section 904(d)(3) provide look-through treatment solely 
with respect to payments allocable to the passive category. See 
proposed Sec.  1.904-5. Other payments described in section 904(d)(3) 
are assigned to a separate category other than the passive category 
based on the general rules in Sec.  1.904-4. Proposed Sec.  1.904-
5(b)(1). Accordingly, dividends, interest, rents, or royalties paid 
from a CFC to a U.S. shareholder are not assigned to the section 951A 
category, because only amounts included in the gross income of a U.S. 
shareholder under section 951A (and the related gross-up amount for 
foreign taxes deemed paid) are assigned to the section 951A category.
    Comments requested that Sec.  1.904-4 be revised to provide that 
the look-through rules under section 904(d)(3) apply to characterize 
interest, rents, and royalties paid by a CFC to a U.S. shareholder as 
income in the section 951A category. However, section 904(d)(3) 
provides that look-through payments not allocable to passive category 
income are not treated as passive category income, but does not assign 
the income to a particular category. Section 904(d)(1) generally 
defines the separate categories, and section 904(d)(1)(A) is clear that 
only amounts includible in gross income under section 951A are assigned 
to the section 951A category. Accordingly, under the clear terms of the 
statute, look-through payments cannot give rise to section 951A 
category income and must be assigned to other separate categories, such 
as the foreign branch category (if described in section 904(d)(1)(B)), 
a separate category for income described in section 901(j) or income 
resourced under a tax treaty, or the general category. Therefore, the 
comment is not adopted.
2. Treatment of Interest Deductions That Are Disallowed
    Proposed Sec.  1.861-9(c)(5) provides that if a taxpayer's 
deduction for business interest expense is disallowed under section 
163(j) in a given year but permitted in a future taxable year, that the 
deduction for the business interest expense is apportioned under the 
rules of Sec.  1.861-9 as though it were incurred in the year in which 
the expense is deductible. This is consistent with the existing general 
rule in Sec.  1.861-9T(c) that in order for interest expense to be 
allocated and apportioned, the expense must be currently deductible. 
See also Sec.  1.861-9T(c)(3) (applying the same rule to interest 
deductions deferred under section 163(d)).
    One comment requested guidance on how to apply the look-through 
rules, which require allocating and apportioning interest expense under 
Sec.  1.861-9 in order to match the interest with gross income of the 
payor, when the interest expense is not allowed as a deduction at the 
CFC level. The comment noted that the disallowance at the CFC level 
does not defer a recipient income inclusion that must be assigned to a 
separate category.
    In response to the comment, the final regulations provide in Sec.  
1.904-5(c)(2)(i) that the allocation and apportionment rule described 
in Sec.  1.904-5(c)(2)(ii) is applied in the year the interest income 
is taken into account even if the interest expense is not actually 
deductible by the CFC in that year.

G. Allocation and Apportionment of Foreign Taxes

    Proposed Sec.  1.904-6(a) provides rules for the allocation and 
apportionment of taxes to the separate categories of income. Consistent 
with section 904(d)(2)(H)(i), proposed Sec.  1.904-6(a)(1)(iv) provides 
that foreign taxes imposed with respect to base differences are 
assigned to the separate category in section 904(d)(1)(B), which is the 
foreign branch category. Comments stated that Congress had 
inadvertently failed to revise the cross-reference in section 
904(d)(2)(H)(i) and that the regulations should assign taxes associated 
with base differences to the general category, or should provide a rule 
assigning the taxes to the general category or the foreign branch 
category depending on the types of income that the taxpayer earns. 
Because the statute is clear that taxes associated with base 
differences are assigned solely to the foreign branch category, the 
final regulations confirm that such taxes are assigned to the category 
specified in section 904(d)(2)(H)(i).
    Several comments to the 2018 FTC proposed regulations requested 
additional guidance clarifying the allocation and apportionment of 
foreign income taxes under Sec.  1.904-6. These

[[Page 69038]]

rules apply not only for purposes of assigning taxes to separate 
categories, but also apply under Sec.  1.960-1(d) for purposes of 
associating foreign income taxes with income groups and PTEP groups in 
determining the amount of deemed paid credits under section 960. In 
particular, the comments requested additional rules clarifying the 
meaning of base and timing differences as well as new examples, and 
rules on assigning taxes incurred with respect to disregarded payments, 
and clarification on how those rules interact with the foreign branch 
category rules.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that proposed 
Sec.  1.904-6(a)(1)(iv) generally reflects the appropriate principles 
regarding what constitutes a base or timing difference, but agree that 
additional guidance regarding how those principles apply in specific 
fact patterns is warranted. In order to provide final rules for 
taxpayers to apply, while also providing an additional opportunity for 
taxpayers to comment on the new additional guidance, the final 
regulations finalize the rules in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations in 
Sec.  1.904-6(a)(1)(iv). New rules relating to the allocation and 
apportionment of foreign income taxes are contained in the 2019 FTC 
proposed regulations.

H. Separate Limitation Loss and Overall Foreign Loss Rules Under 
Section 904(f)

    Other than a provision coordinating the application of the 
adjustments in proposed Sec.  1.904(b)-3 with the ordering rules for 
allocation and recapture of losses, including SLLs and OFLs, see 
proposed Sec.  1.904(b)-3(d), the 2018 FTC proposed regulations did not 
make any changes to the rules governing SLLs and OFLs. However, a 
number of comments requested changes to the application of those rules 
with respect to the section 951A category.
    One comment recommended that income in the section 951A category be 
excluded for purposes of the OFL recapture rule in Sec.  1.904(f)-
2(c)(1), which generally provides that the OFL recapture amount in a 
separate category is the lesser of the maximum recapture amount in that 
category (the lesser of the OFL account balance or income in that 
category) or 50 percent of total foreign source income. The comment 
suggested that for most taxpayers, GILTI inclusions will significantly 
exceed foreign source income in other separate categories and as a 
result the foreign source income in those other separate categories 
will always be fully subject to the recapture rule, up to the amount of 
the OFL account balance in that category. Comments also recommended 
that the final regulations provide that the separate limitation loss 
rules under section 904(f)(5) do not apply with respect to the section 
951A category, that the ODL rules in section 904(g) do not apply to 
reduce income in the section 951A category, and that foreign tax 
credits assigned to the section 951A category that are not allowed by 
reason of a separate limitation loss or ODL ``hover'' until the loss is 
recaptured, at which time the ``hovering'' foreign tax credits would be 
allowed.
    The current OFL recapture rule reflects the intended application of 
section 904(f)(1) as expressed in legislative history from 1986. In 
addition, section 904(f)(5) and (g) are clear that foreign source 
losses must be allocated to foreign source income in other separate 
categories before reducing U.S. source income and that ODLs reduce 
foreign source income in each separate category and must be recaptured 
out of income in those categories. The TCJA did not modify the 
operation of section 904(f) or (g) with respect to the section 951A 
category, nor is there any indication in the TCJA or legislative 
history that Congress intended the rules under section 904(f) and (g) 
to apply differently to section 951A category income as compared to 
other separate categories. In addition, no authority is provided in 
section 904 to allow taxes assigned to the section 951A category that 
accrue in one year to be deferred and claimed as a credit in a future 
year. Such a rule would be inconsistent with sections 901 and 905(a), 
which allow a foreign tax credit only when the foreign tax is paid or 
accrued (or deemed paid), and section 904(c) which, as amended by the 
TCJA, explicitly provides that foreign income taxes assigned to the 
section 951A category that are not credited in the current year cannot 
be carried to different taxable years. Accordingly, the comments are 
not adopted.

I. Overall Foreign Loss Recapture on Property Dispositions

    The 2012 OFL proposed regulations revise the ordering rules under 
Sec.  1.904(g)-3 that generally provide for the coordination of section 
904(f) and (g) to include specific references for taking into account 
OFL recapture on property dispositions under section 904(f)(3). In the 
case of dispositions in which gain is recognized irrespective of 
section 904(f)(3), the proposed regulations provide that the OFL 
recapture is included in Step Five along with other general OFL 
recapture. In the case of dispositions in which gain would not 
otherwise be recognized on a disposition, the 2012 OFL proposed 
regulations add a new Step Eight to those ordering rules to address the 
recognition of the additional income under section 904(f)(3) and the 
corresponding recapture of the applicable OFL account. New Step Eight 
also provides that if the additional recognition of gain increases the 
allowable amount of the net operating loss deduction, then the 
recapture of the OFL account occurs first before the additional net 
operating loss carryover is taken into account to offset all or a 
portion of that gain.
    Step Eight did not address the case where additional recognition of 
gain reduces the amount of a current year net operating loss. The final 
regulations revise the new Step Eight to provide that the allocation 
rules for additional net operating loss carryovers apply similarly to 
reductions in current year net operating losses, because both cases 
involve loss offsetting the additional recognized gain.
    One comment was received with respect to the 2012 OFL proposed 
regulations, which recommended addressing dispositions that result in 
additional income recognition under branch loss recapture and dual 
consolidated loss recapture rules. The 2019 FTC proposed regulations 
provide a new Step Nine addressing branch loss recapture and dual 
consolidated loss recapture amounts. The new Step Nine is being 
proposed in order to provide taxpayers an additional opportunity to 
comment on the rule.

IV. Translation of Foreign Income Taxes and Foreign Tax 
Redeterminations

A. Currency Translation Rules

1. Relevant Taxable Year and Definition of the Term ``Two Years''
    The 2007 temporary regulations provide currency translation rules 
to reflect the statutory changes made to sections 905(c) and 986(a) by 
the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-34, 111 Stat. 788 (1997)) 
and to section 986(a) by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (Pub. 
L. 108-357, 118 Stat. 1418 (2004)). Consistent with section 
986(a)(1)(A), Sec.  1.905-3T(b)(1)(i) of the 2007 temporary regulations 
generally provides that accrued foreign income taxes are translated 
into dollars at the average exchange rate for the taxable year to which 
such taxes relate. The 2007 temporary regulations also provide, 
consistent with section 986(a), several exceptions to this rule, 
including that, under section 986(a)(1)(B), the exchange rate on the 
date the taxes are paid is used to translate accrued foreign income 
taxes

[[Page 69039]]

that are paid before, or more than two years after the close of, the 
taxable year to which the taxes relate. Section 905(c)(1)(B) also 
provides that, if accrued taxes are not paid before the date two years 
after the close of the taxable year to which such taxes relate, the 
taxpayer must notify the IRS and redetermine its U.S. tax liability for 
the year or years in which it claimed a credit for such taxes.
    Consistent with sections 905(c)(1)(B) and 986(a)(1)(A), Sec.  
1.905-3T(b)(1)(ii) and (c) of the 2007 temporary regulations use the 
term ``two years,'' raising the issue of whether the term refers to two 
taxable years or two calendar years (that is, 24 months). The Treasury 
Department and the IRS have determined that a short taxable year, such 
as could result from a restructuring or other event, should not reduce 
the period within which a taxpayer can pay an accrued tax without 
triggering a foreign tax redetermination and thereby requiring the tax 
to be translated into dollars at the exchange rate on the date of 
payment. Accordingly, the final regulations at Sec. Sec.  1.986(a)-
1(a)(2)(i) and (c) and 1.905-3(a) use the term ``24 months'' instead of 
the term ``two years.'' See also Sec.  1.905-3(b)(1)(ii)(E) (Example 
5).
    The relevant taxable year of a partner or beneficiary that is 
legally liable for foreign income tax on a distributive share of income 
is the partner's or beneficiary's taxable year. On the other hand, in 
the case of a partnership that has legal liability under foreign law 
for foreign income tax and that uses a different U.S. taxable year than 
its partners who take their distributive shares of the partnership's 
tax into account under section 901(b)(5) and Sec.  1.702-1(a)(6), the 
rules under Sec.  1.905-3T(b)(1)(i) of the 2007 temporary regulations 
does not specify whether the taxable year of the partnership or of the 
partner is the relevant ``taxable year to which such taxes relate'' for 
purposes of determining the applicable exchange rate, including whether 
the tax is denominated in inflationary currency, as well as whether the 
tax is paid within two years. A similar issue may arise with respect to 
a beneficiary of a trust who takes into account a distributive share of 
foreign income taxes paid by the trust.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that the 
relevant taxable year is that of the person, including a partnership or 
trust, that has legal liability for the tax within the meaning of Sec.  
1.901-2(f) (the ``section 901 taxpayer''). Measuring the period with 
reference to the taxable year of a partnership or trust that is the 
section 901 taxpayer is simpler and more administrable than a rule that 
would vary the applicable translation convention and determine whether 
a foreign tax has been redetermined by reference to the taxable year of 
each partner or beneficiary. It will also generally conform the average 
exchange rate translation convention used to translate the taxes with 
the translation rate used to translate the income out of which the tax 
is paid by using the same taxable year to determine the average rate 
for both purposes. See section 989(b)(4). Accordingly, the final 
regulations at Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(1) and (2) clarify that the relevant 
taxable year to which the tax relates is that of the person that is 
considered to pay the tax under Sec.  1.901-2(f).
2. Definition of Inflationary Currency
    Under section 986(a)(1)(C) and section 986(a)(2), a foreign tax 
liability denominated in an inflationary currency (as determined under 
regulations) is translated into dollars at the exchange rate on the 
date of payment of the foreign tax. Section 1.905-3T(b)(1)(ii)(C) of 
the 2007 temporary regulations defines an inflationary currency as the 
currency of a country in which there is cumulative inflation of at 
least 30 percent during the 36-month base period immediately preceding 
the last day of the taxable year. The 2007 temporary regulations do not 
address which year or years are relevant to determining whether a 
currency in which a foreign tax liability is denominated is 
inflationary.
    The purpose of the payment date translation rule for tax 
denominated in inflationary currency is to more accurately reflect the 
dollar cost of satisfying a foreign tax liability when the currency 
experiences significant inflation between the time the tax accrues and 
the date the tax is paid, including when the average exchange rate 
would otherwise apply because the tax is paid within 24 months of the 
close of the taxable year to which the tax relates. To avoid 
overstating the dollar cost of the foreign tax liability, the Treasury 
Department and the IRS have determined that it is appropriate to 
translate a foreign tax liability into dollars at the spot rate (as 
defined in Sec.  1.988-1(d)) on the date of payment of the foreign 
taxes if the taxes are denominated in a currency that is inflationary 
in the accrual year or in any subsequent taxable year up to and 
including the taxable year of the section 901 taxpayer in which the tax 
is paid. See Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iii).
    The final regulations also reflect editorial changes to the 
definition of an inflationary currency that adopt the principles of 
Sec.  1.985-1(b)(2)(ii)(D) as modified by cross-reference instead of 
restating the method described in that paragraph. No substantive change 
to the computation was intended as a result of this rephrasing of the 
rule.
3. Year-End Translation Rate
    Section 1.905-3T(b)(1)(ii)(C) and (D) of the 2007 temporary 
regulations and Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iii) and (a)(2)(iv)(A) of the 
final regulations provide that, in the case of accrued taxes, the 
liability for which is denominated in an inflationary currency, or in 
the case of a taxpayer that elects to translate accrued taxes into 
dollars using the spot rate as of the date of payment, any accrued but 
unpaid taxes are translated into dollars at the spot rate on the last 
day of the U.S. taxable year to which such taxes relate. If the 
currency is not inflationary in the accrual year, but is inflationary 
when paid, under the general rule of Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(1) of the 
final regulations, the tax will be provisionally translated into 
dollars at the average rate for the year of accrual. In each of these 
cases, when the taxes are subsequently paid they are translated into 
dollars at the spot rate on the date of payment. If this amount differs 
from the provisional year-end rate or average rate initially used to 
assign a dollar value to the credit, the later payment of the tax will 
constitute a foreign tax redetermination requiring an adjustment to 
reflect the difference between the accrued amount and the actual dollar 
cost of paying the tax. See Sec.  1.905-3T(c) of the 2007 temporary 
regulations and Sec.  1.905-3(a) of the final regulations for the 
definition of a foreign tax redetermination. The final regulations at 
Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iii) and (iv) include a cross reference to Sec.  
1.905-3 to clarify that there generally will be a foreign tax 
redetermination when the accrued tax is subsequently paid, which may 
result in a U.S. tax redetermination.
    The 2007 temporary regulations effectively require that two returns 
be filed in the case of accrued taxes subject to Sec.  1.905-
3T(b)(1)(ii)(C) (inflationary currency) or (D) (spot rate election) 
that accrue in one taxable year and are paid in the next taxable year 
before the return for the accrual year has been filed: First, the 
original return on which the accrued but unpaid taxes are translated at 
the provisional year-end rate, and, second, an amended return, filed 
after such taxes are paid, on which such taxes are translated at the 
rate on the date of payment. To minimize compliance burdens for 
taxpayers, the final regulations at Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iii) and 
(iv) provide that taxpayers may translate

[[Page 69040]]

accrued but unpaid taxes (including foreign taxes deemed paid under 
section 960) into dollars using the spot rate on the date of payment, 
in lieu of the provisional year-end rate, on the original return for 
the year for which the credit is claimed if such taxes are paid before 
the due date (with extensions) of such original return and such return 
is timely filed.
4. Election To Translate Accrued Taxes Using the Rate on the Date of 
Payment
    Section 1.905-3T(b)(1)(ii)(D) of the 2007 temporary regulations 
provides that, pursuant to section 986(a)(1)(D), a taxpayer that 
otherwise would be required to translate foreign taxes using the 
average exchange rate may elect to translate all foreign income taxes 
denominated in nonfunctional currency using the exchange rate as of the 
date of payment (spot rate election). Although using the spot rate on 
the date of payment most accurately reflects the dollar cost of paying 
the foreign income tax, the 2007 temporary regulations reflect the view 
that taxpayers should not be permitted to use hindsight to select the 
more favorable of the spot rate or average exchange rate conventions to 
translate nonfunctional currency taxes on a QBU-by-QBU basis. Rather, 
in addition to a spot rate election for all of a taxpayer's 
nonfunctional currency foreign income taxes, the 2007 temporary 
regulations also permit an election to use the spot rate to translate 
less than all of a taxpayer's nonfunctional currency foreign income 
taxes, but only in situations that would reduce compliance burdens or 
avoid a mismatch between the exchange rates used to translate 
creditable foreign taxes and the same nonfunctional currency amount of 
income used to pay the tax. As noted in the preamble to the 2007 
temporary regulations, such a mismatch may occur in the case of a QBU 
that has a dollar functional currency (dollar QBU) if the average 
exchange rate is used to translate nonfunctional currency tax that is 
paid out of nonfunctional currency income earned by the dollar QBU, 
because in that case income from transactions involving foreign 
currency are accounted for using the spot rate on a transaction-by-
transaction basis. Accordingly, Sec.  1.905-3T(b)(1)(ii)(D) of the 2007 
temporary regulations provides that a taxpayer may make a spot rate 
election for all foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional 
currency, or for only those foreign income taxes that are denominated 
in nonfunctional currency and are attributable to dollar QBUs.
    Section 1.905-3T(b)(1)(ii)(D) of the 2007 temporary regulations 
refers only to a ``taxpayer'' and not also to a section 902 corporation 
(a qualified group member described in section 909(d)(5) before its 
repeal in the TCJA), raising a question whether a foreign corporation 
with a U.S. shareholder eligible to compute deemed paid taxes should be 
considered a separate ``taxpayer'' that is eligible to make the spot 
rate election. To address this issue, the final regulations at Sec.  
1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iv)(A) and (B) provide that the taxpayer for purposes 
of making the spot rate election under section 986(a)(1)(D) is any 
individual or corporation, and revise the references to section 902 
corporations to reflect the repeal of sections 902 and 909(d)(5). 
Accordingly, a foreign corporation that is a specified 10-percent owned 
foreign corporation may elect separately from any of its U.S. 
shareholders to translate either all of the foreign corporation's 
foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency, or only 
those nonfunctional currency taxes of the foreign corporation's dollar 
QBUs, using the spot rate on the date of payment. Section 1.986(a)-
1(a)(2)(iv)(B) of the final regulations also clarifies that a spot rate 
election by a U.S. shareholder does not further require that the 
shareholder's foreign subsidiaries make a spot rate election.
    Section 986(a)(1)(D)(i) provides that a spot rate election is 
available only for foreign taxes denominated in a taxpayer's 
nonfunctional currency. The final regulations clarify at Sec.  
1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iv)(A) that whether a tax that is attributable to a 
QBU of a taxpayer is denominated in nonfunctional currency is 
determined by reference to the functional currency of the taxpayer 
(which includes a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation), and 
not that of the QBU. Accordingly, taxes denominated in a QBU's 
functional currency that is a nonfunctional currency of the taxpayer 
are considered nonfunctional currency taxes for purposes of these 
rules.
    The final regulations at Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iv)(B) also confirm 
that, in the case of a taxpayer (including a specified 10-percent owned 
foreign corporation) that makes the spot rate election only with 
respect to nonfunctional currency taxes that are attributable to dollar 
QBUs, the election must be made for all of the taxpayer's dollar QBUs 
and cannot be made separately for each dollar QBU. Finally, the final 
regulations clarify that foreign tax is attributable to a dollar QBU 
for purposes of these rules if it is properly recorded on the books and 
records of the QBU in accordance with the regulations under sections 
985 through 989. This rule will help ensure matching of the exchange 
rate used to determine the dollar amount of the credit with the 
exchange rate used to determine the dollar amount of income that is 
used to pay the tax.
    The 2007 temporary regulations do not permit the spot rate election 
to be used to translate taxes that are denominated in a nonfunctional 
currency of the taxpayer and attributable to QBUs with non-dollar 
functional currencies (non-dollar QBUs), other than as part of an 
election to translate all foreign taxes at the spot rate on the date of 
payment. As noted, one of the rationales for providing an election for 
taxpayers to translate less than all of their nonfunctional currency 
taxes using the rate on the date of payment is to allow taxpayers to 
avoid a mismatch due to the use of different translation conventions in 
determining the translated dollar amount of foreign tax credit and the 
translated dollar amount of the foreign income used to pay the tax.
    However, there is generally no mismatch between the translation 
rate for taxes on income earned through non-dollar QBUs and the income 
used to pay the taxes. Under sections 986(a)(1)(A), 987(2), and 
989(b)(4), such taxes and income generally are translated into dollars 
at the average exchange rate, minimizing administrative and compliance 
burdens. Although Sec.  1.987-3T(c)(2)(v), issued in 2016, requires 
section 987 income or loss equal to the creditable tax amount to be 
translated at the same exchange rate that is used to translate the 
creditable taxes for purposes of section 901, the Treasury Department 
and the IRS intend to amend the regulations under section 987, 
deferring the applicability date of Sec.  1.987-3T(c)(2)(v) (along with 
other portions of the regulations under section 987). See Notice 2018-
57. Because in the absence of applicable final regulations the spot 
rate election to translate taxes paid by non-dollar QBUs would 
generally create a mismatch between the translated dollar amount of the 
foreign tax credit and the translated dollar amount of the foreign 
income used to pay the tax, and would increase, rather than reduce, 
administrative burdens for the IRS and compliance burdens for 
taxpayers, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that it 
is inappropriate to allow selective use of the spot rate election for 
nonfunctional currency taxes attributable to non-dollar QBUs. 
Accordingly, the final regulations provide that the spot rate election 
may not be made for foreign income taxes attributable to non-dollar 
QBUs, except

[[Page 69041]]

as part of an election to translate all taxes denominated in 
nonfunctional currency at the spot rate on the date of payment.
5. Section 988 Gain or Loss When There Is a Change in Functional 
Currency
    The 2007 temporary regulations do not address how to determine 
section 988 gain or loss when there has been a change in functional 
currency between the time a tax is paid or accrued and when it is 
refunded. If a QBU receives a refund of nonfunctional currency tax that 
is denominated in a currency that was the functional currency of the 
QBU when the tax was claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes, 
Sec.  1.986(a)-1(e)(2) of the final regulations provides that the QBU 
uses the exchange rate used under Sec.  1.985-5(c) when the QBU's 
functional currency changed to determine its basis in the refunded 
nonfunctional currency. If a QBU receives a refund of functional 
currency tax that was denominated in a nonfunctional currency when the 
tax was claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes, Sec.  
1.986(a)-1(e)(3) of the final regulations provides that the QBU 
recognizes the section 988 gain or loss that would have been recognized 
under Sec.  1.985-5(b) if the refund had been received immediately 
before the QBU's functional currency changed. The final regulations 
also add a cross-reference to these rules at Sec.  1.988-
2(a)(2)(iii)(C).

B. Accounting for Foreign Tax Redeterminations

1. Definition of a Foreign Tax Redetermination
    Section 1.905-3T(c) of the 2007 temporary regulations defines a 
``foreign tax redetermination'' as a change in the foreign tax 
liability that may affect a taxpayer's foreign tax credit, including 
accrued taxes that when paid differ from the amounts added to post-1986 
foreign income taxes or claimed as credits by the taxpayer (such as 
corrections to overaccruals and additional payments); accrued taxes 
that are not paid before the date two years after the close of the 
taxable year to which such taxes relate; refunds of tax paid; and for 
accrued taxes translated into dollars when paid, a difference between 
the dollar value of the accrued tax and the dollar value of the tax 
paid attributable to fluctuations in the foreign currency's value.
    Section 1.905-3(a) of the final regulations reflects several 
clarifying changes to what constitutes a foreign tax redetermination. 
First, a foreign tax redetermination includes certain situations 
covered by section 905(c) that do not involve a change in the foreign 
tax liability, such as the failure to pay accrued taxes within two 
years and the subsequent payment of any such accrued but unpaid taxes. 
Second, a foreign tax redetermination includes adjustments such as a 
correction to an accrual that determined the tax due with reasonable 
accuracy, but is revised after additional consideration to reflect the 
correct final tax liability. Third, the regulations clarify that a 
foreign tax redetermination occurs if any tax that is claimed as a 
credit or added to PTEP group taxes is subsequently refunded, 
regardless of whether the tax was properly treated as paid within the 
meaning of Sec.  1.901-2(e) (which includes, among other requirements, 
that the tax was owed and not refundable) when claimed as a credit or 
added to PTEP group taxes. New examples at Sec.  1.905-3(b)(1)(ii) of 
the final regulations illustrate these rules, including an example 
demonstrating that a foreign tax redetermination includes the accrual 
and payment of contested taxes following the resolution of a dispute 
with a foreign government.
    Section 1.905-3T(c) of the 2007 temporary regulations, implementing 
section 905(c)(1)(B), states that a foreign tax redetermination 
includes ``accrued taxes that are not paid before the date two years 
after the close of the taxable year to which such taxes relate.'' 
(Emphasis added.) In contrast, the currency translation rule at Sec.  
1.905-3T(b)(1)(ii)(A) of the 2007 temporary regulations, implementing 
sections 986(a)(1)(B)(i) and 986(a)(2)(A), provides that, ``[a]ny 
foreign income taxes denominated in foreign currency that are paid more 
than two years after the close of the U.S. taxable year to which they 
relate shall be translated into dollars using the exchange rate as of 
the date of payment of the foreign taxes.'' (Emphasis added.)
    If a calendar year taxpayer accrues foreign taxes at the close of 
calendar Year 1, ``the date two years after the close of the taxable 
year to which such taxes relate'' literally refers to December 31 of 
Year 3, rather than January 1 of Year 4. Thus, if the taxpayer has not 
paid the taxes before December 31 of Year 3, that is, on or before 
December 30, a foreign tax redetermination would occur on December 31 
of Year 3 even if the tax was paid on December 31 of Year 3, and such 
payment would constitute a second foreign tax redetermination. Both 
foreign tax redeterminations generally would require translating the 
foreign taxes at the same average exchange rate, resulting in 
offsetting foreign tax redeterminations.
    To better coordinate the application of the foreign tax 
redetermination and currency translation rules and to ease compliance 
burdens, the definition of a foreign tax redetermination has been 
revised to include ``accrued taxes that are not paid on or before the 
date 24 months after the close of the taxable year to which such taxes 
relate.'' (Emphasis added.)
    The Treasury Department and the IRS also have determined that the 
foreign tax redetermination resulting from accrued taxes that remain 
unpaid after two years should be considered to occur on the date that 
is 24 months after the close of the taxable year to which the taxes 
relate. Accordingly, Sec.  1.905-3(a) of the final regulations provides 
that if accrued taxes are not paid on or before the date that is 24 
months after the close of the taxable year to which they relate, the 
resulting foreign tax redetermination will be accounted for as if the 
unpaid portion of the taxes were refunded on such date.
    Finally, the final regulations clarify that taxes that first accrue 
after the date 24 months after the close of the taxable year to which 
such taxes relate may not be claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group 
taxes until they are paid. The final regulations also include a cross-
reference to the rules of section 905(b) and the all-events test under 
Sec.  1.461-4(g)(6)(iii)(B), which require the taxpayer to establish 
the amount of tax that was properly accrued.
2. Adjustments to Foreign Taxes Claimed as a Direct Credit
    Section 1.905-3T(d)(1) of the 2007 temporary regulations provides 
that, in the case of a foreign tax redetermination with respect to 
taxes paid or accrued by a U.S. taxpayer, a redetermination of U.S. tax 
liability is required ``for the taxable year for which the foreign tax 
was claimed as a credit.'' The final regulations clarify how the rules 
apply when a U.S. taxpayer's foreign taxes exceed the applicable 
limitation under section 904(d) and the taxpayer carries its unused 
foreign taxes back or forward to another year under section 904(c). 
Section 1.905-3(b)(1)(i) of the final regulations provides that, if a 
foreign tax redetermination occurs with respect to foreign tax claimed 
as a direct credit, then a redetermination of U.S. tax liability is 
required for the taxable year in which the credit was claimed and any 
year to which unused foreign taxes from such year were carried under 
section 904(c).
    Section 1.905-3T(d)(1) of the 2007 temporary regulations provides 
that a

[[Page 69042]]

redetermination of U.S. tax liability is not required if the difference 
between the dollar value of the accrued tax and the tax paid is 
attributable to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency and 
the amount of the foreign tax redetermination with respect to each 
foreign country is less than the lesser of $10,000 or two percent of 
the dollar amount of the foreign tax initially accrued with respect to 
that foreign country. The application of this rule was unclear in the 
case of foreign tax redeterminations occurring with respect to multiple 
foreign countries. The final regulations at Sec.  1.905-3(b)(1)(i) 
clarify that the exception to a redetermination of U.S. tax liability 
applies only if the $10,000 or two percent threshold is satisfied with 
respect to each and every foreign country with respect to which a 
foreign tax redetermination occurs.
3. Foreign Tax Imposed on Refund
    Section 1.905-3T(e) of the 1988 temporary regulations provided that 
tax imposed on a refund of foreign tax is considered to reduce the 
amount of the refund, and no other credit or deduction is allowed with 
respect to such tax imposed on such refund. This provision was carried 
over at Sec.  1.905-3T(e) of the 2007 temporary regulations without 
change. Section 1.905-3(c) of the final regulations modifies this rule 
to clarify that it applies in the case of any section 901 taxpayer, 
which includes a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation.

V. Deemed Paid Taxes Under Section 960

A. Scope of Current Year Taxes

    Proposed Sec.  1.960-2 deems a corporate U.S. shareholder of a CFC 
to pay certain of the CFC's current year foreign income taxes that are 
attributable to the CFC's income that the domestic corporation includes 
under sections 951(a)(1)(A) and 951A(a). Current year taxes are the 
foreign income taxes that a CFC pays or accrues in its current taxable 
year, which the rule defines as the U.S. taxable year of a CFC that 
either is an inclusion year or during which the CFC receives or makes a 
distribution that is described in sections 959(a) or (b). Proposed 
Sec.  1.960-1(b)(3), (4). Proposed Sec.  1.960-1(b)(4) preserves 
current law with respect to the timing of the accrual of foreign income 
taxes. Under current law, taxes accrue when all the events have 
occurred that establish the fact of the liability and the amount of the 
liability can be determined with reasonable accuracy. Therefore, in the 
case of taxes that are withheld from a payment, the withholding taxes 
accrue when the payment from which the tax is withheld is made. In the 
case of taxes that are imposed on net income that a taxpayer recognizes 
under foreign law with respect to a taxable period, the net income 
taxes accrue on the last day of the foreign taxable period. See Sec.  
1.446-1(c)(1)(ii) (a liability is incurred and taken into account for 
Federal income tax purposes in the taxable year in which all the events 
have occurred that establish the fact of the liability, the amount of 
the liability can be determined with reasonable accuracy, and economic 
performance has occurred with respect to the liability); Sec.  1.461-
4(g)(6)(iii)(B) (economic performance with respect to foreign income 
tax liability occurs when the requirements of the all events test other 
than economic performance are met). Therefore, under the 2018 FTC 
proposed regulations, if there is a difference between the U.S. and 
foreign taxable years, the foreign tax may accrue, for U.S. tax 
purposes, in a U.S. taxable year that does not include all the income 
to which the tax relates. The proposed regulations further provide that 
if current year taxes are imposed on an item of income that U.S. law 
recognizes in a different taxable year--in other words, if a difference 
in the foreign and U.S. taxable bases results from a timing 
difference--the taxes relate to the income group in a section 904 
category of the CFC to which they would be assigned if the income item 
was recognized under U.S. law in the current year. Proposed Sec. Sec.  
1.960-1(c)(3)(ii)(B) and 1.904-6(a)(1)(iv).
    Comments requested changes to the definition of ``current year 
taxes'' that address timing differences that arise when a CFC has 
different U.S. and foreign taxable years. Specifically, the comments 
suggested a number of approaches to match the foreign income taxes that 
the CFC pays or accrues with respect to a foreign taxable year with the 
income that it recognizes in a U.S. taxable year. For example, comments 
requested that the definition take into account foreign income taxes 
that relate to income recognized during the current taxable year but 
that are paid or accrued by a CFC with respect to a foreign taxable 
year that closes after the current taxable year. Comments suggested 
that a portion of the foreign income taxes could be allocated between 
U.S. taxable years on the basis of a ratable allocation of the foreign 
taxable income on which the taxes are imposed to the portion of a 
foreign taxable year of the CFC that corresponds to the two U.S. 
taxable years. The foreign income taxes that are allocated to the 
current taxable year under the proration would then be treated as 
current year taxes for purposes of computing deemed paid taxes under 
section 960(a) and section 960(d), even though a portion of the taxes 
do not accrue under section 461 and the all events test until after the 
close of the current taxable year. Comments also suggested modifying 
the current accrual rule for foreign income taxes to treat any foreign 
income taxes paid or accrued by a CFC that are allocated to a current 
taxable year under the proration as accruing in that year. In addition, 
comments suggested a ``closing of the books'' method for determining 
the foreign tax that is treated as either a current year tax or as 
accruing during the next U.S. taxable year, or other approaches such as 
a ``with-and-without'' calculation to determine taxes attributable to 
extraordinary transactions.
    Differences in the timing of the accrual of foreign income taxes 
and the inclusion of income by a U.S. shareholder on which the taxes 
are imposed due to a CFC's differing U.S. and foreign taxable years 
will generally resolve over time because although the U.S. and foreign 
taxable years start and close on different dates, both taxable periods 
encompass profits earned over the same length of time. A comment noted 
that this mismatch might not resolve if there are differences in the 
type or amount of income that a CFC earns from year to year. Unless the 
CFC earns all of its income ratably every year for both U.S. and 
foreign tax purposes, however, any method for allocating foreign tax to 
a different U.S. taxable year may not mitigate or may even exacerbate 
an ongoing mismatch of the income recognized in the current U.S. 
taxable year with the foreign income tax that accrues after the close 
of that year. Moreover, as one comment acknowledged, a rule that relies 
on estimates of foreign income taxes that have not accrued because they 
are attributable to a foreign taxable year that closes after the U.S. 
taxable year would require the ongoing correction of inaccurate 
estimates through redeterminations under section 905(c) and the filing 
of amended returns.
    A comment noted that Sec.  1.901-2(f)(4) requires the allocation of 
certain foreign taxes to a U.S. taxable year and treats those taxes as 
accruing in that year. This rule, however, only applies to mismatches 
that occur with respect to a single foreign taxable year due to the 
transfer of a disregarded entity or a partnership interest. Section 
1.901-2(f)(4) addresses these narrow fact patterns by treating the 
foreign taxes that accrue in one U.S. taxable year but

[[Page 69043]]

that are imposed on foreign taxable income that is likely to be 
recognized for Federal income tax purposes in a different, short U.S. 
taxable year of a partnership due to a partnership termination, or in a 
different U.S. taxable year of an owner of a disregarded entity due to 
a transfer of a disregarded entity, as having accrued in that short 
U.S. taxable year or ownership period. In certain cases, the rule may 
require the filing of an amended return to reflect the allocation of a 
portion of foreign taxes that accrue under the all events test in one 
U.S. taxable year to a different U.S. taxable year. This rule is 
appropriate to resolve a one-time mismatch in the foreign and U.S. 
taxable years in connection with an ownership change and is not an 
appropriate mechanism to address ongoing mismatches in U.S. and foreign 
taxable years that will generally resolve over time. In light of the 
fact that providing an election to choose among a variety of allocation 
and accrual methods in respect of foreign income tax would create 
compliance burdens for taxpayers and administrative burdens for the IRS 
and may produce results that are no more and possibly less accurate 
than the current accrual rule, the final regulations do not adopt the 
comments requesting that taxpayers be allowed to treat foreign taxes as 
accruing in a taxable year other than the year in which the taxes 
actually accrue under current law.
    One comment requested that the fourth sentence in Sec.  1.960-
1(b)(4), which provides that net basis foreign income taxes accrue on 
the last day of the foreign taxable year, be removed or qualified, 
because the comment asserted that the statement did not reflect current 
law regarding the accrual of these taxes. However, the comment did not 
identify any fact patterns in which net basis foreign income taxes 
could accrue before the last day of the foreign taxable year. By 
definition, net basis foreign income taxes can only be determined with 
reasonable accuracy after the foreign taxable year has closed and all 
income and deductions have been accrued for foreign tax purposes. 
Therefore, the fourth sentence in Sec.  1.960-1(b)(4) reflects current 
law regarding when these taxes accrue and the comment is not adopted.

B. Other Changes Relating to Current Year Taxes Imposed on Timing 
Difference Items

1. Assignment of Current Year Taxes to Income Groups
    One comment suggested that mismatches between the U.S. and foreign 
taxable years could be addressed by characterizing current year tax, 
and therefore allocating and apportioning it to an income group, based 
upon the earnings recognized under Federal income tax law for the 
current taxable year, regardless of whether that income was included in 
the foreign tax base upon which the current year tax was imposed. 
However, this change would nullify the Sec.  1.904-6(a) rules as a 
mechanism for attributing a current year tax to a statutory grouping of 
income, namely, income items included under section 951A or 951(a) and 
distributions of previously taxed earnings and profits, and potentially 
associate current year taxes with income for section 960 purposes other 
than the income to which the tax would relate for purposes of section 
904. Congress intended, however, that similar principles would apply to 
treat current year taxes as properly attributable to a statutory 
grouping of income for purposes of determining deemed paid taxes under 
section 960 as those that apply for purposes of assigning foreign 
income tax to a section 904 category. See Conference Report, at 628 
(``It is anticipated that the Secretary would provide regulations with 
rules for allocating taxes similar to rules in place for purposes of 
determining the allocation of taxes to specific foreign tax credit 
baskets.''). In addition, this rule would be inconsistent with the 
statutory requirement that taxes be ``properly attributable'' to the 
income that was included, because no factual connection would exist 
between the taxes and the income to which the taxes would be assigned. 
Therefore, the comment is not adopted.
2. Current Year Taxes Assigned to Groups With No Current Year Income
    Comments also requested changes that would address a broader range 
of timing differences, such as a difference in the timing of income 
recognition with respect to a particular transaction or difference in 
the timing of cost recovery, in addition to taxable year mismatches. 
Consistent with section 960(a) and (d), the 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations deem a corporate U.S. shareholder of a CFC to pay foreign 
income taxes of the CFC, which are allocated and apportioned to an 
income group under the principles of Sec.  1.904-6, only if there is an 
inclusion under either section 951(a)(1)(A) or section 951A that is 
attributable to net income in the income group. See proposed Sec.  
1.960-2(b) and (c). A current year tax that is allocated and 
apportioned to an income group cannot therefore be deemed paid if there 
is no net income in a particular group due to a timing difference or a 
reduction of the net income under section 952(c) to reflect the 
earnings and profits limitation or a chain deficit. The comments 
requested various changes that would have the effect of preserving a 
current year tax that, applying the principles of Sec.  1.904-6, would 
otherwise be allocated to an income group with no net income and not 
deemed paid under section 960.
    Several comments addressed the ineligibility of a current year tax 
to be deemed paid because it is associated under the principles of 
Sec.  1.904-6 with an income group that has no current year income or 
to which no inclusion is otherwise attributable. Comments requested 
that, in that circumstance, the current year tax be treated as properly 
attributable to previously taxed earnings and profits and deemed paid 
under section 960(b) upon a subsequent distribution of the previously 
taxed earnings and profits. A similar comment suggested that a current 
year tax that is assigned to an income group to which no inclusion is 
attributable nonetheless be treated as deemed paid under section 960 
for the current taxable year as long as the income that was included in 
the foreign tax base either was previously recognized or will be 
recognized in the future under Federal income tax rules.
    Section 960 requires an inclusion of subpart F income under section 
951(a)(1) or of tested income under section 951A in order for foreign 
income taxes that are associated with that income to be deemed paid. 
See Conference Report at 628 (``Tax imposed on income that is not 
included in subpart F income, is not considered attributable to subpart 
F income.''). In the absence of an inclusion, only a distribution of 
previously taxed earnings and profits may cause a current year tax to 
be associated with previously taxed earnings and profits instead of 
current year earnings, and treated as deemed paid by the distribution 
recipient.
    Congress intended for Sec.  1.904-6 principles to apply to 
associate current year tax with those inclusions or distributions so 
that the taxes that are deemed paid with respect to an inclusion or 
distribution are also associated, for purposes of applying the 
limitation under section 904(d), with the separate category to which 
the inclusion or previously taxed earnings and profits is assigned. 
Congress also repealed section 902, which tracked multi-year amounts of 
a CFC's foreign income taxes and associated those amounts with multi-
year amounts of its earnings and profits, in favor of a system that 
associates, within a single, current

[[Page 69044]]

taxable year, the foreign income taxes that a CFC pays or accrues with 
the income it recognizes in that year. See H.R. Rep. No. 115-409, at 
383 (``[O]ffering deemed paid foreign tax credits on a current year 
basis solely under section 960 reflects what the Committee believes to 
be a simpler and more appropriate application of the foreign tax credit 
regime in a 100 percent participation exemption system); Conference 
Report at 628 (``The provision eliminates the need for computing and 
tracking cumulative tax pools.''). In a current year system that relies 
on Sec.  1.904-6 principles to associate taxes paid or accrued by a CFC 
with respect to a taxable year with its income for that taxable year, 
taxes that accrue in a taxable year but relate to income other than the 
income that is included by a U.S. shareholder in that year are not 
deemed paid. Section 1.960-1(d)(3)(ii)(B) carries out the legislative 
intent by assigning taxes under the timing difference rule to current 
items of income of the same type as the items included in the foreign 
tax base, even if the tax was factually associated with specific items 
of income that were recognized for U.S. tax purposes in a different 
taxable year.
    Associating the tax with previously taxed earnings and profits 
rather than current year items of income would be inconsistent with 
Congress's intent to eliminate pooling and calculate deemed paid 
foreign tax credits on a current year basis rather than on a multi-year 
basis; the change requested by the comments, in other words, would 
circumvent Congress's intent that, in the absence of a distribution of 
previously taxed earnings and profits, the only event that causes a 
foreign income tax to be deemed paid by a domestic corporation is an 
inclusion of the income to which the foreign income tax that is paid or 
accrued by a CFC relates. Conference report at 628. Therefore, the 
comments are not adopted.
    Comments also requested the allowance of carryovers or carrybacks 
at the CFC level if a current year tax is not deemed paid because it is 
imposed on a timing difference item to which no inclusion is 
attributable or if the inclusion amount is reduced to reflect the 
shareholder's qualified deficit. The requested changes to allow 
carryovers of foreign income taxes at the CFC level are inappropriate 
in light of the transition, discussed in this Part V.B, from a system 
based on multi-year pools of foreign income taxes to a current-year 
system. Moreover, Congress also expressly disallowed carryovers of 
section 951A category foreign income taxes paid, accrued, or deemed 
paid by a domestic corporation. See section 904(c). The allowance of 
carryovers by a CFC of current year taxes that are not deemed paid by a 
U.S. shareholder with respect to an inclusion would undermine 
Congress's intent to deem a U.S. shareholder to pay foreign income 
taxes with respect to inclusions only on a current year basis and to 
allow carryovers only of certain foreign income taxes. Therefore, the 
comments are not adopted.
    One comment specifically referenced the rule in proposed Sec.  
1.960-2(c)(5) that provides for no deemed paid taxes under section 
960(d) and proposed Sec.  1.960-2(c)(1) when the taxpayer has no 
inclusion under section 951A(a) in arguing for a proportionate 
carryover of taxes not deemed paid in the current year. The comment 
noted that if there was no inclusion under section 951A(a) because the 
taxpayer had no net CFC tested income (as defined in Sec.  1.951A-
1(c)(2)) or had deemed tangible income return (as defined in Sec.  
1.951A-1(c)(3)) in excess of its net CFC tested income, the earnings 
associated with that income may not be eligible for the deduction under 
section 245A and therefore could be subject to double taxation.
    In general, earnings and profits related to income that is not 
included under section 951(a) or section 951A(a) (including income that 
is not included because of the taxpayer's deemed tangible income return 
or a lack of net CFC tested income) are eligible for the dividends 
received deduction under section 245A when those earnings are 
distributed to a domestic corporation, if the holding period and other 
requirements under section 245A are met. Thus, excluding the taxes 
associated with those earnings from being deemed paid under proposed 
Sec.  1.960-2(c)(5) does not result in double taxation as asserted by 
the comment. See also section 245A(d). Accordingly, no changes were 
made to proposed Sec.  1.960-2(c)(5).
3. Current Year Taxes Attributable to Inclusion Reduced by Qualified 
Deficit
    A comment requested an adjustment to the computation of deemed paid 
taxes if a domestic corporation's subpart F inclusion that is 
attributable to net income in a subpart F income group is reduced by 
the amount of the domestic corporation's share of a qualified deficit. 
The requested adjustment would cause all taxes in the subpart F income 
group to be deemed paid in the year the qualified deficit is used. 
Under the requested adjustment, the amount of the current year taxes 
allocated and apportioned to the group that would be deemed paid by the 
domestic corporation would be disproportionate to the portion of the 
subpart F income in the group that is included in income by the 
domestic corporation. Under section 952(c)(1)(B), a qualified deficit 
reduces the amount of subpart F income of a CFC that a U.S. shareholder 
includes in its gross income under section 951(a)(1)(A) but does not 
reduce the subpart F income of the CFC. In contrast, section 
952(c)(1)(A) reduces the subpart F income of the CFC at the CFC level. 
In addition, whereas the current year E&P limitation in section 
952(c)(1)(A) can give rise to recapture in a future taxable year of the 
reduced subpart F income amount, no such recapture occurs with respect 
to qualified deficits. Therefore, the final regulations retain the rule 
in Sec.  1.960-2(b)(3)(ii) that reduces the amount of foreign income 
taxes deemed paid to the extent the U.S. shareholder reduces its 
subpart F inclusion by reason of a qualified deficit. Otherwise, 
taxpayers could be allowed a deemed paid credit in excess of the amount 
of foreign income taxes the CFC paid with respect to the income that 
was included.
4. Assignment of Current Year Taxes to Section 904 Categories and 
Income Groups Determined Under Federal Income Tax Law
    Comments requested clarification on the application of the timing 
difference rule in the case of foreign income taxes incurred by a CFC 
after the enactment of section 951A but imposed on income included in 
the foreign tax base that may correspond to income recognized under 
Federal income tax law in a pre-enactment taxable year (including, for 
example, income of a CFC that was included in a U.S. shareholder's 
income under section 965). In particular, comments noted that the 
description in proposed Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii)(B)(2) of the timing 
difference rule as applied to certain taxes with respect to previously 
taxed earnings and profits suggested that the taxes would relate to the 
category that existed in the inclusion year, rather than (if different) 
the category to which the previously taxed earnings and profits would 
have been assigned in the year in which the taxes are paid or accrued. 
The comments recommended the rules confirm that taxes incurred by a CFC 
after the enactment of section 951A can be assigned to a tested income 
group even if such taxes were imposed on income that accrued for U.S. 
tax purposes before section 951A was enacted.
    Under Sec.  1.904-6(a)(1)(iv), a tax imposed on an amount that is 
not included in U.S. taxable income in the

[[Page 69045]]

current year is allocated and apportioned to the appropriate separate 
category or categories to which the tax would be allocated and 
apportioned if the income were recognized under Federal income tax 
principles in the year in which the tax was imposed. Therefore, in the 
context of proposed Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii), which applies the 
principles of Sec.  1.904-6, a tax imposed in a post-TCJA year with 
respect to pre-TCJA income is assigned to a tested income group if the 
pre-TCJA income, if recognized in the year the tax was imposed, would 
be tested income. Therefore, no further change to the regulations is 
necessary to achieve the result requested by the comments. However, the 
sentence in proposed Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii)(B)(2) is revised to 
eliminate any inference that the timing difference rule assigns the tax 
on the basis of the separate categories that existed in the inclusion 
year.
    One comment asked for clarifications regarding how current year 
taxes are allocated and apportioned under proposed Sec.  1.960-
1(d)(3)(ii) when the foreign corporation's U.S. and foreign taxable 
years do not match. In addition to the change to proposed Sec.  1.960-
1(d)(3)(ii)(B)(2) described in the previous paragraph, as requested by 
the comment certain changes were also made to proposed Sec.  1.960-
1(d)(3)(ii) to clarify the allocation and apportionment process that 
applies to associate a current year tax with a particular income group 
or PTEP group that is treated as an income group. These changes clarify 
that in order to allocate and apportion a current year tax to the 
section 904 categories and income groups within those categories, all 
of the foreign taxable income for the period with respect to which the 
tax is imposed under foreign law is characterized under Federal income 
tax law and assigned to the categories or groups as though that foreign 
taxable income were recognized under Federal income tax law in the year 
in which the tax is paid or accrued. See Sec.  1.960(d)(3)(ii)(A) and 
(C). Additionally, as discussed in Part III.G of this Summary of 
Comments and Explanation of Revisions, further guidance relating to the 
allocation and apportionment of foreign income taxes is contained in 
the 2019 FTC proposed regulations.

C. Application of Section 960 to Inclusions Under Section 1293

    Proposed Sec.  1.960-1(a)(1) sets out the general scope of the 
rules providing for the determination of the foreign income taxes 
deemed paid by a domestic corporation under section 960. Comments 
requested that proposed Sec.  1.960-1(a)(1) be modified to clarify that 
the regulations under section 960 do not preclude a credit under 
section 1293(f). The final regulations in Sec.  1.960-1(a)(1) clarify 
that the regulations apply for purposes of any provision that treats a 
taxpayer as a domestic corporation that is deemed to pay foreign income 
taxes or treats a foreign corporation as a CFC for purposes of section 
960, including for example, section 962(a)(2) or 1293(f).

D. Assigning Gross Income to Section 904 Categories and Income Groups

1. Separate Categories to Which Income May Be Assigned
    With respect to a CFC, proposed Sec.  1.960-1(d) provides rules for 
assigning gross income, and allocating and apportioning deductions and 
current year taxes, to section 904 categories and income groups for 
purposes of determining what taxes are properly attributable to, and 
therefore deemed paid with respect to, a subpart F inclusion, GILTI 
inclusion, or a distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits. 
Under proposed Sec.  1.960-1(d)(2)(i), gross income is first assigned 
to a section 904 category. The rule also specifies that, other than 
gross income relating to a section 959(b) distribution, gross income of 
a CFC cannot be assigned to the section 951A category or foreign branch 
category.
    One comment recommended changes to this language, in general, to 
specify that gross income relating to a section 959(b) distribution can 
be assigned to the section 951A category, but that gross income of a 
CFC can never be assigned to the foreign branch category. The Treasury 
Department and the IRS agree that the language could be clarified, and 
accordingly, the final regulations modify Sec.  1.960-1(d)(2)(i) to 
omit any references to the foreign branch category. However, the 
Treasury Department and the IRS are studying whether in certain cases a 
CFC may have gross income that is assigned to the foreign branch 
category and therefore the final regulations do not preclude that 
possibility.
2. Scope of Subpart F Income Groups
    After assignment of income to section 904 categories, proposed 
Sec.  1.960-1(d)(2)(ii)(A) provides that the income is further assigned 
to income groups within the section 904 categories. Under proposed 
Sec.  1.960-1(d)(2)(ii)(B), gross subpart F income is assigned to 
income groups based on the items of income determined under Sec.  
1.954-1(c)(1)(iii).
    Comments requested that all subpart F income in a separate category 
be treated as a single item for purposes of determining what taxes are 
properly attributable to a subpart F inclusion. However, because the 
grouping rules in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations are necessary to 
properly coordinate the calculation of foreign taxes deemed paid under 
section 960(a) with the application of the subpart F high-tax exception 
and the section 904 high-tax kickout, the final regulations do not 
adopt these comments.
    Section 960(a) requires a determination of the foreign income taxes 
that are attributable to ``any item of income . . . with respect to [a] 
controlled foreign corporation'' that is included in gross income of a 
domestic corporation under section 951(a)(1). However, under the 
subpart F high-tax exception, a taxpayer may exclude from a CFC's 
foreign base company income an ``item of income'' that is high-taxed. 
High-taxed income is excluded from foreign base company income, and 
therefore is not included in the U.S. shareholder's income under 
section 951(a)(1). The regulations under section 954(b)(4) identify 
items of gross foreign base company income within each section 904 
category and allocate and apportion expenses (including foreign tax 
expense) among these items in order to compute the net items of foreign 
base company income and determine the foreign effective tax rate with 
respect to each item. The grouping rules in the section 954(b)(4) 
regulations further coordinate the application of the subpart F high-
tax exception with the section 904 high-tax kickout by adopting the 
passive category grouping rules used in the section 904 regulations. 
See Sec.  1.954-1(c)(1)(iii) and sections 904(d)(2)(B)(ii)(II) and 
904(d)(2)(F), excluding from passive income any income with respect to 
which the foreign income taxes paid, accrued, and deemed paid exceed 
the highest U.S. tax rate.
    By adopting the same grouping rules used to determine eligibility 
for the subpart F high-tax exception and the application of the section 
904 high-tax kickout, the subpart F income groups of proposed Sec.  
1.960-1(d)(2)(ii)(B) ensure that the same amount of foreign tax is 
treated as attributable to a particular item of a CFC's foreign base 
company income for purposes of all three Code sections. This helps 
minimize the circumstances in which passive subpart F income could fail 
to qualify for the subpart F high-tax exception, but when included 
under section 951(a) by the U.S. shareholder with foreign taxes deemed 
paid trigger the similar (but not identical) section 904 high-tax 
kickout. Additionally, given that section 960(a)

[[Page 69046]]

specifically refers to the foreign income taxes properly attributable 
to the ``item of income,'' which has historically been determined in 
this manner in applying the subpart F high-tax exception and the 
section 904 high-tax kickout, the Treasury Department and the IRS have 
determined that retaining the separate subpart F income groups as 
provided in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations is appropriate. 
Accordingly, the comments are not adopted.

E. Deemed Paid Credits for Inclusions Under Section 951(a)(1)(B)

    Proposed Sec.  1.960-2(b)(1) provides that no foreign income taxes 
are deemed paid under section 960(a) with respect to an inclusion under 
section 951(a)(1)(B), which is based on the amount determined under 
section 956 (a ``section 956 inclusion''). The preamble to the proposed 
regulations explains that a section 956 inclusion is not an inclusion 
of an ``item of income'' of the CFC but instead is an inclusion equal 
to an amount that is determined under the formula in section 956(a) and 
therefore section 960(a), which as amended by the TCJA computes deemed 
paid taxes by reference to foreign taxes attributable to an ``item of 
income,'' does not allow for a deemed paid credit. Comments noted that 
section 960(a) references section 951(a)(1), not merely subpart F 
inclusions under section 951(a)(1)(A), and argued that a section 956 
inclusion is an item of income in respect of the U.S. shareholder and 
requested that the regulation be modified to allow for a deemed paid 
credit in connection with a section 956 inclusion. Additionally, 
comments argued that not allowing credits in respect of section 956 
inclusions was inconsistent with the legislative history of the TCJA. 
However, one comment stated that the rule in proposed Sec.  1.960-
2(b)(1) represented sensible policy because, under a pre-TCJA regime 
that deferred U.S. taxation of a CFC's earnings until those earnings 
were repatriated through a dividend distribution, section 956 served 
the purpose of treating effective repatriations of CFC earnings in the 
form of investments in certain U.S. property in a manner similar to 
repatriations in the form of dividends. The TCJA allowed a dividend 
received deduction for dividends from subsidiary foreign corporations, 
and no foreign taxes are deemed paid under the TCJA with respect to 
dividends (including dividends that are not eligible for a deduction 
under section 245A).
    The Treasury Department and the IRS disagree that the ``item of 
income'' reference in section 960(a) refers to the U.S. shareholder's 
inclusion under section 951(a)(1), rather than the item of income of 
the CFC that is included in the U.S. shareholder's income. If that were 
the case, then no foreign taxes of the CFC would be properly 
attributable to such item of income, since the foreign taxes are 
imposed on the items of income earned by the CFC and not on the U.S. 
shareholder's subpart F inclusion. Therefore, the items to which 
foreign tax can be properly attributed must refer to the CFC's income 
items in order for section 960(a) to allow for a deemed paid credit for 
foreign taxes paid or accrued by the CFC. Because a section 956 
inclusion is not traceable to an item of income of the CFC, section 
960(a) does not permit a deemed paid credit for section 956 inclusions. 
See also Whitlock v. Comm'r, 494 F.2d 1297 (10th Cir. 1974) (earnings 
that give rise to a section 956 inclusion are ``not an `income' type 
item of the corporation'').
    In addition, section 960(a) does not define what it means for taxes 
to be ``properly attributable'' to items of income. The legislative 
history provides that rules similar to Sec.  1.904-6(a) should apply in 
attributing foreign income taxes to ``item[s] of subpart F income.'' 
H.R. Rep. No. 115-409, at 383. Section 1.960-1(d)(3)(ii) accordingly 
applies the principles of Sec.  1.904-6(a) to allocate a CFC's current 
year taxes to the CFC's income items that comprise its subpart F income 
and other income earned in the current taxable year. Those principles 
require attributing foreign income taxes, which are paid or accrued by 
the CFC, to items of income of the CFC, not to an item of income of the 
U.S. shareholder, since an inclusion under section 951(a) with respect 
to the U.S. shareholder is not ``included in the [foreign] base upon 
which the [CFC's foreign income] tax is imposed.'' Section 1.904-
6(a)(1). Furthermore, an inclusion under section 951(a) with respect to 
the U.S. shareholder is not an ``item of subpart F income,'' and 
subpart F income excludes earnings relating to section 956. See section 
952(a) (defining ``subpart F income'').
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have also determined that 
attributing any foreign income taxes to a section 956 inclusion would 
be inconsistent with the intent of Congress to eliminate the need for 
multi-year tracking of income and taxes and move to a foreign tax 
credit system based solely on current year taxes and income. H.R. Rep. 
No. 115-409, at 383 (``[O]ffering deemed paid foreign tax credits on a 
current year basis solely under section 960 reflects what the Committee 
believes to be a simpler and more appropriate application of the 
foreign tax credit regime in a 100 percent participation exemption 
system.''). Congress intended for the repeal of section 902 and the 
amendment of section 960 to ``eliminate[ ] the need for computing and 
tracking cumulative tax pools.'' Id. Allowing a deemed paid credit for 
inclusions under section 956, as requested by comments, would require 
the promulgation of complex rules for tracking annual layers of taxes 
that were associated with earnings that were not included under section 
951(a)(1) or 951A, special ordering rules for determining which layer 
of taxes were deemed paid with respect to a section 956 inclusion 
relating to earnings from a prior year, and would also potentially 
require multifaceted rules to trace movements in layers as a result of 
distributions of earnings and profits or reorganizations of entities.
    Therefore, consistent with the proposed regulations, the final 
regulations provide that no foreign income taxes are deemed paid under 
section 960(a) with respect to a section 956 inclusion.

F. PTEP Groups in Annual PTEP Accounts

    Under proposed Sec.  1.960-3(c)(1), a CFC must establish a 
separate, annual account (``annual PTEP account'') for its earnings and 
profits for its current taxable year to which subpart F or GILTI 
inclusions of U.S. shareholders are attributable. The previously taxed 
earnings and profits in each annual account are then assigned to one of 
ten possible groups of previously taxed earnings described in proposed 
Sec.  1.960-3(c)(2) (each, a ``PTEP group''). After the proposed 
regulations were issued, the Treasury Department and the IRS released 
Notice 2019-01, 2019-2 I.R.B. 275, which announced the intention to 
issue regulations relating to foreign corporations with previously 
taxed earnings and profits. Notice 2019-01 affirmed the requirement to 
maintain annual PTEP accounts, but expanded the number of PTEP groups 
to 16, which included the original ten PTEP groups in the 2018 FTC 
proposed regulations as well as six additional groups. Notice 2019-01 
provided that these rules would be coordinated with proposed Sec. Sec.  
1.960-1 and 1.960-3. Both the preamble to the 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations and Notice 2019-01 requested comments on possible ways to 
simplify the PTEP groups. While no comments made specific suggestions 
on how to combine or consolidate PTEP groups, one comment noted that 
the rules were complex and questioned whether tracking all the PTEP 
groups was necessary.

[[Page 69047]]

    After evaluating the various limitations on the creditability of 
certain foreign income taxes and the application of the foreign 
currency rules under section 986(c) with respect to PTEP groups, the 
Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that it is possible to 
consolidate certain of the PTEP groups that were listed in Notice 2019-
01. Accordingly, the final regulations update the list of the PTEP 
groups in Sec.  1.960-3 to include ten PTEP groups. This list 
consolidates the PTEP groups that were included in the 2018 FTC 
proposed regulations with the PTEP groups that were included in Notice 
2019-01. The updated list permits taxpayers to track fewer PTEP groups 
than those provided for in Notice 2019-01, while still permitting the 
application of the relevant foreign tax credit and foreign currency 
provisions. However, the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to 
issue more comprehensive regulations addressing the maintenance of 
annual PTEP accounts and the PTEP groups in a separate notice of 
proposed rulemaking under section 959. It is anticipated that, as part 
of that guidance, further changes may be made to Sec.  1.960-3 in order 
to coordinate both sets of regulations.

G. Transition Rule for Foreign Income Taxes Deemed Paid With Respect to 
PTEP Groups

    Proposed Sec.  1.960-3(d)(3) provides rules for how to determine 
whether foreign income taxes that were paid or accrued by a CFC in a 
taxable year that began before January 1, 2018, with respect to PTEP 
groups that were established for an inclusion year beginning before 
January 1, 2018, are treated as PTEP group taxes for purposes of 
applying Sec.  1.960-3. The rule requires that the foreign income taxes 
meet three conditions, including a condition that the taxes were paid 
or accrued in a taxable year of the CFC that began before January 1, 
2018.
    One comment noted that this condition could be read to provide that 
taxes imposed after 2017 on a distribution from a PTEP group from an 
inclusion year before 2018 are not treated as PTEP group taxes. The 
comment recommended eliminating this condition. The Treasury Department 
and the IRS agree with the comment that the condition inappropriately 
limited the foreign income taxes that could qualify as PTEP group taxes 
under the rule. Accordingly, the final regulations eliminate the 
requirement in proposed Sec.  1.960-3(d)(3)(i). See Sec.  1.960-
3(d)(3).

H. Application of Section 960(c) to Inclusions Under Section 951A

    If certain conditions are met, section 960(c)(1) and Sec.  1.960-4 
allow a taxpayer to increase its section 904 limitation in the year of 
receipt of previously taxed earnings and profits. Because a 
distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits is excluded from 
gross income under section 959(a), the distribution will not increase 
the taxpayer's section 904 limitation except to the extent of any 
foreign currency gain recognized under section 986(c). The lack of 
sufficient section 904 limitation could prevent the taxpayer from 
claiming a credit for foreign income tax, such as a withholding tax, 
imposed by reason of the distribution. Section 960(c)(1) and Sec.  
1.960-4 permit foreign tax on the distribution to be credited to the 
extent the taxpayer had excess limitation in the year of inclusion of 
the income under section 951A or section 951(a).
    However, in order to limit the increase to the limitation 
attributable to the inclusion, the increase in the section 904 
limitation is reduced by the amount which would have been the section 
904 limitation in the inclusion year if the amounts had not been 
included in gross income under section 951(a) or 951A(a). See Sec.  
1.960-4(c) and proposed Sec.  1.960-4(a)(1). The increase in the 
section 904 limitation also excludes any excess limitation in the year 
of the inclusion that was used to claim a credit for foreign taxes in 
addition to those paid, accrued, or deemed paid with respect to the 
inclusions under section 951(a) or section 951A. See Sec.  1.960-4(d) 
and proposed Sec.  1.960-4(a)(1).
    A comment recommended that Sec.  1.960-4(c) and (d) not apply to 
GILTI inclusions because GILTI inclusions are segregated in a separate 
category that cannot include any other income. However, the 
parenthetical in section 904(d)(1)(A) contemplates that all or part of 
a GILTI inclusion could be passive category income by expressly 
excluding passive category income from the section 951A category. 
Therefore, the comment is not adopted.

I. Application of Section 965(g) to Section 960(b)

    Section 965(g) provides that no credit is allowed under section 901 
for the applicable percentage of any taxes paid or accrued (or treated 
as paid or accrued) with respect to any amount for which a deduction is 
allowed under section 965(c). On August 9, 2018, the Treasury 
Department and the IRS published proposed regulations (REG-104226-18) 
in the Federal Register (83 FR 39514) (the ``section 965 proposed 
regulations''), which included a provision to disallow credits under 
section 901 for the applicable percentage of any foreign income taxes 
attributable to a distribution of section 965(a) previously taxed 
earnings and profits or section 965(b) previously taxed earnings and 
profits. The section 965 proposed regulations included a rule for 
foreign taxes deemed paid under section 960(a)(3) and reserved a rule 
for foreign taxes deemed paid under section 960(b) in proposed Sec.  
1.965-5(c)(1)(iii). Subsequently, in December 2018, the 2018 FTC 
proposed regulations provided the rule in Sec.  1.965-5(c)(1)(iii) to 
disallow credits for the applicable percentage of foreign income taxes 
deemed paid under section 960(b) with respect to distributions to the 
domestic corporation of section 965(a) previously taxed earnings and 
profits or section 965(b) previously taxed earnings and profits, and 
provided a coordination rule with proposed Sec.  1.960-3, which 
provides rules for section 960(b). On February 5, 2019, the Federal 
Register published final regulations under section 965 (T.D. 9846) at 
84 FR 1838, and these regulations confirmed, under Sec.  1.965-
5(c)(1)(i), that no credit was allowed for the applicable percentage of 
foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b) with respect to 
distributions of section 965(a) previously taxed earnings and profits 
or section 965(b) previously taxed earnings and profits. The final 
regulations in this Treasury decision finalize the rule in Sec.  1.965-
5(c)(1)(iii) limiting the application of section 965(g) to 
distributions to domestic corporations in order to avoid multiple 
disallowances, and coordinating the application of Sec.  1.965-
5(c)(1)(i) with Sec.  1.960-3.
    In addition, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations provide a rule 
similar to the rule that applies to taxes deemed paid under section 
960(a)(3) (as in effect on December 21, 2017) that is in Sec.  1.965-
5(c)(1)(ii) in the section 965 proposed regulations. In particular, 
foreign income taxes that would have been deemed paid under section 
960(a)(1) (as in effect on December 21, 2017) with respect to the 
portion of a section 965(a) earnings amount that was reduced under 
Sec.  1.965-1(b)(2) or Sec.  1.965-8(b) are not eligible to be deemed 
paid under section 960(b) and Sec.  1.960-3(b)(1) or any other section 
of the Code. See proposed Sec.  1.965-5(c)(1)(iii).
    A comment asserted that these taxes should be considered to meet 
the requirements of section 960(b) as they are income taxes ``properly 
attributable'' to section 965(b) previously taxed

[[Page 69048]]

earnings and profits. The comment states that although such earnings 
are not included in income under section 951(a), they are effectively 
taxed upon distribution through the reduction of basis under section 
961(b).
    The Treasury Department and the IRS disagree with the comment for 
several reasons. First, any distribution of PTEP that reduces basis 
does not necessarily result in U.S. tax; rather, such distribution is 
excluded from income under section 959(a) to the extent there is 
sufficient basis. The reasoning suggested by the comment would require 
that when a U.S. shareholder has a section 951(a) inclusion that is not 
reduced under section 965(b)(4), a deemed paid credit would be allowed 
twice, once at the time of the section 951(a) inclusion and then again 
when a distribution of PTEP is made that results in a reduction of 
basis under section 961(b), which is plainly contrary to the text of 
section 960 and the purpose of the foreign tax credit.
    Second, the comment argues that section 965(b)(4)(A) provides that 
section 965(a) earnings amounts offset by an aggregate foreign E&P 
deficit are treated as income previously included under section 951(a) 
``solely'' for purposes of applying section 959, so that such earnings 
are not treated as previously included under section 951(a) for 
purposes of applying section 960. However, the application of section 
959 is a precondition to the application of section 960(b); section 
960(b) cannot result in deemed paid taxes other than with respect to a 
distribution that is excluded from income under section 959, and in 
order to be so treated the section 965(b) previously taxed earnings and 
profits are necessarily treated as previously included under section 
951(a) for purposes of section 959. See also Part VI.B of the Summary 
of Comments and Explanation of Revisions to the final regulations under 
section 965 (T.D. 9846, published in the Federal Register (84 FR 1838) 
on February 5, 2019) (rejecting similar argument in the context of 
prior law under section 960(a)(3)).
    Third, section 960(b) allows a credit for foreign income taxes paid 
by CFCs upon a subsequent distribution of the section 965(b) previously 
taxed earnings and profits through a chain of CFCs to the domestic 
corporate shareholder, but does not allow a credit for foreign income 
taxes that were previously deemed paid (or treated as deemed paid) 
under section 960(a) when the amounts were included (or treated as 
included) in income under section 951(a). As explained in Part VI.B of 
the Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions to the final 
regulations under section 965 (T.D. 9846, published in the Federal 
Register (84 FR 1838) on February 5, 2019), foreign income taxes 
attributable to a section 965(a) earnings amount that were offset by an 
aggregate foreign E&P deficit were treated as deemed paid under section 
960(a) when those earnings were treated as included in income under 
section 951(a) for purposes of section 959. Therefore, such taxes are 
not available to be deemed paid again under section 960(b) upon a 
distribution of the section 965(b) previously taxed earnings and 
profits.
    Finally, section 960(b) provides that only taxes that are 
``properly attributable to'' a distribution of PTEP are treated as 
deemed paid. The comment does not explain why foreign income taxes that 
were paid or accrued in taxable years before the TCJA would be 
``properly attributable'' to a distribution of PTEP in a later taxable 
year. The legislative history to the TCJA indicates that rules similar 
to Sec.  1.904-6(a) should apply to determine the meaning of ``properly 
attributable.'' H.R. Rep. No. 115-409, at 383. Under Sec.  1.904-6(a) 
as in effect at the time of the TCJA, foreign income taxes paid or 
accrued in a current year are allocated and apportioned to current year 
income in a separate category (taking into account timing differences 
under former Sec.  1.904-6(a)(1)(iv)), and not to income in a different 
taxable year. Section 1.960-1(d)(3)(ii) implements this legislative 
intent by providing that only current year taxes imposed solely by 
reason of a distribution of PTEP are allocated and apportioned to PTEP 
groups. Because section 960(b) applies only to distributions of PTEP 
arising in taxable years covered by the TCJA, foreign income taxes paid 
or accrued in taxable years before the TCJA can never be ``properly 
attributable'' to a distribution of PTEP that is described in section 
960(b).
    Therefore, the final regulations provide that no credit is allowed 
under section 960(b) or any other provision of the Code for taxes 
attributable to section 965(a) earnings amounts offset by an aggregate 
foreign E&P deficit that would have been deemed paid under former 
section 960(a)(1) had the amounts actually been included in income 
under section 951(a).

J. Treatment of Section 78 Dividend

1. Taxes Deemed Paid Under Section 960(b)
    Under section 78, as amended by the TCJA, an amount equal to the 
taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation under section 960(a), (b), 
and (d) are treated as a dividend received from the foreign 
corporation. Section 960(b) addresses taxes deemed paid on 
distributions of previously taxed earnings and profits. Before the 
TCJA, section 78 did not reference former section 960(a)(3), which at 
the time addressed taxes deemed paid on distributions of previously 
taxed earnings and profits. This is consistent with the purpose of the 
section 78 dividend, which is to ensure that a U.S. shareholder cannot 
effectively both deduct and credit the foreign taxes paid by a foreign 
subsidiary that are deemed paid by the U.S. shareholder. See Elizabeth 
A. Owens & Gerald T. Ball, The Indirect Credit Sec.  2.2B1a n.54 
(1975); Stanley Surrey, ``Current Issues in the Taxation of Corporate 
Foreign Investment,'' 56 Columbia Law Rev. 815, 828 (June 1956) 
(describing the ``mathematical quirk'' that necessitated enactment of 
section 78). However, there is no deduction taken into account by the 
U.S. shareholder for U.S. tax purposes with respect to taxes deemed 
paid under either former section 960(a)(3) or section 960(b) that would 
need to be reversed by section 78.
    One comment requested that the final regulations make clear that, 
notwithstanding the amendment of section 78, deemed paid taxes are not 
treated as a section 78 dividend to the extent that the taxes are 
related to previously taxed earnings and profits. The comment states 
that providing a section 78 dividend on these taxes is inappropriate 
given the purpose of section 78, and that no changes to the statutory 
language of section 78 should be needed to achieve this result based on 
the final regulations in effect before the enactment of the TCJA. 
Finally, the comment also requested changes to the example in proposed 
Sec.  1.960-1(f) to show the computation of deemed paid taxes of a U.S. 
shareholder under section 960(b)(1) and the application of section 78 
to the deemed paid taxes.
    Because section 78 clearly states that taxes deemed paid under 
section 960(b) give rise to a section 78 dividend, the final 
regulations do not adopt the comment. Additionally, because an example 
of the application of section 960(b)(1) is already provided in Sec.  
1.960-3(e)(2), no changes were made to the example in proposed Sec.  
1.960-1(f) in the final regulations.
2. Inclusion in Foreign Oil Related Income
    One comment requested clarification that a section 78 dividend 
associated with an inclusion under section 951A can be included in 
foreign oil related income under section 907(c)(3)(B). The

[[Page 69049]]

TCJA amended section 907(c)(3)(B) to delete references to section 902 
and to refer to taxes deemed paid under section 960, instead of section 
960(a). The comment requested amendments to Sec.  1.907(c)-2(d)(5).
    The Treasury Department and the IRS agree that section 78 dividends 
with respect to inclusions under section 951A can be included in 
foreign oil related income, and that section 907(c)(3)(B), as amended 
by the TCJA, clearly provides for this result notwithstanding the 
existence of outdated regulations. However, the final regulations do 
not contain revisions to the regulations under section 907, which is 
beyond the scope of the final regulations. The regulations under 
section 907 have not been revised since 1991 and substantial revisions 
are required to conform to statutory changes made since 1991. The 
Treasury Department and the IRS expect to revise the regulations under 
section 907 in a future guidance project. Comments are requested on 
what additional issues should be addressed as part of revising those 
regulations.

VI. Applicability Dates

    In general, the 2018 FTC proposed regulations provide that the 
portions of the regulations that relate to statutory amendments made by 
the TCJA apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. See 
section 7805(b)(2). In the case of Sec. Sec.  1.78-1, 1.861-12(c)(2), 
and 1.965-7(e), these regulations were finalized as part of TD 9866, 
published in the Federal Register (84 FR 29288) on June 21, 2019.
    Other portions of the proposed regulations that do not relate to 
the TCJA apply to taxable years ending on or after December 4, 2018. 
See section 7805(b)(1)(B). Certain portions of the proposed regulations 
contain rules that relate to the TCJA as well as rules that do not 
relate to the TCJA. Those regulations generally apply to taxable years 
that satisfy both of the following two conditions: (1) The taxable year 
begins after December 31, 2017, and (2) the taxable year ends on or 
after December 4, 2018. See section 7805(b)(1)(B).
    In general, no changes were made to the proposed applicability 
dates in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations in the final regulations. 
For Sec. Sec.  1.904(b)-3 and 1.960-1 through 1.960-6, the 
applicability dates were revised to apply the regulations to taxable 
years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after 
December 4, 2018, consistent with section 7805(b)(1)(B).
    Section 1.904(g)-3, which finalizes the 2012 OFL proposed 
regulations, is applicable to taxable years ending on or after December 
16, 2019.
    Section 1.905-3, which finalizes proposed Sec.  1.905-3 (other than 
proposed Sec.  1.905-3(a)) is applicable to foreign tax 
redeterminations occurring in taxable years ending on or after December 
16, 2019. See proposed Sec.  1.905-3(b)(2) and Sec.  1.905-5, contained 
in the 2019 FTC proposed regulations, for rules that apply to foreign 
tax redeterminations of foreign corporations.
    Section 1.986(a)-1, which finalizes proposed Sec.  1.905-3(a), 
applies to taxable years ending on or after December 16, 2019, and to 
taxable years of foreign corporations which end with or within a 
taxable year of a U.S. shareholder ending on or after December 16, 
2019.

Special Analyses

I. Regulatory Planning and Review

    Executive Orders 13563 and 12866 direct agencies to assess costs 
and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is 
necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits 
(including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety 
effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive Order 13563 
emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, 
reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. For 
purposes of Executive Order 13771, this rule is regulatory.
    The final regulations have been designated by the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) as subject to review under 
Executive Order 12866 pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA, 
April 11, 2018) between the Treasury Department and the Office of 
Management and Budget regarding review of tax regulations. The Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs has designated these regulations 
as economically significant under section 1(c) of the MOA. Accordingly, 
the OMB has reviewed these regulations.

A. Background and Need for the Final Regulations

    Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the United States taxed 
its citizens, residents, and domestic corporations on their worldwide 
income. However, to the extent that a foreign jurisdiction and the 
United States taxed the same income, this framework could have resulted 
in double taxation. The U.S. foreign tax credit (FTC) regime alleviated 
potential double taxation by allowing a non-refundable credit for 
foreign income taxes paid or accrued that could be applied to reduce 
the U.S. tax on foreign source income. Although the TCJA eliminated the 
U.S. tax on some foreign source income, the United States continues to 
provide foreign tax credits for foreign source income subject to U.S. 
tax. The changes made by TCJA to international taxation necessitate 
certain changes in this FTC regime.
    In plain language, the FTC calculation is applied separately to 
different categories of income (a ``separate category''), a long-
standing framework that is unchanged by TCJA.\1\ This framework entails 
the taxpayer allocating income, expenses, and foreign income taxes paid 
or accrued to each separate category. Taxpayers who pay foreign taxes 
on income in one separate category cannot claim a credit against U.S. 
tax owed on income (more precisely, gross income minus deductions) in a 
different category. For example, suppose a domestic corporate taxpayer 
has $100 of active foreign source income in the ``general category'' 
and $100 of passive foreign source income, such as interest income, in 
the ``passive category.'' It also has $50 of foreign taxes associated 
with the ``general category'' income and $0 of foreign taxes associated 
with the ``passive category'' income. The allowable FTC is determined 
separately for the two categories. Therefore, none of the $50 of 
``general category'' FTCs can be used to offset U.S. tax on the 
``passive category'' income. This taxpayer has a pre-FTC U.S. tax 
liability of $42 (21 percent of $200) but can claim a FTC for only $21 
(21 percent of $100) of this liability, which is with respect to active 
foreign source income in the general category. The $21 represents what 
is referred to as the taxpayer's foreign tax credit limitation with 
respect to the general category. The taxpayer may carry the remaining 
$29 of foreign taxes ($50 minus $21) back to the prior taxable year and 
then forward for up to 10 years (until used), and is allowed a credit 
against U.S. tax on general category foreign source income in the 
carryover year, subject to certain restrictions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Prior to the enactment of the TCJA, these categories were 
primarily the passive and general categories. The TCJA added new 
separate categories for global intangible low-taxed income (the 
section 951A category) and foreign branch category income.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Expenses borne by U.S. parents and domestic affiliates that support 
foreign operations also generally follow this long-standing framework. 
Deductions that reduce foreign source taxable income in a particular 
category thereby reduce the allowable FTCs for that

[[Page 69050]]

category. The rules for expense allocation need updating in light of 
the changes made by TCJA.
    The TCJA added new separate categories for global intangible low-
taxed income (the section 951A category) and foreign branch income. The 
addition of these new categories and other changes \2\ necessitate 
practical guidance for implementation. The final regulations also 
update outdated portions of the existing regulations to help conform 
the existing regulations to the post-TCJA world. Finally, the final 
regulations address comments received on the 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ TCJA repealed the fair market value method of asset 
valuation used to apportion interest expense to separate categories 
and amended Code sections that address deemed paid credits for 
subpart F income, global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI), and 
distributions of previously taxed earnings and profits. Further, 
because repatriated dividends are no longer taxable, the TCJA also 
repealed section 902 (which allowed a domestic corporation to claim 
FTCs with respect to dividends paid from a foreign corporation) and 
made other conforming changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Overview of the Final Regulations

    The final regulations specify the methodologies and approaches 
necessary to conform the existing regulations to the changes specified 
in the TCJA. The final regulations provide guidance for taxpayers to 
determine the amount of their foreign tax credits and how to compute 
their foreign tax credit limitation.
    Most notably, the final regulations help interpret the statute by 
providing details regarding how income is assigned and expenses are 
apportioned to the new separate categories created by the TCJA. In 
particular, the final regulations specify that, for purposes of 
applying the expense allocation and apportionment rules, the portion of 
gross income related to FDII or a GILTI inclusion which is offset by 
the section 250 deduction is treated as exempt income, and the stock 
giving rise to GILTI that is offset by the section 250 deduction is 
treated as a partially exempt asset. Such treatment implies that fewer 
expenses will be allocated to the section 951A category as a result of 
this rule, leading to higher computed foreign source taxable income, a 
larger foreign tax credit limitation, and a larger foreign tax credit 
offset with respect to GILTI income. Because in the absence of these 
regulations, these expenses would generally be allocated to the section 
951A category (which makes it more difficult to utilize FTCs related to 
GILTI), this rule will in general reduce the tax burden of U.S. 
multinational corporations with GILTI income and allocable expenses.
    The final regulations also address how FTC carryovers are allocated 
across the new separate categories. The formation of two new separate 
categories requires a determination regarding how the balance of FTC 
carryovers in existence upon enactment of TCJA are to be allocated 
across new and existing separate categories.
    The final regulations also address certain potentially abusive 
borrowing arrangements, such as when a U.S. person lends money to a 
foreign partnership in order to artificially increase foreign source 
income (and therefore the FTC limitation) without affecting U.S. 
taxable income. In addition, they clarify the regulatory environment by 
updating inoperative language in Sec. Sec.  1.904-1 through 1.904-3, 
parts of the regulations that have not previously been updated to 
reflect changes to section 904 made in 1978.
    The final regulations also ease transitional administrative burdens 
associated with the implementation of the TCJA; for example, they allow 
an exception to the 5 year waiting period for the election of the gross 
income or sales method for R&E expense allocation, and provide added 
flexibility for when the average bases of assets is measured by 
taxpayers who are required to switch to the tax book method of 
valuation. The final regulations further clarify the Sec.  1.904-6 
rules concerning how allocation of taxes across separate categories 
should be calculated in the presence of base and timing differences and 
also fill technical gaps in how to implement the statute in practice, 
for example, by providing a clear rule for how to characterize the 
value of stock in each separate category in the context of the new 
separate categories.

C. Economic Analysis

1. Baseline
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have assessed the benefits and 
costs of the final regulations relative to a no-action baseline 
reflecting anticipated Federal income tax-related behavior in the 
absence of these regulations.
2. Summary of Economic Effects
    The final regulations provide certainty and clarity to taxpayers 
regarding the allocation of income, expenses, and FTC carryovers to the 
separate income categories. In the absence of the enhanced specificity 
provided by these regulations, similarly situated taxpayers might 
interpret the foreign tax credit provisions of the tax code 
differently, potentially resulting in inefficient patterns of economic 
activity. For example, because separate categories for GILTI and 
foreign branch income did not previously exist, one taxpayer might 
undertake a particular business activity, based on that taxpayer's 
interpretations of how that activity's income, expenses, and carryover 
foreign tax credits will be allocated across these categories, that 
another taxpayer, making a different interpretation of the tax 
treatment of these allocations, might forego. If this difference in 
interpretations confers a competitive advantage on the less profitable 
enterprise, U.S. economic performance may suffer. The guidance provided 
in these regulations helps to ensure that taxpayers face more uniform 
incentives when making economic decisions. In general, economic 
performance is enhanced when businesses face more uniform signals about 
tax treatment.
    Because the TCJA is new, the Treasury Department and the IRS do not 
know with reasonable precision the tax interpretations that taxpayers 
might make in the absence of this guidance. To the extent that 
taxpayers would generally have interpreted the foreign tax credit rules 
as being less favorable to the taxpayer than the final regulations 
provide, these final regulations may result in additional international 
activity by these taxpayers relative to the no-action baseline. This 
additional activity may include both activities that are beneficial to 
the U.S. economy (perhaps because they represent enhanced international 
opportunities for businesses with U.S. owners) and activities that are 
not beneficial (perhaps because they are accompanied by reduced 
activity in the United States) The Treasury Department and the IRS 
recognize that additional U.S. economic activity abroad may be a 
complement or substitute to activity within the United States and that 
to the extent these regulations change this activity (relative to the 
no-action baseline or alternative regulatory approaches), a mix of 
results may occur.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have not undertaken 
quantitative estimates of the economic effects of the final 
regulations. The Treasury Department and the IRS do not have readily 
available data or models to estimate with reasonable precision (i) the 
tax stances that taxpayers would likely take in the absence of these 
final regulations or under alternative regulatory approaches; (ii) the 
difference in economic decisions that taxpayers might make between the 
final regulations and the no-action baseline or alternative regulatory 
approaches; or (iii) how this difference in business activities will 
affect U.S. economic

[[Page 69051]]

activity. In the absence of such quantitative estimates, the Treasury 
Department and the IRS have undertaken a qualitative analysis of the 
economic effects of the final regulations relative to the no-action 
baseline and relative to alternative regulatory approaches. This 
analysis is presented in Parts I.C.3 and I.C.4. of this Special 
Analyses.
3. Economic Effects of Important Provisions Revised From the 2018 FTC 
Proposed Regulations
i. Transition Rules Relating to Foreign Tax Credit Carryovers
a. Background
    Under the Code, to the extent a taxpayer pays or accrues creditable 
foreign taxes in excess of its foreign tax credit limitation in a given 
year, the taxpayer can carry those excess credits back one year or 
forward ten years (FTC carryover). Because a taxpayer's FTC limitation 
is determined on a separate category basis, FTC carryovers are 
maintained on a separate category basis as well. When there are changes 
in the number of separate categories, transition rules are generally 
needed to deal with how to classify the existing FTC carryovers so that 
they can be allocated to the new separate categories. The TCJA expanded 
the existing separate categories by subdividing the general category 
into three categories: General, foreign branch, and section 951A. The 
TCJA did not, however, provide transition rules for the existing stock 
of FTC carryovers.
    To deal with the transition issue, the 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations provided a default rule that kept FTC carryovers in the 
general category going forward. However, taxpayers could elect to 
reconstruct their FTC carryover with respect to the foreign branch (but 
not the section 951A) category. To do so, a taxpayer would need to 
determine what portion of its FTC carryover would be in the foreign 
branch category if the foreign branch category had existed in the year 
the carryover arose. No amount of the carryover was required to be 
allocated to the section 951A category because of the difficulty 
associated with the reconstruction and because under the TCJA 
carryovers are not allowed for the foreign tax credits in the section 
951A category. The provision in the 2018 FTC proposed regulations not 
to require taxpayers that elected reconstruction to allocate FTC 
carryovers to the section 951A category is generally favorable to the 
affected taxpayers because otherwise taxpayers would have had carryover 
credits allocated to the section 951A category and those taxpayers 
would not have been allowed to utilize those credits.
b. Options Considered for the Final Regulations
    The Treasury Department and the IRS considered several options to 
deal with FTC carryovers in response to taxpayer comments.\3\ The first 
option was to adopt the rule from the 2018 FTC proposed regulations 
without modification. A second set of options was to adopt simplified 
rules to assist taxpayers with allocating the FTC carryovers to the 
different separate categories. The Treasury Department and the IRS 
considered three variants of simplified rules: (a) Allow taxpayers to 
assign FTCs to the foreign branch category proportionately according to 
the ratio of foreign taxes paid or accrued by the taxpayer's branches 
to total foreign taxes paid or accrued by the taxpayer (in that year); 
(b) allow taxpayers to assign FTCs based on any reasonable method; or 
(c) allow taxpayers to assign FTCs by reconstructing FTC carryforwards 
but do not require taxpayers to apply the disregarded payment rule in 
Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(vi).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The 2018 FTC proposed regulations requested comments on 
whether a simplified safe harbor approach was appropriate and 
several comments requested such a rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final regulations adopt the first simplified rule, (a). Thus, 
taxpayers may keep FTC carryovers in the general category, allocate 
them to the foreign branch category in the same manner as they would 
have been allocated had the foreign branch category always existed, or 
allocate them to the foreign branch category proportionately. This 
simplified rule reduces complexity for some taxpayers and is not 
expected to result in a substantially different allocation of FTCs to 
the branch basket than full reconstruction. The final rule therefore 
minimizes the potential for the manipulation of allocations of income, 
expenses, and foreign taxes to the categories while minimizing taxpayer 
compliance and IRS administrative costs.
c. Number of Affected Taxpayers
    This provision potentially affects any taxpayer with a general 
category FTC arising in a taxable year beginning before January 1, 
2018, that is carried to a taxable year beginning on or after January 
1, 2018. The Treasury Department and the IRS estimate that there are 
between 2 and 2.25 million individual and business taxpayers that would 
be affected by the transition rules related to FTC carryovers. This 
estimate is based on currently available counts of taxpayers with FTC 
carryovers reported on Form 1118 schedule B line 5 and Form 1116 part 
III line 10 for tax years 2015-2017.
ii. Transfers of IP for Purposes of the Foreign Branch Category
a. Background
    The TCJA added a new separate category related to foreign branch 
income. The statute did not, however, provide specific guidance on what 
constitutes foreign branch income other than that it is business 
profits attributable to one or more qualified business units of the 
taxpayer in one or more foreign countries. To provide greater 
specificity over the definition of foreign branch income, the 2018 FTC 
proposed regulations generally determined the foreign branch income 
based on the U.S.-tax adjusted books and records of the foreign branch. 
However, certain adjustments were made to those books and records based 
on certain disregarded transactions that may have occurred between the 
foreign branch owner and the foreign branch. These adjustments were 
intended to get to a more accurate representation of the gross income 
attributable to the branch.
    The issue of disregarded payments is particularly salient in the 
context of disregarded transfers of intellectual property (IP). The 
2018 FTC proposed regulations included a rule that disregarded 
transfers of IP between a foreign branch and its owner would result in 
a deemed payment that reallocates income between the foreign branch 
category and the general category. This rule has the effect of 
preventing artificial manipulation of the foreign branch category 
through changes in ownership of IP between a foreign branch and its 
owner. This rule applied regardless of when the transfer of IP occurred 
and regardless of how long the IP remained in the foreign branch. 
Comments requested that the rule be withdrawn and cited, among other 
concerns, its administrative and compliance burdens. Other comments 
requested that the Treasury Department limit the applicability of the 
rule to a later date and also limit its applicability where ownership 
of the IP by the foreign branch is transitory.
b. Options Considered for the Final Regulations
    The Treasury Department and the IRS considered three options with 
respect to the treatment of disregarded transfers of IP for purposes of 
determining foreign branch income. The first option was to withdraw the 
rule in its entirety and to provide no specific guidance for

[[Page 69052]]

disregarded transfers of IP. The second option was to adopt the rule 
unchanged from the 2018 FTC proposed regulations. The third option was 
to adopt the rule with certain modifications that would alleviate some 
of the compliance and administrative burdens. These modifications 
include applying the rule to transfers that occurred after the date of 
publication of the 2018 FTC proposed regulations and providing 
exceptions for transfers involving transitory ownership by the foreign 
branch.
    The final regulations adopt the third option. They retain the 
structure of the 2018 FTC proposed regulations but limit its 
applicability to transactions that occurred after the date of 
publication of the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, and included an 
exception for transitory ownership. The Treasury Department and the IRS 
recognize that this rule may result in higher compliance costs relative 
to the no-action baseline but project that this negative consequence is 
outweighed by concerns that taxpayers could otherwise structure highly 
valuable and mobile IP transfers to avoid the purpose of the rules. 
This avoidance would be difficult for the IRS to address absent the 
rule. In order to minimize the increase in compliance costs relative to 
withdrawing the rule (and simultaneously to reduce compliance costs 
relative to retaining the proposed regulations without change), the 
rule is limited to IP transfers that occurred after the publication of 
the 2018 FTC proposed regulations, when taxpayers were aware of the 
rule and how foreign branch category income would be determined. 
Furthermore, the Treasury Department and the IRS determined that cases 
where the foreign branch only owned the IP for brief periods of time 
were unlikely to pose the risk identified and thus should be excepted.
c. Number of Affected Taxpayers
    This provision affects any taxpayer that transfers IP to or from a 
foreign branch on or after December 7, 2018. Because transfers of IP 
are not specifically identified on any tax forms, the Treasury 
Department and the IRS estimated the number of taxpayers who report 
nonzero gross income and allocable deductions with respect to a foreign 
branch as an upper bound on the group of taxpayers potentially affected 
by this rule. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that 
there were 1,500 unique taxpayers that meet these conditions in 
currently available data from taxable years 2015-2017. The number of 
these taxpayers that transfer IP is likely much smaller than this count 
because most taxpayers do not transfer IP in any given tax year.
iii. Treatment of GILTI for Purposes of the Interest Allocation Rules
a. Background
    The Code provides rules for how the interest expense of a CFC is to 
be allocated for purposes of claiming the foreign tax credit. Under the 
Code, a CFC must allocate and apportion its interest expense among 
groups of income for purposes of determining its tested income, subpart 
F income, or other types of net foreign source income. At the same 
time, a U.S. taxpayer must characterize (in terms of separate 
categories) the value of its CFCs for purposes of allocating and 
apportioning its own interest expense. Existing rules allow a CFC to 
allocate its interest using one of two methods (the asset method or the 
modified gross income (MGI) method) and the U.S. taxpayer characterizes 
the stock of its CFC (for purposes of allocating its own interest) 
using the same method that the CFC used to allocate its interest. The 
MGI method treats subpart F income differently than other types of 
gross income with respect to interest allocations for tiered CFC 
ownership structures; in particular, subpart F income of lower tier 
CFCs is not accounted for by upper tier CFCs (that is, it does not 
``tier up'') for purposes of interest expense allocation, whereas all 
other types of a CFC's income do tier up.
    The 2018 FTC proposed regulations do not take into account gross 
tested income from a lower-tier CFC with respect to an upper-tier CFC 
for purposes of allocating the upper tier CFC's interest expense. A 
comment requested that gross tested income tier up to the upper-tier 
CFC under the MGI method in order to minimize differences between the 
results obtained under the asset method and the MGI method.
b. Options Considered for the Final Regulations
    The Treasury Department and the IRS considered two options with 
respect to the treatment of interest expense allocation. The first 
option was to adopt the rule from the 2018 FTC proposed regulations. 
The second option was to adopt a rule that requires gross tested income 
to tier up for purposes of applying the MGI method.
    The final regulations require tested income to tier up to the 
upper-tier CFC for purposes of allocating interest expense when 
applying the MGI method. This is an appropriate solution for several 
reasons. First, the section 951A rules do not have special rules for 
passive income similar to those present in the subpart F regime; the 
Treasury Department and the IRS have further determined that the 
existing rule accounts for the special rules that apply to subpart F 
income. Hence, an exception to the general tiering up rule is not 
needed for tested income. Second, the solution minimizes differences in 
the results obtained by taxpayers that elect the asset method rather 
than the MGI method, thus minimizing arbitrary differences in the tax 
treatment of similarly situated taxpayers. Finally, the solution is 
consistent with how the rules in section 951A apply for purposes of 
determining the CFC's tested income.
c. Number of Affected Taxpayers
    The Treasury Department and the IRS determined that the group of 
taxpayers affected by the regulation consists of any taxpayer with at 
least one second-tier CFC that earns gross tested income. The Treasury 
Department and the IRS estimate that there are between 11,000 and 
14,000 taxpayers that fit that profile based on tax filings for tax 
years 2015-2017.
4. Economic Effects of Provisions Not Substantially Revised From the 
2018 FTC Proposed Regulations
i. Matching Interest Income Allocation to Interest Expense Allocation 
for Partnerships
    The existing rules for the foreign tax credit generally specify how 
taxpayer income, expenses, and FTC carryovers are to be allocated to 
the separate categories. There remain, however, many allocation rules 
that would benefit from additional clarity. Regarding interest income 
and expenses in the case of partnership loan structures, the 2018 FTC 
proposed regulations specified that the taxpayer's interest income 
allocation is to be matched to its interest expense allocation, rather 
than specifying that the interest expense allocation be matched to the 
taxpayer's interest income allocation.
    This rule reduces opportunities for taxpayers to increase their 
gross foreign source income based solely on a related party loan to a 
partnership. Such potentially abusive borrowing arrangements occur, for 
example, when a U.S. person lends money to a foreign partnership in 
order to artificially increase foreign source income (and therefore the 
FTC limitation) without affecting U.S. taxable income. This increase in 
the FTC limitation is accomplished, for example, by lending to a 
controlled partnership, which has no effect on U.S. taxable income

[[Page 69053]]

because the interest income received from the partnership is offset by 
the lender's share of the interest expense incurred by the partnership. 
However, the transaction can increase foreign source income and 
allowable foreign tax credits, because the existing interest expense 
allocation rules do not generally allocate interest income and interest 
expenses similarly.
    To prevent such artificial inflation of foreign tax credits, the 
final regulations specify that interest income attributable to 
borrowing through a partnership will be allocated across separate 
foreign tax credit categories in the same manner as the associated 
interest expense. Accordingly, the proposed matching rule achieves a 
more neutral foreign tax credit limitation result and better minimizes 
the impact of related party loans on a taxpayer's foreign tax credit 
limitation.
    The final regulations are the same as the 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations in this regard except for minor technical modifications.
ii. Treatment of Income Associated With the Section 250 Deduction as 
Exempt Income and Treatment of Expenses Allocated to Section 951A 
Category as Exempt Expenses
    The statute does not specify how income associated with the section 
250 deduction is to be treated for purposes of claiming the FTC. To 
address this issue, the proposed regulations specified that the income 
associated with the section 250 deduction is treated as income that is 
partially exempt from income tax (based on the amount of the section 
250 deduction allowed) for purposes of the foreign tax credit. As a 
result, the taxpayer's expenses are to be allocated and apportioned 
without taking into account this income.
    The partially exempt treatment provided for section 250 income 
means that fewer expenses are allocated to the section 951A category 
than would have been if that income were not partially exempt (since 
the total gross income in the section 951A category would have been 
higher). The regulations therefore potentially increase the 
competitiveness of U.S. corporations relative to the no-action 
baseline, as described in Part I.3.B of this Special Analyses.
    The 2018 FTC proposed regulations requested comment on the 
estimated impact of the reduced expense allocation to the section 951A 
category relative to specifying that no expenses may be allocated 
against this income. Most comments did not address this issue. One 
comment expressed the view that the increased incentive to over-
allocate expenses to the United States (relative to the no-action 
baseline) might not be small, because expense allocation responds to 
effective tax rates rather than statutory rates, and post-TCJA 
effective tax rates might not have fallen as much as statutory rates. 
Estimates of post-TCJA marginal effective tax rates suggest that 
effective tax rates have fallen meaningfully, consistent with a reduced 
incentive to over-allocate interest expense to the United States.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ DeBacker, Jason, and Roy Kasher, ``Effective Tax Rates on 
Business Investment Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act'', May 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final regulations are the same as the 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations in this regard except for minor technical modifications.
iii. Clarifications to the Look-Through Rules
    Before the TCJA, dividends, interest, rents and royalties (``look-
through payments'') paid to a United States shareholder by its CFC were 
generally allocated to the general category to the extent that they 
were not treated as passive category income. Because TCJA split the 
general category income into three categories, it created a question of 
how to assign look-through payments. To address this issue, the 2018 
FTC proposed regulations specified that these look-through payments be 
assigned to the general category or foreign branch category. They may 
not be assigned to the section 951A category. This treatment is 
consistent with the fact that payments of dividends, interest, rents, 
and royalties made directly to a United States shareholder are not 
included in the new section 951A category. By contrast, certain 
interest, rents, and royalties earned by a foreign branch can meet the 
definition of foreign branch category income, and the general category 
is a residual category that encompasses all income that is not 
specifically assigned to any other category.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS considered as an alternative 
not issuing guidance for the treatment of look-through payments but 
concluded that affected taxpayers and the overall U.S. economy would 
benefit from the issuance of final regulations on this issue.
    The final regulations are the same as the 2018 FTC proposed 
regulations in this regard except for minor technical modifications.

II. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The rules relating to foreign tax credits that were modified by the 
Act are reflected in several revised and new schedules added to 
existing forms discussed in this Part II of the Special Analyses. For 
purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) 
(``PRA''), the reporting burden associated with the revised and new 
schedules will be reflected in the PRA submission associated with the 
forms described in this Part II. Additionally, a revised collection of 
information is added with respect to section 986 in Sec.  1.986(a)-
1(a)(2)(iv).
    The collection of information in Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iv) is an 
election to translate foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional 
currency using the spot rate as of the date of payment (rather than the 
average exchange rate for the year). This election may be made by an 
individual or corporation and may be made on behalf of a foreign 
corporation by a U.S. shareholder. A pass-through entity cannot make 
this election. This election can be made for all foreign income taxes 
denominated in nonfunctional currency, or it can be made only with 
respect to all foreign income taxes denominated in nonfunctional 
currency that are recorded on the separate books and records of a 
dollar functional currency QBU of the taxpayer. This election, if made 
with respect to dollar functional currency QBUs, will match the 
exchange rate used to determine the dollar amount of the foreign tax 
credit with the exchange rate used to determine the dollar amount of 
income that is used to pay the tax. The election is made once and 
applies to all future years. The election is made by attaching a 
statement to a timely filed U.S. income tax return for the first year 
to which the election applies. For purposes of the PRA, the reporting 
burden associated with Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iv) will be reflected in 
the PRA submission associated with the Form 1040 series and Form 1120 
series.
    Form 1118, Foreign Tax Credit--Corporations, has been revised to 
add new Schedule C (Tax Deemed Paid With Respect to Section 951(a)(1) 
Inclusions by Domestic Corporation Filing Return (Section 960(a)), 
Schedule D (Tax Deemed Paid With Respect to Section 951A Income by 
Domestic Corporation Filing the Return (Section 960(d)), and Schedule E 
(Tax Deemed Paid With Respect to Previously Taxed Income by Domestic 
Corporation Filing the Return (Section 960(b)). In addition, the 
existing schedules of Form 1118 have been modified to account for the 
two new separate categories of income under section 904(d); the repeal 
of section 902 indirect credits for foreign taxes deemed paid with 
respect to dividends from foreign corporations; modified indirect

[[Page 69054]]

credits under section 960 for inclusions under sections 951(a)(1) and 
951A; the modified section 78 gross up with respect to inclusions under 
sections 951(a)(1) and 951A; the revised sourcing rule for certain 
income from the sale of inventory under section 863(b); the repeal of 
the fair market value method for apportioning interest expense under 
864(e); new adjustments for purposes of section 904 with respect to 
expenses allocable to certain stock or dividends for which a dividends 
received deduction is allowed under section 245A; the election to 
increase pre-2018 section 904(g) Overall Domestic Loss (ODL) recapture; 
and limited foreign tax credits with respect to inclusions under 
section 965. For purposes of the PRA, the reporting burden associated 
with these changes is reflected in the PRA submission associated with 
Form 1118 (OMB control number 1545-0123, which represents a total 
estimated burden time, including all other related forms and schedules, 
of 3.157 billion hours and total estimated monetized costs of $58.148 
billion).
    Form 5471, Information Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to 
Certain Foreign Corporations, has also been revised to add Schedule E-1 
(Taxes Paid, Accrued, or Deemed Paid on Accumulated Earnings and 
Profits (E&P) of Foreign Corporation) and Schedule P (Previously Taxed 
Earnings and Profits of U.S. Shareholder of Certain Foreign 
Corporations) and to amend Schedule E (Income, War Profits, and Excess 
Profits Taxes Paid or Accrued) and Schedule J (Accumulated Earnings & 
Profits (E&P) of Controlled Foreign Corporations). These changes to the 
Form 5471 reflect the two new separate categories of income under 
section 904(d); the repeal of section 902 indirect credits for foreign 
taxes deemed paid with respect to dividends from foreign corporations; 
modified indirect credits under section 960 for inclusions under 
sections 951(a)(1) and 951A; and limited foreign tax credits with 
respect to inclusions under section 965. For purposes of the PRA, the 
reporting burden associated with these changes is reflected in the PRA 
submission associated with Schedules E, E-1, J, and P of Form 5471 (OMB 
control number 1545-0123).
    Schedule B (Specifically Attributable Taxes and Income (Section 
999(c)(2)) of the Form 5713, International Boycott Report, has also 
been revised to reflect the repeal of section 902. Schedule C (Tax 
Effect of the International Boycott Provisions) of the Form 5713 has 
been revised to account for the new section 904(d) categories of 
income. For purposes of the PRA, the reporting burden associated with 
these changes is reflected in the PRA submission associated with 
Schedules B and C of Form 5713 (OMB control number 1545-0216, which 
represents a total estimated burden time, including all other related 
forms and schedules, of 143,498 hours).
    Schedules K and K-1 of the following forms have been revised to 
account for the new section 904(d) categories of income: Form 1065, 
U.S. Return of Partnership Income, Form 1120-S, U.S. Income Tax Return 
for an S Corporation, and Form 8865, Return of U.S. Persons With 
Respect to Certain Foreign Partnerships. Form 1116, Foreign Tax Credit 
(Individual, Estate, or Trust), has also been revised to account for 
the new section 904(d) categories of income. For purposes of the PRA, 
the reporting burden associated with these changes is reflected in the 
PRA submission associated with Forms 1065 and 1120S (OMB control number 
1545-0123); Form 8865 (OMB control number 1545-1668, which represents a 
total estimated burden time, including all other related forms and 
schedules, of 289,354 hours), and Form 1116 (OMB control numbers 1545-
0121, which represents a total estimated burden time, including all 
other related forms and schedules, of 25,066,693 hours; and 1545-0074, 
which represents a total estimated burden time, including all other 
related forms and schedules, of 1.784 billion hours and total estimated 
monetized costs of $31.764 billion).
    The IRS estimates the number of affected filers for the 
aforementioned forms to be the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Number of
                          Form                             respondents *
                                                            (estimated)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 1116...............................................       8,000,000
Form 1118...............................................          15,000
Form 1040...............................................     150,000,000
Form 1065...............................................       4,000,000
Form 1065 Schedule K-1..................................      24,750,000
Form 1120...............................................       1,700,000
Form 1120-S.............................................       4,750,000
Form 1120-S Schedule K-1................................       7,500,000
Form 5471...............................................          28,000
Form 5471 Schedule E....................................          10,000
Form 5471 Schedule J....................................          25,500
Form 5713 Schedule B....................................          <1,000
Form 5713 Schedule C....................................          <1,000
Form 8865...............................................          14,500
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Data tabulated from 2015 and 2016 Business Return Transaction File and E-
  file data.
* Except for K-1 filings, which count the total number of K-1s received;
  same issuer K-1s are aggregated at the recipient level.

    The estimates for the number of impacted filers with respect to the 
collections of information described in this part II of the Special 
Analysis section are based on filers of U.S. income tax returns that 
file a Form 1040 or Form 1120 because only filers of these forms would 
be subject to the collection of information requirement. The IRS 
estimates the number of impacted filers to be the following:

                           Tax Forms Impacted
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Number of     Forms to which the
     Collection of information        respondents   information may  be
                                      (estimated)         attached
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec.   1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iv)........   1,625-3,250  Form 1040 series and
                                                    Form 1120 series.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Data tabulated from 2015 and 2016 Business and Individual Return
  Transaction File and E-file data.

    The current status of the PRA submissions related to foreign tax 
credits is provided in the following table. The burden estimates 
provided in the above narrative are aggregate amounts that relate to 
the entire package of forms associated with the OMB control numbers 
1545-0123 (which represents a total estimated burden time for all forms 
and schedules for corporations of 3.157 billion hours and total 
estimated monetized costs of $58.148 billion ($2017)), 1545-0074 (which 
represents a total estimated burden time, including all other related 
forms and schedules for individuals, of 1.784 billion hours and total 
estimated monetized costs of $31.764 billion ($2017)), 1545-0216 (which 
represents a total estimated burden time, including all other related 
forms and schedules, of 143,498 hours), 1545-1668 (which represents a 
total estimated burden time, including all other related forms and 
schedules of 289,354 hours), and 1545-0121 (which represents a total 
estimated burden time, including all other related forms and schedules 
of 25,066,693 hours). 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 
only the foreign tax credit-related forms that are included in the 
tables in this Part II. These numbers are therefore unrelated to the 
future calculations needed to assess the burden imposed by the 
regulations. These burdens have been reported for other regulations 
related to the taxation of cross-border income and the Treasury 
Department and the IRS urge readers to recognize that these numbers are 
duplicates and to guard against overcounting the burden that 
international tax provisions imposed prior to the TCJA. No burden 
estimates specific to the forms affected by the regulations are 
currently available. The Treasury Department and the IRS have not 
estimated the burden, including that

[[Page 69055]]

of any new information collections, related to the requirements under 
the regulations. The Treasury Department and the IRS estimate PRA 
burdens on a taxpayer-type basis rather than a provision-specific 
basis. Those estimates would capture both changes made by the Act and 
those that arise out of discretionary authority exercised in the final 
regulations.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments on all aspects 
of information collection burdens related to these final 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. Proposed revisions (if any) 
to these forms that reflect the information collections contained in 
these final regulations will be made available for public comment at 
https://apps.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/draftTaxForms.html and will not 
be finalized until after these forms have been approved by OMB under 
the PRA.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Form                         Type of filer          OMB No.(s)                Status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 1116.............................  All other Filers (mainly        1545-0121  Published in the Federal
                                         trusts and estates)                        Register on 3/23/17. Public
                                         (Legacy system).                           comment period closed 5/22/
                                                                                    18. Approved by OMB through
                                                                                    10/30/2020.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201704-1545-023 023.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Business (NEW Model).....       1545-0123  Published in the Federal
                                                                                    Register on 10/8/18. Public
                                                                                    Comment period closes on 12/
                                                                                    10/18.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/09/2018-21846/proposed-collection-comment-request-for-forms-1065-1065-b-1066-1120-1120-c-1120-f-1120-h-1120-nd.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Individual (NEW Model)...       1545-0074  Limited Scope submission
                                                                                    (1040 only) on 10/11/18 at
                                                                                    OIRA for review. Full ICR
                                                                                    submission (all forms)
                                                                                    scheduled in 3-2019. 60 Day
                                                                                    Federal Register notice not
                                                                                    published yet for full
                                                                                    collection.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201808-1545-031 031.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 1118, 1065, 1065 Schedule K-1,     Business (NEW Model).....       1545-0123  Published in the Federal
 1120-S.                                                                            Register on 10/8/18. Public
                                                                                    Comment period closes on 12/
                                                                                    10/18.
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
                                        Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/09/2018-21846/proposed-collection-comment-request-for-forms-1065-1065-b-1066-1120-1120-c-1120-f-1120-h-1120-nd.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 5471 (including Schedules E, J)..  Business (NEW Model).....       1545-0123  Published in the Federal
                                                                                    Register on 10/8/18. Public
                                                                                    Comment period closes on 12/
                                                                                    10/18.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/09/2018-21846/proposed-collection-comment-request-for-forms-1065-1065-b-1066-1120-1120-c-1120-f-1120-h-1120-nd.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Individual (NEW Model)...       1545-0074  Limited Scope submission
                                                                                    (1040 only) on 10/11/18 at
                                                                                    OIRA for review. Full ICR
                                                                                    submission for all forms in
                                                                                    3-2019. 60 Day Federal
                                                                                    Register notice not
                                                                                    published yet for full
                                                                                    collection.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201808-1545-031 031.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 5713 Schedules B, C..............  All other Filers (mainly        1545-0216  Published in the Federal
                                         trusts and estates)                        Register on 3/28/18. Public
                                         (Legacy system).                           Comment period closed 5/29/
                                                                                    18. Renewal submitted on 10/
                                                                                    11/18 for review to OIRA.
                                                                                    New 2018 Forms not included
                                                                                    in renewal to OIRA due to
                                                                                    timing of submission.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/29/2018-23515/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-for-omb-review-comment-request-multiple-internal.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Business (NEW Model).....       1545-0123  Published in the Federal
                                                                                    Register on 10/11/18. Public
                                                                                    Comment period closed on 12/
                                                                                    10/18.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/09/2018-21846/proposed-collection-comment-request-for-forms-1065-1065-b-1066-1120-1120-c-1120-f-1120-h-1120-nd.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Individual (NEW Model)...       1545-0074  Limited Scope submission
                                                                                    (1040 only) on 10/11/18 at
                                                                                    OIRA for review. Full ICR
                                                                                    submission for all forms in
                                                                                    3-2019. 60 Day Federal
                                                                                    Register notice not
                                                                                    published yet for full
                                                                                    collection.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201808-1545-031 031.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 8865.............................  All other Filers (mainly        1545-1668  Published in the Federal
                                         trusts and estates)                        Register on 10/1/18. Public
                                         (Legacy system).                           Comment period closed on 11/
                                                                                    30/18. ICR in process by
                                                                                    Treasury as of 10/17/18.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 69056]]

 
                                        Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/01/2018-21288/proposed-collection-comment-request-for-regulation-project.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Business (NEW Model).....       1545-0123  Published in the Federal
                                                                                    Register on 10/8/18. Public
                                                                                    Comment period closed on 12/
                                                                                    10/18.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/09/2018-21846/proposed-collection-comment-request-for-forms-1065-1065-b-1066-1120-1120-c-1120-f-1120-h-1120-nd.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Individual (NEW Model)...       1545-0074  Limited Scope submission
                                                                                    (1040 only) on 10/11/18 at
                                                                                    OIRA for review. Full ICR
                                                                                    submission for all forms in
                                                                                    3-2019. 60 Day Federal
                                                                                    Register notice not
                                                                                    published yet for full
                                                                                    collection.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Link: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201808-1545-031 031.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In 2018, the IRS released and invited comments on drafts of the 
above forms in order to give members of the public advance notice and 
an opportunity to submit comments. The IRS received no comments on the 
portions of the forms that relate to foreign tax credits during the 
comment period. Consequently, the IRS made the forms available in late 
2018 for use by the public. The IRS is contemplating making additional 
changes to the forms in order to implement final regulations.

III. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    It is hereby certified that this final regulation 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 
(RFA) (5 U.S.C. chapter 6).
    These final regulations provide guidance needed to comply with 
statutory changes and affect individuals and corporations claiming 
foreign tax credits. The domestic small business entities that are 
subject to the foreign tax credit rules in the Code and these final 
regulations are generally those domestic small business entities that 
are at least 10 percent corporate shareholders of foreign corporations, 
and so are eligible to claim dividends-received deductions or compute 
foreign taxes deemed paid under section 960 with respect to inclusions 
under subpart F and section 951A from CFCs. Other provisions of the 
TCJA, such as the new separate foreign tax credit limitation category 
for foreign branch income and the repeal of the option to allocate and 
apportion interest expense on the basis of the fair market value 
(rather than tax basis) of a taxpayer's assets, might also affect 
domestic small business entities that operate in foreign jurisdictions. 
Based on 2017 Statistics of Income data, the Treasury Department and 
the IRS computed the fraction of taxpayers owning a CFC by gross 
receipts size class. The smaller size classes have a relatively small 
fraction of taxpayers that own CFCs, which suggests that many domestic 
small business entities will be unaffected by these regulations.
    Many of the important aspects of these final regulations, including 
all of the rules in Sec. Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(C), 1.861-10, 1.861-12, 
1.861-13, 1.901(j)-1, 1.904-5, 1.904(b)-3, 1.954-1, 1.960-1 through 
1.960-3, and 1.965-5(c)(1)(iii) apply only to U.S. persons that operate 
a foreign business in corporate form, and, in most cases, only if the 
foreign corporation is a CFC. Because it takes significant resources 
and investment for a business to operate outside of the United States 
in corporate form, and in particular to own a CFC, the owners of such 
businesses will infrequently be domestic small business entities, as 
indicated by the Table.

 Fraction of U.S. Corporate Taxpayers Reporting CFC Ownership, by Gross
                           Receipts Size Class
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Percentage
                Gross receipts size class                   with a CFC
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<1 mil..................................................            0.40
1-5 mil.................................................            0.80
5-10 mil................................................            2.70
10-20 mil...............................................            4.50
20-30 mil...............................................            9.30
30-50 mil...............................................           12.00
50-100 mil..............................................           19.70
100-150 mil.............................................           26.80
150-200 mil.............................................           32.50
200-250 mil.............................................           37.40
250-500 mil.............................................           43.70
>=500 mil...............................................           63.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Data based on 2017 Statistics of Income sample for all 1120 returns
  except 1120-S (return type = 2) (1120-L, 1120-RIC, 1120-F, 1120-REIT,
  1120-PC,1120, 1120-L Consolidated 1504c return (controlling industries
  524142 and 524143),1120-PC Consolidated 1504C return (controlling
  industries 524156, 524159), and 1120 Section 594/1504c consolidated
  return (controlling industries not 524142, 524143, 524156, 524159),
  1120 Non-consolidated return).

    The Treasury Department and the IRS project that the final 
regulations are unlikely to affect a substantial number of domestic 
small business entities but data are unavailable to estimate with 
certainty and certify in accordance with RFA that the number of small 
entities affected will not be substantial.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that these 
final regulations will not have a significant economic impact on 
domestic small business entities. Based on published information from 
2013, foreign tax credits as a percentage of three different tax-
related measures of annual receipts (see Table for variables) by 
corporations are substantially less than the 3 to 5 percent threshold 
for significant economic impact. The amount of foreign tax credits in 
2013 is an upper bound on the change in foreign tax credits resulting 
from the final regulations.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          $500,000     $1,000,000    $5,000,000    $10,000,000   $50,000,000  $100,000,000
       Size (by business receipts)            Under         under         under         under         under         under         under     $250,000,000
                                          $500,000 (%)   $1,000,000    $5,000,000    $10,000,000   $50,000,000  $100,000,000  $250,000,000     or more
                                                   (%)           (%)           (%)           (%)           (%)           (%)           (%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FTC/Total Receipts......................          0.03          0.00          0.00          0.01          0.01          0.03          0.09          0.56

[[Page 69057]]

 
FTC/(Total Receipts-Total Deductions)...          0.48          0.03          0.04          0.26          0.22          0.51          1.20          9.00
FTC/Business Receipts...................          0.05          0.00          0.00          0.01          0.01          0.04          0.10          0.64
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Statistics of Income (2013) Form 1120 available at https://www.irs.gov/statistics.

    The collection of information in Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iv) of the 
final regulations (relating to the election to translate creditable 
foreign taxes at the spot rate on the date of payment instead of the 
average exchange rate for the year) may affect some small business 
entities with significant foreign operations. The data to assess the 
number of small entities potentially affected by Sec.  1.986(a)-
1(a)(2)(iv) are not readily available. However, businesses with 
significant foreign operations are generally not small businesses, as 
indicated by the data above. Further, as demonstrated in the table in 
this Part III of the Special Analyses, foreign tax credits generally do 
not have a significant economic impact on small business entities. 
Therefore, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that a 
substantial number of domestic small business entities will not be 
subject to Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iv). Consequently, the Treasury 
Department and the IRS have determined, and hereby certify, that Sec.  
1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iv) will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    Pursuant to section 7805(f), the proposed regulations preceding 
these final regulations (REG-105600-18) were submitted to the Chief 
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment 
on its impact on small businesses and no comments were received.

IV. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) 
requires that agencies assess anticipated costs and benefits and take 
certain other actions before issuing a final rule that includes any 
Federal mandate that may result in expenditures in any one year by a 
state, local, or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the private 
sector, of $100 million in 1995 dollars, updated annually for 
inflation. In 2019, that threshold is approximately $154 million. This 
rule does not include any Federal mandate that may result in 
expenditures by state, local, or tribal governments, or by the private 
sector in excess of that threshold.

V. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    Executive Order 13132 (entitled ``Federalism'') prohibits an agency 
from publishing any rule that has federalism implications if the rule 
either imposes substantial, direct compliance costs on state and local 
governments, and is not required by statute, or preempts state law, 
unless the agency meets the consultation and funding requirements of 
section 6 of the Executive order. This rule does not have federalism 
implications and does not impose substantial direct compliance costs on 
state and local governments or preempt state law within the meaning of 
the Executive order.

VI. Congressional Review Act

    The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs of the OMB has determined that this Treasury decision is a 
major rule for purposes of the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 
et seq.) (``CRA''). Under section 801(3) of the CRA, a major rule takes 
effect 60 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register. 
Notwithstanding this requirement, section 808(2) of the CRA allows 
agencies to dispense with the requirements of section 801 of the CRA 
when the agency for good cause finds that such procedure would be 
impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest and that 
the rule shall take effect at such time as the agency promulgating the 
rule determines.
    Pursuant to section 808(2) of the CRA, the Treasury Department and 
the IRS find, for good cause, that a 60-day delay in the effective date 
is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. In general, the 
statutory provisions to which these rules relate were enacted on 
December 22, 2017, and apply to taxable years of foreign corporations 
beginning after 2017 and to the taxable years of U.S. persons in which 
or with which such taxable years of foreign corporations end. In many 
cases, these taxable years have already ended. This means that the 
statutory provisions are currently effective, and taxpayers may be 
subject to Federal income tax liability for their 2018 taxable year 
reflecting these provisions. In certain cases, taxpayers may be 
required to file returns reflecting this Federal income liability 
during the 60-day period that begins after this rule is published in 
the Federal Register.
    These final regulations provide crucial guidance for taxpayers on 
how to apply the relevant statutory rules, compute their tax liability 
and accurately file their U.S. income tax returns. These final 
regulations resolve statutory ambiguity, prevent abuse, and grant 
taxpayer relief that would not be available based solely on the 
statute. As taxpayers must already comply with the statute, a 60-day 
delay in the effective date of the final regulations is unnecessary and 
contrary to the public interest. A delay would place certain taxpayers 
in the unusual position of having to determine whether to file U.S. 
income tax returns during the pre-effective date period based on final 
regulations that are not yet effective. If taxpayers chose not to 
follow the final regulations and did not amend their returns after the 
regulations became effective, it would place significant strain on the 
IRS to ensure that taxpayers correctly calculated their tax 
liabilities. For example, these final regulations provide significant 
guidance on foreign branch category income, a provision added by the 
TCJA along with a broad grant of regulatory authority to provide 
additional guidance. Therefore, the rules in this Treasury decision are 
effective on the date of publication in the Federal Register and apply 
in certain cases to taxable years of foreign corporations and U.S. 
persons beginning before such date.
    The foregoing good cause statement only applies to the 60-day 
delayed effective date provision of section 801(3) of the CRA and is 
permitted under section 808(2) of the CRA. The Treasury Department and 
the IRS hereby comply with all aspects of the CRA and the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.).

Drafting Information

    The principal authors of these regulations are Karen J. Cate, 
Jeffrey P. Cowan, Jeffrey L. Parry, Larry R. Pounders, and Suzanne M. 
Walsh of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel

[[Page 69058]]

(International). However, other personnel from the Treasury Department 
and the IRS participated in their development.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

    Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Adoption of Amendments to the Regulations

    Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is amended as follows:

PART 1--INCOME TAXES

0
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by:
0
1. Revising the entries for Sec. Sec.  1.861-8, 1.861-9 and 1.861-9T, 
1.861-10(e), and 1.861-11.
0
2. Adding entries for Sec. Sec.  1.861-13, 1.861-17, 1.901(j)-1, 1.904-
1, 1.904-2, and 1.904-3 in numerical order.
0
3. Revising entries for Sec. Sec.  1.904-4, 1.904-5, and 1.904-6.
0
4. Adding entries for Sec. Sec.  1.904(g)-3 and 1.905-3 in numerical 
order.
0
5. Revising the entry for Sec.  1.960-1.
0
6. Adding entries for Sec. Sec.  1.960-2, 1.960-3, 1.960-4, and 
1.986(a)-1 in numerical order.
    The revisions and additions read in part as follows:

    Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805.
* * * * *
    Section 1.861-8 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 250(c), 26 U.S.C. 
864(e)(7), and 26 U.S.C. 882(c).
    Sections 1.861-9 and 1.861-9T also issued under 26 U.S.C. 
863(a), 26 U.S.C. 864(e)(7), 26 U.S.C. 865(i), and 26 U.S.C. 
7701(f).
    Section 1.861-10(e) also issued under 26 U.S.C. 863(a), 26 
U.S.C. 864(e)(7), 26 U.S.C. 865(i), and 26 U.S.C. 7701(f).
    Section 1.861-11 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 863(a), 26 U.S.C. 
864(e)(7), 26 U.S.C. 865(i), and 26 U.S.C. 7701(f).
* * * * *
    Section 1.861-13 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 864(e)(7).
* * * * *
    Section 1.861-17 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 864(e)(7).
* * * * *
    Section 1.901(j)-1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 901(j)(4).
* * * * *
    Section 1.904-1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(7).
    Section 1.904-2 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(7).
    Section 1.904-3 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(7).
    Section 1.904-4 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 250(c), 26 U.S.C. 
865(j), 26. U.S.C. 904(d)(2)(J)(i), 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(6)(C), 26 
U.S.C. 904(d)(7), and 26 U.S.C. 951A(f)(1)(B).
    Section 1.904-5 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(7) and 26 
U.S.C. 951A(f)(1)(B).
    Section 1.904-6 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 904(d)(7).
* * * * *
    Section 1.904(g)-3 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 904(g)(4).
* * * * *
    Section 1.905-3 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 989(c)(4).
* * * * *
    Section 1.960-1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 960(f).
    Section 1.960-2 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 960(f).
    Section 1.960-3 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 960(f).
    Section 1.960-4 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 951A(f)(1)(B) and 26 
U.S.C. 960(f).
* * * * *
    Section 1.986(a)-1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 986(a)(1)(C) and 
26 U.S.C. 986(a)(1)(D)(ii).
* * * * *


0
Par. 2. Section 1.861-8 is amended by:
0
1. In paragraph (a)(1), removing the last sentence.
0
2. In paragraph (a)(4), removing the fourth through sixth sentences.
0
3. Removing paragraph (a)(5).
0
4. Revising paragraph (c)(2).
0
5. Adding paragraph (c)(4).
0
6. Revising paragraph (d)(2).
0
7. In paragraph (e)(1), adding two sentences after the sixth sentence.
0
8. In paragraph (e)(6)(i), adding a new first sentence and revising the 
new second sentence.
0
9. Removing paragraph (e)(6)(iii).
0
10. Removing and reserving paragraph (e)(10).
0
11. Removing paragraph (e)(12)(iv).
0
12. Adding paragraphs (e)(13) through (15).
0
13. Removing and reserving paragraph (f)(1)(i).
0
14. Adding paragraph (f)(1)(ii).
0
15. Revising paragraphs (f)(4)(ii) and (g).
0
16. Adding paragraph (h).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.861-8   Computation of taxable income from sources within the 
United States and from other sources and activities.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) Apportionment based on assets. Certain taxpayers are required 
by paragraph (e)(2) of this section and Sec.  1.861-9T to apportion 
interest expense on the basis of assets. A taxpayer may apportion other 
deductions based on the comparative value of assets that generate 
income within each grouping, provided that this method reflects the 
factual relationship between the deduction and the groupings of income 
and is applied in accordance with the rules of Sec.  1.861-9T(g). In 
general, such apportionments must be made either on the basis of the 
tax book value of those assets or, except in the case of interest 
expense, on the basis of their fair market value. See Sec.  1.861-9(h). 
Taxpayers using the fair market value method for their last taxable 
year beginning before January 1, 2018, must change to the tax book 
value method (or the alternative tax book value method) for purposes of 
apportioning interest expense for their first taxable year beginning 
after December 31, 2017. The Commissioner's approval is not required 
for this change. In the case of any corporate taxpayer that both uses 
tax book value or alternative tax book value, and owns directly or 
indirectly (within the meaning of Sec.  1.861-12T(c)(2)(ii)(B)) 10 
percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of 
stock entitled to vote in any other corporation (domestic or foreign) 
that is not a member of the affiliated group (as defined in section 
864(e)(5)), the taxpayer must adjust its basis in that stock in the 
manner described in Sec.  1.861-12(c)(2). For the definition of related 
persons formerly contained in Sec.  1.861-8T(c)(2), see paragraph 
(c)(4) of this section.
* * * * *
    (4) Cross-referenced definition of related persons. The term 
related persons means two or more persons in a relationship described 
in section 267(b). In determining whether two or more corporations are 
members of the same controlled group under section 267(b)(3), a person 
is considered to own stock owned directly by such person, stock owned 
by with the application of section 1563(e)(1), and stock owned by 
application of section 267(c). In determining whether a corporation is 
related to a partnership under section 267(b)(10), a person is 
considered to own the partnership interest owned directly by such 
person and the partnership interest owned with the application of 
section 267(e)(3).
    (d) * * *
    (2) Allocation and apportionment to exempt, excluded, or eliminated 
income--(i) In general. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-
8T(d)(2)(i).
    (ii) Exempt income and exempt asset defined--(A) In general. For 
purposes of this section, the term exempt income means any gross income 
to the extent that it is exempt, excluded, or eliminated for Federal 
income tax purposes. The term exempt asset means any asset to the 
extent income from the asset is (or is treated as under paragraph 
(d)(2)(ii)(B) or (C) of this section)

[[Page 69059]]

exempt, excluded, or eliminated for Federal income tax purposes.
    (B) Certain stock and dividends. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.861-8T(d)(2)(ii)(B).
    (C) Foreign-derived intangible income and inclusions under section 
951A(a)--(1) Exempt income. The term ``exempt income'' includes an 
amount of a domestic corporation's gross income included in gross 
foreign-derived deduction eligible income (or gross FDDEI), and also 
includes an amount of a domestic corporation's gross income from an 
inclusion under section 951A(a) and the gross up under section 78 
attributable to such an inclusion, in each case equal to the amount of 
the deduction allowed under section 250(a) for such gross income 
(taking into account the reduction under section 250(a)(2)(B), if any). 
Therefore, for purposes of apportioning deductions using a gross income 
method, gross income does not include gross income included in gross 
FDDEI, an inclusion under section 951A(a), or the gross up under 
section 78 attributable to an inclusion under section 951A(a), in an 
amount equal to the amount of the deduction allowed under section 
250(a)(1)(A), (B)(i), or (B)(ii), respectively (taking into account the 
reduction under section 250(a)(2)(B), if any). The term gross foreign-
derived deduction eligible income, or gross FDDEI, means the portion of 
the domestic corporation's gross income (determined without regard to 
the amounts described in section 250(b)(3)(A)(i)(I) through (VI)) that 
is derived from sales and services described in section 250(b)(4)(A) 
and (B).
    (2) Exempt assets--(i) Assets that produce foreign-derived 
intangible income. The term ``exempt asset'' includes the portion of a 
domestic corporation's assets that produce gross FDDEI equal to the 
amount of such assets multiplied by the fraction that equals the amount 
of the domestic corporation's deduction allowed under section 
250(a)(1)(A) (taking into account the reduction under section 
250(a)(2)(B)(i), if any) divided by its gross FDDEI. No portion of the 
value of stock in a foreign corporation is treated as an exempt asset 
by reason of this paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(i), including by reason of 
a transfer of intangible property to a foreign corporation subject to 
section 367(d) that gives rise to gross FDDEI.
    (ii) Controlled foreign corporation stock that gives rise to 
inclusions under section 951A(a). The term ``exempt asset'' includes a 
portion of the value of a United States shareholder's stock in a 
controlled foreign corporation if the United States shareholder is a 
domestic corporation that is eligible for a deduction under section 
250(a) with respect to income described in section 250(a)(1)(B)(i) and 
all or a portion of the domestic corporation's stock in the controlled 
foreign corporation is characterized as GILTI inclusion stock. The 
portion of foreign corporation stock that is treated as an exempt asset 
for a taxable year equals the portion of the value of such foreign 
corporation stock (determined in accordance with Sec. Sec.  1.861-9(g), 
1.861-12, and 1.861-13) that is characterized as GILTI inclusion stock 
multiplied by a fraction that equals the amount of the domestic 
corporation's deduction allowed under section 250(a)(1)(B)(i) (taking 
into account the reduction under section 250(a)(2)(B)(ii), if any) 
divided by its GILTI inclusion amount (as defined in Sec.  1.951A-
1(c)(1) or, in the case of a member of a consolidated group, Sec.  
1.1502-51(b)) for such taxable year. The portion of controlled foreign 
corporation stock treated as an exempt asset under this paragraph 
(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(ii) is treated as attributable to the relevant 
categories of GILTI inclusion stock described in each of paragraphs 
(d)(2)(ii)(C)(3)(i) through (v) of this section based on the relative 
value of the portion of the stock in each such category.
    (3) GILTI inclusion stock. For purposes of paragraph 
(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(ii) of this section, the term GILTI inclusion stock 
means the aggregate of the portions of the value of controlled foreign 
corporation stock that are--
    (i) Assigned to the section 951A category under Sec.  1.861-
13(a)(2);
    (ii) Assigned to a particular treaty category under Sec.  1.861-
13(a)(3)(i) (relating to resourced gross tested income stock);
    (iii) Assigned under Sec.  1.861-13(a)(1) to the gross tested 
income statutory grouping within the foreign source passive category 
less the amount described in Sec.  1.861-13(a)(5)(iii)(A);
    (iv) Assigned under Sec.  1.861-13(a)(1) to the gross tested income 
statutory grouping within the U.S. source general category less the 
amount described in Sec.  1.861-13(a)(5)(iv)(A); and
    (v) Assigned under Sec.  1.861-13(a)(1) to the gross tested income 
statutory grouping within the U.S. source passive category less the 
amount described in Sec.  1.861-13(a)(5)(iv)(B).
    (4) Non-applicability to section 250(b). Paragraphs 
(d)(2)(ii)(C)(1) through (3) of this section do not apply when 
apportioning deductions for purposes of determining deduction eligible 
income or foreign-derived deduction eligible income under the operative 
section of section 250(b).

    (5) Example. The following example illustrates the application 
of the rules in this paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C).
    (i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, directly owns all of the 
stock of CFC1 and CFC2, both of which are controlled foreign 
corporations. The tax book value of CFC1 and CFC2's stock is 
$10,000x and $9,000x, respectively. Pursuant to Sec.  1.861-13(a), 
$6,100x of the stock of CFC1 is assigned to the section 951A 
category under Sec.  1.861-13(a)(2) (``section 951A category 
stock'') and the remaining $3,900x of the stock of CFC1 is assigned 
to the general category (``general category stock''). Additionally, 
$4,880x of the stock of CFC2 is section 951A category stock and the 
remaining $4,120x of the stock of CFC2 is general category stock. 
Under section 951A and the section 951A regulations (as defined in 
Sec.  1.951A-1(a)(1)), USP's GILTI inclusion amount is $610x. The 
portion of USP's deduction under section 250 described in section 
250(a)(1)(B)(i) is $305x. No portion of USP's deduction is reduced 
by reason of section 250(a)(2)(B)(ii).
    (ii) Analysis. For purposes of apportioning deductions where 
section 904 is the operative section, under paragraph 
(d)(2)(ii)(C)(1) of this section, $305x of USP's gross income 
attributable to its GILTI inclusion amount is exempt income. Under 
paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C)(3) of this section, the GILTI inclusion 
stock of CFC1 is the $6,100x of stock that is section 951A category 
stock and the GILTI inclusion stock of CFC2 is the $4,880x of stock 
that is section 951A category stock. Under paragraph 
(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2) of this section, the portion of the value of the 
stock of CFC1 and CFC2 that is treated as an exempt asset equals the 
portion of the value of the stock of CFC1 and CFC2 that is GILTI 
inclusion stock multiplied by 50% ($305x/$610x). Accordingly, the 
exempt portion of the stock of CFC1 is $3,050x (50% x $6,100x) and 
the exempt portion of CFC2's stock is $2,440x (50% x $4,880x). 
Therefore, the stock of CFC1 taken into account for purposes of 
apportioning deductions is $3,050x of non-exempt section 951A 
category stock and $3,900x of general category stock. The stock of 
CFC2 taken into account for purposes of apportioning deductions is 
$2,440x of non-exempt section 951A category stock and $4,120x of 
general category stock.

    (iii) Income that is not considered tax exempt. For further 
guidance, see Sec.  1.861-8T(d)(2)(iii).
    (A) For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-8T(d)(2)(iii)(A) and (B).
    (B) [Reserved]
    (C) Dividends for which a deduction is allowed under section 245A;
    (D) Foreign earned income as defined in section 911 (however, the 
rules of Sec.  1.911-6 do not require the allocation and apportionment 
of certain deductions, including home mortgage interest, to foreign 
earned income for purposes of determining the deductions disallowed 
under section 911(d)(6)); and

[[Page 69060]]

    (E) Inclusions for which a deduction is allowed under section 
965(c). See Sec.  1.965-6(c).
    (iv) Value of stock attributable to previously taxed earnings and 
profits. No portion of the value of stock in a controlled foreign 
corporation is treated as an exempt asset by reason of the controlled 
foreign corporation having previously taxed earnings and profits. For 
example, no portion of the value of stock in a controlled foreign 
corporation is treated as an exempt asset by reason of the adjustment 
under Sec.  1.861-12(c)(2) in respect of previously taxed earnings and 
profits described in section 959(c)(1) or (c)(2) (including earnings 
and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 
951A(f)(1) and Sec.  1.951A-6(b)(1)). See also Sec.  1.965-6(c).
    (e) * * * (1) * * * Paragraphs (e)(13) and (14) of this section 
contain rules with respect to the allocation and apportionment of the 
deduction allowed under section 250(a). Paragraph (e)(15) of this 
section contains rules with respect to the allocation and apportionment 
of a taxpayer's distributive share of a partnership's deductions. * * *
* * * * *
    (6) * * * (i) * * * The deduction for foreign income, war profits 
and excess profits taxes allowed by section 164 (including with respect 
to a controlled foreign corporation)) is allocated and apportioned 
among the applicable statutory and residual groupings under the 
principles of Sec.  1.904-6(a)(1)(i), (ii), and (iv). The deduction for 
state and local taxes (state income taxes) allowed by section 164 is 
considered definitely related and allocable to the gross income with 
respect to which such state income taxes are imposed. * * *
* * * * *
    (13) Foreign-derived intangible income. The portion of the 
deduction that is allowed for foreign-derived intangible income under 
section 250(a)(1)(A) (taking into account the reduction under section 
250(a)(2)(B)(i), if any) is considered definitely related and allocable 
to the class of gross income included in the taxpayer's foreign-derived 
deduction eligible income (as defined in section 250(b)(4)). If 
necessary, the portion of the deduction is apportioned within the class 
ratably between the statutory grouping (or among the statutory 
groupings) of gross income and the residual grouping of gross income 
based on the relative amounts of foreign-derived deduction eligible 
income in each grouping.
    (14) Global intangible low-taxed income and related section 78 
gross up. The portion of the deduction (taking into account the 
reduction under section 250(a)(2)(B)(ii), if any) that is allowed for 
the global intangible low-taxed income amount described in section 
250(a)(1)(B)(i), and that is allowed for the section 78 gross up under 
section 250(a)(1)(B)(ii), is considered definitely related and 
allocable to the class of gross income included under section 951A(a) 
and section 78, respectively. If necessary (for example, because a 
portion of the inclusion under section 951A(a) is passive category 
income or U.S. source income), the portion of the deduction is 
apportioned within the class ratably between the statutory grouping (or 
among the statutory groupings) of gross income and the residual 
grouping of gross income based on the relative amounts of gross income 
in each grouping.
    (15) Distributive share of partnership deductions. In general, if 
deductions are incurred by a partnership in which the taxpayer is a 
partner, the taxpayer's deductions that are allocated and apportioned 
include the taxpayer's distributive share of the partnership's 
deductions. See Sec. Sec.  1.861-9(e), 1.861-17(f), and 1.904-
4(n)(1)(ii) for special rules for apportioning a partner's distributive 
share of deductions of a partnership.
    (f) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) Separate foreign tax credit limitations. Section 904(d)(1) and 
other sections described in Sec.  1.904-4(m) require that a separate 
foreign tax credit limitation be determined with respect to each 
separate category of income specified in those sections. Accordingly, 
the foreign source income within each separate category described in 
Sec.  1.904-5(a)(4)(v) constitutes a separate statutory grouping of 
income. U.S. source income is treated as income in the residual 
grouping for purposes of determining the limitation on the foreign tax 
credit.
* * * * *
    (4) * * *

    (ii) Example--(A) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, purchases 
and sells consumer items in the United States and foreign markets. 
Its sales in foreign markets are made to related foreign 
subsidiaries. USP reported $1,500,000x as sales during the taxable 
year of which $1,000,000x was domestic sales and $500,000x was 
foreign sales. USP took a deduction for expenses incurred by its 
marketing department during the taxable year in the amount of 
$150,000x. These expenses were determined to be allocable to both 
domestic and foreign sales and are apportionable between such sales. 
On audit of USP's return for the taxable year, the IRS adjusted, 
under section 482, USP's sales to related foreign subsidiaries by 
increasing the sales price by a total of $100,000x, thereby 
increasing USP's foreign sales and total sales by the same amount. 
Before the audit, USP allocated and apportioned the marketing 
department deduction as follows:

                   Table 1 to Paragraph (f)(4)(ii)(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
To gross income from domestic sales: $150,000x x               $100,000x
 ($1,000,000x/$1,500,000x).................................
To gross income from foreign sales: $150,000x x ($500,000x/      50,000x
 $1,500,000x)..............................................
                                                            ------------
    Total..................................................     150,000x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) Analysis. As a result of the section 482 adjustment, the 
apportionment of the deduction for the marketing department expenses 
is redetermined as follows:

                   Table 2 to Paragraph (f)(4)(ii)(B)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
To gross income from domestic sales: $150,000x x                $93,750x
 ($1,000,000x/$1,600,000x).................................
To gross income from foreign sales:
    $150,000x x ($600,000x/$1,600,000x)....................      56,250x
                                                            ------------
    Total..................................................     150,000x
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 69061]]

* * * * *

    (g) Examples. The following examples illustrate the principles of 
the rules in this section. In each example, unless otherwise specified, 
section 904 is the operative section. In addition, in each example, 
where a method of allocation or apportionment is illustrated as an 
acceptable method, it is assumed that such method is used by the 
taxpayers on a consistent basis from year to year. Further, it is 
assumed that each party named in each example operates on a calendar 
year accounting basis and, where the party is a U.S. taxpayer, files 
returns on a calendar year basis.
    (1) through (18) [Reserved]

    (19) Example 19: Supportive expense--(i) Facts--(A) USP, a 
domestic corporation, purchases and sells products both in the 
United States and in foreign countries. USP has no foreign 
subsidiary and no international department. During the taxable year, 
USP incurs the following expenses with respect to its worldwide 
activities:

                   Table 3 to Paragraph (g)(19)(i)(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel department expenses..............................     $50,000x
Training department expenses...............................      35,000x
General and administrative expenses........................      55,000x
President's salary.........................................      40,000x
Sales manager's salary.....................................      20,000x
                                                            ------------
    Total..................................................     200,000x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) USP has domestic gross receipts from sales of $750,000x and 
foreign gross receipts from sales of $500,000x and has gross income 
from such sales in the same ratio, namely $300,000x from domestic 
sources and $200,000x from foreign sources that is general category 
income.
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Allocation. The above expenses are definitely 
related and allocable to all of USP's gross income derived from both 
domestic and foreign markets.
    (B) Apportionment. For purposes of applying the foreign tax 
credit limitation, the statutory grouping is gross income from 
sources outside the United States in general category income and the 
residual grouping is gross income from sources within the United 
States. USP's deductions for its worldwide sales activities must be 
apportioned between these groupings. USP does not have a separate 
international division which performs essentially all of the 
functions required to manage and oversee its foreign activities. The 
president and sales manager do not maintain time records. The 
division of their time between domestic and foreign activities 
varies from day to day and cannot be estimated on an annual basis 
with any reasonable degree of accuracy. Similarly, there are no 
facts which would justify a method of apportionment of their 
salaries or of one of the other listed deductions based on more 
specific factors than gross receipts or gross income. An acceptable 
method of apportionment would be on the basis of gross receipts. The 
apportionment of the $200,000x deduction is as follows:

                   Table 4 to Paragraph (g)(19)(ii)(B)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apportionment of the $200,000x expense to the statutory         $80,000x
 grouping of gross income: $200,000x x [$500,000x/
 ($500,000x + $750,000x)]
Apportionment of the $200,000x expense to the residual          120,000x
 grouping of gross income: $200,000x x [$750,000x/
 ($500,000x + $750,000x)]..................................
                                                            ------------
    Total apportioned supportive expense...................     200,000x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (20) Example 20: Supportive expense--(i) Facts. Assume the same 
facts as in paragraph (g)(19)(i) of this section (the facts in 
Example 19), except that USP's president devotes only 5% of his time 
to the foreign operations and 95% of his time to the domestic 
operations and that USP's sales manager devotes approximately 10% of 
her time to foreign sales and 90% of her time to domestic sales.
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Allocation. The expenses incurred by USP with 
respect to its worldwide activities are definitely related, and 
therefore allocable to USP's gross income from both its foreign and 
domestic markets.
    (B) Apportionment. On the basis of the additional facts it is 
not acceptable to apportion the salaries of the president and the 
sales manager on the basis of gross receipts. It is acceptable to 
apportion such salaries between the statutory grouping (gross income 
from sources without the United States) and residual grouping (gross 
income from sources within the United States) on the basis of time 
devoted to each sales activity. Remaining expenses may still be 
apportioned on the basis of gross receipts. The apportionment is as 
follows:

                   Table 5 to Paragraph (g)(20)(ii)(B)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apportionment of the $200,000x expense to the statutory
 grouping of gross income:
    President's salary: $40,000x x 5%......................      $2,000x
    Sales manager's salary: $20,000x x 10%.................       2,000x
    Remaining expenses: $140,000x x [$500,000x/($500,000x +      56,000x
     $750,000x)]...........................................
                                                            ------------
        Subtotal: Apportionment of expense to statutory          60,000x
         grouping..........................................
Apportionment of the $200,000x expense to the residual
 grouping of gross income:
    President's salary: $40,000x x 95%.....................      38,000x
    Sales manager's salary: $20,000x x 90%.................      18,000x
    Remaining expenses: $140,000x x [$750,000x/($500,000x +      84,000x
     $750,000x)]...........................................
                                                            ------------
        Subtotal: Apportionment of expense to residual          140,000x
         grouping..........................................
                                                            ------------
            Total: Apportioned supportive expense..........     200,000x
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 69062]]

    (21) Example 21: Supportive expense--(i) Facts. FC, a foreign 
corporation doing business in the United States, is a manufacturer 
of metal stamping machines. FC has no U.S. subsidiaries and no 
separate division to manage and oversee its business in the United 
States. FC manufactures and sells these machines in the United 
States and in foreign countries A and B and has a separate 
manufacturing facility in each country. Sales of these machines are 
FC's only source of income. In Year 1, FC incurs general and 
administrative expenses related to both its U.S. and foreign 
operations of $100,000x. It has machine sales of $500,000x, 
$1,000,000x, and $1,000,000x on which it earns gross income of 
$200,000x, $400,000x, and $400,000x in the United States, Country A, 
and Country B, respectively. The income from the manufacture and 
sale of the machines in countries A and B is not effectively 
connected with FC's business in the United States.
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Allocation. The $100,000x of general and 
administrative expense is definitely related to the income to which 
it gives rise, namely a part of the gross income from sales of 
machines in the United States, in Country A, and in Country B. The 
expenses are allocable to this class of income, even though FC's 
gross income from sources outside the United States is excluded 
income since it is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or 
business.
    (B) Apportionment. Since FC is a foreign corporation, the 
statutory grouping is gross income effectively connected with FC's 
trade of business in the United States, namely gross income from 
sources within the United States, and the residual grouping is gross 
income not effectively connected with a trade or business in the 
United States, namely gross income from countries A and B. Since 
there are no facts that would require a method of apportionment 
other than on the basis of sales or gross income, the amount may be 
apportioned between the two groupings on the basis of amounts of 
gross income as follows:

                   Table 6 to Paragraph (g)(21)(ii)(B)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apportionment of general and administrative expense to the      $20,000x
 statutory grouping, gross income from sources within the
 United States: $100,000x x [$200,000x/($200,000x +
 $400,000x + $400,000x)]...................................
Apportionment of general and administrative expense to the       80,000x
 residual grouping, gross income from sources without the
 United States: $100,000x x [($400,000x + $400,000x)/
 ($200,000x + $400,000x + $400,000x)]......................
                                                            ------------
    Total apportioned general and administrative expense...     100,000x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (22) through (24) [Reserved]
    (25) Example 25: Income taxes--(i) Facts. USP, a domestic 
corporation, is a manufacturer and distributor of electronic 
equipment with operations in states A, B, and C. USP also has a 
foreign branch, as defined in section 904(d)(1)(B) and Sec.  1.904-
4(f), in Country Y which manufactures and distributes the same type 
of electronic equipment. In Year 1, USP has taxable income from 
these activities, as described under the Code (without taking into 
account the deduction for state income taxes), of $1,000,000x, of 
which $200,000x is foreign source foreign branch category income and 
$800,000x is domestic source income. States A, B, and C each 
determine USP's income subject to tax within their state by making 
adjustments to USP's taxable income as determined under the Code, 
and then apportioning the adjusted taxable income on the basis of 
the relative amounts of USP's payroll, property, and sales within 
each state as compared to USP's worldwide payroll, property, and 
sales. The adjustments made by states A, B, and C all involve adding 
and subtracting enumerated items from taxable income as determined 
under the Code. However, in making these adjustments to taxable 
income, none of the states specifically exempts foreign source 
income as determined under the Code. On this basis, it is determined 
that USP has taxable income of $550,000x, $200,000x, and $200,000x 
in states A, B, and C, respectively. The corporate tax rates in 
states A, B, and C are 10%, 5%, and 2%, respectively, and USP has 
total state income tax liabilities of $69,000x ($55,000x + $10,000x 
+ $4,000x), which it deducts as an expense for Federal income tax 
purposes.
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Allocation. USP's deduction of $69,000x for 
state income taxes is definitely related and thus allocable to the 
gross income with respect to which the taxes are imposed. Since the 
statutes of states A, B, and C do not specifically exempt foreign 
source income (as determined under the Code) from taxation and 
since, in the aggregate, states A, B, and C tax $950,000x of USP's 
income while only $800,000x is domestic source income under the 
Code, it is presumed that state income taxes are imposed on 
$150,000x of foreign source income. The deduction for state income 
taxes is therefore related and allocable to both USP's foreign 
source and domestic source income.
    (B) Apportionment. For purposes of computing the foreign tax 
credit limitation, USP's income is comprised of one statutory 
grouping, foreign source foreign branch category gross income, and 
one residual grouping, gross income from sources within the United 
States. The state income tax deduction of $69,000x must be 
apportioned between these two groupings. Corporation USP calculates 
the apportionment on the basis of the relative amounts of foreign 
source foreign branch category taxable income and U.S. source 
taxable income subject to state taxation. In this case, state income 
taxes are presumed to be imposed on $800,000x of domestic source 
income and $150,000x of foreign source general category income.

                   Table 7 to Paragraph (g)(25)(ii)(B)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
State income tax deduction apportioned to foreign source        $10,895x
 foreign branch category income (statutory grouping):
 $69,000x x ($150,000x/$950,000x)..........................
State income tax deduction apportioned to income from            58,105x
 sources within the United States (residual grouping):
 $69,000x x ($800,000x/$950,000x)..........................
                                                            ------------
    Total apportioned state income tax deduction...........      69,000x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (26) Example 26: Income taxes--(i) Facts. Assume the same facts 
as in paragraph (g)(25)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 
25), except that the language of state A's statute and the statute's 
operation exempt from taxation all foreign source income, as 
determined under the Code, so that foreign source income is not 
included in adjusted taxable income subject to apportionment in 
state A (and factors relating to USP's Country Y branch are not 
taken into account in computing the state A apportionment fraction).
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Allocation. USP's deduction of $69,000x for 
state income taxes is definitely related and thus allocable to the 
gross income with respect to which the taxes are imposed. Since 
state A exempts all foreign source income by statute, state A is 
presumed to impose tax on $550,000x of USP's $800,000x of domestic 
source income. USP's state A tax of $55,000x is allocable, 
therefore, solely to domestic source income. Since the statutes of 
states B and C do not specifically exclude all foreign source income 
as determined under the Code, and since states B and C impose tax on 
$400,000x ($200,000x + $200,000x) of USP's income of which only 
$250,000x ($800,000x-$550,000x) is presumed to be

[[Page 69063]]

domestic source, the deduction for the $14,000x of income taxes 
imposed by states B and C is related and allocable to both foreign 
source and domestic source income.
    (B) Apportionment--(1) For purposes of computing the foreign tax 
credit limitation, USP's income is comprised of one statutory 
grouping, foreign source foreign branch category gross income, and 
one residual grouping, gross income from sources within the United 
States. The deduction of $14,000x for income taxes of states B and C 
must be apportioned between these two groupings.
    (2) Corporation USP calculates the apportionment on the basis of 
the relative amounts of foreign source foreign branch category 
income and U.S. source income subject to state taxation.

                 Table 8 to Paragraph (g)(26)(ii)(B)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
States B and C income tax deduction apportioned to foreign       $5,250x
 source foreign branch category income (statutory
 grouping): $14,000x x ($150,000x/$400,000x)...............
States B and C income tax deduction apportioned to income         8,750x
 from sources within the United States (residual grouping):
 $14,000x x ($250,000x/$400,000x)..........................
                                                            ------------
    Total apportioned state income tax deduction...........      14,000x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) Of USP's total income taxes of $69,000x, the amount 
allocated and apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category 
income equals $5,250x. The total amount of state income taxes 
allocated and apportioned to U.S. source income equals $63,750x 
($55,000x + $8,750x).
    (27) Example 27: Income tax--(i) Facts. Assume the same facts as 
in paragraph (g)(25)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 25), 
except that state A, in which USP has significant income-producing 
activities, does not impose a corporate income tax or other state 
tax computed on the basis of income derived from business activities 
conducted in state A. USP therefore has a total state income tax 
liability in Year 1 of $14,000x ($10,000x paid to state B plus 
$4,000x paid to state C), all of which is subject to allocation and 
apportionment under paragraph (b) of this section.
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Allocation--(1) USP's deduction of $14,000x 
for state income taxes is definitely related and allocable to the 
gross income with respect to which the taxes are imposed. However, 
in these facts, an adjustment is necessary before the aggregate 
state taxable incomes can be compared with U.S. source income on the 
Federal income tax return in the manner described in paragraphs 
(g)(25)(ii) and (g)(26)(ii) of this section (the analysis in 
Examples 25 and 26). Unlike the facts in paragraphs (g)(25)(i) and 
(g)(26)(i) of this section (the facts in Examples 25 and 26), state 
A imposes no income tax and does not define taxable income 
attributable to activities in state A. The total amount of USP's 
income subject to state taxation is, therefore, $400,000x ($200,000x 
in state B and $200,000x in state C). This total presumptively does 
not include any income attributable to activities performed in state 
A and therefore cannot properly be compared to total U.S. source 
taxable income reported by USP for Federal income tax purposes, 
which does include income attributable to state A activities.
    (2)(i) Accordingly, before applying the method used in 
paragraphs (g)(25)(ii) and (g)(26)(ii) of this section (the analysis 
in Examples 25 and 26) to the facts of the example in this paragraph 
(g)(27), it is necessary first to estimate the amount of taxable 
income that state A could reasonably attribute to USP's activities 
in state A, and then to reduce federal taxable income by that 
amount.
    (ii) Any reasonable method may be used to attribute taxable 
income to USP's activities in state A. For example, the rules of the 
Uniform Division of Income for Tax Purposes Act (``UDITPA'') 
attribute income to a state on the basis of the average of three 
ratios that are based upon the taxpayer's facts--property within the 
state over total property, payroll within the state over total 
payroll, and sales within the state over total sales--and, with 
adjustments, provide a reasonable method for this purpose. When 
applying the rules of UDITPA to estimate U.S. source income derived 
from state A activities, the taxpayer's UDITPA factors must be 
adjusted to eliminate both taxable income and factors attributable 
to a foreign branch. Therefore, in the example in this paragraph 
(g)(27) all taxable income as well as UDITPA apportionment factors 
(property, payroll, and sales) attributable to USP's Country Y 
branch must be eliminated.
    (3)(i) Since it is presumed that, if state A had had an income 
tax, state A would not attempt to tax the income derived by USP's 
Country Y branch, any reasonable estimate of the income that would 
be taxed by state A must exclude any foreign source income.
    (ii) When using the rules of UDITPA to estimate the income that 
would have been taxable by state A in these facts, foreign source 
income is excluded by starting with federally defined taxable income 
(before deduction for state income taxes) and subtracting any income 
derived by USP's Country Y branch. The hypothetical state A taxable 
income is then determined by multiplying the resulting difference by 
the average of USP's state A property, payroll, and sales ratios, 
determined using the principles of UDITPA (after adjustment by 
eliminating the Country Y branch factors). The resulting product is 
presumed to be exclusively U.S. source income, and the allocation 
and apportionment method described in paragraph (g)(26) of this 
section (Example 26) must then be applied.
    (iii) If, for example, state A taxable income were determined to 
equal $550,000x, then $550,000x of U.S. source income for Federal 
income tax purposes would be presumed to constitute state A taxable 
income. Under paragraph (g)(26) of this section (Example 26), the 
remaining $250,000x ($800,000x-$550,000x) of U.S. source income for 
Federal income tax purposes would be presumed to be subject to tax 
in states B and C. Since states B and C impose tax on $400,000x, the 
application of Example 25 would result in a presumption that 
$150,000x is foreign source income and $250,000x is domestic source 
income. The deduction for the $14,000x of income taxes of states B 
and C would therefore be related and allocable to both foreign 
source and domestic source income and would be subject to 
apportionment.
    (B) Apportionment. The deduction of $14,000x for income taxes of 
states B and C is apportioned in the same manner as in paragraph 
(g)(26) of this section (Example 26). As a result, $5,250x of the 
$14,000x of state B and state C income taxes is apportioned to 
foreign source foreign branch category income ($14,000x x $150,000x/
$400,000x), and $8,750x ($14,000x x $250,000x/$400,000x) of the 
$14,000x of state B and state C income taxes is apportioned to U.S. 
source income.

    (h) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years that 
both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 
2018.

0
Par. 3. Section 1.861-8T is amended by:
0
1. Revising paragraphs (c)(2) and (d)(2)(ii)(A).
0
2. Redesignating paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(B)(1) and (2) as paragraphs 
(d)(2)(ii)(B)(1)(i) and (ii).
0
3. Designating paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B) introductory text as paragraph 
(d)(2)(ii)(B)(1) introductory text.
0
4. Designating the undesignated paragraph following newly redesignated 
paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(1)(ii) as paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(2).
0
5. Adding paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C).
0
6. Adding the word ``and'' at the end of paragraph (d)(2)(iii)(B).
0
7. Revising paragraph (d)(2)(iii)(C).
0
8. Removing and reserving paragraph (d)(2)(iii)(D) and adding reserved 
paragraph (d)(2)(iii)(E).
0
9. Revising paragraph (d)(2)(iv).
0
10. Removing paragraphs (e)(3) through (f)(1)(i), (f)(1)(ii), and 
(f)(1)(iii) through (g).
0
11. Adding paragraph (e)(3), reserved paragraphs (e)(4) through (15), 
paragraph (f), and reserved paragraph (g).

[[Page 69064]]

    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.861-8T   Computation of taxable income from sources within the 
United States and from other sources and activities (temporary).

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) Apportionment based on assets. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.861-8(c)(2).
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) In general. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-
8(d)(2)(ii)(A).
* * * * *
    (C) Foreign-derived intangible income and inclusions under section 
951A(a). For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C).
    (iii) * * *
    (C) For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(iii)(C) through 
(E).
    (D) and (E) [Reserved]
    (iv) Value of stock attributable to previously taxed earnings and 
profits. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(iv).
    (e) * * *
    (3) Research and experimental expenditures. For further guidance, 
see Sec.  1.861-8(e)(3) through (15).
    (4) through (15) [Reserved]
    (f) Miscellaneous matters. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-
8(f) through (g).
    (g) [Reserved]
* * * * *

0
Par. 4. Section 1.861-9 is amended by:
0
1. Revising the section heading.
0
2. Removing paragraphs (a) through (e)(1).
0
3. Adding paragraph (a), reserved paragraph (b), and paragraphs (c), 
(d), and (e)(1).
0
4. Removing the last sentence in paragraphs (e)(2) and (3).
0
5. Removing paragraphs (e)(4) through (f)(3)(i).
0
6. Adding paragraphs (e)(4) through (10), (f) heading, (f)(1) and (2), 
(f)(3) heading, and (f)(3)(i).
0
7. Revising the heading of paragraph (f)(4).
0
8. Removing the language ``noncontrolled section 902 corporation'' 
wherever it appears in paragraphs (f)(4)(i) and (ii) and adding the 
language ``noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation'' in its 
place.
0
9. Removing the last sentence of paragraph (f)(4)(ii).
0
10. Revising paragraph (f)(4)(iii).
0
11. Removing paragraphs (f)(5) through (h)(3).
0
12. Adding paragraphs (f)(5), (g), (h) introductory text, and (h)(1) 
and reserved paragraphs (h)(2) and (3).
0
13. Revising paragraph (h)(5).
0
14. In paragraph (i)(2)(i):
0
i. Revising the first and second sentences.
0
ii. Removing the language ``paragraph (i)(2)'' from the third and 
fourth sentences and adding the language ``paragraph (i)(2)(i)'' in its 
place.
0
15. Revising paragraphs (j) and (k).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.861-9   Allocation and apportionment of interest expense and 
rules for asset-based apportionment.

    (a) In general. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9T(a) through 
(b).
    (b) [Reserved]
    (c) Allowable deductions. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-
9T(c) introductory text.
    (1) Disallowed deductions. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-
9T(c)(1) through (4).
    (2) through (4) [Reserved]
    (5) Section 163(j). If a taxpayer is subject to section 163(j), the 
taxpayer's deduction for business interest expense is limited to the 
sum of the taxpayer's business interest income, 30 percent of the 
taxpayer's adjusted taxable income for the taxable year, and the 
taxpayer's floor plan financing interest expense. In the taxable year 
that any deduction is permitted for business interest expense with 
respect to a disallowed business interest carryforward, that business 
interest expense is apportioned for purposes of this section under 
rules set forth in paragraph (d), (e), or (f) of this section (as 
applicable) as though it were incurred in the taxable year in which the 
expense is deducted.
    (d) Apportionment rules for individuals, estates, and certain 
trusts. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9T(d).
    (e) Partnerships--(1) In general--aggregate rule. For further 
guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9T(e)(1).
* * * * *
    (4) Entity rule for less than 10 percent limited partners--(i) 
Partnership interest expense. A limited partner (whether individual or 
corporate), whose ownership, together with ownership by persons that 
bear a relationship to the partner described in section 267(b) or 
section 707, of the capital and profits interests of the partnership is 
less than 10 percent directly allocates its distributive share of 
partnership interest expense to its distributive share of partnership 
gross income. Under Sec.  1.904-4(n)(1)(ii), such a partner's 
distributive share of foreign source income of the partnership is 
treated as passive income (subject to the high-taxed income exception 
of section 904(d)(2)(B)(iii)(II)), except in the case of income from a 
partnership interest held in the ordinary course of the partner's 
active trade or business, as defined in Sec.  1.904-4(n)(1)(ii)(B). A 
partner's distributive share of partnership interest expense (other 
than partnership interest expense that is directly allocated to 
identified property under Sec.  1.861-10T) is apportioned in accordance 
with the partner's relative distributive share of gross foreign source 
income in each separate category and of gross domestic source income 
from the partnership. To the extent that partnership interest expense 
is directly allocated under Sec.  1.861-10T, a comparable portion of 
the income to which such interest expense is allocated is disregarded 
in determining the partner's relative distributive share of gross 
foreign source income in each separate category and domestic source 
income. The partner's distributive share of the interest expense of the 
partnership that is directly allocable under Sec.  1.861-10T is 
allocated according to the treatment, after application of Sec.  1.904-
4(n)(1), of the partner's distributive share of the income to which the 
expense is allocated.
    (ii) Other interest expense of the partner. For further guidance, 
see Sec.  1.861-9T(e)(4)(ii).
    (5) Tiered partnerships. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-
9T(e)(5) through (7).
    (6) and (7) [Reserved]
    (8) Special rule for downstream partnership loans--(i) In general. 
For purposes of apportioning interest expense that is not directly 
allocable under paragraph (e)(4) of this section or Sec.  1.861-10T, 
the disregarded portion of a downstream partnership loan is not 
considered an asset of a downstream partnership loan lender (DPL 
lender). The disregarded portion of a downstream partnership loan is 
the portion of the value of the loan (as determined under paragraph 
(h)(4)(i) of this section) that bears the same proportion to the total 
value of the loan as the matching income amount that is included by the 
DPL lender for a taxable year with respect to the loan bears to the 
total amount of downstream partnership loan interest income (DPL 
interest income) that is included directly or indirectly in gross 
income by the DPL lender with respect to the loan during that taxable 
year.
    (ii) Treatment of interest expense and interest income attributable 
to a downstream partnership loan. If a DPL lender (or any other person 
in the same

[[Page 69065]]

affiliated group as the DPL lender) takes into account a distributive 
share of downstream partnership loan interest expense (DPL interest 
expense), the DPL lender must assign an amount of DPL interest income 
corresponding to the matching income amount for the taxable year that 
is attributable to the same loan to the same statutory and residual 
groupings as the statutory and residual groupings of gross income from 
which the DPL interest expense is deducted (or would be deducted, 
without regard to any limitations on the deductibility of interest, 
such as section 163(j)) by the DPL lender (or any other person in the 
same affiliated group as the DPL lender).
    (iii) Anti-avoidance rule for third party back-to-back loans. If, 
with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules in this paragraph 
(e)(8), a person makes a loan to a person that is not related (within 
the meaning of section 267(b) or 707) to the lender, the unrelated 
person makes a loan to a partnership, and the first loan would 
constitute a downstream partnership loan if made directly to the 
partnership, then the rules of this paragraph (e)(8) apply as if the 
first loan was made directly to the partnership and the interest 
expense paid by the partnership is treated as made with respect to the 
first loan. Such a series of loans will be subject to this 
recharacterization rule without regard to whether there was a principal 
purpose of avoiding the rules in this paragraph (e)(8) if the loan to 
the unrelated person would not have been made or maintained on 
substantially the same terms but for the loan of funds by the unrelated 
person to the partnership. The principles of this paragraph (e)(8)(iii) 
also apply to similar transactions that involve more than two loans and 
regardless of the order in which the loans are made.
    (iv) Anti-avoidance rule for loans held by CFCs. A loan receivable 
held by a controlled foreign corporation with respect to a loan to a 
partnership in which a United States shareholder (as defined in Sec.  
1.904-5(a)(4)(vi)) of the controlled foreign corporation owns an 
interest, directly or indirectly through one or more other partnerships 
or other pass-through entities (as defined in Sec.  1.904-5(a)(4)(iv)), 
is recharacterized as a loan receivable held directly by the United 
States shareholder with respect to the loan to such partnership for 
purposes of this paragraph (e)(8) if the loan was made or transferred 
with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules in this paragraph 
(e)(8). An appropriate amount of income derived by the United States 
shareholder (or any other person in the same affiliated group as the 
United States shareholder) from the controlled foreign corporation is 
treated as DPL interest income. Appropriate adjustments must be made to 
the value and characterization of the stock of the controlled foreign 
corporation under Sec. Sec.  1.861-9 and 1.861-12 in order to reflect 
the portion of the downstream partnership loan held by the controlled 
foreign corporation that is disregarded under paragraph (e)(8)(i) of 
this section.
    (v) Interest equivalents. The principles of this paragraph (e)(8) 
apply in the case of a partner, or any person in the same affiliated 
group as the partner, that takes into account a distributive share of 
an expense or loss (to the extent deductible) that is allocated and 
apportioned in the same manner as interest expense under Sec. Sec.  
1.861-9(b) and 1.861-9T(b) and has a matching income amount (treating 
such interest equivalent as interest income or expense for purposes of 
paragraph (e)(8)(vi)(B) of this section) with respect to the 
transaction that gives rise to that expense or loss.
    (vi) Definitions. For purposes of this paragraph (e)(8), the 
following definitions apply.
    (A) Affiliated group. The term affiliated group has the meaning 
provided in Sec.  1.861-11(d)(1).
    (B) Matching income amount. The term matching income amount means 
the lesser of the total amount of the DPL interest income included 
directly or indirectly in gross income by the DPL lender for the 
taxable year with respect to a downstream partnership loan or the total 
amount of the distributive shares of the DPL interest expense of the 
DPL lender (or any other person in the same affiliated group as the DPL 
lender) with respect to the loan.
    (C) Downstream partnership loan. The term downstream partnership 
loan means a loan to a partnership for which the loan receivable is 
held, directly or indirectly through one or more other partnerships or 
other pass-through entities, either by a person that owns an interest, 
directly or indirectly through one or more other partnerships or other 
pass-through entities, in the partnership, or by any person in the same 
affiliated group as that person.
    (D) Downstream partnership loan interest expense (DPL interest 
expense). The term downstream partnership loan interest expense, or DPL 
interest expense, means an item of interest expense paid or accrued 
with respect to a downstream partnership loan, without regard to 
whether the expense was currently deductible (for example, by reason of 
section 163(j)).
    (E) Downstream partnership loan interest income (DPL interest 
income). The term downstream partnership loan interest income, or DPL 
interest income, means an item of gross interest income received or 
accrued with respect to a downstream partnership loan.
    (F) Downstream partnership loan lender (DPL lender). The term 
downstream partnership loan lender, or DPL lender, means the person 
that holds the receivable with respect to a downstream partnership 
loan. If a partnership holds the receivable, then any partner in the 
partnership (other than a partner described in paragraph (e)(4)(i) of 
this section) is also considered a DPL lender.
    (vii) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application 
of the rules in this paragraph (e)(8).

    (A) Example 1--(1) Facts. US1, a domestic corporation, directly 
owns 60% of PRS, a foreign partnership that is not engaged in a U.S. 
trade or business. The remaining 40% of PRS is directly owned by 
US2, a domestic corporation that is unrelated to US1. US1, US2, and 
PRS all use the calendar year as their taxable year. In Year 1, US1 
loans $1,000x to PRS. For Year 1, US1 has $100x of interest income 
with respect to the loan and PRS has $100x of interest expense with 
respect to the loan. US1's distributive share of the interest 
expense is $60x. Under paragraph (e)(2) of this section, $45x of 
US1's distributive share of the interest expense is apportioned to 
U.S. source income and $15x is apportioned to foreign source foreign 
branch category income. Under paragraph (h)(4)(i) of this section, 
the total value of the loan between US1 and PRS is $1,000x.
    (2) Analysis. The loan by US1 to PRS is a downstream partnership 
loan and US1 is a DPL lender. Under paragraph (e)(8)(vi)(B) of this 
section, the matching income amount is $60x, the lesser of the DPL 
interest income included by US1 with respect to the loan for the 
taxable year ($100x) and US1's distributive share of the DPL 
interest expense ($60x). Under paragraph (e)(8)(ii) of this section, 
US1 assigns $45x of the DPL interest income to U.S. source income 
and $15x of the DPL interest income to foreign source foreign branch 
category income. The source and separate category of the remaining 
$40x of US1's DPL interest income is determined under the generally 
applicable rules. Under paragraph (e)(8)(i) of this section, the 
disregarded portion of the downstream partnership loan is $600x 
($1,000x x $60x/$100x).
    (B) Example 2--(1) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph 
(e)(8)(vii)(A)(1) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except 
that US1 and US2 are part of the same affiliated group, US2's 
distributive share of the interest expense is $40x, and under 
paragraph (e)(2) of this section, $30x of US2's distributive share 
of the interest expense is apportioned to U.S. source income and 
$10x is apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category 
income.
    (2) Analysis. The loan by US1 to PRS is a downstream partnership 
loan and US1 is a DPL lender. Under paragraph (e)(8)(vi)(B) of this 
section, the matching income amount is $100x, the lesser of the DPL 
interest income

[[Page 69066]]

included by US1 with respect to the loan for the taxable year 
($100x) and the total amount of US1 and US2's distributive shares of 
the DPL interest expense ($100x). Under paragraph (e)(8)(ii) of this 
section, US1 assigns $75x of the DPL interest income to U.S. source 
income and $25x of the DPL interest income to foreign source foreign 
branch category income. Under paragraph (e)(8)(i) of this section, 
the disregarded portion of the downstream partnership loan is 
$1,000x ($1,000x x $100x/$100x).
    (C) Example 3--(1) Facts. US1, a domestic corporation, owns 80% 
of PRS, a foreign partnership that is not engaged in a U.S. trade or 
business. The remaining 20% of PRS is owned by US2, a domestic 
corporation that is unrelated to US1. US1, US2, and PRS all use the 
calendar year as their taxable year. In Year 1, US1 loans $3,000x to 
Bank and Bank loans $3,000x to PRS. US1 makes the loan to Bank with 
a principal purpose of avoiding the rules in this paragraph (e)(8). 
For Year 1, US1 has $150x of interest income with respect to the 
loan to Bank and PRS has $175x of interest expense with respect to 
the loan from Bank. US1's distributive share of the interest expense 
is $140x. Under paragraph (e)(2) of this section, $126x of US1's 
distributive share of the interest expense is apportioned to U.S. 
source income and $14x is apportioned to foreign source foreign 
branch category income. Under paragraph (h)(4)(i) of this section, 
the total value of the loan between US1 and PRS is $3,000x.
    (2) Analysis. Under paragraph (e)(8)(iii) of this section, 
because the loan from US1 to Bank is made with a principal purpose 
of avoiding the rules of this paragraph (e)(8), the rules of this 
paragraph (e)(8) apply as if the loan by US1 to Bank was made 
directly to PRS. Accordingly, the loan by US1 to Bank is a 
downstream partnership loan and US1 is a DPL lender. Under paragraph 
(e)(8)(vi)(B) of this section, the matching income amount is $140x, 
the lesser of the DPL interest income included by US1 with respect 
to the loan for the taxable year ($150x) and US1's distributive 
share of the DPL interest expense ($140x). Under paragraph 
(e)(8)(ii) of this section, US1 assigns $126x of the DPL interest 
income to U.S. source income and $14x of the DPL interest income to 
foreign source foreign branch category income. The source and 
separate category of the remaining $10x of US1's DPL interest income 
is determined under the generally applicable rules. Under paragraph 
(e)(8)(i) of this section, the disregarded portion of the downstream 
partnership loan is $2,800x ($3,000x x $140x/$150x).
    (D) Example 4--(1) Facts. US1, a domestic corporation, directly 
owns all of the outstanding stock of CFC, a controlled foreign 
corporation, and 90% of PRS, a foreign partnership that is not 
engaged in a U.S. trade or business. The remaining 10% of PRS is 
owned by US2, a domestic corporation that is unrelated to US1 and 
CFC. US1, US2, and PRS all use the calendar year as their taxable 
year. In Year 1, US1 loans $900x to CFC and CFC loans $900x to PRS. 
CFC makes the loan with a principal purpose of avoiding the rules in 
this paragraph (e)(8). For Year 1, CFC has $90x of interest income 
and $90x of interest expense with respect to the loan to PRS, and 
US1 has $90x of interest income with respect to the loan to CFC. PRS 
has $90x of interest expense with respect to the loan, and US1's 
distributive share of the interest expense is $81x. Under paragraph 
(e)(2) of this section, $54x of US1's distributive share of the 
interest expense is apportioned to U.S. source income and $27x is 
apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category income. Under 
paragraph (h)(4)(i) of this section, the total value of the loan 
between CFC and PRS is $900x.
    (2) Analysis. Under paragraph (e)(8)(iv) of this section, 
because the loan from CFC to PRS is made with a principal purpose of 
avoiding the rules of this paragraph (e)(8), the loan from CFC to 
PRS is recharacterized as a loan receivable held directly by US1, 
and an appropriate amount of income derived by US1, in this case, 
the $90x of interest income from the loan to CFC, is treated as DPL 
interest income. Accordingly, the loan from CFC to PRS is a 
downstream partnership loan and US1 is a DPL lender. Under paragraph 
(e)(8)(vi)(B) of this section, the matching income amount is $81x, 
the lesser of the DPL interest income included by US1 ($90x) and 
US1's distributive share of the DPL interest expense ($81x). Under 
paragraph (e)(8)(ii) of this section, US1 assigns $54x of the DPL 
interest income to U.S. source income and $27x of the DPL interest 
income to foreign source foreign branch category income. The source 
and separate category of the remaining $9x of US1's interest income 
is determined under the generally applicable rules. Under paragraph 
(e)(8)(i) of this section, the disregarded portion of the downstream 
partnership loan is $810x ($900x x $81x/$90x). Appropriate 
adjustments are made to the value and characterization of the stock 
of CFC under Sec. Sec.  1.861-9 and 1.861-12 in order to reflect the 
$810x disregarded portion of the downstream partnership loan.

    (9) [Reserved]
    (10) Characterizing certain partnership assets as foreign branch 
category assets. For purposes of applying this paragraph (e) to section 
904 as the operative section, a partner that is a United States person 
that has a distributive share of partnership income that is treated as 
foreign branch category income under Sec.  1.904-4(f)(1)(i)(B) 
characterizes its pro rata share of the partnership assets that give 
rise to such income as assets in the foreign branch category.
    (f) Corporations--(1) Domestic corporations. For further guidance, 
see Sec.  1.861-9T(f)(1).
    (2) Section 987 QBUs of domestic corporations--(i) In general. In 
the application of the asset method described in paragraph (g) of this 
section, a domestic corporation--
    (A) Takes into account the assets of any section 987 QBU (as 
defined in Sec.  1.987-1(b)(2)), translated according to the rules set 
forth in paragraph (g) of this section; and
    (B) Combines with its own interest expense any deductible interest 
expense incurred by a section 987 QBU, translated according to the 
rules under section 987.
    (ii) Coordination with section 987(3). For purposes of computing 
foreign currency gain or loss under section 987(3) (including section 
987 gain or loss recognized under Sec.  1.987-5), the rules of this 
paragraph (f)(2) do not apply. See Sec.  1.987-4.
    (iii) Example. The following example illustrates the application of 
the rules in this paragraph (f)(2).

    (A) Facts. X is a domestic corporation that operates B, a branch 
doing business in a foreign country. B is a section 987 QBU (as 
defined in Sec.  1.987-1(b)(2)) as well as a foreign branch (as 
defined in Sec.  1.904-4(f)(3)(iii)). In 2020, without regard to B, 
X has gross domestic source income of $1,000x and gross foreign 
source general category income of $500x and incurs $200 of interest 
expense. Using the tax book value method of apportionment, X, 
without regard to B, determines the value of its assets that 
generate domestic source income to be $6,000x and the value of its 
assets that generate foreign source general category income to be 
$1,000x. Applying the translation rules of section 987, X (through 
B) earned $500 of gross foreign source foreign branch category 
income and incurred $100x of interest expense. B incurred no other 
expenses. For 2020, the average functional currency book value of 
B's assets that generate foreign source foreign branch category 
income translated at the year-end rate for 2020 is $3,000x.
    (B) Analysis. The combined assets of X and B for 2020 (averaged 
under Sec.  1.861-9T(g)(3)) consist 60% ($6,000x/$10,000x) of assets 
generating domestic source income, 30% ($3,000x/$10,000x) of assets 
generating foreign source foreign branch category income, and 10% 
($1,000x/$10,000x) of assets generating foreign source general 
category income. The combined interest expense of X and B is $300x. 
Thus, $180x ($300x x 60%) of the combined interest expense is 
apportioned to domestic source income, $90x ($300x x 30%) is 
apportioned to foreign source foreign branch category income, and 
$30x ($300x x 10%) is apportioned to foreign source general category 
income, yielding net U.S. source income of $820 ($1,000x-$180x), net 
foreign source foreign branch category income of $410 ($500x-$90x), 
and net foreign source general category income of $470x ($500x-
$30x).

    (3) Controlled foreign corporations--(i) In general. For purposes 
of computing subpart F income and tested income and computing earnings 
and profits for all Federal income tax purposes, the interest expense 
of a controlled foreign corporation may be apportioned using either the 
asset method described in paragraph (g) of this section or the modified 
gross income method described in paragraph

[[Page 69067]]

(j) of this section, subject to the rules of paragraphs (f)(3)(ii) and 
(iii) of this section.
* * * * *
    (4) Noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations. * * *
    (iii) Stock characterization. The stock of a noncontrolled 10-
percent owned foreign corporation is characterized under the rules in 
Sec.  1.861-12(c)(4).
    (5) Other relevant provisions. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.861-9T(f)(5).
    (g) Asset method--(1) In general. (i) For further guidance, see 
Sec.  1.861-9T(g)(1)(i).
    (ii) A taxpayer may elect to determine the value of its assets on 
the basis of either the tax book value or the fair market value of its 
assets. However, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, 
the fair market value method is not allowed with respect to allocations 
and apportionments of interest expense. See section 864(e)(2). For 
rules concerning the application of an alternative method of valuing 
assets for purposes of the tax book value method, see paragraph (i) of 
this section. For rules concerning the application of the fair market 
value method, see paragraph (h) of this section.
    (iii) [Reserved]
    (iv) For rules relating to earnings and profits adjustments by 
taxpayers using the tax book value method for the stock in certain 10 
percent owned corporations, see Sec.  1.861-12(c)(2).
    (v) [Reserved]
    (2) Asset values--(i) General rule--(A) Average of values. For 
purposes of determining the value of assets under this section, an 
average of values (book or market) within each statutory grouping and 
the residual grouping is computed for the year on the basis of values 
of assets at the beginning and end of the year. For the first taxable 
year beginning after December 31, 2017 (post-2017 year), a taxpayer 
that determined the value of its assets on the basis of the fair market 
value method for purposes of apportioning interest expense in its prior 
taxable year may choose to determine asset values under the tax book 
value method (or the alternative tax book value method) by treating the 
value of its assets as of the beginning of the post-2017 year as equal 
to the value of its assets at the end of the first quarter of the post-
2017 year, provided that each member of the affiliated group (as 
defined in Sec.  1.861-11T(d)) determines its asset values on the same 
basis. Where a substantial distortion of asset values would result from 
averaging beginning-of-year and end-of-year values, as might be the 
case in the event of a major corporate acquisition or disposition, the 
taxpayer must use a different method of asset valuation that more 
clearly reflects the average value of assets weighted to reflect the 
time such assets are held by the taxpayer during the taxable year.
    (B) Tax book value method. Under the tax book value method, the 
value of an asset is determined based on the adjusted basis of the 
asset. For purposes of determining the value of stock in a 10 percent 
owned corporation at the beginning and end of the year under the tax 
book value method, the tax book value is determined without regard to 
any adjustments under section 961(a) or 1293(d), see Sec.  1.861-
12(c)(2)(i)(B)(1), and before the adjustment required by Sec.  1.861-
12(c)(2)(i)(A) to the basis of stock in the 10 percent owned 
corporation. The average of the tax book value of the stock at the 
beginning and end of the year is then adjusted with respect to earnings 
and profits as described in Sec.  1.861-12(c)(2)(i).
    (ii) Special rule for qualified business units of domestic 
corporations with functional currency other than the U.S. dollar--(A) 
Tax book value method. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-
9T(g)(2)(ii)(A).
    (1) Section 987 QBU. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-
9T(g)(2)(ii)(A)(1).
    (2) U.S. dollar approximate separate transactions method. In the 
case of a branch to which the U.S. dollar approximate separate 
transactions method of accounting described in Sec.  1.985-3 applies, 
the beginning-of-year dollar amount of the assets is determined by 
reference to the end-of-year balance sheet of the branch for the 
immediately preceding taxable year, adjusted for U.S. generally 
accepted accounting principles and Federal income tax accounting 
principles, and translated into U.S. dollars as provided in Sec.  
1.985-3(c). The end-of-year dollar amount of the assets of the branch 
is determined in the same manner by reference to the end-of-year 
balance sheet for the current taxable year. The beginning-of-year and 
end-of-year dollar tax book value of assets, as so determined, within 
each grouping is then averaged as provided in paragraph (g)(2)(i) of 
this section.
    (B) Fair market value method. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.861-9T(g)(2)(ii)(B).
    (iii) Adjustment for directly allocated interest. For further 
guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9T(g)(2)(iii).
    (iv) Assets in intercompany transactions. For further guidance, see 
Sec.  1.861-9T(g)(2)(iv).
    (3) Characterization of assets. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.861-9T(g)(3).
    (4) Characterization of lower tier entities at the level of a CFC. 
In the case of a controlled foreign corporation that is applying the 
asset method, see for example Sec.  1.861-12T(c)(3)(ii) (requiring the 
application of Sec.  1.861-9T(g) at the level of the controlled foreign 
corporation) or paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section, the controlled 
foreign corporation (and any lower-tier controlled foreign 
corporations) must characterize stock of a lower-tier 10 percent owned 
corporation by applying Sec.  1.861-12 and treating the controlled 
foreign corporation as the relevant taxpayer for such purposes. In the 
case of a controlled foreign corporation that owns stock in one or more 
lower-tier corporations, in applying the asset method, the first-tier 
controlled foreign corporation must take into account the stock in the 
lower-tier corporations. Therefore, the controlled foreign corporation 
(and any lower-tier controlled foreign corporations) must make basis 
adjustments in lower-tier 10 percent owned corporations under Sec.  
1.861-12(c)(2) for purposes of valuing and characterizing the assets of 
such controlled foreign corporation. For purposes of this paragraph 
(g)(4), the stock of each such lower-tier corporation is characterized 
by reference to the assets owned during the lower-tier corporation's 
taxable year that ends during the first-tier controlled foreign 
corporation's taxable year. The analysis of assets under this paragraph 
(g)(4) and Sec.  1.861-12 of a controlled foreign corporation that is 
in a chain of 10 percent owned corporations must begin at the lowest-
tier 10 percent owned corporation and proceed up the chain to the 
first-tier controlled foreign corporation. See also Sec.  1.861-
12T(c)(3)(ii).
    (h) Fair market value method. An affiliated group (as defined in 
Sec.  1.861-11T(d)) or other taxpayer (the taxpayer) that elects to use 
the fair market value method of apportionment values its assets 
according to the methodology described in this paragraph (h). Effective 
for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the fair market 
value method is not allowed for purposes of apportioning interest 
expense. See section 864(e)(2). However, a taxpayer may continue to 
apportion deductions other than interest expense that are properly 
apportioned based on fair market value according to the methodology 
described in this paragraph (h). See Sec.  1.861-8(c)(2).
    (1) Determination of values. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-
9T(h)(1) through (3).

[[Page 69068]]

    (2) and (3) [Reserved]
* * * * *
    (5) Characterizing stock in related persons. Stock in a related 
person held by the taxpayer or by another related person shall be 
characterized on the basis of the fair market value of the taxpayer's 
pro rata share of assets held by the related person attributed to each 
statutory grouping and the residual grouping under the stock 
characterization rules of Sec.  1.861-12T(c)(3)(ii), except that the 
portion of the value of intangible assets of the taxpayer and related 
persons that is apportioned to the related person under Sec.  1.861-
9T(h)(2) shall be characterized on the basis of the net income before 
interest expense of the related person within each statutory grouping 
or residual grouping (excluding income that is passive under Sec.  
1.904-4(b)).
* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (2) * * * (i) Except as provided in this paragraph (i)(2)(i), a 
taxpayer may elect to use the alternative tax book value method. For 
the taxpayer's first taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, 
the Commissioner's approval is not required to switch from the fair 
market value method to the alternative tax book value method for 
purposes of apportioning interest expense. * * *
* * * * *
    (j) Modified gross income method. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.861-9T(j) introductory text.
    (1) For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9T(j)(1).
    (2) For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9T(j)(2) introductory 
text.
    (i) Step 1. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9T(j)(2)(i).
    (ii) Step 2. Moving to the next higher-tier controlled foreign 
corporation, combine the gross income of such corporation within each 
grouping with its pro rata share (as determined under principles 
similar to section 951(a)(2)) of the gross income net of interest 
expense of all lower-tier controlled foreign corporations held by such 
higher-tier corporation within the same grouping adjusted as follows:
    (A) Exclude from the gross income of the higher-tier corporation 
any dividends or other payments received from the lower-tier 
corporation other than interest income received from the lower-tier 
corporation;
    (B) Exclude from the gross income net of interest expense of any 
lower-tier corporation any gross subpart F income, net of interest 
expense apportioned to such income;
    (C) Then apportion the interest expense of the higher-tier 
controlled foreign corporation based on the adjusted combined gross 
income amounts; and
    (D) Repeat paragraphs (j)(2)(ii)(A) through (C) of this section for 
each next higher-tier controlled foreign corporation in the chain.
    (k) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years that 
both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 
2018.

0
Par. 5. Section 1.861-9T is amended by:
0
1. Adding paragraph (c)(5).
0
2. Revising paragraph (e)(4)(i).
0
3. Adding paragraph (e)(8) and reserved paragraphs (e)(9) and (10).
0
4. Revising paragraph (f)(2) and removing the undesignated paragraph 
and example paragraphs following paragraph (f)(2)(ii).
0
5. Removing and reserving paragraph (f)(3)(i).
0
6. Revising paragraphs (f)(4) and (g)(1)(ii).
0
7. Removing and reserving paragraphs (g)(1)(iii) through (v) and 
(g)(2)(i).
0
8. Revising paragraph (g)(2)(ii)(A)(2).
0
9. Removing and reserving paragraph (g)(2)(v).
0
10. Revising paragraphs (h) introductory text and (j)(2)(ii).
0
11. Removing the undesignated paragraph following paragraph 
(j)(2)(ii)(B).
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.861-9T   Allocation and apportionment of interest expense 
(temporary).

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (5) Section 163(j). For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9(c)(5).
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (i) Partnership interest expense. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.861-9(e)(4)(i).
* * * * *
    (8) Special rule for downstream partnership loans. For further 
guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9(e)(8) through (10).
    (9) and (10) [Reserved]
    (f) * * *
    (2) Section 987 QBUs of domestic corporations. For further 
guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9(f)(2) through (f)(3)(i).
* * * * *
    (4) Noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations. For 
further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9(f)(4).
* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9(g)(1)(ii) through 
(g)(2)(i).
* * * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (A) * * *
    (2) U.S. dollar approximate separate transactions method. For 
further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9(g)(2)(ii)(A)(2).
* * * * *
    (h) Fair market value method. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.861-9(h).
* * * * *
    (j) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) Step 2. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-9(j)(2)(ii).
* * * * *

0
Par. 6. Section 1.861-10 is amended by:
0
1. Revising paragraph (e)(8)(vi).
0
2. Removing and reserving paragraph (e)(10).
0
3. Adding paragraph (f).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


Sec.  1.861-10   Special allocations of interest expense.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (8) * * *
    (vi) Classification of hybrid stock. In determining the amount of 
its related group indebtedness for any taxable year, a U.S. shareholder 
must not treat stock in a related controlled foreign corporation as 
related group indebtedness, regardless of whether the related 
controlled foreign corporation claims a deduction for interest under 
foreign law for distributions on such stock. For purposes of 
determining the foreign base period ratio under paragraph (e)(2)(iv) of 
this section for a taxable year that ends on or after December 4, 2018, 
the rules of this paragraph (e)(8)(vi) apply to determine the related 
group debt-to-asset ratio in each taxable year included in the foreign 
base period, including in taxable years that end before December 4, 
2018.
* * * * *
    (f) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years that 
end on or after December 4, 2018.

0
Par. 7. Section 1.861-10T is amended by revising paragraph (e) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  1.861-10T   Special allocations of interest expense (temporary).

* * * * *
    (e) Treatment of certain related group indebtedness. For further 
guidance, see Sec.  1.861-10(e).
* * * * *

0
Par. 8. Section 1.861-11 is amended by:
0
1. Removing paragraphs (a) through (c).

[[Page 69069]]

0
2. Adding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c).
0
3. Removing the language ``, except that section 936 corporations are 
also included within the affiliated group to the extent provided in 
paragraph (d)(2) of this section'' from the first sentence of paragraph 
(d)(1).
0
4. Removing and reserving paragraph (d)(2).
0
5. Adding paragraph (h).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


Sec.  1.861-11   Special rules for allocating and apportioning interest 
expense of an affiliated group of corporations.

    (a) In general. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-11T(a).
    (b) Scope of application--(1) Application of section 864(e)(1) and 
(5) (concerning the definition and treatment of affiliated groups). 
Section 864(e)(1) and (5) and the portions of this section implementing 
section 864(e)(1) and (5) apply to the computation of foreign source 
taxable income for purposes of section 904 (relating to various 
limitations on the foreign tax credit). Section 864(e)(1) and (5) and 
the portions of this section implementing section 864(e)(1) and (5) 
also apply in connection with section 907 to determine reductions in 
the amount allowed as a foreign tax credit under section 901. Section 
864(e)(1) and (5) and the portions of this section implementing section 
864(e)(1) and (5) also apply to the computation of the combined taxable 
income of the related supplier and a foreign sales corporation (FSC) 
(under sections 921 through 927) as well as the combined taxable income 
of the related supplier and a domestic international sales corporation 
(DISC) (under sections 991 through 997).
    (2) Nonapplication of section 864(e)(1) and (5) (concerning the 
definition and treatment of affiliated groups). For further guidance, 
see Sec.  1.861-11T(b)(2).
    (c) General rule for affiliated corporations. For further guidance, 
see Sec.  1.861-11T(c).
* * * * *
    (h) Applicability dates. This section applies to taxable years that 
both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 
2018.

0
Par. 9. Section 1.861-11T is amended by revising paragraph (b)(1) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  1.861-11T   Special rules for allocating and apportioning 
interest expense of an affiliated group of corporations (temporary).

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) Application of section 864(e)(1) and (5) (concerning the 
definition and treatment of affiliated groups). For further guidance, 
see Sec.  1.861-11(b)(1).
* * * * *

0
Par. 10. Section 1.861-12 is amended by:
0
1. Removing paragraphs (a) through (c)(1).
0
2. Adding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c)(1).
0
3. Revising paragraphs (c)(3) and (4).
0
4. Removing paragraph (c)(5) and paragraphs (d) through (j).
0
5. Adding paragraphs (d) and (e) and reserved paragraphs (f) through 
(j).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.861-12   Characterization rules and adjustments for certain 
assets.

    (a) In general. The rules in this section apply to taxpayers 
apportioning expenses under an asset method to income in the various 
separate categories described in Sec.  1.904-5(a)(4)(v), and supplement 
other rules provided in Sec. Sec.  1.861-9 through 1.861-11T. The 
principles of the rules in this section also apply in apportioning 
expenses among statutory and residual groupings for any other operative 
section. See also Sec.  1.861-8(f)(2)(i) for a rule requiring 
conformity of allocation methods and apportionment principles for all 
operative sections. Paragraph (b) of this section describes the 
treatment of inventories. Paragraph (c)(1) of this section concerns the 
treatment of various stock assets. Paragraph (c)(2) of this section 
describes a basis adjustment for stock in 10 percent owned 
corporations. Paragraph (c)(3) of this section sets forth rules for 
characterizing the stock in controlled foreign corporations. Paragraph 
(c)(4) of this section describes the treatment of stock of 
noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations. Paragraph (d)(1) 
of this section concerns the treatment of notes. Paragraph (d)(2) of 
this section concerns the treatment of notes of controlled foreign 
corporations. Paragraph (e) of this section describes the treatment of 
certain portfolio securities that constitute inventory or generate 
income primarily in the form of gains. Paragraph (f) of this section 
describes the treatment of assets that are funded by interest that is 
capitalized, deferred, or disallowed. Paragraph (g) of this section 
concerns the treatment of FSC stock and of assets of the related 
supplier generating foreign trade income. Paragraph (h) of this section 
concerns the treatment of DISC stock and of assets of the related 
supplier generating qualified export receipts.
    (b) Inventories. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-12T(b).
    (c) Treatment of stock--(1) In general. For further guidance, see 
Sec.  1.861-12T(c)(1).
* * * * *
    (3) Characterization of stock of controlled foreign corporations--
(i) Operative sections--(A) Operative sections other than section 904. 
For purposes of applying this section to an operative section other 
than section 904, stock in a controlled foreign corporation (as defined 
in section 957) is characterized as an asset in the relevant groupings 
on the basis of the asset method described in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of 
this section, or the modified gross income method described in 
paragraph (c)(3)(iii) of this section. Stock in a controlled foreign 
corporation whose interest expense is apportioned on the basis of 
assets is characterized in the hands of its United States shareholders 
under the asset method described in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this 
section. Stock in a controlled foreign corporation whose interest 
expense is apportioned on the basis of modified gross income is 
characterized in the hands of its United States shareholders under the 
modified gross income method described in paragraph (c)(3)(iii) of this 
section.
    (B) Section 904 as operative section. For purposes of applying this 
section to section 904 as the operative section, Sec.  1.861-13 applies 
to characterize the stock of a controlled foreign corporation as an 
asset producing foreign source income in the separate categories 
described in Sec.  1.904-5(a)(4)(v), or as an asset producing U.S. 
source income in the residual grouping, in the hands of the United 
States shareholder, and to determine the portion of the stock that 
gives rise to an inclusion under section 951A(a) that is treated as an 
exempt asset under Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C). Section 1.861-13 also 
provides rules for subdividing the stock in the various separate 
categories and the residual grouping into a section 245A subgroup and a 
non-section 245A subgroup in order to determine the amount of the 
adjustments required by section 904(b)(4) and Sec.  1.904(b)-3(c) with 
respect to the section 245A subgroup, and provides rules for 
determining the portion of the stock that gives rise to a dividend 
eligible for a deduction under section 245(a)(5) that is treated as an 
exempt asset under Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(B).
    (ii) Asset method. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-
12T(c)(3)(ii).
    (iii) Modified gross income method. Under the modified gross income 
method, the taxpayer characterizes the tax book value of the stock of 
the first-tier controlled foreign corporation based

[[Page 69070]]

on the gross income, net of interest expense, of the controlled foreign 
corporation (as computed under Sec.  1.861-9T(j) to include certain 
gross income, net of interest expense, of lower-tier controlled foreign 
corporations) within each relevant category for the taxable year of the 
controlled foreign corporation ending with or within the taxable year 
of the taxpayer. For purposes of this paragraph (c)(3)(iii), however, 
the gross income, net of interest expense, of the first-tier controlled 
foreign corporation includes the total amount of gross subpart F 
income, net of interest expense, of any lower-tier controlled foreign 
corporation that was excluded under the rules of Sec.  1.861-
9(j)(2)(ii)(B).
    (4) Characterization of stock of noncontrolled 10-percent owned 
foreign corporations--(i) In general. Except in the case of a 
nonqualifying shareholder described in paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of this 
section, the principles of Sec.  1.861-12(c)(3), including the relevant 
rules of Sec.  1.861-13 when section 904 is the operative section, 
apply to characterize stock in a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation (as defined in section 904(d)(2)(E)). Accordingly, stock in 
a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation is characterized 
as an asset in the various separate categories on the basis of either 
the asset method described in Sec.  1.861-12T(c)(3)(ii) or the modified 
gross income method described in Sec.  1.861-12(c)(3)(iii). Stock in a 
noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation the interest expense 
of which is apportioned on the basis of assets is characterized in the 
hands of its shareholders under the asset method described in Sec.  
1.861-12T(c)(3)(ii). Stock in a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation the interest expense of which is apportioned on the basis 
of gross income is characterized in the hands of its shareholders under 
the modified gross income method described in Sec.  1.861-
12(c)(3)(iii).
    (ii) Nonqualifying shareholders. Stock in a noncontrolled 10-
percent owned foreign corporation is characterized as a passive 
category asset in the hands of a shareholder that either is not a 
domestic corporation or is not a United States shareholder with respect 
to the noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation for the 
taxable year. Stock in a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation is characterized as in the separate category described in 
section 904(d)(4)(C)(ii) in the hands of any shareholder with respect 
to whom look-through treatment is not substantiated. See also Sec.  
1.904-5(c)(4)(iii)(B). In the case of a noncontrolled 10-percent owned 
foreign corporation that is a passive foreign investment company with 
respect to a shareholder, stock in the noncontrolled 10-percent owned 
foreign corporation is characterized as a passive category asset in the 
hands of the shareholder if such shareholder does not meet the 
ownership requirements described in section 904(d)(2)(E)(i)(II).
    (d) Treatment of notes--(1) General rule. For further guidance, see 
Sec.  1.861-12T(d)(1).
    (2) Characterization of related controlled foreign corporation 
notes. The debt of a controlled foreign corporation is characterized in 
the same manner as the interest income derived from that debt 
obligation. See Sec. Sec.  1.904-4 and 1.904-5(c)(2) for rules treating 
interest income as income in a separate category.
    (e) Portfolio securities that constitute inventory or generate 
primarily gains. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-12T(e) through 
(i).
* * * * *

0
Par. 11. Section 1.861-12T is amended by:
0
1. Revising paragraph (a).
0
2. Removing paragraphs (c)(2)(vi).
0
3. Revising paragraph (c)(3)(i) and removing the undesignated paragraph 
following paragraph (c)(3)(i)(B).
0
4. Revising paragraph (c)(3)(iii).
0
5. Removing paragraph (c)(5).
0
6. Revising paragraph (d)(2).
0
7. Removing and reserving paragraph (j).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.861-12T   Characterization rules and adjustments for certain 
assets (temporary).

    (a) In general. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-12(a).
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (i) Operative sections. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-
12(c)(3)(i).
* * * * *
    (iii) Modified gross income method. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.861-12(c)(3)(iii).
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (2) Characterization of related controlled foreign corporation 
notes. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.861-12(d)(2).
* * * * *

0
Par. 12. Sec.  1.861-13 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.861-13   Special rules for characterization of controlled 
foreign corporation stock.

    (a) Methodology. For purposes of allocating and apportioning 
deductions for purposes of section 904 as the operative section, stock 
in a controlled foreign corporation owned directly or indirectly 
through a partnership or other pass-through entity by a United States 
shareholder is characterized by the United States shareholder under the 
rules described in this section. In general, paragraphs (a)(1) through 
(5) of this section characterize the stock of the controlled foreign 
corporation as an asset in the various statutory groupings and residual 
grouping based on the type of income that the stock of the controlled 
foreign corporation generates, has generated, or may reasonably be 
expected to generate when the income is included by the United States 
shareholder.
    (1) Step 1: Characterize stock as generating income in statutory 
groupings under the asset or modified gross income method--(i) Asset 
method. A United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation 
that apportions its interest expense on the basis of assets must 
characterize stock of the controlled foreign corporation using the 
asset method described in Sec.  1.861-12T(c)(3)(ii) to assign the 
assets of the controlled foreign corporation to the statutory groupings 
described in paragraphs (a)(1)(i)(A)(1) through (10) and (a)(1)(i)(B) 
of this section. If the controlled foreign corporation owns stock in a 
lower-tier noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation, the 
assets of the lower-tier noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation are assigned to a gross subpart F income grouping to the 
extent such assets generate income that, if distributed to the 
controlled foreign corporation, would be gross subpart F income of the 
controlled foreign corporation. See also Sec.  1.861-12(c)(4).
    (A) General and passive categories. Within each of the controlled 
foreign corporation's general category and passive category, each of 
the following subgroups within each category is a separate statutory 
grouping--
    (1) Foreign source gross tested income;
    (2) For each applicable treaty, U.S. source gross tested income 
that, when taken into account by a United States shareholder under 
section 951A, is resourced in the hands of the United States 
shareholder (resourced gross tested income);
    (3) U.S. source gross tested income not described in paragraph 
(a)(1)(i)(A)(2) of this section;
    (4) Foreign source gross subpart F income;
    (5) For each applicable treaty, U.S. source gross subpart F income 
that, when included by a United States

[[Page 69071]]

shareholder under section 951(a)(1), is resourced in the hands of the 
United States shareholder (resourced gross subpart F income);
    (6) U.S. source gross subpart F income not described in paragraph 
(a)(1)(i)(A)(5) of this section;
    (7) Foreign source gross section 245(a)(5) income;
    (8) U.S. source gross section 245(a)(5) income;
    (9) Any other foreign source gross income (specified foreign source 
general category gross income or specified foreign source passive 
category gross income, as the case may be); and
    (10) Any other U.S. source gross income (specified U.S. source 
general category gross income or specified U.S. source passive category 
gross income, as the case may be).
    (B) Section 901(j) income. For each country described in section 
901(j), all gross income from sources in that country.
    (ii) Modified gross income method. A United States shareholder of a 
controlled foreign corporation that apportions its interest expense on 
the basis of modified gross income must characterize stock of the 
controlled foreign corporation using the modified gross income method 
under Sec.  1.861-12(c)(3)(iii) to assign the modified gross income of 
the controlled foreign corporation to the statutory groupings described 
in paragraphs (a)(1)(i)(A)(1) through (10) and (a)(1)(i)(B) of this 
section. For purposes of this paragraph (a)(1)(ii), the rules described 
in Sec. Sec.  1.861-12(c)(3)(iii) and 1.861-9T(j)(2) apply to combine 
gross income in a statutory grouping that is earned by the controlled 
foreign corporation with gross income of lower-tier controlled foreign 
corporations that is in the same statutory grouping. For example, 
foreign source general category gross tested income (net of interest 
expense) earned by the controlled foreign corporation is combined with 
its pro rata share of the foreign source general category gross tested 
income (net of interest expense) of lower-tier controlled foreign 
corporations. If the controlled foreign corporation owns stock in a 
lower-tier noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation, gross 
income of the lower-tier noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation is assigned to a gross subpart F income grouping to the 
extent that the income, if distributed to the upper-tier controlled 
foreign corporation, would be gross subpart F income of the upper-tier 
controlled foreign corporation. See also Sec.  1.861-12(c)(4).
    (2) Step 2: Assign stock to the section 951A category. A controlled 
foreign corporation is not treated as earning section 951A category 
income. The portion of the value of the stock of the controlled foreign 
corporation that is assigned to the section 951A category (as defined 
in Sec.  1.904-4(g)) equals the value of the portion of the stock of 
the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to the foreign 
source gross tested income statutory groupings within the general 
category (general category gross tested income stock) multiplied by the 
United States shareholder's inclusion percentage. Under Sec.  1.861-
8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(ii), a portion of the value of stock assigned to the 
section 951A category may be treated as an exempt asset. The portion of 
the general category gross tested income stock that is not 
characterized as a section 951A category asset remains a general 
category asset and may result in expenses being disregarded under 
section 904(b)(4). See paragraph (a)(5)(ii) of this section and Sec.  
1.904(b)-3. No portion of the passive category gross tested income 
stock or U.S. source gross tested income stock is assigned to the 
section 951A category.
    (3) Step 3: Assign stock to a treaty category--(i) Inclusions under 
section 951A(a). The portion of the value of the stock of the 
controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to a particular treaty 
category due to an inclusion of U.S. source income under section 
951A(a) that was resourced under a particular treaty equals the value 
of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that 
is assigned to the resourced gross tested income statutory grouping 
within each of the controlled foreign corporation's general or passive 
categories (resourced gross tested income stock) multiplied by the 
United States shareholder's inclusion percentage. Under Sec.  1.861-
8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(ii), a portion of the value of stock assigned to a 
particular treaty category by reason of this paragraph (a)(3)(i) may be 
treated as an exempt asset. The portion of the resourced gross tested 
income stock that is not characterized as a treaty category asset 
remains a U.S. source general or passive category asset, as the case 
may be, that is in the residual grouping and may result in expenses 
being disregarded under section 904(b)(4) for purposes of determining 
entire taxable income under section 904(a). See paragraph (a)(5)(iv) of 
this section and Sec.  1.904(b)-3.
    (ii) Inclusions under section 951(a)(1). The portion of the value 
of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is assigned to 
a particular treaty category due to an inclusion of U.S. source income 
under section 951(a)(1) that was resourced under a treaty equals the 
value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation 
that is assigned to the resourced gross subpart F income statutory 
grouping within each of the controlled foreign corporation's general 
category or passive category.
    (4) Step 4: Aggregate stock within each separate category and 
assign stock to the residual grouping. The portions of the value of 
stock of the controlled foreign corporation assigned to foreign source 
statutory groupings that were not specifically assigned to the section 
951A category under paragraph (a)(2) of this section (Step 2) are 
aggregated within the general category and the passive category to 
characterize the stock as general category stock and passive category 
stock, respectively. The portions of the value of stock of the 
controlled foreign corporation assigned to U.S. source statutory 
groupings that were not specifically assigned to a particular treaty 
category under paragraph (a)(3) of this section (Step 3) are aggregated 
to characterize the stock as U.S. source category stock, which is in 
the residual grouping. Stock assigned to the separate category for 
income described in section 901(j)(1) remains in that category.
    (5) Step 5: Determine section 245A and non-section 245A subgroups 
for each separate category and U.S. source category--(i) In general. In 
the case of stock of a controlled foreign corporation that is held 
directly or indirectly through a partnership or other pass-through 
entity by a United States shareholder that is a domestic corporation, 
stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is general category 
stock, passive category stock, and U.S. source category stock is 
subdivided between a section 245A subgroup and a non-section 245A 
subgroup under paragraphs (a)(5)(ii) through (v) of this section for 
purposes of applying section 904(b)(4) and Sec.  1.904(b)-3(c). Each 
subgroup is treated as a statutory grouping under Sec.  1.861-8(a)(4) 
for purposes of allocating and apportioning deductions under Sec. Sec.  
1.861-8 through 1.861-14T and 1.861-17 in applying section 904 as the 
operative section. Deductions apportioned to each section 245A subgroup 
are disregarded under section 904(b)(4). See Sec.  1.904(b)-3. 
Deductions apportioned to the statutory groupings for gross section 
245(a)(5) income are not disregarded under section 904(b)(4); however, 
a portion of the stock assigned to those groupings is treated as exempt 
under Sec.  1.861-8T(d)(2)(ii)(B).
    (ii) Section 245A subgroup of general category stock. The portion 
of the

[[Page 69072]]

general category stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is 
assigned to the section 245A subgroup of the general category equals 
the value of the general category gross tested income stock of the 
controlled foreign corporation that is not assigned to the section 951A 
category under paragraph (a)(2) of this section (Step 2), plus the 
value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign corporation 
that is assigned to the specified foreign source general category gross 
income statutory grouping.
    (iii) Section 245A subgroup of passive category stock. The portion 
of passive category stock of the controlled foreign corporation that is 
assigned to the section 245A subcategory of the passive category equals 
the sum of--
    (A) The value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign 
corporation that is assigned to the gross tested income statutory 
grouping within foreign source passive category income multiplied by a 
percentage equal to 100 percent minus the United States shareholder's 
inclusion percentage for passive category gross tested income; and
    (B) The value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign 
corporation that was assigned to the specified foreign source passive 
category gross income statutory grouping.
    (iv) Section 245A subgroup of U.S. source category stock. The 
portion of U.S. source category stock of the controlled foreign 
corporation that is assigned to the section 245A subgroup of the U.S. 
source category equals the sum of--
    (A) The value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign 
corporation that is assigned to the U.S. source general category gross 
tested income statutory grouping multiplied by a percentage equal to 
100 percent minus the United States shareholder's inclusion percentage 
for the general category;
    (B) The value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign 
corporation that is assigned to the U.S. source passive category gross 
tested income statutory grouping multiplied by a percentage equal to 
100 percent minus the United States shareholder's inclusion percentage 
for the passive category;
    (C) The value of the resourced gross tested income stock of the 
controlled foreign corporation that is not assigned to a particular 
treaty category under paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section (Step 3);
    (D) The value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign 
corporation that is assigned to the specified U.S. source general 
category gross income statutory grouping; and
    (E) The value of the portion of the stock of the controlled foreign 
corporation that is assigned to the specified U.S. source passive 
category gross income statutory grouping.
    (v) Non-section 245A subgroup. The value of stock of a controlled 
foreign corporation that is not assigned to the section 245A subgroup 
within the general or passive category or the residual grouping is 
assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup within such category or 
grouping. The value of stock of a controlled foreign corporation that 
is assigned to the section 951A category, the separate category for 
income described in section 901(j)(1), or a particular treaty category 
is always assigned to a non-section 245A subgroup.
    (b) Definitions. This paragraph (b) provides definitions that apply 
for purposes of this section.
    (1) Gross section 245(a)(5) income. The term gross section 
245(a)(5) income means all items of gross income described in section 
245(a)(5)(A) and (B).
    (2) Gross subpart F income. The term gross subpart F income means 
all items of gross income that are taken into account by a controlled 
foreign corporation in determining its subpart F income under section 
952, except for items of gross income described in section 952(a)(5).
    (3) Gross tested income. The term gross tested income has the 
meaning provided in Sec.  1.951A-2(c)(1).
    (4) Inclusion percentage. The term inclusion percentage has the 
meaning provided in Sec.  1.960-2(c)(2).
    (5) Separate category. The term separate category has the meaning 
provided in Sec.  1.904-5(a)(4)(v).
    (6) Treaty category. The term treaty category means a category of 
income earned by a controlled foreign corporation for which section 
904(a), (b), and (c) are applied separately as a result of income being 
resourced under a treaty. See, for example, section 245(a)(10), 865(h), 
or 904(h)(10). A United States shareholder may have multiple treaty 
categories for amounts of income resourced by the United States 
shareholder under a treaty. See Sec.  1.904-5(m)(7).
    (7) U.S. source category. The term U.S. source category means the 
aggregate of U.S. source income in each separate category listed in 
section 904(d)(1).
    (c) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
the rules in this section.

    (1) Example 1: Asset method--(i) Facts--(A) USP, a domestic 
corporation, directly owns all of the stock of a controlled foreign 
corporation, CFC1. The tax book value of CFC1's stock is $20,000x. 
USP uses the asset method described in Sec.  1.861-12T(c)(3)(ii) to 
characterize the stock of CFC1. USP's inclusion percentage is 70%.
    (B) CFC1 owns the following assets with the following values as 
determined under Sec. Sec.  1.861-9(g)(2) and 1.861-9T(g)(3): Assets 
that generate income described in the foreign source gross tested 
income statutory grouping within the general category ($4,000x), 
assets that generate income described in the foreign source gross 
subpart F income statutory grouping within the general category 
($1,000x), assets that generate specified foreign source general 
category gross income ($3,000x), and assets that generate income 
described in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory 
grouping within the passive category ($2,000x).
    (C) CFC1 also owns all of the stock of CFC2, a controlled 
foreign corporation. The tax book value of CFC1's stock in CFC2 is 
$6,000x. CFC2 owns the following assets with the following values as 
determined under Sec. Sec.  1.861-9(g)(2) and 1.861-9T(g)(3): Assets 
that generate income described in the foreign source gross subpart F 
income statutory grouping within the general category ($2,250x) and 
assets that generate specified foreign source general category gross 
income ($750x).
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Step 1--(1) Characterization of CFC2 stock. 
CFC2 has total assets of $3,000x, $2,250x of which are in the 
foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the 
general category and $750x of which are in the specified foreign 
source general category gross income statutory grouping. 
Accordingly, CFC2's stock is characterized as $4,500x ($2,250x/
$3,000x x $6,000x) in the foreign source gross subpart F income 
statutory grouping within the general category and $1,500x ($750x/
$3,000x x $6,000x) in the specified foreign source general category 
gross income statutory grouping.
    (2) Characterization of CFC1 stock. CFC1 has total assets of 
$16,000x, $4,000x of which are in the foreign source gross tested 
income statutory grouping within the general category, $5,500x of 
which are in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory 
grouping within the general category (including the portion of CFC2 
stock assigned to that statutory grouping), $4,500x of which are in 
the specified foreign source gross general category income statutory 
grouping (including the portion of CFC2 stock assigned to that 
statutory grouping), and $2,000x of which are in the foreign source 
gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the passive 
category. Accordingly, CFC1's stock is characterized as $5,000x 
($4,000x/$16,000x x $20,000x) in the foreign source gross tested 
income statutory grouping within the general category, $6,875x 
($5,500x/$16,000x x $20,000x) in the foreign source gross subpart F 
income statutory grouping within the general category, $5,625x 
($4,500x/$16,000x x $20,000x) in the specified foreign source gross 
general

[[Page 69073]]

category income statutory grouping, and $2,500x ($2,000x/$16,000x x 
$20,000x) in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory 
grouping within the passive category.
    (B) Step 2. The value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 that 
is general category gross tested income stock is $5,000x. USP's 
inclusion percentage is 70%. Accordingly, under paragraph (a)(2) of 
this section, $3,500x of the stock of CFC1 is assigned to the 
section 951A category and a portion thereof may be treated as an 
exempt asset under Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(ii). The remainder, 
$1,500x, remains a general category asset.
    (C) Step 3. No portion of the stock of CFC1 is resourced gross 
tested income stock or assigned to the resourced gross subpart F 
income statutory grouping in any treaty category. Accordingly, no 
portion of the stock of CFC1 is assigned to a treaty category under 
paragraph (a)(3) of this section.
    (D) Step 4--(1) General category stock. The total value of the 
portion of the stock of CFC1 that is general category stock is 
$14,000x, which is equal to $1,500x (the value of the portion of the 
general category stock of CFC1 that was not assigned to the section 
951A category in paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(B) of this section (Step 2)) 
plus $6,875x (the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned 
to the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping 
within the general category) plus $5,625x (the value of the portion 
of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the specified foreign source gross 
income statutory grouping within the general category).
    (2) Passive category stock. The total value of the portion of 
the stock of CFC1 that is passive category stock is $2,500x.
    (3) U.S source category stock. No value of the portion of the 
stock of CFC1 is U.S. source category stock.
    (E) Step 5--(1) General category stock. Under paragraph 
(a)(5)(ii) of this section, the value of the portion of the stock of 
CFC1 assigned to the section 245A subgroup of general category stock 
is $7,125x, which is equal to $1,500x (the value of the portion of 
the general category stock of CFC1 that was not assigned to the 
section 951A category in paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(B) of this section 
(Step 2)) plus $5,625x (the value of the portion of the stock of 
CFC1 assigned to the specified foreign source general category gross 
income statutory grouping). Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of this 
section, the remainder of the general category stock of CFC1, 
$6,875x, is assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup of general 
category stock.
    (2) Passive category stock. No portion of the passive category 
stock of CFC1 is in the foreign source gross tested income statutory 
grouping or the specified foreign source passive category gross 
income statutory grouping. Accordingly, under paragraph (a)(5)(iii) 
of this section, no value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 is 
assigned to the section 245A subgroup of passive category stock. 
Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of this section, the passive category 
stock of CFC1, $2,500x is assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup 
of passive category stock.
    (3) Section 951A category stock. Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of 
this section, all of the section 951A category stock, $3,500x, is 
assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup of section 951A category 
stock.
    (F) Summary. For purpose of the allocation and apportionment of 
expenses, $14,000x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as general 
category stock, $7,125x of which is in the section 245A subgroup and 
$6,875x of which is in the non-section 245A subgroup; $2,500x of the 
stock of CFC1 is characterized as passive category stock, all of 
which is in the non-section 245A subgroup; and $3,500x of the stock 
of CFC1 is characterized as section 951A category stock, all of 
which is in the non-section 245A subgroup.
    (2) Example 2: Asset method with noncontrolled 10-percent owned 
foreign corporation--(i) Facts. The facts are the same as in 
paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except 
that CFC1 does not own CFC2 and instead owns 20% of the stock of 
FC2, a foreign corporation that is a noncontrolled 10-percent owned 
foreign corporation. The tax book value of CFC1's stock in FC2 is 
$6,000x. FC2 owns assets with the following values as determined 
under Sec. Sec.  1.861-9(g)(2) and 1.861-9T(g)(3): Assets that 
generate specified foreign source general category gross income 
($3,000x). All of the assets of FC2 generate income that, if 
distributed to CFC1 as a dividend, would be foreign source gross 
subpart F income in the general category to CFC1.
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Step 1--(1) Characterization of FC2 stock. 
All of the assets of FC2 generate income that, if distributed to 
CFC1, would be foreign source gross subpart F income in the general 
category to CFC1. Accordingly, under paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this 
section, all of CFC1's stock in FC2 ($6,000x) is characterized as in 
the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within 
the general category.
    (2) Characterization of CFC1 stock. CFC1 has total assets of 
$16,000x, $4,000x of which are in the foreign source gross tested 
income statutory grouping within the general category, $7,000x of 
which are in the foreign source gross subpart F income statutory 
grouping within the general category (including the FC2 stock 
assigned to that statutory grouping), $3,000x of which are in the 
specified foreign source general category gross income statutory 
grouping, and $2,000x of which are in the foreign source gross 
subpart F income statutory grouping within the passive category. 
Accordingly, CFC1's stock is characterized as $5,000x ($4,000x/
$16,000x x $20,000x) in the foreign source gross tested income 
statutory grouping within the general category, $8,750x ($7,000x/
$16,000x x $20,000x) in the foreign source gross subpart F income 
statutory grouping within the general category, $3,750x ($3,000x/
$16,000x x $20,000x) in the specified foreign source general 
category gross income statutory grouping, and $2,500x ($2,000x/
$16,000x x $20,000x) in the foreign source gross subpart F income 
statutory grouping within the passive category.
    (B) Step 2. The analysis is the same as in paragraph 
(c)(1)(ii)(B) of this section (the analysis of Step 2 in Example 1).
    (C) Step 3. The analysis is the same as in paragraph 
(c)(1)(ii)(C) of this section (the analysis of Step 3 in Example 1).
    (D) Step 4--(1) General category stock. The total value of the 
portion of the stock of CFC1 that is general category stock is 
$14,000x, which is equal to $1,500x (the value of the portion of the 
general category stock of CFC1 that was not assigned to the section 
951A category in paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(B) of this section (Step 2)) 
plus $3,750x (the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned 
to the specified foreign source gross income statutory grouping 
within the general category general category) plus $8,750x (the 
value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the foreign 
source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the general 
category).
    (2) Passive category stock. The analysis is the same as in 
paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(D)(2) of this section (the analysis of Step 4 
in Example 1).
    (E) Step 5--(1) General category stock. Under paragraph 
(a)(5)(ii) of this section, the value of the stock of CFC1 assigned 
to the section 245A subgroup of general category stock is $5,250x, 
which is equal to $1,500x (the value of the portion of the general 
category stock of CFC1 that was not assigned to the section 951A 
category in paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(B) of this section (Step 2)) plus 
$3,750x (the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned to 
the specified foreign source general category gross income statutory 
grouping). Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of this section, the remainder 
of the general category stock of CFC1, $8,750x, is assigned to the 
non-section 245A subgroup of general category stock.
    (2) Passive category stock. The analysis is the same as in 
paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(E)(2) of this section (the analysis of Step 5 
in Example 1).
    (3) Section 951A category stock. The analysis is the same as in 
paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(E)(3) of this section (the analysis of Step 5 
in Example 1).
    (F) Summary. For purpose of the allocation and apportionment of 
expenses, $14,000x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as general 
category stock, $5,250x of which is in the section 245A subgroup and 
$8,750x of which is in the non-section 245A subgroup; $2,500x of the 
stock of CFC1 is characterized as passive category stock, all of 
which is in the non-section 245A subgroup; and $3,500x of the stock 
of CFC1 is characterized as section 951A category stock, all of 
which is in the non-section 245A subgroup.
    (3) Example 3: Modified gross income method--(i) Facts--(A) USP, 
a domestic corporation, directly owns all of the stock of a 
controlled foreign corporation, CFC1. The tax book value of CFC1's 
stock is $100,000x. CFC1 owns all of the stock of CFC2, a controlled 
foreign corporation. USP uses the modified gross income method 
described in Sec.  1.861-12(c)(3)(iii) to characterize the stock in 
CFC1. USP's inclusion percentage is 100%.
    (B) CFC1 earns $1,500x of foreign source gross tested income 
within the general category and $500x of foreign source gross 
subpart F income within the passive category. CFC1 incurs $1,000x of 
interest expense.
    (C) CFC2 earns $3,000x of foreign source gross tested income 
within the general

[[Page 69074]]

category, $2,000x of foreign source gross subpart F income within 
the general category, and $1,000x of specified foreign source 
general category gross income. CFC2 incurs $3,000x of interest 
expense.
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Step 1--(1) Determination of CFC2 gross 
income (net of interest expense). CFC2 has total gross income of 
$6,000x. CFC2's $3,000x of interest expense is apportioned among the 
statutory groupings of gross income based on the gross income of 
CFC2 to determine the gross income (net of interest expense) of CFC2 
in each statutory grouping. As a result, $1,500x ($3,000x/$6,000x x 
$3,000x) of interest expense is apportioned to foreign source gross 
tested income within the general category, $1,000x ($2,000x/$6,000x 
x $3,000x) of interest expense is apportioned to foreign source 
gross subpart F income within the general category, and $500x 
($1,000x/$6,000x x $3,000x) of interest expense is apportioned to 
specified foreign source general category gross income. Accordingly, 
CFC2 has the following amounts of gross income (net of interest 
expense): $1,500x ($3,000x - $1,500x) of foreign source gross tested 
income within the general category, $1,000x ($2,000x - $1,000x) of 
foreign source gross subpart F income within the general category, 
and $500x ($1,000x - $500x) of specified foreign source general 
category gross income.
    (2) Determination of CFC1 gross income (net of interest 
expense). Before including the gross income consisting of subpart F 
income (net of interest expense) of CFC2, CFC1 has total gross 
income of $4,000x, including $1500x of CFC2's foreign source gross 
tested income within the general category and $500x of CFC2's 
specified foreign source general category gross income which are 
combined with CFC1's items of gross income under Sec.  1.861-
9(j)(2)(ii). CFC1's $1,000x of interest expense is apportioned among 
the statutory groupings of gross income of CFC1 to determine the 
gross income (net of interest expense) of CFC1 in each statutory 
grouping. As a result, $750x ($3,000x/$4,000x x $1,000x) of interest 
expense is apportioned to foreign source gross tested income within 
the general category, $125x ($500x/$4,000 x $1,000x) to foreign 
source gross subpart F income within the passive category, and $125x 
($500x/$4,000x x $1,000x) to specified foreign source general 
category gross income. Accordingly, CFC1 has the following amounts 
of gross income (net of interest expense) before including the gross 
income consisting of subpart F income (net of interest expense) of 
CFC2: $2,250x ($3,000x - $750x) of foreign source gross tested 
income within the general category, $375x ($500x - $125x) of foreign 
source gross subpart F income within the passive category, and $375x 
($500 - $125x) of specified foreign source general category gross 
income. After including the gross income consisting of subpart F 
income (net of interest expense) of CFC2, CFC1 has the following 
amounts of gross income (net of interest expense): $2,250x of 
foreign source gross tested income within the general category, 
$1,000x of foreign source gross subpart F income within the general 
category, $375x of specified foreign source general category gross 
income, and $375x of foreign source gross subpart F income within 
the passive category.
    (3) Characterization of CFC1 stock. CFC1 is considered to have a 
total of $4,000x of gross income (net of interest expense) for 
purposes of characterizing the stock of CFC1. Accordingly, CFC1's 
stock is characterized as $56,250x ($2,250x/$4,000x x $100,000x) in 
the foreign source gross tested income statutory grouping within the 
general category, $25,000x ($1,000x/$4,000x x $100,000x) in the 
foreign source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the 
general category, $9,375x ($375x/$4,000x x $100,000x) in the 
specified foreign source general category gross income statutory 
grouping, and $9,375x ($375x/$4,000x x $100,000x) in the foreign 
source gross subpart F income statutory grouping within the passive 
category.
    (B) Step 2. The value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 that 
is general category gross tested income stock is $56,250x. USP's 
inclusion percentage is 100%. Accordingly, under paragraph (a)(2) of 
this section, all of the $56,250x of the stock of CFC1 is assigned 
to the section 951A category and a portion thereof may be treated as 
an exempt asset under Sec.  1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2)(ii).
    (C) Step 3. No portion of the stock of CFC1 is resourced gross 
tested income or assigned to the resourced gross subpart F income 
statutory group in any treaty category. Accordingly, no portion of 
the stock of CFC1 is assigned to a treaty category under paragraph 
(a)(3) of this section.
    (D) Step 4--(1) General category stock. The total value of the 
portion of the stock of CFC1 that is general category stock is 
$34,375x, which is equal to $25,000x (the value of the portion of 
the stock of CFC1 assigned to the subpart F income statutory 
grouping within the general category income statutory grouping) plus 
$9,375x (the value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 assigned to 
the specified foreign source general category gross income statutory 
grouping).
    (2) Passive category stock. The total value of the portion of 
the stock of CFC1 that is passive category stock is $9,375x.
    (3) U.S. source category stock. No value of the portion of the 
stock of CFC1 is U.S. source category stock.
    (E) Step 5--(1) General category stock. All of the value of the 
general category gross tested income stock of CFC1 was assigned to 
the section 951A category in paragraph (c)(3)(ii)(B) of this section 
(Step 2). Accordingly, under paragraph (a)(5)(ii) of this section, 
the value of the stock of CFC1 assigned to the section 245A subgroup 
of general category stock is $9,375x, which is equal to the value of 
the portion assigned to the specified foreign source general 
category gross income statutory grouping. Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) 
of this section, the remainder of the general category stock of 
CFC1, $25,000x, is assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup of 
general category stock.
    (2) Passive category stock. No portion of the passive category 
stock of CFC1 is in the foreign source gross tested income statutory 
grouping or the specified foreign source passive category gross 
income statutory grouping. Accordingly, under paragraph (a)(5)(iii) 
of this section, no value of the portion of the stock of CFC1 is 
assigned to the section 245A subgroup. Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of 
this section, the passive category stock of CFC1, $9,375x, is 
assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup of passive category stock.
    (3) Section 951A category stock. Under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of 
this section, all of the section 951A category stock, $56,250x, is 
assigned to the non-section 245A subgroup of section 951A category 
stock.
    (F) Summary. For purposes of the allocation and apportionment of 
expenses, $56,250x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as section 
951A category stock, all of which is in the non-section 245A 
subgroup; $34,375x of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as general 
category stock, $9,375x of which is in the section 245A subgroup and 
$25,000x of which is in the non-section 245A subgroup; and $9,375x 
of the stock of CFC1 is characterized as passive category stock, all 
of which is in the non-section 245A subgroup.

    (d) Applicability dates. This section applies for taxable years 
that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 
4, 2018.


Sec.  1.861-14   [Amended]

0
Par. 13. Section 1.861-14 is amended by:
0
1. Removing the language ``, except that section 936 corporations (as 
defined in Sec.  1.861-11(d)(2)(ii)) are also included within the 
affiliated group to the extent provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this 
section'' from the first sentence of paragraph (d)(1).
0
2. Removing and reserving paragraph (d)(2).

0
Par. 14. Section 1.861-17 is amended by:
0
1. Adding paragraph (e)(3).
0
2. Removing and reserving paragraph (g).
0
3. Adding paragraph (i).
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.861-17   Allocation and apportionment of research and 
experimental expenditures.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (3) Change of method for taxable years beginning after December 31, 
2017, and before January 1, 2020. A taxpayer otherwise subject to the 
binding election described in paragraph (e)(1) of this section may 
change its method for each taxable year beginning after December 31, 
2017, and before January 1, 2020, without the prior consent of the 
Commissioner. The taxpayer's use of a new method constitutes a binding 
election to use the new method for its return filed for its last year 
that begins before January 1,

[[Page 69075]]

2020, and for four taxable years thereafter.
* * * * *
    (i) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years that 
both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 
2018.

0
Par. 15. Section 1.901(j)-1 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.901(j)-1   Denial of foreign tax credit with respect to certain 
foreign countries.

    (a) Sourcing rule for certain payments and inclusions. Any income 
paid or accrued through one or more entities is treated as income from 
sources within a country described in section 901(j)(2) if the income 
was, without regard to such entities, from sources within that country.
    (b) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years that 
end on or after December 4, 2018.


Sec.  1.904-0   [Removed]

0
Par. 16. Sec.  1.904-0 is removed.

0
Par. 17. Sec.  1.904-1 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  1.904-1   Limitation on credit for foreign taxes.

    (a) In general. For each separate category described in Sec.  
1.904-5(a)(4)(v), the total credit for taxes paid or accrued (including 
those deemed to have been paid or accrued other than by reason of 
section 904(c)) does not exceed that proportion of the tax against 
which such credit is taken which the taxpayer's taxable income from 
foreign sources (but not in excess of the taxpayer's entire taxable 
income) in such separate category bears to the taxpayer's entire 
taxable income for the same taxable year.
    (b) Special computation of taxable income. For purposes of 
computing the limitation under paragraph (a) of this section, the 
taxable income in the case of an individual, estate, or trust is 
computed without any deduction for personal exemptions under section 
151 or 642(b).
    (c) Joint return. In the case of spouses making a joint return, the 
applicable limitation prescribed by section 904(a) on the credit for 
taxes paid or accrued to foreign countries and possessions of the 
United States is applied with respect to the aggregate taxable income 
in each separate category from sources without the United States, and 
the aggregate taxable income from all sources, of the spouses.
    (d) Consolidated group. For rules relating to the computation of 
the foreign tax credit limitation for a consolidated group, see Sec.  
1.1502-4.
    (e) Applicability dates. This section applies to taxable years that 
both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 
2018.

0
Par. 18. Section 1.904-2 is amended by:
0
1. Revising paragraphs (a) through (d).
0
2. Removing the language ``904(d)'' and adding the language ``904(c)'' 
in its place in paragraph (e).
0
3. Removing and reserving paragraph (g).
0
4. Revising paragraphs (h) and (i).
0
5. Adding paragraphs (j) and (k).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.904-2   Carryback and carryover of unused foreign tax.

    (a) Credit for foreign tax carryback or carryover. A taxpayer who 
chooses to claim a credit under section 901 for a taxable year is 
allowed a credit under that section not only for taxes otherwise 
allowable as a credit but also for taxes deemed paid or accrued in that 
year as a result of a carryback or carryover of an unused foreign tax 
under section 904(c). However, the taxes so deemed paid or accrued are 
not allowed as a deduction under section 164(a). Foreign tax paid, 
accrued, or deemed paid under section 960 with respect to section 951A 
category income, including section 951A category income that is 
reassigned to a separate category for income resourced under a treaty, 
may not be carried back or carried forward or deemed paid or accrued 
under section 904(c). See Sec.  1.904-6 for rules for allocating and 
apportioning taxes to separate categories. For special rules regarding 
these computations in case of taxes paid, accrued, or deemed paid with 
respect to foreign oil and gas extraction income or foreign oil related 
income, see section 907(f).
    (b) Years to which foreign taxes are carried. If the taxpayer 
chooses the benefits of section 901 for a taxable year, any unused 
foreign tax paid or accrued in that year is carried first to the 
immediately preceding taxable year and then, as applicable, to each of 
the ten succeeding taxable years, in chronological order, but only to 
the extent not absorbed as taxes deemed paid or accrued under 
paragraphs (a) and (d) of this section in a prior taxable year.
    (c) Definitions. This paragraph (c) provides definitions that apply 
for purposes of this section.
    (1) Unused foreign tax. The term unused foreign tax means, with 
respect to each separate category for any taxable year, the excess of 
the amount of creditable foreign tax paid or accrued, or deemed paid 
under section 902 (as in effect on December 21, 2017) or section 960, 
in such year, over the applicable foreign tax credit limitation under 
section 904 for the separate category in such year. Unused foreign tax 
does not include any amount for which a credit is disallowed, including 
foreign income taxes for which a credit is disallowed or reduced when 
the tax is paid, accrued, or deemed paid.
    (2) Separate category. The term separate category has the same 
meaning as provided in Sec.  1.904-5(a)(4)(v).
    (3) Excess limitation--(i) In general. The term excess limitation 
means, with respect to a separate category for any taxable year (the 
excess limitation year) and an unused foreign tax carried from another 
taxable year (the excess credit year), the amount (if any) by which the 
limitation for that separate category with respect to that excess 
limitation year exceeds the sum of--
    (A) The creditable foreign tax actually paid or accrued or deemed 
paid under section 902 (as in effect on December 21, 2017) or section 
960 with respect to the separate category in the excess limitation 
year; and
    (B) The portion of any unused foreign tax for a taxable year 
preceding the excess credit year that is absorbed as taxes deemed paid 
or accrued in the excess limitation year under paragraphs (a) and (d) 
of this section.
    (ii) Deduction years. Excess limitation for a taxable year absorbs 
unused foreign tax, regardless of whether the taxpayer chooses to claim 
a credit under section 901 for the year. In such case, the amount of 
the excess limitation, if any, for the year is determined in the same 
manner as though the taxpayer had chosen to claim a credit under 
section 901 for that year. For purposes of this determination, if the 
taxpayer has an overall foreign loss account, the excess limitation in 
a deduction year is determined based on the amount of the overall 
foreign loss the taxpayer would have recaptured if the taxpayer had 
chosen to claim a credit under section 901 for that year and had not 
made an election under Sec.  1.904(f)-2(c)(2) to recapture more of the 
overall foreign loss account than is required under Sec.  1.904(f)-
2(c)(1).
    (d) Taxes deemed paid or accrued--(1) Amount deemed paid or 
accrued. The amount of unused foreign tax with respect to a separate 
category that is deemed paid or accrued in any taxable year to which 
such unused foreign tax may be carried under paragraph (b) of this 
section is equal to the smaller of--
    (i) The portion of the unused foreign tax that may be carried to 
the taxable year under paragraph (b) of this section; or

[[Page 69076]]

    (ii) The amount, if any, of the excess limitation for such taxable 
year with respect to the separate category of such unused foreign tax.
    (2) Carryback or carryover tax deemed paid or accrued in the same 
separate category. Any unused foreign tax, which is deemed to be paid 
or accrued under section 904(c) in the year to which it is carried, is 
deemed to be paid or accrued with respect to the same separate category 
as the category to which it was assigned in the year in which it was 
actually paid or accrued. However, see paragraphs (h) through (j) of 
this section for transition rules in the case of certain carrybacks and 
carryovers.
    (3) No duplicate disallowance of creditable foreign tax. Foreign 
income taxes for which a credit is partially disallowed, including when 
the tax is paid, accrued, or deemed paid, are not reduced again by 
reason of the unused foreign tax being deemed to be paid or accrued in 
the year to which it is carried under section 904(c).
* * * * *
    (h) Transition rules for carryovers of pre-2003 unused foreign tax 
and carrybacks of post-2002 unused foreign tax paid or accrued with 
respect to dividends from noncontrolled section 902 corporations. For 
transition rules for carryovers of pre-2003 unused foreign tax, and 
carrybacks of post-2002 unused foreign tax, paid or accrued with 
respect to dividends from noncontrolled section 902 corporations, see 
26 CFR 1.904-2(h) (revised as of April 1, 2018).
    (i) Transition rules for carryovers of pre-2007 unused foreign tax 
and carrybacks of post-2006 unused foreign tax. For transition rules 
for carryovers of pre-2007 unused foreign tax, and carrybacks of post-
2006 unused foreign tax, see 26 CFR 1.904-2(i) (revised as of April 1, 
2018).
    (j) Transition rules for carryovers and carrybacks of pre-2018 and 
post-2017 unused foreign tax--(1) Carryover of unused foreign tax--(i) 
In general. For purposes of this paragraph (j), the terms post-2017 
separate category, pre-2018 separate category, and specified separate 
category have the meanings set forth in Sec.  1.904(f)-12(j)(1). The 
rules of this paragraph (j)(1) apply to reallocate to the taxpayer's 
post-2017 separate categories for foreign branch category income, 
general category income, passive category income, and specified 
separate categories of income, any unused foreign taxes (as defined in 
paragraph (c)(1) of this section) that were paid or accrued or deemed 
paid under sections 902 and 960 with respect to income in a pre-2018 
separate category.
    (ii) Allocation to the same separate category. Except as provided 
in paragraph (j)(1)(iii) of this section, to the extent any unused 
foreign taxes paid or accrued or deemed paid with respect to a separate 
category of income are carried forward to a taxable year beginning 
after December 31, 2017, such taxes are allocated to the same post-2017 
separate category as the pre-2018 separate category from which the 
unused foreign taxes are carried.
    (iii) Exception for certain general category unused foreign taxes--
(A) In general. To the extent any unused foreign taxes with respect to 
general category income are carried forward to a taxable year beginning 
after December 31, 2017, a taxpayer may choose to allocate those taxes 
to the taxpayer's post-2017 separate category for foreign branch 
category income to the extent the unused foreign taxes would have been 
allocated to the taxpayer's post-2017 separate category for foreign 
branch category income, and would have been unused foreign taxes with 
respect to foreign branch category income if that separate category had 
applied in the year or years the unused foreign taxes arose. Any 
remaining unused foreign taxes paid or accrued or deemed paid with 
respect to general category income carried forward to a taxable year 
beginning after December 31, 2017, are allocated to the taxpayer's 
post-2017 separate category for general category income.
    (B) Safe harbor. In lieu of applying paragraph (j)(1)(iii)(A) of 
this section, the taxpayer may choose to allocate the unused foreign 
taxes with respect to general category income in a taxable year 
beginning before January 1, 2018, to the taxpayer's post-2017 separate 
category for foreign branch category income based on a ratio equal to 
the amount of foreign income taxes assigned to the general category 
that were paid or accrued by the taxpayer's foreign branches (as 
defined in Sec.  1.904-4(f)(3)(vii)) bears to all foreign income taxes 
assigned to the general category that were paid or accrued, or deemed 
paid by the taxpayer with respect to such taxable year. The amount of 
taxes paid or accrued by a foreign branch in a taxable year beginning 
before January1, 2018, means all foreign income taxes properly 
reflected on the separate set of books and records (as defined in Sec.  
1.989(a)-1(d)(1) and (2)) of the foreign branch as an expense (which 
does not include any taxes deemed paid under section 902 or 960).
    (C) Rules regarding the exception. A taxpayer applying the 
exception described in this paragraph (j)(1)(iii) (the branch carryover 
exception) must apply the exception to all of its unused foreign taxes 
paid or accrued with respect to general category income that are 
carried forward to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. 
A taxpayer may apply the branch carryover exception on a timely filed 
original return (including extensions) or an amended return. A taxpayer 
that applies the exception on an amended return must make appropriate 
adjustments to eliminate any double benefit arising from application of 
the exception to years that are not open for assessment.
    (D) Coordination rule. See Sec.  1.904(f)-12(j)(5) for coordination 
rule with respect to the exception described in paragraph (j)(1)(iii) 
of this section and the exceptions described in Sec.  1.904(f)-12(j)(2) 
through (4).
    (2) Carryback of unused foreign tax--(i) In general. The rules of 
this paragraph (j)(2) apply to any unused foreign taxes that were paid 
or accrued, or deemed paid under section 960, with respect to income in 
a post-2017 separate category.
    (ii) Passive category income and specified separate categories of 
income described in Sec.  1.904-4(m). Any unused foreign taxes paid or 
accrued or deemed paid with respect to passive category income or a 
specified separate category of income in a taxable year beginning after 
December 31, 2017, that are carried back to a taxable year beginning 
before January 1, 2018, are allocated to the same pre-2018 separate 
category as the post-2017 separate category from which the unused 
foreign taxes are carried.
    (iii) General category income and foreign branch category income. 
Any unused foreign taxes paid or accrued or deemed paid with respect to 
general category income or foreign branch category income in a taxable 
year beginning after December 31, 2017, that are carried back to a 
taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, are allocated to the 
taxpayer's pre-2018 separate category for general category income.
    (k) Applicability date. Paragraphs (a) through (i) of this section 
apply to taxable years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end 
on or after December 4, 2018. Paragraph (j) of this section applies to 
taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. Paragraph (j)(2) of 
this section also applies to the last taxable year beginning before 
January 1, 2018.

0
Par. 19. Section 1.904-3 is amended by:
0
1. Revising the section heading.
0
2. Removing the language ``a husband and wife'' and adding the language

[[Page 69077]]

``spouses'' in its place in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d).
0
3. Adding a sentence to the end of paragraph (a).
0
4. Removing the second and third sentences in paragraph (d).
0
5. Revising paragraphs (e) and (f)(1) through (3).
0
6. Removing the language ``904(d)'' and adding the language ``904(c)'' 
in its place in paragraphs (f)(5)(i) and (ii).
0
7. Removing paragraph (f)(6) and the undesignated paragraph following 
paragraph (f)(6)(ii).
0
8. Removing and reserving paragraph (g).
0
9. Adding paragraph (h).
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.904-3   Carryback and carryover of unused foreign tax by 
spouses making a joint return.

    (a) * * * The rules in this section apply separately with respect 
to each separate category as defined in Sec.  1.904-5(a)(4)(v).
* * * * *
    (e) Amounts carried from or through a joint return year to or 
through a separate return year--(1) In general. It is necessary to 
allocate to each spouse the spouse's share of an unused foreign tax or 
excess limitation for any taxable year for which the spouses filed a 
joint return if--
    (i) The spouses file separate returns for the current taxable year 
and an unused foreign tax is carried thereto from a taxable year for 
which they filed a joint return;
    (ii) The spouses file separate returns for the current taxable year 
and an unused foreign tax is carried to such taxable year from a year 
for which they filed separate returns but is first carried through a 
year for which they filed a joint return; or
    (iii) The spouses file a joint return for the current taxable year 
and an unused foreign tax is carried from a taxable year for which they 
filed joint returns but is first carried through a year for which they 
filed separate returns.
    (2) Computation and adjustments. In the cases described in 
paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the separate carryback or carryover 
of each spouse to the current taxable year shall be computed in the 
manner described in Sec.  1.904-2 but with the modifications set forth 
in paragraph (f) of this section. Where applicable, appropriate 
adjustments are made to take into account the fact that, for any 
taxable year involved in the computation of the carryback or the 
carryover, either spouse has combined foreign oil and gas income 
described in section 907(b) with respect to which the limitation in 
section 907(a) applies.
    (f) * * * (1) Separate category limitation. The limitation in a 
separate category of a particular spouse for a taxable year for which a 
joint return is made shall be the portion of the limitation on the 
joint return which bears the same ratio to such limitation as such 
spouse's foreign source taxable income (with gross income and 
deductions taken into account to the same extent as taken into account 
on the joint return) in such separate category (but not in excess of 
the joint foreign source taxable income) bears to the joint foreign 
source taxable income in such separate category.
    (2) Unused foreign tax. For purposes of this section, the term 
unused foreign tax means, with respect to a particular spouse and 
separate category for a taxable year for which a joint return is made, 
the excess of the foreign tax paid or accrued by that spouse with 
respect to that separate category over that spouse's separate category 
limitation.
    (3) Excess limitation. For purposes of this section, the term 
excess limitation means, with respect to a particular spouse and 
separate category for a taxable year for which a joint return is made, 
the excess of that spouse's separate category limitation over the 
foreign taxes paid or accrued by such spouse with respect to such 
separate category for such taxable year.
* * * * *
    (h) Applicability date. This section is applicable for taxable 
years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after 
December 4, 2018.

0
Par. 20. Section 1.904-4 is amended by:
0
1. Revising paragraph (a).
0
2. Removing the word ``or'' from the end of paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A).
0
3. Removing the period from the end of paragraph (b)(2)(i)(B) and 
adding a semicolon in its place.
0
4. Adding paragraphs (b)(2)(i)(C) and (D).
0
5. Revising the first and second sentences and adding a sentence after 
the second sentence of paragraph (b)(2)(ii).
0
6. Revising paragraph (b)(2)(iv).
0
7. In paragraph (c)(1):
0
i. Removing the language ``shall not be'' from the first sentence and 
adding the language ``is not'' in its place.
0
ii. Revising the second, third, and fourth sentences and removing the 
last two sentences.
0
8. Removing the language ``1.861-14T'' in the first sentence of 
paragraph (c)(2)(i) and adding the language ``1.861-17'' in its place.
0
9. Adding paragraph (c)(2)(iii).
0
10. In paragraph (c)(3) introductory text:
0
i. Removing the language ``shall be'' in the first sentence and adding 
the language ``are'' in its place.
0
ii. Revising the second, third, and fourth sentences, and adding a 
sentence after the fourth sentence.
0
11. Revising paragraphs (c)(4) and (c)(5)(ii).
0
12. Removing the second and third sentences of paragraphs 
(c)(5)(iii)(A) and (B).
0
13. Revising paragraph (c)(5)(iii)(C).
0
14. In paragraph (c)(6)(i):
0
i. Revising the first sentence.
0
ii. Removing the language ``deemed paid or accrued'' and adding the 
language ``deemed paid'' in its place and removing the word ``taxable'' 
in the second sentence.
0
15. In paragraph (c)(6)(iii):
0
i. Revising the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth sentences.
0
ii. Removing the word ``taxable'' in the second and third sentences.
0
iii. Removing the language ``deemed paid or accrued'' and adding the 
language ``deemed paid'' in its place and removing ``(A),'' ``(B),'' 
and ``(C)'' in the third sentence.
0
16. Revising paragraph (c)(6)(iv).
0
17. In paragraph (c)(7)(i):
0
i. Removing the language ``is reduced'' and adding the language ``would 
be reduced'' in its place in the first sentence.
0
ii. Revising the second and sixth sentences.
0
18. In paragraph (c)(7)(iii):
0
i. Removing the language ``general category income'' and adding the 
language ``income in another separate category'' in its place in the 
third sentence.
0
ii. Removing the last sentence.
0
19. Revising paragraph (c)(8).
0
20. Adding paragraph (d).
0
21. Revising paragraph (e)(1).
0
22. Removing and reserving paragraph (e)(2)(i)(W).
0
23. Removing the seventh sentence of paragraph (e)(3)(i).
0
24. Removing the last sentence of paragraph (e)(3)(ii).
0
25. Removing and reserving paragraphs (e)(3)(iv) and (e)(4)(i)(B).
0
26. Removing paragraph (e)(5).
0
27. Adding paragraphs (f) and (g).
0
28. Revising paragraphs (h)(2), (4), and (5) and (k) through (n).
0
29. Adding paragraphs (o), (p), and (q).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.904-4  Separate application of section 904 with respect to 
certain categories of income.

    (a) In general. A taxpayer is required to compute a separate 
foreign tax credit

[[Page 69078]]

limitation for income received or accrued in a taxable year that is 
described in section 904(d)(1)(A) (section 951A category income), 
904(d)(1)(B) (foreign branch category income), 904(d)(1)(C) (passive 
category income), 904(d)(1)(D) (general category income), or paragraph 
(m) of this section (specified separate categories). For purposes of 
this section, the definitions in Sec.  1.904-5(a)(4) apply.
    (b) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (C) Distributive shares of partnership income treated as passive 
category income under paragraph (n)(1) of this section, and income from 
the sale of a partnership interest treated as passive category income 
under paragraph (n)(2) of this section; or
    (D) Income treated as passive category income under the look-
through rules in Sec.  1.904-5.
    (ii) Exceptions. Passive income does not include any export 
financing interest (as defined in paragraph (h) of this section), any 
high-taxed income (as defined in paragraph (c) of this section), 
financial services income (as defined in paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this 
section), or any active rents and royalties (as defined in paragraph 
(b)(2)(iii) of this section). In addition, passive income does not 
include any income that would otherwise be passive but is excluded from 
passive category income under Sec.  1.904-5(b)(1) or that is assigned 
to a separate category other than passive category income under Sec.  
1.904-5(c)(4)(iii). See also paragraph (k) of this section for rules 
relating to income resourced under a tax treaty. * * *
* * * * *
    (iv) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (b)(2).

    (A) Example 1. For Year 1, USP, a domestic corporation, has a 
net foreign currency gain that would not constitute foreign personal 
holding company income if USP were a controlled foreign corporation 
because the gain is directly related to the business needs of USP. 
See section 954(c)(1)(D). Under paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A) of this 
section, the foreign currency gain is, therefore, not passive 
category income to USP because it is not income of a kind that would 
be foreign personal holding company income.
    (B) Example 2. Controlled foreign corporation, CFC, is a wholly-
owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. CFC is regularly 
engaged in the restaurant franchise business. USP licenses 
trademarks, tradenames, certain know-how, related services, and 
certain restaurant designs for which CFC pays USP an arm's length 
royalty. USP is regularly engaged in the development and licensing 
of such property. Some of the franchisees are unrelated to CFC and 
USP. Other franchisees are related to CFC or USP and use the 
licensed property outside of CFC's country of incorporation. CFC 
does not satisfy, but USP does satisfy, the active trade or business 
requirements of section 954(c)(2)(A). The royalty income earned by 
CFC from both its related and unrelated franchisees is foreign 
personal holding company income because CFC does not satisfy the 
active trade or business requirements of section 954(c)(2)(A) and, 
in addition, the royalty income from the related franchisees does 
not qualify for the same country exception of section 954(c)(3) or 
the look-through exception in section 954(c)(6). However, all of the 
royalty income earned by CFC is general category income to CFC under 
Sec.  1.904-4(b)(2)(iii) because USP, a member of CFC's affiliated 
group, satisfies the active trade or business test (which is applied 
without regard to whether the royalties are paid by a related 
person). USP's inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) of CFC's royalty 
income is general category income to USP under Sec.  1.904-5(c)(5) 
and paragraph (d) of this section. The royalties received by USP are 
general category income to USP under Sec.  1.904-5(b)(1) and 
paragraph (d) of this section.

* * * * *
    (c) * * * (1) * * * Income is considered to be high-taxed income 
if, after allocating expenses, losses, and other deductions of the 
United States person to that income under paragraph (c)(2) of this 
section, the sum of the foreign income taxes paid or accrued, and 
deemed paid under section 960, by the United States person with respect 
to such income (reduced by any portion of such taxes for which a credit 
is not allowed) exceeds the highest rate of tax specified in section 1 
or 11, whichever applies (and with reference to section 15 if 
applicable), multiplied by the amount of such income (including the 
amount treated as a dividend under section 78). If, after application 
of this paragraph (c), income that would otherwise be passive income is 
determined to be high-taxed income, the income is treated as general 
category income, foreign branch category income, section 951A category 
income, or income in a specified separate category, as determined under 
the rules of this section, and any taxes imposed on that income are 
considered related to the same separate category of income under Sec.  
1.904-6. If, after application of this paragraph (c), passive income is 
zero or less than zero, any taxes imposed on the passive income are 
considered related to the same separate category of income to which the 
passive income (if not reduced to zero or less than zero) would have 
been assigned had the income been treated as high-taxed income (general 
category, foreign branch category, section 951A category, or a 
specified separate category). * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) Coordination with section 904(b), (f) and (g). The 
determination of whether foreign source passive income is high-taxed is 
made before taking into account any adjustments under section 904(b) or 
any allocation or recapture of a separate limitation loss, overall 
foreign loss, or overall domestic loss under section 904(f) and (g).
    (3) * * * Paragraph (c)(4) of this section provides additional 
rules for inclusions under section 951(a)(1) or 951A(a) that are 
passive income, dividends from a controlled foreign corporation or 
noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation that are passive 
income, and income that is received or accrued by a United States 
person through a foreign QBU that is passive income. For purposes of 
this paragraph (c), a foreign QBU is a qualified business unit (as 
defined in section 989(a)), other than a controlled foreign corporation 
or noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation, that has its 
principal place of business outside the United States. The rules in 
this paragraph (c)(3) apply whether the income is received from a 
controlled foreign corporation of which the United States person is a 
United States shareholder, from a noncontrolled 10-percent owned 
foreign corporation of which the United States person is a United 
States shareholder that is a domestic corporation, or from any other 
person. In applying the rules in this paragraph (c)(3), passive income 
is not treated as subject to a withholding tax or other foreign tax 
when a credit is disallowed in full for such foreign tax, for example, 
under section 901(k). * * *
* * * * *
    (4) Dividends and inclusions from controlled foreign corporations, 
dividends from noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations, and 
income attributable to foreign QBUs. Except as provided in paragraph 
(c)(5) of this section, the rules of this paragraph (c)(4) apply to all 
dividends and all amounts included in gross income of a United States 
shareholder under section 951(a)(1) or 951A(a) with respect to the 
foreign corporation that (after application of the look-through rules 
of section 904(d)(3) and Sec.  1.904-5) are attributable to passive 
income received or accrued by a controlled foreign corporation, all 
dividends from a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation 
that are received or accrued by a United States shareholder that (after 
application of the look-through rules of section 904(d)(4) and Sec.  
1.904-5) are treated as passive income,

[[Page 69079]]

and all amounts of passive income received or accrued by a United 
States person through a foreign QBU. The grouping rules of paragraphs 
(c)(3)(i) through (iv) of this section apply separately to dividends, 
to inclusions under section 951(a)(1) and to inclusions under section 
951A(a) with respect to each controlled foreign corporation of which 
the taxpayer is a United States shareholder, and to dividends with 
respect to each noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation of 
which the taxpayer is a United States shareholder that is a domestic 
corporation. The grouping rules of paragraphs (c)(3)(i) through (iv) of 
this section also apply separately to income attributable to each 
foreign QBU of a controlled foreign corporation, noncontrolled 10-
percent owned foreign corporation, any other look-through entity as 
defined in Sec.  1.904-5(i), or any United States person.
    (5) * * *
    (ii) Treatment of partnership income. A partner's distributive 
share of income from a foreign or domestic partnership that is treated 
as passive income under paragraph (n)(1)(ii) of this section (generally 
providing that a less than 10 percent partner's distributive share of 
partnership income is passive income) is treated as a single item of 
income and is not grouped with other amounts. A distributive share of 
income from a partnership that is treated as passive income under 
paragraph (n)(1)(i) of this section is grouped according to the rules 
in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, except that the portion, if any, 
of the distributive share of income attributable to income earned by a 
domestic partnership through a foreign QBU is separately grouped under 
the rules of paragraph (c)(4) of this section.
* * * * *
    (iii) * * *
    (C) Example. The following example illustrates the application of 
this paragraph (c)(5)(iii).

    (1) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns all of the stock of 
CFC, a controlled foreign corporation organized and operating in 
Country X that uses the ``u'' as its functional currency. In Year 1, 
when the highest rate of U.S. tax in section 11 is 21%, CFC earns 
100u of passive category foreign personal holding company income 
subject to no foreign tax. When included in USP's income under 
section 951(a), the applicable exchange rate is 1u=$1x. Therefore, 
USP's section 951(a) inclusion is $100x and no foreign taxes are 
deemed paid by USP with respect to the inclusion. At the end of Year 
1, CFC has previously taxed earnings and profits of 100u and USP's 
basis in those earnings is $100x. In Year 2, CFC has no earnings and 
profits and distributes 100u to USP. The value of the earnings when 
distributed is $150x. Assume that under section 986(c), USP must 
recognize $50x of passive category income attributable to the 
appreciation of the previously taxed earnings and profits. Country X 
does not recognize any gain or loss on the distribution, but imposes 
a 10u withholding tax on USP with respect to the distribution.
    (2) Analysis. Because the section 986(c) gain is not subject to 
any foreign withholding tax or other foreign tax, under paragraph 
(c)(3)(iii) of this section the section 986(c) gain is grouped with 
other items of USP's income that are subject to no withholding tax 
or other foreign tax. Under paragraph (c)(6)(iii) of this section, 
the 10u withholding tax is related to passive category income. See 
section 960(c) and Sec.  1.960-4 for rules relating to the increase 
in limitation in the year of distribution of previously taxed 
earnings and profits.

\* * * * *
    (6) * * * (i) * * * The determination of whether an amount included 
in gross income under section 951(a)(1) or 951A(a) is high-taxed income 
is made in the taxable year the income is included in the gross income 
of the United States shareholder under section 951(a) or 951A(a) (for 
purposes of this paragraph (c), the year of inclusion). * * *
* * * * *
    (iii) * * * If an item of income is considered high-taxed income in 
the year of inclusion and paragraph (c)(6)(i) of this section applies, 
then any increase in foreign income taxes imposed with respect to that 
item are considered to be related to the same separate category to 
which the income was assigned in the taxable year of inclusion. * * * 
The taxpayer shall treat any taxes paid or accrued, or deemed paid, on 
the distribution in excess of this amount as taxes related to the same 
category of income to which such inclusion would have been assigned had 
the income been treated as high-taxed income in the year of inclusion 
(general category income, section 951A category income, or income in a 
specified separate category). If these additional taxes are not 
creditable in the year of distribution, the carryover rules of section 
904(c) apply (see section 904(c) and Sec.  1.904-2(a) for rules 
disallowing carryovers in the section 951A category). For purposes of 
this paragraph (c)(6), the foreign tax on an inclusion under section 
951(a)(1) or 951A(a) is considered increased on distribution of the 
earnings and profits associated with that inclusion if the total of 
taxes paid and deemed paid on the inclusion and the distribution 
(taking into account any reductions in tax and any withholding taxes) 
exceeds the total taxes deemed paid in the year of inclusion. * * *
    (iv) Increase in taxes paid by successors. If passive earnings and 
profits previously included in income of a United States shareholder 
are distributed to a person that was not a United States shareholder of 
the distributing corporation in the year the earnings were included, 
any increase in foreign taxes paid or accrued, or deemed paid, on that 
distribution is treated as taxes related to general category income (or 
income in a specified separate category, if applicable) in the case of 
earnings and profits previously included under section 951(a)(1), and 
is treated as taxes related to section 951A category income (or income 
in a specified separate category, if applicable) in the case of 
earnings and profits previously included under section 951A(a), 
regardless of whether the previously-taxed income was considered high-
taxed income under section 904(d)(2)(F) in the year of inclusion.
    (7) * * * (i) * * * If the inclusion is considered to be high-taxed 
income, then the taxpayer treats the inclusion as general category 
income, section 951A category income, or income in a specified separate 
category as provided in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. * * * For 
purposes of this paragraph (c)(7)(i), the foreign tax on an inclusion 
under section 951(a)(1) or 951A(a) is considered reduced on 
distribution of the earnings and profits associated with the inclusion 
if the total taxes paid and deemed paid on the inclusion and the 
distribution (taking into account any reductions in tax and any 
withholding taxes) is less than the total taxes deemed paid in the year 
of inclusion. * * *
* * * * *
    (8) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (c). All of the examples assume that the highest tax 
rate under section 11 is 21%, unless otherwise noted.

    (i) Example 1. CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of domestic corporation USP. CFC is a single 
qualified business unit (QBU) operating in foreign Country X. In 
Year 1, CFC earns $130x of gross royalty income that is passive 
income from Country X sources, and incurs $30x of expenses that do 
not include any payments to USP. CFC's $100x of pre-tax passive 
income from the royalty is subject to $30x of foreign tax, and is 
included under section 951(a)(1) in USP's gross income for the 
taxable year. USP allocates $50x of expenses to the $100x 
(consisting of the $70x section 951(a)(1) inclusion and $30x section 
78 amount), resulting in net passive income of $50x. USP does not 
elect to exclude from subpart F under section 954(b)(4) the $70x of 
CFC's net passive income. After application of the high-tax kick-out 
rules of paragraph (c) of this section, the $50x of USP's net 
passive income is treated as general category income,

[[Page 69080]]

and the $30x of taxes deemed paid are treated as taxes imposed on 
general category income, because the foreign taxes paid and deemed 
paid on the income exceed the highest U.S. tax rate multiplied by 
the $50x of net passive income ($30x > $10.5x (21% x $50x)).
    (ii) Example 2. CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of domestic corporation USP. CFC is 
incorporated and operating in Country Y and has a branch in Country 
Z. CFC has two QBUs (QBU Y and QBU Z). In Year 1, CFC earns $65x of 
gross royalty income that is passive income in Country Y through QBU 
Y and $65x of gross royalty income that is passive income in Country 
Z through QBU Z. CFC allocates $15x of expenses to the gross royalty 
income earned by each QBU, resulting in pre-tax passive income of 
$50x in each QBU. Country Y imposes $5x of foreign tax on the 
royalty income earned in Y, and Country Z imposes $10x of tax on 
royalty income earned in Z. All of CFC's income constitutes foreign 
personal holding company income that is passive income and is 
included under section 951(a)(1) in USP's gross income for the 
taxable year. USP allocates $50x of expenses pro rata to the $100x 
section 951(a)(1) inclusion attributable to the QBUs (consisting of 
the $45x section 951(a)(1) inclusion derived through QBU Y, the $5x 
section 78 amount attributable to QBU Y, the $40x section 951(a)(1) 
inclusion derived through QBU Z, and the $10x section 78 amount 
attributable to QBU Z), resulting in net passive income of $50x. 
Pursuant to paragraph (c)(4) of this section, the high-tax kickout 
rules must be applied separately to the subpart F inclusion 
attributable to the income earned by QBU Y and the income earned by 
QBU Z. After application of the high-tax kickout rules, the $25x of 
net passive income attributable to QBU Y will be treated as passive 
category income because the foreign taxes paid and deemed paid on 
the income do not exceed the highest U.S. tax rate multiplied by the 
$25x of net passive income ($5x < $5.25x (21% x $25x)). The $25x of 
net passive income attributable to QBU Z will be treated as general 
category income because the foreign taxes paid and deemed paid on 
the income exceed the highest U.S. tax rate multiplied by the $25x 
of net passive income ($10x > $5.25x (21% x $25x)).
    (iii) Example 3. Domestic corporation USP operates in branch 
form in foreign countries X and Y. The branches are qualified 
business units (QBUs), within the meaning of section 989(a). In Year 
1, QBU X earns passive royalty income, interest income, and rental 
income. All of the QBU X passive income is from Country Z sources. 
The royalty income is not subject to a withholding tax, and is not 
taxed by Country X, and the interest and the rental income are 
subject to a 4% and 10% withholding tax, respectively. QBU Y earns 
interest income in Country Y that is not subject to foreign tax. For 
purposes of determining whether USP's foreign source passive income 
is high-taxed income, the rental income and the interest income 
earned in QBU X are treated as one item of income pursuant to 
paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section. The interest income earned in 
QBU Y and the royalty income earned in QBU X are each treated as a 
separate item of income under paragraphs (c)(4) and (c)(3)(iii) of 
this section. If, after allocation of expenses, QBU X's items of 
income composed of rental income and interest income are high-taxed 
income, the income may be treated as foreign branch category income.
    (iv) Example 4. CFC, a controlled foreign corporation 
incorporated in foreign Country R, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
USP, a domestic corporation. USP and CFC have calendar year taxable 
years for both U.S. and Country R tax purposes. The highest tax rate 
under section 11 is 34% and 21% in Year 1 and Year 2, respectively. 
For Year 1, USP is required under section 951(a)(1) to include in 
gross income $80x (not including the section 78 amount) attributable 
to the earnings and profits of CFC for such year, all of which is 
foreign personal holding company income that is passive rent or 
royalty income. CFC does not make any distributions in Year 1. 
Foreign income taxes paid by CFC for Year 1 that are deemed paid by 
USP for such year under section 960(a) with respect to the section 
951(a)(1) inclusion equal $20x. USP properly allocates $30x of 
expenses to the section 951(a)(1) inclusion. The foreign income tax 
paid with respect to the section 951(a)(1) inclusion does not exceed 
the highest U.S. tax rate multiplied by the amount of income after 
allocation of USP's expenses ($20x < $23.80x (34% x $70x)). Thus, 
USP's section 951(a)(1) inclusion for Year 1 is included in USP's 
passive category income and the $20x of taxes attributable to that 
inclusion are treated as taxes related to passive category income. 
In Year 2, CFC distributes $70x to USP, and under section 959 that 
distribution is treated as attributable to the earnings and profits 
with respect to the amount included in income by USP in Year 1 and 
is excluded from USP's gross income. Foreign Country R imposes a 
withholding tax of $14x on the distribution in Year 2. Under 
paragraph (c)(6)(i) of this section, the withholding tax in Year 2 
does not affect the characterization of the Year 1 inclusion as 
passive category income, nor does it affect the characterization of 
the $20x of taxes paid in Year 1 as taxes paid with respect to 
passive category income. No further expenses of USP are allocable to 
the receipt of that distribution. In Year 2, the foreign taxes paid 
($14x) exceed the product of the highest U.S. tax rate and the 
amount of the inclusion reduced by taxes deemed paid in the year of 
inclusion ($14x > $3.80x ((34% x $70x) - $20x)). Thus, under 
paragraph (c)(6)(iii) of this section, $3.80x ((34% x $70x) - $20x) 
of the $14x withholding tax paid in Year 2 is treated as taxes 
related to passive category income and the remaining $10.20x ($14x - 
$3.80x) of the withholding tax is treated as related to general 
category income.
    (v) through (viii) [Reserved]
    (ix) Example 9. USP, a domestic corporation, earns $100x of 
passive royalty income from sources within the United States. Under 
the laws of Country X, however, that royalty is considered to be 
from sources within Country X, and Country X imposes a 5% 
withholding tax on the payment of the royalty. USP also earns $100x 
of foreign source passive dividend income from Country Y subject to 
a 10% withholding tax to which $15x of expenses are allocated. In 
determining whether USP's passive income is high-taxed, the $5x 
withholding tax on USP's royalty income is allocated to passive 
income, and to the group of passive income described in paragraph 
(c)(3)(ii) of this section (passive income subject to a withholding 
tax of less than 15% (but greater than zero)). For purposes of 
determining whether the income is high-taxed, however, only the $85x 
of foreign source dividend income (and not the $100x of U.S. source 
royalty income) is taken into account. The foreign source dividend 
income is treated as passive category income because the foreign 
taxes paid on the passive income in the group ($15x) do not exceed 
the highest U.S. tax rate multiplied by the $85x of net foreign 
source income in the group ($15x < $17.85x ($100x - $15x) x 21%).
    (x) Example 10. In Year 1, P, a U.S. citizen with a tax home in 
Country X, earns the following items of gross income: $400x of 
foreign source, passive interest income not subject to foreign 
withholding tax but subject to Country X income tax of $100x, $200x 
of foreign source, passive royalty income subject to a 5% foreign 
withholding tax (foreign tax paid is $10x), $1,300x of foreign 
source, passive rental income subject to a 25% foreign withholding 
tax (foreign tax paid is $325x), $500x of foreign source, general 
category loss, and $2,000x of U.S. source capital gain that is not 
subject to any foreign tax. P has a $900x deduction allocable to its 
passive rental income. P's only other deduction is a $700x capital 
loss on the sale of stock that is allocated to foreign source 
passive category income under Sec.  1.865-2(a)(3)(i). The $700x 
capital loss is initially allocated to the group of passive income 
described in paragraph (c)(3)(iv) of this section (passive income 
subject to no withholding tax but subject to foreign tax other than 
withholding tax). This group comprises the $400x of interest income 
not subject to foreign withholding tax but subject to Country X 
income tax. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section, the $300x 
amount by which the capital loss exceeds the income in the group 
must be reallocated to the net income in the other groups described 
in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, but the $500x general category 
separate limitation loss is not allocated until the high-tax kickout 
rules are applied to determine whether the passive income is high-
taxed income. P's $200x of royalty income subject to a 5% 
withholding tax is described in paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this section 
(passive income that is subject to a withholding tax of less than 
15%, but greater than zero). P's $1,300x of rental income subject to 
a 25% withholding tax is described in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this 
section (passive income that is subject to a withholding tax of 15% 
or greater). The $1,300x of rental income is reduced by the $900x 
deduction allocable to such income. Therefore, the total net income 
in the other groups under paragraph (c)(3) is $600x, the $200x of 
royalty income and the $400x of rental income. The ($300x) net loss 
in the net basis tax group thus reduces the royalty income by $100x 
to $100x ($200x - ($300x x (200x/600x))) and the rental income by 
$200x to

[[Page 69081]]

$200x ($400x - ($300x x (400x/600x))). The $100x of net royalty 
income is not high-taxed and remains passive category income because 
the foreign taxes of $10x do not exceed the highest U.S. rate of tax 
on that income, which is 37% for individuals ($10x < $37x (37% x 
$100x)). Under the high-tax kickout, the $200x of rental income and 
the $325x of associated foreign tax are assigned to the general 
category.
    (xi) Example 11. The facts are the same as in paragraph 
(c)(8)(x) of this section (the facts in Example 10), except the 
amount of the capital loss that is allocated under Sec.  1.865-
2(a)(3)(i) and paragraph (c)(2) of this section to the group of 
foreign source passive income subject to no withholding tax but 
subject to foreign tax other than withholding tax is $1,200x. Under 
paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section, the excess deductions of $800x 
must be reallocated to the $200x of net royalty income subject to a 
5% withholding tax and the $400x of net rental income subject to a 
15% or greater withholding tax. The income in each of these groups 
is reduced to zero, and the foreign taxes imposed on the rental and 
royalty income are considered related to general category income. 
The remaining loss of $200x constitutes a separate limitation loss 
with respect to passive category income.
    (xii) Example 12. In Year 1, USP, a domestic corporation, earns 
a $100x dividend that is foreign source passive income subject to a 
30% withholding tax. The dividend is not paid by a specified 10-
percent owned foreign corporation (as defined in section 
245A(b)(1)). A foreign tax credit for the withholding tax on the 
dividend is disallowed under section 901(k). A deduction for the tax 
is allowed, however, under sections 164 and 901(k)(7). In 
determining whether USP's passive income is high-taxed, under 
paragraph (c)(3) of this section the $100x dividend and the $30x 
deduction are allocated to the group of income described in 
paragraph (c)(3)(iv) of this section (passive income subject to no 
withholding tax or other foreign tax).

    (d) General category income. The term general category income means 
all income other than passive category income, foreign branch category 
income, section 951A category income, and income in a specified 
separate category. Any item that is excluded from the passive category 
under paragraph (c) or (h) of this section or Sec.  1.904-5(b)(1) is 
included in general category income only to the extent that such item 
does not meet the definition of another separate category. General 
category income also includes income treated as general category income 
under the look-through rules referenced in Sec.  1.904-5(a)(2).
    (e) * * * (1) In general--(i) Treatment of financial services 
income. Passive income that is characterized as financial services 
income is not assigned to the passive category but is assigned in 
accordance with this paragraph (e)(1)(i). Financial services income 
that meets the definition of foreign branch category income (see 
paragraph (f)(1) of this section) is treated as income in that 
category. Financial services income of a controlled foreign corporation 
that is included in gross income of a United States shareholder under 
section 951A(a) is treated as section 951A category income in the hands 
of the United States shareholder. Financial services income that is 
neither treated as foreign branch category income nor treated as 
section 951A category income is treated as general category income. 
Distributions, interest, rents, or royalties received from a related 
person that is a financial services entity that would be assigned to 
the passive category under the look-through rules in Sec.  1.904-5, but 
for the fact such amounts are paid by a financial services entity (and, 
therefore, not attributable to passive category income of the payor), 
are assigned to separate categories (other than the passive category) 
under the rules in this section.
    (ii) Definition of financial services income. The term financial 
services income means income derived by a financial services entity, as 
defined in paragraph (e)(3) of this section, that is:
    (A) Income derived in the active conduct of a banking, insurance, 
financing, or similar business (active financing income as defined in 
paragraph (e)(2) of this section);
    (B) Passive income as defined in section 904(d)(2)(B) and paragraph 
(b) of this section as determined before the application of the 
exception for high-taxed income but after the application of the 
exception for export financing interest; or
    (C) Incidental income as defined in paragraph (e)(4) of this 
section.
* * * * *
    (f) Foreign branch category income--(1) Foreign branch category 
income--(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of 
this section, the term foreign branch category income means income of a 
United States person, other than a pass-through entity, that is--
    (A) Income attributable to foreign branches of the United States 
person held directly or indirectly through disregarded entities;
    (B) A distributive share of partnership income that is attributable 
to foreign branches held by the partnership directly or indirectly 
through disregarded entities, or held indirectly by the partnership 
through another partnership or other pass-through entity that holds the 
foreign branch directly or indirectly through disregarded entities; and
    (C) Income from other pass-through entities determined under 
principles similar to those described in paragraph (f)(1)(i)(B) of this 
section.
    (ii) Passive category income excluded from foreign branch category 
income. Income assigned to the passive category under paragraph (b) of 
this section is not foreign branch category income, regardless of 
whether the income is described in paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this section. 
Income that is treated as passive category income under the look-
through rules in Sec.  1.904-5 is also excluded from foreign branch 
category income, regardless of whether the income is attributable to a 
foreign branch. However, income that would be passive category income 
but for the application of section 904(d)(2)(B)(iii) (export financing 
interest and high-taxed income) or 904(d)(2)(C) (financial services 
income) and also meets the definition of foreign branch category income 
is foreign branch category income.
    (2) Gross income attributable to a foreign branch--(i) In general. 
Except as provided in this paragraph (f)(2), gross income is 
attributable to a foreign branch to the extent the gross income (as 
adjusted to conform to Federal income tax principles) is reflected on 
the separate set of books and records (as defined in Sec.  1.989(a)-
1(d)(1) and (2)) of the foreign branch. Gross income that is not 
attributable to the foreign branch and is therefore attributable to the 
foreign branch owner is income in a separate category (other than the 
foreign branch category) under the other rules of this section.
    (ii) Income attributable to U.S. activities. Except as provided in 
paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, gross income attributable to a 
foreign branch does not include items arising from activities carried 
out in the United States, regardless of whether the items are reflected 
on the foreign branch's separate books and records.
    (iii) Income arising from stock--(A) In general. Except as provided 
in paragraph (f)(2)(iii)(B) of this section, gross income attributable 
to a foreign branch does not include items of income arising from stock 
of a corporation (whether foreign or domestic), including gain from the 
disposition of such stock or any inclusion under sections 951(a), 
951A(a), 1248, or 1293(a).
    (B) Exception for dealer property. Paragraph (f)(2)(iii)(A) of this 
section does not apply to gain recognized from dispositions of stock in 
a corporation, if the stock would be dealer property (as defined in 
Sec.  1.954-2(a)(4)(v)) if the foreign branch were a controlled foreign 
corporation.

[[Page 69082]]

    (iv) Disposition of interests in certain entities--(A) In general. 
Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(B) of this section, gross 
income attributable to a foreign branch does not include gain from the 
disposition of an interest in a partnership or other pass-through 
entity or an interest in a disregarded entity. See also paragraph 
(n)(2) of this section for general rules relating to the sale of a 
partnership interest.
    (B) Exception for sales by a foreign branch in the ordinary course 
of business. The rule in paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(A) of this section does 
not apply to gain from the sale or exchange of an interest in a 
partnership or other pass-through entity or an interest in a 
disregarded entity if the gain is reflected on the books and records of 
a foreign branch and the interest is held by the foreign branch in the 
ordinary course of its active trade or business. An interest is 
considered to be held in the ordinary course of the foreign branch's 
active trade or business only if the foreign branch--
    (1) Directly engages in the same, or a related, trade or business 
as that partnership, other pass-through entity, or disregarded entity; 
and
    (2) In the case of a partnership or other pass-through entity, the 
foreign branch owns 10 percent or more of the capital or profits 
interests in the partnership or other pass-through entity.
    (v) Adjustments to items of gross income reflected on the books and 
records. If a principal purpose of recording or failing to record an 
item of gross income on the books and records of a foreign branch, or 
of making or not making a disregarded payment described in paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi) of this section, is the avoidance of Federal income tax, the 
purposes of section 904, or the purposes of section 250 (in connection 
with section 250(b)(3)(A)(i)(VI)), the item must be attributed to one 
or more foreign branches or the foreign branch owner in a manner that 
reflects the substance of the transaction. For purposes of this 
paragraph (f)(2)(v), interest received by a foreign branch from a 
related person is presumed to be attributable to the foreign branch 
owner (and not to the foreign branch) unless the interest income meets 
the definition of financial services income under paragraph (e)(1)(ii) 
of this section. For purposes of this paragraph (f)(2)(v), a related 
person is any person that bears a relationship to the foreign branch 
owner described in section 267(b) or 707.
    (vi) Attribution of gross income to which disregarded payments are 
allocable--(A) In general. If a foreign branch makes a disregarded 
payment to its foreign branch owner and the disregarded payment is 
allocable to gross income that would be attributable to the foreign 
branch under the rules in paragraphs (f)(2)(i) through (v) of this 
section, the gross income attributable to the foreign branch is 
adjusted downward to reflect the allocable amount of the disregarded 
payment, and the gross income attributable to the foreign branch owner 
is adjusted upward by the same amount, translated (if necessary) from 
the foreign branch's functional currency to U.S. dollars at the spot 
rate (as defined in Sec.  1.988-1(d)) on the date of the disregarded 
payment. For rules addressing multiple disregarded payments in a 
taxable year, see paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(F) of this section. Similarly, 
if a foreign branch owner makes a disregarded payment to its foreign 
branch and the disregarded payment is allocable to gross income 
attributable to the foreign branch owner, the gross income attributable 
to the foreign branch owner is adjusted downward to reflect the 
allocable amount of the disregarded payment, and the gross income 
attributable to the foreign branch is adjusted upward by the same 
amount, translated (if necessary) from U.S. dollars to the foreign 
branch's functional currency at the spot rate on the date of the 
disregarded payment. An adjustment to the attribution of gross income 
under this paragraph (f)(2)(vi) does not change the total amount, 
character, or source of the United States person's gross income; does 
not change the amount of a United States person's income in any 
separate category other than the foreign branch and general categories 
(or a specified separate category associated with the foreign branch 
and general categories); and has no bearing on the analysis of whether 
an item of gross income is eligible to be resourced under an income tax 
treaty. The principles of the rules in this paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) 
also apply in the case of disregarded payments between a foreign branch 
and another foreign branch with the same foreign branch owner if either 
foreign branch makes a disregarded payment to, or receives a 
disregarded payment from, the foreign branch owner.
    (B) Allocation of disregarded payments--(1) In general. Except as 
provided in paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2) of this section, whether a 
disregarded payment is allocable to gross income attributable to a 
foreign branch or gross income attributable to its foreign branch 
owner, and the source and separate category of the gross income to 
which the disregarded payment is allocable, is determined under the 
following rules:
    (i) Disregarded payments from a foreign branch owner to its foreign 
branch are allocable to gross income attributable to the foreign branch 
owner to the extent a deduction for that payment or any disregarded 
cost recovery deduction relating to that payment, if regarded, would be 
allocated and apportioned to gross income attributable to the foreign 
branch owner under the principles of Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 1.861-
14T and 1.861-17 (without regard to exclusive apportionment) by 
treating foreign source gross income and U.S. source gross income in 
each separate category (determined prior to the application of this 
paragraph (f)(2)(vi) to the disregarded payment at issue) each as a 
statutory grouping; and
    (ii) Disregarded payments from a foreign branch to its foreign 
branch owner are allocable to gross income attributable to the foreign 
branch to the extent a deduction for that payment or any disregarded 
cost recovery deduction relating to that payment, if regarded, would be 
allocated and apportioned to gross income attributable to the foreign 
branch under the principles of Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 1.861-14T and 
1.861-17 (without regard to exclusive apportionment) by treating 
foreign source gross income and U.S. source gross income in each 
separate category (determined prior to the application of this 
paragraph (f)(2)(vi) to the disregarded payment at issue) each as a 
statutory grouping.
    (2) Special rule for certain disregarded payments. Whether a 
disregarded payment made in connection with a sale or exchange of 
property is allocable to gross income attributable to a foreign branch 
or its foreign branch owner, and the source and separate category of 
the gross income to which the disregarded payment is allocable, is 
determined under the following rules:
    (i) Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D) of this section, 
disregarded payments from a foreign branch owner to its foreign branch 
in respect of non-inventory property are allocable to the gross income 
attributable to the foreign branch owner, if any, that is recognized 
with respect to a regarded sale or exchange of that property (including 
gross income arising in a later taxable year) to the extent of the 
adjusted disregarded gain with respect to the transferred property, and 
in the same proportions as the source and separate category of the gain 
recognized on the regarded sale or exchange of the transferred 
property;
    (ii) Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D) of this section, 
disregarded

[[Page 69083]]

payments from a foreign branch to its foreign branch owner or to 
another foreign branch in respect of non-inventory property are 
allocable to the gross income attributable to the foreign branch, if 
any, that is recognized with respect to a regarded sale or exchange of 
that property (including gross income arising in a later taxable year) 
to the extent of the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to the 
transferred property, and in the same proportions as the source and 
separate category of the gain recognized on the regarded sale or 
exchange of the transferred property; and
    (iii) The principles of paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2)(i) and (ii) of 
this section apply in the case of disregarded payments in respect of 
inventory property between a foreign branch and its foreign branch 
owner or between foreign branches to the extent the disregarded 
payment, if regarded, would, for purposes of determining gross income, 
be subtracted from gross receipts that are regarded for Federal income 
tax purposes.
    (3) Timing of reattribution--(i) In general. The gross income 
attributable to the foreign branch is adjusted under paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(B)(1) of this section only in the taxable year that a 
disregarded payment, if regarded, would be allowed as a deduction 
(including by giving rise to disregarded cost recovery deductions), or 
otherwise would be taken into account as an increase to cost of goods 
sold.
    (ii) Disregarded sales of property. The gross income attributable 
to a foreign branch is adjusted under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2) of 
this section only in the taxable year or years in which gain is 
recognized by reason of the disposition of property with an adjusted 
disregarded basis in a transaction that is regarded for Federal income 
tax purposes.
    (C) Exclusion of certain disregarded payments. Paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section does not apply to the following payments, 
accruals, or other transfers between a foreign branch and its foreign 
branch owner, or between foreign branches, that are disregarded for 
Federal income tax purposes:
    (1) Interest, and interest equivalents that, if regarded, would be 
described in Sec. Sec.  1.861-9(b) and 1.861-9T(b);
    (2) Remittances from the foreign branch to its foreign branch 
owner, except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D) of this section;
    (3) Contributions of money, securities, and other property from the 
foreign branch owner to its foreign branch, except as provided in 
paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D) of this section; or
    (4) Any disregarded payment that, if made to a foreign branch and 
regarded for Federal income tax purposes, could not result in the 
attribution of gross income to a foreign branch (for example, the sale 
of an interest in a partnership by a foreign branch to its foreign 
branch owner, unless the sale or exchange occurred in the ordinary 
course of business within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(B) of 
this section).
    (D) Certain transfers of intangible property--(1) In general. For 
purposes of applying this paragraph (f)(2)(vi), the amount of gross 
income attributable to a foreign branch (and the amount of gross income 
attributable to its foreign branch owner) must be adjusted under the 
principles of paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B) of this section to reflect all 
transactions that are disregarded for Federal income tax purposes in 
which property described in section 367(d)(4) is transferred to or from 
a foreign branch or between foreign branches, whether or not a 
disregarded payment is made in connection with the transfer. In 
determining the amount of gross income that is attributable to a 
foreign branch that must be adjusted by reason of this paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(D), the principles of sections 367(d) and 482 apply. For 
example, if a foreign branch owner transfers property described in 
section 367(d)(4) to a foreign branch, the principles of section 367(d) 
are applied by treating the foreign branch as a separate foreign 
corporation to which the property is transferred in exchange for stock 
of the corporation in a transaction described in section 351. 
Similarly, if a foreign branch remits property described in section 
367(d)(4) to its foreign branch owner, the foreign branch is treated as 
having sold the transferred property to the foreign branch owner in 
exchange for annual payments contingent on the productivity or use of 
the property, the amounts of which are determined under the principles 
of section 367(d).
    (2) Transactions occurring before December 7, 2018. Paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(D)(1) of this section does not apply to a disregarded 
transfer of property that occurred before December 7, 2018.
    (3) Transitory ownership--(i) In general. Paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(D)(1) of this section does not apply to disregarded 
transfers of property by a foreign branch or a foreign branch owner 
(such foreign branch or foreign branch owner, the limited transferor), 
if the conditions in paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(D)(3)(ii) and (iii) of this 
section are met.
    (ii) Transitory ownership period. The limited transferor's 
ownership of the property is transitory.
    (iii) Use of property. The limited transferor does not develop, 
exploit, or otherwise employ the property in a trade or business, other 
than in the ordinary course of the limited transferor's business during 
the period of transitory ownership.
    (iv) Predecessors. For purposes of paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(D)(3)(ii) 
and (iii) of this section, a reference to a limited transferor that is 
a foreign branch owner includes any predecessor to the foreign branch 
owner. No person is a predecessor with respect to a foreign branch 
under this paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D)(3)(iv).
    (E) Amount of disregarded payments. The amount of each disregarded 
payment used to make an adjustment under this paragraph (f)(2)(vi) (or 
the absence of any adjustment) must be determined in a manner that 
results in the attribution of the proper amount of gross income to each 
of a foreign branch and its foreign branch owner under the principles 
of section 482, applied as if the foreign branch were a corporation.
    (F) Multiple disregarded payments. In the case of multiple 
disregarded payments, this paragraph (f)(2)(vi) is applied with respect 
to each disregarded payment, and under the ordering rules specified in 
paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(F)(1) and (2) of this section. For purposes of 
this paragraph (f)(2)(vi), paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(F)(1) of this section 
applies before paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(F)(2) of this section.
    (1) Income initially attributable to a foreign branch. In applying 
this paragraph (f)(2)(vi) to gross income that would, but for this 
paragraph (f)(2)(vi), be attributable to a foreign branch, adjustments 
related to disregarded payments from a foreign branch to another 
foreign branch are computed first, followed by adjustments related to 
disregarded payments from a foreign branch to its foreign branch owner, 
followed by adjustments related to disregarded payments from a foreign 
branch owner to its foreign branch.
    (2) Income initially attributable to a foreign branch owner. In 
applying this paragraph (f)(2)(vi) to gross income that would, but for 
this paragraph (f)(2)(vi), be attributable to a foreign branch owner, 
adjustments related to disregarded payments from a foreign branch owner 
to a foreign branch are computed first, followed by adjustments related 
to disregarded payments from a foreign branch to another foreign 
branch, followed by adjustments related to disregarded payments from a 
foreign branch to its foreign branch owner.
    (3) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of 
this paragraph (f).

[[Page 69084]]

    (i) Adjusted disregarded basis. The term adjusted disregarded basis 
means, with respect to property transferred in a transaction that is 
disregarded for Federal income tax purposes, the tentative disregarded 
basis of the property--
    (A) Reduced by any disregarded cost recovery deductions with 
respect to the property; and
    (B) Increased by any disregarded section 1016(a)(1) expenditures 
with respect to the property.
    (ii) Adjusted disregarded gain--(A) In general. The term adjusted 
disregarded gain means, with respect to property transferred in a 
transaction that is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes, the 
lesser of--
    (1) The adjusted disregarded basis of the property, reduced by the 
adjusted basis of the property at the time the property was transferred 
in a transaction that is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes; 
and
    (2) The gain (if any) attributable to a regarded sale or exchange 
of the transferred property.
    (B) Limitation. Adjusted disregarded gain may not be less than 
zero.
    (iii) Disregarded cost recovery deduction. For a taxable year, the 
term disregarded cost recovery deduction means, with respect to 
property transferred in a transaction that is disregarded for Federal 
income tax purposes--
    (A) The amounts that would be allowed as a deduction, and that 
would give rise to an adjustment described in section 1016(a)(2), with 
respect to the transferred property if the transfer (and the foreign 
branch) were regarded for Federal income tax purposes, to the extent 
that, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(1) of this section, the deduction 
would be allocable to--
    (1) Gross income attributable to a foreign branch owner, in the 
case of property transferred to a foreign branch owner; or
    (2) Gross income attributable to a foreign branch, in the case of 
property transferred to a foreign branch; reduced by
    (B) The amounts that are allowed as a deduction, and that give rise 
to an adjustment described in section 1016(a)(2), with respect to the 
transferred property to the extent that, under the principles of 
paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(1) of this section, the deduction would be 
allocable to--
    (1) Gross income attributable to a foreign branch owner, in the 
case of property transferred to a foreign branch owner; or
    (2) Gross income attributable to a foreign branch, in the case of 
property transferred to a foreign branch.
    (iv) Disregarded entity. The term disregarded entity means an 
entity described in Sec.  301.7701-2(c)(2) of this chapter that is 
disregarded as an entity separate from its owner for Federal income tax 
purposes.
    (v) Disregarded payment. The term disregarded payment means any 
amount described in paragraph (f)(3)(v)(A) or (B) of this section.
    (A) Transfers to or from a disregarded entity. An amount described 
in this paragraph (f)(3)(v)(A) is an amount that is transferred to or 
from a disregarded entity in connection with a transaction that is 
disregarded for Federal income tax purposes and that is reflected on 
the separate set of books and records of a foreign branch.
    (B) Other disregarded amounts. An amount described in this 
paragraph (f)(3)(v)(B) is any amount reflected on the separate set of 
books and records of a foreign branch that would constitute an item of 
income, gain, deduction, or loss (other than an amount described in 
paragraph (f)(3)(v)(A) of this section), a distribution to or 
contribution from the foreign branch owner, or a payment in exchange 
for property if the transaction to which the amount is attributable 
were regarded for Federal income tax purposes.
    (vi) Disregarded section 1016(a)(1) expenditure. The term 
disregarded section 1016(a)(1) expenditure means a disregarded payment 
that, if regarded for Federal income tax purposes, would be described 
in section 1016(a)(1) and that, under the principles of paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(B)(1) of this section, would be allocable to--
    (A) General category gross income, in the case of property held by 
a foreign branch owner; or
    (B) Foreign branch category income, in the case of property held by 
a foreign branch.
    (vii) Foreign branch--(A) In general. The term foreign branch means 
a qualified business unit (QBU), as defined in Sec.  1.989(a)-
1(b)(2)(ii) and (b)(3), that conducts a trade or business outside the 
United States. For an illustration of the principles of this paragraph 
(f)(3)(vii), see paragraph (f)(4)(i) of this section (Example 1).
    (B) Trade or business outside the United States. Activities carried 
out in the United States, whether or not such activities are described 
in Sec.  1.989(a)-1(b)(3), do not constitute the conduct of a trade or 
business outside the United States. Activities carried out outside the 
United States that constitute a permanent establishment under the terms 
of an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in 
which the activities are treated as carried out pursuant to a trade or 
business conducted outside the United States for purposes of this 
paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(B). In determining whether activities constitute 
a trade or business under Sec.  1.989(a)-1(c), disregarded payments are 
taken into account and may give rise to a trade or business, provided 
that the activities (together with any other activities of the QBU) 
would otherwise satisfy the rule in Sec.  1.989(a)-1(c).
    (C) Activities of a partnership, estate, trust, or corporation--(1) 
Treatment as a foreign branch. For purposes of this paragraph 
(f)(3)(vii), the activities of a partnership, estate, trust, or 
corporation that conducts a trade or business that satisfies the 
requirements of Sec.  1.989(a)-1(b)(2)(ii)(A) (as modified by paragraph 
(f)(3)(vii)(B) of this section) are--
    (i) Deemed to satisfy the requirements of Sec.  1.989(a)-
1(b)(2)(ii)(B); and
    (ii) Comprise a foreign branch.
    (2) Separate set of books and records. A foreign branch described 
in this paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(C) is treated as maintaining a separate 
set of books and records with respect to the activities described in 
paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(C)(1) of this section, and must determine, as the 
context requires, the items of gross income, disregarded payments, and 
any other items that would be reflected on those books and records in 
applying this paragraph (f) with respect to the foreign branch. The 
principles of Sec.  1.1503(d)-5(c) apply for purposes of determining 
which items would be reflected on such books and records.
    (viii) Foreign branch owner. The term foreign branch owner means, 
with respect to a foreign branch, the person (including a foreign or 
domestic partnership or other pass-through entity) that owns the 
foreign branch, either directly or indirectly through one or more 
disregarded entities. For purposes of this paragraph (f)(3)(viii), the 
foreign branch owner does not include the foreign branch or another 
foreign branch of the person that owns the foreign branch.
    (ix) Remittance. The term remittance means a transfer of property 
(within the meaning of section 317(a)) by a foreign branch that would 
be treated as a distribution if the foreign branch were treated as a 
separate corporation.
    (x) Tentative disregarded basis. The term tentative disregarded 
basis means, in connection with the transfer of property in a 
transaction that is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes, the 
basis that property would have if the disregarded payment made

[[Page 69085]]

in exchange for the transferred property were treated as the cost of 
such property under section 1012(a).
    (4) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (f).

    (i) Example 1: Determination of foreign branches and foreign 
branch owner--(A) Facts--(1) P, a domestic corporation, is a partner 
in PRS, a domestic partnership. All other partners in PRS are 
unrelated to P. PRS conducts activities solely in Country A (the 
Country A Business), and those activities constitute a trade or 
business outside the United States within the meaning of paragraph 
(f)(3)(vii)(B) of this section. PRS reflects items of income, gain, 
loss, and expense of the Country A Business on the books and records 
of PRS's home office. PRS is in the business of manufacturing 
bicycles.
    (2) PRS owns FDE1, a disregarded entity organized in Country B. 
FDE1 conducts activities in Country B (the Country B Business), and 
those activities constitute a trade or business outside the United 
States within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(B) of this 
section. FDE1 maintains a set of books and records that are separate 
from those of PRS, and the separate set of books and records 
reflects items of income, gain, loss, and expense with respect to 
the Country B Business. FDE1 is in the business of selling bicycles 
manufactured by PRS.
    (3) FDE1 owns FDE2, a disregarded entity organized in Country C. 
FDE2 conducts activities in Country C (the Country C Business), and 
those activities constitute a trade or business outside the United 
States within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(B) of this 
section. FDE2 maintains a set of books and records that are separate 
from those of PRS and FDE1, and the separate set of books and 
records reflects items of income, gain, loss, and expense with 
respect to the Country C Business. FDE2's paper business is not 
related to FDE1's bicycle sales business, and FDE1 does not hold its 
interest in FDE2 in the ordinary course of its trade or business.
    (B) Analysis--(1) Country A Business's activities comprise a 
trade or business conducted outside the United States within the 
meaning of Sec.  1.989(a)-1(b)(2)(ii)(A) and (b)(3) (in each case, 
as modified by paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section). PRS does not 
maintain a separate set of books and records with respect to the 
Country A Business. However, under paragraph (f)(3)(vii)(C) of this 
section, the Country A Business's activities are deemed to satisfy 
the requirement of Sec.  1.989(a)-1(b)(2)(ii)(B) that a QBU maintain 
a separate set of books and records with respect to the relevant 
activities. Thus, for purposes of this paragraph (f), the activities 
of the Country A Business constitute a QBU as defined in Sec.  
1.989-1(b)(2)(ii) and (b)(3), as modified by paragraph (f)(3)(vii) 
of this section, that conducts a trade or business outside the 
United States. Accordingly, the activities of the Country A Business 
constitute a foreign branch within the meaning of paragraph 
(f)(3)(vii) of this section. PRS, the person that owns the Country A 
Business, is the foreign branch owner, within the meaning of 
paragraph (f)(3)(viii) of this section, with respect to the Country 
A Business.
    (2) Country B Business's activities comprise a trade or business 
outside the United States within the meaning of Sec.  1.989(a)-
1(b)(2)(ii)(A) and (b)(3) (in each case, as modified by paragraph 
(f)(3)(vii) of this section). PRS maintains a separate set of books 
and records with respect to the Country B Business, as described in 
Sec.  1.989(a)-1(b)(2)(ii)(B). Thus, for purposes of this section, 
the activities of the Country B Business constitute a QBU as defined 
in Sec.  1.989-1(b)(2)(ii) and (b)(3), as modified by paragraph 
(f)(3)(vii) of this section, that conducts a trade or business 
outside the United States. Accordingly, the activities of the 
Country B Business constitute a foreign branch within the meaning of 
paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section. Under paragraph (f)(3)(viii) 
of this section, PRS, the person that owns the Country B Business 
indirectly through FDE1 (a disregarded entity), is the foreign 
branch owner with respect to the Country B Business.
    (3) The same analysis that applies to the Country B Business 
applies to the Country C Business. Accordingly, the activities of 
the Country C Business constitute a foreign branch within the 
meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section. PRS, the person 
that owns the Country C Business indirectly through FDE1 and FDE2 
(disregarded entities), is the foreign branch owner with respect to 
the Country C Business.
    (ii) Example 2: Sale of foreign branch--(A) Facts. The facts are 
the same as in paragraph (f)(4)(i)(A) of this section (the facts in 
Example 1), except that in Year 1, FDE1 sells FDE2 to an unrelated 
person, recording gain from the sale on its books and records. In 
Year 2, PRS sells FDE1 to another unrelated person, recording gain 
from the sale on its books and records. In each year, PRS allocates 
a portion of the gain to P.
    (B) Analysis--(1) Sale of FDE2. Under paragraph (f)(1)(i)(B) of 
this section, P's distributive share of gain recognized by PRS in 
connection with the sales of FDE1 and FDE2 constitutes foreign 
branch category income if it is attributable to a foreign branch 
held by PRS directly or indirectly through one or more disregarded 
entities. PRS's gross income from the Year 1 sale of FDE2 is 
reflected on the separate set of books and records maintained with 
respect to the Country B Business (a foreign branch) operated by 
FDE1. Therefore, absent an exception, under paragraph (f)(2)(i) of 
this section PRS's gross income from the sale of FDE2 would be 
attributable to the Country B Business, and would constitute foreign 
branch category income. However, under paragraph (f)(2)(iv) of this 
section, gross income attributable to the Country B Business does 
not include gain from the sale or exchange of an interest in FDE2, a 
disregarded entity, unless the interest in FDE2 is held by the 
Country B Business in the ordinary course of its active trade or 
business (within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(B) of this 
section). In this case, the Country B Business does not hold FDE2 in 
the ordinary course of its active trade or business within the 
meaning of paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(B) of this section. As a result, P's 
distributive share of gain from the sale of FDE2 is not attributable 
to a foreign branch, and is not foreign branch category income.
    (2) Sale of FDE1. The analysis of PRS's sale of FDE1 in Year 2 
is the same as the analysis for the sale of FDE2, except that PRS, 
through its Country A Business, holds FDE1 in the ordinary course of 
its active trade or business within the meaning of paragraph 
(f)(2)(iv)(B) of this section because the Country A Business engages 
in a trade or business that is related to the trade or business of 
FDE1. Therefore, P's distributive share of gain from the sale of 
FDE1 is attributable to a foreign branch, and is foreign branch 
category income.
    (iii) Example 3: Disregarded payment for services--(A) Facts. P, 
a domestic corporation, owns FDE, a disregarded entity that is a 
foreign branch within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this 
section. FDE's functional currency is the U.S. dollar. In Year 1, P 
accrues and records on its books and records (and not FDE's books 
and records) $1,000x of gross income from the performance of 
services to unrelated parties that is not passive category income, 
$400x of which is foreign source income in respect of services 
performed outside the United States by employees of FDE and $600x of 
which is U.S. source income in respect of services performed in the 
United States. Absent the application of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of 
this section, the $1,000x of gross income earned by P would be 
general category income that would not be attributable to FDE. FDE 
provides services in support of P's gross income from services. P 
compensates FDE for its services with an arm's length payment of 
$400x, which is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes. The 
deduction for the payment of $400x from P to FDE would be allocated 
to P's $1,000x of general category gross services income and 
apportioned entirely to the $400x of foreign source services income 
under Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 and 1.861-8T principles (treating foreign 
source general category gross income and U.S. source general 
category gross income each as a statutory grouping) if the payment 
were regarded for Federal income tax purposes.
    (B) Analysis. The disregarded payment from P, a United States 
person, to FDE, its foreign branch, is not recorded on FDE's 
separate books and records (as adjusted to conform to Federal income 
tax principles) within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this 
section because it is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes. 
However, the disregarded payment is allocable to gross income 
attributable to P because a deduction for the payment, if it were 
regarded, would be allocated and apportioned to the $400x of P's 
foreign source services income. Accordingly, under paragraphs 
(f)(2)(vi)(A) and (f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) of this section, the amount of 
gross income attributable to the FDE foreign branch (and the gross 
income attributable to P) is adjusted in Year 1 to take the 
disregarded payment into account. As such, $400x of P's foreign 
source gross income from the performance of services is attributable 
to the FDE foreign branch for purposes of this section. Therefore, 
$400x of the foreign source gross income that P earned with respect 
to its services in Year 1 constitutes gross income that is assigned 
to the foreign branch category.
    (iv) Example 4: Disregarded payment for non-inventory property--
(A) Facts. P, a

[[Page 69086]]

domestic corporation, owns FDE, a disregarded entity that is a 
foreign branch within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this 
section. FDE's functional currency is the U.S. dollar. P holds Asset 
A, a non-depreciable asset, with an adjusted basis of $200x. In Year 
1, P sells Asset A, which will be used in FDE's manufacturing 
business, to FDE for $500x. FDE makes no other disregarded payments 
with respect to Asset A. No adjustments described in section 1016(a) 
apply with respect to Asset A while FDE holds Asset A. In Year 3, 
FDE sells Asset A to a third party for $600x and reflects $400x of 
gross income on its separate set of books and records (that is, 
$600x amount realized less Asset A's $200x adjusted basis). Under 
sections 865(e)(1) and 904(d)(2)(B)(i), the income arising from the 
sale of Asset A is foreign source income that is not treated as 
passive category income. Asset A is not inventory property. Absent 
the application of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, the entire 
$400x of gross income earned by P by reason of FDE's sale of Asset A 
would be attributable to FDE and be treated as foreign branch 
category income.
    (B) Analysis--(1) Disregarded basis determinations. If regarded, 
the $500x payment from FDE to P would result in FDE holding Asset A 
with a basis of $500x under section 1012. Accordingly, the tentative 
disregarded basis (within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(x) of this 
section) with respect to Asset A is $500x. Because there are no 
adjustments described in section 1016 with respect to Asset A 
(including any adjustments resulting from any disregarded payments 
made with respect to the transferred property), the adjusted 
disregarded basis (within the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this 
section) with respect to Asset A is $500x.
    (2) Adjusted disregarded gain. Under paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of 
this section, the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to Asset A 
is $300x, which is equal to the lesser of $300x (FDE's adjusted 
disregarded basis in Asset A ($500x) less the adjusted basis of 
Asset A at the time that Asset A was transferred to FDE ($200x)) and 
$400x (the gain (if any) attributable to the regarded sale or 
exchange of Asset A).
    (3) Attribution of gross income. Under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) 
of this section, the gross income attributable to FDE ($400x) is 
adjusted downward to the extent that the $500x disregarded payment 
from FDE to P is allocable to gross income of FDE that is reflected 
on FDE's separate set of books and records. Under paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(B)(2)(ii) of this section, the $500x payment from FDE to 
P is allocable to gross income attributable to FDE to the extent of 
FDE's adjusted disregarded gain ($300x) with respect to Asset A. The 
source and separate category of the gross income of FDE to which the 
payment is allocable is proportionate to the source and separate 
category of the gain recognized by FDE with respect to Asset A. 
Accordingly, $300x of the payment is allocable to foreign source 
income that would be foreign branch category income. Thus, under 
paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(A) and (f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) of this section, 
foreign source gross income attributable to P is adjusted upward by 
$300x (increasing foreign source general category income by $300x) 
and foreign source gross income attributable to FDE is adjusted 
downward by $300x (decreasing foreign source foreign branch category 
income by $300x) in Year 3.
    (v) Example 5: Disregarded payment for depreciable non-inventory 
property--(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph 
(f)(4)(iv)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 4), except as 
set forth in this paragraph (f)(4)(v)(A). Asset A is depreciable 
property. In Year 2, P is entitled to a $20x depreciation deduction 
with respect to Asset A, $18x of which is allocated and apportioned 
to non-passive category gross income attributable to FDE under 
Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 1.861-14T and $2x of which is allocated 
and apportioned to passive category gross income under Sec. Sec.  
1.861-8 through 1.861-14T. If the transfer of Asset A were regarded 
for Federal income tax purposes, FDE would be entitled to a $50x 
depreciation deduction, 90% of which would be allocated and 
apportioned to non-passive category gross income attributable to FDE 
under Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 1.861-14T and 10% of which would be 
allocated and apportioned to passive category gross income under 
Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 1.861-14T. In Year 2, FDE earns $315x of 
gross income that it reflects on its books and records that, in the 
absence of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, would be foreign 
branch category income. FDE also earns $35x of passive category 
income in Year 2 from the non-active rental of a portion of Asset A. 
In Year 3, FDE reflects $420x of gross income on its separate set of 
books and records by reason of the sale of Asset A (that is, $600x 
amount realized less Asset A's $180x adjusted basis), $42x of which 
is passive category income under paragraph (b) of this section.
    (B) Analysis--(1) Attribution of gross income in Year 2. The 
disregarded payment from FDE to P in Year 1 is disregarded for 
Federal income tax purposes, and does not generate gross income. 
However, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(1)(ii) of this section, the 
disregarded payment is allocable to gross income attributable to FDE 
to the extent of any disregarded cost recovery deduction relating to 
that payment in Year 2. Under paragraph (f)(3)(iii) of this section, 
the disregarded cost recovery deduction with respect to Asset A is 
$30x, which is $50x (the amount that would be allowed as a 
deduction, and that would give rise to an adjustment described in 
section 1016(a)(2), with respect to Asset A if the transfer of Asset 
A to FDE were regarded for Federal income tax purposes, to the 
extent that the deduction would be allocable to income attributable 
to a foreign branch), reduced by $20x (the amount allowed as a 
deduction, and that gives rise to an adjustment described in section 
1016(a)(2), with respect to Asset A, to the extent allocable to 
income attributable to a foreign branch). If regarded, $27x (90% of 
$30x) of the disregarded cost recovery deduction would be allocated 
and apportioned to non-passive category gross income attributable to 
FDE under Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 1.861-14T and $3x (10% of $30x) 
would be allocated and apportioned to passive category gross income 
under Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 1.861-14T. Accordingly, under 
paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(A) and (f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) of this section, the 
$315x of non-passive category gross income that would otherwise be 
attributed to FDE is reduced to $288x ($315x less $27x), and the 
non-passive category gross income attributable to P is increased by 
$27x in Year 2. As a result, in Year 2, P's foreign branch category 
gross income is $288x, and its general category gross income is 
increased by $27x. P's passive category gross income is $35x. See 
paragraphs (f)(1)(ii) and (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section.
    (2) Attribution of gross income in Year 3--(i) Adjusted 
disregarded basis. If regarded, the $500x payment from FDE to P 
would result in FDE holding Asset A with a basis of $500x under 
section 1012. Accordingly, the tentative disregarded basis (within 
the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(x) of this section) with respect to 
Asset A is $500x. To determine FDE's adjusted disregarded basis with 
respect to Asset A under paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section, FDE's 
tentative disregarded basis is reduced by $30x (the disregarded cost 
recovery deduction with respect to Asset A), resulting in an 
adjusted disregarded basis of $470x.
    (ii) Adjusted disregarded gain. Under paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of 
this section, the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to Asset A 
is $270x, which is equal to the lesser of $270x (FDE's adjusted 
disregarded basis in Asset A ($470x) less the adjusted basis of 
Asset A at the time that Asset A was transferred to FDE ($200x)), 
and $420x (the gain attributable to the regarded sale or exchange of 
Asset A).
    (iii) Sale of Asset A. Under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this 
section, the gross income attributable to FDE ($420x) by reason of 
the sale of Asset A is adjusted downward to the extent that the 
$500x disregarded payment from FDE to P is allocable to gross income 
that would be attributable to FDE under paragraphs (f)(2)(i) through 
(v) of this section. Under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2)(ii) of this 
section, the $500x payment from FDE to P is allocable to gross 
income attributable to FDE to the extent of the adjusted disregarded 
gain with respect to Asset A, which is $270x. The source and 
separate category of the gross income of FDE to which that amount is 
allocable is proportionate to the source and separate category of 
the $420x of gain recognized on the regarded sale of Asset A ($378x 
of foreign source non-passive category income and $42x of foreign 
source passive category income). Consequently, under paragraphs 
(f)(2)(vi)(A) and (f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) of this section, in Year 3, gross 
income attributable to P is adjusted upward by $270x (increasing P's 
foreign source general category gross income by $243x, which bears 
the same proportion to $270x as the foreign source non-passive gain 
($378x) bears to P's overall gain with respect to Asset A ($420x)), 
and the foreign source gross income attributable to FDE is adjusted 
downward by $270x (with foreign source foreign branch category gross 
income reduced by $243x). P also has $42x of foreign source passive 
category income from the sale of Asset A. See paragraphs (f)(1)(ii) 
and (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section.

[[Page 69087]]

    (vi) Example 6: Disregarded payment for non-depreciable non-
inventory property--regarded gain limitation--(A) Facts. The facts 
are the same as in paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(A) of this section (the 
facts in Example 4), except that in Year 3, FDE sells Asset A to a 
third party for $340x and reflects $140x of gross income on its 
separate set of books and records (that is, $340x amount realized 
less Asset A's $200x adjusted basis), none of which is passive 
category income.
    (B) Analysis. The analysis is the same as the analysis in 
paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(B) of this section (the analysis in Example 4), 
except that in Year 3, the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to 
Asset A is $140x, which is equal to the lesser of $300x (FDE's 
adjusted disregarded basis in Asset A ($500x) less the adjusted 
basis of Asset A at the time that Asset A was transferred to FDE 
($200x)), and $140x (the gain attributable to the regarded sale or 
exchange of Asset A). Accordingly, under paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(A) 
and (f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) of this section, gross income attributable to P 
is adjusted upward by $140x (increasing P's foreign source general 
category gross income by $140x) and gross income attributable to FDE 
is adjusted downward by $140x (decreasing P's foreign source foreign 
branch category gross income by $140x) in Year 3.
    (vii) Example 7: Disregarded payment for non-depreciable non-
inventory property--loss--(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in 
paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 4), 
except that in Year 3, FDE sells Asset A to a third party for $175x 
and reflects a $25x loss on its separate set of books and records 
(that is, $175x amount realized less Asset A's $200x adjusted 
basis).
    (B) Analysis. The analysis is the same as the analysis in 
paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(B) of this section (the analysis in Example 4), 
except that in Year 3, the adjusted disregarded gain with respect to 
Asset A is $0x, which is equal to the lesser of $300x (FDE's 
adjusted disregarded basis in Asset A ($500x) less the adjusted 
basis of Asset A at the time that Asset A was transferred to FDE 
($200x)), and $0x (the gain attributable to the regarded sale or 
exchange of Asset A). Accordingly, gross income amounts attributable 
to P and FDE are not adjusted under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this 
section by reason of the transfer of Asset A from P to FDE.
    (viii) Example 8: Disregarded payment for non-depreciable non-
inventory property--disregarded gain limitation--(A) Facts. The 
facts are the same as in paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(A) of this section 
(the facts in Example 4), except that in Year 1, P sells Asset A to 
FDE for $65x.
    (B) Analysis. The analysis is the same as the analysis in 
paragraph (f)(4)(iv)(B) of this section (the analysis in Example 4), 
except that in Year 3, the tentative disregarded basis and the 
adjusted disregarded basis with respect to Asset A are $65x. Under 
paragraph (f)(3)(ii)(B) of this section, the adjusted disregarded 
gain with respect to Asset A is $0x. Accordingly, under paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, gross income amounts attributable to 
P and FDE are not adjusted under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this 
section by reason of the transfer of Asset A from P to FDE.
    (ix) Example 9: Application of the rules to the sale of 
inventory from a foreign branch owner to a foreign branch for 
distribution--(A) Facts. P, a domestic corporation, owns FDE, a 
disregarded entity that is a foreign branch within the meaning of 
paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section. FDE's functional currency is 
the U.S. dollar. P manufactures portable electronic devices, which 
it sells to FDE for $1,500x during a taxable year in a transaction 
that is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes. In the same 
taxable year, FDE sells the portable electronic devices to its 
customers for $1,750x. P uses an overall accrual method of 
accounting and has $1,300x of cost of goods sold for the taxable 
year, $1,200x of which were incurred prior to the disregarded sale 
to FDE and recorded on P's separate set of books and records and 
$100x of which were incurred after the disregarded sale and recorded 
on the books and records of FDE. P reports $450x of gross income for 
the taxable year: $1,750x of gross receipts less cost of goods sold 
of $1,300x. The $450x of gross income from the sale of portable 
electronic devices is U.S. source income under section 863(b).
    (B) Analysis--(1) In general. The gross receipts from the sale 
of portable electronic devices ($1,750x), which results in U.S. 
source gross income of $450x, is recorded on FDE's separate books 
and records (as adjusted to conform to Federal income tax 
principles). Therefore, the gross income ($450x) generally would be 
foreign branch category income under paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this 
section. However, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, the 
amount of gross income attributable to FDE (and the gross income 
attributable to P) is adjusted to take the disregarded payment for 
the portable electronic devices from FDE to P into account. If both 
FDE and the disregarded payment from FDE to P were recognized for 
Federal income tax purposes, the amount of the payment ($1,500x) 
would reduce FDE's gross income. Therefore, under paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(B)(2)(iii) of this section, the principles of paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(B)(2)(ii) of this section apply for purposes of 
determining whether, and to what extent, the disregarded payment is 
allocable to non-passive category income attributable to FDE for 
purposes of determining the extent of any adjustment.
    (2) Applying the principles of the tangible property rules to 
sales of inventory. The principles of paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(2)(ii) 
of this section are applied by treating the cost of goods sold with 
respect to expenses recorded on P's separate set of books and 
records ($1,200x) similarly to the adjusted basis at the time of the 
disregarded sale; the gross income ($450x) similarly to gain from 
the disposition of non-inventory property; and the lesser of the 
recognized gross income ($450x) and the disregarded payment less the 
cost of goods sold attributable to expenses reflected on P's 
separate set of books and records ($1,500x less $1,200x) similarly 
to disregarded gain ($300x). Accordingly, under paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, general category U.S. source gross 
income attributable to P is adjusted upward by $300x and the non-
passive category U.S. source gross income attributable to FDE is 
adjusted downward by $300x.
    (x) Example 10: Gross income initially attributable to a foreign 
branch--(A) Facts--(1) Overview. P, a domestic corporation, owns 
FDE, which is a disregarded entity that is a foreign branch within 
the meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section that has the 
U.S. dollar as its functional currency. P, which is a foreign branch 
owner with respect to FDE, also conducts a trade or business in the 
United States. During a single taxable year, P and FDE engage in the 
transactions described in paragraphs (f)(4)(x)(A)(2) and (3) of this 
section.
    (2) Unrelated party transactions. P, through its U.S. office, 
accrues and records on its books and records $5,000x of gross income 
from the performance of accounting services for Customer A, an 
unrelated party (the Customer A services). The gross income from the 
Customer A services performed by P is non-passive category income 
and, under section 861(a)(3), is U.S. source income. Absent the 
application of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, the gross 
income earned by P through its U.S. office would be general category 
income. FDE accrues and records on its books and records $3,400x of 
gross income from the performance of web design services for 
Customer B, an unrelated party (the Customer B services). The gross 
income from the Customer B services performed by FDE is non-passive 
category income and, under section 862(a)(3), is foreign source 
income. Absent the application of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this 
section, the $3,400x of gross income earned by FDE would be foreign 
branch category income.
    (3) Disregarded payments. FDE provides web design services to P. 
As compensation for those services, P pays $300x to FDE. The 
deduction for P's payment to FDE (if regarded) would be allocable to 
the $5,000x of general category U.S. source gross income earned from 
P's performance of the Customer A services. P provides accounting 
services to FDE from P's U.S. office. As compensation for those 
services, FDE pays $300x to P. The deduction for FDE's payment to P 
(if regarded) would be allocable to the $3,400x of non-passive 
category foreign source gross income earned from FDE's performance 
of the Customer B services.
    (B) Analysis--(1) Application of multiple disregarded payments 
rule. Under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(F) of this section, paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi) of this section applies to determine the effects of the 
disregarded payments described in paragraph (f)(4)(x)(A)(3) of this 
section on gross income initially attributable to FDE before 
paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section is applied to gross income 
initially attributable to P.
    (2) Disregarded payment from FDE to P. The disregarded payment 
from FDE to P is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes, and 
does not generate gross income. However, the disregarded payment is 
allocable to non-passive category gross income attributable to FDE 
because a deduction for the payment, if it were regarded, would be 
allocated to FDE's $3,400x of non-passive category foreign source 
gross services income under Sec.  1.861-8. Under paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, the amount of non-passive category 
foreign source gross income attributable to

[[Page 69088]]

FDE is adjusted downward, and the amount of general category foreign 
source gross income attributable to P (in its capacity as a foreign 
branch owner) is adjusted upward, to take the disregarded payment 
into account. Thus, $300x of FDE's foreign source gross income 
relating to the Customer B services is attributable to P for 
purposes of this section, and $3,100x of that income is attributable 
to FDE.
    (3) Disregarded payment from P to FDE. The disregarded payment 
from P to FDE is not recorded on FDE's separate books and records 
(as adjusted to conform to Federal income tax principles) within the 
meaning of paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section because it is 
disregarded for Federal income tax purposes. However, the 
disregarded payment is allocable to general category U.S. source 
gross income attributable to P because a deduction for the payment, 
if it were regarded, would be allocated to P's $5,000x of general 
category U.S. source gross services income under Sec.  1.861-8. 
Accordingly, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, the 
amount of general category U.S. source gross income attributable to 
P is adjusted downward, and the amount of non-passive category U.S. 
source gross income attributable to FDE is adjusted upward, to take 
the disregarded payment into account. Thus, $300x of P's U.S. source 
gross income from the performance of Customer A services is 
attributable to FDE for purposes of this section, and $4,700x of 
that income is attributable to P.
    (xi) Example 11: Ordering rule--(A) Facts--(1) Overview. P, a 
domestic corporation, owns FDE1 and FDE2, each of which is a 
disregarded entity that is a foreign branch within the meaning of 
paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section that has the U.S. dollar as 
its functional currency. P, which is a foreign branch owner with 
respect to FDE1 and FDE2, also conducts a trade or business in the 
United States. During a single taxable year, P, FDE1, and FDE2 
engage in the transactions described in paragraphs (f)(4)(xi)(A)(2) 
and (3) of this section.
    (2) Unrelated party transactions. FDE1 accrues and records on 
its books and records $1,000x of gross income from the performance 
of services for Customer A, an unrelated party (the Customer A 
services). The gross income from the Customer A services performed 
by FDE is non-passive category income and, under section 862(a)(3), 
is foreign source income. Absent the application of paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi) of this section, the $1,000x of non-passive foreign 
source gross income earned by FDE1 would be foreign branch category 
income. FDE2 accrues and records on its books and records $1,100x of 
gross income from royalties received from Customer B, an unrelated 
party (the Customer B royalties) on licensed intangible property 
developed by FDE2 and used by Customer B in the United States. The 
gross income from the Customer B royalties is non-passive category 
income and under section 861(a)(4) is U.S. source income. Absent the 
application of paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, the $1,100x of 
non-passive category U.S. source gross income earned by FDE2 would 
be foreign branch category income.
    (3) Disregarded payments. FDE2 provides services to FDE1. As 
compensation for those services, FDE1 pays $200x to FDE2. The 
deduction for FDE1's payment to FDE2 (if regarded) would be 
allocable to the $1,000x of non-passive category foreign source 
gross income earned from the Customer A services. P provides 
services to FDE2 from P's U.S. office. As compensation for those 
services, FDE2 pays $50x to P. The deduction for FDE2's payment to P 
(if regarded) would be allocable to the non-passive category foreign 
source gross income attributable to FDE2 (see paragraph 
(f)(4)(xi)(B)(1) of this section) relating to gross income from the 
Customer A services.
    (B) Analysis--(1) Disregarded payment from FDE1 to FDE2. The 
$1,000x of gross income earned by FDE1 from the Customer A services 
would, but for paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of this section, be attributable 
to FDE1 (a foreign branch). Accordingly, under paragraph 
(f)(2)(vi)(F)(1) of this section, adjustments related to disregarded 
payments from FDE1 to FDE2 are computed before adjustments related 
to disregarded payments from FDE2 to P (in its capacity as a foreign 
branch owner). The disregarded payment from FDE1 to FDE2 is not 
recorded on FDE2's separate books and records (as adjusted to 
conform to Federal income tax principles) within the meaning of 
paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section because it is disregarded for 
Federal income tax purposes. However, the disregarded payment is 
allocable to gross income attributable to FDE1 because a deduction 
for the payment, if it were regarded, would be allocated to FDE1's 
$1,000x of non-passive category foreign source gross services income 
under Sec.  1.861-8. Accordingly, under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of 
this section, the amount of non-passive category foreign source 
gross income attributable to FDE1 is adjusted downward, and the 
amount of non-passive category foreign source gross income 
attributable to FDE2 is adjusted upward, to take the disregarded 
payment into account. Thus, $200x of FDE1's non-passive category 
foreign source gross income from the performance of Customer A 
services is attributable to FDE2 for purposes of this section, and 
$800x of that income is attributable to FDE1.
    (2) Disregarded payment from FDE2 to P. The disregarded payment 
from FDE2 to P is disregarded for Federal income tax purposes, and 
does not generate gross income. However, the disregarded payment is 
allocable to gross income attributable to FDE2 because a deduction 
for the payment, if it were regarded, would be allocated to FDE2's 
$200x of non-passive category foreign source gross services income 
under Sec.  1.861-8. Under paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(A) of this section, 
the amount of non-passive category foreign source gross income 
attributable to FDE2 is adjusted downward, and the amount of general 
category foreign source gross income attributable to P is adjusted 
upward, to take the $50x disregarded payment into account. Thus, 
$50x of non-passive category foreign source gross income relating to 
the Customer A services is attributable to P for purposes of this 
section, $150x of that income is attributable to FDE2, and $800x of 
that income remains attributable to FDE1. FDE2's $1,100x of U.S. 
source royalty income is not adjusted under paragraph (f)(2)(vi) of 
this section and remains foreign branch category income.
    (xii) Example 12: Application of intangible property rules--(A) 
Facts. P, a domestic corporation that has a calendar taxable year, 
owns FDE, a disregarded entity that is a foreign branch within the 
meaning of paragraph (f)(3)(vii) of this section. FDE's functional 
currency is the U.S. dollar. Asset A, a patent with a useful life 
ending on December 31, Year 2, was obtained with respect to a 
discovery that was made by FDE in the course of its trade or 
business and was used in that trade or business until December 31, 
Year 1. On December 31, Year 1, FDE remits Asset A to P and receives 
no consideration. Asset A has an adjusted basis of $0. In Year 2, P 
uses Asset A to generate general category gross income. P earns 
$1,000x of general category U.S. source gross income in Year 2, 
including the income generated by its use of Asset A. If FDE were a 
domestic corporation, P were a foreign corporation, and Asset A had 
been transferred in exchange for stock in a transaction described in 
section 351, such that section 367(d) applied by its terms (but all 
other facts remained the same), the payment determined under section 
367(d) for Year 2 would be $300x. A disregarded payment for the use 
of Asset A, if it were regarded, would be allocated to FDE's $1,000x 
of general category U.S. source gross income under Sec.  1.861-8.
    (B) Analysis. The remittance of Asset A by FDE to P is a 
transfer of intangible property described in section 367(d)(4) from 
a foreign branch to its foreign branch owner. The facts in paragraph 
(f)(4)(xii)(A) of this section do not implicate an exception in 
paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D)(2) or (3) of this section. Therefore, this 
is a transaction to which paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(D)(1) of this section 
applies. The foreign branch is treated as having sold the 
transferred property to the foreign branch owner in exchange for 
annual payments contingent on the productivity or use of the 
property, the amount of which for Year 2 is determined under the 
principles of section 367(d) to be $300x. Thus, in Year 2, P is 
treated as making a $300x disregarded payment to FDE. The payment 
would be allocable to general category U.S. source income under 
paragraph (f)(2)(vi)(B)(1)(i) of this section. Therefore, $300x of 
P's non-passive category U.S. source gross income is attributable to 
FDE under paragraphs (f)(2)(vi)(A) and (f)(2)(vi)(B)(3) of this 
section. P has $700x of general category U.S. source gross income 
and $300x of foreign branch category U.S. source gross income in 
Year 2.

    (g) Section 951A category income--(1) In general. Except as 
provided in paragraph (g)(2) of this section, the term section 951A 
category income means amounts included (directly or indirectly through 
a pass-through entity) in gross income of a United States person under 
section 951A(a).
    (2) Exceptions for passive category income. Section 951A category 
income does not include any amounts included under section 951A(a) that 
are allocable

[[Page 69089]]

to passive category income under Sec.  1.904-5(c)(6).
    (h) * * *
    (2) Treatment of export financing interest. Except as provided in 
paragraph (h)(3) of this section, if a taxpayer (including a financial 
services entity) receives or accrues export financing interest from an 
unrelated person, then that interest is not treated as passive category 
income. Instead, the interest income is treated as foreign branch 
category income, section 951A category income, general category income, 
or income in a specified separate category under the rules of this 
section.
* * * * *
    (4) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
paragraph (h)(3) of this section.

    (i) Example 1. Controlled foreign corporation CFC is a wholly-
owned subsidiary of domestic corporation USP. CFC is not a financial 
services entity and has accumulated cash reserves. USP has 
uncollected trade and service receivables of foreign obligors. USP 
sells the receivables at a discount (``factors'') to CFC. The income 
derived by CFC on the receivables is related person factoring 
income. The income is also export financing interest. Because the 
income is related person factoring income, the income is passive 
category income to CFC.
    (ii) Example 2. Domestic corporation USS is a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of domestic corporation USP. USS is not a financial 
services entity, does not have any foreign qualified business 
entities, and has accumulated cash reserves. USP has uncollected 
trade and service receivables of foreign obligors. USP factors the 
receivables to USS. The income derived by USS on the receivables is 
related person factoring income. The income is also export financing 
interest. The income will be passive category income to USS.
    (iii) Example 3. The facts are the same as in paragraph 
(h)(4)(ii) of this section (the facts in Example 2), except that 
instead of factoring USP's receivables, USS finances the sales of 
USP's goods by making loans to the purchasers of USP's goods. The 
interest derived by USS on these loans is export financing interest 
and is not related person factoring income. The income will be 
general category income to USS.

    (5) Income eligible for section 864(d)(7) exception (same country 
exception) from related person factoring treatment--(i) Income other 
than interest. If any foreign person receives or accrues income that is 
described in section 864(d)(7) (income on a trade or service receivable 
acquired from a related person in the same foreign country as the 
recipient) and such income would also meet the definition of export 
financing interest if section 864(d)(1) applied to such income (income 
on a trade or service receivable acquired from a related person treated 
as interest), then the income is considered to be export financing 
interest and is not treated as passive category income. The income is 
treated as foreign branch category income, section 951A category 
income, general category income, or income in a specified separate 
category under the rules of this section.
    (ii) Interest income. If export financing interest is received or 
accrued by any foreign person and that income would otherwise be 
treated as related person factoring income of a controlled foreign 
corporation under section 864(d)(6) if section 864(d)(7) did not apply, 
section 904(d)(2)(B)(iii)(I) applies and the interest is not treated as 
passive category income. The income is treated as general category 
income in the hands of the controlled foreign corporation.
    (iii) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application 
of this paragraph (h)(5):

    (A) Example 1. CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, is a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of domestic corporation USP. CFC2, a 
controlled foreign corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
CFC1. CFC1 and CFC2 are incorporated in Country M. In Year 1, USP 
sells tractors to CFC2, which CFC2 sells to X, an unrelated foreign 
corporation organized in Country M. The tractors are to be used in 
Country M. CFC2 uses a substantial part of its assets in its trade 
or business located in Country M. CFC2 has uncollected trade 
receivables from X that it factors to CFC1. The income is not 
related person factoring income because it is described in section 
864(d)(7) (income eligible for the same country exception) and is 
tested income. If section 864(d)(1) applied, the income CFC1 derived 
from the receivables would meet the definition of export financing 
interest. The income, therefore, is considered to be export 
financing interest and is general category income to CFC1 and may be 
section 951A category income to USP.
    (B) Example 2. CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, is a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of domestic corporation, USP. CFC2, a 
controlled foreign corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
CFC1. CFC1 and CFC2 are incorporated in Country M. In Year 1, USP 
sells tractors to CFC2, which CFC2 sells to X, a foreign partnership 
that is organized in Country M and is related to CFC1 and CFC2. CFC1 
makes a loan to X to finance the tractor sales. The interest earned 
by CFC1 from financing the sales is described in section 864(d)(7) 
and is export financing interest and is tested income. Therefore, 
the income is general category income to CFC1 and may be section 
951A category income to USP.

* * * * *
    (k) Separate category under section 904(d)(6) or 865(h) for items 
resourced under treaties--(1) Section 904(d)(6)--(i) In general. Except 
as provided in paragraph (k)(1)(iv)(A) of this section, sections 
904(a), (b), (c), (d), (f), and (g) and sections 907 and 960 are 
applied separately to any item of income that, without regard to a 
treaty obligation of the United States, would be treated as derived 
from sources within the United States, but under a treaty obligation of 
the United States such item of income would be treated as arising from 
sources outside the United States, and the taxpayer chooses the 
benefits of such treaty obligation.
    (ii) Aggregation of items of income in each other separate 
category. For purposes of applying the general rule of paragraph (k)(1) 
of this section, items of income in each other separate category of 
income that are resourced under each applicable treaty are aggregated 
in a single separate category for income in that separate category that 
is resourced under that treaty. For example, all items of passive 
category income that would otherwise be treated as derived from sources 
within the United States but which the taxpayer chooses to treat as 
arising from sources outside the United States pursuant to a provision 
of a bilateral U.S. income tax treaty are treated as income in a 
separate category for passive category income resourced under the 
particular treaty, and the high-tax kickout grouping rules of paragraph 
(c) of this section are applied separately to the groups of passive 
income included in that separate category. Any items of resourced high-
taxed passive income are assigned to a separate category for general 
(or other) category income resourced under a tax treaty. Items of 
income described in paragraph (k)(1) of this section are not combined 
with other income that is foreign source income under the Code, even if 
the other income arises from sources within the jurisdiction with which 
the United States has a bilateral income tax treaty (``treaty 
jurisdiction'') and is included in the same separate category to which 
the resourced income would be assigned without regard to section 
904(d)(6). Items of income described in paragraph (k)(1) of this 
section are also not combined with other items of resourced income that 
are subject to a separate limitation by reason of a Code provision 
other than section 904(d)(6).
    (iii) Related taxes. Foreign taxes, including foreign taxes paid to 
a foreign jurisdiction other than the treaty jurisdiction on an item of 
resourced income, are allocated to each separate category described in 
paragraph (k)(1)(ii) of this section in accordance with Sec.  1.904-6.
    (iv) Coordination with certain income tax treaty provisions--(A) 
Exception for

[[Page 69090]]

special relief from double taxation for individual residents of treaty 
jurisdictions. Section 904(d)(6)(A) and paragraph (k)(1) of this 
section do not apply to any item of income deemed to be from foreign 
sources by reason of the relief from double taxation rules in any U.S. 
income tax treaty that is solely applicable to U.S. citizens who are 
residents of the other Contracting State.
    (B) U.S. competent authority assistance. For purposes of applying 
paragraph (k)(1) of this section, if, under the mutual agreement 
procedure provisions of an applicable income tax treaty, the U.S. 
competent authority agrees to allow a taxpayer to treat an item of 
income as foreign source income, where such item of income would 
otherwise be treated as derived from sources within the United States, 
then the taxpayer is considered to have chosen the benefits of such 
treaty obligation to treat the item as foreign source income.
    (v) Coordination with other Code provisions. Section 904(d)(6)(A) 
and paragraph (k)(1) of this section do not apply to any item of income 
to which any of section 245(a)(10), 865(h), or 904(h)(10) applies. See 
also paragraph (l) of this section.
    (2) Section 865(h). If any gain, as defined in section 
865(h)(2)(A)(i), would be treated as derived from sources within the 
United States under section 865, but pursuant to a treaty obligation of 
the United States such gain would be treated as arising from sources 
outside the United States, and the taxpayer chooses the benefits of 
such treaty obligation, then that gain will be treated as foreign 
source income. However, sections 904(a), (b), (c), (d), (f), and (g) 
and sections 907 and 960 are applied separately to amounts described in 
the preceding sentence with respect to each treaty under which the 
taxpayer has claimed benefits and, within each treaty, to each separate 
category of income. The principles of the rules in paragraphs 
(k)(1)(ii) through (iv) of this section apply to gains, and foreign 
taxes on gains, that are subject to a separate limitation under section 
865(h).
    (l) Priority rule. Income that meets the definitions of a specified 
separate category and another category of income described in section 
904(d)(1) is subject to the separate limitation described in paragraph 
(m) of this section and is not treated as general category income, 
foreign branch category income, passive category income, or section 
951A category income.
    (m) Income treated as allocable to a specified separate category. 
If section 904(a), (b), and (c) are applied separately to any category 
of income under the Internal Revenue Code (for example, under section 
245(a)(10), 865(h), 901(j), 904(d)(6), or 904(h)(10)), that category of 
income is treated for all purposes of the Internal Revenue Code as if 
it were a separate category listed in section 904(d)(1). For purposes 
of this section, a separate category that is treated as if it were 
listed in section 904(d)(1) by reason of the first sentence in this 
paragraph (m) is referred to as a specified separate category.
    (n) Income from partnerships and other pass-through entities--(1) 
Distributive shares of partnership income--(i) In general. Except as 
provided in paragraph (n)(1)(ii) of this section, a partner's 
distributive share of partnership income is characterized as passive 
category income to the extent that the distributive share is a share of 
income earned or accrued by the partnership in the passive category. A 
partner's distributive share of partnership income that is not 
described in the first sentence of this paragraph (n) is treated as 
foreign branch category income, general category income, or income in a 
specified separate category under the rules of this section. The 
principles of the rules in this paragraph (n)(1)(i) also apply to 
characterize a person's share of income from any other pass-through 
entity.
    (ii) Less than 10 percent partners partnership interests--(A) In 
general. Except as provided in paragraph (n)(1)(ii)(B) of this section, 
if any limited partner owns less than 10 percent of the value in a 
partnership, the partner's distributive share of partnership income 
from the partnership is passive income to the partner (subject to the 
exception for high-taxed income under section 904(d)(2)(B)(iii)(II) and 
paragraph (c) of this section), and the partner's distributive share of 
partnership deductions from the partnership is allocated and 
apportioned under the principles of Sec.  1.861-8 only to the partner's 
passive income from that partnership. See also Sec.  1.861-9(e)(4) for 
rules for apportioning partnership interest expense.
    (B) Exception for partnership interest held in the ordinary course 
of business. If a partnership interest described in paragraph 
(n)(1)(ii)(A) of this section is held in the ordinary course of a 
partner's active trade or business, the rules of paragraph (n)(1)(i) of 
this section apply for purposes of characterizing the partner's 
distributive share of the partnership income. A partnership interest is 
considered to be held in the ordinary course of a partner's active 
trade or business if the partner (or a member of the partner's 
affiliated group of corporations (within the meaning of section 1504(a) 
and without regard to section 1504(b)(3))) engages (other than through 
a less than 10 percent interest in a partnership) in the same or a 
related trade or business as the partnership.
    (2) Income from the sale of a partnership interest--(i) In general. 
To the extent a partner recognizes gain on the sale of a partnership 
interest, that income shall be treated as passive income to the 
partner, subject to the exception for high-taxed income under section 
904(d)(2)(B)(iii)(II) and paragraph (c) of this section.
    (ii) Exception for sale by 25-percent owner. Except as provided in 
paragraph (f)(2)(iv) of this section, in the case of a sale of an 
interest in a partnership by a partner that is a 25-percent owner of 
the partnership, determined by applying section 954(c)(4)(B) and 
substituting ``partner'' for ``controlled foreign corporation'' every 
place it appears, for purposes of determining the separate category to 
which the income recognized on the sale of the partnership interest is 
assigned such partner is treated as selling the proportionate share of 
the assets of the partnership attributable to such interest.
    (3) Value of a partnership interest. For purposes of paragraphs 
(n)(1) and (2) of this section, a partner will be considered as owning 
10 percent of the value of a partnership for a particular year if the 
partner, together with any person that bears a relationship to the 
partner described in section 267(b) or 707, owns 10 percent of the 
capital and profits interest of the partnership. For purposes of this 
paragraph (n)(3), value will be determined at the end of the 
partnership's taxable year.
    (4) Example. The following example illustrates the application of 
this paragraph (n).

    (i) Facts. PRS is a domestic partnership. PRS has two general 
partners, A and B. A and B each have a greater than 10% interest in 
PRS. PRS also has two limited partners, C and D. C has a 50% 
interest in the partnership and D has a 9% interest. D's partnership 
interest is not held in the ordinary course of business. A, B, C and 
D are all United States persons. In Year 1, PRS has $100x of general 
category non-subpart F income on which it pays no foreign tax.
    (ii) Analysis. Under paragraph (n)(1)(i) of this section, A's, 
B's, and C's distributive shares of PRS's income are not passive 
category income. Under paragraph (n)(1)(ii)(A) of this section, 
because D is a limited partner with a less than 10% interest in PRS, 
D's distributive share of PRS's income is passive category income.

    (o) Separate category of section 78 gross up. The amount included 
in income under section 78 by reason of taxes deemed paid under section 
960 is

[[Page 69091]]

assigned to the separate category to which the taxes are allocated 
under Sec.  1.904-6(b).
    (p) Separate category of foreign currency gain or loss. Foreign 
currency gain or loss recognized under section 986(c) with respect to a 
distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits (as described in 
section 959 or 1293(c)) is assigned to the separate category or 
categories of the previously taxed earnings and profits from which the 
distribution is made. See Sec.  1.987-6(b) for rules on assigning 
section 987 gain or loss on a remittance from a section 987 QBU to a 
separate category or categories.
    (q) Applicability dates. This section applies for taxable years 
that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 
4, 2018.

0
Par. 21. Section 1.904-5 is amended by:
0
1. Revising paragraphs (a), (b), and (c)(1).
0
2. Revising the third and fourth sentences and adding a sentence to the 
end of paragraph (c)(2)(i).
0
3. Removing the language ``noncontrolled section 902 corporation'' and 
adding the language ``noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation'' in its place in the heading and text of paragraph 
(c)(2)(iii).
0
4. Revising paragraphs (c)(2)(v) and (c)(3).
0
5. In paragraph (c)(4)(i):
0
i. Revising the first sentence.
0
ii. Removing the language ``paragraph'' and adding the language 
``paragraph (c)(4)'' in its place in the second sentence.
0
6. Revising paragraph (c)(4)(iii).
0
7. Removing paragraph (c)(4)(iv).
0
8. Adding paragraphs (c)(5), (6), and (7).
0
9. Revising paragraphs (d)(1), (2), and (3) and (e)(2).
0
10. Removing and reserving paragraph (f)(1).
0
11. Removing paragraph (f)(3).
0
12. In paragraph (g):
0
i. Removing the language ``section 904(d)(3) and this section'' and 
adding the language ``paragraph (c) of this section'' in its place in 
the first sentence.
0
ii. Removing the language ``United States corporation'' and adding the 
language ``domestic corporation'' wherever it appears.
0
iii. Removing the last sentence.
0
13. Revising paragraph (h).
0
14. In paragraph (i)(1):
0
i. Removing the language ``paragraphs (i)(2), (3), and (4)'' and adding 
the language ``paragraphs (i)(2) and (3)'' in its place in the first 
sentence.
0
ii. In the second sentence:
0
A. Removing the language ``noncontrolled section 902 corporation'' and 
adding the language ``noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation''.
0
B. Removing the language ``paragraph (i)(4)'' and adding the language 
``paragraph (i)(3)'' in its place.
0
iii. Revising the sixth and seventh sentences.
0
15. Revising paragraph (i)(2) and (3).
0
16. Removing and reserving paragraph (i)(4).
0
17. Revising paragraph (i)(5).
0
18. Removing the last sentence of paragraph (j).
0
19. Adding the language ``under Sec.  1.904-4'' after the language 
``characterized'' in the first sentence of paragraph (k)(1).
0
20. Revising paragraphs (k)(2)(iii) and (l).
0
21. In paragraph (m)(1):
0
i. Removing the language ``noncontrolled section 902 corporations'' and 
adding the language ``noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporations'' in its place and removing the language ``noncontrolled 
section 902 corporation'' and adding the language ``noncontrolled 10-
percent owned foreign corporation'' in its place.
0
ii. Removing the language ``or amount treated as a dividend, 
including'' and adding the language ``which, for purposes of this 
paragraph (m), includes'' in its place in the third sentence.
0
iii. Removing the language ``951(a)(1)(A),'' and adding the language 
``951(a)(1)(A), 951A(a),'' in its place in the fourth sentence.
0
22. Revising paragraphs (m)(2)(ii), (m)(3), and (m)(4)(i).
0
23. Removing paragraph (m)(4)(iii).
0
24. Revising the heading of paragraph (m)(5), the first sentence of 
paragraph (m)(5)(i), and paragraph (m)(5)(ii).
0
25. Removing the language ``section 902(a) and section 960(a)(1)'' and 
adding the language ``section 960'' in its place in paragraph (m)(6).
0
26. In paragraph (m)(7)(i):
0
i. Removing the language ``904(g)(6)'' and ``904(g)'' from the first 
sentence and adding the language ``904(h)(6)'' and ``904(h)'' in its 
place, respectively.
0
ii. Removing the language ``(d) and (f)'' from the second sentence and 
adding the language ``(d), (f), and (g)'' in its place and removing the 
language ``902,''.
0
27. Revising paragraph (m)(7)(ii).
0
28. In paragraph (n):
0
i. Removing the language ``noncontrolled section 902 corporation'' and 
adding the language ``noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation'' in its place, and by removing the language ``section 
904(d)(1)'' and adding ``Sec.  1.904-4'' in its place in the first 
sentence.
0
ii. Revising the last sentence.
0
29. Revising paragraph (o).
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.904-5   Look-through rules as applied to controlled foreign 
corporations and other entities.

    (a) Scope and definitions--(1) Look-through rules under section 
904(d)(3) to passive category income. Paragraph (c) of this section 
provides rules for determining the extent to which dividends, interest, 
rents, and royalties received or accrued by certain eligible persons, 
and inclusions under sections 951(a)(1) and 951A(a), are treated as 
passive category income. Paragraph (g) of this section provides rules 
applying the principles of paragraph (c) of this section to foreign 
source interest, rents, and royalties paid by a domestic corporation to 
a related corporation. Paragraph (h) of this section provides rules for 
assigning a partnership payment to a partner described in section 707 
to the passive category. Paragraph (i) of this section provides rules 
applying the principles of this section to assign distributions and 
payments from certain related entities to the passive category or to 
treat the distributions and payments as not in the passive category.
    (2) Other look-through rules under section 904(d). Under section 
904(d)(4) and paragraph (c)(4)(iii) of this section, certain dividends 
from noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporations are treated as 
income in a separate category. Under section 904(d)(3)(H) and paragraph 
(j) of this section, certain inclusions under section 1293 are treated 
as income in a separate category. Paragraph (i) of this section 
provides rules applying the principles of this section to assign 
distributions from certain related entities to separate categories.
    (3) Other rules provided in this section. Paragraph (b) of this 
section provides operative rules for this section. Paragraph (d) of 
this section provides rules addressing exceptions to passive category 
income for certain purposes in the case of controlled foreign 
corporations that meet the requirements of section 954(b)(3)(A) (de 
minimis rule) or section 954(b)(4) (high-tax exception). Paragraph (e) 
of this section provides rules for characterizing a controlled foreign 
corporation's foreign base company income and gross insurance income 
when section 954(b)(3)(B) (full inclusion rule) applies. Paragraph (f) 
of

[[Page 69092]]

this section modifies the look-through rules for certain types of 
income. Paragraph (k) of this section provides ordering rules for 
applying the look-through rules. Paragraph (l) of this section provides 
examples illustrating the application of certain rules in this section. 
Paragraphs (m) and (n) of this section provide rules related to the 
resourcing rules described in section 904(h).
    (4) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following 
definitions apply:
    (i) The term controlled foreign corporation has the meaning given 
such term by section 957 (taking into account the special rule for 
certain captive insurance companies contained in section 953(c)).
    (ii) The term look-through rules means the rules described in this 
section that assign income to a separate category based on the separate 
category of the income to which it is allocable.
    (iii) The term noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation 
has the meaning provided in section 904(d)(2)(E)(i).
    (iv) The term pass-through entity means a partnership, S 
corporation, or any other person (whether domestic or foreign) other 
than a corporation to the extent that the income or deductions of the 
person are included in the income of one or more direct or indirect 
owners or beneficiaries of the person. For example, if a domestic trust 
is subject to Federal income tax on a portion of its income and its 
owners are subject to tax on the remaining portion, the domestic trust 
is treated as a domestic pass-through entity with respect to such 
remaining portion.
    (v) The term separate category means, as the context requires, any 
category of income described in section 904(d)(1)(A), (B), (C), or (D), 
any specified separate category of income as defined in Sec.  1.904-
4(m), or any category of earnings and profits to which income described 
in such provisions is attributable.
    (vi) The term United States shareholder has the meaning given such 
term by section 951(b) (taking into account the special rule for 
certain captive insurance companies contained in section 953(c)), 
except that for purposes of this section, a United States shareholder 
includes any member of the controlled group of the United States 
shareholder. For purposes of this paragraph (a)(4)(vi), the controlled 
group is any member of the affiliated group within the meaning of 
section 1504(a)(1) except that ``more than 50 percent'' is substituted 
for ``at least 80 percent'' wherever it appears in section 1504(a)(2). 
When used in reference to a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation described in section 904(d)(2)(E)(i)(II), the term United 
States shareholder also means a taxpayer that meets the stock ownership 
requirements described in section 904(d)(2)(E)(i)(II).
    (b) Operative rules--(1) Assignment of income not assigned under 
the look-through rules. Except as provided by the look-through rules, 
dividends, interest, rents, and royalties received or accrued by a 
taxpayer from a controlled foreign corporation in which the taxpayer is 
a United States shareholder are excluded from passive category income. 
Income excluded from the passive category under this paragraph (b)(1) 
is assigned to another separate category (other than the passive 
category) under the rules in Sec.  1.904-4.
    (2) Priority and ordering of look-through rules. Except as provided 
in this paragraph (b)(2), to the extent the look-through rules assign 
income to a separate category, the income is assigned to that separate 
category rather than the separate category to which the income would 
have been assigned under Sec.  1.904-4 (not taking into account Sec.  
1.904-4(l)). See paragraph (k) of this section for ordering rules for 
applying the look-through rules. However, passive income that is 
financial services income is assigned to a separate category under the 
rules in Sec.  1.904-4(e)(1), (f)(1), and (l), regardless of whether 
the look-through rules otherwise would have assigned such income to the 
passive category.
    (c) * * * (1) Scope. Subject to the exceptions in paragraph (f) of 
this section, paragraphs (c)(2) through (6) (other than paragraph 
(c)(4)(iii) of this section) of this section provide look-through rules 
with respect to interest, rents, royalties, dividends, and inclusions 
under sections 951(a)(1) and 951A(a) that are received or accrued from 
a controlled foreign corporation in which the taxpayer is a United 
States shareholder. Paragraph (c)(4)(iii) of this section provides a 
look-through rule for dividends received from a noncontrolled 10-
percent owned foreign corporation by a domestic corporation that is a 
United States shareholder in the foreign corporation.
    (2) * * * (i) * * * Related person interest is treated as passive 
category income to the extent it is allocable to passive category 
income of the controlled foreign corporation. If related person 
interest is received or accrued from a controlled foreign corporation 
by two or more persons, the amount of interest received or accrued by 
each person that is allocable to passive category income is determined 
by multiplying the amount of related person interest allocable to 
passive category income by a fraction. * * * Solely for purposes of 
assigning interest income to a separate category under section 
904(d)(3) and the look-through rule in this paragraph (c)(2), the rules 
in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section for allocating and apportioning 
interest expense of a controlled foreign corporation apply for purposes 
of characterizing interest income in the hands of the recipient, even 
if a deduction for the interest expense is deferred or disallowed to 
the controlled foreign corporation.
* * * * *
    (v) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (c)(2).

    (A) Example 1--(1) CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. In Year 1, 
CFC earns $200x of foreign personal holding company income that is 
passive category income. CFC also earns $100x of foreign base 
company sales income that is general category income. CFC has 
$2,000x of passive category assets and $2,000x of general category 
assets. In Year 1, CFC makes a $150x interest payment to USP with 
respect to a $1,500x loan from USP. CFC also pays $100x of interest 
to an unrelated person on a $1,000x loan from that person. CFC has 
no other expenses. CFC uses the asset method to apportion interest 
expense.
    (2) Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, the $150x 
related person interest payment is allocable to CFC's passive 
category foreign personal holding company income. Therefore, the 
$150x interest payment is passive category income to USP. Because 
the entire related person interest payment is allocated to passive 
category income under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, none 
of the related person interest payment is apportioned to general 
category income under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(D) of this section. Under 
paragraph (c)(2)(iv)(B) of this section, the entire amount of the 
related person debt is allocable to passive category assets ($1,500x 
= $1,500x x $150x/$150x). Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of this 
section, $20x of the interest expense paid to an unrelated person is 
apportioned to passive category income ($20x = $100x x ($2,000x - 
$1,500x)/($4,000x - $1,500x)), and $80x of the interest expense paid 
to an unrelated person is apportioned to general category income 
($80x = $100x x $2,000x/($4,000x - $1,500x)).
    (B) Example 2. The facts are the same as in paragraph 
(c)(2)(v)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that 
CFC uses the modified gross income method to apportion interest 
expense. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of this section, the 
unrelated person interest expense is apportioned based on gross 
income. Therefore, $33x of interest expense paid to an unrelated 
person is apportioned to CFC's passive category income ($33x = $100x 
x ($200x - $150x)/($300x - $150x)) and $67x of interest expense paid 
to an unrelated person is

[[Page 69093]]

apportioned to CFC's general category income ($67x = $100x x $100x/
($300x - $150x)).
    (C) Example 3--(1) The facts are the same as in paragraph 
(c)(2)(v)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that 
CFC has an additional $50x of third person interest expense that is 
directly allocated to income from a specific property that produces 
only passive category income. The principal amount of indebtedness 
to which the interest relates is $500x. CFC also has $50x of 
additional non-interest expenses that are not definitely related 
expenses and that are apportioned on an asset basis.
    (2) Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(B) of this section, the $50x of 
directly allocated third person interest is first allocated to 
reduce the passive category income of CFC. Under paragraph 
(c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, the $150x of related person interest 
is allocated to the remaining $150x of passive category income. 
Under paragraph (c)(2)(iv)(B) of this section, all of the related 
person debt is allocated to passive category assets ($1,500x = 
$1,500x x $150x/$150x).
    (3) Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of this section, the non-
interest expenses that are not definitely related are apportioned on 
the basis of the asset values reduced by the allocated related 
person debt. Therefore, $10x of these expenses are apportioned to 
the passive category ($50x x ($2,000x - $1,500x)/($4,000x - 
$1,500x)) and $40x are apportioned to the general category ($50x x 
$2,000x/($4,000x - $1,500x)).
    (4) In order to apportion third person interest (that was not 
directly allocated third person interest) between the categories of 
assets, the value of assets in a separate category must also be 
reduced under the principles of Sec.  1.861-8 by the indebtedness 
relating to the specifically allocated interest. Therefore, under 
paragraph (c)(2)(iv)(B) of this section, the value of assets in the 
passive category for purposes of apportioning the additional third 
person interest = 0 ($2,000x minus $500x (the principal amount of 
the debt, the interest payment on which is directly allocated to 
specific interest-producing properties) minus $1,500x (the related 
person debt allocated to passive category assets)). Under paragraph 
(c)(2)(ii)(E) of this section, all $100x of the non-definitely 
related third person interest expense is apportioned to the general 
category ($100x = $100x x $2,000x/($4,000x - $500x - $1,500x)).
    (D) Example 4--(1) CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. In Year 1, 
CFC earns $100x of foreign personal holding company income that is 
passive category income. CFC also earns $100x of foreign base 
company sales income that is general category income. CFC has 
$1,000x of general category assets and $1,000x of passive category 
assets. In Year 1, CFC makes a $150x interest payment to USP on a 
$1,500x loan from USP and has $20x of general and administrative 
expenses (G & A) that under the principles of Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 
through 1.861-14T is treated as directly allocable to all of CFC's 
gross income. CFC also makes a $25x interest payment to an unrelated 
person on a $250x loan from the unrelated person. CFC has no other 
expenses. CFC uses the asset method to apportion interest expense. 
CFC uses the modified gross income method to apportion G & A.
    (2) Under paragraph (c)(2)(iv)(B) of this section, related 
person debt allocated to passive category assets equals $1,000x 
($1,000x = $1,500x x $100x/$150x).Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of 
this section, $100x of the interest payment to USP is allocable to 
CFC's passive category foreign personal holding company income. 
Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(D) of this section, the additional $50x 
of related person interest expense is apportioned to CFC's general 
category income ($50x = $50x x $1,000x/$1,000x).
    (3) Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of this section, none of the 
$25x of interest expense paid to an unrelated person is apportioned 
to passive category income ($0 = $25x x ($1,000x - $1,000x)/($2,000x 
- $1,000x)). All $25x of the interest expense paid to an unrelated 
person is apportioned to general category income ($25x = $25x x 
$1,000x/($2,000x - $1,000x)). Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of this 
section, none of the G & A is allocable to CFC's passive category 
foreign personal holding company income ($0 = $20x x ($100x - 
$100x)/($200x - $100x)). All $20x of the G & A is apportioned to 
CFC's general category income ($20x = $20x x $100x/($200x - $100x)).
    (E) Example 5. The facts are the same as in paragraph 
(c)(2)(v)(D) of this section (the facts in Example 4), except that 
CFC uses the modified gross income method to apportion interest 
expense. As in paragraph (c)(2)(v)(D) of this section (Example 4), 
$100x of the interest payment to USP is allocated to passive 
category income under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section. Under 
paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(D) of this section, the additional $50x of 
related person interest expense is apportioned to general category 
income ($150x--100x x $100x/$100x). Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(E) of 
this section, none of the unrelated person interest expense and none 
of the G & A is apportioned to passive category income, because 
after the application of paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, no 
income remains in the passive category.
    (F) Example 6. CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation, is a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation. 
CFC1 is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. 
CFC1 and CFC2 are incorporated in the same country. In Year 1, USP 
sells tractors to CFC2, which CFC2 sells to X, a foreign corporation 
that is related to both CFC1 and CFC2 and is organized in the same 
country as CFC1 and CFC2. CFC1 makes a loan to x to finance the 
tractor sales. Assume that the interest earned by CFC1 from 
financing the sales is export financing interest that is neither 
related person factoring income nor foreign personal holding company 
income. Under Sec.  1.904-4(h), the export financing interest earned 
by CFC1 is, therefore, general category income. CFC1 earns no other 
income. CFC1 makes a $100x interest payment to USP. The $100x of 
interest paid is not allocable under the look-through rules and 
paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section to passive category income of 
CFC1. The income is general category income to USP.

    (3) Rents and royalties. Any rents or royalties received or accrued 
from a controlled foreign corporation in which the taxpayer is a United 
States shareholder are treated as passive category income to the extent 
they are allocable to passive category income of the controlled foreign 
corporation under the principles of Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 1.861-
14T.
    (4) * * * (i) * * * Except as provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this 
section, any dividend paid or accrued out of the earnings and profits 
of any controlled foreign corporation is treated as passive category 
income in proportion to the ratio of the portion of earnings and 
profits attributable to passive category income to the total amount of 
earnings and profits of the controlled foreign corporation. * * *
* * * * *
    (iii) Look-through rule for dividends from noncontrolled 10-percent 
owned foreign corporations--(A) In general. Except as provided in 
paragraph (c)(4)(iii)(B) of this section, any dividend that is 
distributed by a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation and 
received or accrued by a domestic corporation that is a United States 
shareholder of such foreign corporation is treated as income in a 
separate category in proportion to the ratio of the portion of earnings 
and profits attributable to income in such category to the total amount 
of earnings and profits of the noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation.
    (B) Inadequate substantiation. A dividend distributed by a 
noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation is treated as income 
in the separate category described in section 904(d)(4)(C)(ii) if the 
Commissioner determines that the look-through characterization of the 
dividend cannot reasonably be determined based on the available 
information.
    (5) Inclusions under section 951(a)(1)(A). Any amount included in 
gross income under section 951(a)(1)(A) is treated as passive category 
income to the extent the amount included is attributable to income 
received or accrued by the controlled foreign corporation that is 
passive category income. All other amounts included in gross income 
under section 951(a)(1)(A) are treated as general category income or 
income in a specified separate category under the rules in Sec.  1.904-
4. For rules concerning a distributive share of partnership income, see 
Sec.  1.904-4(n). For rules concerning the gross up under section 78, 
see Sec.  1.904-4(o). For rules concerning inclusions under section

[[Page 69094]]

951(a)(1)(B), see paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section.
    (6) Inclusions under section 951A(a). Any amount included in gross 
income under section 951A(a) is treated as passive category income to 
the extent the amount included is attributable to income received or 
accrued by the controlled foreign corporation that is passive category 
income. All other amounts included in gross income under section 
951A(a) are treated as section 951A category income or income in a 
specified separate category under the rules in Sec.  1.904-4. For rules 
concerning a distributive share of partnership income, see Sec.  1.904-
4(n). For rules concerning the gross up under section 78, see Sec.  
1.904-4(o).
    (7) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
paragraph (c) of this section.

    (i) Example 1--(A) Facts. CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, 
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. In Year 
1, CFC earns $100x of net income, $85x of which is general category 
foreign base company sales income and $15x of which is passive 
category foreign personal holding company income. No foreign tax is 
imposed on the income. CFC's income of $100x is subpart F income 
taxed currently to USP under section 951(a)(1)(A).
    (B) Analysis. Because $15x of the subpart F inclusion is 
attributable to passive category income of CFC, under section 
904(d)(3)(B) and paragraph (c)(5) of this section $15x of the 
subpart F inclusion is passive category income to USP. The remaining 
$85x subpart F inclusion is general category income to USP.
    (ii) Example 2--(A) Facts. CFC1, a controlled foreign 
corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic 
corporation. CFC2 is a controlled foreign corporation wholly owned 
by CFC1 and is incorporated and operates all of its business in the 
same country as CFC1. All of CFC2's earnings and profits are 
attributable to passive category foreign personal holding company 
income. USP elects to exclude CFC2's income from subpart F income 
under section 954(b)(4). In Year 1, CFC2 makes a distribution to 
CFC1 and CFC1 makes a distribution to USP, all of which is 
attributable to Year 1 earnings and profits. CFC1 has no earnings 
and profits in Year 1 other than those received from CFC2.
    (B) Analysis--(1) With respect to the dividend from CFC2 to 
CFC1, such amount is not subpart F income. See section 954(c)(3). 
Under section 904(d)(3)(D) and (E) and paragraphs (c)(4) and (d)(2) 
of this section the dividend income is not passive category income 
and therefore under Sec.  1.904-4 it is general category income to 
CFC1. Under section 951A(c)(2)(A)(i)(IV), such dividend income is 
not tested income.
    (2) With respect to the dividend from CFC1 to USP, under section 
904(d)(3)(D) and (E) and paragraphs (c)(4) and (d)(2) of this 
section, such dividend income is not passive category income and 
therefore under Sec.  1.904-4 is general category income to USP.
    (iii) Example 3--(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in 
paragraph (c)(7)(ii)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 2), 
except that CFC1 receives interest income from CFC2 instead of 
dividend income.
    (B) Analysis. Under section 904(d)(3)(C) and paragraph (c)(2)(i) 
of this section, the interest income is passive category income to 
CFC1 because such interest is properly allocable to the passive 
category income of CFC2. The interest income from CFC2 is subpart F 
income of CFC1 taxable to USP because such income reduces the 
subpart F income of CFC2 or such interest is properly allocable to 
the subpart F income of CFC2. See section 954(c)(3) and (6). Under 
section 904(d)(3)(B) and paragraph (c)(5) of this section, the 
subpart F inclusion is passive category income to USP. Under section 
959(a), the distribution from CFC1 to USP is excluded from USP's 
gross income.
    (iv) Example 4--(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in 
paragraph (c)(7)(iii)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 3), 
except that USP elects to exclude CFC1's interest income from 
subpart F income under section 954(b)(4).
    (B) Analysis. Under section 904(d)(3)(D) and (E) and paragraphs 
(c)(4) and (d)(2) of this section, the distribution from CFC1 to USP 
is not a passive category dividend and therefore under Sec.  1.904-4 
is general category income to USP.
    (v) Example 5--(A) Facts. The facts are the same as in paragraph 
(c)(7)(iv)(A) of this section (the facts in Example 4), except that 
USP receives interest income from CFC1 instead of dividend income.
    (B) Analysis. Under section 904(d)(3)(C) and paragraph (c)(2)(i) 
of this section, the interest income is passive category income to 
USP because such interest is properly allocable to passive category 
income of CFC1.

    (d) * * * (1) De minimis amount of subpart F income. If the sum of 
a controlled foreign corporation's gross foreign base company income 
(determined under section 954(a) without regard to section 954(b)(5)) 
and gross insurance income (determined under section 953(a)) for the 
taxable year is less than the lesser of 5 percent of gross income or 
$1,000,000, then none of that income is treated as passive category 
income. In addition, if the test in the first sentence of this 
paragraph (d)(1) is satisfied, for purposes of paragraphs (c)(2)(ii)(D) 
and (E) of this section (apportionment of interest expense to passive 
income using the asset method), any passive assets are not treated as 
passive category assets but are treated as assets in the general 
category or a specified separate category. The determination in the 
first sentence of this paragraph (d)(1) is made before the application 
of the exception for certain income subject to a high rate of foreign 
tax described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section.
    (2) Exception for certain income subject to high foreign tax. 
Except as provided in Sec.  1.904-4(c)(7)(iii) (relating to reductions 
in tax upon distribution), for purposes of the dividend look-through 
rule of paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section, an item of net income that 
would otherwise be passive category income (after application of the 
priority rules of Sec.  1.904-4(l)) and that is received or accrued by 
a controlled foreign corporation is not treated as passive category 
income, and the earnings and profits attributable to such income is not 
treated as passive category earnings and profits, if the taxpayer 
establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary under section 
954(b)(4) that the income was subject to an effective rate of income 
tax imposed by a foreign country greater than 90 percent of the maximum 
rate of tax specified in section 11 (with reference to section 15, if 
applicable). Such income is treated as general category income or 
income in a specified separate category under the rules in Sec.  1.904-
4. The first sentence of this paragraph (d)(2) has no effect on amounts 
(other than dividends) paid or accrued by a controlled foreign 
corporation to a United States shareholder of such controlled foreign 
corporation to the extent those amounts are allocable to passive 
category income of the controlled foreign corporation.
    (3) Example. The following example illustrates the application of 
this paragraph (d).

    (i) Facts. CFC, a controlled foreign corporation, is a wholly-
owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. In Year 1, CFC 
earns $100x of gross income, $4x of which is interest that is 
foreign personal holding company income and $96x of which is gross 
manufacturing income that is not subpart F income. CFC has no other 
earnings for Year 1. CFC has no expenses and pays no foreign taxes.
    (ii) Analysis. Under the de minimis rule of section 954(b)(3)(A) 
and Sec.  1.954-1(b)(1)(i), none of CFC's income is treated as 
foreign base company income. All of CFC's income, therefore, is 
treated as general category income and tested income. In Year 1, USP 
has a GILTI inclusion amount with respect to CFC. Such amount is 
section 951A category income to USP.

    (e) * * *
    (2) Example. The following example illustrates the application of 
this paragraph (e).

    (i) Facts. Controlled foreign corporation CFC is a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. CFC earns $100x, $75x of 
which is foreign personal holding company income and $25x of which 
is non-subpart F services income. CFC's gross and net income are 
equal.
    (ii) Analysis. Under the 70 percent full inclusion rule of 
section 954(b)(3)(B), the entire $100x is foreign base company 
income currently taxable to USP under section 951. Because $75x of 
the $100x section 951 inclusion is attributable to CFC's passive

[[Page 69095]]

category income, $75x of the inclusion is passive category income to 
USP. The remaining $25x of the inclusion is treated as general 
category income to USP.

* * * * *
    (h) Application of look-through rules to payments from a 
partnership or other pass-through entity. Payments to a partner 
described in section 707 (e.g., payments to a partner not acting in 
capacity as a partner) are characterized as passive category income to 
the extent that the payment is attributable under the principles of 
Sec.  1.861-8 and this section to passive category income of the 
partnership, if the payments are interest, rents, or royalties that 
would be characterized under the controlled foreign corporation look-
through rules of paragraph (c) of this section if the partnership were 
a foreign corporation, and the partner who receives the payment owns 10 
percent or more of the value of the partnership (as determined under 
Sec.  1.904-4(n)(3)). A payment by a partnership to a member of the 
controlled group (as defined in paragraph (a)(4)(vi) of this section) 
of the partner is characterized under the look-through rules of this 
paragraph (h) if the payment would be a section 707 payment entitled to 
look-through treatment if it were made to the partner. The rules in 
this paragraph (h) do not apply with respect to interest to the extent 
the interest income is assigned to a separate category under the 
downstream partnership loan rules described in Sec.  1.861-9(e)(8). The 
principles of the rules in this paragraph (h) apply to characterize a 
payment from any other pass-through entity.
    (i) * * * (1) * * * For purposes of this paragraph (i)(1), indirect 
ownership of stock is determined under section 318. In the case of a 
partnership or other pass-through entity, indirect ownership and value 
is determined under the rules in paragraph (i)(2) of this section.
    (2) Indirect ownership and value of a partnership interest. A 
person is considered as owning, directly or indirectly, more than 50 
percent of the value of a partnership if the person, together with any 
other person that bears a relationship to the first person that is 
described in section 267(b) or 707, owns more than 50 percent of the 
capital and profits interests of the partnership. For purposes of this 
paragraph (i)(2), value will be determined at the end of the 
partnership's taxable year. The principles of this paragraph (i)(2) 
apply with respect to a person that owns a pass-through entity other 
than a partnership.
    (3) Special rule for dividends between certain foreign 
corporations. Solely for purposes of dividend payments between 
controlled foreign corporations, noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporations, or a controlled foreign corporation and a noncontrolled 
10-percent owned foreign corporation, the two foreign corporations are 
considered related look-through entities if the same person is a United 
States shareholder of both foreign corporations.
* * * * *
    (5) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (i):

    (i) Example 1. USP, a domestic corporation, owns all of the 
stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1 owns 40% of 
the stock of CFC2, a Country X corporation that is a controlled 
foreign corporation. The remaining 60% of the stock of CFC2 is owned 
by V, a domestic corporation, unrelated to USP. The percentages of 
value and voting power of CFC2 owned by CFC1 and V correspond to 
their percentages of stock ownership. CFC2 owns 40% (by vote and 
value) of the stock of CFC3, a Country Z corporation that is a 
controlled foreign corporation. The remaining 60% of CFC3 is owned 
by unrelated United States persons. CFC3 earns exclusively general 
category income that is neither subpart F income nor tested income. 
In Year 1, CFC3 makes an interest payment of $100x to CFC2. Look-
through principles do not apply because CFC2 and CFC3 are not 
related look-through entities under paragraph (i)(1) of this section 
(because CFC2 does not own more than 50% of the voting power or 
value of CFC3). The interest is passive category income to CFC2 and 
is subpart F income of CFC2 that is taxable to USP and V. Under 
paragraph (c)(5) of this section, USP and V's subpart F inclusion 
with respect to CFC2 is passive category income.
    (ii) Example 2. The facts are the same as in paragraph (i)(5)(i) 
of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that instead of a 
$100x interest payment, CFC3 pays a $50x dividend to CFC2 in Year 1. 
USP and V each own, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the 
voting power of all classes of stock of both CFC2 and CFC3, and, 
therefore, CFC2 and CFC3 have the same United States shareholders. 
Pursuant to paragraph (i)(3) of this section, because CFC2 and CFC3 
have a common United States shareholder, for purposes of applying 
this section to the dividend from CFC2 to CFC3, CFC2 and CFC3 are 
treated as related look-through entities. Therefore, look-through 
principles apply. Because CFC3 has no passive category income or 
earnings and profits, the dividend income is characterized as 
general category income to CFC2. The dividend is subpart F income of 
CFC2 that is taxable to USP and V. Under paragraph (c)(5) of this 
section, the subpart F inclusions of USP and V are not passive 
category income to USP and V and therefore under Sec.  1.904-4 the 
subpart F inclusions are general category income to USP and V.
    (iii) Example 3. The facts are the same as in paragraph 
(i)(5)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that CFC3 
pays both a $100x interest payment and a $50x dividend to CFC2, and 
CFC2 owns 80% (by vote and value) of CFC3. Under paragraph (i)(1) of 
this section, CFC2 and CFC3 are related look-through entities, 
because CFC2 owns more than 50% (by vote and value) of CFC3. 
Therefore, look-through principles apply to both the interest and 
dividend income paid or accrued by CFC3 to CFC2, and CFC2 treats 
both types of income as general category income because CFC3 does 
not have any passive category earnings. Under paragraph (c)(5) of 
this section and Sec.  1.904-4, the resulting subpart F inclusions 
are general category income to USP and V.
    (iv) Example 4. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 50% of the 
voting stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1 owns 
10% of the voting stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. 
The remaining 50% of the stock of CFC1 is owned by X. The remaining 
90% of the stock of CFC2 is owned by Y. X and Y are each United 
States shareholders of CFC2 but are not related to USP, CFC1, or 
each other. In Year 1, CFC2 pays a $100x dividend to CFC1. Under 
paragraph (i)(3) of this section because no person is a United 
States shareholder of both CFC1 and CFC2 (USP and X each own only 5% 
of CFC2), CFC1 and CFC2 are not related look-through entities. 
Because CFC2 is not a related person to CFC1 within the meaning of 
section 954(d)(3), section 954(c)(3) and (c)(6) are inapplicable, 
and the dividend is subpart F income of CFC1 that is taxable to USP 
and X. Therefore, under section 904(d)(2)(B)(i) and Sec.  1.904-
4(b)(2)(i)(A), because the dividend income is foreign personal 
holding company income, it is passive category income to CFC1.
    (v) Example 5. The facts are the same as in paragraph (i)(5)(iv) 
of this section (the facts in Example 4), except that X owns 10% of 
the voting stock of CFC2 and Y owns only 80% of the voting stock of 
CFC2. Because CFC2 is not a related person to CFC1 within the 
meaning of section 954(d)(3), the dividend is subpart F income of 
CFC1 that is taxable to USP and X. In addition, because X is a 
United States shareholder of both CFC1 and CFC2, CFC2 and CFC1 are 
related look-through entities under paragraph (i)(3) of this 
section, the dividend income is general category income to CFC1 and 
the subpart F inclusion is general category income to USP and X.

* * * * *
    (k) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) Inclusions under sections 951(a)(1)(A) and 951A(a) and 
distributive shares of partnership income;
* * * * *
    (l) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this section.

    (1) Example 1--(i) Facts. CFC1 and CFC2, controlled foreign 
corporations, are wholly-owned subsidiaries of USP, a domestic 
corporation. CFC1 and CFC2 are incorporated in two different foreign 
countries and CFC2 is a financial services entity. In Year 1, CFC1 
earns $100x of gross income that is passive category foreign 
personal holding company

[[Page 69096]]

income. CFC1's only expense is a $50x interest payment to CFC2. 
CFC1's $50x of pre-tax income is subject to $20x of foreign income 
tax, and USP elects to exclude CFC1's $30x of net income from 
subpart F income under section 954(b)(4).
    (ii) Analysis. The $50x of interest is foreign personal holding 
company income in CFC2's hands because section 954(c)(3)(A)(i) (same 
country exception for interest payments) and section 954(c)(6) do 
not apply, because the interest payment is allocable to and reduces 
CFC1's subpart F income. The $50x of interest income is also passive 
category income to CFC2 because CFC1 and CFC2 are related look-
through entities within the meaning of paragraph (i)(1) of this 
section and, therefore the look-through rules of paragraph (c)(2)(i) 
of this section apply to characterize the interest payment. However, 
because CFC2 is a financial services entity, under Sec.  1.904-
4(e)(1) and paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the income is treated 
as financial services income and therefore as general category 
income in CFC2's hands. Thus, with respect to CFC2, under Sec.  
1.904-4(d) and paragraph (c)(5) of this section, USP includes in its 
gross income a $50x general category inclusion under section 
951(a)(1)(A) attributable to the general category foreign personal 
holding company income.
    (2) Example 2--(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 75% 
of USS, a domestic corporation. USP and USS are not financial 
services entities. In Year 1, USS's earnings consist of $100x of 
foreign source passive income. USS makes a $100x foreign source 
royalty payment to USP.
    (ii) Analysis. Under paragraph (g) of this section, the royalty 
payment to USP is subject to the look-through rules of paragraph 
(c)(3) of this section and is characterized as passive category 
income the extent that it is allocable to such income in USS's 
hands.
    (3) Example 3--(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% 
of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, and CFC1 
owns 100% of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. 
CFC1 has $100x of passive foreign personal holding company income 
from unrelated persons and $100x of general category income. CFC1 
also has $50x of interest income from CFC2. CFC1 pays CFC2 $100x of 
interest.
    (ii) Analysis. Under paragraph (k)(2) of this section, the $100x 
interest payment from CFC1 to CFC2 is reduced for limitation 
purposes to the extent of the $50x interest payment from CFC2 to 
CFC1 before application of the rules in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this 
section. Therefore, the interest payment from CFC2 to CFC1 is 
disregarded. CFC1 is treated as if it paid $50x of interest to CFC2, 
all of which is allocable to CFC1's passive category foreign 
personal holding company income under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of 
this section. Therefore, under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, 
the $50x interest payment from CFC1 to CFC2 is passive category 
income.
    (4) Example 4--(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% 
of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1 owns 
100% of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation, and 
100% of the stock of CFC3, a controlled foreign corporation. In Year 
1, CFC2 pays CFC1 $5x of interest, CFC1 pays CFC3 $10x of interest, 
and CFC3 pays CFC2 $20x of interest.
    (ii) Analysis. Under paragraph (k)(2) of this section, the 
interest payments from CFC1 to CFC3 must be offset by the amount of 
interest that CFC1 is considered as receiving indirectly from CFC3 
and the interest payment from CFC3 to CFC2 is offset by the amount 
of the interest payment that CFC3 is considered as receiving 
indirectly from CFC2. The $10x payment by CFC1 to CFC3 is reduced by 
$5x, the amount of the interest payment from CFC2 to CFC1 that is 
treated as being paid indirectly by CFC3 to CFC1. Similarly, the 
$20x interest payment from CFC3 to CFC2 is reduced by $5x, the 
amount of the interest payment from CFC1 to CFC3 that is treated as 
being paid indirectly by CFC2 to CFC3. Therefore, under paragraph 
(k)(2) of this section, CFC2 is treated as having made no interest 
payment to CFC1, CFC1 is treated as having paid $5x of interest to 
CFC3, and CFC3 is treated as having paid $15x to CFC2.
    (5) Example 5--(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% 
of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, and CFC1 
owns 100% of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. In 
Year 1, CFC1 earns $100x of passive category foreign personal 
holding company income and $100x of general category non-subpart F 
sales income from unrelated persons and $100x of general category 
non-subpart F interest income from a related person. CFC1 pays $150x 
of interest to CFC2. CFC2 earns $200x of general category sales 
income from unrelated persons and the $150x interest payment from 
CFC1. CFC2 pays CFC1 $100x of interest. USP does not have an 
inclusion under section 951A.
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Under paragraph (k)(2) of this section, the 
$100x interest payment from CFC2 to CFC1 reduces the $150x interest 
payment from CFC1 to CFC2. CFC1 is treated as though it paid $50x of 
interest to CFC2. CFC2 is treated as though it made no interest 
payment to CFC1.
    (B) Under paragraph (k)(2)(ii) of this section, the remaining 
$50x interest payment from CFC1 to CFC2 is then characterized. The 
interest payment is first allocable under the rules of paragraph 
(c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section to CFC1's passive category income. 
Therefore, under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, the $50x 
interest payment to CFC2 is passive category income. The interest 
income is foreign personal holding company income in CFC2's hands. 
CFC2, therefore, has $50x of passive category subpart F income and 
$200x of general category non-subpart F income.
    (C) Under paragraph (k)(2)(iii) of this section, inclusions 
under section 951(a)(1)(A) are characterized next. USP has an 
inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) with respect to CFC1 of $50x 
that is attributable to passive category income of CFC1 and is 
treated as passive category income to USP. USP has an inclusion 
under section 951(a)(1)(A) with respect to CFC2 of $50x that is 
attributable to passive category income of CFC2 and is treated as 
passive category income to USP.
    (6) Example 6--(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% 
of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, and CFC1 
owns 100% of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. 
USP also owns 100% of the stock of CFC3, a controlled foreign 
corporation. CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 are all incorporated in different 
foreign countries. In Year 1, CFC1 earns $100x of passive category 
foreign personal holding company income and $200x of general 
category non-subpart F income from unrelated persons. CFC1 also 
receives a $150x distribution from CFC2. CFC1 pays $100x of interest 
to CFC2 and $100x of interest to CFC3. CFC3 earns $300x of general 
category non-subpart F income and the $100x of interest received 
from CFC1. CFC3 pays a $100x royalty to CFC2. The royalty is 
directly allocable to CFC3's general category income and the royalty 
is not subpart F income to CFC2. CFC2 earns the $100x interest 
payment received from CFC1 and the $100x royalty received from CFC3. 
USP does not have an inclusion under section 951A.
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Under paragraph (k)(2)(i) of this section, 
the royalty paid by CFC3 to CFC2 is characterized first. With 
respect to CFC2, the royalty is general category non-subpart F 
income.
    (B) Under paragraph (k)(2)(ii) of this section, the interest 
payments from CFC1 to CFC2 and CFC3 are characterized next. Under 
paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, the interest payments are 
first allocable to CFC1's passive category income. Therefore, under 
paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, $50x of the interest payment to 
CFC2 is passive category income and $50x of the interest payment to 
CFC3 is passive category income. The remaining $50x paid to CFC2 is 
general category income and the remaining $50x paid to CFC3 is 
general category income. Because $100x of the interest income 
received or accrued from CFC1 is properly allocable to income of 
CFC1 which is not subpart F income, under section 954(c)(6) the 
general category interest income is not treated as foreign personal 
holding company income to CFC2 and CFC3. The remaining $100x of 
interest income received or accrued from CFC1 is passive category 
subpart F foreign personal holding company income to both 
recipients. Therefore, CFC3 and CFC2 each have $50x of passive 
category subpart F foreign personal holding company income related 
to the interest received from CFC1.
    (C) Under paragraph (k)(2)(iii) of this section, USP's $50x 
inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) with respect to CFC2 is 
characterized next. Under paragraph (c)(5) of this section, USP's 
inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) is attributable to the passive 
category portion of the interest income received by CFC2 from CFC1 
and is passive category income to USP. Under paragraph (k)(2)(iii) 
of this section, USP's $50x inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) 
with respect to CFC3 is also characterized next. Under paragraph 
(c)(5) of this section, USP's inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) 
is attributable to the passive category portion of the interest 
income received by CFC3 from CFC2 and is passive category income to 
USP.
    (D) Under paragraph (k)(2)(iv) of this section, the $150x 
distribution from CFC2 to CFC1 is characterized next. The first $50x 
of the distribution is out of passive category

[[Page 69097]]

earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2). The remaining 
$100x of the distribution is a dividend that is not attributable to 
CFC2's passive category income, so under paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this 
section it is general category income to CFC1 in its entirety. 
Because $100x of the dividend received or accrued from CFC2 is 
attributable to income of CFC2 which is not subpart F income, under 
section 954(c)(6) such dividend income is not treated as foreign 
personal holding company income of CFC1.
    (7) Example 7--(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% 
of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation, and CFC1 
owns 100% of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. 
USP also owns 100% of the stock of CFC3, a controlled foreign 
corporation. CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 are all incorporated in different 
foreign countries. In Year 1, CFC2 earns $100x of general category 
income that is not subpart F income and distributes the entire 
amount to CFC1 as a dividend. CFC1 earns $100x of passive category 
foreign personal holding company income and the $100x dividend from 
CFC2. CFC1 pays $100x of interest to CFC3. CFC3 earns $200x of 
general category income that is foreign base company income and the 
$100x of interest income from CFC1. USP does not have an inclusion 
under section 951A.
    (ii) Analysis. This transaction does not involve circular 
payments and, therefore, the ordering rules of paragraph (k)(2) of 
this section do not apply. Instead, pursuant to paragraph (k)(1) of 
this section, income received is characterized first. CFC2's 
earnings and, thus, the dividend from CFC2 to CFC1 are characterized 
first. Under paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section, CFC1 includes the 
$100x dividend from CFC2 in gross income as general category income 
because none of CFC2's earnings are passive category income. CFC1 
thus has $100x of passive category foreign personal holding company 
income and $100x of general category income that is excluded from 
subpart F income under section 954(c)(6)(A). The interest payment 
from CFC1 to CFC3 is then characterized as $100x passive category 
income under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section because it is 
allocable to passive foreign personal holding company income of 
CFC1. For Year 1, CFC3 thus has $200x of general category income 
that is subpart F income, and $100x of passive category foreign 
personal holding company income. For Year 1, under Sec.  1.904-4(d) 
and paragraph (c)(5) of this section, USP includes in its gross 
income an inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(A) with respect to CFC3, 
$200x of which is general category income and $100x of which is 
passive category income.

    (m) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) Interest payments from noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporations. If interest is received or accrued by a shareholder from 
a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation (where the 
shareholder is a domestic corporation that is a United States 
shareholder of such noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation), the rules of paragraph (m)(2)(i) of this section apply in 
determining the portion of the interest payment that is from sources 
within the United States, except that the related party interest rules 
of paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section do not apply.
    (3) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (m).

    (i) Example 1--(A) Facts. Controlled foreign corporation CFC is 
a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic corporation. In Year 1, 
CFC pays USP $300x of interest. CFC has no other expenses. In Year 
1, CFC has $3,000x of assets that generate $650x of foreign source 
general category income and a $1,000x loan to an unrelated foreign 
person that generates $20x of foreign source passive category 
interest income. CFC also has a $4,000x loan to an unrelated United 
States person that generates $70x of U.S. source passive category 
interest income and $4,000x of assets that generate $100x of U.S. 
source general category income. CFC uses the asset method to 
allocate interest expense. The following chart summarizes CFC's 
assets and income:

                    Table 1 to Paragraph (m)(3)(i)(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Foreign    U.S.     Totals
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets:
    Passive...............................    1,000x    4,000x    5,000x
    General...............................    3,000x    4,000x    7,000x
                                           -----------------------------
        Total.............................    4,000x    8,000x   12,000x
Income:
    Passive...............................       20x       70x       90x
    General...............................      650x      100x      750x
                                           -----------------------------
        Total.............................      670x      170x      840x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) Analysis. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, 
$90x of the related person interest payment is allocable to CFC's 
passive category income. Under paragraph (m)(2) of this section, 
$70x of USP's $90x of passive category interest income is from 
sources within the United States and $20x is from foreign sources. 
Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(D) of this section, the remaining $210x 
of the related person interest payment is allocated to general 
category income. Under paragraph (m)(2) of this section, $120x of 
the remaining $210x of USP's interest income is treated as general 
category income from sources within the United States ($120x = $210x 
x $4,000x/$7,000x) and $90x is treated as general category income 
from foreign sources ($90x = $210x x $3,000x/$7,000x).
    (ii) Example 2. The facts are the same as in paragraph (m)(3)(i) 
of this section (the facts in Example 1), except that CFC uses the 
modified gross income method to allocate interest expense. The first 
$90x of related person interest expense is allocated to passive 
category income in the same manner as in paragraph (m)(3)(i) of this 
section (Example 1), $70x to U.S. sources and $20x to foreign 
sources. Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(D) of this section, the 
remaining $210x of the related person interest expense is allocated 
to CFC's general category income. Under paragraph (m)(2) of this 
section, $28x of the remaining $210x of USP's interest income is 
treated as general category income from U.S. sources ($28x = $210x x 
$100x/$750x) and $182x is treated as general category income from 
foreign sources ($182x = $210x x $650x/$750x).

    (4) * * * (i) Rule. Any dividend or distribution treated as a 
dividend under this paragraph (m) (including an amount included in 
gross income under section 951(a)(1)(B)) that is received or accrued by 
a United States shareholder from a controlled foreign corporation, or 
any dividend that is received or accrued by a domestic corporation from 
a noncontrolled 10-percent owned foreign corporation with respect to 
which the shareholder is a United States shareholder, are treated as 
income in a separate category derived from sources within the United 
States in proportion to the ratio of the portion of the earnings and 
profits of the controlled foreign corporation or noncontrolled 10-
percent owned foreign corporation in the corresponding separate 
category from U.S. sources to the total amount of earnings and profits 
of the controlled foreign corporation or noncontrolled 10-percent owned 
foreign corporation in that separate category.
* * * * *
    (5) Treatment of inclusions under sections 951(a)(1)(A), 951A and 
1293--(i) * * * Any amount included in the gross income of a United 
States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation under section 
951(a)(1)(A), 951A, or in the gross income of a domestic corporation 
that is a United States shareholder of a noncontrolled 10-percent owned 
foreign corporation described in section 904(d)(2)(E)(i)(II) that is a 
qualified electing fund under section 1293 is treated as income subject 
to a separate category that is derived from sources within the United 
States to the extent the amount is attributable to income of the 
controlled foreign corporation or qualified electing fund, 
respectively, in the corresponding category of income from sources 
within the United States. * * *
    (ii) Example. The following example illustrates the application of 
this paragraph (m)(5).

    (A) Facts. Controlled foreign corporation CFC is a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of domestic corporation, USP. In Year 1, CFC earns $100x 
of subpart F foreign personal holding company income that is passive 
category income. Of this amount, $40x is derived from sources within 
the United States. CFC also earns $50x of subpart F general category 
income. None of this income is from sources within the United 
States. Assume that CFC pays no foreign taxes and has no expenses.
    (B) Analysis. USP must include $150x in gross income under 
section 951(a). Of this

[[Page 69098]]

amount, $60x is foreign source passive category income to USP, $40x 
is U.S. source passive category income to USP, and $50x is foreign 
source general category income to USP.

* * * * *
    (7) * * *
    (ii) Example. The following example illustrates the application of 
this paragraph (m)(7).

    (A) Facts. Controlled foreign corporation CFC is incorporated in 
Country A and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of USP, a domestic 
corporation. In Year 1, CFC earns $80x of general category foreign 
base company sales income in Country A and $40x of passive category 
U.S. source interest income. CFC incurs $20x of expenses 
attributable to its sales business. CFC pays USP $40x of interest 
that is allocated to CFC's U.S. source passive category income under 
paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C) of this section and so is U.S. source 
passive category income to USP under paragraphs (c)(2)(i) and (m)(2) 
of this section. Assume that earnings and profits equal net income. 
All of CFC's net income of $60x is subpart F income includible in 
USP's gross income under section 951(a)(1). For Year 1, USP also has 
$100x of foreign source passive category income derived from 
investments in Country B. Pursuant to section 904(h)(3) and 
paragraph (m)(2) of this section, the $40x interest payment from CFC 
is U.S. source income to USP because it is attributable to U.S. 
source interest income of CFC. The United States-Country A income 
tax treaty, however, treats all interest payments by residents of 
Country A as Country A sourced and USP elects to apply the treaty.
    (B) Analysis. Pursuant to section 904(h)(10) and this paragraph 
(m)(7), the entire interest payment will be treated as foreign 
source income to USP. USP thus has $60x of foreign source general 
category income, $40x of foreign source Country A treaty category 
passive income from CFC, and $100x of foreign source passive 
category income.

    (n) * * * Section 904(d)(3), (d)(4), and (h) and this section are 
then applied for purposes of characterizing and sourcing income 
received, accrued, or included by a United States shareholder of the 
foreign corporation that is attributable or allocable to income or 
earnings and profits of the foreign corporation.
    (o) Applicability dates. This section is applicable for taxable 
years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after 
December 4, 2018.

0
Par. 22. Section 1.904-6 is amended by:
0
1. In paragraph (a)(1)(i):
0
i. Revising the first sentence and adding two sentences after the 
fourth sentence.
0
ii. Removing the language ``(unless it is a withholding tax that is not 
the final tax payable on the income as described in Sec.  1.904-4(d))'' 
and adding the language ``(as defined in section 901(k)(1)(B))'' in its 
place in the new seventh sentence.
0
3. Revising paragraph (a)(1)(iv).
0
4. Adding paragraphs (a)(2) and (3).
0
5. Revising paragraph (b).
0
6. Removing and reserving paragraph (c).
0
7. Adding paragraph (d).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.904-6   Allocation and apportionment of taxes.

    (a) * * * (1) * * * (i) * * * The amount of foreign taxes paid or 
accrued with respect to a separate category (as defined in Sec.  1.904-
5(a)(4)(v)) of income (including U.S. source income within the separate 
category) includes only those taxes that are related to income in that 
separate category. * * * Income included in the foreign tax base is 
calculated under foreign law, but characterized as income in a separate 
category under Federal income tax principles. For example, a foreign 
tax imposed on an amount realized on the disposition of controlled 
foreign corporation stock that is characterized as a capital gain under 
foreign law but as a dividend under section 1248 is generally assigned 
to the general category, not the passive category. * * *
* * * * *
    (iv) Base and timing differences. If, under the law of a foreign 
country or possession of the United States, a tax is imposed on a type 
of item that does not constitute income under Federal income tax 
principles (a base difference), such as gifts or life insurance 
proceeds, that tax is treated as imposed with respect to income in the 
separate category described in section 904(d)(2)(H)(i). If, under the 
law of a foreign country or possession of the United States, a tax is 
imposed on an item of income that constitutes income under Federal 
income tax principles but is not recognized for Federal income tax 
purposes in the current year (a timing difference), that tax is 
allocated and apportioned to the appropriate separate category or 
categories to which the tax would be allocated and apportioned if the 
income were recognized under Federal income tax principles in the year 
in which the tax was imposed. If the amount of an item of income as 
computed for foreign tax purposes is positive but is greater than the 
amount of income that is currently recognized for Federal income tax 
purposes, for example, due to a difference in depreciation conventions 
or the timing of recognition of gross income, or because of a permanent 
difference between U.S. and foreign tax law in the amount of deductions 
that are allowed to reduce gross income, the tax is allocated or 
apportioned to the separate category to which the income is assigned, 
and no portion of the tax is attributable to a base difference. In 
addition, a tax imposed on a distribution that is excluded from gross 
income under section 959(a) or section 959(b) is treated as 
attributable to a timing difference (and not a base difference) and is 
treated as tax imposed on the earnings and profits from which the 
distribution was paid.
    (2) Special rules for foreign branches--(i) In general. Except as 
provided in this paragraph (a)(2), any foreign tax reflected on the 
books and records of a foreign branch under the principles of Sec.  
1.987-2(b) is allocated and apportioned under the rules of paragraph 
(a)(1) of this section.
    (ii) Disregarded reattribution transactions--(A) Foreign branch to 
foreign branch owner. In the case of a disregarded payment from a 
foreign branch to a foreign branch owner that is treated as a 
disregarded reattribution transaction that results in gross income 
being attributed to the foreign branch owner under Sec.  1.904-
4(f)(2)(vi), any foreign tax imposed solely by reason of that 
transaction, such as a withholding tax imposed on a disregarded 
payment, is allocated and apportioned to the reattributed gross income.
    (B) Foreign branch owner to foreign branch. In the case of a 
disregarded payment from a foreign branch owner to a foreign branch 
that is treated as a disregarded reattribution transaction that results 
in gross income being attributed to the foreign branch under Sec.  
1.904-4(f)(2)(vi), any foreign tax imposed solely by reason of that 
transaction is allocated and apportioned to the reattributed gross 
income. In the case of a foreign branch owner that is a partnership, a 
foreign tax imposed solely by reason of a disregarded reattribution 
transaction that results in general category income being attributed to 
a foreign branch is allocated and apportioned to the partnership's 
general category income that is attributable to the foreign branch (as 
described in paragraph (b)(4)(ii) of this section).
    (iii) Other disregarded payments--(A) Foreign branch to foreign 
branch owner. In the case of a disregarded payment from a foreign 
branch to a foreign branch owner that is not a disregarded 
reattribution transaction, foreign tax imposed solely by reason of that 
disregarded payment is allocated and apportioned to a separate category 
under paragraph (a)(1) of this section based on the nature of the item 
(determined under Federal income tax

[[Page 69099]]

principles) that is included in the foreign tax base. For example, if a 
remittance of an appreciated asset results in gain recognition under 
foreign law, the tax imposed on that gain is treated as attributable to 
a timing difference with respect to recognition of the gain, and is 
allocated and apportioned to the separate category to which gain on a 
sale of that asset would have been assigned if it were recognized for 
Federal income tax purposes. However, a gross basis withholding tax on 
a remittance is attributable to a timing difference in taxation of the 
income out of which the remittance is made, and is allocated and 
apportioned to the separate category or categories to which a section 
987 gain or loss would be assigned under Sec.  1.987-6(b).
    (B) Foreign branch owner to foreign branch. In the case of a 
disregarded payment from a foreign branch owner that is a United States 
person to a foreign branch that is neither a disregarded reattribution 
transaction nor described in Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(vi)(C)(4), any foreign 
tax imposed solely by reason of the receipt of that disregarded payment 
is allocated and apportioned to the foreign branch category. In the 
case of a foreign branch owner that is a partnership, a foreign tax 
imposed solely by reason of the receipt of a disregarded payment by a 
foreign branch is allocated and apportioned to the partnership's 
general category income that is attributable to the foreign branch (as 
described in paragraph (b)(4)(ii) of this section).
    (iv) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of 
this paragraph (a)(2):
    (A) Disregarded reattribution transaction. The term disregarded 
reattribution transaction means a disregarded payment or a transfer 
described in Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(vi)(D) to the extent that it results 
in an adjustment to the gross income attributable to the foreign branch 
under Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)(vi)(A).
    (B) The terms disregarded payment, foreign branch, foreign branch 
owner, and remittance have the same meaning given to those terms in 
Sec.  1.904-4(f)(3).
    (3) Taxes imposed on high-taxed income. For rules on the treatment 
of taxes imposed on high-taxed income, see Sec.  1.904-4(c).
    (b) Allocation and apportionment of deemed paid taxes and certain 
creditable foreign tax expenditures--(1) Taxes deemed paid under 
section 960(a) or (d). If a domestic corporation that is a United 
States shareholder includes any amount in gross income under section 
951(a)(1)(A) or 951A(a), any foreign tax deemed paid with respect to 
such amount under section 960(a) or (d) is allocated to the separate 
category to which the inclusion is assigned.
    (2) Taxes deemed paid under section 960(b)(1). If a domestic 
corporation that is a United States shareholder receives a distribution 
of previously taxed earnings and profits from a first-tier corporation 
that is excluded from the domestic corporation's income under section 
959(a) and Sec.  1.959-1, any foreign tax deemed paid under section 
960(b)(1) with respect to such distribution is allocated to the same 
separate category as the annual PTEP account and PTEP group (as defined 
in Sec.  1.960-3(c)) from which the distribution is made.
    (3) Taxes deemed paid under section 960(b)(2). If a controlled 
foreign corporation receives a distribution of previously taxed 
earnings and profits from an immediately lower-tier corporation that is 
excluded from such controlled foreign corporation's gross income under 
section 959(b) and Sec.  1.959-2, any foreign tax deemed paid under 
section 960(b)(2) with respect to such distribution is allocated to the 
same separate category as the annual PTEP account and PTEP group (as 
defined in Sec.  1.960-3(c)) from which the distribution is made. See 
also Sec.  1.960-3(c)(2).
    (4) Creditable foreign tax expenditures--(i) In general. Except as 
provided in paragraph (b)(4)(ii) of this section, creditable foreign 
tax expenditures (CFTEs) allocated to a partner under Sec.  1.704-
1(b)(4)(viii)(a) are allocated for purposes of this section to the same 
separate category as the separate category to which the taxes were 
allocated in the hands of the partnership under the rules of paragraph 
(a) of this section.
    (ii) Foreign branch category. CFTEs allocated to a partner in a 
partnership under Sec.  1.704-1(b)(4)(viii)(a) are allocated and 
apportioned to the foreign branch category of the partner to the extent 
that:
    (A) The CFTEs are allocated and apportioned by the partnership 
under the rules of paragraph (a) of this section to the general 
category;
    (B) In the hands of the partnership, the CFTEs are related to 
general category income attributable to a foreign branch (as described 
in Sec.  1.904-4(f)(2)) under the principles of paragraph (a) of this 
section; and
    (C) The partner's distributive share of the income described in 
paragraph (b)(4)(ii)(B) of this section is foreign branch category 
income of the partner under Sec.  1.904-4(f)(1)(i)(B).
* * * * *
    (d) Applicability dates. This section is applicable for taxable 
years that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after 
December 4, 2018.

0
Par. 23. Section 1.904(b)-3 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.904(b)-3   Disregard of certain dividends and deductions under 
section 904(b)(4).

    (a) Disregard of certain dividends and deductions--(1) In general. 
For purposes of section 904(a), in the case of a domestic corporation 
which is a United States shareholder with respect to a specified 10-
percent owned foreign corporation (as defined in section 245A(b)), the 
domestic corporation's foreign source taxable income in a separate 
category and entire taxable income is determined without regard to the 
following items:
    (i) Any dividend for which a deduction is allowed under section 
245A;
    (ii) Deductions properly allocable or apportioned to gross income 
in the section 245A subgroup as determined under paragraphs (b) and 
(c)(1) of this section; and
    (iii) Deductions properly allocable or apportioned to stock of 
specified 10-percent owned foreign corporations in the section 245A 
subgroup as determined under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.
    (2) Deductions properly allocable or apportioned to the residual 
grouping. Deductions that are properly allocable or apportioned to 
gross income or stock in the section 245A subgroup of the residual 
grouping (consisting of U.S. source income) are disregarded solely for 
purposes of determining entire taxable income under section 904(a).
    (b) Determining properly allocable or apportioned deductions. The 
amount of deductions properly allocable or apportioned to gross income 
or stock described in paragraphs (a)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section 
is determined by subdividing the United States shareholder's gross 
income and assets in each separate category described in Sec.  1.904-
5(a)(4)(v) into a section 245A subgroup and a non-section 245A 
subgroup. Gross income and assets in the residual grouping for U.S. 
source income are also subdivided into a section 245A subgroup and a 
non-section 245A subgroup. Each section 245A subgroup is treated as a 
statutory grouping under Sec.  1.861-8(a)(4). Deductions properly 
allocable or apportioned to dividends or stock described in paragraphs 
(a)(1)(ii) and (iii) of this section only include those deductions that 
are allocated and apportioned under Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 1.861-
14T and 1.861-17 to the section

[[Page 69100]]

245A subgroups. The deduction allowed under section 245A(a) for 
dividends is allocated and apportioned solely among the section 245A 
subgroups on the basis of the relative amounts of gross income from 
such dividends in each section 245A subgroup.
    (c) Income and assets in the 245A subgroups--(1) In general. For 
purposes of applying the allocation and apportionment rules under 
Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 1.861-14T and 1.861-17 to the deductions of 
a United States shareholder, the only gross income included in a 
section 245A subgroup is dividend income for which a deduction is 
allowed under section 245A. The only asset included in a section 245A 
subgroup is the portion of the value of stock of each specified 10-
percent owned foreign corporation that is assigned to the section 245A 
subgroup determined under paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
    (2) Assigning stock to a subgroup. The value of stock of a 
specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation is characterized as an 
asset in a separate category described in Sec.  1.904-5(a)(4)(v) or the 
residual grouping for U.S. source income under the rules of Sec.  
1.861-12(c). If the specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation is 
not a controlled foreign corporation, all of the value of its stock 
(other than the portion of stock assigned to the statutory groupings 
for gross section 245(a)(5) income under Sec. Sec.  1.861-12(c)(4) and 
1.861-13) in each separate category and in the residual grouping for 
U.S. source income is assigned to the section 245A subgroup in such 
separate category or residual grouping. If the specified 10-percent 
owned foreign corporation is a controlled foreign corporation, a 
portion of the value of stock in each separate category and in the 
residual grouping for U.S. source income is subdivided between a 
section 245A and non-section 245A subgroup under Sec.  1.861-13(a)(5).
    (d) Coordination with OFL and ODL rules--(1) In general. Section 
904(b)(4) and this section apply before the operation of the overall 
foreign loss rules in section 904(f) and the overall domestic loss 
rules in section 904(g). See Sec.  1.904(g)-3(c).
    (2) [Reserved]
    (e) Example. The following example illustrates the application of 
this section.

    (1) Facts--(i) Income and assets of USP. USP is a domestic 
corporation. USP owns a factory in the United States with a tax book 
value of $27,000x. USP also directly owns all of the stock of each 
of the following three controlled foreign corporations: CFC1, CFC2, 
and CFC3. USP's tax book value in each of CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 is 
$10,000x. USP incurs $1,500x of interest expense and earns $1,600x 
of U.S. source gross income. Under section 951A and the section 951A 
regulations (as defined in Sec.  1.951A-1(a)(1)), USP's GILTI 
inclusion amount is $2,200x. USP's deduction under section 250 is 
$1,100x (``section 250 deduction''), all of which is by reason of 
section 250(a)(1)(B)(i). No portion of USP's section 250 deduction 
is reduced by reason of section 250(a)(2)(B). None of the CFCs makes 
any distributions.
    (ii) Characterization of CFC stock. After application of Sec.  
1.861-13(a), USP determined that $8,000x of the stock of each of 
CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 is assigned to the section 951A category 
(``section 951A category stock'') in the non-section 245A subgroup 
and the remaining $2,000x of the stock of each of CFC1, CFC2, and 
CFC3 is assigned to the general category (``general category 
stock'') in the section 245A subgroup. Additionally, under Sec.  
1.861-8(d)(2)(ii)(C)(2), $4,000x of the stock of each of CFC1, CFC2, 
and CFC3 that is section 951A category stock is an exempt asset. 
Accordingly, with respect to the stock of its controlled foreign 
corporations in the aggregate, USP has $12,000x of section 951A 
category stock in a non-section 245A subgroup; $6,000x of general 
category stock in a section 245A subgroup; and $12,000x of stock 
that is an exempt asset.
    (iii) Apportioning of expenses. Taking into account USP's 
factory and its stock in CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3, the tax book value of 
USP's assets for purposes of apportioning expenses is $45,000x 
(excluding the $12,000x of exempt assets). Under Sec.  1.861-9T(g), 
USP's $1,500 of interest expense is apportioned as follows: $400x 
($1,500x x $12,000x/$45,000x) to section 951A category income, $200x 
($1,500x x $6,000x/$45,000x) to general category income, and the 
remaining $900x ($1,500 x $27,000x/$45,000x) to the residual U.S. 
source grouping. Under Sec.  1.861-8(e)(14), all of USP's section 
250 deduction is allocated and apportioned to section 951A category 
income.
    (2) Analysis--(i) USP's pre-credit U.S. tax. USP's worldwide 
taxable income is $1,200x, which equals its GILTI inclusion amount 
of $2,200x plus its U.S. source gross income of $1,600x, less its 
deduction under section 250 of $1,100 and its interest expense of 
$1,500x. For purposes of applying section 904(a), before taking into 
account any foreign tax credit under section 901, USP's Federal 
income tax liability is 21% of $1,200x, or $252x.
    (ii) Application of section 904(b)(4). Under section 904(d)(1), 
USP applies section 904(a) separately to each separate category of 
income.
    (A) General category income. Before application of section 
904(b)(4) and the rules in this section, USP's foreign source 
taxable income in the general category is a loss of $200x, which 
equals $0 (USP's foreign source general category income) less $200x 
(interest expense apportioned to general category income), and USP's 
worldwide taxable income is $1,200. Under paragraph (d) of this 
section, the rules in section 904(f) and (g) apply after section 
904(b)(4) and the rules in this section. Under paragraphs (b) and 
(c)(1) of this section, USP has no deductions properly allocable or 
apportioned to gross income in the section 245A subgroup because USP 
has no dividend income in the general category for which a deduction 
is allowed under section 245A. Under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this 
section, USP has $200x of deductions for interest expense that are 
properly allocable or apportioned to stock of specified 10-percent 
owned foreign corporations in the section 245A subgroup because 
USP's only general category assets are the general category stock of 
CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3, all of which are in the section 245A subgroup. 
Therefore, under paragraph (a) of this section, USP's foreign source 
taxable income in the general category and its worldwide taxable 
income are determined without regard to the $200x of deductions for 
interest expense. Accordingly, USP's foreign source taxable income 
in the general category is $0 and its worldwide taxable income is 
$1,400x, and therefore, there is no separate limitation loss for 
purposes of section 904(f). Under section 904(a) and (d)(1) USP's 
foreign tax credit limitation for the general category is $0.
    (B) Section 951A category income. Before application of section 
904(b)(4) and the rules in this section, USP's foreign source 
taxable income in the section 951A category is $700x, which equals 
$2,200x (USP's GILTI inclusion amount) less $1,100x (USP's section 
250 deduction) less $400x (interest apportioned to section 951A 
category income). Under paragraphs (b) and (c)(1) of this section, 
USP has no deductions properly allocable and apportioned to gross 
income in a section 245A subgroup of the section 951A category. 
Under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, USP has no deductions 
properly allocable and apportioned to stock of specified 10-percent 
owned foreign corporations in a section 245A subgroup of section 
951A category stock because no portion of section 951A category 
stock is assigned to a section 245A subgroup. See Sec.  1.861-
13(a)(5)(v). Therefore, under paragraph (a) of this section no 
adjustment is made to USP's foreign source taxable income in the 
section 951A category. However, the adjustments to USP's worldwide 
taxable income described in paragraph (e)(2)(ii)(A) of this section 
apply for purposes of calculating USP's foreign tax credit 
limitation for the section 951A category. Accordingly, USP's foreign 
source taxable income in the section 951A category is $700x and its 
worldwide taxable income is $1,400x. Under section 904(a) and 
(d)(1), USP's foreign tax credit limitation for the section 951A 
category is $126x ($252x x $700x/$1,400x).
    (f) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years that 
both begin after December 31, 2017, and end on or after December 4, 
2018.

0
Par. 24. Sec.  1.904(f)-12 is amended by adding reserved paragraph (i) 
and paragraph (j) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.904(f)-12   Transition rules.

* * * * *
    (j) Recapture in years beginning after December 31, 2017, of 
separate limitation losses, overall foreign losses, and overall 
domestic losses incurred in

[[Page 69101]]

years beginning before January 1, 2018--(1) Definitions--(i) The term 
pre-2018 separate categories means the separate categories of income 
described in section 904(d) and any specified separate categories of 
income, as applicable to taxable years beginning before January 1, 
2018.
    (ii) The term post-2017 separate categories means the separate 
categories of income described in section 904(d) and any specified 
separate categories of income, as applicable to taxable years beginning 
after December 31, 2017.
    (iii) The term specified separate category has the meaning set 
forth in Sec.  1.904-4(m)).
    (2) Allocation of separate limitation loss or overall foreign loss 
account incurred in a pre-2018 separate category--(i) Allocation to the 
same category. To the extent that a taxpayer has a balance in any 
separate limitation loss or overall foreign loss account in a pre-2018 
separate category at the end of the taxpayer's last taxable year 
beginning before January 1, 2018, the amount of such balance is 
allocated on the first day of the taxpayer's next taxable year to the 
same post-2017 separate category as the pre-2018 separate category of 
the separate limitation loss or overall foreign loss account.
    (ii) Exception for general category separate limitation loss or 
overall foreign loss account--(A) In general. To the extent a taxpayer 
has a balance in any separate limitation loss or overall foreign loss 
account in the pre-2018 separate category for general category income 
at the end of the taxpayer's last taxable year beginning before January 
1, 2018, a taxpayer may choose to allocate any such balance to the 
taxpayer's post-2017 separate category for foreign branch category 
income to the extent the balance in the loss account would have been 
allocated to the taxpayer's post-2017 separate category for foreign 
branch category income if that separate category applied in the year or 
years the losses giving rise to the account were incurred. Any 
remaining portion of the balance in the separate limitation loss or 
overall foreign loss account is allocated to the taxpayer's post-2017 
separate category for general category income.
    (B) Safe harbor. In lieu of applying paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(A) of 
this section, the taxpayer may choose to recapture the balance in any 
loss account described in paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(A) of this section from 
the first available income in the taxpayer's post-2017 separate 
category for general category income or foreign branch category income. 
If the sum of taxpayer's general category income and foreign branch 
category income for a taxable year subject to recharacterization 
exceeds the amount of the loss account described in paragraph 
(j)(2)(ii)(A) of this section that is to be recaptured, then the amount 
of general category income and foreign branch category income that will 
be recharacterized under the relevant recapture provisions is 
determined on a proportionate basis. The recapture under this paragraph 
(j)(2)(ii)(B) of any loss account described in paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(A) 
of this section is made before the recapture of any amount by which the 
balance of the loss account is increased after the end of the 
taxpayer's last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018.
    (C) Rules regarding the exception. A taxpayer applying the 
exception described in paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(A) or (B) of this section 
must apply the exception to all balances in any separate limitation 
loss or overall foreign loss account in a pre-2018 separate category 
for general category income at the end of the taxpayer's last taxable 
year beginning before January 1, 2018. A taxpayer may apply the 
exception on a timely filed original return (including extensions) or 
an amended return. A taxpayer that applies the exception on an amended 
return must make appropriate adjustments to eliminate any double 
benefit arising from application of the exception to years that are not 
open for assessment.
    (3) Recapture of separate limitation loss or overall domestic loss 
that reduced pre-2018 separate category income--(i) Recapture as income 
in the same separate category. To the extent that at the end of the 
taxpayer's last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, a 
taxpayer has a balance in any separate limitation loss or overall 
domestic loss account which offset pre-2018 separate category income, 
such loss is recaptured in subsequent taxable years as income in the 
same post-2017 separate category as the pre-2018 separate category of 
income that was offset by the loss.
    (ii) Exception for separate limitation loss or overall domestic 
loss that reduced general category income--(A) In general. To the 
extent that a taxpayer's separate limitation loss or overall domestic 
loss account offset pre-2018 separate category income that was general 
category income, a taxpayer may choose to recapture the balance in the 
loss account at the end of the taxpayer's last taxable year beginning 
before January 1, 2018, in subsequent taxable years as income in the 
post-2017 separate category for foreign branch category income to the 
extent the balance in the loss account would have offset foreign branch 
category income had that separate category applied in the year or years 
the losses were incurred. Any remaining portion of the balance in the 
loss account is recaptured as income in the taxpayer's post-2017 
separate category for general category income.
    (B) Safe harbor. In lieu of applying paragraph (j)(3)(ii)(A) of 
this section, a taxpayer that had unused foreign income taxes in a pre-
2018 taxable year that were allocated to the foreign branch category 
under Sec.  1.904-2(j)(1)(iii)(A) or (B) may choose to recapture the 
balance in any loss account described in paragraph (j)(3)(ii)(A) of 
this section in subsequent taxable years ratably as income in the 
taxpayer's post-2017 separate categories for general category and 
foreign branch category income, based on the proportion in which any 
unused foreign taxes in the pre-2018 separate category for general 
category income are allocated under Sec.  1.904-2(j)(1)(iii)(A) or (B).
    (C) Rules regarding the exception. A taxpayer applying the 
exception described in paragraph (j)(2)(ii)(A) or (B) of this section 
must apply the exception to the recapture of all balances at the end of 
the taxpayer's last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018 in 
any separate limitation loss or overall domestic loss account which 
offset pre-2018 separate category income that was general category 
income. A taxpayer may apply the exception on a timely filed original 
return (including extensions) or an amended return. A taxpayer that 
applies the exception on an amended return must make appropriate 
adjustments to eliminate any double benefit arising from application of 
the exception to years that are not open for assessment.
    (4) Treatment of foreign losses that are part of net operating 
losses incurred in pre-2018 taxable years which are carried forward to 
post-2017 taxable years--(i) Treatment as a loss in the same separate 
category. A foreign loss that is part of a net operating loss incurred 
in a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, which is carried 
forward, pursuant to section 172, to a taxable year beginning after 
December 31, 2017, will be carried forward under the rules of Sec.  
1.904(g)-3(b)(2). For purposes of applying the rules of Sec.  1.904(g)-
3(b)(2), the portion of a net operating loss carryforward that is 
attributable to a foreign loss from a pre-2018 separate category will 
be treated as a loss attributable to the same post-2017 separate 
category as the pre-2018 separate category.
    (ii) Exception for general category foreign losses that are part of 
net operating losses--(A) In general. A

[[Page 69102]]

taxpayer may choose to treat the portion of a net operating loss 
carryforward that is attributable to a foreign loss from the pre-2018 
separate category for general category income as attributable to the 
post-2017 separate category for foreign branch category income to the 
extent the net operating loss would have been attributable to the 
taxpayer's post-2017 separate category for foreign branch category 
income had that separate category applied in the year or years the net 
operating loss arose. Any remaining portion of the net operating loss 
carryforward is treated as attributable to the taxpayer's post-2017 
separate category for general category income.
    (B) Safe harbor. In lieu of applying paragraph (j)(4)(ii)(A) of 
this section, for the post-2017 taxable year in which a net operating 
loss carryforward described in paragraph (j)(4)(ii)(A) of this section 
is used, the taxpayer may choose to treat the net operating loss 
carryforward as attributable to the taxpayer's post-2017 separate 
categories for general category income and foreign branch category 
income to the extent of any general category income and foreign branch 
category income, respectively, that is available in the carryforward 
year to be offset by the net operating loss carryforward. To the extent 
the net operating loss carryforward offsets any other income in the 
carryforward year, it is treated as attributable to the taxpayer's 
post-2017 separate category for general category income. If the sum of 
taxpayer's general category income and foreign branch income in the 
carryforward year exceeds the amount of the net operating loss 
carryforward, then the amount of each type of separate income that is 
offset by the net operating loss carryforward, and therefore the 
separate category treatment of the net operating loss carryforward, is 
be determined on a proportionate basis. A general category net 
operating loss to which the exception is applied is absorbed before any 
general category net operating loss that is incurred after the end of 
the taxpayer's last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018.
    (C) Rules regarding the exception. A taxpayer applying the 
exception described in paragraph (j)(4)(ii)(A) or (B) of this section 
must apply the exception to all of its net operating losses that are 
attributable to a foreign loss from the pre-2018 separate category for 
general category income. A taxpayer may apply the exception on a timely 
filed original return (including extensions) or an amended return. A 
taxpayer that applies the exception on an amended return must make 
appropriate adjustments to eliminate any double benefit arising from 
application of the exception to years that are not open for assessment.
    (5) Coordination rule with respect to exceptions. A taxpayer that 
applies any exception described in Sec.  1.904-2(j)(1)(iii) or 
paragraph (j)(2)(ii), (j)(3)(ii), or (j)(4)(ii) of this section must 
apply all such exceptions and cannot apply any of the general rules 
described in Sec.  1.904-2(j)(1)(ii) or paragraph (j)(2)(i), (j)(3)(i), 
or (j)(4)(i) of this section. However, in applying each such exception, 
the taxpayer may choose to apply the safe harbor provision regardless 
of whether the safe harbor is applied for purposes of any other 
exception.
    (6) Applicability date. This paragraph (j) applies to taxable years 
beginning after December 31, 2017.

0
Par. 25. Section 1.904(g)-0 is amended by:
0
1. Adding an entry for Sec.  1.904(g)-3(i) and removing and reserving 
the entry for Sec.  1.904(g)-3(j).
0
2. Revising the entry for Sec.  1.904(g)-3(k) and adding an entry for 
Sec.  1.904(g)-3(l).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.904(g)-0   Outline of regulation provisions.

* * * * *
Sec.  1.904(g)-3 Ordering rules for the allocation of net operating 
losses, net capital losses, U.S. source losses, and separate limitation 
losses, and for the recapture of separate limitation losses, overall 
foreign losses, and overall domestic losses.
* * * * *
    (i) Step Eight: Dispositions under section 904(f)(3) in which gain 
would not otherwise be recognized.
    (j) [Reserved]
    (k) Examples.
    (l) Applicability date.

0
Par. 26. Section 1.904(g)-3 is amended by:
0
1. Removing the language ``paragraphs (b) through (i)'' and adding the 
language ``paragraphs (b) through (j)'' in its place in paragraph (a).
0
2. Adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (c).
0
3. Revising paragraph (f).
0
4. Adding paragraph (i).
0
5. Removing and reserving paragraph (j) and revising paragraph (k).
0
6. Adding paragraph (l).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.904(g)-3   Ordering rules for the allocation of net operating 
losses, net capital losses, U.S. source losses, and separate limitation 
losses, and for the recapture of separate limitation losses, overall 
foreign losses, and overall domestic losses.

* * * * *
    (c) * * * The taxpayer also takes into account any adjustments 
required under section 904(b)(4) and Sec.  1.904(b)-3.
* * * * *
    (f) Step Five: Recapture of overall foreign loss accounts. If the 
taxpayer's separate limitation income for the taxable year (reduced by 
any losses carried over under paragraph (b) of this section) exceeds 
the sum of the taxpayer's U.S. source loss and separate limitation 
losses for the year, so that the taxpayer has separate limitation 
income remaining after the application of paragraphs (d)(1) and (e) of 
this section, then the taxpayer recaptures prior year overall foreign 
losses, if any, in accordance with Sec.  1.904(f)-2, and reduces 
overall foreign loss accounts in accordance with Sec.  1.904(f)-2. The 
recapture in this paragraph (f) includes amounts determined under Sec.  
1.904(f)-2(c) and (d)(3) but not Sec.  1.904(f)-2(d)(4), which is 
covered in paragraph (i) of this section.
* * * * *
    (i) Step Eight: Dispositions under section 904(f)(3) in which gain 
would not otherwise be recognized. The taxpayer determines the amount 
of gain that would otherwise not be recognized but that must be 
recognized in accordance with Sec.  1.904(f)-2(d)(4) (not exceeding the 
taxpayer's applicable overall foreign loss account) and then applies 
Sec.  1.904(f)-2(a) and (b) to recapture and reduce its overall foreign 
loss accounts in an amount equal to the gain recognized. To the extent 
this recognition of gain in a taxable year reduces the amount of a 
current year net operating loss or increases the amount of a net 
operating loss carryover to that taxable year, paragraphs (b) through 
(e) of this section are applied to determine the allocation of any 
additional net operating loss deduction and other deductions or losses 
and the applicable increases in the taxpayer's overall foreign loss, 
separate limitation loss, and overall domestic loss accounts, but only 
after the applicable overall foreign loss account has been recaptured 
as provided in this paragraph (i).
* * * * *
    (k) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules of this 
section. Unless otherwise noted, all corporations use the calendar year 
as the U.S. taxable year.


[[Page 69103]]


    (1) Example 1--(i) Facts--(A) USC is a domestic corporation with 
foreign branch operations in Country X. For Year 1, USC had the 
following taxable income and losses after application of section 
904(f) and (g) to income and loss in Year 1:

                    Table 1 to Paragraph (k)(1)(i)(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$400x...........................................      $200x       $110x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) For Year 2, USC has a net operating loss of ($500x), 
determined as follows:

                    Table 2 to Paragraph (k)(1)(i)(B)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
($300x).........................................         $0     ($200x)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (ii) Analysis--(A) Net operating loss allocation. Because USC's 
taxable income for Year 1 exceeds its total net operating loss for 
Year 2, the full net operating loss is carried back. Under paragraph 
(b) of this section (Step 1), each component of the net operating 
loss is carried back and combined with its same category in Year 1. 
See paragraph (b)(2) of this section. After allocation of the net 
operating loss, USC has the following taxable income and losses for 
Year 1:

                   Table 3 to Paragraph (k)(1)(ii)(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$100x...........................................      $200x      ($90x)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) Loss allocation. Under paragraph (e) of this section (Step 
4), the ($90x) of U.S. loss is allocated proportionately to reduce 
the foreign branch category and passive category income. 
Accordingly, $30x ($90x x $100x/$300x) of the U.S. loss is allocated 
to foreign branch category income and $60x ($90x x $200x/$300x) of 
the U.S. loss is allocated to passive category income, with a 
corresponding creation or increase to USC's overall domestic loss 
accounts.
    (2) Example 2--(i) Facts--(A) USC is a domestic corporation with 
foreign branch operations in Country X. As of January 1, Year 1, USC 
has no loss accounts subject to recapture. For Year 1, USC has a net 
operating loss of ($1,400x), determined as follows:

                    Table 4 to Paragraph (k)(2)(i)(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
($400x).........................................    ($200x)     ($800x)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) For Year 2, USC has the following taxable income and losses:

                    Table 5 to Paragraph (k)(2)(i)(B)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$500x...........................................    ($100x)      $1200x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (ii) Analysis--(A) Net operating loss allocation. Under 
paragraph (b) of this section (Step 1), because USC's total taxable 
income for Year 2 of $1600x ($1,200x + $500x - $100x) exceeds the 
total Year 1 net operating loss, the full $1,400x net operating loss 
is carried forward. Under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, each 
component of the net operating loss is carried forward and combined 
with its same category in Year 2. After allocation of the net 
operating loss, USC has the following taxable income and losses:

                   Table 6 to Paragraph (k)(2)(ii)(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$100x...........................................    ($300x)       $400x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) Loss allocation. Under paragraph (d) of this section (Step 
3), $100x of the passive category loss offsets the $100x of foreign 
branch category income, resulting in a passive category separate 
limitation loss account with respect to foreign branch category 
income, and the other $200x of passive category loss offsets $200x 
of the U.S. source taxable income, resulting in the creation of an 
overall foreign loss account in the passive category.
    (3) Example 3--(i) Facts. Assume the same facts as in paragraph 
(k)(2)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 2), except that in 
Year 2, USC had the following taxable income and losses:

                     Table 7 to Paragraph (k)(3)(i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$200x...........................................    ($100x)      $1200x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (ii) Analysis--(A) Net operating loss allocation. Under 
paragraph (b) of this section (Step 1), because the total net 
operating loss for Year 1 of ($1,400x) exceeds total taxable income 
for Year 2 of $1,300x ($1,200x + $200x - $100x), USC has a partial 
net operating loss carryover to Year 2 of $1,300x. Under paragraph 
(b)(3)(i) of this section, first, the $800x U.S. source component of 
the net operating loss is allocated to U.S. income for Year 2. The 
tentative foreign branch category carryover under paragraph 
(b)(3)(ii) of this section ($200x) does not exceed the remaining net 
operating loss carryover amount ($500x). Therefore, $200x of the 
foreign branch category component of the net operating loss is next 
allocated to the foreign branch category income for Year 2. Under 
paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section, the remaining $300x of net 
operating loss carryover ($1300x - $800x - $200x) is carried over 
proportionally from the remaining net operating loss components in 
the foreign branch category ($200x, or $400x total foreign branch 
category loss - $200x foreign branch category loss already 
allocated) and passive category ($200x). Therefore, $150x ($300x x 
$200x/$400x) of the remaining net operating loss carryover is 
carried over from the foreign branch category for Year 1 and 
combined with the foreign branch category income for Year 2, and 
$150x ($300x x $200x/$400x) of the remaining net operating loss 
carryover is carried over from the passive category for Year 1 and 
combined with the passive category loss for Year 2. After allocation 
of the net operating loss carryover from Year 1 to the appropriate 
categories for Year 2, USC has the following taxable income and 
losses:

                   Table 8 to Paragraph (k)(3)(ii)(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
($150x).........................................    ($250x)       $400x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) Loss allocation. Under paragraph (d) of this section (Step 
3), the losses in the foreign branch and passive categories fully 
offset the U.S. source income, resulting in the creation of foreign 
branch category and passive category overall foreign loss accounts.
    (4) Example 4--(i) Facts. Assume the same facts as in paragraph 
(k)(2)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 2), except that in 
Year 2, USC has the following taxable income and losses:

                     Table 9 to Paragraph (k)(4)(i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$200x...........................................      $200x     ($200x)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (ii) Analysis--(A) Net operating loss allocation. Under 
paragraph (b) of this section (Step 1), because the total net 
operating loss of ($1400x) exceeds total taxable income for Year 2 
of $200x ($200x + $200x - $200x), USC has a partial net operating 
loss carryover to Year 2 of $200x. Because USC has no U.S. source 
income in Year 2, under paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section no 
portion of the U.S. source component of the net operating loss is 
initially carried into Year 2. Because the total tentative carryover 
under paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section of $400x ($200x in each 
of the foreign branch and passive categories) exceeds the net 
operating loss carryover amount, the tentative carryover from each 
separate category is reduced proportionately by $100x ($200x x 
$200x/$400x). Accordingly, $100x ($200x - $100x) of the foreign 
branch category component of the net operating loss is carried 
forward and $100x ($200x - $100x) of the passive category component 
of the net operating loss is carried forward and combined with 
income in the same respective categories for Year 2. After 
allocation of the net operating loss carryover from Year 1, USC has 
the following taxable income and losses:

                   Table 10 to Paragraph (k)(4)(ii)(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$100x...........................................      $100x     ($200x)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) Loss allocation. Under paragraph (e) of this section (Step 
4), the $200x U.S. source loss offsets the remaining $100x of 
foreign branch category income and $100x of passive category income, 
resulting in the creation of overall domestic loss accounts with 
respect to the foreign branch and passive categories.

[[Page 69104]]

    (5) Example 5--(i) Facts. Assume the same facts as in paragraph 
(k)(2)(i) of this section (the facts in Example 2), except that in 
Year 2, USC has the following taxable income and losses:

                     Table 11 to Paragraph (k)(5)(i)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$800x...........................................    ($100x)       $100x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (ii) Analysis--(A) Net operating loss allocation. Under 
paragraph (b) of this section (Step 1), because USC's total net 
operating loss in Year 1 of ($1,400x) exceeds its total taxable 
income for Year 2 of $800x ($100x + $800x - $100x), USC has a 
partial net operating loss carryover to Year 2 of $800x. Under 
paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, $100x of the U.S. source 
component of the net operating loss is allocated to U.S. income for 
Year 2. The tentative foreign branch category carryover under 
paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section does not exceed the remaining 
net operating loss carryover amount. Therefore, $400x of the foreign 
branch category component of the net operating loss is allocated to 
reduce foreign branch category income in Year 2. Under paragraph 
(b)(3)(iii) of this section, of the remaining $300x of net operating 
loss carryover ($800x - $100x - $400x), $200x is carried forward 
from the passive category component of the net operating loss and 
combined with the passive category loss for Year 2. Under paragraph 
(b)(3)(iv) of this section, the remaining $100x ($300x - $200x) of 
net operating loss carryover is carried forward from the U.S. source 
component of the net operating loss and combined with the U.S. 
source income (and the previously allocated U.S. source component of 
the net operating loss) for Year 2. After allocation of the net 
operating loss carryover from Year 1, USC has the following taxable 
income and losses:

                   Table 12 to Paragraph (k)(5)(ii)(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$400x...........................................    ($300x)     ($100x)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) Loss allocation--(1) Under paragraph (d) of this section 
(Step 3), the $300x passive category loss offsets the $300x of 
income in the foreign branch category, resulting in the creation of 
a passive category separate limitation loss account with respect to 
the foreign branch category.
    (2) Under paragraph (e) of this section (Step 4), the $100x U.S. 
source loss offsets the remaining $100x of the foreign branch 
category income, resulting in the creation of an overall domestic 
loss account with respect to the foreign branch category.
    (6) Example 6--(i) Facts--(A) USC is a domestic corporation with 
foreign branch operations in Country X. USC has no net operating 
losses and does not make an election to recapture more than the 
required amount of overall foreign losses. As of January 1, Year 1, 
USC has a ($200x) foreign branch category overall foreign loss (OFL) 
account and a ($200x) foreign branch category separate limitation 
loss (SLL) account with respect to the passive category. For Year 1, 
USC has $400x of passive category income that is fully offset by a 
($400x) domestic loss in that taxable year, giving rise to the 
creation of an overall domestic loss (ODL) account with respect to 
the passive category. As of January 1, Year 2, USC has the following 
balances in its OFL, SLL, and ODL accounts:

                   Table 13 to Paragraph (k)(6)(i)(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Foreign branch                             US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      SLL         ODL
                       OFL                         (passive)   (passive)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$200x...........................................      $200x       $400x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (B) In Year 2, USC has the following taxable income and losses:

                   Table 14 to Paragraph (k)(6)(i)(B)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$400x...........................................    ($100x)       $600x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (ii) Analysis--(A) Loss allocation. Under paragraph (d) of this 
section (Step 3), the $100x of passive category loss offsets $100x 
of the foreign branch category income, creating a passive category 
SLL account of $100x with respect to the foreign branch category. 
Because there is an offsetting foreign branch category SLL account 
of $200x with respect to the passive category from a prior taxable 
year, the two accounts are netted against each other so that all 
that remains is a $100x foreign branch category SLL account with 
respect to the passive category.
    (B) OFL account recapture. Under paragraph (f) of this section 
(Step 5), 50% of the remaining $300x, or $150x, of income in the 
foreign branch category is subject to recharacterization as U.S. 
source income as a recapture of part of the OFL account in the 
foreign branch category.
    (C) SLL account recapture. Under paragraph (g) of this section 
(Step 6), $100x of the remaining $150x of income in the foreign 
branch category is recharacterized as passive category income as a 
recapture of the foreign branch category SLL account with respect to 
the passive category.
    (D) ODL account recapture. Under paragraph (h) of this section 
(Step 7), 50% of the $600, or $300, of U.S. source income is subject 
to recharacterization as foreign source passive category income as a 
recapture of a part of the ODL account with respect to the passive 
category. None of the $150x of foreign branch category income that 
was recharacterized as U.S. source income under paragraph (f) of 
this section (Step 5) is included here as income subject to 
recharacterization in connection with recapture of the ODL account.
    (E) Results--(1) After the allocation of loss and recapture of 
loss accounts, USC has the following taxable income and losses for 
Year 2:

                 Table 15 to Paragraph (k)(6)(ii)(E)(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50x............................................      $400x       $450x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) As of January 1, Year 3, USC has the following balances in 
its OFL, SLL and ODL accounts:

                 Table 16 to Paragraph (k)(6)(ii)(E)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Foreign branch                     Passive       US
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      SLL
                 OFL                      SLL      (foreign       ODL
                                       (passive)    branch)    (passive)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50x................................         $0          $0       $100x
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    (l) Applicability date. This section applies to taxable years 
ending on or after December 16, 2019.


Sec.  1.904(i)-1   [Amended]

0
Par. 27. Section 1.904(i)-1 is amended by removing the language ``Sec.  
1.904-5(a)(1)'' and adding in its place the language ``Sec.  1.904-
5(a)(4)(v)'' in the first sentence of paragraph (a)(1)(i).

0
Par. 28. Section 1.905-2 is amended by adding a sentence after the 
fourth sentence of paragraph (a)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.905-2   Conditions of allowance of credit.

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * * If the receipt or the return is in a foreign language, a 
certified translation thereof must be furnished by the taxpayer. * * *
* * * * *

0
Par. 29. Section 1.905-3 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.905-3   Adjustments to U.S. tax liability as a result of a 
foreign tax redetermination.

    (a) Foreign tax redetermination. The term foreign tax 
redetermination means a change in the liability for a foreign income 
tax, as defined in Sec.  1.960-1(b)(5), or certain other changes 
described in this paragraph (a) that may affect a taxpayer's foreign 
tax credit. In the case of a taxpayer that claims the credit in the 
year the taxes are paid, a foreign tax redetermination occurs if any 
portion of the tax paid is subsequently refunded. In the case of a 
taxpayer that claims the credit in the year the taxes accrue, a foreign 
tax redetermination occurs if taxes that when paid or later adjusted 
differ from amounts accrued by the taxpayer and claimed as a credit or 
added to PTEP group taxes (as defined in Sec.  1.960-3(d)(1)). A 
foreign tax redetermination

[[Page 69105]]

includes corrections and other adjustments to accrued amounts to 
reflect the final foreign tax liability, including additional payments 
of tax that accrue after the close of the taxable year to which the tax 
relates and, for foreign income taxes taken into account when accrued 
but translated into dollars on the date of payment, a payment of 
accrued tax if the value of the foreign currency relative to the dollar 
has changed between the date or taxable year of accrual and the date of 
payment. A foreign tax redetermination occurs if any tax claimed as a 
credit or added to PTEP group taxes is refunded in whole or in part, 
regardless of whether such tax was paid within the meaning of Sec.  
1.901-2(e) at the time the tax was claimed as a credit or added to PTEP 
group taxes. A foreign tax redetermination also includes accrued 
foreign income taxes that are not paid on or before the date that is 24 
months after the close of the taxable year of the section 901 taxpayer 
(as defined in Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(1)) to which such taxes relate, as 
well as a subsequent payment of any such accrued but unpaid taxes. If 
accrued foreign income taxes are not paid on or before the date that is 
24 months after the close of the taxable year to which they relate, the 
resulting foreign tax redetermination is accounted for as if the unpaid 
portion of the foreign income taxes were refunded on such date. Foreign 
income taxes that first accrue after the date 24 months after the close 
of the taxable year to which such taxes relate may not be claimed as a 
credit or added to PTEP group taxes until paid. See section 905(b) and 
Sec.  1.461-4(g)(6)(iii)(B), which require the taxpayer to establish 
the amount of tax that was properly accrued.
    (b) Redetermination of U.S. tax liability--(1) Foreign income taxes 
other than taxes deemed paid under section 960--(i) In general. This 
paragraph (b)(1) applies to foreign income taxes claimed as a credit 
under section 901 other than foreign income taxes deemed paid under 
section 960. If a foreign tax redetermination occurs with respect to 
foreign income tax claimed as a credit under section 901 (other than a 
tax deemed paid under section 960), then a redetermination of U.S. tax 
liability is required for the taxable year in which the tax was claimed 
as a credit and any year to which unused foreign taxes from such year 
were carried under section 904(c). In the case of a taxpayer that 
claims the credit in the year the taxes are paid, the redetermination 
of U.S. tax liability is made by reducing the tax paid in such year by 
the amount refunded. In the case of a taxpayer that claims the credit 
in the year the taxes accrue, the redetermination of U.S. tax liability 
is made by treating the redetermined amount of foreign tax as the 
amount of tax that accrued in the year to which the redetermined tax 
relates. However, a redetermination of U.S. tax liability is not 
required (and a taxpayer need not notify the IRS) if the foreign income 
taxes are taken into account when accrued but translated into dollars 
on the date of payment, the difference between the dollar value of the 
accrued foreign income tax and the dollar value of the foreign income 
tax paid is solely attributable to fluctuations in the value of the 
foreign currency relative to the dollar between the date or taxable 
year of accrual and the date of payment, and the net dollar amount of 
the currency fluctuations attributable to the foreign tax 
redeterminations with respect to each and every foreign country is less 
than the lesser of $10,000 or two percent of the total dollar amount of 
the foreign income tax initially accrued with respect to that foreign 
country for the taxable year. In such case, if no redetermination of 
U.S. tax liability is made, an appropriate adjustment is made to the 
taxpayer's U.S. tax liability in the taxable year during which the 
foreign tax redeterminations occur.
    (ii) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (b)(1) and Sec.  1.986(a)-1. In all examples, assume 
that USC is a domestic corporation that uses the calendar year as its 
taxable year both for Federal income tax purposes and for foreign tax 
purposes and that it is doing business through a foreign branch 
operating in Country X, which is a qualified business unit (within the 
meaning of section 989 and Sec.  1.989(a)-1) (QBU) the functional 
currency of which is the ``u.'' Except as otherwise provided, the ``u'' 
is not an inflationary currency within the meaning of Sec.  1.986(a)-
1(a)(2)(iii). USC is an accrual basis taxpayer.

    (A) Example 1: Contested tax--(1) Facts. In Year 1, USC earned 
500u of foreign source foreign branch category income through its 
foreign branch in Country X and accrued and paid 50u of Country X 
foreign income tax on its earnings. The average exchange rate for 
Year 1 used to translate the foreign income taxes into dollars was 
$1x:1u. See Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(1). On its Year 1 income tax return, 
USC claimed a foreign tax credit under section 901 of $50x (50u 
translated at the average exchange rate for Year 1, that is, 
$1x:1u). In Year 4, Country X assessed an additional 20u of tax with 
respect to USC's Year 1 earnings. USC did not pay or accrue the 
additional 20u of tax and contested the assessment. After exhausting 
all effective and practical remedies to reduce, over time, its 
liability for foreign tax, USC settled the contest with Country X in 
Year 6, paying 10u of additional tax on September 1, Year 6, when 
the spot rate was $1.10x:1u.
    (2) Analysis. USC's payment in Year 6 of the 10u of additional 
tax accrued with respect to Year 1 is a foreign tax redetermination 
under paragraph (a) of this section. Under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of 
this section, the additional tax is taken into account in Year 1, 
the year to which the redetermined tax relates, irrespective of when 
the tax is paid. Under Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(i), because the tax 
was paid more than 24 months after the close of the year to which 
the redetermined tax relates, the 10u of tax is translated into 
dollars at the spot rate on the date of payment in Year 6 (10u at 
$1.10x:1u = $11x). If USC timely notifies the IRS, it may claim an 
increased foreign tax credit for Year 1. USC must also make 
corresponding adjustments in determining its taxable income and net 
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss in Year 1. See Sec. Sec.  
1.987-3(c)(2)(v) and 1.987-4(d)(7).
    (B) Example 2: Refund of tax improperly claimed as a credit--(1) 
Facts. USC holds a note issued by FC, an unrelated foreign 
corporation in Country Y. In Year 1, FC owed USC 500u of interest on 
the loan. The statutory rate of withholding on interest paid to a 
nonresident of Country Y is 20%. On December 1, Year 1, when the 
spot rate was $1x:1u, FC withheld and remitted to Country Y 100u of 
tax and paid 400u to USC Effective for Year 1, USC elected under 
Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iv) to translate its taxes denominated in 
nonfunctional currency into dollars at the spot rate on the date the 
taxes are paid. Under the United States--Country Y Income Tax Treaty 
(Treaty), USC was entitled to a reduced 15% rate of withholding that 
would result in a withholding tax of 75u. However, USC improperly 
claimed a foreign tax credit under section 901 for 100u = $100x on 
its Year 1 Federal income tax return. (See Sec.  1.901-2(e)(2)(i) 
and (e)(5), providing that an amount is not tax paid to the extent 
it exceeds the taxpayer's liability for tax or is reasonably certain 
to be refunded.) In Year 4, USC filed a refund claim with Country Y 
for 25u, the difference between the amount actually withheld at the 
20% statutory rate of tax and the amount owed by USC at the 15% 
Treaty rate. On March 15, Year 6, when the spot rate was $1.10x:1u, 
USC received a refund from Country Y of 25u. USC converted the 25u 
into dollars on the same day.
    (2) Analysis. Notwithstanding that the 25u of refundable tax did 
not constitute an amount of tax paid within the meaning of Sec.  
1.901-2(e) at the time USC improperly claimed it as a credit, the 
25u refund in Year 6 is a foreign tax redetermination under 
paragraph (a) of this section. Under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this 
section, USC must redetermine its U.S. tax liability for Year 1, the 
taxable year to which the redetermined tax relates. Under Sec.  
1.986(a)-1(c), the refund is translated at the exchange rate that 
was used to translate such amount when originally claimed as a 
credit. Accordingly, if not previously adjusted by USC or the 
Internal Revenue Service, USC must file an

[[Page 69106]]

amended return for Year 1, reducing the amount of foreign tax credit 
claimed for Year 1 by $25x (25u translated at the spot rate on 
December 1, Year 1; that is, $1x:1u). Under Sec.  1.986(a)-1(e)(1), 
USC's basis in the 25u is the same dollar value of the refund as 
determined under Sec.  1.986(a)-1(c), or $25x. When USC converted 
the 25u to $27.50x (translated at the spot rate on March 15, Year 6, 
that is, $1.10x:1u), it realized an exchange gain (within the 
meaning of Sec.  1.988-1(e)) equal to $2.50x ($27.50x-$25x basis).
    (C) Example 3: Change in functional currency--(1) Facts. In Year 
1, USC earned 500u of foreign source foreign branch category income 
through its foreign branch in Country X and accrued 100u of Country 
X foreign income tax on its earnings. The average exchange rate for 
Year 1 used to translate the foreign income taxes into dollars was 
$1x:1u. See Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(1). On its Federal income tax return 
for Year 1, USC claimed a foreign tax credit under section 901 of 
$100x (100u translated at the average exchange rate for Year 1, that 
is, $1x:1u). As of Year 2, the foreign branch changed its functional 
currency from the ``u'' to the dollar, and pursuant to Sec.  1.985-
5(d)(2), USC's foreign branch terminated and USC recognized section 
987 gain or loss on December 31, Year 1 (the date of change). The 
rate of exchange, as determined under Sec.  1.985-5(c), used to 
calculate the U.S. dollar basis in the foreign branch's property on 
the date of the change was $1.10x:1u, the spot rate on December 31, 
Year 1. On June 15, Year 3, when the spot rate was $1.30x:1u, USC's 
foreign branch received a refund from Country X of 10u. The foreign 
branch converted the 10u into $13x on the same day.
    (2) Analysis. The 10u refund in Year 3 is a foreign tax 
redetermination under paragraph (a) of this section. Under paragraph 
(b)(1)(i) of this section, USC must redetermine its U.S. tax 
liability for Year 1, the taxable year to which the redetermined tax 
relates. Under Sec.  1.986(a)-1(c), the refund is translated at the 
exchange rate that was used to translate such amount when originally 
claimed as a credit. Accordingly, USC must file an amended return, 
reducing the amount of foreign tax credit claimed for Year 1 by $10x 
(10u translated at the average exchange rate for Year 1, that is 
$1x:1u). USC must also make corresponding adjustments in determining 
its taxable income and net unrecognized section 987 gain or loss in 
Year 1. See Sec. Sec.  1.987-3(c)(2)(v) and 1.987-4(d)(8). Because 
the foreign branch changed its functional currency to the dollar in 
Year 2, the 10u it receives is a refund of nonfunctional currency 
tax that is denominated in a currency that was the functional 
currency of the foreign branch at the time USC originally claimed a 
credit for that foreign income tax. Under Sec. Sec.  1.985-5(d)(2) 
and 1.987-4(d), in Year 1 USC must recognize an additional $1x of 
section 987 gain (or $1x less of section 987 loss) by reason of the 
10u being treated as an asset of the foreign branch at the time of 
the foreign branch's termination. Under Sec.  1.986(a)-1(e)(2), 
USC's basis in the 10u refund is $11x, which is determined by using 
the exchange rate used under Sec.  1.985-5(c) when the foreign 
branch changed its functional currency in Year 2 ($1.10x:1u). When 
the foreign branch converted the 10u to $13x (translated at the spot 
rate on June 15, Year 3, which is $1.30x:1u), it realized an 
exchange gain (within the meaning of Sec.  1.988-1(e)) equal to $2x 
($13x-$11x (10u translated at $1.10x:1u)).
    (D) Example 4: Inflationary currency--(1) Facts. In Year 1, USC 
earned 500u of foreign source foreign branch category income through 
its foreign branch in Country X and accrued 100u of Country X 
foreign income tax on its earnings. The average exchange rate for 
Year 1 used to translate the foreign income taxes into dollars was 
$1x:1u. See Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(1). On its Federal income tax return 
for Year 1, USC claimed a foreign tax credit under section 901 of 
$100x (100u translated at the average exchange rate for Year 1, that 
is, $1x:1u). USC paid the 100u of tax on April 15, Year 3, when the 
spot rate was $1x:2u. In Year 3, but not in Year 1, the u was an 
inflationary currency within the meaning of Sec.  1.986(a)-
1(a)(2)(iii).
    (2) Analysis. Under Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iii), because the u 
was an inflationary currency in the year the taxes were paid, USC 
must translate the 100u of Year 1 tax into dollars using the spot 
rate on the date of payment of the foreign taxes. Under paragraph 
(a) of this section, because the translated value of USC's Year 1 
taxes when paid, that is, $50x (100u translated at the spot rate on 
April 15, Year 3, that is, $1x:2u), differs from the amount claimed 
as credits, that is, $100x (100u translated at the average exchange 
rate for Year 1, that is, $1x:1u), a foreign tax redetermination has 
occurred. Under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, because the 
$50x foreign tax redetermination resulting from the currency 
fluctuation exceeds 2% of the $100x initially accrued, USC must 
redetermine its U.S. tax liability for Year 1, the taxable year to 
which the redetermined tax relates. Accordingly, USC must notify the 
IRS, reducing the amount of foreign tax credit claimed for Year 1 by 
$50x (the excess of the translated value of the Year 1 taxes when 
accrued, that is, $100x, over the translated value of the Year 1 
taxes when paid, that is, $50x).
    (E) Example 5: Two-year rule--(1) Facts. In Year 1, USC earned 
500u of foreign source foreign branch category income through its 
foreign branch in Country X and accrued 100u of Country X foreign 
income tax on its earnings. The average exchange rate used to 
translate the foreign income taxes into dollars for Year 1 was 
$1x:1u. See Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(1). On its Federal income tax return 
for Year 1, USC claimed a foreign tax credit under section 901 of 
$100x (100u translated at the average exchange rate for Year 1, that 
is, $1x:1u). USC did not pay the Year 1 foreign income taxes until 
March 15, Year 6, when the spot rate was $0.8x:1u.
    (2) Analysis--(i) Result in Year 3. USC's failure to pay the tax 
by the end of Year 3 results in a foreign tax redetermination under 
paragraph (a) of this section. Because the taxes were not paid on or 
before the date 24 months after the close of the taxable year to 
which the tax relates, USC must account for the redetermination as 
if the unpaid 100u of accrued taxes were refunded on the last day of 
Year 3. Under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, USC must 
redetermine its U.S. tax liability for Year 1, the taxable year to 
which the redetermined tax relates. Under Sec.  1.986(a)-1(c), the 
deemed refund is translated at the exchange rate that was used to 
translate such amount when originally claimed as a credit. 
Accordingly, USC must notify the IRS, reducing the amount of foreign 
tax credit claimed for Year 1 by $100x (100u translated at the 
average exchange rate for Year 1, that is, $1x:1u). USC must also 
make corresponding adjustments in determining its taxable income and 
net unrecognized section 987 gain or loss in Year 1. See Sec. Sec.  
1.987-3(c)(2)(v) and 1.987-4(d)(8).
    (ii) Result in Year 6. USC's payment of the Year 1 tax liability 
of 100u on March 15, Year 6, results in a second foreign tax 
redetermination under paragraph (a) of this section. Under paragraph 
(b)(1)(i) of this section, the additional tax is taken into account 
in Year 1, the year to which the redetermined tax relates, 
irrespective of when the tax is paid. Under Sec.  1.986(a)-
1(a)(2)(i), because the tax was paid more than 24 months after the 
close of the year to which the tax relates, USC must translate the 
100u of tax at the spot rate on the date of payment of the foreign 
taxes in Year 6. If USC timely notifies the IRS, it may claim an 
increased foreign tax credit for Year 1. USC must also make 
corresponding adjustments in determining its taxable income and net 
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss in Year 1. See Sec. Sec.  
1.987-3(c)(2)(v) and 1.987-4(d)(7).
    (F) Example 6: Cash basis taxpayer that pays additional foreign 
tax--(1) Facts. Individual A, a U.S. citizen resident in Country X, 
is a cash basis taxpayer who has not made an election under section 
905(a) to claim the foreign tax credit in the year the taxes accrue. 
A uses the calendar year as the taxable year for both U.S. and 
Country X tax purposes. In Year 2, A pays 100u of foreign income 
taxes to Country X with respect to Year 1. The exchange rate used to 
translate the foreign income taxes into dollars was $1x:1u, the spot 
rate on the date A paid the taxes in Year 2. See section 
986(a)(2)(A) and Sec.  1.986(a)-1(b). On A's Year 2 Federal income 
tax return, A claims a foreign tax credit under section 901 of 
$100x. In Year 4, Country X assesses an additional 20u of tax with 
respect to A's Year 1 income. A does not pay the additional 20u of 
tax and contests the assessment. After exhausting all effective and 
practical remedies to reduce, over time, A's liability for foreign 
tax, A settles the contest with Country X in Year 6, paying 10u of 
additional tax on September 1, Year 6, when the spot rate is 
$1.10x:1u.
    (2) Analysis. Because A is a cash basis taxpayer that claims the 
foreign tax credit in the year the taxes are paid, A's payment in 
Year 6 of 10u of additional tax owed with respect to Year 1 is not a 
foreign tax redetermination requiring a redetermination of U.S. tax 
liability under paragraph (b)(1) of this section. Rather, A is 
eligible to claim the additional tax as a credit in Year 6, the year 
in which the tax is paid. Under Sec.  1.986(a)-1(b), the 10u of tax 
is translated into dollars at the spot rate on the date of payment 
in Year 6 (10u at $1.10x:1u = $11x).
    (G) Example 7: Cash basis taxpayer that receives a refund of 
foreign tax--(1) Facts.

[[Page 69107]]

The facts are the same as paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(F) of this section 
(the facts in Example 6) except that instead of being assessed 
additional tax in Year 4, A receives a refund in Year 4 of 10u with 
respect to A's Year 1 tax that was claimed as a credit in Year 2.
    (2) Analysis. Under paragraphs (a) and (b)(1) of this section, A 
must redetermine its U.S. tax liability for Year 2 and any year to 
which unused foreign taxes were carried from Year 2. Under Sec.  
1.986(a)-1(c), the amount of A's foreign tax credit for Year 2 is 
reduced by $10x, the 10u refund translated at the exchange rate used 
to translate the tax when claimed as a credit. Under Sec.  1.986(a)-
1(e)(1), A's basis in the 10u is $10x.

    (2) and (3) [Reserved]
    (c) Foreign income tax imposed on foreign refund. If a 
redetermination of foreign income tax for a taxable year or years 
results from a refund to the section 901 taxpayer of foreign income 
taxes paid to a foreign country or possession of the United States and 
the foreign country or possession imposed foreign income tax on such 
refund, then, in accordance with section 905(c)(5), the amount of the 
refund is considered to be reduced by the amount of any foreign income 
tax described in section 901 imposed by the foreign country or 
possession of the United States with respect to such refund. In such 
case, no other credit under section 901, and no deduction under section 
164, is allowed for any taxable year with respect to such tax imposed 
on such refund.
    (d) Applicability dates. This section applies to foreign tax 
redeterminations occurring in taxable years ending on or after December 
16, 2019.


Sec.  1.905-3T   [Removed]

0
Par. 30. Section 1.905-3T is removed.


Sec.  1.951A-2   [Amended]

0
Par. 31. Section 1.951A-2 is amended by removing the language ``Sec.  
1.904-5(a)'' and adding in its place the language ``Sec.  1.904-
5(a)(4)(v)'' in the first sentence of paragraph (c)(3).


Sec.  1.952-1   [Amended]

0
Par. 32. Section 1.952-1 is amended by removing the language ``Sec.  
1.904-5(a)(1)'' and adding in its place the language ``Sec.  1.904-
5(a)(4)(v)'' in paragraph (e)(1)(i), the first sentence of paragraph 
(e)(5), and the first sentence of paragraph (f)(2)(ii).

0
Par. 33. Section 1.954-1 is amended by:
0
1. Removing the language ``Sec.  1.904-5(a)(1)'' and adding in its 
place the language ``Sec.  1.904-5(a)(4)(v)'' in the introductory text 
of paragraph (c)(1)(iii)(A).
0
2. In paragraph (d)(3)(i):
0
i. Removing the language ``section 960'' and adding in its place the 
language ``section 960(a) and Sec.  1.960-2(b)(1)'' in the first 
sentence.
0
ii. Removing the language ``section 960'' and adding in its place the 
language ``section 960(a)'' in the second sentence.
0
iii. Removing the last sentence.
0
3. Removing the language ``section 960'' and adding in its place the 
language ``section 960(a) and Sec.  1.960-2(b)(1)'' in paragraph 
(d)(3)(ii).
0
4. Adding paragraph (d)(3)(iii).
0
5. Removing paragraph (g)(4).
0
6. Adding paragraph (h).
    The additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.954-1   Foreign base company income.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iii) Effect of potential and actual changes in taxes paid or 
accrued. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (d)(3)(iii), 
the amount of foreign income taxes paid or accrued with respect to a 
net item of income, determined in the manner provided in this paragraph 
(d), does not take into account any potential reduction in foreign 
income taxes that may occur by reason of a future distribution to 
shareholders of all or part of such income. However, to the extent the 
foreign income taxes paid or accrued by the controlled foreign 
corporation are reasonably certain to be returned by the foreign 
jurisdiction imposing such taxes to a shareholder, directly or 
indirectly, through any means (including, but not limited to, a refund, 
credit, payment, discharge of an obligation, or any other method) on a 
subsequent distribution to such shareholder, the foreign income taxes 
are not treated as paid or accrued for purposes of this paragraph 
(d)(3).
* * * * *
    (h) Applicability dates--(1) Paragraph (d)(3) of this section. 
Paragraph (d)(3) of this section applies to taxable years of a 
controlled foreign corporation ending on or after December 4, 2018.
    (2) Paragraph (g) of this section. Paragraph (g) of this section 
applies to taxable years of a controlled foreign corporation beginning 
on or after July 23, 2002.

0
Par. 34. Section 1.960-1 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  1.960-1   Overview, definitions, and computational rules for 
determining foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(a), (b), 
and (d).

    (a) Overview--(1) Scope of Sec. Sec.  1.960-1 through 1.960-3. This 
section and Sec. Sec.  1.960-2 and 1.960-3 provide rules to associate 
foreign income taxes of a controlled foreign corporation with the 
income that a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder 
of the controlled foreign corporation takes into account in determining 
a subpart F inclusion or GILTI inclusion amount of the domestic 
corporation, as well as to associate foreign income taxes of a 
controlled foreign corporation with distributions of previously taxed 
earnings and profits. This section and Sec. Sec.  1.960-2 and 1.960-3 
provide the exclusive rules for determining the foreign income taxes 
deemed paid by a domestic corporation under section 960. Therefore, 
only foreign income taxes of a controlled foreign corporation that are 
associated under these rules with a subpart F inclusion or GILTI 
inclusion amount of a domestic corporation that is a United States 
shareholder of the controlled foreign corporation, or with previously 
taxed earnings and profits, are eligible to be deemed paid. This 
section provides definitions and computational rules for determining 
foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(a), (b), and (d). 
Section 1.960-2 provides rules for computing the amount of foreign 
income taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation that is a United 
States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation under section 
960(a) and (d). Section 1.960-3 provides rules for computing the amount 
of foreign income taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation that is a 
United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation, or by a 
controlled foreign corporation, under section 960(b). This section and 
Sec. Sec.  1.960-2 and 1.960-3 also apply for purposes of any provision 
that treats a taxpayer as a domestic corporation that is deemed to pay 
foreign income taxes or treats a foreign corporation as a controlled 
foreign corporation for purposes of section 960. See, for example, 
sections 962(a)(2) and 1293(f).
    (2) Scope of this section. Paragraph (b) of this section provides 
definitions for purposes of this section and Sec. Sec.  1.960-2 and 
1.960-3. Paragraph (c) of this section provides computational rules to 
coordinate the various calculations under this section and Sec. Sec.  
1.960-2 and 1.960-3. Paragraph (d) of this section provides rules for 
computing the income in an income group within a section 904 category, 
and for associating foreign income taxes with an income group. 
Paragraph (e) of this section provides a rule for the treatment of 
taxes associated with the residual income group. Paragraph (f) of this 
section provides an example illustrating the application of this 
section.

[[Page 69108]]

    (b) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of 
this section and Sec. Sec.  1.960-2 and 1.960-3.
    (1) Annual PTEP account. The term annual PTEP account has the 
meaning set forth in Sec.  1.960-3(c)(1).
    (2) Controlled foreign corporation. The term controlled foreign 
corporation means a foreign corporation described in section 957(a).
    (3) Current taxable year. The term current taxable year means the 
U.S. taxable year of a controlled foreign corporation that is an 
inclusion year, or during which the controlled foreign corporation 
receives a section 959(b) distribution or makes a section 959(a) 
distribution or a section 959(b) distribution.
    (4) Current year tax. The term current year tax means a foreign 
income tax paid or accrued by a controlled foreign corporation in a 
current taxable year (taking into account any adjustments resulting 
from a foreign tax redetermination (as defined in Sec.  1.905-3(a)). A 
foreign income tax accrues when all the events have occurred that 
establish the fact of the liability and the amount of the liability can 
be determined with reasonable accuracy. See Sec. Sec.  1.446-
1(c)(1)(ii)(A) and 1.461-4(g)(6)(iii)(B) (economic performance 
exception for certain foreign taxes). Withholding taxes described in 
section 901(k)(1)(B) that are withheld from a payment accrue when the 
payment is made. A foreign income tax calculated on the basis of net 
income (or a base in lieu of net income) for a foreign taxable year 
accrues on the last day of the foreign taxable year. Accordingly, 
current year taxes include foreign withholding taxes that are withheld 
from payments made to the controlled foreign corporation during the 
current taxable year, and foreign income taxes that accrue in the 
controlled foreign corporation's current taxable year in which or with 
which its foreign taxable year ends. Additional payments of foreign 
income taxes resulting from a redetermination of foreign tax liability, 
including contested taxes that accrue when the contest is resolved, 
``relate back'' and are considered to accrue as of the end of the 
foreign taxable year to which the taxes relate.
    (5) Foreign income tax. The term foreign income tax means each 
separate levy (as defined in Sec.  1.901-2(d)) that is an income, war 
profits, and excess profits tax as defined in Sec.  1.901-2(a), and tax 
included in the term income, war profits, and excess profits tax by 
reason of section 903 and Sec.  1.903-1(a), that is imposed by a 
foreign country or a possession of the United States, including any 
such tax that is deemed paid by a controlled foreign corporation under 
section 960(b)(2). Income, war profits, and excess profits taxes do not 
include amounts excluded from the definition of those taxes under 
section 901. See, for example, section 901(f), (g), and (i). Foreign 
income tax also does not include taxes paid by a controlled foreign 
corporation for which a credit is disallowed at the level of the 
controlled foreign corporation. See, for example, sections 245A(e)(3), 
901(k)(1), (l), and (m), 909, and 6038(c)(1)(B). Foreign income tax, 
however, includes tax that may be deemed paid but for which a credit is 
reduced or disallowed at the level of the United States shareholder. 
See, for example, sections 901(e), 901(j), 901(k)(2), 908, 965(g), and 
6038(c)(1)(A).
    (6) Foreign taxable year. The term foreign taxable year has the 
meaning set forth in section 7701(a)(23), applied by substituting 
``under foreign law'' for the phrase ``under subtitle A.''
    (7) Foreign taxable income. The term foreign taxable income means 
the base upon which a current year tax is imposed that comprises the 
items included in gross income under foreign law and the deductions 
allowed under foreign law. In the case of a current year tax that is 
imposed with respect to a taxable period, foreign taxable income 
includes all of the items taken into account under foreign law with 
respect to that period. See paragraph (d)(3)(ii)(A) of this section for 
rules for apportioning current year tax to section 904 categories or 
income groups on the basis of foreign taxable income.
    (8) GILTI inclusion amount. The term GILTI inclusion amount has the 
meaning set forth in Sec.  1.951A-1(c)(1) (or, in the case of a member 
of a consolidated group, Sec.  1.1502-51(b)).
    (9) Gross tested income. The term gross tested income has the 
meaning set forth in Sec.  1.951A-2(c)(1).
    (10) Inclusion percentage. The term inclusion percentage has the 
meaning set forth in Sec.  1.960-2(c)(2).
    (11) Inclusion year. The term inclusion year means the U.S. taxable 
year of a controlled foreign corporation which ends during or with the 
taxable year of a United States shareholder of the controlled foreign 
corporation in which the United States shareholder includes an amount 
in income under section 951(a)(1) or 951A(a) with respect to the 
controlled foreign corporation.
    (12) Income group. The term income group means a group of income 
described in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section.
    (13) Partnership CFC. The term partnership CFC means, with respect 
to a U.S. shareholder partnership, a controlled foreign corporation 
stock of which is owned (within the meaning of section 958(a)) by the 
U.S. shareholder partnership.
    (14) Passive category. The term passive category means the separate 
category of income described in section 904(d)(1)(C) and Sec.  1.904-
4(b).
    (15) Previously taxed earnings and profits. The term previously 
taxed earnings and profits means earnings and profits described in 
section 959(c)(1) or (2), including earnings and profits described in 
section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 951A(f)(1) and Sec.  1.951A-
5(b)(1).
    (16) PTEP group. The term PTEP group has the meaning set forth in 
Sec.  1.960-3(c)(2).
    (17) PTEP group taxes. The term PTEP group taxes has the meaning 
set forth in Sec.  1.960-3(d)(1).
    (18) Recipient controlled foreign corporation. The term recipient 
controlled foreign corporation has the meaning set forth in Sec.  
1.960-3(b)(2).
    (19) Reclassified previously taxed earnings and profits. The term 
reclassified previously taxed earnings and profits has the meaning set 
forth in Sec.  1.960-3(c)(4).
    (20) Reclassified PTEP group. The term reclassified PTEP group has 
the meaning set forth in Sec.  1.960-3(c)(4).
    (21) Residual income group. The term residual income group has the 
meaning set forth in paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(D) of this section.
    (22) Section 904 category. The term section 904 category means a 
separate category of income described in Sec.  1.904-5(a)(4)(v).
    (23) Section 951A category. The term section 951A category means 
the separate category of income described in section 904(d)(1)(A) and 
Sec.  1.904-4(g).
    (24) Section 959 distribution. The term section 959 distribution 
means a section 959(a) distribution or a section 959(b) distribution.
    (25) Section 959(a) distribution. The term section 959(a) 
distribution means a distribution excluded from the gross income of a 
United States shareholder under section 959(a).
    (26) Section 959(b) distribution. The term section 959(b) 
distribution means a distribution excluded from the gross income of a 
controlled foreign corporation for purposes of section 951(a) under 
section 959(b).
    (27) Section 959(c)(2) PTEP group. The term section 959(c)(2) PTEP 
group has the meaning set forth in Sec.  1.960-3(c)(4).
    (28) Subpart F inclusion. The term subpart F inclusion has the 
meaning set forth in Sec.  1.960-2(b)(1).
    (29) Subpart F income. The term subpart F income has the meaning 
set forth in section 952 and Sec.  1.952-1(a).

[[Page 69109]]

    (30) Subpart F income group. The term subpart F income group has 
the meaning set forth in paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(1) of this section.
    (31) Tested foreign income taxes. The term tested foreign income 
taxes has the meaning set forth in Sec.  1.960-2(c)(3).
    (32) Tested income. The term tested income means the amount with 
respect to a controlled foreign corporation that is described in 
section 951A(c)(2)(A) and Sec.  1.951A-2(b)(1).
    (33) Tested income group. The term tested income group has the 
meaning set forth in paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C) of this section.
    (34) United States shareholder. The term United States shareholder 
has the meaning set forth in section 951(b).
    (35) U.S. shareholder partner. The term U.S. shareholder partner 
means, with respect to a U.S. shareholder partnership and a partnership 
CFC of the U.S. shareholder partnership, a United States person that is 
a partner in the U.S. shareholder partnership and that is also a United 
States shareholder (as defined in section 951(b)) of the partnership 
CFC.
    (36) U.S. shareholder partnership. The term U.S. shareholder 
partnership means a domestic partnership (within the meaning of section 
7701(a)(4)) that is a United States shareholder of one or more 
controlled foreign corporations.
    (37) U.S. taxable year. The term U.S. taxable year has the same 
meaning as that of the term taxable year set forth in section 
7701(a)(23).
    (c) Computational rules--(1) In general. For purposes of computing 
foreign income taxes deemed paid by either a domestic corporation that 
is a United States shareholder with respect to a controlled foreign 
corporation under Sec.  1.960-2 or Sec.  1.960-3 or by a controlled 
foreign corporation under Sec.  1.960-3 for the current taxable year, 
the following rules apply in the following order, beginning with the 
lowest-tier controlled foreign corporation in a chain with respect to 
which the domestic corporation is a United States shareholder:
    (i) First, items of gross income of the controlled foreign 
corporation for the current taxable year other than a section 959(b) 
distribution are assigned to section 904 categories and included in 
income groups within those section 904 categories under the rules in 
paragraph (d)(2) of this section. The receipt of a section 959(b) 
distribution by the controlled foreign corporation is accounted for 
under Sec.  1.960-3(c)(3).
    (ii) Second, deductions (other than for current year taxes) of the 
controlled foreign corporation for the current taxable year are 
allocated and apportioned to reduce gross income in the section 904 
categories and the income groups within a section 904 category. See 
paragraph (d)(3)(i) of this section. Additionally, the functional 
currency amounts of current year taxes of the controlled foreign 
corporation for the current taxable year are allocated and apportioned 
to reduce gross income in the section 904 categories and the income 
groups within a section 904 category, and to reduce earnings and 
profits in any PTEP groups that were increased as provided in paragraph 
(c)(1)(i) of this section. See paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section. 
For purposes of computing foreign taxes deemed paid, current year taxes 
allocated and apportioned to income groups and PTEP groups in the 
section 904 categories are translated into U.S. dollars in accordance 
with section 986(a). See paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
    (iii) Third, current year taxes deemed paid under section 960(a) 
and (d) by the domestic corporation with respect to income of the 
controlled foreign corporation are computed under the rules of Sec.  
1.960-2. In addition, foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 
960(b)(2) with respect to the receipt of a section 959(b) distribution 
by the controlled foreign corporation are computed under the rules of 
Sec.  1.960-3(b).
    (iv) Fourth, any previously taxed earnings and profits of the 
controlled foreign corporation resulting from subpart F inclusions and 
GILTI inclusion amounts with respect to the controlled foreign 
corporation's current taxable year are separated from other earnings 
and profits of the controlled foreign corporation and added to an 
annual PTEP account, and a PTEP group within the PTEP account, under 
the rules of Sec.  1.960-3(c).
    (v) Fifth, paragraphs (c)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section are 
repeated for each next higher-tier controlled foreign corporation in 
the chain.
    (vi) Sixth, with respect to the highest-tier controlled foreign 
corporation in a chain that is owned directly (or indirectly through a 
partnership) by the domestic corporation, foreign income taxes that are 
deemed paid under section 960(b)(1) in connection with the receipt of a 
section 959(a) distribution by the domestic corporation are computed 
under the rules of Sec.  1.960-3(b).
    (2) Inclusion of current year items. For a current taxable year, 
the items of income and deductions (including for taxes), and the U.S. 
dollar amounts of current year taxes, that are included in the 
computations described in this section and assigned to income groups 
and PTEP groups for the taxable year are the items that the controlled 
foreign corporation accrues and takes into account during the current 
taxable year.
    (3) Functional currency and translation. The computations described 
in this paragraph (c) that relate to income and earnings and profits 
are made in the functional currency of the controlled foreign 
corporation (as determined under section 985), and references to taxes 
deemed paid are to U.S. dollar amounts (translated in accordance with 
section 986(a)).
    (d) Computing income in a section 904 category and an income group 
within a section 904 category--(1) Scope. This paragraph (d) provides 
rules for assigning gross income (including gains) of a controlled 
foreign corporation for the current taxable year to a section 904 
category and income group within a section 904 category, and for 
allocating and apportioning deductions (including losses and current 
year taxes) and the U.S. dollar amount of current year taxes of the 
controlled foreign corporation for the current taxable year among the 
section 904 categories, income groups within a section 904 category, 
and PTEP groups. For rules regarding maintenance of previously taxed 
earnings and profits in an annual PTEP account, and assignment of those 
previously taxed earnings and profits to PTEP groups, see Sec.  1.960-
3.
    (2) Assignment of gross income to section 904 categories and income 
groups within a category--(i) Assigning items of gross income to 
section 904 categories. Items of gross income of the controlled foreign 
corporation for the current taxable year are first assigned to a 
section 904 category of the controlled foreign corporation under 
Sec. Sec.  1.904-4 and 1.904-5, and under Sec.  1.960-3(c)(1) in the 
case of gross income relating to a section 959(b) distribution received 
by the controlled foreign corporation. Income of a controlled foreign 
corporation, other than gross income relating to a section 959(b) 
distribution, cannot be assigned to the section 951A category. See 
Sec.  1.904-4(g).
    (ii) Grouping gross income within a section 904 category--(A) In 
general. Gross income within a section 904 category is assigned to an 
income group under the rules of this paragraph (d)(2)(ii), or to a PTEP 
group under the rules of Sec.  1.960-3(c)(3). Gross income other than a 
section 959(b) distribution is assigned to a subpart F income group, 
tested income group, or residual income group.
    (B) Subpart F income groups--(1) In general. The term subpart F 
income group means an income group within a

[[Page 69110]]

section 904 category that consists of income that is described in 
paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(2) of this section. Gross income that is 
treated as a single item of income under Sec.  1.954-1(c)(1)(iii) is in 
a separate subpart F income group under paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(2)(i) 
of this section. Items of gross income that give rise to income 
described in paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B)(2)(ii) of this section are 
aggregated and treated as gross income in a separate subpart F income 
group. Similarly, items of gross income that give rise to income 
described in each one of paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)(B)(2)(iii) through (v) 
of this section are aggregated and treated as gross income in a 
separate subpart F income group.
    (2) Income in subpart F income groups. The income included in 
subpart F income groups is:
    (i) Items of foreign base company income treated as a single item 
of income under Sec.  1.954-1(c)(1)(iii);
    (ii) Insurance income described in section 952(a)(1);
    (iii) Income subject to the international boycott factor described 
in section 952(a)(3);
    (iv) Income from certain bribes, kickbacks and other payments 
described in section 952(a)(4); and
    (v) Income subject to section 901(j) described in section 
952(a)(5).
    (C) Tested income groups. The term tested income group means an 
income group that consists of tested income within a section 904 
category. Items of gross tested income in each section 904 category are 
aggregated and treated as gross income in a separate tested income 
group.
    (D) Residual income group. The term residual income group means the 
income group within a section 904 category that consists of income that 
is not in a subpart F income group, tested income group, or PTEP group.
    (E) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (d)(2)(ii).

    (1) Example 1: Subpart F income groups--(i) Facts. CFC, a 
controlled foreign corporation, is incorporated in Country X. CFC 
uses the ``u'' as its functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u 
= $1x. CFC earns from sources outside of Country X portfolio 
dividend income of 100,000u, portfolio interest income of 
1,500,000u, and 70,000u of royalty income that is not derived from 
the active conduct of a trade or business. CFC also earns 50,000u 
from the sale of personal property to a related person for use 
outside of Country X that gives rise to foreign base company sales 
income under section 954(d). Finally, CFC earns 45,000u for 
performing consulting services outside of Country X for related 
persons that gives rise to foreign base company services income 
under section 954(e). None of the income is taxed by Country X. The 
dividend income is subject to a 15 percent third-country withholding 
tax after application of the applicable income tax treaty. The 
interest income and the royalty income are subject to no third-
country withholding tax. CFC incurs no expenses.
    (ii) Analysis. Under paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section and 
Sec.  1.904-4, the interest income, dividend income, and royalty 
income are passive category income and the sales and consulting 
income are general category income. Under paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(B) of 
this section, CFC has a separate subpart F income group within the 
passive category with respect to the 100,000u of dividend income, 
which is foreign personal holding company income described in Sec.  
1.954-1(c)(1)(iii)(A)(1)(i) (dividends, interest, rents, royalties 
and annuities) that falls within a single group of income under 
Sec.  1.904-4(c)(3)(i) for passive income that is subject to 
withholding tax of fifteen percent or greater. CFC also has a 
separate subpart F income group within the passive category with 
respect to the 1,500,000u of interest income and the 70,000u of 
royalty income (in total 1,570,000u) which together are foreign 
personal holding company income described in Sec.  1.954-
1(c)(1)(iii)(A)(1)(i) (dividends, interest, rents, royalties and 
annuities) that falls within a single group of income under Sec.  
1.904-4(c)(3)(iii) for passive income that is subject to no 
withholding tax or other foreign tax. With respect to its 50,000u of 
sales income, CFC has a separate subpart F income group with respect 
to foreign base company sales income described in Sec.  1.954-
1(c)(1)(iii)(A)(2)(i) within the general category. With respect to 
its 45,000u of services income, CFC has a separate subpart F income 
group with respect to foreign base company services income described 
in Sec.  1.954-1(c)(1)(iii)(A)(2)(ii) within the general category.
    (2) Example 2: Tested income groups--(i) Facts. CFC, a 
controlled foreign corporation, is incorporated in Country X. CFC 
uses the ``u'' as its functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u 
= $1x. CFC earns 500u from the sale of goods to unrelated parties. 
CFC also earns 75u for performing consulting services for unrelated 
parties. All of its income is gross tested income. CFC incurs no 
deductions.
    (ii) Analysis. Under paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section and 
section 904 and Sec.  1.904-4, the sales income and services income 
are both general category income. Under paragraph (d)(2)(ii)(C) of 
this section, with respect to the 500u of sales income and 75u 
services income (in total 575u), CFC has one tested income group 
within the general category.

    (3) Allocation and apportionment of deductions among section 904 
categories, income groups within a section 904 category, and certain 
PTEP groups--(i) In general. Gross income of the controlled foreign 
corporation in each income group within each section 904 category is 
reduced by deductions (including losses) of the controlled foreign 
corporation for the current taxable year under the rules in this 
paragraph (d)(3)(i). No deductions of the controlled foreign 
corporation for the current taxable year other than a deduction for 
current year taxes imposed solely by reason of the receipt of a section 
959(b) distribution are allocated or apportioned to reduce earnings and 
profits in a PTEP group.
    (A) First, the rules of sections 861 through 865 and 904(d) (taking 
into account the rules of section 954(b)(5) and Sec.  1.954-1(c), and 
section 951A(c)(2)(A)(ii) and Sec.  1.951A-2(c)(3), as appropriate) 
apply to allocate and apportion to reduce gross income (or create a 
loss) in each section 904 category and income group within a section 
904 category any deductions of the controlled foreign corporation that 
are definitely related to less than all of the controlled foreign 
corporation's gross income as a class. See paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this 
section for special rules for allocating and apportioning current year 
taxes to section 904 categories, income groups, and PTEP groups.
    (B) Second, related person interest expense is allocated to and 
apportioned among the subpart F income groups within the passive 
category under the principles of Sec. Sec.  1.904-5(c)(2) and 1.954-
1(c)(1)(i).
    (C) Third, any remaining deductions are allocated and apportioned 
to reduce gross income (or create a loss) in the section 904 categories 
and income groups within each section 904 category under the rules 
referenced in paragraph (d)(3)(i)(A) of this section.
    (ii) Allocation and apportionment of a current year tax--(A) In 
general. A current year tax is allocated and apportioned among the 
section 904 categories under the rules of Sec.  1.904-6(a)(1) based on 
the portion of the foreign taxable income (as characterized under 
Federal income tax principles) that is assigned to a particular section 
904 category. An amount of the current year tax that is allocated and 
apportioned to a section 904 category is then allocated and apportioned 
among the income groups within the section 904 category under the 
principles of Sec.  1.904-6(a)(1) based on the portion of the foreign 
taxable income (as characterized under Federal income tax principles) 
that is assigned to a particular income group. Therefore, the portion 
of a current year tax that is attributable to a timing difference 
described in Sec.  1.904-6(a)(1)(iv) is treated as related to the 
section 904 category and income group within a section 904 category to 
which the tax would be assigned if the foreign taxable income on which 
the tax is imposed was recognized under Federal income tax principles 
in the year in which the tax is paid or accrued. For purposes of

[[Page 69111]]

determining foreign income taxes deemed paid under the rules in 
Sec. Sec.  1.960-2 and 1.960-3, the U.S. dollar amount of a current 
year tax is assigned to the section 904 categories, income groups, and 
PTEP groups (to the extent provided in paragraph (d)(3)(ii)(C) of this 
section) to which the current year tax is allocated and apportioned.
    (B) Foreign taxable income that includes a base difference. For 
purposes of allocating and apportioning a current year tax among the 
income groups within a section 904 category under the rules of this 
paragraph (d)(3)(ii), the portion of the foreign taxable income that 
constitutes a base difference described in Sec.  1.904-6(a)(1)(iv) is 
assigned to a residual income group. An amount of current year tax that 
is imposed on such portion of the foreign taxable income is therefore 
allocated and apportioned to the residual income group within a section 
904 category.
    (C) Foreign taxable income that includes previously taxed earnings 
and profits. For purposes of allocating and apportioning a current year 
tax under this paragraph (d)(3)(ii), a PTEP group that is increased 
under Sec.  1.960-3(c)(3) as a result of the receipt of a section 
959(b) distribution in the current taxable year of the controlled 
foreign corporation is treated as an income group within the section 
904 category. In such case, under the principles of Sec.  1.904-
6(a)(1), the portion of the foreign taxable income that is 
characterized under Federal income tax principles as a distribution of 
previously taxed earnings and profits that results in the increase in 
the PTEP group in the current taxable year is assigned to that PTEP 
group. If a PTEP group is not treated as an income group under the 
first sentence of this paragraph (d)(3)(ii)(C), and the principles of 
Sec.  1.904-6(a)(1) would otherwise apply to assign foreign taxable 
income to a PTEP group, that foreign taxable income is instead assigned 
to the income group to which the income that gave rise to the 
previously taxed earnings and profits would be assigned if the income 
were recognized by the recipient controlled foreign corporation under 
Federal income tax principles in the current taxable year. For example, 
a net basis tax imposed on a controlled foreign corporation's receipt 
of a section 959(b) distribution by the corporation's country of 
residence is allocated or apportioned to a PTEP group. Similarly, a 
withholding tax imposed with respect to a controlled foreign 
corporation's receipt of a section 959(b) distribution is allocated and 
apportioned to a PTEP group. In contrast, a withholding tax imposed on 
a disregarded payment from a disregarded entity to its controlled 
foreign corporation owner is never treated as related to a PTEP group, 
even if all of the controlled foreign corporation's earnings are 
previously taxed earnings and profits, because the payment that gives 
rise to the foreign taxable income from which the tax was withheld does 
not constitute a section 959(b) distribution in the current taxable 
year. That foreign taxable income, however, may be assigned to a 
subpart F income group or tested income group under paragraph 
(d)(3)(ii)(A) of this section (applying the principles of Sec.  1.904-
6(a)(1)(iv)).
    (e) No deemed paid credit for current year taxes related to 
residual income group. Current year taxes paid or accrued by a 
controlled foreign corporation that are allocated and apportioned under 
paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section to a residual income group cannot 
be deemed paid under section 960 for any taxable year.
    (f) Example. The following example illustrates the application of 
this section and Sec.  1.960-3.

    (1) Facts--(i) Income of CFC1 and CFC2. CFC1, a controlled 
foreign corporation, conducts business in Country X. CFC1 uses the 
``u'' as its functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u=$1x. 
CFC1 owns all of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign 
corporation. CFC1 and CFC2 both use the calendar year as their U.S. 
and foreign taxable years. In 2019, CFC1 earns 2,000,000u of gross 
income that is foreign oil and gas extraction income, within the 
meaning of section 907(c)(1), and 2,000,000u of interest income from 
unrelated persons, for both U.S. and Country X tax law purposes. 
Country X exempts interest income from tax. In 2019, CFC1 also 
receives a section 959(b) distribution from CFC2 of 4,000,000u of 
previously taxed earnings and profits attributable to an inclusion 
under section 965(a) for CFC2's 2017 U.S. taxable year. The 
inclusion under section 965(a) was income in the general category. 
There are no PTEP group taxes associated with the previously taxed 
earnings and profits distributed by CFC2 at the level of CFC2. The 
section 959(b) distribution is treated as a dividend taxable to CFC1 
under Country X law. In 2019, CFC2 earns no gross income and 
receives no distributions.
    (ii) Pre-tax deductions of CFC1 and CFC2. For both U.S. and 
Country X tax purposes, in 2019, CFC1 incurs 1,500,000u of 
deductible expenses other than current year taxes that are allocable 
to all gross income. For U.S. tax purposes, under Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 
through 1.861-14T, 750,000u of such deductions are apportioned to 
each of CFC1's foreign oil and gas extraction income and interest 
income. Under Country X law, 1,000,000u of deductions are allocated 
and apportioned to the 4,000,000u treated as a dividend, and 
500,000u of deductions are allocated and apportioned to the 
2,000,000u of foreign oil and gas extraction income. Under Country X 
law, no deductions are allocable to the interest income. Country X 
imposes tax of 900,000u on a base of 4,500,000u (6,000,000u gross 
income-1,500,000u deductions) consisting of 3,000,000u (4,000,000u-
1,000,000u) attributable to CFC1's section 959(b) distribution and 
1,500,000u (2,000,000u-500,000u) attributable to CFC1's foreign oil 
and gas extraction income. In 2019, CFC2 has no expenses (including 
current year taxes).
    (iii) United States shareholders of CFC1. All of the stock of 
CFC1 is owned (within the meaning of section 958(a)) by corporate 
United States shareholders that use the calendar year as their U.S. 
taxable year. In 2019, the United States shareholders of CFC1 
include in gross income subpart F inclusions in the passive category 
totaling $1,250,000x with respect to 1,250,000u of subpart F income 
of CFC1.
    (2) Analysis--(i) CFC2. Under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, 
the computational rules of paragraph (c)(1) of this section are 
applied beginning with CFC2. However, CFC2 has no gross income or 
expenses in 2019 (the ``current taxable year''). Accordingly, the 
computational rules described in paragraphs (c)(1)(i) through (iv) 
of this section are not relevant with respect to CFC2. Under 
paragraph (c)(1)(v) of this section, the rules in paragraph 
(c)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section are then applied to CFC1.
    (ii) CFC1--(A) Step 1. Under paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this 
section, CFC1's items of gross income for the current taxable year 
are assigned to section 904 categories and included in income groups 
within those section 904 categories. In addition, CFC1's receipt of 
a section 959(b) distribution is assigned to a PTEP group. Under 
paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section and Sec.  1.904-4, the interest 
income is passive category income and the foreign oil and gas 
extraction income is general category income. Under paragraph 
(d)(2)(ii) of this section, the 2,000,000u of interest income is 
assigned to a subpart F income group (the ``subpart F income 
group'') within the passive category because it is foreign personal 
holding company income described in Sec.  1.954-
1(c)(1)(iii)(A)(1)(i) that falls within a single group of income 
under Sec.  1.904-4(c)(3)(iii) for passive income that is subject to 
no withholding tax or other foreign tax. The 2,000,000u of foreign 
oil and gas extraction income is assigned to the residual income 
group within the general category. Under Sec.  1.960-3(c), the 
4,000,000u section 959(b) distribution is assigned to the PTEP group 
described in Sec.  1.960-3(c)(2)(vii) within the 2017 annual PTEP 
account (the ``PTEP group'') within the general category.
    (B) Step 2--(1) Allocation and apportionment of deductions for 
expenses other than taxes. Under paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this 
section, CFC1's deductions for the current taxable year are 
allocated and apportioned among the section 904 categories, income 
groups within a section 904 category, and any PTEP groups that were 
increased as provided in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section. Under 
paragraph (d)(3)(i) of this section and Sec. Sec.  1.861-8 through 
1.861-14T, 750,000u of deductions are allocated and

[[Page 69112]]

apportioned to the residual income group within the general 
category, and 750,000u of deductions are allocated and apportioned 
to the subpart F income group within the passive category. 
Therefore, CFC1 has 1,250,000u (2,000,000u-750,000u) of pre-tax 
income attributable to the residual income group within the general 
category and 1,250,000u (2,000,000u-750,000u) of pre-tax income 
attributable to the subpart F income group within the passive 
category. For U.S. tax purposes, no deductions other than current 
year taxes are allocated and apportioned to the 4,000,000u in CFC1's 
PTEP group.
    (2) Allocation and apportionment of current year taxes. Under 
paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section, CFC1's current year taxes are 
allocated and apportioned among the section 904 categories, income 
groups within a section 904 category, and any PTEP groups that were 
increased as provided in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section. Under 
paragraphs (d)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section, for purposes of 
allocating and apportioning taxes to reduce the income in a section 
904 category, an income group, or PTEP group, Sec.  1.904-6(a)(1) 
and (ii) are applied to determine the amount of foreign taxable 
income, computed under Country X law but characterized under Federal 
income tax law, in each section 904 category, income group, and PTEP 
group that is included in the Country X tax base. For Country X 
purposes, 1,000,000u of deductions are apportioned to CFC1's PTEP 
group within the general category, 500,000u of deductions are 
apportioned to the residual income group within the general 
category, and no deductions are apportioned to the subpart F income 
group in the passive category. Therefore, for Country X purposes, 
CFC1 has 3,000,000u of foreign taxable income attributable to the 
PTEP group within the general category, 1,500,000u of foreign 
taxable income attributable to the residual income group within the 
general category, and no income attributable to the subpart F income 
group within the passive category. Under paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of 
this section, 600,000u (3,000,000u/4,500,000u x 900,000u) of the 
900,000u current year taxes paid by CFC1 are related to the PTEP 
group within the general category, and 300,000u (1,500,000u/
4,500,000u x 900,000u) are related to the residual income group 
within the general category. No current year taxes are allocated or 
apportioned to the subpart F income group within the passive 
category because the interest expense is exempt from Country X tax. 
Thus, for U.S. tax purposes, CFC1 has 3,400,000u of previously taxed 
earnings and profits (4,000,000u-600,000u) in the PTEP group within 
the general category, 1,250,000u of income in the subpart F income 
group within the passive category, and 950,000u of income 
(1,250,000u-300,000u) in the residual income group within the 
general category. For purposes of determining foreign taxes deemed 
paid under section 960, CFC1 has $600,000x of foreign income taxes 
in the PTEP group within the general category and $300,000x of 
current year taxes in the residual income group within the general 
category. Under paragraph (e) of this section, the United States 
shareholders of CFC1 cannot claim a credit with respect to the 
$300,000x of taxes on CFC1's income in the residual income group.
    (C) Step 3. Under paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section, the 
United States shareholders of CFC1 compute current year taxes deemed 
paid under section 960(a) and (d) and the rules of Sec.  1.960-2. 
None of the Country X tax is allocated to CFC1's subpart F income 
group. Therefore, there are no current year taxes deemed paid by 
CFC1's United States shareholders with respect to their passive 
category subpart F inclusions. See Sec.  1.960-2(b)(5) and (c)(7) 
for examples of the application of section 960(a) and (d) and the 
rules in Sec.  1.960-2. Additionally, under paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of 
this section, foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 
960(b)(2) by CFC1 are determined with respect to the section 959(b) 
distribution from CFC2 under the rules of Sec.  1.960-3. There are 
no PTEP group taxes associated with the previously taxed earnings 
and profits distributed by CFC2 in the hands of CFC2. Therefore, 
there are no foreign income taxes deemed paid by CFC1 under section 
960(b)(2) with respect to the section 959(b) distribution from CFC2. 
See Sec.  1.960-3(e) for examples of the application of section 
960(b) and the rules in Sec.  1.960-3.
    (D) Step 4. Under paragraph (c)(1)(iv) of this section, 
previously taxed earnings and profits resulting from subpart F 
inclusions and GILTI inclusion amounts with respect to CFC1's 
current taxable year are separated from CFC1's other earnings and 
profits and added to an annual PTEP account and PTEP group within 
the PTEP account, under the rules of Sec.  1.960-3(c). The United 
States shareholders of CFC1 include in gross income subpart F 
inclusions totaling $1,250,000x with respect to 1,250,000u of 
subpart F income of CFC1, and the subpart F inclusions are passive 
category income. Therefore, under Sec.  1.960-3(c)(2), 1,250,000u of 
previously taxed earnings and profits resulting from the subpart F 
inclusions is added to CFC1's section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within the 
2019 annual PTEP account within the passive category.
    (E) Step 5. Paragraph (c)(1)(v) of this section does not apply 
because CFC1 is the highest-tier controlled foreign corporation in 
the chain.
    (F) Step 6. Paragraph (c)(1)(vi) of this section does not apply 
because CFC1 did not make a section 959(a) distribution.


0
Par. 35. Section 1.960-2 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  1.960-2   Foreign income taxes deemed paid under sections 960(a) 
and (d).

    (a) Scope. Paragraph (b) of this section provides rules for 
computing the amount of foreign income taxes deemed paid by a domestic 
corporation that is a United States shareholder of a controlled foreign 
corporation under section 960(a). Paragraph (c) of this section 
provides rules for computing the amount of foreign income taxes deemed 
paid by a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder of a 
controlled foreign corporation under section 960(d).
    (b) Foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(a)--(1) In 
general. If a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder 
of a controlled foreign corporation includes in gross income under 
section 951(a)(1)(A) its pro rata share of the subpart F income of the 
controlled foreign corporation (a subpart F inclusion), the domestic 
corporation is deemed to have paid the amount of the controlled foreign 
corporation's foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to 
the items of income in a subpart F income group of the controlled 
foreign corporation that give rise to the subpart F inclusion of the 
domestic corporation that is attributable to the subpart F income 
group. For each section 904 category, the domestic corporation is 
deemed to have paid foreign income taxes equal to the sum of the 
controlled foreign corporation's foreign income taxes that are properly 
attributable to the items of income in the subpart F income groups to 
which the subpart F inclusion is attributable. See Sec.  1.904-6(b)(1) 
for rules on assigning the foreign income tax to a section 904 
category. No foreign income taxes are deemed paid under section 960(a) 
with respect to an inclusion under section 951(a)(1)(B).
    (2) Properly attributable. The amount of the controlled foreign 
corporation's foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to 
the items of income in the subpart F income group of the controlled 
foreign corporation to which a subpart F inclusion is attributable 
equals the domestic corporation's proportionate share of the current 
year taxes of the controlled foreign corporation that are allocated and 
apportioned under Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii) to the subpart F income 
group. No other foreign income taxes are considered properly 
attributable to an item of income of the controlled foreign 
corporation.
    (3) Proportionate share--(i) In general. A domestic corporation's 
proportionate share of the current year taxes of a controlled foreign 
corporation that are allocated and apportioned under Sec.  1.960-
1(d)(3)(ii) to a subpart F income group within a section 904 category 
of the controlled foreign corporation is equal to the total U.S. dollar 
amount of current year taxes that are allocated and apportioned under 
Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii) to the subpart F income group multiplied by a 
fraction (not to exceed one), the numerator of which is the portion of 
the domestic corporation's subpart F inclusion that is attributable to 
the subpart F income group and the denominator of which is the total 
net income in the subpart F income group, both determined in the

[[Page 69113]]

functional currency of the controlled foreign corporation. If the 
numerator or denominator of the fraction is zero or less than zero, 
then the proportionate share of the current year taxes that are 
allocated and apportioned under Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii) to the subpart 
F income group is zero.
    (ii) Effect of qualified deficits. Neither an accumulated deficit 
nor any prior year deficit in the earnings and profits of a controlled 
foreign corporation reduces its net income in a subpart F income group. 
Accordingly, any such deficit does not affect the denominator of the 
fraction described in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section. However, the 
first sentence of this paragraph (b)(3)(ii) does not affect the 
application of section 952(c)(1)(B) for purposes of determining the 
domestic corporation's subpart F inclusion. Any reduction to the 
domestic corporation's subpart F inclusion under section 952(c)(1)(B) 
is reflected in the numerator of the fraction described in paragraph 
(b)(3)(i) of this section.
    (iii) Effect of current year E&P limitation or chain deficit. To 
the extent that an amount of income in a subpart F income group is 
excluded from the subpart F income of the controlled foreign 
corporation under section 952(c)(1)(A) or (C), the net income in the 
subpart F income group that is the denominator of the fraction 
described in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section is reduced (but not 
below zero) by the amount excluded. The domestic corporation's subpart 
F inclusion that is the numerator of the fraction described in 
paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section is based on the controlled foreign 
corporation's subpart F income computed with the application of section 
952(c)(1)(A) and (C).
    (4) Domestic partnerships. For purposes of applying this paragraph 
(b), in the case of a domestic partnership that is a U.S. shareholder 
partnership with respect to a partnership CFC, the distributive share 
of a U.S. shareholder partner of the U.S. shareholder partnership's 
subpart F inclusion with respect to the partnership CFC is treated as a 
subpart F inclusion of the U.S. shareholder partner with respect to the 
partnership CFC.
    (5) Example. The following example illustrates the application of 
this paragraph (b).

    (i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 80% of the stock of 
CFC, a controlled foreign corporation. The remaining portion of the 
stock of CFC is owned by an unrelated person. USP and CFC both use 
the calendar year as their U.S. taxable year, and CFC also uses the 
calendar year as its foreign taxable year. CFC uses the ``u'' as its 
functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u=$1x. For its U.S. 
taxable year ending December 31, 2018, after the application of the 
rules in Sec.  1.960-1(d) the income of CFC after foreign taxes is 
assigned to the following income groups: 1,000,000u of dividend 
income in a subpart F income group within the passive category 
(``subpart F income group 1''); 2,400,000u of gain from commodities 
transactions in a subpart F income group within the passive category 
(``subpart F income group 2''); and 1,800,000u of foreign base 
company services income in a subpart F income group within the 
general category (``subpart F income group 3''). CFC has current 
year taxes, translated into U.S. dollars, of $740,000x that are 
allocated and apportioned as follows: $50,000x to subpart F income 
group 1; $240,000x to subpart F income group 2; and $450,000x to 
subpart F income group 3. USP has a subpart F inclusion with respect 
to CFC of 4,160,000u = $4,160,000x, of which 800,000u is 
attributable to subpart F income group 1, 1,920,000u to subpart F 
income group 2, and 1,440,000u to subpart F income group 3.
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Passive category. Under paragraphs (b)(2) and 
(3) of this section, the amount of CFC's current year taxes that are 
properly attributable to items of income in subpart F income group 1 
to which a subpart F inclusion is attributable equals USP's 
proportionate share of the current year taxes that are allocated and 
apportioned under Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii) to subpart F income group 
1, which is $40,000x ($50,000x x 800,000u/1,000,000u). Under 
paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section, the amount of CFC's 
current year taxes that are properly attributable to items of income 
in subpart F income group 2 to which a subpart F inclusion is 
attributable equals USP's proportionate share of the current year 
taxes that are allocated and apportioned under Sec.  1.960-
1(d)(3)(ii) to subpart F income group 2, which is $192,000x 
($240,000x x 1,920,000u/2,400,000u). Accordingly, under paragraph 
(b)(1) of this section, USP is deemed to have paid $232,000x 
($40,000x + $192,000x) of passive category foreign income taxes of 
CFC with respect to its $2,720,000x subpart F inclusion in the 
passive category.
    (B) General category. Under paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this 
section, the amount of CFC's current year taxes that are properly 
attributable items of income in subpart F income group 3 to which a 
subpart F inclusion is attributable equals USP's proportionate share 
of the foreign income taxes that are allocated and apportioned under 
Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii) to subpart F income group 3, which is 
$360,000x ($450,000x x 1,440,000u/1,800,000u). CFC has no other 
subpart F income groups within the general category. Accordingly, 
under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, USP is deemed to have paid 
$360,000x of general category foreign income taxes of CFC with 
respect to its $1,440,000x subpart F inclusion in the general 
category.

    (c) Foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(d)--(1) In 
general. If a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder 
of one or more controlled foreign corporations includes an amount in 
gross income under section 951A(a) and Sec.  1.951A-1(b), the domestic 
corporation is deemed to have paid an amount of foreign income taxes 
equal to 80 percent of the product of its inclusion percentage 
multiplied by the sum of all tested foreign income taxes in the tested 
income group within each section 904 category of the controlled foreign 
corporation or corporations.
    (2) Inclusion percentage. The term inclusion percentage means, with 
respect to a domestic corporation that is a United States shareholder 
of one or more controlled foreign corporations, the domestic 
corporation's GILTI inclusion amount divided by the aggregate amount 
described in section 951A(c)(1)(A) and Sec.  1.951A-1(c)(2)(i) with 
respect to the United States shareholder.
    (3) Tested foreign income taxes. The term tested foreign income 
taxes means, with respect to a domestic corporation that is a United 
States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation, the amount of 
the controlled foreign corporation's foreign income taxes that are 
properly attributable to tested income taken into account by the 
domestic corporation under section 951A and Sec.  1.951A-1.
    (4) Properly attributable. The amount of the controlled foreign 
corporation's foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to 
tested income taken into account by the domestic corporation under 
section 951A(a) and Sec.  1.951A-1(b) equals the domestic corporation's 
proportionate share of the current year taxes of the controlled foreign 
corporation that are allocated and apportioned under Sec.  1.960-
1(d)(3)(ii) to the tested income group within each section 904 category 
of the controlled foreign corporation. No other foreign income taxes 
are considered properly attributable to tested income.
    (5) Proportionate share. A domestic corporation's proportionate 
share of current year taxes of a controlled foreign corporation that 
are allocated and apportioned under Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii) to a tested 
income group within a section 904 category of the controlled foreign 
corporation is the U.S. dollar amount of current year taxes that are 
allocated and apportioned under Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii) to a tested 
income group within a section 904 category of the controlled foreign 
corporation multiplied by a fraction (not to exceed one), the numerator 
of which is the portion of the tested income of the controlled foreign 
corporation in the tested income group within the section 904 category 
that is included in computing the domestic corporation's aggregate 
amount described in section 951A(c)(1)(A) and Sec.  1.951A-1(c)(2)(i), 
and the denominator of which is the

[[Page 69114]]

income in the tested income group within the section 904 category, both 
determined in the functional currency of the controlled foreign 
corporation. If the numerator or denominator of the fraction is zero or 
less than zero, the domestic corporation's proportionate share of the 
current year taxes allocated and apportioned under Sec.  1.960-
1(d)(3)(ii) to the tested income group is zero.
    (6) Domestic partnerships. See Sec.  1.951A-1(e) for rules 
regarding the determination of the GILTI inclusion amount of a U.S. 
shareholder partner.
    (7) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (c).

    (i) Example 1: Directly owned controlled foreign corporation--
(A) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% of the stock of a 
number of controlled foreign corporations, including CFC1. USP and 
CFC1 each use the calendar year as their U.S. taxable year. CFC1 
uses the ``u'' as its functional currency. At all relevant times, 
1u=$1x. For its U.S. taxable year ending December 31, 2018, after 
application of the rules in Sec.  1.960-1(d), the income of CFC1 is 
assigned to a single income group: 2,000u of income from the sale of 
goods in a tested income group within the general category (``tested 
income group''). CFC1 has current year taxes, translated into U.S. 
dollars, of $400x that are all allocated and apportioned to the 
tested income group. For its U.S. taxable year ending December 31, 
2018, USP has a GILTI inclusion amount determined by reference to 
all of its controlled foreign corporations, including CFC1, of 
$6,000x, and an aggregate amount described in section 951A(c)(1)(A) 
and Sec.  1.951A-1(c)(2)(i) of $10,000x. All of the income in CFC1's 
tested income group is included in computing USP's aggregate amount 
described in section 951A(c)(1)(A) and Sec.  1.951A-1(c)(2)(i).
    (B) Analysis. Under paragraph (c)(5) of this section, USP's 
proportionate share of the current year taxes that are allocated and 
apportioned under Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii) to CFC1's tested income 
group is $400x ($400x x 2,000u/2,000u). Therefore, under paragraph 
(c)(4) of this section, the amount of current year taxes properly 
attributable to tested income taken into account by USP under 
section 951A(a) and Sec.  1.951A-1(b) is $400x. Under paragraph 
(c)(3) of this section, USP's tested foreign income taxes with 
respect to CFC1 are $400x. Under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, 
USP's inclusion percentage is 60% ($6,000x/$10,000x). Accordingly, 
under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, USP is deemed to have paid 
$192 of the foreign income taxes of CFC1 (80% x 60% x $400x).
    (ii) Example 2: Controlled foreign corporation owned through 
domestic partnership--(A) Facts--(1) US1, a domestic corporation, 
owns 95% of PRS, a domestic partnership. The remaining 5% of PRS is 
owned by US2, a domestic corporation that is unrelated to US1. PRS 
owns all of the stock of CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation. In 
addition, US1 owns all of the stock of CFC2, a controlled foreign 
corporation. US1, US2, PRS, CFC1, and CFC2 all use the calendar year 
as their taxable year. CFC1 and CFC2 both use the ``u'' as their 
functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u=$1x. For its U.S. 
taxable year ending December 31, 2018, after application of the 
rules in Sec.  1.960-1(d), the income of CFC1 is assigned to a 
single income group: 300u of income from the sale of goods in a 
tested income group within the general category (``CFC1's tested 
income group''). CFC1 has current year taxes, translated into U.S. 
dollars, of $100x that are all allocated and apportioned to CFC1's 
tested income group. The income of CFC2 is also assigned to a single 
income group: 200u of income from the sale of goods in a tested 
income group within the general category (``CFC2's tested income 
group''). CFC2 has current year taxes, translated into U.S. dollars, 
of $20x that are allocated and apportioned to CFC2's tested income 
group.
    (2) Under Sec.  1.951A-1(e)(1), for purposes of determining the 
GILTI inclusion amount of US1 and US2, PRS is not treated as owning 
(within the meaning of section 958(a)) the stock of CFC1; instead, 
PRS is treated in the same manner as a foreign partnership for 
purposes of determining the stock of CFC1 owned by US1 and US2 under 
section 958(a)(2). Therefore, only US1 is a United States 
shareholder of CFC1. Taking into account both CFC1 and CFC2, US1 has 
a GILTI inclusion amount in the general category of $485x, and an 
aggregate amount described in section 951A(c)(1)(A) and Sec.  
1.951A-1(c)(2)(i) within the general category of $485x. 285u (95% x 
300u) of the income in CFC1's tested income group and 200u of the 
income in CFC2's tested income group is included in computing US1's 
aggregate amount described in section 951A(c)(1)(A) and Sec.  
1.951A-1(c)(2)(i) within the general category. Because US2 is not a 
U.S. shareholder with respect to CFC1, US2 does not take into 
account CFC1's tested income in determining its GILTI inclusion 
amount.
    (B) Analysis--(1) US1--(i) CFC1. Under paragraphs (c)(5) and (6) 
of this section, US1's proportionate share of the current year taxes 
that are allocated and apportioned under Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii) to 
CFC1's tested income group is $95x ($100x x 285u/300u). Therefore, 
under paragraph (c)(4) of this section, the amount of the current 
year taxes properly attributable to tested income taken into account 
by US1 under section 951A(a) and Sec.  1.951A-1(b) is $95x. Under 
paragraph (c)(3) of this section, US1's tested foreign income taxes 
with respect to CFC1 are $95x. Under paragraph (c)(2) of this 
section, US1's inclusion percentage is 100% ($485x/$485x). 
Accordingly, under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, US1 is deemed 
to have paid $76x of the foreign income taxes of CFC1 (80% x 100% x 
$95x).
    (ii) CFC2. Under paragraph (c)(5) of this section, US1's 
proportionate share of the foreign income taxes that are allocated 
and apportioned under Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii) to CFC2's tested 
income group is $20x ($20x x 200u/200u). Therefore, under paragraph 
(c)(4) of this section, the amount of foreign income taxes properly 
attributable to tested income taken into account by US1 under 
section 951A(a) and Sec.  1.951A-1(b) is $20x. Under paragraph 
(c)(3) of this section, US1's tested foreign income taxes with 
respect to CFC2 are $20. Under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, 
US1's inclusion percentage is 100% ($485x/$485x). Accordingly, under 
paragraph (c)(1) of this section, US1 is deemed to have paid $16 of 
the foreign income taxes of CFC2 (80% x 100% x $20x).
    (2) US2. US2 is not a United States shareholder of CFC1 or CFC2. 
Accordingly, under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, US2 is not 
deemed to have paid any of the foreign income taxes of CFC1 or CFC2.


0
Par. 36. Section 1.960-3 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  1.960-3   Foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b).

    (a) Scope. Paragraph (b) of this section provides rules for 
computing the amount of foreign income taxes deemed paid by a domestic 
corporation that is a United States shareholder of a controlled foreign 
corporation, or by a controlled foreign corporation, under section 
960(b). Paragraph (c) of this section provides rules for the 
establishment and maintenance of PTEP groups within an annual PTEP 
account. Paragraph (d) of this section defines the term PTEP group 
taxes. Paragraph (e) of this section provides examples illustrating the 
application of this section.
    (b) Foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b)--(1) 
Foreign income taxes deemed paid by a domestic corporation with respect 
to a section 959(a) distribution. If a controlled foreign corporation 
makes a distribution to a domestic corporation that is a United States 
shareholder with respect to the controlled foreign corporation and that 
distribution is, in whole or in part, a section 959(a) distribution 
with respect to a PTEP group within a section 904 category, the 
domestic corporation is deemed to have paid the amount of the foreign 
corporation's foreign income taxes that are properly attributable to 
the section 959(a) distribution with respect to the PTEP group and that 
have not been deemed to have been paid by a domestic corporation under 
section 960 for the current taxable year or any prior taxable year. See 
Sec.  1.965-5(c)(1)(iii) for rules disallowing credits in relation to a 
distribution of certain previously taxed earnings and profits resulting 
from the application of section 965. For each section 904 category, the 
domestic corporation is deemed to have paid foreign income taxes equal 
to the sum of the controlled foreign corporation's foreign income taxes 
that are properly attributable to section 959(a) distributions with 
respect to all PTEP groups within the section 904 category. See Sec.  
1.904-6(b)(2) for rules on

[[Page 69115]]

assigning the foreign income tax to a section 904 category.
    (2) Foreign income taxes deemed paid by a controlled foreign 
corporation with respect to a section 959(b) distribution. If a 
controlled foreign corporation (distributing controlled foreign 
corporation) makes a distribution to another controlled foreign 
corporation (recipient controlled foreign corporation) and the 
distribution is, in whole or in part, a section 959(b) distribution 
from a PTEP group within a section 904 category, the recipient 
controlled foreign corporation is deemed to have paid the amount of the 
distributing controlled foreign corporation's foreign income taxes that 
are properly attributable to the section 959(b) distribution from the 
PTEP group and that have not been deemed to have been paid by a 
domestic corporation under section 960 for the current taxable year or 
any prior taxable year. See Sec.  1.904-6(b)(3) for rules on assigning 
the foreign income tax to a section 904 category.
    (3) Properly attributable. The amount of foreign income taxes that 
are properly attributable to a section 959 distribution from a PTEP 
group within a section 904 category equals the domestic corporation's 
or recipient controlled foreign corporation's proportionate share of 
the PTEP group taxes with respect to the PTEP group within the section 
904 category. No other foreign income taxes are considered properly 
attributable to a section 959 distribution.
    (4) Proportionate share. A domestic corporation's or recipient 
controlled foreign corporation's proportionate share of the PTEP group 
taxes with respect to a PTEP group within a section 904 category is 
equal to the total amount of the PTEP group taxes with respect to the 
PTEP group multiplied by a fraction (not to exceed one), the numerator 
of which is the amount of the section 959 distribution from the PTEP 
group, and the denominator of which is the total amount of previously 
taxed earnings and profits in the PTEP group, both determined in the 
functional currency of the controlled foreign corporation. If the 
numerator or denominator of the fraction is zero or less than zero, 
then the proportionate share of the PTEP group taxes with respect to 
the PTEP group is zero.
    (5) Domestic partnerships. For purposes of applying this paragraph 
(b), in the case of a domestic partnership that is a U.S. shareholder 
partnership with respect to a partnership CFC, the distributive share 
of a U.S. shareholder partner of a U.S. shareholder partnership's 
section 959(a) distribution from the partnership CFC is treated as a 
section 959(a) distribution received by the U.S. shareholder partner 
from the partnership CFC.
    (c) Accounting for previously taxed earnings and profits--(1) 
Establishment of annual PTEP account. A separate, annual account 
(annual PTEP account) must be established for the previously taxed 
earnings and profits of the controlled foreign corporation to which 
inclusions under section 951(a) and GILTI inclusion amounts of United 
States shareholders of the CFC are attributable. Each account must 
correspond to the inclusion year of the previously taxed earnings and 
profits and to the section 904 category to which the inclusions under 
section 951(a) or GILTI inclusion amounts were assigned at the level of 
the United States shareholders. Accordingly, a controlled foreign 
corporation may have an annual PTEP account in the section 951A 
category or a treaty category (as defined in Sec.  1.861-13(b)(6)), 
even though income of the controlled foreign corporation that gave rise 
to the previously taxed earnings and profits cannot initially be 
assigned to the section 951A category or a treaty category.
    (2) PTEP groups within an annual PTEP account. The amount in an 
annual PTEP account is further assigned to one or more of the following 
groups of previously taxed earnings and profits (each, a PTEP group) 
within the account:
    (i) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that 
were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 
965(a) (``reclassified section 965(a) PTEP'');
    (ii) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that 
were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 
965(b)(4)(A) (``reclassified section 965(b) PTEP'');
    (iii) Earnings and profits described in paragraphs (c)(2)(iii)(A) 
through (C) of this section (which are aggregated into a single PTEP 
group, ``general section 959(c)(1) PTEP''):
    (A) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) by 
reason of section 951(a)(1)(B) and not by reason of section 959(a)(2);
    (B) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that 
were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 
951(a)(1)(A) (other than earnings that were initially described in 
paragraphs (c)(2)(vi) through (ix) of this section); and
    (C) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(B), 
including by reason of section 959(a)(3) (before its repeal);
    (iv) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that 
were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 
951A(f)(2) (``reclassified section 951A PTEP'');
    (v) Earnings and profits described in paragraphs (c)(2)(v)(A) 
through (C) of this section (which are aggregated into a single PTEP 
group, ``reclassified section 245A(d) PTEP''):
    (A) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that 
were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 
245A(e)(2);
    (B) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that 
were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 
959(e); and
    (C) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(1)(A) that 
were initially described in section 959(c)(2) by reason of section 
964(e)(4);
    (vi) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason 
of section 965(a) (``section 965(a) PTEP'');
    (vii) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason 
of section 965(b)(4)(A) (``section 965(b) PTEP'');
    (viii) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by 
reason of section 951A(f)(2) (``section 951A PTEP'');
    (ix) Earnings and profits described in paragraphs (c)(2)(ix)(A) 
through (C) of this section (which are aggregated into a single PTEP 
group, ``section 245A(d) PTEP''):
    (A) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason 
of section 245A(e)(2);
    (B) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason 
of section 959(e); and
    (C) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason 
of section 964(e)(4); and
    (x) Earnings and profits described in section 959(c)(2) by reason 
of section 951(a)(1)(A) not otherwise described in paragraph (c)(2)(vi) 
through (ix) of this section (``section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP'').
    (3) Accounting for distributions of previously taxed earnings and 
profits. With respect to a recipient controlled foreign corporation 
that receives a section 959(b) distribution, such distribution amount 
is added to the annual PTEP account, and PTEP group within the annual 
PTEP account, that corresponds to the inclusion year and section 904 
category of the annual PTEP account, and PTEP group within the annual 
PTEP account, from which the distributing controlled foreign 
corporation is treated as making the distribution under section 959. 
Similarly, with respect to a controlled foreign corporation that makes 
a section 959 distribution, such distribution amount reduces the annual 
PTEP

[[Page 69116]]

account, and PTEP group within the annual PTEP account, that 
corresponds to the inclusion year and section 904 category of the 
annual PTEP account, and PTEP group within the annual PTEP account, 
from which the controlled foreign corporation is treated as making the 
distribution under section 959. Earnings and profits in a PTEP group 
are reduced by the amount of current year taxes that are allocated and 
apportioned to the PTEP group under Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii), and the 
U.S. dollar amount of the taxes are added to an account of PTEP group 
taxes under the rules in paragraph (d)(1) of this section.
    (4) Accounting for reclassifications of earnings and profits 
described in section 959(c)(2) to earnings and profits described in 
section 959(c)(1). If an amount of previously taxed earnings and 
profits that is in a PTEP group described in paragraphs (c)(2)(vi) 
through (x) of this section (each, a section 959(c)(2) PTEP group) is 
reclassified as previously taxed earnings and profits described in 
section 959(c)(1) (reclassified previously taxed earnings and profits), 
the section 959(c)(2) PTEP group is reduced by the functional currency 
amount of the reclassified previously taxed earnings and profits. This 
amount is added to the corresponding PTEP group described in paragraph 
(c)(2)(i), (ii), (iii) (by reason of paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(B) of this 
section), (iv) or (v) of this section (each, a reclassified PTEP group) 
in the same section 904 category and same annual PTEP account as the 
reduced section 959(c)(2) PTEP group.
    (d) PTEP group taxes--(1) In general. The term PTEP group taxes 
means the U.S. dollar amount of foreign income taxes (translated in 
accordance with section 986(a)) that are paid, accrued, or deemed paid 
with respect to an amount in each PTEP group within an annual PTEP 
account. The foreign income taxes that are paid, accrued, or deemed 
paid with respect to a PTEP group within an annual PTEP account of a 
controlled foreign corporation are--
    (i) The sum of--
    (A) The current year taxes paid or accrued by the controlled 
foreign corporation that are allocated and apportioned to the PTEP 
group under Sec.  1.960-1(d)(3)(ii);
    (B) Foreign income taxes that are deemed paid under section 
960(b)(2) and paragraph (b)(2) of this section by the controlled 
foreign corporation with respect to a section 959(b) distribution 
received by the controlled foreign corporation, the amount of which is 
added to the PTEP group under paragraph (c)(3) of this section; and
    (C) In the case of a reclassified PTEP group of the controlled 
foreign corporation, reclassified PTEP group taxes that are 
attributable to the section 959(c)(2) PTEP group that corresponds to 
the reclassified PTEP group.
    (ii) Reduced by--
    (A) Foreign income taxes that were deemed paid under section 
960(b)(2) and paragraph (b)(2) of this section by another controlled 
foreign corporation that received a section 959(b) distribution from 
the controlled foreign corporation, the amount of which is subtracted 
from the controlled foreign corporation's PTEP group under paragraph 
(c)(3) of this section;
    (B) Foreign income taxes that were deemed paid under section 
960(b)(1) and paragraph (b)(1) of this section by a domestic 
corporation that is a United States shareholder of the controlled 
foreign corporation that received a section 959(a) distribution from 
the controlled foreign corporation, the amount of which is subtracted 
from the controlled foreign corporation's PTEP group under paragraph 
(c)(3) of this section; and
    (C) In the case of a section 959(c)(2) PTEP group of the controlled 
foreign corporation, reclassified PTEP group taxes.
    (2) Reclassified PTEP group taxes. Reclassified PTEP group taxes 
are foreign income taxes that are initially included in PTEP group 
taxes with respect to a section 959(c)(2) PTEP group under paragraph 
(d)(1)(i)(A) or (B) of this section multiplied by a fraction, the 
numerator of which is the portion of the previously taxed earnings and 
profits in the section 959(c)(2) PTEP group that become reclassified 
previously taxed earnings and profits, and the denominator of which is 
the total previously taxed earnings and profits in the section 
959(c)(2) PTEP group.
    (3) Foreign income taxes deemed paid with respect to PTEP groups 
established for pre-2018 inclusion years. In the case of foreign income 
taxes paid or accrued in a taxable year of the controlled foreign 
corporation that began before January 1, 2018, with respect to an 
annual PTEP account, and a PTEP group within such account, that was 
established for an inclusion year that begins before January 1, 2018, 
the foreign income taxes are treated as PTEP group taxes of a 
controlled foreign corporation for purposes of this section only if 
those foreign income taxes were--
    (i) Not included in a controlled foreign corporation's post-1986 
foreign income taxes (as defined in section 902(c)(2) as in effect on 
December 21, 2017) used to compute foreign taxes deemed paid under 
section 902 (as in effect on December 21, 2017) in any taxable year 
that began before January 1, 2018; and
    (ii) Not treated as deemed paid under section 960(a)(3) (as in 
effect on December 21, 2017) by a domestic corporation that was a 
United States shareholder of the controlled foreign corporation.
    (e) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this section.

    (1) Example 1: Establishment of PTEP groups and PTEP accounts--
(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns all of the stock of 
CFC1, a controlled foreign corporation. CFC1 owns all of the stock 
of CFC2, a controlled foreign corporation. USP, CFC1, and CFC2 each 
use the calendar year as their U.S. taxable year. CFC1 and CFC2 use 
the ``u'' as their functional currency. At all relevant times, 1u = 
$1x. With respect to CFC2, USP includes in gross income a subpart F 
inclusion of 1,000,000u = $1,000,000x for the taxable year ending 
December 31, 2018. The inclusion is with respect to passive category 
income. In its U.S. taxable year ending December 31, 2019, CFC2 
distributes 1,000,000u to CFC1. CFC2 has no earnings and profits 
except for the 1,000,000u of previously taxed earnings and profits 
resulting from USP's 2018 taxable year subpart F inclusion. CFC2's 
country of organization, Country X, imposes a withholding tax on 
CFC1 of 300,000u on CFC2's distribution to CFC1. Under Sec.  1.960-
1(d)(3)(ii), CFC1's 300,000u of current year taxes are allocated and 
apportioned to the PTEP group within the annual PTEP account within 
the section 904 category to which the 1,000,000u of previously taxed 
earnings and profits are assigned.
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, a 
separate annual PTEP account in the passive category for the 2018 
taxable year is established for CFC2 as a result of USP's subpart F 
inclusion. Under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, this account 
contains one PTEP group, section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP.
    (B) Under paragraph (c)(3) of this section, in the 2019 taxable 
year, the 1,000,000u related to the section 959(b) distribution from 
CFC2 is added to CFC1's annual PTEP account for the 2018 taxable 
year in the passive category and to the section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP 
within such account. Similarly, CFC2's 2018 taxable year annual PTEP 
account within the passive category, and the section 951(a)(1)(A) 
PTEP within such account, is reduced by the amount of the 1,000,000u 
section 959(b) distribution to CFC1. Additionally, CFC1's annual 
PTEP account for the 2018 taxable year in the passive category, and 
the section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within such account, is reduced by the 
300,000u of withholding tax imposed on CFC1 by Country X. Therefore, 
CFC1's annual PTEP account for the 2018 taxable year within the 
passive category and the section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within such 
account is 700,000u.
    (C) Under paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the 300,000u of 
withholding tax is translated

[[Page 69117]]

into U.S. dollars and $300,000x is added to the PTEP group taxes 
with respect to CFC1's section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within the annual 
PTEP account for the 2018 taxable year within the passive category.
    (2) Example 2: Foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 
960(b)--(i) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns 100% of the 
stock of CFC1, which in turn owns 60% of the stock of CFC2, which in 
turn owns 100% of the stock of CFC3. USP, CFC1, CFC2, and CFC3 all 
use the calendar year as their U.S. taxable year. CFC1, CFC2, and 
CFC3 all use the ``u'' as their functional currency. At all relevant 
times, 1u = $1x. On July 1, 2020, CFC2 distributes 600u to CFC1 and 
the entire distribution is a section 959(b) distribution 
(``distribution 1''). On October 1, 2020, CFC1 distributes 800u to 
USP and the entire distribution is a section 959(a) distribution 
(``distribution 2''). CFC1 and CFC2 make no other distributions in 
the year ending December 31, 2020, earn no other income, and incur 
no taxes on distribution 1 or distribution 2. Before taking into 
account distribution 1, CFC2 has 1,000u of section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP 
within an annual PTEP account for the 2016 taxable year within the 
general category. The previously taxed earnings and profits in 
CFC2's PTEP group relate to subpart F income of CFC3 that was 
included by USP in 2016. CFC3 distributed the earnings and profits 
to CFC2 before the 2020 taxable year and, solely as a result of the 
distribution of the previously taxed earnings and profits, CFC2 
incurred withholding and net basis tax, resulting in $150 of PTEP 
group taxes with respect to section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP. Before taking 
into account distribution 1 and distribution 2, CFC1 has 200u in 
section 951A PTEP within an annual PTEP account for the 2018 taxable 
year within the section 951A category. The previously taxed earnings 
and profits in CFC1's PTEP group relate to the portion of a GILTI 
inclusion amount that was included by USP in 2018 and allocated to 
CFC2 under section 951A(f)(2) and Sec.  1.951A-6(b)(2). CFC2 
distributed the earnings and profits to CFC1 before the 2020 taxable 
year and, solely as a result of the distribution of the previously 
taxed earnings and profits, CFC1 incurred withholding and net basis 
tax, resulting in $25x of PTEP group taxes with respect to section 
951A PTEP.
    (ii) Analysis--(A) Foreign income taxes deemed paid by CFC1. 
With respect to distribution 1 from CFC2 to CFC1, under paragraph 
(b)(4) of this section CFC1's proportionate share of PTEP group 
taxes with respect to CFC2's section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an 
annual PTEP account for the 2016 taxable year within the general 
category is $90x ($150x x 600u/1,000u). Under paragraph (b)(3) of 
this section, the amount of foreign income taxes that are properly 
attributable to distribution 1 is $90x. Accordingly, under paragraph 
(b)(2) of this section, CFC1 is deemed to have paid $90x of general 
category foreign income taxes of CFC2 with respect to its 600u 
section 959(b) distribution in the general category.
    (B) Adjustments to PTEP accounts of CFC1 and CFC2. Under 
paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the 600u related to distribution 1 
is added to CFC1's section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an annual PTEP 
account for the 2016 taxable year within the general category. 
Similarly, CFC2's section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an annual PTEP 
account for the 2016 taxable year within the general category is 
reduced by 600u, the amount of the section 959(b) distribution to 
CFC1. Additionally, under paragraph (d) of this section, CFC1's PTEP 
group taxes with respect to its section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an 
annual PTEP account for the 2016 taxable year within the general 
category are increased by $90 and CFC2's PTEP group taxes with 
respect to section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an annual PTEP account 
for the 2016 taxable year within the general category are reduced by 
$90x.
    (C) Foreign income taxes deemed paid by USP. With respect to 
distribution 2 from CFC1 to USP, because CFC1 has PTEP groups in 
more than one section 904 category, this section is applied 
separately to each section 904 category (that is, distribution 2 of 
800u is applied separately to the 200u of CFC1's section 951A PTEP 
and 600u of CFC1's section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP).
    (1) Section 951A category. Under paragraph (b)(4) of this 
section, USP's proportionate share of PTEP group taxes with respect 
to CFC1's section 951A PTEP within an annual PTEP account for the 
2018 taxable year within the section 951A category is $25x ($25x x 
200u/200u). Under paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the amount of 
foreign income taxes within the section 951A category that are 
properly attributable to distribution 2 is $25x. Accordingly, under 
paragraph (b)(1) of this section USP is deemed to have paid $25x of 
section 951A category foreign income taxes of CFC1 with respect to 
its 200u section 959(a) distribution in the section 951A category.
    (2) General category. Under paragraph (b)(4) of this section, 
USP's proportionate share of PTEP group taxes with respect to CFC1's 
section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within an annual PTEP account for the 2016 
taxable year within the general category is $90x ($90x x 600u/600u). 
Under paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the amount of foreign income 
taxes that are properly attributable to distribution 2 is $90x. 
Accordingly, under paragraph (b)(1), USP is deemed to have paid $90x 
of general category foreign income taxes of CFC1 with respect to its 
600u section 959(a) distribution in the general category.


0
Par. 37. Section 1.960-4 is amended by:
0
1. Removing the language ``960(b)(1)'' and adding the language 
``960(c)(1)'' in its place wherever it appears.
0
2. In paragraph (a)(1):
0
i. Removing the language ``he'' and adding the language ``the 
taxpayer'' in its place.
0
ii. Removing the language ``subparagraph (2) of this paragraph'' and 
adding the language ``paragraph (a)(2) of this section'' in its place.
0
iii. Adding two sentences at the end.
0
3. Revising the last sentence of paragraph (d).
0
4. Revising paragraph (f).
    The addition and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.960-4   Additional foreign tax credit in year of receipt of 
previously taxed earnings and profits.

    (a) * * * (1) * * * For purposes of this section, an amount 
included in gross income under section 951A(a) is treated as an amount 
included in gross income under section 951(a). The amount of the 
increase in the foreign tax credit limitation allowed by this section 
is determined with regard to each separate category of income described 
in Sec.  1.904-5(a)(4)(v).
* * * * *
    (d) * * * For purposes of this paragraph (d), the term ``foreign 
income taxes'' includes foreign income taxes paid or accrued, foreign 
income taxes deemed paid or accrued under section 904(c), and foreign 
income taxes deemed paid under section 960 (or section 902 with respect 
to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning before January 1, 
2018), for the taxable year of inclusion.
* * * * *
    (f) Examples. The application of this section may be illustrated by 
the following examples:

    (1) Example 1. USP, a domestic corporation, owns all of the one 
class of stock of CFC, a controlled foreign corporation that uses 
the U.S. dollar as its functional currency. CFC, after paying 
foreign income taxes of $10x, has earnings and profits for Year 1 of 
$90x, all of which are attributable to an amount required under 
section 951(a) to be included in USP's gross income for Year 1 
because the income is general category foreign base company services 
income of CFC. Both corporations use the calendar year as the 
taxable year. For Year 2 and Year 3, CFC has no earnings and profits 
attributable to an amount required to be included in USP's gross 
income under section 951(a); for each such year it makes a 
distribution of $45x (from its section 951(a)(1)(A) PTEP within the 
annual PTEP account for Year 1) from which a foreign income tax of 
$6x is withheld. For each of Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3, USP derives 
taxable income of $50x from sources within the United States and 
claims a foreign tax credit under section 901, subject to the 
limitation under section 904. The U.S. tax payable by USP is 
determined as follows, assuming a corporate tax rate of 21%:

[[Page 69118]]



                       Table 1 to Paragraph (f)(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Year 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxable income of USP:
    U.S. sources........................  ..............         $50.00x
    Sources without the U.S.:
        Amount required to be included           $90.00x  ..............
         in USP's gross income under
         section 951(a).................
        Foreign income taxes deemed paid          10.00x         100.00x
         by USP under section 960(a) and
         included in USP's gross income
         under section 78 ($10x x $90x/
         $90x)..........................
                                         -------------------------------
            Total taxable income........  ..............         150.00x
U.S. tax payable for Year 1:
    U.S. tax before credit ($150x x 21%)  ..............          31.50x
    Credit: Foreign income taxes of       ..............          10.00x
     $10x, but not to exceed the
     limitation of $21x for Year 1
     ($100x/$150x x $31.50x)............
    U.S. tax payable....................  ..............          21.50x
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       Table 2 to Paragraph (f)(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Year 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxable income of USP, consisting of      ..............         $50.00x
 income from U.S. sources...............
U.S. tax before credit ($50x x 21%).....  ..............          10.50x
Section 904 limitation for Year 2:
    Limitation for Year 2 before          ..............              10
     increase under section 960(c)(1)
     ($10.50x x $0/$50x)................
    Plus: Increase in limitation for
     Year 2 under sec. 960(c)(1):
        Amount by which Year 1                    21.00x  ..............
         limitation was increased by
         reason of inclusion in USP's
         gross income under section
         951(a) for Year 1 ($21x-[($50x
         x 21%) x $0/$50x]).............
        Less: Foreign income taxes                10.00x  ..............
         allowed as a credit for Year 1
         which were allowable solely by
         reason of such section 951(a)
         inclusion ($10x-$0)............
                                         -------------------------------
            Balance.....................          11.00x  ..............
        But: Such balance not to exceed            6.00x           6.00x
         foreign income taxes paid by
         USP for Year 2 with respect to
         $45x distribution excluded
         under section 959(a)(1) ($6x
         tax withheld)..................
    Limitation for Year 2...............  ..............           6.00x
U.S. tax payable for Year 2:
    U.S. tax before credit ($50x x 21%).  ..............          10.50x
    Credit: Foreign income taxes of $6x,  ..............           6.00x
     but not to exceed limitation of $6x
     for Year 2.........................
    U.S. tax payable....................  ..............           4.50x
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       Table 3 to Paragraph (f)(1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Year 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxable income of USP, consisting of      ..............         $50.00x
 income from U.S. sources...............
U.S. tax before credit ($50x x 21%).....  ..............          10.50x
Section 904 limitation for Year 3:
    Limitation for Year 3 before          ..............               0
     increase under section 960(c)(1)
     ($10.50x x $0/$50x)................
    Plus: Increase in limitation for
     Year 3 under section 960(c)(1):
        Amount by which Year 1                   $21.00x  ..............
         limitation was increased by
         reason of inclusion in USP's
         gross income under section
         951(a) for Year 1 ($21x-[ ($50
         x 21%) x $0/$50x] )............
        Less: Foreign income taxes                10.00x  ..............
         allowed as a credit for Year 1
         which were allowable solely by
         reason of such section 951(a)
         inclusion ($10x-$0)............
        Tentative balance...............          11.00x  ..............
        Less: Increase in limitation               6.00x  ..............
         under section 960(c)(1) for
         Year 2 by reason of such sec.
         951(a) inclusion...............
                                         -------------------------------
            Balance.....................           5.00x  ..............
    But: Such balance not to exceed                6.00x           5.00x
     foreign income taxes paid by USP
     for Year 3 with respect to $45x
     distribution excluded under section
     959(a)(1) ($6x tax withheld).......
    Limitation for Year 3...............  ..............           5.00x
U.S. tax payable for Year 3:
    U.S. tax before credit ($50x x 21%).  ..............          10.50x
    Credit: Foreign income taxes of $6,   ..............           5.00x
     but not to exceed section 904(a)
     limitation of $5x..................
    U.S. tax payable....................  ..............           5.50x
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Example 2. The facts for Year 1 and Year 2 are the same as 
in paragraph (f)(1) of this section (the facts in Example 1), except 
that in Year 0, in which USP also claimed a foreign tax credit under 
section 901, USP pays $11x of foreign income taxes in excess of the 
general category limitation and such excess is not absorbed as a 
carryback to the prior year under section 904(c). Therefore, there 
is no increase under section 960(c)(1) in the limitation for Year 2 
since the amount ($21x) by which the Year 1 limitation was increased 
by reason of the inclusion in USP's gross income for Year 1 under 
section 951(a), less the foreign income taxes ($21x) allowed as a 
credit which were allowable solely by reason of such inclusion, is 
zero. The foreign income taxes so allowed as a credit for Year

[[Page 69119]]

1 which were allowable solely by reason of such section 951(a) 
inclusion consist of the $10 of foreign income taxes deemed paid for 
Year 1 under section 960(a) and the $11x of foreign income taxes for 
Year 0 carried over and deemed paid for Year 1 under section 904(c).


0
Par. 38. Section 1.960-5 is amended by:
0
1. In paragraph (a)(1):
0
i. Removing the language ``951(a)'' and adding the language ``951(a) or 
951A(a)'' in its place.
0
ii. Removing the comma and adding a semicolon in its place.
0
2. Revising paragraph (b).
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  1.960-5   Credit for taxable year of inclusion binding for 
taxable year of exclusion.

* * * * *
    (b) Example. The application of this section may be illustrated by 
the following example:

    (1) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns all the one class 
of stock of CFC, a controlled foreign corporation. Both corporations 
use the calendar year as the taxable year and the functional 
currency of CFC is the U.S. dollar. All of CFC's earnings and 
profits of $80x for Year 1 (after payment of foreign income taxes of 
$20x on its total income of $100x for such year) are attributable to 
amounts required under section 951(a) to be included in USP's gross 
income for Year 1 because such income is general category foreign 
base company services income of CFC. For Year 1, USP chooses to 
claim a foreign tax credit for the $20x of foreign income taxes 
which for such year are paid by CFC and deemed paid by USP under 
section 960(a) and Sec.  1.960-2(b). In Year 2, CFC distributes the 
entire $80x of Year 1 previously taxed earnings and profits, from 
which a foreign income tax of $8x is withheld. Also in Year 2, CFC 
pays $40x of interest to USP, from which a foreign income tax of $4x 
is withheld. For Year 2, USP chooses to claim deductions for its 
creditable foreign income taxes under section 164 rather than a 
foreign tax credit under section 901.
    (2) Analysis. Although USP does not choose to claim a foreign 
tax credit for Year 2, under section 960(c)(4) and paragraph (a) of 
this section it may not deduct the $8x of foreign income taxes under 
section 164. USP may, however, deduct under such section the foreign 
income tax of $4x which is withheld from the interest paid by CFC in 
Year 2.


0
Par. 39. Section 1.960-6 is amended by removing the language 
``960(b)(1)'' and adding the language ``960(c)(1)'' in its place in 
paragraph (a) and revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.960-6   Overpayments resulting from increase in limitation for 
taxable year of exclusion.

* * * * *
    (b) Example. The application of this section may be illustrated by 
the following example:

    (1) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation, owns all of the one 
class of stock of CFC, a controlled foreign corporation. Both 
corporations use the calendar year as the taxable year, and the 
functional currency of CFC is the U.S. dollar. For Year 1, CFC has 
total income of $100,000x on which it pays foreign income taxes of 
$20,000x. All of CFC's earnings and profits for Year 1 of $80,000x 
are attributable to an amount which is required under section 951(a) 
to be included in USP's gross income for Year 1 because such income 
is general category foreign base company services income of CFC. By 
reason of such income inclusion USP is deemed for Year 1 to have 
paid under section 960(a), and is required under section 78 to 
include in gross income for such year, the $20,000x ($20,000x x 
$80,000x/$80,000x) of foreign income taxes paid by CFC for such 
year. USP also derives $100,000x of taxable income from sources 
within the United States for Year 1. For Year 2, USP has $4,000x of 
taxable income, all of which is derived from sources within the 
United States. No part of CFC's earnings and profits for Year 2 is 
attributable to an amount required under section 951(a) or section 
951A(a) to be included in USP's gross income. During Year 2, CFC 
makes one distribution consisting of its $80,000x earnings and 
profits for Year 1, all of which is excluded under section 959(a)(1) 
from USP's gross income for Year 2, and from which distribution 
foreign income taxes of $1,000x are withheld. For Year 1 and Year 2, 
USP claims the foreign tax credit under section 901, subject to the 
limitation of section 904.
    (2) Analysis. The U.S. tax liability of USP is determined as 
follows for such years, assuming a corporate tax rate of 21%:

                       Table 1 to Paragraph (b)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Year 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxable income of USP:
    U.S. sources........................  ..............    $100,000.00x
    Sources without the U.S.:             ..............
        Amount required to be included       $80,000.00x  ..............
         in USP's gross income under
         section 951(a).................
        Foreign income taxes deemed paid      20,000.00x     100,000.00x
         by USP under section 960(a) and
         included in USP's gross income
         under section 78 ($20,000x x
         $80,000x/$80,000x).............
                                         -------------------------------
            Total taxable income........  ..............     200,000.00x
U.S. tax payable for Year 1:
    U.S. tax before credit ( [$200,000x   ..............      42,000.00x
     x 21%] )...........................
    Credit: Foreign income taxes of       ..............      20,000.00x
     $20,000x, but not to exceed
     limitation of $21,000x ($42,000x x
     $100,000x/$200,000x)...............
                                         -------------------------------
        U.S. tax payable................  ..............      22,000.00x
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       Table 2 to Paragraph (b)(2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Year 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxable income of USP, consisting of      ..............         $4,000x
 income from U.S. sources...............
U.S. tax before credit ($4,000x x 21%)..  ..............            840x
Section 904 limitation for Year 2:
    Limitation for Year 2 before          ..............               0
     increase under section 960(c)(1)
     ($840x x $0/$4,000x)...............
    Plus: Increase in section 904
     limitation for Year 2 under section
     960(c)(1):
        Amount by which Year 1                  $21,000x  ..............
         limitation was increased by
         reason of inclusion in USP's
         gross income under section
         951(a) for Year 1 ($21,000x-
         [$21,000x x $0/$100,000x]).....
        Less: Foreign income taxes               20,000x  ..............
         allowed as a credit for Year 1
         which were allowable solely by
         reason of such section 951(a)
         inclusion ($20,000x-$0)........
                                         -------------------------------
            Balance.....................          1,000x  ..............

[[Page 69120]]

 
        But: Such balance not to exceed           1,000x          1,000x
         foreign income taxes paid by
         USP for Year 2 with respect to
         $80,000x distribution excluded
         under section 959(a)(1)
         ($1,000x tax withheld).........
    Limitation for Year 2...............  ..............          1,000x
U.S. tax payable for Year 2:
    U.S. tax before credit ($4,000x x     ..............            840x
     21%)...............................
    Credit: Foreign income taxes of       ..............          1,000x
     $1,000x, but not to exceed
     limitation of $1,000x for Year 2...
    U.S. tax payable....................  ..............            None
Overpayment of tax for Year 2:
    Increase in limitation under section  ..............          1,000x
     960(c)(1) for Year 2...............
    Less: Tax imposed for Year 2 under    ..............            840x
     chapter 1 of the Code..............
    Excess treated as overpayment.......  ..............            160x
------------------------------------------------------------------------


0
Par. 40. Section 1.960-7 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  1.960-7   Applicability dates.

    Sections 1.960-1 through 1.960-6 apply to each taxable year of a 
foreign corporation that both begin after December 31, 2017, and ends 
on or after December 4, 2018, and to each taxable year of a domestic 
corporation that is a United States shareholder of the foreign 
corporation in which or with which such taxable year of such foreign 
corporation ends.

0
Par. 41. Section 1.965-5 is amended by adding paragraph (c)(1)(iii) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  1.965-5   Allowance of a credit or deduction for foreign income 
taxes.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) Foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b) (as 
applicable to taxable years of controlled foreign corporations 
beginning after December 31, 2017, and to taxable years of United 
States persons in which or with which such taxable years of foreign 
corporations end). Paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section applies to 
foreign income taxes deemed paid under section 960(b) (as in effect for 
a taxable year of a controlled foreign corporation beginning after 
December 31, 2017, and a taxable year of a United States person in 
which or with which such controlled foreign corporation's taxable year 
ends) only if such taxes are deemed paid under Sec.  1.960-3(b)(1) with 
respect to distributions to a domestic corporation of section 965(a) 
previously taxed earnings and profits or section 965(b) previously 
taxed earnings and profits. See also Sec.  1.960-3(c)(2)(i), (ii), 
(vi), or (vii). Foreign income taxes that would have been deemed paid 
under section 960(a)(1) (as in effect on December 21, 2017) with 
respect to the portion of a section 965(a) earnings amount that was 
reduced under Sec.  1.965-1(b)(2) or Sec.  1.965-8(b) are not eligible 
to be deemed paid under section 960(b) and Sec.  1.960-3(b) or any 
other section of the Code.
* * * * *


Sec.  1.965-7   [Amended]

0
Par. 42. Section 1.965-7 is amended by removing the language ``Sec.  
1.904-5(a)'' and adding in its place the language ``Sec.  1.904-
5(a)(4)(v)'' in the last sentence of paragraph (e)(1)(i).

0
Par. 43. Section 1.965-9 is amended by:
0
1. Removing the language ``Sections 1.965-1 through 1.965-8 apply'' and 
adding in its place the language ``Except as otherwise provided in this 
section, Sec. Sec.  1.965-1 through 1.965-8 apply'' in paragraph (a).
0
2. Adding paragraph (c).
    The addition reads as follows:


Sec.  1.965-9   Applicability dates.

* * * * *
    (c) Applicability date for certain portions of Sec.  1.965-5. 
Paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of Sec.  1.965-5 applies to taxable years of 
foreign corporations that both begin after December 31, 2017, and end 
on or after December 4, 2018, and with respect to a United States 
person, to the taxable years in which or with which such taxable years 
of the foreign corporations end.


Sec.  1.985-3   [Amended]

0
Par. 44. Section 1.985-3 is amended by removing the language ``Sec.  
1.904-5(a)(1)'' and adding in its place the language ``Sec.  1.904-
5(a)(4)(v)'' in the second sentence of paragraph (e)(2)(iv).

0
Par. 45. Section 1.986(a)-1 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.986(a)-1   Translation of foreign income taxes for purposes of 
the foreign tax credit.

    (a) Translation of foreign income taxes taken into account when 
accrued--(1) In general. For purposes of this section, the term section 
901 taxpayer means the ``taxpayer'' described in Sec.  1.901-2(f)(1) 
and so includes a partnership or a specified 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation (as defined in section 245A(b)) that has legal liability 
under foreign law for foreign income tax. Except as provided in 
paragraph (a)(2) of this section, in the case of a section 901 taxpayer 
that takes foreign income taxes (as defined in section 986(a)(4) 
(including taxes described in section 903)) into account when accrued, 
the amount of any foreign income taxes denominated in foreign currency 
that has been paid or accrued, including additional tax liability 
denominated in foreign currency, foreign income taxes withheld in 
foreign currency, or estimated foreign income taxes paid in foreign 
currency, are translated into dollars using the weighted average 
exchange rate (as defined in Sec.  1.989(b)-1) (the ``average exchange 
rate'') for the section 901 taxpayer's U.S. taxable year (as defined in 
Sec.  1.960-1(b)(37)) to which such foreign income taxes relate. See 
section 986(a)(1)(A). See section 988 and Sec. Sec.  1.988-1(a)(2)(ii) 
and 1.988-2(c) for rules for determining whether and the extent to 
which there is a foreign currency gain or loss when an accrued 
functional currency amount of foreign income tax denominated in 
nonfunctional currency differs from the functional currency amount 
paid.
    (2) Exceptions--(i) Foreign income taxes not paid within 24 months. 
Any foreign income taxes denominated in foreign currency that are paid 
more than 24 months after the close of the section 901 taxpayer's U.S. 
taxable year to which they relate are translated into dollars using the 
spot rate on the date of payment of the foreign income taxes. See 
section 986(a)(1)(B)(i) and (a)(2)(A). For purposes of this section and 
Sec.  1.905-3, the term spot rate has the meaning provided in Sec.  
1.988-1(d). To the extent any accrued foreign income taxes denominated 
in foreign currency remain unpaid more than 24 months after the close 
of the taxable year to which they relate, see Sec.  1.905-3 and 
paragraph (c) of this section for the required adjustments.
    (ii) Foreign income taxes paid before taxable year begins. Any 
foreign income taxes denominated in foreign currency that are paid 
before the beginning of the

[[Page 69121]]

section 901 taxpayer's U.S. taxable year to which such taxes relate are 
translated into dollars using the spot rate on the date of payment of 
the foreign income taxes. See section 986(a)(1)(B)(ii) and (a)(2)(A).
    (iii) Inflationary currency. Any foreign income taxes denominated 
in a foreign currency that is an inflationary currency in the section 
901 taxpayer's U.S. taxable year to which the foreign income taxes 
relate, or in any subsequent taxable year up to and including the 
taxable year in which the taxes are paid, are translated into dollars 
using the spot rate on the date of payment of such taxes. For purposes 
of section 986(a)(1)(C) and this paragraph (a)(2)(iii), the term 
inflationary currency means the currency of a country in which there is 
cumulative inflation during the base period of at least 30 percent, as 
determined under the principles of Sec.  1.985-1(b)(2)(ii)(D), where 
the base period, with respect to any taxable year, is the 36 months 
ending on the last day of such taxable year (in lieu of the base period 
described in Sec.  1.985-1(b)(2)(ii)(D), which ends on the last day of 
the preceding calendar year). Accrued but unpaid foreign income taxes 
denominated in a foreign currency that is an inflationary currency in 
the taxable year accrued are translated into dollars at the spot rate 
on the last day of the section 901 taxpayer's U.S. taxable year to 
which such taxes relate (provisional year-end rate). However, a U.S. 
taxpayer that claims a foreign tax credit under section 901 may choose 
to translate accrued but unpaid foreign income taxes (including foreign 
income taxes deemed paid under section 960) denominated in a foreign 
currency that is an inflationary currency into dollars at the spot rate 
on the date of payment, in lieu of the provisional year-end rate, if 
such taxes are paid prior to the due date (with extensions) of the 
original Federal income tax return for the taxable year for which the 
credit is claimed and such return is timely filed. In all other cases, 
see Sec.  1.905-3 and paragraph (c) of this section for required 
adjustments upon payment of accrued foreign income taxes denominated in 
an inflationary currency.
    (iv) Election to translate foreign income taxes using the spot rate 
as of date of payment--(A) Eligibility to make election. An individual 
or corporate taxpayer (including a specified 10-percent owned foreign 
corporation) that is otherwise required to translate foreign income 
taxes that are denominated in foreign currency using the average 
exchange rate may elect to translate foreign income taxes described in 
this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) into dollars using the spot rate on the date 
of payment of the foreign income taxes, provided that the liability for 
such taxes is denominated in nonfunctional currency. For purposes of 
section 986(a)(1)(D) and this paragraph (a)(2)(iv), whether the 
currency in which a tax liability attributable to a qualified business 
unit (within the meaning of section 989(a)) (QBU) is denominated is a 
nonfunctional currency is determined by reference to the functional 
currency of the individual or corporate taxpayer and not that of the 
QBU of the taxpayer. Accrued but unpaid foreign income taxes subject to 
the election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) are translated at the 
provisional year-end rate. However, a taxpayer that claims a foreign 
tax credit under section 901 may choose to translate accrued but unpaid 
foreign income taxes (including foreign taxes deemed paid under section 
960 with respect to a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation 
that has made an election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv)) into dollars 
at the spot rate on the date of payment, in lieu of the provisional 
year-end rate, if such taxes are paid prior to the due date (with 
extensions) of the original return for the taxable year for which the 
credit is claimed and such return is timely filed. In all other cases, 
see Sec.  1.905-3 and paragraph (c) of this section for required 
adjustments upon payment of accrued foreign income taxes that are 
translated into dollars at the spot rate on the date of payment.
    (B) Scope of election. In general, an individual taxpayer may make 
an election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) for all foreign income 
taxes denominated in nonfunctional currency, or only for those foreign 
income taxes that are denominated in nonfunctional currency and that 
are attributable to the individual's non-QBU activities and all QBUs 
with dollar functional currencies. A corporate taxpayer may make an 
election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) for all foreign income taxes 
that are denominated in nonfunctional currency, or only for those 
foreign income taxes that are denominated in nonfunctional currency and 
that are attributable to all QBUs (including the corporate taxpayer) 
with dollar functional currencies. Therefore, an election under this 
paragraph (a)(2)(iv) may not be made for foreign income taxes that are 
denominated in a nonfunctional currency of the taxpayer and 
attributable to QBUs with non-dollar functional currencies, except as 
part of an election to translate all taxes denominated in nonfunctional 
currency at the spot rate on the date of payment. For purposes of this 
paragraph (a)(2)(iv)(B), foreign income tax is attributable to a QBU if 
the tax is properly recorded on the books and records of the QBU in 
accordance with sections 985 through 989. An election under this 
paragraph (a)(2)(iv) by a domestic corporation (or an individual that 
has made an election under section 962) does not apply to any taxes 
paid or accrued by foreign corporations with respect to which the 
individual or corporation is a United States shareholder. However, an 
election may be made on behalf of a foreign corporation to translate 
either all of the foreign corporation's foreign income taxes 
denominated in nonfunctional currency, or only the foreign income taxes 
denominated in nonfunctional currency that are attributable to the 
foreign corporation's QBUs with dollar functional currencies, using the 
spot rate on the date of payment. Such an election is made using the 
procedures under Sec.  1.964-1(c)(3) that apply to permit controlling 
domestic shareholders to make or change a tax accounting election on 
behalf of a foreign corporation.
    (C) Time and manner of election. The election under this paragraph 
(a)(2)(iv) must be made by attaching a statement to the taxpayer's 
timely filed Federal income tax or information return (including 
extensions) for the first taxable year to which the election applies. 
The statement must identify whether the election under this paragraph 
(a)(2)(iv) is made for all foreign income taxes denominated in 
nonfunctional currency or only for those foreign income taxes that are 
denominated in nonfunctional currency and that are either attributable 
to the taxpayer's QBUs with dollar functional currencies or, in the 
case of an individual, attributable to non-QBU activities. Once made, 
the election under this paragraph (a)(2)(iv) applies for the taxable 
year for which made and all subsequent taxable years unless revoked 
with the consent of the Commissioner.

    (D) Example--(1) Facts. USP, a domestic corporation that uses 
the calendar year as its taxable year, owns a partnership interest 
in PS, a non-hybrid partnership organized in Country X. USP also 
owns an equity interest in HPS, a Country X corporation that has 
filed an entity classification election under Sec.  301.7701-3 of 
this chapter to be treated as a partnership for Federal income tax 
purposes. USP also owns 100% of CFC, a Country Y controlled foreign 
corporation that uses the U.S. dollar as its functional currency. PS 
and HPS each use a fiscal year ending November 30 as its taxable 
year both for Federal income tax purposes and for Country X tax 
purposes, and their functional

[[Page 69122]]

currency is the Euro. HPS is the section 901 taxpayer of foreign 
income taxes denominated in Euros that it pays to Country X and 
properly records on its books and records. USP takes its 
distributive share of the HPS taxes into account under sections 
702(a)(6) and 901(b)(5) and Sec. Sec.  1.702-1(a)(6) and 1.704-
1(b)(4)(viii) in computing its foreign tax credit. USP is the 
section 901 taxpayer of Euro-denominated foreign income taxes it 
pays to Country X with respect to its distributive share of the 
income of PS, and also pays Country X taxes withheld in Euros from 
distributions from HPS to USP and properly records these taxes on 
its books and records. Pursuant to Sec.  1.985-1(b)(1)(iii), USP's 
functional currency is the dollar. USP timely elects under Sec.  
1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iv) to use the spot rate on the date of payment to 
translate into dollars its foreign income taxes denominated in 
nonfunctional currency that are attributable to all QBUs with dollar 
functional currencies.
    (2) Result. The Euro taxes paid by USP with respect to its 
distributive share of income from PS and the Euro taxes withheld 
from distributions from HPS are nonfunctional currency taxes 
attributable to USP, a QBU with a dollar functional currency. 
Accordingly, these taxes are translated into dollars at the spot 
rate on the date the taxes are paid. USP's distributive share of the 
Euro taxes paid by HPS are attributable to HPS, a Euro functional 
currency QBU of USP. Because these taxes are not attributable to a 
dollar QBU of USP, they are not covered by USP's election and so are 
translated into dollars at the average exchange rate for HPS's U.S. 
taxable year ending on November 30. See Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(1). 
Foreign income taxes paid by CFC are not covered by USP's election; 
however, if USP so chooses it may make a separate election on behalf 
of CFC to use the spot rate on the date of payment to translate 
either all of CFC's nonfunctional currency taxes, or only those 
taxes that are attributable to CFC's dollar QBUs (which includes 
CFC). If instead USP had elected to use the spot rate on the date of 
payment to translate all of its foreign income taxes denominated in 
nonfunctional currency, rather than only those taxes attributable to 
QBUs with dollar functional currencies, then the spot rate on the 
date of payment would apply to translate all of the Euro taxes paid 
or accrued by USP, including its distributive share of taxes paid by 
HPS. However, this election would still not apply to taxes paid or 
accrued by CFC. See Sec.  1.986(a)-1(a)(2)(iv)(B).

    (v) Regulated investment companies. In the case of a regulated 
investment company (as defined in section 851) which takes into account 
income on an accrual basis, foreign income taxes paid or accrued with 
respect to such income are translated into dollars using the spot rate 
on the date the income accrues. See section 986(a)(1)(E).
    (b) Translation of foreign income taxes taken into account when 
paid. In the case of a section 901 taxpayer that takes foreign income 
taxes into account when paid, the amount of any foreign income tax 
liability denominated in foreign currency, including additional income 
tax liability denominated in foreign currency or estimated foreign 
income taxes paid in foreign currency, are translated into dollars 
using the spot rate on the date of payment of such taxes. See section 
986(a)(2)(A). Foreign income taxes withheld in foreign currency are 
translated into dollars using the spot rate on the date on which such 
taxes were withheld.
    (c) Refunds or other reductions of foreign income tax liability. In 
the case of a section 901 taxpayer that takes foreign income taxes into 
account when accrued, a reduction in the amount of previously-accrued 
foreign income taxes that is attributable to a refund of foreign income 
taxes, a credit allowed in lieu of a refund, or a reduction in or other 
downward adjustment to an accrued amount, including an adjustment on 
account of accrued foreign income taxes that were not paid by the date 
24 months after the close of the U.S. taxable year to which such taxes 
relate, is translated into dollars using the exchange rate that was 
used to translate such amount when claimed as a credit or added to PTEP 
group taxes (as defined in Sec.  1.960-3(d)(1)). In the case of foreign 
income taxes taken into account when accrued but translated into 
dollars on the date of payment, see Sec.  1.905-3(b) for required 
adjustments to reflect a foreign tax redetermination (as defined in 
Sec.  1.905-3(a)) attributable to a reduction in the amount of 
previously-accrued foreign income taxes that is attributable to a 
difference in exchange rates between the date or taxable year of 
accrual and the date of payment. In the case of a section 901 taxpayer 
that takes foreign income taxes into account when paid, a refund or 
other reduction in or downward adjustment to the amount of foreign 
income taxes is translated into dollars using the exchange rate that 
was used to translate such amount when claimed as a credit. If a refund 
or other reduction of foreign income taxes relates to foreign income 
taxes paid or accrued on more than one date, then the refund or other 
reduction is deemed to be derived from, and reduces, the payments of 
foreign income taxes in order, starting with the most recent payment of 
foreign income taxes first, to the extent thereof.
    (d) Allocation of refunds of foreign income taxes. Refunds of 
foreign income taxes are allocated to the same separate category as the 
foreign income taxes to which the refunded taxes relate. Refunds are 
related to foreign income taxes in a separate category if the foreign 
income tax that was refunded was imposed with respect to that separate 
category. See Sec.  1.904-6 concerning the allocation of foreign income 
taxes to separate categories of income.
    (e) Basis of foreign currency refunded--(1) Nonfunctional currency 
tax liability and dollar functional currency. If the functional 
currency of the QBU that paid the tax and received the refund is the 
dollar or the person receiving the refund is not a QBU, then the 
recipient's basis in the foreign currency refunded is the dollar value 
of the refund determined under paragraph (c) of this section by using 
the exchange rate that was used to translate such amount into dollars 
when claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes.
    (2) Nonfunctional currency tax liability and non-dollar functional 
currency. If the functional currency of the QBU receiving the refund is 
not the dollar and is different from the currency in which the foreign 
income taxes were paid, then the recipient's basis in the refunded 
foreign currency is equal to the functional currency value of the 
nonfunctional currency refund, translated into functional currency at 
the appropriate exchange rate between the functional currency and the 
nonfunctional currency. Such exchange rate is determined under the 
principles of paragraph (c) of this section, substituting the words 
``functional currency'' for the word ``dollar'' and using the exchange 
rate that was used to translate such amount into the QBU's functional 
currency when claimed as a credit or added to PTEP group taxes (as 
defined in Sec.  1.960-3(d)(1)). If a QBU receives a refund of 
nonfunctional currency tax that is denominated in a currency that was 
the functional currency of the QBU when the refunded tax was claimed as 
a credit or added to PTEP group taxes, the QBU's basis in the 
nonfunctional currency received in the refund is determined by using 
the exchange rate used under Sec.  1.985-5(c) when the QBU's functional 
currency changed. See Sec.  1.905-3(b)(1)(ii)(C) (Example 3).
    (3) Functional currency tax liabilities. If the functional currency 
of the QBU receiving the refund is the currency in which the refund was 
made, then the recipient's basis in the currency received is the amount 
of the functional currency received. If the QBU receives a refund of 
functional currency tax that was denominated in a nonfunctional 
currency of the QBU when the tax was claimed as a credit or added to 
PTEP group taxes, the QBU will recognize the section 988 gain or loss 
that would have been recognized under Sec.  1.985-5(b) if the refund 
had been received

[[Page 69123]]

immediately before the QBU's functional currency changed.
    (4) Foreign currency gain or loss. For rules for determining 
subsequent foreign currency gain or loss on the disposition of 
nonfunctional currency, the basis of which is determined under this 
paragraph (e), see section 988(c)(1)(C).
    (f) Applicability dates. This section applies to taxable years 
ending on or after December 16, 2019, and to taxable years of foreign 
corporations which end with or within a taxable year of a United States 
shareholder ending on or after December 16, 2019.

0
Par. 46. Section 1.988-2 is amended by:
0
1. Removing the language ``paragraph (a)(2)(iii)(B)'' and adding the 
language ``paragraphs (a)(2)(iii)(B) and (C)'' in its place in 
paragraph (a)(2)(iii)(A).
0
2. Adding paragraph (a)(2)(iii)(C).
    The additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.988-2   Recognition and computation of exchange gain or loss.

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) * * *
    (C) Basis in refunded foreign income tax. See Sec.  1.986(a)-1(e) 
for rules relating to the determination of basis in refunded foreign 
income tax denominated in nonfunctional currency.
* * * * *

Sunita Lough,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
    Approved: October 30, 2019.
David J. Kautter,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax Policy).
[FR Doc. 2019-24848 Filed 12-16-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4830-01-P

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