Accounting for Disregarded Transactions Between a Qualified Business Unit and Its Owner, 99782-99790 [2024-28371]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 11, 2024 / Proposed Rules
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When a Federal agency is required to
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passenger capacity of 60 seats or less or
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If the Department proposes to adopt the
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adopting the possible regulatory
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F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
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G. National Environmental Policy Act
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DOT Order 5610.1C, Procedures for
Considering Environmental Impacts (44
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with this rulemaking.
Signed this 3rd day of December, 2024, in
Washington, DC.
Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2024–28930 Filed 12–10–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
26 CFR Part 1
[REG–117213–24]
RIN 1545–BR37
Accounting for Disregarded
Transactions Between a Qualified
Business Unit and Its Owner
Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
AGENCY:
This document contains
proposed regulations relating to the
determination of taxable income or loss
and foreign currency gain or loss with
respect to a qualified business unit. The
proposed regulations include an
election that is intended to reduce the
compliance burden of accounting for
certain disregarded transactions
between a qualified business unit and
its owner. This document also includes
a request for comments relating to the
treatment of partnerships and controlled
foreign corporations.
DATES: Written or electronic comments
and requests for a public hearing must
be received by March 11, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Commenters are strongly
encouraged to submit public comments
130 See
129 See
14 CFR 399.73.
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40 CFR 1508.4.
131 Id.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Concerning the proposed regulations,
Adam G. Province at (865) 329–4546;
concerning submissions of comments,
requests for a public hearing, and access
to a public hearing, Publications and
Regulations Section at (202) 317–6901
(not toll-free numbers) or by email to
publichearings@irs.gov (preferred).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority
Internal Revenue Service
SUMMARY:
electronically via the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov (indicate IRS and
REG–117213–24) by following the
online instructions for submitting
comments. Requests for a public hearing
must be submitted as prescribed in the
‘‘Comments and Requests for a Public
Hearing’’ section. Once submitted to the
Federal eRulemaking Portal, comments
cannot be edited or withdrawn. The
Department of the Treasury (Treasury
Department) and the IRS will publish
for public availability any comments
submitted to the IRS’s public docket.
Send paper submissions to:
CC:PA:01:PR (REG–117213–24), Room
5203, Internal Revenue Service, P.O.
Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station,
Washington, DC 20044.
This document contains proposed
additions and amendments to 26 CFR
part 1 (Income Tax Regulations)
addressing the application of section
987 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code)
and related provisions (the ‘‘proposed
regulations’’). The additions and
amendments are issued under sections
987 and 989, pursuant to the express
delegations of authority provided under
those sections. The express delegations
relied upon are referenced in the
Background section of this preamble.
The proposed regulations are also
issued under the express delegation of
authority under section 7805 of the
Code.
Background
This document contains proposed
regulations under section 987 of the
Code. Section 987 applies to any
taxpayer that has a qualified business
unit (QBU) with a functional currency
other than the dollar. Section 987(1) and
(2) provide rules for determining and
translating taxable income or loss
(‘‘section 987 taxable income or loss’’)
with respect to the QBU. In addition,
foreign currency gain or loss must be
determined under section 987(3)
(‘‘section 987 gain or loss’’), which
requires proper adjustments (as
prescribed by the Secretary) for transfers
of property between QBUs of the
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taxpayer having different functional
currencies.
Sections 987 and 989 provide several
explicit grants of regulatory authority.
The statute does not specify how the
proper adjustments should be made
under section 987(3), but instead directs
the Secretary to prescribe the proper
adjustments needed to determine the
taxable income of the owner of a section
987 QBU. Section 989(c) directs the
Secretary to ‘‘prescribe such regulations
as may be necessary or appropriate to
carry out the purposes of this subpart.’’ 1
The grants of authority in section 989(c)
include regulations providing for the
appropriate treatment of related party
transactions (including transactions
between QBUs of the same taxpayer).
Section 989(c)(5).
Concurrently with the publication of
these proposed regulations, the Treasury
Department and the IRS are publishing
in the rules and regulations section of
this edition of the Federal Register (RIN
1545–BO07) final regulations under
sections 861, 985, 987 through 989, and
1502 of the Code (the ‘‘final
regulations’’). On November 14, 2023,
the Treasury Department and the IRS
published proposed regulations (REG–
132422–17) under those same sections
of the Code (the ‘‘2023 proposed
regulations’’) in the Federal Register (88
FR 78134). The comments received in
response to the 2023 proposed
regulations, and the revisions made in
response to those comments, are
summarized in the Summary of
Comments and Explanation of Revisions
in the preamble to the final regulations.
In response to certain comments, the
Treasury Department and the IRS are
publishing this notice of proposed
rulemaking to provide additional
proposed rules under section 987 and to
request comments relating to the
application of section 987 to
partnerships and controlled foreign
corporations (‘‘CFCs’’).
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Explanation of Provisions
The proposed regulations provide an
election under which, in certain cases,
taxpayers can translate a group of
frequently recurring transfers between a
section 987 QBU and its owner using
the yearly average exchange rate (rather
than the spot rate applicable on the date
of each transfer). The proposed
regulations also would simplify the
computation of unrecognized section
987 gain or loss under § 1.987–4 for
taxpayers that make this election.
1 The reference to ‘‘this subpart’’ refers to subpart
J of part III of subchapter N of chapter 1 of the Code,
which includes section 987.
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I. Rules of the Final Regulations
Relating to Disregarded Transactions
A. Accounting for Disregarded
Transactions Between a Section 987
QBU and Its Owner
Under the final regulations, an asset is
treated as transferred to a section 987
QBU from its owner if, because of a
disregarded transaction, the asset is
reflected on the books and records of the
section 987 QBU. See § 1.987–2(c)(2)(i).
Similarly, an asset is treated as
transferred from a section 987 QBU to
its owner if, because of a disregarded
transaction, the asset ceases to be
reflected on the books and records of the
section 987 QBU. Thus, for example, if
a section 987 QBU purchases inventory
from its owner (or another eligible QBU
of its owner) in a disregarded
transaction, the section 987 QBU is
treated as distributing cash to its owner,
and the owner is treated as contributing
the inventory to the section 987 QBU.
Disregarded transactions, however, do
not give rise to items of income, gain,
deduction, or loss that are taken into
account in determining section 987
taxable income or loss under § 1.987–3.
See § 1.987–2(c)(2)(iii).
The final regulations provide rules for
determining the basis of an asset or the
amount of a liability that has been
transferred by an owner to a section 987
QBU. In general, marked items are
translated into the section 987 QBU’s
functional currency at the spot rate
applicable on the date of the transfer,
while historic items are translated at the
applicable historic rate. See § 1.987–
2(d). Similarly, when an asset or
liability is transferred from a section 987
QBU to its owner, marked items are
translated into the owner’s functional
currency at the spot rate applicable on
the date of transfer, while historic items
are translated at the applicable historic
rate. See § 1.987–5(f). These rules apply
to all transfers of assets and liabilities
between a section 987 QBU and its
owner, including transfers made in
connection with ordinary course
disregarded transactions (for example,
sales of inventory).
The definition of a marked item under
the final regulations includes an asset or
liability denominated in, or determined
by reference to, the functional currency
of the section 987 QBU that would be
a section 988 transaction if it were held
or entered into directly by the owner of
the section 987 QBU; it also includes
several other categories of assets and
liabilities. See § 1.987–1(d)(1). However,
the final regulations provide an election
to treat all items of a section 987 QBU
as marked items (the ‘‘current rate
election’’). See § 1.987–1(d)(2).
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B. Determination of Unrecognized
Section 987 Gain or Loss With Respect
to a Section 987 QBU
Section 1.987–4 provides rules for
computing net unrecognized section 987
gain or loss with respect to a section 987
QBU. Under § 1.987–4(b), net
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss is
equal to the sum of (i) the unrecognized
section 987 gain or loss for the current
taxable year and (ii) net accumulated
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss
for all prior taxable years.
Section § 1.987–4(d) provides a tenstep formula for computing
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss
for the current taxable year. The first
step of this formula is to determine the
change in owner functional currency net
value (‘‘OFCNV’’) of the section 987
QBU for the taxable year, computed
using end-of-year exchange rates for
marked items and historic rates for
historic items. See § 1.987–4(d)(1) and
(e). The other steps adjust for amounts
comprising the separate components of
the annual change in OFCNV (other
than changes in the exchange rate).
Steps 2 through 5 relate to transfers of
assets and liabilities between a section
987 QBU and its owner, and steps 6
through 9 relate to items of income or
loss of the section 987 QBU. See
§ 1.987–4(d)(2) through (9). Step 10 is a
residual adjustment for any remaining
increase or decrease to the section 987
QBU’s functional currency balance
sheet. This residual adjustment is
translated into the owner’s functional
currency using the yearly average
exchange rate for the taxable year. See
§ 1.987–4(d)(10).
In applying steps 2 through 5, an
owner must account for all transfers of
assets and liabilities between a section
987 QBU and its owner, including
transfers made in connection with
ordinary course disregarded
transactions. See § 1.987–4(d)(2)
through (5). For this purpose, marked
items are translated into the owner’s
functional currency at the spot rate
applicable on the date of the transfer,
while historic items are translated at the
applicable historic rate.
II. Proposed Rules Relating to
Disregarded Transactions
A. Comment Concerning the
Compliance Burden of Accounting for
Disregarded Transactions
A comment to the 2023 proposed
regulations asserted that it is
burdensome for taxpayers to track and
translate disregarded transactions
between a section 987 QBU and its
owner (or between different section 987
QBUs of the same owner) that arise in
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the ordinary course of a section 987
QBU’s trade or business. The comment
recommended that, for taxpayers that
make a current rate election,
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss
for the taxable year should be computed
by applying only two of the steps
provided in § 1.987–4(d): step 1
(determining the change in OFCNV) and
step 10 (reducing or increasing the
amount determined in step 1 by the
change in QBU net value, translated into
the owner’s functional currency at the
yearly average exchange rate). The
comment asserted that, under this
approach, it would not be necessary to
track ordinary course disregarded
transactions between a section 987 QBU
and its owner (or different section 987
QBUs of the same owner), because those
transactions would be eliminated from
the computation of unrecognized
section 987 gain or loss.
As explained in the preamble to the
final regulations, the effect of the
comment’s recommended rule would be
to translate the net amount of all
transfers between a section 987 QBU
and its owner at the yearly average
exchange rate under step 10. See part
V.A.3 of the Summary of Comments and
Explanation of Revisions in the
preamble to the final regulations. By
contrast, § 1.987–4(d) requires each
transfer to be translated at the
appropriate exchange rate in applying
steps 2 through 5. Under the final
regulations, if a current rate election is
in effect, the basis of each asset and the
amount of each liability transferred is
translated at the spot rate applicable on
the date of transfer (because all assets
and liabilities are treated as marked
items). The final regulations do not
adopt the rule recommended by the
comment because the applicable spot
rate could be significantly higher or
lower than the yearly average exchange
rate, in which case the comment’s
recommended rule could substantially
distort the computation of unrecognized
section 987 gain or loss.
B. Recurring Transfer Group Election
Notwithstanding the concern
described in part II.A of this
Explanation of Provisions, the Treasury
Department and the IRS are of the view
that, in certain cases, a group of
frequently recurring transfers between a
section 987 QBU and its owner could be
translated using the yearly average
exchange rate without creating
significant distortions. Further,
permitting taxpayers to use the yearly
average exchange rate in lieu of the
applicable spot rate would reduce the
compliance burden of the section 987
regulations.
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Therefore, the proposed regulations
would provide that a taxpayer that has
made a current rate election may elect
to use the yearly average exchange rate
to translate assets that are transferred
between a section 987 QBU and its
owner as part of a recurring transfer
group (a ‘‘recurring transfer group
election’’). Proposed § 1.987–2(f)(1). The
recurring transfer group election would
be subject to the general timing and
consistency requirements provided in
§ 1.987–1(g) of the final regulations.
If a recurring transfer group election
is in effect, assets transferred between a
section 987 QBU and its owner as part
of a recurring transfer group (‘‘grouped
assets’’) are translated under §§ 1.987–
2(d), 1.987–4(d)(2), and 1.987–5(f) using
the yearly average exchange rate in lieu
of the applicable spot rate. Proposed
§ 1.987–2(f)(4). In addition, proposed
§ 1.987–2(f)(5)(i) would provide that
transfers made as part of a recurring
transfer group are disregarded for
purposes of § 1.987–4(d)(2) and (3)
(steps 2 and 3). Proposed § 1.987–2(f)(5).
That is, because all transfers that are
part of a recurring transfer group are
translated at the yearly average
exchange rate, these transfers do not
need to be separately tracked and
translated for purposes of determining
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss.
Transfers that are part of a recurring
transfer group are also disregarded
when applying steps 2 and 3 in the
functional currency of the section 987
QBU for purposes of determining the
residual increase or decrease to net
assets under § 1.987–4(d)(10). Proposed
§ 1.987–4(d)(10)(ii)(D). To the extent
that these transfers increase or reduce
the year-end net assets of the section
987 QBU (determined in the section 987
QBU’s functional currency), the residual
increase or decrease to net assets will be
translated at the yearly average
exchange rate under § 1.987–4(d)(10)
(step 10).
Under the proposed regulations, if a
recurring transfer group election is in
effect, and the only transfers between a
section 987 QBU and its owner are part
of a recurring transfer group, the owner
would determine unrecognized section
987 gain or loss for the taxable year by
applying only steps 1 and 10 (as
recommended by the comment).
Transfers that are not part of a recurring
transfer group must be taken into
account at the applicable spot rate
under steps 2 through 5. However, the
final regulations permit taxpayers to use
a spot rate convention based on the
average of spot rates for a reasonable
period (which can be as long as three
months), which should reduce the
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compliance burden of accounting for
these transfers. See § 1.987–1(c)(1)(ii).
The special rule for computing
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss in
proposed § 1.987–2(f)(5)(i) would not
apply if the owner of a section 987 QBU
determines QBU net value using the
formula provided in § 1.987–4(e)(2)(iii).
Proposed § 1.987–2(f)(5)(ii). Taxpayers
using this formula must separately track
each transfer for purposes of computing
QBU net value, and therefore
disregarding the transfers for purposes
of § 1.987–4(d)(2) and (3) would not
reduce the compliance burden for these
taxpayers.
The proposed regulations also would
modify the recordkeeping requirements
in § 1.987–9 to provide that taxpayers
are not required to maintain records
concerning amounts transferred
between an owner and a section 987
QBU unless the transferred amounts are
taken into account in applying § 1.987–
4 or § 1.987–5. Proposed § 1.987–9(b)(5)
and (6). Therefore, if a taxpayer makes
a recurring transfer group election and
uses the alternative calculation
provided in § 1.987–5(c)(2) (under
which the remittance for a taxable year
is determined by reference to the change
in QBU net value, adjusted for income
or loss of the section 987 QBU), the
taxpayer generally would not be
required to maintain records with
respect to transfers of grouped assets.
C. Definition of a Recurring Transfer
Group
Under the proposed regulations, a
recurring transfer group would be
defined as a group of frequently
recurring transfers between a section
987 QBU and its owner (or another
eligible QBU of the owner) that are
made in the ordinary course of a trade
or business. Proposed § 1.987–2(f)(2)(i).
Only transfers made in connection with
sales of inventory, payments for
services, or rent or royalty transactions
in which arm’s length compensation
(determined by applying the principles
of the arm’s length standard of § 1.482–
1(b)(1)) has been paid would be
included in a recurring transfer group.
Proposed § 1.987–2(f)(2)(ii). For this
purpose, the principles of the arm’s
length standard apply as if the section
987 QBU were a corporation that is
separate from its owner and, thus, as if
the disregarded transaction were a
controlled transfer within the meaning
of § 1.482–1(i)(8). A recurring transfer
group would not include a transfer
between the section 987 QBU and its
owner if the transfer (or a portion of the
transfer) would be treated as a
distribution with respect to stock, or an
exchange for stock (or a contribution to
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capital), for U.S. tax purposes if the
QBU were treated as a separate
corporation. Proposed § 1.987–
2(f)(2)(iii). Those transfers are unlikely
to be made in the ordinary course of a
trade or business and could be used to
manipulate the computation of
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss.
The definition of a recurring transfer
group in § 1.987–2(f)(2) is tailored to
identify ordinary business transactions
for which the use of the yearly average
exchange rate would not cause
significant distortions and which could
be burdensome to account for under the
rules of the final regulations. The
Treasury Department and the IRS
request comments as to whether other
transfers should be included in a
recurring transfer group. For example,
comments are requested as to whether
intercompany lending transactions (or
other transactions) of a bank or other
financial entity should be included in a
recurring transfer group and, if so, how
the scope of the covered transactions
should be defined. Although lending
transactions are made in the ordinary
course of a bank’s trade or business, it
may be difficult to distinguish between
ordinary course loans and extraordinary
transactions that could be used to
manipulate a taxpayer’s unrecognized
section 987 gain or loss.
D. Exception for Disproportionate
Transfers
The rules of proposed § 1.987–2(f)(4)
and (5) would not apply in a taxable
year in which a disproportionate
amount of the assets transferred as part
of a recurring transfer group are
transferred during one or more quarters
of the taxable year. Proposed § 1.987–
2(f)(6). In particular, proposed § 1.987–
2(f)(4) and (5) would not apply if either
(i) more than 50 percent of the total
amount transferred during the taxable
year is transferred during one quarter of
the taxable year or (ii) more than 80
percent of the total amount transferred
during the taxable year is transferred
during two quarters of the taxable year.
The exception in proposed § 1.987–
2(f)(6) is intended to prevent significant
distortions that could arise from using
the yearly average exchange rate to
translate transfers that primarily occur
in only part of the taxable year, while
being flexible enough to accommodate
ordinary course disregarded
transactions between a section 987 QBU
and its owner. The Treasury Department
and the IRS request comments as to
whether other standards could be used
to identify transfers that can
appropriately be translated at the yearly
average exchange rate. For example,
comments are requested as to whether
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more flexibility should be provided in
taxable years in which exchange rates
do not significantly fluctuate.
Applicability Dates
Once finalized, the regulations would
apply to taxable years beginning after
the date the Treasury Decision adopting
these rules as final regulations is
published in the Federal Register. A
taxpayer may rely on these proposed
regulations for a taxable year in which
the final regulations (that is, the final
regulations that are being published
concurrently with the proposed
regulations) apply, provided the
taxpayer and each member of its
consolidated group and section 987
electing group, as applicable,
consistently follow the proposed
regulations in their entirety and in a
consistent manner.
In addition, for a taxable year in
which the final regulations apply, a
taxpayer may continue to rely on the
parts of the proposed regulations
published in the Federal Register (REG–
128276–12, 81 FR 88882) on December
8, 2016 (the ‘‘2016 proposed
regulations’’) that have not been
finalized or withdrawn, provided that
the taxpayer and each member of its
consolidated group and section 987
electing group, as applicable,
consistently follow these parts in their
entirety and in a consistent manner. The
following parts of the 2016 proposed
regulations have not been finalized or
withdrawn: (1) rules regarding QBUs
with the U.S. dollar as their functional
currency (see §§ 1.987–1 and 1.987–6 of
the 2016 proposed regulations); and (2)
rules requiring the deferral of certain
section 988 loss that arises with respect
to related-party loans (see § 1.988–2 of
the 2016 proposed regulations).
Comments and Request for Public
Hearing
I. In General
Before these proposed regulations are
adopted as final regulations,
consideration will be given to comments
that are submitted timely to the IRS as
prescribed in this preamble under the
ADDRESSES heading. In addition to the
specific requests for comments in parts
II.C and II.D of the Explanation of
Provisions, the Treasury Department
and the IRS request comments on all
other aspects of the proposed
regulations as well as on the specific
issues identified in part II of this
Comments and Request for Public
Hearing section. Any comments
submitted will be made available at
https://www.regulations.gov or upon
request.
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A public hearing concerning the
proposed regulations will be scheduled
if requested in writing by any person
who timely submits electronic or
written comments. Requests for a public
hearing are also encouraged to be made
electronically. If a public hearing is
scheduled, notice of the date and time
for the public hearing will be published
in the Federal Register.
II. Additional Requests for Comments
A. Treatment of Partnerships for
Purposes of Sections 987 and 989(a)
The final regulations do not provide
detailed rules concerning the
application of section 987 to
partnerships, and they reserve on the
treatment of a partnership as a QBU
under section 989(a). See part VIII.B.1 of
the Summary of Comments and
Explanation of Revisions in the
preamble to the final regulations. See
also part VIII of the Explanation of
Provisions in the preamble to the 2023
proposed regulations. The Treasury
Department and the IRS continue to
study those issues and therefore request
comments on the following topics:
1. Should section 987 be applied to
partnerships using an entity approach,
an aggregate approach, or a hybrid
approach? Comments recommending an
entity approach should address the
concerns raised in the preamble to the
2023 proposed regulations regarding the
potential for unrecognized section 987
gain or loss to be shifted between
partners upon a sale of a partnership
interest. See part VIII.C of the
Explanation of Provisions in the
preamble to the 2023 proposed
regulations.
2. Should a partnership be treated as
a per se QBU under section 989(a) and
§ 1.989(a)–1(b)(2)(i)?
3. Should different rules be provided
for purposes of sections 987 and 989(a)
depending on whether the partners in
the partnership are related parties?
Comments recommending an entity
approach for partnerships owned by
related parties should address the
concerns raised in the preamble to the
2023 proposed regulations regarding the
potential for a group of related parties
to hold an eligible QBU through a
partnership (rather than directly) in
order to alter the section 987 treatment
of the eligible QBU without
meaningfully altering the group’s
economic position. See part VIII.E of the
Explanation of Provisions in the
preamble to the 2023 proposed
regulations.
4. Under an entity approach, if a
partnership’s functional currency differs
from that of its partners, how should the
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partners account for currency gain or
loss with respect to their partnership
interests?
Comments submitted in response to
the 2023 proposed regulations do not
need to be resubmitted in response to
these proposed regulations.
B. Application of Section 987 to CFCs
As discussed in part II.A.3 of the
Summary of Comments and Explanation
of Revisions in the preamble to the final
regulations, a comment on the 2023
proposed regulations recommended that
the application of section 987 be
simplified by applying rules similar to
section 986(c) to section 987 QBUs
owned by CFCs in lieu of applying
section 987. In response to this
comment, the preamble to the final
regulations explained that the Treasury
Department and the IRS are of the view
that it would not be feasible to adopt
this comment, but nonetheless are
studying whether there are instances in
which it would be possible to simplify
the application of section 987 by
modifying the application of section
987(3) (and the related regulations,
including §§ 1.987–4 through 1.987–6,
1.987–8, and 1.987–11 through 1.987–
13) to certain entities.
In considering the appropriateness of
such a rule, it is helpful to consider
United States persons (‘‘U.S. persons’’)
and foreign persons separately. In the
case of a U.S. person, except to the
extent that the Code specifically
provides otherwise, the taxable income
of the U.S. person should reflect that
person’s accession to wealth, as
measured in the U.S. dollar.
Accordingly, when the amount of the
U.S. person’s basis in its assets or the
amount of its liabilities fluctuates as a
result of fluctuations in the functional
currency of a section 987 QBU, section
987(3) is necessary to ensure that
currency gain or loss is taken into
account to prevent these fluctuations
from artificially increasing or decreasing
the taxpayer’s income, gain, deduction,
and loss, as measured in the U.S. dollar.
In contrast, in the case of a foreign
person, such as a CFC or a partnership
with only foreign partners, the Treasury
Department and the IRS are studying
whether the U.S. tax system
appropriately tracks and taxes the
foreign person’s accession to wealth
given that its functional currency may
not be the U.S. dollar.
The Treasury Department and the IRS
agree with the comment that the
compliance and administrative burdens
of the section 987 regulations would be
substantially reduced if section 987(3)
and the related regulations did not
apply to CFCs or to partnerships with
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only foreign partners. Under such an
approach, a CFC or a partnership with
only foreign partners would not
calculate net unrecognized section 987
gain or loss with respect to a section 987
QBU and would not recognize section
987 gain or loss on a remittance or
termination. Instead, if a section 987
QBU owned by the CFC or partnership
transferred assets or liabilities to its
owner, the CFC or partnership would
merely take a basis in the assets or
measure the amount of the liabilities by
translating from the section 987 QBU’s
functional currency into the CFC or
partnership’s functional currency at the
spot rate on the date of the transfer.
Relatedly, the Treasury Department
and the IRS are concerned about the
ability of foreign entities to manipulate
the recognition of section 987 gain and
loss under section 987(3) and the related
regulations. This concern is not entirely
alleviated by the loss-to-the-extent-ofgain-rule in § 1.987–11, which suspends
the recognition of section 987 loss for
taxpayers that make a current rate
election.
Accordingly, the Treasury Department
and the IRS are studying whether, in
certain cases, it would be appropriate to
not apply section 987(3) and the related
regulations to CFCs and partnerships
with only foreign partners. However, the
Treasury Department and the IRS have
a number of concerns, including that,
under this approach, the amount of
currency gain (or loss) that would have
been taken into account under section
987(3) would give rise to an increase (or
decrease) in a CFC’s aggregate inside
asset basis without a corresponding
change in the CFC’s earnings and
profits, and the resulting mismatch
between inside asset basis and earnings
and profits could produce inappropriate
results.
For example, over time, it would be
common for a CFC’s aggregate inside
asset basis to be greater or less than the
sum of its (i) earnings and profits
determined under the principles of
§ 1.367(b)–2(d) but without regard to
whether the exchanging shareholder is a
U.S. person or foreign person, (ii) total
basis in the stock of the CFC; and (iii)
the amount of the CFC’s liabilities.
Although it is possible for a CFC to have
aggregate inside asset basis in excess of
these amounts (‘‘excess asset basis’’) 2
under current law, the Treasury
Department and the IRS are concerned
that, if CFCs were not required to
recognize currency gain or loss under
2 For a discussion of ‘‘excess asset basis,’’ see the
preambles accompanying issuance of § 1.367(b)–
3(g) (TD 10004, 89 FR 58275) and proposed
§ 1.367(b)–3(g) (88 FR 69559), respectively.
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section 987(3), excess asset basis would
become more prevalent. If the United
States shareholder (‘‘U.S. shareholder’’)
ultimately sells its stock in the CFC, the
U.S. shareholder would generally
recognize the appropriate amount of
gain or loss on the sale of stock
(notwithstanding the potential excess
asset basis of the CFC). However, if, in
lieu of a sale of stock, the CFC merges
or liquidates into a domestic
corporation pursuant to an inbound
asset reorganization or liquidation
described in § 1.367(b)–3, the excess
asset basis could be imported into the
United States without a corresponding
inclusion of income or gain under
§ 1.367(b)–3, and thus permanently
escape U.S. taxation.
Accordingly, the Treasury Department
and the IRS request comments
concerning the following topics:
1. Should the final regulations be
modified to provide that section 987(3)
and the related regulations do not apply
to CFCs or to partnerships with only
foreign partners? If so, how should
currency gain or loss be recognized with
respect to the section 987 QBU (if at
all)?
2. If section 987(3) did not apply to
CFCs and partnerships with only foreign
partners, what other rules would be
needed to prevent value equal to the
amount of excess asset basis from
permanently escaping U.S. taxation
upon an inbound transaction such as an
asset reorganization or liquidation
described in § 1.367(b)–3? For example,
should the importation of excess asset
basis trigger the recognition of gain in
the same manner that § 1.367(b)–3
triggers a deemed dividend to a
shareholder? If so, are there
circumstances in which excess asset
basis should not trigger gain (such as
excess asset basis arising by reason of
section 362(e) or by reason of minority
interests)? How should excess asset
basis be computed? What additional
rules would be needed to similarly
prevent taxpayers from planning into
the permanent avoidance or indefinite
deferral of gain or acceleration of losses?
3. If section 987(3) and the related
regulations continue to apply to CFCs
and partnerships with only foreign
partners generally, are any
modifications needed to the calculation
of section 987 gain and loss for these
entities?
Special Analyses
I. Regulatory Planning and Review—
Economic Analysis
Pursuant to the Memorandum of
Agreement, Review of Treasury
Regulations under Executive Order
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12866 (June 9, 2023), tax regulatory
actions issued by the IRS are not subject
to the requirements of section 6 of
Executive Order 12866, as amended.
Therefore, a regulatory impact
assessment is not required.
II. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501–3520) (PRA) requires
that a Federal agency obtain the
approval of the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) before collecting
information from the public, whether
such collection of information is
mandatory, voluntary, or required to
obtain or retain a benefit. An agency
may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it
displays a valid control number
assigned by the OMB.
The collections of information in the
proposed regulations with respect to
section 987 are in proposed § 1.987–
2(f)(1) (and the related election rules in
§ 1.987–1(g) of the final regulations).
The likely respondents are individuals
who file a Form 1040 and businesses
that file a Form 1065 or Form 1120.
The collection of information in
proposed § 1.987–2(f)(1) is required only
when a taxpayer makes or revokes a
recurring transfer group election under
proposed § 1.987–2(f)(1). In the first year
in which the section 987 regulations
apply to a taxpayer, or the first year in
which the taxpayer or a member of its
consolidated group or section 987
electing group is the owner of a section
987 QBU, the taxpayer is permitted to
make a recurring transfer group election
without the Commissioner’s consent.
Thereafter, the taxpayer may make or
revoke a recurring transfer group
election only with the consent of the
Commissioner, which may be granted
with a private letter ruling. When a
taxpayer makes or revokes an election,
the collection of information is
mandatory. The collection of
information required by proposed
§ 1.987–2(f)(1) will be used by the IRS
for tax compliance purposes.
The Treasury Department and the IRS
intend that the information required by
§ 1.987–1(g) with respect to a recurring
transfer group election under proposed
§ 1.987–2(f)(1) will be collected by
attaching a statement to a taxpayer’s
return (such as the appropriate Form
1040, Form 1120, Form 1065, or other
appropriate forms). For purposes of the
PRA, the reporting burden associated
with those collections of information
will be reflected in the PRA submissions
associated with those forms. The OMB
Control Numbers for the forms will be
approved under 1545–0074 for
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individuals and under 1545–0123 for
business entities.
To the extent that a taxpayer makes or
revokes an election by obtaining a
private letter ruling, the reporting
burden associated with those collections
of information will be reflected in the
PRA submissions associated with
revenue procedures governing private
letter rulings. The OMB Control Number
for those revenue procedures is control
number 1545–1522. The proposed
regulations would only require
taxpayers to follow the procedures
under Revenue Procedure 2024–1, IRB
2024–1 (or future revenue procedures
governing private letter rulings) and
would not change the collection
requirements of the Revenue Procedure.
Books or records relating to a
collection of information must be
retained as long as their contents may
become material in the administration
of any Internal Revenue law. Generally,
tax returns and tax return information
are confidential, as required by 26
U.S.C. 6103.
III. Regulatory Flexibility Act
Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6), it is hereby
certified that this rulemaking will not
have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities
within the meaning of section 601(6) of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The
proposed regulations affect individuals
and corporations (other than S
corporations) with foreign branch
operations.
The number of small entities
potentially affected by the proposed
regulations is unknown; however, it is
unlikely to be a substantial number
because taxpayers with wholly owned
foreign operations are typically larger
businesses. The Treasury Department
and the IRS estimate that the total
number of corporations (other than S
corporations) with a foreign branch
subject to section 987 is approximately
2,000. This estimate is based on the
number of corporations (other than S
corporations) that filed a Form 8858 in
2022 that showed that the filer: (1)
owned at least one disregarded entity or
branch with a functional currency
different from the functional currency of
the owner, and (2) indicated that the
disregarded entity or branch was a
section 989 QBU. As shown in the
following table, only a small percentage
of those filers are small entities.
Total receipts/positive
income
(2022)
Percentage of
filers
Under $5 Million ...................
$5 Million to $10 Million ........
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7
2
Total receipts/positive
income
(2022)
99787
Percentage of
filers
$10 Million to $25 Million ......
Over $25 Million ...................
4
87
The number of affected corporations
(other than S corporations) with total
receipts of less than $25 million
represents 0.02% of all corporations
(other than S corporations) with total
receipts of less than $25 million.
These proposed regulations generally
modify the rules that would otherwise
apply under the final regulations by
providing taxpayers with an election
that reduces the compliance burden of
applying section 987. Small entities
generally would not be affected by these
rules unless they choose to make an
election to reduce their compliance
burden.
A portion of the economic impact of
the proposed regulations may derive
from the collection of information
requirements imposed under proposed
§ 1.987–2(f)(1) (and the related election
rules in § 1.987–1(g) of the final
regulations). The Treasury Department
and the IRS have determined that the
average burden is 1.95 hours per
response. The IRS’s Research, Applied
Analytics, and Statistics division
estimates that the appropriate wage rate
for this set of taxpayers is $99.87 per
hour. Thus, the annual burden per
taxpayer from each collection of
information requirement is $194.75. The
requirements of proposed § 1.987–2(f)(1)
apply only if a taxpayer chooses to make
or revoke an election (and only in the
year of the election or revocation).
IV. Section 7805(f)
Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the
Code, this proposed regulation will be
submitted to the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration for comment on their
impact on small business.
V. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Section 202 of the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995 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. The proposed
regulations do 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.
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VI. 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. The
proposed regulations do not have
federalism implications and do not
impose substantial direct compliance
costs on State and local governments or
preempt State law within the meaning
of the Executive order.
Drafting Information
The principal authors of these
proposed regulations are Adam G.
Province and Raphael J. Cohen of the
Office of Associate Chief Counsel
(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.
Proposed Amendments to the
Regulations
Accordingly, the Treasury Department
and the IRS propose to amend 26 CFR
part 1 as follows:
PART 1—INCOME TAXES
Paragraph 1. The authority citation
for part 1 continues to read in part as
follows:
■
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
*
*
*
*
*
Section 1.987–2 also issued under 26
U.S.C. 987, 989, and 1502.
*
*
*
*
*
Section 1.987–4 also issued under 26
U.S.C. 987 and 989.
*
*
*
*
*
Section 1.987–9 also issued under 26
U.S.C. 987, 989, and 6001.
*
*
*
*
*
Section 1.987–15 also issued under 26
U.S.C. 987 and 989.
*
*
*
*
*
Par. 2. Section 1.987–2 is amended by
adding paragraph (f) to read as follows:
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■
§ 1.987–2 Attribution of items to eligible
QBUs; definition of a transfer and related
rules.
*
*
*
*
*
(f) Recurring transfer group election—
(1) In general. For a taxable year in
which a current rate election is in effect,
the owner of a section 987 QBU may
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elect to use the yearly average exchange
rate to translate all assets that are
transferred to or from the section 987
QBU in a taxable year as part of a
recurring transfer group (a recurring
transfer group election). The rules of
this paragraph (f) apply to all transfers
that are part of a recurring transfer
group in any taxable year to which the
recurring transfer group election applies
(regardless of whether transfers of the
same kind occurred in the first year to
which the election applied).
(2) Recurring transfer group. A
recurring transfer group is a group of
frequently recurring transfers made
between a section 987 QBU and its
owner (or another eligible QBU of the
owner) in a taxable year that meet the
requirements of paragraphs (f)(2)(i)
through (iii) of this section.
(i) Ordinary course transfers. The
transfers must be made in the ordinary
course of a trade or business.
(ii) Specified transactions. The
transfers must be made as part of one or
more disregarded transactions described
in paragraphs (f)(2)(ii)(A) through (C) of
this section between the section 987
QBU and its owner (or another eligible
QBU of the owner), the compensation
for which would satisfy the principles
of the arm’s length standard (within the
meaning of § 1.482–1(b)) if the section
987 QBU were treated as a separate
corporation. Transfers made in
connection with different disregarded
transactions described in paragraphs
(f)(2)(ii)(A) through (C) of this section in
the same taxable year are treated as part
of a single recurring transfer group.
(A) Sales of inventory;
(B) Payments for services;
(C) Rents or royalties.
(iii) Distributions and contributions
excluded. A transfer is not included in
a recurring transfer group if the transfer
(or any portion of the transfer) would be
treated as a distribution with respect to
stock, or an exchange for stock (or a
contribution to capital), if the section
987 QBU were treated as a separate
corporation.
(3) Consistency requirement. The
determination as to which transfers are
included in a recurring transfer group
must be made consistently from year to
year. However, this determination may
change from one year to the next based
on changes in the nature and timing of
the relevant transfers.
(4) Effect of recurring transfer group
election. Except as provided in
paragraph (f)(6) of this section, in a
taxable year in which a recurring
transfer group election is in effect, assets
that are transferred to or from a section
987 QBU in a taxable year as part of a
recurring transfer group (grouped assets)
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are translated under paragraph (d) of
this section and §§ 1.987–4(d)(2) and
1.987–5(f) by deeming the spot rate
applicable on the date of each transfer
to be equal to the yearly average
exchange rate for the taxable year.
However, if the Commissioner
determines that the use of the yearly
average exchange rate to translate
grouped assets in a taxable year does not
clearly reflect income, the
Commissioner may require some or all
transfers of the grouped assets to be
excluded from the recurring transfer
group or may prescribe the use of a
different exchange rate to translate the
grouped assets.
(5) Accounting for a disregarded
transfer group in determining
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss
for the taxable year—(i) In general.
Except as provided in paragraph
(f)(5)(ii) or (f)(6) of this section, in a
taxable year in which a recurring
transfer group election is in effect,
transfers of grouped assets are
disregarded for purposes of § 1.987–
4(d)(2) and (3) (steps 2 and 3).
(ii) Exception. Paragraph (f)(5)(i) of
this section does not apply to a section
987 QBU in a taxable year in which the
owner determines QBU net value with
respect to the section 987 QBU under
the steps provided in § 1.987–4(e)(2)(iii)
(alternative formula for determining
QBU net value without preparing an
adjusted balance sheet).
(6) Exception for taxable years in
which a disproportionate amount of
grouped assets is transferred in one or
more quarters of the taxable year—(i) In
general. Paragraphs (f)(4) and (5) of this
section do not apply to a section 987
QBU in a taxable year in which—
(A) More than 50 percent of the total
amount of grouped assets transferred to
or from the section 987 QBU during the
taxable year is transferred during one
quarter of the taxable year; or
(B) More than 80 percent of the total
amount of grouped assets transferred to
or from the section 987 QBU during the
taxable year is transferred during two
quarters of the taxable year.
(ii) Amount of grouped assets
transferred. For the purpose of applying
paragraph (f)(6)(i) of this section, the
amount of grouped assets transferred to
or from a section 987 QBU in a taxable
year and in each quarter of the taxable
year is determined in the functional
currency of the section 987 QBU by
reference to the aggregate of the amount
of functional currency transferred and
the basis of the other assets transferred
(taking into account the total gross
amount of both the transfers from the
section 987 QBU to the owner or
another eligible QBU of the owner and
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the transfers from the owner or another
eligible QBU of the owner to the section
987 QBU). For this purpose, amounts
transferred from the owner (or another
eligible QBU of the owner) to the
section 987 QBU are translated into the
section 987 QBU’s functional currency
at the yearly average exchange rate.
(iii) Short taxable year. For purposes
of applying this paragraph (f)(6) in a
short taxable year, each quarter
comprises a number of days equal to
one fourth of the total number of days
in the taxable year. If a section 987 QBU
did not exist for the full taxable year of
the owner, this paragraph (f)(6) is
applied with respect to the section 987
QBU by treating the taxable year as
comprising the portion of the taxable
year in which the section 987 QBU
existed.
(7) Examples. The following examples
illustrate the application of this
paragraph (f). For purposes of the
examples, DC1 is a domestic
corporation that owns Business A, a
section 987 QBU that has the euro as its
functional currency. In year 1, DC1’s
home office provides services to
Business A in exchange for arm’s length
cash payments (within the meaning of
§ 1.482–1(b)). The payments are made in
the ordinary course of the Business A
trade or business. A current rate election
and a recurring transfer group election
are in effect for year 1. DC1 does not
determine QBU net value with respect
to Business A under the steps provided
in § 1.987–4(e)(2)(iii).
(i) Example 1: Transfers treated as
part of a recurring transfer group—(A)
Facts. In year 1, Business A made 50
payments for services to DC1’s home
office, totaling Ö30,000x. Of this
amount, Business A paid Ö5,000x in the
first quarter of year 1, Ö7,500x in the
second quarter of year 1, Ö10,000x in
the third quarter of year 1, and Ö7,500x
in the fourth quarter of year 1. No other
transfers were made between Business
A and DC1 for year 1.
(B) Analysis—(1) Recurring transfer
group. Under paragraph (c)(2) of this
section, each payment for services is
treated as a transfer of assets from
Business A to DC1. These transfers
qualify as a recurring transfer group
under paragraph (f)(2) of this section
because they are frequently recurring
payments for services made in the
ordinary course of the Business A trade
or business that would satisfy the
principles of the arm’s length standard
(within the meaning of § 1.482–1(b)) if
Business A were treated as a separate
corporation. In addition, the exception
in paragraph (f)(6) of this section does
not apply because Business A did not
transfer more than 50 percent of the
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total amount of grouped assets
transferred in year 1 in any one quarter,
and Business A did not transfer more
than 80 percent of the total amount of
grouped assets transferred in year 1 in
any two quarters.
(2) Effect of recurring transfer group
election. Under paragraph (f)(4) of this
section, because Business A’s transfers
to DC1 comprise a recurring transfer
group, DC1 applies § 1.987–5(f) by
deeming the spot rate applicable on the
date of each transfer to be equal to the
yearly average exchange rate for year 1.
As a result, DC1 determines its basis in
the euros received from Business A by
translating the total amount of euros
transferred in year 1 at the yearly
average exchange rate for year 1. In
addition, under paragraph (f)(5) of this
section, the transfers are disregarded for
purposes of determining unrecognized
section 987 gain or loss for year 1 under
§ 1.987–4(d)(2).
(ii) Example 2: Disproportionate
transfers—(A) Facts. The facts are the
same as in paragraph (f)(7)(i) of this
section (Example 1), except that most of
the payments are made in the fourth
quarter of year 1 to compensate DC1’s
home office for additional services
provided at the end of year 1.
Specifically, of the Ö30,000 paid by
Business A for services in year 1,
Ö18,000x is transferred in the fourth
quarter of year 1, and Ö4,000x is
transferred in each of the first three
quarters of year 1.
(B) Analysis. The amount of grouped
assets transferred in the fourth quarter
(Ö18,000x) exceeds 50 percent of the
total amount of grouped assets
transferred in year 1 (Ö30,000x).
Therefore, under paragraph (f)(6) of this
section, paragraphs (f)(4) and (5) of this
section do not apply. As a result, DC1
determines its basis in the euros
received from Business A by translating
each transfer at the applicable spot rate
under § 1.987–5(f), and DC1 must take
each transfer into account for purposes
of determining unrecognized section
987 gain or loss for year 1 under
§ 1.987–4(d)(2).
(iii) Example 3: Determination of the
transfers including in a recurring
transfer group over multiple taxable
years—(A) Facts. The facts in year 1 are
the same as in paragraph (f)(7)(i) of this
section (Example 1). The recurring
transfer group election remains in effect
in years 2 and 3. In year 2, DC1’s home
office continues to provide services to
Business A in exchange for arm’s length
cash payments made in the ordinary
course of the Business A trade or
business. Additionally, in year 2,
Business A begins to sell Product X
inventory to Business B, an eligible
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
99789
QBU of DC1 that is not a section 987
QBU, in exchange for arm’s length cash
payments. In year 3, DC1’s home office
no longer provides services to Business
A, but Business A continues to sell
Product X inventory to Business B in
exchange for arm’s length cash
payments. Additionally, in year 3,
Business A begins to sell Product Y
inventory to Business B in exchange for
arm’s length cash payments. In each of
years 1, 2, and 3, the transfers to and
from Business A are made on a frequent
basis in the ordinary course of the
Business A trade or business.
(B) Analysis. In year 1, the cash
payments for services made by Business
A to DC1’s home office are part of a
recurring transfer group. In year 2, the
recurring transfer group includes the
cash payments for services made by
Business A to DC1’s home office, the
transfers of Product X inventory from
Business A to Business B, and the cash
payments made by Business B to
Business A in connection with the
inventory sales. In year 3, the recurring
transfer group includes the transfers of
Product X inventory and Product Y
inventory from Business A to Business
B and the cash payments made by
Business B to Business A in connection
with the inventory sales. Therefore, in
each of years 1, 2, and 3, unless the
exception in paragraph (f)(6) of this
section applies, the grouped assets are
translated at the yearly average
exchange under paragraph (f)(4) of this
section, and the transfers of the grouped
assets are disregarded for purposes of
determining unrecognized section 987
gain or loss under § 1.987–4(d)(2) and
(3).
*
*
*
*
*
■ Par 3. Section 1.987–4 is amended by
adding paragraph (d)(10)(ii)(D) to read
as follows:
§ 1.987–4 Determination of net
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss of a
section 987 QBU.
*
*
*
*
*
(d) * * *
(10) * * *
(ii) * * *
(D) Recurring transfer group. In order
to determine the residual increase or
decrease to net assets under this
paragraph (d)(10) in a taxable year in
which transfers of grouped assets are
disregarded under § 1.987–2(f)(5), the
transfers of grouped assets are
disregarded for purposes of applying
steps 2 and 3 (paragraphs (d)(2) and (3)
of this section) in the functional
currency of the section 987 QBU.
*
*
*
*
*
E:\FR\FM\11DEP1.SGM
11DEP1
99790
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 11, 2024 / Proposed Rules
Par 4. Section 1.987–9 is amended by
revising paragraphs (b)(5) and (6) to read
as follows:
■
§ 1.987–9
Recordkeeping requirements.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
(5) The amount of assets and
liabilities transferred by the owner to
the section 987 QBU determined in the
functional currency of the owner and
the section 987 QBU (to the extent those
amounts are taken into account in
applying § 1.987–4 or § 1.987–5).
(6) The amount of assets and
liabilities transferred by the section 987
QBU to the owner determined in the
functional currency of the owner and
the section 987 QBU (to the extent those
amounts are taken into account in
applying § 1.987–4 or § 1.987–5).
*
*
*
*
*
■ Par 5. Section 1.987–15 is amended
by adding paragraph (e) to read as
follows:
§ 1.987–15
Applicability date.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) Recurring transfer group election.
Sections 1.987–2(f),1.987–
4(d)(10)(ii)(D), and 1.987–9(b)(5) and (6)
apply to taxable years beginning after
[DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE
FINAL RULE IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER].
Douglas W. O’Donnell,
Deputy Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 2024–28371 Filed 12–10–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R09–OAR–2024–0417; FRL–12279–
01–R9]
Air Plan Conditional Approval;
California; Bay Area Air Quality
Management District
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Correction
In Proposed Rule document 2024–
27518 beginning on page 94633 in the
issue of Friday, November 29th, 2024,
make the following correction:
On page 94633, in the first column, in
the DATES section, in the second line,
‘‘December 30, 2025’’ should read
‘‘December 30, 2024’’.
[FR Doc. C1–2024–27518 Filed 12–10–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 0099–10–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:23 Dec 10, 2024
Jkt 265001
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 52 and 81
[EPA–R03–OAR–2024–0316; FRL–11777–
01–R3]
Air Plan Approval; Pennsylvania;
Redesignation of the Allegheny County
Nonattainment Area to Attainment and
Approval of the Area’s Maintenance
Plan for the 2010 1-Hour Primary Sulfur
Dioxide National Ambient Air Quality
Standard
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a
state implementation plan (SIP) revision
and redesignation request submitted on
November 14, 2023, by the
Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection (PADEP) on
behalf of the Allegheny County Health
Department (ACHD). The SIP revision
asks the EPA to redesignate the
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania area
from nonattainment to attainment for
the 2010 1-hour primary sulfur dioxide
(SO2) national ambient air quality
standard (NAAQS). The revision also
asks the EPA to approve into the SIP
Allegheny County’s maintenance plan
for the 2010 1-hour primary SO2
standard for the Allegheny County area.
This action is being taken under the
Clean Air Act (CAA).
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before January 10, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R03–
OAR–2024–0316 at
www.regulations.gov, or via email to
talley.david@epa.gov. For comments
submitted at Regulations.gov, follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments. Once submitted, comments
cannot be edited or removed from
Regulations.gov. For either manner of
submission, the EPA may publish any
comment received to its public docket.
Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be
confidential business information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
accompanied by a written comment.
The written comment is considered the
official comment and should include
discussion of all points you wish to
make. The EPA will generally not
consider comments or comment
contents located outside of the primary
submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or
other file sharing system). For
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
additional submission methods, please
contact the person identified in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
For the full EPA public comment policy,
information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit
www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epadockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Philip McGuire, Planning &
Implementation Branch (3AD30), Air &
Radiation Division, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region III, 1600 John
F Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19103. The telephone
number is (215) 814–2251. Mr. McGuire
can also be reached via electronic mail
at mcguire.philip@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
A. Nonattainment Designation
On June 22, 2010, the EPA revised the
primary SO2 NAAQS, establishing a
new 1-hour primary standard of 75 parts
per billion (ppb).1 Under the EPA’s
regulations at title 40 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) part 50, the
2010 1-hour SO2 NAAQS is met at a
monitoring site when the 3-year average
of the annual 99th percentile of daily
maximum 1-hour average
concentrations is less than or equal to
75 ppb (based on the rounding
convention in 40 CFR part 50, appendix
T).2 Ambient air quality monitoring data
for the 3-year period must meet a data
completeness requirement. A year meets
data completeness requirements when
all four quarters are complete, and a
quarter is complete when at least 75
percent of the sampling days for each
quarter have complete data. A sampling
day has complete data if 75 percent of
the hourly concentration values,
including State-flagged data affected by
exceptional events which have been
approved for exclusion by the
Administrator, are reported.3
Upon promulgation of a new or
revised NAAQS, the CAA requires the
EPA to designate as nonattainment any
area that does not meet (or that
contributes to ambient air quality in a
nearby area that does not meet) the
NAAQS.4 On August 5, 2013, the EPA
designated a portion of Allegheny
County, Pennsylvania (hereafter the
‘‘Allegheny County NAA’’), as
nonattainment for the 2010 1-hour
primary SO2 NAAQS, effective October
1 75
FR 35520, June 22, 2010.
CFR 50.17.
3 40 CFR part 50, appendix T, section 3(b).
4 CAA section 107(d)(1)(A)(i).
2 40
E:\FR\FM\11DEP1.SGM
11DEP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 99782-99790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28371]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
26 CFR Part 1
[REG-117213-24]
RIN 1545-BR37
Accounting for Disregarded Transactions Between a Qualified
Business Unit and Its Owner
AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document contains proposed regulations relating to the
determination of taxable income or loss and foreign currency gain or
loss with respect to a qualified business unit. The proposed
regulations include an election that is intended to reduce the
compliance burden of accounting for certain disregarded transactions
between a qualified business unit and its owner. This document also
includes a request for comments relating to the treatment of
partnerships and controlled foreign corporations.
DATES: Written or electronic comments and requests for a public hearing
must be received by March 11, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Commenters are strongly encouraged to submit public comments
electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov (indicate IRS and REG-117213-24) by following the
online instructions for submitting comments. Requests for a public
hearing must be submitted as prescribed in the ``Comments and Requests
for a Public Hearing'' section. Once submitted to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal, comments cannot be edited or withdrawn. The
Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) and the IRS will
publish for public availability any comments submitted to the IRS's
public docket. Send paper submissions to: CC:PA:01:PR (REG-117213-24),
Room 5203, Internal Revenue Service, P.O. Box 7604, Ben Franklin
Station, Washington, DC 20044.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the proposed regulations,
Adam G. Province at (865) 329-4546; concerning submissions of comments,
requests for a public hearing, and access to a public hearing,
Publications and Regulations Section at (202) 317-6901 (not toll-free
numbers) or by email to [email protected] (preferred).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority
This document contains proposed additions and amendments to 26 CFR
part 1 (Income Tax Regulations) addressing the application of section
987 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and related provisions (the
``proposed regulations''). The additions and amendments are issued
under sections 987 and 989, pursuant to the express delegations of
authority provided under those sections. The express delegations relied
upon are referenced in the Background section of this preamble. The
proposed regulations are also issued under the express delegation of
authority under section 7805 of the Code.
Background
This document contains proposed regulations under section 987 of
the Code. Section 987 applies to any taxpayer that has a qualified
business unit (QBU) with a functional currency other than the dollar.
Section 987(1) and (2) provide rules for determining and translating
taxable income or loss (``section 987 taxable income or loss'') with
respect to the QBU. In addition, foreign currency gain or loss must be
determined under section 987(3) (``section 987 gain or loss''), which
requires proper adjustments (as prescribed by the Secretary) for
transfers of property between QBUs of the
[[Page 99783]]
taxpayer having different functional currencies.
Sections 987 and 989 provide several explicit grants of regulatory
authority. The statute does not specify how the proper adjustments
should be made under section 987(3), but instead directs the Secretary
to prescribe the proper adjustments needed to determine the taxable
income of the owner of a section 987 QBU. Section 989(c) directs the
Secretary to ``prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or
appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subpart.'' \1\ The grants
of authority in section 989(c) include regulations providing for the
appropriate treatment of related party transactions (including
transactions between QBUs of the same taxpayer). Section 989(c)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The reference to ``this subpart'' refers to subpart J of
part III of subchapter N of chapter 1 of the Code, which includes
section 987.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concurrently with the publication of these proposed regulations,
the Treasury Department and the IRS are publishing in the rules and
regulations section of this edition of the Federal Register (RIN 1545-
BO07) final regulations under sections 861, 985, 987 through 989, and
1502 of the Code (the ``final regulations''). On November 14, 2023, the
Treasury Department and the IRS published proposed regulations (REG-
132422-17) under those same sections of the Code (the ``2023 proposed
regulations'') in the Federal Register (88 FR 78134). The comments
received in response to the 2023 proposed regulations, and the
revisions made in response to those comments, are summarized in the
Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions in the preamble to the
final regulations. In response to certain comments, the Treasury
Department and the IRS are publishing this notice of proposed
rulemaking to provide additional proposed rules under section 987 and
to request comments relating to the application of section 987 to
partnerships and controlled foreign corporations (``CFCs'').
Explanation of Provisions
The proposed regulations provide an election under which, in
certain cases, taxpayers can translate a group of frequently recurring
transfers between a section 987 QBU and its owner using the yearly
average exchange rate (rather than the spot rate applicable on the date
of each transfer). The proposed regulations also would simplify the
computation of unrecognized section 987 gain or loss under Sec. 1.987-
4 for taxpayers that make this election.
I. Rules of the Final Regulations Relating to Disregarded Transactions
A. Accounting for Disregarded Transactions Between a Section 987 QBU
and Its Owner
Under the final regulations, an asset is treated as transferred to
a section 987 QBU from its owner if, because of a disregarded
transaction, the asset is reflected on the books and records of the
section 987 QBU. See Sec. 1.987-2(c)(2)(i). Similarly, an asset is
treated as transferred from a section 987 QBU to its owner if, because
of a disregarded transaction, the asset ceases to be reflected on the
books and records of the section 987 QBU. Thus, for example, if a
section 987 QBU purchases inventory from its owner (or another eligible
QBU of its owner) in a disregarded transaction, the section 987 QBU is
treated as distributing cash to its owner, and the owner is treated as
contributing the inventory to the section 987 QBU. Disregarded
transactions, however, do not give rise to items of income, gain,
deduction, or loss that are taken into account in determining section
987 taxable income or loss under Sec. 1.987-3. See Sec. 1.987-
2(c)(2)(iii).
The final regulations provide rules for determining the basis of an
asset or the amount of a liability that has been transferred by an
owner to a section 987 QBU. In general, marked items are translated
into the section 987 QBU's functional currency at the spot rate
applicable on the date of the transfer, while historic items are
translated at the applicable historic rate. See Sec. 1.987-2(d).
Similarly, when an asset or liability is transferred from a section 987
QBU to its owner, marked items are translated into the owner's
functional currency at the spot rate applicable on the date of
transfer, while historic items are translated at the applicable
historic rate. See Sec. 1.987-5(f). These rules apply to all transfers
of assets and liabilities between a section 987 QBU and its owner,
including transfers made in connection with ordinary course disregarded
transactions (for example, sales of inventory).
The definition of a marked item under the final regulations
includes an asset or liability denominated in, or determined by
reference to, the functional currency of the section 987 QBU that would
be a section 988 transaction if it were held or entered into directly
by the owner of the section 987 QBU; it also includes several other
categories of assets and liabilities. See Sec. 1.987-1(d)(1). However,
the final regulations provide an election to treat all items of a
section 987 QBU as marked items (the ``current rate election''). See
Sec. 1.987-1(d)(2).
B. Determination of Unrecognized Section 987 Gain or Loss With Respect
to a Section 987 QBU
Section 1.987-4 provides rules for computing net unrecognized
section 987 gain or loss with respect to a section 987 QBU. Under Sec.
1.987-4(b), net unrecognized section 987 gain or loss is equal to the
sum of (i) the unrecognized section 987 gain or loss for the current
taxable year and (ii) net accumulated unrecognized section 987 gain or
loss for all prior taxable years.
Section Sec. 1.987-4(d) provides a ten-step formula for computing
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss for the current taxable year. The
first step of this formula is to determine the change in owner
functional currency net value (``OFCNV'') of the section 987 QBU for
the taxable year, computed using end-of-year exchange rates for marked
items and historic rates for historic items. See Sec. 1.987-4(d)(1)
and (e). The other steps adjust for amounts comprising the separate
components of the annual change in OFCNV (other than changes in the
exchange rate). Steps 2 through 5 relate to transfers of assets and
liabilities between a section 987 QBU and its owner, and steps 6
through 9 relate to items of income or loss of the section 987 QBU. See
Sec. 1.987-4(d)(2) through (9). Step 10 is a residual adjustment for
any remaining increase or decrease to the section 987 QBU's functional
currency balance sheet. This residual adjustment is translated into the
owner's functional currency using the yearly average exchange rate for
the taxable year. See Sec. 1.987-4(d)(10).
In applying steps 2 through 5, an owner must account for all
transfers of assets and liabilities between a section 987 QBU and its
owner, including transfers made in connection with ordinary course
disregarded transactions. See Sec. 1.987-4(d)(2) through (5). For this
purpose, marked items are translated into the owner's functional
currency at the spot rate applicable on the date of the transfer, while
historic items are translated at the applicable historic rate.
II. Proposed Rules Relating to Disregarded Transactions
A. Comment Concerning the Compliance Burden of Accounting for
Disregarded Transactions
A comment to the 2023 proposed regulations asserted that it is
burdensome for taxpayers to track and translate disregarded
transactions between a section 987 QBU and its owner (or between
different section 987 QBUs of the same owner) that arise in
[[Page 99784]]
the ordinary course of a section 987 QBU's trade or business. The
comment recommended that, for taxpayers that make a current rate
election, unrecognized section 987 gain or loss for the taxable year
should be computed by applying only two of the steps provided in Sec.
1.987-4(d): step 1 (determining the change in OFCNV) and step 10
(reducing or increasing the amount determined in step 1 by the change
in QBU net value, translated into the owner's functional currency at
the yearly average exchange rate). The comment asserted that, under
this approach, it would not be necessary to track ordinary course
disregarded transactions between a section 987 QBU and its owner (or
different section 987 QBUs of the same owner), because those
transactions would be eliminated from the computation of unrecognized
section 987 gain or loss.
As explained in the preamble to the final regulations, the effect
of the comment's recommended rule would be to translate the net amount
of all transfers between a section 987 QBU and its owner at the yearly
average exchange rate under step 10. See part V.A.3 of the Summary of
Comments and Explanation of Revisions in the preamble to the final
regulations. By contrast, Sec. 1.987-4(d) requires each transfer to be
translated at the appropriate exchange rate in applying steps 2 through
5. Under the final regulations, if a current rate election is in
effect, the basis of each asset and the amount of each liability
transferred is translated at the spot rate applicable on the date of
transfer (because all assets and liabilities are treated as marked
items). The final regulations do not adopt the rule recommended by the
comment because the applicable spot rate could be significantly higher
or lower than the yearly average exchange rate, in which case the
comment's recommended rule could substantially distort the computation
of unrecognized section 987 gain or loss.
B. Recurring Transfer Group Election
Notwithstanding the concern described in part II.A of this
Explanation of Provisions, the Treasury Department and the IRS are of
the view that, in certain cases, a group of frequently recurring
transfers between a section 987 QBU and its owner could be translated
using the yearly average exchange rate without creating significant
distortions. Further, permitting taxpayers to use the yearly average
exchange rate in lieu of the applicable spot rate would reduce the
compliance burden of the section 987 regulations.
Therefore, the proposed regulations would provide that a taxpayer
that has made a current rate election may elect to use the yearly
average exchange rate to translate assets that are transferred between
a section 987 QBU and its owner as part of a recurring transfer group
(a ``recurring transfer group election''). Proposed Sec. 1.987-
2(f)(1). The recurring transfer group election would be subject to the
general timing and consistency requirements provided in Sec. 1.987-
1(g) of the final regulations.
If a recurring transfer group election is in effect, assets
transferred between a section 987 QBU and its owner as part of a
recurring transfer group (``grouped assets'') are translated under
Sec. Sec. 1.987-2(d), 1.987-4(d)(2), and 1.987-5(f) using the yearly
average exchange rate in lieu of the applicable spot rate. Proposed
Sec. 1.987-2(f)(4). In addition, proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(5)(i) would
provide that transfers made as part of a recurring transfer group are
disregarded for purposes of Sec. 1.987-4(d)(2) and (3) (steps 2 and
3). Proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(5). That is, because all transfers that
are part of a recurring transfer group are translated at the yearly
average exchange rate, these transfers do not need to be separately
tracked and translated for purposes of determining unrecognized section
987 gain or loss.
Transfers that are part of a recurring transfer group are also
disregarded when applying steps 2 and 3 in the functional currency of
the section 987 QBU for purposes of determining the residual increase
or decrease to net assets under Sec. 1.987-4(d)(10). Proposed Sec.
1.987-4(d)(10)(ii)(D). To the extent that these transfers increase or
reduce the year-end net assets of the section 987 QBU (determined in
the section 987 QBU's functional currency), the residual increase or
decrease to net assets will be translated at the yearly average
exchange rate under Sec. 1.987-4(d)(10) (step 10).
Under the proposed regulations, if a recurring transfer group
election is in effect, and the only transfers between a section 987 QBU
and its owner are part of a recurring transfer group, the owner would
determine unrecognized section 987 gain or loss for the taxable year by
applying only steps 1 and 10 (as recommended by the comment). Transfers
that are not part of a recurring transfer group must be taken into
account at the applicable spot rate under steps 2 through 5. However,
the final regulations permit taxpayers to use a spot rate convention
based on the average of spot rates for a reasonable period (which can
be as long as three months), which should reduce the compliance burden
of accounting for these transfers. See Sec. 1.987-1(c)(1)(ii).
The special rule for computing unrecognized section 987 gain or
loss in proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(5)(i) would not apply if the owner of
a section 987 QBU determines QBU net value using the formula provided
in Sec. 1.987-4(e)(2)(iii). Proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(5)(ii).
Taxpayers using this formula must separately track each transfer for
purposes of computing QBU net value, and therefore disregarding the
transfers for purposes of Sec. 1.987-4(d)(2) and (3) would not reduce
the compliance burden for these taxpayers.
The proposed regulations also would modify the recordkeeping
requirements in Sec. 1.987-9 to provide that taxpayers are not
required to maintain records concerning amounts transferred between an
owner and a section 987 QBU unless the transferred amounts are taken
into account in applying Sec. 1.987-4 or Sec. 1.987-5. Proposed Sec.
1.987-9(b)(5) and (6). Therefore, if a taxpayer makes a recurring
transfer group election and uses the alternative calculation provided
in Sec. 1.987-5(c)(2) (under which the remittance for a taxable year
is determined by reference to the change in QBU net value, adjusted for
income or loss of the section 987 QBU), the taxpayer generally would
not be required to maintain records with respect to transfers of
grouped assets.
C. Definition of a Recurring Transfer Group
Under the proposed regulations, a recurring transfer group would be
defined as a group of frequently recurring transfers between a section
987 QBU and its owner (or another eligible QBU of the owner) that are
made in the ordinary course of a trade or business. Proposed Sec.
1.987-2(f)(2)(i). Only transfers made in connection with sales of
inventory, payments for services, or rent or royalty transactions in
which arm's length compensation (determined by applying the principles
of the arm's length standard of Sec. 1.482-1(b)(1)) has been paid
would be included in a recurring transfer group. Proposed Sec. 1.987-
2(f)(2)(ii). For this purpose, the principles of the arm's length
standard apply as if the section 987 QBU were a corporation that is
separate from its owner and, thus, as if the disregarded transaction
were a controlled transfer within the meaning of Sec. 1.482-1(i)(8). A
recurring transfer group would not include a transfer between the
section 987 QBU and its owner if the transfer (or a portion of the
transfer) would be treated as a distribution with respect to stock, or
an exchange for stock (or a contribution to
[[Page 99785]]
capital), for U.S. tax purposes if the QBU were treated as a separate
corporation. Proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(2)(iii). Those transfers are
unlikely to be made in the ordinary course of a trade or business and
could be used to manipulate the computation of unrecognized section 987
gain or loss.
The definition of a recurring transfer group in Sec. 1.987-2(f)(2)
is tailored to identify ordinary business transactions for which the
use of the yearly average exchange rate would not cause significant
distortions and which could be burdensome to account for under the
rules of the final regulations. The Treasury Department and the IRS
request comments as to whether other transfers should be included in a
recurring transfer group. For example, comments are requested as to
whether intercompany lending transactions (or other transactions) of a
bank or other financial entity should be included in a recurring
transfer group and, if so, how the scope of the covered transactions
should be defined. Although lending transactions are made in the
ordinary course of a bank's trade or business, it may be difficult to
distinguish between ordinary course loans and extraordinary
transactions that could be used to manipulate a taxpayer's unrecognized
section 987 gain or loss.
D. Exception for Disproportionate Transfers
The rules of proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(4) and (5) would not apply
in a taxable year in which a disproportionate amount of the assets
transferred as part of a recurring transfer group are transferred
during one or more quarters of the taxable year. Proposed Sec. 1.987-
2(f)(6). In particular, proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(4) and (5) would not
apply if either (i) more than 50 percent of the total amount
transferred during the taxable year is transferred during one quarter
of the taxable year or (ii) more than 80 percent of the total amount
transferred during the taxable year is transferred during two quarters
of the taxable year.
The exception in proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(6) is intended to
prevent significant distortions that could arise from using the yearly
average exchange rate to translate transfers that primarily occur in
only part of the taxable year, while being flexible enough to
accommodate ordinary course disregarded transactions between a section
987 QBU and its owner. The Treasury Department and the IRS request
comments as to whether other standards could be used to identify
transfers that can appropriately be translated at the yearly average
exchange rate. For example, comments are requested as to whether more
flexibility should be provided in taxable years in which exchange rates
do not significantly fluctuate.
Applicability Dates
Once finalized, the regulations would apply to taxable years
beginning after the date the Treasury Decision adopting these rules as
final regulations is published in the Federal Register. A taxpayer may
rely on these proposed regulations for a taxable year in which the
final regulations (that is, the final regulations that are being
published concurrently with the proposed regulations) apply, provided
the taxpayer and each member of its consolidated group and section 987
electing group, as applicable, consistently follow the proposed
regulations in their entirety and in a consistent manner.
In addition, for a taxable year in which the final regulations
apply, a taxpayer may continue to rely on the parts of the proposed
regulations published in the Federal Register (REG-128276-12, 81 FR
88882) on December 8, 2016 (the ``2016 proposed regulations'') that
have not been finalized or withdrawn, provided that the taxpayer and
each member of its consolidated group and section 987 electing group,
as applicable, consistently follow these parts in their entirety and in
a consistent manner. The following parts of the 2016 proposed
regulations have not been finalized or withdrawn: (1) rules regarding
QBUs with the U.S. dollar as their functional currency (see Sec. Sec.
1.987-1 and 1.987-6 of the 2016 proposed regulations); and (2) rules
requiring the deferral of certain section 988 loss that arises with
respect to related-party loans (see Sec. 1.988-2 of the 2016 proposed
regulations).
Comments and Request for Public Hearing
I. In General
Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations,
consideration will be given to comments that are submitted timely to
the IRS as prescribed in this preamble under the ADDRESSES heading. In
addition to the specific requests for comments in parts II.C and II.D
of the Explanation of Provisions, the Treasury Department and the IRS
request comments on all other aspects of the proposed regulations as
well as on the specific issues identified in part II of this Comments
and Request for Public Hearing section. Any comments submitted will be
made available at https://www.regulations.gov or upon request.
A public hearing concerning the proposed regulations will be
scheduled if requested in writing by any person who timely submits
electronic or written comments. Requests for a public hearing are also
encouraged to be made electronically. If a public hearing is scheduled,
notice of the date and time for the public hearing will be published in
the Federal Register.
II. Additional Requests for Comments
A. Treatment of Partnerships for Purposes of Sections 987 and 989(a)
The final regulations do not provide detailed rules concerning the
application of section 987 to partnerships, and they reserve on the
treatment of a partnership as a QBU under section 989(a). See part
VIII.B.1 of the Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions in the
preamble to the final regulations. See also part VIII of the
Explanation of Provisions in the preamble to the 2023 proposed
regulations. The Treasury Department and the IRS continue to study
those issues and therefore request comments on the following topics:
1. Should section 987 be applied to partnerships using an entity
approach, an aggregate approach, or a hybrid approach? Comments
recommending an entity approach should address the concerns raised in
the preamble to the 2023 proposed regulations regarding the potential
for unrecognized section 987 gain or loss to be shifted between
partners upon a sale of a partnership interest. See part VIII.C of the
Explanation of Provisions in the preamble to the 2023 proposed
regulations.
2. Should a partnership be treated as a per se QBU under section
989(a) and Sec. 1.989(a)-1(b)(2)(i)?
3. Should different rules be provided for purposes of sections 987
and 989(a) depending on whether the partners in the partnership are
related parties? Comments recommending an entity approach for
partnerships owned by related parties should address the concerns
raised in the preamble to the 2023 proposed regulations regarding the
potential for a group of related parties to hold an eligible QBU
through a partnership (rather than directly) in order to alter the
section 987 treatment of the eligible QBU without meaningfully altering
the group's economic position. See part VIII.E of the Explanation of
Provisions in the preamble to the 2023 proposed regulations.
4. Under an entity approach, if a partnership's functional currency
differs from that of its partners, how should the
[[Page 99786]]
partners account for currency gain or loss with respect to their
partnership interests?
Comments submitted in response to the 2023 proposed regulations do
not need to be resubmitted in response to these proposed regulations.
B. Application of Section 987 to CFCs
As discussed in part II.A.3 of the Summary of Comments and
Explanation of Revisions in the preamble to the final regulations, a
comment on the 2023 proposed regulations recommended that the
application of section 987 be simplified by applying rules similar to
section 986(c) to section 987 QBUs owned by CFCs in lieu of applying
section 987. In response to this comment, the preamble to the final
regulations explained that the Treasury Department and the IRS are of
the view that it would not be feasible to adopt this comment, but
nonetheless are studying whether there are instances in which it would
be possible to simplify the application of section 987 by modifying the
application of section 987(3) (and the related regulations, including
Sec. Sec. 1.987-4 through 1.987-6, 1.987-8, and 1.987-11 through
1.987-13) to certain entities.
In considering the appropriateness of such a rule, it is helpful to
consider United States persons (``U.S. persons'') and foreign persons
separately. In the case of a U.S. person, except to the extent that the
Code specifically provides otherwise, the taxable income of the U.S.
person should reflect that person's accession to wealth, as measured in
the U.S. dollar. Accordingly, when the amount of the U.S. person's
basis in its assets or the amount of its liabilities fluctuates as a
result of fluctuations in the functional currency of a section 987 QBU,
section 987(3) is necessary to ensure that currency gain or loss is
taken into account to prevent these fluctuations from artificially
increasing or decreasing the taxpayer's income, gain, deduction, and
loss, as measured in the U.S. dollar. In contrast, in the case of a
foreign person, such as a CFC or a partnership with only foreign
partners, the Treasury Department and the IRS are studying whether the
U.S. tax system appropriately tracks and taxes the foreign person's
accession to wealth given that its functional currency may not be the
U.S. dollar.
The Treasury Department and the IRS agree with the comment that the
compliance and administrative burdens of the section 987 regulations
would be substantially reduced if section 987(3) and the related
regulations did not apply to CFCs or to partnerships with only foreign
partners. Under such an approach, a CFC or a partnership with only
foreign partners would not calculate net unrecognized section 987 gain
or loss with respect to a section 987 QBU and would not recognize
section 987 gain or loss on a remittance or termination. Instead, if a
section 987 QBU owned by the CFC or partnership transferred assets or
liabilities to its owner, the CFC or partnership would merely take a
basis in the assets or measure the amount of the liabilities by
translating from the section 987 QBU's functional currency into the CFC
or partnership's functional currency at the spot rate on the date of
the transfer.
Relatedly, the Treasury Department and the IRS are concerned about
the ability of foreign entities to manipulate the recognition of
section 987 gain and loss under section 987(3) and the related
regulations. This concern is not entirely alleviated by the loss-to-
the-extent-of-gain-rule in Sec. 1.987-11, which suspends the
recognition of section 987 loss for taxpayers that make a current rate
election.
Accordingly, the Treasury Department and the IRS are studying
whether, in certain cases, it would be appropriate to not apply section
987(3) and the related regulations to CFCs and partnerships with only
foreign partners. However, the Treasury Department and the IRS have a
number of concerns, including that, under this approach, the amount of
currency gain (or loss) that would have been taken into account under
section 987(3) would give rise to an increase (or decrease) in a CFC's
aggregate inside asset basis without a corresponding change in the
CFC's earnings and profits, and the resulting mismatch between inside
asset basis and earnings and profits could produce inappropriate
results.
For example, over time, it would be common for a CFC's aggregate
inside asset basis to be greater or less than the sum of its (i)
earnings and profits determined under the principles of Sec. 1.367(b)-
2(d) but without regard to whether the exchanging shareholder is a U.S.
person or foreign person, (ii) total basis in the stock of the CFC; and
(iii) the amount of the CFC's liabilities. Although it is possible for
a CFC to have aggregate inside asset basis in excess of these amounts
(``excess asset basis'') \2\ under current law, the Treasury Department
and the IRS are concerned that, if CFCs were not required to recognize
currency gain or loss under section 987(3), excess asset basis would
become more prevalent. If the United States shareholder (``U.S.
shareholder'') ultimately sells its stock in the CFC, the U.S.
shareholder would generally recognize the appropriate amount of gain or
loss on the sale of stock (notwithstanding the potential excess asset
basis of the CFC). However, if, in lieu of a sale of stock, the CFC
merges or liquidates into a domestic corporation pursuant to an inbound
asset reorganization or liquidation described in Sec. 1.367(b)-3, the
excess asset basis could be imported into the United States without a
corresponding inclusion of income or gain under Sec. 1.367(b)-3, and
thus permanently escape U.S. taxation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ For a discussion of ``excess asset basis,'' see the
preambles accompanying issuance of Sec. 1.367(b)-3(g) (TD 10004, 89
FR 58275) and proposed Sec. 1.367(b)-3(g) (88 FR 69559),
respectively.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accordingly, the Treasury Department and the IRS request comments
concerning the following topics:
1. Should the final regulations be modified to provide that section
987(3) and the related regulations do not apply to CFCs or to
partnerships with only foreign partners? If so, how should currency
gain or loss be recognized with respect to the section 987 QBU (if at
all)?
2. If section 987(3) did not apply to CFCs and partnerships with
only foreign partners, what other rules would be needed to prevent
value equal to the amount of excess asset basis from permanently
escaping U.S. taxation upon an inbound transaction such as an asset
reorganization or liquidation described in Sec. 1.367(b)-3? For
example, should the importation of excess asset basis trigger the
recognition of gain in the same manner that Sec. 1.367(b)-3 triggers a
deemed dividend to a shareholder? If so, are there circumstances in
which excess asset basis should not trigger gain (such as excess asset
basis arising by reason of section 362(e) or by reason of minority
interests)? How should excess asset basis be computed? What additional
rules would be needed to similarly prevent taxpayers from planning into
the permanent avoidance or indefinite deferral of gain or acceleration
of losses?
3. If section 987(3) and the related regulations continue to apply
to CFCs and partnerships with only foreign partners generally, are any
modifications needed to the calculation of section 987 gain and loss
for these entities?
Special Analyses
I. Regulatory Planning and Review--Economic Analysis
Pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement, Review of Treasury
Regulations under Executive Order
[[Page 99787]]
12866 (June 9, 2023), tax regulatory actions issued by the IRS are not
subject to the requirements of section 6 of Executive Order 12866, as
amended. Therefore, a regulatory impact assessment is not required.
II. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520) (PRA)
requires that a Federal agency obtain the approval of the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) before collecting information from the
public, whether such collection of information is mandatory, voluntary,
or required to obtain or retain a benefit. An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a valid control number assigned by the
OMB.
The collections of information in the proposed regulations with
respect to section 987 are in proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(1) (and the
related election rules in Sec. 1.987-1(g) of the final regulations).
The likely respondents are individuals who file a Form 1040 and
businesses that file a Form 1065 or Form 1120.
The collection of information in proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(1) is
required only when a taxpayer makes or revokes a recurring transfer
group election under proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(1). In the first year in
which the section 987 regulations apply to a taxpayer, or the first
year in which the taxpayer or a member of its consolidated group or
section 987 electing group is the owner of a section 987 QBU, the
taxpayer is permitted to make a recurring transfer group election
without the Commissioner's consent. Thereafter, the taxpayer may make
or revoke a recurring transfer group election only with the consent of
the Commissioner, which may be granted with a private letter ruling.
When a taxpayer makes or revokes an election, the collection of
information is mandatory. The collection of information required by
proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(1) will be used by the IRS for tax compliance
purposes.
The Treasury Department and the IRS intend that the information
required by Sec. 1.987-1(g) with respect to a recurring transfer group
election under proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(1) will be collected by
attaching a statement to a taxpayer's return (such as the appropriate
Form 1040, Form 1120, Form 1065, or other appropriate forms). For
purposes of the PRA, the reporting burden associated with those
collections of information will be reflected in the PRA submissions
associated with those forms. The OMB Control Numbers for the forms will
be approved under 1545-0074 for individuals and under 1545-0123 for
business entities.
To the extent that a taxpayer makes or revokes an election by
obtaining a private letter ruling, the reporting burden associated with
those collections of information will be reflected in the PRA
submissions associated with revenue procedures governing private letter
rulings. The OMB Control Number for those revenue procedures is control
number 1545-1522. The proposed regulations would only require taxpayers
to follow the procedures under Revenue Procedure 2024-1, IRB 2024-1 (or
future revenue procedures governing private letter rulings) and would
not change the collection requirements of the Revenue Procedure.
Books or records relating to a collection of information must be
retained as long as their contents may become material in the
administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and
tax return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.
III. Regulatory Flexibility Act
Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6), it
is hereby certified that this rulemaking will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities within the
meaning of section 601(6) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The
proposed regulations affect individuals and corporations (other than S
corporations) with foreign branch operations.
The number of small entities potentially affected by the proposed
regulations is unknown; however, it is unlikely to be a substantial
number because taxpayers with wholly owned foreign operations are
typically larger businesses. The Treasury Department and the IRS
estimate that the total number of corporations (other than S
corporations) with a foreign branch subject to section 987 is
approximately 2,000. This estimate is based on the number of
corporations (other than S corporations) that filed a Form 8858 in 2022
that showed that the filer: (1) owned at least one disregarded entity
or branch with a functional currency different from the functional
currency of the owner, and (2) indicated that the disregarded entity or
branch was a section 989 QBU. As shown in the following table, only a
small percentage of those filers are small entities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage of
Total receipts/positive income (2022) filers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under $5 Million........................................ 7
$5 Million to $10 Million............................... 2
$10 Million to $25 Million.............................. 4
Over $25 Million........................................ 87
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The number of affected corporations (other than S corporations)
with total receipts of less than $25 million represents 0.02% of all
corporations (other than S corporations) with total receipts of less
than $25 million.
These proposed regulations generally modify the rules that would
otherwise apply under the final regulations by providing taxpayers with
an election that reduces the compliance burden of applying section 987.
Small entities generally would not be affected by these rules unless
they choose to make an election to reduce their compliance burden.
A portion of the economic impact of the proposed regulations may
derive from the collection of information requirements imposed under
proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(1) (and the related election rules in Sec.
1.987-1(g) of the final regulations). The Treasury Department and the
IRS have determined that the average burden is 1.95 hours per response.
The IRS's Research, Applied Analytics, and Statistics division
estimates that the appropriate wage rate for this set of taxpayers is
$99.87 per hour. Thus, the annual burden per taxpayer from each
collection of information requirement is $194.75. The requirements of
proposed Sec. 1.987-2(f)(1) apply only if a taxpayer chooses to make
or revoke an election (and only in the year of the election or
revocation).
IV. Section 7805(f)
Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Code, this proposed regulation
will be submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small
Business Administration for comment on their impact on small business.
V. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 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. The proposed regulations do 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.
[[Page 99788]]
VI. 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. The proposed regulations do not have
federalism implications and do not impose substantial direct compliance
costs on State and local governments or preempt State law within the
meaning of the Executive order.
Drafting Information
The principal authors of these proposed regulations are Adam G.
Province and Raphael J. Cohen of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel
(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.
Proposed Amendments to the Regulations
Accordingly, the Treasury Department and the IRS propose to amend
26 CFR part 1 as follows:
PART 1--INCOME TAXES
0
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read in
part as follows:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
* * * * *
Section 1.987-2 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 987, 989, and 1502.
* * * * *
Section 1.987-4 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 987 and 989.
* * * * *
Section 1.987-9 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 987, 989, and 6001.
* * * * *
Section 1.987-15 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 987 and 989.
* * * * *
0
Par. 2. Section 1.987-2 is amended by adding paragraph (f) to read as
follows:
Sec. 1.987-2 Attribution of items to eligible QBUs; definition of a
transfer and related rules.
* * * * *
(f) Recurring transfer group election--(1) In general. For a
taxable year in which a current rate election is in effect, the owner
of a section 987 QBU may elect to use the yearly average exchange rate
to translate all assets that are transferred to or from the section 987
QBU in a taxable year as part of a recurring transfer group (a
recurring transfer group election). The rules of this paragraph (f)
apply to all transfers that are part of a recurring transfer group in
any taxable year to which the recurring transfer group election applies
(regardless of whether transfers of the same kind occurred in the first
year to which the election applied).
(2) Recurring transfer group. A recurring transfer group is a group
of frequently recurring transfers made between a section 987 QBU and
its owner (or another eligible QBU of the owner) in a taxable year that
meet the requirements of paragraphs (f)(2)(i) through (iii) of this
section.
(i) Ordinary course transfers. The transfers must be made in the
ordinary course of a trade or business.
(ii) Specified transactions. The transfers must be made as part of
one or more disregarded transactions described in paragraphs
(f)(2)(ii)(A) through (C) of this section between the section 987 QBU
and its owner (or another eligible QBU of the owner), the compensation
for which would satisfy the principles of the arm's length standard
(within the meaning of Sec. 1.482-1(b)) if the section 987 QBU were
treated as a separate corporation. Transfers made in connection with
different disregarded transactions described in paragraphs
(f)(2)(ii)(A) through (C) of this section in the same taxable year are
treated as part of a single recurring transfer group.
(A) Sales of inventory;
(B) Payments for services;
(C) Rents or royalties.
(iii) Distributions and contributions excluded. A transfer is not
included in a recurring transfer group if the transfer (or any portion
of the transfer) would be treated as a distribution with respect to
stock, or an exchange for stock (or a contribution to capital), if the
section 987 QBU were treated as a separate corporation.
(3) Consistency requirement. The determination as to which
transfers are included in a recurring transfer group must be made
consistently from year to year. However, this determination may change
from one year to the next based on changes in the nature and timing of
the relevant transfers.
(4) Effect of recurring transfer group election. Except as provided
in paragraph (f)(6) of this section, in a taxable year in which a
recurring transfer group election is in effect, assets that are
transferred to or from a section 987 QBU in a taxable year as part of a
recurring transfer group (grouped assets) are translated under
paragraph (d) of this section and Sec. Sec. 1.987-4(d)(2) and 1.987-
5(f) by deeming the spot rate applicable on the date of each transfer
to be equal to the yearly average exchange rate for the taxable year.
However, if the Commissioner determines that the use of the yearly
average exchange rate to translate grouped assets in a taxable year
does not clearly reflect income, the Commissioner may require some or
all transfers of the grouped assets to be excluded from the recurring
transfer group or may prescribe the use of a different exchange rate to
translate the grouped assets.
(5) Accounting for a disregarded transfer group in determining
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss for the taxable year--(i) In
general. Except as provided in paragraph (f)(5)(ii) or (f)(6) of this
section, in a taxable year in which a recurring transfer group election
is in effect, transfers of grouped assets are disregarded for purposes
of Sec. 1.987-4(d)(2) and (3) (steps 2 and 3).
(ii) Exception. Paragraph (f)(5)(i) of this section does not apply
to a section 987 QBU in a taxable year in which the owner determines
QBU net value with respect to the section 987 QBU under the steps
provided in Sec. 1.987-4(e)(2)(iii) (alternative formula for
determining QBU net value without preparing an adjusted balance sheet).
(6) Exception for taxable years in which a disproportionate amount
of grouped assets is transferred in one or more quarters of the taxable
year--(i) In general. Paragraphs (f)(4) and (5) of this section do not
apply to a section 987 QBU in a taxable year in which--
(A) More than 50 percent of the total amount of grouped assets
transferred to or from the section 987 QBU during the taxable year is
transferred during one quarter of the taxable year; or
(B) More than 80 percent of the total amount of grouped assets
transferred to or from the section 987 QBU during the taxable year is
transferred during two quarters of the taxable year.
(ii) Amount of grouped assets transferred. For the purpose of
applying paragraph (f)(6)(i) of this section, the amount of grouped
assets transferred to or from a section 987 QBU in a taxable year and
in each quarter of the taxable year is determined in the functional
currency of the section 987 QBU by reference to the aggregate of the
amount of functional currency transferred and the basis of the other
assets transferred (taking into account the total gross amount of both
the transfers from the section 987 QBU to the owner or another eligible
QBU of the owner and
[[Page 99789]]
the transfers from the owner or another eligible QBU of the owner to
the section 987 QBU). For this purpose, amounts transferred from the
owner (or another eligible QBU of the owner) to the section 987 QBU are
translated into the section 987 QBU's functional currency at the yearly
average exchange rate.
(iii) Short taxable year. For purposes of applying this paragraph
(f)(6) in a short taxable year, each quarter comprises a number of days
equal to one fourth of the total number of days in the taxable year. If
a section 987 QBU did not exist for the full taxable year of the owner,
this paragraph (f)(6) is applied with respect to the section 987 QBU by
treating the taxable year as comprising the portion of the taxable year
in which the section 987 QBU existed.
(7) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of
this paragraph (f). For purposes of the examples, DC1 is a domestic
corporation that owns Business A, a section 987 QBU that has the euro
as its functional currency. In year 1, DC1's home office provides
services to Business A in exchange for arm's length cash payments
(within the meaning of Sec. 1.482-1(b)). The payments are made in the
ordinary course of the Business A trade or business. A current rate
election and a recurring transfer group election are in effect for year
1. DC1 does not determine QBU net value with respect to Business A
under the steps provided in Sec. 1.987-4(e)(2)(iii).
(i) Example 1: Transfers treated as part of a recurring transfer
group--(A) Facts. In year 1, Business A made 50 payments for services
to DC1's home office, totaling [euro]30,000x. Of this amount, Business
A paid [euro]5,000x in the first quarter of year 1, [euro]7,500x in the
second quarter of year 1, [euro]10,000x in the third quarter of year 1,
and [euro]7,500x in the fourth quarter of year 1. No other transfers
were made between Business A and DC1 for year 1.
(B) Analysis--(1) Recurring transfer group. Under paragraph (c)(2)
of this section, each payment for services is treated as a transfer of
assets from Business A to DC1. These transfers qualify as a recurring
transfer group under paragraph (f)(2) of this section because they are
frequently recurring payments for services made in the ordinary course
of the Business A trade or business that would satisfy the principles
of the arm's length standard (within the meaning of Sec. 1.482-1(b))
if Business A were treated as a separate corporation. In addition, the
exception in paragraph (f)(6) of this section does not apply because
Business A did not transfer more than 50 percent of the total amount of
grouped assets transferred in year 1 in any one quarter, and Business A
did not transfer more than 80 percent of the total amount of grouped
assets transferred in year 1 in any two quarters.
(2) Effect of recurring transfer group election. Under paragraph
(f)(4) of this section, because Business A's transfers to DC1 comprise
a recurring transfer group, DC1 applies Sec. 1.987-5(f) by deeming the
spot rate applicable on the date of each transfer to be equal to the
yearly average exchange rate for year 1. As a result, DC1 determines
its basis in the euros received from Business A by translating the
total amount of euros transferred in year 1 at the yearly average
exchange rate for year 1. In addition, under paragraph (f)(5) of this
section, the transfers are disregarded for purposes of determining
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss for year 1 under Sec. 1.987-
4(d)(2).
(ii) Example 2: Disproportionate transfers--(A) Facts. The facts
are the same as in paragraph (f)(7)(i) of this section (Example 1),
except that most of the payments are made in the fourth quarter of year
1 to compensate DC1's home office for additional services provided at
the end of year 1. Specifically, of the [euro]30,000 paid by Business A
for services in year 1, [euro]18,000x is transferred in the fourth
quarter of year 1, and [euro]4,000x is transferred in each of the first
three quarters of year 1.
(B) Analysis. The amount of grouped assets transferred in the
fourth quarter ([euro]18,000x) exceeds 50 percent of the total amount
of grouped assets transferred in year 1 ([euro]30,000x). Therefore,
under paragraph (f)(6) of this section, paragraphs (f)(4) and (5) of
this section do not apply. As a result, DC1 determines its basis in the
euros received from Business A by translating each transfer at the
applicable spot rate under Sec. 1.987-5(f), and DC1 must take each
transfer into account for purposes of determining unrecognized section
987 gain or loss for year 1 under Sec. 1.987-4(d)(2).
(iii) Example 3: Determination of the transfers including in a
recurring transfer group over multiple taxable years--(A) Facts. The
facts in year 1 are the same as in paragraph (f)(7)(i) of this section
(Example 1). The recurring transfer group election remains in effect in
years 2 and 3. In year 2, DC1's home office continues to provide
services to Business A in exchange for arm's length cash payments made
in the ordinary course of the Business A trade or business.
Additionally, in year 2, Business A begins to sell Product X inventory
to Business B, an eligible QBU of DC1 that is not a section 987 QBU, in
exchange for arm's length cash payments. In year 3, DC1's home office
no longer provides services to Business A, but Business A continues to
sell Product X inventory to Business B in exchange for arm's length
cash payments. Additionally, in year 3, Business A begins to sell
Product Y inventory to Business B in exchange for arm's length cash
payments. In each of years 1, 2, and 3, the transfers to and from
Business A are made on a frequent basis in the ordinary course of the
Business A trade or business.
(B) Analysis. In year 1, the cash payments for services made by
Business A to DC1's home office are part of a recurring transfer group.
In year 2, the recurring transfer group includes the cash payments for
services made by Business A to DC1's home office, the transfers of
Product X inventory from Business A to Business B, and the cash
payments made by Business B to Business A in connection with the
inventory sales. In year 3, the recurring transfer group includes the
transfers of Product X inventory and Product Y inventory from Business
A to Business B and the cash payments made by Business B to Business A
in connection with the inventory sales. Therefore, in each of years 1,
2, and 3, unless the exception in paragraph (f)(6) of this section
applies, the grouped assets are translated at the yearly average
exchange under paragraph (f)(4) of this section, and the transfers of
the grouped assets are disregarded for purposes of determining
unrecognized section 987 gain or loss under Sec. 1.987-4(d)(2) and
(3).
* * * * *
0
Par 3. Section 1.987-4 is amended by adding paragraph (d)(10)(ii)(D) to
read as follows:
Sec. 1.987-4 Determination of net unrecognized section 987 gain or
loss of a section 987 QBU.
* * * * *
(d) * * *
(10) * * *
(ii) * * *
(D) Recurring transfer group. In order to determine the residual
increase or decrease to net assets under this paragraph (d)(10) in a
taxable year in which transfers of grouped assets are disregarded under
Sec. 1.987-2(f)(5), the transfers of grouped assets are disregarded
for purposes of applying steps 2 and 3 (paragraphs (d)(2) and (3) of
this section) in the functional currency of the section 987 QBU.
* * * * *
[[Page 99790]]
0
Par 4. Section 1.987-9 is amended by revising paragraphs (b)(5) and (6)
to read as follows:
Sec. 1.987-9 Recordkeeping requirements.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(5) The amount of assets and liabilities transferred by the owner
to the section 987 QBU determined in the functional currency of the
owner and the section 987 QBU (to the extent those amounts are taken
into account in applying Sec. 1.987-4 or Sec. 1.987-5).
(6) The amount of assets and liabilities transferred by the section
987 QBU to the owner determined in the functional currency of the owner
and the section 987 QBU (to the extent those amounts are taken into
account in applying Sec. 1.987-4 or Sec. 1.987-5).
* * * * *
0
Par 5. Section 1.987-15 is amended by adding paragraph (e) to read as
follows:
Sec. 1.987-15 Applicability date.
* * * * *
(e) Recurring transfer group election. Sections 1.987-2(f),1.987-
4(d)(10)(ii)(D), and 1.987-9(b)(5) and (6) apply to taxable years
beginning after [DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER].
Douglas W. O'Donnell,
Deputy Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 2024-28371 Filed 12-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P