Department of Treasury August 11, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document contains final regulations under sections 162, 164, and 170 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). First, the final regulations update the regulations under section 162 to reflect current law regarding the application of section 162 to taxpayers that make payments or transfers for business purposes to entities described in section 170(c). Second, the final regulations provide safe harbors under section 162 to provide certainty with respect to the treatment of payments made by business entities to entities described in section 170(c). Third, the final regulations provide a safe harbor under section 164 for payments made to an entity described in section 170(c) by individuals who itemize deductions and receive or expect to receive a State or local tax credit in return. Fourth, the final regulations update the regulations under section 170 to reflect past guidance and case law regarding the application of the quid pro quo principle under section 170 to a donor who receives or expects to receive benefits from a third party. These regulations affect taxpayers who make transfers to entities described in section 170(c) for business purposes, and taxpayers who receive State or local tax credits in exchange for transfers to such entities or who receive other third-party benefits in exchange for transfers to such entities.