80_FR_52105 80 FR 51939 - Allocation of W-2 Wages in a Short Taxable Year and in an Acquisition or Disposition

80 FR 51939 - Allocation of W-2 Wages in a Short Taxable Year and in an Acquisition or Disposition

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 166 (August 27, 2015)

Page Range51939-51941
FR Document2015-20770

This document contains final and temporary regulations relating to the allocation of W-2 wages for purposes of the W-2 wage limitation on the amount of a taxpayer's deduction related to domestic production activities. Specifically, the temporary regulations provide guidance on: the allocation of W-2 wages paid by two or more taxpayers that are employers of the same employees during a calendar year; and the determination of W-2 wages if the taxpayer has a short taxable year. The text of the temporary regulations also serves as the text of the proposed regulations set forth in the notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-136459-09) on this subject in the Proposed Rules section in this issue of the Federal Register.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 166 (Thursday, August 27, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51939-51941]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20770]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[TD 9731]
RIN 1545-BM11


Allocation of W-2 Wages in a Short Taxable Year and in an 
Acquisition or Disposition

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Final and temporary regulations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document contains final and temporary regulations 
relating to the allocation of W-2 wages for purposes of the W-2 wage 
limitation on the amount of a taxpayer's deduction related to domestic 
production activities. Specifically, the temporary regulations provide 
guidance on: the allocation of W-2 wages paid by two or more taxpayers 
that are employers of the same employees during a calendar year; and 
the determination of W-2 wages if the taxpayer has a short taxable 
year. The text of the temporary regulations

[[Page 51940]]

also serves as the text of the proposed regulations set forth in the 
notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-136459-09) on this subject in the 
Proposed Rules section in this issue of the Federal Register.

DATES: Effective Date: These regulations are effective on August 27, 
2015.
    Applicability Date: For dates of applicability, see Sec.  1.199-
8T(i)(10).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James A. Holmes 202-317-4137 (not a 
toll free call).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    This document contains amendments to the Income Tax Regulations (26 
CFR part 1) under section 199(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). 
Section 199(b) was enacted by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 
(Pub. L. 108-357, 118 Stat. 1418 (2004)). Subsequent amendments to 
section 199(b) were made by the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 (Pub. 
L. 109-135, 119 Stat. 25 (2005)), the Tax Increase Prevention and 
Reconciliation Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-222, 120 Stat. 345 (2005)), the 
Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 
110-343, 122 Stat 3765 (2008)), and the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 
2014 (Pub. L. 113-295, 128 Stat. 4010 (2014)).
    Under section 199(b)(1), the amount of the deduction allowable 
under section 199(a) for any taxable year shall not exceed 50 percent 
of the W-2 wages of the taxpayer for the taxable year. Section 
199(b)(2)(A) generally defines W-2 wages, with respect to any person 
for any taxable year of such person, as the sum of amounts described in 
section 6051(a)(3) and (8) paid by such person with respect to 
employment of employees by such person during the calendar year ending 
during such taxable year. Section 199(b)(3), after its amendment by 
section 219(b) of the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, provides 
that the Secretary shall provide for the application of section 199(b) 
in cases of a short taxable year or where the taxpayer acquires, or 
disposes of, the major portion of a trade or business, or the major 
portion of a separate unit of a trade or business during the taxable 
year. Section 219(d) of the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 
provides that the amendments made by section 219 shall take effect as 
if included in the provision of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 
to which they relate. Section 1.199-2(c) provides the current rule for 
acquisitions and dispositions.
    Section 1.199-2(c) currently provides that if a taxpayer (a 
successor) acquires a trade or business, the major portion of a trade 
or business, or the major portion of a separate unit of a trade or 
business from another taxpayer (a predecessor), then, for purposes of 
computing the respective section 199 deduction of the successor and of 
the predecessor, the W-2 wages paid for that calendar year shall be 
allocated between the successor and the predecessor based on whether 
the wages are for employment by the successor or for employment by the 
predecessor. Thus, the W-2 wages are allocated based on whether the 
wages are for employment for a period during which the employee was 
employed by the predecessor or for employment for a period during which 
the employee was employed by the successor. The W-2 wage allocation 
under the current regulations is made regardless of which permissible 
method is used by a predecessor or a successor for reporting wages on 
Form W-2, as provided in Rev. Proc. 2004-53 (2004-2 CB 320) (see Sec.  
601.601(d)(2) of this chapter). Section 1.199-2(e)(1) provides that 
under section 199(b)(2), the term W-2 wages means, with respect to any 
person for any taxable year of such person, the sum of the amounts 
described in section 6051(a)(3) and (8) paid by such person with 
respect to employment of employees by such person during the calendar 
year ending during such taxable year.
    Rev. Proc. 2006-47 (2006-2 CB 869) (see Sec.  601.601(d)(2)) is the 
currently effective guidance providing methods of calculating W-2 wages 
and related rules for purposes of section 199(b). Section 6.02(A) of 
Rev. Proc. 2006-47 provides that the amount of W-2 wages for a taxpayer 
with a short taxable year includes only those wages subject to Federal 
income tax withholding that are reported on Form W-2, ``Wage and Tax 
Statement,'' for the calendar year ending with or within that short 
taxable year.
    In certain situations, a short taxable year may not include a 
calendar year ending within such short taxable year. Section 1.199-2(c) 
of the current regulations does not address these situations and does 
not reflect the amendment made by the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 
2014. In order to provide guidance on the application of section 
199(b)(3) to a short taxable year that does not include a calendar year 
ending within the short taxable year, the IRS and the Treasury 
Department are revising the regulations to address these situations. To 
provide immediate effect, the IRS and the Treasury Department are 
issuing these regulations as temporary regulations. These temporary 
regulations apply solely for purposes of section 199.

Explanation of Provisions

    The final regulations issued in connection with these temporary 
regulations remove the current language of Sec.  1.199-2(c) and replace 
it with a cross reference to these temporary regulations. In the place 
of the current language, these temporary regulations provide rules for 
calculating W-2 wages for purposes of the W-2 wage limitation in the 
case of an acquisition or disposition of a trade or business, the major 
portion of a trade or business, the major portion of a separate unit of 
a trade or business during the taxable year, or a short taxable year. 
Specifically, these temporary regulations provide a rule for 
acquisitions and dispositions if one or more taxpayers may be 
considered the employer of the employees of the acquired or disposed of 
trade or business during that calendar year. In that case, the 
temporary regulations provide that the W-2 wages paid during the 
calendar year to employees of the acquired or disposed of trade or 
business are allocated between each taxpayer based on the period during 
which the employees of the acquired or disposed of trade or business 
were employed by the taxpayer.
    These temporary regulations also provide a rule to apply in the 
case of a short taxable year in which there is no calendar year ending 
within such short taxable year (short-taxable-year rule). Wages paid by 
a taxpayer during the short taxable year to employees for employment by 
such taxpayer are treated as W-2 wages for such short taxable year for 
purposes of section 199(b)(1).
    These temporary regulations also describe types of transactions 
that are considered either an acquisition or disposition for purposes 
of section 199(b)(3). Specifically, these temporary regulations provide 
that an acquisition or disposition includes an incorporation, a 
formation, a liquidation, a reorganization, or a purchase or sale of 
assets.
    These regulations also contain cross references to Sec.  1.199-
2(a), (b), (d), and (e). The IRS and the Treasury Department observe 
that these rules continue to apply to taxpayers that use these 
temporary regulations. For example, the non-duplication rule of Sec.  
1.199-2(d) applies such that a taxpayer that includes wages as W-2 
wages based on these temporary regulations, including by filing an 
amended return for a short taxable year, may not treat those wages as 
W-2 wages for any other taxable year. Also, wages qualifying as W-2 
wages of one taxpayer

[[Page 51941]]

based on these temporary regulations cannot be treated as W-2 wages of 
another taxpayer.
    The temporary regulations are applicable for taxable years 
beginning on or after August 27, 2015 and expire on August 24, 2018. A 
taxpayer may apply Sec.  1.199-2T(c) to taxable years for which the 
limitations for assessment of tax has not expired beginning before 
August 27, 2015.

Special Analyses

    Certain IRS regulations, including this one, are exempt from the 
requirements of Executive Order 12866 of, as supplemented and 
reaffirmed by Executive Order 13563. Therefore, a regulatory assessment 
is not required. It also has been determined that section 533(b) of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to 
these regulations. For the applicability of the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) refer to the Special Analyses section of the 
preamble to the cross-reference notice of proposed rulemaking published 
in the Proposed Rules section in this issue of the Federal Register. 
Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Code, these regulations have been 
submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration for comment on their impact on small business.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of these regulations is James A. Holmes, 
Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Passthroughs and Special 
Industries). However, other personnel from the IRS and Treasury 
Department participated in their development.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

    Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Adoption of Amendment to the Regulations

    Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is amended as follows:

PART 1--INCOME TAXES

    Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by adding 
entries in numerical order to read in part as follows:

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

    Section 1.199-2T also issued under 26 U.S.C. 199(b)(3).
* * * * *
    Par. 2. Section 1.199-0 is amended by revising the entry for Sec.  
1.199-2(c) and adding entries for Sec. Sec.  1.199-2(c)(1), (c)(2), and 
(c)(3), and 1.199-8(i)(10) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.199-0  Table of contents.

* * * * *


Sec.  1.199-2  Wage limitation.

* * * * *
    (c) Acquisitions, dispositions, and short taxable years.
    (1) Allocation of wages between more than one taxpayer.
    (2) Short taxable years.
    (3) Operating rules.
    (i) Acquisition or disposition.
    (ii) Trade or business.
* * * * *


Sec.  1.199-8  Other rules.

* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (10) Acquisitions, dispositions, and short taxable years.
* * * * *
    Par. 3. Section 1.199-2 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  1.199-2  Wage limitation.

* * * * *
    (c) [Reserved]. For further guidance see Sec.  1.199-2T(c).
* * * * *
    Par. 4. Section 1.199-2T is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.199-2T  Wage limitation (temporary).

    (a) through (b) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.199-
2(a) through (b).
    (c) Acquisitions, dispositions, and short taxable years--(1) 
Allocation of wages between more than one taxpayer. For purposes of 
computing the section 199 deduction of a taxpayer, in the case of an 
acquisition or disposition (as defined in paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this 
section) of a trade or business (as defined in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of 
this section) that causes more than one taxpayer to be an employer of 
the employees of the acquired or disposed of trade or business during 
the calendar year, the W-2 wages of the taxpayer for the calendar year 
of the acquisition or disposition are allocated between each taxpayer 
based on the period during which the employees of the acquired or 
disposed of trade or business were employed by the taxpayer, regardless 
of which permissible method is used for reporting W-2 wages on Form W-
2, ``Wage and Tax Statement.'' For this purpose, the period of 
employment is determined consistently with the principles for 
determining whether an individual is an employee described in Sec.  
1.199-2(a)(1).
    (2) Short taxable years. If a taxpayer has a short taxable year 
that does not contain a calendar year ending during such short taxable 
year, wages paid to employees for employment by such taxpayer during 
the short taxable year are treated as W-2 wages for such short taxable 
year for purposes of Sec.  1.199-2(a)(1) (if the wages would otherwise 
meet the requirements to be W-2 wages under Sec.  1.199-2 but for the 
requirement that a calendar year must end during the short taxable 
year).
    (3) Operating rules--(i) Acquisition or disposition. For purposes 
of this paragraph (c), the term acquisition or disposition includes an 
incorporation, a formation, a liquidation, a reorganization, or a 
purchase or sale of assets.
    (ii) Trade or business. For purposes of this paragraph (c), the 
term trade or business includes a trade or business, the major portion 
of a trade or business, or the major portion of a separate unit of a 
trade or business.
    (iii) Application to section 199 only. The provisions of this 
section apply solely for purposes of section 199 of the Internal 
Revenue Code.
    (d) through (e) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.199-
2(d) through (e).
    Par. 5. Section 1.199-8 is amended by adding paragraph (i)(10) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  1.199-8  Other rules.

* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (10) Acquisitions, dispositions, and short taxable years. 
[Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.199-8T(i)(10).
    Par. 6. Section 1.199-8T is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.199-8T  Other rules (temporary).

    (a) through (h) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.199-
8(a) through (h).
    (i) Effective/applicability dates. (1) through (9) [Reserved]. For 
further guidance, see Sec.  1.199-8(i)(1) through (9).
    (10) Acquisitions, dispositions, and short taxable years. Section 
1.199-2T(c) is applicable for taxable years beginning on or after 
August 27, 2015. A taxpayer may apply Sec.  1.199-2T(c) to taxable 
years for which the limitations for assessment of tax has not expired 
beginning before August 27, 2015.
    (11) Expiration date. The applicability of Sec.  1.199-2T(c) 
expires on August 24, 2018.

 John M. Dalrymple,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
    Approved: May 29, 2015.
Mark J. Mazur,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax Policy).
[FR Doc. 2015-20770 Filed 8-26-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4830-01-P



                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                                      51939

                                                                                    TABLE 1—IDENTIFIED RISKS AND REQUIRED MITIGATIONS—Continued
                                                                                 Identified risks                                                                     Required mitigations

                                                                                                                                                Labeling.
                                             A false negative test result for an individual may lead to a potential                         The FDA document entitled ‘‘Class II Special Controls Guideline: Toxin
                                               delay in treatment.                                                                            Gene Amplification Assays for the Detection of Clostridium difficile,’’
                                                                                                                                              which addresses this risk through:
                                                                                                                                                Specific Device Description Requirements.
                                                                                                                                                Performance Studies.
                                                                                                                                                Labeling.
                                             Failure of the test to be used or perform properly ...................................         The FDA document entitled ‘‘Class II Special Controls Guideline: Toxin
                                                                                                                                              Gene Amplification Assays for the Detection of Clostridium difficile,’’
                                                                                                                                              which addresses this risk through:
                                                                                                                                                Labeling.
                                             Failure to properly interpret the test results .............................................   The FDA document entitled ‘‘Class II Special Controls Guideline: Toxin
                                                                                                                                              Gene Amplification Assays for the Detection of Clostridium difficile,’’
                                                                                                                                              which addresses this risk through:
                                                                                                                                                Labeling.



                                                FDA believes that the measures set                          Office of Management and Budget                            (b) Classification. Class II (special
                                             forth in the special controls guideline                        (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction                      controls). The special controls are set
                                             entitled ‘‘Class II Special Controls                           Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520). The                   forth in FDA’s guideline document
                                             Guideline: Toxin Gene Amplification                            collections of information in part 807,                  entitled: ‘‘Class II Special Controls
                                             Assays for the Detection of Clostridium                        subpart E, regarding premarket                           Guideline: Toxin Gene Amplification
                                             difficile’’ are necessary, in addition to                      notification submissions have been                       Assays for the Detection of Clostridium
                                             general controls, to mitigate the risks to                     approved under OMB control number                        difficile; Guideline for Industry and
                                             health described in table 1.                                   0910–0120; the collections of                            Food and Drug Administration Staff.’’
                                                A C. difficile toxin gene amplification                     information in 21 CFR part 820 have                      See § 866.1(e) for information on
                                             assay is a prescription device. Section                        been approved under OMB control                          obtaining this document.
                                             510(m) of the FD&C Act provides that                           number 0910–0073; and the collections                      Dated: August 21, 2015.
                                             FDA may exempt a class II device from                          of information in 21 CFR parts 801 and                   Leslie Kux,
                                             the premarket notification requirements                        809 have been approved under OMB
                                                                                                                                                                     Associate Commissioner for Policy.
                                             under section 510(k) if FDA determines                         control number 0910–0485.
                                             that premarket notification is not                                                                                      [FR Doc. 2015–21237 Filed 8–26–15; 8:45 am]
                                             necessary to provide reasonable                                List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 866                      BILLING CODE 4164–01–P

                                             assurance of the safety and effectiveness                        Biologics, Laboratories, Medical
                                             of the device. For this type of device,                        devices.
                                             FDA has determined that premarket                                                                                       DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
                                                                                                              Therefore, under the Federal Food,
                                             notification is necessary to provide
                                                                                                            Drug, and Cosmetic Act and under                         Internal Revenue Service
                                             reasonable assurance of the safety and
                                                                                                            authority delegated to the Commissioner
                                             effectiveness of the device. Therefore,
                                                                                                            of Food and Drugs, 21 CFR part 866 is                    26 CFR Part 1
                                             this type of device is not exempt from
                                                                                                            amended as follows:
                                             premarket notification requirements.                                                                                    [TD 9731]
                                             Persons who intend to market this type                         PART 866—IMMUNOLOGY AND                                  RIN 1545–BM11
                                             of device must submit to FDA a                                 MICROBIOLOGY DEVICES
                                             premarket notification, prior to                                                                                        Allocation of W–2 Wages in a Short
                                             marketing the device, which contains                           ■ 1. The authority citation for 21 CFR                   Taxable Year and in an Acquisition or
                                             information about the C. difficile toxin                       part 866 continues to read as follows:                   Disposition
                                             gene amplification assay they intend to
                                                                                                              Authority: 21 U.S.C. 351, 360, 360c, 360e,             AGENCY:  Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
                                             market.                                                        360j, 371.
                                                                                                                                                                     Treasury.
                                             II. Environmental Impact                                       ■ 2. Add § 866.3130 to subpart D to read                 ACTION: Final and temporary
                                                The Agency has determined under 21                          as follows:                                              regulations.
                                             CFR 25.34(b) that this action is of type
                                             that does not individually or                                  § 866.3130 Clostridium difficile toxin gene              SUMMARY:    This document contains final
                                                                                                            amplification assay.                                     and temporary regulations relating to
                                             cumulatively have a significant effect on
                                             the human environment. Therefore,                                 (a) Identification. A Clostridium                     the allocation of W–2 wages for
                                             neither an environmental assessment                            difficile toxin gene amplification assay                 purposes of the W–2 wage limitation on
                                             nor an environmental impact statement                          is a device that consists of reagents for                the amount of a taxpayer’s deduction
                                             is required.                                                   the amplification and detection of target                related to domestic production
                                                                                                            sequences in Clostridium difficile toxin                 activities. Specifically, the temporary
                                             III. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                           genes in fecal specimens from patients                   regulations provide guidance on: the
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                                                This final administrative order                             suspected of having Clostridium difficile                allocation of W–2 wages paid by two or
                                             establishes special controls that refer to                     infection (CDI). The detection of                        more taxpayers that are employers of the
                                             previously approved collections of                             clostridial toxin genes, in conjunction                  same employees during a calendar year;
                                             information found in other FDA                                 with other laboratory tests, aids in the                 and the determination of W–2 wages if
                                             regulations. These collections of                              clinical laboratory diagnosis of CDI                     the taxpayer has a short taxable year.
                                             information are subject to review by the                       caused by Clostridium difficile.                         The text of the temporary regulations


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                                             51940            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                             also serves as the text of the proposed                 a trade or business, or the major portion             Explanation of Provisions
                                             regulations set forth in the notice of                  of a separate unit of a trade or business                The final regulations issued in
                                             proposed rulemaking (REG–136459–09)                     from another taxpayer (a predecessor),                connection with these temporary
                                             on this subject in the Proposed Rules                   then, for purposes of computing the                   regulations remove the current language
                                             section in this issue of the Federal                    respective section 199 deduction of the               of § 1.199–2(c) and replace it with a
                                             Register.                                               successor and of the predecessor, the                 cross reference to these temporary
                                             DATES: Effective Date: These regulations                W–2 wages paid for that calendar year                 regulations. In the place of the current
                                             are effective on August 27, 2015.                       shall be allocated between the successor              language, these temporary regulations
                                               Applicability Date: For dates of                      and the predecessor based on whether                  provide rules for calculating W–2 wages
                                             applicability, see § 1.199–8T(i)(10).                   the wages are for employment by the                   for purposes of the W–2 wage limitation
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                     successor or for employment by the                    in the case of an acquisition or
                                             James A. Holmes 202–317–4137 (not a                     predecessor. Thus, the W–2 wages are                  disposition of a trade or business, the
                                             toll free call).                                        allocated based on whether the wages                  major portion of a trade or business, the
                                                                                                     are for employment for a period during                major portion of a separate unit of a
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                     which the employee was employed by                    trade or business during the taxable
                                             Background                                              the predecessor or for employment for a               year, or a short taxable year.
                                                This document contains amendments                    period during which the employee was                  Specifically, these temporary
                                             to the Income Tax Regulations (26 CFR                   employed by the successor. The W–2                    regulations provide a rule for
                                             part 1) under section 199(b) of the                     wage allocation under the current                     acquisitions and dispositions if one or
                                             Internal Revenue Code (Code). Section                   regulations is made regardless of which               more taxpayers may be considered the
                                             199(b) was enacted by the American                      permissible method is used by a                       employer of the employees of the
                                             Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108–                 predecessor or a successor for reporting              acquired or disposed of trade or
                                             357, 118 Stat. 1418 (2004)). Subsequent                 wages on Form W–2, as provided in                     business during that calendar year. In
                                             amendments to section 199(b) were                       Rev. Proc. 2004–53 (2004–2 CB 320) (see               that case, the temporary regulations
                                             made by the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act                   § 601.601(d)(2) of this chapter). Section             provide that the W–2 wages paid during
                                             of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–135, 119 Stat. 25                  1.199–2(e)(1) provides that under                     the calendar year to employees of the
                                             (2005)), the Tax Increase Prevention and                section 199(b)(2), the term W–2 wages                 acquired or disposed of trade or
                                             Reconciliation Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–                means, with respect to any person for                 business are allocated between each
                                             222, 120 Stat. 345 (2005)), the Tax                     any taxable year of such person, the sum              taxpayer based on the period during
                                             Extenders and Alternative Minimum                       of the amounts described in section                   which the employees of the acquired or
                                             Tax Relief Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110–343,                6051(a)(3) and (8) paid by such person                disposed of trade or business were
                                             122 Stat 3765 (2008)), and the Tax                      with respect to employment of                         employed by the taxpayer.
                                             Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (Pub. L.                employees by such person during the                      These temporary regulations also
                                             113–295, 128 Stat. 4010 (2014)).                        calendar year ending during such                      provide a rule to apply in the case of a
                                                Under section 199(b)(1), the amount                  taxable year.                                         short taxable year in which there is no
                                             of the deduction allowable under                           Rev. Proc. 2006–47 (2006–2 CB 869)                 calendar year ending within such short
                                             section 199(a) for any taxable year shall               (see § 601.601(d)(2)) is the currently                taxable year (short-taxable-year rule).
                                             not exceed 50 percent of the W–2 wages                  effective guidance providing methods of               Wages paid by a taxpayer during the
                                             of the taxpayer for the taxable year.                   calculating W–2 wages and related rules               short taxable year to employees for
                                             Section 199(b)(2)(A) generally defines                  for purposes of section 199(b). Section               employment by such taxpayer are
                                             W–2 wages, with respect to any person                   6.02(A) of Rev. Proc. 2006–47 provides                treated as W–2 wages for such short
                                             for any taxable year of such person, as                 that the amount of W–2 wages for a                    taxable year for purposes of section
                                             the sum of amounts described in section                 taxpayer with a short taxable year                    199(b)(1).
                                             6051(a)(3) and (8) paid by such person                  includes only those wages subject to                     These temporary regulations also
                                             with respect to employment of                           Federal income tax withholding that are               describe types of transactions that are
                                             employees by such person during the                     reported on Form W–2, ‘‘Wage and Tax                  considered either an acquisition or
                                             calendar year ending during such                        Statement,’’ for the calendar year ending             disposition for purposes of section
                                             taxable year. Section 199(b)(3), after its              with or within that short taxable year.               199(b)(3). Specifically, these temporary
                                             amendment by section 219(b) of the Tax                     In certain situations, a short taxable             regulations provide that an acquisition
                                             Increase Prevention Act of 2014,                        year may not include a calendar year                  or disposition includes an
                                             provides that the Secretary shall provide               ending within such short taxable year.                incorporation, a formation, a
                                             for the application of section 199(b) in                Section 1.199–2(c) of the current                     liquidation, a reorganization, or a
                                             cases of a short taxable year or where                  regulations does not address these                    purchase or sale of assets.
                                             the taxpayer acquires, or disposes of, the              situations and does not reflect the                      These regulations also contain cross
                                             major portion of a trade or business, or                amendment made by the Tax Increase                    references to § 1.199–2(a), (b), (d), and
                                             the major portion of a separate unit of                 Prevention Act of 2014. In order to                   (e). The IRS and the Treasury
                                             a trade or business during the taxable                  provide guidance on the application of                Department observe that these rules
                                             year. Section 219(d) of the Tax Increase                section 199(b)(3) to a short taxable year             continue to apply to taxpayers that use
                                             Prevention Act of 2014 provides that the                that does not include a calendar year                 these temporary regulations. For
                                             amendments made by section 219 shall                    ending within the short taxable year, the             example, the non-duplication rule of
                                             take effect as if included in the                       IRS and the Treasury Department are                   § 1.199–2(d) applies such that a
                                                                                                     revising the regulations to address these             taxpayer that includes wages as W–2
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                                             provision of the American Jobs Creation
                                             Act of 2004 to which they relate.                       situations. To provide immediate effect,              wages based on these temporary
                                             Section 1.199–2(c) provides the current                 the IRS and the Treasury Department                   regulations, including by filing an
                                             rule for acquisitions and dispositions.                 are issuing these regulations as                      amended return for a short taxable year,
                                                Section 1.199–2(c) currently provides                temporary regulations. These temporary                may not treat those wages as W–2 wages
                                             that if a taxpayer (a successor) acquires               regulations apply solely for purposes of              for any other taxable year. Also, wages
                                             a trade or business, the major portion of               section 199.                                          qualifying as W–2 wages of one taxpayer


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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                              51941

                                             based on these temporary regulations                    § 1.199–0    Table of contents.                       are treated as W–2 wages for such short
                                             cannot be treated as W–2 wages of                       *      *      *      *       *                        taxable year for purposes of § 1.199–
                                             another taxpayer.                                                                                             2(a)(1) (if the wages would otherwise
                                               The temporary regulations are                         § 1.199–2    Wage limitation.                         meet the requirements to be W–2 wages
                                             applicable for taxable years beginning                  *      *    *    *     *                              under § 1.199–2 but for the requirement
                                             on or after August 27, 2015 and expire                    (c) Acquisitions, dispositions, and                 that a calendar year must end during the
                                             on August 24, 2018. A taxpayer may                      short taxable years.                                  short taxable year).
                                             apply § 1.199–2T(c) to taxable years for                  (1) Allocation of wages between more                  (3) Operating rules—(i) Acquisition or
                                             which the limitations for assessment of                 than one taxpayer.                                    disposition. For purposes of this
                                             tax has not expired beginning before                      (2) Short taxable years.
                                                                                                                                                           paragraph (c), the term acquisition or
                                             August 27, 2015.                                          (3) Operating rules.
                                                                                                       (i) Acquisition or disposition.                     disposition includes an incorporation, a
                                             Special Analyses                                          (ii) Trade or business.                             formation, a liquidation, a
                                                                                                                                                           reorganization, or a purchase or sale of
                                               Certain IRS regulations, including this               *      *    *    *     *                              assets.
                                             one, are exempt from the requirements
                                             of Executive Order 12866 of, as                         § 1.199–8    Other rules.                               (ii) Trade or business. For purposes of
                                             supplemented and reaffirmed by                          *     *     *    *     *                              this paragraph (c), the term trade or
                                             Executive Order 13563. Therefore, a                       (i) * * *                                           business includes a trade or business,
                                             regulatory assessment is not required. It                 (10) Acquisitions, dispositions, and                the major portion of a trade or business,
                                             also has been determined that section                   short taxable years.                                  or the major portion of a separate unit
                                             533(b) of the Administrative Procedure                  *     *     *    *     *                              of a trade or business.
                                             Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply                   Par. 3. Section 1.199–2 is amended by                 (iii) Application to section 199 only.
                                             to these regulations. For the                           revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:            The provisions of this section apply
                                             applicability of the Regulatory                                                                               solely for purposes of section 199 of the
                                                                                                     § 1.199–2    Wage limitation.
                                             Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) refer                                                                    Internal Revenue Code.
                                             to the Special Analyses section of the                  *     *     *    *     *
                                                                                                                                                             (d) through (e) [Reserved]. For further
                                             preamble to the cross-reference notice of                 (c) [Reserved]. For further guidance
                                                                                                                                                           guidance, see § 1.199–2(d) through (e).
                                             proposed rulemaking published in the                    see § 1.199–2T(c).
                                                                                                                                                             Par. 5. Section 1.199–8 is amended by
                                             Proposed Rules section in this issue of                 *     *     *    *     *
                                                                                                       Par. 4. Section 1.199–2T is added to                adding paragraph (i)(10) to read as
                                             the Federal Register. Pursuant to                                                                             follows:
                                             section 7805(f) of the Code, these                      read as follows:
                                             regulations have been submitted to the                  § 1.199–2T    Wage limitation (temporary).
                                                                                                                                                           § 1.199–8    Other rules.
                                             Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small                                                                       *     *     *    *     *
                                             Business Administration for comment                       (a) through (b) [Reserved]. For further
                                                                                                     guidance, see § 1.199–2(a) through (b).                 (i) * * *
                                             on their impact on small business.
                                                                                                       (c) Acquisitions, dispositions, and                   (10) Acquisitions, dispositions, and
                                             Drafting Information                                    short taxable years—(1) Allocation of                 short taxable years. [Reserved]. For
                                               The principal author of these                         wages between more than one taxpayer.                 further guidance, see § 1.199–8T(i)(10).
                                             regulations is James A. Holmes, Office                  For purposes of computing the section                   Par. 6. Section 1.199–8T is added to
                                             of Associate Chief Counsel                              199 deduction of a taxpayer, in the case              read as follows:
                                             (Passthroughs and Special Industries).                  of an acquisition or disposition (as
                                             However, other personnel from the IRS                   defined in paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this                § 1.199–8T    Other rules (temporary).
                                             and Treasury Department participated                    section) of a trade or business (as                      (a) through (h) [Reserved]. For further
                                             in their development.                                   defined in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this               guidance, see § 1.199–8(a) through (h).
                                                                                                     section) that causes more than one
                                             List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1                       taxpayer to be an employer of the                        (i) Effective/applicability dates. (1)
                                                                                                     employees of the acquired or disposed                 through (9) [Reserved]. For further
                                               Income taxes, Reporting and
                                                                                                     of trade or business during the calendar              guidance, see § 1.199–8(i)(1) through (9).
                                             recordkeeping requirements.
                                                                                                     year, the W–2 wages of the taxpayer for                  (10) Acquisitions, dispositions, and
                                             Adoption of Amendment to the                            the calendar year of the acquisition or               short taxable years. Section 1.199–2T(c)
                                             Regulations                                             disposition are allocated between each                is applicable for taxable years beginning
                                               Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is                         taxpayer based on the period during                   on or after August 27, 2015. A taxpayer
                                             amended as follows:                                     which the employees of the acquired or                may apply § 1.199–2T(c) to taxable years
                                                                                                     disposed of trade or business were                    for which the limitations for assessment
                                             PART 1—INCOME TAXES                                     employed by the taxpayer, regardless of               of tax has not expired beginning before
                                                                                                     which permissible method is used for                  August 27, 2015.
                                               Paragraph 1. The authority citation
                                             for part 1 is amended by adding entries                 reporting W–2 wages on Form W–2,                         (11) Expiration date. The applicability
                                             in numerical order to read in part as                   ‘‘Wage and Tax Statement.’’ For this                  of § 1.199–2T(c) expires on August 24,
                                             follows:                                                purpose, the period of employment is                  2018.
                                                                                                     determined consistently with the
                                                 Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *                                                                           John M. Dalrymple,
                                                                                                     principles for determining whether an
                                               Section 1.199–2T also issued under 26                 individual is an employee described in                Deputy Commissioner for Services and
                                             U.S.C. 199(b)(3).                                                                                             Enforcement.
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                                                                                                     § 1.199–2(a)(1).
                                             *      *    *      *    *                                 (2) Short taxable years. If a taxpayer                Approved: May 29, 2015.
                                                Par. 2. Section 1.199–0 is amended by                has a short taxable year that does not                Mark J. Mazur,
                                             revising the entry for § 1.199–2(c) and                 contain a calendar year ending during                 Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax
                                             adding entries for §§ 1.199–2(c)(1),                    such short taxable year, wages paid to                Policy).
                                             (c)(2), and (c)(3), and 1.199–8(i)(10) to               employees for employment by such                      [FR Doc. 2015–20770 Filed 8–26–15; 8:45 am]
                                             read as follows:                                        taxpayer during the short taxable year                BILLING CODE 4830–01–P




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Document Created: 2015-12-15 10:52:57
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 10:52:57
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal and temporary regulations.
ContactJames A. Holmes 202-317-4137 (not a toll free call).
FR Citation80 FR 51939 
RIN Number1545-BM11
CFR AssociatedIncome Taxes and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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