80_FR_52144 80 FR 51978 - Amendments to Domestic Production Activities Deduction Regulations; Allocation of W-2 Wages in a Short Taxable Year and in an Acquisition or Disposition

80 FR 51978 - Amendments to Domestic Production Activities Deduction Regulations; 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 Range51978-51990
FR Document2015-20772

This document contains proposed regulations involving the domestic production activities deduction under section 199 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). The proposed regulations provide guidance to taxpayers on the amendments made to section 199 by the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 and the Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008, involving oil related qualified production activities income and qualified films, and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, involving activities in Puerto Rico. The proposed regulations also provide guidance on: Determining domestic production gross receipts; the terms manufactured, produced, grown, or extracted; contract manufacturing; hedging transactions; construction activities; allocating cost of goods sold; and agricultural and horticultural cooperatives. In the Rules and Regulations of this issue of the Federal Register, the Treasury Department and the IRS also are issuing temporary regulations (TD 9731) clarifying how taxpayers calculate W-2 wages for purposes of the W-2 wage limitation in the case of a short taxable year or an acquisition or disposition of a trade or business (including 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. This document also contains a notice of a public hearing on the proposed regulations.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 166 (Thursday, August 27, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51978-51990]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20772]



[[Page 51978]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[REG-136459-09]
RIN 1545-BI90


Amendments to Domestic Production Activities Deduction 
Regulations; Allocation of W-2 Wages in a Short Taxable Year and in an 
Acquisition or Disposition

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking, notice of proposed rulemaking by 
cross reference to temporary regulations and notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: This document contains proposed regulations involving the 
domestic production activities deduction under section 199 of the 
Internal Revenue Code (Code). The proposed regulations provide guidance 
to taxpayers on the amendments made to section 199 by the Energy 
Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 and the Tax Extenders and 
Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008, involving oil related 
qualified production activities income and qualified films, and the 
American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, involving activities in Puerto 
Rico. The proposed regulations also provide guidance on: Determining 
domestic production gross receipts; the terms manufactured, produced, 
grown, or extracted; contract manufacturing; hedging transactions; 
construction activities; allocating cost of goods sold; and 
agricultural and horticultural cooperatives. In the Rules and 
Regulations of this issue of the Federal Register, the Treasury 
Department and the IRS also are issuing temporary regulations (TD 9731) 
clarifying how taxpayers calculate W-2 wages for purposes of the W-2 
wage limitation in the case of a short taxable year or an acquisition 
or disposition of a trade or business (including 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. This document also contains a 
notice of a public hearing on the proposed regulations.

DATES: Written or electronic comments must be received by November 25, 
2015. Outlines of topics to be discussed at the public hearing 
scheduled for December 16, 2015, at 10:00 a.m., must be received by 
November 25, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send submissions to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-136459-09), Room 
5203, Internal Revenue Service, P.O. Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station, 
Washington, DC 20044. Submissions may be hand-delivered Monday through 
Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-
136459-09), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC, or sent electronically, via the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (IRS REG-136459-09). 
The public hearing will be held in the Auditorium of the Internal 
Revenue Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning Sec. Sec.  1.199-1(f), 
1.199-2(c), 1.199-2(e), 1.199-2(f), 1.199-3(b), 1.199-3(e), 1.199-3(h), 
1.199-3(k), 1.199-3(m), 1.199-6(m), and 1.199-8(i) of the proposed 
regulations, James Holmes, (202) 317-4137; concerning Sec.  1.199-4(b) 
of the proposed regulations, Natasha Mulleneaux (202) 317-7007; 
concerning submissions of comments, the hearing, or to be placed on the 
building access list to attend the hearing, Regina Johnson, at (202) 
317-6901 (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    This document contains proposed amendments to Sec. Sec.  1.199-0, 
1.199-1, 1.199-2, 1.199-3, 1.199-4(b), 1.199-6, and 1.199-8(i) of the 
Income Tax Regulations (26 CFR part 1). Section 1.199-1 relates to 
income that is attributable to domestic production activities. Section 
1.199-2 relates to W-2 wages as defined in section 199(b). Section 
1.199-3 relates to determining domestic production gross receipts 
(DPGR). Section 1.199-4(b) describes the costs of goods sold allocable 
to DPGR. Section 1.199-6 applies to agricultural and horticultural 
cooperatives. Section 1.199-8(i) provides the effective/applicability 
dates.
    Section 199 was added to the Code by section 102 of the American 
Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-357, 118 Stat. 1418 (2004)), and 
amended by section 403(a) of the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 
(Pub. L. 109-135, 119 Stat. 25 (2005)), section 514 of the Tax Increase 
Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-222, 120 Stat. 
345 (2005)), section 401 of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 
(Pub. L. 109-432, 120 Stat. 2922 (2006)), section 401(a), Division B of 
the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-343, 122 
Stat. 3765 (2008)) (Energy Extension Act of 2008), sections 312(a) and 
502(c), Division C of the Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax 
Relief Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-343, 122 Stat. 3765 (2008)) (Tax 
Extenders Act of 2008), section 746(a) of the Tax Relief, Unemployment 
Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-
312, 124 Stat. 3296 (2010)), section 318 of the American Taxpayer 
Relief Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-240, 126 Stat. 2313 (2013)), and 
sections 130 and 219(b) of the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 
(Pub. L. 113-295, 128 Stat. 4010 (2014)).

General Overview

    Section 199(a)(1) allows a deduction equal to nine percent (three 
percent in the case of taxable years beginning in 2005 or 2006, and six 
percent in the case of taxable years beginning in 2007, 2008, or 2009) 
of the lesser of: (A) The qualified production activities income (QPAI) 
of the taxpayer for the taxable year, or (B) taxable income (determined 
without regard to section 199) for the taxable year (or, in the case of 
an individual, adjusted gross income).
    Section 199(b)(1) provides that 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 199(b)(2)(B) limits the W-2 wages to those properly 
allocable to DPGR for taxable years beginning after May 17, 2006.
    Section 199(c)(1) defines QPAI for any taxable year as an amount 
equal to the excess (if any) of: (A) The taxpayer's DPGR for such 
taxable year, over (B) the sum of: (i) The cost of goods sold (CGS) 
that are allocable to such receipts; and (ii) other expenses, losses, 
or deductions (other than the deduction under section 199) that are 
properly allocable to such receipts.
    Section 199(c)(4)(A)(i) provides that the term DPGR means the 
taxpayer's gross receipts that are derived from any lease, rental, 
license, sale, exchange, or other disposition of: (I) Qualifying

[[Page 51979]]

production property (QPP) that was manufactured, produced, grown, or 
extracted (MPGE) by the taxpayer in whole or in significant part within 
the United States; (II) any qualified film produced by the taxpayer; or 
(III) electricity, natural gas, or potable water (utilities) produced 
by the taxpayer in the United States.
    Section 199(d)(10), as renumbered by section 401(a), Division B of 
the Energy Extension Act of 2008, authorizes the Secretary to prescribe 
such regulations as are necessary to carry out the purposes of section 
199, including regulations that prevent more than one taxpayer from 
being allowed a deduction under section 199 with respect to any 
activity described in section 199(c)(4)(A)(i).

Explanation of Provisions

1. Allocation of W-2 Wages in a Short Taxable Year and in an 
Acquisition or Disposition of a Trade or Business (or Major Portion)

    Temporary regulations in the Rules and Regulations section of this 
issue of the Federal Register contain amendments to the Income Tax 
Regulations that provide rules clarifying how taxpayers calculate W-2 
wages for purposes of the W-2 wage limitation under section 199(b)(1) 
in the case of a short taxable year or where a 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 under section 199(b)(3). The text of those regulations serves as 
the text of these proposed regulations. The preamble to the temporary 
regulations explains the temporary regulations.

2. Oil Related Qualified Production Activities Income

    Section 401(a), Division B of the Energy Extension Act of 2008 
added new section 199(d)(9), which applies to taxable years beginning 
after December 31, 2008. Section 199(d)(9) reduces the otherwise 
allowable section 199 deduction when a taxpayer has oil related 
qualified production activities income (oil related QPAI), and defines 
oil related QPAI. Section 199(d)(9)(A) provides that if a taxpayer has 
oil related QPAI for any taxable year beginning after 2009, the amount 
otherwise allowable as a deduction under section 199(a) must be reduced 
by three percent of the least of: (i) The oil related QPAI of the 
taxpayer for the taxable year, (ii) the QPAI of the taxpayer for the 
taxable year, or (iii) taxable income (determined without regard to 
section 199).
    Section 1.199-1(f) of the proposed regulations provides guidance on 
oil related QPAI. In defining oil related QPAI, the Treasury Department 
and the IRS considered the relationship between QPAI and oil related 
QPAI. Section 199(c)(1) defines QPAI as the amount equal to the excess 
(if any) of the taxpayer's DPGR for the taxable year over the sum of 
CGS allocable to such receipts and other costs, expenses, losses, and 
deductions allocable to such receipts. So, for example, if gross 
receipts are not included within DPGR, those gross receipts are not 
included when calculating QPAI. Section 199(d)(9)(B) defines oil 
related QPAI as QPAI attributable to the production, refining, 
processing, transportation, or distribution of oil, gas, or any primary 
product thereof. In general, gross receipts from the transportation and 
distribution of QPP are not includable in DPGR because those activities 
are not considered part of the MPGE of QPP. See Sec.  1.199-3(e)(1), 
which defines MPGE. Section 199(c)(4)(B)(ii) specifically excludes 
gross receipts attributable to the transmission or distribution of 
natural gas from the definition of DPGR.
    Based on these considerations, the proposed regulations define oil 
related QPAI as an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the 
taxpayer's DPGR from the production, refining, or processing of oil, 
gas, or any primary product thereof (oil related DPGR) over the sum of 
the CGS that is allocable to such receipts and other expenses, losses, 
or deductions that are properly allocable to such receipts. The 
proposed regulations specifically provide that oil related DPGR does 
not include gross receipts derived from the transportation or 
distribution of oil, gas, or any primary product thereof, except if the 
de minimis rule under Sec.  1.199-1(d)(3)(i) or an exception for 
embedded services applies under Sec.  1.199-3(i)(4)(i)(B). The proposed 
regulations further provide that, to the extent a taxpayer treats gross 
receipts derived from the transportation or distribution of oil, gas, 
or any primary product thereof as DPGR under Sec.  1.199-1(d)(3)(i) or 
Sec.  1.199-3(i)(4)(i)(B), the taxpayer must include those gross 
receipts in oil related DPGR.
    The proposed regulations define oil as including oil recovered from 
both conventional and non-conventional recovery methods, including 
crude oil, shale oil, and oil recovered from tar/oil sands. Section 
199(d)(9)(C) defines primary product as having the same meaning as when 
used in section 927(a)(2)(C) (relating to property excluded from the 
term export property under the former foreign sales corporations 
rules), as in effect before its repeal. The proposed regulations 
incorporate the rules in Sec.  1.927(a)-1T(g)(2)(i) regarding the 
definition of a primary product with modifications that are consistent 
with the definition of oil for purposes of section 199(d)(9).
    Section 1.199-1(f)(2) of the proposed regulations provides guidance 
on how a taxpayer should allocate and apportion costs under the section 
861 method, the simplified deduction method, and the small business 
simplified overall method when determining oil related QPAI. The 
proposed regulations require taxpayers to use the same cost allocation 
method to allocate and apportion costs to oil related DPGR as the 
taxpayer uses to allocate and apportion costs to DPGR.

3. Qualified Films

a. Statutory Amendments
    Section 502(c), Division C of the Tax Extenders Act of 2008 amended 
the rules relating to qualified films. Section 502(c)(1) added section 
199(b)(2)(D) to broaden the definition of the term W-2 wages as applied 
to a qualified film to include compensation for services performed in 
the United States by actors, production personnel, directors, and 
producers.
    Section 502(c)(2), Division C of the Tax Extenders Act of 2008 
amended the definition of qualified film in section 199(c)(6) to mean 
any property described in section 168(f)(3) if not less than 50 percent 
of the total compensation relating to production of the property is 
compensation for services performed in the United States by actors, 
production personnel, directors, and producers. The term does not 
include property with respect to which records are required to be 
maintained under 18 U.S.C. 2257 (generally, films, videotapes, or other 
matter that depict actual sexually explicit conduct and are produced in 
whole or in part with materials that have been mailed or shipped in 
interstate or foreign commerce, or are shipped or transported or are 
intended for shipment or transportation in interstate or foreign 
commerce). Section 502(c)(2), Division C of the Tax Extenders Act of 
2008 also amended the definition of a qualified film under section 
199(c)(6) to include any copyrights, trademarks, or other intangibles 
with respect to such film. The method and means of distributing a 
qualified film does not affect the availability of the deduction.
    Section 502(c)(3), Division C of the Tax Extenders Act of 2008 
added an attribution rule for a qualified film for taxpayers who are 
partnerships or S

[[Page 51980]]

corporations, or partners or shareholders of such entities under 
section 199(d)(1)(A)(iv). Section 199(d)(1)(A)(iv) provides that in the 
case of each partner of a partnership, or shareholder of an S 
corporation, who owns (directly or indirectly) at least 20 percent of 
the capital interests in such partnership or the stock of such S 
corporation, such partner or shareholder is treated as having engaged 
directly in any film produced by such partnership or S corporation, and 
that such partnership or S Corporation is treated as having engaged 
directly in any film produced by such partner or shareholder.
    The amendments made by section 502(c), Division C of the Tax 
Extenders Act of 2008 apply to taxable years beginning after December 
31, 2007.
b. W-2 Wages
    Section 1.199-2(e)(1) of the proposed regulations modifies the 
definition of W-2 wages to include compensation for services (as 
defined in Sec.  1.199-3(k)(4)) performed in the United States by 
actors, production personnel, directors, and producers (as defined in 
Sec.  1.199-3(k)(1)).
c. Definition of Qualified Films
    To address the amendments to the definition of qualified film in 
section 199(c)(6) for taxable years beginning after 2007, the proposed 
regulations amend the definition of qualified film in Sec.  1.199-
3(k)(1) to include copyrights, trademarks, or other intangibles with 
respect to such film. The proposed regulations define other intangibles 
with a non-exclusive list of intangibles that fall within the 
definition.
    Section 1.199-3(k)(10) provides a special rule for disposition of 
promotional films to address concerns of the Treasury Department and 
the IRS that the inclusion of intangibles in the definition of 
qualified film could be interpreted too broadly. This rule clarifies 
that, when a taxpayer produces a qualified film that is promoting a 
product or service, the gross receipts a taxpayer later derives from 
the disposition of the product or service promoted in the qualified 
film are derived from the disposition of the product or service and not 
from a disposition of the qualified film (including any intangible with 
respect to such qualified film). The rule is intended to prevent 
taxpayers from claiming that gross receipts are derived from the 
disposition of a qualified film (rather than the product or service 
itself) when a taxpayer sells a product or service with a logo, 
trademark, or other intangible that appears in a promotional film 
produced by the taxpayer. The Treasury Department and the IRS recognize 
that a taxpayer can, in certain cases, derive gross receipts from a 
disposition of a promotional film or the intangibles in a promotional 
film. The proposed regulations add Example 9 in Sec.  1.199-3(k)(11) 
relating to a license to reproduce a character used in a promotional 
film to illustrate a situation where gross receipts can qualify as DPGR 
because the gross receipts are distinct (separate and apart) from the 
disposition of the product or service. The Treasury Department and the 
IRS request comments on how to determine when gross receipts are 
distinct.
    The proposed regulations add four examples in redesignated Sec.  
1.199-3(k)(11), formerly Sec.  1.199-3(k)(10), to illustrate 
application of the amended definition of qualified film that includes 
copyrights, trademarks, or other intangibles.
    The proposed regulations remove the last sentence of Sec.  1.199-
3(k)(3)(ii) (which states that gross receipts derived from a license of 
the right to use or exploit film characters are not gross receipts 
derived from a qualified film) because gross receipts derived from a 
license of the right to use or exploit film characters are now 
considered gross receipts derived from a qualified film.
    Section 1.199-3(k)(2)(ii), which allows a taxpayer to treat certain 
tangible personal property as a qualified film (for example, a DVD), is 
amended to exclude film intangibles because tangible personal property 
affixed with a film intangible (such as a trademark) should not be 
treated as a qualified film. For example, the total revenue from the 
sale of an imported t-shirt affixed with a film intangible should not 
be treated as gross receipts derived from the sale of a qualified film. 
The portion of the gross receipts attributable to the qualified film 
intangible separate from receipts attributable to the t-shirt may 
qualify as DPGR, however. The proposed regulations also add Example 10 
and Example 11 in redesignated Sec.  1.199-3(k)(11) to address 
situations in which tangible personal property is offered for sale in 
combination with a qualified film affixed to a DVD.
    Section 1.199-3(k)(3)(i) and (k)(3)(ii) of the proposed regulations 
address the amendment to section 199(c)(6) (effective for taxable years 
beginning after 2007) that provides the methods and means of 
distributing a qualified film will not affect the availability of the 
deduction under section 199. The exception that describes the receipts 
from showing a qualified film in a movie theater or by broadcast on a 
television station as not derived from a qualified film is removed from 
Sec.  1.199-3(k)(3)(ii) because, if a taxpayer produces a qualified 
film, then the receipts the taxpayer derives from these showings 
qualify as DPGR in taxable years beginning after 2007. In addition, 
Example 4 in Sec.  1.199-3(i)(5)(iii) and Example 3 in Sec.  1.199-
3(k)(11) (formerly Sec.  1.199-3(k)(10)) have been revised to 
illustrate that, for taxable years beginning after 2007, product 
placement and advertising income derived from the distribution of a 
qualified film qualifies as DPGR if the qualified film containing the 
product placements and advertising is broadcast over the air or watched 
over the Internet.
    The proposed regulations also add a sentence to Sec.  1.199-3(k)(6) 
to clarify that production activities do not include activities related 
to the transmission or distribution of films. The Treasury Department 
and the IRS are aware that some taxpayers have taken the inappropriate 
position that these activities are part of the production of a film. 
The Treasury Department and the IRS consider film production as 
distinct from the transmission and distribution of films. This 
clarification is also consistent with the amendment to the definition 
of qualified film, which provides that the methods and means of 
distribution do not affect the availability of the deduction under 
section 199.
d. Partnerships and S Corporations
    Section 1.199-3(i)(9) of the proposed regulations describes the 
application of section 199(d)(1)(A)(iv) to partners and partnerships 
and shareholders and S corporations for taxable years beginning after 
2007. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that for a 
partnership to apply the provisions of section 199(d)(1)(A)(iv) to 
treat itself as having engaged directly in a film produced by a 
partner, the partnership must treat itself as a partnership for all 
purposes of the Code. Further, a partner of a partnership can apply the 
provisions of section 199(d)(1)(A)(iv) to treat itself as having 
engaged directly in a film produced by the partnership only if the 
partnership treats itself as a partnership for all purposes of the 
Code. Section 1.199-3(i)(9)(i) describes generally that a partner of a 
partnership or shareholder of an S corporation who owns (directly or 
indirectly) at least 20 percent of the capital interests in such 
partnership or the stock of such S corporation is treated as having 
engaged directly in any film produced by such partnership or S 
corporation. Further, such partnership or S corporation is treated as 
having engaged directly in any film produced by such partner or 
shareholder.

[[Page 51981]]

    Section 1.199-3(i)(9)(ii) of the proposed regulations generally 
prohibits attribution between partners of a partnership or shareholders 
of an S corporation, partnerships with a partner in common, or S 
corporations with a shareholder in common. Thus, when a partnership or 
S corporation is treated as having engaged directly in any film 
produced by a partner or shareholder, any other partners or 
shareholders who did not participate directly in the production of the 
film are treated as not having engaged directly in the production of 
the film at the partner or shareholder level. Similarly, when a partner 
or shareholder is treated as having engaged directly in any film 
produced by a partnership or S corporation, any other partnerships or S 
corporations in which that partner or shareholder owns an interest 
(excluding the partnership or S corporation that produced the film) are 
treated as not having engaged directly in the production of the film at 
the partnership or S corporation level.
    Section 1.199-3(i)(9)(iii) of the proposed regulations describes 
the attribution period for a partner or partnership or shareholder or S 
corporation under section 199(d)(1)(A)(iv). A partner or shareholder is 
treated as having engaged directly in any qualified film produced by 
the partnership or S corporation, and a partnership or S corporation is 
treated as having engaged directly in any qualified film produced by 
the partner or shareholder, regardless of when the qualified film was 
produced, during the period in which the partner or shareholder owns 
(directly or indirectly) at least 20 percent of the capital interests 
in the partnership or the stock of the S corporation. During any period 
that a partner or shareholder owns less than 20 percent of the capital 
interests in such partnership or the stock of such S corporation that 
partner or shareholder is not treated as having engaged directly in the 
qualified film produced by the partnership or S corporation for 
purposes of Sec.  1.199-3(i)(9)(iii), and that partnership or S 
corporation is not treated as having engaged directly in any qualified 
film produced by the partner or shareholder.
    Section 1.199-3(i)(9)(iv) of the proposed regulations provides 
examples that illustrate section 199(d)(1)(A)(iv).
e. Qualified Film Safe Harbor
    Existing Sec.  1.199-3(k)(7)(i) provides a safe harbor that treats 
a film as a qualified film produced by the taxpayer if not less than 50 
percent of the total compensation for services paid by the taxpayer is 
compensation for services performed in the United States and the 
taxpayer satisfies the safe harbor in Sec.  1.199-3(g)(3) for treating 
a taxpayer as MPGE QPP in whole or significant part in the United 
States. The Treasury Department and the IRS are aware that it may be 
unclear how the safe harbor in Sec.  1.199-3(k)(7)(i) applies to costs 
of live or delayed television programs that may be expensed 
(specifically, whether such expensed costs are part of the CGS or 
unadjusted depreciable basis of the qualified film for purposes of 
Sec.  1.199-3(g)(3)). Further, it may be unclear whether license fees 
paid for third-party produced programs are included in direct labor and 
overhead when applying the safe harbor in Sec.  1.199-3(g)(3). The 
proposed regulations clarify how a taxpayer producing live or delayed 
television programs should apply the safe harbor in Sec.  1.199-
3(k)(7)(i); in particular, how a taxpayer should calculate its 
unadjusted depreciable basis under Sec.  1.199-3(g)(3)(ii). 
Specifically, proposed Sec.  1.199-3(k)(7)(i) requires a taxpayer to 
include all costs paid or incurred in the production of a live or 
delayed television program in the taxpayer's unadjusted depreciable 
basis of such program under Sec.  1.199-3(g)(3)(ii), including the 
licensing fees paid to a third party under Sec.  1.199-3(g)(3)(ii). The 
proposed regulations further clarify that license fees for third-party 
produced programs are not included in the direct labor and overhead to 
produce the film for purposes of applying Sec.  1.199-3(g)(3).

4. Treatment of Activities in Puerto Rico

    Section 199(d)(8)(A) provides that in the case of any taxpayer with 
gross receipts for any taxable year from sources within the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, if all of such receipts are taxable under 
section 1 or 11 for such taxable year, then for purposes of determining 
the DPGR of such taxpayer for such taxable year under section 
199(c)(4), the term United States includes the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico. Section 199(d)(8)(B) provides that in the case of a taxpayer 
described in section 199(d)(8)(A), for purposes of applying the wage 
limitation under section 199(b) for any taxable year, the determination 
of W-2 wages of such taxpayer is made without regard to any exclusion 
under section 3401(a)(8) for remuneration paid for services performed 
in Puerto Rico. Section 130 of the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 
amended section 199(d)(8)(C) for taxable years beginning after December 
31, 2013. As amended, section 199(d)(8)(C) provides that section 
199(d)(8) applies only with respect to the first nine taxable years of 
the taxpayer beginning after December 31, 2005, and before January 1, 
2015.
    Section 1.199-2(f) of the proposed regulations modifies the W-2 
wage limitation under section 199(b) to the extent provided by section 
199(d)(8). Section 1.199-3(h)(2) of the proposed regulations modifies 
the term United States to include the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to 
the extent provided by section 199(d)(8).

5. Determining DPGR on Item-by-Item Basis

    Section 1.199-3(d)(1) provides that a taxpayer determines, using 
any reasonable method that is satisfactory to the Secretary based on 
all of the facts and circumstances, whether gross receipts qualify as 
DPGR on an item-by-item basis. Section 1.199-3(d)(1)(i) provides that 
item means the property offered by the taxpayer in the normal course of 
the taxpayer's business for lease, rental, license, sale, exchange, or 
other disposition (for purposes of Sec.  1.199-3(d), collectively 
referred to as disposition) to customers, if the gross receipts from 
the disposition of such property qualify as DPGR. Section 1.199-
3(d)(2)(iii) provides that, in the case of construction activities and 
services or engineering and architectural services, a taxpayer may use 
any reasonable method that is satisfactory to the Secretary based on 
all of the facts and circumstances to determine what construction 
activities and services or engineering or architectural services 
constitute an item.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS are aware that the item rule in 
Sec.  1.199-3(d)(2)(iii) has been interpreted to mean that the gross 
receipts derived from the sale of a multiple-building project may be 
treated as DPGR when only one building in the project is substantially 
renovated. The Treasury Department and the IRS have concluded that 
treating gross receipts from the sale of a multiple-building project as 
DPGR, and the multiple-building project as one item, is not a 
reasonable method satisfactory to the Secretary for purposes of Sec.  
1.199-3(d)(2)(iii) if a taxpayer did not substantially renovate each 
building in the multiple-building project. Section 1.199-3(d)(4) of the 
proposed regulations includes an example (Example 14) illustrating the 
appropriate application of Sec.  1.199-3(d)(2)(iii) to a multiple 
building project.
    In addition, the Treasury Department and the IRS are aware that 
taxpayers may be unsure how to apply the item rule in Sec.  1.199-
3(d)(2)(i) when the property offered for disposition to customers 
includes embedded services

[[Page 51982]]

as described in Sec.  1.199-3(i)(4)(i). The proposed regulations add 
Example 6 to Sec.  1.199-3(d)(4) to clarify that the item rule applies 
after excluding the gross receipts attributable to services.

6. MPGE

    Section 1.199-3(e)(1) provides that the term MPGE includes 
manufacturing, producing, growing, extracting, installing, developing, 
improving, and creating QPP; making QPP out of scrap, salvage, or junk 
material as well as from new or raw material by processing, 
manipulating, refining, or changing the form of an article, or by 
combining or assembling two or more articles; cultivating soil, raising 
livestock, fishing, and mining minerals. The Treasury Department and 
the IRS are aware that Example 5 in Sec.  1.199-3(e)(5) has been 
interpreted to mean that testing activities qualify as an MPGE activity 
even if the taxpayer engages in no other MPGE activity. The Treasury 
Department and the IRS disagree that testing activities, alone, qualify 
as an MPGE activity. The proposed regulations add a sentence to Example 
5 in Sec.  1.199-3(e)(5) to further illustrate that certain activities 
will not be treated as MPGE activities if they are not performed as 
part of the MPGE of QPP. Taxpayers are not required to allocate gross 
receipts to certain activities that are not MPGE activities when those 
activities are performed in connection with the MPGE of QPP. However, 
if the taxpayer in Example 5 in Sec.  1.199-3(e)(5) did not MPGE QPP, 
then the activities described in the example, including testing, are 
not MPGE activities.
    Section 1.199-3(e)(2) provides that if a taxpayer packages, 
repackages, labels, or performs minor assembly of QPP and the taxpayer 
engages in no other MPGE activities with respect to that QPP, the 
taxpayer's packaging, repackaging, labeling, or minor assembly does not 
qualify as MPGE with respect to that QPP. This rule has been the 
subject of recent litigation. See United States v. Dean, 945 F. Supp. 
2d 1110 (C.D. Cal. 2013) (concluding that the taxpayer's activity of 
preparing gift baskets was a manufacturing activity and not solely 
packaging or repackaging for purposes of section 199). The Treasury 
Department and the IRS disagree with the interpretation of Sec.  1.199-
3(e)(2) adopted by the court in United States v. Dean, and the proposed 
regulations add an example (Example 9) that illustrates the appropriate 
application of this rule in a situation in which the taxpayer is 
engaged in no other MPGE activities with respect to the QPP other than 
those described in Sec.  1.199-3(e)(2).

7. Definition of ``by the taxpayer''

    Section 1.199-3(f)(1) provides that if one taxpayer performs a 
qualifying activity under Sec.  1.199-3(e)(1), Sec.  1.199-3(k)(1), or 
Sec.  1.199-3(l)(1) pursuant to a contract with another party, then 
only the taxpayer that has the benefits and burdens of ownership of the 
QPP, qualified film, or utilities under Federal income tax principles 
during the period in which the qualifying activity occurs is treated as 
engaging in the qualifying activity.
    Taxpayers and the IRS have had difficulty determining which party 
to a contract manufacturing arrangement has the benefits and burdens of 
ownership of the property while the qualifying activity occurs. Cases 
analyzing the benefits and burdens of ownership have considered the 
following factors relevant: (1) Whether legal title passes; (2) how the 
parties treat the transaction; (3) whether an equity interest was 
acquired; (4) whether the contract creates a present obligation on the 
seller to execute and deliver a deed and a present obligation on the 
purchaser to make payments; (5) whether the right of possession is 
vested in the purchaser and which party has control of the property or 
process; (6) which party pays the property taxes; (7) which party bears 
the risk of loss or damage to the property; (8) which party receives 
the profits from the operation and sale of the property; and (9) 
whether a taxpayer actively and extensively participated in the 
management and operations of the activity. See ADVO, Inc. & 
Subsidiaries v. Commissioner, 141 T.C. 298, 324-25 (2013); see also 
Grodt & McKay Realty, Inc. v. Commissioner, 77 T.C. 1221 (1981). The 
ADVO court noted that the factors it used in its analysis are not 
exclusive or controlling, but that they were in the particular case 
sufficient to determine which party had the benefits and burdens of 
ownership. ADVO, Inc., 141 T.C. at 325 n. 21. Determining which party 
has the benefits and burdens of ownership under Federal income tax 
principles for purposes of section 199 requires an analysis and 
weighing of many factors, which in some contexts could result in more 
than one taxpayer claiming the benefits of section 199 with respect to 
a particular activity. Resolving the benefits and burdens of ownership 
issue often requires significant IRS and taxpayer resources.
    Section 199(d)(10) directs the Treasury Department to provide 
regulations that prevent more than one taxpayer from being allowed a 
deduction under section 199 with respect to any qualifying activity (as 
described in section 199(c)(4)(A)(i)). The Treasury Department and the 
IRS have interpreted the statute to mean that only one taxpayer may 
claim the section 199 deduction with respect to the same activity 
performed with respect to the same property. See Sec.  1.199-3(f)(1). 
Example 1 and Example 2 in Sec.  1.199-3(f)(4) currently illustrate 
this one-taxpayer rule using factors that are relevant to the 
determination of who has the benefits and burdens of ownership.
    The Large Business and International (LB&I) Division issued an 
Industry Director Directive on February 1, 2012 (LB&I Control No. LB&I-
4-0112-01) (Directive) addressing the benefits and burdens factors. The 
Directive provides a three-step analysis of facts and circumstances 
relating to contract terms, production activities, and economic risks 
to determine whether a taxpayer has the benefits and burdens of 
ownership for purposes of Sec.  1.199-3(f)(1). LB&I issued a 
superseding second directive on July 24, 2013 (LB&I Control No. LB&I-
04-0713-006), and a third directive updating the second directive on 
October 29, 2013 (LB&I Control No. LB&I-04-1013-008). The third 
directive allows a taxpayer to provide a statement explaining the 
taxpayer's determination that it had the benefits and burdens of 
ownership, along with certification statements signed under penalties 
of perjury by the taxpayer and the counterparty verifying that only the 
taxpayer is claiming the section 199 deduction.
    To provide administrable rules that are consistent with section 
199, reduce the burden on taxpayers and the IRS in evaluating factors 
related to the benefits and burdens of ownership, and prevent more than 
one taxpayer from being allowed a deduction under section 199 with 
respect to any qualifying activity, the proposed regulations remove the 
rule in Sec.  1.199-3(f)(1) that treats a taxpayer in a contract 
manufacturing arrangement as engaging in the qualifying activity only 
if the taxpayer has the benefits and burdens of ownership during the 
period in which the qualifying activity occurs. In place of the 
benefits and burdens of ownership rule, these proposed regulations 
provide that if a qualifying activity is performed under a contract, 
then the party that performs the activity is the taxpayer for purposes 
of section 199(c)(4)(A)(i). This rule, which applies solely for 
purposes of section 199, reflects the conclusion that the party 
actually producing the property should be treated as engaging in the 
qualifying activity for purposes of section 199, and is therefore 
consistent with the statute's goal of incentivizing domestic

[[Page 51983]]

manufacturers and producers. The proposed rule would also provide a 
readily administrable approach that would prevent more than one 
taxpayer from being allowed a deduction under section 199 with respect 
to any qualifying activity.
    Example 1 has been revised, and current Example 2 has been removed, 
to reflect the new rule. In addition, the benefits and burdens language 
has been removed from: (1) The definition of MPGE in Sec.  1.199-
3(e)(1) and (3), including Example 1, Example 4, and Example 5 in Sec.  
1.199-3(e)(5); (2) the definition of in whole or in significant part in 
Sec.  1.199-3(g)(1); (3) Example 5 in the qualified film rules in 
existing Sec.  1.199-3(k)(7); and (4) the production pursuant to a 
contract in the qualified film rules in Sec.  1.199-3(k)(8).
    The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments on whether 
there are narrow circumstances that could justify an exception to the 
proposed rule. In particular, the Treasury Department and the IRS 
request comments on whether there should be a limited exception to the 
proposed rule for certain fully cost-plus or cost-reimbursable 
contracts. Under such an exception, the party that is not performing 
the qualifying activity would be treated as the taxpayer engaged in the 
qualifying activity if the party performing the qualifying activity is 
(i) reimbursed for, or provided with, all materials, labor, and 
overhead costs related to fulfilling the contract, and (ii) provided 
with an additional payment to allow for a profit. The Treasury 
Department and the IRS are uncertain regarding the extent to which such 
fully cost-plus or cost-reimbursable contracts are in fact used in 
practice. Comments suggesting circumstances that could justify an 
exception to the proposed rule should address the rationale for the 
proposed exception, the ability of the IRS to administer the exception, 
and how the suggested exception will prevent two taxpayers from 
claiming the deduction for the qualifying activity.

8. Hedging Transactions

    The proposed regulations make several revisions to the hedging 
rules in Sec.  1.199-3(i)(3). Section 1.199-3(i) of the proposed 
regulations defines a hedging transaction to include transactions in 
which the risk being hedged relates to property described in section 
1221(a)(1) giving rise to DPGR, whereas the existing regulations 
require the risk being hedged relate to QPP described in section 
1221(a)(1). A taxpayer commented in a letter to the Treasury Department 
and the IRS that there is no reason to limit the hedging rules to QPP 
giving rise to DPGR, and the proposed regulations accept the comment.
    The other changes to the hedging rules are administrative. Section 
1.199-3(i)(3)(ii) of the existing regulations on currency fluctuations 
was eliminated because the regulations under sections 988(d) and 1221 
adequately cover the treatment of currency hedges. Similarly, the rules 
in Sec.  1.199-3(i)(3)(iii) that address the effect of identification 
and non-identification were duplicative of the rules in the section 
1221 regulations. Accordingly, Sec.  1.199-3(i)(3)(ii) has been revised 
to cross-reference the appropriate rules in Sec.  1.1221-2(g), and to 
clarify that the consequence of an abusive identification or non-
identification is that deduction or loss, but not income or gain, is 
taken into account in calculating DPGR.

9. Construction Activities

    Section 199(c)(4)(A)(ii) includes in DPGR, in the case of a 
taxpayer engaged in the active conduct of a construction trade or 
business, gross receipts derived from construction of real property 
performed in the United States by the taxpayer in the ordinary course 
of such trade or business. Under Sec.  1.199-3(m)(2)(i), activities 
constituting construction include activities performed by a general 
contractor or activities typically performed by a general contractor, 
for example, activities relating to management and oversight of the 
construction process such as approvals, periodic inspection of progress 
of the construction project, and required job modifications. The 
Treasury Department and the IRS are aware that some taxpayers have 
interpreted this language to mean that a taxpayer who only approves or 
authorizes payments is engaged in activities typically performed by a 
general contractor under Sec.  1.199-3(m)(2)(i). The Treasury 
Department and the IRS disagree that a taxpayer who only approves or 
authorizes payments is engaged in construction for purposes of Sec.  
1.199-3(m)(2)(i). Accordingly, Sec.  1.199-3(m)(2)(i) of the proposed 
regulations clarifies that a taxpayer must engage in construction 
activities that include more than the approval or authorization of 
payments or invoices for that taxpayer's activities to be considered as 
activities typically performed by a general contractor.
    Section 1.199-3(m)(2)(i) provides that activities constituting 
construction are activities performed in connection with a project to 
erect or substantially renovate real property. Section 1.199-3(m)(5) 
currently defines substantial renovation to mean the renovation of a 
major component or substantial structural part of real property that 
materially increases the value of the property, substantially prolongs 
the useful life of the property, or adapts the property to a new or 
different use. This standard reflects regulations under Sec.  1.263(a)-
3 related to amounts paid to improve tangible property that existed at 
the time of publication of the final Sec.  1.199-3(m)(5) regulations 
(TD 9263 [71 FR 31268] June 19, 2006) but which have since been 
revised. See (TD 9636 [78 FR 57686] September 19, 2013).
    The proposed regulations under Sec.  1.199-3(m)(5) revise the 
definition of substantial renovation to conform to the final 
regulations under Sec.  1.263(a)-3, which provide rules requiring 
capitalization of amounts paid for improvements to a unit of property 
owned by a taxpayer. Improvements under Sec.  1.263(a)-3 are amounts 
paid for a betterment to a unit of property, amounts paid to restore a 
unit of property, and amounts paid to adapt a unit of property to a new 
or different use. See Sec.  1.263(a)-3(j), (k), and (l). Under the 
proposed regulations, a substantial renovation of real property is a 
renovation the costs of which are required to be capitalized as an 
improvement under Sec.  1.263(a)-3, other than an amount described in 
Sec.  1.263(a)-3(k)(1)(i) through (iii) (relating to amounts for which 
a loss deduction or basis adjustment requires capitalization as an 
improvement). The improvement rules under Sec.  1.263(a)-3 provide 
specific rules of application for buildings (see Sec.  1.263(a)-
3(j)(2)(ii), (k)(2), and (l)(2)), which apply for purposes of Sec.  
1.199-3(m)(5).

10. Allocating Cost of Goods Sold

    Section 1.199-4(b)(1) describes how a taxpayer determines its CGS 
allocable to DPGR. The Treasury Department and the IRS are aware that 
in the case of transactions accounted for under a long-term contract 
method of accounting (either the percentage-of-completion method (PCM) 
or the completed-contract method (CCM)), a taxpayer incurs allocable 
contract costs. The Treasury Department and the IRS recognize that 
allocable contract costs under PCM or CCM are analogous to CGS and 
should be treated in the same manner. Section 1.199-4(b)(1) of the 
proposed regulations provides that in the case of a long-term contract 
accounted for under PCM or CCM, CGS for purposes of Sec.  1.199-4(b)(1) 
includes allocable contract costs described in Sec.  1.460-5(b) or 
Sec.  1.460-5(d), as applicable.
    Existing Sec.  1.199-4(b)(2)(i) provides that a taxpayer must use a 
reasonable method that is satisfactory to the

[[Page 51984]]

Secretary based on all of the facts and circumstances to allocate CGS 
between DPGR and non-DPGR. This allocation must be determined based on 
the rules provided in Sec.  1.199-4(b)(2)(i) and (ii). Taxpayers have 
asserted that under Sec.  1.199-4(b)(2)(ii) the portion of current year 
CGS associated with activities in earlier tax years (including pre-
section 199 tax years) may be allocated to non-DPGR even if the related 
gross receipts are treated by the taxpayer as DPGR. Section 1.199-
4(b)(2)(iii)(A) of the proposed regulations clarifies that the CGS must 
be allocated between DPGR and non-DPGR, regardless of whether any 
component of the costs included in CGS can be associated with 
activities undertaken in an earlier taxable year. Section 1.199-
4(b)(2)(iii)(B) of the proposed regulations provides an example 
illustrating this rule.

11. Agricultural and Horticultural Cooperatives

    Section 199(d)(3)(A) provides that any person who receives a 
qualified payment from a specified agricultural or horticultural 
cooperative must be allowed for the taxable year in which such payment 
is received a deduction under section 199(a) equal to the portion of 
the deduction allowed under section 199(a) to such cooperative that is 
(i) allowed with respect to the portion of the QPAI to which such 
payment is attributable, and (ii) identified by such cooperative in a 
written notice mailed to such person during the payment period 
described in section 1382(d).
    Under Sec.  1.199-6(c), the cooperative's QPAI is computed without 
taking into account any deduction allowable under section 1382(b) or 
section 1382(c) (relating to patronage dividends, per-unit retain 
allocations, and nonpatronage distributions).
    Section 1.199-6(e) provides that the term qualified payment means 
any amount of a patronage dividend or per-unit retain allocation, as 
described in section 1385(a)(1) or section 1385(a)(3), received by a 
patron from a cooperative that is attributable to the portion of the 
cooperative's QPAI for which the cooperative is allowed a section 199 
deduction. For this purpose, patronage dividends and per-unit retain 
allocations include any advances on patronage and per-unit retains paid 
in money during the taxable year.
    Section 1388(f) defines the term per-unit retain allocation to mean 
any allocation by an organization to which part I of subchapter T 
applies to a patron with respect to products marketed for him, the 
amount of which is fixed without reference to net earnings of the 
organization pursuant to an agreement between the organization and the 
patron. Per-unit retain allocations may be made in money, property, or 
certificates.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS are aware that Example 1 in 
Sec.  1.199-6(m) has been interpreted as describing that the 
cooperative's payment for its members' corn is a per-unit retain 
allocation paid in money as defined in sections 1382(b)(3) and 1388(f). 
Example 1 in Sec.  1.199-6(m) does not identify the cooperative's 
payment for its members' corn as a per-unit retain allocation and is 
not intended to illustrate how QPAI is computed when a cooperative's 
payments to its patrons are per-unit retain allocations. The proposed 
regulations provide an example (Example 4) in Sec.  1.199-6(m) 
illustrating how QPAI is computed when the cooperative's payments to 
members for corn qualify as per-unit retain allocations paid in money 
under section 1388(f). The new example has the same facts as Example 1 
in Sec.  1.199-6(m), except that the cooperative's payments for its 
members' corn qualify as per-unit retain allocations paid in money 
under section 1388(f) and the cooperative reports per-unit retain 
allocations paid in money on Form 1099-PATR, ``Taxable Distributions 
Received From Cooperatives.''

Request for Comments

    Existing Sec.  1.199-3(e)(2) provides that if a taxpayer packages, 
repackages, labels, or performs minor assembly of QPP and the taxpayer 
engages in no other MPGE activity with respect to that QPP, the 
taxpayer's packaging, repackaging, labeling, or minor assembly does not 
qualify as MPGE with respect to that QPP.
    The term minor assembly for purposes of section 199 was first 
introduced in Notice 2005-14 (2005-1 CB 498 (February 14, 2005)) (see 
Sec.  601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b)) (Notice 2005-14), and was used (by 
exclusion) in determining whether a taxpayer met the in-whole-or-in-
significant-part requirement. Specifically, section 3.04(5)(d) of 
Notice 2005-14 states that in connection with the MPGE of QPP, 
packaging, repackaging, and minor assembly operations should not be 
considered in applying the general ``substantial in nature'' test, and 
the costs should not be considered in applying the safe harbor. The 
section further states that this rule is similar to the rule in Sec.  
1.954-3(a)(4)(iii). The rule in Sec.  1.954-3(a)(4)(iii) applies when 
deciding whether a taxpayer selling property will be treated as selling 
a manufactured product rather than components of that sold property.
    Section 1.199-3(g) of the current regulations, which superseded 
Notice 2005-14, does not provide a specific definition of minor 
assembly, but it does allow taxpayers to consider minor assembly 
activities to determine whether the taxpayer has met the in-whole-or-
in-significant-part requirement (either by showing their activities 
were substantial in nature under Sec.  1.199-3(g)(2) or by meeting the 
safe harbor in Sec.  1.199-3(g)(3)). However, the current regulations 
also contain Sec.  1.199-3(e)(2), which excludes certain activities 
from the definition of MPGE. Section 1.199-3(e)(2) provides that if a 
taxpayer packages, repackages, labels, or performs minor assembly of 
QPP and the taxpayer engages in no other MPGE activity with respect to 
that QPP, the taxpayer's packaging, repackaging, labeling, or minor 
assembly does not qualify as MPGE with respect to that QPP. Therefore, 
a taxpayer with only minor assembly activities would not meet the 
definition of MPGE and a determination of whether a taxpayer met the 
in-whole-or-in-significant-part requirement is not made.
    In considering whether to provide a specific definition of minor 
assembly, the Treasury Department and the IRS have found it difficult 
to identify an objective test that would be widely applicable.
    The definition of minor assembly could focus on whether a 
taxpayer's activity is only a single process that does not transform an 
article into a materially different QPP. Such process may include, but 
would not be limited to, blending or mixing two materials together, 
painting an article, cutting, chopping, crushing (non-agricultural 
products), or other similar activities. An example of blending or 
mixing two materials is using a paint mixing machine to combine paint 
with a pigment to match a customer's color selection when a taxpayer 
did not MPGE the paint or the pigment. An example of cutting is a 
taxpayer using an industrial key cutting machine to custom cut keys for 
customers using blank keys that taxpayer purchased from unrelated third 
parties. Examples of other similar activities include adding an 
additive to extend the shelf life of a product and time ripening 
produce that was purchased from unrelated third parties.
    Another possible definition could be based on whether an end user 
could reasonably engage in the same assembly activity of the taxpayer. 
For example, assume QPP made up of component parts purchased by 
taxpayer is sold by a taxpayer to end users in either assembled or 
disassembled form. To the

[[Page 51985]]

extent an end user can reasonably assemble the QPP sold in disassembled 
form, the taxpayer's assembly activity would be considered minor 
assembly.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments on how the 
term minor assembly in Sec.  1.199-3(e)(2) should be defined and 
encourage the submission of examples illustrating the term.

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 553(b) of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to 
these regulations, and because the regulations do not impose a 
collection of information on small entities, the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) does not apply. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of 
the Code, this notice of proposed rulemaking has been submitted to the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for 
comment on their impact on small business.

Comments and Public Hearing

    Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, 
consideration will be given to any written comments (a signed original 
and eight (8) copies) or electronic comments that are submitted timely 
to the IRS. Comments are requested on all aspects of the proposed 
regulations. All comments will be available for public inspection and 
copying at http://www.regulations.gov or upon request.
    A public hearing has been scheduled for December 16, 2015, 
beginning at 10 a.m. in the Auditorium of the Internal Revenue 
Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC. Due to building 
security procedures, visitors must enter at the Constitution Avenue 
entrance. Because of access restrictions, visitors will not be admitted 
beyond the immediate entrance area more than 30 minutes before the 
hearing starts. In addition, all visitors must present photo 
identification to enter the building. For information about having your 
name placed on the building access list to attend the hearing, see the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this preamble.
    The rules of 26 CFR 601.601(a)(3) apply to the hearing. Persons who 
wish to present oral comments at the hearing must submit electronic or 
written comments by November 25, 2015, and an outline of the topics to 
be discussed and the time to be devoted to each topic by November 25, 
2015. A period of 10 minutes will be allotted to each person for making 
comments. An agenda showing the scheduling of the speakers will be 
prepared after the deadline for receiving outlines has passed. Copies 
of the agenda will be available free of charge at the hearing.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of these regulations is James Holmes, Office 
of the Associate Chief Counsel (Passthroughs and Special Industries). 
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, 26 CFR part 1 is proposed to be amended 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 * * *

0
Par. 2. Section 1.199-0 is amended by:
0
1. Adding entries in the table of contents for Sec.  1.199-1(f).
0
2. Revising the entry in the table of contents for Sec.  1.199-2(c) and 
adding entries for Sec.  1.199-2(c)(1), (2), and (3).
0
3. Adding an entry in the table of contents for Sec.  1.199-2(f).
0
4. Redesignating the entry in the table of contents for Sec.  1.199-
3(h) as the entry for Sec.  1.199-3(h)(1), adding introductory text for 
Sec.  1.199-3(h), and adding an entry for Sec.  1.199-3(h)(2).
0
5. Redesignating the entry in the table of contents for Sec.  1.199-
3(i)(9) as the entry for Sec.  1.199-3(i)(10) and adding introductory 
text and entries in the table of contents for Sec.  1.199-3(i)(9).
0
6. Redesignating the entry in the table of contents for Sec.  1.199-
3(k)(10) as the entry for Sec.  1.199-3(k)(11) and adding an entry for 
Sec.  1.199-3(k)(10).
0
7. Adding entries in the table of contents for Sec.  1.199-
4(b)(2)(iii).
0
8. Revising the introductory text in the table of contents for Sec.  
1.199-8(i) and adding the entries for Sec.  1.199-8(i)(10) and (i)(11).
    The additions and revision read as follows:


Sec.  1.199-0  Table of contents.

* * * * *


Sec.  1.199-1  Income attributable to domestic production activities.

* * * * *
    (f) Oil related qualified production activities income.
    (1) In general.
    (i) Oil related QPAI.
    (ii) Special rule for oil related DPGR.
    (iii) Definition of oil.
    (iv) Primary product from oil or gas.
    (A) Primary product from oil.
    (B) Primary product from gas.
    (C) Primary products from changing technology.
    (D) Non-primary products.
    (2) Cost allocation methods for determining oil related QPAI.
    (i) Section 861 method.
    (ii) Simplified deduction method.
    (iii) Small business simplified overall method.


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.
* * * * *
    (f) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.


Sec.  1.199-3  Domestic production gross receipts.

* * * * *
    (h) United States.
* * * * *
    (2) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    (i) * * *
    (9) Engaging in production of qualified films.
    (i) In general.
    (ii) No double attribution.
    (iii) Timing of attribution.
    (iv) Examples.
* * * * *
    (k) * * *
    (10) Special rule for disposition of promotional films and products 
or services promoted in promotional films.
* * * * *


Sec.  1.199-4  Costs allocable to domestic production gross receipts.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) Cost of goods sold associated with activities undertaken in 
an earlier taxable year.
    (A) In general.
    (B) Example.
* * * * *


Sec.  1.199-8  Other rules.

* * * * *

[[Page 51986]]

    (i) Effective/applicability dates.
* * * * *
    (10) Acquisition or disposition of a trade or business (or major 
portion).
    (11) Energy Improvement and Extension Act of the 2008, Tax 
Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008, American 
Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, and other provisions.
* * * * *
0
Par. 3. Section 1.199-1 is amended by adding paragraph (f) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1.199-1  Income attributable to domestic production activities.

* * * * *
    (f) Oil related qualified production activity income (Oil related 
QPAI)--(1) In general--(i) Oil related QPAI. Oil related QPAI for any 
taxable year is an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the 
taxpayer's DPGR (as defined in Sec.  1.199-3) derived from the 
production, refining or processing of oil, gas, or any primary product 
thereof (oil related DPGR) over the sum of:
    (A) The CGS that is allocable to such receipts; and
    (B) Other expenses, losses, or deductions (other than the deduction 
allowed under this section) that are properly allocable to such 
receipts. See Sec. Sec.  1.199-3 and 1.199-4.
    (ii) Special rule for oil related DPGR. Oil related DPGR does not 
include gross receipts derived from the transportation or distribution 
of oil, gas, or any primary product thereof. However, to the extent 
that a taxpayer treats gross receipts derived from transportation or 
distribution of oil, gas, or any primary product thereof as DPGR under 
paragraph (d)(3)(i) of this section or under Sec.  1.199-3(i)(4)(i)(B), 
then the taxpayer must treat those gross receipts as oil related DGPR.
    (iii) Definition of oil. The term oil includes oil recovered from 
both conventional and non-conventional recovery methods, including 
crude oil, shale oil, and oil recovered from tar/oil sands.
    (iv) Primary product from oil or gas. A primary product from oil or 
gas is, for purposes of this paragraph:
    (A) Primary product from oil. The term primary product from oil 
means all products derived from the destructive distillation of oil, 
including:
    (1) Volatile products;
    (2) Light oils such as motor fuel and kerosene;
    (3) Distillates such as naphtha;
    (4) Lubricating oils;
    (5) Greases and waxes; and
    (6) Residues such as fuel oil.
    (B) Primary product from gas. The term primary product from gas 
means all gas and associated hydrocarbon components from gas wells or 
oil wells, whether recovered at the lease or upon further processing, 
including:
    (1) Natural gas;
    (2) Condensates;
    (3) Liquefied petroleum gases such as ethane, propane, and butane; 
and
    (4) Liquid products such as natural gasoline.
    (C) Primary products and changing technology. The primary products 
from oil or gas described in paragraphs (f)(1)(iv)(A) and (B) of this 
section are not intended to represent either the only primary products 
from oil or gas, or the only processes from which primary products may 
be derived under existing and future technologies.
    (D) Non-primary products. Examples of non-primary products include, 
but are not limited to, petrochemicals, medicinal products, 
insecticides, and alcohols.
    (2) Cost allocation methods for determining oil related QPAI--(i) 
Section 861 method. A taxpayer that uses the section 861 method to 
determine deductions that are allocated and apportioned to gross income 
attributable to DPGR must use the section 861 method to determine 
deductions that are allocated and apportioned to gross income 
attributable to oil related DPGR. See Sec.  1.199-4(d).
    (ii) Simplified deduction method. A taxpayer that uses the 
simplified deduction method to apportion deductions between DPGR and 
non-DPGR must determine the portion of deductions allocable to oil 
related DPGR by multiplying the deductions allocable to DPGR by the 
ratio of oil related DPGR divided by DPGR from all activities. See 
Sec.  1.199-4(e).
    (iii) Small business simplified overall method. A taxpayer that 
uses the small business simplified overall method to apportion total 
costs (CGS and deductions) between DPGR and non-DPGR must determine the 
portion of total costs allocable to DPGR that are allocable to oil 
related DPGR by multiplying the total costs allocable to DPGR by the 
ratio of oil related DPGR divided by DPGR from all activities. See 
Sec.  1.199-4(f).
0
Par. 4. Section 1.199-2 is amended by revising paragraph (c), adding a 
sentence at the end of paragraph (e)(1), and adding paragraph (f) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  1.199-2  Wage limitation.

* * * * *
    (c) [The text of the proposed amendments to Sec.  1.199-2(c) is the 
same as the text of Sec.  1.199-2T(c) published elsewhere in this issue 
of the Federal Register].
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (1) * * * In the case of a qualified film (as defined in Sec.  
1.199-3(k)) for taxable years beginning after 2007, the term W-2 wages 
includes compensation for services (as defined in Sec.  1.199-3(k)(4)) 
performed in the United States by actors, production personnel, 
directors, and producers (as defined in Sec.  1.199-3(k)(1)).
* * * * *
    (f) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In the case of a taxpayer 
described in Sec.  1.199-3(h)(2), the determination of W-2 wages of 
such taxpayer shall be made without regard to any exclusion under 
section 3401(a)(8) for remuneration paid for services performed in the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This paragraph (f) only applies as 
provided in section 199(d)(8).
0
Par. 5. Section 1.199-3 is amended by:
0
1. In paragraph (d)(4):
0
a. Redesignating Example 6, Example 7, Example 8, Example 9, Example 
10, Example 11, and Example 12 as Example 7, Example 8, Example 9, 
Example 10, Example 11, Example 12, and Example 13, respectively;
0
b. In newly-designated Example 10, removing the language ``Example 8'' 
and adding ``Example 9'' in its place; and
0
c. Adding Example 6 and Example 14.
0
2. Revising the last sentence in paragraphs (e)(1) and (3).
0
3. In paragraph (e)(5):
0
a. Revising the third sentence in Example 1, the second sentence in 
Example 4, and Example 5.
0
b. Adding Example 9.
0
4. Revising the last sentence in paragraph (f)(1).
0
5. Revising Example 1, removing Example 2, and redesignating Example 3 
as Example 2 in paragraph (f)(4).
0
6. Removing the second and third sentences in paragraph (g)(1).
0
7. Revising paragraph (g)(4)(i).
0
8. Redesignating paragraph (h) as paragraph (h)(1), adding paragraph 
(h) heading and adding paragraph (h)(2).
0
9. Revising paragraph (i)(3).
0
10. Removing Example 3; redesignating Example 5 as Example 3; and 
revising Example 4 in paragraph (i)(5)(iii).
0
11. In paragraph (i)(6)(iv)(D)(2), removing the language ``Sec.  1.199-
3T(i)(8)'' and adding ``Sec.  1.199-3(i)(8)'' in its place.
0
12. Redesignating paragraph (i)(9) as paragraph (i)(10) and adding 
paragraph (i)(9).
0
13. Adding three sentences after the first sentence in paragraph 
(k)(1),

[[Page 51987]]

revising paragraph (k)(2)(ii) introductory text, and adding a sentence 
at the end of paragraph (k)(3)(i).
0
14. Removing the first, second, and fifth sentences in paragraph 
(k)(3)(ii).
0
15. Adding one sentence at the end of paragraph (k)(6).
0
16. Adding two sentences before the last sentence in paragraph 
(k)(7)(i).
0
17. Revising the last sentence in paragraph (k)(8).
0
18. Redesignating paragraph (k)(10) as paragraph (k)(11) and adding 
paragraph (k)(10).
0
19. In newly redesignated paragraph (k)(11):
0
a. Revising Example 3;
0
b. Removing Example 4; redesignating Example 5 and Example 6 as Example 
4 and Example 5, respectively; and adding Example 6, Example 7, Example 
8, Example 9, Example 10, and Example 11; and
0
c. Revising the third sentence in newly redesignated Example 4.
0
20. Adding one sentence at the end of paragraph (m)(2)(i).
0
21. Revising paragraph (m)(5).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.199-3  Domestic production gross receipts.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (4) * * *
    Example 6.  The facts are the same as Example 3 except that R 
offers three-car sets together with a coupon for a car wash for sale 
to customers in the normal course of R's business. The gross 
receipts attributable to the car wash do not qualify as DPGR because 
a car wash is a service, assuming the de minimis exception under 
paragraph (i)(4)(i)(B)(6) of this section does not apply. In 
determining R's DPGR, under paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section, the 
three-car set is an item if the gross receipts derived from the sale 
of the three-car sets without the car wash qualify as DPGR under 
this section.
* * * * *
    Example 14.  Z is engaged in the trade or business of 
construction under NAICS code 23 on a regular and ongoing basis. Z 
purchases a piece of property that has two buildings located on it. 
Z performs construction activities in connection with a project to 
substantially renovate building 1. Building 2 is not substantially 
renovated and together building 1 and building 2 are not 
substantially renovated, as defined under paragraph (m)(5) of this 
section. Z later sells building 1 and building 2 together in the 
normal course of Z's business. Z can use any reasonable method to 
determine what construction activities constitute an item under 
paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section. Z's method is not reasonable 
if Z treats the gross receipts derived from the sale of building 1 
and building 2 as DPGR. This is because Z's construction activities 
would not have substantially renovated buildings 1 and 2 if they 
were considered together as one item. Z's method is reasonable if it 
treats the construction activities with respect to building 1 as the 
item under paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section because the 
proceeds from the sale of building 1 constitute DPGR.
    (e) * * *
    (1) * * * Pursuant to paragraph (f)(1) of this section, the 
taxpayer must be the party engaged in the MPGE of the QPP during the 
period the MPGE activity occurs in order for gross receipts derived 
from the MPGE of QPP to qualify as DPGR.
* * * * *
    (3) * * * Notwithstanding paragraph (i)(4)(i)(B)(4) of this 
section, if the taxpayer installs QPP MPGE by the taxpayer, then the 
portion of the installing activity that relates to the QPP is an MPGE 
activity.
* * * * *
    (5) * * *
    Example 1.  * * * A stores the agricultural products. * * *
* * * * *
    Example 4.  * * * Y engages in the reconstruction and 
refurbishment activity and installation of the parts. * * *
    Example 5.  The following activities are performed by Z as part 
of the MPGE of the QPP: Materials analysis and selection, 
subcontractor inspections and qualifications, testing of component 
parts, assisting customers in their review and approval of the QPP, 
routine production inspections, product documentation, diagnosis and 
correction of system failure, and packaging for shipment to 
customers. Because Z MPGE the QPP, these activities performed by Z 
are part of the MPGE of the QPP. If Z did not MPGE the QPP, then 
these activities, such as testing of component parts, performed by Z 
are not the MPGE of QPP.
* * * * *
    Example 9.  X is in the business of selling gift baskets 
containing various products that are packaged together. X purchases 
the baskets and the products included within the baskets from 
unrelated third parties. X plans where and how the products should 
be arranged into the baskets. On an assembly line in a gift basket 
production facility, X arranges the products into the baskets 
according to that plan, sometimes relabeling the products before 
placing them into the baskets. X engages in no other activity 
besides packaging, repackaging, labeling, or minor assembly with 
respect to the gift baskets. Therefore, X is not considered to have 
engaged in the MPGE of QPP under paragraph (e)(2) of this section.
* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (1) * * * If a qualifying activity under paragraph (e)(1), (k)(1), 
or (l)(1) of this section is performed under a contract, then the party 
to the contract that is the taxpayer for purposes of this paragraph (f) 
during the period in which the qualifying activity occurs is the party 
performing the qualifying activity.
* * * * *
    (4) * * *
    Example 1.  X designs machines that it sells to customers. X 
contracts with Y, an unrelated person, for the manufacture of the 
machines. The contract between X and Y is a fixed-price contract. To 
manufacture the machines, Y purchases components and raw materials. 
Y tests the purchased components. Y manufactures the raw materials 
into additional components and Y physically performs the assembly of 
the components into machines. Y oversees and directs the activities 
under which the machines are manufactured by its employees. X also 
has employees onsite during the manufacturing for quality control. Y 
packages the finished machines and ships them to X's customers. 
Pursuant to paragraph (f)(1) of this section, Y is the taxpayer 
during the period the manufacturing of the machines occurs and, as a 
result, Y is treated as the manufacturer of the machines.
* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (4) * * *
    (i) Contract with an unrelated person. If a taxpayer enters into a 
contract with an unrelated person pursuant to which the unrelated 
person is required to MPGE QPP within the United States for the 
taxpayer, the taxpayer is not considered to have engaged in the MPGE of 
that QPP pursuant to paragraph (f)(1) of this section, and therefore, 
for purposes of making any determination under this paragraph (g), the 
MPGE or production activities or direct labor and overhead of the 
unrelated person under the contract are only attributed to the 
unrelated person.
* * * * *
    (h) United States * * *
    (2) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The term United States includes 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in the case of any taxpayer with gross 
receipts for any taxable year from sources within the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, if all of such receipts are taxable under section 1 or 11 
for such taxable year. This paragraph (h)(2) only applies as provided 
in section 199(d)(8).
    (i) * * *
    (3) Hedging transactions--(i) In general. For purposes of this 
section, provided that the risk being hedged relates to property 
described in section 1221(a)(1) giving rise to DPGR or relates to 
property described in section 1221(a)(8) consumed in an activity giving 
rise to DPGR, and provided that the transaction is a hedging 
transaction within the meaning of section 1221(b)(2)(A) and Sec.  
1.1221-2(b) and is properly identified as a hedging transaction in 
accordance with Sec.  1.1221-2(f), then--

[[Page 51988]]

    (A) In the case of a hedge of purchases of property described in 
section 1221(a)(1), income, deduction, gain, or loss on the hedging 
transaction must be taken into account in determining CGS;
    (B) In the case of a hedge of sales of property described in 
section 1221(a)(1), income, deduction, gain, or loss on the hedging 
transaction must be taken into account in determining DPGR; and
    (C) In the case of a hedge of purchases of property described in 
section 1221(a)(8), income, deduction, gain, or loss on the hedging 
transaction must be taken into account in determining DPGR.
    (ii) Effect of identification and nonidentification. The principles 
of Sec.  1.1221-2(g) apply to a taxpayer that identifies or fails to 
identify a transaction as a hedging transaction, except that the 
consequence of identifying as a hedging transaction a transaction that 
is not in fact a hedging transaction described in paragraph (i)(3)(i) 
of this section, or of failing to identify a transaction that the 
taxpayer has no reasonable grounds for treating as other than a hedging 
transaction described in paragraph (i)(3)(i) of this section, is that 
deduction or loss (but not income or gain) from the transaction is 
taken into account under paragraph (i)(3) of this section.
    (iii) Other rules. See Sec.  1.1221-2(e) for rules applicable to 
hedging by members of a consolidated group and Sec.  1.446-4 for rules 
regarding the timing of income, deductions, gains or losses with 
respect to hedging transactions.
* * * * *
    (5) * * *
    (iii) * * *
    Example 4.  X produces a live television program that is a 
qualified film. In 2010, X broadcasts the television program on its 
station and distributes the program through the Internet. The 
television program contains product placements and advertising for 
which X received compensation in 2010. Because the methods and means 
of distributing a qualified film under paragraph (k)(1) of this 
section do not affect the availability of the deduction under 
section 199 for taxable years beginning after 2007, pursuant to 
paragraph (i)(5)(ii) of this section, all of X's product placement 
and advertising gross receipts for the program are treated as 
derived from the distribution of the qualified film.
* * * * *
    (9) Partnerships and S corporations engaging in production of 
qualified films--(i) In general. For taxable years beginning after 
2007, in the case of each partner of a partnership or shareholder of an 
S corporation who owns (directly or indirectly) at least 20 percent of 
the capital interests in such partnership or the stock of such S 
corporation, such partner or shareholder shall be treated as having 
engaged directly in any qualified film produced by such partnership or 
S corporation, and such partnership or S corporation shall be treated 
as having engaged directly in any qualified film produced by such 
partner or shareholder.
    (ii) No double attribution. When a partnership or S corporation is 
treated as having engaged directly in any qualified film produced by a 
partner or shareholder, any other partners of the partnership or 
shareholders of the S corporation who did not participate directly in 
the production of the qualified film are treated as not having engaged 
directly in the production of the qualified film at the partner or 
shareholder level. When a partner or shareholder is treated as having 
engaged directly in any qualified film produced by a partnership or S 
corporation, any other partnerships or S corporations in which that 
partner or shareholder owns an interest (excluding the partnership or S 
corporation that produced the film), are treated as not having engaged 
directly in the production of the qualified film at the partnership or 
S corporation level.
    (iii) Timing of attribution. A partner or shareholder is treated as 
having engaged directly in any qualified film produced by the 
partnership or S corporation, regardless of when the qualified film was 
produced by the partnership or S corporation, during any period that 
the partner or shareholder owns (directly or indirectly) at least 20 
percent of the capital interests in the partnership or stock of the S 
corporation (attribution period). During any period that a partner or 
shareholder owns less than a 20 percent of the capital interests in 
such partnership or the stock of such S corporation, that partner or 
shareholder is not treated as having engaged directly in the qualified 
film produced by the partnership or S corporation for purposes of this 
paragraph (i)(9). A partnership or S corporation is treated as having 
engaged directly in a qualified film produced by a partner or 
shareholder during any period the partner or shareholder owns (directly 
or indirectly) at least 20 percent of the capital interests in such 
partnership or the stock of S corporation (attribution period). During 
any period that the partner or shareholder owns less than 20 percent of 
the capital interests in such partnership or stock of such S 
corporation, the partnership or S corporation is not treated as having 
engaged directly in the qualified film produced by the partner or 
shareholder for purposes of this paragraph (i)(9). The attribution 
period under this paragraph (i)(9) may be shorter or longer than a 
taxpayer's taxable year, depending on the length of the attribution 
period.
    (iv) Examples. The following examples illustrate an application of 
this paragraph (i)(9). Assume that all taxpayers are calendar year 
taxpayers.

    Example 1.  In 2010, Studio A and Studio B form an S corporation 
in which each is a 50-percent shareholder to produce a qualified 
film. Studio A owns the rights to distribute the film domestically 
and Studio B owns the rights to distribute the film outside of the 
United States. The production activities of the S corporation are 
attributed to each shareholder, and thus each shareholder's revenue 
from the distribution of the qualified film is treated as DPGR 
during the attribution period because Studio A and Studio B are 
treated as having directly engaged in any film that was produced by 
the S corporation.
    Example 2.  The facts are the same as Example 1 except that, in 
2011, after the S corporation's production of the qualified film, 
Studio C becomes a shareholder that owns at least 20 percent of the 
stock of the S corporation. Studio C is treated as having directly 
engaged in any film that was produced by the S corporation during 
the attribution period, as defined in paragraph (i)(9)(iii) of this 
section.
    Example 3.  In 2010, Studio A and Studio B form a partnership in 
which each is a 50-percent partner to distribute a qualified film. 
Studio A produced the film and contributes it to the partnership and 
Studio B contributes cash to the partnership. The production 
activities of Studio A are attributed to the partnership, and thus 
the partnership's revenue from the distribution of the qualified 
film is treated as DPGR during the attribution period, as defined in 
paragraph (i)(9)(iii) of this section, because the partnership is 
treated as having directly engaged in any film that was produced by 
Studio A.
    Example 4.  The facts are the same as Example 3 except that 
Studio B receives a distribution of the rights to license an 
intangible associated with the qualified film produced by Studio A. 
Any receipts derived from the licensing of the intangible by Studio 
B are non-DPGR because Studio A's production activities are 
attributed to the partnership, and are not further attributed to 
Studio B.
    Example 5.  The facts are the same as Example 3 except that, at 
some point in 2011, Studio A owns less than a 20-percent capital 
interest in the partnership. During the period that Studio A owns 
less than a 20-percent capital interest in the partnership between 
Studio A and Studio B, the partnership is not treated as directly 
engaging in the production of a qualified film. Therefore, any 
future receipts the partnership derives from the film after the end 
of the attribution period, as defined in paragraph (i)(9)(iii) of 
this section, are non-DPGR. Studio A, however, is still treated as 
having engaged directly in the production of the qualified film.
* * * * *
    (k) * * *
    (1) * * * For taxable years beginning after 2007, the term 
qualified film

[[Page 51989]]

includes any copyrights, trademarks, or other intangibles with respect 
to such film (intangibles). For purposes of this paragraph (k), other 
intangibles include rights associated with the exploitation of a 
qualified film, such as endorsement rights, video game rights, 
merchandising rights, and other similar rights. See paragraph (k)(10) 
of this section for a special rule for disposition of promotional 
films. * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) Film produced by a taxpayer. Except for intangibles under 
paragraph (k)(1) of this section, if a taxpayer produces a film and the 
film is affixed to tangible personal property (for example, a DVD), 
then for purposes of this section--
* * * * *
    (3) * * *
    (i) * * * For taxable years beginning after 2007, the methods and 
means of distributing a qualified film shall not affect the 
availability of the deduction under section 199.
* * * * *
    (6) * * * Production activities do not include transmission or 
distribution activities with respect to a film, including the 
transmission of a film by electronic signal and the activities 
facilitating such transmission (such as formatting that enables the 
film to be transmitted).
    (7) * * *
    (i) * * * Paragraph (g)(3)(ii) of this section includes all costs 
paid or incurred by a taxpayer, whether or not capitalized or required 
to be capitalized under section 263A, to produce a live or delayed 
television program, and also includes any lease, rental, or license 
fees paid by a taxpayer for all or any portion of a film, or films 
produced by a third party that taxpayer uses in its film. License fees 
for films produced by third parties are not included in the direct 
labor and overhead to produce the film for purposes of applying 
paragraph (g)(3) of this section. * * *
* * * * *
    (8) * * * If one party performs a production activity pursuant to a 
contract with another party, then only the party that is considered the 
taxpayer pursuant to paragraph (f)(1) of this section during the period 
in which the production activity occurs is treated as engaging in the 
production activity.
* * * * *
    (10) Special rule for disposition of promotional films and products 
or services promoted in promotional films. A promotional film is a film 
produced to promote a taxpayer's particular product or service and the 
term includes, but is not limited to, commercials, infomercials, 
advertising films, and sponsored films. A product or service is 
promoted in a promotional film if the product or service appears in, is 
described during, or is in a similar way alluded to by such film. If a 
promotional film meets the requirements to be treated as a qualified 
film produced by the taxpayer, then a taxpayer derives gross receipts 
from the lease, rental, license, sale, exchange, or other disposition 
of a qualified film, including any copyrights, trademarks, or other 
intangibles when the promotional film's disposition is distinct 
(separate and apart) from the disposition of the promoted product or 
service. Gross receipts are not derived from the disposition of a 
qualified film, including any copyrights, trademarks, or other 
intangibles when gross receipts are derived from a disposition of the 
promoted product or service.
    (11) * * *

    Example 3.  X produces live television programs that are 
qualified films. X shows the programs on its own television station. 
X sells advertising time slots to advertisers for the television 
programs. Because the methods and means of distributing a qualified 
film under paragraph (k)(1) of this section do not affect the 
availability of the deduction under section 199 for taxable years 
beginning after 2007, the advertising income X receives from 
advertisers is derived from the lease, rental, license, sale, 
exchange, or other disposition of the qualified films and is DPGR.
    Example 4.  * * * Y is considered the taxpayer performing the 
qualifying activities pursuant to paragraph (f)(1) of this section 
with respect to the DVDs during the MPGE and duplication process. * 
* *
* * * * *
    Example 6.  X produced a qualified film and licenses the 
trademark of Character A, a character in the qualified film, to Y 
for reproduction of the Character A image onto t-shirts. Y sells the 
t-shirts with Character A's likeness to customers, and pays X a 
royalty based on sales of the t-shirts. X's qualified film only 
includes intangibles with respect to the qualified film in taxable 
years beginning after 2007, including the trademark of Character A. 
Accordingly, any gross receipts derived from the license of the 
trademark of Character A to Y occurring in a taxable year beginning 
before 2008 are non-DPGR, and any gross receipts derived from the 
license of the trademark of Character A occurring in a taxable year 
beginning after 2007 are DPGR (assuming all other requirements of 
this section are met). The royalties X derives from Y occurring in a 
taxable year beginning before 2008 are non-DPGR because the 
royalties are derived from an intangible (which is not within the 
definition of a qualified film under paragraph (k)(1) of this 
section for taxable years beginning before 2008).
    Example 7.  Y, a media company, acquires all of the intangible 
rights to Book A, which was written and published in 2008, and all 
of the intangible rights associated with a qualified film that is 
based on Book A. The qualified film based on Book A is produced in 
2009 by Y. Y owns the copyright and trademark to Character B, the 
lead character in Book A and the qualified film based on Book A. Y 
licenses Character B's copyright and trademark to Z for $50,000,000. 
For 2009, without taking into account the payment from Z, Y derives 
40 percent of its gross receipts from the qualified film based on 
Book A, and 60 percent from Book A. Z's payment is attributable to 
both Book A and the qualified film based on Book A. Therefore, Y 
must allocate Z's payment, and only the gross receipts derived from 
licensing the intangible rights associated with the qualified film 
based on Book A, or 40 percent, are DPGR.
    Example 8.  Z produces a commercial in the United States that 
features Z's shirts, shoes, and other athletic equipment that all 
have Z's trademarked logo affixed (promoted products). Z's 
commercial is a qualified film produced by Z. Z sells the shirts, 
shoes, and athletic equipment to customers at retail establishments. 
Z's gross receipts are derived from the disposition of the promoted 
products and are not derived from the disposition of Z's qualified 
film, including any copyrights, trademarks, or other intangibles 
with respect to Z's qualified film.
    Example 9.  X produces a commercial in the United States that 
features X's services (promoted services). X's commercial is a 
qualified film produced by X. The commercial includes Character A 
developed to promote X's services. Gross receipts that X derives 
from providing the promoted services are not derived from the 
disposition of X's qualified film, including any copyrights, 
trademarks, or other intangibles with respect to X's qualified film. 
X also licenses the right to reproduce Character A developed to 
promote X's services to Y so that Y can produce t-shirts featuring 
Character A. This license is distinct (separate and apart) from a 
disposition of the promoted services and the gross receipts are 
derived from the license of an intangible with respect to X's 
qualified film produced by X. X's gross receipts derived from the 
license to reproduce Character A are DPGR.
    Example 10.  Y produces a qualified film in the United States. Y 
purchases DVDs and affixes the qualified film to the DVDs. Y 
purchases gift baskets and sells individual gift baskets that 
contain a DVD with the affixed qualified film in its retail stores 
in the normal course of Y's business. Under Sec.  1.199-
3(k)(2)(ii)(A), Y may treat the DVD as part of the qualified film 
produced by taxpayer, but Y cannot treat the gift baskets as part of 
the qualified film produced by taxpayer. The gross receipts that Y 
derives from the sale of the DVD are DPGR derived from a qualified 
film, but the gross receipts that Y derives from the sale of the 
gift baskets are non-DPGR.
    Example 11.  The facts are the same as in Example 10 except that 
the individual gift baskets that Y sells also contain boxes of 
popcorn and candy manufactured by Y within the United States. Under 
Sec.  1.199-3(k)(2)(ii)(A), Y cannot treat the gift baskets 
including the boxes of popcorn and candy manufactured by Y as part 
of the qualified

[[Page 51990]]

film produced by taxpayer. Gross receipts from the sale of the DVD 
are still treated as DPGR derived from a qualified film. Y must 
separately determine whether the gross receipts from the tangible 
personal property it sells qualify as DPGR. Thus, Y must determine 
whether the gift basket, including the boxes of popcorn and candy 
but excluding the qualified film, is an item for purposes of Sec.  
1.199-3(d)(1)(i).
* * * * *
    (m) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) * * * A taxpayer whose engagement in the activity is primarily 
limited to approving or authorizing invoices or payments is not 
considered engaged in a construction activity as a general contractor 
or in any other capacity.
* * * * *
    (5) Definition of substantial renovation. The term substantial 
renovation means activities the costs of which would be required to be 
capitalized by the taxpayer as an improvement under Sec.  1.263(a)-3, 
other than an amount described in Sec.  1.263(a)-3(k)(1)(i) through 
(iii). If not otherwise defined under Sec.  1.263(a)-3, the unit of 
property for purposes of Sec.  1.263(a)-3 is the real property, as 
defined in paragraph (m)(3) of this section, to which the activities 
relate.
* * * * *
    Par. 6. Section 1.199-4 is amended by adding a sentence after the 
seventh sentence in paragraph (b)(1) and adding paragraph (b)(2)(iii) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  1.199-4  Costs allocable to domestic production gross receipts.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * * In the case of a long-term contract accounted for under 
the percentage-of-completion method described in Sec.  1.460-4(b) 
(PCM), or the completed-contract method described in Sec.  1.460-4(d) 
(CCM), CGS for purposes of this section includes the allocable contract 
costs described in Sec.  1.460-5(b) (in the case of a contract 
accounted for under PCM) or Sec.  1.460-5(d) (in the case of a contract 
accounted for under CCM). * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) Cost of goods sold associated with activities undertaken in 
an earlier taxable year--(A) In general. A taxpayer must allocate CGS 
between DPGR and non-DPGR under the rules provided in paragraphs 
(b)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section, regardless of whether certain costs 
included in CGS can be associated with activities undertaken in an 
earlier taxable year (including a year prior to the effective date of 
section 199). A taxpayer may not segregate CGS into component costs and 
allocate those component costs between DPGR and non-DPGR.
    (B) Example. The following example illustrates an application of 
paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(A) of this section:
    Example. During the 2009 taxable year, X manufactured and sold 
Product A. All of the gross receipts from sales recognized by X in 
2009 were from the sale of Product A and qualified as DPGR. Employee 
1 was involved in X's production process until he retired in 2003. 
In 2009, X paid $30 directly from its general assets for Employee 
1's medical expenses pursuant to an unfunded, self-insured plan for 
retired X employees. For purposes of computing X's 2009 taxable 
income, X capitalized those medical costs to inventory under section 
263A. In 2009, the CGS for a unit of Product A was $100 (including 
the applicable portion of the $30 paid for Employee 1's medical 
costs that was allocated to cost of goods sold under X's allocation 
method for additional section 263A costs). X has information readily 
available to specifically identify CGS allocable to DPGR and can 
identify that amount without undue burden and expense because all of 
X's gross receipts from sales in 2009 are attributable to the sale 
of Product A and qualify as DPGR. The inventory cost of each unit of 
Product A sold in 2009, including the applicable portion of retiree 
medical costs, is related to X's gross receipts from the sale of 
Product A in 2009. X may not segregate the 2009 CGS by separately 
allocating the retiree medical costs, which are components of CGS, 
to DPGR and non-DPGR. Thus, even though the retiree medical costs 
can be associated with activities undertaken in prior years, $100 of 
inventory cost of each unit of Product A sold in 2009, including the 
applicable portion of the retiree medical expense cost component, is 
allocable to DPGR in 2009.
* * * * *
0
Par. 7. Section 1.199-6 is amended by adding Example 4 to paragraph (m) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  1.199-6  Agricultural and horticultural cooperatives.

* * * * *
    (m) * * *
    Example 4. (i) The facts are the same as Example 1 except that 
Cooperative X's payments of $370,000 for its members' corn qualify 
as per-unit retain allocations paid in money within the meaning of 
section 1388(f) and Cooperative X reports the per-unit retain 
allocations paid in money on Form 1099-PATR.
    (ii) Cooperative X is a cooperative described in paragraph (f) 
of this section. Accordingly, this section applies to Cooperative X 
and its patrons and all of Cooperative X's gross receipts from the 
sale of its patrons' corn qualify as domestic production gross 
receipts (as defined in Sec.  1.199-3(a)). Cooperative X's QPAI is 
$1,370,000. Cooperative X's section 199 deduction for its taxable 
year 2007 is $82,200 (.06 x $1,370,000). Because this amount is more 
than 50% of Cooperative X's W-2 wages (.5 x $130,000 = $65,000), the 
entire amount is not allowed as a section 199 deduction, but is 
instead subject to the wage limitation section 199(b), and also 
remains subject to the rules of section 199(d)(3) and this section.
0
Par. 8. Section 1.199-8 is amended by revising the heading of paragraph 
(i) and adding paragraphs (i)(10) and (11) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.199-8  Other rules.

* * * * *
    (i) Effective/applicability dates * * *
* * * * *
    (10) [The text of the proposed amendments to Sec.  1.199-8(i)(10) 
is the same as the text of Sec.  1.199-8T(i)(10) published elsewhere in 
this issue of the Federal Register].
    (11) Energy Improvement and Extension Act of the 2008, Tax 
Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008, Tax Relief, 
Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, 
and other provisions. Section 1.199-1(f); the last sentence in Sec.  
1.199-2(e)(1) and paragraph (f); Sec.  1.199-3(d)(4) Example 6 and 
Example 14, the last sentence in paragraph (e)(1), the last sentence in 
paragraph (e)(3), the third sentence in paragraph (e)(5) Example 1, the 
second sentence in paragraph (e)(5) Example 4, paragraph (e)(5) Example 
5 and Example 9, the last sentence in paragraph (f)(1), paragraph 
(f)(4) Example 1, paragraph (g)(4)(i), paragraphs (h)(2), (i)(3), 
(i)(5) Example 4, and (i)(9), the second, third, and fourth sentences 
in paragraph (k)(1), paragraph (k)(2)(ii), the second sentence in 
paragraph (k)(3)(i), the last sentence in paragraph (k)(6), the second 
sentence from the last sentence in paragraph (k)(7)(i), the last 
sentence in paragraph (k)(8), paragraph (k)(10), the third sentence in 
paragraph (k)(11) Example 4, paragraph (k)(11) Example 3, Example 6, 
Example 7, Example 8, Example 9, Example 10, and Example 11, the last 
sentence in paragraph (m)(2)(i), paragraph (m)(5); the eighth sentence 
in Sec.  1.199-4(b)(1) and paragraph (b)(2)(iii); and Sec.  1.199-6(m) 
Example 4 apply to taxable years beginning on or after the date the 
final regulations are published in the Federal Register.

John M. Dalrymple,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2015-20772 Filed 8-26-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4830-01-P



                                                 51978                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                              5203, Internal Revenue Service, P.O.                  Tax Relief Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110–343,
                                                                                                         Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station,                       122 Stat. 3765 (2008)) (Tax Extenders
                                                 Internal Revenue Service                                Washington, DC 20044. Submissions                     Act of 2008), section 746(a) of the Tax
                                                                                                         may be hand-delivered Monday through                  Relief, Unemployment Insurance
                                                 26 CFR Part 1                                           Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and                Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of
                                                 [REG–136459–09]                                         4 p.m. to CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG–136459–                   2010 (Pub. L. 111–312, 124 Stat. 3296
                                                                                                         09), Courier’s Desk, Internal Revenue                 (2010)), section 318 of the American
                                                 RIN 1545–BI90                                           Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW.,                Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Pub. L.
                                                                                                         Washington, DC, or sent electronically,               112–240, 126 Stat. 2313 (2013)), and
                                                 Amendments to Domestic Production                       via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at                 sections 130 and 219(b) of the Tax
                                                 Activities Deduction Regulations;                       http://www.regulations.gov (IRS REG–                  Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (Pub. L.
                                                 Allocation of W–2 Wages in a Short                      136459–09). The public hearing will be                113–295, 128 Stat. 4010 (2014)).
                                                 Taxable Year and in an Acquisition or                   held in the Auditorium of the Internal
                                                 Disposition                                                                                                   General Overview
                                                                                                         Revenue Building, 1111 Constitution
                                                 AGENCY:  Internal Revenue Service (IRS),                Avenue NW., Washington, DC.                              Section 199(a)(1) allows a deduction
                                                 Treasury.                                                                                                     equal to nine percent (three percent in
                                                                                                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                                                                               the case of taxable years beginning in
                                                 ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking,                  Concerning §§ 1.199–1(f), 1.199–2(c),
                                                                                                                                                               2005 or 2006, and six percent in the
                                                 notice of proposed rulemaking by cross                  1.199–2(e), 1.199–2(f), 1.199–3(b),
                                                                                                                                                               case of taxable years beginning in 2007,
                                                 reference to temporary regulations and                  1.199–3(e), 1.199–3(h), 1.199–3(k),
                                                                                                                                                               2008, or 2009) of the lesser of: (A) The
                                                 notice of public hearing.                               1.199–3(m), 1.199–6(m), and 1.199–8(i)
                                                                                                                                                               qualified production activities income
                                                                                                         of the proposed regulations, James                    (QPAI) of the taxpayer for the taxable
                                                 SUMMARY:    This document contains                      Holmes, (202) 317–4137; concerning
                                                 proposed regulations involving the                                                                            year, or (B) taxable income (determined
                                                                                                         § 1.199–4(b) of the proposed regulations,             without regard to section 199) for the
                                                 domestic production activities                          Natasha Mulleneaux (202) 317–7007;
                                                 deduction under section 199 of the                                                                            taxable year (or, in the case of an
                                                                                                         concerning submissions of comments,                   individual, adjusted gross income).
                                                 Internal Revenue Code (Code). The                       the hearing, or to be placed on the
                                                 proposed regulations provide guidance                                                                            Section 199(b)(1) provides that the
                                                                                                         building access list to attend the                    amount of the deduction allowable
                                                 to taxpayers on the amendments made                     hearing, Regina Johnson, at (202) 317–
                                                 to section 199 by the Energy                                                                                  under section 199(a) for any taxable year
                                                                                                         6901 (not toll-free numbers).                         shall not exceed 50 percent of the W–
                                                 Improvement and Extension Act of 2008                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            2 wages of the taxpayer for the taxable
                                                 and the Tax Extenders and Alternative
                                                                                                         Background                                            year. Section 199(b)(2)(A) generally
                                                 Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008,
                                                                                                                                                               defines W–2 wages, with respect to any
                                                 involving oil related qualified                            This document contains proposed                    person for any taxable year of such
                                                 production activities income and                        amendments to §§ 1.199–0, 1.199–1,                    person, as the sum of amounts described
                                                 qualified films, and the American                       1.199–2, 1.199–3, 1.199–4(b), 1.199–6,                in section 6051(a)(3) and (8) paid by
                                                 Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, involving                  and 1.199–8(i) of the Income Tax                      such person with respect to
                                                 activities in Puerto Rico. The proposed                 Regulations (26 CFR part 1). Section                  employment of employees by such
                                                 regulations also provide guidance on:                   1.199–1 relates to income that is                     person during the calendar year ending
                                                 Determining domestic production gross                   attributable to domestic production                   during such taxable year. Section
                                                 receipts; the terms manufactured,                       activities. Section 1.199–2 relates to W–             199(b)(3), after its amendment by
                                                 produced, grown, or extracted; contract                 2 wages as defined in section 199(b).                 section 219(b) of the Tax Increase
                                                 manufacturing; hedging transactions;                    Section 1.199–3 relates to determining                Prevention Act of 2014, provides that
                                                 construction activities; allocating cost of             domestic production gross receipts                    the Secretary shall provide for the
                                                 goods sold; and agricultural and                        (DPGR). Section 1.199–4(b) describes                  application of section 199(b) in cases of
                                                 horticultural cooperatives. In the Rules                the costs of goods sold allocable to                  a short taxable year or where the
                                                 and Regulations of this issue of the                    DPGR. Section 1.199–6 applies to                      taxpayer acquires, or disposes of, the
                                                 Federal Register, the Treasury                          agricultural and horticultural                        major portion of a trade or business, or
                                                 Department and the IRS also are issuing                 cooperatives. Section 1.199–8(i)                      the major portion of a separate unit of
                                                 temporary regulations (TD 9731)                         provides the effective/applicability                  a trade or business during the taxable
                                                 clarifying how taxpayers calculate W–2                  dates.                                                year. Section 199(b)(2)(B) limits the W–
                                                 wages for purposes of the W–2 wage                         Section 199 was added to the Code by               2 wages to those properly allocable to
                                                 limitation in the case of a short taxable               section 102 of the American Jobs                      DPGR for taxable years beginning after
                                                 year or an acquisition or disposition of                Creation Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108–357,                May 17, 2006.
                                                 a trade or business (including the major                118 Stat. 1418 (2004)), and amended by                   Section 199(c)(1) defines QPAI for any
                                                 portion of a trade or business, or the                  section 403(a) of the Gulf Opportunity                taxable year as an amount equal to the
                                                 major portion of a separate unit of a                   Zone Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–135, 119                excess (if any) of: (A) The taxpayer’s
                                                 trade or business) during the taxable                   Stat. 25 (2005)), section 514 of the Tax              DPGR for such taxable year, over (B) the
                                                 year. This document also contains a                     Increase Prevention and Reconciliation                sum of: (i) The cost of goods sold (CGS)
                                                 notice of a public hearing on the                       Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–222, 120 Stat.               that are allocable to such receipts; and
                                                 proposed regulations.                                   345 (2005)), section 401 of the Tax                   (ii) other expenses, losses, or deductions
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                                                 DATES: Written or electronic comments                   Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (Pub.              (other than the deduction under section
                                                 must be received by November 25, 2015.                  L. 109–432, 120 Stat. 2922 (2006)),                   199) that are properly allocable to such
                                                 Outlines of topics to be discussed at the               section 401(a), Division B of the Energy              receipts.
                                                 public hearing scheduled for December                   Improvement and Extension Act of 2008                    Section 199(c)(4)(A)(i) provides that
                                                 16, 2015, at 10:00 a.m., must be received               (Pub. L. 110–343, 122 Stat. 3765 (2008))              the term DPGR means the taxpayer’s
                                                 by November 25, 2015.                                   (Energy Extension Act of 2008), sections              gross receipts that are derived from any
                                                 ADDRESSES: Send submissions to:                         312(a) and 502(c), Division C of the Tax              lease, rental, license, sale, exchange, or
                                                 CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG–136459–09), Room                      Extenders and Alternative Minimum                     other disposition of: (I) Qualifying


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                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                            51979

                                                 production property (QPP) that was                         Section 1.199–1(f) of the proposed                 corporations rules), as in effect before its
                                                 manufactured, produced, grown, or                       regulations provides guidance on oil                  repeal. The proposed regulations
                                                 extracted (MPGE) by the taxpayer in                     related QPAI. In defining oil related                 incorporate the rules in § 1.927(a)–
                                                 whole or in significant part within the                 QPAI, the Treasury Department and the                 1T(g)(2)(i) regarding the definition of a
                                                 United States; (II) any qualified film                  IRS considered the relationship between               primary product with modifications that
                                                 produced by the taxpayer; or (III)                      QPAI and oil related QPAI. Section                    are consistent with the definition of oil
                                                 electricity, natural gas, or potable water              199(c)(1) defines QPAI as the amount                  for purposes of section 199(d)(9).
                                                 (utilities) produced by the taxpayer in                 equal to the excess (if any) of the                     Section 1.199–1(f)(2) of the proposed
                                                 the United States.                                      taxpayer’s DPGR for the taxable year                  regulations provides guidance on how a
                                                   Section 199(d)(10), as renumbered by                  over the sum of CGS allocable to such                 taxpayer should allocate and apportion
                                                 section 401(a), Division B of the Energy                receipts and other costs, expenses,                   costs under the section 861 method, the
                                                 Extension Act of 2008, authorizes the                   losses, and deductions allocable to such              simplified deduction method, and the
                                                 Secretary to prescribe such regulations                 receipts. So, for example, if gross                   small business simplified overall
                                                 as are necessary to carry out the                       receipts are not included within DPGR,                method when determining oil related
                                                 purposes of section 199, including                      those gross receipts are not included                 QPAI. The proposed regulations require
                                                 regulations that prevent more than one                  when calculating QPAI. Section                        taxpayers to use the same cost allocation
                                                 taxpayer from being allowed a                           199(d)(9)(B) defines oil related QPAI as              method to allocate and apportion costs
                                                 deduction under section 199 with                        QPAI attributable to the production,                  to oil related DPGR as the taxpayer uses
                                                 respect to any activity described in                    refining, processing, transportation, or              to allocate and apportion costs to DPGR.
                                                 section 199(c)(4)(A)(i).                                distribution of oil, gas, or any primary
                                                                                                         product thereof. In general, gross                    3. Qualified Films
                                                 Explanation of Provisions                               receipts from the transportation and                  a. Statutory Amendments
                                                 1. Allocation of W–2 Wages in a Short                   distribution of QPP are not includable
                                                                                                                                                                  Section 502(c), Division C of the Tax
                                                 Taxable Year and in an Acquisition or                   in DPGR because those activities are not
                                                                                                                                                               Extenders Act of 2008 amended the
                                                 Disposition of a Trade or Business (or                  considered part of the MPGE of QPP.
                                                                                                                                                               rules relating to qualified films. Section
                                                 Major Portion)                                          See § 1.199–3(e)(1), which defines
                                                                                                         MPGE. Section 199(c)(4)(B)(ii)                        502(c)(1) added section 199(b)(2)(D) to
                                                    Temporary regulations in the Rules                   specifically excludes gross receipts                  broaden the definition of the term W–2
                                                 and Regulations section of this issue of                attributable to the transmission or                   wages as applied to a qualified film to
                                                 the Federal Register contain                            distribution of natural gas from the                  include compensation for services
                                                 amendments to the Income Tax                            definition of DPGR.                                   performed in the United States by
                                                 Regulations that provide rules clarifying                  Based on these considerations, the                 actors, production personnel, directors,
                                                 how taxpayers calculate W–2 wages for                   proposed regulations define oil related               and producers.
                                                 purposes of the W–2 wage limitation                     QPAI as an amount equal to the excess                    Section 502(c)(2), Division C of the
                                                 under section 199(b)(1) in the case of a                (if any) of the taxpayer’s DPGR from the              Tax Extenders Act of 2008 amended the
                                                 short taxable year or where a taxpayer                  production, refining, or processing of                definition of qualified film in section
                                                 acquires, or disposes of, the major                     oil, gas, or any primary product thereof              199(c)(6) to mean any property
                                                 portion of a trade or business, or the                  (oil related DPGR) over the sum of the                described in section 168(f)(3) if not less
                                                 major portion of a separate unit of a                   CGS that is allocable to such receipts                than 50 percent of the total
                                                 trade or business during the taxable year               and other expenses, losses, or                        compensation relating to production of
                                                 under section 199(b)(3). The text of                    deductions that are properly allocable to             the property is compensation for
                                                 those regulations serves as the text of                 such receipts. The proposed regulations               services performed in the United States
                                                 these proposed regulations. The                         specifically provide that oil related                 by actors, production personnel,
                                                 preamble to the temporary regulations                   DPGR does not include gross receipts                  directors, and producers. The term does
                                                 explains the temporary regulations.                     derived from the transportation or                    not include property with respect to
                                                                                                         distribution of oil, gas, or any primary              which records are required to be
                                                 2. Oil Related Qualified Production                                                                           maintained under 18 U.S.C. 2257
                                                 Activities Income                                       product thereof, except if the de
                                                                                                         minimis rule under § 1.199–1(d)(3)(i) or              (generally, films, videotapes, or other
                                                   Section 401(a), Division B of the                     an exception for embedded services                    matter that depict actual sexually
                                                 Energy Extension Act of 2008 added                      applies under § 1.199–3(i)(4)(i)(B). The              explicit conduct and are produced in
                                                 new section 199(d)(9), which applies to                 proposed regulations further provide                  whole or in part with materials that
                                                 taxable years beginning after December                  that, to the extent a taxpayer treats gross           have been mailed or shipped in
                                                 31, 2008. Section 199(d)(9) reduces the                 receipts derived from the transportation              interstate or foreign commerce, or are
                                                 otherwise allowable section 199                         or distribution of oil, gas, or any                   shipped or transported or are intended
                                                 deduction when a taxpayer has oil                       primary product thereof as DPGR under                 for shipment or transportation in
                                                 related qualified production activities                 § 1.199–1(d)(3)(i) or § 1.199–3(i)(4)(i)(B),          interstate or foreign commerce). Section
                                                 income (oil related QPAI), and defines                  the taxpayer must include those gross                 502(c)(2), Division C of the Tax
                                                 oil related QPAI. Section 199(d)(9)(A)                  receipts in oil related DPGR.                         Extenders Act of 2008 also amended the
                                                 provides that if a taxpayer has oil                        The proposed regulations define oil as             definition of a qualified film under
                                                 related QPAI for any taxable year                       including oil recovered from both                     section 199(c)(6) to include any
                                                 beginning after 2009, the amount                        conventional and non-conventional                     copyrights, trademarks, or other
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                                                 otherwise allowable as a deduction                      recovery methods, including crude oil,                intangibles with respect to such film.
                                                 under section 199(a) must be reduced by                 shale oil, and oil recovered from tar/oil             The method and means of distributing
                                                 three percent of the least of: (i) The oil              sands. Section 199(d)(9)(C) defines                   a qualified film does not affect the
                                                 related QPAI of the taxpayer for the                    primary product as having the same                    availability of the deduction.
                                                 taxable year, (ii) the QPAI of the                      meaning as when used in section                          Section 502(c)(3), Division C of the
                                                 taxpayer for the taxable year, or (iii)                 927(a)(2)(C) (relating to property                    Tax Extenders Act of 2008 added an
                                                 taxable income (determined without                      excluded from the term export property                attribution rule for a qualified film for
                                                 regard to section 199).                                 under the former foreign sales                        taxpayers who are partnerships or S


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                                                 51980                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                 corporations, or partners or                            film produced by the taxpayer. The                    qualified film is removed from § 1.199–
                                                 shareholders of such entities under                     Treasury Department and the IRS                       3(k)(3)(ii) because, if a taxpayer
                                                 section 199(d)(1)(A)(iv). Section                       recognize that a taxpayer can, in certain             produces a qualified film, then the
                                                 199(d)(1)(A)(iv) provides that in the case              cases, derive gross receipts from a                   receipts the taxpayer derives from these
                                                 of each partner of a partnership, or                    disposition of a promotional film or the              showings qualify as DPGR in taxable
                                                 shareholder of an S corporation, who                    intangibles in a promotional film. The                years beginning after 2007. In addition,
                                                 owns (directly or indirectly) at least 20               proposed regulations add Example 9 in                 Example 4 in § 1.199–3(i)(5)(iii) and
                                                 percent of the capital interests in such                § 1.199–3(k)(11) relating to a license to             Example 3 in § 1.199–3(k)(11) (formerly
                                                 partnership or the stock of such S                      reproduce a character used in a                       § 1.199–3(k)(10)) have been revised to
                                                 corporation, such partner or shareholder                promotional film to illustrate a situation            illustrate that, for taxable years
                                                 is treated as having engaged directly in                where gross receipts can qualify as                   beginning after 2007, product placement
                                                 any film produced by such partnership                   DPGR because the gross receipts are                   and advertising income derived from
                                                 or S corporation, and that such                         distinct (separate and apart) from the                the distribution of a qualified film
                                                 partnership or S Corporation is treated                 disposition of the product or service.                qualifies as DPGR if the qualified film
                                                 as having engaged directly in any film                  The Treasury Department and the IRS                   containing the product placements and
                                                 produced by such partner or                             request comments on how to determine                  advertising is broadcast over the air or
                                                 shareholder.                                            when gross receipts are distinct.                     watched over the Internet.
                                                    The amendments made by section                          The proposed regulations add four                     The proposed regulations also add a
                                                 502(c), Division C of the Tax Extenders                 examples in redesignated § 1.199–                     sentence to § 1.199–3(k)(6) to clarify that
                                                 Act of 2008 apply to taxable years                      3(k)(11), formerly § 1.199–3(k)(10), to               production activities do not include
                                                 beginning after December 31, 2007.                      illustrate application of the amended                 activities related to the transmission or
                                                                                                         definition of qualified film that includes            distribution of films. The Treasury
                                                 b. W–2 Wages
                                                                                                         copyrights, trademarks, or other                      Department and the IRS are aware that
                                                    Section 1.199–2(e)(1) of the proposed                intangibles.                                          some taxpayers have taken the
                                                 regulations modifies the definition of                     The proposed regulations remove the                inappropriate position that these
                                                 W–2 wages to include compensation for                   last sentence of § 1.199–3(k)(3)(ii)                  activities are part of the production of
                                                 services (as defined in § 1.199–3(k)(4))                (which states that gross receipts derived             a film. The Treasury Department and
                                                 performed in the United States by                       from a license of the right to use or                 the IRS consider film production as
                                                 actors, production personnel, directors,                exploit film characters are not gross                 distinct from the transmission and
                                                 and producers (as defined in § 1.199–                   receipts derived from a qualified film)               distribution of films. This clarification
                                                 3(k)(1)).                                               because gross receipts derived from a                 is also consistent with the amendment
                                                 c. Definition of Qualified Films                        license of the right to use or exploit film           to the definition of qualified film, which
                                                                                                         characters are now considered gross                   provides that the methods and means of
                                                    To address the amendments to the                     receipts derived from a qualified film.               distribution do not affect the availability
                                                 definition of qualified film in section                    Section 1.199–3(k)(2)(ii), which                   of the deduction under section 199.
                                                 199(c)(6) for taxable years beginning                   allows a taxpayer to treat certain
                                                 after 2007, the proposed regulations                    tangible personal property as a qualified             d. Partnerships and S Corporations
                                                 amend the definition of qualified film in               film (for example, a DVD), is amended                    Section 1.199–3(i)(9) of the proposed
                                                 § 1.199–3(k)(1) to include copyrights,                  to exclude film intangibles because                   regulations describes the application of
                                                 trademarks, or other intangibles with                   tangible personal property affixed with               section 199(d)(1)(A)(iv) to partners and
                                                 respect to such film. The proposed                      a film intangible (such as a trademark)               partnerships and shareholders and S
                                                 regulations define other intangibles with               should not be treated as a qualified film.            corporations for taxable years beginning
                                                 a non-exclusive list of intangibles that                For example, the total revenue from the               after 2007. The Treasury Department
                                                 fall within the definition.                             sale of an imported t-shirt affixed with              and the IRS have determined that for a
                                                    Section 1.199–3(k)(10) provides a                    a film intangible should not be treated               partnership to apply the provisions of
                                                 special rule for disposition of                         as gross receipts derived from the sale               section 199(d)(1)(A)(iv) to treat itself as
                                                 promotional films to address concerns                   of a qualified film. The portion of the               having engaged directly in a film
                                                 of the Treasury Department and the IRS                  gross receipts attributable to the                    produced by a partner, the partnership
                                                 that the inclusion of intangibles in the                qualified film intangible separate from               must treat itself as a partnership for all
                                                 definition of qualified film could be                   receipts attributable to the t-shirt may              purposes of the Code. Further, a partner
                                                 interpreted too broadly. This rule                      qualify as DPGR, however. The                         of a partnership can apply the
                                                 clarifies that, when a taxpayer produces                proposed regulations also add Example                 provisions of section 199(d)(1)(A)(iv) to
                                                 a qualified film that is promoting a                    10 and Example 11 in redesignated                     treat itself as having engaged directly in
                                                 product or service, the gross receipts a                § 1.199–3(k)(11) to address situations in             a film produced by the partnership only
                                                 taxpayer later derives from the                         which tangible personal property is                   if the partnership treats itself as a
                                                 disposition of the product or service                   offered for sale in combination with a                partnership for all purposes of the Code.
                                                 promoted in the qualified film are                      qualified film affixed to a DVD.                      Section 1.199–3(i)(9)(i) describes
                                                 derived from the disposition of the                        Section 1.199–3(k)(3)(i) and (k)(3)(ii)            generally that a partner of a partnership
                                                 product or service and not from a                       of the proposed regulations address the               or shareholder of an S corporation who
                                                 disposition of the qualified film                       amendment to section 199(c)(6)                        owns (directly or indirectly) at least 20
                                                 (including any intangible with respect                  (effective for taxable years beginning                percent of the capital interests in such
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                                                 to such qualified film). The rule is                    after 2007) that provides the methods                 partnership or the stock of such S
                                                 intended to prevent taxpayers from                      and means of distributing a qualified                 corporation is treated as having engaged
                                                 claiming that gross receipts are derived                film will not affect the availability of the          directly in any film produced by such
                                                 from the disposition of a qualified film                deduction under section 199. The                      partnership or S corporation. Further,
                                                 (rather than the product or service itself)             exception that describes the receipts                 such partnership or S corporation is
                                                 when a taxpayer sells a product or                      from showing a qualified film in a                    treated as having engaged directly in
                                                 service with a logo, trademark, or other                movie theater or by broadcast on a                    any film produced by such partner or
                                                 intangible that appears in a promotional                television station as not derived from a              shareholder.


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                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                          51981

                                                    Section 1.199–3(i)(9)(ii) of the                     performed in the United States and the                taxpayer beginning after December 31,
                                                 proposed regulations generally prohibits                taxpayer satisfies the safe harbor in                 2005, and before January 1, 2015.
                                                 attribution between partners of a                       § 1.199–3(g)(3) for treating a taxpayer as              Section 1.199–2(f) of the proposed
                                                 partnership or shareholders of an S                     MPGE QPP in whole or significant part                 regulations modifies the W–2 wage
                                                 corporation, partnerships with a partner                in the United States. The Treasury                    limitation under section 199(b) to the
                                                 in common, or S corporations with a                     Department and the IRS are aware that                 extent provided by section 199(d)(8).
                                                 shareholder in common. Thus, when a                     it may be unclear how the safe harbor                 Section 1.199–3(h)(2) of the proposed
                                                 partnership or S corporation is treated                 in § 1.199–3(k)(7)(i) applies to costs of             regulations modifies the term United
                                                 as having engaged directly in any film                  live or delayed television programs that              States to include the Commonwealth of
                                                 produced by a partner or shareholder,                   may be expensed (specifically, whether                Puerto Rico to the extent provided by
                                                 any other partners or shareholders who                  such expensed costs are part of the CGS               section 199(d)(8).
                                                 did not participate directly in the                     or unadjusted depreciable basis of the                5. Determining DPGR on Item-by-Item
                                                 production of the film are treated as not               qualified film for purposes of § 1.199–               Basis
                                                 having engaged directly in the                          3(g)(3)). Further, it may be unclear
                                                 production of the film at the partner or                whether license fees paid for third-party                Section 1.199–3(d)(1) provides that a
                                                 shareholder level. Similarly, when a                    produced programs are included in                     taxpayer determines, using any
                                                 partner or shareholder is treated as                    direct labor and overhead when                        reasonable method that is satisfactory to
                                                 having engaged directly in any film                     applying the safe harbor in § 1.199–                  the Secretary based on all of the facts
                                                 produced by a partnership or S                          3(g)(3). The proposed regulations clarify             and circumstances, whether gross
                                                 corporation, any other partnerships or S                how a taxpayer producing live or                      receipts qualify as DPGR on an item-by-
                                                 corporations in which that partner or                   delayed television programs should                    item basis. Section 1.199–3(d)(1)(i)
                                                 shareholder owns an interest (excluding                 apply the safe harbor in § 1.199–                     provides that item means the property
                                                 the partnership or S corporation that                   3(k)(7)(i); in particular, how a taxpayer             offered by the taxpayer in the normal
                                                 produced the film) are treated as not                   should calculate its unadjusted                       course of the taxpayer’s business for
                                                 having engaged directly in the                          depreciable basis under § 1.199–                      lease, rental, license, sale, exchange, or
                                                 production of the film at the partnership               3(g)(3)(ii). Specifically, proposed                   other disposition (for purposes of
                                                 or S corporation level.                                 § 1.199–3(k)(7)(i) requires a taxpayer to             § 1.199–3(d), collectively referred to as
                                                    Section 1.199–3(i)(9)(iii) of the                    include all costs paid or incurred in the             disposition) to customers, if the gross
                                                 proposed regulations describes the                      production of a live or delayed                       receipts from the disposition of such
                                                 attribution period for a partner or                     television program in the taxpayer’s                  property qualify as DPGR. Section
                                                 partnership or shareholder or S                         unadjusted depreciable basis of such                  1.199–3(d)(2)(iii) provides that, in the
                                                 corporation under section                               program under § 1.199–3(g)(3)(ii),                    case of construction activities and
                                                 199(d)(1)(A)(iv). A partner or                          including the licensing fees paid to a                services or engineering and architectural
                                                 shareholder is treated as having engaged                third party under § 1.199–3(g)(3)(ii). The            services, a taxpayer may use any
                                                 directly in any qualified film produced                 proposed regulations further clarify that             reasonable method that is satisfactory to
                                                 by the partnership or S corporation, and                license fees for third-party produced                 the Secretary based on all of the facts
                                                 a partnership or S corporation is treated               programs are not included in the direct               and circumstances to determine what
                                                 as having engaged directly in any                       labor and overhead to produce the film                construction activities and services or
                                                 qualified film produced by the partner                  for purposes of applying § 1.199–3(g)(3).             engineering or architectural services
                                                 or shareholder, regardless of when the                                                                        constitute an item.
                                                 qualified film was produced, during the                 4. Treatment of Activities in Puerto Rico                The Treasury Department and the IRS
                                                 period in which the partner or                             Section 199(d)(8)(A) provides that in              are aware that the item rule in § 1.199–
                                                 shareholder owns (directly or indirectly)               the case of any taxpayer with gross                   3(d)(2)(iii) has been interpreted to mean
                                                 at least 20 percent of the capital                      receipts for any taxable year from                    that the gross receipts derived from the
                                                 interests in the partnership or the stock               sources within the Commonwealth of                    sale of a multiple-building project may
                                                 of the S corporation. During any period                 Puerto Rico, if all of such receipts are              be treated as DPGR when only one
                                                 that a partner or shareholder owns less                 taxable under section 1 or 11 for such                building in the project is substantially
                                                 than 20 percent of the capital interests                taxable year, then for purposes of                    renovated. The Treasury Department
                                                 in such partnership or the stock of such                determining the DPGR of such taxpayer                 and the IRS have concluded that
                                                 S corporation that partner or                           for such taxable year under section                   treating gross receipts from the sale of
                                                 shareholder is not treated as having                    199(c)(4), the term United States                     a multiple-building project as DPGR,
                                                 engaged directly in the qualified film                  includes the Commonwealth of Puerto                   and the multiple-building project as one
                                                 produced by the partnership or S                        Rico. Section 199(d)(8)(B) provides that              item, is not a reasonable method
                                                 corporation for purposes of § 1.199–                    in the case of a taxpayer described in                satisfactory to the Secretary for purposes
                                                 3(i)(9)(iii), and that partnership or S                 section 199(d)(8)(A), for purposes of                 of § 1.199–3(d)(2)(iii) if a taxpayer did
                                                 corporation is not treated as having                    applying the wage limitation under                    not substantially renovate each building
                                                 engaged directly in any qualified film                  section 199(b) for any taxable year, the              in the multiple-building project. Section
                                                 produced by the partner or shareholder.                 determination of W–2 wages of such                    1.199–3(d)(4) of the proposed
                                                    Section 1.199–3(i)(9)(iv) of the                     taxpayer is made without regard to any                regulations includes an example
                                                 proposed regulations provides examples                  exclusion under section 3401(a)(8) for                (Example 14) illustrating the
                                                 that illustrate section 199(d)(1)(A)(iv).               remuneration paid for services                        appropriate application of § 1.199–
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                                                                                                         performed in Puerto Rico. Section 130                 3(d)(2)(iii) to a multiple building
                                                 e. Qualified Film Safe Harbor                           of the Tax Increase Prevention Act of                 project.
                                                    Existing § 1.199–3(k)(7)(i) provides a               2014 amended section 199(d)(8)(C) for                    In addition, the Treasury Department
                                                 safe harbor that treats a film as a                     taxable years beginning after December                and the IRS are aware that taxpayers
                                                 qualified film produced by the taxpayer                 31, 2013. As amended, section                         may be unsure how to apply the item
                                                 if not less than 50 percent of the total                199(d)(8)(C) provides that section                    rule in § 1.199–3(d)(2)(i) when the
                                                 compensation for services paid by the                   199(d)(8) applies only with respect to                property offered for disposition to
                                                 taxpayer is compensation for services                   the first nine taxable years of the                   customers includes embedded services


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                                                 51982                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                 as described in § 1.199–3(i)(4)(i). The                 7. Definition of ‘‘by the taxpayer’’                  described in section 199(c)(4)(A)(i)). The
                                                 proposed regulations add Example 6 to                      Section 1.199–3(f)(1) provides that if             Treasury Department and the IRS have
                                                 § 1.199–3(d)(4) to clarify that the item                one taxpayer performs a qualifying                    interpreted the statute to mean that only
                                                 rule applies after excluding the gross                  activity under § 1.199–3(e)(1), § 1.199–              one taxpayer may claim the section 199
                                                 receipts attributable to services.                      3(k)(1), or § 1.199–3(l)(1) pursuant to a             deduction with respect to the same
                                                                                                         contract with another party, then only                activity performed with respect to the
                                                 6. MPGE                                                                                                       same property. See § 1.199–3(f)(1).
                                                                                                         the taxpayer that has the benefits and
                                                    Section 1.199–3(e)(1) provides that                  burdens of ownership of the QPP,                      Example 1 and Example 2 in § 1.199–
                                                 the term MPGE includes manufacturing,                   qualified film, or utilities under Federal            3(f)(4) currently illustrate this one-
                                                 producing, growing, extracting,                         income tax principles during the period               taxpayer rule using factors that are
                                                 installing, developing, improving, and                  in which the qualifying activity occurs               relevant to the determination of who has
                                                 creating QPP; making QPP out of scrap,                  is treated as engaging in the qualifying              the benefits and burdens of ownership.
                                                 salvage, or junk material as well as from                                                                        The Large Business and International
                                                                                                         activity.
                                                 new or raw material by processing,                                                                            (LB&I) Division issued an Industry
                                                                                                            Taxpayers and the IRS have had
                                                 manipulating, refining, or changing the                                                                       Director Directive on February 1, 2012
                                                                                                         difficulty determining which party to a
                                                 form of an article, or by combining or                                                                        (LB&I Control No. LB&I–4–0112–01)
                                                                                                         contract manufacturing arrangement has
                                                 assembling two or more articles;                                                                              (Directive) addressing the benefits and
                                                                                                         the benefits and burdens of ownership
                                                 cultivating soil, raising livestock,                                                                          burdens factors. The Directive provides
                                                                                                         of the property while the qualifying
                                                 fishing, and mining minerals. The                                                                             a three-step analysis of facts and
                                                                                                         activity occurs. Cases analyzing the
                                                 Treasury Department and the IRS are                                                                           circumstances relating to contract terms,
                                                                                                         benefits and burdens of ownership have
                                                 aware that Example 5 in § 1.199–3(e)(5)                                                                       production activities, and economic
                                                                                                         considered the following factors
                                                 has been interpreted to mean that                                                                             risks to determine whether a taxpayer
                                                                                                         relevant: (1) Whether legal title passes;             has the benefits and burdens of
                                                 testing activities qualify as an MPGE                   (2) how the parties treat the transaction;
                                                 activity even if the taxpayer engages in                                                                      ownership for purposes of § 1.199–
                                                                                                         (3) whether an equity interest was                    3(f)(1). LB&I issued a superseding
                                                 no other MPGE activity. The Treasury                    acquired; (4) whether the contract
                                                 Department and the IRS disagree that                                                                          second directive on July 24, 2013 (LB&I
                                                                                                         creates a present obligation on the seller            Control No. LB&I–04–0713–006), and a
                                                 testing activities, alone, qualify as an                to execute and deliver a deed and a
                                                 MPGE activity. The proposed                                                                                   third directive updating the second
                                                                                                         present obligation on the purchaser to                directive on October 29, 2013 (LB&I
                                                 regulations add a sentence to Example                   make payments; (5) whether the right of
                                                 5 in § 1.199–3(e)(5) to further illustrate                                                                    Control No. LB&I–04–1013–008). The
                                                                                                         possession is vested in the purchaser                 third directive allows a taxpayer to
                                                 that certain activities will not be treated             and which party has control of the
                                                 as MPGE activities if they are not                                                                            provide a statement explaining the
                                                                                                         property or process; (6) which party                  taxpayer’s determination that it had the
                                                 performed as part of the MPGE of QPP.                   pays the property taxes; (7) which party              benefits and burdens of ownership,
                                                 Taxpayers are not required to allocate                  bears the risk of loss or damage to the               along with certification statements
                                                 gross receipts to certain activities that               property; (8) which party receives the                signed under penalties of perjury by the
                                                 are not MPGE activities when those                      profits from the operation and sale of                taxpayer and the counterparty verifying
                                                 activities are performed in connection                  the property; and (9) whether a taxpayer              that only the taxpayer is claiming the
                                                 with the MPGE of QPP. However, if the                   actively and extensively participated in              section 199 deduction.
                                                 taxpayer in Example 5 in § 1.199–3(e)(5)                the management and operations of the                     To provide administrable rules that
                                                 did not MPGE QPP, then the activities                   activity. See ADVO, Inc. & Subsidiaries               are consistent with section 199, reduce
                                                 described in the example, including                     v. Commissioner, 141 T.C. 298, 324–25                 the burden on taxpayers and the IRS in
                                                 testing, are not MPGE activities.                       (2013); see also Grodt & McKay Realty,                evaluating factors related to the benefits
                                                    Section 1.199–3(e)(2) provides that if               Inc. v. Commissioner, 77 T.C. 1221                    and burdens of ownership, and prevent
                                                 a taxpayer packages, repackages, labels,                (1981). The ADVO court noted that the                 more than one taxpayer from being
                                                 or performs minor assembly of QPP and                   factors it used in its analysis are not               allowed a deduction under section 199
                                                 the taxpayer engages in no other MPGE                   exclusive or controlling, but that they               with respect to any qualifying activity,
                                                 activities with respect to that QPP, the                were in the particular case sufficient to             the proposed regulations remove the
                                                 taxpayer’s packaging, repackaging,                      determine which party had the benefits                rule in § 1.199–3(f)(1) that treats a
                                                 labeling, or minor assembly does not                    and burdens of ownership. ADVO, Inc.,                 taxpayer in a contract manufacturing
                                                 qualify as MPGE with respect to that                    141 T.C. at 325 n. 21. Determining                    arrangement as engaging in the
                                                 QPP. This rule has been the subject of                  which party has the benefits and                      qualifying activity only if the taxpayer
                                                 recent litigation. See United States v.                 burdens of ownership under Federal                    has the benefits and burdens of
                                                 Dean, 945 F. Supp. 2d 1110 (C.D. Cal.                   income tax principles for purposes of                 ownership during the period in which
                                                 2013) (concluding that the taxpayer’s                   section 199 requires an analysis and                  the qualifying activity occurs. In place
                                                 activity of preparing gift baskets was a                weighing of many factors, which in                    of the benefits and burdens of
                                                 manufacturing activity and not solely                   some contexts could result in more than               ownership rule, these proposed
                                                 packaging or repackaging for purposes                   one taxpayer claiming the benefits of                 regulations provide that if a qualifying
                                                 of section 199). The Treasury                           section 199 with respect to a particular              activity is performed under a contract,
                                                 Department and the IRS disagree with                    activity. Resolving the benefits and                  then the party that performs the activity
                                                 the interpretation of § 1.199–3(e)(2)                   burdens of ownership issue often                      is the taxpayer for purposes of section
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                                                 adopted by the court in United States v.                requires significant IRS and taxpayer                 199(c)(4)(A)(i). This rule, which applies
                                                 Dean, and the proposed regulations add                  resources.                                            solely for purposes of section 199,
                                                 an example (Example 9) that illustrates                    Section 199(d)(10) directs the                     reflects the conclusion that the party
                                                 the appropriate application of this rule                Treasury Department to provide                        actually producing the property should
                                                 in a situation in which the taxpayer is                 regulations that prevent more than one                be treated as engaging in the qualifying
                                                 engaged in no other MPGE activities                     taxpayer from being allowed a                         activity for purposes of section 199, and
                                                 with respect to the QPP other than those                deduction under section 199 with                      is therefore consistent with the statute’s
                                                 described in § 1.199–3(e)(2).                           respect to any qualifying activity (as                goal of incentivizing domestic


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                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                          51983

                                                 manufacturers and producers. The                        giving rise to DPGR, and the proposed                 structural part of real property that
                                                 proposed rule would also provide a                      regulations accept the comment.                       materially increases the value of the
                                                 readily administrable approach that                        The other changes to the hedging                   property, substantially prolongs the
                                                 would prevent more than one taxpayer                    rules are administrative. Section 1.199–              useful life of the property, or adapts the
                                                 from being allowed a deduction under                    3(i)(3)(ii) of the existing regulations on            property to a new or different use. This
                                                 section 199 with respect to any                         currency fluctuations was eliminated                  standard reflects regulations under
                                                 qualifying activity.                                    because the regulations under sections                § 1.263(a)–3 related to amounts paid to
                                                    Example 1 has been revised, and                      988(d) and 1221 adequately cover the                  improve tangible property that existed
                                                 current Example 2 has been removed, to                  treatment of currency hedges. Similarly,              at the time of publication of the final
                                                 reflect the new rule. In addition, the                  the rules in § 1.199–3(i)(3)(iii) that                § 1.199–3(m)(5) regulations (TD 9263
                                                 benefits and burdens language has been                  address the effect of identification and              [71 FR 31268] June 19, 2006) but which
                                                 removed from: (1) The definition of                     non-identification were duplicative of                have since been revised. See (TD 9636
                                                 MPGE in § 1.199–3(e)(1) and (3),                        the rules in the section 1221 regulations.            [78 FR 57686] September 19, 2013).
                                                 including Example 1, Example 4, and                     Accordingly, § 1.199–3(i)(3)(ii) has been                The proposed regulations under
                                                 Example 5 in § 1.199–3(e)(5); (2) the                   revised to cross-reference the                        § 1.199–3(m)(5) revise the definition of
                                                 definition of in whole or in significant                appropriate rules in § 1.1221–2(g), and               substantial renovation to conform to the
                                                 part in § 1.199–3(g)(1); (3) Example 5 in               to clarify that the consequence of an                 final regulations under § 1.263(a)-3,
                                                 the qualified film rules in existing                    abusive identification or non-                        which provide rules requiring
                                                 § 1.199–3(k)(7); and (4) the production                 identification is that deduction or loss,             capitalization of amounts paid for
                                                 pursuant to a contract in the qualified                 but not income or gain, is taken into                 improvements to a unit of property
                                                 film rules in § 1.199–3(k)(8).                          account in calculating DPGR.                          owned by a taxpayer. Improvements
                                                                                                                                                               under § 1.263(a)–3 are amounts paid for
                                                    The Treasury Department and the IRS                  9. Construction Activities
                                                                                                                                                               a betterment to a unit of property,
                                                 request comments on whether there are                      Section 199(c)(4)(A)(ii) includes in               amounts paid to restore a unit of
                                                 narrow circumstances that could justify                 DPGR, in the case of a taxpayer engaged               property, and amounts paid to adapt a
                                                 an exception to the proposed rule. In                   in the active conduct of a construction               unit of property to a new or different
                                                 particular, the Treasury Department and                 trade or business, gross receipts derived             use. See § 1.263(a)–3(j), (k), and (l).
                                                 the IRS request comments on whether                     from construction of real property                    Under the proposed regulations, a
                                                 there should be a limited exception to                  performed in the United States by the                 substantial renovation of real property is
                                                 the proposed rule for certain fully cost-               taxpayer in the ordinary course of such               a renovation the costs of which are
                                                 plus or cost-reimbursable contracts.                    trade or business. Under § 1.199–                     required to be capitalized as an
                                                 Under such an exception, the party that                 3(m)(2)(i), activities constituting                   improvement under § 1.263(a)–3, other
                                                 is not performing the qualifying activity               construction include activities                       than an amount described in § 1.263(a)–
                                                 would be treated as the taxpayer                        performed by a general contractor or                  3(k)(1)(i) through (iii) (relating to
                                                 engaged in the qualifying activity if the               activities typically performed by a                   amounts for which a loss deduction or
                                                 party performing the qualifying activity                general contractor, for example,                      basis adjustment requires capitalization
                                                 is (i) reimbursed for, or provided with,                activities relating to management and                 as an improvement). The improvement
                                                 all materials, labor, and overhead costs                oversight of the construction process                 rules under § 1.263(a)–3 provide
                                                 related to fulfilling the contract, and (ii)            such as approvals, periodic inspection                specific rules of application for
                                                 provided with an additional payment to                  of progress of the construction project,              buildings (see § 1.263(a)–3(j)(2)(ii),
                                                 allow for a profit. The Treasury                        and required job modifications. The                   (k)(2), and (l)(2)), which apply for
                                                 Department and the IRS are uncertain                    Treasury Department and the IRS are                   purposes of § 1.199–3(m)(5).
                                                 regarding the extent to which such fully                aware that some taxpayers have
                                                 cost-plus or cost-reimbursable contracts                interpreted this language to mean that a              10. Allocating Cost of Goods Sold
                                                 are in fact used in practice. Comments                  taxpayer who only approves or                            Section 1.199–4(b)(1) describes how a
                                                 suggesting circumstances that could                     authorizes payments is engaged in                     taxpayer determines its CGS allocable to
                                                 justify an exception to the proposed rule               activities typically performed by a                   DPGR. The Treasury Department and
                                                 should address the rationale for the                    general contractor under § 1.199–                     the IRS are aware that in the case of
                                                 proposed exception, the ability of the                  3(m)(2)(i). The Treasury Department and               transactions accounted for under a long-
                                                 IRS to administer the exception, and                    the IRS disagree that a taxpayer who                  term contract method of accounting
                                                 how the suggested exception will                        only approves or authorizes payments is               (either the percentage-of-completion
                                                 prevent two taxpayers from claiming the                 engaged in construction for purposes of               method (PCM) or the completed-
                                                 deduction for the qualifying activity.                  § 1.199–3(m)(2)(i). Accordingly, § 1.199–             contract method (CCM)), a taxpayer
                                                 8. Hedging Transactions                                 3(m)(2)(i) of the proposed regulations                incurs allocable contract costs. The
                                                                                                         clarifies that a taxpayer must engage in              Treasury Department and the IRS
                                                    The proposed regulations make                        construction activities that include more             recognize that allocable contract costs
                                                 several revisions to the hedging rules in               than the approval or authorization of                 under PCM or CCM are analogous to
                                                 § 1.199–3(i)(3). Section 1.199–3(i) of the              payments or invoices for that taxpayer’s              CGS and should be treated in the same
                                                 proposed regulations defines a hedging                  activities to be considered as activities             manner. Section 1.199–4(b)(1) of the
                                                 transaction to include transactions in                  typically performed by a general                      proposed regulations provides that in
                                                 which the risk being hedged relates to                  contractor.                                           the case of a long-term contract
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                                                 property described in section 1221(a)(1)                   Section 1.199–3(m)(2)(i) provides that             accounted for under PCM or CCM, CGS
                                                 giving rise to DPGR, whereas the                        activities constituting construction are              for purposes of § 1.199–4(b)(1) includes
                                                 existing regulations require the risk                   activities performed in connection with               allocable contract costs described in
                                                 being hedged relate to QPP described in                 a project to erect or substantially                   § 1.460–5(b) or § 1.460–5(d), as
                                                 section 1221(a)(1). A taxpayer                          renovate real property. Section 1.199–                applicable.
                                                 commented in a letter to the Treasury                   3(m)(5) currently defines substantial                    Existing § 1.199–4(b)(2)(i) provides
                                                 Department and the IRS that there is no                 renovation to mean the renovation of a                that a taxpayer must use a reasonable
                                                 reason to limit the hedging rules to QPP                major component or substantial                        method that is satisfactory to the


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                                                 51984                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                 Secretary based on all of the facts and                 an agreement between the organization                    Section 1.199–3(g) of the current
                                                 circumstances to allocate CGS between                   and the patron. Per-unit retain                       regulations, which superseded Notice
                                                 DPGR and non-DPGR. This allocation                      allocations may be made in money,                     2005–14, does not provide a specific
                                                 must be determined based on the rules                   property, or certificates.                            definition of minor assembly, but it does
                                                 provided in § 1.199–4(b)(2)(i) and (ii).                   The Treasury Department and the IRS                allow taxpayers to consider minor
                                                 Taxpayers have asserted that under                      are aware that Example 1 in § 1.199–                  assembly activities to determine
                                                 § 1.199–4(b)(2)(ii) the portion of current              6(m) has been interpreted as describing               whether the taxpayer has met the in-
                                                 year CGS associated with activities in                  that the cooperative’s payment for its                whole-or-in-significant-part requirement
                                                 earlier tax years (including pre-section                members’ corn is a per-unit retain                    (either by showing their activities were
                                                 199 tax years) may be allocated to non-                 allocation paid in money as defined in                substantial in nature under § 1.199–
                                                 DPGR even if the related gross receipts                 sections 1382(b)(3) and 1388(f).                      3(g)(2) or by meeting the safe harbor in
                                                 are treated by the taxpayer as DPGR.                    Example 1 in § 1.199–6(m) does not                    § 1.199–3(g)(3)). However, the current
                                                 Section 1.199–4(b)(2)(iii)(A) of the                    identify the cooperative’s payment for                regulations also contain § 1.199–3(e)(2),
                                                 proposed regulations clarifies that the                 its members’ corn as a per-unit retain                which excludes certain activities from
                                                 CGS must be allocated between DPGR                      allocation and is not intended to                     the definition of MPGE. Section 1.199–
                                                 and non-DPGR, regardless of whether                     illustrate how QPAI is computed when                  3(e)(2) provides that if a taxpayer
                                                 any component of the costs included in                  a cooperative’s payments to its patrons               packages, repackages, labels, or
                                                 CGS can be associated with activities                   are per-unit retain allocations. The                  performs minor assembly of QPP and
                                                 undertaken in an earlier taxable year.                  proposed regulations provide an                       the taxpayer engages in no other MPGE
                                                 Section 1.199–4(b)(2)(iii)(B) of the                    example (Example 4) in § 1.199–6(m)                   activity with respect to that QPP, the
                                                 proposed regulations provides an                        illustrating how QPAI is computed                     taxpayer’s packaging, repackaging,
                                                 example illustrating this rule.                         when the cooperative’s payments to                    labeling, or minor assembly does not
                                                                                                         members for corn qualify as per-unit                  qualify as MPGE with respect to that
                                                 11. Agricultural and Horticultural                      retain allocations paid in money under                QPP. Therefore, a taxpayer with only
                                                 Cooperatives                                            section 1388(f). The new example has                  minor assembly activities would not
                                                    Section 199(d)(3)(A) provides that any               the same facts as Example 1 in § 1.199–               meet the definition of MPGE and a
                                                 person who receives a qualified                         6(m), except that the cooperative’s                   determination of whether a taxpayer
                                                 payment from a specified agricultural or                payments for its members’ corn qualify                met the in-whole-or-in-significant-part
                                                 horticultural cooperative must be                       as per-unit retain allocations paid in                requirement is not made.
                                                 allowed for the taxable year in which                   money under section 1388(f) and the                      In considering whether to provide a
                                                 such payment is received a deduction                    cooperative reports per-unit retain                   specific definition of minor assembly,
                                                 under section 199(a) equal to the                       allocations paid in money on Form                     the Treasury Department and the IRS
                                                 portion of the deduction allowed under                  1099–PATR, ‘‘Taxable Distributions                    have found it difficult to identify an
                                                 section 199(a) to such cooperative that                 Received From Cooperatives.’’                         objective test that would be widely
                                                 is (i) allowed with respect to the portion                                                                    applicable.
                                                 of the QPAI to which such payment is                    Request for Comments                                     The definition of minor assembly
                                                 attributable, and (ii) identified by such                  Existing § 1.199–3(e)(2) provides that             could focus on whether a taxpayer’s
                                                 cooperative in a written notice mailed to               if a taxpayer packages, repackages,                   activity is only a single process that
                                                 such person during the payment period                   labels, or performs minor assembly of                 does not transform an article into a
                                                 described in section 1382(d).                           QPP and the taxpayer engages in no                    materially different QPP. Such process
                                                    Under § 1.199–6(c), the cooperative’s                other MPGE activity with respect to that              may include, but would not be limited
                                                 QPAI is computed without taking into                    QPP, the taxpayer’s packaging,                        to, blending or mixing two materials
                                                 account any deduction allowable under                   repackaging, labeling, or minor                       together, painting an article, cutting,
                                                 section 1382(b) or section 1382(c)                      assembly does not qualify as MPGE with                chopping, crushing (non-agricultural
                                                 (relating to patronage dividends, per-                  respect to that QPP.                                  products), or other similar activities. An
                                                 unit retain allocations, and                               The term minor assembly for                        example of blending or mixing two
                                                 nonpatronage distributions).                            purposes of section 199 was first                     materials is using a paint mixing
                                                    Section 1.199–6(e) provides that the                 introduced in Notice 2005–14 (2005–1                  machine to combine paint with a
                                                 term qualified payment means any                        CB 498 (February 14, 2005)) (see                      pigment to match a customer’s color
                                                 amount of a patronage dividend or per-                  § 601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b)) (Notice 2005–14),             selection when a taxpayer did not
                                                 unit retain allocation, as described in                 and was used (by exclusion) in                        MPGE the paint or the pigment. An
                                                 section 1385(a)(1) or section 1385(a)(3),               determining whether a taxpayer met the                example of cutting is a taxpayer using
                                                 received by a patron from a cooperative                 in-whole-or-in-significant-part                       an industrial key cutting machine to
                                                 that is attributable to the portion of the              requirement. Specifically, section                    custom cut keys for customers using
                                                 cooperative’s QPAI for which the                        3.04(5)(d) of Notice 2005–14 states that              blank keys that taxpayer purchased from
                                                 cooperative is allowed a section 199                    in connection with the MPGE of QPP,                   unrelated third parties. Examples of
                                                 deduction. For this purpose, patronage                  packaging, repackaging, and minor                     other similar activities include adding
                                                 dividends and per-unit retain                           assembly operations should not be                     an additive to extend the shelf life of a
                                                 allocations include any advances on                     considered in applying the general                    product and time ripening produce that
                                                 patronage and per-unit retains paid in                  ‘‘substantial in nature’’ test, and the               was purchased from unrelated third
                                                 money during the taxable year.                          costs should not be considered in                     parties.
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                                                    Section 1388(f) defines the term per-                applying the safe harbor. The section                    Another possible definition could be
                                                 unit retain allocation to mean any                      further states that this rule is similar to           based on whether an end user could
                                                 allocation by an organization to which                  the rule in § 1.954–3(a)(4)(iii). The rule            reasonably engage in the same assembly
                                                 part I of subchapter T applies to a                     in § 1.954–3(a)(4)(iii) applies when                  activity of the taxpayer. For example,
                                                 patron with respect to products                         deciding whether a taxpayer selling                   assume QPP made up of component
                                                 marketed for him, the amount of which                   property will be treated as selling a                 parts purchased by taxpayer is sold by
                                                 is fixed without reference to net                       manufactured product rather than                      a taxpayer to end users in either
                                                 earnings of the organization pursuant to                components of that sold property.                     assembled or disassembled form. To the


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                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                           51985

                                                 extent an end user can reasonably                       and the time to be devoted to each topic              § 1.199–1 Income attributable to domestic
                                                 assemble the QPP sold in disassembled                   by November 25, 2015. A period of 10                  production activities.
                                                 form, the taxpayer’s assembly activity                  minutes will be allotted to each person               *      *     *    *      *
                                                 would be considered minor assembly.                     for making comments. An agenda                          (f) Oil related qualified production
                                                   The Treasury Department and the IRS                   showing the scheduling of the speakers                activities income.
                                                 request comments on how the term                        will be prepared after the deadline for                 (1) In general.
                                                 minor assembly in § 1.199–3(e)(2)                       receiving outlines has passed. Copies of                (i) Oil related QPAI.
                                                 should be defined and encourage the                     the agenda will be available free of                    (ii) Special rule for oil related DPGR.
                                                 submission of examples illustrating the                 charge at the hearing.                                  (iii) Definition of oil.
                                                 term.                                                                                                           (iv) Primary product from oil or gas.
                                                                                                         Drafting Information                                    (A) Primary product from oil.
                                                 Special Analyses                                                                                                (B) Primary product from gas.
                                                                                                           The principal author of these
                                                   Certain IRS regulations, including this               regulations is James Holmes, Office of                  (C) Primary products from changing
                                                 one, are exempt from the requirements                   the Associate Chief Counsel                           technology.
                                                 of Executive Order 12866 of, as                         (Passthroughs and Special Industries).                  (D) Non-primary products.
                                                 supplemented and reaffirmed by                          However, other personnel from the                       (2) Cost allocation methods for
                                                 Executive Order 13563. Therefore, a                     Treasury Department and the IRS                       determining oil related QPAI.
                                                 regulatory assessment is not required. It               participated in their development.                      (i) Section 861 method.
                                                 also has been determined that section                                                                           (ii) Simplified deduction method.
                                                 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure                  List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1                       (iii) Small business simplified overall
                                                 Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply                   Income taxes, Reporting and                         method.
                                                 to these regulations, and because the                   recordkeeping requirements.
                                                 regulations do not impose a collection                                                                        § 1.199–2    Wage limitation.
                                                 of information on small entities, the                   Proposed Amendments to the                            *      *    *    *     *
                                                 Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.                    Regulations                                             (c) Acquisitions, dispositions, and
                                                 chapter 6) does not apply. Pursuant to                    Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is                       short taxable years.
                                                 section 7805(f) of the Code, this notice                proposed to be amended as follows:                      (1) Allocation of wages between more
                                                 of proposed rulemaking has been                                                                               than one taxpayer.
                                                 submitted to the Chief Counsel for                      PART 1—INCOME TAXES                                     (2) Short taxable years.
                                                 Advocacy of the Small Business                                                                                  (3) Operating rules.
                                                 Administration for comment on their                     ■ Paragraph 1. The authority citation                   (i) Acquisition or disposition.
                                                 impact on small business.                               for part 1 continues to read in part as                 (ii) Trade or business.
                                                                                                         follows:                                              *      *    *    *     *
                                                 Comments and Public Hearing
                                                                                                             Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *                     (f) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
                                                    Before these proposed regulations are
                                                 adopted as final regulations,                           ■ Par. 2. Section 1.199–0 is amended                  § 1.199–3    Domestic production gross
                                                 consideration will be given to any                      by:                                                   receipts.
                                                 written comments (a signed original and                 ■ 1. Adding entries in the table of                   *      *    *     *     *
                                                 eight (8) copies) or electronic comments                contents for § 1.199–1(f).                              (h) United States.
                                                 that are submitted timely to the IRS.                   ■ 2. Revising the entry in the table of               *      *    *     *     *
                                                 Comments are requested on all aspects                   contents for § 1.199–2(c) and adding                    (2) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
                                                 of the proposed regulations. All                        entries for § 1.199–2(c)(1), (2), and (3).              (i) * * *
                                                 comments will be available for public                   ■ 3. Adding an entry in the table of                    (9) Engaging in production of
                                                 inspection and copying at http://                       contents for § 1.199–2(f).                            qualified films.
                                                 www.regulations.gov or upon request.                    ■ 4. Redesignating the entry in the table               (i) In general.
                                                    A public hearing has been scheduled                  of contents for § 1.199–3(h) as the entry               (ii) No double attribution.
                                                 for December 16, 2015, beginning at 10                  for § 1.199–3(h)(1), adding introductory                (iii) Timing of attribution.
                                                 a.m. in the Auditorium of the Internal                  text for § 1.199–3(h), and adding an                    (iv) Examples.
                                                 Revenue Building, 1111 Constitution                     entry for § 1.199–3(h)(2).                            *      *    *     *     *
                                                 Avenue NW., Washington, DC. Due to                      ■ 5. Redesignating the entry in the table               (k) * * *
                                                 building security procedures, visitors                  of contents for § 1.199–3(i)(9) as the                  (10) Special rule for disposition of
                                                 must enter at the Constitution Avenue                   entry for § 1.199–3(i)(10) and adding                 promotional films and products or
                                                 entrance. Because of access restrictions,               introductory text and entries in the table            services promoted in promotional films.
                                                 visitors will not be admitted beyond the                of contents for § 1.199–3(i)(9).                      *      *    *     *     *
                                                 immediate entrance area more than 30                    ■ 6. Redesignating the entry in the table
                                                 minutes before the hearing starts. In                   of contents for § 1.199–3(k)(10) as the               § 1.199–4 Costs allocable to domestic
                                                 addition, all visitors must present photo               entry for § 1.199–3(k)(11) and adding an              production gross receipts.
                                                 identification to enter the building. For               entry for § 1.199–3(k)(10).                           *      *    *     *     *
                                                 information about having your name                      ■ 7. Adding entries in the table of                     (b) * * *
                                                 placed on the building access list to                   contents for § 1.199–4(b)(2)(iii).                      (2) * * *
                                                 attend the hearing, see the FOR FURTHER                 ■ 8. Revising the introductory text in the              (iii) Cost of goods sold associated with
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                                                 INFORMATION CONTACT section of this                     table of contents for § 1.199–8(i) and                activities undertaken in an earlier
                                                 preamble.                                               adding the entries for § 1.199–8(i)(10)               taxable year.
                                                    The rules of 26 CFR 601.601(a)(3)                    and (i)(11).                                            (A) In general.
                                                 apply to the hearing. Persons who wish                    The additions and revision read as                    (B) Example.
                                                 to present oral comments at the hearing                 follows:                                              *      *    *     *     *
                                                 must submit electronic or written
                                                 comments by November 25, 2015, and                      § 1.199–0    Table of contents.                       § 1.199–8    Other rules.
                                                 an outline of the topics to be discussed                *      *      *      *       *                        *        *   *     *        *


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                                                 51986                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                    (i) Effective/applicability dates.                   all gas and associated hydrocarbon                    elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
                                                 *      *      *    *    *                               components from gas wells or oil wells,               Register].
                                                    (10) Acquisition or disposition of a                 whether recovered at the lease or upon                *       *    *    *     *
                                                 trade or business (or major portion).                   further processing, including:                           (e) * * *
                                                    (11) Energy Improvement and                             (1) Natural gas;                                      (1) * * * In the case of a qualified
                                                 Extension Act of the 2008, Tax                             (2) Condensates;                                   film (as defined in § 1.199–3(k)) for
                                                 Extenders and Alternative Minimum                          (3) Liquefied petroleum gases such as              taxable years beginning after 2007, the
                                                 Tax Relief Act of 2008, American                        ethane, propane, and butane; and                      term W–2 wages includes compensation
                                                 Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, and other                     (4) Liquid products such as natural                for services (as defined in § 1.199–
                                                 provisions.                                             gasoline.                                             3(k)(4)) performed in the United States
                                                 *      *      *    *    *                                  (C) Primary products and changing                  by actors, production personnel,
                                                 ■ Par. 3. Section 1.199–1 is amended by                 technology. The primary products from                 directors, and producers (as defined in
                                                 adding paragraph (f) to read as follows:                oil or gas described in paragraphs                    § 1.199–3(k)(1)).
                                                                                                         (f)(1)(iv)(A) and (B) of this section are             *       *    *    *     *
                                                 § 1.199–1 Income attributable to domestic               not intended to represent either the only                (f) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In
                                                 production activities.
                                                                                                         primary products from oil or gas, or the              the case of a taxpayer described in
                                                 *       *     *     *     *                             only processes from which primary                     § 1.199–3(h)(2), the determination of W–
                                                    (f) Oil related qualified production                 products may be derived under existing                2 wages of such taxpayer shall be made
                                                 activity income (Oil related QPAI)—(1)                  and future technologies.                              without regard to any exclusion under
                                                 In general—(i) Oil related QPAI. Oil                       (D) Non-primary products. Examples                 section 3401(a)(8) for remuneration paid
                                                 related QPAI for any taxable year is an                 of non-primary products include, but                  for services performed in the
                                                 amount equal to the excess (if any) of                  are not limited to, petrochemicals,                   Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This
                                                 the taxpayer’s DPGR (as defined in                      medicinal products, insecticides, and                 paragraph (f) only applies as provided
                                                 § 1.199–3) derived from the production,                 alcohols.                                             in section 199(d)(8).
                                                 refining or processing of oil, gas, or any                 (2) Cost allocation methods for                    ■ Par. 5. Section 1.199–3 is amended
                                                 primary product thereof (oil related                    determining oil related QPAI—(i)                      by:
                                                 DPGR) over the sum of:                                  Section 861 method. A taxpayer that                   ■ 1. In paragraph (d)(4):
                                                    (A) The CGS that is allocable to such                                                                      ■ a. Redesignating Example 6, Example
                                                                                                         uses the section 861 method to
                                                 receipts; and                                                                                                 7, Example 8, Example 9, Example 10,
                                                                                                         determine deductions that are allocated
                                                    (B) Other expenses, losses, or                                                                             Example 11, and Example 12 as
                                                                                                         and apportioned to gross income
                                                 deductions (other than the deduction                                                                          Example 7, Example 8, Example 9,
                                                                                                         attributable to DPGR must use the
                                                 allowed under this section) that are                                                                          Example 10, Example 11, Example 12,
                                                                                                         section 861 method to determine
                                                 properly allocable to such receipts. See                                                                      and Example 13, respectively;
                                                                                                         deductions that are allocated and
                                                 §§ 1.199–3 and 1.199–4.                                                                                       ■ b. In newly-designated Example 10,
                                                    (ii) Special rule for oil related DPGR.              apportioned to gross income attributable
                                                                                                         to oil related DPGR. See § 1.199–4(d).                removing the language ‘‘Example 8’’ and
                                                 Oil related DPGR does not include gross                                                                       adding ‘‘Example 9’’ in its place; and
                                                 receipts derived from the transportation                   (ii) Simplified deduction method. A
                                                                                                                                                               ■ c. Adding Example 6 and Example 14.
                                                 or distribution of oil, gas, or any                     taxpayer that uses the simplified
                                                                                                                                                               ■ 2. Revising the last sentence in
                                                 primary product thereof. However, to                    deduction method to apportion
                                                                                                         deductions between DPGR and non-                      paragraphs (e)(1) and (3).
                                                 the extent that a taxpayer treats gross                                                                       ■ 3. In paragraph (e)(5):
                                                 receipts derived from transportation or                 DPGR must determine the portion of                    ■ a. Revising the third sentence in
                                                 distribution of oil, gas, or any primary                deductions allocable to oil related DPGR              Example 1, the second sentence in
                                                 product thereof as DPGR under                           by multiplying the deductions allocable               Example 4, and Example 5.
                                                 paragraph (d)(3)(i) of this section or                  to DPGR by the ratio of oil related DPGR              ■ b. Adding Example 9.
                                                 under § 1.199–3(i)(4)(i)(B), then the                   divided by DPGR from all activities. See              ■ 4. Revising the last sentence in
                                                 taxpayer must treat those gross receipts                § 1.199–4(e).                                         paragraph (f)(1).
                                                 as oil related DGPR.                                       (iii) Small business simplified overall            ■ 5. Revising Example 1, removing
                                                    (iii) Definition of oil. The term oil                method. A taxpayer that uses the small                Example 2, and redesignating Example
                                                 includes oil recovered from both                        business simplified overall method to                 3 as Example 2 in paragraph (f)(4).
                                                 conventional and non-conventional                       apportion total costs (CGS and                        ■ 6. Removing the second and third
                                                 recovery methods, including crude oil,                  deductions) between DPGR and non-                     sentences in paragraph (g)(1).
                                                 shale oil, and oil recovered from tar/oil               DPGR must determine the portion of                    ■ 7. Revising paragraph (g)(4)(i).
                                                 sands.                                                  total costs allocable to DPGR that are                ■ 8. Redesignating paragraph (h) as
                                                    (iv) Primary product from oil or gas.                allocable to oil related DPGR by                      paragraph (h)(1), adding paragraph (h)
                                                 A primary product from oil or gas is, for               multiplying the total costs allocable to              heading and adding paragraph (h)(2).
                                                 purposes of this paragraph:                             DPGR by the ratio of oil related DPGR                 ■ 9. Revising paragraph (i)(3).
                                                    (A) Primary product from oil. The                    divided by DPGR from all activities. See              ■ 10. Removing Example 3;
                                                 term primary product from oil means all                 § 1.199–4(f).                                         redesignating Example 5 as Example 3;
                                                 products derived from the destructive                   ■ Par. 4. Section 1.199–2 is amended by               and revising Example 4 in paragraph
                                                 distillation of oil, including:                         revising paragraph (c), adding a                      (i)(5)(iii).
                                                    (1) Volatile products;                               sentence at the end of paragraph (e)(1),              ■ 11. In paragraph (i)(6)(iv)(D)(2),
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                                                    (2) Light oils such as motor fuel and                and adding paragraph (f) to read as                   removing the language ‘‘§ 1.199–
                                                 kerosene;                                               follows:                                              3T(i)(8)’’ and adding ‘‘§ 1.199–3(i)(8)’’ in
                                                    (3) Distillates such as naphtha;                                                                           its place.
                                                    (4) Lubricating oils;                                § 1.199–2    Wage limitation.                         ■ 12. Redesignating paragraph (i)(9) as
                                                    (5) Greases and waxes; and                           *     *     *      *    *                             paragraph (i)(10) and adding paragraph
                                                    (6) Residues such as fuel oil.                         (c) [The text of the proposed                       (i)(9).
                                                    (B) Primary product from gas. The                    amendments to § 1.199–2(c) is the same                ■ 13. Adding three sentences after the
                                                 term primary product from gas means                     as the text of § 1.199–2T(c) published                first sentence in paragraph (k)(1),


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                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                              51987

                                                 revising paragraph (k)(2)(ii) introductory              they were considered together as one item.            qualifying activity occurs is the party
                                                 text, and adding a sentence at the end                  Z’s method is reasonable if it treats the             performing the qualifying activity.
                                                 of paragraph (k)(3)(i).                                 construction activities with respect to
                                                                                                         building 1 as the item under paragraph
                                                                                                                                                               *     *    *     *     *
                                                 ■ 14. Removing the first, second, and                                                                           (4) * * *
                                                                                                         (d)(2)(iii) of this section because the proceeds
                                                 fifth sentences in paragraph (k)(3)(ii).                from the sale of building 1 constitute DPGR.             Example 1. X designs machines that it
                                                 ■ 15. Adding one sentence at the end of                                                                       sells to customers. X contracts with Y, an
                                                 paragraph (k)(6).                                          (e) * * *                                          unrelated person, for the manufacture of the
                                                 ■ 16. Adding two sentences before the                      (1) * * * Pursuant to paragraph (f)(1)             machines. The contract between X and Y is
                                                 last sentence in paragraph (k)(7)(i).                   of this section, the taxpayer must be the             a fixed-price contract. To manufacture the
                                                 ■ 17. Revising the last sentence in                     party engaged in the MPGE of the QPP                  machines, Y purchases components and raw
                                                                                                                                                               materials. Y tests the purchased components.
                                                 paragraph (k)(8).                                       during the period the MPGE activity
                                                                                                                                                               Y manufactures the raw materials into
                                                 ■ 18. Redesignating paragraph (k)(10) as                occurs in order for gross receipts                    additional components and Y physically
                                                 paragraph (k)(11) and adding paragraph                  derived from the MPGE of QPP to                       performs the assembly of the components
                                                 (k)(10).                                                qualify as DPGR.                                      into machines. Y oversees and directs the
                                                 ■ 19. In newly redesignated paragraph                   *      *     *      *     *                           activities under which the machines are
                                                 (k)(11):                                                                                                      manufactured by its employees. X also has
                                                                                                            (3) * * * Notwithstanding paragraph                employees onsite during the manufacturing
                                                 ■ a. Revising Example 3;
                                                                                                         (i)(4)(i)(B)(4) of this section, if the               for quality control. Y packages the finished
                                                 ■ b. Removing Example 4; redesignating
                                                                                                         taxpayer installs QPP MPGE by the                     machines and ships them to X’s customers.
                                                 Example 5 and Example 6 as Example
                                                                                                         taxpayer, then the portion of the                     Pursuant to paragraph (f)(1) of this section, Y
                                                 4 and Example 5, respectively; and
                                                                                                         installing activity that relates to the QPP           is the taxpayer during the period the
                                                 adding Example 6, Example 7, Example                                                                          manufacturing of the machines occurs and,
                                                                                                         is an MPGE activity.
                                                 8, Example 9, Example 10, and Example                                                                         as a result, Y is treated as the manufacturer
                                                 11; and                                                 *      *     *      *     *
                                                                                                                                                               of the machines.
                                                 ■ c. Revising the third sentence in                        (5) * * *
                                                                                                           Example 1. * * * A stores the agricultural
                                                                                                                                                               *      *     *    *     *
                                                 newly redesignated Example 4.                                                                                    (g) * * *
                                                 ■ 20. Adding one sentence at the end of                 products. * * *
                                                                                                                                                                  (4) * * *
                                                 paragraph (m)(2)(i).                                    *      *      *      *       *                           (i) Contract with an unrelated person.
                                                 ■ 21. Revising paragraph (m)(5).                          Example 4. * * * Y engages in the
                                                                                                                                                               If a taxpayer enters into a contract with
                                                    The revisions and additions read as                  reconstruction and refurbishment activity
                                                                                                         and installation of the parts. * * *                  an unrelated person pursuant to which
                                                 follows:                                                                                                      the unrelated person is required to
                                                                                                           Example 5. The following activities are
                                                 § 1.199–3   Domestic production gross                   performed by Z as part of the MPGE of the             MPGE QPP within the United States for
                                                 receipts.                                               QPP: Materials analysis and selection,                the taxpayer, the taxpayer is not
                                                 *       *    *       *      *                           subcontractor inspections and qualifications,         considered to have engaged in the
                                                                                                         testing of component parts, assisting                 MPGE of that QPP pursuant to
                                                     (d) * * *                                           customers in their review and approval of the
                                                     (4) * * *                                                                                                 paragraph (f)(1) of this section, and
                                                                                                         QPP, routine production inspections, product          therefore, for purposes of making any
                                                    Example 6. The facts are the same as                 documentation, diagnosis and correction of
                                                 Example 3 except that R offers three-car sets                                                                 determination under this paragraph (g),
                                                                                                         system failure, and packaging for shipment to
                                                 together with a coupon for a car wash for sale          customers. Because Z MPGE the QPP, these              the MPGE or production activities or
                                                 to customers in the normal course of R’s                activities performed by Z are part of the             direct labor and overhead of the
                                                 business. The gross receipts attributable to            MPGE of the QPP. If Z did not MPGE the                unrelated person under the contract are
                                                 the car wash do not qualify as DPGR because             QPP, then these activities, such as testing of        only attributed to the unrelated person.
                                                 a car wash is a service, assuming the de                component parts, performed by Z are not the
                                                 minimis exception under paragraph                                                                             *      *     *    *     *
                                                                                                         MPGE of QPP.                                             (h) United States * * *
                                                 (i)(4)(i)(B)(6) of this section does not apply.
                                                 In determining R’s DPGR, under paragraph                *      *      *      *       *                           (2) Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
                                                 (d)(2)(i) of this section, the three-car set is an         Example 9. X is in the business of selling         The term United States includes the
                                                 item if the gross receipts derived from the             gift baskets containing various products that         Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in the
                                                 sale of the three-car sets without the car wash         are packaged together. X purchases the                case of any taxpayer with gross receipts
                                                 qualify as DPGR under this section.                     baskets and the products included within the
                                                                                                         baskets from unrelated third parties. X plans
                                                                                                                                                               for any taxable year from sources within
                                                 *      *     *       *      *                           where and how the products should be                  the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, if all
                                                   Example 14. Z is engaged in the trade or              arranged into the baskets. On an assembly             of such receipts are taxable under
                                                 business of construction under NAICS code               line in a gift basket production facility, X          section 1 or 11 for such taxable year.
                                                 23 on a regular and ongoing basis. Z                    arranges the products into the baskets                This paragraph (h)(2) only applies as
                                                 purchases a piece of property that has two              according to that plan, sometimes relabeling          provided in section 199(d)(8).
                                                 buildings located on it. Z performs                     the products before placing them into the                (i) * * *
                                                 construction activities in connection with a            baskets. X engages in no other activity
                                                 project to substantially renovate building 1.
                                                                                                                                                                  (3) Hedging transactions—(i) In
                                                                                                         besides packaging, repackaging, labeling, or          general. For purposes of this section,
                                                 Building 2 is not substantially renovated and           minor assembly with respect to the gift
                                                 together building 1 and building 2 are not                                                                    provided that the risk being hedged
                                                                                                         baskets. Therefore, X is not considered to
                                                 substantially renovated, as defined under               have engaged in the MPGE of QPP under
                                                                                                                                                               relates to property described in section
                                                 paragraph (m)(5) of this section. Z later sells         paragraph (e)(2) of this section.                     1221(a)(1) giving rise to DPGR or relates
                                                 building 1 and building 2 together in the                                                                     to property described in section
                                                                                                         *      *     *     *    *
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                                                 normal course of Z’s business. Z can use any                                                                  1221(a)(8) consumed in an activity
                                                 reasonable method to determine what                        (f) * * *                                          giving rise to DPGR, and provided that
                                                 construction activities constitute an item                                                                    the transaction is a hedging transaction
                                                                                                            (1) * * * If a qualifying activity under
                                                 under paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section. Z’s
                                                 method is not reasonable if Z treats the gross          paragraph (e)(1), (k)(1), or (l)(1) of this           within the meaning of section
                                                 receipts derived from the sale of building 1            section is performed under a contract,                1221(b)(2)(A) and § 1.1221–2(b) and is
                                                 and building 2 as DPGR. This is because Z’s             then the party to the contract that is the            properly identified as a hedging
                                                 construction activities would not have                  taxpayer for purposes of this paragraph               transaction in accordance with
                                                 substantially renovated buildings 1 and 2 if            (f) during the period in which the                    § 1.1221–2(f), then—


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                                                 51988                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                    (A) In the case of a hedge of purchases              partner or shareholder shall be treated               (i)(9) may be shorter or longer than a
                                                 of property described in section                        as having engaged directly in any                     taxpayer’s taxable year, depending on
                                                 1221(a)(1), income, deduction, gain, or                 qualified film produced by such                       the length of the attribution period.
                                                 loss on the hedging transaction must be                 partnership or S corporation, and such                   (iv) Examples. The following
                                                 taken into account in determining CGS;                  partnership or S corporation shall be                 examples illustrate an application of
                                                    (B) In the case of a hedge of sales of               treated as having engaged directly in                 this paragraph (i)(9). Assume that all
                                                 property described in section 1221(a)(1),               any qualified film produced by such                   taxpayers are calendar year taxpayers.
                                                 income, deduction, gain, or loss on the                 partner or shareholder.                                  Example 1. In 2010, Studio A and Studio
                                                 hedging transaction must be taken into                     (ii) No double attribution. When a                 B form an S corporation in which each is a
                                                 account in determining DPGR; and                        partnership or S corporation is treated               50-percent shareholder to produce a qualified
                                                    (C) In the case of a hedge of purchases              as having engaged directly in any                     film. Studio A owns the rights to distribute
                                                 of property described in section                        qualified film produced by a partner or               the film domestically and Studio B owns the
                                                 1221(a)(8), income, deduction, gain, or                 shareholder, any other partners of the                rights to distribute the film outside of the
                                                 loss on the hedging transaction must be                 partnership or shareholders of the S                  United States. The production activities of
                                                 taken into account in determining                       corporation who did not participate                   the S corporation are attributed to each
                                                 DPGR.                                                   directly in the production of the                     shareholder, and thus each shareholder’s
                                                                                                                                                               revenue from the distribution of the qualified
                                                    (ii) Effect of identification and                    qualified film are treated as not having
                                                                                                                                                               film is treated as DPGR during the attribution
                                                 nonidentification. The principles of                    engaged directly in the production of                 period because Studio A and Studio B are
                                                 § 1.1221–2(g) apply to a taxpayer that                  the qualified film at the partner or                  treated as having directly engaged in any film
                                                 identifies or fails to identify a                       shareholder level. When a partner or                  that was produced by the S corporation.
                                                 transaction as a hedging transaction,                   shareholder is treated as having engaged                 Example 2. The facts are the same as
                                                 except that the consequence of                          directly in any qualified film produced               Example 1 except that, in 2011, after the S
                                                 identifying as a hedging transaction a                  by a partnership or S corporation, any                corporation’s production of the qualified
                                                 transaction that is not in fact a hedging               other partnerships or S corporations in               film, Studio C becomes a shareholder that
                                                 transaction described in paragraph                      which that partner or shareholder owns                owns at least 20 percent of the stock of the
                                                                                                         an interest (excluding the partnership or             S corporation. Studio C is treated as having
                                                 (i)(3)(i) of this section, or of failing to
                                                                                                                                                               directly engaged in any film that was
                                                 identify a transaction that the taxpayer                S corporation that produced the film),
                                                                                                                                                               produced by the S corporation during the
                                                 has no reasonable grounds for treating                  are treated as not having engaged                     attribution period, as defined in paragraph
                                                 as other than a hedging transaction                     directly in the production of the                     (i)(9)(iii) of this section.
                                                 described in paragraph (i)(3)(i) of this                qualified film at the partnership or S                   Example 3. In 2010, Studio A and Studio
                                                 section, is that deduction or loss (but                 corporation level.                                    B form a partnership in which each is a 50-
                                                 not income or gain) from the transaction                   (iii) Timing of attribution. A partner             percent partner to distribute a qualified film.
                                                 is taken into account under paragraph                   or shareholder is treated as having                   Studio A produced the film and contributes
                                                 (i)(3) of this section.                                 engaged directly in any qualified film                it to the partnership and Studio B contributes
                                                    (iii) Other rules. See § 1.1221–2(e) for             produced by the partnership or S                      cash to the partnership. The production
                                                                                                         corporation, regardless of when the                   activities of Studio A are attributed to the
                                                 rules applicable to hedging by members
                                                                                                         qualified film was produced by the                    partnership, and thus the partnership’s
                                                 of a consolidated group and § 1.446–4                                                                         revenue from the distribution of the qualified
                                                 for rules regarding the timing of income,               partnership or S corporation, during any
                                                                                                                                                               film is treated as DPGR during the attribution
                                                 deductions, gains or losses with respect                period that the partner or shareholder                period, as defined in paragraph (i)(9)(iii) of
                                                 to hedging transactions.                                owns (directly or indirectly) at least 20             this section, because the partnership is
                                                 *       *     *     *     *                             percent of the capital interests in the               treated as having directly engaged in any film
                                                    (5) * * *                                            partnership or stock of the S corporation             that was produced by Studio A.
                                                    (iii) * * *                                          (attribution period). During any period                  Example 4. The facts are the same as
                                                    Example 4. X produces a live television              that a partner or shareholder owns less               Example 3 except that Studio B receives a
                                                 program that is a qualified film. In 2010, X            than a 20 percent of the capital interests            distribution of the rights to license an
                                                 broadcasts the television program on its                in such partnership or the stock of such              intangible associated with the qualified film
                                                 station and distributes the program through             S corporation, that partner or                        produced by Studio A. Any receipts derived
                                                 the Internet. The television program contains                                                                 from the licensing of the intangible by Studio
                                                                                                         shareholder is not treated as having
                                                 product placements and advertising for                                                                        B are non-DPGR because Studio A’s
                                                                                                         engaged directly in the qualified film                production activities are attributed to the
                                                 which X received compensation in 2010.                  produced by the partnership or S
                                                 Because the methods and means of                                                                              partnership, and are not further attributed to
                                                                                                         corporation for purposes of this                      Studio B.
                                                 distributing a qualified film under paragraph
                                                 (k)(1) of this section do not affect the
                                                                                                         paragraph (i)(9). A partnership or S                     Example 5. The facts are the same as
                                                 availability of the deduction under section             corporation is treated as having engaged              Example 3 except that, at some point in 2011,
                                                 199 for taxable years beginning after 2007,             directly in a qualified film produced by              Studio A owns less than a 20-percent capital
                                                 pursuant to paragraph (i)(5)(ii) of this section,       a partner or shareholder during any                   interest in the partnership. During the period
                                                 all of X’s product placement and advertising            period the partner or shareholder owns                that Studio A owns less than a 20-percent
                                                 gross receipts for the program are treated as           (directly or indirectly) at least 20                  capital interest in the partnership between
                                                 derived from the distribution of the qualified                                                                Studio A and Studio B, the partnership is not
                                                                                                         percent of the capital interests in such
                                                 film.                                                                                                         treated as directly engaging in the production
                                                                                                         partnership or the stock of S corporation             of a qualified film. Therefore, any future
                                                 *      *    *      *     *                              (attribution period). During any period               receipts the partnership derives from the film
                                                    (9) Partnerships and S corporations                  that the partner or shareholder owns                  after the end of the attribution period, as
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                                                 engaging in production of qualified                     less than 20 percent of the capital                   defined in paragraph (i)(9)(iii) of this section,
                                                 films—(i) In general. For taxable years                 interests in such partnership or stock of             are non-DPGR. Studio A, however, is still
                                                 beginning after 2007, in the case of each               such S corporation, the partnership or S              treated as having engaged directly in the
                                                 partner of a partnership or shareholder                 corporation is not treated as having                  production of the qualified film.
                                                 of an S corporation who owns (directly                  engaged directly in the qualified film                *      *    *     *    *
                                                 or indirectly) at least 20 percent of the               produced by the partner or shareholder                   (k) * * *
                                                 capital interests in such partnership or                for purposes of this paragraph (i)(9). The               (1) * * * For taxable years beginning
                                                 the stock of such S corporation, such                   attribution period under this paragraph               after 2007, the term qualified film


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                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                                 51989

                                                 includes any copyrights, trademarks, or                 commercials, infomercials, advertising                qualified film that is based on Book A. The
                                                 other intangibles with respect to such                  films, and sponsored films. A product or              qualified film based on Book A is produced
                                                 film (intangibles). For purposes of this                service is promoted in a promotional                  in 2009 by Y. Y owns the copyright and
                                                                                                                                                               trademark to Character B, the lead character
                                                 paragraph (k), other intangibles include                film if the product or service appears in,
                                                                                                                                                               in Book A and the qualified film based on
                                                 rights associated with the exploitation                 is described during, or is in a similar               Book A. Y licenses Character B’s copyright
                                                 of a qualified film, such as endorsement                way alluded to by such film. If a                     and trademark to Z for $50,000,000. For
                                                 rights, video game rights, merchandising                promotional film meets the                            2009, without taking into account the
                                                 rights, and other similar rights. See                   requirements to be treated as a qualified             payment from Z, Y derives 40 percent of its
                                                 paragraph (k)(10) of this section for a                 film produced by the taxpayer, then a                 gross receipts from the qualified film based
                                                 special rule for disposition of                         taxpayer derives gross receipts from the              on Book A, and 60 percent from Book A. Z’s
                                                 promotional films. * * *                                lease, rental, license, sale, exchange, or            payment is attributable to both Book A and
                                                    (2) * * *                                                                                                  the qualified film based on Book A.
                                                                                                         other disposition of a qualified film,
                                                                                                                                                               Therefore, Y must allocate Z’s payment, and
                                                    (ii) Film produced by a taxpayer.                    including any copyrights, trademarks, or              only the gross receipts derived from licensing
                                                 Except for intangibles under paragraph                  other intangibles when the promotional                the intangible rights associated with the
                                                 (k)(1) of this section, if a taxpayer                   film’s disposition is distinct (separate              qualified film based on Book A, or 40
                                                 produces a film and the film is affixed                 and apart) from the disposition of the                percent, are DPGR.
                                                 to tangible personal property (for                      promoted product or service. Gross                       Example 8. Z produces a commercial in
                                                 example, a DVD), then for purposes of                   receipts are not derived from the                     the United States that features Z’s shirts,
                                                 this section—                                           disposition of a qualified film, including            shoes, and other athletic equipment that all
                                                                                                                                                               have Z’s trademarked logo affixed (promoted
                                                 *       *    *     *     *                              any copyrights, trademarks, or other
                                                                                                                                                               products). Z’s commercial is a qualified film
                                                    (3) * * *                                            intangibles when gross receipts are                   produced by Z. Z sells the shirts, shoes, and
                                                    (i) * * * For taxable years beginning                derived from a disposition of the                     athletic equipment to customers at retail
                                                 after 2007, the methods and means of                    promoted product or service.                          establishments. Z’s gross receipts are derived
                                                 distributing a qualified film shall not                    (11) * * *                                         from the disposition of the promoted
                                                 affect the availability of the deduction                   Example 3. X produces live television              products and are not derived from the
                                                 under section 199.                                      programs that are qualified films. X shows            disposition of Z’s qualified film, including
                                                 *       *    *     *     *                              the programs on its own television station. X         any copyrights, trademarks, or other
                                                    (6) * * * Production activities do not               sells advertising time slots to advertisers for       intangibles with respect to Z’s qualified film.
                                                                                                         the television programs. Because the methods             Example 9. X produces a commercial in
                                                 include transmission or distribution                                                                          the United States that features X’s services
                                                                                                         and means of distributing a qualified film
                                                 activities with respect to a film,                                                                            (promoted services). X’s commercial is a
                                                                                                         under paragraph (k)(1) of this section do not
                                                 including the transmission of a film by                 affect the availability of the deduction under        qualified film produced by X. The
                                                 electronic signal and the activities                    section 199 for taxable years beginning after         commercial includes Character A developed
                                                 facilitating such transmission (such as                 2007, the advertising income X receives from          to promote X’s services. Gross receipts that
                                                 formatting that enables the film to be                  advertisers is derived from the lease, rental,        X derives from providing the promoted
                                                 transmitted).                                           license, sale, exchange, or other disposition         services are not derived from the disposition
                                                    (7) * * *                                            of the qualified films and is DPGR.                   of X’s qualified film, including any
                                                    (i) * * * Paragraph (g)(3)(ii) of this                  Example 4. * * * Y is considered the               copyrights, trademarks, or other intangibles
                                                 section includes all costs paid or                      taxpayer performing the qualifying activities         with respect to X’s qualified film. X also
                                                                                                         pursuant to paragraph (f)(1) of this section          licenses the right to reproduce Character A
                                                 incurred by a taxpayer, whether or not
                                                                                                         with respect to the DVDs during the MPGE              developed to promote X’s services to Y so
                                                 capitalized or required to be capitalized               and duplication process. * * *                        that Y can produce t-shirts featuring
                                                 under section 263A, to produce a live or                                                                      Character A. This license is distinct (separate
                                                 delayed television program, and also                    *      *      *      *       *
                                                                                                            Example 6. X produced a qualified film             and apart) from a disposition of the promoted
                                                 includes any lease, rental, or license                  and licenses the trademark of Character A, a          services and the gross receipts are derived
                                                 fees paid by a taxpayer for all or any                  character in the qualified film, to Y for             from the license of an intangible with respect
                                                 portion of a film, or films produced by                 reproduction of the Character A image onto            to X’s qualified film produced by X. X’s gross
                                                 a third party that taxpayer uses in its                 t-shirts. Y sells the t-shirts with Character A’s     receipts derived from the license to
                                                 film. License fees for films produced by                likeness to customers, and pays X a royalty           reproduce Character A are DPGR.
                                                                                                         based on sales of the t-shirts. X’s qualified            Example 10. Y produces a qualified film
                                                 third parties are not included in the
                                                                                                         film only includes intangibles with respect to        in the United States. Y purchases DVDs and
                                                 direct labor and overhead to produce                                                                          affixes the qualified film to the DVDs. Y
                                                                                                         the qualified film in taxable years beginning
                                                 the film for purposes of applying                                                                             purchases gift baskets and sells individual
                                                                                                         after 2007, including the trademark of
                                                 paragraph (g)(3) of this section. * * *                 Character A. Accordingly, any gross receipts          gift baskets that contain a DVD with the
                                                 *       *    *     *     *                              derived from the license of the trademark of          affixed qualified film in its retail stores in the
                                                    (8) * * * If one party performs a                    Character A to Y occurring in a taxable year          normal course of Y’s business. Under
                                                 production activity pursuant to a                       beginning before 2008 are non-DPGR, and               § 1.199–3(k)(2)(ii)(A), Y may treat the DVD as
                                                 contract with another party, then only                  any gross receipts derived from the license of        part of the qualified film produced by
                                                                                                         the trademark of Character A occurring in a           taxpayer, but Y cannot treat the gift baskets
                                                 the party that is considered the taxpayer                                                                     as part of the qualified film produced by
                                                                                                         taxable year beginning after 2007 are DPGR
                                                 pursuant to paragraph (f)(1) of this                                                                          taxpayer. The gross receipts that Y derives
                                                                                                         (assuming all other requirements of this
                                                 section during the period in which the                  section are met). The royalties X derives from        from the sale of the DVD are DPGR derived
                                                 production activity occurs is treated as                Y occurring in a taxable year beginning               from a qualified film, but the gross receipts
                                                 engaging in the production activity.                    before 2008 are non-DPGR because the                  that Y derives from the sale of the gift baskets
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                                                 *       *    *     *     *                              royalties are derived from an intangible              are non-DPGR.
                                                    (10) Special rule for disposition of                 (which is not within the definition of a                 Example 11. The facts are the same as in
                                                                                                         qualified film under paragraph (k)(1) of this         Example 10 except that the individual gift
                                                 promotional films and products or
                                                                                                         section for taxable years beginning before            baskets that Y sells also contain boxes of
                                                 services promoted in promotional films.                 2008).                                                popcorn and candy manufactured by Y
                                                 A promotional film is a film produced                      Example 7. Y, a media company, acquires            within the United States. Under § 1.199–
                                                 to promote a taxpayer’s particular                      all of the intangible rights to Book A, which         3(k)(2)(ii)(A), Y cannot treat the gift baskets
                                                 product or service and the term                         was written and published in 2008, and all            including the boxes of popcorn and candy
                                                 includes, but is not limited to,                        of the intangible rights associated with a            manufactured by Y as part of the qualified



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                                                 51990                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                 film produced by taxpayer. Gross receipts               component costs and allocate those                    amount is not allowed as a section 199
                                                 from the sale of the DVD are still treated as           component costs between DPGR and                      deduction, but is instead subject to the wage
                                                 DPGR derived from a qualified film. Y must              non-DPGR.                                             limitation section 199(b), and also remains
                                                 separately determine whether the gross                     (B) Example. The following example                 subject to the rules of section 199(d)(3) and
                                                 receipts from the tangible personal property                                                                  this section.
                                                                                                         illustrates an application of paragraph
                                                 it sells qualify as DPGR. Thus, Y must
                                                 determine whether the gift basket, including            (b)(2)(iii)(A) of this section:                       ■ Par. 8. Section 1.199–8 is amended by
                                                 the boxes of popcorn and candy but                         Example. During the 2009 taxable year, X           revising the heading of paragraph (i) and
                                                                                                         manufactured and sold Product A. All of the
                                                 excluding the qualified film, is an item for                                                                  adding paragraphs (i)(10) and (11) to
                                                                                                         gross receipts from sales recognized by X in
                                                 purposes of § 1.199–3(d)(1)(i).                                                                               read as follows:
                                                                                                         2009 were from the sale of Product A and
                                                 *     *      *    *      *                              qualified as DPGR. Employee 1 was involved
                                                   (m) * * *                                             in X’s production process until he retired in         § 1.199–8   Other rules.
                                                   (2) * * *                                             2003. In 2009, X paid $30 directly from its           *      *      *     *    *
                                                   (i) * * * A taxpayer whose                            general assets for Employee 1’s medical
                                                                                                         expenses pursuant to an unfunded, self-                  (i) Effective/applicability dates * * *
                                                 engagement in the activity is primarily
                                                 limited to approving or authorizing                     insured plan for retired X employees. For             *      *      *     *    *
                                                                                                         purposes of computing X’s 2009 taxable
                                                 invoices or payments is not considered                                                                           (10) [The text of the proposed
                                                                                                         income, X capitalized those medical costs to
                                                 engaged in a construction activity as a                 inventory under section 263A. In 2009, the            amendments to § 1.199–8(i)(10) is the
                                                 general contractor or in any other                      CGS for a unit of Product A was $100                  same as the text of § 1.199–8T(i)(10)
                                                 capacity.                                               (including the applicable portion of the $30          published elsewhere in this issue of the
                                                 *     *      *    *      *                              paid for Employee 1’s medical costs that was          Federal Register].
                                                   (5) Definition of substantial                         allocated to cost of goods sold under X’s
                                                                                                         allocation method for additional section                 (11) Energy Improvement and
                                                 renovation. The term substantial                                                                              Extension Act of the 2008, Tax
                                                                                                         263A costs). X has information readily
                                                 renovation means activities the costs of                available to specifically identify CGS                Extenders and Alternative Minimum
                                                 which would be required to be                           allocable to DPGR and can identify that               Tax Relief Act of 2008, Tax Relief,
                                                 capitalized by the taxpayer as an                       amount without undue burden and expense               Unemployment Insurance
                                                 improvement under § 1.263(a)–3, other                   because all of X’s gross receipts from sales in
                                                                                                         2009 are attributable to the sale of Product A
                                                                                                                                                               Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act
                                                 than an amount described in § 1.263(a)–
                                                                                                         and qualify as DPGR. The inventory cost of            of 2010, and other provisions. Section
                                                 3(k)(1)(i) through (iii). If not otherwise
                                                 defined under § 1.263(a)–3, the unit of                 each unit of Product A sold in 2009,                  1.199–1(f); the last sentence in § 1.199–
                                                 property for purposes of § 1.263(a)–3 is                including the applicable portion of retiree           2(e)(1) and paragraph (f); § 1.199–3(d)(4)
                                                                                                         medical costs, is related to X’s gross receipts       Example 6 and Example 14, the last
                                                 the real property, as defined in                        from the sale of Product A in 2009. X may
                                                 paragraph (m)(3) of this section, to                                                                          sentence in paragraph (e)(1), the last
                                                                                                         not segregate the 2009 CGS by separately
                                                 which the activities relate.                            allocating the retiree medical costs, which
                                                                                                                                                               sentence in paragraph (e)(3), the third
                                                 *     *      *    *      *                              are components of CGS, to DPGR and non-               sentence in paragraph (e)(5) Example 1,
                                                   Par. 6. Section 1.199–4 is amended by                 DPGR. Thus, even though the retiree medical           the second sentence in paragraph (e)(5)
                                                 adding a sentence after the seventh                     costs can be associated with activities               Example 4, paragraph (e)(5) Example 5
                                                                                                         undertaken in prior years, $100 of inventory          and Example 9, the last sentence in
                                                 sentence in paragraph (b)(1) and adding                 cost of each unit of Product A sold in 2009,
                                                 paragraph (b)(2)(iii) to read as follows:                                                                     paragraph (f)(1), paragraph (f)(4)
                                                                                                         including the applicable portion of the retiree
                                                                                                         medical expense cost component, is allocable
                                                                                                                                                               Example 1, paragraph (g)(4)(i),
                                                 § 1.199–4 Costs allocable to domestic                                                                         paragraphs (h)(2), (i)(3), (i)(5) Example
                                                                                                         to DPGR in 2009.
                                                 production gross receipts.                                                                                    4, and (i)(9), the second, third, and
                                                 *       *    *     *     *                              *     *     *    *     *
                                                                                                         ■ Par. 7. Section 1.199–6 is amended by               fourth sentences in paragraph (k)(1),
                                                    (b) * * *                                                                                                  paragraph (k)(2)(ii), the second sentence
                                                                                                         adding Example 4 to paragraph (m) to
                                                    (1) * * * In the case of a long-term                                                                       in paragraph (k)(3)(i), the last sentence
                                                                                                         read as follows:
                                                 contract accounted for under the                                                                              in paragraph (k)(6), the second sentence
                                                 percentage-of-completion method                         § 1.199–6 Agricultural and horticultural              from the last sentence in paragraph
                                                 described in § 1.460–4(b) (PCM), or the                 cooperatives.
                                                                                                                                                               (k)(7)(i), the last sentence in paragraph
                                                 completed-contract method described in                  *      *    *        *       *                        (k)(8), paragraph (k)(10), the third
                                                 § 1.460–4(d) (CCM), CGS for purposes of                     (m) * * *                                         sentence in paragraph (k)(11) Example
                                                 this section includes the allocable                        Example 4. (i) The facts are the same as
                                                                                                         Example 1 except that Cooperative X’s                 4, paragraph (k)(11) Example 3,
                                                 contract costs described in § 1.460–5(b)
                                                 (in the case of a contract accounted for                payments of $370,000 for its members’ corn            Example 6, Example 7, Example 8,
                                                 under PCM) or § 1.460–5(d) (in the case                 qualify as per-unit retain allocations paid in        Example 9, Example 10, and Example
                                                                                                         money within the meaning of section 1388(f)           11, the last sentence in paragraph
                                                 of a contract accounted for under CCM).
                                                                                                         and Cooperative X reports the per-unit retain         (m)(2)(i), paragraph (m)(5); the eighth
                                                 * * *                                                   allocations paid in money on Form 1099–
                                                    (2) * * *                                                                                                  sentence in § 1.199–4(b)(1) and
                                                                                                         PATR.
                                                    (iii) Cost of goods sold associated with                (ii) Cooperative X is a cooperative
                                                                                                                                                               paragraph (b)(2)(iii); and § 1.199–6(m)
                                                 activities undertaken in an earlier                     described in paragraph (f) of this section.           Example 4 apply to taxable years
                                                 taxable year—(A) In general. A taxpayer                 Accordingly, this section applies to                  beginning on or after the date the final
                                                 must allocate CGS between DPGR and                      Cooperative X and its patrons and all of              regulations are published in the Federal
rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                 non-DPGR under the rules provided in                    Cooperative X’s gross receipts from the sale          Register.
                                                 paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii) of this                   of its patrons’ corn qualify as domestic
                                                                                                         production gross receipts (as defined in              John M. Dalrymple,
                                                 section, regardless of whether certain
                                                                                                         § 1.199–3(a)). Cooperative X’s QPAI is                Deputy Commissioner for Services and
                                                 costs included in CGS can be associated                 $1,370,000. Cooperative X’s section 199
                                                 with activities undertaken in an earlier                                                                      Enforcement.
                                                                                                         deduction for its taxable year 2007 is $82,200
                                                 taxable year (including a year prior to                                                                       [FR Doc. 2015–20772 Filed 8–26–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                         (.06 × $1,370,000). Because this amount is
                                                 the effective date of section 199). A                   more than 50% of Cooperative X’s W–2                  BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
                                                 taxpayer may not segregate CGS into                     wages (.5 × $130,000 = $65,000), the entire



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Document Created: 2015-12-15 10:52:47
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 10:52:47
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionNotice of proposed rulemaking, notice of proposed rulemaking by cross reference to temporary regulations and notice of public hearing.
DatesWritten or electronic comments must be received by November 25, 2015. Outlines of topics to be discussed at the public hearing scheduled for December 16, 2015, at 10:00 a.m., must be received by November 25, 2015.
ContactConcerning Sec. Sec. 1.199-1(f), 1.199-2(c), 1.199-2(e), 1.199-2(f), 1.199-3(b), 1.199-3(e), 1.199-3(h), 1.199-3(k), 1.199-3(m), 1.199-6(m), and 1.199-8(i) of the proposed regulations, James Holmes, (202) 317-4137; concerning Sec. 1.199-4(b) of the proposed regulations, Natasha Mulleneaux (202) 317-7007; concerning submissions of comments, the hearing, or to be placed on the building access list to attend the hearing, Regina Johnson, at (202) 317-6901 (not toll-free numbers).
FR Citation80 FR 51978 
RIN Number1545-BI90
CFR AssociatedIncome Taxes and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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