81_FR_28874 81 FR 28784 - Treatment of Certain Domestic Entities Disregarded as Separate From Their Owners as Corporations for Purposes of Section 6038A

81 FR 28784 - Treatment of Certain Domestic Entities Disregarded as Separate From Their Owners as Corporations for Purposes of Section 6038A

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 90 (May 10, 2016)

Page Range28784-28788
FR Document2016-10852

This document contains proposed regulations that would treat a domestic disregarded entity wholly owned by a foreign person as a domestic corporation separate from its owner for the limited purposes of the reporting, record maintenance and associated compliance requirements that apply to 25 percent foreign-owned domestic corporations under section 6038A of the Internal Revenue Code. These changes are intended to provide the IRS with improved access to information that it needs to satisfy its obligations under U.S. tax treaties, tax information exchange agreements and similar international agreements, as well as to strengthen the enforcement of U.S. tax laws.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28784-28788]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10852]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Parts 1 and 301

[REG-127199-15]
RIN 1545-BM94


Treatment of Certain Domestic Entities Disregarded as Separate 
From Their Owners as Corporations for Purposes of Section 6038A

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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

SUMMARY: This document contains proposed regulations that would treat a 
domestic disregarded entity wholly owned by a foreign person as a 
domestic corporation separate from its owner for the limited purposes 
of the reporting, record maintenance and associated compliance 
requirements that apply to 25 percent foreign-owned domestic 
corporations under section 6038A of the Internal Revenue Code. These 
changes are intended to provide the IRS with improved access to 
information that it needs to satisfy its obligations under U.S. tax 
treaties, tax information exchange agreements and similar international 
agreements, as well as to strengthen the enforcement of U.S. tax laws.

DATES: Written or electronic comments and requests for a public hearing 
must be received by August 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send submissions to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-127199-15), Room 
5203, Internal Revenue Service, P.O. Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station, 
Washington, DC 20044. Submissions may be hand delivered between the 
hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-127199-15), 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-127199-15).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the proposed regulations, 
Ronald M. Gootzeit, (202) 317-6937; concerning submissions of comments 
and/or requests for a hearing, Regina Johnson, (202) 317-6901 (not 
toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collection of information contained in this notice of proposed 
rulemaking has been previously reviewed and approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) under control number 1545-1191. The estimated 
average annual recordkeeping burden per recordkeeper is 10 hours. The 
estimated reporting burden is being reported under Form 5472 (OMB # 
1545-0123).
    The collection of information in this proposed regulation is in 
sections 1.6038A-1 through 1.6038A-3 and 1.6038A-5. This information is 
required in order to provide the IRS with improved access to 
information that it needs to satisfy its obligations under U.S. tax 
treaties, tax information exchange agreements, and similar 
international agreements, as well as to strengthen the enforcement of 
U.S. tax laws. The likely respondents are foreign-owned domestic 
entities that are disregarded as separate from their owners.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid 
control number assigned by the Office of Management and Budget.
    Books or records relating to a collection of information must be 
retained as long as their contents may become material in the 
administration of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and 
tax return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.

Background

    Sections 301.7701-1 through 301.7701-3 (``the entity classification 
regulations'') classify a business entity with two or more members as 
either a

[[Page 28785]]

corporation or a partnership, and a business entity with a single owner 
as either a corporation or an entity disregarded as separate from its 
owner (``disregarded entity''). Certain domestic business entities, 
such as limited liability companies (``LLCs''), are classified by 
default as partnerships (if they have more than one member) or as 
disregarded entities (if they have only one owner) but are eligible to 
elect for federal tax purposes to be classified as corporations. Under 
special rules, an entity that is otherwise disregarded is not 
disregarded for certain excise and employment tax purposes. Section 
301.7701-2(c)(2)(iv) and (v).
    Some disregarded entities are not obligated to file a return or 
obtain an employer identification number (``EIN''). In the absence of a 
return filing obligation (and associated record maintenance 
requirements) or the identification of a responsible party as required 
in applying for an EIN, it is difficult for the United States to carry 
out the obligations it has undertaken in its tax treaties, tax 
information exchange agreements and similar international agreements to 
provide other jurisdictions with relevant information on U.S. entities 
with owners that are tax resident in the partner jurisdiction or 
otherwise have a tax nexus with respect to the partner jurisdiction.
    Section 6001 of the Internal Revenue Code (``Code'') provides that 
every person liable for any tax imposed by the Code, or for the 
collection thereof, shall keep such records, render such statements, 
make such returns and comply with such rules and regulations as the 
Secretary may from time to time prescribe, and that whenever in the 
judgment of the Secretary it is necessary, he may require any person, 
by notice served upon such person or by regulations, to make such 
returns, render such statements, or keep such records, as the Secretary 
deems sufficient to show whether or not such person is liable for tax. 
Thus, the Treasury Department and the IRS have broad authority under 
section 6001 of the Code to promulgate regulations to require the 
keeping of records and the reporting of information by persons who may 
be liable for any tax. The Code also requires many categories of 
persons to file returns, even if no tax is owed in a particular year. 
For example, all corporations organized in the United States must file 
annual income tax returns, which may include schedules requiring the 
identification of owners exceeding specified ownership thresholds. 
Moreover, foreign corporations engaged in a trade or business in the 
United States (``U.S. trade or business'') must file annual income tax 
returns. Section 6012(a)(2); section 1.6012-2. Domestic partnerships 
must file information returns with schedules identifying each partner. 
Section 6031; section 1.6031(a)-1. In addition, domestic corporations 
that are at least 25% foreign-owned are subject to specific information 
reporting and record maintenance requirements. Section 6038A.
    All entities, including disregarded entities, must have an EIN to 
file a required return. Section 6109(a)(1); see section 301.6109-
1(a)(1)(ii)(C) and (b). An entity must also have an EIN in order to 
elect to change its classification. An entity that accepts its default 
classification and is not required to file a return need not obtain an 
EIN. Because a domestic single-member LLC is classified as a 
disregarded entity by default rather than by election and has no 
separate federal tax return filing requirements, there is typically no 
federal tax requirement for it to obtain an EIN. Other applicable 
federal or state laws may require an entity to obtain an EIN. For 
example, pursuant to federal law, financial institutions in the United 
States generally require an entity to have an EIN to open an account. 
See 31 CFR 1020.220(a)(1)(i)(A)(4).
    An entity obtains an EIN by filing Form SS-4, Application for 
Employer Identification Number, in which the entity must identify a 
responsible party. The instructions to Form SS-4 define ``responsible 
party'' for an entity (including a disregarded entity) that is not 
traded on a public exchange or registered with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission as ``the individual who has a level of control 
over, or entitlement to, the funds or assets in the entity that, as a 
practical matter, enables the individual, directly or indirectly, to 
control, manage, or direct the entity and the disposition of its funds 
and assets.'' The entity must also report any subsequent change in the 
responsible party. See section 301.6109-1(d)(2)(ii).
    When an entity, such as an LLC, is classified as a corporation or a 
partnership for tax purposes, general ownership and accounting 
information is available to the IRS through the return filing and EIN 
application requirements. However, a disregarded entity is not subject 
to a separate income or information return filing requirement. Its 
owner is treated as owning directly the entity's assets and 
liabilities, and the information available with respect to the 
disregarded entity depends on the owner's own return filings, if any 
are required. For a disregarded entity that is formed in the United 
States and wholly owned by a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, 
or nonresident alien individual, generally no U.S. income or 
information return must be filed if neither the disregarded entity nor 
its owner received any U.S. source income or was engaged in a U.S. 
trade or business during the taxable year. Moreover, if a disregarded 
entity only receives certain types of U.S. source income, such as 
portfolio interest or U.S. source income that is fully withheld upon at 
source, its owner may not have a U.S. return filing requirement. Even 
in cases when the disregarded entity has an EIN, as well as in cases 
when income earned through a disregarded entity must be reported on its 
owner's return (for example, income from a U.S. trade or business), it 
may be difficult to associate the income with the disregarded entity 
based solely on the owner's return.
    Although ownership and accounting information is generally 
available under the reporting requirements established by the U.S. 
federal tax system with respect to many types of domestic entities, the 
absence of specific return filing and associated recordkeeping 
requirements for foreign-owned, single-member domestic entities hinders 
law enforcement efforts and compliance with international standards of 
transparency and cooperation in the area of tax information exchange. 
These difficulties have been noted in reviews of the U.S. legal system 
by international organizations, including the Financial Action Task 
Force and the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information 
for Tax Purposes, which is affiliated with the Organisation for 
Economic Co-operation and Development. The lack of ready access to 
information on ownership of, and transactions involving, these entities 
also makes it difficult for the IRS to ascertain whether the entity or 
its owner is liable for any federal tax.
    In general, section 6038A imposes reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements (together with certain procedural compliance requirements) 
on domestic corporations that are 25-percent foreign-owned. They are 
required to file an annual return on Form 5472, Information Return of a 
25% Foreign-Owned U.S. Corporation or a Foreign Corporation Engaged in 
a U.S. Trade or Business (Under Sections 6038A and 6038C of the 
Internal Revenue Code), with respect to each related party with which 
the reporting corporation has had any ``reportable transactions.'' See 
section 1.6038A-2. These corporations must keep the permanent books of 
account or records as required by section 6001 that are

[[Page 28786]]

sufficient to establish the accuracy of the federal income tax return 
of the corporation, including information, documents, or records to the 
extent they may be relevant to determine the correct U.S. tax treatment 
of transactions with related parties. See section 1.6038A-3.

Explanation of Provisions

    These proposed regulations would amend section 301.7701-2(c) to 
treat a domestic disregarded entity that is wholly owned by one foreign 
person as a domestic corporation separate from its owner for the 
limited purposes of the reporting and record maintenance requirements 
(including the associated procedural compliance requirements) under 
section 6038A. As with the existing special rules with respect to 
employment and excise taxes, these proposed regulations would not alter 
the framework of the existing entity classification regulations, 
including the treatment of certain entities as disregarded. These 
regulations are intended to provide the IRS with improved access to 
information that it needs to satisfy its obligations under U.S. tax 
treaties, tax information exchange agreements and similar international 
agreements, as well as to strengthen the enforcement of U.S. tax laws.
    Because the proposed regulations would treat the affected domestic 
entities as foreign-owned domestic corporations for the specific 
purposes of section 6038A under the proposed regulations, and because 
such entities are foreign-owned, they would be reporting corporations 
within the meaning of section 6038A. Consequently, they would be 
required to file the Form 5472 information return with respect to 
reportable transactions between the entity and its foreign owner or 
other foreign related parties (transactions that would have been 
regarded under general U.S. tax principles if the entity had been, in 
fact, a corporation for U.S. tax purposes) and would also be required 
to maintain records sufficient to establish the accuracy of the 
information return and the correct U.S. tax treatment of such 
transactions. In addition, because these entities would have a filing 
obligation, they would be required to obtain an EIN by filing a Form 
SS-4 that includes responsible party information.
    To ensure that such entities are required to report all 
transactions with foreign related parties, these regulations would 
specify as an additional reportable category of transaction for these 
purposes any transaction within the meaning of section 1.482-1(i)(7) 
(with such entities being treated as separate taxpayers for the purpose 
of identifying transactions and being subject to requirements under 
section 6038A) to the extent not already covered by another reportable 
category. The term ``transaction'' is defined in section 1.482-1(i)(7) 
to include any sale, assignment, lease, license, loan, advance, 
contribution, or other transfer of any interest in or a right to use 
any property or money, as well as the performance of any services for 
the benefit of, or on behalf of, another taxpayer. For example, under 
these proposed regulations, contributions and distributions would be 
considered reportable transactions with respect to such entities. 
Accordingly, a transaction between such an entity and its foreign owner 
(or another disregarded entity of the same owner) would be considered a 
reportable transaction for purposes of the section 6038A reporting and 
record maintenance requirements, even though, because it involves a 
disregarded entity, it generally would not be considered a transaction 
for other purposes, such as making an adjustment under section 482. The 
penalty provisions associated with failure to file the Form 5472 and 
failure to maintain records would apply to these entities as well.
    The proposed regulations would also provide that the exceptions to 
the record maintenance requirements in section 1.6038A-1(h) and (i) for 
small corporations and de minimis transactions will not apply to these 
entities.
    Consistent with the changes contemplated by these proposed 
regulations, the IRS is also considering modifications to corporate, 
partnership, and other tax or information returns (or their 
instructions) to require the filer of these returns to identify all the 
foreign and domestic disregarded entities it owns.
    The proposed regulations would impose a filing obligation on a 
foreign-owned disregarded entity for reportable transactions it engages 
in even if its foreign owner already has an obligation to report the 
income resulting from those transactions--for example, transactions 
resulting in income effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. 
trade or business. The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments 
on possible alternative methods for reporting the disregarded entity's 
transactions in such cases.

Proposed Effective/Applicability Date

    The regulations are proposed to be applicable for taxable years 
ending on or after the date that is 12 months after the date these 
regulations are published as final regulations in the Federal Register.

Special Analyses

    Certain IRS regulations, including this one, are exempt from the 
requirements of Executive Order 12866, as supplemented and reaffirmed 
by Executive Order 13563. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not 
required. It has also been determined that section 553(b) and (d) of 
the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to 
these regulations. Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 
chapter 6), it is hereby certified that this regulation will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
Accordingly, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required. This 
certification is based on the fact that these regulations will 
primarily affect a small number of foreign-owned domestic entities that 
do not themselves otherwise have a U.S. return filing requirement, and 
that the requirement to file a return for these entities will not 
impose a significant burden on them. Pursuant to section 7805(f), this 
notice of proposed rulemaking has been submitted to the Chief Counsel 
for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its 
impact on small entities.

Comments and Requests for a Public Hearing

    Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, 
consideration will be given to any comments that are submitted timely 
to the IRS as prescribed in this preamble under the Addresses heading. 
The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments on aspects of the 
proposed rules for which additional guidance is desired. All comments 
will be available at www.regulations.gov or upon request. A public 
hearing will be scheduled if requested in writing by any person that 
timely submits written comments. If a public hearing is scheduled, then 
notice of the date, time, and place for the public hearing will be 
published in the Federal Register.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of these regulations is Ronald M. Gootzeit, 
Office of Associate Chief Counsel (International). However, other 
personnel from the Treasury Department and the IRS participated in 
their development.

[[Page 28787]]

List of Subjects

26 CFR Part 1

    Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

26 CFR Part 301

    Employment taxes, Estate taxes, Excise taxes, Gift taxes, Income 
taxes, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Proposed Amendments to the Regulations

    Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1 and part 301 are proposed to be amended 
as follows:

PART 1--INCOME TAXES

0
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by revising 
the entries for Sec. Sec.  1.6038A-1 and 1.6038A-2 to read in part as 
follows:

    Authority:  26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
* * * * *
    Section 1.6038A-1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 6001.
    Section 1.6038A-2 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 6001.
* * * * *
0
Par. 2. Section 1.6038A-1 is amended as follows:
0
1. Paragraph (c)(1) is amended by adding a sentence at the end of the 
paragraph.
0
2. The first sentence of paragraph (h) is revised.
0
3. The first sentence of paragraph (i)(1) is revised.
0
4. Paragraph (n)(1) is amended by adding a sentence at the end of the 
paragraph.
0
5. Paragraph (n)(2) is amended by adding a sentence at the end of the 
paragraph.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.6038A-1  General requirements and definitions.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * * A domestic business entity that is wholly owned by one 
foreign person and that is otherwise classified under Sec.  301.7701-
3(b)(1)(ii) of this chapter as disregarded as an entity separate from 
its owner is treated as an entity separate from its owner and 
classified as a domestic corporation for purposes of section 6038A. See 
Sec.  301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter.
* * * * *
    (h) Small corporation exception. A reporting corporation (other 
than an entity that is treated as a reporting corporation by reason of 
Sec.  301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter) that has less than 
$10,000,000 in U.S. gross receipts for a taxable year is not subject to 
Sec. Sec.  1.6038A-3 and 1.6038A-5 for that taxable year.* * *
    (i) Safe harbor for reporting corporations with related party 
transactions of de minimis value--(1) In general. A reporting 
corporation (other than an entity that is treated as a reporting 
corporation by reason of Sec.  301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter) is 
not subject to Sec. Sec.  1.6038A-3 and 1.6038A-5 for any taxable year 
in which the aggregate value of all gross payments it makes to and 
receives from foreign related parties with respect to related party 
transactions (including monetary, nonmonetary consideration, and the 
value of transactions involving less than full consideration) is not 
more than $5,000,000 and is less than 10 percent of its U.S. gross 
income.* * *
* * * * *
    (n) * * *
    (1) * * * The last sentence of paragraph (c)(1) of this section 
(relating to certain domestic business entities), the parenthetical 
language in paragraph (h) of this section (relating to entities that 
are treated as reporting corporations by reason of Sec.  301.7701-
2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter), and the parenthetical language in 
paragraph (i)(1) of this section (relating to entities that are treated 
as reporting corporations by reason Sec.  301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this 
chapter) apply to taxable years of such entities ending on or after the 
date that is 12 months after the date of publication of the Treasury 
decision adopting these rules as final regulations in the Federal 
Register.
    (2) * * * Paragraphs (b)(3)(xi) and (b)(9) of this section and the 
last sentence of paragraph (d) of Sec.  1.6038A-2 apply to taxable 
years of the entities described in Sec.  301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this 
chapter ending on or after the date that is 12 months after the date of 
publication of the Treasury decision adopting these rules as final 
regulations in the Federal Register.
* * * * *
0
Par. 3. Section 1.6038A-2 is amended as follows:
0
1. In paragraph (b)(3)(ix), remove the word ``and''.
0
2. In paragraph (b)(3)(x), remove the period at the end of the 
paragraph and add ``; and'' in its place.
0
3. Add paragraph (b)(3)(xi).
0
4. Add paragraph (b)(9).
0
5. Add a sentence at the end of paragraph (d).
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1.6038A-2  Requirements of return.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (xi) With respect to an entity that is treated as a reporting 
corporation by reason of Sec.  301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter, 
any other transaction as defined by Sec.  1.482-1(i)(7), such as 
amounts paid or received in connection with the formation, dissolution, 
acquisition and disposition of the entity, including contributions to 
and distributions from the entity.
* * * * *
    (9) Examples. The application of paragraph (b)(3) of this section 
may be illustrated by the following examples:

    Example 1.  (i) In year 1, W, a foreign corporation, forms and 
contributes assets to X, a domestic limited liability company that 
does not elect to be treated as a corporation under Sec.  301.7701-
3(c) of this chapter. In year 2, W contributes funds to X. In year 
3, X makes a payment to W. In year 4, X, in liquidation, distributes 
its assets to W.
    (ii) In accordance with Sec.  301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii) of this 
chapter, X is disregarded as an entity separate from W. In 
accordance with Sec.  301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter, X is 
treated as an entity separate from W and classified as a domestic 
corporation for purposes of section 6038A. In accordance with 
paragraphs (a)(2) and (b)(3) of this section, each of the 
transactions in years 1 through 4 is a reportable transaction with 
respect to X. Therefore, X has a section 6038A reporting and record 
maintenance requirement for each of those years.
    Example 2.  (i) The facts are the same as in Example 1 of this 
paragraph (b)(9) except that in year 1 W also forms and contributes 
assets to Y, another domestic limited liability company that does 
not elect to be treated as a corporation under Sec.  301.7701-3(c) 
of this chapter. In year 1, X and Y form and contribute assets to Z, 
another domestic limited liability company that does not elect to be 
treated as a corporation under Sec.  301.7701-3(c) of this chapter. 
In year 2, X transfers funds to Z. In year 3, Z makes a payment to 
Y. In year 4, Z distributes its assets to X and Y in liquidation.
    (ii) In accordance with Sec.  301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii) of this 
chapter, Y and Z are disregarded as entities separate from each 
other, W, and X. In accordance with Sec.  301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of 
this chapter, Y, Z and X are treated as entities separate from each 
other and W, and are classified as domestic corporations for 
purposes of section 6038A. In accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of 
this section, each of the transactions in years 1 through 4 
involving Z is a reportable transaction with respect to Z. 
Similarly, the contribution to Y in year 1, the payment to Y in year 
3, and the distribution to Y in year 4 are reportable transactions 
with respect to Y. Moreover, X's funds transfer to Z in year 2 is a 
reportable transaction. Therefore, Z has a section 6038A reporting 
and record maintenance requirement for years 1 through 4, Y has a 
section 6038A reporting and record maintenance requirement for years 
1, 3 and 4, and X has a section 6038A reporting and record 
maintenance requirement in year 2 in

[[Page 28788]]

addition to its section 6038A reporting and record maintenance 
described in Example 1 of this paragraph (b)(9).

    (d) * * * In the case of an entity that is treated as a reporting 
corporation by reason of Sec.  301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter, 
Form 5472 must be filed at such time and in such manner as the 
Commissioner may prescribe in forms or instructions.
* * * * *

PART 301--PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION

0
Par. 4. The authority citation for part 301 continues in part to read 
as follows:

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

0
Par. 5. Section 301.7701-2 is amended by revising the last sentence of 
paragraph (a) and adding paragraphs (c)(2)(vi) and (e)(9) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  301.7701-2  Business entities; definitions.

    (a) * * * But see paragraphs (c)(2)(iii) through (vi) of this 
section for special rules that apply to an eligible entity that is 
otherwise disregarded as an entity separate from its owner.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (vi) Special rule for reporting under section 6038A--(A) In 
general. An entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for 
any purpose under this section is treated as an entity separate from 
its owner and classified as a corporation for purposes of section 6038A 
if--
    (1) The entity is a domestic entity; and
    (2) One foreign person has direct or indirect sole ownership of the 
entity.
    (B) Definitions--(1) Indirect sole ownership. For purposes of 
paragraph (c)(2)(vi)(A)(2) of this section, indirect sole ownership 
means ownership by one person entirely through one or more entities 
disregarded as separate from their owners or through grantor trusts, 
regardless of whether any such disregarded entity or grantor trust is 
domestic or foreign.
    (2) Entity disregarded as separate from its owner. For purposes of 
this paragraph (c)(2)(vi)(B), an entity disregarded as separate from 
its owner is an entity described in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this 
section, without regard to the exceptions provided in paragraphs 
(c)(2)(ii) though (vi) of this section.
    (3) Grantor trust. For purposes of this paragraph (c)(2)(vi)(B), a 
grantor trust is any portion of a trust that is treated as owned by the 
grantor or another person under subpart E of subchapter J of chapter 1 
of the Code.
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (9) Reporting required under section 6038A. Paragraph (c)(2)(vi) of 
this section applies to taxable years ending on or after the date that 
is 12 months after the date of publication of the Treasury decision 
adopting these rules as final regulations in the Federal Register.

John Dalrymple,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2016-10852 Filed 5-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4830-01-P



                                               28784                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 10, 2016 / Proposed Rules

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                                               ‘‘Requirements for the Submission of                    www.regulations.gov or http://www.                    and/or requests for a hearing, Regina
                                               Data Needed to Calculate User Fees for                  fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/Labeling/                     Johnson, (202) 317–6901 (not toll-free
                                               Domestic Manufacturers and Importers                    RulesRegulationsGuidance/default.htm.                 numbers).
                                               of Tobacco Products; Small Entity                         Dated: May 3, 2016.                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                               Compliance Guide’’ for the final user fee               Leslie Kux,
                                               rules published July 10, 2014 (79 FR                    Associate Commissioner for Policy.                    Paperwork Reduction Act
                                               39302). Also, published elsewhere in                    [FR Doc. 2016–10689 Filed 5–5–16; 8:45 am]               The collection of information
                                               this edition of the Federal Register,                   BILLING CODE 4164–01–P                                contained in this notice of proposed
                                               FDA issued a final rule to amend 21                                                                           rulemaking has been previously
                                               CFR part 1150 (part 1150) to require                                                                          reviewed and approved by the Office of
                                               domestic manufacturers and importers                    DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                            Management and Budget in accordance
                                               of cigars and pipe tobacco to submit to                                                                       with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
                                               FDA information needed to calculate                     Internal Revenue Service                              1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) under control
                                               the amount of user fees assessed under                                                                        number 1545–1191. The estimated
                                               the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic                    26 CFR Parts 1 and 301                                average annual recordkeeping burden
                                               Act (FD&C Act). FDA issued this user                                                                          per recordkeeper is 10 hours. The
                                               fee final rule together with the final                  [REG–127199–15]
                                                                                                                                                             estimated reporting burden is being
                                               rule, ‘‘Deeming Tobacco Products To Be                  RIN 1545–BM94                                         reported under Form 5472 (OMB #
                                               Subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and                                                                        1545–0123).
                                               Cosmetic Act, as Amended by the                         Treatment of Certain Domestic Entities                   The collection of information in this
                                               Family Smoking Prevention and                           Disregarded as Separate From Their                    proposed regulation is in sections
                                               Tobacco Control Act; Restrictions on the                Owners as Corporations for Purposes                   1.6038A–1 through 1.6038A–3 and
                                               Sale and Distribution of Tobacco                        of Section 6038A                                      1.6038A–5. This information is required
                                               Products and Required Warning                                                                                 in order to provide the IRS with
                                               Statements for Tobacco Products’’                       AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
                                                                                                                                                             improved access to information that it
                                               (Deeming rule), which deems all                         Treasury.
                                                                                                                                                             needs to satisfy its obligations under
                                               products that meet the statutory                        ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.                U.S. tax treaties, tax information
                                               definition of ‘‘tobacco product,’’ except                                                                     exchange agreements, and similar
                                                                                                       SUMMARY:   This document contains
                                               accessories of the newly deemed                                                                               international agreements, as well as to
                                                                                                       proposed regulations that would treat a
                                               tobacco products, to be subject to the                                                                        strengthen the enforcement of U.S. tax
                                                                                                       domestic disregarded entity wholly
                                               FD&C Act. The Deeming rule, among                                                                             laws. The likely respondents are
                                                                                                       owned by a foreign person as a domestic
                                               other things, subjects domestic                                                                               foreign-owned domestic entities that are
                                                                                                       corporation separate from its owner for
                                               manufacturers and importers of cigars                                                                         disregarded as separate from their
                                                                                                       the limited purposes of the reporting,
                                               and pipe tobacco to the FD&C Act’s user                                                                       owners.
                                                                                                       record maintenance and associated
                                               fee requirements. Consistent with the                                                                            An agency may not conduct or
                                                                                                       compliance requirements that apply to
                                               Deeming rule and the requirements of                                                                          sponsor, and a person is not required to
                                                                                                       25 percent foreign-owned domestic
                                               the FD&C Act, this user fee final rule                                                                        respond to, a collection of information
                                                                                                       corporations under section 6038A of the
                                               requires the submission of the                                                                                unless it displays a valid control
                                                                                                       Internal Revenue Code. These changes
                                               information needed to calculate user fee                                                                      number assigned by the Office of
                                                                                                       are intended to provide the IRS with
                                               assessments for each manufacturer and                                                                         Management and Budget.
                                                                                                       improved access to information that it
                                               importer of cigars and pipe tobacco to                                                                           Books or records relating to a
                                                                                                       needs to satisfy its obligations under
                                               FDA. In compliance with section 212 of                                                                        collection of information must be
                                                                                                       U.S. tax treaties, tax information
                                               the Small Business Regulatory                                                                                 retained as long as their contents may
                                                                                                       exchange agreements and similar
                                               Enforcement Fairness Act (Pub. L. 104–                                                                        become material in the administration
                                                                                                       international agreements, as well as to
                                               121), FDA is making available this                                                                            of any internal revenue law. Generally,
                                                                                                       strengthen the enforcement of U.S. tax
                                               revised SECG stating in plain language                                                                        tax returns and tax return information
                                                                                                       laws.
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                                               the legal requirements of the user fee                                                                        are confidential, as required by 26
                                               final regulations set forth in part 1150.               DATES: Written or electronic comments                 U.S.C. 6103.
                                                                                                       and requests for a public hearing must
                                               II. Significance of Guidance                            be received by August 8, 2016.                        Background
                                                  FDA is issuing this revised SECG as                  ADDRESSES: Send submissions to:                         Sections 301.7701–1 through
                                               a level 2 guidance, consistent with                     CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG–127199–15), Room                    301.7701–3 (‘‘the entity classification
                                               FDA’s good guidance practices                           5203, Internal Revenue Service, P.O.                  regulations’’) classify a business entity
                                               regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The                         Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station,                       with two or more members as either a


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 10, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                           28785

                                               corporation or a partnership, and a                     trade or business’’) must file annual                 owned by a foreign corporation, foreign
                                               business entity with a single owner as                  income tax returns. Section 6012(a)(2);               partnership, or nonresident alien
                                               either a corporation or an entity                       section 1.6012–2. Domestic partnerships               individual, generally no U.S. income or
                                               disregarded as separate from its owner                  must file information returns with                    information return must be filed if
                                               (‘‘disregarded entity’’). Certain domestic              schedules identifying each partner.                   neither the disregarded entity nor its
                                               business entities, such as limited                      Section 6031; section 1.6031(a)–1. In                 owner received any U.S. source income
                                               liability companies (‘‘LLCs’’), are                     addition, domestic corporations that are              or was engaged in a U.S. trade or
                                               classified by default as partnerships (if               at least 25% foreign-owned are subject                business during the taxable year.
                                               they have more than one member) or as                   to specific information reporting and                 Moreover, if a disregarded entity only
                                               disregarded entities (if they have only                 record maintenance requirements.                      receives certain types of U.S. source
                                               one owner) but are eligible to elect for                Section 6038A.                                        income, such as portfolio interest or
                                               federal tax purposes to be classified as                   All entities, including disregarded                U.S. source income that is fully
                                               corporations. Under special rules, an                   entities, must have an EIN to file a                  withheld upon at source, its owner may
                                               entity that is otherwise disregarded is                 required return. Section 6109(a)(1); see              not have a U.S. return filing
                                               not disregarded for certain excise and                  section 301.6109–1(a)(1)(ii)(C) and (b).              requirement. Even in cases when the
                                               employment tax purposes. Section                        An entity must also have an EIN in                    disregarded entity has an EIN, as well as
                                               301.7701–2(c)(2)(iv) and (v).                           order to elect to change its                          in cases when income earned through a
                                                  Some disregarded entities are not                    classification. An entity that accepts its            disregarded entity must be reported on
                                               obligated to file a return or obtain an                 default classification and is not required            its owner’s return (for example, income
                                               employer identification number                          to file a return need not obtain an EIN.              from a U.S. trade or business), it may be
                                               (‘‘EIN’’). In the absence of a return filing            Because a domestic single-member LLC                  difficult to associate the income with
                                               obligation (and associated record                       is classified as a disregarded entity by              the disregarded entity based solely on
                                               maintenance requirements) or the                        default rather than by election and has               the owner’s return.
                                               identification of a responsible party as                no separate federal tax return filing                    Although ownership and accounting
                                               required in applying for an EIN, it is                  requirements, there is typically no                   information is generally available under
                                               difficult for the United States to carry                federal tax requirement for it to obtain              the reporting requirements established
                                               out the obligations it has undertaken in                an EIN. Other applicable federal or state             by the U.S. federal tax system with
                                               its tax treaties, tax information exchange              laws may require an entity to obtain an               respect to many types of domestic
                                               agreements and similar international                    EIN. For example, pursuant to federal                 entities, the absence of specific return
                                               agreements to provide other                             law, financial institutions in the United             filing and associated recordkeeping
                                               jurisdictions with relevant information                 States generally require an entity to                 requirements for foreign-owned, single-
                                               on U.S. entities with owners that are tax               have an EIN to open an account. See 31                member domestic entities hinders law
                                               resident in the partner jurisdiction or                 CFR 1020.220(a)(1)(i)(A)(4).                          enforcement efforts and compliance
                                               otherwise have a tax nexus with respect                    An entity obtains an EIN by filing                 with international standards of
                                               to the partner jurisdiction.                            Form SS–4, Application for Employer                   transparency and cooperation in the
                                                  Section 6001 of the Internal Revenue                 Identification Number, in which the                   area of tax information exchange. These
                                               Code (‘‘Code’’) provides that every                     entity must identify a responsible party.             difficulties have been noted in reviews
                                               person liable for any tax imposed by the                The instructions to Form SS–4 define                  of the U.S. legal system by international
                                               Code, or for the collection thereof, shall              ‘‘responsible party’’ for an entity                   organizations, including the Financial
                                               keep such records, render such                          (including a disregarded entity) that is              Action Task Force and the Global
                                               statements, make such returns and                       not traded on a public exchange or                    Forum on Transparency and Exchange
                                               comply with such rules and regulations                  registered with the Securities and                    of Information for Tax Purposes, which
                                               as the Secretary may from time to time                  Exchange Commission as ‘‘the                          is affiliated with the Organisation for
                                               prescribe, and that whenever in the                     individual who has a level of control                 Economic Co-operation and
                                               judgment of the Secretary it is                         over, or entitlement to, the funds or                 Development. The lack of ready access
                                               necessary, he may require any person,                   assets in the entity that, as a practical             to information on ownership of, and
                                               by notice served upon such person or by                 matter, enables the individual, directly              transactions involving, these entities
                                               regulations, to make such returns,                      or indirectly, to control, manage, or                 also makes it difficult for the IRS to
                                               render such statements, or keep such                    direct the entity and the disposition of              ascertain whether the entity or its owner
                                               records, as the Secretary deems                         its funds and assets.’’ The entity must               is liable for any federal tax.
                                               sufficient to show whether or not such                  also report any subsequent change in                     In general, section 6038A imposes
                                               person is liable for tax. Thus, the                     the responsible party. See section                    reporting and recordkeeping
                                               Treasury Department and the IRS have                    301.6109–1(d)(2)(ii).                                 requirements (together with certain
                                               broad authority under section 6001 of                      When an entity, such as an LLC, is                 procedural compliance requirements)
                                               the Code to promulgate regulations to                   classified as a corporation or a                      on domestic corporations that are 25-
                                               require the keeping of records and the                  partnership for tax purposes, general                 percent foreign-owned. They are
                                               reporting of information by persons who                 ownership and accounting information                  required to file an annual return on
                                               may be liable for any tax. The Code also                is available to the IRS through the return            Form 5472, Information Return of a 25%
                                               requires many categories of persons to                  filing and EIN application requirements.              Foreign-Owned U.S. Corporation or a
                                               file returns, even if no tax is owed in a               However, a disregarded entity is not                  Foreign Corporation Engaged in a U.S.
                                               particular year. For example, all                       subject to a separate income or                       Trade or Business (Under Sections
                                                                                                       information return filing requirement.
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                                               corporations organized in the United                                                                          6038A and 6038C of the Internal
                                               States must file annual income tax                      Its owner is treated as owning directly               Revenue Code), with respect to each
                                               returns, which may include schedules                    the entity’s assets and liabilities, and the          related party with which the reporting
                                               requiring the identification of owners                  information available with respect to the             corporation has had any ‘‘reportable
                                               exceeding specified ownership                           disregarded entity depends on the                     transactions.’’ See section 1.6038A–2.
                                               thresholds. Moreover, foreign                           owner’s own return filings, if any are                These corporations must keep the
                                               corporations engaged in a trade or                      required. For a disregarded entity that is            permanent books of account or records
                                               business in the United States (‘‘U.S.                   formed in the United States and wholly                as required by section 6001 that are


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                                               28786                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 10, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                               sufficient to establish the accuracy of                 separate taxpayers for the purpose of                 date these regulations are published as
                                               the federal income tax return of the                    identifying transactions and being                    final regulations in the Federal Register.
                                               corporation, including information,                     subject to requirements under section
                                               documents, or records to the extent they                6038A) to the extent not already covered              Special Analyses
                                               may be relevant to determine the correct                by another reportable category. The term                Certain IRS regulations, including this
                                               U.S. tax treatment of transactions with                 ‘‘transaction’’ is defined in section                 one, are exempt from the requirements
                                               related parties. See section 1.6038A–3.                 1.482–1(i)(7) to include any sale,                    of Executive Order 12866, as
                                               Explanation of Provisions                               assignment, lease, license, loan,
                                                                                                                                                             supplemented and reaffirmed by
                                                                                                       advance, contribution, or other transfer
                                                  These proposed regulations would                                                                           Executive Order 13563. Therefore, a
                                                                                                       of any interest in or a right to use any
                                               amend section 301.7701–2(c) to treat a                                                                        regulatory assessment is not required. It
                                                                                                       property or money, as well as the
                                               domestic disregarded entity that is                     performance of any services for the                   has also been determined that section
                                               wholly owned by one foreign person as                   benefit of, or on behalf of, another                  553(b) and (d) of the Administrative
                                               a domestic corporation separate from its                taxpayer. For example, under these                    Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does
                                               owner for the limited purposes of the                   proposed regulations, contributions and               not apply to these regulations. Pursuant
                                               reporting and record maintenance                        distributions would be considered                     to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
                                               requirements (including the associated                  reportable transactions with respect to               U.S.C. chapter 6), it is hereby certified
                                               procedural compliance requirements)                     such entities. Accordingly, a transaction             that this regulation will not have a
                                               under section 6038A. As with the                        between such an entity and its foreign                significant economic impact on a
                                               existing special rules with respect to                  owner (or another disregarded entity of               substantial number of small entities.
                                               employment and excise taxes, these                      the same owner) would be considered a                 Accordingly, a regulatory flexibility
                                               proposed regulations would not alter                    reportable transaction for purposes of                analysis is not required. This
                                               the framework of the existing entity                    the section 6038A reporting and record                certification is based on the fact that
                                               classification regulations, including the               maintenance requirements, even                        these regulations will primarily affect a
                                               treatment of certain entities as                        though, because it involves a                         small number of foreign-owned
                                               disregarded. These regulations are                      disregarded entity, it generally would
                                               intended to provide the IRS with                                                                              domestic entities that do not themselves
                                                                                                       not be considered a transaction for other             otherwise have a U.S. return filing
                                               improved access to information that it                  purposes, such as making an adjustment
                                               needs to satisfy its obligations under                                                                        requirement, and that the requirement
                                                                                                       under section 482. The penalty                        to file a return for these entities will not
                                               U.S. tax treaties, tax information
                                                                                                       provisions associated with failure to file            impose a significant burden on them.
                                               exchange agreements and similar
                                                                                                       the Form 5472 and failure to maintain                 Pursuant to section 7805(f), this notice
                                               international agreements, as well as to
                                                                                                       records would apply to these entities as              of proposed rulemaking has been
                                               strengthen the enforcement of U.S. tax
                                                                                                       well.                                                 submitted to the Chief Counsel for
                                               laws.
                                                  Because the proposed regulations                        The proposed regulations would also                Advocacy of the Small Business
                                               would treat the affected domestic                       provide that the exceptions to the record             Administration for comment on its
                                               entities as foreign-owned domestic                      maintenance requirements in section
                                                                                                                                                             impact on small entities.
                                               corporations for the specific purposes of               1.6038A–1(h) and (i) for small
                                               section 6038A under the proposed                        corporations and de minimis                           Comments and Requests for a Public
                                               regulations, and because such entities                  transactions will not apply to these                  Hearing
                                               are foreign-owned, they would be                        entities.
                                                                                                          Consistent with the changes                          Before these proposed regulations are
                                               reporting corporations within the
                                               meaning of section 6038A.                               contemplated by these proposed                        adopted as final regulations,
                                               Consequently, they would be required                    regulations, the IRS is also considering              consideration will be given to any
                                               to file the Form 5472 information return                modifications to corporate, partnership,              comments that are submitted timely to
                                               with respect to reportable transactions                 and other tax or information returns (or              the IRS as prescribed in this preamble
                                               between the entity and its foreign owner                their instructions) to require the filer of           under the ADDRESSES heading. The
                                               or other foreign related parties                        these returns to identify all the foreign             Treasury Department and the IRS
                                               (transactions that would have been                      and domestic disregarded entities it                  request comments on aspects of the
                                               regarded under general U.S. tax                         owns.                                                 proposed rules for which additional
                                               principles if the entity had been, in fact,                The proposed regulations would                     guidance is desired. All comments will
                                               a corporation for U.S. tax purposes) and                impose a filing obligation on a foreign-              be available at www.regulations.gov or
                                               would also be required to maintain                      owned disregarded entity for reportable               upon request. A public hearing will be
                                               records sufficient to establish the                     transactions it engages in even if its                scheduled if requested in writing by any
                                               accuracy of the information return and                  foreign owner already has an obligation               person that timely submits written
                                               the correct U.S. tax treatment of such                  to report the income resulting from                   comments. If a public hearing is
                                               transactions. In addition, because these                those transactions—for example,                       scheduled, then notice of the date, time,
                                               entities would have a filing obligation,                transactions resulting in income                      and place for the public hearing will be
                                               they would be required to obtain an EIN                 effectively connected with the conduct                published in the Federal Register.
                                               by filing a Form SS–4 that includes                     of a U.S. trade or business. The Treasury
                                               responsible party information.                          Department and the IRS request                        Drafting Information
                                                  To ensure that such entities are                     comments on possible alternative
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                                               required to report all transactions with                methods for reporting the disregarded                    The principal author of these
                                               foreign related parties, these regulations              entity’s transactions in such cases.                  regulations is Ronald M. Gootzeit, Office
                                               would specify as an additional                                                                                of Associate Chief Counsel
                                                                                                       Proposed Effective/Applicability Date                 (International). However, other
                                               reportable category of transaction for
                                               these purposes any transaction within                      The regulations are proposed to be                 personnel from the Treasury
                                               the meaning of section 1.482–1(i)(7)                    applicable for taxable years ending on or             Department and the IRS participated in
                                               (with such entities being treated as                    after the date that is 12 months after the            their development.


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 10, 2016 / Proposed Rules                                                 28787

                                               List of Subjects                                          than $10,000,000 in U.S. gross receipts                  (b) * * *
                                                                                                         for a taxable year is not subject to                     (3) * * *
                                               26 CFR Part 1                                                                                                      (xi) With respect to an entity that is
                                                                                                         §§ 1.6038A–3 and 1.6038A–5 for that
                                                 Income taxes, Reporting and                             taxable year.* * *                                    treated as a reporting corporation by
                                               recordkeeping requirements.                                  (i) Safe harbor for reporting                      reason of § 301.7701–2(c)(2)(vi) of this
                                                                                                         corporations with related party                       chapter, any other transaction as
                                               26 CFR Part 301
                                                                                                         transactions of de minimis value—(1) In               defined by § 1.482–1(i)(7), such as
                                                 Employment taxes, Estate taxes,                         general. A reporting corporation (other               amounts paid or received in connection
                                               Excise taxes, Gift taxes, Income taxes,                   than an entity that is treated as a                   with the formation, dissolution,
                                               Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping                    reporting corporation by reason of                    acquisition and disposition of the entity,
                                               requirements.                                             § 301.7701–2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter) is            including contributions to and
                                               Proposed Amendments to the                                not subject to §§ 1.6038A–3 and                       distributions from the entity.
                                               Regulations                                               1.6038A–5 for any taxable year in which               *      *    *     *     *
                                                                                                         the aggregate value of all gross payments                (9) Examples. The application of
                                                 Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1 and part                    it makes to and receives from foreign                 paragraph (b)(3) of this section may be
                                               301 are proposed to be amended as                         related parties with respect to related               illustrated by the following examples:
                                               follows:                                                  party transactions (including monetary,                  Example 1. (i) In year 1, W, a foreign
                                                                                                         nonmonetary consideration, and the                    corporation, forms and contributes assets to
                                               PART 1—INCOME TAXES
                                                                                                         value of transactions involving less than             X, a domestic limited liability company that
                                               ■ Paragraph 1. The authority citation                     full consideration) is not more than                  does not elect to be treated as a corporation
                                                                                                         $5,000,000 and is less than 10 percent                under § 301.7701–3(c) of this chapter. In year
                                               for part 1 is amended by revising the
                                                                                                         of its U.S. gross income.* * *                        2, W contributes funds to X. In year 3, X
                                               entries for §§ 1.6038A–1 and 1.6038A–                                                                           makes a payment to W. In year 4, X, in
                                               2 to read in part as follows:                             *      *     *     *     *                            liquidation, distributes its assets to W.
                                                                                                            (n) * * *                                             (ii) In accordance with § 301.7701–
                                                   Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *                          (1) * * * The last sentence of                     3(b)(1)(ii) of this chapter, X is disregarded as
                                               *      *       *       *      *                           paragraph (c)(1) of this section (relating            an entity separate from W. In accordance
                                                 Section 1.6038A–1 also issued under 26                  to certain domestic business entities),               with § 301.7701–2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter, X
                                               U.S.C. 6001.                                              the parenthetical language in paragraph               is treated as an entity separate from W and
                                                 Section 1.6038A–2 also issued under 26
                                                                                                         (h) of this section (relating to entities             classified as a domestic corporation for
                                               U.S.C. 6001.                                                                                                    purposes of section 6038A. In accordance
                                                                                                         that are treated as reporting corporations
                                               *      *     *     *    *                                 by reason of § 301.7701–2(c)(2)(vi) of                with paragraphs (a)(2) and (b)(3) of this
                                               ■  Par. 2. Section 1.6038A–1 is amended                   this chapter), and the parenthetical                  section, each of the transactions in years 1
                                               as follows:                                                                                                     through 4 is a reportable transaction with
                                                                                                         language in paragraph (i)(1) of this                  respect to X. Therefore, X has a section
                                               ■ 1. Paragraph (c)(1) is amended by
                                                                                                         section (relating to entities that are                6038A reporting and record maintenance
                                               adding a sentence at the end of the                       treated as reporting corporations by                  requirement for each of those years.
                                               paragraph.                                                reason § 301.7701–2(c)(2)(vi) of this                    Example 2. (i) The facts are the same as
                                               ■ 2. The first sentence of paragraph (h)
                                                                                                         chapter) apply to taxable years of such               in Example 1 of this paragraph (b)(9) except
                                               is revised.                                                                                                     that in year 1 W also forms and contributes
                                                                                                         entities ending on or after the date that
                                               ■ 3. The first sentence of paragraph                                                                            assets to Y, another domestic limited liability
                                                                                                         is 12 months after the date of
                                               (i)(1) is revised.                                                                                              company that does not elect to be treated as
                                                                                                         publication of the Treasury decision
                                               ■ 4. Paragraph (n)(1) is amended by                                                                             a corporation under § 301.7701–3(c) of this
                                                                                                         adopting these rules as final regulations             chapter. In year 1, X and Y form and
                                               adding a sentence at the end of the
                                                                                                         in the Federal Register.                              contribute assets to Z, another domestic
                                               paragraph.                                                   (2) * * * Paragraphs (b)(3)(xi) and
                                               ■ 5. Paragraph (n)(2) is amended by                                                                             limited liability company that does not elect
                                                                                                         (b)(9) of this section and the last                   to be treated as a corporation under
                                               adding a sentence at the end of the                       sentence of paragraph (d) of § 1.6038A–               § 301.7701–3(c) of this chapter. In year 2, X
                                               paragraph.                                                2 apply to taxable years of the entities              transfers funds to Z. In year 3, Z makes a
                                                  The additions and revisions read as                                                                          payment to Y. In year 4, Z distributes its
                                                                                                         described in § 301.7701–2(c)(2)(vi) of
                                               follows:                                                                                                        assets to X and Y in liquidation.
                                                                                                         this chapter ending on or after the date
                                                                                                                                                                  (ii) In accordance with § 301.7701–
                                               § 1.6038A–1        General requirements and               that is 12 months after the date of
                                                                                                                                                               3(b)(1)(ii) of this chapter, Y and Z are
                                               definitions.                                              publication of the Treasury decision                  disregarded as entities separate from each
                                               *     *      *     *    *                                 adopting these rules as final regulations             other, W, and X. In accordance with
                                                 (c) * * *                                               in the Federal Register.                              § 301.7701–2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter, Y, Z
                                                 (1) * * * A domestic business entity                    *      *     *     *     *                            and X are treated as entities separate from
                                               that is wholly owned by one foreign                       ■ Par. 3. Section 1.6038A–2 is amended                each other and W, and are classified as
                                               person and that is otherwise classified                   as follows:                                           domestic corporations for purposes of section
                                                                                                         ■ 1. In paragraph (b)(3)(ix), remove the              6038A. In accordance with paragraph (b)(3)
                                               under § 301.7701–3(b)(1)(ii) of this
                                                                                                         word ‘‘and’’.                                         of this section, each of the transactions in
                                               chapter as disregarded as an entity                                                                             years 1 through 4 involving Z is a reportable
                                               separate from its owner is treated as an                  ■ 2. In paragraph (b)(3)(x), remove the
                                                                                                                                                               transaction with respect to Z. Similarly, the
                                               entity separate from its owner and                        period at the end of the paragraph and                contribution to Y in year 1, the payment to
                                               classified as a domestic corporation for                  add ‘‘; and’’ in its place.                           Y in year 3, and the distribution to Y in year
                                               purposes of section 6038A. See                            ■ 3. Add paragraph (b)(3)(xi).                        4 are reportable transactions with respect to
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                                                                                                         ■ 4. Add paragraph (b)(9).                            Y. Moreover, X’s funds transfer to Z in year
                                               § 301.7701–2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter.
                                                                                                         ■ 5. Add a sentence at the end of                     2 is a reportable transaction. Therefore, Z has
                                               *     *      *     *    *                                 paragraph (d).                                        a section 6038A reporting and record
                                                 (h) Small corporation exception. A                         The additions and revisions read as                maintenance requirement for years 1 through
                                               reporting corporation (other than an                      follows:                                              4, Y has a section 6038A reporting and record
                                               entity that is treated as a reporting                                                                           maintenance requirement for years 1, 3 and
                                               corporation by reason of § 301.7701–                      § 1.6038A–2       Requirements of return.             4, and X has a section 6038A reporting and
                                               2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter) that has less                *      *      *      *       *                        record maintenance requirement in year 2 in



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                                               28788                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 10, 2016 / Proposed Rules

                                               addition to its section 6038A reporting and             under subpart E of subchapter J of                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                               record maintenance described in Example 1               chapter 1 of the Code.
                                               of this paragraph (b)(9).                                                                                     I. Table of Abbreviations
                                                                                                       *      *    *     *     *
                                                  (d) * * * In the case of an entity that                 (e) * * *                                          CFR Code of Federal Regulations
                                               is treated as a reporting corporation by                   (9) Reporting required under section               DHS Department of Homeland Security
                                                                                                       6038A. Paragraph (c)(2)(vi) of this                   FDEP Florida Department of Environmental
                                               reason of § 301.7701–2(c)(2)(vi) of this                                                                        Protection
                                               chapter, Form 5472 must be filed at                     section applies to taxable years ending
                                                                                                                                                             FR Federal Register
                                               such time and in such manner as the                     on or after the date that is 12 months                NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service
                                               Commissioner may prescribe in forms or                  after the date of publication of the                  NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
                                               instructions.                                           Treasury decision adopting these rules                § Section
                                               *      *    *     *     *                               as final regulations in the Federal                   SEFCRI South East Florida Coral Reef
                                                                                                       Register.                                               Initiative
                                               PART 301—PROCEDURE AND                                                                                        U.S.C. United States Code
                                                                                                       John Dalrymple,
                                               ADMINISTRATION                                                                                                II. Background, Purpose, and Legal
                                                                                                       Deputy Commissioner for Services and
                                                                                                       Enforcement.                                          Basis
                                               ■ Par. 4. The authority citation for part
                                               301 continues in part to read as follows:               [FR Doc. 2016–10852 Filed 5–6–16; 8:45 am]               On December 1, 2015, the Coast
                                                   Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
                                                                                                       BILLING CODE 4830–01–P                                Guard published a Notice of Study and
                                                                                                                                                             request for comments (80 FR 75020)
                                               ■ Par. 5. Section 301.7701–2 is                                                                               advising that we were evaluating an
                                               amended by revising the last sentence of                DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND                                amendment to the Miami Anchorage (33
                                               paragraph (a) and adding paragraphs                     SECURITY                                              CFR 110.188) that would divide the
                                               (c)(2)(vi) and (e)(9) to read as follows:                                                                     anchorage into two separate anchorage
                                                                                                       Coast Guard                                           areas. The possible modification of the
                                               § 301.7701–2     Business entities;
                                               definitions.                                                                                                  anchorage area was designed in
                                                                                                       33 CFR Part 110                                       coordination with local stakeholders in
                                                  (a) * * * But see paragraphs (c)(2)(iii)
                                                                                                       [Docket Number USCG–2015–0729]                        an effort to mitigate damage to coral that
                                               through (vi) of this section for special
                                                                                                                                                             may be caused by vessels anchoring.
                                               rules that apply to an eligible entity that             RIN 1625–AA01                                         Comments provided by these
                                               is otherwise disregarded as an entity
                                                                                                       Port of Miami Anchorage Area; Atlantic                stakeholders, academic research, and
                                               separate from its owner.
                                                                                                       Ocean, Miami Beach, FL                                environmental reports addressed a
                                               *      *      *     *    *                                                                                    number of options to potentially reduce
                                                  (c) * * *                                            AGENCY:   Coast Guard, DHS.                           the likelihood of damage to the Florida
                                                  (2) * * *                                            ACTION:   Notice of proposed rulemaking.              Reef in the Miami Anchorage. Those
                                                  (vi) Special rule for reporting under                                                                      documents, which may be found in the
                                               section 6038A—(A) In general. An                        SUMMARY:   The Coast Guard proposes to                docket, influenced this Coast Guard’s
                                               entity that is disregarded as separate                  revise the Miami Anchorage. Under the                 selection of the anchorage modification
                                               from its owner for any purpose under                    proposal, the Miami Anchorage would                   proposed in this notice.
                                               this section is treated as an entity                    be divided into two separate anchorage                   In response to the Notice of Study, the
                                               separate from its owner and classified as               areas. This action is necessary to reduce             Coast Guard received four comments.
                                               a corporation for purposes of section                   potential damage to threatened coral                  The first comment was from the non-
                                               6038A if—                                               posed by anchoring vessels. This                      profit organization, Miami Waterkeeper.
                                                  (1) The entity is a domestic entity;                 proposed revision would update the                    Miami Waterkeeper supports the
                                               and                                                     regulation to clarify the regulatory text             modifications to the anchorage area as
                                                  (2) One foreign person has direct or                 and to reflect the establishment of two               those modifications would both better
                                               indirect sole ownership of the entity.                  anchorage areas instead of one area                   protect threatened species and critical
                                                  (B) Definitions—(1) Indirect sole                    currently in place. We invite your                    coral habitat and still allow for safe
                                               ownership. For purposes of paragraph                    comments on this proposed rulemaking.                 navigation.
                                               (c)(2)(vi)(A)(2) of this section, indirect              DATES: Comments and related material                     The second comment came from the
                                               sole ownership means ownership by                       must be received by the Coast Guard on                National Marine Fisheries Service—
                                               one person entirely through one or more                 or before July 11, 2016.                              Habitat Conservation Division (NFMS).
                                               entities disregarded as separate from                   ADDRESSES: You may submit comments                    NMFS stated that they support
                                               their owners or through grantor trusts,                 identified by docket number USCG–                     relocating the anchorage area in order to
                                               regardless of whether any such                          2015–0729 using the Federal                           reduce continued degradation of the
                                               disregarded entity or grantor trust is                  eRulemaking Portal at http://                         coral reef and, ultimately, allow for
                                               domestic or foreign.                                    www.regulations.gov. See the ‘‘Public                 restoration of the reef.
                                                  (2) Entity disregarded as separate                   Participation and Request for                            The third comment was from NOAA.
                                               from its owner. For purposes of this                    Comments’’ portion of the                             On December 1, 2015, NOAA submitted
                                               paragraph (c)(2)(vi)(B), an entity                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for                 a comment to verify the coordinates of
                                               disregarded as separate from its owner                  further instructions on submitting                    the possible amended anchorage area
                                               is an entity described in paragraph                     comments.                                             listed in the notice. The coordinates for
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                                               (c)(2)(i) of this section, without regard to            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If                   the location of the amended anchorage
                                               the exceptions provided in paragraphs                   you have questions about this proposed                areas were published incorrectly. The
                                               (c)(2)(ii) though (vi) of this section.                 rulemaking, call or email LT Ruth                     latitudinal coordinates were
                                                  (3) Grantor trust. For purposes of this              Sadowitz, Sector Miami Waterways                      inadvertently published in the longitude
                                               paragraph (c)(2)(vi)(B), a grantor trust is             Management Division, U.S. Coast                       column and vice versa. However, the
                                               any portion of a trust that is treated as               Guard; telephone 305–535–4307, email                  numerical coordinates published in the
                                               owned by the grantor or another person                  Ruth.A.Sadowitz@uscg.mil.                             chart was correct. The error has been


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Document Created: 2016-05-10 05:19:09
Document Modified: 2016-05-10 05:19:09
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.
DatesWritten or electronic comments and requests for a public hearing must be received by August 8, 2016.
ContactConcerning the proposed regulations, Ronald M. Gootzeit, (202) 317-6937; concerning submissions of comments and/or requests for a hearing, Regina Johnson, (202) 317-6901 (not toll-free numbers).
FR Citation81 FR 28784 
RIN Number1545-BM94
CFR Citation26 CFR 1
26 CFR 301
CFR AssociatedIncome Taxes; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Employment Taxes; Estate Taxes; Excise Taxes; Gift Taxes and Penalties

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