81_FR_69475 81 FR 69282 - Liabilities Recognized as Recourse Partnership Liabilities Under Section 752

81 FR 69282 - Liabilities Recognized as Recourse Partnership Liabilities Under Section 752

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 193 (October 5, 2016)

Page Range69282-69291
FR Document2016-23388

This document contains final and temporary regulations concerning how liabilities are allocated for purposes of section 707 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and when certain obligations are recognized for purposes of determining whether a liability is a recourse partnership liability under section 752. These regulations affect partnerships and their partners. The text of these temporary regulations serves as part of the text of proposed regulations (REG- 122855-15) published in the Proposed Rules section in this issue of the Federal Register.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 193 (Wednesday, October 5, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 5, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69282-69291]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23388]



[[Page 69281]]

Vol. 81

Wednesday,

No. 193

October 5, 2016

Part IV





Internal Revenue Service





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 Food and Drug Administration





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26 CFR Part 1





Liabilities Recognized as Recourse Partnership Liabilities Under 
Section 752; Disguised Sales; Final Rules and Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 69282]]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[TD 9788]
RIN 1545-BM84


Liabilities Recognized as Recourse Partnership Liabilities Under 
Section 752

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Final and temporary regulations.

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SUMMARY: This document contains final and temporary regulations 
concerning how liabilities are allocated for purposes of section 707 of 
the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and when certain obligations are 
recognized for purposes of determining whether a liability is a 
recourse partnership liability under section 752. These regulations 
affect partnerships and their partners. The text of these temporary 
regulations serves as part of the text of proposed regulations (REG-
122855-15) published in the Proposed Rules section in this issue of the 
Federal Register.

DATES: Effective date: These regulations are effective on October 5, 
2016.
    Applicability dates: For dates of applicability, see Sec. Sec.  
1.707-9T(a)(4) and 1.752-2T(l)(2).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the final and temporary 
regulations, Caroline E. Hay or Deane M. Burke, (202) 317-5279.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to these final and temporary 
regulations, the Treasury Department and the IRS are publishing in the 
Rules and Regulations section in this issue of the Federal Register, 
final regulations under section 707 concerning disguised sales and 
under section 752 regarding the allocation of excess nonrecourse 
liabilities of a partnership to a partner, and, in the Proposed Rules 
section in this issue of the Federal Register, proposed regulations 
(REG-122855-15) that incorporate the text of these temporary 
regulations, withdraw a portion of a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(REG-119305-11) to the extent not adopted by the final regulations, and 
contain new proposed regulations addressing (1) when certain 
obligations to restore a deficit balance in a partner's capital account 
are disregarded under section 704 and (2) when partnership liabilities 
are treated as recourse liabilities under section 752.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collection of information related to these final and temporary 
regulations under section 752 is reported on Form 8275, Disclosure 
Statement, and has been reviewed in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3507) and approved by the Office of Management 
and Budget under control number 1545-0889.
    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.
    For further information concerning this collection of information, 
and where to submit comments on the collection of information and the 
accuracy of the estimated burden, and suggestions for reducing this 
burden, please refer to the preamble to the cross-referencing notice of 
proposed rulemaking published in the Proposed Rules section in this 
issue of the Federal Register.
    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 section 6103.

Background

1. Overview

    This Treasury decision contains final and temporary regulations 
that amend the Income Tax Regulations (26 CFR part 1) under sections 
707 and 752 of the Code. On January 30, 2014, the Treasury Department 
and the IRS published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (REG-119305-11, 79 FR 4826) to amend the then existing 
regulations under section 707 relating to disguised sales of property 
to or by a partnership and under section 752 concerning the treatment 
of partnership liabilities (the 2014 Proposed Regulations). The 2014 
Proposed Regulations provided certain technical rules intended to 
clarify the application of the disguised sale rules under section 707 
and also contained rules regarding the sharing of partnership recourse 
and nonrecourse liabilities under section 752.
    A public hearing on the 2014 Proposed Regulations was not requested 
or held, but the Treasury Department and the IRS received written 
comments.
    Based on a comment received on the 2014 Proposed Regulations 
requesting that guidance provided under section 752 regarding a 
partner's share of partnership liabilities apply instead solely for 
disguised sale purposes, the Treasury Department and the IRS have 
reconsidered the rules under Sec.  1.707-5(a)(2) of the 2014 Proposed 
Regulations for determining a partner's share of partnership 
liabilities for purposes of section 707. Accordingly and as recommended 
by that commenter, this Treasury decision contains temporary 
regulations under section 707 (the 707 Temporary Regulations) that 
require a partner to apply the same percentage used to determine the 
partner's share of excess nonrecourse liabilities under Sec.  1.752-
3(a)(3) (with certain limitations) in determining the partner's share 
of partnership liabilities for disguised sale purposes. This Treasury 
decision also contains temporary regulations under section 752 (the 752 
Temporary Regulations) providing guidance on the treatment of ``bottom 
dollar payment obligations.'' Cross-referencing proposed regulations 
providing additional opportunity for comment are contained in the 
related notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-122855-15) published in the 
Proposed Rules section in this issue of the Federal Register. The 
Summary of Comments and Explanation of Provisions section of the 
preamble of this Treasury decision discusses the changes for 
determining a partner's share of partnership liabilities for disguised 
sale purposes and also the rules relating to certain ``bottom dollar 
payment obligations.''
    The Treasury Department and the IRS are also publishing final 
regulations under section 707 (the 707 Final Regulations) in a separate 
Treasury decision (TD 9787) published in the Rules and Regulations 
section in this issue of the Federal Register that adopt the remaining 
provisions of the 2014 Proposed Regulations under section 707. That 
Treasury decision also contains final regulations under section 752 
(the 752 Final Regulations) concerning the allocation of a 
partnership's excess nonrecourse liabilities as explained in the 
Summary of Comments and Explanation of Provisions sections of that 
Treasury decision.
    Finally, after considering comments on the 2014 Proposed 
Regulations under section 752, the Treasury Department and the IRS are 
withdrawing proposed Sec.  1.752-2 and are issuing new proposed 
regulations (the 752 Proposed Regulations) contained in the related 
notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-122855-15) published in the Proposed 
Rules section in this issue of the Federal Register.

[[Page 69283]]

2. Summary of Applicable Law

    In determining a partner's share of a partnership liability for 
disguised sale purposes, the existing regulations under section 707 
prescribe separate rules for a partnership's recourse liability and a 
partnership's nonrecourse liability. Under Sec.  1.707-5(a)(2)(i), a 
partner's share of a partnership's recourse liability equals the 
partner's share of the liability under section 752 and the regulations 
thereunder. A partnership liability is a recourse liability under 
section 707 to the extent that the obligation is a recourse liability 
under Sec.  1.752-1(a)(1). Under Sec.  1.707-5(a)(2)(ii), a partner's 
share of a partnership's nonrecourse liability is determined by 
applying the same percentage used to determine the partner's share of 
the excess nonrecourse liability under Sec.  1.752-3(a)(3). Generally, 
a partner's share of the excess nonrecourse liability is determined in 
accordance with the partner's share of partnership profits taking into 
account all facts and circumstances relating to the economic 
arrangement of the partners. A partnership liability is a nonrecourse 
liability under section 707 to the extent that the obligation is a 
nonrecourse liability under Sec.  1.752-1(a)(2). In addition, the 
existing regulations under section 707 provide that a partnership 
liability is a recourse or nonrecourse liability to the extent the 
liability would be recourse under Sec.  1.752-1(a)(1) or nonrecourse 
under Sec.  1.752-1(a)(2), respectively, if the liability was treated 
as a partnership liability for purposes of section 752 (Sec.  1.752-7 
contingent liabilities).
    Section 1.752-1(a)(1) provides that a partnership liability is a 
recourse liability to the extent that a partner or related person bears 
the economic risk of loss (EROL) for that liability under Sec.  1.752-
2. Section 1.752-2(a) provides that a partner's share of a recourse 
partnership liability equals the portion of the liability, if any, for 
which the partner or related person bears the EROL. Section 1.752-
1(a)(2) provides that a partnership liability is a nonrecourse 
liability to the extent that no partner or related person bears the 
EROL for that liability under Sec.  1.752-2. A partner generally bears 
the EROL for a partnership liability if the partner or related person 
has an obligation to make a payment under Sec.  1.752-2(b). A partner 
generally has an obligation to make a payment to the extent that the 
partner or related person would have to make a payment if, upon a 
constructive liquidation of the partnership, the partnership's assets 
were worthless and the liability became due and payable (constructive 
liquidation test). Section 1.752-2(b)(6) presumes partners and related 
persons will satisfy their payment obligations irrespective of their 
net worth, unless the facts and circumstances indicate a plan to 
circumvent or avoid the obligation.

Summary of Comments and Explanation of Provisions

1. Partner's Share of Partnership Liabilities for Purposes of Section 
707

    The withdrawn portions of the 2014 Proposed Regulations included 
proposed changes to Sec.  1.752-2 that were intended to ensure that 
only genuine commercial payment obligations, including guarantees and 
indemnities, affected the allocation of partnership liabilities. 
Although the 2014 Proposed Regulations received some unfavorable 
comments, one commenter expressed support for the overall objective of 
those proposed rules. According to the commenter, the clear effect of 
the 2014 Proposed Regulations under section 752 was to make it more 
likely that liabilities would be treated as nonrecourse liabilities, 
and thus allocable under Sec.  1.752-3. The commenter noted that such 
an effect seems appropriate as an economic matter, because, contrary to 
the constructive liquidation test in Sec.  1.752-2(b)(1), lenders, 
borrowers, and credit support providers generally do not expect that 
the assets of the partnership will become worthless. Rather, lenders, 
borrowers and credit support providers generally expect borrowers 
(including partnerships) to satisfy their obligations (in the case of a 
partnership, with partnership profits). However, the commenter 
expressed concerns with the proposed section 752 rules. The commenter 
suggested that the regulations adopt a more narrowly tailored approach 
that treats all liabilities as nonrecourse liabilities for section 707 
disguised sale purposes only.
    Other commenters also suggested that changes to the liability 
allocation rules be limited to the context of disguised sales under 
section 707 to specifically address the abuses that concern the 
Treasury Department and the IRS. One abuse relating to disguised sales 
within the meaning of Sec.  1.707-3 concerns the debt-financed 
distribution exception under Sec.  1.707-5(b). Under this exception, a 
distribution of money to a partner by a partnership is not taken into 
account for purposes of Sec.  1.707-3 to the extent that the 
distribution is traceable to a partnership borrowing and the amount of 
the distribution does not exceed the partner's allocable share of the 
liability incurred to fund the distribution. The legislative history to 
section 707, upon which the debt-financed distribution exception in 
Sec.  1.707-5(b) is based, contemplates a contributing partner 
borrowing through the partnership rather than engaging in a disguised 
sale when the partner, in substance, retains liability for repayment of 
the borrowed amounts. See H.R. Rep. No. 861, 98th Cong., 2d Sess. 859 
(1984). This exception, however, has been abused through leveraged 
partnership transactions in which the contributing partners or related 
persons enter into payment obligations that are not commercial solely 
to achieve an allocation of the partnership liability to the partner, 
with the objective of avoiding a disguised sale. See, for example, 
Canal Corp. v. Commissioner, 135 T.C. 199, 216 (2010) (``We have 
carefully considered the facts and circumstances and find that the 
indemnity agreement should be disregarded because it created no more 
than a remote possibility that [the indemnitor] would actually be 
liable for payment.'').
    After considering the comments on the 2014 Proposed Regulations 
suggesting that the regulations be narrowly tailored to address abuse 
concerns relating to disguised sales, the Treasury Department and the 
IRS have concluded that, for disguised sale purposes only, it is 
appropriate for partners to determine their share of any partnership 
liability, whether recourse or nonrecourse under section 752, in the 
manner in which excess nonrecourse liabilities are allocated under 
Sec.  1.752-3(a)(3), as limited for disguised sale purposes in the 752 
Final Regulations. For purposes of the disguised sale rules, this 
allocation method reflects the overall economic arrangement of the 
partners more accurately than the current regulations or the 2014 
Proposed Regulations. In most cases, a partnership will satisfy its 
liabilities with partnership profits, the partnership's assets do not 
become worthless, and the payment obligations of partners or related 
persons are not called upon. This is true whether: (1) A partner's 
liability is assumed by a partnership in connection with a transfer of 
property to the partnership or by a partner in connection with a 
transfer of property by the partnership to the partner; (2) a 
partnership takes property subject to a liability in connection with a 
transfer of property to the partnership or a partner takes property 
subject to a liability in connection with a transfer of property

[[Page 69284]]

by the partnership to the partner; or (3) a liability is incurred by 
the partnership to make a distribution to a partner under the debt-
financed distribution exception in Sec.  1.707-5(b). Accordingly, under 
the 707 Temporary Regulations, a partner's share of any partnership 
liability for disguised sale purposes is the same percentage used to 
determine the partner's share of the partnership's excess nonrecourse 
liabilities under Sec.  1.752-3(a)(3), as limited for disguised sale 
purposes under the 752 Final Regulations.
    Commenters also suggested that a partner's share of a partnership 
liability for disguised sale purposes should not include any portion of 
the liability for which another partner bears the EROL, as these 
liabilities would not be allocated to a partner without EROL under 
general principles of subchapter K. The Treasury Department and the IRS 
agree with the commenter that this change should not create a liability 
allocation not otherwise allowed under general subchapter K principles. 
Therefore, the 707 Temporary Regulations provide that a partner's share 
of a partnership liability for disguised sale purposes does not include 
any amount of the liability for which another partner bears the EROL 
for the partnership liability under Sec.  1.752-2.
    The liability allocation approach for disguised sale purposes in 
the 707 Temporary Regulations does not conflict with Congress's 
directive relating to section 752, which had been raised as a potential 
concern by some commenters with respect to the 2014 Proposed 
Regulations. Section 79 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 
98-369) overruled the decision in Raphan v. United States, 3 Cl. Ct. 
457 (1983) (holding that a guarantee by a general partner of an 
otherwise nonrecourse liability of the partnership did not require the 
partner to be treated as personally liable for that liability) and 
directed the Secretary of the Treasury to amend the regulations under 
section 752 to reflect the overruling of the Raphan decision. At issue 
in the Raphan case was debt allocation under section 752; accordingly, 
Congress's directive related to regulations under section 752 only. As 
noted, the 707 Temporary Regulations treat all partnership liabilities, 
whether recourse or nonrecourse, as nonrecourse liabilities solely for 
purposes of section 707. Thus, the approach adopted in the 707 
Temporary Regulations does not conflict with the approach directed by 
Congress after the Raphan case.
    Finally, in addition to the rule for determining a partner's share 
of a Sec.  1.752-1(a) partnership liability for disguised sale 
purposes, the 707 Temporary Regulations reserve with respect to the 
treatment of Sec.  1.752-7 contingent liabilities for disguised sale 
purposes. The 2014 Proposed Regulations proposed removing the ``would 
be treated'' language in Sec.  1.707-5(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of the 
existing regulations relating to contingent liabilities. The 707 
Temporary Regulations replace the proposed provisions with the 
previously discussed rule for determining a partner's share of a 
partnership liability as defined in Sec.  1.752-1(a). Because the 2014 
Proposed Regulations would have removed language relating to Sec.  
1.752-7 contingent liabilities, some commenters suggested that the 
regulations specifically clarify how contingent liabilities are treated 
for purposes of the disguised sale rules. The Treasury Department and 
the IRS agree that clarification of the treatment of Sec.  1.752-7 
contingent liabilities for disguised sale purposes is warranted.
    In many cases, Sec.  1.752-7 contingent liabilities may constitute 
qualified liabilities that would not be taken into account for purposes 
of determining a disguised sale. However, some commenters noted that 
there may be circumstances in which certain transfers of Sec.  1.752-7 
contingent liabilities to a partnership may be abusive. Thus, the 
Treasury Department and the IRS will continue to study the issue of the 
effect of contingent liabilities with respect to section 707, as well 
as other sections of the Code, in connection with future guidance 
projects.

2. Determining Whether a Liability Is a Recourse Liability of a 
Partnership

    The 752 Temporary Regulations amend Sec.  1.752-2 to address 
certain payment obligations of a partner or related person. The 
Treasury Department and the IRS continue to have concerns that partners 
and related persons are entering into payment obligations that are not 
commercial solely to achieve an allocation of a partnership liability.
    Under the 2014 Proposed Regulations, a partner's or related 
person's payment obligation with respect to a partnership liability 
would not have been recognized under Sec.  1.752-2(b)(3) unless seven 
factors (recognition factors) were satisfied. Two of the seven 
recognition factors imposed certain additional requirements on 
contractual obligations outside a partnership agreement, such as 
guarantees, indemnifications, reimbursement agreements, and other 
obligations running directly to creditors, other partners, or to the 
partnership (guarantee and indemnity recognition factors). In the case 
of a guarantee or similar arrangement, the 2014 Proposed Regulations 
would have required the partner or related person to be liable up to 
the full amount of such partner's or related person's payment 
obligation, if, and to the extent that, any amount of the partnership 
liability is not otherwise satisfied. In the case of an indemnity, 
reimbursement agreement, or similar arrangement, the 2014 Proposed 
Regulations would have required the partner or related person to be 
liable up to the full amount of such partner's or related person's 
payment obligation if, and to the extent that, any amount of the 
indemnitee's or other benefited party's payment obligation is 
satisfied. The terms of the guarantee, indemnity, or reimbursement 
agreement would be treated as modified by any right of indemnity, 
reimbursement agreement, or similar arrangement. However, a right of 
proportionate contribution running between partners or related persons 
who were co-obligors with respect to a payment obligation for which 
each of them was jointly and severally liable would not modify a 
guarantee, indemnity, or reimbursement agreement. If the partner's or 
related person's payment obligation failed to satisfy any of the 
recognition factors, the payment obligation was not recognized and the 
partner would not bear EROL for the partnership liability. In addition 
to the guarantee and indemnity recognition factors, a partner's or 
related person's payment obligation with respect to a partnership 
liability would not be recognized under an anti-abuse rule in the 2014 
Proposed Regulations if the facts and circumstances indicated that the 
partnership liability was part of a plan or arrangement involving the 
use of tiered partnerships, intermediaries, or similar arrangements to 
convert a single liability into multiple liabilities with a principal 
purpose of circumventing the guarantee and indemnity recognition 
factors.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS continue to believe that 
certain obligations, such as certain so-called ``bottom-dollar 
guarantees,'' should generally not be recognized as payment obligations 
under Sec.  1.752-2(b)(3) because they generally lack a significant 
non-tax commercial business purpose. No commenters suggested that 
bottom-dollar guarantees were relevant to loan risk underwriting. 
Accordingly, the 752 Temporary Regulations retain the

[[Page 69285]]

restriction on certain guarantees and indemnities and provide that 
these payment obligations are not recognized under Sec.  1.752-2(b)(3). 
In addition, these regulations remove the Example in Sec.  1.752-
2(j)(4) to comport with the provisions in the 752 Temporary Regulations 
relating to bottom dollar payment obligations. However, after 
considering the comments received on the 2014 Proposed Regulations, the 
752 Temporary Regulations provide for an exception as well as an anti-
abuse rule to address arrangements that are not intended to be subject 
to this rule.
A. General Rule: Bottom Dollar Payment Obligations
    Although the 752 Temporary Regulations retain the restriction 
relating to certain guarantees and indemnities, these temporary 
regulations refine the description of non-commercial obligations in 
response to comments. Commenters expressed concerns with the 2014 
Proposed Regulations' description of so-called ``bottom-dollar 
guarantees and indemnities.'' Commenters thought the language was 
confusing. In addition, with respect to the anti-abuse rule in the 2014 
Proposed Regulations, one commenter believed that ``tranches'' of debt 
could be used to effect arrangements that are economically similar to 
``bottom-dollar guarantees'' and recommended that the regulations 
strengthen the anti-abuse rule. This commenter suggested that two or 
more liabilities be treated as a single liability if: (1) The 
liabilities are incurred pursuant to a common plan, as part of a single 
transaction, or as part of a series of related transactions; (2) the 
liabilities have the same counterparty or counterparties (or 
substantially the same group of counterparties); or (3) the guarantee 
or similar arrangement would fail the guarantee recognition factor if 
the liabilities were treated as a single liability; and (4) multiple 
liabilities (rather than a single liability) were incurred with a 
principal purpose of avoiding the guarantee recognition factor.
    In response to comments, the 752 Temporary Regulations clarify the 
description of so-called ``bottom-dollar guarantees and indemnities'' 
by consolidating these non-commercial obligations under one term: 
Bottom-dollar payment obligations. In addition, instead of having an 
anti-abuse rule to address arrangements that use tiered partnerships, 
intermediaries, senior and subordinate liabilities, or similar 
arrangements, the 752 Temporary Regulations define these arrangements 
as bottom dollar payment obligations if certain factors, taking into 
account the commenter's suggestion, exist. Therefore, under the 752 
Temporary Regulations, the term ``bottom dollar payment obligation'' 
includes (subject to certain exceptions): (1) Any payment obligation 
other than one in which the partner or related person is or would be 
liable up to the full amount of such partner's or related person's 
payment obligation if, and to the extent that (A) any amount of the 
partnership liability is not otherwise satisfied in the case of an 
obligation that is a guarantee or other similar arrangement, or (B) any 
amount of the indemnitee's or benefited party's payment obligation is 
satisfied in the case of an obligation which is an indemnity or similar 
arrangement; and (2) an arrangement with respect to a partnership 
liability that uses tiered partnerships, intermediaries, senior and 
subordinate liabilities, or similar arrangements to convert what would 
otherwise be a single liability into multiple liabilities if, based on 
the facts and circumstances, the liabilities were incurred (A) pursuant 
to a common plan, as part of a single transaction or arrangement, or as 
part of a series of related transactions or arrangements, and (B) with 
a principal purpose of avoiding having at least one of such liabilities 
or payment obligations with respect to such liabilities being treated 
as a bottom dollar payment obligation. Any payment obligation under 
Sec.  1.752-2, including an obligation to make a capital contribution 
and to restore a deficit capital account upon liquidation of the 
partnership as described in Sec.  1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3), may be a 
bottom dollar payment obligation if it meets the requirements set forth 
above.
    The preamble of the 2014 Proposed Regulations requested comments on 
whether and under what circumstances regulations should permit 
recognition of a payment obligation for a portion, rather than 100 
percent, of each dollar of a partnership liability to which the payment 
relates (a ``vertical slice'' of a partnership liability). The 
commenters believed that regulations under section 752 should recognize 
a vertical slice of a partnership liability because these payment 
obligations represent the same economic risk as a guarantee, for 
example, of the entire partnership liability.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS agree with the commenters that 
certain obligations, including a vertical slice of a partnership 
liability, should not cause a payment obligation to be a bottom dollar 
payment obligation and, thus, not recognized under Sec.  1.752-2(b)(3). 
In addition, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that, 
as long as a partner or related person is or would be liable for the 
full amount of a payment obligation, such obligation is not a bottom 
dollar payment obligation merely because a maximum amount is placed on 
the partner's or related person's obligation. Accordingly, the 752 
Temporary Regulations specifically except certain payment obligations 
within those parameters, including obligations with joint and several 
liability, from being treated as bottom dollar payment obligations.
B. Exception From Treatment as a Bottom Dollar Payment Obligation
    In addition to comments relating to the description of ``bottom-
dollar guarantees'' and the anti-abuse rule in the 2014 Proposed 
Regulations, commenters expressed concerns that the guaranty and 
indemnity recognition factors would deprive a partner from being 
allocated a liability even in situations where there is real EROL. One 
commenter described the 2014 Proposed Regulations as prejudging all 
payment obligations to be remote and fictitious if the obligations did 
not cover 100 percent of any shortfall in repayment. The commenter 
believed EROL could exist even if 100 percent of the liability was not 
covered.
    Another commenter appreciated the merits of a bright-line rule that 
would look to every dollar of a liability, but thought that the 100 
percent threshold was too high. This commenter recommended that a 
payment obligation should be respected if a partner or related person 
(i) is or would be liable up to the full amount of such partner's or 
related person's payment obligation if, and to the extent that, less 
than 80 percent of the partnership liability is not otherwise satisfied 
and (ii) either (A) the taxpayer or the IRS clearly establishes that 
the credit support materially decreased the partnership's borrowing 
costs with respect to the liability or materially enhanced the other 
terms of the borrowing, or (B) the partners (or persons related to one 
or more of the partners), in the aggregate, are or would be liable up 
to the full amount of their payment obligations if, and to the extent 
that, any amount of the partnership liability is not otherwise 
satisfied. The commenter believed that this lower threshold 
incorporates the idea that a person may have meaningful risk with 
respect to the underlying liability, while protecting the legitimate 
interests of the government in ensuring that the lower threshold is not 
abused by taxpayers.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS recognize that, in certain 
circumstances, it might be appropriate to treat a partner as bearing 
EROL with respect to a

[[Page 69286]]

payment obligation that would be characterized as a bottom dollar 
payment obligation under the general rule. What otherwise would be a 
bottom dollar payment obligation can be distinguished in a situation 
where the partners have allocated the risk among themselves, and the 
person making the bottom dollar payment obligation is liable for at 
least 90 percent of the person's payment obligation (because the person 
is not entitled to indemnification or reimbursement for more than 10 
percent of the person's payment obligation). For example, if one 
partner (Partner A) guarantees 100 percent of a partnership liability 
and another partner (Partner B) indemnifies Partner A for the first one 
percent of Partner A's obligation, Partner A's obligation would be 
characterized as a bottom dollar payment obligation under the general 
rule because Partner A would not be liable to the full extent of the 
guarantee if any amount of the partnership liability is not otherwise 
satisfied (because Partner A would be reimbursed due to Partner B's 
indemnity). To address this concern, the 752 Temporary Regulations 
provide an exception if a partner or related person has a payment 
obligation that would be recognized (initial payment obligation) under 
Sec.  1.752-2T(b)(3) but for the effect of an indemnity, reimbursement 
agreement, or similar arrangement. Such bottom dollar payment 
obligation is recognized under Sec.  1.752-2T(b)(3) if, taking into 
account the indemnity, reimbursement agreement, or similar arrangement, 
the partner or related person is liable for at least 90 percent of the 
initial payment obligation. This obligation, like any other payment 
obligation, must otherwise be recognized under Sec.  1.752-2, including 
under the anti-abuse rules in Sec.  1.752-2(j).
C. Anti-Abuse Rule
    Some commenters noted that partners could manipulate contractual 
arrangements to achieve a federal income tax result that is not 
consistent with the economics of an arrangement. For example, a partner 
could deliberately fail one of the recognition factors in the 2014 
Proposed Regulations (including the guarantee or indemnity recognition 
factor) to cause a partnership liability to be treated as nonrecourse 
even when one partner has true EROL. Just as the 752 Temporary 
Regulations provide an exception for certain obligations that meet the 
definition of a bottom dollar payment obligation but give rise to EROL, 
the 752 Temporary Regulations also provide an anti-abuse rule in Sec.  
1.752-2T(j)(2) that the Commissioner may apply to ensure that if a 
partner actually bears EROL for a partnership liability, partners may 
not agree among themselves to create a bottom dollar payment obligation 
so that the liability will be treated as nonrecourse.
    Section 1.752-2(j)(2) of the existing regulations currently 
provides that, irrespective of the form of a contractual obligation, a 
partner is considered to bear the EROL with respect to a partnership 
liability, or a portion thereof, to the extent that: (A) The partner or 
related person undertakes one or more contractual obligations so that 
the partnership may obtain a loan; (B) the contractual obligations of 
the partner or related person eliminate substantially all the risk to 
the lender that the partnership will not satisfy its obligations under 
the loan; and (C) one of the principal purposes of using the 
contractual obligations is to attempt to permit partners (other than 
those who are directly or indirectly liable for the obligation) to 
include a portion of the loan in the basis of their partnership 
interests. The 752 Temporary Regulations expand Sec.  1.752-2(j)(2) to 
include situations in which a partner is considered to bear the EROL 
irrespective of a bottom dollar payment obligation.
D. Disclosure Requirement
    The 752 Temporary Regulations require the partnership to disclose 
to the IRS all bottom dollar payment obligations with respect to a 
partnership liability on a completed Form 8275, Disclosure Statement, 
attached to the partnership return for the taxable year in which the 
bottom dollar payment obligation is undertaken or modified. That 
disclosure must identify the payment obligation with respect to which 
disclosure is made including the amount of the payment obligation and 
the parties to the payment obligation. If a bottom dollar payment 
obligation meets the exception, the partnership must also disclose to 
the IRS on Form 8275 the facts and circumstances that clearly establish 
that a partner or related person is liable for up to 90 percent of the 
partner's or related person's initial payment obligation and, but for 
an indemnity, reimbursement agreement, or similar arrangement, the 
partner's or related person's payment obligation would have been 
recognized.

Effective/Applicability Date

    With respect to changes under Sec.  1.707-5, the 707 Temporary 
Regulations apply to any transaction with respect to which all 
transfers occur on or after January 3, 2017. In addition, with respect 
to the changes under Sec.  1.752-2, the 752 Temporary Regulations apply 
to liabilities incurred or assumed by a partnership and payment 
obligations imposed or undertaken with respect to a partnership 
liability on or after October 5, 2016, other than liabilities incurred 
or assumed by a partnership and payment obligations imposed or 
undertaken pursuant to a written binding contract in effect prior to 
that date.
    The 2014 Proposed Regulations provided for an effective date 
similar to the one in these final and temporary regulations. A 
commenter recommended that partnerships be permitted to elect to apply 
all, but not less than all, of the provisions of the final regulations 
to all of its liabilities and payment obligations with respect to its 
liabilities after the effective date of the final regulations. These 
752 Temporary Regulations adopt that change; therefore, partnerships 
may apply all the provisions contained in the 752 Temporary Regulations 
to all of their liabilities as of the beginning of the first taxable 
year of the partnership ending on or after October 5, 2016.
    Commenters on the 2014 Proposed Regulations also recommended that 
partnership liabilities or payment obligations that are modified or 
refinanced continue to be subject to the provisions of the existing 
regulations to the extent of the amount and duration of the pre-
modification (or refinancing) liability or payment obligation. The 752 
Temporary Regulations do not adopt this recommendation as the terms of 
the partnership liabilities and payment obligations could be changed, 
which would affect the determination of whether or not an obligation is 
a bottom dollar payment obligation.
    The 752 Temporary Regulations do, however, provide transition 
relief for any partner whose allocable share of partnership liabilities 
under Sec.  1.752-2 exceeds its adjusted basis in its partnership 
interest on the date the temporary regulations are finalized. Under 
this transitional relief, the partner can continue to apply the 
existing regulations under Sec.  1.752-2 with respect to a partnership 
liability for a seven-year period to the extent that the partner's 
allocable share of partnership liabilities exceeds the partner's 
adjusted basis in its partnership interest on October 5, 2016. The 
amount of partnership liabilities subject to transitional relief will 
be reduced for certain reductions in the amount of liabilities 
allocated to that partner under the transition rules and, upon the sale 
of any partnership property, for any tax gain (including

[[Page 69287]]

section 704(c) gain) allocated to the partner less that partner's share 
of amount realized.

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 impact assessment is 
not required. It also has been determined that section 553(b) of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to 
these regulations.
    Although the temporary regulations under sections 707 and 752 
respond to comments received in response to the 2014 Proposed 
Regulations, the Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that 
the regulations would benefit from additional notice and comment 
instead of being published as final regulations. In addition, decisions 
made in the final regulations under section 707 contained in a separate 
Treasury decision (TD 9787) published in the Rules and Regulations 
section in this issue of the Federal Register interact with the changes 
in the 707 Temporary Regulations regarding how liabilities are 
allocated for disguised sale purposes. Finally, pursuant to authority 
under section 7805(b) of the Code, the temporary regulations under 
sections 707 and 752 are necessary to address particular abuses as 
described in the Summary of Comments and the Explanation of Provisions 
section of the preamble of this Treasury decision. For these reasons, 
good cause also exists pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to issue temporary 
regulations.
    For applicability of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, please refer 
to the cross-referencing notice of proposed rulemaking published in the 
Proposed Rules section in this issue of the Federal Register. Pursuant 
to section 7805(f) of the Code, these regulations have been submitted 
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration 
for comment on its impact on small business.

Drafting Information

    The principal authors of these regulations are Caroline E. Hay and 
Deane M. Burke of the Office of the Associate Chief Counsel 
(Passthroughs & Special Industries), IRS. However, other personnel from 
the Treasury Department and the IRS participated in their development.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

    Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Adoption of Amendments to the Regulations

    Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is amended as follows:

PART 1--INCOME TAXES

0
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read in 
part as follows:

    Authority:  26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
    Sections 1.707-2 through 1.707-9 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 
707(a)(2)(B).


0
Par. 2. Section 1.707-5 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(2) and 
Examples 2, 3, 7, and 8 in paragraph (f) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.707-5  Disguised sales of property to partnership; special 
rules relating to liabilities.

    (a) * * *
    (2) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.707-5T(a)(2).
* * * * *
    (f) * * *

    Example 2.  [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.707-
5T(f) Example 2.
    Example 3.  [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.707-
5T(f) Example 3.
* * * * *
    Example 7.  [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.707-
5T(f) Example 7.
    Example 8.  [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.707-
5T(f) Example 8.
* * * * *

0
Par. 3. Section 1.707-5T is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.707-5T  Disguised sales of property to partnership; special 
rules relating to liabilities (temporary).

    (a)(1) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.707-5(a)(1).
    (2) Partner's share of liability--(i) In general. For purposes of 
Sec.  1.707-5, a partner's share of a liability of a partnership, as 
defined in Sec.  1.752-1(a) (whether a recourse liability or a 
nonrecourse liability) is determined by applying the same percentage 
used to determine the partner's share of the excess nonrecourse 
liability under Sec.  1.752-3(a)(3) (as limited in its application to 
this paragraph (a)(2)), without including in such partner's share any 
amount of the liability for which another partner bears the economic 
risk of loss for the partnership liability under Sec.  1.752-2.
    (ii) Partner's share of Sec.  1.752-7 liability. [Reserved].
    (a)(3) through (e) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.707-5(a)(3) through (e).
    (f) Example 1 [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.707-
5(f) Example 1.

    Example 2.  Partnership's assumption of recourse liability 
encumbering transferred property. (i) C transfers property Y to a 
partnership in which C has a 50 percent interest. At the time of its 
transfer to the partnership, property Y has a fair market value of 
$10,000,000 and is subject to an $8,000,000 liability that C 
incurred and guaranteed, immediately before transferring property Y 
to the partnership, in order to finance other expenditures. Upon the 
transfer of property Y to the partnership the partnership assumed 
the liability encumbering that property. Under section 752 and the 
regulations thereunder, immediately after the partnership's 
assumption of the liability encumbering property Y, the liability is 
a recourse liability of the partnership and C's share of that 
liability is $8,000,000.
    (ii) Under the facts of this example, the liability encumbering 
property Y is not a qualified liability. Accordingly, the 
partnership's assumption of the liability results in a transfer of 
consideration to C in connection with C's transfer of property Y to 
the partnership. Notwithstanding C's share of the liability for 
section 752 purposes, for disguised sale purposes, C's share of the 
liability immediately after the partnership's assumption is 
$4,000,000 (50 percent of $8,000,000) under paragraph (a)(2) of this 
section (which determines a partner's share of a liability using the 
percentage under Sec.  1.752-3(a)(3)). Therefore, the amount of 
consideration to C is $4,000,000 (the excess of the liability 
assumed by the partnership ($8,000,000) over C's share of the 
liability for purposes of Sec.  1.707-5(a) immediately after the 
assumption ($4,000,000)). See Sec.  1.707-5(a)(1) and paragraph 
(a)(2) of this section.
    Example 3.  Subsequent reduction of transferring partner's share 
of liability. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 2. In 
addition, property Y is a fully leased office building, the rental 
income from property Y is sufficient to meet debt service, and the 
remaining term of the liability is ten years. It is anticipated 
that, three years after the partnership's assumption of the 
liability, C's share of the liability under paragraph (a)(2) of this 
section will be reduced to $2,000,000 because of a shift in the 
allocation of partnership profits pursuant to the terms of the 
partnership agreement which provide that C's share of the 
partnership profits will be 25 percent at that time. Under the 
partnership agreement, this shift in the allocation of partnership 
profits is dependent solely on the passage of time.
    (ii) Under Sec.  1.707-5(a)(3), if the reduction in C's share of 
the liability was anticipated at the time of C's transfer, was not 
subject to the entrepreneurial risks of partnership operations, and 
was part of a plan that has as one of its principal purposes 
minimizing the extent of sale treatment under Sec.  1.707-3 (that 
is, a principal purpose of allocating a larger percentage of profits 
to C in the first three years when profits were not likely to be 
realized was to minimize the extent to which C's transfer would be 
treated as part of a sale), C's share of the liability immediately 
after the partnership's assumption is treated as equal to C's 
reduced share of $2,000,000. Therefore, the amount of consideration 
to C is $6,000,000 (the excess of the liability assumed by the 
partnership ($8,000,000) over

[[Page 69288]]

C's share of the liability for purposes of Sec.  1.707-5(a) 
immediately after the assumption ($2,000,000)), taking into account 
the anticipated reduction in C's share of the liability pursuant to 
the terms of the partnership agreement. See Sec.  1.707-5(a)(1) and 
(3) and paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

    Examples 4 through 6 [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.707-5(f) Examples 4 through 6.

    Example 7.  Partnership's assumptions of liabilities encumbering 
properties transferred pursuant to a plan. (i) Pursuant to a plan, G 
and H transfer property 1 and property 2, respectively, to an 
existing partnership in exchange for a one-third interest each in 
the partnership. At the time the properties are transferred to the 
partnership, property 1 has a fair market value of $10,000 and an 
adjusted tax basis of $6,000, and property 2 has a fair market value 
of $10,000 and an adjusted tax basis of $4,000. At the time 
properties 1 and 2 are transferred to the partnership, a $6,000 
nonrecourse liability (liability 1) is secured by property 1 and a 
$9,000 recourse liability of H (liability 2) is secured by property 
2. Properties 1 and 2 are transferred to the partnership, and the 
partnership takes property 1 subject to liability 1 and assumes 
liability 2. After the transfer of liability 2 to the partnership, H 
bears the economic risk of loss for the entire amount of liability 2 
under Sec.  1.752-2. G and H incurred liabilities 1 and 2 
immediately prior to transferring properties 1 and 2 to the 
partnership and used the proceeds for personal expenditures. The 
liabilities are not qualified liabilities. For disguised sale 
purposes, assume that G's and H's share of liability 1 is $2,000 
each in accordance with paragraph (a)(2) of this section (which 
determines a partner's share of a liability using the percentage 
under Sec.  1.752-3(a)(3) without including in such partner's share 
any amount of the liability for which another partner bears the 
economic risk of loss for the liability under Sec.  1.752-2). Also, 
in accordance with paragraph (a)(2) of this section, G's share of 
liability 2 is zero and H's share of liability 2 is $3,000.
    (ii) G and H transferred properties 1 and 2 to the partnership 
pursuant to a plan. Accordingly, pursuant to Sec.  1.707-5(a)(1) and 
(4), the partnership's taking property 1 subject to liability 1 is 
treated as a transfer of only $4,000 of consideration to G (the 
amount by which liability 1 ($6,000) exceeds G's share of 
liabilities 1 and 2 ($2,000)), and the partnership's assumption of 
liability 2 is treated as a transfer of only $4,000 of consideration 
to H (the amount by which liability 2 ($9,000) exceeds H's share of 
liabilities 1 and 2 ($5,000)). Under the rule in Sec.  1.707-3, G is 
treated as having sold $4,000 of the fair market value of property 1 
in exchange for the partnership's taking property 1 subject to 
liability 1, and H is treated as having sold $4,000 of the fair 
market value of property 2 in exchange for the partnership's 
assumption of liability 2.
    Example 8. Partnership's assumption of liability pursuant to a 
plan to avoid sale treatment of partnership assumption of another 
liability. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 7, except that--
    (A) Liability 2 is a nonrecourse liability;
    (B) H transferred the proceeds of liability 2 to the 
partnership; and
    (C) H incurred liability 2 in an attempt to reduce the extent to 
which the partnership's taking of property 1 subject to liability 1 
would be treated as a transfer of consideration to G (and thereby 
reduce the portion of G's transfer of property 1 to the partnership 
that would be treated as part of a sale).
    (ii) Because the partnership assumed liability 2 with a 
principal purpose of reducing the extent to which the partnership's 
taking of property 1 subject to liability 1 would be treated as a 
transfer of consideration to G, liability 2 is ignored in applying 
Sec.  1.707-5(a)(1). See Sec.  1.707-5(a)(4). Accordingly, the 
partnership's taking of property 1 subject to liability 1 is treated 
as a transfer of $4,000 of consideration to G (the amount by which 
liability 1 ($6,000) exceeds G's share of liability 1 ($2,000)). 
Under Sec.  1.707-5(d), the partnership's assumption of liability 2 
is not treated as a transfer of any consideration to H because the 
amount of liability 2 that the partnership is treated as assuming is 
reduced by the money H transferred to the partnership ($9,000).

    Examples 9 through 13 [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.707-5(f) Examples 9 through 13.
    (g) Expiration date. This section expires on October 4, 2019.

0
Par. 4. Section 1.707-9 is amended by adding paragraphs (a)(4) and (5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  1.707-9  Effective dates and transitional rules.

    (a) * * *
    (4) Section 1.707-5(a)(2) and (f) Examples 2, 3, 7, and 8. Section 
1.707-5(a)(2) and (f) Examples 2, 3, 7, and 8, as contained in 26 CFR 
part 1 revised as of April 1, 2016, apply to any transaction with 
respect to which any transfers occur before January 3, 2017. For any 
transaction with respect to which all transfers occur on or after 
January 3, 2017, see Sec.  1.707-9T(a)(5).
    (5) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.707-9T(a)(5).
* * * * *

0
 Par. 5. Section 1.707-9T is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.707-9T  Effective dates and transitional rules (temporary).

    (a)(1) through (a)(4) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.707-9(a)(1) through (4).
    (5) Section 1.707-5T(a)(2) and (f) Examples 2, 3, 7, and 8. Section 
1.707-5T(a)(2) and (f) Examples 2, 3, 7, and 8 apply to any transaction 
with respect to which all transfers occur on or after January 3, 2017. 
For any transaction with respect to which any transfers occur before 
January 3, 2017, see Sec.  1.707-5(a)(2) and (f) Examples 2, 3, 7, and 
8 as contained in 26 CFR part 1, revised as of April 1, 2016.
    (b) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.707-9(b).
    (c) Expiration date. This section expires on October 4, 2019.

0
Par. 6. Section 1.752-2 is amended by:
0
1. Revising paragraph (b)(3).
0
2. Adding Examples 9, 10, and 11 to paragraph (f).
0
3. Revising paragraph (j)(2).
0
4. Removing paragraph (j)(4).
0
5. Redesignating paragraph (l) as (l)(1) and revising the heading to 
paragraph
    (l).
0
6. Adding paragraphs (l)(2) and (3).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.752-2  Partner's share of recourse liabilities.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.752-2T(b)(3).
* * * * *
    (f) * * *

    Example 9.  [Reserved].
    Example 10.  [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.752-
2T(f) Example 10.
    Example 11.  [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.752-
2T(f) Example 11.
* * * * *
    (j) * * *
    (2) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.752-2T(j)(2).
* * * * *
    (l) Effective/applicability dates. * * *
* * * * *
    (2) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.752-2T(l)(2).
    (3) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  1.752-2T(l)(3).

0
 Par. 7. Section 1.752-2T is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.752-2T  Partner's share of recourse liabilities (temporary).

    (a) through (b)(2) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.752-2(a) through (b)(2).
    (3) Obligations recognized--(i) In general. The determination of 
the extent to which a partner or related person has an obligation to 
make a payment under Sec.  1.752-2(b)(1) is based on the facts and 
circumstances at the time of the determination. To the extent that the 
obligation of a partner or related person to make a payment with 
respect to a partnership liability is not recognized under this 
paragraph (b)(3), Sec.  1.752-2(b) is applied as if the obligation did 
not exist. All statutory and contractual obligations relating to the 
partnership liability are taken into account for purposes of applying 
this section, including--

[[Page 69289]]

    (A) Contractual obligations outside the partnership agreement such 
as guarantees, indemnifications, reimbursement agreements, and other 
obligations running directly to creditors, to other partners, or to the 
partnership;
    (B) Obligations to the partnership that are imposed by the 
partnership agreement, including the obligation to make a capital 
contribution and to restore a deficit capital account upon liquidation 
of the partnership as described in Sec.  1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3) 
(taking into account Sec.  1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)); and
    (C) Payment obligations (whether in the form of direct remittances 
to another partner or a contribution to the partnership) imposed by 
state or local law, including the governing state or local law 
partnership statute.
    (ii) Special rules for bottom dollar payment obligations--(A) In 
general. For purposes of Sec.  1.752-2, a bottom dollar payment 
obligation (as defined in paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C) of this section) is 
not recognized under this paragraph (b)(3).
    (B) Exception. If a partner or related person has a payment 
obligation that would be recognized under this paragraph (b)(3) 
(initial payment obligation) but for the effect of an indemnity, 
reimbursement agreement, or similar arrangement, such bottom dollar 
payment obligation is recognized under this paragraph (b)(3) if, taking 
into account the indemnity, reimbursement agreement, or similar 
arrangement, the partner or related person is liable for at least 90 
percent of the partner's or related person's initial payment 
obligation.
    (C) Definition of bottom dollar payment obligation--(1) In general. 
Except as provided in paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C)(2) of this section, a 
bottom dollar payment obligation is a payment obligation that is the 
same as or similar to a payment obligation or arrangement described in 
this paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C)(1).
    (i) With respect to a guarantee or similar arrangement, any payment 
obligation other than one in which the partner or related person is or 
would be liable up to the full amount of such partner's or related 
person's payment obligation if, and to the extent that, any amount of 
the partnership liability is not otherwise satisfied.
    (ii) With respect to an indemnity or similar arrangement, any 
payment obligation other than one in which the partner or related 
person is or would be liable up to the full amount of such partner's or 
related person's payment obligation, if, and to the extent that, any 
amount of the indemnitee's or benefited party's payment obligation that 
is recognized under this paragraph (b)(3) is satisfied.
    (iii) An arrangement with respect to a partnership liability that 
uses tiered partnerships, intermediaries, senior and subordinate 
liabilities, or similar arrangements to convert what would otherwise be 
a single liability into multiple liabilities if, based on the facts and 
circumstances, the liabilities were incurred pursuant to a common plan, 
as part of a single transaction or arrangement, or as part of a series 
of related transactions or arrangements, and with a principal purpose 
of avoiding having at least one of such liabilities or payment 
obligations with respect to such liabilities being treated as a bottom 
dollar payment obligation as described in paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C)(1)(i) 
or (ii) of this section.
    (2) Exceptions. A payment obligation is not a bottom dollar payment 
obligation merely because a maximum amount is placed on the partner's 
or related person's payment obligation, a partner's or related person's 
payment obligation is stated as a fixed percentage of every dollar of 
the partnership liability to which such obligation relates, or there is 
a right of proportionate contribution running between partners or 
related persons who are co-obligors with respect to a payment 
obligation for which each of them is jointly and severally liable.
    (3) Benefited party defined. For purposes of Sec.  1.752-2, a 
benefited party is the person to whom a partner or related person has 
the payment obligation.
    (D) Disclosure of bottom dollar payment obligations. A partnership 
must disclose to the Internal Revenue Service a bottom dollar payment 
obligation (including a bottom dollar payment obligation that is 
recognized under paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(B) of this section) with respect 
to a partnership liability on a completed Form 8275, Disclosure 
Statement, or successor form, attached to the return of the partnership 
for the taxable year in which the bottom dollar payment obligation is 
undertaken or modified, that includes all of the following information:
    (1) A caption identifying the statement as a disclosure of a bottom 
dollar payment obligation under section 752.
    (2) An identification of the payment obligation with respect to 
which disclosure is made.
    (3) The amount of the payment obligation.
    (4) The parties to the payment obligation.
    (5) A statement of whether the payment obligation is treated as 
recognized for purposes of this paragraph (b)(3).
    (6) If the payment obligation is recognized under paragraph 
(b)(3)(ii)(B) of this section, the facts and circumstances that clearly 
establish that a partner or related person is liable for up to 90 
percent of the partner's or related person's initial payment obligation 
and, but for an indemnity, reimbursement agreement, or similar 
arrangement, the partner's or related person's initial payment 
obligation would have been recognized under this paragraph (b)(3).
    (iii) Special rule for indemnities and reimbursement agreements. An 
indemnity, reimbursement agreement, or similar arrangement will be 
recognized under this paragraph (b)(3) only if, before taking into 
account the indemnity, reimbursement agreement, or similar arrangement, 
the indemnitee's or other benefited party's payment obligation is 
recognized under this paragraph (b)(3), or would be recognized under 
this paragraph (b)(3) if such person were a partner or related person.
    (b)(4) through (e) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.752-2(b)(4) through (e).
    (f) Examples 1 through 9 [Reserved]. For further guidance, see 
Sec.  1.752-2(f) Examples 1 through 9.

    Example 10.  Guarantee of first and last dollars. (i) A, B, and 
C are equal members of a limited liability company, ABC, that is 
treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes. ABC borrows 
$1,000 from Bank. A guarantees payment of up to $300 of the ABC 
liability if any amount of the full $1,000 liability is not 
recovered by Bank. B guarantees payment of up to $200, but only if 
the Bank otherwise recovers less than $200. Both A and B waive their 
rights of contribution against each other.
    (ii) Because A is obligated to pay up to $300 if, and to the 
extent that, any amount of the $1,000 partnership liability is not 
recovered by Bank, A's guarantee is not a bottom dollar payment 
obligation under paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C) of this section. Therefore, 
A's payment obligation is recognized under paragraph (b)(3) of this 
section. The amount of A's economic risk of loss under Sec.  1.752-
2(b)(1) is $300.
    (iii) Because B is obligated to pay up to $200 only if and to 
the extent that the Bank otherwise recovers less than $200 of the 
$1,000 partnership liability, B's guarantee is a bottom dollar 
payment obligation under paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C) of this section 
and, therefore, is not recognized under paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(A) of 
this section. Accordingly, B bears no economic risk of loss under 
Sec.  1.752-2(b)(1) for ABC's liability.
    (iv) In sum, $300 of ABC's liability is allocated to A under 
Sec.  1.752-2(a), and the remaining $700 liability is allocated to 
A, B, and C under Sec.  1.752-3.

[[Page 69290]]

    Example 11.  Indemnification of guarantees. (i) The facts are 
the same as in Example 10, except that, in addition, C agrees to 
indemnify A up to $100 that A pays with respect to its guarantee and 
agrees to indemnify B fully with respect to its guarantee.
    (ii) The determination of whether C's indemnity is recognized 
under paragraph (b)(3) of this section is made without regard to 
whether C's indemnity itself causes A's guarantee not to be 
recognized. Because A's obligation would be recognized but for the 
effect of C's indemnity and C is obligated to pay A up to the full 
amount of C's indemnity if A pays any amount on its guarantee of 
ABC's liability, C's indemnity of A's guarantee is not a bottom 
dollar payment obligation under paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C) of this 
section and, therefore, is recognized under paragraph (b)(3) of this 
section. The amount of C's economic risk of loss under Sec.  1.752-
2(b)(1) for its indemnity of A's guarantee is $100.
    (iii) Because C's indemnity is recognized under paragraph (b)(3) 
of this section, A is treated as liable for $200 only to the extent 
any amount beyond $100 of the partnership liability is not 
satisfied. Thus, A is not liable if, and to the extent, any amount 
of the partnership liability is not otherwise satisfied, and the 
exception in paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(B) of this section does not apply. 
As a result, A's guarantee is a bottom dollar payment obligation 
under paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C) of this section and is not recognized 
under paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(A) of this section. Therefore, A bears no 
economic risk of loss under Sec.  1.752-2(b)(1) for ABC's liability.
    (iv) Because B's obligation is not recognized under paragraph 
(b)(3)(ii) of this section independent of C's indemnity of B's 
guarantee, C's indemnity is not recognized under paragraph 
(b)(3)(iii) of this section. Therefore, C bears no economic risk of 
loss under Sec.  1.752-2(b)(1) for its indemnity of B's guarantee.
    (v) In sum, $100 of ABC's liability is allocated to C under 
Sec.  1.752-2(a) and the remaining $900 liability is allocated to A, 
B, and C under Sec.  1.752-3.

    (g) through (j)(1) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.752-2(g) through (j)(1).
    (2) Arrangements tantamount to a guarantee--(i) In general. 
Irrespective of the form of a contractual obligation, the Commissioner 
may treat a partner as bearing the economic risk of loss with respect 
to a partnership liability, or a portion thereof, to the extent that--
    (A) The partner or related person undertakes one or more 
contractual obligations so that the partnership may obtain or retain a 
loan;
    (B) The contractual obligations of the partner or related person 
significantly reduce the risk to the lender that the partnership will 
not satisfy its obligations under the loan, or a portion thereof; and
    (C) With respect to the contractual obligations described in 
paragraphs (j)(2)(i)(A) and (B) of this section--
    (1) One of the principal purposes of using the contractual 
obligations is to attempt to permit partners (other than those who are 
directly or indirectly liable for the obligation) to include a portion 
of the loan in the basis of their partnership interests; or
    (2) Another partner, or a person related to another partner, enters 
into a payment obligation and a principal purpose of the arrangement is 
to cause the payment obligation described in paragraphs (j)(2)(i)(A) 
and (B) of this section to be disregarded under paragraph (b)(3) of 
this section.
    (ii) Economic risk of loss. For purposes of this paragraph (j)(2), 
partners are considered to bear the economic risk of loss for a 
liability in accordance with their relative economic burdens for the 
liability pursuant to the contractual obligations. For example, a lease 
between a partner and a partnership that is not on commercially 
reasonable terms may be tantamount to a guarantee by the partner of the 
partnership liability.
    (j)(3) through (l)(1) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see Sec.  
1.752-2(j)(3) through (l)(1).
    (2) Paragraph (b)(3), paragraph (f) Examples 10 and 11, and 
paragraph (j)(2) of this section apply to liabilities incurred or 
assumed by a partnership and payment obligations imposed or undertaken 
with respect to a partnership liability on or after October 5, 2016, 
other than liabilities incurred or assumed by a partnership and payment 
obligations imposed or undertaken pursuant to a written binding 
contract in effect prior to that date. Partnerships may apply paragraph 
(b)(3), paragraph (f) Examples 10 and 11, and paragraph (j)(2) of this 
section to all of their liabilities as of the beginning of the first 
taxable year of the partnership ending on or after October 5, 2016. The 
rules applicable to liabilities incurred or assumed (or subject to a 
written binding contract in effect) prior to October 5, 2016 are 
contained in Sec.  1.752-2 in effect prior to October 5, 2016 (see 26 
CFR part 1 revised as of April 1, 2016).
    (3) If a partner has a share of a recourse partnership liability 
under Sec.  1.752-2(a) as a result of bearing the economic risk of loss 
under Sec.  1.752-2(b) immediately prior to October 5, 2016 (Transition 
Partner), the partnership (Transition Partnership) may choose not to 
apply paragraph (b)(3), paragraph (f) Examples 10 and 11, and paragraph 
(j)(2)(i)(C)(2) of this section to the extent the amount of the 
Transition Partner's share of liabilities under Sec.  1.752-2(a) as a 
result of bearing the economic risk of loss under Sec.  1.752-2(b) 
immediately prior to October 5, 2016 exceeds the amount of the 
Transition Partner's adjusted basis in its partnership interest as 
determined under Sec.  1.705-1 at such time (Grandfathered Amount). A 
Transition Partner that is a partnership, S corporation, or a business 
entity disregarded as an entity separate from its owner under section 
856(i) or 1361(b)(3) or Sec. Sec.  301.7701-1 through 301.7701-3 of 
this chapter ceases to qualify as a Transition Partner if the direct or 
indirect ownership of that Transition Partner changes by 50 percent or 
more. The Transition Partnership may continue to apply the rules under 
Sec.  1.752-2 in effect prior to October 5, 2016, with respect to a 
Transition Partner for payment obligations described in Sec.  1.752-
2(b) to the extent of the Transition Partner's adjusted Grandfathered 
Amount for the seven-year period beginning October 5, 2016. The 
termination of a Transition Partnership under section 708(b)(1)(B) and 
applicable regulations does not affect the Grandfathered Amount of a 
Transition Partner that remains a partner in the new partnership (as 
described in Sec.  1.708-1(b)(4)), and the new partnership is treated 
as a continuation of the Transition Partnership for purposes of this 
paragraph (l)(3). However, a Transition Partner's Grandfathered Amount 
is reduced (not below zero), but never increased by--
    (i) Upon the sale of any property by the Transition Partnership, an 
amount equal to the excess of any gain allocated for federal income tax 
purposes to the Transition Partner by the Transition Partnership 
(including amounts allocated under section 704(c) and applicable 
regulations) over the product of the total amount realized by the 
Transition Partnership from the property sale multiplied by the 
Transition Partner's percentage interest in the partnership; and
    (ii) An amount equal to any decrease in the Transition Partner's 
share of liabilities to which the rules of this paragraph (l)(3) apply, 
other than by operation of paragraph (l)(3)(i) of this section.
    (m) Expiration date. This section expires on October 4, 2019.


[[Page 69291]]


John Dalrymple,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
    Approved: August 29, 2016.
Mark J. Mazur,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax Policy).
[FR Doc. 2016-23388 Filed 10-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4830-01-P



                                                 69282            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                              Paperwork Reduction Act                               partnership liabilities apply instead
                                                                                                           The collection of information related               solely for disguised sale purposes, the
                                                 Internal Revenue Service                                to these final and temporary regulations              Treasury Department and the IRS have
                                                                                                         under section 752 is reported on Form                 reconsidered the rules under § 1.707–
                                                 26 CFR Part 1                                           8275, Disclosure Statement, and has                   5(a)(2) of the 2014 Proposed Regulations
                                                                                                         been reviewed in accordance with the                  for determining a partner’s share of
                                                 [TD 9788]                                               Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.                    partnership liabilities for purposes of
                                                                                                         3507) and approved by the Office of                   section 707. Accordingly and as
                                                 RIN 1545–BM84                                           Management and Budget under control                   recommended by that commenter, this
                                                                                                         number 1545–0889.                                     Treasury decision contains temporary
                                                 Liabilities Recognized as Recourse                        An agency may not conduct or                        regulations under section 707 (the 707
                                                 Partnership Liabilities Under Section                   sponsor, and a person is not required to              Temporary Regulations) that require a
                                                 752                                                     respond to, a collection of information               partner to apply the same percentage
                                                                                                         unless it displays a valid control                    used to determine the partner’s share of
                                                 AGENCY:  Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
                                                                                                         number assigned by the Office of                      excess nonrecourse liabilities under
                                                 Treasury.
                                                                                                         Management and Budget.                                § 1.752–3(a)(3) (with certain limitations)
                                                 ACTION: Final and temporary                               For further information concerning                  in determining the partner’s share of
                                                 regulations.                                            this collection of information, and                   partnership liabilities for disguised sale
                                                 SUMMARY:    This document contains final                where to submit comments on the                       purposes. This Treasury decision also
                                                 and temporary regulations concerning                    collection of information and the                     contains temporary regulations under
                                                 how liabilities are allocated for                       accuracy of the estimated burden, and                 section 752 (the 752 Temporary
                                                 purposes of section 707 of the Internal                 suggestions for reducing this burden,                 Regulations) providing guidance on the
                                                 Revenue Code (Code) and when certain                    please refer to the preamble to the cross-            treatment of ‘‘bottom dollar payment
                                                 obligations are recognized for purposes                 referencing notice of proposed                        obligations.’’ Cross-referencing
                                                 of determining whether a liability is a                 rulemaking published in the Proposed                  proposed regulations providing
                                                 recourse partnership liability under                    Rules section in this issue of the Federal            additional opportunity for comment are
                                                 section 752. These regulations affect                   Register.                                             contained in the related notice of
                                                                                                           Books or records relating to a                      proposed rulemaking (REG–122855–15)
                                                 partnerships and their partners. The text
                                                                                                         collection of information must be                     published in the Proposed Rules section
                                                 of these temporary regulations serves as
                                                                                                         retained as long as their contents may                in this issue of the Federal Register. The
                                                 part of the text of proposed regulations
                                                                                                         become material in the administration                 Summary of Comments and Explanation
                                                 (REG–122855–15) published in the
                                                                                                         of any internal revenue law. Generally,               of Provisions section of the preamble of
                                                 Proposed Rules section in this issue of
                                                                                                         tax returns and tax return information                this Treasury decision discusses the
                                                 the Federal Register.
                                                                                                         are confidential, as required by section              changes for determining a partner’s
                                                 DATES: Effective date: These regulations                6103.                                                 share of partnership liabilities for
                                                 are effective on October 5, 2016.
                                                                                                         Background                                            disguised sale purposes and also the
                                                    Applicability dates: For dates of
                                                                                                                                                               rules relating to certain ‘‘bottom dollar
                                                 applicability, see §§ 1.707–9T(a)(4) and                1. Overview
                                                 1.752–2T(l)(2).                                                                                               payment obligations.’’
                                                                                                            This Treasury decision contains final                 The Treasury Department and the IRS
                                                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        and temporary regulations that amend
                                                 Concerning the final and temporary                                                                            are also publishing final regulations
                                                                                                         the Income Tax Regulations (26 CFR                    under section 707 (the 707 Final
                                                 regulations, Caroline E. Hay or Deane M.                part 1) under sections 707 and 752 of
                                                 Burke, (202) 317–5279.                                                                                        Regulations) in a separate Treasury
                                                                                                         the Code. On January 30, 2014, the                    decision (TD 9787) published in the
                                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In                           Treasury Department and the IRS                       Rules and Regulations section in this
                                                 addition to these final and temporary                   published a notice of proposed                        issue of the Federal Register that adopt
                                                 regulations, the Treasury Department                    rulemaking in the Federal Register                    the remaining provisions of the 2014
                                                 and the IRS are publishing in the Rules                 (REG–119305–11, 79 FR 4826) to amend
                                                 and Regulations section in this issue of                                                                      Proposed Regulations under section
                                                                                                         the then existing regulations under                   707. That Treasury decision also
                                                 the Federal Register, final regulations                 section 707 relating to disguised sales of
                                                 under section 707 concerning disguised                                                                        contains final regulations under section
                                                                                                         property to or by a partnership and                   752 (the 752 Final Regulations)
                                                 sales and under section 752 regarding                   under section 752 concerning the
                                                 the allocation of excess nonrecourse                                                                          concerning the allocation of a
                                                                                                         treatment of partnership liabilities (the             partnership’s excess nonrecourse
                                                 liabilities of a partnership to a partner,              2014 Proposed Regulations). The 2014
                                                 and, in the Proposed Rules section in                                                                         liabilities as explained in the Summary
                                                                                                         Proposed Regulations provided certain
                                                 this issue of the Federal Register,                                                                           of Comments and Explanation of
                                                                                                         technical rules intended to clarify the
                                                 proposed regulations (REG–122855–15)                                                                          Provisions sections of that Treasury
                                                                                                         application of the disguised sale rules
                                                 that incorporate the text of these                                                                            decision.
                                                                                                         under section 707 and also contained
                                                 temporary regulations, withdraw a                       rules regarding the sharing of                           Finally, after considering comments
                                                 portion of a notice of proposed                         partnership recourse and nonrecourse                  on the 2014 Proposed Regulations under
                                                 rulemaking (REG–119305–11) to the                       liabilities under section 752.                        section 752, the Treasury Department
                                                 extent not adopted by the final                            A public hearing on the 2014                       and the IRS are withdrawing proposed
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                                                 regulations, and contain new proposed                   Proposed Regulations was not requested                § 1.752–2 and are issuing new proposed
                                                 regulations addressing (1) when certain                 or held, but the Treasury Department                  regulations (the 752 Proposed
                                                 obligations to restore a deficit balance in             and the IRS received written comments.                Regulations) contained in the related
                                                 a partner’s capital account are                            Based on a comment received on the                 notice of proposed rulemaking (REG–
                                                 disregarded under section 704 and (2)                   2014 Proposed Regulations requesting                  122855–15) published in the Proposed
                                                 when partnership liabilities are treated                that guidance provided under section                  Rules section in this issue of the Federal
                                                 as recourse liabilities under section 752.              752 regarding a partner’s share of                    Register.


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                       69283

                                                 2. Summary of Applicable Law                            the liability became due and payable                  exceed the partner’s allocable share of
                                                    In determining a partner’s share of a                (constructive liquidation test). Section              the liability incurred to fund the
                                                 partnership liability for disguised sale                1.752–2(b)(6) presumes partners and                   distribution. The legislative history to
                                                 purposes, the existing regulations under                related persons will satisfy their                    section 707, upon which the debt-
                                                 section 707 prescribe separate rules for                payment obligations irrespective of their             financed distribution exception in
                                                 a partnership’s recourse liability and a                net worth, unless the facts and                       § 1.707–5(b) is based, contemplates a
                                                 partnership’s nonrecourse liability.                    circumstances indicate a plan to                      contributing partner borrowing through
                                                 Under § 1.707–5(a)(2)(i), a partner’s                   circumvent or avoid the obligation.                   the partnership rather than engaging in
                                                 share of a partnership’s recourse                                                                             a disguised sale when the partner, in
                                                                                                         Summary of Comments and
                                                 liability equals the partner’s share of the                                                                   substance, retains liability for
                                                                                                         Explanation of Provisions
                                                 liability under section 752 and the                                                                           repayment of the borrowed amounts.
                                                 regulations thereunder. A partnership                   1. Partner’s Share of Partnership                     See H.R. Rep. No. 861, 98th Cong., 2d
                                                 liability is a recourse liability under                 Liabilities for Purposes of Section 707               Sess. 859 (1984). This exception,
                                                 section 707 to the extent that the                         The withdrawn portions of the 2014                 however, has been abused through
                                                 obligation is a recourse liability under                Proposed Regulations included                         leveraged partnership transactions in
                                                 § 1.752–1(a)(1). Under § 1.707–                         proposed changes to § 1.752–2 that were               which the contributing partners or
                                                 5(a)(2)(ii), a partner’s share of a                     intended to ensure that only genuine                  related persons enter into payment
                                                 partnership’s nonrecourse liability is                  commercial payment obligations,                       obligations that are not commercial
                                                 determined by applying the same                         including guarantees and indemnities,                 solely to achieve an allocation of the
                                                 percentage used to determine the                        affected the allocation of partnership                partnership liability to the partner, with
                                                 partner’s share of the excess                           liabilities. Although the 2014 Proposed               the objective of avoiding a disguised
                                                 nonrecourse liability under § 1.752–                    Regulations received some unfavorable                 sale. See, for example, Canal Corp. v.
                                                 3(a)(3). Generally, a partner’s share of                comments, one commenter expressed                     Commissioner, 135 T.C. 199, 216 (2010)
                                                 the excess nonrecourse liability is                     support for the overall objective of those            (‘‘We have carefully considered the facts
                                                 determined in accordance with the                       proposed rules. According to the                      and circumstances and find that the
                                                 partner’s share of partnership profits                  commenter, the clear effect of the 2014               indemnity agreement should be
                                                 taking into account all facts and                       Proposed Regulations under section 752                disregarded because it created no more
                                                 circumstances relating to the economic                  was to make it more likely that                       than a remote possibility that [the
                                                 arrangement of the partners. A                          liabilities would be treated as                       indemnitor] would actually be liable for
                                                 partnership liability is a nonrecourse                  nonrecourse liabilities, and thus                     payment.’’).
                                                 liability under section 707 to the extent               allocable under § 1.752–3. The                           After considering the comments on
                                                 that the obligation is a nonrecourse                    commenter noted that such an effect                   the 2014 Proposed Regulations
                                                 liability under § 1.752–1(a)(2). In                     seems appropriate as an economic                      suggesting that the regulations be
                                                 addition, the existing regulations under                matter, because, contrary to the                      narrowly tailored to address abuse
                                                 section 707 provide that a partnership                  constructive liquidation test in § 1.752–             concerns relating to disguised sales, the
                                                 liability is a recourse or nonrecourse                  2(b)(1), lenders, borrowers, and credit               Treasury Department and the IRS have
                                                 liability to the extent the liability would             support providers generally do not                    concluded that, for disguised sale
                                                 be recourse under § 1.752–1(a)(1) or                    expect that the assets of the partnership             purposes only, it is appropriate for
                                                 nonrecourse under § 1.752–1(a)(2),                      will become worthless. Rather, lenders,               partners to determine their share of any
                                                 respectively, if the liability was treated              borrowers and credit support providers                partnership liability, whether recourse
                                                 as a partnership liability for purposes of              generally expect borrowers (including                 or nonrecourse under section 752, in the
                                                 section 752 (§ 1.752–7 contingent                       partnerships) to satisfy their obligations            manner in which excess nonrecourse
                                                 liabilities).                                           (in the case of a partnership, with                   liabilities are allocated under § 1.752–
                                                    Section 1.752–1(a)(1) provides that a                partnership profits). However, the                    3(a)(3), as limited for disguised sale
                                                 partnership liability is a recourse                     commenter expressed concerns with the                 purposes in the 752 Final Regulations.
                                                 liability to the extent that a partner or               proposed section 752 rules. The                       For purposes of the disguised sale rules,
                                                 related person bears the economic risk                  commenter suggested that the                          this allocation method reflects the
                                                 of loss (EROL) for that liability under                 regulations adopt a more narrowly                     overall economic arrangement of the
                                                 § 1.752–2. Section 1.752–2(a) provides                  tailored approach that treats all                     partners more accurately than the
                                                 that a partner’s share of a recourse                    liabilities as nonrecourse liabilities for            current regulations or the 2014
                                                 partnership liability equals the portion                section 707 disguised sale purposes                   Proposed Regulations. In most cases, a
                                                 of the liability, if any, for which the                 only.                                                 partnership will satisfy its liabilities
                                                 partner or related person bears the                        Other commenters also suggested that               with partnership profits, the
                                                 EROL. Section 1.752–1(a)(2) provides                    changes to the liability allocation rules             partnership’s assets do not become
                                                 that a partnership liability is a                       be limited to the context of disguised                worthless, and the payment obligations
                                                 nonrecourse liability to the extent that                sales under section 707 to specifically               of partners or related persons are not
                                                 no partner or related person bears the                  address the abuses that concern the                   called upon. This is true whether: (1) A
                                                 EROL for that liability under § 1.752–2.                Treasury Department and the IRS. One                  partner’s liability is assumed by a
                                                 A partner generally bears the EROL for                  abuse relating to disguised sales within              partnership in connection with a
                                                 a partnership liability if the partner or               the meaning of § 1.707–3 concerns the                 transfer of property to the partnership or
                                                 related person has an obligation to make                debt-financed distribution exception                  by a partner in connection with a
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                                                 a payment under § 1.752–2(b). A partner                 under § 1.707–5(b). Under this                        transfer of property by the partnership
                                                 generally has an obligation to make a                   exception, a distribution of money to a               to the partner; (2) a partnership takes
                                                 payment to the extent that the partner                  partner by a partnership is not taken                 property subject to a liability in
                                                 or related person would have to make a                  into account for purposes of § 1.707–3 to             connection with a transfer of property to
                                                 payment if, upon a constructive                         the extent that the distribution is                   the partnership or a partner takes
                                                 liquidation of the partnership, the                     traceable to a partnership borrowing and              property subject to a liability in
                                                 partnership’s assets were worthless and                 the amount of the distribution does not               connection with a transfer of property


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                                                 69284            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                 by the partnership to the partner; or (3)                  Finally, in addition to the rule for               obligations running directly to creditors,
                                                 a liability is incurred by the partnership              determining a partner’s share of a                    other partners, or to the partnership
                                                 to make a distribution to a partner under               § 1.752–1(a) partnership liability for                (guarantee and indemnity recognition
                                                 the debt-financed distribution exception                disguised sale purposes, the 707                      factors). In the case of a guarantee or
                                                 in § 1.707–5(b). Accordingly, under the                 Temporary Regulations reserve with                    similar arrangement, the 2014 Proposed
                                                 707 Temporary Regulations, a partner’s                  respect to the treatment of § 1.752–7                 Regulations would have required the
                                                 share of any partnership liability for                  contingent liabilities for disguised sale             partner or related person to be liable up
                                                 disguised sale purposes is the same                     purposes. The 2014 Proposed                           to the full amount of such partner’s or
                                                 percentage used to determine the                        Regulations proposed removing the                     related person’s payment obligation, if,
                                                 partner’s share of the partnership’s                    ‘‘would be treated’’ language in § 1.707–             and to the extent that, any amount of the
                                                 excess nonrecourse liabilities under                    5(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of the existing                   partnership liability is not otherwise
                                                 § 1.752–3(a)(3), as limited for disguised               regulations relating to contingent                    satisfied. In the case of an indemnity,
                                                 sale purposes under the 752 Final                       liabilities. The 707 Temporary
                                                                                                                                                               reimbursement agreement, or similar
                                                 Regulations.                                            Regulations replace the proposed
                                                                                                                                                               arrangement, the 2014 Proposed
                                                    Commenters also suggested that a                     provisions with the previously
                                                                                                         discussed rule for determining a                      Regulations would have required the
                                                 partner’s share of a partnership liability                                                                    partner or related person to be liable up
                                                 for disguised sale purposes should not                  partner’s share of a partnership liability
                                                                                                         as defined in § 1.752–1(a). Because the               to the full amount of such partner’s or
                                                 include any portion of the liability for                                                                      related person’s payment obligation if,
                                                 which another partner bears the EROL,                   2014 Proposed Regulations would have
                                                                                                         removed language relating to § 1.752–7                and to the extent that, any amount of the
                                                 as these liabilities would not be
                                                                                                         contingent liabilities, some commenters               indemnitee’s or other benefited party’s
                                                 allocated to a partner without EROL
                                                                                                         suggested that the regulations                        payment obligation is satisfied. The
                                                 under general principles of subchapter
                                                                                                         specifically clarify how contingent                   terms of the guarantee, indemnity, or
                                                 K. The Treasury Department and the IRS
                                                                                                         liabilities are treated for purposes of the           reimbursement agreement would be
                                                 agree with the commenter that this
                                                 change should not create a liability                    disguised sale rules. The Treasury                    treated as modified by any right of
                                                 allocation not otherwise allowed under                  Department and the IRS agree that                     indemnity, reimbursement agreement,
                                                 general subchapter K principles.                        clarification of the treatment of § 1.752–            or similar arrangement. However, a right
                                                 Therefore, the 707 Temporary                            7 contingent liabilities for disguised sale           of proportionate contribution running
                                                 Regulations provide that a partner’s                    purposes is warranted.                                between partners or related persons who
                                                                                                            In many cases, § 1.752–7 contingent                were co-obligors with respect to a
                                                 share of a partnership liability for
                                                                                                         liabilities may constitute qualified                  payment obligation for which each of
                                                 disguised sale purposes does not
                                                                                                         liabilities that would not be taken into              them was jointly and severally liable
                                                 include any amount of the liability for
                                                                                                         account for purposes of determining a                 would not modify a guarantee,
                                                 which another partner bears the EROL
                                                                                                         disguised sale. However, some                         indemnity, or reimbursement
                                                 for the partnership liability under
                                                                                                         commenters noted that there may be                    agreement. If the partner’s or related
                                                 § 1.752–2.
                                                                                                         circumstances in which certain transfers              person’s payment obligation failed to
                                                    The liability allocation approach for                of § 1.752–7 contingent liabilities to a
                                                 disguised sale purposes in the 707                                                                            satisfy any of the recognition factors, the
                                                                                                         partnership may be abusive. Thus, the
                                                 Temporary Regulations does not conflict                                                                       payment obligation was not recognized
                                                                                                         Treasury Department and the IRS will
                                                 with Congress’s directive relating to                   continue to study the issue of the effect             and the partner would not bear EROL
                                                 section 752, which had been raised as                   of contingent liabilities with respect to             for the partnership liability. In addition
                                                 a potential concern by some                             section 707, as well as other sections of             to the guarantee and indemnity
                                                 commenters with respect to the 2014                     the Code, in connection with future                   recognition factors, a partner’s or related
                                                 Proposed Regulations. Section 79 of the                 guidance projects.                                    person’s payment obligation with
                                                 Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 (Pub. L.                                                                        respect to a partnership liability would
                                                 98–369) overruled the decision in                       2. Determining Whether a Liability Is a               not be recognized under an anti-abuse
                                                 Raphan v. United States, 3 Cl. Ct. 457                  Recourse Liability of a Partnership                   rule in the 2014 Proposed Regulations if
                                                 (1983) (holding that a guarantee by a                      The 752 Temporary Regulations                      the facts and circumstances indicated
                                                 general partner of an otherwise                         amend § 1.752–2 to address certain                    that the partnership liability was part of
                                                 nonrecourse liability of the partnership                payment obligations of a partner or                   a plan or arrangement involving the use
                                                 did not require the partner to be treated               related person. The Treasury                          of tiered partnerships, intermediaries, or
                                                 as personally liable for that liability)                Department and the IRS continue to                    similar arrangements to convert a single
                                                 and directed the Secretary of the                       have concerns that partners and related               liability into multiple liabilities with a
                                                 Treasury to amend the regulations                       persons are entering into payment                     principal purpose of circumventing the
                                                 under section 752 to reflect the                        obligations that are not commercial                   guarantee and indemnity recognition
                                                 overruling of the Raphan decision. At                   solely to achieve an allocation of a                  factors.
                                                 issue in the Raphan case was debt                       partnership liability.
                                                 allocation under section 752;                              Under the 2014 Proposed Regulations,                  The Treasury Department and the IRS
                                                 accordingly, Congress’s directive related               a partner’s or related person’s payment               continue to believe that certain
                                                 to regulations under section 752 only.                  obligation with respect to a partnership              obligations, such as certain so-called
                                                 As noted, the 707 Temporary                             liability would not have been                         ‘‘bottom-dollar guarantees,’’ should
                                                 Regulations treat all partnership                       recognized under § 1.752–2(b)(3) unless               generally not be recognized as payment
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                                                 liabilities, whether recourse or                        seven factors (recognition factors) were              obligations under § 1.752–2(b)(3)
                                                 nonrecourse, as nonrecourse liabilities                 satisfied. Two of the seven recognition               because they generally lack a significant
                                                 solely for purposes of section 707. Thus,               factors imposed certain additional                    non-tax commercial business purpose.
                                                 the approach adopted in the 707                         requirements on contractual obligations               No commenters suggested that bottom-
                                                 Temporary Regulations does not conflict                 outside a partnership agreement, such                 dollar guarantees were relevant to loan
                                                 with the approach directed by Congress                  as guarantees, indemnifications,                      risk underwriting. Accordingly, the 752
                                                 after the Raphan case.                                  reimbursement agreements, and other                   Temporary Regulations retain the


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                        69285

                                                 restriction on certain guarantees and                   certain factors, taking into account the              a partner or related person is or would
                                                 indemnities and provide that these                      commenter’s suggestion, exist.                        be liable for the full amount of a
                                                 payment obligations are not recognized                  Therefore, under the 752 Temporary                    payment obligation, such obligation is
                                                 under § 1.752–2(b)(3). In addition, these               Regulations, the term ‘‘bottom dollar                 not a bottom dollar payment obligation
                                                 regulations remove the Example in                       payment obligation’’ includes (subject to             merely because a maximum amount is
                                                 § 1.752–2(j)(4) to comport with the                     certain exceptions): (1) Any payment                  placed on the partner’s or related
                                                 provisions in the 752 Temporary                         obligation other than one in which the                person’s obligation. Accordingly, the
                                                 Regulations relating to bottom dollar                   partner or related person is or would be              752 Temporary Regulations specifically
                                                 payment obligations. However, after                     liable up to the full amount of such                  except certain payment obligations
                                                 considering the comments received on                    partner’s or related person’s payment                 within those parameters, including
                                                 the 2014 Proposed Regulations, the 752                  obligation if, and to the extent that (A)             obligations with joint and several
                                                 Temporary Regulations provide for an                    any amount of the partnership liability               liability, from being treated as bottom
                                                 exception as well as an anti-abuse rule                 is not otherwise satisfied in the case of             dollar payment obligations.
                                                 to address arrangements that are not                    an obligation that is a guarantee or other
                                                                                                                                                               B. Exception From Treatment as a
                                                 intended to be subject to this rule.                    similar arrangement, or (B) any amount
                                                                                                                                                               Bottom Dollar Payment Obligation
                                                                                                         of the indemnitee’s or benefited party’s
                                                 A. General Rule: Bottom Dollar Payment                                                                           In addition to comments relating to
                                                                                                         payment obligation is satisfied in the
                                                 Obligations                                                                                                   the description of ‘‘bottom-dollar
                                                                                                         case of an obligation which is an
                                                    Although the 752 Temporary                           indemnity or similar arrangement; and                 guarantees’’ and the anti-abuse rule in
                                                 Regulations retain the restriction                      (2) an arrangement with respect to a                  the 2014 Proposed Regulations,
                                                 relating to certain guarantees and                      partnership liability that uses tiered                commenters expressed concerns that the
                                                 indemnities, these temporary                            partnerships, intermediaries, senior and              guaranty and indemnity recognition
                                                 regulations refine the description of                   subordinate liabilities, or similar                   factors would deprive a partner from
                                                 non-commercial obligations in response                  arrangements to convert what would                    being allocated a liability even in
                                                 to comments. Commenters expressed                       otherwise be a single liability into                  situations where there is real EROL. One
                                                 concerns with the 2014 Proposed                         multiple liabilities if, based on the facts           commenter described the 2014 Proposed
                                                 Regulations’ description of so-called                   and circumstances, the liabilities were               Regulations as prejudging all payment
                                                 ‘‘bottom-dollar guarantees and                          incurred (A) pursuant to a common                     obligations to be remote and fictitious if
                                                 indemnities.’’ Commenters thought the                   plan, as part of a single transaction or              the obligations did not cover 100
                                                 language was confusing. In addition,                    arrangement, or as part of a series of                percent of any shortfall in repayment.
                                                 with respect to the anti-abuse rule in the              related transactions or arrangements,                 The commenter believed EROL could
                                                 2014 Proposed Regulations, one                          and (B) with a principal purpose of                   exist even if 100 percent of the liability
                                                 commenter believed that ‘‘tranches’’ of                 avoiding having at least one of such                  was not covered.
                                                 debt could be used to effect                            liabilities or payment obligations with                  Another commenter appreciated the
                                                 arrangements that are economically                      respect to such liabilities being treated             merits of a bright-line rule that would
                                                 similar to ‘‘bottom-dollar guarantees’’                 as a bottom dollar payment obligation.                look to every dollar of a liability, but
                                                 and recommended that the regulations                    Any payment obligation under § 1.752–                 thought that the 100 percent threshold
                                                 strengthen the anti-abuse rule. This                    2, including an obligation to make a                  was too high. This commenter
                                                 commenter suggested that two or more                    capital contribution and to restore a                 recommended that a payment obligation
                                                 liabilities be treated as a single liability            deficit capital account upon liquidation              should be respected if a partner or
                                                 if: (1) The liabilities are incurred                    of the partnership as described in                    related person (i) is or would be liable
                                                 pursuant to a common plan, as part of                   § 1.704–1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3), may be a bottom            up to the full amount of such partner’s
                                                 a single transaction, or as part of a series            dollar payment obligation if it meets the             or related person’s payment obligation
                                                 of related transactions; (2) the liabilities            requirements set forth above.                         if, and to the extent that, less than 80
                                                 have the same counterparty or                              The preamble of the 2014 Proposed                  percent of the partnership liability is not
                                                 counterparties (or substantially the same               Regulations requested comments on                     otherwise satisfied and (ii) either (A) the
                                                 group of counterparties); or (3) the                    whether and under what circumstances                  taxpayer or the IRS clearly establishes
                                                 guarantee or similar arrangement would                  regulations should permit recognition of              that the credit support materially
                                                 fail the guarantee recognition factor if                a payment obligation for a portion,                   decreased the partnership’s borrowing
                                                 the liabilities were treated as a single                rather than 100 percent, of each dollar               costs with respect to the liability or
                                                 liability; and (4) multiple liabilities                 of a partnership liability to which the               materially enhanced the other terms of
                                                 (rather than a single liability) were                   payment relates (a ‘‘vertical slice’’ of a            the borrowing, or (B) the partners (or
                                                 incurred with a principal purpose of                    partnership liability). The commenters                persons related to one or more of the
                                                 avoiding the guarantee recognition                      believed that regulations under section               partners), in the aggregate, are or would
                                                 factor.                                                 752 should recognize a vertical slice of              be liable up to the full amount of their
                                                    In response to comments, the 752                     a partnership liability because these                 payment obligations if, and to the extent
                                                 Temporary Regulations clarify the                       payment obligations represent the same                that, any amount of the partnership
                                                 description of so-called ‘‘bottom-dollar                economic risk as a guarantee, for                     liability is not otherwise satisfied. The
                                                 guarantees and indemnities’’ by                         example, of the entire partnership                    commenter believed that this lower
                                                 consolidating these non-commercial                      liability.                                            threshold incorporates the idea that a
                                                 obligations under one term: Bottom-                        The Treasury Department and the IRS                person may have meaningful risk with
                                                 dollar payment obligations. In addition,                agree with the commenters that certain                respect to the underlying liability, while
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                                                 instead of having an anti-abuse rule to                 obligations, including a vertical slice of            protecting the legitimate interests of the
                                                 address arrangements that use tiered                    a partnership liability, should not cause             government in ensuring that the lower
                                                 partnerships, intermediaries, senior and                a payment obligation to be a bottom                   threshold is not abused by taxpayers.
                                                 subordinate liabilities, or similar                     dollar payment obligation and, thus, not                 The Treasury Department and the IRS
                                                 arrangements, the 752 Temporary                         recognized under § 1.752–2(b)(3). In                  recognize that, in certain circumstances,
                                                 Regulations define these arrangements                   addition, the Treasury Department and                 it might be appropriate to treat a partner
                                                 as bottom dollar payment obligations if                 the IRS have determined that, as long as              as bearing EROL with respect to a


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                                                 69286            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                 payment obligation that would be                        the Commissioner may apply to ensure                  with respect to the changes under
                                                 characterized as a bottom dollar                        that if a partner actually bears EROL for             § 1.752–2, the 752 Temporary
                                                 payment obligation under the general                    a partnership liability, partners may not             Regulations apply to liabilities incurred
                                                 rule. What otherwise would be a bottom                  agree among themselves to create a                    or assumed by a partnership and
                                                 dollar payment obligation can be                        bottom dollar payment obligation so                   payment obligations imposed or
                                                 distinguished in a situation where the                  that the liability will be treated as                 undertaken with respect to a
                                                 partners have allocated the risk among                  nonrecourse.                                          partnership liability on or after October
                                                 themselves, and the person making the                      Section 1.752–2(j)(2) of the existing              5, 2016, other than liabilities incurred or
                                                 bottom dollar payment obligation is                     regulations currently provides that,                  assumed by a partnership and payment
                                                 liable for at least 90 percent of the                   irrespective of the form of a contractual             obligations imposed or undertaken
                                                 person’s payment obligation (because                    obligation, a partner is considered to                pursuant to a written binding contract
                                                 the person is not entitled to                           bear the EROL with respect to a                       in effect prior to that date.
                                                 indemnification or reimbursement for                    partnership liability, or a portion                      The 2014 Proposed Regulations
                                                 more than 10 percent of the person’s                    thereof, to the extent that: (A) The                  provided for an effective date similar to
                                                 payment obligation). For example, if one                partner or related person undertakes one              the one in these final and temporary
                                                 partner (Partner A) guarantees 100                      or more contractual obligations so that               regulations. A commenter
                                                 percent of a partnership liability and                  the partnership may obtain a loan; (B)                recommended that partnerships be
                                                 another partner (Partner B) indemnifies                 the contractual obligations of the                    permitted to elect to apply all, but not
                                                 Partner A for the first one percent of                  partner or related person eliminate                   less than all, of the provisions of the
                                                 Partner A’s obligation, Partner A’s                     substantially all the risk to the lender              final regulations to all of its liabilities
                                                 obligation would be characterized as a                  that the partnership will not satisfy its             and payment obligations with respect to
                                                 bottom dollar payment obligation under                  obligations under the loan; and (C) one               its liabilities after the effective date of
                                                 the general rule because Partner A                      of the principal purposes of using the                the final regulations. These 752
                                                 would not be liable to the full extent of               contractual obligations is to attempt to              Temporary Regulations adopt that
                                                 the guarantee if any amount of the                      permit partners (other than those who                 change; therefore, partnerships may
                                                 partnership liability is not otherwise                  are directly or indirectly liable for the             apply all the provisions contained in the
                                                 satisfied (because Partner A would be                   obligation) to include a portion of the               752 Temporary Regulations to all of
                                                 reimbursed due to Partner B’s                           loan in the basis of their partnership                their liabilities as of the beginning of the
                                                 indemnity). To address this concern, the                interests. The 752 Temporary                          first taxable year of the partnership
                                                 752 Temporary Regulations provide an                    Regulations expand § 1.752–2(j)(2) to                 ending on or after October 5, 2016.
                                                 exception if a partner or related person                include situations in which a partner is                 Commenters on the 2014 Proposed
                                                 has a payment obligation that would be                  considered to bear the EROL                           Regulations also recommended that
                                                 recognized (initial payment obligation)                 irrespective of a bottom dollar payment               partnership liabilities or payment
                                                 under § 1.752–2T(b)(3) but for the effect               obligation.                                           obligations that are modified or
                                                 of an indemnity, reimbursement                                                                                refinanced continue to be subject to the
                                                                                                         D. Disclosure Requirement                             provisions of the existing regulations to
                                                 agreement, or similar arrangement. Such
                                                 bottom dollar payment obligation is                        The 752 Temporary Regulations                      the extent of the amount and duration
                                                 recognized under § 1.752–2T(b)(3) if,                   require the partnership to disclose to the            of the pre-modification (or refinancing)
                                                 taking into account the indemnity,                      IRS all bottom dollar payment                         liability or payment obligation. The 752
                                                 reimbursement agreement, or similar                     obligations with respect to a partnership             Temporary Regulations do not adopt
                                                 arrangement, the partner or related                     liability on a completed Form 8275,                   this recommendation as the terms of the
                                                 person is liable for at least 90 percent of             Disclosure Statement, attached to the                 partnership liabilities and payment
                                                 the initial payment obligation. This                    partnership return for the taxable year               obligations could be changed, which
                                                 obligation, like any other payment                      in which the bottom dollar payment                    would affect the determination of
                                                 obligation, must otherwise be                           obligation is undertaken or modified.                 whether or not an obligation is a bottom
                                                 recognized under § 1.752–2, including                   That disclosure must identify the                     dollar payment obligation.
                                                 under the anti-abuse rules in § 1.752–                  payment obligation with respect to                       The 752 Temporary Regulations do,
                                                 2(j).                                                   which disclosure is made including the                however, provide transition relief for
                                                                                                         amount of the payment obligation and                  any partner whose allocable share of
                                                 C. Anti-Abuse Rule                                      the parties to the payment obligation. If             partnership liabilities under § 1.752–2
                                                   Some commenters noted that partners                   a bottom dollar payment obligation                    exceeds its adjusted basis in its
                                                 could manipulate contractual                            meets the exception, the partnership                  partnership interest on the date the
                                                 arrangements to achieve a federal                       must also disclose to the IRS on Form                 temporary regulations are finalized.
                                                 income tax result that is not consistent                8275 the facts and circumstances that                 Under this transitional relief, the
                                                 with the economics of an arrangement.                   clearly establish that a partner or related           partner can continue to apply the
                                                 For example, a partner could                            person is liable for up to 90 percent of              existing regulations under § 1.752–2
                                                 deliberately fail one of the recognition                the partner’s or related person’s initial             with respect to a partnership liability for
                                                 factors in the 2014 Proposed                            payment obligation and, but for an                    a seven-year period to the extent that
                                                 Regulations (including the guarantee or                 indemnity, reimbursement agreement,                   the partner’s allocable share of
                                                 indemnity recognition factor) to cause a                or similar arrangement, the partner’s or              partnership liabilities exceeds the
                                                 partnership liability to be treated as                  related person’s payment obligation                   partner’s adjusted basis in its
                                                 nonrecourse even when one partner has                   would have been recognized.                           partnership interest on October 5, 2016.
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                                                 true EROL. Just as the 752 Temporary                                                                          The amount of partnership liabilities
                                                 Regulations provide an exception for                    Effective/Applicability Date                          subject to transitional relief will be
                                                 certain obligations that meet the                         With respect to changes under                       reduced for certain reductions in the
                                                 definition of a bottom dollar payment                   § 1.707–5, the 707 Temporary                          amount of liabilities allocated to that
                                                 obligation but give rise to EROL, the 752               Regulations apply to any transaction                  partner under the transition rules and,
                                                 Temporary Regulations also provide an                   with respect to which all transfers occur             upon the sale of any partnership
                                                 anti-abuse rule in § 1.752–2T(j)(2) that                on or after January 3, 2017. In addition,             property, for any tax gain (including


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                             69287

                                                 section 704(c) gain) allocated to the                   Adoption of Amendments to the                         property. (i) C transfers property Y to a
                                                 partner less that partner’s share of                    Regulations                                           partnership in which C has a 50 percent
                                                 amount realized.                                                                                              interest. At the time of its transfer to the
                                                                                                           Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is                       partnership, property Y has a fair market
                                                 Special Analyses                                        amended as follows:                                   value of $10,000,000 and is subject to an
                                                                                                                                                               $8,000,000 liability that C incurred and
                                                    Certain IRS regulations, including this              PART 1—INCOME TAXES                                   guaranteed, immediately before transferring
                                                 one, are exempt from the requirements                                                                         property Y to the partnership, in order to
                                                 of Executive Order 12866, as                            ■ Paragraph 1. The authority citation                 finance other expenditures. Upon the transfer
                                                 supplemented and reaffirmed by                          for part 1 continues to read in part as               of property Y to the partnership the
                                                 Executive Order 13563. Therefore, a                     follows:                                              partnership assumed the liability
                                                 regulatory impact assessment is not                                                                           encumbering that property. Under section
                                                                                                            Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
                                                                                                                                                               752 and the regulations thereunder,
                                                 required. It also has been determined                      Sections 1.707–2 through 1.707–9 also
                                                                                                         issued under 26 U.S.C. 707(a)(2)(B).                  immediately after the partnership’s
                                                 that section 553(b) of the Administrative                                                                     assumption of the liability encumbering
                                                 Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does                 ■ Par. 2. Section 1.707–5 is amended by               property Y, the liability is a recourse liability
                                                 not apply to these regulations.                         revising paragraph (a)(2) and Examples                of the partnership and C’s share of that
                                                    Although the temporary regulations                   2, 3, 7, and 8 in paragraph (f) to read as            liability is $8,000,000.
                                                 under sections 707 and 752 respond to                                                                            (ii) Under the facts of this example, the
                                                                                                         follows:                                              liability encumbering property Y is not a
                                                 comments received in response to the
                                                                                                         § 1.707–5 Disguised sales of property to              qualified liability. Accordingly, the
                                                 2014 Proposed Regulations, the
                                                                                                         partnership; special rules relating to                partnership’s assumption of the liability
                                                 Treasury Department and the IRS have                                                                          results in a transfer of consideration to C in
                                                 determined that the regulations would                   liabilities.
                                                                                                                                                               connection with C’s transfer of property Y to
                                                 benefit from additional notice and                        (a) * * *                                           the partnership. Notwithstanding C’s share of
                                                 comment instead of being published as                     (2) [Reserved]. For further guidance,               the liability for section 752 purposes, for
                                                 final regulations. In addition, decisions               see § 1.707–5T(a)(2).                                 disguised sale purposes, C’s share of the
                                                 made in the final regulations under                     *     *     *    *     *                              liability immediately after the partnership’s
                                                 section 707 contained in a separate                       (f) * * *                                           assumption is $4,000,000 (50 percent of
                                                 Treasury decision (TD 9787) published                     Example 2. [Reserved]. For further                  $8,000,000) under paragraph (a)(2) of this
                                                                                                                                                               section (which determines a partner’s share
                                                 in the Rules and Regulations section in                 guidance, see § 1.707–5T(f) Example 2.
                                                                                                           Example 3. [Reserved]. For further                  of a liability using the percentage under
                                                 this issue of the Federal Register                                                                            § 1.752–3(a)(3)). Therefore, the amount of
                                                 interact with the changes in the 707                    guidance, see § 1.707–5T(f) Example 3.
                                                                                                                                                               consideration to C is $4,000,000 (the excess
                                                 Temporary Regulations regarding how                     *       *     *       *      *                        of the liability assumed by the partnership
                                                 liabilities are allocated for disguised                   Example 7. [Reserved]. For further                  ($8,000,000) over C’s share of the liability for
                                                 sale purposes. Finally, pursuant to                     guidance, see § 1.707–5T(f) Example 7.                purposes of § 1.707–5(a) immediately after
                                                                                                           Example 8. [Reserved]. For further                  the assumption ($4,000,000)). See § 1.707–
                                                 authority under section 7805(b) of the                  guidance, see § 1.707–5T(f) Example 8.
                                                 Code, the temporary regulations under                                                                         5(a)(1) and paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
                                                 sections 707 and 752 are necessary to                   *     *     *    *     *                                 Example 3. Subsequent reduction of
                                                                                                         ■ Par. 3. Section 1.707–5T is added to                transferring partner’s share of liability. (i)
                                                 address particular abuses as described
                                                                                                         read as follows:                                      The facts are the same as in Example 2. In
                                                 in the Summary of Comments and the                                                                            addition, property Y is a fully leased office
                                                 Explanation of Provisions section of the                § 1.707–5T Disguised sales of property to             building, the rental income from property Y
                                                 preamble of this Treasury decision. For                 partnership; special rules relating to                is sufficient to meet debt service, and the
                                                 these reasons, good cause also exists                   liabilities (temporary).                              remaining term of the liability is ten years.
                                                 pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to issue                          (a)(1) [Reserved]. For further                     It is anticipated that, three years after the
                                                 temporary regulations.                                  guidance, see § 1.707–5(a)(1).                        partnership’s assumption of the liability, C’s
                                                    For applicability of the Regulatory                     (2) Partner’s share of liability—(i) In            share of the liability under paragraph (a)(2)
                                                                                                                                                               of this section will be reduced to $2,000,000
                                                 Flexibility Act, please refer to the cross-             general. For purposes of § 1.707–5, a                 because of a shift in the allocation of
                                                 referencing notice of proposed                          partner’s share of a liability of a                   partnership profits pursuant to the terms of
                                                 rulemaking published in the Proposed                    partnership, as defined in § 1.752–1(a)               the partnership agreement which provide
                                                 Rules section in this issue of the Federal              (whether a recourse liability or a                    that C’s share of the partnership profits will
                                                 Register. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of                nonrecourse liability) is determined by               be 25 percent at that time. Under the
                                                 the Code, these regulations have been                   applying the same percentage used to                  partnership agreement, this shift in the
                                                 submitted to the Chief Counsel for                      determine the partner’s share of the                  allocation of partnership profits is dependent
                                                 Advocacy of the Small Business                          excess nonrecourse liability under                    solely on the passage of time.
                                                 Administration for comment on its                       § 1.752–3(a)(3) (as limited in its                       (ii) Under § 1.707–5(a)(3), if the reduction
                                                                                                                                                               in C’s share of the liability was anticipated
                                                 impact on small business.                               application to this paragraph (a)(2)),                at the time of C’s transfer, was not subject to
                                                 Drafting Information                                    without including in such partner’s                   the entrepreneurial risks of partnership
                                                                                                         share any amount of the liability for                 operations, and was part of a plan that has
                                                   The principal authors of these                        which another partner bears the                       as one of its principal purposes minimizing
                                                 regulations are Caroline E. Hay and                     economic risk of loss for the partnership             the extent of sale treatment under § 1.707–3
                                                 Deane M. Burke of the Office of the                     liability under § 1.752–2.                            (that is, a principal purpose of allocating a
                                                 Associate Chief Counsel (Passthroughs                      (ii) Partner’s share of § 1.752–7                  larger percentage of profits to C in the first
                                                 & Special Industries), IRS. However,                    liability. [Reserved].                                three years when profits were not likely to be
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                                                 other personnel from the Treasury                          (a)(3) through (e) [Reserved]. For                 realized was to minimize the extent to which
                                                                                                         further guidance, see § 1.707–5(a)(3)                 C’s transfer would be treated as part of a
                                                 Department and the IRS participated in
                                                                                                                                                               sale), C’s share of the liability immediately
                                                 their development.                                      through (e).
                                                                                                                                                               after the partnership’s assumption is treated
                                                                                                            (f) Example 1 [Reserved]. For further
                                                 List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1                                                                             as equal to C’s reduced share of $2,000,000.
                                                                                                         guidance, see § 1.707–5(f) Example 1.                 Therefore, the amount of consideration to C
                                                   Income taxes, Reporting and                             Example 2. Partnership’s assumption of              is $6,000,000 (the excess of the liability
                                                 recordkeeping requirements.                             recourse liability encumbering transferred            assumed by the partnership ($8,000,000) over



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                                                 69288            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                 C’s share of the liability for purposes of                 (A) Liability 2 is a nonrecourse liability;        and 8 as contained in 26 CFR part 1,
                                                 § 1.707–5(a) immediately after the                         (B) H transferred the proceeds of liability        revised as of April 1, 2016.
                                                 assumption ($2,000,000)), taking into account           2 to the partnership; and                               (b) [Reserved]. For further guidance,
                                                 the anticipated reduction in C’s share of the              (C) H incurred liability 2 in an attempt to        see § 1.707–9(b).
                                                 liability pursuant to the terms of the                  reduce the extent to which the partnership’s            (c) Expiration date. This section
                                                 partnership agreement. See § 1.707–5(a)(1)              taking of property 1 subject to liability 1
                                                 and (3) and paragraph (a)(2) of this section.           would be treated as a transfer of
                                                                                                                                                               expires on October 4, 2019.
                                                                                                         consideration to G (and thereby reduce the            ■ Par. 6. Section 1.752–2 is amended
                                                   Examples 4 through 6 [Reserved]. For
                                                                                                         portion of G’s transfer of property 1 to the          by:
                                                 further guidance, see § 1.707–5(f)                      partnership that would be treated as part of          ■ 1. Revising paragraph (b)(3).
                                                 Examples 4 through 6.                                   a sale).                                              ■ 2. Adding Examples 9, 10, and 11 to
                                                    Example 7. Partnership’s assumptions of                 (ii) Because the partnership assumed               paragraph (f).
                                                 liabilities encumbering properties transferred          liability 2 with a principal purpose of               ■ 3. Revising paragraph (j)(2).
                                                 pursuant to a plan. (i) Pursuant to a plan, G           reducing the extent to which the                      ■ 4. Removing paragraph (j)(4).
                                                 and H transfer property 1 and property 2,               partnership’s taking of property 1 subject to         ■ 5. Redesignating paragraph (l) as (l)(1)
                                                 respectively, to an existing partnership in             liability 1 would be treated as a transfer of         and revising the heading to paragraph
                                                 exchange for a one-third interest each in the           consideration to G, liability 2 is ignored in           (l).
                                                 partnership. At the time the properties are             applying § 1.707–5(a)(1). See § 1.707–5(a)(4).
                                                                                                                                                               ■ 6. Adding paragraphs (l)(2) and (3).
                                                 transferred to the partnership, property 1 has          Accordingly, the partnership’s taking of
                                                 a fair market value of $10,000 and an
                                                                                                                                                                 The revisions and additions read as
                                                                                                         property 1 subject to liability 1 is treated as
                                                 adjusted tax basis of $6,000, and property 2            a transfer of $4,000 of consideration to G (the       follows:
                                                 has a fair market value of $10,000 and an               amount by which liability 1 ($6,000) exceeds          § 1.752–2 Partner’s share of recourse
                                                 adjusted tax basis of $4,000. At the time               G’s share of liability 1 ($2,000)). Under             liabilities.
                                                 properties 1 and 2 are transferred to the               § 1.707–5(d), the partnership’s assumption of
                                                 partnership, a $6,000 nonrecourse liability             liability 2 is not treated as a transfer of any       *     *     *    *     *
                                                 (liability 1) is secured by property 1 and a            consideration to H because the amount of                (b) * * *
                                                 $9,000 recourse liability of H (liability 2) is         liability 2 that the partnership is treated as          (3) [Reserved]. For further guidance,
                                                 secured by property 2. Properties 1 and 2 are           assuming is reduced by the money H                    see § 1.752–2T(b)(3).
                                                 transferred to the partnership, and the                 transferred to the partnership ($9,000).              *     *     *    *     *
                                                 partnership takes property 1 subject to                                                                         (f) * * *
                                                 liability 1 and assumes liability 2. After the            Examples 9 through 13 [Reserved].
                                                 transfer of liability 2 to the partnership, H           For further guidance, see § 1.707–5(f)                  Example 9. [Reserved].
                                                 bears the economic risk of loss for the entire          Examples 9 through 13.                                  Example 10. [Reserved]. For further
                                                 amount of liability 2 under § 1.752–2. G and              (g) Expiration date. This section                   guidance, see § 1.752–2T(f) Example 10.
                                                 H incurred liabilities 1 and 2 immediately              expires on October 4, 2019.                             Example 11. [Reserved]. For further
                                                 prior to transferring properties 1 and 2 to the                                                               guidance, see § 1.752–2T(f) Example 11.
                                                                                                         ■ Par. 4. Section 1.707–9 is amended by
                                                 partnership and used the proceeds for                                                                         *      *     *    *    *
                                                 personal expenditures. The liabilities are not
                                                                                                         adding paragraphs (a)(4) and (5) to read
                                                                                                         as follows:                                             (j) * * *
                                                 qualified liabilities. For disguised sale                                                                       (2) [Reserved]. For further guidance,
                                                 purposes, assume that G’s and H’s share of              § 1.707–9    Effective dates and transitional         see § 1.752–2T(j)(2).
                                                 liability 1 is $2,000 each in accordance with           rules.
                                                 paragraph (a)(2) of this section (which                                                                       *      *     *    *    *
                                                 determines a partner’s share of a liability                (a) * * *                                            (l) Effective/applicability dates. * * *
                                                 using the percentage under § 1.752–3(a)(3)                 (4) Section 1.707–5(a)(2) and (f)                  *      *     *    *    *
                                                 without including in such partner’s share any           Examples 2, 3, 7, and 8. Section 1.707–                 (2) [Reserved]. For further guidance,
                                                 amount of the liability for which another               5(a)(2) and (f) Examples 2, 3, 7, and 8,              see § 1.752–2T(l)(2).
                                                 partner bears the economic risk of loss for the         as contained in 26 CFR part 1 revised as                (3) [Reserved]. For further guidance,
                                                 liability under § 1.752–2). Also, in                    of April 1, 2016, apply to any
                                                 accordance with paragraph (a)(2) of this
                                                                                                                                                               see § 1.752–2T(l)(3).
                                                                                                         transaction with respect to which any                 ■ Par. 7. Section 1.752–2T is added to
                                                 section, G’s share of liability 2 is zero and H’s
                                                                                                         transfers occur before January 3, 2017.               read as follows:
                                                 share of liability 2 is $3,000.
                                                    (ii) G and H transferred properties 1 and 2          For any transaction with respect to
                                                 to the partnership pursuant to a plan.                  which all transfers occur on or after                 § 1.752–2T Partner’s share of recourse
                                                 Accordingly, pursuant to § 1.707–5(a)(1) and            January 3, 2017, see § 1.707–9T(a)(5).                liabilities (temporary).
                                                 (4), the partnership’s taking property 1                   (5) [Reserved]. For further guidance,                 (a) through (b)(2) [Reserved]. For
                                                 subject to liability 1 is treated as a transfer         see § 1.707–9T(a)(5).                                 further guidance, see § 1.752–2(a)
                                                 of only $4,000 of consideration to G (the               *      *     *    *     *                             through (b)(2).
                                                 amount by which liability 1 ($6,000) exceeds                                                                     (3) Obligations recognized—(i) In
                                                 G’s share of liabilities 1 and 2 ($2,000)), and         ■ Par. 5. Section 1.707–9T is added to
                                                                                                         read as follows:                                      general. The determination of the extent
                                                 the partnership’s assumption of liability 2 is
                                                                                                                                                               to which a partner or related person has
                                                 treated as a transfer of only $4,000 of
                                                 consideration to H (the amount by which
                                                                                                         § 1.707–9T Effective dates and transitional           an obligation to make a payment under
                                                                                                         rules (temporary).                                    § 1.752–2(b)(1) is based on the facts and
                                                 liability 2 ($9,000) exceeds H’s share of
                                                 liabilities 1 and 2 ($5,000)). Under the rule             (a)(1) through (a)(4) [Reserved]. For               circumstances at the time of the
                                                 in § 1.707–3, G is treated as having sold               further guidance, see § 1.707–9(a)(1)                 determination. To the extent that the
                                                 $4,000 of the fair market value of property 1           through (4).                                          obligation of a partner or related person
                                                 in exchange for the partnership’s taking                  (5) Section 1.707–5T(a)(2) and (f)                  to make a payment with respect to a
                                                 property 1 subject to liability 1, and H is             Examples 2, 3, 7, and 8. Section 1.707–               partnership liability is not recognized
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                                                 treated as having sold $4,000 of the fair               5T(a)(2) and (f) Examples 2, 3, 7, and 8              under this paragraph (b)(3), § 1.752–2(b)
                                                 market value of property 2 in exchange for
                                                                                                         apply to any transaction with respect to              is applied as if the obligation did not
                                                 the partnership’s assumption of liability 2.
                                                    Example 8. Partnership’s assumption of               which all transfers occur on or after                 exist. All statutory and contractual
                                                 liability pursuant to a plan to avoid sale              January 3, 2017. For any transaction                  obligations relating to the partnership
                                                 treatment of partnership assumption of                  with respect to which any transfers                   liability are taken into account for
                                                 another liability. (i) The facts are the same           occur before January 3, 2017, see                     purposes of applying this section,
                                                 as in Example 7, except that—                           § 1.707–5(a)(2) and (f) Examples 2, 3, 7,             including—


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                          69289

                                                    (A) Contractual obligations outside                  party’s payment obligation that is                      (5) A statement of whether the
                                                 the partnership agreement such as                       recognized under this paragraph (b)(3) is             payment obligation is treated as
                                                 guarantees, indemnifications,                           satisfied.                                            recognized for purposes of this
                                                 reimbursement agreements, and other                        (iii) An arrangement with respect to a             paragraph (b)(3).
                                                 obligations running directly to creditors,              partnership liability that uses tiered                  (6) If the payment obligation is
                                                 to other partners, or to the partnership;               partnerships, intermediaries, senior and              recognized under paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(B)
                                                    (B) Obligations to the partnership that              subordinate liabilities, or similar                   of this section, the facts and
                                                 are imposed by the partnership                          arrangements to convert what would                    circumstances that clearly establish that
                                                 agreement, including the obligation to                  otherwise be a single liability into                  a partner or related person is liable for
                                                 make a capital contribution and to                      multiple liabilities if, based on the facts           up to 90 percent of the partner’s or
                                                 restore a deficit capital account upon                  and circumstances, the liabilities were               related person’s initial payment
                                                 liquidation of the partnership as                       incurred pursuant to a common plan, as                obligation and, but for an indemnity,
                                                 described in § 1.704–1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3)                  part of a single transaction or                       reimbursement agreement, or similar
                                                 (taking into account § 1.704–                           arrangement, or as part of a series of                arrangement, the partner’s or related
                                                 1(b)(2)(ii)(c)); and                                    related transactions or arrangements,                 person’s initial payment obligation
                                                    (C) Payment obligations (whether in                  and with a principal purpose of                       would have been recognized under this
                                                 the form of direct remittances to another               avoiding having at least one of such                  paragraph (b)(3).
                                                 partner or a contribution to the                        liabilities or payment obligations with                 (iii) Special rule for indemnities and
                                                 partnership) imposed by state or local                  respect to such liabilities being treated             reimbursement agreements. An
                                                 law, including the governing state or                   as a bottom dollar payment obligation as              indemnity, reimbursement agreement,
                                                 local law partnership statute.                          described in paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C)(1)(i)            or similar arrangement will be
                                                    (ii) Special rules for bottom dollar                 or (ii) of this section.                              recognized under this paragraph (b)(3)
                                                 payment obligations—(A) In general.                                                                           only if, before taking into account the
                                                                                                            (2) Exceptions. A payment obligation
                                                 For purposes of § 1.752–2, a bottom                                                                           indemnity, reimbursement agreement,
                                                                                                         is not a bottom dollar payment
                                                 dollar payment obligation (as defined in                                                                      or similar arrangement, the indemnitee’s
                                                                                                         obligation merely because a maximum
                                                 paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C) of this section) is                                                                   or other benefited party’s payment
                                                                                                         amount is placed on the partner’s or
                                                 not recognized under this paragraph                                                                           obligation is recognized under this
                                                                                                         related person’s payment obligation, a
                                                 (b)(3).                                                                                                       paragraph (b)(3), or would be recognized
                                                    (B) Exception. If a partner or related               partner’s or related person’s payment
                                                                                                         obligation is stated as a fixed percentage            under this paragraph (b)(3) if such
                                                 person has a payment obligation that                                                                          person were a partner or related person.
                                                 would be recognized under this                          of every dollar of the partnership
                                                                                                         liability to which such obligation                      (b)(4) through (e) [Reserved]. For
                                                 paragraph (b)(3) (initial payment                                                                             further guidance, see § 1.752–2(b)(4)
                                                 obligation) but for the effect of an                    relates, or there is a right of
                                                                                                         proportionate contribution running                    through (e).
                                                 indemnity, reimbursement agreement,                                                                             (f) Examples 1 through 9 [Reserved].
                                                 or similar arrangement, such bottom                     between partners or related persons who
                                                                                                         are co-obligors with respect to a                     For further guidance, see § 1.752–2(f)
                                                 dollar payment obligation is recognized                                                                       Examples 1 through 9.
                                                 under this paragraph (b)(3) if, taking                  payment obligation for which each of
                                                                                                         them is jointly and severally liable.                    Example 10. Guarantee of first and last
                                                 into account the indemnity,                                                                                   dollars. (i) A, B, and C are equal members of
                                                 reimbursement agreement, or similar                        (3) Benefited party defined. For
                                                                                                         purposes of § 1.752–2, a benefited party              a limited liability company, ABC, that is
                                                 arrangement, the partner or related                                                                           treated as a partnership for federal tax
                                                 person is liable for at least 90 percent of             is the person to whom a partner or                    purposes. ABC borrows $1,000 from Bank. A
                                                 the partner’s or related person’s initial               related person has the payment                        guarantees payment of up to $300 of the ABC
                                                 payment obligation.                                     obligation.                                           liability if any amount of the full $1,000
                                                    (C) Definition of bottom dollar                         (D) Disclosure of bottom dollar                    liability is not recovered by Bank. B
                                                 payment obligation—(1) In general.                      payment obligations. A partnership                    guarantees payment of up to $200, but only
                                                 Except as provided in paragraph                         must disclose to the Internal Revenue                 if the Bank otherwise recovers less than $200.
                                                                                                         Service a bottom dollar payment                       Both A and B waive their rights of
                                                 (b)(3)(ii)(C)(2) of this section, a bottom                                                                    contribution against each other.
                                                 dollar payment obligation is a payment                  obligation (including a bottom dollar
                                                                                                                                                                  (ii) Because A is obligated to pay up to
                                                 obligation that is the same as or similar               payment obligation that is recognized                 $300 if, and to the extent that, any amount
                                                 to a payment obligation or arrangement                  under paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(B) of this                 of the $1,000 partnership liability is not
                                                 described in this paragraph                             section) with respect to a partnership                recovered by Bank, A’s guarantee is not a
                                                 (b)(3)(ii)(C)(1).                                       liability on a completed Form 8275,                   bottom dollar payment obligation under
                                                    (i) With respect to a guarantee or                   Disclosure Statement, or successor form,              paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C) of this section.
                                                 similar arrangement, any payment                        attached to the return of the partnership             Therefore, A’s payment obligation is
                                                                                                         for the taxable year in which the bottom              recognized under paragraph (b)(3) of this
                                                 obligation other than one in which the
                                                                                                         dollar payment obligation is undertaken               section. The amount of A’s economic risk of
                                                 partner or related person is or would be                                                                      loss under § 1.752–2(b)(1) is $300.
                                                 liable up to the full amount of such                    or modified, that includes all of the                    (iii) Because B is obligated to pay up to
                                                 partner’s or related person’s payment                   following information:                                $200 only if and to the extent that the Bank
                                                 obligation if, and to the extent that, any                 (1) A caption identifying the                      otherwise recovers less than $200 of the
                                                 amount of the partnership liability is                  statement as a disclosure of a bottom                 $1,000 partnership liability, B’s guarantee is
                                                 not otherwise satisfied.                                dollar payment obligation under section               a bottom dollar payment obligation under
                                                    (ii) With respect to an indemnity or                 752.                                                  paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C) of this section and,
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                                                 similar arrangement, any payment                           (2) An identification of the payment               therefore, is not recognized under paragraph
                                                                                                         obligation with respect to which                      (b)(3)(ii)(A) of this section. Accordingly, B
                                                 obligation other than one in which the
                                                                                                                                                               bears no economic risk of loss under § 1.752–
                                                 partner or related person is or would be                disclosure is made.                                   2(b)(1) for ABC’s liability.
                                                 liable up to the full amount of such                       (3) The amount of the payment                         (iv) In sum, $300 of ABC’s liability is
                                                 partner’s or related person’s payment                   obligation.                                           allocated to A under § 1.752–2(a), and the
                                                 obligation, if, and to the extent that, any                (4) The parties to the payment                     remaining $700 liability is allocated to A, B,
                                                 amount of the indemnitee’s or benefited                 obligation.                                           and C under § 1.752–3.



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                                                 69290            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                    Example 11. Indemnification of                       obligations under the loan, or a portion              to apply paragraph (b)(3), paragraph (f)
                                                 guarantees. (i) The facts are the same as in            thereof; and                                          Examples 10 and 11, and paragraph
                                                 Example 10, except that, in addition, C                    (C) With respect to the contractual                (j)(2)(i)(C)(2) of this section to the extent
                                                 agrees to indemnify A up to $100 that A pays            obligations described in paragraphs                   the amount of the Transition Partner’s
                                                 with respect to its guarantee and agrees to             (j)(2)(i)(A) and (B) of this section—
                                                 indemnify B fully with respect to its
                                                                                                                                                               share of liabilities under § 1.752–2(a) as
                                                                                                            (1) One of the principal purposes of               a result of bearing the economic risk of
                                                 guarantee.
                                                    (ii) The determination of whether C’s
                                                                                                         using the contractual obligations is to               loss under § 1.752–2(b) immediately
                                                 indemnity is recognized under paragraph                 attempt to permit partners (other than                prior to October 5, 2016 exceeds the
                                                 (b)(3) of this section is made without regard           those who are directly or indirectly                  amount of the Transition Partner’s
                                                 to whether C’s indemnity itself causes A’s              liable for the obligation) to include a               adjusted basis in its partnership interest
                                                 guarantee not to be recognized. Because A’s             portion of the loan in the basis of their             as determined under § 1.705–1 at such
                                                 obligation would be recognized but for the              partnership interests; or                             time (Grandfathered Amount). A
                                                 effect of C’s indemnity and C is obligated to              (2) Another partner, or a person                   Transition Partner that is a partnership,
                                                 pay A up to the full amount of C’s indemnity            related to another partner, enters into a
                                                 if A pays any amount on its guarantee of
                                                                                                                                                               S corporation, or a business entity
                                                                                                         payment obligation and a principal                    disregarded as an entity separate from
                                                 ABC’s liability, C’s indemnity of A’s
                                                                                                         purpose of the arrangement is to cause                its owner under section 856(i) or
                                                 guarantee is not a bottom dollar payment
                                                 obligation under paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(C) of             the payment obligation described in                   1361(b)(3) or §§ 301.7701–1 through
                                                 this section and, therefore, is recognized              paragraphs (j)(2)(i)(A) and (B) of this               301.7701–3 of this chapter ceases to
                                                 under paragraph (b)(3) of this section. The             section to be disregarded under                       qualify as a Transition Partner if the
                                                 amount of C’s economic risk of loss under               paragraph (b)(3) of this section.                     direct or indirect ownership of that
                                                 § 1.752–2(b)(1) for its indemnity of A’s                   (ii) Economic risk of loss. For                    Transition Partner changes by 50
                                                 guarantee is $100.                                      purposes of this paragraph (j)(2),                    percent or more. The Transition
                                                    (iii) Because C’s indemnity is recognized            partners are considered to bear the
                                                 under paragraph (b)(3) of this section, A is
                                                                                                                                                               Partnership may continue to apply the
                                                                                                         economic risk of loss for a liability in              rules under § 1.752–2 in effect prior to
                                                 treated as liable for $200 only to the extent           accordance with their relative economic
                                                 any amount beyond $100 of the partnership                                                                     October 5, 2016, with respect to a
                                                                                                         burdens for the liability pursuant to the             Transition Partner for payment
                                                 liability is not satisfied. Thus, A is not liable
                                                 if, and to the extent, any amount of the                contractual obligations. For example, a               obligations described in § 1.752–2(b) to
                                                 partnership liability is not otherwise                  lease between a partner and a                         the extent of the Transition Partner’s
                                                 satisfied, and the exception in paragraph               partnership that is not on commercially               adjusted Grandfathered Amount for the
                                                 (b)(3)(ii)(B) of this section does not apply. As        reasonable terms may be tantamount to                 seven-year period beginning October 5,
                                                 a result, A’s guarantee is a bottom dollar              a guarantee by the partner of the                     2016. The termination of a Transition
                                                 payment obligation under paragraph                      partnership liability.
                                                 (b)(3)(ii)(C) of this section and is not
                                                                                                                                                               Partnership under section 708(b)(1)(B)
                                                                                                            (j)(3) through (l)(1) [Reserved]. For              and applicable regulations does not
                                                 recognized under paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(A) of             further guidance, see § 1.752–2(j)(3)
                                                 this section. Therefore, A bears no economic                                                                  affect the Grandfathered Amount of a
                                                                                                         through (l)(1).                                       Transition Partner that remains a
                                                 risk of loss under § 1.752–2(b)(1) for ABC’s               (2) Paragraph (b)(3), paragraph (f)
                                                 liability.                                                                                                    partner in the new partnership (as
                                                    (iv) Because B’s obligation is not
                                                                                                         Examples 10 and 11, and paragraph
                                                                                                                                                               described in § 1.708–1(b)(4)), and the
                                                 recognized under paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this           (j)(2) of this section apply to liabilities
                                                                                                                                                               new partnership is treated as a
                                                 section independent of C’s indemnity of B’s             incurred or assumed by a partnership
                                                                                                                                                               continuation of the Transition
                                                 guarantee, C’s indemnity is not recognized              and payment obligations imposed or
                                                                                                                                                               Partnership for purposes of this
                                                 under paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section.            undertaken with respect to a
                                                 Therefore, C bears no economic risk of loss
                                                                                                                                                               paragraph (l)(3). However, a Transition
                                                                                                         partnership liability on or after October
                                                 under § 1.752–2(b)(1) for its indemnity of B’s                                                                Partner’s Grandfathered Amount is
                                                                                                         5, 2016, other than liabilities incurred or
                                                 guarantee.                                                                                                    reduced (not below zero), but never
                                                                                                         assumed by a partnership and payment
                                                    (v) In sum, $100 of ABC’s liability is                                                                     increased by—
                                                                                                         obligations imposed or undertaken
                                                 allocated to C under § 1.752–2(a) and the                                                                        (i) Upon the sale of any property by
                                                 remaining $900 liability is allocated to A, B,
                                                                                                         pursuant to a written binding contract
                                                                                                         in effect prior to that date. Partnerships            the Transition Partnership, an amount
                                                 and C under § 1.752–3.                                                                                        equal to the excess of any gain allocated
                                                                                                         may apply paragraph (b)(3), paragraph
                                                   (g) through (j)(1) [Reserved]. For                    (f) Examples 10 and 11, and paragraph                 for federal income tax purposes to the
                                                 further guidance, see § 1.752–2(g)                      (j)(2) of this section to all of their                Transition Partner by the Transition
                                                 through (j)(1).                                         liabilities as of the beginning of the first          Partnership (including amounts
                                                   (2) Arrangements tantamount to a                      taxable year of the partnership ending                allocated under section 704(c) and
                                                 guarantee—(i) In general. Irrespective of               on or after October 5, 2016. The rules                applicable regulations) over the product
                                                 the form of a contractual obligation, the               applicable to liabilities incurred or                 of the total amount realized by the
                                                 Commissioner may treat a partner as                     assumed (or subject to a written binding              Transition Partnership from the
                                                 bearing the economic risk of loss with                  contract in effect) prior to October 5,               property sale multiplied by the
                                                 respect to a partnership liability, or a                2016 are contained in § 1.752–2 in effect             Transition Partner’s percentage interest
                                                 portion thereof, to the extent that—                    prior to October 5, 2016 (see 26 CFR                  in the partnership; and
                                                   (A) The partner or related person                     part 1 revised as of April 1, 2016).                     (ii) An amount equal to any decrease
                                                 undertakes one or more contractual                         (3) If a partner has a share of a                  in the Transition Partner’s share of
                                                 obligations so that the partnership may                 recourse partnership liability under                  liabilities to which the rules of this
                                                 obtain or retain a loan;                                § 1.752–2(a) as a result of bearing the               paragraph (l)(3) apply, other than by
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                                                   (B) The contractual obligations of the                economic risk of loss under § 1.752–2(b)              operation of paragraph (l)(3)(i) of this
                                                 partner or related person significantly                 immediately prior to October 5, 2016                  section.
                                                 reduce the risk to the lender that the                  (Transition Partner), the partnership                    (m) Expiration date. This section
                                                 partnership will not satisfy its                        (Transition Partnership) may choose not               expires on October 4, 2019.




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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 193 / Wednesday, October 5, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                       69291

                                                 John Dalrymple,                                         concerning a partner’s share of                       Federal Register (REG–119305–11, 79
                                                 Deputy Commissioner for Services and                    partnership liabilities for purposes of               FR 4826) to amend regulations under
                                                 Enforcement.                                            section 707 (the 707 Temporary                        sections 707 and 752 (the 2014
                                                   Approved: August 29, 2016.                            Regulations) and the treatment of                     Proposed Regulations). A public hearing
                                                 Mark J. Mazur,                                          certain payment obligations under                     on the 2014 Proposed Regulations was
                                                 Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax                section 752 (the 752 Temporary                        not requested or held, but the Treasury
                                                 Policy).                                                Regulations) in the Rules and                         Department and the IRS received
                                                 [FR Doc. 2016–23388 Filed 10–4–16; 8:45 am]             Regulations section in this issue of the              written comments. After full
                                                 BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
                                                                                                         Federal Register, and, in the Proposed                consideration of the comments, the final
                                                                                                         Rules section in this issue of the Federal            regulations contained in this Treasury
                                                                                                         Register, proposed regulations (REG–                  decision substantially adopt the 2014
                                                 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                              122855–15) that incorporate the text of               Proposed Regulations under section 707
                                                                                                         the temporary regulations, withdraw a                 with revisions to certain proposed rules
                                                 Internal Revenue Service                                portion of a notice of proposed                       in response to comments. The revisions
                                                                                                         rulemaking (REG–119305–11) to the                     to the 2014 Proposed Regulations under
                                                 26 CFR Part 1                                           extent not adopted by the final                       section 707 adopted in these final
                                                                                                         regulations, and contain new proposed                 regulations are discussed in the
                                                 [TD 9787]                                                                                                     Summary of Comments and Explanation
                                                                                                         regulations (the 752 Proposed
                                                 RIN 1545–BK29                                           Regulations) addressing (1) when                      of Revisions section of this preamble. In
                                                                                                         certain obligations to restore a deficit              addition, after considering comments on
                                                 Section 707 Regarding Disguised                         balance in a partner’s capital account                the 2014 Proposed Regulations under
                                                 Sales, Generally                                        are disregarded under section 704 and                 section 752, this Treasury decision
                                                                                                         (2) when a partnership’s liabilities are              adopts as final regulations provisions of
                                                 AGENCY:  Internal Revenue Service (IRS),                                                                      the 2014 Proposed Regulations that
                                                                                                         treated as recourse liabilities under
                                                 Treasury.                                                                                                     amend § 1.752–3, revised in response to
                                                                                                         section 752.
                                                 ACTION: Final regulations.                                                                                    the comments received. Finally, these
                                                                                                         Paperwork Reduction Act                               final regulations adopt provisions of the
                                                 SUMMARY:    This document contains final                                                                      2014 Proposed Regulations revising
                                                                                                            The collection of information
                                                 regulations under sections 707 and 752                                                                        § 1.704–2(d)(2)(ii) and (m) Example 1, to
                                                                                                         contained in these final regulations has
                                                 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code).                                                                          comport with the provisions in the 752
                                                                                                         been reviewed in accordance with the
                                                 The final regulations under section 707                                                                       Proposed Regulations and the 752
                                                                                                         Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
                                                 provide guidance relating to disguised                                                                        Temporary Regulations relating to
                                                                                                         3507) and approved by the Office of
                                                 sales of property to or by a partnership                                                                      ‘‘bottom dollar payment obligations.’’
                                                                                                         Management and Budget under control
                                                 and the final regulations under section                                                                          However, based on a comment
                                                                                                         number 1545–0889.
                                                 752 provide guidance relating to                                                                              received on the 2014 Proposed
                                                                                                            The collection of information in these
                                                 allocations of excess nonrecourse                                                                             Regulations requesting that guidance
                                                                                                         final regulations under section 707 is in
                                                 liabilities of a partnership to partners for                                                                  regarding a partner’s share of
                                                                                                         § 1.707–5(a)(7)(ii) (regarding a liability
                                                 disguised sale purposes. The final                                                                            partnership liabilities apply solely for
                                                                                                         incurred within two years prior to a
                                                 regulations affect partnerships and their                                                                     disguised sale purposes, the Treasury
                                                                                                         transfer of property) and is reported on
                                                 partners.                                                                                                     Department and the IRS have
                                                                                                         Form 8275, Disclosure Statement. This
                                                 DATES: Effective date: These regulations                information is required by the IRS to                 reconsidered the rules under § 1.707–
                                                 are effective on October 5, 2016.                       ensure that section 707(a)(2)(B) of the               5(a)(2) of the 2014 Proposed Regulations
                                                    Comment date: Comments will be                       Code and applicable regulations are                   for determining a partner’s share of
                                                 accepted until January 3, 2017.                         properly applied to transfers between a               partnership liabilities for purposes of
                                                    Applicability dates: For dates of                    partner and a partnership.                            section 707. Accordingly, in a separate
                                                 applicability, see §§ 1.707–9(a)(1) and                    An agency may not conduct or                       Treasury decision (TD 9788), the
                                                 1.752–3(d).                                             sponsor, and a person is not required to              Treasury Department and the IRS are
                                                 ADDRESSES: Send submissions to:                         respond to, a collection of information               also publishing the 707 Temporary
                                                 CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG–122855–15), Room                      unless it displays a valid control                    Regulations that require a partner to
                                                 5203, Internal Revenue Service, P.O.                    number assigned by the Office of                      apply the same percentage used to
                                                 Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station,                         Management and Budget.                                determine the partner’s share of excess
                                                 Washington, DC 20044. Submissions                          Books or records relating to a                     nonrecourse liabilities under § 1.752–
                                                 may be hand-delivered Monday through                    collection of information must be                     3(a)(3) (with certain limitations) in
                                                 Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and                  retained as long as their contents may                determining the partner’s share of
                                                 4 p.m. to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG–122855–                    become material in the administration                 partnership liabilities for disguised sale
                                                 15), Courier’s Desk, Internal Revenue                   of any internal revenue law. Generally,               purposes. That Treasury decision also
                                                 Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW.,                                                                        contains the 752 Temporary Regulations
                                                                                                         tax returns and tax return information
                                                 Washington, DC, or sent electronically,                                                                       providing guidance on the treatment of
                                                                                                         are confidential, as required by section
                                                                                                                                                               ‘‘bottom dollar payment obligations.’’
                                                 via the Federal eRulemaking Portal site                 6103.
                                                                                                                                                               Cross-referencing proposed regulations
                                                 at http://www.regulations.gov (indicate
                                                                                                         Background                                            providing additional opportunity for
                                                 IRS and REG–122855–15).
                                                                                                                                                               comment are contained in the related
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                                                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        1. Overview
                                                                                                                                                               notice of proposed rulemaking (REG–
                                                 Deane M. Burke or Caroline E. Hay at                      This Treasury decision contains                     122855–15) published in the Proposed
                                                 (202) 317–5279 (not a toll-free number).                amendments to the Income Tax                          Rules section in this issue of the Federal
                                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In                           Regulations (26 CFR part 1) under                     Register.
                                                 addition to these final regulations, the                sections 707 and 752 of the Code related                 Finally, after considering comments
                                                 Treasury Department and the IRS are                     to a notice of proposed rulemaking                    on the 2014 Proposed Regulations under
                                                 publishing temporary regulations                        published on January 30, 2014 in the                  section 752, the Treasury Department


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Document Created: 2016-10-05 03:29:03
Document Modified: 2016-10-05 03:29:03
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal and temporary regulations.
ContactConcerning the final and temporary regulations, Caroline E. Hay or Deane M. Burke, (202) 317-5279.
FR Citation81 FR 69282 
RIN Number1545-BM84
CFR AssociatedIncome Taxes and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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