81_FR_8870 81 FR 8835 - Reporting of Specified Foreign Financial Assets

81 FR 8835 - Reporting of Specified Foreign Financial Assets

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 35 (February 23, 2016)

Page Range8835-8840
FR Document2016-03795

This document contains final regulations providing guidance regarding the requirements for certain domestic entities to report specified foreign financial assets to the Internal Revenue Service. These regulations set forth the conditions under which a domestic entity will be considered a specified domestic entity required to undertake such reporting. These regulations affect certain domestic corporations, partnerships, and trusts.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8835-8840]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03795]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[TD 9752]
RIN 1545-BM54


Reporting of Specified Foreign Financial Assets

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Final regulations.

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SUMMARY: This document contains final regulations providing guidance 
regarding the requirements for certain domestic entities to report 
specified foreign financial assets to the Internal Revenue Service. 
These regulations set forth the conditions under which a domestic 
entity will be considered a specified domestic entity required to 
undertake such reporting. These regulations affect certain domestic 
corporations, partnerships, and trusts.

DATES: Effective date: These regulations are effective on February 23, 
2016.
    Applicability date: For dates of applicability, see Sec. Sec.  
1.6038D-2(g) and 1.6038D-6(e).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph S. Henderson, (202) 317-6942 
(not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 6038D was enacted by section 511 of the Hiring Incentives 
to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, Public Law 111-147 (124 Stat. 71). 
Section 6038D(a) requires certain individuals to report information 
about specified foreign financial assets. Section 6038D(f) provides 
that, to the extent provided by the Secretary in regulations or other 
guidance, section 6038D shall apply to any domestic entity which is 
formed or availed of for purposes of holding, directly or indirectly, 
specified foreign financial assets, in the same manner as if the entity 
were an individual.
    On December 19, 2011, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury 
Department) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published temporary 
regulations (the ``2011 temporary regulations'') (TD 9567) and a notice 
of proposed rulemaking by cross-reference to temporary regulations 
(REG-130302-10) in the Federal Register (76 FR 78553 and 76 FR 78594, 
respectively) addressing the reporting requirements under section 
6038D. The notice of proposed rulemaking also included proposed Sec.  
1.6038D-6, which set forth the conditions under which a domestic entity 
will be considered a specified domestic entity and, therefore, required 
to report specified foreign financial assets in which it holds an 
interest. Corrections to the 2011 temporary regulations were published 
on February 21, 2012, in the Federal Register (77 FR 9845). Corrections 
to proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6 were published on February 21, 2012, and 
February 22, 2012, in the Federal Register (77 FR 9877 and 77 FR 10422, 
respectively). The 2011 temporary regulations were issued as final 
regulations (TD 9706; 79 FR 73817) on December 12, 2014 (the ``2014 
final regulations''). The Treasury Department and the IRS did not adopt 
proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6 (REG-144339-14) as a final regulation at that 
time.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS received written comments on 
proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6. All comments are available at 
www.regulations.gov or upon request. Because no requests to speak were 
received, no public hearing was held. After consideration of the 
comments received, the Treasury Department and the IRS adopt proposed 
Sec.  1.6038D-6 as a final regulation with the modifications described 
herein.

Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions

I. Organizational Changes Regarding the Reporting Threshold

    Proposed Sec. Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(1)(i) and 1.6038D-6(c)(1) provide 
that, in order to be treated as a specified domestic entity, an entity 
must have an interest in specified foreign financial assets (excluding 
assets excepted under Sec.  1.6038D-7T) that exceeds the reporting 
threshold in Sec.  1.6038D-2T(a)(1). Under the proposed regulations, a 
domestic entity applies the reporting threshold in Sec.  1.6038D-
2T(a)(1) to determine whether it is a specified domestic entity. In 
making this determination, the proposed regulations require a 
corporation or partnership to take into account the aggregation rules 
in proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(4)(i). Proposed Sec. Sec.  1.6038D-
6(b)(1)(i) and 1.6038D-6(c)(1), however, suggested that a specified 
domestic entity is required to again apply Sec.  1.6038D-2T(a)(1) to 
determine whether it has a reporting requirement.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS did not intend for domestic 
entities to apply the reporting threshold described in Sec.  1.6038D-
2(a)(1) twice in order to determine their section 6038D reporting 
responsibilities. Therefore, these final regulations eliminate the 
requirement to apply Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(1) as part of determining 
whether an entity is a specified domestic entity. Instead, a domestic 
entity that meets the definition of a specified domestic entity, which 
under these final regulations is determined without regard to whether 
the reporting threshold in Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(1) is met, applies the 
reporting threshold under Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(1) once, as part of 
determining whether it has a filing obligation. The aggregation rule 
for corporations and partnerships and the rule excluding assets 
excepted under Sec.  1.6038D-7 from the reporting threshold have been 
moved to Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(6). These changes are organizational and no 
change is intended to the substantive reporting requirements for a 
specified domestic entity.

II. Elimination of Principal Purpose Test

    Proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(1)(iii) provides that a corporation or 
partnership is treated as formed or availed of for purposes of holding, 
directly or indirectly, specified foreign financial assets if either: 
(1) At least 50 percent of the corporation or partnership's gross 
income or assets is passive; or (2) at least 10 percent of the 
corporation or partnership's gross income or assets is passive and the 
corporation or partnership is formed or availed of by a specified 
individual with a principal purpose of avoiding section 6038D (the 
principal purpose test). Under proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(1)(iii), all 
facts and circumstances are taken into account to determine whether a 
specified individual has a principal purpose of avoiding section 6038D.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS believe that a 50-percent 
passive assets or income threshold appropriately captures situations in 
which specified individuals may use a domestic

[[Page 8836]]

corporation or partnership to circumvent the reporting requirements of 
section 6038D. Furthermore, the Treasury Department and the IRS have 
concluded that taxpayers should be able to determine their reporting 
requirements under section 6038D based on objective requirements rather 
than a subjective principal purpose test. Therefore, these final 
regulations eliminate the principal purpose test for determining 
whether a corporation or partnership is a specified domestic entity. 
However, the Treasury Department and the IRS will continue to monitor 
whether domestic corporations and partnerships not required to report 
under these final regulations are being used inappropriately by 
specified individuals to avoid reporting under section 6038D. If 
needed, the Treasury Department and the IRS may expand the definition 
of a specified domestic entity in future guidance.

III. Definition of Passive Income

    Proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(2) defines ``passive income'' by 
listing specific items of income that are treated as passive. Following 
the issuance of proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(2), on February 15, 2012, 
comprehensive regulations (77 FR 9022 (REG-121647-10)) were proposed 
under sections 1471 through 1474, which were also enacted as part of 
the HIRE Act that enacted section 6038D. A definition of passive income 
was included in the proposed regulations under section 1472 for 
purposes of identifying certain active nonfinancial foreign entities 
(NFFEs), which are excepted from withholding under section 1472(a) and 
therefore do not have to report their substantial U.S. owners in order 
to avoid withholding. The definition of passive income in proposed 
Sec.  1.1472-1(c)(1)(v) contained a list of items that was similar, 
although not identical, to the list contained in proposed Sec.  
1.6038D-6(b)(2). On January 28, 2013, the proposed regulations under 
sections 1471 through 1474 were finalized (78 FR 5874, TD 9610). In the 
final regulations, the Treasury Department and the IRS clarified the 
scope of the definition of passive income, made modifications in 
response to comments received, and moved the provision to Sec.  1.1472-
1(c)(1)(iv)(A). In addition, exceptions for look-through payments and 
dealers were added in Sec.  1.1472-1(c)(1)(iv)(B).
    The definitions of passive income under sections 1472 and 6038D 
serve a similar function, which is to identify entities that have a 
high risk of being used for tax evasion and to reduce compliance 
burdens for active entities. Therefore, these final regulations in 
Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(2) adopt several of the modifications to the term 
``passive income'' that were included in Sec.  1.1472-1(c)(1)(iv)(A). 
Specifically, these modifications: (1) Clarify that ``dividends'' 
includes substitute dividends and expand ``interest'' to cover income 
equivalent to interest, including substitute interest, (2) add a new 
exception for certain active business gains or losses from the sale of 
commodities, and (3) define notional principal contracts by adding a 
reference to Sec.  1.446-3(c)(1). In addition, these final regulations 
add the exception for dealers that is described in Sec.  1.1472-
1(c)(1)(iv)(B)(2).
    In addition, the proposed regulations under both sections 1472 and 
6038D excluded from the definition of passive income rents or royalties 
derived in the active conduct of a trade or business conducted by 
employees of the relevant entity. A comment submitted in response to 
proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(2)(iii) expressed concern that the 
exception applies only to rents and royalties derived in an active 
trade or business conducted exclusively by a corporation's or 
partnership's employees, and noted that it is difficult to find a trade 
or business that is conducted solely by a business's employees. These 
final regulations provide, consistent with Sec.  1.1472-
1(c)(1)(iv)(A)(4), that rents and royalties derived in the active 
conduct of a trade or business conducted ``at least in part'' by 
employees of the corporation or partnership will not be considered 
passive income.
    The exception for certain look-through income from related persons 
in Sec.  1.1472-1(c)(1)(iv)(B)(1) is not adopted in these final 
regulations because Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(3)(ii) already eliminates 
passive income or assets arising from related party transactions for 
purposes of applying the passive income and asset thresholds to a 
corporation or partnership with related entities.
    Finally, the proposed regulations did not specify how to determine 
whether 50 percent of a corporation's or partnership's assets are 
passive assets. The Treasury Department and the IRS believe that the 
weighted average test for active NFFEs in the regulations under section 
1472 provides an administrable way to determine the passive asset 
percentage. Therefore, these final regulations provide that the passive 
asset percentage is determined based on a weighted average approach 
similar to the rule in Sec.  1.1472-1(c)(1)(iv). Under this test, 
corporations or partnerships may use either fair market value or book 
value (as reflected on the entity's balance sheet and as determined 
under either a U.S. or an international financial accounting standard) 
to determine the value of their assets. Corporations or partnerships 
may be required to substantiate their determination of the passive 
asset percentage upon request by the IRS. See section 6001.

IV. Annual Determination of Specified Person's Interest in a Domestic 
Partnership

    Proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(a) provides that whether a domestic 
partnership is a specified domestic entity is determined annually, and 
proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(3)(ii) provides that a partnership is 
closely held if at least 80 percent of the capital or profits interest 
in the partnership is held directly, indirectly, or constructively by a 
specified individual on the last day of the partnership's taxable year.
    A commenter recommended that a partner's interest in a partnership 
should be calculated on a year-by-year basis for purposes of 
determining whether a domestic partnership is a specified domestic 
entity. The comment noted that it is often difficult to determine the 
precise capital or profits interest of a partner because it may shift 
depending on the performance of the partnership.
    The requirement to determine a partner's capital or profits 
interest on a particular day is present in other provisions of the 
Internal Revenue Code, Treasury regulations, and published guidance, 
and the Treasury Department and the IRS believe it is an appropriate 
measure of an individual's economic interest in a partnership and, in 
general, is not overly complex. Accordingly, these final regulations 
retain the rule in the proposed regulations for determining if a 
domestic partnership is closely held.

V. Clarification to Aggregation Rules

    Proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(4) provides aggregation rules for 
purposes of applying proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(1)(i), the Sec.  
1.6038D-2(a)(1) reporting threshold, and the passive income and asset 
thresholds under proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(1)(iii). The proposed 
regulations provide that, for purposes of applying proposed Sec.  
1.6038D-6(b)(1)(i) and the reporting threshold, all domestic 
corporations and domestic partnerships that have an interest in 
specified foreign financial assets and are closely held by the same 
specified individual are treated as a single entity, and each such 
related corporation or partnership is treated as owning the specified 
foreign financial assets held by all such related corporations or

[[Page 8837]]

partnerships. Similarly, the proposed regulations provide that, for 
purposes of applying the passive income and asset thresholds, all 
domestic corporations and domestic partnerships that are closely held 
by the same specified individual and connected through stock or 
partnership interest ownership with a common parent corporation or 
partnership are treated as a single entity, and each member of such a 
group is treated as owning the combined assets and receiving the 
combined income of all members of that group.
    The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that it is not 
necessary both to treat a group as a single entity and to attribute the 
assets or income of members of the group to an entity. Therefore, these 
final regulations simplify the aggregation rules by eliminating the 
reference to treating all domestic corporations and partnerships as a 
single entity.

VI. Domestic Trusts

    Proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(c) provides that a trust described in 
section 7701(a)(30)(E) is a specified domestic entity if and only if 
the trust has one or more specified persons as a current beneficiary. 
The term current beneficiary means, with respect to the taxable year, 
any person who at any time during such taxable year is entitled to, or 
at the discretion of any person may receive, a distribution from the 
principal or income of the trust (determined without regard to any 
power of appointment to the extent that such power remains unexercised 
at the end of the taxable year). The Treasury Department and the IRS 
intend that a specified domestic entity include a trust whereby a 
specified person has an immediately exercisable general power of 
appointment, even if such specified person is not technically a 
beneficiary. Therefore, these final regulations clarify that the term 
current beneficiary also includes any holder of a general power of 
appointment, whether or not exercised, that was exercisable at any time 
during the taxable year, but does not include any holder of a general 
power of appointment that is exercisable only on the death of the 
holder.

VII. Expanding the Exceptions for Domestic Entities

    Proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(d) excepts certain entities from being 
treated as a specified domestic entity. A commenter recommended that 
the final regulations expand proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(d) to also except 
certain domestic trusts that are not required to file a Form 1041, 
``U.S. Fiduciary Income Tax Return,'' or any information returns. The 
Treasury Department and the IRS do not adopt this comment because the 
2014 final regulations already address the commenter's concerns. The 
2014 final regulations provide in Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(7) that a 
specified person, including a specified domestic entity, is not 
required to file Form 8938, ``Statement of Specified Foreign Financial 
Assets,'' with respect to a taxable year if the specified person is not 
required to file an annual return with the IRS with respect to that 
taxable year. In the case of a specified domestic entity, the term 
``annual return'' means an annual federal income tax return or 
information return filed with the IRS, including returns required under 
section 6012. See Sec.  1.6038D-1(a)(11). A Form 1041 is an annual 
return for purposes of Sec.  1.6038D-1(a)(11) of the final regulations.
    A commenter recommended that the final regulations except publicly 
traded partnerships from being specified domestic entities because they 
are similar to publicly traded corporations described in section 
1473(3), which are excepted from the definition of specified domestic 
entity under proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(d)(1). The Treasury Department 
and the IRS do not adopt this comment. The requirement under proposed 
Sec.  1.6038D-6(b) that to be a specified domestic entity at least 80 
percent of the capital or profits interest in a partnership must be 
held by a specified individual on the last day of the partnership's 
taxable year establishes appropriate general criteria that, as a 
practical matter, should exempt most publicly traded partnerships from 
being specified domestic entities.
    A commenter recommended that the final regulations except an 
employer trust established for the benefit of more than a minimum 
number of employees, such as 50, from being a specified domestic entity 
even if the employer trust holds stock of a foreign company. The 
Treasury Department and the IRS believe the exception under proposed 
Sec.  1.6038D-6(d)(1) for domestic entities that are not ``specified 
United States persons'' pursuant to section 1473(3), together with the 
exception for trusts whose trustees satisfy the supervisory oversight 
requirements and the income tax and information return filing 
requirements under proposed Sec.  1.6038D-6(d)(2), are sufficiently 
broad to except employer trusts that represent a low risk of tax 
avoidance from characterization as a specified domestic entity. 
Therefore, this comment is not adopted.

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 is hereby certified that these regulations will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
within the meaning of section 601(6) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(5 U.S.C. chapter 6). In the case of domestic corporations and 
partnerships, these regulations apply only when two separate tests are 
met. The first requires that at least 80 percent of the entity must be 
owned, directly, indirectly, or constructively, by a specified 
individual, generally a U.S. citizen or resident. The second test 
compares the entity's business income and assets with its passive 
income and assets. If more than 50 percent of the entity's annual gross 
income for the year is active business income and more than 50 percent 
of its assets for the taxable year are assets that produce or are held 
for the production of active income, then the entity is not subject to 
the reporting requirements under section 6038D. This two-part test 
reduces the burden imposed by these final regulations on domestic small 
business entities because closely-held domestic corporations and 
partnerships that are predominantly engaged in an active business 
generally will be excluded from reporting. Furthermore, small not-for-
profit organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(a) of the 
Internal Revenue Code and small governmental jurisdictions are not 
subject to these regulations.
    For closely-held domestic corporations and partnerships that meet 
both tests, these final regulations limit the burden imposed. First, 
reporting is required only when the aggregate value of the entity's 
interests in specified foreign financial assets exceeds the reporting 
threshold under Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(1). Second, the final regulations 
exclude the value of specified foreign financial assets reported on one 
or more of the following forms from being taken into consideration in 
determining whether the small entity satisfies the reporting threshold 
under Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(1): Form 3520, ``Annual Return To Report 
Transactions With Foreign Trusts and Receipt of Certain Foreign 
Gifts``; Form 3520-A, ``Annual Information Return of Foreign Trust With 
a U.S. Owner''; Form 5471, ``Information Return of U.S. Persons

[[Page 8838]]

With Respect To Certain Foreign Corporations''; Form 8621, 
``Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment 
Company or Qualified Electing Fund''; or Form 8865, ``Return of U.S. 
Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Partnerships.'' Third, small 
entities that hold specified foreign financial assets generally will be 
excepted from reporting such assets if the assets are reported on one 
or more of the these forms, thereby further limiting the burden imposed 
by the final regulations on small entities. Therefore, a Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act is not 
required. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Code, the notice of 
proposed rulemaking preceding this regulation was submitted to the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for 
comment on its impact on small business.

Drafting Information

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

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

    Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Adoption of 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 is amended by adding an 
entry for Sec.  1.6038D-6 in numerical order to read in part as 
follows:

    Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
    Section 1.6038D-6 is also issued under 26 U.S.C. 6038D.


0
Par. 2. Section 1.6038D-0 is amended by:
0
1. Revising the entry for Sec.  1.6038D-1(a)(12).
0
2. Adding entries for Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(6)(i) and (ii).
0
3. Revising the entry for Sec.  1.6038D-6.
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.6038D-0  Outline of regulation provisions

* * * * *


Sec.  1.6038D-1  Reporting with respect to specified foreign financial 
assets, definition of terms.

    (a) * * *
* * * * *
    (12) Specified domestic entity.
* * * * *


Sec.  1.6038D-2  Requirement to report specified foreign financial 
assets.

    (a) * * *
* * * * *
    (6) * * *
    (i) Specified individual.
    (ii) Specified domestic entity.
* * * * *


Sec.  1.6038D-6  Specified domestic entities.

    (a) Specified domestic entity.
    (b) Corporations and partnerships.
    (1) Formed or availed of.
    (2) Closely held.
    (i) Domestic corporation.
    (ii) Domestic partnership.
    (iii) Constructive ownership.
    (3) Determination of passive income and assets.
    (i) Definition of passive income.
    (ii) Exception from passive income treatment for dealers.
    (iii) Related entities.
    (4) Examples.
    (c) Domestic trusts.
    (d) Excepted domestic entities.
    (1) Certain persons described in section 1473(3).
    (2) Certain domestic trusts.
    (3) Domestic trusts owned by one or more specified persons.
    (e) Effective/applicability dates.
* * * * *

0
Par. 3. Section 1.6038D-1(a)(12) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  1.6038D-1  Reporting with respect to specified foreign financial 
assets, definition of terms.

    (a) * * *
* * * * *
    (12) Specified domestic entity. The term specified domestic entity 
has the meaning set forth in Sec.  1.6038D-6.
* * * * *

0
Par. 4. Section 1.6038D-2 is amended by:
0
1. Redesignating the text of paragraph (a)(6) as paragraph (a)(6)(i) 
and adding a paragraph heading to newly redesignated paragraph 
(a)(6)(i).
0
2. Adding paragraph (a)(6)(ii).
0
3. Revising paragraph (g).
    The additions and revision read as follows:


Sec.  1.6038D-2  Requirement to report specified foreign financial 
assets.

    (a) * * *
    (6) Aggregate value calculation in case of specified foreign 
financial asset excluded from reporting--(i) Specified individual. * * 
*
    (ii) Specified domestic entity. The value of any specified foreign 
financial asset in which a specified domestic entity has an interest 
and that is excluded from reporting on Form 8938 pursuant to Sec.  
1.6038D-7(a) (concerning certain assets reported on another form) is 
excluded for purposes of determining the aggregate value of specified 
foreign financial assets. For purposes of determining the aggregate 
value of specified foreign financial assets, a specified domestic 
entity that is a corporation or partnership and that has an interest in 
any specified foreign financial asset is treated as owning all the 
specified foreign financial assets (excluding specified foreign 
financial assets excluded from reporting on Form 8938 pursuant to Sec.  
1.6038D-7(a)) held by all domestic corporations and domestic 
partnerships that are closely held by the same specified individual as 
determined under Sec.  1.6038D-6(b)(2).
* * * * *
    (g) Effective/applicability dates. This section, with the exception 
of Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(6)(ii), applies to taxable years ending after 
December 19, 2011. Section 1.6038D-2(a)(6)(ii) applies to taxable years 
beginning after December 31, 2015. Taxpayers may elect to apply the 
rules of this section, with the exception of Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(6)(ii), 
to taxable years ending on or prior to December 19, 2011.

0
Par 5. Section 1.6038D-6 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.6038D-6  Specified domestic entities.

    (a) Specified domestic entity. A specified domestic entity is a 
domestic corporation, a domestic partnership, or a trust described in 
section 7701(a)(30)(E), if such corporation, partnership, or trust is 
formed or availed of for purposes of holding, directly or indirectly, 
specified foreign financial assets. Whether a domestic corporation, a 
domestic partnership, or a trust described in section 7701(a)(30)(E) is 
a specified domestic entity is determined annually.
    (b) Corporations and partnerships--(1) Formed or availed of. Except 
as otherwise provided in paragraph (d) of this section, a domestic 
corporation or a domestic partnership is formed or availed of for 
purposes of holding, directly or indirectly, specified foreign 
financial assets if and only if--
    (i) The corporation or partnership is closely held by a specified 
individual as determined under paragraph (b)(2) of this section; and
    (ii) At least 50 percent of the corporation's or partnership's 
gross income for the taxable year is passive income or at least 50 
percent of the assets held by the corporation or

[[Page 8839]]

partnership for the taxable year are assets that produce or are held 
for the production of passive income as determined under paragraph 
(b)(3) of this section (passive assets). For purposes of this paragraph 
(b)(1)(ii), the percentage of passive assets held by a corporation or 
partnership for a taxable year is the weighted average percentage of 
passive assets (weighted by total assets and measured quarterly), and 
the value of assets of a corporation or partnership is the fair market 
value of the assets or the book value of the assets that is reflected 
on the corporation's or partnership's balance sheet (as determined 
under either a U.S. or an international financial accounting standard).
    (2) Closely held--(i) Domestic corporation. A domestic corporation 
is closely held by a specified individual if at least 80 percent of the 
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the corporation 
entitled to vote, or at least 80 percent of the total value of the 
stock of the corporation, is owned, directly, indirectly, or 
constructively, by a specified individual on the last day of the 
corporation's taxable year.
    (ii) Domestic partnership. A partnership is closely held by a 
specified individual if at least 80 percent of the capital or profits 
interest in the partnership is held, directly, indirectly, or 
constructively, by a specified individual on the last day of the 
partnership's taxable year.
    (iii) Constructive ownership. For purposes of this paragraph 
(b)(2), sections 267(c) and (e)(3) apply for the purpose of determining 
the constructive ownership of a specified individual in a corporation 
or partnership, except that section 267(c)(4) is applied as if the 
family of an individual includes the spouses of the individual's family 
members.
    (3) Determination of passive income and assets--(i) Definition of 
passive income. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this 
section, for purposes of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, passive 
income means the portion of gross income that consists of--
    (A) Dividends, including substitute dividends;
    (B) Interest;
    (C) Income equivalent to interest, including substitute interest;
    (D) Rents and royalties, other than rents and royalties derived in 
the active conduct of a trade or business conducted, at least in part, 
by employees of the corporation or partnership;
    (E) Annuities;
    (F) The excess of gains over losses from the sale or exchange of 
property that gives rise to passive income described in paragraphs 
(b)(3)(i)(A) through (b)(3)(i)(E) of this section;
    (G) The excess of gains over losses from transactions (including 
futures, forwards, and similar transactions) in any commodity, but not 
including--
    (1) Any commodity hedging transaction described in section 
954(c)(5)(A), determined by treating the corporation or partnership as 
a controlled foreign corporation; or
    (2) Active business gains or losses from the sale of commodities, 
but only if substantially all the corporation or partnership's 
commodities are property described in paragraph (1), (2), or (8) of 
section 1221(a);
    (H) The excess of foreign currency gains over foreign currency 
losses (as defined in section 988(b)) attributable to any section 988 
transaction; and
    (I) Net income from notional principal contracts as defined in 
Sec.  1.446-3(c)(1).
    (ii) Exception from passive income treatment for dealers. 
Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, in the case of a 
corporation or partnership that regularly acts as a dealer in property 
described in paragraph (b)(3)(i)(F) of this section (referring to the 
sale or exchange of property that gives rise to passive income), 
forward contracts, option contracts, or similar financial instruments 
(including notional principal contracts and all instruments referenced 
to commodities), the term passive income does not include--
    (A) Any item of income or gain (other than any dividends or 
interest) from any transaction (including hedging transactions and 
transactions involving physical settlement) entered into in the 
ordinary course of such dealer's trade or business as such a dealer; 
and
    (B) If such dealer is a dealer in securities (within the meaning of 
section 475(c)(2)), any income from any transaction entered into in the 
ordinary course of such trade or business as a dealer in securities.
    (iii) Related entities. For purposes of applying the passive income 
and asset thresholds of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, all 
domestic corporations and domestic partnerships that are closely held 
by the same specified individual as determined under paragraph (b)(2) 
of this section and that are connected through stock or partnership 
interest ownership with a common parent corporation or partnership are 
treated as owning the combined assets and receiving the combined income 
of all members of that group. For purposes of the preceding sentence, 
assets relating to any contract, equity, or debt existing between 
members of such a group, as well as any items of gross income arising 
under or from such contract, equity, or debt, are eliminated. A 
domestic corporation or a domestic partnership is considered connected 
through stock or partnership interest ownership with a common parent 
corporation or partnership if stock representing at least 80 percent of 
the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the 
corporation entitled to vote or of the value of such corporation, or 
partnership interests representing at least 80 percent of the profits 
interests or capital interests of such partnership, in each case other 
than stock of or partnership interests in the common parent, is owned 
by one or more of the other connected corporations, connected 
partnerships, or the common parent.
    (4) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this section:

    Example 1. Closely held and constructive ownership. (i) Facts. 
DC1 is a domestic corporation the total value of the stock of which 
is owned 60% by A, a specified individual, 30% by B, a member of A's 
family for purposes of section 267(c)(2) who is not a specified 
individual, and 10% by FC1, a foreign corporation. DC1 owns 90% of 
the total value of the stock of DC2, a domestic corporation. FC2, a 
foreign corporation, owns 10% of DC2. Neither A nor B owns, 
directly, indirectly, or constructively, any stock in FC1 or FC2.
    (ii) Closely held ownership determination. A is considered to 
own 90% and 81% of the total value of DC1 and DC2, respectively, by 
application of the rules of section 267(c) and this section. DC1 and 
DC2 are closely held by A within the meaning of paragraph (b)(2) of 
this section because A, a specified individual, is considered to own 
more than 80% of their total value.
    Example 2. Application of aggregation rule and reporting 
threshold. (i) Facts. L is a specified individual. In Year X, L 
wholly owns DC1, a domestic corporation, and also owns a 90% capital 
interest in DP, a domestic partnership. DC1 owns 80% of the sole 
class of stock of DC2, a domestic corporation. DC1 has no assets 
other than its interest in DC2. DC2's only assets are assets that 
produce passive income, with a maximum value in Year X of $40,000 on 
October 12. DC2's assets are comprised in relevant part of specified 
foreign financial assets with a maximum value in Year X of $15,000 
on October 12. DP's only assets are assets that produce passive 
income and that are specified foreign financial assets with a 
maximum value of $90,000 in Year X on October 12.
    (ii) Specified domestic entity status--(A) DC1 and DC2. DC1 and 
DC2 are closely held by a specified individual for purposes of 
paragraph (b)(2) of this section. DC1 and DC2 are considered related 
entities that are connected through stock ownership with a common 
parent corporation under paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section, 
because DC1 and

[[Page 8840]]

DC2 are closely held by L, and DC2 is connected with DC1 through 
DC1's ownership of stock of DC2 representing at least 80% of the 
voting power or value of DC2. As a result, for purposes of applying 
paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, each of DC1 and DC2 is 
considered as owning the combined assets, and receiving the combined 
income, of both DC1 and DC2; however, DC1's equity interest in DC2 
is disregarded for this purpose under paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this 
section. Therefore, DC1 and DC2 each satisfies the passive asset 
threshold of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, because 100 
percent of each company's assets is passive. DC1 and DC2 are 
specified domestic entities for Year X.
    (B) DP. DP is closely held by a specified individual for 
purposes of paragraph (b)(2) of this section. DP is not considered a 
related entity with DC1 and DC2 under paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this 
section, because DC1 and DP are not owned by a common parent 
corporation or partnership. As a result, whether the passive income 
or passive asset threshold of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section 
is met with respect to DP is determined solely by reference to DP's 
separately earned passive income and separately held passive assets. 
DP holds only passive assets during Year X and therefore satisfies 
paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section. DP is a specified domestic 
entity for Year X.
    (iii) Reporting requirements--(A) DC1. Under Sec.  1.6038D-
2(a)(6)(ii), DC1 is not treated as owning the specified foreign 
financial assets held by DC2 and DP for purposes of applying the 
reporting threshold of Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(1), because DC1 does not 
have an interest in any specified foreign financial assets. DC1 is 
not required to file Form 8938 because DC1 does not satisfy the 
reporting threshold of Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(1).
    (B) DC2 and DP. Under Sec.  1.6038D-3, DC2 and DP each has an 
interest in specified foreign financial assets. For purposes of 
applying the reporting threshold of Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(1), Sec.  
1.6038D-2(a)(6)(ii) provides that DC2 is treated as owning in 
addition to its own assets the assets of DP, and DP is treated as 
owning in addition to its own assets the assets of DC2. As a result, 
DC2 and DP each satisfies the reporting threshold of Sec.  1.6038D-
2(a)(1), because the value of the specified foreign financial assets 
each is considered as owning for purposes of Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(1) 
is $105,000 on October 12, Year X, which exceeds DC2's and DP's 
$75,000 reporting threshold. DC2 and DP must each file Form 8938 for 
Year X to report their respective specified foreign financial assets 
in which they have an interest and disclose their maximum values as 
provided in Sec.  1.6038D-4 ($15,000 in the case of DC2 and $90,000 
in the case of DP).
    Example 3. Application of aggregation rule and entity with an 
active trade or business. (i) Facts. The facts are the same as in 
Example 2, except that DC2 also owns an active business. The assets 
attributable to the business are not passive assets and constitute 
at least 60% of the value of DC2's assets at all times during Year 
X. The income from the business is not passive income and 
constitutes at least 60% of the gross income generated by DC2 in 
Year X.
    (ii) Specified domestic entity status--(A) DC1 and DC2. DC1 and 
DC2 are considered related entities that are connected through stock 
ownership with a common parent corporation under paragraph 
(b)(3)(iii) of this section because DC1 and DC2 are closely held by 
L, and DC2 is connected with DC1 though DC1's ownership of stock of 
DC2 representing at least 80% of the voting power or value of DC2. 
As a result, for purposes of applying paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this 
section, each of DC1 and DC2 is treated as owning the combined 
assets, and receiving the combined income, of both DC1 and DC2; 
however, DC1's equity interest in DC2 is disregarded for this 
purpose under paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section. As a result, no 
more than 40 percent of the value of DC1's and DC2's assets at all 
times during Year X are passive and no more than 40 percent of DC1's 
and DC2's gross income for Year X is passive. DC1 and DC2 do not 
satisfy the passive income or passive asset threshold in paragraph 
(b)(1)(ii) of this section for Year X. DC1 and DC2 are not specified 
domestic entities for Year X.
    (B) DP. For the reasons described in paragraph (ii)(B) of 
Example 2, DP is a specified domestic entity for Year X.
    (iii) Reporting requirements--(A) DC1 and DC2. DC1 and DC2 are 
not specified domestic entities for Year X, and are not required to 
file Form 8938.
    (B) DP. Under Sec.  1.6038D-3, DP has an interest in specified 
foreign financial assets. Under Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(6)(ii), DP is 
treated as owning in addition to its own assets the assets of DC2. 
As a result, DP satisfies the reporting threshold of Sec.  1.6038D-
2(a)(1) because the value of the specified foreign financial assets 
it is considered to own for purposes of Sec.  1.6038D-2(a)(1) is 
$105,000 on October 12, Year X, which exceeds DP's $75,000 reporting 
threshold. DP must file Form 8938 for Year X to report the specified 
foreign financial assets in which it has an interest and disclose 
their maximum values as provided in Sec.  1.6038D-4, which is 
$90,000.

    (c) Domestic trusts. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (d) 
of this section, a trust described in section 7701(a)(30)(E) is formed 
or availed of for purposes of holding, directly or indirectly, 
specified foreign financial assets if and only if the trust has one or 
more specified persons as a current beneficiary. The term current 
beneficiary means, with respect to the taxable year, any person who at 
any time during such taxable year is entitled to, or at the discretion 
of any person may receive, a distribution from the principal or income 
of the trust (determined without regard to any power of appointment to 
the extent that such power remains unexercised at the end of the 
taxable year). The term current beneficiary also includes any holder of 
a general power of appointment, whether or not exercised, that was 
exercisable at any time during the taxable year, but does not include 
any holder of a general power of appointment that is exercisable only 
on the death of the holder.
    (d) Excepted domestic entities. An entity is not considered to be a 
specified domestic entity if the entity is--
    (1) Certain persons described in section 1473(3). An entity, except 
for a trust that is exempt from tax under section 664(c), that is 
excepted from the definition of the term ``specified United States 
person'' under section 1473(3) and the regulations issued under that 
section;
    (2) Certain domestic trusts. A trust described in section 
7701(a)(30)(E) provided that the trustee of the trust--
    (i) Has supervisory authority over or fiduciary obligations with 
regard to the specified foreign financial assets held by the trust;
    (ii) Timely files (including any applicable extensions) annual 
returns and information returns on behalf of the trust; and
    (iii) Is--
    (A) A bank that is examined by the Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the National Credit Union 
Administration;
    (B) A financial institution that is registered with and regulated 
or examined by the Securities and Exchange Commission; or
    (C) A domestic corporation described in section 1473(3)(A) or (B), 
and the regulations issued with respect to those provisions.
    (3) Domestic trusts owned by one or more specified persons. A trust 
described in section 7701(a)(30)(E) to the extent such trust or any 
portion thereof is treated as owned by one or more specified persons 
under sections 671 through 678 and the regulations issued under those 
sections.
    (e) Effective/applicability dates. This section applies to taxable 
years beginning after December 31, 2015.

Karen M. Schiller,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
    Approved: January 19, 2016.

Mark J. Mazur,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax Policy).
[FR Doc. 2016-03795 Filed 2-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4830-01-P



                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                          8835

                                                  PART 171—[AMENDED]                                      provides that, to the extent provided by              the reporting threshold in § 1.6038D–
                                                                                                          the Secretary in regulations or other                 2T(a)(1) to determine whether it is a
                                                  ■ 1. The authority citation for part 171                guidance, section 6038D shall apply to                specified domestic entity. In making
                                                  continues to read as follows:                           any domestic entity which is formed or                this determination, the proposed
                                                    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552, 552a; 22 U.S.C.              availed of for purposes of holding,                   regulations require a corporation or
                                                  2651a; Pub. L. 95–521, 92 Stat. 1824, as                directly or indirectly, specified foreign             partnership to take into account the
                                                  amended; E.O. 13526, 75 FR 707; E.O. 12600,             financial assets, in the same manner as               aggregation rules in proposed
                                                  52 FR 23781, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 235.                 if the entity were an individual.                     § 1.6038D–6(b)(4)(i). Proposed
                                                                                                             On December 19, 2011, the                          §§ 1.6038D–6(b)(1)(i) and 1.6038D–
                                                  § 171.36    [Amended]
                                                                                                          Department of the Treasury (Treasury                  6(c)(1), however, suggested that a
                                                  ■ 2. Section 171.36 is amended by                       Department) and the Internal Revenue                  specified domestic entity is required to
                                                  adding an entry, in alphabetical order,                 Service (IRS) published temporary                     again apply § 1.6038D–2T(a)(1) to
                                                  for ‘‘Family Advocacy Case Records,                     regulations (the ‘‘2011 temporary                     determine whether it has a reporting
                                                  State–75’’ to the lists in paragraphs                   regulations’’) (TD 9567) and a notice of              requirement.
                                                  (b)(1) and (2)                                          proposed rulemaking by cross-reference                   The Treasury Department and the IRS
                                                                                                          to temporary regulations (REG–130302–                 did not intend for domestic entities to
                                                  Joyce A. Barr,                                                                                                apply the reporting threshold described
                                                                                                          10) in the Federal Register (76 FR 78553
                                                  Assistant Secretary for Administration, U.S.                                                                  in § 1.6038D–2(a)(1) twice in order to
                                                                                                          and 76 FR 78594, respectively)
                                                  Department of State.                                                                                          determine their section 6038D reporting
                                                                                                          addressing the reporting requirements
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–03630 Filed 2–22–16; 8:45 am]                                                                   responsibilities. Therefore, these final
                                                                                                          under section 6038D. The notice of
                                                  BILLING CODE 4710–36–P
                                                                                                          proposed rulemaking also included                     regulations eliminate the requirement to
                                                                                                          proposed § 1.6038D–6, which set forth                 apply § 1.6038D–2(a)(1) as part of
                                                                                                          the conditions under which a domestic                 determining whether an entity is a
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                              entity will be considered a specified                 specified domestic entity. Instead, a
                                                                                                          domestic entity and, therefore, required              domestic entity that meets the definition
                                                  Internal Revenue Service                                to report specified foreign financial                 of a specified domestic entity, which
                                                                                                          assets in which it holds an interest.                 under these final regulations is
                                                  26 CFR Part 1                                           Corrections to the 2011 temporary                     determined without regard to whether
                                                  [TD 9752]                                               regulations were published on February                the reporting threshold in § 1.6038D–
                                                                                                          21, 2012, in the Federal Register (77 FR              2(a)(1) is met, applies the reporting
                                                  RIN 1545–BM54                                                                                                 threshold under § 1.6038D–2(a)(1) once,
                                                                                                          9845). Corrections to proposed
                                                                                                          § 1.6038D–6 were published on                         as part of determining whether it has a
                                                  Reporting of Specified Foreign                                                                                filing obligation. The aggregation rule
                                                  Financial Assets                                        February 21, 2012, and February 22,
                                                                                                          2012, in the Federal Register (77 FR                  for corporations and partnerships and
                                                  AGENCY:  Internal Revenue Service (IRS),                9877 and 77 FR 10422, respectively).                  the rule excluding assets excepted
                                                  Treasury.                                               The 2011 temporary regulations were                   under § 1.6038D–7 from the reporting
                                                  ACTION: Final regulations.                              issued as final regulations (TD 9706; 79              threshold have been moved to
                                                                                                          FR 73817) on December 12, 2014 (the                   § 1.6038D–2(a)(6). These changes are
                                                  SUMMARY:    This document contains final                ‘‘2014 final regulations’’). The Treasury             organizational and no change is
                                                  regulations providing guidance                          Department and the IRS did not adopt                  intended to the substantive reporting
                                                  regarding the requirements for certain                  proposed § 1.6038D–6 (REG–144339–14)                  requirements for a specified domestic
                                                  domestic entities to report specified                   as a final regulation at that time.                   entity.
                                                  foreign financial assets to the Internal                   The Treasury Department and the IRS                II. Elimination of Principal Purpose Test
                                                  Revenue Service. These regulations set                  received written comments on proposed
                                                  forth the conditions under which a                                                                               Proposed § 1.6038D–6(b)(1)(iii)
                                                                                                          § 1.6038D–6. All comments are available               provides that a corporation or
                                                  domestic entity will be considered a                    at www.regulations.gov or upon request.
                                                  specified domestic entity required to                                                                         partnership is treated as formed or
                                                                                                          Because no requests to speak were                     availed of for purposes of holding,
                                                  undertake such reporting. These                         received, no public hearing was held.
                                                  regulations affect certain domestic                                                                           directly or indirectly, specified foreign
                                                                                                          After consideration of the comments                   financial assets if either: (1) At least 50
                                                  corporations, partnerships, and trusts.                 received, the Treasury Department and                 percent of the corporation or
                                                  DATES: Effective date: These regulations                the IRS adopt proposed § 1.6038D–6 as                 partnership’s gross income or assets is
                                                  are effective on February 23, 2016.                     a final regulation with the modifications             passive; or (2) at least 10 percent of the
                                                    Applicability date: For dates of                      described herein.                                     corporation or partnership’s gross
                                                  applicability, see §§ 1.6038D–2(g) and                                                                        income or assets is passive and the
                                                                                                          Summary of Comments and
                                                  1.6038D–6(e).                                                                                                 corporation or partnership is formed or
                                                                                                          Explanation of Revisions
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                                                              availed of by a specified individual with
                                                  Joseph S. Henderson, (202) 317–6942                     I. Organizational Changes Regarding the               a principal purpose of avoiding section
                                                  (not a toll-free number).                               Reporting Threshold                                   6038D (the principal purpose test).
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                                 Proposed §§ 1.6038D–6(b)(1)(i) and                 Under proposed § 1.6038D–6(b)(1)(iii),
                                                                                                          1.6038D–6(c)(1) provide that, in order to             all facts and circumstances are taken
                                                  Background
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                                                                                                          be treated as a specified domestic entity,            into account to determine whether a
                                                     Section 6038D was enacted by section                 an entity must have an interest in                    specified individual has a principal
                                                  511 of the Hiring Incentives to Restore                 specified foreign financial assets                    purpose of avoiding section 6038D.
                                                  Employment (HIRE) Act, Public Law                       (excluding assets excepted under                         The Treasury Department and the IRS
                                                  111–147 (124 Stat. 71). Section 6038D(a)                § 1.6038D–7T) that exceeds the                        believe that a 50-percent passive assets
                                                  requires certain individuals to report                  reporting threshold in § 1.6038D–                     or income threshold appropriately
                                                  information about specified foreign                     2T(a)(1). Under the proposed                          captures situations in which specified
                                                  financial assets. Section 6038D(f)                      regulations, a domestic entity applies                individuals may use a domestic


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                                                  8836             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  corporation or partnership to                           § 1.6038D–6(b)(2) adopt several of the                determined under either a U.S. or an
                                                  circumvent the reporting requirements                   modifications to the term ‘‘passive                   international financial accounting
                                                  of section 6038D. Furthermore, the                      income’’ that were included in                        standard) to determine the value of their
                                                  Treasury Department and the IRS have                    § 1.1472–1(c)(1)(iv)(A). Specifically,                assets. Corporations or partnerships may
                                                  concluded that taxpayers should be able                 these modifications: (1) Clarify that                 be required to substantiate their
                                                  to determine their reporting                            ‘‘dividends’’ includes substitute                     determination of the passive asset
                                                  requirements under section 6038D                        dividends and expand ‘‘interest’’ to                  percentage upon request by the IRS. See
                                                  based on objective requirements rather                  cover income equivalent to interest,                  section 6001.
                                                  than a subjective principal purpose test.               including substitute interest, (2) add a
                                                                                                                                                                IV. Annual Determination of Specified
                                                  Therefore, these final regulations                      new exception for certain active
                                                                                                                                                                Person’s Interest in a Domestic
                                                  eliminate the principal purpose test for                business gains or losses from the sale of
                                                                                                                                                                Partnership
                                                  determining whether a corporation or                    commodities, and (3) define notional
                                                  partnership is a specified domestic                     principal contracts by adding a                         Proposed § 1.6038D–6(a) provides that
                                                  entity. However, the Treasury                           reference to § 1.446–3(c)(1). In addition,            whether a domestic partnership is a
                                                  Department and the IRS will continue to                 these final regulations add the exception             specified domestic entity is determined
                                                  monitor whether domestic corporations                   for dealers that is described in § 1.1472–            annually, and proposed § 1.6038D–
                                                  and partnerships not required to report                 1(c)(1)(iv)(B)(2).                                    6(b)(3)(ii) provides that a partnership is
                                                  under these final regulations are being                    In addition, the proposed regulations              closely held if at least 80 percent of the
                                                  used inappropriately by specified                       under both sections 1472 and 6038D                    capital or profits interest in the
                                                  individuals to avoid reporting under                    excluded from the definition of passive               partnership is held directly, indirectly,
                                                  section 6038D. If needed, the Treasury                  income rents or royalties derived in the              or constructively by a specified
                                                  Department and the IRS may expand the                   active conduct of a trade or business                 individual on the last day of the
                                                  definition of a specified domestic entity               conducted by employees of the relevant                partnership’s taxable year.
                                                  in future guidance.                                     entity. A comment submitted in                          A commenter recommended that a
                                                                                                          response to proposed § 1.6038D–                       partner’s interest in a partnership
                                                  III. Definition of Passive Income                       6(b)(2)(iii) expressed concern that the               should be calculated on a year-by-year
                                                     Proposed § 1.6038D–6(b)(2) defines                   exception applies only to rents and                   basis for purposes of determining
                                                  ‘‘passive income’’ by listing specific                  royalties derived in an active trade or               whether a domestic partnership is a
                                                  items of income that are treated as                     business conducted exclusively by a                   specified domestic entity. The comment
                                                  passive. Following the issuance of                      corporation’s or partnership’s                        noted that it is often difficult to
                                                  proposed § 1.6038D–6(b)(2), on                          employees, and noted that it is difficult             determine the precise capital or profits
                                                  February 15, 2012, comprehensive                        to find a trade or business that is                   interest of a partner because it may shift
                                                  regulations (77 FR 9022 (REG–121647–                    conducted solely by a business’s                      depending on the performance of the
                                                  10)) were proposed under sections 1471                  employees. These final regulations                    partnership.
                                                  through 1474, which were also enacted                   provide, consistent with § 1.1472–                      The requirement to determine a
                                                  as part of the HIRE Act that enacted                    1(c)(1)(iv)(A)(4), that rents and royalties           partner’s capital or profits interest on a
                                                  section 6038D. A definition of passive                  derived in the active conduct of a trade              particular day is present in other
                                                  income was included in the proposed                     or business conducted ‘‘at least in part’’            provisions of the Internal Revenue
                                                  regulations under section 1472 for                      by employees of the corporation or                    Code, Treasury regulations, and
                                                  purposes of identifying certain active                  partnership will not be considered                    published guidance, and the Treasury
                                                  nonfinancial foreign entities (NFFEs),                  passive income.                                       Department and the IRS believe it is an
                                                  which are excepted from withholding                        The exception for certain look-                    appropriate measure of an individual’s
                                                  under section 1472(a) and therefore do                  through income from related persons in                economic interest in a partnership and,
                                                  not have to report their substantial U.S.               § 1.1472–1(c)(1)(iv)(B)(1) is not adopted             in general, is not overly complex.
                                                  owners in order to avoid withholding.                   in these final regulations because                    Accordingly, these final regulations
                                                  The definition of passive income in                     § 1.6038D–6(b)(3)(ii) already eliminates              retain the rule in the proposed
                                                  proposed § 1.1472–1(c)(1)(v) contained a                passive income or assets arising from                 regulations for determining if a
                                                  list of items that was similar, although                related party transactions for purposes               domestic partnership is closely held.
                                                  not identical, to the list contained in                 of applying the passive income and
                                                                                                                                                                V. Clarification to Aggregation Rules
                                                  proposed § 1.6038D–6(b)(2). On January                  asset thresholds to a corporation or
                                                  28, 2013, the proposed regulations                      partnership with related entities.                       Proposed § 1.6038D–6(b)(4) provides
                                                  under sections 1471 through 1474 were                      Finally, the proposed regulations did              aggregation rules for purposes of
                                                  finalized (78 FR 5874, TD 9610). In the                 not specify how to determine whether                  applying proposed § 1.6038D–6(b)(1)(i),
                                                  final regulations, the Treasury                         50 percent of a corporation’s or                      the § 1.6038D–2(a)(1) reporting
                                                  Department and the IRS clarified the                    partnership’s assets are passive assets.              threshold, and the passive income and
                                                  scope of the definition of passive                      The Treasury Department and the IRS                   asset thresholds under proposed
                                                  income, made modifications in response                  believe that the weighted average test                § 1.6038D–6(b)(1)(iii). The proposed
                                                  to comments received, and moved the                     for active NFFEs in the regulations                   regulations provide that, for purposes of
                                                  provision to § 1.1472–1(c)(1)(iv)(A). In                under section 1472 provides an                        applying proposed § 1.6038D–6(b)(1)(i)
                                                  addition, exceptions for look-through                   administrable way to determine the                    and the reporting threshold, all
                                                  payments and dealers were added in                      passive asset percentage. Therefore,                  domestic corporations and domestic
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                  § 1.1472–1(c)(1)(iv)(B).                                these final regulations provide that the              partnerships that have an interest in
                                                     The definitions of passive income                    passive asset percentage is determined                specified foreign financial assets and are
                                                  under sections 1472 and 6038D serve a                   based on a weighted average approach                  closely held by the same specified
                                                  similar function, which is to identify                  similar to the rule in § 1.1472–                      individual are treated as a single entity,
                                                  entities that have a high risk of being                 1(c)(1)(iv). Under this test, corporations            and each such related corporation or
                                                  used for tax evasion and to reduce                      or partnerships may use either fair                   partnership is treated as owning the
                                                  compliance burdens for active entities.                 market value or book value (as reflected              specified foreign financial assets held by
                                                  Therefore, these final regulations in                   on the entity’s balance sheet and as                  all such related corporations or


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                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                          8837

                                                  partnerships. Similarly, the proposed                   information returns. The Treasury                     Special Analyses
                                                  regulations provide that, for purposes of               Department and the IRS do not adopt                      Certain IRS regulations, including this
                                                  applying the passive income and asset                   this comment because the 2014 final                   one, are exempt from the requirements
                                                  thresholds, all domestic corporations                   regulations already address the                       of Executive Order 12866, as
                                                  and domestic partnerships that are                      commenter’s concerns. The 2014 final                  supplemented and reaffirmed by
                                                  closely held by the same specified                      regulations provide in § 1.6038D–2(a)(7)              Executive Order 13563. Therefore, a
                                                  individual and connected through stock                  that a specified person, including a                  regulatory impact assessment is not
                                                  or partnership interest ownership with                  specified domestic entity, is not                     required.
                                                  a common parent corporation or                          required to file Form 8938, ‘‘Statement                  It is hereby certified that these
                                                  partnership are treated as a single entity,             of Specified Foreign Financial Assets,’’              regulations will not have a significant
                                                  and each member of such a group is                      with respect to a taxable year if the                 economic impact on a substantial
                                                  treated as owning the combined assets                   specified person is not required to file              number of small entities within the
                                                  and receiving the combined income of                    an annual return with the IRS with                    meaning of section 601(6) of the
                                                  all members of that group.                              respect to that taxable year. In the case             Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.
                                                     The Treasury Department and the IRS                  of a specified domestic entity, the term              chapter 6). In the case of domestic
                                                  have determined that it is not necessary                ‘‘annual return’’ means an annual                     corporations and partnerships, these
                                                  both to treat a group as a single entity                federal income tax return or information              regulations apply only when two
                                                  and to attribute the assets or income of                return filed with the IRS, including                  separate tests are met. The first requires
                                                  members of the group to an entity.                      returns required under section 6012. See              that at least 80 percent of the entity
                                                  Therefore, these final regulations                      § 1.6038D–1(a)(11). A Form 1041 is an                 must be owned, directly, indirectly, or
                                                  simplify the aggregation rules by                       annual return for purposes of                         constructively, by a specified
                                                  eliminating the reference to treating all               § 1.6038D–1(a)(11) of the final                       individual, generally a U.S. citizen or
                                                  domestic corporations and partnerships                  regulations.                                          resident. The second test compares the
                                                  as a single entity.                                        A commenter recommended that the                   entity’s business income and assets with
                                                  VI. Domestic Trusts                                     final regulations except publicly traded              its passive income and assets. If more
                                                     Proposed § 1.6038D–6(c) provides that                partnerships from being specified                     than 50 percent of the entity’s annual
                                                  a trust described in section                            domestic entities because they are                    gross income for the year is active
                                                  7701(a)(30)(E) is a specified domestic                  similar to publicly traded corporations               business income and more than 50
                                                  entity if and only if the trust has one or              described in section 1473(3), which are               percent of its assets for the taxable year
                                                  more specified persons as a current                     excepted from the definition of                       are assets that produce or are held for
                                                  beneficiary. The term current                           specified domestic entity under                       the production of active income, then
                                                  beneficiary means, with respect to the                  proposed § 1.6038D–6(d)(1). The                       the entity is not subject to the reporting
                                                  taxable year, any person who at any                     Treasury Department and the IRS do not                requirements under section 6038D. This
                                                  time during such taxable year is entitled               adopt this comment. The requirement                   two-part test reduces the burden
                                                  to, or at the discretion of any person                  under proposed § 1.6038D–6(b) that to                 imposed by these final regulations on
                                                  may receive, a distribution from the                    be a specified domestic entity at least 80            domestic small business entities
                                                  principal or income of the trust                        percent of the capital or profits interest            because closely-held domestic
                                                  (determined without regard to any                       in a partnership must be held by a                    corporations and partnerships that are
                                                  power of appointment to the extent that                 specified individual on the last day of               predominantly engaged in an active
                                                  such power remains unexercised at the                   the partnership’s taxable year                        business generally will be excluded
                                                  end of the taxable year). The Treasury                  establishes appropriate general criteria              from reporting. Furthermore, small not-
                                                  Department and the IRS intend that a                    that, as a practical matter, should                   for-profit organizations that are tax-
                                                  specified domestic entity include a trust               exempt most publicly traded                           exempt under section 501(a) of the
                                                  whereby a specified person has an                       partnerships from being specified                     Internal Revenue Code and small
                                                  immediately exercisable general power                   domestic entities.                                    governmental jurisdictions are not
                                                  of appointment, even if such specified                     A commenter recommended that the                   subject to these regulations.
                                                  person is not technically a beneficiary.                final regulations except an employer                     For closely-held domestic
                                                  Therefore, these final regulations clarify              trust established for the benefit of more             corporations and partnerships that meet
                                                  that the term current beneficiary also                  than a minimum number of employees,                   both tests, these final regulations limit
                                                  includes any holder of a general power                  such as 50, from being a specified                    the burden imposed. First, reporting is
                                                  of appointment, whether or not                          domestic entity even if the employer                  required only when the aggregate value
                                                  exercised, that was exercisable at any                  trust holds stock of a foreign company.               of the entity’s interests in specified
                                                  time during the taxable year, but does                  The Treasury Department and the IRS                   foreign financial assets exceeds the
                                                  not include any holder of a general                     believe the exception under proposed                  reporting threshold under § 1.6038D–
                                                  power of appointment that is                            § 1.6038D–6(d)(1) for domestic entities               2(a)(1). Second, the final regulations
                                                  exercisable only on the death of the                    that are not ‘‘specified United States                exclude the value of specified foreign
                                                  holder.                                                 persons’’ pursuant to section 1473(3),                financial assets reported on one or more
                                                                                                          together with the exception for trusts                of the following forms from being taken
                                                  VII. Expanding the Exceptions for                       whose trustees satisfy the supervisory                into consideration in determining
                                                  Domestic Entities                                       oversight requirements and the income                 whether the small entity satisfies the
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                                                    Proposed § 1.6038D–6(d) excepts                       tax and information return filing                     reporting threshold under § 1.6038D–
                                                  certain entities from being treated as a                requirements under proposed                           2(a)(1): Form 3520, ‘‘Annual Return To
                                                  specified domestic entity. A commenter                  § 1.6038D–6(d)(2), are sufficiently broad             Report Transactions With Foreign
                                                  recommended that the final regulations                  to except employer trusts that represent              Trusts and Receipt of Certain Foreign
                                                  expand proposed § 1.6038D–6(d) to also                  a low risk of tax avoidance from                      Gifts‘‘; Form 3520–A, ‘‘Annual
                                                  except certain domestic trusts that are                 characterization as a specified domestic              Information Return of Foreign Trust
                                                  not required to file a Form 1041, ‘‘U.S.                entity. Therefore, this comment is not                With a U.S. Owner’’; Form 5471,
                                                  Fiduciary Income Tax Return,’’ or any                   adopted.                                              ‘‘Information Return of U.S. Persons


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                                                  8838               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  With Respect To Certain Foreign                              (12) Specified domestic entity.                   asset in which a specified domestic
                                                  Corporations’’; Form 8621, ‘‘Information                 *      *     *     *   *                              entity has an interest and that is
                                                  Return by a Shareholder of a Passive                                                                           excluded from reporting on Form 8938
                                                  Foreign Investment Company or                            § 1.6038D–2 Requirement to report                     pursuant to § 1.6038D–7(a) (concerning
                                                  Qualified Electing Fund’’; or Form 8865,                 specified foreign financial assets.                   certain assets reported on another form)
                                                  ‘‘Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to                   (a) * * *                                           is excluded for purposes of determining
                                                  Certain Foreign Partnerships.’’ Third,                   *      *    *     *    *                              the aggregate value of specified foreign
                                                  small entities that hold specified foreign                 (6) * * *                                           financial assets. For purposes of
                                                  financial assets generally will be                         (i) Specified individual.                           determining the aggregate value of
                                                  excepted from reporting such assets if                     (ii) Specified domestic entity.                     specified foreign financial assets, a
                                                  the assets are reported on one or more                   *      *    *     *    *                              specified domestic entity that is a
                                                  of the these forms, thereby further                                                                            corporation or partnership and that has
                                                  limiting the burden imposed by the final                 § 1.6038D–6       Specified domestic entities.        an interest in any specified foreign
                                                  regulations on small entities. Therefore,                   (a) Specified domestic entity.                     financial asset is treated as owning all
                                                  a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis under                     (b) Corporations and partnerships.                 the specified foreign financial assets
                                                  the Regulatory Flexibility Act is not                       (1) Formed or availed of.                          (excluding specified foreign financial
                                                  required. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of                    (2) Closely held.                                  assets excluded from reporting on Form
                                                  the Code, the notice of proposed                            (i) Domestic corporation.                          8938 pursuant to § 1.6038D–7(a)) held
                                                  rulemaking preceding this regulation                        (ii) Domestic partnership.                         by all domestic corporations and
                                                  was submitted to the Chief Counsel for                      (iii) Constructive ownership.                      domestic partnerships that are closely
                                                  Advocacy of the Small Business                              (3) Determination of passive income                held by the same specified individual as
                                                  Administration for comment on its                        and assets.                                           determined under § 1.6038D–6(b)(2).
                                                  impact on small business.                                   (i) Definition of passive income.                  *      *     *    *     *
                                                  Drafting Information                                        (ii) Exception from passive income                    (g) Effective/applicability dates. This
                                                                                                           treatment for dealers.                                section, with the exception of
                                                     The principal author of these                            (iii) Related entities.                            § 1.6038D–2(a)(6)(ii), applies to taxable
                                                  regulations is Joseph S. Henderson,                         (4) Examples.                                      years ending after December 19, 2011.
                                                  Office of Associate Chief Counsel                           (c) Domestic trusts.                               Section 1.6038D–2(a)(6)(ii) applies to
                                                  (International). However, other                             (d) Excepted domestic entities.                    taxable years beginning after December
                                                  personnel from the IRS and Treasury                         (1) Certain persons described in                   31, 2015. Taxpayers may elect to apply
                                                  Department participated in their                         section 1473(3).                                      the rules of this section, with the
                                                  development.                                                (2) Certain domestic trusts.                       exception of § 1.6038D–2(a)(6)(ii), to
                                                  List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1                           (3) Domestic trusts owned by one or                taxable years ending on or prior to
                                                                                                           more specified persons.                               December 19, 2011.
                                                    Income taxes, Reporting and                               (e) Effective/applicability dates.
                                                  recordkeeping requirements.                                                                                    ■ Par 5. Section 1.6038D–6 is added to
                                                                                                           *       *    *     *     *                            read as follows:
                                                  Adoption of Amendments to the                            ■ Par. 3. Section 1.6038D–1(a)(12) is
                                                  Regulations                                              revised to read as follows:                           § 1.6038D–6       Specified domestic entities.
                                                    Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is                                                                                   (a) Specified domestic entity. A
                                                                                                           § 1.6038D–1 Reporting with respect to                 specified domestic entity is a domestic
                                                  amended as follows:
                                                                                                           specified foreign financial assets, definition        corporation, a domestic partnership, or
                                                  PART 1—INCOME TAXES                                      of terms.
                                                                                                                                                                 a trust described in section
                                                                                                              (a) * * *                                          7701(a)(30)(E), if such corporation,
                                                  ■ Paragraph 1. The authority citation                    *      *    *     *     *                             partnership, or trust is formed or availed
                                                  for part 1 is amended by adding an entry                    (12) Specified domestic entity. The                of for purposes of holding, directly or
                                                  for § 1.6038D–6 in numerical order to                    term specified domestic entity has the                indirectly, specified foreign financial
                                                  read in part as follows:                                 meaning set forth in § 1.6038D–6.                     assets. Whether a domestic corporation,
                                                    Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *                        *      *    *     *     *                             a domestic partnership, or a trust
                                                    Section 1.6038D–6 is also issued under 26                                                                    described in section 7701(a)(30)(E) is a
                                                                                                           ■ Par. 4. Section 1.6038D–2 is amended
                                                  U.S.C. 6038D.                                                                                                  specified domestic entity is determined
                                                                                                           by:
                                                  ■ Par. 2. Section 1.6038D–0 is amended                   ■ 1. Redesignating the text of paragraph              annually.
                                                  by:                                                      (a)(6) as paragraph (a)(6)(i) and adding                 (b) Corporations and partnerships—
                                                  ■ 1. Revising the entry for § 1.6038D–                                                                         (1) Formed or availed of. Except as
                                                                                                           a paragraph heading to newly
                                                  1(a)(12).                                                redesignated paragraph (a)(6)(i).                     otherwise provided in paragraph (d) of
                                                  ■ 2. Adding entries for § 1.6038D–                                                                             this section, a domestic corporation or
                                                                                                           ■ 2. Adding paragraph (a)(6)(ii).
                                                  2(a)(6)(i) and (ii).                                                                                           a domestic partnership is formed or
                                                                                                           ■ 3. Revising paragraph (g).
                                                  ■ 3. Revising the entry for § 1.6038D–6.                                                                       availed of for purposes of holding,
                                                    The revisions and additions read as                       The additions and revision read as
                                                                                                           follows:                                              directly or indirectly, specified foreign
                                                  follows:                                                                                                       financial assets if and only if—
                                                  § 1.6038D–0       Outline of regulation                  § 1.6038D–2 Requirement to report                        (i) The corporation or partnership is
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                                                  provisions                                               specified foreign financial assets.                   closely held by a specified individual as
                                                  *      *      *       *      *                             (a) * * *                                           determined under paragraph (b)(2) of
                                                                                                             (6) Aggregate value calculation in                  this section; and
                                                  § 1.6038D–1 Reporting with respect to                    case of specified foreign financial asset                (ii) At least 50 percent of the
                                                  specified foreign financial assets, definition           excluded from reporting—(i) Specified                 corporation’s or partnership’s gross
                                                  of terms.                                                individual. * * *                                     income for the taxable year is passive
                                                      (a) * * *                                              (ii) Specified domestic entity. The                 income or at least 50 percent of the
                                                  *       *    *        *      *                           value of any specified foreign financial              assets held by the corporation or


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                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                              8839

                                                  partnership for the taxable year are                       (F) The excess of gains over losses                between members of such a group, as
                                                  assets that produce or are held for the                 from the sale or exchange of property                 well as any items of gross income
                                                  production of passive income as                         that gives rise to passive income                     arising under or from such contract,
                                                  determined under paragraph (b)(3) of                    described in paragraphs (b)(3)(i)(A)                  equity, or debt, are eliminated. A
                                                  this section (passive assets). For                      through (b)(3)(i)(E) of this section;                 domestic corporation or a domestic
                                                  purposes of this paragraph (b)(1)(ii), the                 (G) The excess of gains over losses                partnership is considered connected
                                                  percentage of passive assets held by a                  from transactions (including futures,                 through stock or partnership interest
                                                  corporation or partnership for a taxable                forwards, and similar transactions) in                ownership with a common parent
                                                  year is the weighted average percentage                 any commodity, but not including—                     corporation or partnership if stock
                                                  of passive assets (weighted by total                       (1) Any commodity hedging                          representing at least 80 percent of the
                                                  assets and measured quarterly), and the                 transaction described in section                      total combined voting power of all
                                                  value of assets of a corporation or                     954(c)(5)(A), determined by treating the              classes of stock of the corporation
                                                  partnership is the fair market value of                 corporation or partnership as a                       entitled to vote or of the value of such
                                                  the assets or the book value of the assets              controlled foreign corporation; or                    corporation, or partnership interests
                                                  that is reflected on the corporation’s or                  (2) Active business gains or losses                representing at least 80 percent of the
                                                  partnership’s balance sheet (as                         from the sale of commodities, but only                profits interests or capital interests of
                                                  determined under either a U.S. or an                    if substantially all the corporation or               such partnership, in each case other
                                                  international financial accounting                      partnership’s commodities are property                than stock of or partnership interests in
                                                  standard).                                              described in paragraph (1), (2), or (8) of            the common parent, is owned by one or
                                                     (2) Closely held—(i) Domestic                        section 1221(a);                                      more of the other connected
                                                  corporation. A domestic corporation is                     (H) The excess of foreign currency                 corporations, connected partnerships, or
                                                  closely held by a specified individual if               gains over foreign currency losses (as                the common parent.
                                                  at least 80 percent of the total combined               defined in section 988(b)) attributable to               (4) Examples. The following examples
                                                  voting power of all classes of stock of                 any section 988 transaction; and                      illustrate the application of this section:
                                                                                                             (I) Net income from notional principal
                                                  the corporation entitled to vote, or at                                                                          Example 1. Closely held and constructive
                                                                                                          contracts as defined in § 1.446–3(c)(1).              ownership. (i) Facts. DC1 is a domestic
                                                  least 80 percent of the total value of the                 (ii) Exception from passive income
                                                  stock of the corporation, is owned,                                                                           corporation the total value of the stock of
                                                                                                          treatment for dealers. Notwithstanding                which is owned 60% by A, a specified
                                                  directly, indirectly, or constructively, by             paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, in the           individual, 30% by B, a member of A’s
                                                  a specified individual on the last day of               case of a corporation or partnership that             family for purposes of section 267(c)(2) who
                                                  the corporation’s taxable year.                         regularly acts as a dealer in property                is not a specified individual, and 10% by
                                                     (ii) Domestic partnership. A                         described in paragraph (b)(3)(i)(F) of                FC1, a foreign corporation. DC1 owns 90% of
                                                  partnership is closely held by a                        this section (referring to the sale or                the total value of the stock of DC2, a domestic
                                                  specified individual if at least 80                     exchange of property that gives rise to               corporation. FC2, a foreign corporation, owns
                                                  percent of the capital or profits interest              passive income), forward contracts,                   10% of DC2. Neither A nor B owns, directly,
                                                  in the partnership is held, directly,                                                                         indirectly, or constructively, any stock in
                                                                                                          option contracts, or similar financial                FC1 or FC2.
                                                  indirectly, or constructively, by a                     instruments (including notional
                                                  specified individual on the last day of                                                                          (ii) Closely held ownership determination.
                                                                                                          principal contracts and all instruments               A is considered to own 90% and 81% of the
                                                  the partnership’s taxable year.                         referenced to commodities), the term                  total value of DC1 and DC2, respectively, by
                                                     (iii) Constructive ownership. For                    passive income does not include—                      application of the rules of section 267(c) and
                                                  purposes of this paragraph (b)(2),                         (A) Any item of income or gain (other              this section. DC1 and DC2 are closely held
                                                  sections 267(c) and (e)(3) apply for the                than any dividends or interest) from any              by A within the meaning of paragraph (b)(2)
                                                  purpose of determining the constructive                 transaction (including hedging                        of this section because A, a specified
                                                  ownership of a specified individual in                  transactions and transactions involving               individual, is considered to own more than
                                                  a corporation or partnership, except that                                                                     80% of their total value.
                                                                                                          physical settlement) entered into in the
                                                  section 267(c)(4) is applied as if the                                                                           Example 2. Application of aggregation rule
                                                                                                          ordinary course of such dealer’s trade or             and reporting threshold. (i) Facts. L is a
                                                  family of an individual includes the                    business as such a dealer; and                        specified individual. In Year X, L wholly
                                                  spouses of the individual’s family                         (B) If such dealer is a dealer in                  owns DC1, a domestic corporation, and also
                                                  members.                                                securities (within the meaning of                     owns a 90% capital interest in DP, a
                                                     (3) Determination of passive income                  section 475(c)(2)), any income from any               domestic partnership. DC1 owns 80% of the
                                                  and assets—(i) Definition of passive                    transaction entered into in the ordinary              sole class of stock of DC2, a domestic
                                                  income. Except as provided in                           course of such trade or business as a                 corporation. DC1 has no assets other than its
                                                  paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section, for               dealer in securities.                                 interest in DC2. DC2’s only assets are assets
                                                  purposes of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this                   (iii) Related entities. For purposes of            that produce passive income, with a
                                                  section, passive income means the                       applying the passive income and asset                 maximum value in Year X of $40,000 on
                                                  portion of gross income that consists                                                                         October 12. DC2’s assets are comprised in
                                                                                                          thresholds of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this            relevant part of specified foreign financial
                                                  of—                                                     section, all domestic corporations and                assets with a maximum value in Year X of
                                                     (A) Dividends, including substitute                  domestic partnerships that are closely                $15,000 on October 12. DP’s only assets are
                                                  dividends;                                              held by the same specified individual as              assets that produce passive income and that
                                                     (B) Interest;                                        determined under paragraph (b)(2) of                  are specified foreign financial assets with a
                                                     (C) Income equivalent to interest,                   this section and that are connected                   maximum value of $90,000 in Year X on
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                                                  including substitute interest;                          through stock or partnership interest                 October 12.
                                                     (D) Rents and royalties, other than                  ownership with a common parent                           (ii) Specified domestic entity status—(A)
                                                  rents and royalties derived in the active               corporation or partnership are treated as             DC1 and DC2. DC1 and DC2 are closely held
                                                                                                                                                                by a specified individual for purposes of
                                                  conduct of a trade or business                          owning the combined assets and                        paragraph (b)(2) of this section. DC1 and DC2
                                                  conducted, at least in part, by                         receiving the combined income of all                  are considered related entities that are
                                                  employees of the corporation or                         members of that group. For purposes of                connected through stock ownership with a
                                                  partnership;                                            the preceding sentence, assets relating               common parent corporation under paragraph
                                                     (E) Annuities;                                       to any contract, equity, or debt existing             (b)(3)(iii) of this section, because DC1 and



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                                                  8840             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  DC2 are closely held by L, and DC2 is                      (ii) Specified domestic entity status—(A)          any holder of a general power of
                                                  connected with DC1 through DC1’s                        DC1 and DC2. DC1 and DC2 are considered               appointment that is exercisable only on
                                                  ownership of stock of DC2 representing at               related entities that are connected through
                                                                                                                                                                the death of the holder.
                                                  least 80% of the voting power or value of               stock ownership with a common parent
                                                  DC2. As a result, for purposes of applying              corporation under paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this          (d) Excepted domestic entities. An
                                                  paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, each of           section because DC1 and DC2 are closely               entity is not considered to be a specified
                                                  DC1 and DC2 is considered as owning the                 held by L, and DC2 is connected with DC1              domestic entity if the entity is—
                                                  combined assets, and receiving the combined             though DC1’s ownership of stock of DC2
                                                  income, of both DC1 and DC2; however,                   representing at least 80% of the voting power            (1) Certain persons described in
                                                  DC1’s equity interest in DC2 is disregarded             or value of DC2. As a result, for purposes of         section 1473(3). An entity, except for a
                                                  for this purpose under paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of         applying paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section,        trust that is exempt from tax under
                                                  this section. Therefore, DC1 and DC2 each               each of DC1 and DC2 is treated as owning the          section 664(c), that is excepted from the
                                                  satisfies the passive asset threshold of                combined assets, and receiving the combined           definition of the term ‘‘specified United
                                                  paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, because           income, of both DC1 and DC2; however,
                                                  100 percent of each company’s assets is                 DC1’s equity interest in DC2 is disregarded           States person’’ under section 1473(3)
                                                  passive. DC1 and DC2 are specified domestic             for this purpose under paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of       and the regulations issued under that
                                                  entities for Year X.                                    this section. As a result, no more than 40            section;
                                                     (B) DP. DP is closely held by a specified            percent of the value of DC1’s and DC2’s                  (2) Certain domestic trusts. A trust
                                                  individual for purposes of paragraph (b)(2) of          assets at all times during Year X are passive
                                                  this section. DP is not considered a related            and no more than 40 percent of DC1’s and              described in section 7701(a)(30)(E)
                                                  entity with DC1 and DC2 under paragraph                 DC2’s gross income for Year X is passive.             provided that the trustee of the trust—
                                                  (b)(3)(iii) of this section, because DC1 and DP         DC1 and DC2 do not satisfy the passive                   (i) Has supervisory authority over or
                                                  are not owned by a common parent                        income or passive asset threshold in                  fiduciary obligations with regard to the
                                                  corporation or partnership. As a result,                paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section for Year X.
                                                  whether the passive income or passive asset             DC1 and DC2 are not specified domestic                specified foreign financial assets held by
                                                  threshold of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this               entities for Year X.                                  the trust;
                                                  section is met with respect to DP is                       (B) DP. For the reasons described in                  (ii) Timely files (including any
                                                  determined solely by reference to DP’s                  paragraph (ii)(B) of Example 2, DP is a               applicable extensions) annual returns
                                                  separately earned passive income and                    specified domestic entity for Year X.
                                                                                                             (iii) Reporting requirements—(A) DC1 and
                                                                                                                                                                and information returns on behalf of the
                                                  separately held passive assets. DP holds only
                                                  passive assets during Year X and therefore              DC2. DC1 and DC2 are not specified domestic           trust; and
                                                  satisfies paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section.         entities for Year X, and are not required to             (iii) Is—
                                                  DP is a specified domestic entity for Year X.           file Form 8938.
                                                     (iii) Reporting requirements—(A) DC1.                   (B) DP. Under § 1.6038D–3, DP has an                  (A) A bank that is examined by the
                                                  Under § 1.6038D–2(a)(6)(ii), DC1 is not                 interest in specified foreign financial assets.       Office of the Comptroller of the
                                                  treated as owning the specified foreign                 Under § 1.6038D–2(a)(6)(ii), DP is treated as         Currency, the Board of Governors of the
                                                  financial assets held by DC2 and DP for                 owning in addition to its own assets the              Federal Reserve System, the Federal
                                                  purposes of applying the reporting threshold            assets of DC2. As a result, DP satisfies the          Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the
                                                  of § 1.6038D–2(a)(1), because DC1 does not              reporting threshold of § 1.6038D–2(a)(1)              National Credit Union Administration;
                                                  have an interest in any specified foreign               because the value of the specified foreign
                                                  financial assets. DC1 is not required to file           financial assets it is considered to own for             (B) A financial institution that is
                                                  Form 8938 because DC1 does not satisfy the              purposes of § 1.6038D–2(a)(1) is $105,000 on          registered with and regulated or
                                                  reporting threshold of § 1.6038D–2(a)(1).               October 12, Year X, which exceeds DP’s                examined by the Securities and
                                                     (B) DC2 and DP. Under § 1.6038D–3, DC2               $75,000 reporting threshold. DP must file             Exchange Commission; or
                                                  and DP each has an interest in specified                Form 8938 for Year X to report the specified
                                                  foreign financial assets. For purposes of               foreign financial assets in which it has an              (C) A domestic corporation described
                                                  applying the reporting threshold of                     interest and disclose their maximum values            in section 1473(3)(A) or (B), and the
                                                  § 1.6038D–2(a)(1), § 1.6038D–2(a)(6)(ii)                as provided in § 1.6038D–4, which is                  regulations issued with respect to those
                                                  provides that DC2 is treated as owning in               $90,000.                                              provisions.
                                                  addition to its own assets the assets of DP,
                                                                                                            (c) Domestic trusts. Except as                         (3) Domestic trusts owned by one or
                                                  and DP is treated as owning in addition to
                                                  its own assets the assets of DC2. As a result,          otherwise provided in paragraph (d) of                more specified persons. A trust
                                                  DC2 and DP each satisfies the reporting                 this section, a trust described in section            described in section 7701(a)(30)(E) to
                                                  threshold of § 1.6038D–2(a)(1), because the             7701(a)(30)(E) is formed or availed of for            the extent such trust or any portion
                                                  value of the specified foreign financial assets         purposes of holding, directly or                      thereof is treated as owned by one or
                                                  each is considered as owning for purposes of            indirectly, specified foreign financial               more specified persons under sections
                                                  § 1.6038D–2(a)(1) is $105,000 on October 12,            assets if and only if the trust has one or
                                                  Year X, which exceeds DC2’s and DP’s                                                                          671 through 678 and the regulations
                                                                                                          more specified persons as a current
                                                  $75,000 reporting threshold. DC2 and DP                                                                       issued under those sections.
                                                                                                          beneficiary. The term current
                                                  must each file Form 8938 for Year X to report                                                                    (e) Effective/applicability dates. This
                                                                                                          beneficiary means, with respect to the
                                                  their respective specified foreign financial                                                                  section applies to taxable years
                                                  assets in which they have an interest and               taxable year, any person who at any
                                                  disclose their maximum values as provided               time during such taxable year is entitled             beginning after December 31, 2015.
                                                  in § 1.6038D–4 ($15,000 in the case of DC2              to, or at the discretion of any person
                                                                                                                                                                Karen M. Schiller,
                                                  and $90,000 in the case of DP).                         may receive, a distribution from the
                                                     Example 3. Application of aggregation rule           principal or income of the trust                      Deputy Commissioner for Services and
                                                  and entity with an active trade or business.                                                                  Enforcement.
                                                                                                          (determined without regard to any
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                  (i) Facts. The facts are the same as in                 power of appointment to the extent that                 Approved: January 19, 2016.
                                                  Example 2, except that DC2 also owns an                 such power remains unexercised at the                 Mark J. Mazur,
                                                  active business. The assets attributable to the
                                                                                                          end of the taxable year). The term                    Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax
                                                  business are not passive assets and constitute
                                                  at least 60% of the value of DC2’s assets at            current beneficiary also includes any                 Policy).
                                                  all times during Year X. The income from the            holder of a general power of                          [FR Doc. 2016–03795 Filed 2–22–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  business is not passive income and                      appointment, whether or not exercised,
                                                                                                                                                                BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
                                                  constitutes at least 60% of the gross income            that was exercisable at any time during
                                                  generated by DC2 in Year X.                             the taxable year, but does not include


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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:33:47
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:33:47
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal regulations.
DatesEffective date: These regulations are effective on February 23, 2016.
ContactJoseph S. Henderson, (202) 317-6942 (not a toll-free number).
FR Citation81 FR 8835 
RIN Number1545-BM54
CFR AssociatedIncome Taxes and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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