PLR 200230025: Late tax year change application treated as timely

Plain-English summary

A taxpayer filed Form 1128 late to ask to change its tax year end from March 31 to October 31. The delay resulted from an error or misunderstanding. The IRS found that the taxpayer had acted reasonably and in good faith and that relief would not prejudice the government, so it treated the application as timely. Processing still required an additional user fee. The ruling addressed only the filing deadline and did not decide whether the requested tax year change would be allowed.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Can the late Form 1128 for a tax year change be treated as timely filed?
• Outcome: Approved: the application is timely for processing, subject to the user fee
• Key authorities: Treas. Reg. §§ 1.442-1(b) and 301.9100-3

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury

Number: 200230025
Washington, DC 20224
Release Date: 7/26/2002
Index Nos.: 9100.09-00
Person to Contact:

Telephone Number:

Refer Reply To:
CC:ITA:4 PLR-116639-02
Date:
April 24, 2002

Dear
:

This is in reference to a Form 1128, Application to Adopt, Change, or Retain a Tax Year, submitted on behalf of the above-named taxpayer
, requesting permission to change its accounting period, for federal income tax purposes, from a taxable year ending March 31 to a taxable year ending October 31, effective
. The taxpayer has requested that the Form 1128 be considered timely filed under the authority contained in § 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations.

The taxpayer's Form 1128 requesting a change in accounting period to a tax year
ending October 31 was due before
. The information furnished
indicates that the application for the change in accounting period was filed late because of an error or misunderstanding.

Section 1.442-1(b) of the Income Tax Regulations provides that in order to secure the Commissioner's consent to a change in accounting period, the taxpayer must file an application on Form 1128 with the Commissioner before the 16th day of the second calendar month following the close of the short period.

Section 301.9100-3(a) provides that requests for extensions of time for regulatory elections that do not meet the requirements of § 301.9100-2 (automatic extensions), such as the situation you present, must be made under the rules of § 301.9100-3. Requests for relief subject to § 301.9100-3 will be granted when the taxpayer provides evidence to establish that the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith, and that the granting of relief will not prejudice the interests of the government.

Based on the facts and information submitted and the representations made, it is held that the taxpayer has acted reasonably and in good faith, and that the granting of relief will not prejudice the interests of the government. Accordingly, the requirements of the regulations for the granting of relief have been satisfied in this case, and the taxpayer's late filed Form 1128 requesting permission to change to a tax year ending October 31,

2
PLR-116639-02

effective for the short period of
, is considered timely filed.

Pursuant to Appendix A of Rev. Proc. 2002-1, 2002-1 I.R.B. 1, 67, an additional user fee is required in order to process the Form 1128. The user fee will be requested in a separate correspondence. We will begin processing the taxpayer’s application after the user fee is received.

The ruling contained in this letter is based upon facts and representations submitted by the taxpayer and accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed by an appropriate party. This office has not verified any of the material submitted in support of the request for a ruling. Verification of the factual information, representations, and other data may be required as part of an examination process.

This ruling addresses the granting of § 301.9100-3 relief only. No opinion is expressed or implied concerning the tax consequences of any other matter. Specifically, no opinion is expressed as to whether the taxpayer is permitted under the Code and applicable regulations to change to the tax year requested in the subject Form 1128.

Enclosed is a copy of the letter ruling showing the deletions proposed to be made in the letter when it is disclosed under § 6110 of the Internal Revenue Code.

This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer that requested it. Section 6110(k)(3) provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

Sincerely,

Robert A. Berkovsky
Branch Chief
Office of Associate Chief Counsel
(Income Tax and Accounting)

Enclosure