PLR 1029015: Rental income from managed residential properties is not passive investment income

Plain-English summary

A corporation planning to elect S corporation status asked whether rental income from residential properties owned by its subsidiary would be passive investment income. The corporation and its subsidiary expected more than 25 percent of their combined gross receipts to come from rents, but they also provided substantial property-management services, including maintenance, repairs, cleaning, utilities-related work, waste services, and landscaping. The IRS ruled that the rental income was not passive investment income under IRC § 1362(d)(3)(C)(i). The ruling did not decide whether the corporation otherwise qualified to make an S election, and it noted that the passive investment income rules are separate from the passive activity rules under § 469.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Is the rental income from the residential properties passive investment income under IRC § 1362(d)(3)(C)(i)?
• Outcome: approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1361(a)(1), 1362(d)(3), 1375(a), 469, and 6110(k)(3); Treas. Reg. § 1.1362-2(c)(5)(ii)(B)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201029015 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 7/23/2010 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1362.02-00, 1362.02-03
Person To Contact:
--------------------------- --------------------, ID No. -----------------
------------------------------- Telephone Number:
--------------------------------- ---------------------
------------------------------------ Refer Reply To:
CC:PSI:B01
PLR-148718-09
Date:
April 07, 2010

                                                    Legend

X = ----------------------------

Y = ---------------------------------

State 1 = -------------

State 2 = ----------

Date 1 = --------------------------

Date 2 = ----------------------

Date 3 = ----------------------

$a = ---------------

$b = ---------------

Year = -------

Property 1 = -------------------------------------------------------------

PLR-148718-09 2

Property 2 = --------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------

Dear ----------------:

     This letter is in response to your letter on behalf of X, dated ----------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------,
seeking a written determination that rental income received from residential properties is
not passive investment income under § 1362(d)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code.

                                                Facts

    The information submitted states that X was incorporated on Date 1 in

accordance with the laws of State 1. Y was incorporated on Date 2 in accordance with
the laws of State 2. Y is a wholly-owned subsidiary of X. X intends to elect to be an S
corporation effective Date 3. On Date 3, X expects to have accumulated earnings and
profits from prior years. X intends to file a Qualified Subchapter S Subsidiary (“QSub”)
election with respect to Y, effective Date 3.

    Y owns Property 1 and Property 2 (collectively, “the Properties”), residential

rental real estate properties that are leased to individual tenants. More than 25 percent
of the combined gross receipts of X and Y will be derived from rental income from the
Properties. X, through its employees, its agents, and the agent's employees, provides
certain services with respect to the leasing of the Properties. These services involve
maintaining and repairing the buildings, common areas, and grounds of the Properties,
including cleaning, painting, electrical, plumbing, and heat, ventilation, and air
conditioning maintenance, garbage and recycling, and landscaping services.

   In Year, Y collected approximately $a in gross rents from the Properties, and

paid or incurred approximately $b in relevant operating expenses for the Properties.

                                        Law and Analysis

  Section 1361(a)(1) defines an “S corporation” as a small business corporation for

which an election under § 1362(a) is in effect for the taxable year.

    Section 1362(d)(3)(A)(i) provides that an S corporation election shall be

terminated whenever the corporation (I) has accumulated earning and profits at the
close of each of 3 consecutive taxable years, and (II) has gross receipts for each of
such taxable years more than 25 percent of which are passive investment income. The
termination is effective on and after the first date of the first taxable year beginning after
the third consecutive taxable year referred to in § 1362(d)(3)(A)(i). Section
1362(d)(3)(A)(ii).

PLR-148718-09 3

   Except as otherwise provided in § 1362(d)(3)(C), § 1362(d)(3)(C)(i) provides that

the term “passive investment income” means gross receipts derived from royalties,
rents, dividends, interest, annuities, and sales or exchanges of stock or securities.

  Section 1375(a) imposes a tax on the income of an S corporation if the S

corporation has (1) accumulated earnings and profits at the close of such taxable year,
and (2) gross receipts more than 25 percent of which are passive investment income.

    Section 1.1362-2(c)(5)(ii)(B)(1) defines “rent” as amounts received for the use of,

or right to use, property (whether real or personal) of the corporation.

    Section 1.1362-2(c)(5)(ii)(B)(2) provides that the term “rents” does not include

rents derived in the active trade or business of renting property. Rents are derived in an
active trade or business of renting property only if, based on all the facts and
circumstances, the corporation provides significant services or incurs substantial costs
in the rental business. Generally, significant services are not rendered and substantial
costs are not incurred in connection with net leases. Whether significant services are
performed or substantial costs are incurred in the rental business is determined based
upon all the facts and circumstances including, but not limited to, the number of persons
employed to provide the services and types and amounts of costs and expenses
incurred (other than depreciation).

                                    Conclusion

    Based solely on the facts and representations submitted, we conclude that the

rental income that Y derives from the Properties is not passive investment income as
described in § 1362(d)(3)(C)(i).

    Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is expressed or implied

concerning the tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or
referenced in this letter. Specifically, no opinion is expressed concerning whether X is a
small business corporation eligible to make an S corporation election. Further, the
passive investment income rules of § 1362 are completely independent of the passive
activity rules of § 469; unless an exception under § 469 applies, the rental activity
remains passive for purposes of § 469.

  This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Section 6110(k)(3) of the

Code provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

PLR-148718-09 4

  Pursuant to the power of attorney on file with this office, a copy of this letter will

be sent to the taxpayer's representative.

                                    Sincerely,

                                      /s/

                                    David R. Haglund
                                    Chief, Branch 1
                                    (Passthroughs & Special Industries)

Enclosures (2)
Copy of this letter
Copy of this letter for section 6110 purposes