PLR 1109009: The IRS granted an estate more time to allocate GST exemption to four trusts

Plain-English summary

The executor of an estate asked for more time to allocate the decedent's generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemption to transfers made to four trusts for the benefit of children and their descendants. The decedent had not allocated exemption to earlier transfers and, for later transfers, a tax professional had reported less exemption than the automatic allocation rules required. The IRS found that the taxpayer met the requirements for relief under IRC § 2642(g) and Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3. It granted 120 days to make the allocations and correct the reported allocation, effective as of the transfer dates and based on the property's fair market value for federal gift tax purposes.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: May the estate receive more time to allocate and correctly report GST exemption for transfers to four trusts?
• Outcome: Approved.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 2601, 2631, 2632, and 2642(g); Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3; Notice 2001-50.

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

                                                          Third Party Communication: None

Number: 201109009 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Release Date: 3/4/2011 Person To Contact:
-------------------------, ID No. -------------
Index Number: 2642.00-00, 9100.00-00 Telephone Number:
---------------------
---------------------------------------------- Refer Reply To:
-------------------------------------- CC:PSI:B04
----------------------------------------- PLR-124467-10
Date: NOVEMBER 15, 2010

RE:
-----------------------------------------
--------------------
----------------------------

Legend

Decedent ------------------------------------------------
Spouse -----------------------
Child 1 ----------------------
Child 2 --------------------
Child 3 ---------------------------
Child 4 ------------------------
Trust 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------
Trust 2 --------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------
Trust 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------
Trust 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------
Date 1 --------------------------
Date 2 -----------------------
Date 3 -----------------------
Trust ---------------------------------
Accountant -------------------------------
Year 1 -------
Year 2 ---------

Dear ---------------:
PLR-124467-10 2

  This letter responds to a letter from your authorized representative dated

May 7, 2010 requesting an extension of time under § 2642(g) of the Internal Revenue
Code and § 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations to allocate
Decedent’s generation-skipping transfer (GST) exemption to transfers to Trusts 1
through 4.

    The facts and representations submitted are summarized as follows:

   On Date 1, a date prior to December 31, 2000, Decedent and his spouse,

Spouse, executed Trust, an irrevocable trust. The terms of Trust provided for the
creation of four separate trusts, Trust 1, Trust 2, Trust 3, and Trust 4, for the benefit of
each of their four children, Child 1, Child 2, Child 3, and Child 4, and each child’s issue,
respectively.

  On Date 1, Decedent transferred cash and marketable securities to Trusts 1

through 4 to be divided equally among the four trusts. On Date 2, a date after
December 31, 2000, Decedent transferred cash and marketable securities to Trusts 1
through 4 to be divided equally among the four trusts. Decedent died on Date 3.

   Decedent did not file a Year 1 Form 709 to report the Date 1 transfers to Trusts 1

through 4, and, accordingly, Decedent did not allocate his GST exemption to the Date 1
transfers. Decedent retained Accountant to prepare the Year 2 Form 709, United
States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, to report the Date 2
transfers to Trusts 1 through 4. On Schedule A, Part 3, Column C of the Year 2 Form
709, Decedent did not elect under § 2632(c)(5) to opt out of the automatic allocation
rules of § 2632(c)(1) for purposes of allocating Decedent’s GST exemption to the Date 2
transfers to Trusts 1 through 4. However, on line 5 of Schedule C, Part 2 – GST
Exemption Reconciliation, on the Year 2 Form 709, Accountant mistakenly allocated
less GST exemption to the Date 2 transfers than should have been reported under the
automatic allocation rules of § 2632(c)(1).

    You have requested the following rulings:

1.         The estate of Decedent will be granted an extension of time under
          § 2642(g) and § 301.9100-3 to allocate Decedent’s GST exemption to the
          Date 1 transfers to Trusts 1 through 4, and the allocations will be based on
          the value of the Date 1 transfers and will be effective as of such date.

2.         The estate of Decedent will be granted an extension of time under
          § 2642(g) and § 301.9100-3 to report the correct amount of Decedent’s
          GST exemption allocated to the Date 2 transfers to Trusts 1 through 4
          under the automatic allocation rules of § 2632(c)(1), and the allocations
          will be based on the value of the Date 2 transfers and will be effective as
          of such date.

PLR-124467-10 3

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Rulings 1 and 2

   Section 2601 imposes a tax on every generation-skipping transfer. A generation-

skipping transfer is defined under § 2611(a) as (1) a taxable distribution, (2) a taxable
termination, and (3) a direct skip.

   Section 2631(a), in effect for the Date 1 transfers, provides that for purposes of

determining the inclusion ratio, every individual shall be allowed a GST exemption of
$1,000,000 (adjusted of inflation) which may be allocated by such individual (or his
executor) to any property with respect to which such individual is the transferor. Section
2631(a), in effect for the Date 2 transfers, provides that for purposes of determining the
inclusion ratio, every individual shall be allowed a GST exemption amount which may
be allocated by such individual (or his executor) to any property with respect to which
such individual is the transferor. Section 2631(b) provides that any allocation under
§ 2631(a), once made, shall be irrevocable. Section 2631(c), in effect for the Date 2
transfers, provides that for purposes of § 2631(a), the GST exemption amount for any
calendar year shall be equal to the applicable exclusion amount under § 2010(c) for
such calendar year.

   Section 2632(c)(1) provides that if any individual makes an "indirect skip" during

such individual's lifetime, any unused portion of such individual's GST exemption shall
be treated as allocated to the property transferred to the extent necessary to make the
inclusion ratio for such property zero. If the amount of the indirect skip exceeds such
unused portion, the entire unused portion shall be allocated to the property transferred.

   Section 2632(c)(3)(A) provides that for purposes of § 2632(c), the term “indirect

skip” means any any transfer of property (other than a direct skip) subject to the tax
imposed by chapter 12 made to a GST trust.

   Section 2642(g)(1)(A) provides that the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe

such circumstances and procedures under which extensions of time will be granted to
make an allocation of GST exemption described in § 2642(b)(1) or (2), and an election
under § 2632(b)(3) or (c)(5). Such regulations shall include procedures for requesting
comparable relief with respect to transfers made before the date of the enactment of
this paragraph.

   Section 2642(g)(1)(B) provides that in determining whether to grant relief, the

Secretary shall take into account all relevant circumstances, including evidence of intent
contained in the trust instrument or instrument of transfer and such other factors as the
PLR-124467-10 4

Secretary deems relevant. Section 2642(g)(1)(B) further provides that for purposes of
determining whether to grant relief, the time for making the allocation shall be treated as
if not expressly prescribed by statute. See Notice 2001-50, 2001-2 C.B. 189.

   Section 301.9100-3 provides the standards used to determine whether to grant

an extension of time to make an election whose date is prescribed by a regulation (and
not expressly provided by statute). In accordance with § 2642(g)(1)(B) and Notice
2001-50, taxpayers may seek an extension of time to make an allocation described in
§ 2642(b)(1) or (b)(2) or an election described in § 2632(b)(3) or (c)(5) under the
provisions of § 301.9100-3.

   Requests for relief under § 301.9100-3 will be granted when the taxpayer

provides the evidence to establish to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the
taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith, and that granting relief will not prejudice
the interests of the government.

  Section 301.9100-3(b)(1)(v) provides that a taxpayer is deemed to have acted

reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer reasonably relied on a qualified tax
professional, including a tax professional employed by the taxpayer, and the tax
professional failed to make, or advise the taxpayer to make, the election.

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

the requirements of § 301.9100-3 have been satisfied. Therefore, the executor of
Decedent’s estate is granted an extension of time of 120 days from the date of this letter
to allocate Decedent’s available GST exemption to the Date 1 transfers to Trusts 1
through 4 and to report the correct amount of Decedent’s GST exemption allocated to
the Date 2 transfers under the automatic allocation rules of § 2632(c)(1). The
allocations will be effective as of the date of the transfers to the trusts and will be based
on the fair market value of the property transferred for federal gift tax purposes.

   The executor should make the allocations on supplemental Forms 709. The

supplemental Forms 709 should be filed on behalf of the estate with the Cincinnati
Service Center at the following address: Internal Revenue Service Center, Cincinnati,
OH 45999. A copy of this letter should be attached to the supplemental Forms 709. A
copy is enclosed for this purpose.

     In accordance with the Power of Attorney on file with this office, a copy of this

letter is being sent to your authorized representatives.

   Except as expressly provided herein, we express no opinion on the federal tax

consequences of the transactions under the cited provisions or under any other
provisions of the Code. Specifically, we are not ruling on whether Trusts 1 through 4
will have a zero inclusion ratio as a result of the allocations of Decedent’s GST
exemption to the Date 1 and Date 2 transfers to the trusts.
PLR-124467-10 5

  The rulings contained in this letter are based upon information and

representations submitted by the taxpayer and accompanied by a penalty of perjury
statement executed by an appropriate party. While this office has not verified any of the
material submitted in support of the request for rulings, it is subject to verification on
examination.

   The rulings in this letter pertaining to the federal estate and/or

generation-skipping transfer tax apply only to the extent that the relevant sections of the
Internal Revenue Code are in effect during the period at issue.

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

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

                                   Sincerely,


                                   Associate Chief Counsel
                                   Passthroughs & Special Industries


                                   _________________________
                             By:   Lorraine E. Gardner, Senior Counsel
                                   Branch 4
                                   Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
                                   (Passthroughs and Special Industries)

Enclosures
Copy for § 6110 purposes
Copy of this letter