PLR 1142021: Late election relief granted for Canadian retirement accounts

Plain-English summary

A former Canadian resident who became a U.S. resident had two Canadian retirement accounts. The taxpayer's first accountant did not advise the taxpayer to make the election under the U.S.-Canada income tax treaty to defer U.S. taxation of income accruing in those accounts. The IRS granted an extension of time to make the election under Revenue Procedure 2002-23 because the taxpayer satisfied the standards for relief under Treasury Regulation section 301.9100-3. The extension was limited to 60 days from the ruling letter, and the ruling did not determine whether the taxpayer was otherwise eligible to make the election.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Should the taxpayer receive more time to elect treaty-based deferral of U.S. tax on income accrued in two Canadian retirement accounts?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 9100, 9114; Treas. Reg. §§ 301.9100-1, 301.9100-3; Article XVIII(7) of the United States-Canada Income Tax Convention; Rev. Proc. 2002-23

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201142021 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 10/21/2011 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 9100.22-00, 9114.03-06
Person To Contact:
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----------------------- Telephone Number:
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Refer Reply To:
CC:INTL
PLR-116890-11
Date:
May 09, 2011

TY: --------------

Legend

A = ----------------
------------------------

Account 1 = ------------------------------------------

Account 2 = ------------------------------------------

Financial Institution = -----------------------------------------------

Tax Years = --------------

Year 1 = -------

Year 2 = -------

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

This is in reply to a letter dated March 30, 2011, requesting an extension of time under
Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3 for A to elect the provisions of Rev. Proc. 2002-23, 2002-1
C.B. 744, for Tax Years.

The ruling contained in this letter is 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 requested rulings, it is subject to verification on examination. The
information submitted for consideration is substantially as set forth below.
PLR-116890-11 2

FACTS

A is a former Canadian resident who became a U.S. resident in Year 1. Prior to
becoming a U.S. resident, A established Account 1, a registered retirement savings
plan, and Account 2, a locked-in retirement account, with Financial Institution.

A hired a certified public accountant (CPA) to prepare her Year 1 return. A informed the
CPA about her relocation from Canada and the existence of Accounts 1 and 2. A
provided the CPA with all of the documentation and information he requested in order to
prepare her return. The CPA failed to advise A of the need to make an election under
Article XVIII(7) of the United States-Canada Income Tax Convention (the “Treaty”) to
defer U.S. taxation of income accruing in Accounts 1 and 2.

In Year 2, A discussed Accounts 1 and 2 with a different CPA. During this meeting, A
became aware of the rules regarding her Canadian retirement accounts and the
availability of the procedure in Rev. Proc. 2002-23 for electing to defer U.S. income tax
under Article XVIII(7) of the Treaty. The CPA advised A to make a request under Treas.
Reg. § 301.9100-3 for an extension of time in which to make the election.

RULING REQUESTED

A requests the consent of the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service for an
extension of time under Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3 to make an election pursuant to Rev.
Proc. 2002-23 to defer U.S. federal income taxation on income accrued in Account 1
and Account 2.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-1(c) provides that the Commissioner has discretion to grant a
taxpayer a reasonable extension of time, under the rules set forth in Treas. Reg. §
301.9100-3, to make a regulatory election under all subtitles of the Internal Revenue
Code, except subtitles E, G, H, and I.

Treas. Reg. § 301.9100 -1(b) provides that an election includes an application for relief
in respect of tax, and defines a regulatory election as an election whose due date is
prescribed by a regulation, a revenue ruling, revenue procedure, notice, or
announcement.

Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(a) provides that requests for relief subject to this section will
be granted when the taxpayer provides the evidence (including affidavits described in
Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(e)) to establish to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that
the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith, and the grant of relief will not prejudice
the interests of the Government.
PLR-116890-11 3

In the present situation, the election provided in Rev. Proc. 2002-23 is a regulatory
election within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-1(b). Therefore, the
Commissioner has discretionary authority under Treas. Reg. § 301.9100–1(c) to grant A
an extension of time, provided that A satisfies the standards set forth in Treas. Reg. §
301.9100-3(a).

Based solely on the information submitted and representations made, we conclude that
A satisfies the standards of Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3. Accordingly, A is granted an
extension of time until 60 days from the date of this ruling letter to make an election for
Tax Years under Rev. Proc. 2002-23. As provided in Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-1(a), the
granting of an extension of time is not a determination that A is otherwise eligible to
make the above-described election.

Pursuant to section 4.07 of Rev. Proc. 2002-23, the election once made cannot be
revoked except with the consent of the Commissioner. For Year 1 and each
subsequent tax year until the tax year in which a final distribution is made from Account
1 and Account 2, A must file Form 8891 for each Account from which a final distribution
has not been made.

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.

A copy of this letter must be attached to A's U.S. income tax return for the year in which
A obtained the ruling and should be associated with A’s amended returns for Tax Years.

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

Pursuant to a power of attorney on file with this office, a copy of this letter will be sent to
your authorized representatives.

                                        Sincerely,



                                        M. Grace Fleeman
                                        Senior Technical Reviewer, Branch 1
                                        Office of Associate Chief Counsel
                                        (International)

Enclosure:
Copy for 6110 purposes

CC:----- ------------------------