PLR 1318003: Charitable gift of section 1250 property is not reduced by the corporate depreciation adjustment

Plain-English summary

The IRS ruled that a corporation’s charitable deduction for contributing certain section 1250 property to section 501(c)(3) organizations would not be reduced by 20 percent of the property’s accumulated depreciation under section 291(a)(1). The ruling depended on the organizations receiving the property with a basis determined under section 1015(a), making the transfer a gift for the relevant section 1250 rules. Because section 1250(a) does not apply to a disposition by gift, the IRS concluded that section 291(a)(1) would not apply to the transfer. The ruling did not decide whether the contribution would satisfy section 170, the amount of any deduction, or whether particular property qualified as section 1250 property.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Whether a charitable contribution of section 1250 property would be reduced by section 291(a)(1).
• Outcome: Approved, subject to the stated representations.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1015(a), 1245, 1250, 1250(d)(1), 170, 291(a)(1); Treas. Reg. §§ 1.1245-4(a), 1.1250-3(a)(1), 1.170A-4(a)(1), 1.170A-4(b)(1).

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201318003 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 5/3/2013 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1250.04-01
Person To Contact:
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--------------------------------- Telephone Number:
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---------------------------------------------------- Refer Reply To:
CC:ITA:B07
PLR-132858-12
Date:
January 22, 2013

Re: Request for Private Letter Ruling under Sections 170, 291, and 1250

LEGEND

Taxpayer = ----------------------------------------------
----------------------------
State1 = ---------------------
City1 = ----------------------
A = ---------------------------------
----------------------------
B = --------------------

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

  This letter responds to a letter dated July 27, 2012, and supplemental

correspondence, submitted by Taxpayer requesting a letter ruling that, if certain section
1250 property is contributed to one or more tax-exempt organizations, the charitable
deduction attributable to the value of that contribution will not be reduced by twenty
percent of the accumulated depreciation of this section 1250 property under section
291(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.

                                                 FACTS

     Taxpayer represents that the facts are as follows:

  Taxpayer is a State1 corporation with a principal place of business in City1,

State1. Taxpayer is a wholly-owned subsidiary of A and joins in the consolidated
Federal income tax return filed for the affiliated group headed by A. A files its
consolidated Federal income tax return on a calendar year basis.
PLR-132858-12 2

    Taxpayer owns certain improved real property located at Taxpayer’s B plant in

City1, State1 (the “B property”). The B property contains certain depreciable real
property that is section 1250 property. Most of this section 1250 property has been fully
depreciated. Hereinafter, the fully depreciated B property that is section 1250 property
will be referred to as “the Property.”

   Taxpayer intends to contribute some or all of the Property to one or more

organizations that are exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) as a
charitable contribution under section 170. Moreover, Taxpayer intends to claim a
charitable deduction under section 170 with respect to its contribution of the Property to
one or more section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations.

  Taxpayer represents that these section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations will

have the same basis in the Property as Taxpayer will have at the time of the transfer
pursuant to section 1015(a).

                             RULING REQUESTED

  Taxpayer requests the following ruling:

  If the Property is contributed to one or more section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
  organizations, the charitable deduction attributable to the value of the
  contribution will not be reduced by twenty percent of the accumulated
  depreciation of the Property pursuant to section 291(a)(1).

                              LAW AND ANALYSIS

   Section 170 generally allows a deduction, subject to certain limitations, for

charitable contributions made during the taxable year to or for the use of organizations
described in section 170(c), including section 501(c)(3) organizations.

   Section 170A-1(c)(1) of the Income Tax Regulations provides that if a charitable

contribution is made in property other than money, the amount of the contribution is the
fair market value of the property at the time of the contribution, reduced as provided in
section 170(e)(1) and section 1.170A-4(a), or section 170(e)(3) and section 1.170A-
4A(c).

   Section 170(e)(1) provides that the amount of any charitable contribution of

property otherwise taken into account under section 170 shall be reduced by, among
other amounts, the amount of gain that would not have been long-term capital gain
(determined without regard to section 1221(b)(3)) if the property contributed had been
sold by the taxpayer at its fair market value (determined at the time of such
contribution).
PLR-132858-12 3

    Section 1.170A-4(a)(1) provides that in the case of a contribution by an individual

or by a corporation of ordinary income property, as defined in section 1.170A-4(b)(1),
the amount of the charitable contribution that would be taken into account under section
170(a) without regard to section 170(e) shall be reduced before applying the percentage
limitations under section 170(b) by the amount of gain that would have been recognized
as gain that is not long-term capital gain if the property had been sold by the donor at its
fair market value at the time of its contribution to the charitable organization.

   Section 1.170A-4(b)(1) defines the term “ordinary income property” as meaning

property any portion of the gain on which would not have been long-term capital gain if
the property had been sold by the donor at its fair market value at the time of its
contribution to the charitable organization.

   Section 291(a)(1) provides that in a case where a corporation disposes of section

1250 property, an amount equal to twenty percent of the excess, if any, of (A) the
amount that would be treated as ordinary income if such property was section 1245
property, over (B) the amount treated as ordinary income under section 1250
(determined without regard to section 291(a)(1)), shall be treated as gain which is
ordinary income under section 1250 and shall be recognized notwithstanding any other
provision of Subtitle A of the Code. Section 291(a)(1) further provides that under
regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the provisions of section 291(a)(1) will not
apply to the disposition of any property to the extent that section 1250(a) does not apply
to such disposition by reason of section 1250(d).

   If section 1245 property is disposed of, section 1245(a)(1) generally provides that

the amount by which the lower of (A) the recomputed basis of the property, or (B) the
amount realized (in the case of a sale, exchange, or involuntary conversion) or the fair
market value of such property (in the case of any other disposition), exceeds the
adjusted basis of such property is treated as ordinary income. Such gain is recognized
notwithstanding any other provision of Subtitle A of the Code.

   Section 1245(a)(2) defines the term “recomputed basis” with respect to any

property as meaning, generally, its adjusted basis recomputed by adding thereto all
adjustments reflected in such adjusted basis on account of deductions (whether in
respect of the same or other property) allowed or allowable to the taxpayer or to any
other person for depreciation or amortization.

   If section 1250 property is disposed of after December 31, 1975, section

1250(a)(1)(A) generally provides that 100 percent of the lower of (i) that portion of the
additional depreciation attributable to periods after December 31, 1975, in respect of
such property, or (ii) the excess of the amount realized (in the case of a sale, exchange,
or involuntary conversion), or the fair market value of such property (in the case of any
other disposition), over the adjusted basis of such property, is treated as gain that is
PLR-132858-12 4

ordinary income. Such gain is recognized notwithstanding any other provision of
Subtitle A of the Code.

    Section 1250(b)(1) defines the term “additional depreciation” as meaning, in the

case of any property, the depreciation adjustments in respect of such property; except
that, in the case of property held more than one year, it means such adjustments only to
the extent that they exceed the amount of the depreciation adjustments that would have
resulted if such adjustments had been determined for each taxable year under the
straight-line method of depreciation.

       Section 1250(d)(1) provides that section 1250(a) shall not apply to a disposition

by gift.

    Section 1.1250-3(a)(1) provides that, for purposes of section 1250(d)(1), the term

“gift” shall have the same meaning as in section 1.1245-4(a).

   Section 1.1245-4(a) provides that the term “gift” means, generally, a transfer of

property which, in the hands of the transferee, has a basis determined under the
provisions of section 1015(a) or (d) (relating to basis of property acquired by gifts).

   If section 1250 property is disposed of by gift (as defined in sections 1.1250-

3(a)(1) and 1.1245-4(a)), section 1250(d)(1) provides that section 1250(a) does not
apply to such disposition. Consequently, section 291(a)(1) would not apply to a gift (as
defined in sections 1.1250-3(a)(1) and 1.1245-4(a)) of section 1250 property.

   In this case, Taxpayer represents that it intends to contribute the Property to one

or more organizations that are section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, that this
intended contribution will be a valid charitable contribution that meets the requirements
of section 170, and that these section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations will have a
basis in the Property equal to Taxpayer’s basis in the Property at the time of transfer
pursuant to section 1015(a). These are material representations. Because the basis of
the Property in the hands of the section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations will be the
same as Taxpayer’s basis in the Property at the time of the transfer pursuant to section
1015(a), the contribution of the Property by Taxpayer to the section 501(c)(3)
organizations is a gift for purposes of sections 1250(d)(1) and 1.1250-3(a)(1).
Accordingly, the provisions of section 291(a)(1) will not apply to Taxpayer’s disposition
of the Property to the section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations.

                                     CONCLUSION

    Based solely on Taxpayer’s representations and the relevant law and analysis

set forth above, we conclude that if the Property is contributed to one or more section
501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, the charitable deduction attributable to the value of
PLR-132858-12 5

the contribution will not be reduced by twenty percent of the accumulated depreciation
of the Property pursuant to section 291(a)(1).

    Except as specifically set forth above, no opinion is expressed or implied

concerning the tax consequences of the facts described above under any other
provisions of the Code. Specifically, this letter ruling is based upon Taxpayer’s
description of the proposed contribution of property to certain section 501(c)(3)
organizations. This letter ruling does not address whether the proposed contribution is
a valid charitable contribution that meets the requirements of section 170. Further, the
amount of the deduction for the proposed contribution is outside the scope of this letter
ruling, and no approval of the amount should be inferred from this letter ruling.
Moreover, no opinion is expressed or implied on (i) whether any of the property located
at B is section 1250 property, and (ii) the propriety of Taxpayer’s methods of
depreciating the property located at B.

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

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

  In accordance with the power of attorney, we are sending a copy of this letter to

Taxpayer’s authorized representatives. We are also sending a copy of this letter to the
appropriate operating division director.

                                             Sincerely,

                                             Kathleen Reed

                                             Kathleen Reed
                                             Chief, Branch 7
                                             Office of Associate Chief Counsel
                                             (Income Tax and Accounting)

Enclosures (2):
copy of this letter
copy for section 6110 purposes