PLR 1321010: IRS permits a retroactive qualified electing fund election

Plain-English summary

The IRS consented to an individual's retroactive election to treat a passive foreign investment company as a qualified electing fund. The individual had not known that the foreign company was a PFIC or that a QEF election was available by the original due date. The IRS found that the individual satisfied the regulatory requirements, including reasonable reliance on qualified tax professionals, no prejudice to the government, and a request made before the PFIC status was raised on audit. The consent is conditioned on following the timing and procedural rules for making the retroactive election.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: May the taxpayer make a retroactive QEF election for the foreign company?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1295 and 1297; Treas. Reg. § 1.1295-3(f) and (g)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201321010 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 5/24/2013 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1295.02-02
Person To Contact:
------------------------------ ---------------------------, ID No. --------------
------------------------------------- Telephone Number:
---------------------------------------- ----------------------
Refer Reply To:
CC:INTL:B02
PLR-141592-12
Date:
February 19, 2013

              TY: -------

Legend

Taxpayer = ----------------------------------------------------------

Trust = --------------

DE = ------------------------.

FC = --------------------------------------------

Investment Advisor = --------------------------------

Accounting Firm = --------------------------------

State = --------------

Country A = ----------------------------
Country B = ------------
Country C = -----------------

Year 1 = -------
Year 2 = -------
Year 3 = -------

Date 1 = ------------------------
Date 2 = --------------------------
Date 3 = ------------------------
Date 4 = ------------------------
Date 5 = --------------------------
Date 6 = ---------------------------
PLR-141592-12 2

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

This is in response to a letter dated September 1, 2012 submitted by your authorized
representative that requested the consent of the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue
Service (“Commissioner”) to make a retroactive qualified electing fund ("QEF") election
under section 1295(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and Treas. Reg.
§1.1295-3(f) with respect to your investment in FC.

The ruling contained in this letter is based upon information and representations
submitted on behalf of Taxpayer by its authorized representative, 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 this request for ruling, such
material is subject to verification on examination. The information submitted in the
request is substantially as set forth below.

FACTS

Taxpayer is an individual. At all times relevant to this ruling, Taxpayer was a United
States resident for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Taxpayer is the creator of Trust,
a State trust with respect to which Taxpayer is treated as the grantor for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. Trust is the sole owner of DE, a Country A entity that is
disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Stock owned by DE is treated as
owned by Taxpayer for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

During Years 1, 2, and 3, Taxpayer (through DE) acquired shares of FC, an entity
organized under the laws of Country B. During Years 1 and 3, Taxpayer sold some
shares of FC and recognized gain on those sales. In addition, Taxpayer reported
income from FC for Years 1, 2, and 3. At the time of these transactions, Taxpayer was
unaware that FC was a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) as defined in
section 1297(a) of the Code.

At all times relevant to this ruling, Investment Advisor handled Taxpayer’s investments,
including his investment in FC, and received all statements and tax documents from FC
on behalf of Taxpayer. During Year 2, Taxpayer retained Accounting Firm to prepare
his Year 1 tax return. On Date 3, Taxpayer filed his Year 1 tax return. As of Date 3,
Taxpayer did not know or have reason to know that FC was a PFIC or that he, as owner
of the shares of FC, was eligible to make an election to treat FC as a QEF. At that time,
neither Taxpayer nor his advisors had received any communications from FC identifying
FC as a PFIC or informing Taxpayer of his eligibility to make a QEF election.

On Date 5, Accounting Firm received an email from Investment Advisor informing it that
Investment Advisor had reason to believe that FC was a PFIC. Investment Advisor also
suggested that Taxpayer consider making a QEF election with respect to FC.
PLR-141592-12 3

Investment Advisor subsequently provided Accounting Firm with a copy of a “Notice of
U.S. Tax Information of U.S. Persons” (the “Notice”) issued by FC on Date 6. The
Notice had been mailed to Investment Advisor’s office in Country C. It stated that FC
was a PFIC for the taxable year beginning on Date 2 and ending on Date 4 and that any
shareholder wishing to make a QEF election would be permitted to review FC’s books
and records. Investment Advisor did not receive a “Notice of U.S. Tax Information for
U.S. Persons” from FC for the fiscal year ending on Date 1.

Taxpayer submitted an affidavit, under penalties of perjury, that describes the events
that led to his failure to make a QEF election with respect to FC by the election due
date, including the roles of Accounting Firm and Investment Advisor. Taxpayer also
submitted an affidavit from Accounting Firm, which describes Accounting Firm’s
engagement and responsibilities, and the advice concerning the tax treatment of FC
that it provided to Taxpayer. In addition, Taxpayer submitted an affidavit from
Investment Advisor, which describes Investment Advisor’s engagement and
correspondence with Accounting Firm upon Investment Advisor’s discovery that FC was
a PFIC.

Taxpayer represents that, as of the date of this request for ruling, the PFIC status of FC
has not been raised by the IRS on audit for any of the taxable years at issue.

RULING REQUESTED

Taxpayer requests the consent of the Commissioner to make a retroactive QEF election
with respect to FC for Year 1 under Treas. Reg. §1.1295-3(f).

LAW

Section 1295(a) provides that a PFIC will be treated as a QEF with respect to a
shareholder if (1) an election by the shareholder under section 1295(b) applies to the
PFIC for the taxable year; and (2) the PFIC complies with the requirements prescribed
by the Secretary for purposes of determining the ordinary earnings and net capital gains
of the company.

Under section 1295(b)(2), a QEF election may be made for a taxable year at any time
on or before the due date (determined with regard to extensions) for filing the return for
the taxable year. To the extent provided in regulations, the election may be made after
the due date if the shareholder failed to make an election by the due date because the
shareholder reasonably believed the company was not a PFIC.

Under Treas. Reg. §1.1295-3(f), a shareholder may request the consent of the
Commissioner to make a retroactive QEF election for a taxable year if:
PLR-141592-12 4

   1. the shareholder reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional, within the
      meaning of Treas. Reg. §1.1295-3(f)(2);
   2. granting consent will not prejudice the interests of the United States
      government, as provided in Treas. Reg. §1.1295-3(f)(3);
   3. the request is made before a representative of the Internal Revenue Service
      raises upon audit the PFIC status of the company for any taxable year of the
      shareholder; and
   4. the shareholder satisfies the procedural requirements of Treas. Reg. §1.1295-
      3(f)(4).

The procedural requirements include filing a request for consent to make a retroactive
election with, and submitting a user fee to, the Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
(International). Treas. Reg. §1.1295-3(f)(4)(i). Additionally, affidavits signed under
penalties of perjury must be submitted that describe:

   1. the events that led to the failure to make a QEF election by the election due
      date;
   2. the discovery of the failure;
   3. the engagement and responsibilities of the qualified tax professional; and
   4. the extent to which the shareholder relied on the professional.

Treas. Reg. §§1.1295-3(f)(4)(ii) and (iii).

CONCLUSION

Based on the information submitted and representations made with Taxpayer’s ruling
request, we conclude that Taxpayer has satisfied Treas. Reg. §1.1295-3(f).
Accordingly, consent is granted to Taxpayer to make a retroactive QEF election with
respect to FC for Year 1, provided that Taxpayer complies with the rules under Treas.
Reg. §1.1295-3(g) regarding the time and manner for making the retroactive QEF
election.

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.

This private 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 on file with this office, a copy of this letter
ruling is being sent to your authorized representative.
PLR-141592-12 5

A copy of this letter ruling must be attached to any federal income tax return to which it
is relevant. Alternatively, taxpayers filing their returns electronically may satisfy this
requirement by attaching a statement to their return that provides the date and control
number of the letter ruling.

                                             Sincerely,


                                             Jeffery G. Mitchell
                                             Chief, Branch 2
                                             Office of the Associate Chief
                                             Counsel (International)