Corporate shareholder may make retroactive QEF election

Plain-English summary

A corporate shareholder learned years after acquiring a foreign corporation's shares that the company was a passive foreign investment company. Its internal tax department and two accounting firms had advised it on federal tax matters, but none identified the company's PFIC status or the availability of a qualified electing fund election. The shareholder submitted the required affidavits, entered a closing agreement, paid an amount intended to eliminate prejudice from closed years, and represented that the IRS had not raised the PFIC issue on audit. The IRS concluded that the requirements of Treas. Reg. § 1.1295-3(f) were satisfied and consented to a retroactive QEF election for the acquisition year, subject to the prescribed time and manner rules.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Could a corporate shareholder make a retroactive QEF election after relying on tax professionals who did not identify its foreign corporation as a PFIC?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 1295, 1297; Treas. Reg. §§ 1.1295-3(f), 1.1295-3(g)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201548018
Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 11/27/2015
Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1295.02-02
Person To Contact:
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Telephone Number:
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Refer Reply To:
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CC:INTL:B02
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PLR-132164-12
Date:
August 13, 2015

Legend

Shareholder = ---------------
TIN = ----------------
FC = ----------------------------------
Accounting Firm A = ------------------------------
Accounting Firm B = ---------------
Country 1 = ------------
State = ------------
Date 1 = --------------------------
Year 1 = ------
Year 16 = ------
Year 17 = ------
Year 18 = ------
Year 19 = ------

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

This is in response to a letter dated July 12, 2012 submitted by your authorized representative that requested the consent of the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (“Commissioner”) for Shareholder 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 Shareholder’s investment in FC.

The ruling contained in this letter is based upon information and representations submitted on behalf of Shareholder 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
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material is subject to verification on examination. The information submitted in the request is substantially as set forth below.

FACTS

Shareholder is a corporation organized in State. FC is an entity organized under the laws of Country 1 that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. FC qualified as a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) as defined in section 1297(a) of the Code in Year 1. Shareholder acquired shares of FC on Date 1.

From Year 1 through Year 18, Shareholder’s internal tax department prepared Shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax returns. Accounting Firm A reviewed the tax returns for Year 1 through Year 16. Accounting Firm B reviewed the tax returns for Year 17 and Year 18. Shareholder’s internal tax department, Accounting Firm A, and Accounting Firm B employ experienced tax professionals and advised Shareholder on U.S. federal income tax matters regarding Shareholder’s operations and investments, including Shareholder’s investment in FC. Shareholder relied on its internal tax department, Accounting Firm A, and Accounting Firm B to provide advice with respect to filing and reporting requirements in general, as well as any elections or statements that would be necessary to elect a specific tax treatment.

In Year 19, it was discovered that FC was a PFIC and Shareholder requested that Accounting Firm B prepare a request to make a retroactive QEF election. Until that time, Shareholder was unaware that FC was a PFIC and thus unaware of the availability to make a QEF election with respect to FC.

Shareholder has submitted affidavits, under penalties of perjury that describe the events that led to its failure to make a QEF election with respect to FC by the election due date, including the roles of its internal tax department, Accounting Firm A, and Accounting Firm B.

Shareholder has paid an amount sufficient to eliminate any prejudice to the United States government as a consequence of its inability to file amended returns, in accordance with a signed closing agreement between Shareholder and the Commissioner. Further, Shareholder has agreed to file an amended return for each of its subsequent taxable years affected by the retroactive election, if any.

Shareholder 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

Shareholder 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).
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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:

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).

Treas. Reg. §1.1295-3(f)(3)(ii) provides that, if granting relief would prejudice the interests of the U.S. government, the Commissioner may grant consent to make a section 1295 election if the shareholder enters into a closing agreement that requires the shareholder to pay an amount sufficient to eliminate any prejudice to the U.S. government as a consequence of the shareholder’s inability to file amended returns for closed taxable years.

Treas. Reg. §1.1295-3(g)(1)(i)(B) provides that, if the Commissioner grants consent to file a retroactive QEF election, the election is due on the due date, as extended, for the shareholder’s return for the taxable year in which consent is granted.

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:
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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 Shareholder’s ruling request, we conclude that Shareholder has satisfied Treas. Reg. §1.1295-3(f). Accordingly, consent is granted to Shareholder to make a retroactive QEF election with respect to FC for Year 1, provided that Shareholder 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.

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
Branch Chief, Branch 2
(International)

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