Spouse may revoke U.S. residency election and amend related returns

Plain-English summary

One spouse was a U.S. resident under the substantial presence test, while the other elected to be treated as a resident for the same year so they could file jointly. Their combined ownership caused a foreign corporation to be treated as a controlled foreign corporation, producing a subpart F inclusion that later affected the taxation of a corporate distribution. The IRS allowed the second spouse to revoke the residency election. As represented, the taxpayers must amend the later joint return to treat the full distribution as taxable, the resident spouse must amend the earlier return to married filing separately, and the other spouse must file Form 1040NR if needed. The ruling expresses no opinion on other tax consequences.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: May the nonresident spouse revoke the election to be treated as a U.S. resident for the earlier year?
• Outcome: Approved, subject to the represented amended-return filings
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 951, 957, 959, and 7701(b); Treas. Reg. § 301.7701(b)-4(c)(3)

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 201630008 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 7/22/2016 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 9430.00-00
Person To Contact:
-------------------------------- --------------------, ID No. ----------------
------------------------ Telephone Number:
--------------------------- --------------------
Refer Reply To:
CC:INTL:B03
PLR-139178-15
Date:
April 21, 2016

              TY: ------

Legend

Taxpayer A = ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------
Taxpayer B = ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------
Corp C = ------------------
Year 1 = ------
Amount X = ------------
Year 2 = ------
Amount Y = --------------------------------

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

This is in response to your letter dated October 30, 2015, requesting permission to
revoke an election under Treas. Reg. §301.7701(b)-4(c)(3) for Year 1.

The ruling contained in this letter is based upon information and representations
submitted by Taxpayer A and Taxpayer B and accompanied by a penalty of perjury
statement executed by them. 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.

Taxpayer A was a resident of the United States for Year 1 under the substantial
presence test of section 7701(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. Taxpayer B,
Taxpayer A’s spouse, did not meet the substantial presence test for Year 1. Taxpayer
B elected to be treated as a resident under Treas. Reg. § 301.7701(b)-4(c)(3) for Year 1
and complied with the election procedure requirements set forth in Treas. Reg.
§301.7701(b)-4(c)(3)(v), including attaching the statement described in paragraph (C) of

PLR-139178-15 2

Treas. Reg. §301.7701(b)-4(c)(3)(v) to Form 1040 for Year 1 which was filed jointly with
Taxpayer A. Treas. Reg. §301.7701(b)-4(c)(3)(v)(A) provides that the election made by
Taxpayer B to be treated as a resident under Treas. Reg. §301.7701(b)-4(c)(3) for Year
1 may not be revoked without the approval of the Commissioner or his delegate.

In Year 1, Taxpayer A and Taxpayer B each owned 50% of Corp C, a foreign
corporation. Taxpayer B performed personal services for Corp C. After the election,
because both Taxpayer A and Taxpayer B were residents of the United States for Year
1 they were United States shareholders under section 957(b) of the Code and Corp C
was a controlled foreign corporation under section 957(a). Taxpayers A and B reported
on their Form 1040 as joint filers for Year 1 a subpart F inclusion pursuant to section
951(a) in Amount X.

In Year 2, both Taxpayer A and Taxpayer B were residents of the United States under
the substantial presence test of section 7701(b)(2) of the Code. Taxpayers A and B
received in Year 2 a distribution from Corp C in Amount Y, an amount in excess of
Amount X. Taxpayers A and B jointly filed Form 1040 for Year 2, on which they
reported the receipt of previously taxed income under section 959 in Amount X and a
taxable distribution from Corp C in the amount of the excess of Amount Y over Amount
X.

Taxpayers A and B represent that with approval granted to Taxpayer B to revoke the
election to be treated as a resident under Treas. Reg. § 301.7701(b)-4(c)(3) for Year 1:

1. Taxpayer A and Taxpayer B will file an amended Form 1040 as joint filers for
   Year 2 reporting Amount Y, the entire amount of the distribution that they
   received in Year 2 from Corp C as taxable income and none as previously taxed
   income under section 959 of the Code.

2. Taxpayer A will file an amended Form 1040 for Year 1 to change status from joint
   return to married filing separately reporting all required taxable income, and

3. Taxpayer B will file, if needed, a Form 1040NR for Year 1 to report taxable U.S.
   source income, if any.

Based solely on the information submitted and the representations made approval is
granted to Taxpayer B to revoke the election to be treated as a resident under Treas.
Reg. § 301.7701(b)-4(c)(3) for Year 1.

Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning the
tax consequences of any aspect of any item discussed or referenced in this letter.

This ruling is directed only to Taxpayers A and B. Section 6110(k)(3) of the Code
provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

PLR-139178-15 3

In accordance with the Power of Attorney on file with this office, a copy of this letter is
being sent to your authorized representatives.

A copy of this letter must be attached to the amended Form 1040 as joint filers for Year
2 which Taxpayers A and B will file; the amended Form 1040 married filing separately
which Taxpayer A will file for Year 1; and the Form 1040NR which Taxpayer B will file
for Year 1 if needed, as referenced above.

                                   Sincerely,


                                   Richard L. Chewning
                                   Senior Counsel, Branch 3
                                   Office of Associate Chief Counsel (International)

cc: