IRS grants late relief for a de minimis safe harbor election after a missed COVID-era extension

Plain-English summary

A corporate parent that files a consolidated return wanted to make the de minimis safe
harbor election under Treas. Reg. Section 1.263(a)-1(f), which lets a business deduct
rather than capitalize small-dollar purchases of tangible property. That annual election
must be made on a timely filed return. Its accountant reported the Form 7004 extension
was e-filed, but COVID-19 disruptions kept it from going through, so the return carrying
the election was late and the election invalid. After discovering the slip, the parent sought
relief under the Section 301.9100-3 rules, which allow an extension when the taxpayer
acted reasonably and in good faith and relief will not prejudice the government. The IRS
granted the extension and deemed the election timely made for the parent and its
subsidiaries. The ruling covers only timeliness, not whether the taxpayer meets the safe
harbor's substantive requirements.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Should the consolidated group get a § 301.9100-3 extension to make its late de minimis safe harbor election?
• Outcome: Approved (election deemed timely)
• Key authorities: Treas. Reg. §§ 1.263(a)-1(f), 301.9100-1, 301.9100-3

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service                                      Department of the Treasury
                                                              Washington, DC 20224

Number: 202215007                                             Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 4/15/2022                                       Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 9100.00-00
                                                              Person To Contact:
                                                              ----------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------         ID No. -----------------
----------------------                                        Telephone Number:
------------------------------                                --------------------
                                                              Refer Reply To:
                                                              CC:ITA:B02
------------------------                                      PLR-115078-21
-------------------------------------                         Date:
                                                              January 18, 2022




                                                  LEGEND

Taxpayer               =       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Tax                 =       ----------------
Date 1                 =       --------------------------
Date 2                 =       ---------------------
Date 3                 =       ------------------
Date 4                 =       ---------------------
Date 5                 =       -----------------------


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

This letter responds to Taxpayer’s submission dated July 21, 2021, and subsequent
correspondence dated October 20, 2021, requesting a private letter ruling granting
relief to make a late regulatory election pursuant to Treas. Reg. §§ 301.9100-1 and
301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations. Specifically,
Taxpayer requests an extension of time to make an election under § 1.263(a)-1(f)
to apply the de minimis safe harbor for capital expenditures for the taxable year
ending on Date 1.

This letter ruling is being issued electronically in accordance with section 7.02(5) of
Rev. Proc. 2021-1, 2021-1 I.R.B. 1, 35. A paper copy will not be mailed to
Taxpayer.
PLR-115078-21                                2


                                        FACTS

Based on Taxpayer’s representations and the affidavit of VP Tax the facts are as
follows:

Taxpayer, a domestic corporation, was the common parent of an affiliated group of
corporations, set forth in Appendix A, for the taxable year ending on Date 1.
Taxpayer is on a calendar year basis and uses an accrual method as its overall
method of accounting.

Taxpayer’s consolidated Federal tax return for the taxable year ending on Date 1
was due on Date 3 (without extensions). Taxpayer planned to file Form 7004,
Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File Certain Business Income Tax,
Information, and Other Returns, before Date 3, as it had done in previous years.
Taxpayer’s tax department prepared and completed Form 7004 and Taxpayer’s
senior accountant was instructed to file the form electronically, along with a draft of
Form 851, Affiliations Schedule. The senior accountant verbally told VP Tax that
the extension had been filed on or about Date 2, which was before Date 3.
However, due to extenuating circumstances related to COVID-19, the extension
was not filed.

Taxpayer proceeded as if its federal income tax returns were due on Date 5 (the
extended deadline) and was unaware that Form 7004 was not filed. Taxpayer filed
its consolidated Federal income tax return on or about Date 4 (after Date 3).
Taxpayer made the election on this return and, as common parent, made the
election for Taxpayer’s subsidiaries (listed in Appendix A) as all were covered by a
common capitalization policy and the applicable financial statement.

Sometime after the Date 4 filing, Taxpayer discovered that the Form 7004 was not
filed and determined that its return for the taxable year ending on Date 1 was not
timely filed (and thus no valid election was made). Shortly thereafter, Taxpayer
submitted this request seeking relief under Treas. Reg. §§ 301.9100-1 and
301.9100-3. Taxpayer was not under examination for the taxable year ending on
Date 1 at the time this request was submitted.

                                LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 1.263(a)-1(f) provides that if a taxpayer elects to apply the de minimis safe
harbor, then the taxpayer may not capitalize under §§ 1.263(a)-2(d)(1) or 1.263(a)-
3(d) any amount paid in the taxable year for the acquisition or production of a unit
of tangible property nor treat as materials or supply under § 1.162-3(a) any amount
paid in the taxable year for tangible property if the amount meets certain
requirements specified in the regulations.
PLR-115078-21                                3

An annual election for Taxpayer and members of its affiliated group to apply the de
minimis safe harbor for capital expenditures for the taxable year ending on Date 1
was due on the last day prescribed by law for the filing of Taxpayer’s return.

The de minimis safe harbor election is a regulatory election as the time for filing is
provided in § 1.263(a)-1(f). As a result, the Commissioner has discretionary
authority under § 301.9100-3 to grant extensions of time for Taxpayer to file the
election.

Treas. Reg. §§ 301.9100-1 through 301.9100-3 provide the standards that the
Service will use to determine whether to grant an extension of time to make a
regulatory election. Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(a) provides that requests for
extensions of time for regulatory elections (other than automatic changes covered
in Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-2) will be granted when the taxpayer provides evidence
(including affidavits) to establish that the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good
faith and granting relief will not prejudice the interests of the Government.

Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(b)(1) provides that a taxpayer is deemed to have acted
reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer—

       (i)     Requests relief before the failure to make the regulatory election is
               discovered by the Service;
       (ii)    Failed to make the election because of intervening events beyond the
               taxpayer’s control;
       (iii)   Failed to make the election because, after exercising reasonable
               diligence, the taxpayer was unaware of the necessity for the election;
       (iv)    Reasonably relied on the written advice of the Service; or
       (v)     Reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional, and the professional
               failed to make, or advise the taxpayer to make, the election.

Under Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(b)(3), a taxpayer will not be considered to have
acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer—

       (i)     Seeks to alter a return position for which an accuracy-related penalty
               could be imposed under § 6662 at the time the taxpayer requests
               relief and the new position requires a regulatory election for which
               relief is requested;
       (ii)    Was fully informed of the required election and related tax
               consequences, but chose not to file the election; or
      (iii)    Uses hindsight in requesting relief. If specific facts have changed
               since the original deadline that make the election advantageous to a
               taxpayer, the Service will not ordinarily grant relief.

Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(c) provides that the Service will grant a reasonable
extension of time only when the interests of the Government will not be prejudiced
PLR-115078-21                                4

by the granting of relief. The interests of the Government are prejudiced if granting
relief would result in a taxpayer having a lower tax liability in the aggregate for all
taxable years affected by the election than the taxpayer would have had if the
election had been timely made.

                                    CONCLUSION

Based on the facts and information submitted and the representations made, we
conclude that Taxpayer has acted reasonably and in good faith, and that the
granting of relief would not prejudice the interests of the Government. Accordingly,
Taxpayer has satisfied the requirements for the granting of relief, and Taxpayer is
granted an extension of time to make an election under § 1.263(a)-1(f) to apply the
de minimis safe harbor for capital expenditures for the taxable year ending on Date

1. Having made the election on Taxpayer’s late filed consolidated Federal income
tax return for the taxable year ending on Date 1, this election is hereby deemed to
be timely made for Taxpayer and its subsidiaries (listed in Appendix A).

This ruling is based upon facts and representations submitted by the Taxpayer and
accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed by an appropriate party as
well as the supporting affidavit of VP Tax. This office has not verified any of the
material submitted in support of the request for a ruling. However, as part of an
examination process, the Service may verify the factual information,
representations, and other data submitted.

This ruling addresses the granting of Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3 relief as applied to
the election under § 1.263(a)-1(f) to apply the de minimis safe harbor for capital
expenditures for the taxable year ending on Date 1. Specifically, we have no
opinion, either express or implied, concerning whether Taxpayer meets the
substantive requirements of § 1.263(a)-1(f). We express no opinion regarding the
tax treatment of the instant transaction under the provisions of any other sections of
the Code or regulations that may be applicable, or regarding the tax treatment of
any conditions existing at the time of, or effects resulting from, the instant
transaction.

This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Section 6110(k)(3)
provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.
PLR-115078-21                                             5

 In accordance with the Power of Attorney on file with this office, we are sending a
 copy of this letter to your authorized representatives.

                                                          Sincerely,




                                                          Ronald J. Goldstein
                                                          Senior Technician Reviewer, Branch 2
                                                          (Income Tax & Accounting)


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