IRS grants 60 more days to self-certify as a Qualified Opportunity Fund after a mixed-up filing

Plain-English summary

An LLC taxed as a partnership was formed to be a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF), the investment vehicle that lets investors defer capital gains by putting them into designated Opportunity Zones. To become a QOF, the entity must "self-certify" by filing Form 8996 with a timely tax return. Here the fund's manager assumed the accountants for the underlying opportunity-zone business would prepare the fund's Form 1065 and Form 8996, so the fund never engaged its own accountant and missed the filing. A member's CPA later caught the omission. The fund asked the IRS for a late-election extension under Treas. Reg. §§ 301.9100-1 and 301.9100-3. Finding the fund acted reasonably and in good faith and that relief would not prejudice the government, the IRS granted 60 days from the date of the letter to file Form 8996 and elect QOF status. The IRS stressed it was not extending time to file the partnership return itself and expressed no opinion on whether the entity actually qualifies as a QOF. Opportunity-zone investors care because losing QOF certification would unravel the capital-gains deferral.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: May an entity that missed its Form 8996 QOF self-certification get an extension of time to make the election?
• Outcome: Approved (60-day extension to file Form 8996)
• Key authorities: IRC § 1400Z-2(d), (e)(4)(A); Treas. Reg. §§ 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2), 301.9100-1, 301.9100-3

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 202334008
Release Date: 8/25/2023
Index Number: 1400Z.02-00, 9100.00-00

Third Party Communication: None
Date of Communication: Not Applicable

Person To Contact:
------------------------, ID No. -----------------
Telephone Number: --------------------
Refer Reply To: CC:ITA:B08
PLR-122357-22
Date: June 01, 2023

LEGEND

Taxpayer = -------------------------------------------------------------------------
State = ----------
CPA = -------------------------
Manager = ----------------------------------------------
Members = -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date 1 = -------------------------
Date 2 = -----------------------
Date 3 = --------------------------
Year 1 = -------

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

This ruling responds to Taxpayer's request for a letter ruling dated Date 1. Specifically, Taxpayer requests an extension of time under sections 301.9100-1 and 301.9100-3 of the Income Tax Regulations, to (1) make a timely election under section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) to be certified as a qualified opportunity fund (QOF), as defined in section 1400Z-2(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, and (2) for Taxpayer to be treated as a QOF, effective for its taxable year ended Date 3, effective as of Date 2, as provided by section 1400Z-2(d) and section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a) of the Income Tax Regulations.

                                     FACTS

According to the affidavits and additional information provided to us, Taxpayer has represented that the facts are as follows. Taxpayer is a limited liability company organized under the laws of State. Taxpayer is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and was formed for the purpose of investing in qualified opportunity zone property and serving as a QOF. Taxpayer's annual accounting period is the calendar year and uses the cash method of accounting.

The Members formed Taxpayer in anticipation of investing eligible gain into Taxpayer on Date 2. Taxpayer represents that it has invested the gains contributed by the Members into a qualified opportunity zone business (QOZB).

The amount invested by Taxpayer in the QOZB represented a majority investment in the QOZB. Additionally, the QOZB was involved in the formation of Taxpayer. Because the QOZB was involved in the formation of Taxpayer, Manager believed that the QOZB's accountants would prepare Taxpayer's initial, Year 1 Form 1065, US Return on Partnership Income, which would include QOF-specific forms (i.e., the Form 8996, Qualified Opportunity Fund (Form 8996)). Based on this belief, Taxpayer did not engage its own accountant to prepare the Form 1065 or Form 8996. This miscommunication between Taxpayer and QOZB resulted in Taxpayer not timely filing its Form 1065 or Form 8996 for Year 1.

Taxpayer, therefore, did not make a valid election to certify as a QOF on Form 8996 for Year 1. While working with CPA to prepare Member's own Year 1 Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Return, Member discovered that the Year 1 Form 1065 and Form 8996 for the Taxpayer had not been filed. Taxpayer engaged CPA to prepare its Year 1 Form 1065 and Form 8996.

Upon learning that the Year 1 Forms 1065 and 8996 were not timely filed, it was determined that Taxpayer should seek a ruling request. Taxpayer then filed this ruling request seeking an extension of time to file Form 8996 for Taxpayer's Year 1 tax year, pursuant to sections 301.9100-1 and 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations. Taxpayer has not yet filed its Forms 1065 and 8996 for Year 1.

                              LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 1400Z-2(e)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations for rules for the certification of QOFs. Section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2) of the Income Tax Regulations provides the rules for an entity to self-certify as a QOF. Section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) provides that the entity electing to be certified as a QOF must do so annually on a timely filed return in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in the Internal Revenue Service forms or instructions, or in publications or guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.

To self-certify as a QOF, a taxpayer must file Form 8996, with its tax return for the year to which the certification applies. The Form 8996 must be filed by the due date of the tax return (including extensions). The information provided indicates that Taxpayer did not file its Form 8996 by the due date of its income tax return (including extensions) due to misunderstanding about who had the responsibility to file the return.

Because section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) sets forth the manner and timing for an entity to self-certify as a QOF, these elections are regulatory elections, as defined in section 301.9100-1(b).

Sections 301.9100-1 through 301.9100-3 provide the standards that the Commissioner will use to determine whether to grant an extension of time to make a regulatory election. Section 301.9100-3(a) provides that requests for extensions of time for regulatory elections (other than automatic extensions covered in section 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 the grant of relief will not prejudice the interests of the government.

Under section 301.9100-3(b), a taxpayer is deemed to have acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer requests relief before the failure to make the regulatory election is discovered by the Service, or reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional, and the tax professional failed to make, or advise the taxpayer to make, the election. However, a taxpayer is not considered to have reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional if the taxpayer knew or should have known that the professional was not competent to render advice on the regulatory election or was not aware of all relevant facts.

In addition, section 301.9100-3(b)(3) provides that a taxpayer is deemed not to have acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer—

  (i)    seeks to alter a return position for which an accuracy-related penalty has been or could be imposed under section 6662 at the time the taxpayer requests relief, and the new position requires or permits a regulatory election for which relief is requested;

  (ii)   was fully informed in all material respects of the required election and related tax consequences but chose not to make 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.

Section 301.9100-3(c)(1) provides that the Commissioner will grant a reasonable extension of time to make the regulatory election only when the interests of the Government will not be prejudiced by the granting of relief.

Section 301.9100-3(c)(1)(i) provides that 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 (taking into account the time value of money).

Section 301.9100-3(c)(1)(ii) provides that the interests of the government are ordinarily prejudiced if the taxable year in which the regulatory election should have been made or any taxable year that would have been affected by the election had it been timely made are closed by the period of limitations on assessment under section 6501(a) before the taxpayer's receipt of a ruling granting relief under this section.

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, based solely on the facts and information submitted, and the representations made in the ruling request, this letter ruling grants Taxpayer an extension of 60 days from the date of this letter ruling to file a Form 8996 to make the election to self-certify as a QOF under section 1400Z-2 and section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i). The election must be made on a completed Form 8996 attached to the Taxpayer's tax return. This letter ruling grants an extension of time to file a Form 8996. This letter ruling does not grant an extension of time to file Taxpayer's Form 1065.

This ruling is based upon facts and representations submitted by Taxpayer and accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed by an appropriate party. 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.

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. Specifically, we express no opinion, either express or implied, concerning whether any investments made into Taxpayer are qualifying investments as defined in section 1.1400Z2(a)–1(b)(34) or whether the taxpayer meets the requirements under section 1400Z-2 and the regulations thereunder to be a QOF. 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) of the Code 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 is being sent to your authorized representatives.

A copy of this letter must be attached to any 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,

                                       Kyle C. Griffin
                                       Senior Counsel, Branch 5
                                       Office of Associate Chief Counsel
                                       (Income Tax and Accounting)

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