Late qualified opportunity fund self-certification treated as timely

Plain-English summary

A partnership was organized to operate as a qualified opportunity fund and invest in qualified opportunity zone property. It relied on an accountant to prepare and file its first Form 1065 and Form 8996 self-certification. Because of administrative oversight and circumstances the taxpayer described as beyond its control, neither form was filed by the deadline. The partnership later filed both forms and requested regulatory relief. The IRS concluded that it acted reasonably and in good faith and treated the filed Form 8996 as timely, making the qualified opportunity fund election effective in the requested formation month. The ruling did not decide whether the partnership or its investments otherwise met the opportunity-zone requirements, and it did not treat the late Form 1065 itself as timely.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: May the partnership's late-filed Form 8996 be treated as timely for its first-year qualified opportunity fund election?
• Outcome: Approved, the filed Form 8996 is treated as timely
• Key authorities: IRC § 1400Z-2; Treas. Reg. §§ 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i), 301.9100-1, and 301.9100-3

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service
Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 202349001
Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 12/8/2023
Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 9100.00-00, 1400Z.02-00
Person To Contact:
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Telephone Number:
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Refer Reply To:
CC:ITA:B04
PLR-104943-23
Date:
September 08, 2023

Taxpayer = ----------------------------------------------
Accountant = ----------------------------------
Law Firm = ------------------
State = ------------
Date 1 = ------------------
Date 2 = -------------------
Month 1 = -------------
Year 1 = -------

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

This letter responds to Taxpayer's request, dated Date 2. Specifically, Taxpayer requests relief, pursuant to sections 301.9100-1 and 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations, for its Form 8996, Qualified Opportunity Fund, filed on Date 2, to be treated as timely for purposes of the election to: (1) self-certify Taxpayer as a qualified opportunity fund (“QOF”) as defined in section 1400Z-2(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code); and (2) for Taxpayer to be treated as a QOF, effective as of the month Taxpayer was formed, as provided under section 1400Z-2 of the Code and section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a) of the Income Tax Regulations.

This letter is being issued electronically in accordance with Rev. Proc. 2023-1, 2023-1 I.R.B. 1. A paper copy will not be mailed to Taxpayer.
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2

FACTS

According to the facts and representations provided, Taxpayer was organized as a limited liability company on Date 1 under the laws of State and is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Taxpayer was organized for the purpose of being a qualified opportunity fund and to invest in qualified opportunity zone property.

Taxpayer relied on Accountant to handle all Taxpayer’s tax filings, including preparing and filing Taxpayer’s Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income along with Form 8996 to self-certify Taxpayer as a QOF for Year 1. Due to administrative oversight and inadvertence beyond the Taxpayer’s control, Taxpayer’s Year 1 federal income tax return and accompanying Form 8996 was not filed by the due date. Taxpayer then engaged Law Firm to prepare this request. Taxpayer has represented that its Form 1065 with an accompanying Form 8996 for Year 1 was filed on or around Date 2.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 1400Z-2(e)(4)(A) directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations for rules for the certification of QOFs. Treas. Reg. section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) provides that the self- certification of a QOF must be timely-filed and effectuated annually in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in the IRS 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, Qualified Opportunity Fund, 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 Year 1 income tax return (including extensions) due to circumstances beyond Taxpayer’s control.

Section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) sets forth the manner and timing for electing to be a QOF and electing to self-certify as a QOF. As such, 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.
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Section 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.

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.
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CONCLUSION

Based on the facts and information submitted in connection with this request, we conclude 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 of the regulations for the granting of relief, and Taxpayer’s Year 1 Form 8996 filed on or about Date 2, shall be considered timely filed. Accordingly, Taxpayer has thereby made the election under section 1400Z- 2 and section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) to self-certify as a QOF as of Month 1. Taxpayer should submit a copy of this letter ruling to the IRS Service Center where Taxpayer files its income tax returns, along with a cover letter requesting that the Service associate this ruling with Taxpayer’s Year 1 federal income tax return.

This ruling is based upon facts and representations submitted by Taxpayer and accompanied by penalty of perjury statements executed by the appropriate parties. 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. section 301.9100-3 relief as applied to the election to self-certify Taxpayer as a QOF by filing Form 8996 for Year 1.

Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is either expressed or implied concerning the tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or referenced in this letter. Specifically, we have no opinion, either express or implied, concerning whether any investments made into Taxpayer are qualifying investments as defined in Treas. Reg. section 1.1400Z2(a)-1(b)(34) or whether Taxpayer meets the requirements and structure under section 1400Z-2 and the regulations thereunder to be a QOF. In addition, we also express no opinion on whether any interest owned in any entity by Taxpayer qualifies as qualified opportunity zone property, as defined in section 1400Z-2(d)(2), or whether such entity would be treated as a qualified opportunity zone business, as defined in section 1400Z-2(d)(3). 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. We express no opinion as to whether Taxpayer’s Year 1 Federal income tax return is considered timely filed.

A copy of this letter must be attached to any 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.
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This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Code section 6110(k)(3) provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent. Enclosed is a copy of the letter ruling showing the deletions proposed to be made when it is disclosed under Code section 6110.

Pursuant to the Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representation, on file, we are sending a copy of this letter to Taxpayer's authorized representatives.

Sincerely,

Lisa Mojiri-Azad
Senior Technician Reviewer
Branch 4
Office of Chief Counsel
(Income Tax & Accounting)

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