§ 301.9100-3T - Other extensions (temporary).

(a) In general. Requests for extensions of time for regulatory elections that do not meet the requirements of § 301.9100-2T must be made under the rules of this section. Requests for relief subject to this section will be granted when the taxpayer provides the evidence (including affidavits described in paragraph (e) of this section) to establish that the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith, and granting relief will not prejudice the interests of the government.

(b) Reasonable action and good faith—(1) In general. Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(3)(i) through (iii) of this section, a taxpayer is deemed to have acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer—

(i) Requests relief under this section before the failure to make the regulatory election is discovered by the IRS;

(ii) Inadvertently 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 (taking into account the taxpayer's experience and the complexity of the return or issue), the taxpayer was unaware of the necessity for the election;

(iv) Reasonably relied on the written advice of the IRS; or

(v) Reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional, including a tax professional employed by the taxpayer, and the tax professional failed to make, or advise the taxpayer to make, the election.

(2) Reasonable reliance on a qualified tax professional. For purposes of this paragraph (b), a taxpayer will not be considered to have reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional if the taxpayer knew or should have known that the professional was not—

(i) Competent to render advice on the regulatory election; or

(ii) Aware of all relevant facts.

(3) Taxpayer deemed to have not acted reasonably or in good faith. For purposes of this paragraph (b), a taxpayer is deemed to have not 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 (taking into account any qualified amended return filed within the meaning of § 1.6664-2(c)(3) of this chapter) and the new position requires or permits 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 for making the election that make the election advantageous to a taxpayer, the IRS will not ordinarily grant relief. In such a case, the IRS will grant relief only when the taxpayer provides strong proof that the taxpayer's decision to seek relief did not involve hindsight.

(c) Prejudice to the interests of the government—(1) In general—(i) Lower tax liability. 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 years to which the regulatory election applies than the taxpayer would have had if the election had been timely made (taking into account the time value of money). Similarly, if the tax consequences of more than one taxpayer are affected by the election, the government's interests are prejudiced if extending the time for making the election may result in the affected taxpayers, in the aggregate, having a lower tax liability than if the election had been timely made.

(ii) Closed years. The interests of the government are ordinarily prejudiced if the tax year in which the regulatory election should have been made or any tax years 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. The IRS may condition a grant of relief on the taxpayer providing the IRS with a statement from an independent auditor (other than an auditor providing an affidavit pursuant to paragraph (e)(3) of this section) certifying that the requirements of paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section are satisfied.

(2) Special rules for accounting method regulatory elections. The interests of the government are deemed to be prejudiced except in unusual and compelling circumstances if the accounting method regulatory election is—

(i) Subject to the procedure described in § 1.446-1(e)(3)(i) of this chapter (requiring the advance written consent of the Commissioner), and the request for relief under this section is filed more than 90 days after the deadline for filing the Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method;

(ii) Not an election described in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section and requires an adjustment under section 481(a) (or would require an adjustment under section 481(a) if the taxpayer changed to the method of accounting for which relief is requested in a taxable year subsequent to the taxable year the election should have been made);

(iii) Not an election described in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, the taxpayer is under examination and requests relief under this section to change from an impermissible method of accounting, and granting relief will provide the taxpayer a more favorable method of accounting or more favorable terms and conditions than the taxpayer would receive if the change from the impermissible method is made as part of the examination; or

(iv) Not an election described in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section and the election provides a more favorable method of accounting or more favorable terms and conditions if the election is made by a certain date or taxable year.

(3) Special rules for accounting period regulatory elections. The interests of the government are deemed to be prejudiced except in unusual and compelling circumstances if an election is an accounting period regulatory election (other than the election to use other than the required taxable year under section 444) and the request for relief is filed more than 90 days after the deadline for filing the Form 1128, Application to Adopt, Change, or Retain a Tax Year (or other required statement).

(d) Effect of amended returns—(1) Second examination under section 7605(b). Taxpayers requesting and receiving an extension of time under this section waive any objections to a second examination under section 7605(b) for the issue(s) that is the subject of the relief request and any correlative adjustments.

(2) Suspension of the period of limitations under section 6501(a). A request for relief under this section does not suspend the period of limitations on assessment under section 6501(a). Thus, for relief to be granted, the IRS may require the taxpayer to consent under section 6501(c)(4) to an extension of the period of limitations on assessment for the tax year in which the regulatory election should have been made and any tax years that would have been affected by the election had it been timely made.

(e) Procedural requirements—(1) In general. Requests for relief under this section must provide evidence that satisfies the requirements in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, and must provide additional information as required by this paragraph (e).

(2) Affidavit and declaration from taxpayer. The taxpayer, or the individual who acts on behalf of the taxpayer with respect to tax matters, must submit a detailed affidavit describing the events that led to the failure to make a valid regulatory election and to the discovery of the failure. When the taxpayer relied on a qualified tax professional for advice, the taxpayer's affidavit must describe the engagement and responsibilities of the professional as well as the extent to which the taxpayer relied on the professional. The affidavit must be accompanied by a dated declaration, signed by the taxpayer, which states: “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the facts presented herein are true, correct, and complete.” The individual who signs for an entity must have personal knowledge of the facts and circumstances at issue.

(3) Affidavits and declarations from other parties. The taxpayer must submit detailed affidavits from the individuals having knowledge or information about the events that led to the failure to make a valid regulatory election and to the discovery of the failure. These individuals must include the taxpayer's income tax return preparer, any individual (including an employee of the taxpayer) who made a substantial contribution to the preparation of the return, and any accountant or attorney, knowledgeable in tax matters, who advised the taxpayer with regard to the election. An affidavit must describe the engagement and responsibilities of the individual as well as the advice that the individual provided to the taxpayer. Each affidavit must include the name, current address, and taxpayer identification number of the individual, and be accompanied by a dated declaration, signed by the individual, which states: “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the facts presented herein are true, correct, and complete.”

(4) Other Information. The request for relief filed under this section must also contain the following information—

(i) The taxpayer must state whether the taxpayer's return(s) for the tax year in which the regulatory election should have been made or any tax years that would have been affected by the election had it been timely made is being examined by a district director, or is being considered by an appeals office or a federal court. The taxpayer must notify the IRS office considering the request for relief if the IRS starts an examination of any such return while the taxpayer's request for relief is pending;

(ii) The taxpayer must state when the applicable return, form, or statement used to make the election was required to be filed and when it was actually filed;

(iii) The taxpayer must submit a copy of any documents that refer to the election;

(iv) When requested, the taxpayer must submit a copy of the taxpayer's income tax return for any taxable year for which the taxpayer requests an extension and any return affected by the election; and

(v) When applicable, the taxpayer must submit a copy of the income tax returns of other taxpayers affected by the election.

(5) Filing instructions. A request for relief under this section is a request for a letter ruling. Requests for relief should be submitted in accordance with the applicable procedures for requests for a letter ruling and must be accompanied by the applicable user fee.

(f) Examples. The following examples illustrate the provisions of this section:

Example 1.

Taxpayer discovers own error. Taxpayer A prepares A's 1996 income tax return. A is unaware that a particular regulatory election is available to report a transaction in a particular manner. A files the 1996 return without making the election and reporting the transaction in a different manner. In 1998, A hires a qualified tax professional to prepare A's 1998 return. The professional discovers that A did not make the election. A promptly files for relief in accordance with this section. Assuming paragraphs (b)(3)(i) through (iii) of this section do not apply, A is deemed to have acted reasonably and in good faith.

Example 2.

Reliance on qualified tax professional. Taxpayer B hires a qualified tax professional to advise B on preparing B's 1996 income tax return and provides the professional with all the information requested. The professional fails to advise B that a regulatory election is necessary in order for B to report income on B's 1996 return in a particular manner. Nevertheless, B reports this income in a manner that is consistent with having made the election. In 1999, during the examination of the 1996 return by the IRS, the examining agent discovers that the election has not been filed. B promptly files for relief in accordance with this section, including attaching an affidavit from B's professional stating that the professional failed to advise B that the election was necessary. Assuming paragraphs (b)(3)(i) through (iii) of this section do not apply, B is deemed to have acted reasonably and in good faith.

Example 3.

Accuracy-related penalty. Taxpayer C reports income on its 1996 income tax return in a manner that contravenes a statutory provision. C was aware of the statutory provision that prohibited the manner in which C reported this income, but did not provide adequate disclosure of the return position within the meaning of § 1.6662-3(c) of this chapter. In 1999, during the examination of the 1996 return, the IRS raises an issue regarding the reporting of this income on C's return. C requests relief under this section to elect an alternative method of reporting the income. Under paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, C is deemed to have not acted reasonably and in good faith because C seeks to alter a return position for which an accuracy-related penalty could be imposed under section 6662.

Example 4.

Election not requiring adjustment under section 481(a). Taxpayer D prepares D's 1996 income tax return. D is unaware that a particular accounting method regulatory election is available. D files the 1996 return using another method of accounting. In 1998, D hires a qualified tax professional to prepare D's 1998 return. The professional discovers that D did not make the election. D promptly files for relief in accordance with this section. Assume the applicable regulation provides that the election does not require an adjustment under section 481(a) and the election is not subject to the procedure described in § 1.446-1(e)(3)(i) of this chapter. Further assume that if D were granted an extension of time to make the election, D would pay no less tax than if the election had been timely made. Under paragraph (c) of this section, the interests of the government are not deemed to be prejudiced.

Example 5.

Election requiring adjustment under section 481(a). The facts are the same as in Example 4 of this paragraph (f) except that the applicable regulation provides that the election requires an adjustment under section 481(a). Under paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section, the interests of the government are deemed to be prejudiced except in unusual or compelling circumstances.

Example 6.

Under examination. A regulation permits an automatic change from an impermissible method of accounting on a cut-off basis. Any change to this method made as part of an examination is made with a section 481(a) adjustment. Taxpayer E reports income on E's 1996 income tax return using the impermissible method of accounting. In 1999, during the examination of the 1996 return by the IRS, the examining agent questions the propriety of E's method of accounting. E requests relief under this section to make the change pursuant to the regulation for 1996. E will receive less favorable terms and conditions if the change in method of accounting is made with a section 481(a) adjustment by the examining agent than if the change is made on a cut-off basis pursuant to the regulation. Under paragraph (c)(2)(iii) of this section, the interests of the government are deemed to be prejudiced except in unusual and compelling circumstances.