99-32695. Information Reporting With Respect to Certain Foreign Partnerships and Certain Foreign Corporations  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 1999)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 72545-72554]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-32695]
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
    
    Internal Revenue Service
    
    26 CFR Parts 1 and 602
    
    [TD 8850]
    RIN 1545-AV69
    
    
    Information Reporting With Respect to Certain Foreign 
    Partnerships and Certain Foreign Corporations
    
    AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.
    
    ACTION: Final regulations.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: This document contains final regulations under section 6038 of 
    the Internal Revenue Code relating to information reporting 
    requirements for United States persons owning interests in controlled 
    foreign partnerships (CFPs). This document also contains
    
    [[Page 72546]]
    
    amendments to the final regulations under section 6038 relating to the 
    reporting requirements of U.S. shareholders of certain foreign 
    corporations and amendments to the final regulations under section 
    6038B relating to the reporting requirements with respect to transfers 
    of property to foreign partnerships and to foreign corporations.
    
    DATES: Effective Dates: These regulations are effective December 29, 
    1999, except that Sec. 1.6038B-2(a)(5) is effective January 1, 2000.
        Applicability Dates: For dates of applicability, see Secs. 1.6038-
    2(l), 1.6038-3(l), and 1.6038B-2(c)(4) and (j)(3).
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eliana Dolgoff, (202) 622-3860 (not a 
    toll-free number).
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        The collections of information contained in these final regulations 
    have been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
    in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
    3507(d)) under control numbers 1545-1615, 1545-1617, and 1545-1317. 
    Responses to these collections of information are mandatory.
        An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
    to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid 
    control number assigned by the Office of Management and Budget.
        The burden of complying with the collection of information required 
    to be reported on Form 8865 is reflected in the burden for Form 8865.
        The burden of complying with the collection of information required 
    to be reported on Form 5471 is reflected in the burden for Form 5471.
        The burden of complying with the collection of information required 
    to be reported on Form 926 is reflected in the burden for Form 926.
        The estimated annual burden per respondent of complying with the 
    collection of information in Sec. 1.6038-3(c)(1)(ii)(B) and (2)(ii)(B) 
    varies from .5 hours to 1.5 hours, depending on individual 
    circumstances, with an estimated average of 1 hour.
        Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden estimate and 
    suggestions for reducing this burden should be sent to the Internal 
    Revenue Service, Attn: IRS Reports Clearance Officer, OP:FS:FP, 
    Washington, DC 20224, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Attn: 
    Desk Officer of the Department of the Treasury, Office of Information 
    and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503.
        Books or records relating to this collection of information must be 
    retained as long as their contents may become material in the 
    administration of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and 
    tax return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.
    
    Background
    
        On September 9, 1998, the IRS published in the Federal Register (63 
    FR 48144) proposed regulations relating to the reporting requirements 
    under section 6038 of United States persons that are direct or indirect 
    partners of CFPs. A public hearing on the proposed regulations was held 
    on November 10, 1998, even though no requests to speak at the hearing 
    were received. Though no comments were made at the hearing, written 
    comments were received. After consideration of all of the written 
    comments, the proposed regulations under section 6038 are adopted as 
    revised by this Treasury decision. The revisions are discussed in the 
    Summary of Public Comments and Explanation of Revisions section of this 
    preamble. This document also contains amendments to certain other final 
    regulations. These amendments are also discussed below.
    
    Summary of Public Comments and Explanation of Revisions
    
    A. General Comments Regarding the Proposed Section 6038 CFP Regulations
    
        Some commentators suggested that the final regulations should 
    exempt state and local government employee retirement plans from the 
    section 6038 reporting requirements. The final regulations provide that 
    trusts relating to state and local government employee retirement plans 
    are not required to report under section 6038, unless required to do so 
    in the instructions to Form 8865, ``Return of U.S. Persons with Respect 
    to Certain Foreign Partnerships.''
        One commentator asserted that the reasonable cause exception to the 
    section 6038 penalties appears to apply only to failures to file Form 
    8865 and therefore would not protect a taxpayer who files an incomplete 
    Form 8865 because the taxpayer was unable to obtain all the required 
    information from the foreign partnership. The reasonable cause 
    exception has been modified to make clear that it applies to both a 
    failure to file Form 8865 and to a failure to submit all information 
    required to be submitted.
        Commentators requested that the final regulations provide that the 
    section 6038 penalties do not apply when there is minor noncompliance 
    with the reporting requirements under section 6038. The commentators 
    expressed concern that taxpayers will be subject to penalties for small 
    discrepancies in the information reported and suggested that the 
    penalties apply only if there is a substantial failure to report the 
    required information, or if materially false or inaccurate information 
    is submitted. Because the IRS and Treasury believe adding such a 
    standard might encourage taxpayers to submit incomplete Forms 8865, the 
    standard was not added to the final regulations. A taxpayer may, 
    nonetheless, avoid application of the section 6038 penalties because of 
    minor noncompliance with the section 6038 reporting requirements by 
    demonstrating reasonable cause. See Sec. 1.6038-3(k)(4).
        Commentators also requested that the IRS add additional, specific 
    reasonable cause exceptions to the section 6038 penalties. For example, 
    one commentator requested a specific exception be provided for 
    controlling ten-percent partners (see definition in Sec. 1.6038-
    3(a)(2)) that are unable to obtain all information required to be 
    reported by controlling ten-percent partners. The final regulations do 
    not contain additional, specific reasonable cause exceptions. Whether 
    there is reasonable cause depends on all the facts and circumstances of 
    the particular case. Any person who is unable to obtain information may 
    apply for a reasonable cause determination specific to that person's 
    situation.
        Finally, a commentator asked that in the case of an affiliated 
    group of corporations filing a consolidated income tax return, the 
    final regulations not require the members to file separate Forms 8865 
    if one member of the group files Form 8865. The final regulations adopt 
    this recommendation. The common parent corporation of an affiliated 
    group of corporations filing a consolidated income tax return may file 
    one Form 8865 on behalf of all other members of the group required to 
    file Form 8865 pursuant to section 6038 with respect to a particular 
    foreign partnership.
    
    B. Section 6038/Section 6031 Overlap
    
        Some commentators requested that the final regulations address the 
    potential overlap between section 6031 and section 6038. In general, 
    section 6031(e) provides that a foreign partnership must file Form 
    1065, ``U.S. Partnership Return of Income,'' if it has gross income 
    derived from sources within the United States or gross income that is 
    effectively connected
    
    [[Page 72547]]
    
    with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
        Section 6038 provides generally that a U.S. partner of a foreign 
    partnership must file Form 8865 with respect to that partnership if the 
    partner individually, or collectively with other ten-percent or greater 
    U.S. partners, owns more than a fifty-percent interest in the 
    partnership. Therefore, in some cases, both Forms 1065 and 8865 would 
    be required to be filed with regard to the same partnership for the 
    same tax year of the partnership. Although the two forms are not 
    identical, and one is filed by the partnership while the other is filed 
    by the relevant partners, the information required by the two forms is 
    substantially the same.
        Additionally, some confusion may result from the fact that the two 
    forms contain similarly titled schedules. In particular, each form has 
    a Schedule K-1 on which information about a partner's distributive 
    share of partnership income, deductions, etc., is to be reported. The 
    IRS is working to eliminate discrepancies between the two schedules. 
    However, even if the discrepancies are eliminated, it is still possible 
    the two schedules will not contain identical information because one 
    schedule will be prepared by a partner and one will be prepared by the 
    partnership.
        In response to the comments that the overlap between section 6031 
    and section 6038 reporting will be burdensome to taxpayers when both 
    sets of requirements apply, and to help avoid any confusion on the part 
    of taxpayers with respect to which Schedule K-1 they should use to 
    compute their tax liabilities, the final section 6038 regulations 
    reduce the burden imposed by section 6038 in the case of an overlap. 
    They provide that if a foreign partnership completes and files Form 
    1065, a U.S. person required to report under section 6038 must use a 
    copy of the filed Form 1065, including the Schedules K-1, in 
    conjunction with fulfilling the person's section 6038 reporting 
    obligation. Specifically, the instructions to Form 8865 will state 
    which schedules on Form 1065 are considered equivalent to schedules on 
    Form 8865. A U.S. partner must attach to the partner's Form 8865 a copy 
    of the Form 1065 schedules that are considered equivalent to the 
    schedules the partner is required to complete on Form 8865 as a 
    controlling fifty-percent partner (see definition in Sec. 1.6038-
    3(a)(1)) or as a controlling ten-percent partner. A partner should not 
    complete a schedule on Form 8865 when the partner attaches a copy of 
    the equivalent Form 1065 schedule to its Form 8865. Should a schedule 
    on Form 8865 ask for information that is not required to be reported on 
    the equivalent Form 1065 schedule, the partner is not required to 
    report that information on its Form 8865 if a copy of the completed 
    equivalent Form 1065 schedule is attached to its Form 8865. A partner 
    attaching copies of schedules from Form 1065 to its Form 8865 must 
    still complete the parts of Form 8865 that the person is required to 
    complete as a controlling fifty-percent partner, or as a controlling 
    ten-percent partner, and for which there is no equivalent Form 1065 
    schedule (for example, a partner must still complete the first page of 
    Form 8865 and certain schedules on page two of the form).
        An example of how a person will use a completed Form 1065 to 
    fulfill its section 6038 filing obligation is as follows. Section 
    1.6038-3(g)(2)(iii) requires a controlling fifty-percent partner to 
    report aggregate information about the partners' distributive shares of 
    income, gain, losses, deductions and credits. Such information is 
    reported on Schedule K of Form 8865. The same information is also 
    required to be submitted on Schedule K of Form 1065. The instructions 
    to Form 8865 will provide that Schedules K on Forms 1065 and 8865 are 
    equivalent. Accordingly, if the partnership completes and files a Form 
    1065, a controlling fifty-percent partner filing Form 8865 must attach 
    a copy of the Schedule K from the Form 1065 to the partner's Form 8865 
    and should not complete Schedule K on Form 8865. The partner must also 
    attach all other Form 1065 schedules that are considered equivalent to 
    Form 8865 schedules that the partner must complete as a controlling 
    fifty-percent partner. Additionally, the partner must still complete 
    page one of Form 8865 and Schedules A ``Constructive Ownership of 
    Partnership Interest,'' A-1 ``Certain Partners of Foreign 
    Partnership,'' A-2 ``Affiliation Schedule,'' and N ``Transactions 
    Between Controlled Foreign Partnership and Partners or Other Related 
    Entities'' of Form 8865.
        Similarly, a controlling ten-percent partner must submit on 
    Schedule K-1 of Form 8865 a statement of the income, gain, losses, 
    deductions and credits allocated to the partner's direct interest in 
    the partnership. See Sec. 1.6038-3(g)(1)(i). The same information is 
    also required to be reported on Schedule K-1 of Form 1065. Therefore, 
    if the partnership completes and files Form 1065, the partner must 
    attach to its Form 8865 a copy of its Schedule K-1 from the Form 1065 
    completed by the partnership and should not complete Schedule K-1 on 
    Form 8865. The partner is still required to complete the portions of 
    pages one and two of Form 8865 applicable to controlling ten-percent 
    partners, as well as Schedule N.
        Another comment asserted that the proposed regulations imposed an 
    excessive reporting burden on taxpayers and that they had the effect of 
    nullifying the section 6031(e) limitation on reporting required of 
    foreign partnerships. The comment suggested that the IRS require only 
    those items specifically enumerated in section 6038(a)(1) to be 
    reported under section 6038.
        Section 6038 grants the IRS authority to require taxpayers to 
    submit more than the items enumerated in section 6038(a)(1). Section 
    6038 provides that the Secretary may require the furnishing of any 
    other information that is similar or related in nature to that 
    specified in the first sentence of section 6038(a)(1), or which the 
    Secretary determines to be appropriate to carry out the provision of 
    Title 26. The IRS has determined that all of the information that the 
    final section 6038 regulations require taxpayers to submit is necessary 
    for the IRS to carry out the provisions of Title 26.
        Additionally, as explained above, section 6031(e) and section 6038 
    differ with respect to whom they require to report and when the 
    reporting obligation applies. Section 6031(e) applies only to the 
    requirement that a Form 1065 be filed, to the application of the TEFRA 
    partnership-level audit procedures, and to the requirement that a 
    partnership report information about its operations, even when there is 
    limited U.S. ownership in the partnership. In contrast, section 6038 
    requires certain U.S. partners to report information when the foreign 
    partnership in which they own an interest has substantial U.S. 
    ownership. Section 6031(e) was added to the Internal Revenue Code at 
    the same time that section 6038 was amended to apply to CFPs. See 
    Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Public Law 105-34, sections 1141-1142 (111 
    Stat. 983) (1997). Therefore, rather than intending section 6031(e) to 
    limit the amount of information required to be reported pursuant to 
    section 6038, Congress intended the two provisions to work together to 
    ensure that the IRS receives sufficient information about foreign 
    partnerships.
    
    C. Tiered Partnerships
    
        Commentators requested that section 6038 reporting apply only to 
    first-tier CFPs, i.e., section 6038 reporting should only be required 
    of U.S. persons with respect to foreign partnerships in which
    
    [[Page 72548]]
    
    they own a direct interest. However, section 6038(e)(3)(B) provides 
    that rules similar to the rules of section 267(c) shall apply when 
    determining whether a person owns a fifty-percent interest in a foreign 
    partnership. Additionally, the statute does not require that a U.S. 
    person own its interest in the CFP directly. Therefore, the final 
    regulations require section 6038 reporting of United States persons 
    whose ownership interests are entirely the result of constructive 
    ownership from other persons.
        Nevertheless, certain exceptions and modifications to this rule may 
    apply. Persons that do not own direct interests may qualify for a 
    reduced reporting obligation pursuant to the exception for constructive 
    owners in Sec. 1.6038-3(c)(2). Additionally, certain information 
    required by the final section 6038 regulations must be submitted only 
    if the partner owns a direct interest in the foreign partnership. For 
    example, Sec. 1.6038-3(g)(1)(i) provides that the person reporting 
    under section 6038 must provide a statement of the income, gain, 
    losses, deductions and credits allocated to that person's direct 
    interest in the partnership. Accordingly, if a person is reporting 
    under section 6038 but owns no direct interest in the partnership, that 
    person will not have to submit information under Sec. 1.6038-
    3(g)(1)(i). Finally, the final regulations require attribution from 
    nonresident alien family members only if the person to whom the 
    interest is being attributed already owns a direct or indirect (under 
    the rules of section 267(c)(1) or (5)) interest in the partnership. See 
    Sec. 1.6038-3(b)(4).
    
    D. Failure To Recognize That an Arrangement Is a Partnership or That a 
    Partnership Is a Foreign Partnership
    
        Commentators expressed concern that taxpayers might fail to report 
    under section 6038 because they failed to recognize that their 
    arrangement constituted a partnership. Additionally, if no entity is 
    formed under foreign law, but a partnership is determined to exist, it 
    may be difficult to determine whether the partnership is foreign or 
    domestic. Some commentators recommended that the IRS exclude 
    partnerships not formed under a foreign law statute from the reporting 
    requirements, subject to an anti-abuse rule. The final regulations do 
    not adopt this recommendation and additional guidance on these issues 
    is beyond the scope of this document. They do, however, provide that 
    the section 6038 reporting requirements do not apply to any United 
    States person with respect to a foreign partnership that has validly 
    elected (or is deemed to have elected) to be excluded from the 
    application of subchapter K. See Sec. 1.6038-3(e). Additionally, a 
    taxpayer that does not comply with section 6038 because it mistakenly 
    concluded that its arrangement was not a partnership, or that it was 
    not a foreign partnership, may apply for a reasonable cause 
    determination. See Sec. 1.6038-3(k)(4).
    
    E. Section 6038 (CFPs) Effective Date
    
        Section 1.6038-3 is applicable to CFP tax years ending on or after 
    December 31, 2000. United States persons are not required to report 
    under section 6038 for CFP tax years ending before December 31, 2000.
    
    F. Availability of Form 8865
    
        A United States person required to report information pursuant to 
    section 6038 must do so by completing and filing Form 8865. A final 
    version of Form 8865 will be released prior to January 1, 2000. 
    Taxpayers will be able to download a copy of the form and its 
    instructions from the IRS Internet website located at 
    www.irs.ustreas.gov.
    
    G. Clarification of Section 6501(c)(8)
    
        Section 6501(c)(8) provides that in the case of information 
    required to be reported under section 6038, 6038A, 6038B, 6046, 6046A, 
    or 6048, the time for assessment of any tax imposed by Title 26 with 
    respect to any event or period to which such information relates shall 
    not expire before the date that is three years after the date on which 
    the Secretary is furnished the information required to be reported 
    under such section. Taxpayers have expressed uncertainty about the 
    application of this rule in the context of a failure to properly report 
    information required under sections 6038, 6038B, or 6046A, with respect 
    to an interest in a foreign corporation or a foreign partnership, as 
    applicable. The IRS and Treasury wish to clarify that if a U.S. person 
    fails to comply with sections 6038, 6038B, or 6046A, the extended 
    statute of limitations provided by section 6501(c)(8) shall apply only 
    to the tax consequences related to the information required to be 
    reported under the relevant reporting section and not to all 
    transactions within the U.S. person's tax year at issue. For example, 
    if a U.S. person with a calendar tax year fails to comply with section 
    6038 for a controlled foreign partnership's 2001 calendar tax year, 
    section 6501(c)(8) will only extend the statute of limitations 
    applicable to the U.S. person's 2001 tax year with respect to any tax 
    consequences associated with the U.S. person's interest in the foreign 
    partnership during the partnership's 2001 tax year.
    
    H. Amendment to Final Section 6038 Foreign Corporation Regulations
    
        In order to reduce the burden that section 6038 imposes on 
    taxpayers, this document also amends the final regulations under 
    section 6038 applicable to shareholders of certain foreign 
    corporations. The regulations provide that if a United States person 
    does not own a direct or indirect interest in the foreign corporation, 
    but is attributed an interest from a nonresident alien, the person is 
    not required to report under section 6038. This amendment is effective 
    for tax years of foreign corporations ending on or after December 29, 
    1999.
    
    I. Amendments to Final Section 6038B Regulations Applicable to 
    Transfers of Property to Foreign Partnerships
    
        On February 5, 1999, the IRS published in the Federal Register 
    final regulations under section 6038B relating to the information 
    reporting requirements for certain contributions of property by United 
    States persons to foreign partnerships. See 64 FR 5713. This document 
    makes several amendments to those final regulations. Each amendment 
    either reduces the burden that section 6038B imposes on taxpayers, or 
    does not affect the burden imposed by section 6038B.
        First, the amount of information required to be submitted by a 
    person reporting a transfer of property to a foreign partnership is 
    reduced. Rather than submit the names and addresses of all the foreign 
    partnership's partners, the person reporting the transfer (the 
    transferor) must provide only the names and addresses of the United 
    States partners that owned a ten-percent or greater direct interest in 
    the foreign partnership during the transferor's tax year in which the 
    reportable transfer occurred, and the names and addresses of any other 
    United States or foreign persons that were direct partners in the 
    partnership during that tax year and that were related to the 
    transferor under section 6038B during that tax year. A person who 
    transferred solely cash and who did not own a ten-percent or greater 
    interest after the transfer is still not required to report the names 
    and addresses of any of the foreign partnership's other partners. This 
    amendment applies to tax years of U.S. persons required to report under 
    section 6038B beginning on or after January 1, 2000.
        Second, this document changes the time for filing Form 8865 to 
    report a transfer to a foreign partnership in
    
    [[Page 72549]]
    
    certain instances. Currently, Sec. 1.6038B-2(a)(5)(ii) provides that if 
    a United States person required to report a transfer to a foreign 
    partnership is also required to report pursuant to section 6038 for the 
    period in which the transfer occurred, then the United States person 
    must report the transfer on the Form 8865 completed for the 
    partnership's tax year in which the transfer occurred. This document 
    deletes the section 6038B/section 6038 overlap rule, so that a United 
    States person must always report with its tax return for a particular 
    tax year all of its section 6038B transfers that took place during that 
    year, regardless of whether any of the transfers occurred during a 
    period for which section 6038 reporting is also required. This 
    amendment applies to tax years of U.S. persons required to report under 
    section 6038B beginning on or after January 1, 2000.
        The following example illustrates this amendment. Assume the tax 
    year of FPS, a foreign partnership, ends on Sept 30. US, a United 
    States person and calendar year taxpayer, owns a sixty-percent interest 
    in FPS and therefore is a controlling fifty-percent partner of FPS. 
    Accordingly, US must report under section 6038 with respect to FPS. On 
    October 15, 2001, US transfers property to FPS in a section 721 
    transaction. US is required to report this transfer under section 6038B 
    because US owns at least a ten-percent interest in the partnership 
    immediately after the transfer. See Sec. 1.6038B-2(a)(1)(i). Under the 
    existing section 6038B regulations, US is required to report the 
    October 15, 2001 property transfer on the Form 8865 for FPS's tax year 
    ending September 30, 2002, that will be filed with US's 2002 income tax 
    return.
        Under the amendments to section 6038B contained in this document, 
    US must attach to its 2001 income tax return a Form 8865 on which is 
    reported the October 15, 2001 property transfer and information about 
    FPS for FPS's tax year ending September 30, 2001. Assuming US is also a 
    controlling fifty-percent partner during FPS's tax year ending 
    September 30, 2002, when US files its 2002 income tax return, US must 
    attach to that return Form 8865 on which is reported information about 
    FPS for FPS's tax year ending September 30, 2002. US should not report 
    the October 15, 2001, property transfer on the Form 8865 filed with 
    US's 2002 income tax return.
        The third and final amendment to the section 6038B regulations 
    provides an additional opportunity for United States persons to timely 
    report certain transfers to foreign partnerships. Even if not reported 
    in accordance with the rules provided in Sec. 1.6038B-2(a)(5) or (j)(1) 
    or (2), a transfer to a foreign partnership that occurred before 
    January 1, 2000, will nevertheless be considered timely reported if the 
    transferor reports it on a Form 8865 attached to an amended tax return 
    for the transferor's tax year in which the transfer occurred, provided 
    such amended return is filed no later than September 15, 2000.
        Additionally, since issuing the section 6038B regulations in 
    February 1999, certain tax-exempt organizations have contacted the IRS 
    and Treasury to request that they be specifically excluded from the 
    obligation under section 6038B to report their property transfers to 
    foreign partnerships. The IRS and Treasury invite comments regarding 
    the extent to which section 6038B reporting should be required of tax-
    exempt organizations.
    
    J. Amendment to Final Section 6038B Regulations Applicable to Transfers 
    of Property to Foreign Corporations
    
        This document makes one amendment to the final section 6038B 
    regulations governing the reporting requirements with respect to 
    transfers to foreign corporations. The amendment reduces the burden 
    that section 6038B imposes on taxpayers.
        Pursuant to Sec. 1.367(a)-3(c)(8), section 367(a) does not apply to 
    a domestic corporation's transfer of its own stock or securities in 
    connection with the performance of services, if the transfer is 
    considered to be to a foreign corporation solely by reason of 
    Sec. 1.83-6(d)(1). Section 1.83-6(d)(1) provides that if a shareholder 
    of a corporation transfers property to an employee of such corporation 
    in consideration of services performed for the corporation, the 
    transaction is considered to be a contribution of such property to the 
    capital of such corporation by the shareholder, and immediately 
    thereafter a transfer of such property by the latter corporation to the 
    employee.
        The final regulations under section 6038B do not contain an 
    exception to the reporting requirements that corresponds to the rule in 
    Sec. 1.367(a)-3(c)(8). Therefore, a transfer by a domestic corporation 
    of its stock or securities to an employee of the domestic corporation's 
    foreign subsidiary may be excluded from the application of section 
    367(a), yet still reportable under section 6038B. This document 
    provides that such a transfer is not required to be reported under 
    section 6038B if the transfer is considered to be to a foreign 
    corporation solely by reason of Sec. 1.83-6(d)(1) and the fair market 
    value of the property transferred did not exceed $100,000. This 
    amendment is effective as if it had been included in TD 8770 (63 FR 
    33550), and therefore applies to transfers occurring on or after July 
    20, 1998.
    
    Special Analyses
    
        It has been determined that these final regulations are not a 
    significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. 
    Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It has also been 
    determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 
    U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these final regulations. It is 
    hereby certified that the collections of information contained in these 
    final regulations will not have a significant economic impact on a 
    substantial number of small entities. This certification is based on 
    the fact that the number of small entities that will be required to 
    file the form is not substantial. Accordingly, a Regulatory Flexibility 
    Analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) is 
    not required. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, 
    these regulations were submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of 
    the Small Business Administration for comment on their impact on small 
    business.
        Drafting information. The principal author of these regulations is 
    Eliana Dolgoff, Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (International). 
    However, other personnel from the IRS and the Treasury Department 
    participated in their development.
    
    List of Subjects
    
    26 CFR Part 1
    
        Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
    26 CFR Part 602
    
        Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
    Amendments to the Regulations
    
        Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1 and 602 are amended as follows:
    
    PART 1--INCOME TAXES
    
        Par. 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by adding 
    entries in numerical order to read in part as follows:
    
        Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
        Section 1.6038-2 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 6038.
        Section 1.6038-3 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 6038. * * *
    
        Par. 2. In Sec. 1.367(a)-3, paragraph (c)(8) is amended by adding a 
    sentence
    
    [[Page 72550]]
    
    to the end of the paragraph to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1.367(a)-3  Treatment of transfers of stock or securities to 
    foreign corporations.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) * * *
        (8) * * * The transfer may still, however, be reportable under 
    section 6038B. See Sec. 1.6038B-1(b)(2)(i)(A)(4) and (b)(2)(i)(B)(4).
    * * * * *
        Par. 3. Section 1.6038-2 is amended as follows:
        1. A sentence is added to the end of paragraph (j)(2)(i)(C).
        2. Paragraph (l) is added.
        The revised and added provisions read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1.6038-2  Information returns required of United States persons 
    with respect to annual accounting periods of certain foreign 
    corporations beginning after December 31, 1962.
    
    * * * * *
        (j) * * *
        (2) * * *
        (i) * * *
        (C) * * * (For a rule regarding attribution from a nonresident 
    alien, see paragraph (l) of this section).
    * * * * *
        (l) Other persons excepted from filing. For tax years of foreign 
    corporations ending on or after December 29, 1999, any person required 
    to furnish information under this section with respect to a foreign 
    corporation does not have to furnish that information if the following 
    conditions are met--
        (1) Such person does not own a direct or indirect interest in the 
    foreign corporation; and
        (2) Such person is required to furnish information solely by reason 
    of attribution of stock ownership from a nonresident alien(s) under 
    paragraph (c) of this section.
        Par. 4. Section 1.6038-3 is added to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1.6038-3  Information returns required of certain United States 
    persons with respect to controlled foreign partnerships (CFPs).
    
        (a) Persons required to make return--(1) Controlling fifty-percent 
    partners. The term controlling fifty-percent partner means a United 
    States person that controlled (as defined in paragraph (b)(1) of this 
    section) the foreign partnership at any time during the partnership's 
    tax year (as defined in paragraph (b)(8) of this section). Except as 
    provided in paragraph (c), (d), or (e) of this section, for each tax 
    year of a foreign partnership during which the partnership has one or 
    more controlling fifty-percent partners, each controlling fifty-percent 
    partner must complete and file Form 8865, ``Return of U.S. Persons With 
    Respect To Certain Foreign Partnerships,'' containing the information 
    described in paragraph (g) of this section.
        (2) Controlling ten-percent partners. If at any point during a 
    foreign partnership's tax year (as defined in paragraph (b)(8) of this 
    section) a United States person owned a ten-percent or greater interest 
    in the partnership while the partnership was controlled by United 
    States persons owning ten-percent or greater interests, such United 
    States person is a controlling ten-percent partner. See paragraph 
    (b)(1) of this section for the definition of control. However, a United 
    States person is not a controlling ten-percent partner with respect to 
    a particular foreign partnership for a particular tax year of the 
    foreign partnership if at any point during that year the partnership 
    had a controlling fifty-percent partner, as defined in paragraph (a)(1) 
    of this section. Except as provided in paragraph (c), (d), or (e) of 
    this section, for each tax year of a partnership during which the 
    partnership has controlling ten-percent partners, each controlling ten-
    percent partner must complete and file Form 8865 containing the 
    information described in paragraph (g)(1) of this section.
        (3) Separate returns for each partnership. A United States person 
    required to report under this paragraph (a) must file a separate Form 
    8865 for each foreign partnership with respect to which the person is a 
    controlling fifty-percent partner or a controlling ten-percent partner.
        (b) Ownership determinations and definitions--(1) Control. Control 
    of a foreign partnership is ownership of more than a fifty-percent 
    interest in the partnership.
        (2) Fifty-percent interest. A fifty-percent interest in a 
    partnership is an interest equal to fifty percent of the capital 
    interest in such partnership, an interest equal to fifty percent of the 
    profits interest in such partnership, or an interest to which fifty 
    percent of the deductions or losses of such partnership are allocated.
        (3) Ten-percent interest. A ten-percent interest in a partnership 
    is an interest equal to ten percent of the capital interest in such 
    partnership, an interest equal to ten percent of the profits interest 
    in such partnership, or an interest to which ten percent of the 
    deductions or losses of such partnership are allocated.
        (4) Constructive ownership rules. For purposes of determining an 
    interest in a partnership, the constructive ownership rules of section 
    267(c) (other than section 267(c)(3)) apply, taking into account that 
    such rules refer to corporations and not to partnerships. However, an 
    interest will be attributed from a nonresident alien under the family 
    attribution rules of section 267(c)(2) and (4) only if the person to 
    whom the interest is attributed owns a direct or indirect (under the 
    rules of 267(c)(1) or (5)) interest in the foreign partnership.
        (5) Determination of amount of interest. Whether a person owns a 
    fifty-percent interest, or a ten-percent interest, as described in 
    paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section, is determined for each tax 
    year of the foreign partnership by reference to the agreement of the 
    partners relating to such interests during that tax year.
        (6) Definition of United States person. The term United States 
    person is defined in section 7701(a)(30).
        (7) Definition of a foreign partnership. A foreign partnership is a 
    partnership described in section 7701(a)(5).
        (8) Tax year of a foreign partnership. The tax year of a foreign 
    partnership is determined under section 706.
        (9) Examples. The rules of paragraph (a) of this section and this 
    paragraph (b) are illustrated by the following examples:
    
        Example 1. Sole U.S. partner does not own more than a fifty-
    percent interest. No United States person owns any interest 
    (directly or constructively) in FPS, a foreign partnership whose tax 
    year under section 706 is the calendar year. On January 1, 2001, US, 
    a United States person with the calendar year as its tax year, 
    contributes property to FPS in exchange for a 40% interest in a 
    section 721 transaction. No United States persons acquire directly 
    or constructively any other interests in FPS during FPS's 2001 tax 
    year. US is not a controlling fifty-percent partner during FPS's 
    2001 tax year. US did not own during that tax year, either directly 
    or constructively, more than a 50% interest in the partnership under 
    paragraphs (b)(2) and (4) of this section. Also, US is not a 
    controlling ten-percent partner; although US owned a 10% or greater 
    interest, US persons owning at least 10% interests did not control 
    FPS. Therefore, US does not have to file with its 2001 income tax 
    return a Form 8865 with respect to FPS under section 6038. (But see 
    section 6038B for the reporting obligations of US with respect to 
    its transfer of property to FPS and section 6046A for the reporting 
    obligation of US with respect to its acquisition of an interest in 
    FPS. See also Sec. 1.6046A-1(e)(1) regarding the overlap between 
    sections 6038B and 6046A).
        Example 2. Controlling ten-percent partners. Assume the same 
    facts as in Example 1. In addition, on January 1, 2002, US1, a 
    United States person unrelated to US and a calendar year taxpayer, 
    purchases a 15% interest in FPS from a foreign partner of FPS. 
    Neither US nor US1 is a controlling fifty-percent partner during 
    FPS's 2002 tax
    
    [[Page 72551]]
    
    year because neither one owns more than a 50% percent interest in 
    FPS during that year. However, US and US1 are controlling ten-
    percent partners for that year because each owns at least a 10% 
    interest (US owns a 40% interest and US1 owns a 15% interest) and 
    together they control FPS because collectively they own more than a 
    50% interest in FPS. As controlling ten-percent partners, under 
    section 6038, each is required to file a Form 8865 with its 2002 
    income tax return. (US1 must also report its acquisition of the 15% 
    interest in FPS under section 6046A on its Form 8865 filed with its 
    2002 income tax return.)
        Example 3. Constructive ownership rules. Assume the same facts 
    as in Example 2. In addition, on January 1, 2003, US2, a United 
    States person and the brother of US, purchases 50% of the stock of 
    FC, a foreign corporation. FC owns a 20% interest in FPS. Thus, 
    under sections 6038(e)(3) and 267(c)(1), US2 indirectly owns a 10% 
    interest in FPS (10% is US2's proportionate share of FC's 20% 
    interest in FPS), and under sections 6038(e)(3) and 267(c)(2), US2 
    is attributed US's 40% interest. Additionally, US directly owns a 
    40% interest in FPS and is attributed US2's 10% interest pursuant to 
    section 6038(e)(3) and section 267(c)(2). Therefore, US2 is 
    considered to own a 50% interest (10% indirectly and 40% from US) in 
    FPS, and US is considered to own a 50% interest in FPS (40% directly 
    and 10% from US2). FPS has no controlling fifty-percent partners, 
    because neither US, US1, nor US2, owns a greater than 50% interest. 
    However, US, US1, and US2 are each controlling ten-percent partners 
    and each must file Form 8865 pursuant to section 6038 for FPS's 2003 
    tax year ending December 31, 2003. Each must attach Form 8865 to its 
    tax return for its 2003 tax year.
        Example 4. Controlling fifty-percent partners. Assume the same 
    facts as in Example 3. In addition, on June 1, 2004, US acquires an 
    additional 1% direct interest in FPS. US is now a controlling fifty-
    percent partner of FPS, because US owns a 41% interest directly and 
    a 10% interest constructively from US2. US2 is also a controlling 
    fifty-percent partner, because US2 owns 10% indirectly and 41% 
    constructively from US. Both US and US2 are required to file Form 
    8865 containing all the information required to be submitted by 
    controlling fifty-percent partners. (But see paragraph (c)(1) of 
    this section, which contains filing exceptions when there are 
    multiple controlling fifty-percent partners). US1 is no longer a 
    controlling ten-percent partner because FPS now has at least one 
    controlling fifty-percent partner, and US1 does not qualify as a 
    controlling fifty-percent partner. Therefore, US1 is not required to 
    file Form 8865 under section 6038.
        Example 5. Constructive ownership from a nonresident alien. US, 
    a United States person, does not own directly or constructively an 
    interest in FPS, a foreign partnership. The tax year of FPS is the 
    calendar year. NRA, a nonresident alien, is the mother of US. In 
    2002, NRA acquires a 55% interest in FPS. Because US owns neither a 
    direct nor a constructive interest in FPS under sections 6038(e)(3) 
    and 267(c)(1) or (5), NRA's interest is not attributed to US under 
    sections 6038(e)(3) and 267(c)(2). If in 2003 NRA becomes a United 
    States person, NRA's interest will be attributed to US. However, US 
    is excused from filing Form 8865 if US satisfies the requirements of 
    the constructive owners exception in paragraph (c)(2) of this 
    section. In 2003, NRA is a controlling fifty-percent partner and 
    must file a Form 8865 under section 6038 for FPS's 2003 tax year.
    
        (c) Exceptions when more than one United States person is required 
    to file Form 8865 pursuant to section 6038--(1) Multiple controlling 
    fifty-percent partners--(i) In general. If, with respect to the same 
    foreign partnership for the same tax year, more than one United States 
    person is a controlling fifty-percent partner, then in lieu of each 
    controlling fifty-percent partner filing a separate Form 8865, only one 
    Form 8865 from one of the controlling fifty-percent partners is 
    required, provided all of the requirements of paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of 
    this section are satisfied. A person that is a controlling fifty-
    percent partner solely because of an interest to which deductions or 
    losses are allocated may file the single return only if there is no 
    United States person that is a controlling fifty-percent partner by 
    reason of an interest in capital or profits.
        (ii) Requirements--(A) The person undertaking the filing obligation 
    must file Form 8865 with that person's income tax return in the manner 
    provided by Form 8865 and the accompanying instructions. The return 
    must contain all of the information that would have been required to be 
    reported by this section if each controlling fifty-percent partner had 
    filed its own Form 8865.
        (B) Any controlling fifty-percent partner not filing Form 8865 must 
    file with its income tax return a statement titled ``Controlled Foreign 
    Partnership Reporting'' containing the following information--
        (1) A statement that the person qualified as a controlling fifty-
    percent partner, but is not submitting Form 8865 pursuant to the 
    multiple controlling fifty-percent partners exception;
        (2) The name, address, and taxpayer identification number (if any) 
    of the foreign partnership of which the person qualified as a 
    controlling fifty-percent partner;
        (3) A representation that the filing requirement has been or will 
    be satisfied;
        (4) The name and address of the person filing the single return;
        (5) The Internal Revenue Service Center where the single return is 
    required to be filed; and
        (6) Any additional information that Form 8865 and the accompanying 
    instructions require.
        (iii) Penalties. If the requirements listed in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) 
    of this section are not satisfied, a United States person that did not 
    file a Form 8865 pursuant to this paragraph will be subject to the 
    penalties in paragraph (k) of this section, unless the reasonable cause 
    provision in paragraph (k)(4) of this section is satisfied.
        (2) Certain constructive owners excepted from furnishing 
    information--(i) In general. A United States person that does not own a 
    direct interest in the foreign partnership and that is required to file 
    Form 8865 under this section solely by reason of constructive ownership 
    from a United States person(s) pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) of this 
    section (an indirect partner) is not required to file Form 8865 if all 
    of the requirements listed in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section are 
    met.
        (ii) Requirements--(A) The United States person(s) whose interest 
    the indirect partner constructively owns reports all the information 
    such person(s) is required to submit under this section, unless such 
    person also is required to file solely by reason of constructive 
    ownership from a United States person(s) pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) 
    of this section, or another person reports the information pursuant to 
    paragraph (c)(1) of this section.
        (B) The indirect partner files with its income tax return a 
    statement titled ``Controlled Foreign Partnership Reporting'' 
    containing the following information--
        (1) A representation that the indirect partner was required to file 
    Form 8865, but is not doing so pursuant to the constructive owners 
    exception;
        (2) The names and addresses of the United States persons whose 
    interests the indirect partner constructively owns;
        (3) The name and address of the foreign partnership with respect to 
    which the indirect partner would have had to have filed Form 8865 but 
    for this exception; and
        (4) Any additional information that Form 8865 and the accompanying 
    instructions require.
        (iii) Penalties. A United States person that pursuant to this 
    paragraph (c)(2) does not file a return will be subject to the 
    penalties in paragraph (k) of this section if the requirements listed 
    in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section are not satisfied, unless such 
    failure is due to reasonable cause, as defined in paragraph (k)(4) of 
    this section.
        (iv) Overlap with multiple controlling fifty-percent partners 
    exception--(A) If a
    
    [[Page 72552]]
    
    United States person qualifies for both the exception in paragraph 
    (c)(1) of this section and the exception in this paragraph (c)(2), such 
    person may only utilize the multiple controlling fifty-percent partners 
    exception in paragraph (c)(1) of this section to avoid filing Form 
    8865.
        (B) Example. The following example illustrates the operation of 
    this paragraph (c)(2)(iv):
    
        Example. US is a U.S. citizen. US owns 100% of the stock of DC, 
    a domestic corporation. DC owns a 60% direct interest in FPS, a 
    foreign partnership. DC and US are the only U.S. persons that own 
    interests directly or constructively in FPS. DC owns directly a 
    greater than 50% interest in FPS. US constructively owns DC's 
    interest pursuant to sections 6038(e)(3) and 267(c)(1). Therefore, 
    both DC and US are controlling fifty-percent partners. US qualifies 
    for both the exception in paragraph (c)(1) of this section (multiple 
    controlling fifty-percent partners) and the exception in paragraph 
    (c)(2) of this section (constructive owner exception). US may only 
    utilize the paragraph (c)(1) exception to avoid its filing 
    obligation. Accordingly, DC may file a single Form 8865 on behalf of 
    US and itself. However, that form must contain all the information 
    that would have been submitted had DC and US each submitted a 
    separate Form 8865.
    
        (3) Members of an affiliated group of corporations filing a 
    consolidated return. If one or more members of an affiliated group of 
    corporations filing a consolidated return are required under section 
    6038 to file a Form 8865 for a particular foreign partnership, the 
    common parent corporation may file one Form 8865 on behalf of all of 
    the members of the group required to report under section 6038. Except 
    with respect to group members who also qualify under the exception in 
    paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the Form 8865 must contain all the 
    information that would have been required to be submitted if each group 
    member were required to file its own Form 8865.
        (d) Exception for certain trusts. Trusts relating to state and 
    local government employee retirement plans are not required to report 
    under this section, unless the instructions to Form 8865 provide 
    otherwise.
        (e) Reporting under this section not required with respect to 
    partnerships excluded from the application of subchapter K. The 
    reporting requirements of this section will not apply to any United 
    States person in respect of an eligible partnership as described in 
    Sec. 1.761-2(a) if such partnership has validly elected to be excluded 
    from all of the provisions of subchapter K of chapter 1 of the Internal 
    Revenue Code in the manner specified in Sec. 1.761-2(b)(2)(i), or such 
    partnership is deemed to have elected to be excluded from all of the 
    provisions of subchapter K of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code in 
    accordance with the provisions of Sec. 1.761-2(b)(2)(ii).
        (f) Period covered by return. The information required under this 
    section must be furnished for the tax year of the foreign partnership 
    ending with or within the United States person's tax year. See section 
    706 for rules regarding tax years of partnerships.
        (g) Contents of return--(1) Information required to be submitted by 
    controlling fifty-percent partners and controlling ten-percent 
    partners. All controlling fifty-percent partners and all controlling 
    ten-percent partners must submit the following information on Form 8865 
    in the form and manner and to the extent prescribed by Form 8865 and 
    its instructions--
        (i) A statement of the income, gain, losses, deductions and credits 
    allocated to the direct interest in the partnership of the person 
    reporting under section 6038;
        (ii) A list of all partnerships (foreign or domestic) in which the 
    foreign partnership owned a direct interest, or owned a constructive 
    interest of ten percent of more under the rules of section 267(c)(1) or 
    (5), during the partnership's tax year for which the Form 8865 is being 
    filed;
        (iii) Information about all foreign entities that were disregarded 
    as entities separate from their owner under Secs. 301.7701-2 and 
    301.7701-3 that were owned by the foreign partnership during the 
    partnership's tax year for which the Form 8865 is being filed;
        (iv) A summary of the transactions that took place during the 
    partnership's tax year between the partnership and the person filing 
    the return, between the partnership and any other partnership of which 
    the person filing the return is a controlling fifty-percent partner, 
    and between the partnership and any corporation controlled (under 
    section 6038(e)(2) and the regulations thereunder) by the person filing 
    the return; and
        (v) Any other information that Form 8865 or its accompanying 
    instructions require to be submitted.
        (2) Additional information required to be submitted by controlling 
    fifty-percent partners. In addition to the information required 
    pursuant to paragraph (g)(1) of this section, controlling fifty-percent 
    partners must also submit the following information in the form and 
    manner and to the extent required by Form 8865 and its instructions--
        (i) A list of the names, addresses and tax identification numbers 
    (if any) of each United States person that owned a direct interest of 
    ten percent or more in the partnership during the partnership's tax 
    year, and of each United States and foreign person whose interests in 
    the partnership the controlling fifty-percent partner constructively 
    owned under paragraph (b)(4) of this section during the partnership's 
    tax year;
        (ii) A list of transactions between the partnership and any United 
    States person owning at the time of the transaction at least a 10-
    percent direct interest (as defined in paragraph (b)(3) of this 
    section) in the foreign partnership;
        (iii) A statement of the aggregate of the partners' distributive 
    shares of items of income, gain, losses, deductions and credits;
        (iv) A statement of income, gain, losses, deductions and credits 
    allocated to each United States person holding a direct interest in the 
    foreign partnership of ten percent or more; and
        (v) Any other information Form 8865 or its accompanying 
    instructions require controlling fifty-percent partners to submit.
        (h) Method of reporting. Except as otherwise provided on Form 8865 
    or the accompanying instructions, all amounts required to be furnished 
    on Form 8865 must be expressed in United States dollars. All statements 
    required on or with Form 8865 pursuant to this section must be in 
    English.
        (i) Time and place for filing return--(1) In general. Form 8865 
    must be filed with the United States person's income tax return on or 
    before the due date (including extensions) of that return. If the 
    United States person is not required to file an income tax return for 
    its tax year with which or within which the foreign partnership's tax 
    year ends, but is required to file an information return for that year 
    (for example, Form 1065, ``U.S. Partnership Return of Income,'' or Form 
    990, ``Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax''), the Form 8865 
    must be filed with the United States person's information return filed 
    on or before the due date (including extensions) of that return.
        (2) Duplicate return. If required by the instructions to Form 8865, 
    a duplicate Form 8865 (including attachments and schedules) must also 
    be filed.
        (j) Overlap with section 6031--(1) In general. A partner may be 
    required to file Form 8865 under this section and the foreign 
    partnership in which it is a partner may also be required to file a 
    Form 1065 under section 6031(e) for the same partnership tax year. 
    However, if a foreign partnership completes and files Form 1065, the 
    United States partner must use a copy of the relevant
    
    [[Page 72553]]
    
    parts of Form 1065 to fulfill certain of its filing obligations under 
    section 6038. Specifically, instead of completing the Form 8865 
    schedules that the person would otherwise be required to complete as a 
    controlling fifty-percent or a controlling ten-percent partner, the 
    person must instead attach to its Form 8865 copies of the relevant 
    schedules from Form 1065 that the instructions to Form 8865 state are 
    considered equivalent to schedules on Form 8865. Should a schedule on 
    Form 8865 ask for information that is not required to be reported on 
    the equivalent Form 1065 schedule, the partner is not required to 
    report that information on its Form 8865 if a copy of the completed 
    equivalent Form 1065 schedule is attached to its Form 8865. A person 
    attaching copies of schedules from Form 1065 to its Form 8865 must 
    still complete the parts of Form 8865 that the person is required to 
    complete as a controlling fifty-percent partner, or a controlling ten-
    percent partner, and for which there is no equivalent Form 1065 
    schedule (for example, the first page of Form 8865).
        (2) Example. The following example illustrates the application of 
    this paragraph (j):
    
        Example. US, a United States citizen, owns a 55% interest in 
    FPS, a foreign partnership and calendar year taxpayer. Because US 
    owns more than a 50% interest in FPS, US is a controlling fifty-
    percent partner of FPS and must file a Form 8865 with respect to 
    FPS. During 2001, FPS earns gross income that is effectively 
    connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United 
    States. Therefore, pursuant to section 6031(e)(2)(B), FPS must file 
    Form 1065 for its 2001 tax year. If FPS completes and files Form 
    1065, US must use copies of the relevant schedules from Form 1065 to 
    complete US's Form 8865 for FPS's 2001 tax year. If FPS instead had 
    a September 30 tax year pursuant to section 706, then US must attach 
    to its Form 1040 for US's 2001 tax year a Form 8865 completed with 
    respect to FPS's tax year ending September 30, 2001. If FPS filed a 
    Form 1065 for its tax year ending September 30, 2001, then US must 
    use that Form 1065 to fulfill in part its reporting obligations 
    under section 6038 by attaching the relevant schedules from the Form 
    1065 to US's Form 8865.
    
        (k) Failure to comply with reporting requirement--(1) In general. 
    Any United States person required to file Form 8865 under Section 6038 
    and this section that fails to comply (as defined in paragraph (k)(2) 
    of this section) with the reporting requirements of this section, will 
    be subject to the penalties described in paragraph (k)(3) of this 
    section.
        (2) Failure to comply. A failure to comply is separately determined 
    for each foreign partnership for which a United States person has a 
    section 6038 reporting obligation. A failure to comply with the 
    requirements of section 6038 includes the following--
        (i) The failure to report at the proper time and in the proper 
    manner any information required to be reported under the rules of this 
    section; or
        (ii) The provision of false or inaccurate information in purported 
    compliance with the requirements of this section.
        (3) Penalties. A United States person that fails to comply (as 
    defined in paragraph (k)(2) of this section) with the reporting 
    requirements of this section must pay the following penalties, subject 
    to the reasonable cause exception in paragraph (k)(4) of this section:
        (i) Dollar amount penalty--(A) $10,000 penalty. A penalty of 
    $10,000 shall be imposed for each tax year of each foreign partnership 
    with respect to which a failure to comply occurs.
        (B) Increase in penalty. If a failure to comply with the applicable 
    reporting requirements of section 6038 and this section continues for 
    more than 90 days after the date on which the Commissioner or the 
    Commissioner's delegate mails notice of the failure to the United 
    States person required to file Form 8865, the person must pay an 
    additional penalty of $10,000 for each 30-day period (or fraction 
    thereof) during which the failure continues after the 90-day period has 
    expired.
        (C) Limitation. The additional penalty imposed on any United States 
    person by section 6038(b)(2) and paragraph (k)(3)(i)(B) of this section 
    is limited to a maximum of $50,000 for each partnership for each tax 
    year with respect to which the failure occurs.
        (ii) Penalty of reducing foreign tax credit--(A) Effect on foreign 
    tax credit. Failure to comply with the reporting requirements of 
    section 6038 and this section may cause a reduction of foreign tax 
    credits under section 901 (taxes of foreign countries and of 
    possessions of the United States). In applying section 901 to a United 
    States person for any tax year with or within which its foreign 
    partnership's tax year ended, the amount of taxes paid (and deemed paid 
    under sections 902 and 960) by the United States person will be reduced 
    by 10 percent if the person fails to comply. However, no tax deemed 
    paid under section 904(c) will be reduced under the provisions of this 
    paragraph (k)(3)(ii).
        (B) Reduction for continued failure. If a failure to comply with 
    the reporting requirements of section 6038 and this section continues 
    for more than 90 days after the date on which the Commissioner or the 
    Commissioner's delegate mails notice of the failure to the person 
    required to file Form 8865, then the amount of the reduction in 
    paragraph (k)(3)(ii)(A) of this section will be 10 percent, plus an 
    additional 5 percent for each 3-month period (or fraction thereof) 
    during which the failure continues after the 90-day period has expired.
        (C) Limitation on reduction. The amount of the reduction under 
    paragraphs (k)(3)(ii)(A) and (B) of this section for each failure to 
    furnish information required under this section will not exceed the 
    greater of $10,000, or the gross income of the foreign partnership for 
    its tax year with respect to which the failure occurred.
        (D) Offset for dollar amount penalty imposed. The total amount of 
    the reduction which, but for this paragraph (k)(3)(ii)(D), may be made 
    under this paragraph (k)(3)(ii) with respect to any separate failure, 
    may not exceed the maximum amount of the reductions that may be 
    imposed, reduced (but not below zero) by the dollar amount penalty 
    imposed by paragraph (k)(3)(i) of this section with respect to the 
    failure.
        (4) Reasonable cause limitation. The time prescribed for filing a 
    complete Form 8865, and the beginning of the 90-day period after the 
    Commissioner or the Commissioner's delegate mails notice under 
    paragraphs (k)(3)(i)(B) and (ii)(B) of this section, will be treated as 
    being not earlier than the last day on which reasonable cause existed 
    for failure to furnish the information. The United States person may 
    show reasonable cause by providing a written statement to the 
    Commissioner's delegate having jurisdiction over the person's return to 
    which the Form 8865 should have been attached, setting forth the 
    reasons for the failure to comply. Whether a failure to comply was due 
    to reasonable cause will be determined by the Commissioner, or the 
    Commissioner's delegate, under all the facts and circumstances.
        (5) Statute of limitations. For exceptions to the limitations on 
    assessment in the event of a failure to provide information under 
    section 6038, see section 6501(c)(8).
        (l) Effective date. This section applies to tax years of a foreign 
    partnership ending on or after December 31, 2000.
        Par. 5. Section 1.6038B-1 is amended as follows:
        1. The heading is revised.
        2. The first three sentences of paragraph (b)(1)(i) are removed and 
    four sentences are added in their place.
        3. Paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A)(4) is added.
        4. Paragraph (b)(2)(i)(B)(3) is revised.
        5. Paragraph (b)(2)(i)(B)(4) is added.
        6. Paragraph (g) is revised.
    
    [[Page 72554]]
    
        The added and revised provisions read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1.6038B-1  Reporting of certain transfers to foreign corporations.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) * * * (1) * * * (i) Reporting procedure. Except for stock or 
    securities qualifying under the special reporting rule of paragraph 
    (b)(2) of this section, and certain exchanges described in section 354 
    (listed below), any U.S. person that makes a transfer described in 
    section 6038B(a)(1)(A), 367(d) or (e), is required to report pursuant 
    to section 6038B and the rules of this section and must attach the 
    required information to Form 926, ``Return by Transferor of Property to 
    a Foreign Corporation.'' For special rules regarding cash transfers 
    made in tax years beginning after February 5, 1999, see paragraphs 
    (b)(3) and (g) of this section.
        For purposes of determining a U.S. transferor that is subject to 
    section 6038B, the rules of Sec. 1.367(a)-1T(c) and Sec. 1.367(a)-3(d) 
    shall apply with respect to a transfer described in section 367(a), and 
    the rules of Sec. 1.367(a)-1T(c) shall apply with respect to a transfer 
    described in section 367(d). Additionally, if in an exchange described 
    in section 354, a U.S. person exchanges stock of a foreign corporation 
    in a reorganization described in section 368(a)(1)(E), or a U.S. person 
    exchanges stock of a domestic or foreign corporation for stock of a 
    foreign corporation pursuant to an asset reorganization described in 
    section 368(a)(1)(C), (D), or (F), that is not treated as an indirect 
    stock transfer under section 367(a), then the U.S. person exchanging 
    stock is not required to report under section 6038B. * * *
    * * * * *
        (2) * * *
        (i) * * *
        (A) * * *
        (4) The transfer is considered to be to a foreign corporation 
    solely by reason of Sec. 1.83-6(d)(1) and the fair market value of the 
    property transferred did not exceed $100,000; or
        (B) * * *
        (3) The transferor properly reported the income from the transfer 
    on its timely-filed (including extensions) Federal income tax return 
    for the taxable year that includes the date of the transfer; or
        (4) The transfer is considered to be to a foreign corporation 
    solely by reason of Sec. 1.83-6(d)(1) and the fair market value of the 
    property transferred did not exceed $100,000.
    * * * * *
        (g) This section applies to transfers occurring on or after July 
    20, 1998, except for transfers of cash made in tax years beginning on 
    or before February 5, 1999, which are not required to be reported under 
    section 6038B, and except for paragraph (e) of this section, which 
    applies to transfers that are subject to Secs. 1.367(e)-1(f) and 
    1.367(e)-2(e). See Sec. 1.6038B-1T for transfers occurring prior to 
    July 20, 1998. See also Sec. 1.6038B-1T(e) in effect prior to August 9, 
    1999 (as contained in 26 CFR part 1 revised April 1, 1999), for 
    transfers described in section 367(e) that are not subject to 
    Secs. 1.367(e)-1(f) and 1.367(e)-2(e).
        Par. 6. Section 1.6038B-2 is amended as follows:
        1. Paragraph (a)(5) is revised.
        2. Paragraph (c)(4) is revised.
        3. Paragraph (c)(6) is amended by removing the period at the end 
    and adding ``; and'' in its place.
        4. Paragraph (j)(1) introductory text is amended by revising the 
    first sentence.
        5. Paragraph (j)(3) is added.
        The revised and added provisions read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 1.6038B-2  Reporting of certain transfers to foreign partnerships.
    
        (a) * * *
        (5) Time for filing Form 8865. The Form 8865 on which a transfer is 
    reported must be attached to the transferor's timely filed (including 
    extensions) income tax return for the tax year that includes the date 
    of the transfer. If the person required to report under this section is 
    not required to file an income tax return for its tax year during which 
    the transfer occurred, but is required to file an information return 
    for that year (for example, Form 1065, ``U.S. Partnership Return of 
    Income,'' or Form 990, ``Return of Organization Exempt from Income 
    Tax''), the person should attach the Form 8865 to its information 
    return.
    * * * * *
        (c) * * *
        (4) The names and addresses of the other partners in the foreign 
    partnership, unless the transfer is solely of cash and the transferor 
    holds less than a ten-percent interest in the transferee foreign 
    partnership immediately after the transfer. However, for tax years of 
    U.S. persons beginning on or after January 1, 2000, the person 
    reporting pursuant to section 6038B (the transferor) must provide the 
    names and addresses of each United States person that owned a ten-
    percent or greater direct interest in the foreign partnership during 
    the transferor's tax year in which the transfer occurred, and the names 
    and addresses of any other United States or foreign persons that were 
    direct partners in the foreign partnership during that tax year and 
    that were related to the transferor during that tax year. See paragraph 
    (i)(4) of this section for the definition of a related person;
    * * * * *
        (j) * * * (1) In general. Except as otherwise provided in this 
    section, this section applies to transfers made on or after January 1, 
    1998. * * *
    * * * * *
        (3) Special rule for transfers made before January 1, 2000. Even if 
    not reported in accordance with the rules provided in paragraph (a)(5) 
    of this section, or paragraph (j) (1) or (2) of this section, a 
    transfer that occurred before January 1, 2000 will nevertheless be 
    considered timely reported if the transferor reports it on a Form 8865 
    attached to an amended tax return for the transferor's tax year in 
    which the transfer occurred, provided such amended return is filed no 
    later than September 15, 2000.
    
    PART 602--OMB CONTROL NUMBERS UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
    
        Par. 7. The authority citation for part 602 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805.
    
        Par. 8. In Sec. 1.602.101, paragraph (b) is amended by revising the 
    entries for Sec. 1.6038-2, Sec. 1.6038(B)-1, and Sec. 1.6038B-2 and 
    adding an entry in numerical order to the table to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 602.101  OMB Control numbers.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) * * *
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Current OMB
       CFR part or section where identified and described       control No.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
                      *        *        *        *        *
    1.6038-2................................................       1545-1617
     
                      *        *        *        *        *
    1.6038-3................................................       1545-1617
     
                      *        *        *        *        *
    1.6038B-1...............................................       1545-1617
     
                      *        *        *        *        *
    1.6038B-2...............................................       1545-1617
     
                      *        *        *        *        *
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        Approved: December 9, 1999.
    Robert Wenzel,
    Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
    Jonathan Talisman,
    Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
    [FR Doc. 99-32695 Filed 12-27-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4830-01-U
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/28/1999
Department:
Internal Revenue Service
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final regulations.
Document Number:
99-32695
Pages:
72545-72554 (10 pages)
Docket Numbers:
TD 8850
RINs:
1545-AV69: Section 6038 Information Reporting Requirements for Foreign Partnerships
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1545-AV69/section-6038-information-reporting-requirements-for-foreign-partnerships
PDF File:
99-32695.pdf
CFR: (7)
26 CFR 1.761-2(a)
26 CFR 1.367(a)-3
26 CFR 602.101
26 CFR 1.6038-2
26 CFR 1.6038-3
More ...