03-31361. Information Reporting Relating to Taxable Stock Transactions

AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Temporary regulations.

SUMMARY:

This document contains temporary regulations requiring information reporting by a corporation if control of the corporation is acquired or if the corporation has a recapitalization or other substantial change in capital structure. This document also contains temporary regulations concerning information reporting requirements for brokers with respect to transactions described in section 6043(c). The text of these temporary regulations also serves as the text of proposed regulations set forth in the Proposed Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register.

DATES:

Effective Date: These regulations are effective December 30, 2003.

Applicability Dates: For dates of applicability, see §§ 1.6043-4T(i) and 1.6045-3T(g).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nancy Rose at [phone] (not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

The forms referenced in these regulations have been, or will be, reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)).

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a valid OMB control number.

Books and records relating to a 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

Section 6043(c) provides that if any person acquires control of a corporation, or if there is a recapitalization or other substantial change in capital structure of a corporation, the corporation, when required by the Secretary, shall make a return setting forth the identity of the parties to the transaction, the fees involved, the changes in the capital structure involved, and such other information as the Secretary may require with respect to such transaction.

On November 18, 2002, the IRS published temporary regulations under section 6043(c) (TD 9022). The transactions covered by the reporting requirement were certain acquisitions of control and substantial changes in the capital structure of a corporation. These regulations required a corporation to attach a form to its income tax return describing these transactions and to file information returns with respect to certain shareholders in such transactions. On November 18, 2002, the IRS also published temporary regulations under section 6045, which provided for information reporting with respect to these transactions by brokers (together with the section 6043(c) temporary regulations, the 2002 temporary regulations). The 2002 temporary regulations were applicable to acquisitions of control and substantial changes in capital structure occurring after December 31, 2001, if the reporting corporation or any shareholder was required to recognize gain (if any) as a result of the application of section 367(a) as a result of the transaction.

The text of the 2002 temporary regulations also served as the text of proposed regulations set forth in a cross-referencing notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Proposed Rules section of the same issue of the Federal Register (2002 proposed regulations) (REG-143321-02). The provisions of the proposed regulations were proposed to apply with respect to any acquisition of control or substantial change in capital structure occurring after the date on which final regulations would be published in the Federal Register. The preamble to the notice of proposed rulemaking invited public comments with respect to the potential for duplicate reporting and with respect to the burden of compliance with the reporting requirements.

The IRS received a number of written public comments with respect to the information reporting requirements set forth in the 2002 temporary and proposed regulations. In addition, the IRS met with representatives of the Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC) and other representatives of the securities industry to discuss their concerns and suggestions for revisions to the regulations.

After considering the issues concerning affected taxpayers, the IRS has decided to revise the 2002 temporary regulations. The revised temporary regulations set forth information reporting rules that will help ensure that brokers and shareholders receive information regarding these corporate transactions, without unduly burdening brokers and other members of the securities industry.

The text of the revised temporary regulations also serves as the text of new proposed regulations (reproposed regulations) set forth in the cross-referencing notice of proposed rulemaking published in the proposed rules section of this issue of the Federal Register. The preamble to that notice of proposed rulemaking invites public comments with respect to the revised temporary and reproposed regulations, particularly with respect to the ability of brokers to obtain the information necessary for reporting under revised § 1.6045-3T and proposed § 1.6045-3.

Summary of Comments

The commentators noted certain gaps in the transmission of information under the 2002 temporary and proposed regulations between corporations subject to reporting and brokers. Information reporting by brokers depends upon the effective dissemination of information from the corporation to the reporting community, and broker reporting is difficult to effectuate if there are gaps in the process of transmitting this information.

As provided in the 2002 temporary regulations, a reporting corporation would file Forms 1099-CAP, “Changes in Corporate Control and Capital Structure”, with respect to its shareholders of record, including brokers, under § 1.6043-4T(b). Brokers who received Forms 1099-CAP would then file Forms 1099-CAP with respect to their customers pursuant to § 1.6045-3T. The commentators pointed out that a large majority of U.S. publicly issued securities are actually held on behalf of brokerage firms through clearing organizations. Pursuant to the 2002 temporary regulations, clearing organizations would receive Forms 1099-CAP from the reporting corporation; however, because clearing organizations are not treated as brokers, they in turn would not be required under § 1.6045-3T to file Forms 1099-CAP with respect to their broker-members. Consequently, brokers (who otherwise had the requirement to file a Form 1099-CAP upon receiving one) would not receive Form 1099-CAP if they held their shares through a clearing organization. In addition, brokers may not be aware of the requirement to report with respect to a particular corporate transaction, or may have difficulty obtaining the information necessary for reporting. Thus, under the 2002 temporary regulations, the actual shareholders of the reporting corporation, the broker's customers, may not receive information returns to assist them in preparing their income tax returns.

To address this issue, commentators suggested an alternative procedure to ensure that brokers receive the required information for reporting and to bridge any potential gaps in the chain of reporting. Commentators recommended that the IRS act as a central repository of information necessary for brokers and issue a publication containing information needed for brokers to satisfy their reporting obligations. Brokers and commercial tax services that publish current developments could access this information, and brokers could use this information in preparing Forms 1099-CAP with respect to their customers. An alternative suggested by commentators was to require the reporting corporation to post essential information for reporting, from its Form 8806, “Information Return for Acquisition of Control or Substantial Change in Capital Structure”, to an IRS Web site.

Based on the comments, the revised temporary regulations provide in § 1.6043-4T(a)(1)(vi) that reporting corporations may elect on Form 8806 to consent to the publication by the IRS of information necessary for brokers to file information returns with respect to their customers. To provide every corporation with the ability to make this election, the revised temporary regulations require reporting corporations to file Form 8806 even though the corporation may also report the transaction under sections 351, 355, or 368. In order to enable the IRS to publish the information timely, the revised temporary regulations require reporting corporations to file Form 8806 within 45 days after the transaction, and in no event later than January 5 of the year following the calendar year in which the transaction occurs.

The role of clearing organizations was also the subject of comments. Commentators suggested that the regulations use existing processes for distributing information to minimize the cost of and the time required for implementing reporting by the industry. Those existing processes include the dissemination of information by clearing organizations. Under current practices, important information regarding corporate transactions (including tax information) is disseminated by clearing organizations to their members. The new temporary regulations try to take advantage of this existing information flow by continuing to require corporations to provide a Form 1099-CAP to clearing organizations that are listed as shareholders of record at the time of an acquisition of control or substantial change in capital structure. It is anticipated that clearing organizations will disseminate information obtained from the Form 1099-CAP to their members and that broker-members will use that information (and information obtained from other sources) to satisfy their own reporting obligations under revised § 1.6045-3T. Under the revised temporary regulations, a broker is required to report information if the broker knows or has reason to know, based on readily available information, that there was an acquisition of control or substantial change in capital structure with respect to shares held by the broker on behalf of a customer. If a clearing organization disseminates information identifying an acquisition of control or a substantial change in capital structure to a broker-member, the broker-member has readily available information about the transaction and must satisfy its § 1.6045-3T reporting obligations with respect to the transaction.

The revised temporary regulations provide that a reporting corporation is not required to file Forms 1099-CAP with respect to its shareholders which are clearing organizations, or to furnish Forms 1099-CAP to such clearing organizations, if the corporation makes the election to permit the IRS to publish information regarding the transaction. The IRS' publication of such information pursuant to the corporation's consent will provide readily available information for brokers, who must satisfy their reporting obligations with respect to the transaction.

Commentators also requested that brokers be permitted to use Form 1099-B, “Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions,” for reporting under § 1.6045-3T, rather than overhaul their systems to report on Form 1099-CAP. The commentators point out that this would also avoid any confusion stemming from the issuance of both types of forms to the same taxpayer in the same transaction. The revised temporary regulations provide that Form 1099-B should be used by brokers for reporting under § 1.6045-3T. With respect to transactions occurring in 2003, brokers may use either Form 1099-B or 1099-CAP.

Explanation of Provisions

The revised temporary regulations require a domestic corporation involved in certain large taxable transactions to file Form 8806 reporting and describing such transactions. The revised temporary regulations require the filing of Form 8806 within 45 days following an acquisition of control or substantial change in capital structure, as defined in §§ 1.6043-4T(c) and (d), or, if earlier, by January 5th of the year following the calendar year in which such event occurred.

The revised temporary regulations do not change the definition of acquisition of control or substantial change in capital structure as set forth in the 2002 temporary regulations. An acquisition of control of a corporation is defined as a transaction or series of related transactions in which stock representing control of that corporation is distributed by a second corporation or in which stock representing control of that corporation is acquired (directly or indirectly) by a second corporation and the shareholders of the first corporation receive cash, stock or other property. For these purposes, control is determined in accordance with the first sentence of section 304(c)(1). With certain limitations, the constructive ownership rules of section 318(a) apply to determine ownership. Acquisitions of control within an affiliated group are excepted from this definition, as are acquisitions in which the fair market value of the stock acquired in the transaction or series of related transactions is less than $100,000,000.

A corporation has a substantial change in its capital structure if the corporation in a transaction or series of related transactions (a) undergoes a recapitalization with respect to its stock, (b) redeems its stock, (c) merges, consolidates or otherwise combines with another entity or transfers substantially all of its assets to one or more entities, (d) transfers all or part of its assets to another corporation in a title 11 or similar case and, in pursuance of the plan, distributes stock or securities of that corporation, or (e) changes its identity, form or place of organization. Transactions in which the amount of any cash plus the fair market value of any property (including stock) provided to shareholders of the corporation is less than $100,000,000 are excepted from this definition, as are transactions within an affiliated group.

The revised temporary regulations require a domestic corporation involved in the specified transactions to issue, with respect to each of its shareholders of record, a Form 1099-CAP reporting the amount of any cash plus the fair market value of any property (including certain stock) exchanged in the transaction. Corporations are not required to report the fair market value of any stock provided to a shareholder if the corporation reasonably determines that the receipt of such stock would not cause the shareholder to recognize gain (if any). Corporations also are not required to report amounts distributed to certain exempt recipients. The list of exempt recipients has been expanded to include brokers.

Penalties under section 6652(l) may be imposed for failing to file required returns under section 6043(c) (including failure to file on magnetic media, as required under section 6011(e) and § 1.6011-2). The penalty under section 6652(l) is $500 for each day the failure continues, but the total amount imposed with respect to a return cannot exceed $100,000. The revised temporary regulations provide that the information returns required under these regulations shall be treated as one return for purposes of the section 6652(l) penalty, so that the penalty shall not exceed $500 per day ($100,000 in total) with respect to any acquisition of control or change in capital structure. Further, as provided in section 6652(l), such penalty does not apply if the failure is due to reasonable cause. Until regulations are promulgated under section 6652(l) to set forth specific standards for determining reasonable cause, the IRS will use the reasonable cause standards set forth in § 301.6724-1 as a guideline for determining reasonable cause.

The 2002 temporary regulations under section 6045 required a broker who, as the record holder of stock, received a Form 1099-CAP from a corporation pursuant to the reporting requirements of § 1.6043-4T to file a Form 1099-CAP with respect to the actual owner and furnish such Form 1099-CAP to the actual owner. Under the revised temporary regulations, brokers should not receive Forms 1099-CAP from a corporation and are not required to issue Forms 1099-CAP. Instead, revised § 1.6045-3T requires a broker that knows or has reason to know, based on readily available information, that a transaction described in § 1.6043-4T(c) or (d) has occurred to file an information return reporting the required information with respect to its customers who are not exempt recipients. In order to allow brokers to use their existing information reporting systems, the new temporary regulations require Form 1099-B, Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions, to be used for such reporting. It is anticipated that brokers will obtain the information regarding the corporate transactions from the IRS website or an IRS publication, from information provided by clearing organizations, as well as from other sources regularly consulted within the industry.

The revised temporary regulations are effective only for acquisitions of control and substantial changes of capital structure that occur after December 31, 2002, and for which the reporting corporation or any shareholder is required to recognize gain (if any) as a result of the application of section 367(a). The cross-referencing proposed regulations published in Proposed Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register will apply to all acquisitions of control and substantial changes in capital structure occurring after the date that such regulations are published as final regulations (regardless of whether section 367(a) applies).

Special Analyses

It has been determined that this Treasury decision is 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 regulations. For the applicability of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6), refer to the Special Analyses section of the preamble to the cross-referencing notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Proposed Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, these temporary regulations will be submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on small businesses.

Drafting Information

The principal author of these temporary regulations is Nancy L. Rose, Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Procedure and Administration).

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

• Income taxes
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

Amendments to the Regulations

Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is amended as follows:

PART 1—INCOME TAXES

1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read in part as follows:

Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *

2. Section 1.6043-4T is revised to read as follows:

§ 1.6043-4T

Information returns relating to certain acquisitions of control and changes in capital structure (temporary).

(a) Information returns for an acquisition of control or a substantial change in capital structure—(1) General rule. If there is an acquisition of control (as defined in paragraph (c) of this section) or a substantial change in the capital structure (as defined in paragraph (d) of this section) of a domestic corporation (reporting corporation), the reporting corporation must file a completed Form 8806, “Information Return for Acquisition of Control or Substantial Change in Capital Structure”, in accordance with the instructions to that form. Form 8806 will request the information required in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (vi) of this section and any other information specified in the instructions.

(i) Reporting corporation. Provide the name, address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN) of the reporting corporation.

(ii) Common parent, if any, of the reporting corporation. If the reporting corporation was a subsidiary member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated return immediately prior to the acquisition of control or the substantial change in capital structure, provide the name, address, and TIN of the common parent of that affiliated group.

(iii) Acquiring corporation. Provide the name, address and TIN of any corporation that acquired control of the reporting corporation within the meaning of paragraph (c) of this section or combined with or received assets from the reporting corporation pursuant to a substantial change in capital structure within the meaning of paragraph (d) of this section (acquiring corporation). State whether the acquiring corporation is foreign (as defined in section 7701(a)(5)) or is a dual resident corporation (as defined in § 1.1503-2(c)(2)). In either case, state whether the acquiring corporation was newly formed prior to its involvement in the transaction.

(iv) Common parent, if any, of acquiring corporation. If the acquiring corporation named in paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section was a subsidiary member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated return immediately prior to the acquisition of control or the substantial change in capital structure, provide the name, address, and TIN of the common parent of that affiliated group.

(v) Information about acquisition of control or substantial change in capital structure. Provide—

(A) A description of the transaction or transactions that gave rise to the acquisition of control or the substantial change in capital structure of the corporation;

(B) The date or dates of the transaction or transactions that gave rise to the acquisition of control or the substantial change in capital structure;

(C) A description of and a statement of the fair market value of any stock provided to the reporting corporation's shareholders in exchange for their stock if the reporting corporation reasonably determines that the shareholders are not required to recognize gain (if any) from the receipt of such stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and

(D) A statement of the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property (including stock if the reporting corporation reasonably determines that its shareholders would be required to recognize gain (if any) on the receipt of such stock, but excluding stock described in paragraph (a)(1)(v)(C) of this section) provided to the reporting corporation's shareholders in exchange for each share of their stock.

(2) Consent election. Form 8806 will provide the reporting corporation with the ability to elect to permit the IRS to publish information that will inform brokers of the transaction and enable brokers to satisfy their reporting obligations under § 1.6045-3T. The information to be published, on the IRS website and/or in an IRS publication, would be limited to the name and address of the corporation, the date of the transaction, a description of the shares affected by the transaction, and the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property (excluding stock described in paragraph (a)(1)(v)(C) of this section) provided to each class of shareholders in exchange for a share.

(3) Time for making return—(i) In general. Form 8806 must be filed on or before the 45th day following the acquisition of control or substantial change in capital structure of the corporation, or, if earlier, on or before January 5th of the year following the calendar year in which the acquisition of control or substantial change in capital structure occurs.

(ii) Transition rule. If an acquisition of control or a substantial change in capital structure of a corporation occurs after December 31, 2002, and before December 29, 2003, Form 8806 must be filed on or before January 5, 2004.

(4) Exception where transaction is reported under section 6043(a). No reporting is required under paragraph (a) of this section with respect to a transaction for which information is required to be reported pursuant to section 6043(a), provided the transaction is properly reported in accordance with that section.

(5) Exception where shareholders are exempt recipients. No reporting is required under paragraph (a) of this section if the reporting corporation reasonably determines that all of its shareholders who receive cash, stock or other property pursuant to the acquisition of control or substantial change in capital structure are exempt recipients under paragraph (b)(5) of this section.

(b) Information returns regarding shareholders—(1) General rule. A corporation that is required to file Form 8806 pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall file a return of information on Forms 1096, “Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns”, and 1099-CAP, “Changes in Corporate Control and Capital Structure”, with respect to each shareholder of record in the corporation (before or after the acquisition of control or the substantial change in capital structure) who receives cash, stock, or other property pursuant to the acquisition of control or the substantial change in capital structure and who is not an exempt recipient as defined in paragraph (b)(5) of this section. A corporation is not required to file a Form 1096 or 1099-CAP with respect to a clearing organization if the corporation makes the election described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(2) Time for making information returns. Forms 1096 and 1099-CAP must be filed on or before February 28 (March 31 if filed electronically) of the year following the calendar year in which the acquisition of control or the substantial change in capital structure occurs.

(3) Contents of return. A separate Form 1099-CAP must be filed with respect to amounts received by each shareholder (who is not an exempt recipient as defined in paragraph (b)(5) of this section) showing—

(i) The name, address, telephone number and TIN of the reporting corporation;

(ii) The name, address and TIN of the shareholder;

(iii) The number and class of shares in the reporting corporation exchanged by the shareholder;

(iv) The aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value of any stock (other than stock described in paragraph (a)(1)(v)(C) of this section) or other property provided to the shareholder in exchange for its stock; and

(v) Such other information as may be required by the instructions to Form 1099-CAP.

(4) Furnishing of forms to shareholders. The Form 1099-CAP filed with respect to each shareholder must be furnished to such shareholder on or before January 31 of the year following the calendar year in which the shareholder receives cash, stock, or other property as part of the acquisition of control or the substantial change in capital structure. The Form 1099-CAP filed with respect to a clearing organization must be furnished to the clearing organization on or before January 5th of the year following the calendar year in which the acquisition of control or substantial change in capital structure occurred. A Form 1099-CAP is not required to be furnished to a clearing organization if the reporting corporation makes the election described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(5) Exempt recipients. A corporation is not required to file a Form 1099-CAP pursuant to this paragraph (b) of this section with respect to any of the following shareholders that is not a clearing organization:

(i) Any shareholder who receives solely stock described in paragraph (a)(1)(v)(C) of this section in exchange for its stock in the corporation.

(ii) Any shareholder who is required to recognize gain (if any) as a result of the receipt of cash, stock, or other property if the corporation reasonably determines that the amount of such cash plus the fair market value of such stock and other property does not exceed $1,000. Stock described in paragraph (a)(1)(v)(C) of this section is not taken into account for purposes of this paragraph (b)(5)(ii).

(iii) Any shareholder described in paragraphs (b)(5)(iii)(A) through (M) of this section if the corporation has actual knowledge that the shareholder is described in one of paragraphs (b)(5)(iii)(A) through (M) of this section or if the corporation has a properly completed exemption certificate from the shareholder (as provided in § 31.3406(h)-3 of this chapter). The corporation also may treat a shareholder as described in paragraphs (b)(5)(iii)(A) through (M) of this section based on the applicable indicators described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii).

(A) A corporation, as described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(A) (except for corporations for which an election under section 1362(a) is in effect).

(B) A tax-exempt organization, as described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(B)(1).

(C) An individual retirement plan, as described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(C).

(D) The United States, as described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(D).

(E) A state, as described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(E).

(F) A foreign government, as described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(F).

(G) An international organization, as described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(G).

(H) A foreign central bank of issue, as described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(H).

(I) A securities or commodities dealer, as described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(I).

(J) A real estate investment trust, as described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(J).

(K) An entity registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1), as described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(K).

(L) A common trust fund, as described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(L).

(M) A financial institution such as a bank, mutual savings bank, savings and loan association, building and loan association, cooperative bank, homestead association, credit union, industrial loan association or bank, or other similar organization.

(iv) Any shareholder that the corporation, prior to the transaction, associates with documentation upon which the corporation may rely in order to treat payments to the shareholder as made to a foreign beneficial owner in accordance with § 1.1441-1(e)(1)(ii) or as made to a foreign payee in accordance with § 1.6049-5(d)(1) or presumed to be made to a foreign payee under § 1.6049-5(d)(2) or (3). For purposes of this paragraph (b)(5)(iv), the provisions in § 1.6049-5(c) (regarding rules applicable to documentation of foreign status and definition of U.S. payor and non-U.S. payor) shall apply. The provisions of § 1.1441-1 shall apply by using the terms corporation and shareholder in place of the terms withholding agent and payee and without regard to the fact that the provisions apply only to amounts subject to withholding under chapter 3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The provisions of § 1.6049-5(d) shall apply by using the terms corporation and shareholder in place of the terms payor and payee. Nothing in this paragraph (b)(5)(iv) shall be construed to relieve a corporation of its withholding obligations under section 1441.

(v) Any shareholder if, on January 31 of the year following the calendar year in which the shareholder receives cash, stock, or other property, the corporation did not know and did not have reason to know that the shareholder received such cash, stock, or other property in a transaction or series of related transactions that would result in an acquisition of control or a substantial change in capital structure.

(6) Coordination with other sections. In general, no reporting is required under paragraph (b) of this section with respect to amounts that are required to be reported under section 6042 or section 6045, unless the corporation knows or has reason to know that such amounts are not properly reported in accordance with those sections. A corporation must satisfy the requirements under paragraph (b) of this section with respect to any shareholder of record that is a clearing organization.

(c) Acquisition of control of a corporation—(1) In general. For purposes of this section, an acquisition of control of a corporation (first corporation) occurs if, in a transaction or series of related transactions, either—

(i) Stock representing control of the first corporation is distributed by a second corporation to shareholders of the second corporation and the fair market value of such stock on the date of distribution is $100,000,000 or more; or

(ii) (A) Before an acquisition of stock of the first corporation (directly or indirectly) by a second corporation, the second corporation does not have control of the first corporation;

(B) After the acquisition, the second corporation has control of the first corporation;

(C) The fair market value of the stock acquired in the transaction and in any related transactions as of the date or dates on which such stock was acquired is $100,000,000 or more; and

(D) The shareholders of the first corporation (determined without applying the constructive ownership rule of section 318(a)) receive cash, stock, or other property pursuant to the acquisition.

(2) Control. For purposes of this section, control is determined in accordance with the first sentence of section 304(c)(1).

(3) Constructive ownership. (i) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the constructive ownership rules of section 318(a) (except for section 318(a)(4), providing for constructive ownership through an option to acquire stock), modified as provided in section 304(c)(3)(B), shall apply for determining whether there has been an acquisition of control.

(ii) The determination of whether there has been an acquisition of control shall be made without regard to whether the person or persons from whom control was acquired retain indirect control of the first corporation under section 318(a).

(iii) For purposes of paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section, section 318(a) shall not apply to cause a second corporation to be treated as owning, before an acquisition of stock in a first corporation (directly or indirectly) by the second corporation, any stock that is acquired in the first corporation. For example, if the shareholders of a domestic corporation form a new holding company and then transfer their shares in the domestic corporation to the new holding company, the new holding company shall not be treated as having control of the domestic corporation before the acquisition. The new holding company acquires control of the domestic corporation as a result of the transfer. Similarly, if the shareholders of a domestic parent corporation transfer their shares in the parent corporation to a subsidiary of the parent in exchange for shares in the subsidiary, the subsidiary shall not be treated as having control of the parent before the transaction. The subsidiary acquires control of the parent as a result of the transfer.

(4) Corporation includes group. For purposes of this paragraph (c), if two or more corporations act pursuant to a plan or arrangement with respect to acquisitions of stock, such corporations will be treated as one corporation for purposes of this section. Whether two or more corporations act pursuant to a plan or arrangement depends on the facts and circumstances.

(5) Section 338 election. For purposes of this paragraph (c), an acquisition of stock of a corporation with respect to which an election under section 338 is made is treated as an acquisition of stock (and not as an acquisition of the assets of such corporation).

(d) Substantial change in capital structure of a corporation—(1) In general. A corporation has a substantial change in capital structure if it has a change in capital structure (as defined in paragraph (d)(2) of this section) and the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any property (including stock) provided to the shareholders of such corporation pursuant to the change in capital structure, as of the date or dates on which the cash or other property is provided, is $100,000,000 or more.

(2) Change in capital structure. For purposes of this section, a corporation has a change in capital structure if the corporation in a transaction or series of transactions—

(i) Undergoes a recapitalization with respect to its stock;

(ii) Redeems its stock (including deemed redemptions);

(iii) Merges, consolidates or otherwise combines with another corporation or transfers all or substantially all of its assets to one or more corporations;

(iv) Transfers all or part of its assets to another corporation in a title 11 or similar case and, in pursuance of the plan, distributes stock or securities of that corporation; or

(v) Changes its identity, form or place of organization.

(e) Reporting by successor entity. If a corporation (transferor) transfers all or substantially all of its assets to another entity (transferee) in a transaction that constitutes a substantial change in the capital structure of transferor, transferor must satisfy the reporting obligations in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section. If transferor does not satisfy the reporting obligations in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, then transferee must satisfy those reporting obligations. If neither transferor nor transferee satisfies the reporting obligations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, then transferor and transferee shall be jointly and severally liable for any applicable penalties (see paragraph (g) of this section).

(f) Receipt of property. For purposes of this section, a shareholder is treated as receiving property (or as having property provided to it) pursuant to an acquisition of control or a substantial change in capital structure if a liability of the shareholder is assumed in the transaction and, as a result of the transaction, an amount is realized by the shareholder from the sale or exchange of stock.

(g) Penalties for failure to file. For penalties for failure to file as required under this section, see section 6652(l). The information returns required to be filed under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section shall be treated as one return for purposes of section 6652(l) and, accordingly, the penalty shall not exceed $500 for each day the failure continues (up to a maximum of $100,000) with respect to any acquisition of control or any substantial change in capital structure. Failure to file as required under this section also includes the requirement to file on magnetic media as required by section 6011(e) and § 1.6011-2. In addition, criminal penalties under sections 7203, 7206 and 7207 may apply in appropriate cases.

(h) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of the rules of this section. For purposes of these examples, assume the transaction is not reported under sections 6042, 6043(a) or 6045, unless otherwise specified, and assume that the fair market value of the consideration provided to the shareholders exceeds $100,000,000. The examples are as follows:

Example 1. The shareholders of X, a domestic corporation and parent of an affiliated group, exchange their X stock for stock in Y, a newly formed foreign holding corporation. After the transaction, Y owns all the outstanding X stock. The X shareholders must recognize gain (if any) on the exchange of their stock as a result of the application of section 367(a). Because the transaction results in an acquisition of control of X, X must comply with the rules in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. X must file Form 8806 reporting the transaction. X must also file a Form 1099-CAP with respect to each shareholder who is not an exempt recipient showing the fair market value of the Y stock received by that shareholder, and X must furnish a copy of the Form 1099-CAP to that shareholder. If X elects on the Form 8806 to permit the IRS to publish information regarding the transaction, X is not required to file or furnish Forms 1099-CAP with respect to shareholders that are clearing organizations.

Example 2. C, a domestic corporation, and parent of an affiliated group merges into D, an unrelated domestic corporation. Pursuant to the transaction, the C shareholders exchange their C stock for D stock or for a combination of short term notes and D stock. The transaction does not satisfy the requirements of section 368, and the C shareholders must recognize gain (if any) on the exchange. Because the transaction results in a substantial change in the capital structure of C, C (or D as the successor to C) must comply with the rules in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. C must file Form 8806. C (or D as the successor to C) also must file a Form 1099-CAP with respect to each shareholder who is not an exempt recipient showing the fair market value of the short term notes and the fair market value of the D stock provided to that shareholder. In addition, C (or D) must furnish a copy of the Form 1099-CAP to that shareholder.

Example 3. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 2, except that C reasonably determines that—

(A) The transaction satisfies the requirements of section 368;

(B) The C shareholders who exchange their C stock solely for D stock will not be required to recognize gain (if any) on the exchange; and

(C) The C shareholders who exchange their C stock for a combination of short term notes and D stock will be required to recognize gain (if any) on the exchange solely with respect to the receipt of the short term notes.

(ii) C is required to file Form 8806 under paragraph (a) of this section. C (or D as the successor to C) must also comply with the rules in paragraph (b) of this section. With respect to each shareholder who receives a combination of short term notes and D stock, and who is not an exempt recipient, C (or D) must file a Form 1099-CAP showing the fair market value of the short term notes provided to the shareholder, and C (or D) must furnish a copy of the Form 1099-CAP to that shareholder. The Form 1099-CAP should not show the fair market value of the D stock provided to the shareholder. C and D are not required to file and furnish Forms 1099-CAP with respect to shareholders who receive only D stock in exchange for their C stock.

Example 4. The facts are the same as in Example 3, except C hires a transfer agent to effectuate the exchange. The transfer agent is treated as a broker under section 6045 and is required to report the fair market value of the short term notes provided to C's shareholders under § 1.6045-3T. Under paragraph (b)(6) of this section, C and D are not required to file information returns under paragraph (b) of this section with respect to a shareholder of record, unless C or D knows or has reason to know that the transfer agent does not satisfy its information reporting obligation under § 1.6045-3T with respect to that shareholder. Thus, if the transfer agent satisfies its information reporting requirements under § 1.6045-3T with respect to shareholder I, an individual who receives both D stock and short term notes, C and D are not required to file a Form 1099-CAP with respect to I. Conversely, if the transfer agent does not have an information reporting obligation under § 1.6045-3T with respect to one of C's shareholder's of record (for example, a clearing organization that is an exempt recipient under § 1.6045-3T(b)(ii)), or if C or D knows or has reason to know that the transfer agent has not satisfied its information reporting requirement with respect to a shareholder, then C (or D) must provide a Form 1099-CAP to that shareholder.

(i) Effective date. This section applies to any acquisition of control and any substantial change in capital structure occurring after December 31, 2001, if the reporting corporation or any shareholder is required to recognize gain (if any) as a result of the application of section 367(a) as a result of the transaction. However, paragraphs (a) through (h) of this section apply to acquisitions of control and substantial changes in capital structure occurring after December 31, 2002, if the reporting corporation or any shareholder is required to recognize gain (if any) as a result of the application of section 367(a) as a result of the transaction. For transactions prior to January 1, 2003, see § 1.6043-4T as published in 26 CFR part 1 (revised as of April 1, 2003). This section expires on November 14, 2005.

3. Section 1.6045-3T is revised to read as follows:

§ 1.6045-3T

Information reporting for an acquisition of control or a substantial change in capital structure (temporary).

(a) In general. Any broker (as defined in § 1.6045-1(a)(1)) that holds shares on behalf of a customer in a corporation that the broker knows or has reason to know based on readily available information (including, for example, information from a clearing organization or from information published by the Internal Revenue Service (see § 601.601(d)(2) of this chapter)) has engaged in a transaction described in § 1.6043-4T(c) (acquisition of control) or § 1.6043-4T(d) (substantial change in capital structure), shall file a return of information with respect to the customer, unless the customer is an exempt recipient as defined in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Exempt recipients. A broker is not required to file a return of information under this section with respect to the following customers:

(1) Any customer who receives only cash in exchange for its stock in the corporation, which must be reported by the broker pursuant to § 1.6045-1(a).

(2) Any customer who is an exempt recipient as defined in § 1.6043-4T(b)(5) or § 1.6045-1(c)(3)(i).

(c) Form, manner and time for making information returns. The return required by paragraph (a) of this section must be on Forms 1096, “Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns”, and 1099-B, “Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions,” or on an acceptable substitute statement. Such forms must be filed on or before February 28 (March 31 if filed electronically) of the year following the calendar year in which the acquisition of control or the substantial change in capital structure occurs.

(d) Contents of return. A separate Form 1099-B must be prepared for each customer showing—

(1) The name, address and taxpayer identification number (TIN) of the customer;

(2) The name and address of the corporation which engaged in the transaction described in § 1.6043-4T(c) or (d);

(3) The number and class of shares in the corporation exchanged by the customer;

(4) The aggregate amount of cash and the fair market value of any stock (other than stock described in 1.6043-4T(a)(1)(v)(C)) or other property provided to the customer in exchange for its stock; and

(5) Such other information as may be required by Form 1099-B.

(e) Furnishing of forms to actual owners. The Form 1099-B prepared for each customer must be furnished to the customer on or before January 31 of the year following the calendar year in which the customer receives stock, cash or other property.

(f) Single Form 1099. If a broker is required to file a Form 1099-B with respect to a customer under both this § 1.6045-3T and § 1.6045-1(b) with respect to the same transaction, the broker may satisfy the requirements of both sections by filing and furnishing one Form 1099-B that contains all the relevant information, as provided in the instructions to Form 1099-B.

(g) Effective date. (1) This section applies with respect to any acquisition of control and any substantial change in capital structure occurring after December 31, 2001, if the reporting corporation or any shareholder is required to recognize gain (if any) as a result of the application of section 367(a) as a result of the transaction. However, paragraphs (a) through (f) of this section apply to acquisitions of control and substantial changes in capital structure occurring after December 31, 2002, if the reporting corporation or any shareholder is required to recognize gain (if any) as a result of the application of section 367(a) as a result of the transaction. For transactions prior to that date, see § 1.6045-3T as published in 26 CFR Part 1 (revised as of April 1, 2003). This section expires on November 14, 2005.

(2) For any acquisition of control or any substantial change in capital structure occurring during the 2003 calendar year, a broker may elect to satisfy the requirements of this section by using Form 1099-CAP in lieu of Form 1099-B.

Mark E. Matthews,

Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.

Approved: December 12, 2003.

Gregory Jenner,

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax Policy).