2015-15280. Guidance Under Section 529A: Qualified ABLE Programs

AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking and notice of public hearing.

SUMMARY:

This document contains proposed regulations under section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code that provide guidance regarding programs under The Stephen Beck, Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014. Section 529A provides rules under which States or State agencies or instrumentalities may establish and maintain a new type of tax-favored savings program through which contributions may be made to the account of an eligible disabled individual to meet qualified disability expenses. These accounts also receive favorable treatment for purposes of certain means-tested Federal programs. In addition, these proposed regulations provide corresponding amendments to regulations under sections 511 and 513, with respect to unrelated business taxable income, sections 2501, 2503, 2511, 2642 and 2652, with respect to gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and section 6011, with respect to reporting requirements. This document also provides notice of a public hearing on these proposed regulations.

DATES:

Comments must be received by September 21, 2015. Outlines of topics to be discussed at the public hearing scheduled for October 14, 2015, at 10 a.m., must be received by September 21, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

Send submissions to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-102837-15), Room 5203, Internal Revenue Service, P.O. Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044. Submissions may be hand delivered Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-102837-15), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC, or sent electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (IRS REG-102837-15). The public hearing will be held in the Auditorium, Internal Revenue Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Concerning the proposed regulations under section 529A, Taina Edlund or Terri Harris, [phone], or Sean Barnett, [phone]; concerning the proposed estate and gift tax regulations, Theresa Melchiorre, [phone]; concerning the reporting provisions under section 529A, Mark Bond, [phone]; concerning submissions of comments, the hearing, and/or to be placed on the building access list to attend the hearing, call Regina Johnson, [phone] (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

The collection of information contained in this notice of proposed rulemaking has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)). Comments on the collection of information should be sent to the Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for the Department of the Treasury, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503, with copies to the Internal Revenue Service, Attn: IRS Reports Clearance Officer, SE:W:CAR:MP:T:T:SP, Washington, DC 20224. Comments on the collection of information should be received by August 21, 2015.

Comments are specifically requested concerning:

Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Internal Revenue Service, including whether the information will have practical utility;

The accuracy of the estimated burden associated with the proposed collection of information;

How the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected may be enhanced;

How the burden of complying with the proposed collection of information may be minimized, including through forms of information technology; and

Estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

The collection of information in the proposed regulations is in §§ 1.529A-2, 1.529A-5, 1.529A-6 and 1.529A-7. The collection of information flows from sections 529A(d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(1) and (e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). Section 529A(d)(1) requires qualified ABLE programs to provide reports to the Secretary and to designated beneficiaries with respect to contributions, distributions, the return of excess contributions, and such other matters as the Secretary may require. Section 529(d)(2) provides that the Secretary shall make available to the public reports containing aggregate information, by diagnosis and other relevant characteristics, on contributions and distributions from the qualified ABLE program. Section 529(d)(3) requires qualified ABLE programs to provide notice to the Secretary upon the establishment of an ABLE account, containing the name and State of residence of the designated beneficiary and such other information as the Secretary may require. Section 529A(e)(1) requires that a disability certification with respect to certain individuals be filed with the Secretary. Section 529A(e)(2) provides that the disability certification include a certification to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the individual has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that occurred before the date on which the individual attained age 26 and also include a copy of a physician's diagnosis. The burden under §§ 1.529A-5 and 1.529A-6 is reflected in the burden under the new Form 5498-QA, “ABLE Account Contribution Information,” and the new Form 1099-QA, “Distributions from ABLE Accounts,” respectively.

The expected recordkeepers are programs described in section 529A, established and maintained by a State or a State agency or instrumentality and individuals with ABLE accounts.

Estimated number of recordkeepers: 10,050.

Estimated average annual burden hours per recordkeeper: 1.6 hours.

Estimated total annual recordkeeping burden: 16,080.

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.

Books or 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 return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.

Background

The Stephen Beck, Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014, enacted on December 19, 2014, as part of The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-295), added section 529A to the Internal Revenue Code. Congress recognized the special financial burdens borne by families raising children with disabilities and the fact that increased financial needs generally continue throughout the disabled person's lifetime. Section 101 of the ABLE Act confirms that one of the purposes of the Act is to “provide secure funding for disability-related expenses on behalf of designated beneficiaries with disabilities that will supplement, but not supplant, benefits” otherwise available to those individuals, whether through private sources, employment, public programs, or otherwise. Prior to the enactment of the ABLE Act, various types of tax-advantaged savings arrangements existed, but none adequately served the goal of promoting saving for these financial needs. Section 529A allows the creation of a qualified ABLE program by a State (or agency or instrumentality thereof) under which a separate ABLE account may be established for a disabled individual who is the designated beneficiary and owner of that account. Generally, contributions to that account are subject to both an annual and a cumulative limit, and, when made by a person other than the designated beneficiary, are treated as non-taxable gifts to the designated beneficiary. Distributions made from an ABLE account for qualified disability expenses of the designated beneficiary are not included in the designated beneficiary's gross income. The earnings portion of distributions from the ABLE account in excess of the qualified disability expenses is includible in the gross income of the designated beneficiary. An ABLE account may be used for the long-term benefit and/or short-term needs of the designated beneficiary.

Section 103 of the ABLE Act, while not a tax provision, is critical to achieving the goal of the ABLE Act of providing financial resources for the benefit of disabled individuals. Because so many of the programs that provide essential financial, occupational, and other resources and services to disabled individuals are available only to persons whose resources and income do not exceed relatively low dollar limits, section 103 generally provides that a designated beneficiary's ABLE account (specifically, its account balance, contributions to the account, and distributions from the account) is disregarded for purposes of determining the designated beneficiary's eligibility for and the amount of any assistance or benefit provided under certain means-tested Federal programs. However, in the case of the Supplemental Security Income program under title XVI of the Social Security Act, distributions for certain housing expenses are not disregarded, and the balance (including earnings) in an ABLE account is considered a resource of the designated beneficiary to the extent that balance exceeds $100,000. Section 103 also addresses the impact of an excess balance in an ABLE account on the designated beneficiary's eligibility under the Supplemental Security Income program and Medicaid.

Finally, section 104 of the ABLE Act addresses the treatment of ABLE accounts in bankruptcy proceedings.

Notice 2015-18, 2015-12 IRB 765 (March 23, 2015), provides that the section 529A guidance will confirm that the owner of the ABLE account is the designated beneficiary of the account, and that the person with signature authority over (if not the designated beneficiary of) the account may neither have nor acquire any beneficial interest in the ABLE account and must administer that account for the benefit of the designated beneficiary of that account. The Notice further provides that, in the event that state legislation creating ABLE programs enacted in accordance with section 529A prior to issuance of guidance does not fully comport with the guidance when issued, the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to provide transition relief to provide sufficient time to allow States to implement the changes necessary to avoid the disqualification of the program and of the ABLE accounts already established under the program.

The Treasury Department and the IRS reiterate that States that enact legislation creating an ABLE program in accordance with section 529A, and those individuals establishing ABLE accounts in accordance with such legislation, will not fail to receive the benefits of section 529A merely because the legislation or the account documents do not fully comport with the final regulations when they are issued. The Treasury Department and the IRS intend to provide transition relief to enable those State programs and accounts to be brought into compliance with the requirements in the final regulations, including providing sufficient time after issuance of the final regulations in order for changes to be implemented.

Explanation of Provisions

Qualification as an ABLE program

The proposed regulations provide guidance on the requirements a program must satisfy in order to be a qualified ABLE program described in section 529A. Specifically, in addition to other requirements, the program must: Be established and maintained by a State or a State's agency or instrumentality; permit the establishment of an ABLE account only for a designated beneficiary who is a resident of that State, or a State contracting with that State for purposes of the ABLE program; permit the establishment of an ABLE account only for a designated beneficiary who is an eligible individual; limit a designated beneficiary to only one ABLE account, wherever located; permit contributions to an ABLE account established to meet the qualified disability expenses of the account's designated beneficiary; limit the nature and amount of contributions that can be made to an ABLE account; require a separate accounting for the ABLE account of each designated beneficiary with an ABLE account in the program; limit the designated beneficiary to no more than two opportunities in any calendar year to provide investment direction, whether directly or indirectly, for the ABLE account; and prohibit the pledging of an interest in an ABLE account as security for a loan.

Because each qualified ABLE program will have significant administrative obligations beyond what is required for the administration of qualified tuition programs under section 529 (on which section 529A was loosely modeled), and because the frequency of distributions from the ABLE accounts is likely to be far greater than those made from qualified tuition accounts, the proposed regulations expressly allow a qualified ABLE program or any of its contractors to contract with one or more Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that commonly serve disabled individuals and their families to provide one or more required services. For example, a CDFI could provide screening and verification of disabilities, certification of the qualified purpose of distributions, debit card services to facilitate distributions, and social data collection and reporting. A CDFI also may be able to obtain grants to defray the cost of administering the program. In general, if certified by the Treasury Department, a CDFI may receive a financial assistance award from the CDFI Fund that was established within the Treasury Department in 1994 to promote community development in economically distressed communities through investments in CDFIs across the country.

Established and Maintained

The proposed regulations provide that a program is established by a State, or its agency or instrumentality, if the program is initiated by State statute or regulation, or by an act of a State official or agency with the authority to act on behalf of the State. A program is maintained by a State or its agency or instrumentality if: All the terms and conditions of the program are set by the State or its agency or instrumentality, and the State or its agency or instrumentality is actively involved on an ongoing basis in the administration of the program, including supervising all decisions relating to the investment of assets contributed to the program. The proposed regulations set forth factors that are relevant in determining whether a State, or its agency or instrumentality, is actively involved in the administration of the program. Included in the factors is the manner and extent to which it is permissible for the program to contract out for professional and financial services.

Establishment of an ABLE Account

The proposed regulations provide that, consistent with the definition of a designated beneficiary in section 529A(e)(3), the designated beneficiary of an ABLE account is the eligible individual who establishes the account or an eligible individual who succeeded the original designated beneficiary. The proposed regulations also provide that the designated beneficiary is the owner of that account.

The Treasury Department and the IRS recognize, however, that certain eligible individuals may be unable to establish an account themselves. Therefore, the proposed regulations clarify that, if the eligible individual cannot establish the account, the eligible individual's agent under a power of attorney or, if none, his or her parent or legal guardian may establish the ABLE account for that eligible individual. For purposes of these proposed regulations, because each of these individuals would be acting on behalf of the designated beneficiary, references to actions of the designated beneficiary, such as opening or managing the ABLE account, are deemed to include the actions of any other such individual with signature authority over the ABLE account. The proposed regulations also provide that, consistent with Notice 2015-18, a person other than the designated beneficiary with signature authority over the account of the designated beneficiary may neither have, nor acquire, any beneficial interest in the account during the designated beneficiary's lifetime and must administer the account for the benefit of the designated beneficiary.

At the time an ABLE account is created for a designated beneficiary, the designated beneficiary must provide evidence that the designated beneficiary is an eligible individual as defined in section 529A(e)(1). Section 529A(e)(1) provides that an individual is an eligible individual for a taxable year if, during that year, either the individual is entitled to benefits based on blindness or disability under title II or XVI of the Social Security Act and the blindness or disability occurred before the date on which the individual attained age 26, or a disability certification meeting specified requirements is filed with the Secretary. If an individual is asserting he or she is entitled to benefits based on blindness or disability under title II or XVI of the Social Security Act and the blindness or disability occurred before the date on which the individual attained age 26, the proposed regulations provide that each qualified ABLE program may determine the evidence required to establish the individual's eligibility. For example, a qualified ABLE program could require the individual to provide a copy of a benefit verification letter from the Social Security Administration and allow the individual to certify, under penalties of perjury, that the blindness or disability occurred before the date on which the individual attained age 26.

Alternatively, the designated beneficiary must submit the disability certification when opening the ABLE account. Consistent with section 529A(e)(2), the proposed regulations provide that a disability certification is a certification by the designated beneficiary that he or she: (1) Has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, which results in marked or severe functional limitations, and which (i) can be expected to result in death or (ii) has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; or (2) is blind (within the meaning of section 1614(a)(2) of the Social Security Act) and that such blindness or disability occurred before the date on which the individual attained age 26. The certification must include a copy of the individual's diagnosis relating to the individual's relevant impairment or impairments, signed by a licensed physician (as defined in section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1395x(r)). Consistent with other IRS filing requirements, the proposed regulations also provide that the certification must be signed under penalties of perjury.

While evidence of an individual's eligibility based on entitlement to Social Security benefits should be objectively verifiable, the sufficiency of a disability certification that an individual is an eligible individual for purposes of section 529A might not be as easy to establish. Nevertheless, the Treasury Department and the IRS wish to facilitate an eligible individual's ability to establish an ABLE account without undue delay. Therefore, the proposed regulations provide that an eligible individual must present the disability certification, accompanied by the diagnosis, to the qualified ABLE program to demonstrate eligibility to establish an ABLE account. The proposed regulations further provide that the disability certification will be deemed to be filed with the Secretary once the qualified ABLE program has received the disability certification or a disability certification has been deemed to have been received under the rules of the qualified ABLE program, which information the qualified ABLE program, as discussed further below, will file with the IRS in accordance with the filing requirements under § 1.529A-5(c)(2)(iv).

Disability Determination

Consistent with section 529A(g)(4), the Treasury Department and the IRS have consulted with the Commissioner of Social Security regarding disability certifications and determinations of disability. For purposes of the disability certification, the proposed regulations provide that the phrase “marked and severe functional limitations” means the standard of disability in the Social Security Act for children claiming benefits under the Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (SSI) program based on disability, but without regard to the age of the individual. This phrase refers to a level of severity of an impairment that meets, medically equals, or functionally equals the listings in the Listing of Impairments (the listings) in appendix 1 of subpart P of 20 CFR part 404. (See 20 CFR 416.906, 416.924 and 416.926a). This listing developed and used by the Social Security Administration describes for each of the major body systems impairments that cause marked and severe functional limitations. Most body system sections are in two parts: an introduction, followed by the specific listings. The introduction contains information relevant to the use of the listings with respect to that body system, such as examples of common impairments in the body system and definitions used in the listings for that body system. The introduction may also include specific criteria for establishing a diagnosis, confirming the existence of an impairment, or establishing that an impairment satisfies the criteria of a particular listing with respect to the body system. The specific listings that follow the introduction for each body system specify the objective medical and other findings needed to satisfy the criteria of that listing. Most of the listed impairments are permanent or expected to result in death, although some listings state a specific period of time for which an impairment will meet the listing.

An impairment is medically equivalent to a listing if it is at least equal in severity and duration to the severity and duration of any listing. An impairment that does not meet or medically equal any listing may result in limitations that functionally equal the listings if it results in marked limitations in two domains of functioning or an extreme limitation in one domain of functioning, as explained in 20 CFR 416.926a. In addition, the proposed regulations provide that certain conditions, specifically those listed in the Compassionate Allowances Conditions list maintained by the Social Security Administration, are deemed to meet the requirements of an impairment sufficient for a disability certification without a physician's diagnosis, provided that the condition was present before the date on which the individual attained age 26. The proposed regulations also provide the flexibility from time to time to identify additional impairments that will be deemed to meet these requirements. The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments on what other conditions should be deemed to meet the requirements of section 529A(e)(2)(A)(i).

Change in Eligible Individual Status

The Treasury Department and the IRS recognize that there may be circumstances in which a designated beneficiary ceases to be an eligible individual but subsequently regains that status. Consequently, the Treasury Department and the IRS believe that it is appropriate to permit continuation of the ABLE account (albeit with some changes in the applicable rules) during the period in which a designated beneficiary is not an eligible individual as long as the designated beneficiary was an eligible individual when the account was established. Therefore, if at any time a designated beneficiary no longer meets the definition of an eligible individual, his or her ABLE account remains an ABLE account to which all of the provisions of the ABLE Act continue to apply, and no (taxable) distribution of the account balance is deemed to occur. However, the proposed regulations provide that, beginning on the first day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which the designated beneficiary ceased to be an eligible individual, no contributions to the ABLE account may be accepted. If the designated beneficiary subsequently again becomes an eligible individual, then additional contributions may be accepted subject to the applicable annual and cumulative limits. In this way, the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to prevent a deemed distribution of the ABLE account (and preserve the account's qualification as an ABLE account for all purposes) if, for example, the disease that caused the impairment goes into a temporary remission, and to preserve the ABLE account with its tax-free distributions for qualified disability expenses if the impairment resumes and once again qualifies the designated beneficiary as an eligible individual. Note that expenses will not be qualified disability expenses if they are incurred at a time when a designated beneficiary is neither disabled nor blind within the meaning of § 1.529A-1(b)(9)(A) or § 1.529A-2(e)(1)(i).

The proposed regulations provide flexibility regarding annual recertifications. A qualified ABLE program generally must require annual recertifications that the designated beneficiary continues to satisfy the definition of an eligible individual. However, a qualified ABLE program may deem an annual recertification to have been provided in appropriate circumstances. For example, a qualified ABLE program may permit certification by an individual that he or she has a permanent disability to be considered to meet the annual requirement to present a certification to the qualified ABLE program. In other cases, a program may require all of the same evidence needed for the initial disability certification when the account was established, may require a statement under penalties of perjury that nothing has changed that would change the original disability certification, or may incorporate some other method of ensuring that the designated beneficiary continuously qualifies as an eligible individual. Alternatively, a qualified ABLE program may identify certain impairments or categories of impairments for which recertifications will be deemed to have been made annually to the qualified ABLE program unless and until the qualified ABLE program provides otherwise (for example, if a cure is discovered for a disease that causes an impairment). An initial certification or recertification that meets the requirements of the qualified ABLE program will be deemed to have met the requirement of section 529A(e)(1)(B). The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments regarding how a qualified ABLE program will be able to demonstrate eligibility in subsequent years if it allows deemed recertifications.

Contributions to an ABLE Account

The proposed regulations provide that, as a general rule, all contributions to an ABLE account must be made in cash. The proposed regulations provide that a qualified ABLE program may accept cash contributions in the form of cash or a check, money order, credit card payment, or other similar method of payment. In addition, the proposed regulations provide that the total contributions to an ABLE account in the designated beneficiary's taxable year, other than amounts received in rollovers and program-to-program transfers, must not exceed the amount of the annual per-donee gift tax exclusion under section 2503(b) in effect for that calendar year (currently $14,000) in which the designated beneficiary's taxable year begins. Finally, a qualified ABLE program must provide adequate safeguards to ensure that total contributions to an ABLE account (including the proceeds from a preexisting ABLE account) do not exceed that State's limit for aggregate contributions under its qualified tuition program.

To implement these requirements, the proposed regulations provide that a qualified ABLE program must return contributions in excess of the annual gift tax exclusion (excess contributions) to the contributor(s), along with all net income attributable to those excess contributions. Similarly, the proposed regulations also require the return of all contributions, along with all net income attributable to those contributions, that caused an ABLE account to exceed the limit established by the State for its qualified tuition program (excess aggregate contributions). If an excess contribution or excess aggregate contribution is returned to a contributor other than the designated beneficiary, the qualified ABLE program must notify the designated beneficiary of such return at the time of the return. The proposed regulations further provide that such returns of excess contributions and excess aggregate contributions must be received by the contributor(s) on or before the due date (including extensions) of the designated beneficiary's income tax return for the year in which the excess contributions were made or in the year the excess aggregate contributions caused amounts in the ABLE account to exceed the limit in effect under section 529A(b)(6), respectively. The proposed regulations provide rules for determining the net income attributable to a contribution made to an ABLE account, and also provide that these excess contributions and excess aggregate contributions must be returned to contributors on a last-in, first-out basis. In the case of contributions that exceed the annual gift tax exclusion, a failure to return such excess contributions within the time period discussed in this paragraph will result in the imposition on the designated beneficiary of a 6 percent excise tax under section 4973(a)(6) on the amount of excess contributions. As part of a planned revision of IRA regulations, the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to propose regulations under section 4973 to reflect that ABLE accounts are subject to section 4973.

Application of Gift Tax to Contributions to an ABLE Account

Gift tax consequences may arise from contributions to an ABLE account even though the aggregate amount of such contributions to an ABLE account from all contributors may not exceed the annual exclusion amount under section 2503(b) applicable to any single contributor. Specifically, if a contributor makes other gifts to a designated beneficiary in addition to the gift to the designated beneficiary's ABLE account, the contributor's total gifts made to the designated beneficiary in that year could give rise to a gift tax liability.

Contributions may be made by any person. The term person is defined in section 7701(a)(1) to include an individual, trust, estate, partnership, association, company, or corporation. Therefore, for purposes of section 529A(b)(1)(A), a person would include an individual and each of the entities described in section 7701(a)(1). Under section 2501(a)(1), the gift tax applies only to gifts by individuals, but it also applies to gifts made directly or indirectly. As a result, a gift made by a trust, estate, association, company, corporation, or partnership is treated as having been made by the owner(s) of that entity. For example, a gift from a corporation to a designated beneficiary is treated as a gift from the shareholders of the corporation to the designated beneficiary. See Example (1) of § 25.2511-1(h). Accordingly, the proposed regulations provide that, for purposes of sections 529A(b)(1)(A) and 529A(c)(1)(C), a contribution by a corporation is treated as a gift by its shareholders and a contribution by a partnership is treated as a gift by its partners. This rule also applies to trusts, estates, associations, and companies. See section 2511 and § 25.2511-1(c).

The legislative history of section 529A suggests that a “person” described in section 529A(b)(1)(A) includes the designated beneficiary of an ABLE account. See 160 Cong. Rec. H7051, H8317, H8318, H8321, H8322 (2014). A person may transfer his or her property into an account, such as a bank account or a trust, for his or her benefit and retain dominion and control over the property transferred. Because an individual cannot make a transfer of property to himself or herself and a transfer of property is a fundamental requirement for a completed gift, this type of transfer from a person's own property cannot be treated as a completed gift for tax purposes. See § 25.2511-2(b) and (c). Therefore, the proposed regulations provide that any contribution by a designated beneficiary to a qualified ABLE program benefitting the designated beneficiary is not treated as a completed gift. Because the designated beneficiary remains the owner of the account for purposes of chapter 12, if the designated beneficiary transfers the funds in the account to another person as permitted under these proposed regulations, the designated beneficiary making the transfer is the donor for purposes of chapter 12 and the transferor for generation-skipping transfer tax purposes of chapter 13.

Distributions

If distributions from an ABLE account do not exceed the designated beneficiary's qualified disability expenses, no amount is includible in the designated beneficiary's gross income. Otherwise, the earnings portion of the distributions from the ABLE account as determined in the manner provided under section 72, reduced by the product of such earnings portion and the ratio of the amount of the distributions for qualified disability expenses to total distributions, is includible in the gross income of the designated beneficiary to the extent not otherwise excluded from gross income. As required by section 529A(c)(1)(D), the proposed regulations provide that, for purposes of applying section 72 to amounts distributed from an ABLE account: (1) all distributions during a taxable year are treated as one distribution; and (2) the value of the contract, income on the contract, and investment in the contract are computed as of the close of the calendar year in which the designated beneficiary's taxable year begins.

The proposed regulations also provide that, in addition to the income tax on the portion of a distribution included in gross income, an additional tax of 10 percent of the amount includible in gross income is imposed. This additional tax does not apply, however, to distributions on or after the designated beneficiary's death or to returns of excess contributions, excess aggregate contributions, or contributions to additional purported ABLE accounts made by the due date (including extensions) of the designated beneficiary's tax return for the year in which the relevant contributions were made.

Section 529A(c)(1)(C) addresses the tax consequences of the rollover of an ABLE account to an ABLE account for the same designated beneficiary maintained under a different State's qualified ABLE program, as well as a change of designated beneficiary. The proposed regulations describe with respect to these two situations the circumstances in which amounts will not be includible in income. The first is any change of designated beneficiary if the new designated beneficiary is both (1) an eligible individual for his or her taxable year in which the change is made and (2) a sibling of the former designated beneficiary. For purposes of these proposed regulations, a sibling also includes step-siblings and half-siblings, whether by blood or by adoption. The proposed regulations provide that a qualified ABLE program must permit a change of designated beneficiary, as long as the change is made prior to the death of the former designated beneficiary and as long as the successor designated beneficiary is an eligible individual. Because the designated beneficiary will be subject to gift and/or generation-skipping transfer tax if the successor designated beneficiary is not a sibling of the designated beneficiary, the Treasury Department and the IRS request comments regarding whether the final regulations should permit States to require that a successor designated beneficiary also must be a sibling of the designated beneficiary.

The second situation in which a distribution is not included in gross income arises if a distribution to the designated beneficiary of the ABLE account is paid, not later than the 60th day after the date of the distribution, to another (or the same) ABLE account for the benefit of the designated beneficiary or for the benefit of an eligible individual who is a sibling of the designated beneficiary. However, the preceding sentence does not apply to such a distribution that occurs within 12 months of a previous rollover to another ABLE account for the same designated beneficiary.

The Treasury Department and the IRS have been asked whether a qualified tuition account under section 529 may be rolled into an ABLE account for the same designated beneficiary free of tax. Because such a distribution to the ABLE account would not constitute a qualified higher education expense under section 529, the Treasury Department and the IRS do not believe they have the authority to allow such a transfer on a tax-free basis.

In addition, the proposed regulations authorize a qualified ABLE program to allow program-to-program transfers to effectuate a change of qualified ABLE program or a change of designated beneficiary to another eligible individual. Such a direct transfer is neither a distribution taxed in accordance with section 72 nor an excess contribution. A program-to-program transfer also could be accomplished, if permitted by the qualified ABLE program, through a check delivered to the designated beneficiary but negotiable only by the qualified State program under which the new ABLE account is being established.

The Treasury Department and the IRS recognize that moving funds by use of a program-to-program transfer may be preferable to moving them by a rollover because a rollover, even if made within the permissible 60-day period, may jeopardize the designated beneficiary's eligibility for certain benefits under various means-tested programs. Moreover, a direct program-to-program transfer could facilitate the efficient transfer of all relevant information regarding the application of contribution limits and the total amount of accumulated earnings that will also apply to the new account. The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments as to whether and to what extent a qualified ABLE program should be permitted to require that funds from another State's ABLE program be accepted only through program-to-program transfers.

Qualified Disability Expenses

Section 529A(e)(5) defines a qualified disability expense. Consistent with that subsection, the proposed regulations provide that qualified disability expenses are expenses that relate to the designated beneficiary's blindness or disability and are for the benefit of that designated beneficiary in maintaining or improving his or her health, independence, or quality of life. Such expenses include, but are not limited to, expenses for education, housing, transportation, employment training and support, assistive technology and personal support services, health, prevention and wellness, financial management and administrative services, legal fees, expenses for oversight and monitoring, funeral and burial expenses, and other expenses that may be identified from time to time in future guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. As previously stated, expenses incurred at a time when a designated beneficiary is neither disabled nor blind within the meaning of the proposed regulations are not qualified disability expenses.

In order to implement the legislative purpose of assisting eligible individuals in maintaining or improving their health, independence, or quality of life, the Treasury Department and the IRS conclude that the term “qualified disability expenses” should be broadly construed to permit the inclusion of basic living expenses and should not be limited to expenses for items for which there is a medical necessity or which provide no benefits to others in addition to the benefit to the eligible individual. For example, expenses for common items such as smart phones could be considered qualified disability expenses if they are an effective and safe communication or navigation aid for a child with autism. The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments regarding what types of expenses should be considered qualified disability expenses and under what circumstances. The proposed regulations authorize the identification of additional types of qualified disability expenses in guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. See § 601.601(d)(2). A qualified ABLE program must establish safeguards to distinguish between distributions used for the payment of qualified disability expenses and other distributions, and to permit the identification of the amounts distributed for housing expenses as that term is defined for purposes of the Supplemental Security Income program of the Social Security Administration.

Limitation on Number of ABLE Accounts of a Designated Beneficiary

Section 529A(c)(4) generally provides that, except with respect to certain rollovers, once an ABLE account has been established for a designated beneficiary, no account subsequently established for that same designated beneficiary may qualify as an ABLE account. The proposed regulations provide that, except with respect to rollovers and program-to-program transfers, no designated beneficiary may have more than one ABLE account in existence at the same time, but provides that a prior ABLE account that has been closed does not prohibit the subsequent creation of another ABLE account for the same designated beneficiary. A qualified ABLE program must obtain a verification from the eligible individual, signed under penalties of perjury, that he or she has no other ABLE account (except in the case of a rollover or program-to-program transfer). The proposed regulations provide that, in the event that any additional ABLE account is opened for a designated beneficiary with an ABLE account already in existence, only the first such account created for that designated beneficiary qualifies as an ABLE account, and each other account is treated for all purposes as being an account of the designated beneficiary that is not an ABLE account under a qualified ABLE program. The proposed regulations also provide, however, that a return, in accordance with the rules that apply to returns of excess contributions and excess aggregate contributions under § 1.529A-2(g)(4), of the entire balance of a second or other subsequent account received by the contributor(s) on or before the due date (including extensions) for filing the designated beneficiary's income tax return for the year in which the account was opened and contributions to the second or subsequent account were made will not be treated as a gift or distribution to the designated beneficiary for purposes of section 529A.

The prohibition of multiple ABLE accounts, however, does not apply to prevent a timely rollover or program-to-program transfer of the designated beneficiary's account to an ABLE account under a different qualified ABLE program.

Residency Requirements

Consistent with section 529A(b)(1)(C), the proposed regulations require that an ABLE account for a designated beneficiary may be established only under the qualified ABLE program of the State in which that designated beneficiary is a resident or with which the State of the designated beneficiary's residence has contracted for the provision of ABLE accounts. If a State does not establish and maintain a qualified ABLE program, it may contract with another State to provide an ABLE program for its residents. The statute is silent as to whether a designated beneficiary must move his or her existing ABLE account when the designated beneficiary changes his or her residence. The Treasury Department and the IRS are concerned about imposing undue administrative burdens and costs on designated beneficiaries who frequently change State residency, such as members of military families. Therefore, the proposed regulations provide that a qualified ABLE program may permit a designated beneficiary to continue to maintain his or her ABLE account that was created in that State, even after the designated beneficiary is no longer a resident of that State. However, in order to enforce the one ABLE account limitation and in accordance with section 529A(g)(1), the proposed regulations provide that, other than in the case of a rollover or a program-to-program transfer of a designated beneficiary's ABLE account, a qualified ABLE program must require the designated beneficiary to verify, under penalties of perjury, when creating an ABLE account that the account being established is the designated beneficiary's only ABLE account. For example, the eligible individual could be required to check a box providing such verification on a form used to establish the account. The Treasury Department and the IRS are concerned that without such safeguards individuals could inadvertently establish two accounts with adverse tax consequences due to the loss of ABLE account status for the second account and expect qualified ABLE programs to establish safeguards to ensure that the required limit of one ABLE account per designated beneficiary is not violated.

Investment Direction

Section 529A(b)(4) states that a program shall not be treated as a qualified ABLE program unless it provides that the designated beneficiary may directly or indirectly direct the investment of any contributions to the program or any earnings thereon no more than two times in any calendar year. A program will not violate this requirement merely because it permits a designated beneficiary or a person with signature authority over a designated beneficiary's account to serve as one of the program's board members or employees, or as a board member or employee of a contractor that the program hires to perform administrative services.

Cap on Contributions

Section 529A(b)(6) provides that a qualified ABLE program must provide adequate safeguards to prevent aggregate contributions on behalf of a designated beneficiary in excess of the limit established by the State under section 529(b)(6) relating to Qualified State Tuition Programs. The proposed regulations provide a safe harbor that permits a qualified ABLE program to satisfy this requirement regarding total cumulative contributions if the program prohibits any additional contributions to an account as soon as the account balance reaches the specified contribution limit under such State's program established under section 529. Once the account balance falls below the prescribed limit, contributions may resume, subject to the same limitation. The Treasury Department and the IRS believe that recommencement of contributions is appropriate based on the nature and purposes of the ABLE program.

Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) Taxes

The proposed regulations provide that contributions to an ABLE account by a person other than the designated beneficiary are treated as completed gifts to the designated beneficiary of the account, and that such gifts are neither gifts of a future interest nor a qualified transfer under section 2503(e). Accordingly, no distribution from an ABLE account to the designated beneficiary of that account is treated as a taxable gift. Finally, neither gift nor GST taxes apply to the change of designated beneficiary of an ABLE account, as long as the new designated beneficiary is an eligible individual who is a sibling of the former designated beneficiary.

Distribution on Death

The proposed regulations provide that, upon the death of the designated beneficiary, all amounts remaining in the ABLE account are includible in the designated beneficiary's gross estate for purposes of the estate tax. See section 2031. Further, the proposed regulations cross-reference section 2053 for purposes of determining the deductibility by the designated beneficiary's estate of amounts payable from the ABLE account to satisfy claims by creditors such as a State and also cross-reference section 2652(a)(1) for treatment of the deceased designated beneficiary as the transferor of any property remaining in the ABLE account that may pass to a beneficiary.

Pursuant to section 529A(f), a qualified ABLE program must provide that, upon the designated beneficiary's death, any State may file a claim (either with the person with signature authority over the ABLE account or the executor of the designated beneficiary's estate as defined in section 2203) for the amount of the total medical assistance paid for the designated beneficiary under the State's Medicaid plan after the establishment of the ABLE account. The amount paid in satisfaction of such a claim is not a taxable distribution from the ABLE account. Further, the amount is to be paid only after the payment of all outstanding payments due for the qualified disability expenses of the designated beneficiary and is to be reduced by the amount of all premiums paid by or on behalf of the designated beneficiary to a Medicaid Buy-In program under that State's Medicaid plan.

Unrelated Business Taxable Income and Filing Requirements

A qualified ABLE program generally is exempt from income taxation. A qualified ABLE program, however, is subject to the taxes imposed by section 511 relating to the imposition of tax on unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). For purposes of this tax, certain administrative and other fees do not constitute unrelated business income to the ABLE program. A qualified ABLE program is not required to file Form 990, “Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax,” but will be required to file Form 990-T, “Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return,” if a filing would be required under the rules of §§ 1.6012-2(e) and 1.6012-3(a)(5) if the ABLE program were an organization described in those sections.

Reporting Requirements

The proposed regulations set forth recordkeeping and reporting requirements. A qualified ABLE program must maintain records that enable the program to account to the Secretary with respect to all contributions, distributions, returns of excess contributions or additional accounts, income earned, and account balances for any designated beneficiary's ABLE account. In addition, a qualified ABLE program must report to the Secretary the establishment of each ABLE account, including the name and residence of the designated beneficiary, and other relevant information regarding the account that is included on the new Form 5498-QA, “ABLE Account Contribution Information.” It is anticipated that the qualified ABLE program will report if the eligible individual has presented an adequate disability certification, accompanied by a diagnosis, to demonstrate eligibility to establish an account. Information regarding distributions will be reported on the new Form 1099-QA, “Distributions from ABLE Accounts.” The proposed regulations contain more detail on how the information must be reported.

In addition, section 529A(b)(3) requires that a qualified ABLE program provide separate accounting for each designated beneficiary. Separate accounting requires that contributions for the benefit of a designated beneficiary, as well as earnings attributable to those contributions, are allocated to that designated beneficiary's account. Whether or not a program ordinarily provides each designated beneficiary an annual account statement showing the income and transactions related to the account, the program must give this information to the designated beneficiary upon request.

Section 529A(d)(4) provides that States are required to submit electronically to the Commissioner of Social Security, on a monthly basis and in the manner specified by the Commissioner of Social Security, statements on relevant distributions and account balances from all ABLE accounts. The report of the Committee on Ways and Means (H.R. Rep. No. 113-614, pt. 1, at 15 (2014)) indicates that States should work with the Commissioner of Social Security to identify data elements for the monthly reports, including the type of qualified disability expenses.

Effective Date/Applicability Date

These regulations are proposed to be effective as of the date of publication of the Treasury decision adopting these rules as final regulations in the Federal Register. These rules, when adopted as final regulations, will apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014. The reporting requirements of §§ 1.529A-5 through 1.529A-7 will apply to information returns required to be filed, and payee statements required to be furnished, after December 31, 2015. Until the issuance of final regulations, taxpayers and qualified ABLE programs may rely on these proposed regulations.

Special Analyses

It has been determined that this notice of proposed rulemaking is not a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866, as supplemented by Executive Order 13563. It has also been determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to this regulation and, because the regulation does not impose a collection of information on small entities, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) does not apply. This regulation, if adopted, would primarily affect states and individuals and therefore would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, this notice of proposed rulemaking will be submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on small businesses.

Comments and Public Hearing

Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, consideration will be given to any comments that are timely submitted to the IRS as prescribed in this preamble under the “Addresses” heading. The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments on all aspects of the proposed rules. All comments will be available at www.regulations.gov or upon request. A public hearing will be scheduled if requested in writing by any person that timely submits written or electronic comments. If a public hearing is scheduled, notice of the date, time, and place for the hearing will be published in the Federal Register.

A public hearing has been scheduled for October 14, 2015, beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the Auditorium, Internal Revenue Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC. Due to building security procedures, visitors must enter at the Constitution Avenue entrance. In addition, all visitors must present photo identification to enter the building. Because of access restrictions, visitors will not be admitted beyond the immediate entrance area more than 30 minutes before the hearing starts. For information about having your name placed on the building access list to attend the hearing, see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this preamble.

The rules of 26 CFR 601.601(a)(3) apply to the hearing. Persons who wish to present oral comments at the hearing must submit written comments by September 21, 2015, and an outline of the topics to be discussed and the time to be devoted to each topic (signed original and eight (8) copies) by September 21, 2015. Submit a signed paper original and eight (8) copies or an electronic copy. A period of 10 minutes will be allotted to each person for making comments. An agenda showing the scheduling of the speakers will be prepared after the deadline for receiving outlines has passed. Copies of the agenda will be available free of charge at the hearing.

Drafting Information

The principal authors of these regulations are Terri Harris and Sean Barnett, Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Tax Exempt and Government Entities). However, other personnel from the Treasury Department and the IRS participated in the development of these regulations.

List of Subjects

26 CFR Part 1

• Income taxes
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

26 CFR Part 25

• Gift taxes
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

26 CFR Part 26

• Estate taxes
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

26 CFR Part 301

• Employment taxes
• Estate taxes
• Excise taxes
• Gift taxes
• Income taxes
• Penalties
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

Proposed Amendments to the Regulations

Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1, 25, 26 and 301 are proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 1—INCOME TAXES

Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by adding an entry in numerical order to read as follows:

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

Sections 1.529A-1 through 1.529A-7 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 529A(g). * * *

Par. 2. Section 1.511-2 is amended by adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:

§ 1.511-2

Organizations subject to tax.

* * * * *

(e) ABLE programs—(1) Unrelated business taxable income. A qualified ABLE program described in section 529A generally is exempt from income taxation, but is subject to taxes imposed by section 511 relating to the imposition of tax on unrelated business income. A qualified ABLE program is required to file Form 990-T, “Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return,” if such filing would be required under the rules of §§ 1.6012-2(e) and 1.6012-3(a)(5) if the ABLE program were an organization described in those sections.

(2) Effective/applicability dates. This paragraph (e) applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.

Par. 3. Section 1.513-1 is amended by adding Example 4 to paragraph (d)(4)(i) to read as follows:

§ 1.513-1

Definition of unrelated trade or business.

* * * * *

(d) * * *

(4) * * *

(i) * * *

Example 4.

P is a qualified ABLE program described in section 529A. P receives amounts in order to open or maintain ABLE accounts, as administrative or maintenance fees and other similar fees including service charges. Because the payment of these amounts are essential to the operation of a qualified ABLE program, the income generated from the activity does not constitute gross income from an unrelated trade or business.

* * * * *

Par. 4. An undesignated center heading is added immediately following § 1.528-10 and §§ 1.529A-0 through 1.529A-7 are added to read as follows:

* * * * *

Qualified Able Programs

1.529A-0

Table of contents.

1. 529A-1

Exempt status of qualified ABLE program and definitions.

1.529A-2

Qualified ABLE program.

1.529A-3

Tax treatment.

1.529A-4

Gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes.

1.529A-5

Reporting of the establishment of and contributions to an ABLE account.

1.529A-6

Reporting of distributions from and termination of an ABLE account.

1.529A-7

Electronic furnishing of statements to designated beneficiaries and contributors.

* * * * *

§ 1.529A-0

Table of contents.

This section lists the following captions contained in §§ 1.529A-1 through 1.529A-7.

§ 1.529A-1

Exempt status of qualified ABLE program and definitions.

(a) In general.

(b) Definitions.

(1) ABLE account.

(2) Contracting State.

(3) Contribution.

(4) Designated beneficiary.

(5) Disability certification.

(6) Distribution.

(7) Earnings.

(8) Earnings ratio.

(9) Eligible individual.

(10) Excess contribution.

(11) Excess aggregate contribution.

(12) Investment in the account.

(13) Member of the family.

(14) Program-to-program transfer.

(15) Qualified ABLE program.

(16) Qualified disability expenses.

(17) Rollover.

(c) Effective/applicability date.

§ 1.529A-2

Qualified ABLE program.

(a) In general.

(b) Established and maintained by a State or agency or instrumentality of a State.

(1) Established.

(2) Maintained.

(3) Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).

(c) Establishment of an ABLE account.

(1) In general.

(2) Only one ABLE account.

(3) Beneficial interest.

(d) Eligible individual.

(1) In general.

(2) Frequency of recertification.

(3) Loss of qualification as an eligible individual.

(e) Disability certification.

(1) In general.

(2) Marked and severe functional limitations.

(3) Compassionate allowance list.

(4) Additional guidance.

(5) Restriction on use of certification.

(f) Change of designated beneficiary.

(g) Contributions.

(1) Permissible property.

(2) Annual contributions limit.

(3) Cumulative limit.

(4) Return of excess contributions and excess aggregate contributions.

(h) Qualified disability expenses.

(1) In general.

(2) Example.

(i) Separate accounting.

(j) Program-to-program transfers.

(k) Carryover of attributes.

(l) Investment direction.

(m) No pledging of interest as security.

(n) No sale or exchange.

(o) Change of residence.

(p) Post-death payments.

(q) Reporting requirements.

(r) Effective/applicability date.

§ 1.529A-3

Tax treatment.

(a) Taxation of distributions.

(b) Additional exclusions from gross income.

(1) Rollover.

(2) Program-to-program transfers.

(3) Change in designated beneficiary.

(4) Payments to creditors post-death.

(c) Computation of earnings.

(d) Additional tax on amounts includible in gross income.

(1) In general.

(2) Exceptions.

(e) Tax on excess contributions.

(f) Filing requirements.

(g) Effective/applicability date.

§ 1.529A-4

Gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes.

(a) Contributions.

(1) In general.

(2) Generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax.

(3) Designated beneficiary as contributor.

(b) Distributions.

(c) Change of designated beneficiary.

(d) Transfer tax on death of designated beneficiary.

(e) Effective/applicability date.

§ 1.529A-5

Reporting of the establishment of and contributions to an ABLE account.

(a) In general.

(b) Additional definitions.

(1) Filer.

(2) TIN.

(c) Requirement to file return.

(1) Form of return.

(2) Information included on return.

(3) Time and manner of filing return.

(d) Requirement to furnish statement.

(1) In general.

(2) Time and manner of furnishing statement.

(3) Copy of Form 5498-QA.

(e) Request for TIN of designated beneficiary.

(f) Penalties.

(1) Failure to file return.

(2) Failure to furnish TIN.

(g) Effective/applicability date.

§ 1.529A-6

Reporting of distributions from and termination of an ABLE account.

(a) In general.

(b) Requirement to file return.

(1) Form of return.

(2) Information included on return.

(3) Time and manner of filing return.

(c) Requirement to furnish statement.

(1) In general.

(2) Time and manner of furnishing statement.

(3) Copy of Form 1099-QA.

(d) Request for TIN of contributor(s).

(e) Penalties.

(1) Failure to file return.

(2) Failure to furnish TIN.

(f) Effective/applicability date.

§ 1.529A-7

Electronic furnishing of statements to designated beneficiaries and contributors.

(a) Electronic furnishing of statements.

(1) In general.

(2) Consent.

(3) Required disclosures.

(4) Format.

(5) Notice.

(6) Access period.

(b) Effective/applicability date.

§ 1.529A-1

Exempt status of qualified ABLE program and definitions.

(a) In general. A qualified ABLE program described in section 529A is exempt from income tax, except for the tax imposed under section 511 on the unrelated business taxable income of that program.

(b) Definitions. For purposes of section 529A, this section and §§ 1.529A-2 through 1.529A-7—

(1) ABLE account means an account established under a qualified ABLE program and owned by the designated beneficiary of that account.

(2) Contracting State means a State without a qualified ABLE program of its own, which, in order to make ABLE accounts available to its residents who are eligible individuals, contracts with another State having such a program.

(3) Contribution means any payment directly allocated to an ABLE account for the benefit of a designated beneficiary.

(4) Designated beneficiary means the individual who is the owner of the ABLE account and who either established the account at a time when he or she was an eligible individual or who has succeeded the former designated beneficiary in that capacity (successor designated beneficiary). If the designated beneficiary is not able to exercise signature authority over his or her ABLE account or chooses to establish an ABLE account but not exercise signature authority, references to the designated beneficiary with respect to his or her actions include actions by the designated beneficiary's agent under a power of attorney or, if none, a parent or legal guardian of the designated beneficiary.

(5) Disability certification means a certification deemed sufficient by the Secretary to establish a certain level of physical or mental impairment that meets the requirements described in § 1.529A-2(e).

(6) Distribution means any payment from an ABLE account. A program-to-program transfer is not a distribution.

(7) Earnings attributable to an account are the excess of the total account balance on a particular date over the investment in the account as of that date.

(8) Earnings ratio means the amount of earnings attributable to the account as of the last day of the calendar year in which the designated beneficiary's taxable year begins, divided by the total account balance on that same date, after taking into account all distributions made during that calendar year and all contributions received during that same year other than those (if any) returned in accordance with § 1.529A-2(g)(4).

(9) Eligible individual for a taxable year means an individual who either:

(i) Is entitled during that taxable year to benefits based on blindness or disability under title II or XVI of the Social Security Act, provided that such blindness or disability occurred before the date on which the individual attained age 26 (and, for this purpose, an individual is deemed to attain age 26 on his or her 26th birthday); or

(ii) Is the subject of a disability certification filed with the Secretary for that taxable year.

(10) Excess contribution means the amount by which the amount contributed during the taxable year of the designated beneficiary to an ABLE account exceeds the limit in effect under section 2503(b) for the calendar year in which the taxable year of the designated beneficiary begins.

(11) Excess aggregate contribution means the amount contributed during the taxable year of the designated beneficiary that causes the total of amounts contributed since the establishment of the ABLE account (or of an ABLE account for the same designated beneficiary that was rolled into the current ABLE account) to exceed the limit in effect under section 529(b)(6). In the context of the safe harbor in § 1.529A-2(g)(3), however, excess aggregate contribution means a contribution that causes the account balance to exceed the limit in effect under section 529(b)(6).

(12) Investment in the account means the sum of all contributions made to the account, reduced by the aggregate amount of contributions included in distributions, if any, made from the account. In the case of a rollover into an ABLE account the amount included as investment in the recipient account is not the full amount of the rollover contribution, but instead is equal to the amount of the rollover contribution that constituted the investment in the account from which the rollover was made.

(13) Member of the family means a sibling, whether by blood or by adoption. Such term includes a brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, and half-sister.

(14) Program-to-program transfer means the direct transfer of the entire balance of an ABLE account into an ABLE account of the same designated beneficiary in which the transferor ABLE account is closed upon completion of the transfer, or of part or all of the balance to an ABLE account of another eligible individual who is a member of the family of the former designated beneficiary, without any intervening distribution or deemed distribution to the designated beneficiary.

(15) Qualified ABLE program means a program established and maintained by a State, or agency or instrumentality of a State, under which an ABLE account may be established by and for the benefit of the account's designated beneficiary who is an eligible individual, and that meets the requirements described in § 1.529A-2.

(16) Qualified disability expenses means any expenses incurred at a time when the designated beneficiary is an eligible individual that relate to the blindness or disability of the designated beneficiary of an ABLE account, including expenses that are for the benefit of the designated beneficiary in maintaining or improving his or her health, independence, or quality of life. See § 1.529A-2(h). Any expenses incurred at a time when a designated beneficiary is neither disabled nor blind within the meaning of § 1.529-1(b)(9)(A) or § 1.529-2(e)(1)(i) are not qualified disability expenses.

(17) Rollover means a contribution to an ABLE account of a designated beneficiary (or of an eligible individual who is a member of the family of the designated beneficiary) of all or a portion of an amount withdrawn from the designated beneficiary's ABLE account, provided the contribution is made within 60 days of the date of the withdrawal and, in the case of a rollover to the designated beneficiary's ABLE account, no rollover has been made to an ABLE account of the designated beneficiary within the prior 12 months.

(c) Effective/applicability date. This section applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.

§ 1.529A-2

Qualified ABLE program.

(a) In general. A qualified ABLE program is a program established and maintained by a State, or an agency or instrumentality of a State, that satisfies all of the requirements of this section and under which—

(1) An ABLE account may be established for the purpose of meeting the qualified disability expenses of the designated beneficiary of the account;

(2) The designated beneficiary must be a resident of such State or a resident of a Contracting State (as residence is determined under the law of the State of the designated beneficiary's residence);

(3) A designated beneficiary is limited to only one ABLE account at a time except as otherwise provided with respect to program-to-program transfers and rollovers;

(4) Any person may make contributions to such an ABLE account, subject to the limitations described in paragraph (g) of this section; and

(5) Distributions (other than rollovers and returns of contributions as described in paragraph (g)(4) of this section) may be made only to or for the benefit of the designated beneficiary of the ABLE account.

(b) Established and maintained by a State or agency or instrumentality of a State—(1) Established. A program is established by a State or its agency or instrumentality if the program is initiated by State statute or regulation or by an act of a State official or agency with the authority to act on behalf of the State.

(2) Maintained. A program is maintained by a State or an agency or instrumentality of a State if—

(i) The State or its agency or instrumentality sets all of the terms and conditions of the program, including but not limited to who may contribute to the program, who may be a designated beneficiary of the program, and what benefits the program may provide; and

(ii) The State or its agency or instrumentality is actively involved on an ongoing basis in the administration of the program, including supervising the implementation of decisions relating to the investment of assets contributed under the program. Factors that are relevant in determining whether a State or its agency or instrumentality is actively involved in the administration of the program include, but are not limited to: Whether the State or its agency or instrumentality provides services to designated beneficiaries that are not provided to persons who are not designated beneficiaries; whether the State or its agency or instrumentality establishes detailed operating rules for administering the program; whether officials of the State or its agency or instrumentality play a substantial role in the operation of the program, including selecting, supervising, monitoring, auditing, and terminating the relationship with any private contractors that provide services under the program; whether the State or its agency or instrumentality holds the private contractors that provide services under the program to the same standards and requirements that apply when private contractors handle funds that belong to the State or its agency or instrumentality or provide services to the State or its agency or instrumentality; whether the State or its agency or instrumentality provides funding for the program; and whether the State or its agency or instrumentality acts as trustee or holds program assets directly or for the benefit of the designated beneficiaries. For example, if the State or its agency or instrumentality thereof exercises the same authority over the funds invested in the program as it does over the investments in or pool of funds of a State employees' defined benefit pension plan, then the State or its agency or instrumentality will be considered actively involved on an ongoing basis in the administration of the program.

(3) Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Some or all of the services described in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section may be performed by one or more Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) with whom the State (or its agency or instrumentality) contracts for that purpose.

(c) Establishment of an ABLE account—(1) In general. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (c), a qualified ABLE program must provide that an ABLE account may be established only for an eligible individual under a qualified ABLE program of the State in which the eligible individual is a resident. The qualified ABLE program also may allow the establishment of an ABLE account for an eligible individual who is a resident of a Contracting State as defined in § 1.529A-1(b)(2). If an eligible individual is unable to establish an ABLE account on his or her own behalf, the ABLE account may be established on behalf of the eligible individual by the eligible individual's agent under a power of attorney or, if none, by a parent or legal guardian of the eligible individual.

(2) Only one ABLE account—(i) In general. Except in the case of rollovers or program-to-program transfers, a designated beneficiary is limited to one ABLE account at a time, regardless of where located. To ensure that this requirement is met, a qualified ABLE program must obtain a verification, signed under penalties of perjury, that the eligible individual has no other existing ABLE account (other than an ABLE account that will terminate with the rollover or program-to-program transfer into the new ABLE account) before that program can permit the establishment of an ABLE account for that eligible individual. In the case of a rollover, the ABLE account from which amounts were rolled must be closed as of the 60th day after the amount was distributed from the ABLE account in order for the account that received the rollover to be treated as an ABLE account.

(ii) Treatment of additional accounts. Except in the case of rollovers or program-to-program transfers, if an ABLE account is established for a designated beneficiary who already has an ABLE account in existence, an additional account will not be treated as an ABLE account. However, if all contributions made to that account are returned in accordance with the rules that apply to excess contributions and excess aggregate contributions under paragraph (g)(4) of this section, the additional account will be treated as never having been established.

(3) Beneficial interest. The eligible individual for whose benefit an ABLE account is established is the designated beneficiary of the account. A person other than the designated beneficiary with signature authority over the account of the designated beneficiary may neither have nor acquire any beneficial interest in the account during the lifetime of the designated beneficiary and must administer the account for the benefit of the designated beneficiary of the account.

(d) Eligible individual—(1) In general. Whether an individual is an eligible individual (as defined in § 1.529A-1(b)(9)) is determined for each taxable year, and that determination applies for the entire year. A qualified ABLE program must specify the documentation that an individual must provide, both at the time an ABLE account is established for that individual and thereafter, in order to ensure that the designated beneficiary of the ABLE account is, and continues to be, an eligible individual. For purposes of determining whether an individual is an eligible individual, a disability certification will be deemed to be filed with the Secretary once the qualified ABLE program has received the disability certification (as described in paragraph (e) of this section) or a disability certification has been deemed to have been received under the rules of the qualified ABLE program, which information the qualified ABLE program will file in accordance with the filing requirements under § 1.529A-5(c)(2)(iv).

(2) Frequency of recertification—(i) In general. A qualified ABLE program may choose different methods of ensuring a designated beneficiary's status as an eligible individual and may impose different periodic recertification requirements for different types of impairments.

(ii) Considerations. In developing its rules on recertification, a qualified ABLE program may take into consideration whether an impairment is incurable and, if so, the likelihood that a cure may be found in the future. For example, a qualified ABLE program may provide that the initial certification will be deemed to be valid for a stated number of years, which may vary with the type of impairment. If the qualified ABLE program imposes an enforceable obligation on the designated beneficiary or other person with signature authority over the ABLE account to promptly report changes in the designated beneficiary's condition that would result in the designated beneficiary's failing to satisfy the definition of eligible individual, the program also may provide that a certification is valid until the end of the taxable year in which the change in the designated beneficiary's condition occurred.

(3) Loss of qualification as an eligible individual. If the designated beneficiary of an ABLE account ceases to be an eligible individual, then for each taxable year in which the designated beneficiary is not an eligible individual, the account will continue to be an ABLE account, the designated beneficiary will continue to be the designated beneficiary of the ABLE account (and will be referred to as such), and the ABLE account will not be deemed to have been distributed. However, beginning on the first day of the designated beneficiary's first taxable year for which the designated beneficiary does not satisfy the definition of an eligible individual, additional contributions to the designated beneficiary's ABLE account must not be accepted by the qualified ABLE program. Additionally, no amounts incurred during that year and each subsequent year in which the designated beneficiary does not satisfy the definition of an eligible individual will be qualified disability expenses. If the designated beneficiary subsequently again becomes an eligible individual, contributions to the designated beneficiary's ABLE account again may be accepted subject to the contribution limits under section 529A, and expenses incurred that meet the definition of a qualified disability expense will be qualified disability expenses.

(e) Disability certification—(1) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (e)(3) of this section or additional guidance described in paragraph (e)(4) of this section, a disability certification with respect to an individual is a certification signed under penalties of perjury by the individual, or by the other individual establishing (or with signature authority over) the ABLE account for the individual, that—

(i) The individual—

(A) Has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that results in marked and severe functional limitations (as defined in paragraph (e)(2) of this section), and that—

(1) Can be expected to result in death; or

(2) Has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; or

(B) Is blind (within the meaning of section 1614(a)(2) of the Social Security Act);

(ii) Such blindness or disability occurred before the date on which the individual attained age 26 (and, for this purpose, an individual is deemed to attain age 26 on his or her 26th birthday); and

(iii) Includes a copy of the individual's diagnosis relating to the individual's relevant impairment or impairments, signed by a physician meeting the criteria of section 1861(r)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(r)).

(2) Marked and severe functional limitations. For purposes of paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the phrase “marked and severe functional limitations” means the standard of disability in the Social Security Act for children claiming Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (SSI) benefits based on disability (see 20 CFR 416.906). Specifically, this is a level of severity that meets, medically equals, or functionally equals the severity of any listing in appendix 1 of subpart P of 20 CFR part 404, but without regard to age. (See 20 CFR 416.906, 416.924 and 416.926a.) Such phrase also includes any impairment or standard of disability identified in future guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin (see § 601.601(d)(2) of this chapter). Consistent with the regulations of the Social Security Administration, the level of severity is determined by taking into account the effect of the individual's prescribed treatment. (See 20 CFR 416.930.)

(3) Compassionate allowance list. Conditions listed in the “List of Compassionate Allowances Conditions” maintained by the Social Security Administration (at www.socialsecurity.gov/​compassionateallowances/​conditions.htm) are deemed to meet the requirements of section 529A(e)(1)(B) regarding the filing of a disability certification, if the condition was present before the date on which the individual attained age 26. To establish that an individual with such a condition meets the definition of an eligible individual, the individual must identify the condition and certify to the qualified ABLE program both the presence of the condition and its onset prior to age 26, in a manner specified by the qualified ABLE program.

(4) Additional guidance. Additional guidance on conditions deemed to meet the requirements of section 529A(e)(1)(B) may be identified in future guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. See § 601.601(d)(2) of this chapter.

(5) Restriction on use of certification. No inference may be drawn from a disability certification described in this paragraph (e) for purposes of establishing eligibility for benefits under title II, XVI, or XIX of the Social Security Act.

(f) Change of designated beneficiary. A qualified ABLE program must permit a change in the designated beneficiary of an ABLE account, but only during the life of the designated beneficiary. At the time of the change, the successor designated beneficiary must be an eligible individual.

(g) Contributions—(1) Permissible property. Except in the case of program-to-program transfers, contributions to an ABLE account may only be made in cash. A qualified ABLE program may allow cash contributions to be made in the form of a check, money order, credit card, electronic transfer, or similar method.

(2) Annual contributions limit. A qualified ABLE program must provide that no contribution to an ABLE account will be accepted to the extent such contribution, when added to all other contributions (whether from the designated beneficiary or one or more other persons) to that ABLE account made during the designated beneficiary's taxable year causes the total of such contributions to exceed the amount in effect under section 2503(b) for the calendar year in which the designated beneficiary's taxable year begins. For this purpose, contributions do not include rollovers or program-to-program transfers.

(3) Cumulative limit—(i) In general. A qualified ABLE program maintained by a State or its agency or instrumentality must provide adequate safeguards to prevent aggregate contributions on behalf of a designated beneficiary in excess of the limit established by that State under section 529(b)(6). For purposes of the preceding sentence, aggregate contributions include contributions to any prior ABLE account maintained by any State or its agency or instrumentality for the same designated beneficiary or any prior designated beneficiary.

(ii) Safe harbor. A qualified ABLE program maintained by a State or its agency or instrumentality satisfies the requirement in paragraph (g)(3)(i) of this section if it refuses to accept any additional contribution to an ABLE account once the balance in that account reaches the limit established by that State under section 529(b)(6). Once the account balance falls below such limit, additional contributions again may be accepted, subject to the limits under this paragraph (g)(3)(i) of this section.

(4) Return of excess contributions and excess aggregate contributions. If an excess contribution as defined in § 1.529A-1(b)(10) or an excess aggregate contribution as defined in § 1.529A-1(b)(11) is allocated to or deposited into the ABLE account of a designated beneficiary, a qualified ABLE program must return that excess contribution or excess aggregate contribution, including all net income attributable to that excess contribution or excess aggregate contribution, as determined under the rules set forth in § 1.408-11 (treating an IRA as an ABLE account and returned contributions under section 408(d)(4) as excess contributions or excess aggregate contributions), to the person or persons who made that contribution. An excess contribution or excess aggregate contribution must be returned to its contributor(s) on a last-in-first-out basis until the entire excess contribution or excess aggregate contribution, along with all net income attributable to such contribution, has been returned. Returned contributions must be received by the contributor(s) on or before the due date (including extensions) for the Federal income tax return of the designated beneficiary for the taxable year in which the excess contribution or excess aggregate contribution was made. See § 1.529A-3(e) for income tax considerations for the contributor(s). If an excess contribution or excess aggregate contribution and the net income attributable to the excess contribution or excess aggregate contribution are returned to a contributor other than the designated beneficiary, the qualified ABLE program must notify the designated beneficiary of such return at the time of the return.

(h) Qualified disability expenses—(1) In general. Qualified disability expenses, as defined in § 1.529A-1(b)(16), are expenses incurred that relate to the blindness or disability of the designated beneficiary of the ABLE account and are for the benefit of that designated beneficiary in maintaining or improving his or her health, independence, or quality of life. Such expenses include, but are not limited to, expenses related to the designated beneficiary's education, housing, transportation, employment training and support, assistive technology and related services, personal support services, health, prevention and wellness, financial management and administrative services, legal fees, expenses for oversight and monitoring, and funeral and burial expenses, as well as other expenses that may be identified from time to time in future guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. See § 601.601(d)(2) of this chapter. Qualified disability expenses include basic living expenses and are not limited to items for which there is a medical necessity or which solely benefit a disabled individual. A qualified ABLE program must establish safeguards to distinguish between distributions used for the payment of qualified disability expenses and other distributions, and to permit the identification of the amounts distributed for housing expenses as that term is defined for purposes of the Supplemental Security Income program of the Social Security Administration.

(2) Example. The following example illustrates this paragraph (h):

Example.

B, an individual, has a medically determined mental impairment that causes marked and severe limitations on her ability to navigate and communicate. A smart phone would enable B to navigate and communicate more safely and effectively, thereby helping her to maintain her independence and to improve her quality of life. Therefore, the expense of buying, using, and maintaining a smart phone that is used by B would be considered a qualified disability expense.

(i) Separate accounting. A program will not be treated as a qualified ABLE program unless it provides separate accounting for each ABLE account. Separate accounting requires that contributions for the benefit of a designated beneficiary and any earnings attributable thereto must be allocated to that designated beneficiary's account. Whether or not a program provides each designated beneficiary an annual account statement showing the total account balance, the investment in the account, the accrued earnings, and the distributions from the account, the program must give this information to the designated beneficiary upon request.

(j) Program-to-program transfers. A qualified ABLE program may permit a change of qualified ABLE program or a change of designated beneficiary by means of a program-to-program transfer as defined in § 1.529A-1(b)(14). In that event, subject to any contrary provisions or limitations adopted by the qualified ABLE program, rules similar to the rules of § 1.401(a)(31)-1, Q&A-3 and 4 (which apply for purposes of a direct rollover from a qualified plan to an eligible retirement plan) apply for purposes of determining whether an amount is paid in the form of a program-to-program transfer.

(k) Carryover of attributes. Upon a rollover or program-to-program transfer, all of the attributes of the former ABLE account relevant for purposes of calculating the investment in the account and applying the annual and cumulative limits on contributions are applicable to the recipient ABLE account. The portion of the rollover or transfer amount that constituted investment in the account from which the distribution or transfer was made is added to investment in the recipient ABLE account. Similarly, the portion of the rollover or transfer amount that constituted earnings of the account from which the distribution or transfer was made is added to the earnings of the recipient ABLE account.

(l) Investment direction. A program will not be treated as a qualified ABLE program unless it provides that the designated beneficiary of an ABLE account established under such program may direct, whether directly or indirectly, the investment of any contributions to the program (or any earnings thereon) no more than two times in any calendar year.

(m) No pledging of interest as security. A program will not be treated as a qualified ABLE program unless the terms of the program, or a state statute or regulation that governs the program, prohibit any interest in the program or any portion thereof from being used as security for a loan. This restriction includes, but is not limited to, a prohibition on the use of any interest in the ABLE program as security for a loan used to purchase such interest in the program.

(n) No sale or exchange. A qualified ABLE program must ensure that no interest in an ABLE account may be sold or exchanged.

(o) Change of residence. A qualified ABLE program may continue to maintain the ABLE account of a designated beneficiary after that designated beneficiary changes his or her residence to another State.

(p) Post-death payments. A qualified ABLE program must provide that a portion or all of the balance remaining in the ABLE account of a deceased designated beneficiary must be distributed to a State that files a claim against the designated beneficiary or the ABLE account itself with respect to benefits provided to the designated beneficiary under that State's Medicaid plan established under title XIX of the Social Security Act. The payment of such claim (if any) will be made only after providing for the payment from the designated beneficiary's ABLE account of all outstanding payments due for his or her qualified disability expenses, and will be limited to the amount of the total medical assistance paid for the designated beneficiary after the establishment of the ABLE account (the date on which the ABLE account, or any ABLE account from which amounts were rolled or transferred to the ABLE account of the same designated beneficiary, was opened) over the amount of any premiums paid, whether from the ABLE account or otherwise by or on behalf of the designated beneficiary, to a Medicaid Buy-In program under any such State Medicaid plan.

(q) Reporting requirements. A qualified ABLE program must comply with all applicable reporting requirements, including without limitation those described in §§ 1.529A-5 through 1.529A-7.

(r) Effective/applicability dates. This section applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.

§ 1.529A-3

Tax treatment.

(a) Taxation of distributions. Each distribution from an ABLE account consists of earnings (computed in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section) and investment in the account. If the total amount distributed from an ABLE account to or for the benefit of the designated beneficiary of that ABLE account during his or her taxable year does not exceed the qualified disability expenses of the designated beneficiary for that year, no amount distributed is includible in the gross income of the designated beneficiary for that year. If the total amount distributed from an ABLE account to or for the benefit of the designated beneficiary of that ABLE account during his or her taxable year exceeds the qualified disability expenses of the designated beneficiary for that year, the distributions from the ABLE account, except to the extent excluded from gross income under this section or any other provision of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code, must be included in the gross income of the designated beneficiary in the manner provided under this section and section 72. In such a case, the earnings portion of the distribution includible in gross income is equal to the earnings portion of the distribution reduced by an amount that bears the same ratio to the earnings portion as the amount of qualified disability expenses during the year bears to the total distributions during the year. For this purpose, all amounts relevant under section 72 are determined as of December 31 of the year in which the designated beneficiary's taxable year begins, and all amounts distributed from an ABLE account to or for the benefit of the designated beneficiary during his or her taxable year are treated as one distribution. If an excess contribution or excess aggregate contribution is returned within the time period required in § 1.529A-2(g)(4), any net income distributed is includible in the gross income of the contributor(s) in the taxable year in which the excess contribution or excess aggregate contribution was made.

(b) Additional exclusions from gross income—(1) Rollover. A rollover as defined in § 1.529A-1(b)(17) is not includible in gross income under paragraph (a) of this section.

(2) Program-to-program transfers. A program-to-program transfer as defined in § 1.529A-1(b)(14) is not a distribution and is not includible in gross income under paragraph (a) of this section.

(3) Change of designated beneficiary—(i) In general. A change of designated beneficiary of an ABLE account is not treated as a distribution for purposes of section 529A, and is not includible in gross income under paragraph (a) of this section, if the successor designated beneficiary is—

(A) An eligible individual for such calendar year; and

(B) A member of the family of the former designated beneficiary.

(ii) Other designated beneficiary changes. In the case of any change of designated beneficiary not described in paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section, the former designated beneficiary of that ABLE account will be treated as having received a distribution of the fair market value of the assets in that ABLE account on the date on which the change is made to the new designated beneficiary.

(4) Payments to creditors post-death. Distributions made after the death of the designated beneficiary in payment of outstanding obligations due for qualified disability expenses of the designated beneficiary are not includible in the gross income of the designated beneficiary or his or her estate. Included among these obligations is the post-death payment of any part of a claim filed against the designated beneficiary or the ABLE account by a State under a State Medicaid plan.

(c) Computation of earnings. The earnings portion of a distribution is equal to the product of the amount of the distribution and the earnings ratio, as defined in § 1.529A-1(b)(8). The balance of the distribution (the amount of the distribution minus the earnings portion of that distribution) is the portion of that distribution that constitutes the return of investment in the account.

(d) Additional tax on amounts includible in gross income—(1) In general. If any amount of a distribution from an ABLE account is includible in the gross income of a person for any taxable year under paragraph (a) of this section (the “includible amount”), the tax imposed on that person by Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code shall be increased by an amount equal to 10 percent of the includible amount.

(2) Exceptions—(i) Distributions on or after the death of the designated beneficiary. Paragraph (d)(1) of this section does not apply to any distribution made from the ABLE account on or after the death of the designated beneficiary to the estate of the designated beneficiary, to an heir or legatee of the designated beneficiary, or to a creditor described in paragraph (b)(4) of this section.

(ii) Returned excess contributions and additional accounts. Paragraph (d)(1) of this section does not apply to any return made in accordance with § 1.529A-2(g)(4) of an excess contribution, excess aggregate contribution, or additional account.

(e) Tax on excess contributions. Under section 4973(h), a contribution to an ABLE account in excess of the annual contributions limit described in § 1.529A-2(g)(2) is subject to an excise tax in an amount equal to 6 percent of the excess contribution. However, if the excess contribution is returned in accordance with the provisions of § 1.529A-2(g)(4), it is treated as an amount not contributed.

(f) Filing requirements. A qualified ABLE program is not required to file Form 990, “Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax,” Form 1041, “U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts,” or Form 1120, “U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return.” However, a qualified ABLE program is required to file Form 990-T, “Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return,” if such filing would be required under the rules of §§ 1.6012-2(e) and 1.6012-3(a)(5) if the ABLE program were an organization described in those sections.

(g) Effective/applicability dates. This section applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.

§ 1.529A-4

Gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes.

(a) Contributions—(1) In general. Each contribution by a person to an ABLE account other than by the designated beneficiary of that account is treated as a completed gift to the designated beneficiary of the account for gift tax purposes. Under the applicable gift tax rules, a contribution from a corporation, partnership, trust, estate, or other entity is treated as a gift by the shareholders, partners, or other beneficial owners in proportion to their respective ownership interests in the entity. See § 25.2511-1(c) and (h). A gift into an ABLE account is not treated as either a gift of a future interest in property, or a qualified transfer under section 2503(e). To the extent a contributor's gifts to the designated beneficiary, including gifts paid into the designated beneficiary's ABLE account, do not exceed the annual limit in section 2503(b), the contribution is not subject to gift tax. This provision, however, does not change any other provision applicable to the transfer. For example, a contribution by the employer of the designated beneficiary's parent continues to constitute earned income to the parent and then a gift by the parent to the designated beneficiary.

(2) Generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax. To the extent the contribution into an ABLE account is a nontaxable gift for gift tax purposes, the inclusion ratio for purposes of the GST tax will be zero pursuant to section 2642(c)(1).

(3) Designated beneficiary as contributor. A designated beneficiary may make a contribution to fund his or her own ABLE account. That contribution is not a gift. However, in the event of any change of designated beneficiary, the portion of the then fair market value of the ABLE account attributable to that contribution and any earnings attributable to that contribution will constitute a gift by the designated beneficiary to the successor designated beneficiary, and the usual gift and GST tax rules will apply.

(b) Distributions. No distribution from an ABLE account to or for the benefit of the designated beneficiary is treated as a taxable gift to that designated beneficiary.

(c) Change of designated beneficiary. Neither gift tax nor generation-skipping transfer tax applies to a change of designated beneficiary if the successor designated beneficiary is both an eligible individual and a member of the family (as described in § 1.529A-1(b)(13)) of the designated beneficiary. The previous sentence does not apply to any other change of designated beneficiary.

(d) Transfer tax on death of designated beneficiary. Upon the death of the designated beneficiary, the designated beneficiary's ABLE account is includible in his or her gross estate for estate tax purposes under section 2031. The payment of outstanding qualified disability expenses and the payment of certain claims made by a State under its Medicaid plan may be deductible for estate tax purposes if the requirements of section 2053 are satisfied.

(e) Effective/applicability date. This section applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.

§ 1.529A-5

Reporting of the establishment of and contributions to an ABLE account.

(a) In general. A filer defined in paragraph (b)(1) of this section must, with respect to each ABLE account—

(1) File an annual information return, as described in paragraph (c) of this section, with the Internal Revenue Service; and

(2) Furnish an annual statement, as described in paragraph (d) of this section, to the designated beneficiary of the ABLE account.

(b) Additional definitions. In addition to the definitions in § 1.529A-1(b), the following definitions also apply for purposes of this section—

(1) Filer means the State or its agency or instrumentality that establishes and maintains the qualified ABLE program under which an ABLE account is established. The filing may be done by either an officer or employee of the State or its agency or instrumentality having control of the qualified ABLE program, or the officer's or employee's designee.

(2) TIN means taxpayer identification number as defined in section 7701(a)(41).

(c) Requirement to file return—(1) Form of return. For purposes of reporting the information described in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the filer must file Form 5498-QA, “ABLE Account Contribution Information,” or any successor form, together with Form 1096, “Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns.”

(2) Information included on return. With respect to each ABLE account, the filer must include on the return—

(i) The name, address, and TIN of the designated beneficiary of the ABLE account;

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

(iii) Information regarding the establishment of the ABLE account, as required by the form and its instructions;

(iv) Information regarding the disability certification or other basis for eligibility of the designated beneficiary, as required by the form and its instructions. For further information regarding eligibility and disability certification, see § 1.529A-2(d) and (e), respectively;

(v) The total amount of any contributions made with respect to the ABLE account during the calendar year;

(vi) The fair market value of the ABLE account as of the last day of the calendar year; and

(vii) Any other information required by the form, its instructions, or published guidance. See §§ 601.601(d) and 601.602 of this chapter.

(3) Time and manner of filing return—(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section, the information returns required under this paragraph must be filed on or before May 31 of the year following the calendar year with respect to which the return is being filed, in accordance with the forms and their instructions.

(ii) Extensions of time. See §§ 1.6081-1 and 1.6081-8 of this chapter for rules relating to extensions of time to file information returns required in this section.

(iii) Electronic filing. See § 301.6011-2 of this chapter for rules relating to electronic filing.

(iv) Substitute forms. The filer may file the returns required under this paragraph (c) on a substitute form. A substitute form must comply with applicable revenue procedures (see § 601.601(d)(2) of this chapter) or other guidance published by the IRS, including Publication 1179, “General Rules and Specifications for Substitute Forms 1096, 1098, 1099, 5498, and Certain Other Information Returns.”

(d) Requirement to furnish statement—(1) In general. The filer must furnish a statement to the designated beneficiary of the ABLE account for which it is required to file a Form 5498-QA (or any successor form). The statement must include—

(i) The information required under paragraph (c)(2) of this section;

(ii) A legend that identifies the statement as important tax information that is being furnished to the Internal Revenue Service; and

(iii) The name and address of the office or department of the filer that is the information contact for questions regarding the ABLE account to which the Form 5498-QA relates.

(2) Time and manner of furnishing statement—(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section, the filer must furnish the statement described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section to the designated beneficiary on or before March 15 of the year following the calendar year with respect to which the statement is being furnished. If mailed, the statement must be sent to the designated beneficiary's last known address. The statement may be furnished electronically, as provided in § 1.529A-7.

(ii) Extensions of time. The Internal Revenue Service may grant an extension of time to furnish statements required in this section upon a showing of good cause. See the instructions to Form 5498-QA.

(3) Copy of Form 5498-QA. The filer may satisfy the requirement of this paragraph (d) by furnishing either a copy of Form 5498-QA (or successor form) or another document that contains the information required by paragraph (d)(1) of this section, if the document complies with applicable revenue procedures (see § 601.601(d)(2) of this chapter) or other guidance published by the IRS relating to substitute statements, including Publication 1179, “General Rules and Specifications for Substitute Forms 1096, 1098, 1099, 5498, and Certain Other Information Returns.”

(e) Request for TIN of designated beneficiary. The filer must request the TIN of the designated beneficiary at the time the ABLE account is opened if the filer does not already have a record of the designated beneficiary's correct TIN. The filer must clearly notify the designated beneficiary that the law requires the designated beneficiary to furnish a TIN so that it may be included on an information return to be filed by the filer. The designated beneficiary may provide his or her TIN in any manner including orally, in writing, or electronically. If the TIN is furnished in writing, no particular form is required. Form W-9, “Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification,” may be used, or the request may be incorporated into the forms related to the establishment of the ABLE account.

(f) Penalties—(1) Failure to file return. The section 6693 penalty may apply to the filer that fails to file information returns at the time and in the manner required by this section, unless it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause. See section 6693 and the regulations thereunder.

(2) Failure to furnish TIN. The section 6723 penalty may apply to any designated beneficiary who fails to furnish his or her TIN to the filer. See section 6723, and the regulations thereunder, for rules relating to the penalty for failure to furnish a TIN.

(g) Effective/applicability date. The rules of this section apply to information returns required to be filed, and payee statements required to be furnished, after December 31, 2015.

§ 1.529A-6

Reporting of distributions from and termination of an ABLE account.

(a) In general. The filer as defined in § 1.529A-5(b)(1) must, with respect to each ABLE account from which any distribution is made or which is terminated during the calendar year—

(1) File an annual information return, as described paragraph (b) of this section, with the Internal Revenue Service; and

(2) Furnish an annual statement, as described in paragraph (c) of this section, to the designated beneficiary of the ABLE account and to each contributor who received a returned contribution in accordance with § 1.529A-2(g)(4) attributable to the calendar year.

(b) Requirement to file return—(1) Form of return. For purposes of reporting the information in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the filer must file Form 1099-QA, “Distributions from ABLE Accounts,” or any successor form, together with Form 1096, “Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns.”

(2) Information included on return. The filer must include on the return—

(i) The name, address, and TIN of the designated beneficiary of the ABLE account or of any contributor who received a returned contribution in accordance with § 1.529A-2(g)(4) attributable to the calendar year, as applicable;

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

(iii) The aggregate amount of distributions from the ABLE account during the calendar year;

(iv) Information as to basis and earnings with respect to such distributions or returns of contributions;

(v) Information regarding termination (if any) of the ABLE account;

(vi) Information regarding each rollover and any program-to-program transfer to or from the ABLE account during the designated beneficiary's taxable year;

(vii) Whether the return is being furnished to the designated beneficiary or to a contributor; and

(viii) Any other information required by the form, its instructions, or published guidance. See §§ 601.601(d) and 601.602 of this chapter.

(3) Time and manner of filing return—(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section, the Forms 1099-QA and 1096 must be filed on or before February 28 (March 31 if filing electronically) of the year following the calendar year with respect to which the return is being filed, in accordance with the forms and their instructions.

(ii) Extensions of time. See §§ 1.6081-1 and 1.6081-8 of this chapter for rules relating to extensions of time to file information returns required in this section.

(iii) Electronic filing. See § 301.6011-2 of this chapter for rules relating to electronic filing.

(iv) Substitute forms. The filer may file the return required under this paragraph (b) on a substitute form. A substitute form must comply with applicable revenue procedures (see § 601.601(d)(2) of this chapter) or other guidance published by the IRS, including Publication 1179, “General Rules and Specifications for Substitute Forms 1096, 1098, 1099, 5498, and Certain Other Information Returns.”

(c) Requirement to furnish statement—(1) In general. The filer must furnish a statement to the designated beneficiary and each contributor (if any) of the ABLE account for which it is required to file a Form 1099-QA (or any successor form). The statement must include—

(i) The information required under paragraph (b)(2) of this section.

(ii) A legend that identifies the statement as important tax information that is being furnished to the Internal Revenue Service;

(iii) The name and address of the office or department of the filer that is the information contact for questions regarding the ABLE account to which the Form 1099-QA relates.

(2) Time and manner of furnishing statement—(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section, a filer must furnish the statement described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section to the designated beneficiary on or before January 31 of the year following the calendar year with respect to which the statement is being furnished. If mailed, the statement must be sent to the recipient's last known address. The statement may be furnished electronically, as provided in § 1.529A-7.

(ii) Extensions of time. The Internal Revenue Service may grant an extension of time to furnish statements required in this section upon a showing of good cause. See the instructions to Form 1099-QA.

(3) Copy of Form 1099-QA. A filer may satisfy the requirement of this paragraph (c) by furnishing either a copy of Form 1099-QA (or successor form) or another document that contains the information required by paragraph (c)(1) of this section and that complies with applicable revenue procedures (see § 601.601(d)(2) of this chapter) or other guidance published by the IRS relating to substitute statements, including Publication 1179, “General Rules and Specifications for Substitute Forms 1096, 1098, 1099, 5498, and Certain Other Information Returns.”

(d) Request for TIN of contributor(s). A filer must request the TIN for each contributor to the ABLE account at the time a contribution is made, if the filer does not already have a record of that person's correct TIN. The filer must clearly notify each contributor to the account that the law requires that person to furnish a TIN so that it may be included on an information return to be filed by the filer. The contributor may provide his or her TIN in any manner including orally, in writing, or electronically. If the TIN is furnished in writing, no particular form is required. Form W-9, “Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification,” may be used, or the request may be incorporated into the forms related to the establishment of the ABLE account.

(e) Penalties—(1) Failure to file return. The section 6693 penalty may apply to a filer that fails to file information returns at the time and in the manner required by this section, unless it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause. See section 6693 and the regulations thereunder.

(2) Failure to furnish TIN. The section 6723 penalty may apply to any contributor who fails to furnish his or her TIN to the filer. See section 6723, and the regulations thereunder, for rules relating to the penalty for failure to furnish a TIN.

(f) Effective/applicability date. The rules of this section apply to information returns required to be filed, and payee statements required to be furnished, after December 31, 2015.

§ 1.529A-7

Electronic furnishing of statements to designated beneficiaries and contributors.

(a) Electronic furnishing of statements—(1) In general. A filer required under § 1.529A-5 or § 1.529A-6 of this chapter to furnish a written statement to a designated beneficiary of or contributor to an ABLE account may furnish the statement in an electronic format in lieu of a paper format. A filer who meets the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2) through (6) of this section is treated as furnishing the required statement.

(2) Consent—(i) In general. The recipient of the statement must have affirmatively consented to receive the statement in an electronic format. The consent may be made electronically in any manner that reasonably demonstrates that the recipient can access the statement in the electronic format in which it will be furnished to the recipient. Alternatively, the consent may be made in a paper document if it is confirmed electronically.

(ii) Withdrawal of consent. The consent requirement of this paragraph (a)(2) is not satisfied if the recipient withdraws the consent and the withdrawal takes effect before the statement is furnished. The filer may provide that a withdrawal of consent takes effect either on the date it is received by the filer or on another date no more than 60 days later. The filer also may provide that a request for a paper statement will be treated as a withdrawal of consent.

(iii) Change in hardware or software requirements. If a change in the hardware or software required to access the statement creates a material risk that the recipient will not be able to access the statement, the filer must, prior to changing the hardware or software, provide the recipient with a notice. The notice must describe the revised hardware and software required to access the statement and inform the recipient that a new consent to receive the statement in the revised electronic format must be provided to the filer if the recipient does not want to withdraw the consent. After implementing the revised hardware and software, the filer must obtain from the recipient, in the manner described in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section, a new consent or confirmation of consent to receive the statement electronically.

(iv) Examples. For purposes of the following examples that illustrate the rules of this paragraph (a)(2), assume that the requirements of § 1.529A-7(a)(3) have been met:

Example 1.

Filer F sends Recipient R a letter stating that R may consent to receive statements required under § 1.529A-5 or § 1.529A-6 electronically on a Web site instead of in a paper format. The letter contains instructions explaining how to consent to receive the statements electronically by accessing the Web site, downloading the consent document, completing the consent document, and emailing the completed consent back to F. The consent document posted on the Web site uses the same electronic format that F will use for the electronically furnished statements. R reads the instructions and submits the consent in the manner provided in the instructions. R has consented to receive the statements electronically in the manner described in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section.

Example 2.

Filer F sends Recipient R an email stating that R may consent to receive statements required under § 1.529A-5 or § 1.529A-6 electronically instead of in a paper format. The email contains an attachment instructing R how to consent to receive the statements electronically. The email attachment uses the same electronic format that F will use for the electronically furnished statements. R opens the attachment, reads the instructions, and submits the consent in the manner provided in the instructions. R has consented to receive the statements electronically in the manner described in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section.

Example 3.

Filer F posts a notice on its Web site stating that Recipient R may receive statements required under § 1.529A-5 or § 1.529A-6 electronically instead of in a paper format. The Web site contains instructions on how R may access a secure Web page and consent to receive the statements electronically. By accessing the secure Web page and giving consent, R has consented to receive the statements electronically in the manner described in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section.

(3) Required disclosures—(i) In general. Prior to, or at the time of, a recipient's consent, the filer must provide to the recipient a clear and conspicuous disclosure statement containing each of the disclosures described in paragraphs (a)(3)(ii) through (viii) of this section.

(ii) Paper statement. The recipient must be informed that the statement will be furnished on paper if the recipient does not consent to receive it electronically.

(iii) Scope and duration of consent. The recipient must be informed of the scope and duration of the consent. For example, the recipient must be informed whether the consent applies to statements furnished every year after the consent is given until it is withdrawn in the manner described in paragraph (a)(3)(v)(A) of this section, or only to the statement required to be furnished on or before the due date immediately following the date on which the consent is given.

(iv) Post-consent request for a paper statement. The recipient must be informed of any procedure for obtaining a paper copy of the recipient's statement after giving the consent and whether a request for a paper statement will be treated as a withdrawal of consent.

(v) Withdrawal of consent. The recipient must be informed that—

(A) The recipient may withdraw a consent by writing (electronically or on paper) to the person or department whose name, mailing address, and email address is provided in the disclosure statement;

(B) The filer will confirm, in writing (either electronically or on paper), the withdrawal and the date on which it takes effect; and

(C) A withdrawal of consent does not apply to a statement that was furnished electronically in the manner described in this paragraph (a) before the date on which the withdrawal of consent takes effect.

(vi) Notice of termination. The recipient must be informed of the conditions under which a filer will cease furnishing statements electronically to the recipient.

(vii) Updating information. The recipient must be informed of the procedures for updating the information needed by the filer to contact the recipient. The filer must inform the recipient of any change in the filer's contact information.

(viii) Hardware and software requirements. The recipient must be provided with a description of the hardware and software required to access, print, and retain the statement, and the date when the statement will no longer be available on the Web site.

(4) Format. The electronic version of the statement must contain all required information and comply with applicable revenue procedures or other guidance published by the IRS relating to substitute statements to recipients, including Publication 1179, “General Rules and Specifications for Substitute Forms 1096, 1098, 1099, 5498, and Certain Other Information Returns.”

(5) Notice—(i) In general. If the statement is furnished on a Web site, the filer must notify the recipient that the statement is posted on a Web site. The notice may be delivered by mail, electronic mail, or in person. The notice must provide instructions on how to access and print the statement. The notice must include the following statement in capital letters, “IMPORTANT TAX RETURN DOCUMENT AVAILABLE.” If the notice is provided by electronic mail, the foregoing statement must be on the subject line of the electronic mail.

(ii) Undeliverable electronic address. If an electronic notice described in paragraph (a)(5)(i) of this section is returned as undeliverable, and the correct electronic address cannot be obtained from the filer's records or from the recipient, then the filer must furnish the notice by mail or in person within 30 days after the electronic notice is returned.

(iii) Corrected statements. If the filer has corrected a recipient's statement that was furnished electronically, the filer must furnish the corrected statement to the recipient electronically. If the recipient's statement was furnished though a Web site posting and the filer has corrected the statement, the filer must notify the recipient that it has posted the corrected statement on the Web site within 30 days of such posting in the manner described in paragraph (a)(5)(i) of this section. The corrected statement or the notice must be furnished by mail or in person if—

(A) An electronic notice of the Web site posting of an original statement or the corrected statement was returned as undeliverable; and

(B) The recipient has not provided a new email address.

(6) Access period. Statements furnished on a Web site must be retained on the Web site through October 15 of the year following the calendar year to which the statements relate (or the first business day after such October 15 if October 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday). The filer must maintain access to corrected statements that are posted on the Web site through October 15 of the year following the calendar year to which the statements relate (or the first business day after such October 15 if October 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday) or the date 90 days after the corrected statements are posted, whichever is later. The rules in this paragraph (a)(6) do not replace the filer's obligation to keep records under section 6001 and § 1.6001-1(a) of this chapter.

(b) Effective/applicability date. This section applies to statements required to be furnished after December 31, 2015.

PART 25—GIFT TAXES

Par. 5. The authority citation for part 25 continues to read in part as follows:

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

Par. 6. Section 25.2501-1 is amended by adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (a)(1) to read as follows:

§ 25.2501-1

Imposition of Tax.

(a) * * *

(1) * * * For gift tax rules related to an ABLE account established under section 529A, see regulations promulgated thereunder.

* * * * *

Par. 7. Section 25.2503-3 is amended by adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (a) to read as follows:

§ 25.2503-3

Future interests in property.

(a) * * * A contribution to an ABLE account established under section 529A is not a future interest.

* * * * *

Par. 8. Section 25.2503-6 is amended by adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (a) to read as follows:

§ 25.2503-6

Exclusion for certain qualified transfers to tuition or medical expenses.

(a) * * * A contribution to an ABLE account established under section 529A is not a qualified transfer.

* * * * *

Par. 9. Section 25.2511-2 is amended by adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (a) to read as follows:

§ 25.2511-2

Cessation of donor's dominion and control.

(a) * * * For gift tax rules related to an ABLE account established under section 529A, see regulations promulgated thereunder.

* * * * *

PART 26—ESTATE TAXES

Par. 10. The authority citation for part 26 continues to read in part as follows:

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

Par. 11. Section 26.2642-1 is amended by adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (a) to read as follows:

§ 26.2642-1

Inclusion ratio.

(a) * * * For generation-skipping transfer tax rules related to an ABLE account established under section 529A, see regulations promulgated thereunder.

* * * * *

Par. 12. Section 26.2652-1 is amended by adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (a)(1) to read as follows:

§ 26.2652-1

Transferor defined; other definitions.

(a) * * *

(1) * * * For generation-skipping transfer tax rules related to an ABLE account established under section 529A, see regulations promulgated thereunder.

* * * * *

PART 301—REPORTING AND RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS

Par. 13. The authority citation for part 301 continues to read in part as follows:

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

§ 301.6011-2

[Amended]

Par. 14. Section 301.6011-2 is amended by adding the word “series” after “5498” in the first sentence of paragraph (b)(1).

John Dalrymple,

Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.