Private Letter Ruling   
Number: 202352008   
Internal Revenue Service   
October 3, 2023   
     
     
     
Internal Revenue Service   
Department of the Treasury   
Washington, DC 20224   
     
Number: 202352008   
Release Date: 12/29/2023   
Index Number: 1400Z.02-00, 9100.00-00     
Third Party Communication: None   
Date of Communication: Not Applicable   
Person To Contact:   
ID No.   
Telephone Number:   
Refer Reply To:   
CC:ITA:B08   
PLR-107707-23   
Date:  October 03, 2023   
     
Dear ******:     
     
This ruling responds to Taxpayer's request for a letter ruling dated Date 1. Specifically, Taxpayer requests relief for an extension of time under sections 301.9100-1 and 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations, to (1) make a timely election under section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) to be certified as a qualified opportunity fund (QOF), as defined in section 1400Z-2(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, and (2) for Taxpayer to be treated as a QOF, effective for its taxable year ended Date 3, effective as of Date 2, as provided by section 1400Z-2(d) and section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a) of the Income Tax Regulations.   
     
FACTS   
     
According to the affidavits and additional information provided, Taxpayer is a limited liability company organized under the laws of State. Taxpayer is classified as a partnership for U.S. Federal income tax purposes and was formed for the purpose of investing in qualified opportunity zone property and serving as a QOF. Taxpayer's annual accounting period is the calendar year and uses the cash method of accounting.   
     
Taxpayer is owned by Owners and President handles the business of Taxpayer. President, Taxpayer, and its Advisors were aware of the requirement to file Form 8996, Qualified Opportunity Fund (Form 8996) to be treated as a QOF in the year of formation. Taxpayer retained Advisors so that Taxpayer could comply with the Form 8996 requirement and the expectation was to file for an automatic extension of time to file Taxpayer's income tax return for Year 1 (as Owners also extended their individual income tax return for Year 1). Taxpayer contacted CPA prior to the deadline for filing an automatic extension of time to file Taxpayer's income tax return for Year 1 to confirm compliance with Taxpayer's tax obligations. However, because of an administrative oversight between the Advisors, no such extension of time to file Taxpayer's income tax return for Year 1 was filed. Consequently, the election to self-certify as a QOF on the Form 8996 was not timely made.   
     
On Date 4, upon learning that Taxpayer's Year 1 Forms 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income and 8996 were not timely filed, Taxpayer discussed the situation with Advisors and instructed Advisors to prepare and file this request for a ruling. Taxpayer then filed this ruling request seeking an extension of time to file Form 8996 for Taxpayer's Year 1 tax year. Taxpayer also filed the Year 1 Form 1065 with an attached Form 8996 on Date 5.   
     
Taxpayer represents that granting relief under section 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations will not result in a lower tax liability for the year affected by the election.   
     
LAW AND ANALYSIS   
     
Section 1400Z-2(e)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations for rules for the certification of QOFs. Section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2) of the Income Tax Regulations provides the rules for an entity to self-certify as a QOF.   
     
Section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) provides that the entity electing to be certified as a QOF must do so annually on a timely filed return in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in the Internal Revenue Serv ice forms or instructions, or in publications or guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.   
     
To self-certify as a QOF, a taxpayer must file Form 8996, with its tax return for the year to which the certification applies. The Form 8996 must be filed by the due date of the tax return (including extensions). The information provided indicates that Taxpayer did not file its Form 1065 and Form 8996 by the due date of its Federal income tax return (including extensions) due to administrative oversight by Advisors.   
     
Because section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) sets forth the manner and timing for an entity to self-certify as a QOF, these elections are regulatory elections, as defined in section 301.9100-1(b).   
     
Sections 301.9100-1 through 301.9100-3 provide the standards that the Commissioner will use to determine whether to grant an extension of time to make a regulatory election. Section 301.9100-3(a) provides that requests for extensions of time for regulatory elections (other than automatic extensions covered in section 301.9100-2) will be granted when the taxpayer provides evidence (including affidavits) to establish that the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith and the grant of relief will not prejudice the interests of the government.   
     
Under section 301.9100-3(b), a taxpayer is deemed to have acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer requests relief before the failure to make the regulatory election is discovered by the Service, or reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional, and the tax professional failed to make, or advise the taxpayer to make, the election. However, a taxpayer is not considered to have reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional if the taxpayer knew or should have known that the professional was not competent to render advice on the regulatory election or was not aware of all relevant facts.   
     
In addition, section 301.9100-3(b)(3) provides that a taxpayer is deemed not to have acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer--   
     
(i) seeks to alter a return position for which an accuracy-related penalty has been or could be imposed under section 6662 at the time the taxpayer requests relief, and the new position requires or permits a regulatory election for which relief is requested;   
     
(ii) was fully informed in all material respects of the required election and related tax consequences but chose not to make the election; or   
     
(iii) uses hindsight in requesting relief. If specific facts have changed since the original deadline that make the election advantageous to a taxpayer, the Service will not ordinarily grant relief.   
     
Section 301.9100-3(c)(1) provides that the Commissioner will grant a reasonable extension of time to make the regulatory election only when the interests of the Government will not be prejudiced by the granting of relief.   
     
Section 301.9100-3(c)(1)(i) provides that the interests of the government are prejudiced if granting relief would result in a taxpayer having a lower tax liability in the aggregate for all taxable years affected by the election than the taxpayer would have had if the election had been timely made (taking into account the time value of money).   
     
Section 301.9100-3(c)(1)(ii) provides that the interests of the government are ordinarily prejudiced if the taxable year in which the regulatory election should have been made or any taxable year that would have been affected by the election had it been timely made are closed by the period of limitations on assessment under section 6501(a) before the taxpayer's receipt of a ruling granting relief under this section.   
     
Based on the facts and information submitted and the representations made, we conclude that Taxpayer has acted reasonably and in good faith, and that the granting of relief would not prejudice the interests of the government. Consequently, the Form 8996 attached to Taxpayer's return for Year 1, filed on Date 5, is considered timely filed, and Taxpayer has thereby made the election under § 1400Z-2 and § 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) to self-certify as a QOF for Year 1. Taxpayer should submit a copy of this letter ruling to the Service Center where Taxpayer files its returns along with a cover letter requesting that the Service associate this ruling with the Year 1 return.   
     
This ruling is based upon facts and representations submitted by Taxpayer and accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed by an appropriate party. This office has not verified any of the material submitted in support of the request for a ruling. However, as part of an examination process, the Service may verify the factual information, representations, and other data submitted.   
     
Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning the tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or referenced in this letter. Specifically, we express no opinion, either express or implied, concerning whether any investments made into Taxpayer are qualifying investments as defined in section 1.1400Z2(a)-1(b)(34) or whether the taxpayer meets the requirements under section 1400Z-2 and the regulations thereunder to be a QOF. Further, we also express no opinion on whether any interest owned by Taxpayer qualifies as qualified opportunity zone property, as defined in section 1400Z(d)(2), or whether such interest would be treated as a qualified opportunity zone business, as defined in section 1400Z-2(d)(3). We express no opinion regarding the tax treatment of the instant transaction under the provisions of any other sections of the Code or regulations that may be applicable, or regarding the tax treatment of any conditions existing at the time of, or effects resulting from, the instant transaction.   
     
This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Section 6110(k)(3) of the Code provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.   
     
In accordance with the Power of Attorney on file with this office, a copy of this letter is being sent to your authorized representative.   
     
A copy of this letter must be attached to any income tax return to which it is relevant. Alternatively, taxpayers filing their returns electronically may satisfy this requirement by attaching a statement to their return that provides the date and control number of the letter ruling.   
     
Sincerely,   
     
Shareen S. Pflanz   
Branch Chief, Branch 8   
Office of Associate Chief Counsel   
(Income Tax and Accounting)   
     
cc: ******