Private Letter Ruling   
Number: 202401017   
Internal Revenue Service   
October 5, 2023   
     
     
     
Internal Revenue Service   
Department of the Treasury   
Washington, DC 20224   
     
Number: 202401017   
Release Date: 1/5/2024   
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-109814-23   
Date:  October 05, 2023   
     
Dear ******:     
     
This letter responds to Taxpayer's request for a letter ruling dated Date 1. Specifically, Taxpayer requests relief under sections 301.9100-1 and 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations, for an extension of time to (1) make a timely election under section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) of the Income Tax Regulations to be certified as a qualified opportunity fund (QOF), as defined in section 1400Z-2(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and (2) for Taxpayer to be treated as a QOF, effective as of Date 2, as provided by section 1400Z-2(d) and section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a).   
     
 FACTS    
     
Taxpayer is a limited liability company, organized under the laws of State Z on Date 3. Taxpayer is treated as a partnership for Federal income tax purposes and was formed for the purpose of investing in qualified opportunity zone property serving as a QOF. Taxpayer uses the cash method of accounting and has a tax year end date of Date 4.   
     
According to the affidavits and information provided, Taxpayer engaged Accountant to prepare Taxpayer's Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income, for the short tax year of Date 2 through Date 4. Taxpayer and Accountant were, at the time, both aware of Taxpayer's intent to be a QOF and of the requirement to file a Form 8996, Qualified Opportunity Fund, for the Taxpayer to self-certify its QOF status and to be treated as a QOF. Further, both were aware that the Form 8996 needed to be attached to Taxpayer's initial Form 1065 in order to self-certify as a QOF.   
     
Accountant prepared Taxpayer's Form 1065. It also prepared the Form 8996 and intended to file it contemporaneously with the Form 1065. However, due to a clerical error, Accountant failed to attach the prepared Form 8996 to Taxpayer' s federal tax return. Immediately upon discovery of the inadvertent error, Accountant informed Taxpayer of the error. Taxpayer and Accountant discussed what actions, if any, must be taken in connection with Taxpayer's certification as a QOF for Year 1. In Month 1, Manager, on behalf of the Taxpayer, engaged Accountant to prepare a private letter ruling.   
     
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 self-certification of a QOF must be timely-filed and effectuated annually in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in the Internal Revenue Service 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, Qualified Opportunity Fund, with its tax return for the year to which the certification applies. The Form 8996 must be filed by the due date of the Federal income tax return (including extensions). The information provided indicates that Accountant did not file Taxpayer's Form 8996 due to Accountant's clerical error.   
     
Section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) sets forth the manner and timing for electing to be a QOF and electing to self-certify as a QOF. As such, these elections are regulatory elections, as defined in section 301.9100-1(b). According to section 301.9100-3(a), requests for extensions of time for regulatory elections that do not meet the requirements of section 301.9100-2 (automatic extensions) must be made under the rules of section 301.9100-3. Additionally, requests for relief subject to section 301.9100-3 will be granted when the taxpayer provides evidence to establish that the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith, and that the granting 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 failed to make the election because, after exercising reasonable diligence (taking into account the taxpayer's experience and the complexity of the return or issue), the taxpayer was unaware of the necessity for t he election.   
     
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. Accordingly, based solely on the facts and information submitted, and the representations made in the ruling request, we grant Taxpayer an extension of 60 days from the date of this letter ruling to file a Form 8996 to make the election to self-certify as a QOF under section 1400Z-2 and section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i). The election must be made on a completed Form 8996 attached to Taxpayer's amended tax return or administrative-adjustment request (as applicable).   
     
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 in any entity by Taxpayer qualifies as qualified opportunity zone property, as defined in section 1400Z-2(d)(2), or whether such entity 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 & Accounting)   
     
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