[4830-01-u]

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Parts 1 and 602

[TD 8649]

RIN 1545-AS87

Regulations Under Section 1258 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; Netting
Rule For Certain Conversion Transactions

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Final regulations.

SUMMARY: This document contains final regulations relating to conversion
transactions. These regulations provide that certain gains and losses from
positions of the same conversion transaction may be netted for purposes of
determining the amount of gain that is recharacterized as ordinary income.
These regulations reflect changes to the law made by the Revenue
Reconciliation Act of 1993 and affect persons who enter into conversion
transactions.
EFFECTIVE DATES: These regulations are effective [INSERT DATE OF PUBLICATION
IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
 For applicability of these regulations, see EFFECTIVE DATES under the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION part of the preamble.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan B. Munro, (202) 622-3950 (not a
toll-free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Paperwork Reduction Act
 The collection of information contained in these final regulations has
been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget in
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3507) under control
number 1545-1452. Responses to this collection of information are required to
obtain netting relief for conversion transactions.
 An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of information
displays a valid control number.
 The estimated annual burden per recordkeeper varies from .05 to 10
hours, depending on individual circumstances, with an estimated average of .10
hour.
 Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden estimate and suggestions
for reducing this burden should be sent to the Internal Revenue Service, Attn:
IRS Reports Clearance Officer, T:FP, Washington, DC 20224, and 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.
 Books or records relating to this collection of information must be
retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration
of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and tax return
information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.
Background
 On December 27, 1994, the IRS published in the Federal Register a notice
of proposed rulemaking and notice of public hearing at 59 FR 66498 (FI-43-94)
under section 1258 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
 The IRS received a number of written comments on the proposed
regulations. No requests to speak at the public hearing were received,
however, and consequently the hearing was cancelled.
Explanation of Provisions
 A. General
 The proposed regulations allow taxpayers to net gains and losses on the
positions of certain conversion transactions for purposes of section 1258(a).
For a taxpayer to be eligible, the proposed regulations require the taxpayer
to identify, before the close of the day on which the positions become part of
the conversion transaction, all the positions that are part of the conversion
transaction. In addition, the taxpayer has to dispose of all the positions
within a 14-day period that is within a single taxable year. The proposed
regulations also define built-in loss and prohibit the netting of built-in
loss against gain.
 The commenters uniformly supported the netting relief provided by the
proposed regulations. Accordingly, the final regulations are substantially
unchanged from the proposed regulations.
 The proposed regulations provide that the regulations will be effective
for conversion transactions entered into on or after the date of filing of
final regulations with the Federal Register. Several commenters requested
that the regulations also apply to conversion transactions entered into prior
to the filing date. In response to these comments, the final regulations
provide for application of the regulations to any conversion transaction that
is outstanding on [INSERT DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]
provided that all the positions which are part of the conversion transaction
are identified under 1.1258-1(b)(2) before the close of business on [INSERT
DATE THAT IS SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER]. The final regulations also provide a transition rule for the same-
day identification requirement that allows taxpayers to identify conversion
transactions entered into prior to [INSERT DATE THAT IS SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER] at any time on or before [INSERT
DATE THAT IS SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER].
 Several commenters criticized the examples for failing to adjust the
applicable imputed income amount (AIIA) under section 1258(b) for interest and
dividends received. The scope of these regulations, however, is limited to
netting relief. The IRS is still studying various situations to determine the
extent to which it is appropriate to reduce the AIIA by reason of amounts
capitalized under section 263(g), ordinary income received, or otherwise.
Accordingly, Example 3 has been deleted and Examples 1 and 2 have been
clarified to eliminate any implication on this issue.
 One commenter requested that the identification requirement be
eliminated as impractical, unnecessary, and a trap for the unwary. This same-
day identification requirement is similar to identification requirements under
sections 475 and 1221. Identification of all the positions of a conversion
transaction will aid examiners attempting to determine whether conversion
transactions are present and will prevent mismatching of those positions by
both taxpayers and agents. The final regulations retain the same-day
identification requirement but provide a transition rule.
 Some commenters asked that netting relief be expanded to cover
unrealized losses in retained positions by allowing loss positions to be
marked to market when a gain position is disposed of or terminated. Allowing
retained positions to be marked to market raises valuation and other
potentially complex issues. For example, many of the issues addressed by the
regulations under section 475 would have to be addressed here. The complexity
of these issues outweighs the potential benefit of allowing retained positions
to be marked to market. Thus, the final regulations do not include a mark-to-
market provision.
 To preserve the character of gain that arose before a position became
part of a conversion transaction, one commenter requested built-in gain rules
similar to the built-in loss rules in the proposed regulations. The
appropriateness of a built-in gain rule under section 1258 is beyond the scope
of these regulations. Therefore, the final regulations do not address this
issue.
 The IRS is aware that section 1258 presents a number of issues not
addressed by these final regulations. The IRS continues to study the scope of
section 1258, the types of transactions that should be included under the
regulatory authority of section 1258(c)(2)(D), and what reductions, if any, in
the AIIA are appropriate under section 1258(b). The IRS welcomes comments on
these and other issues under section 1258.
 B. Effective Dates
 The regulations are effective for conversion transactions that are
outstanding on or after [INSERT DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
In the case of a conversion transaction entered into before [INSERT DATE THAT
IS SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER], the
same-day identification requirement is treated as satisfied if the
identification is made on or before [INSERT DATE THAT IS SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
Special Analyses
 It has been determined that this Treasury decision is not a significant
regulatory action as defined in EO 12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment
is not required. It also has been determined that section 553(b) of the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) and the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) do not apply to these regulations, and,
therefore, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required. Pursuant to
section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, the notice of proposed
rulemaking preceding these regulations was submitted to the Small Business
Administration for comment on its impact on small business.
Drafting Information
 The principal author of these regulations is Alan B. Munro, Office of
Assistant Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions and Products). However, other
personnel from the IRS and Treasury Department participated in their
development.
List of Subjects
26 CFR Part 1
 Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
26 CFR Part 602
 Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Adoption of Amendments to the Regulations
 Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1 and 602 are amended as follows:
PART 1--INCOME TAXES
 Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read in
part as follows:
 Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
 Par. 2. Section 1.1258-1 is added to read as follows:
1.1258-1 Netting rule for certain conversion transactions.
 (a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide taxpayers with a
method to net certain gains and losses from positions of the same conversion
transaction before determining the amount of gain treated as ordinary income
under section 1258(a).
 (b) Netting of gain and loss for identified transactions--(1) In
general. If a taxpayer disposes of or terminates all the positions of an
identified netting transaction (as defined in paragraph (b)(2) of this
section) within a 14-day period in a single taxable year, all gains and losses
on those positions taken into account for federal tax purposes within that
period (other than built-in losses as defined in paragraph (c) of this
section) are netted solely for purposes of determining the amount of gain
treated as ordinary income under section 1258(a). For purposes of the
preceding sentence, a taxpayer is treated as disposing of any position that is
treated as sold under any provision of the Code or regulations thereunder (for
example, under section 1256(a)(1)).
 (2) Identified netting transaction. For purposes of this section, an
identified netting transaction is a conversion transaction (as defined in
section 1258(c)) that the taxpayer identifies as an identified netting
transaction on its books and records. Identification of each position of the
conversion transaction must be made before the close of the day on which the
position becomes part of the conversion transaction. No particular form of
identification is necessary, but all the positions of a single conversion
transaction must be identified as part of the same transaction and must be
distinguished from all other positions.
 (c) Definition of built-in loss. For purposes of this section, built-in
loss means--
 (1) Built-in loss as defined in section 1258(d)(3)(B); and
 (2) If a taxpayer realizes gain or loss on any one position of a
conversion transaction (for example, under section 1256), as of the date that
gain or loss is realized, any unrecognized loss in any other position of the
conversion transaction that is not disposed of, terminated, or treated as sold
under any provision of the Code or regulations thereunder within 14 days of
and within the same taxable year as the realization event.
 (d) Examples. These examples illustrate this section:
 Example 1. Identified netting transaction with simultaneous actual
dispositions. (i) On December 1, 1995, A purchases 1,000 shares of XYZ stock
for $100,000 and enters into a forward contract to sell 1,000 shares of XYZ
stock on November 30, 1997, for $110,000. The XYZ stock is actively traded as
defined in 1.1092(d)-1(a) and is a capital asset in A's hands. A maintains
books and records on which, on December 1, 1995, it identifies the two
positions as all the positions of a single conversion transaction. A owns no
other XYZ stock. On December 1, 1996, when the applicable imputed income
amount for the transaction is $7,000, A sells the 1,000 shares of XYZ stock
for $95,000. On the same day, A terminates its forward contract with its
counterparty, receiving $10,200. No dividends were received on the stock
during the time it was part of the conversion transaction.

 (ii) The XYZ stock and forward contract are positions of a conversion
transaction. Under section 1258(c)(1), substantially all of A's expected
return from the overall transaction is attributable to the time value of the
net investment in the transaction. Under section 1258(c)(2)(B), the
transaction is an applicable straddle as defined in section 1258(d)(1).

 (iii) A disposed of or terminated all the positions of the conversion
transaction within 14 days and within the same taxable year as required by
paragraph (b)(1) of this section. The transaction is an identified netting
transaction because it meets the identification requirement of paragraph
(b)(2) of this section. Solely for purposes of section 1258(a), the $5,000
loss realized ($100,000 basis less $95,000 amount realized) on the disposition
of the XYZ stock is netted against the $10,200 gain recognized on the
disposition of the forward contract. Thus, the net gain from the conversion
transaction for purposes of section 1258(a) is $5,200 ($10,200 gain less
$5,000 loss). Only the $5,200 net gain is recharacterized as ordinary income
under section 1258(a) even though the applicable imputed income amount is
$7,000. For federal tax purposes other than section 1258(a), A has recognized
a $10,200 gain on the disposition of the forward contract ($5,200 of which is
treated as ordinary income) and realized a separate $5,000 loss on the sale of
the XYZ stock.

 Example 2. Identified netting transaction with built-in loss. (i) The
facts are the same as in Example 1, except that A had purchased the XYZ stock
for $104,000 on May 15, 1995. The XYZ stock had a fair market value of
$100,000 on December 1, 1995, the date it became part of a conversion
transaction.

 (ii) The results are the same as in Example 1, except that A has built-
in loss (in addition to the $5,000 loss that arose economically during the
period of the conversion transaction), as defined in section 1258(d)(3)(B), of
$4,000 on the XYZ stock. That $4,000 built-in loss is not netted against the
$10,200 gain on the forward contract for purposes of section 1258(a). Thus,
the net gain from the conversion transaction for purposes of section 1258(a)
is $5,200, the same as in Example 1. The $4,000 built-in loss is recognized
and has a character determined without regard to section 1258.

 (e) Effective date and transition rule--(1) In general. These
regulations are effective for conversion transactions that are outstanding on
or after [INSERT DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
 (2) Transition rule for identification requirements. In the case of a
conversion transaction entered into before [INSERT DATE THAT IS SIXTY DAYS
AFTER THE DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER], paragraph (b)(2) of
this section is treated as satisfied if the identification is made before the
close of business on [INSERT DATE THAT IS SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF
PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
PART 602--OMB CONTROL NUMBERS UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT Par. 3. The
authority citation for part 602 continues to read as follows:
 Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805.
602.101 [Amended]
 Par. 4. In 602.101, paragraph (c) is amended by adding the entry
"1.1258-1....1545-1452" in numerical order to the table.

 Commissioner of Internal Revenue
 Margaret Milner Richardson

Approved:

 November 28, 1995
 Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
 Leslie Samuels