Title 26—Internal Revenue--Volume 1
PART 1—INCOME TAXES
§ 1.921-1T   Temporary regulations providing transition rules for DISCs and FSCs.
(a) Termination of a DISC —(1) At end of 1984.
Q-1: What is the effect of the termination on December 31, 1984, of a DISC's taxable year?
A-1: Without regard to the annual accounting period of the DISC, the last taxable year of each DISC beginning during 1984 shall be deemed to close on December 31, 1984. The corporation's DISC election also shall be deemed revoked at the close of business on December 31, 1984. (A DISC that does not elect to be an interest charge DISC as of January 1, 1985, in addition to a corporation described in section 992(a)(3), shall be referred to as a “former DISC”.) A corporation which wishes to be treated as a FSC, a small FSC, or an interest charge DISC must make an election as provided under paragraph (b) (Q & A #1) of this section.
(2) Deemed distributions for short taxable years.
Q-2: If the termination of the DISC's taxable year on December 31, 1984, results in a short taxable year, how are the deemed distributions under section 995(b)(1)(E) determined?
A-2: The deemed distributions are determined on the basis of the DISC's taxable income for its short taxable year ending on December 31, 1984. In computing the incremental distribution under section 995(b)(1)(E), the export gross receipts for the short taxable year must be annualized.
(3) Qualification as a DISC for 1984.
Q-3: Must the DISC satisfy all the tests set forth in section 992(a)(1) for the DISC's taxable year ending December 31, 1984?
A-3: All of the tests under section 992(a)(1), except the qualified assets test under section 992(a)(1)(B), must be satisfied.
(4) Commissions for 1984.
Q-4: Must commissions be paid by a related supplier to a DISC with respect to the DISC's taxable year ending December 31, 1984?
A-4: No.
Q-4A: Must commissions which were earned prior to January 1, 1985, be paid by a related supplier if the last date payment is required (as set forth in § 1.994-1(e)(3)) is after December 31, 1984?
A-4A: No.
(5) Producer's loans of 1984.
Q-5: Must the producer's loan rules under section 993(d) be satisfied with respect to the DISC's taxable year ending December 31, 1984?
A-5: Yes.
(6) Accumulated DISC income.
Q-6. Under what circumstances is any remaining accumulated DISC income treated as previously taxed income (and not taxed)?
A-6. The accumulated DISC income of a DISC (but not a DISC described in section 992(a)(3)) as of December 31, 1984, is treated as previously taxed income when actually distributed after December 31, 1984. Any amounts distributed by the former DISC (including a DISC which has elected to be an interest charge DISC) after December 31, 1984, shall be treated as made first out of current earnings and profits and then out of previously taxed income to the extent thereof. For purposes of the preceding sentence, amounts distributed before July 1, 1985, shall be treated as made first out of previously taxed income to the extent thereof. If property other than money is distributed and if such property was a qualified export asset within the meaning of section 993(b) on December 31, 1984, then for purposes of section 311, no gain or loss will be recognized on the distribution and the distributee will have the same basis in the property as the distributor.
Q-7: May a DISC that was previously disqualified, but has requalified as of December 31, 1984, treat any accumulated DISC income as previously taxed income?
A-7: If a DISC was previously disqualified, but has requalified as of December 31, 1984, any accumulated DISC income previously required to be taken into income upon prior disqualification shall not be treated as previously taxed income. All accumulated DISC income derived since requalification, however, will be treated as previously taxed income.
(7) Distribution of previously taxed income.
Q-8: What effect will the distribution of previously taxed income have on the earnings and profits of corporate shareholders of the former DISC?
A-8: The earnings and profits of the corporate shareholders of the former DISC will be increased by the amount of money and the adjusted basis of any property which is distributed out of previously taxed income.
Q-9: Will the distribution of the former DISC's accumulated DISC income as previously taxed income after December 31, 1984, result in a reduction in the shareholder's basis of the stock of the former DISC and consequent taxation of the excess of the distribution over such basis as capital gain under section 996(d)?
A-9: No. This distribution will be treated both as amounts representing deemed distributions under section 995(b)(1) and as previously taxed income. Thus, no capital gain will arise.
(8) Qualifying distributions.
Q-10: How is a qualifying distribution to satisfy the qualified export receipts tests under section 992(c)(1)(A) which is made with respect to the DISC's taxable year ending on December 31, 1984, treated?
A-10: The distribution will not be treated as previously taxed income but will be taxed to the shareholder of the former DISC, as provided under section 992(c) and 996(a)(2) and the regulations thereunder, in the shareholder's taxable year in which the distribution is made.
(9) Deficiency distributions.
Q-11: With respect to an audit adjustment made after December 31, 1984, may a deficiency distribution be made, and if so, in what manner may it be made?
A-11: A deficiency distribution may be made notwithstanding the fact that after December 31, 1984, the former DISC is a taxable corporation under subchapter C, has elected to be treated as an interest charge DISC, or has been liquidated, reorganized or is otherwise no longer in existence. However, such deficiency distribution shall be treated as made out of accumulated DISC income which is not previously taxed income because it will be treated as distributed prior to December 31, 1984, to the DISC's shareholders.
Q-11A: Must a former DISC remain in existence in order for a former DISC shareholder to take advantage of the spread provided in section 995(b)(2) with respect to DISC disqualification?
A-11A: No. With respect to distributions deemed to be received by a former DISC shareholder under section 995(b)(2) for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1984, if the former DISC shareholder elects, the rules of section 995(b)(2)(B) shall apply even though the former DISC does not continue in existence. If the former DISC is no longer in existence, the former DISC's shareholders will be deemed to have received the distribution on the last day of their taxable years over the applicable period of time determined under section 995(b)(2) as if the former DISC had remained in existence.
(10) Deemed distribution for 1984.
Q-12: How is the deemed distribution to a shareholder for the DISC's taxable year ending December 31, 1984, taken into account?
A-12 (i) If the taxable year of the DISC ending on December 31, 1984, (A) is the first taxable year of the DISC which begins in 1984, (B) begins after the date in 1984 on which the taxable year of the DISC's shareholder begins, and (C) if the DISC's shareholder makes an election under section 805(b)(3) of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, the deemed distribution under section 995(b) with respect to income derived by the DISC for such taxable year of the DISC shall be treated as received by the shareholder in 10 equal installments (unless the shareholder elects to be treated as receiving the deemed distribution in income over a smaller number of equal installments). The first installment shall be treated as received by the shareholder on the last day of the shareholder's second taxable year beginning in 1984 (if any), or if the shareholder had only one taxable year which began in 1984, on the last day of the shareholder's first taxable year beginning in 1985. One installment shall be treated as received by the shareholder on the last day of each succeeding taxable year of the shareholder until the entire amount of the DISC's 1984 deemed distribution has been included in the shareholder's taxable income. To make the election under section 805(b)(3) of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, the DISC shareholder must attach a statement to its timely filed tax return (including extensions) for its taxable year which includes December 31, 1984, indicating the total amount of the shareholder's pro rata share of the DISC's deemed distribution for 1984 (determined under section 995(b) of the Code without regard to the election under section 805(b)(3) of the Tax Reform Act of 1984), and the number of equal installments, if less than 10, over which the shareholder wishes to spread its pro rata share of the deemed distribution for 1984. If the election under section 805(b)(3) of the Tax Reform Act of 1984 is made, it may not be changed or revoked. In determining estimated tax payments, the portion of the deemed distribution includible in the shareholder's taxable income for any taxable year under this subdivision (i) shall be treated as received by the shareholder on the last day of such taxable year.
(ii) Except as provided in subdivision (i), the deemed distribution under section 995(b) with respect to income derived by the DISC for its taxable year ending on December 31, 1984, shall be included in the shareholder's taxable income for its taxable year which includes December 31, 1984. Thus, if the taxable year of the DISC and the DISC's shareholder both begin on January 1, 1984, and end on December 31, 1984 (or, if the taxable year of the DISC beginning in 1984 begins before the taxable year of the DISC's shareholder), the deemed distribution with respect to the DISC's taxable year ending on December 31, 1984, will be included in the DISC shareholder's taxable year ending on (or including) December 31, 1984, and the election described in subdivision (i) may not be made.
(iii) The provisions of this Question and Answer-12 apply without regard to any existence of the DISC after December 31, 1984, as an interest charge DISC.
Q-12A: If under section 805(b)(3) of the Tax Reform Act of 1984 the shareholders of the DISC are permitted to make an election to treat the DISC's 1984 deemed distribution as received over a 10-year period, must the DISC distribute that amount to its shareholders ratably over the 10-year period?
A-12A: No. Under section 805(b)(3) of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, if the DISC's deemed distribution for its taxable year which ended on December 31, 1984, is a qualified distribution, the shareholders of the DISC are permitted to make an election to treat the distribution as received over a 10-year period. The 10-year treatment applies even though the amount of the deemed distribution is distributed to the DISC's shareholders prior to the period in which the distribution is taken into income by the shareholders. In addition, under section 996(e) of the Code, the shareholder's basis in the stock of the DISC will be considered as increased, as of the date of liquidation, by the shareholder's pro rata share of the amount of the undistributed qualified distribution even though that amount is treated as received by the shareholder in later years. Further, the actual distribution in liquidation of the former DISC after 1984 will increase the earnings and profits of a corporate distributee, and the amount actually distributed shall be treated under the rules of section 996.
(11) Conformity of accounting period.
Q-13: May a DISC be established or change its annual accounting period for taxable years beginning after March 21, 1984, and before January 1, 1985?
A-13: A DISC that is established or that changes its annual accounting period after March 21, 1984, must conform its annual accounting period to that of its principal shareholder (the shareholder with the highest percentage of voting power as defined in section 441(h)).
(12) DISC gains and distributions from U.S. sources.
Q-14: What is the effective date of the amendment to section 996(g), made by section 801(d)(10) of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, which treats certain DISC gains and distributions as derived from sources within the United States?
A-14: Under section 805(a)(3) of the Act, the amendment to section 996(g) shall apply to all gains referred to in section 995(c) and all distributions out of accumulated DISC income including deemed distributions made on or after June 22, 1984.
(b) Establishing and electing status as a FSC, small FSC or interest charge DISC —(1) Ninety-day period.
Q-1: How does a corporation elect to be treated as a FSC, a small FSC, or an interest charge DISC?
A-1: A corporation electing FSC or small FSC status must file Form 8279. A corporation electing interest charge DISC status must file Form 4876A. A corporation electing to be treated as a FSC, small FSC, or interest charge DISC for its first taxable year shall make its election within 90 days after the beginning of that year. A corporation electing to be treated as a FSC, small FSC, or interest charge DISC for any taxable year other than its first taxable year shall make its election during the 90-day period immediately preceding the first day of that taxable year. The election to be a FSC, small FSC, or interest charge DISC may be made by the corporation, however, during the first 90 days of a taxable year, even if that taxable year is not the corporation's first taxable year, if that taxable year begins before July 1, 1985. Likewise, the election to be a FSC (or a small FSC) may be made during the first 90 days of any taxable year of a corporation if the corporation had in a prior taxable year elected small FSC (or FSC) status and the corporation revokes the small FSC (or FSC) election within the 90 day period. A corporation which was a DISC for its taxable year ending December 31, 1984, which wishes to be treated as an interest charge DISC beginning with its first taxable year beginning after December 31, 1984, may make the election to be treated as an interest charge DISC by filing Form 4876A on or before July 1, 1987. Also, if a corporation which has elected FSC, small FSC or interest charge DISC status, or a shareholder of that corporation, is acquired in a qualified stock purchase under section 338(d)(3), and if an election under section 338(a) is effective with regard to that corporation, the corporation may re-elect FSC, small FSC or interest charge DISC status, (whichever is applicable) not later than the date of the election under section 338(a), see section 338(g)(i) and § 1.338-2(d). This re-election is necessary because the original elections are deemed terminated if an election is made under section 338(a). The rules contained in § 1.992-2 (a)(1), (b)(1) and (b)(3) shall apply to the manner of making the election and the manner and form of shareholder consent.
(2) FSC incorporated in a possession.
Q-2: Where does a FSC which is incorporated in a U.S. possession file its election?
A-2: The election is filed with the Internal Revenue Service Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19255.
(3) Information returns.
Q-3: Must Form 5471 be filed with respect to the organization of a FSC pursuant to section 6046 or to provide information with respect to a FSC pursuant to section 6038?
A-3: A Form 5471 required under section 6046 need not be filed with respect to the organization of a FSC. The requirements of section 6046 shall be satisfied by the filing of a Form 8279 dealing with the election to be treated as a FSC or small FSC. However, a Form 5471 will be required with respect to a reorganization of a FSC (or small FSC) or an acquisition of stock of a FSC (or small FSC), as required under section 6046 and the regulations thereunder. Provided that a Form 1120 FSC is filed, a Form 5471 need not be filed to satisfy the requirements of section 6038.
(4) Conformity of accounting period.
Q-4: Since a FSC, small FSC, and interest charge DISC must use the same annual accounting period as the principal shareholder, must such corporation delay the beginning of its first taxable year beyond January 1, 1985 if the principal shareholder (the shareholder with the highest percentage of voting power as defined in section 441(h)) is not a calendar year taxpayer?
A-4: No. Where the principal shareholder is not a calendar year taxpayer, a corporation may elect to be treated as a FFSC, small FSC, or interest charge DISC for a taxable year beginning January 1, 1985. However, such corporation must close its first taxable year and adopt the annual accounting period of its principal shareholder as of the first day of the principal shareholder's first taxable year beginning in 1985. A FSC, small FSC, or interest charge DISC need not obtain the consent of the Commissioner under section 442 to conform its annual accounting period to the annual accounting period of its principal shareholder.
(5) Dollar limitations for short taxable years.
Q-5: If a small FSC or an interest charge DISC has a short taxable year, how are the dollar limitations on foreign trading export gross receipts and qualified export gross receipts, respectively, determined for small FSCs and interest charge DISCs?
A-5: The dollar limitations are to be prorated on a daily basis. Thus, for example, if for its 1985 taxable year a small FSC has a short taxable year of 73 days, then in determining exempt foreign trade income, any foreign trading gross receipts that exceed $1 million (73/365 × $5 million) will not be taken into account.
(6) Change of accounting period.
Q-6: If the principal shareholder of a FSC, a small FSC, or an interest charge DISC (hereinafter referred to as a “FSC”) changes its annual accounting period or is replaced by a new principal shareholder during a taxable year, is it necessary for the FSC to change its annual accounting period?
A-6: If the principal shareholder changes its annual accounting period, the FSC must also change its annual accounting period to conform to that of its principal shareholder. If the voting power of the principal shareholder is reduced by an amount equal to at least 10 percent of the total shares entitled to vote and such shareholder is no longer the principal shareholder, the FSC must conform its accounting period to that of its new principal shareholder. However, in determining whether a shareholder is a principal shareholder, the voting power of the shareholders is determined as of the beginning of the FSC's taxable year. Thus, for example, assume that for 1985 a FSC adopts a calendar year period as its annual accounting period to conform to that of its principal shareholder. Assume further than in March 1985 there is a 10 percent change in voting power and a different shareholder whose annual accounting period begins on July 1 becomes the new principal shareholder. The FSC will not be required to adopt the annual accounting period of its new principal shareholder until July 1, 1986. The FSC will have a short taxable year for the period January 1 to June 30, 1986.
(7) Transition transfers.
Q-7. Under what circumstances may a DISC or former DISC transfer its assets to a FSC or small FSC without incurring any tax liability on the transfer?
A-7. A DISC or former DISC will recognize no income, gain, or loss on a transfer of its qualified assets (as defined in section 993(b)) to a FSC or small FSC if all of the following conditions are met:
(i) The assets transferred were held by the DISC on August 4, 1983, and were transferred by the DISC or former DISC to the FSC or small FSC in a transfer completed before January 1, 1986; and
(ii) The assets are transferred in a transaction which would qualify for nonrecognition under subchapter C of chapter 1 of the Code, or would so qualify but for section 367 of the Code.
In such case, section 367 shall not apply to the transfer.
In addition, other provisions of subchapter C will apply to the transfer, such as section 358 (basis to shareholders), section 362 (basis to corporations), and section 381 (carryovers in corporate acquisitions). In determining whether a transfer by a DISC to a FSC or small FSC qualifies for nonrecognition under subchapter C, a liquidation of the assets of the DISC into a parent corporation followed by a transfer by the parent of those assets to the FSC or small FSC will be treated as a transaction described in section 368(a)(1)(D).
Notwithstanding the foregoing answer, a taxpayer which transfers a right to use its corporate name to a FSC in a transaction described in sections 332, 351, 354, 356 and 361 shall not be treated as having sold that right under section 367(d) or as having transferred that right to an entity that is not a corporation under section 367(a) provided that the corporate name is used only by the FSC and is not licensed or otherwise made available to others by the FSC.
(8) Completed contract method.
Q-8: Under what conditions is a taxpayer using the completed contract method of accounting as defined in § 1.451-3(d) exempted from satisfying the foreign management and foreign economic process requirements of subsections (c) and (d) of section 924?
A-8: If the taxpayer has entered into a binding contract before March 16, 1984, or has on March 15, 1984, and at all times thereafter a firm plan, evidenced in writing, to enter the contract and enters into a binding contract by December 31, 1984, then the taxpayer will be treated as having satisfied the foreign management tests of section 924(c) for periods before December 31, 1984, and the foreign economic process tests of section 924(d) with respect to costs incurred before December 31, 1984, with respect to the transaction. The FSC rules will apply to the income from the long-term contract if an election is made and the general FSC requirements under section 922 are satisfied. However, such taxpayer need not satisfy the activities test under section 925(c) for activities which occur before January 1, 1985 in order to use the transfer pricing rules under section 925.
(9) Long-term contract—before March 15, 1984.
Q-9: Under what conditions is a taxpayer who enters into a binding long-term contract ( i.e., a contract which is not completed in the taxable year in which it is entered into) before March 15, 1984, but does not use the completed contract method of accounting exempted from satisfying the foreign management and economic process requirements of subsections (c) and (d) of section 924?
A-9: If a taxpayer enters into a binding contract before March 15, 1984, the taxpayer will be treated as having satisfied the foreign management tests of section 924(c) for periods before December 31, 1984, and the foreign economic process tests of section 924(d) with respect to costs incurred before December 31, 1984, but only with respect to income attributable to such contracts that is recognized before December 31, 1986. The FSC rules will apply to the income from the long-term contract if an election is made and the general FSC requirements under section 922 are satisfied. However, such taxpayer need not satisfy the activities test under section 925(c) for activities which occur before January 1, 1985, in order to use the transfer pricing rules under section 925.
(10) Long-term contract—after March 15, 1984.
Q-10: Under what conditions is a taxpayer who has a long-term contract (i.e., a contract which is not completed in the taxable year in which it is entered into) but does not use the completed contract method of accounting exempted from satisfying the foreign management and economic process requirements of subsections (c) and (d) of section 924 if such taxpayer enters into a binding contract after March 15, 1984 and before January 1, 1985?
A-10: If a taxpayer enters into a contract after March 15, 1984, and before January 1, 1985, the taxpayer will be treated as having satisfied the foreign management tests of section 924(c) for periods before December 31, 1984, and the foreign economic process tests of section 924(d) with respect to costs incurred before December 31, 1984, but only with respect to income attributable to such contract that is recognized before December 31, 1985.
The FSC rules will apply to the income from the long-term contract if an election is made and the general requirements under section 922 are satisfied. However, such taxpayer need not satisfy the activities test under section 925(c) for activities which occur before January 1, 1985 in order to use the transfer pricing rules under section 925.
(11) Incomplete transactions.
Q-11: In computing its foreign trade income, how should a FSC treat transfers of export property from a related supplier to a DISC which is subsequently resold by a FSC after the DISC's termination?
A-11: In applying the gross receipts and combined taxable income methods under section 925 (a)(1) and (a)(2), the transaction is treated as if the transfer of export property were made by the related supplier to the FSC except that the foreign management and economic processes tests under section 924 and the activities test under section 925(c) shall be deemed to be satisfied for purposes of the transaction.
(12) Pre-effective date costs and activities.
Q-12: Are costs incurred and activities performed prior to January 1, 1985 taken into account for purposes of satisfying the foreign management and foreign economic processes requirements of subsections (c) and (d) of section 924 and the activities test under section 925(c)?
A-12: For purposes of determining the costs incurred and the activities performed to be taken into account with respect to contracts entered into after December 31, 1984, only those costs incurred and activities performed after December 31, 1984, are taken into consideration. Costs incurred and activities performed by a related supplier prior to January 1, 1985 (or prior to the effective date of a corporation's election to be treated as a FSC if other than January 1, 1985) with respect to transactions occurring after January 1, 1985 (or after the effective date of a corporation's election to be treated as a FSC) need not be taken into account for purposes of computing the FSC's profit under section 925 but are treated for section 925(c) purposes as if they were performed on behalf of the FSC.
(13) FSC and interest charge DISC.
Q-13: Can a FSC and an interest charge DISC be members of the same controlled group?
A-13: A FSC and an interest charge DISC cannot be members of the same controlled group. If any controlled group of corporations of which an interest charge DISC is a member establishes a FSC, then any interest charge DISC which is a member of such group shall be treated as having terminated its status as an interest charge DISC.
(c) Export Trade Corporations —(1) Previously taxed income.
Q-1: Under what circumstances are earnings of an export trade corporation that have not been included in income under section 951 treated as previously taxed income previously included in the income of a U.S. shareholder for purposes of section 959 (and not taxed)?
A-1: A corporation which qualifies as an export trade corporation (ETC) with respect to its last taxable year beginning before January 1, 1985, and elects to discontinue operations as an ETC for all taxable years beginning after December 31, 1984, shall not be required to take into income earnings attributable to previously excluded export trade income, as defined in § 1.970-1(b), derived with respect to taxable years beginning before January 1, 1985. However, any amounts distributed by the former ETC ( i.e. a corporation which was an ETC for its last taxable year beginning before January 1, 1985) shall be treated as being made out of current earnings and profits and then out of previously taxed income. For purposes of determining the shareholder's basis in the ETC stock, distributions of previously excluded export trade income shall be treated as if made out of previously taxed income which has already been included in gross income under section 951(a)(1)(B). Thus, no basis adjustment under section 961 is necessary. In addition, upon the sale or exchange of the stock of such corporation in a transaction described in section 1248(a), the earnings and profits of the corporation attributable to such previously untaxed income shall not be subject to section 1248(a).
(2) Qualification as an ETC for last year.
Q-2: Must an ETC satisfy all of the tests set forth in section 971(a)(1) for the ETC's last taxable year beginning before January 1, 1985?
A-2: All of the tests in section 971(a)(1) must be satisfied, except that for purposes of the working capital requirements set forth in section 971(c)(1), the working capital of the ETC at the close of its last taxable year beginning before January 1, 1985 shall be deemed reasonable.
(3) Continuation of ETC status.
Q-3: May a corporation which chooses to remain an ETC after December 31, 1984, continue to do so?
A-3: Yes. However, previously untaxed income of such ETC shall not be treated as previously taxed income in accordance with Q&A #1 of this section.
(4) Discontinuation of ETC status.
Q-4: How does an ETC make an election to discontinue its operation as an ETC?
A-4: The United States shareholders (as defined in section 951(b)) must file a statement of election on behalf of the ETC indicating the intent of the ETC to discontinue operations as an ETC for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1984. In addition, the statement of election must include the name, address, taxpayer identification number and stock interest of each United States shareholder. The statement must also indicate that the corporation on behalf of which the shareholders are making the election qualified as an ETC for its last taxable year beginning before January 1, 1985, and also the amount of earnings attributable to previously excluded export trade income. The statement must be jointly signed by each United States shareholder with each shareholder stating under penalties of perjury that he or she holds the stock interest specified for such shareholder in the statement of election. A copy of the statement of election must be attached to Form 5471 (information return with respect to a foreign corporation) filed with respect to the ETC's last taxable year beginning before January 1, 1985.
(5) Transition transfers.
Q-5: Under what circumstances may an electing ETC transfer its assets to a FSC without incurring any tax liability on the transfer?
A-5: An electing ETC will recognize no income, gain, or loss on a transfer of its assets to a FSC but only if all of the following conditions are met:
(i) The assets transferred were held by the ETC on August 4, 1983, and were transferred by the ETC to the FSC in a transfer completed before January 1, 1986; and
(ii) The assets are transferred in a transaction which would qualify for nonrecognition under subchapter C of chapter 1 of the Code, or would so qualify but for section 367 of the Code.
In such case, section 367 shall not apply to the transfer. In addition, other provisions of subchapter C will apply to the transfer such as section 358 (basis to shareholders), section 362 (basis to corporation) and section 381 (carryovers in corporate acquisitions). In determining whether a transfer by an ETC to a FSC qualifies for nonrecognition under subchapter C, a liquidation of the assets of the ETC into a parent corporation followed by a transfer by the parent of those assets to the FSC will be treated as a transaction described in section 368(a)(1)(D).
§ 1.921-2   Foreign Sales Corporation—general rules.
(a) Definition of a FSC and the Effect of a FSC Election.
Q-1. What is the definition of a Foreign Sales Corporation (hereinafter referred to as a “FSC” (All references to FSCs include small FSCs unless indicated otherwise))?
A-1. As defined in section 922(a), an FSC must satisfy the following eight requirements.
(i) The FSC must be a corporation organized or created under the laws of a foreign country that meets the requirements of section 927(e)(3) (a “qualifying foreign country”) or a U.S. possession other than Puerto Rico (an “eligible possession”). See Q&As 3, 4, and 5 of § 1.922-1.
(ii) A FSC may not have more than 25 shareholders at any time during the taxable year. See Q&A 6 of § 1.922-1.
(iii) A FSC may not have any preferred stock outstanding during the taxable year. See Q&As 7 and 8 of § 1.922-1.
(iv) A FSC must maintain an office outside of the United States in a qualifying foreign country or an eligible possession and maintain a set of permanent books of account (including invoices or summaries of invoices) at such office. See Q&As 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 of § 1.922-1.
(v) A FSC must maintain within the United States the records required under section 6001. See Q&A 16 of § 1.922-1.
(vi) The FSC must have a board of directors which includes at least one individual who is not a resident of the United States at all times during the taxable year. See Q&As 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 of § 1.922-1.
(vii) A FSC may not be a member, at any time during the taxable year, of any controlled group of corporations of which an interest charge DISC is a member. See Q&A 2 of this section and Q&A 13, of § 1.921-1T(b)(13).
(viii) A FSC must have made an election under section 927(f)(1) which is in effect for the taxable year. See Q&A 1 of § 1.921-1T(b)(1) and § 1.927(f)-1.
Q-2. Does the reference to a DISC under section 922(a)(1)(F) which provides that a FSC cannot be a member, at any time during the taxable year, of any controlled group of corporations of which a DISC is a member refer solely to an interest charge DISC?
A-2. Yes.
(b) Small FSC.
Q-3. What is a small FSC?
A-3. A small FSC is a Foreign Sales Corporation which meets the requirements of section 922(a)(1) enumerated in Q&A 1 of this section as well as the requirements of section 922(b). Section 922(b) requires that a small FSC make a separate election to be treated as a small FSC. See Q&A 1 of § 1.921-1T(b) and § 1.927(f)-1. In addition, section 922(b) requires that the small FSC not be a member, at any time during the taxable year, of a controlled group of corporations which includes a FSC unless such FSC is a small FSC.
Q-4. What is the effect of an election as a small FSC?
A-4. Under section 924(b)(2), a small FSC need not meet the foreign management and economic processes tests of section 924(b)(1) in order to have foreign trading gross receipts. However, in determining the exempt foreign trade income of a small FSC, any foreign trading gross receipts for the taxable year in excess of $5 million are not taken into account. If the foreign trading gross receipts of a small FSC for the taxable year exceed the $5 million limitation, the FSC may select the gross receipts to which the limitation is allocated. In order to use the administrative pricing rules under section 925(a), a small FSC must satisfy the activities test under section 925(c). In addition, under section 441(h), the taxable year of a small FSC must conform to the taxable year of its principal shareholder (defined in Q&A 4 of § 1.921-1T(b)(4) as the shareholder with the highest percentage of its voting power).
Q-5. What is the effect on a small FSC (or FSC) (“target”) if it is acquired, directly or indirectly, by a corporation if that acquiring corporation (“acquiring”), or a member of the acquiring corporation's controlled group, is a FSC (or small FSC)?
A-5. Unless the corporations in the controlled group elect to terminate the FSC (or small (FSC) election of the acquiring corporation, the target's small FSC's (or FSC's) taxable year and election will terminate as of the day preceding the date the target small FSC and acquiring FSC became members of the same controlled group. The target small FSC will receive FSC benefits for the period prior to termination, but the $5 million small FSC limitation will be reduced to the amount which bears the same ratio to the $5 million as the number of days in the short year created by the termination bears to 365. The due date of the income tax return for the short taxable year created by this provision will be the date prescribed by section 6072(b), including extensions, starting with the last day of the short taxable year. If the short taxable year created by this provision ends prior to March 3, 1987, the filing date of the tax return for the short taxable year will be automatically extended until the earlier of May 18, 1987 or the date under section 6072 (b) assuming a short taxable year had not been created by these regulations.
(c) Comparison of FSC to DISC.
Q-6. How does a FSC differ from a DISC?
A-6. A DISC is a domestic corporation which is not itself taxable while a FSC must be created or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction which is outside of the United States (including certain U.S. possessions) and may be taxable on its income except for its exempt foreign trade income. The DISC provisions enable a shareholder to obtain a partial deferral of tax on income from export sales and certain services, if 95 percent of its receipts and assets are export related. The FSC provisions contain no assets test, but a portion of income for export sales and certain services is exempt from U.S. taxes if the FSC satisfies certain foreign presence, foreign management, and foreign economic processes tests.
(d) Organization of a FSC.
Q-7. Under the laws of what countries may a FSC be organized?
A-7. A FSC may not be created or organized under the laws of the United States, a state, or other political subdivision. However, a FSC may be created or organized under the laws of a possession of the United States, including Guam. American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands of the United States, but not Puerto Rico. These eligible possessions are located outside the U.S. customs territory. In addition, a FSC may incorporate under the laws of a foreign country that is a party to—
(i) An exchange of information agreement that meets the standards of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act of 1983 (Code section 274(h)(6)(C)), or
(ii) A bilateral income tax treaty with the United States if the Secretary certifies that the exchange of information program under the treaty carries out the purpose of the exchange of information requirements of the FSC legislation as set forth in section 927(e)(3), if the company is covered under the exchange of information program under subdivision (i) or (ii). The Secretary may terminate the certification. Any termination by the Secretary will be effective six months after the date of the publication of the notice of such termination in the Federal Register.
(e) Foreign Trade Income.
Q-8. How is foreign trade income defined?
A-8. Foreign trade income, defined in section 923(b), is gross income of an FSC attributable to foreign trading gross receipts. It includes both the profits earned by the FSC itself from exports and commissions earned by the FSC from products and services exported by others.
(f) Investment Income and Carrying Charges.
Q-9. What do the terms “investment income” and “carrying charges” mean?
A-9.
(i) Investment income means:
(A) Dividends,
(B) Interest,
(C) Royalties,
(D) Annuities,
(E) Rents (other than rents from the lease or rental of export property for use by the lessee outside of the United States);
(F) Gains from the sale of stock or securities,
(G) Gains from future transactions in any commodity on, or subject to the rules of, a board of trade or commodity exchange (other than gains which arise out of a bona fide hedging transaction reasonably necessary to conduct the business of the FSC in the manner in which such business is customarily conducted by others),
(H) Amounts includable in computing the taxable income of the corporation under part I of subchapter J, and
(I) Gains from the sale or other disposition of any interest in an estate or trust.
(ii) Carrying charges means:
(A) Charges that are imposed by a FSC or a related supplier and that are identified as carrying charges, (“stated carrying charges”) and
(B)( 1 ) Charges that are considered to be included in the price of the property or services sold by an FSC or a related supplier, as provided under Q&As 1 and 2 of § 1.927(d)-1, and
( 2 ) Any other unstated interest.
Q-10. How are investment income and carrying charges treated?
A-10. Investment income and carrying charges are not foreign trading gross receipts. Investment income and carrying charges are includable in the taxable income of an FSC, except in the case of a commission FSC where carrying charges are treated as income of the related supplier, and are treated as income effectively connected with a trade or business conducted through a permanent establishment within the United States. The source of investment income and carrying charges is determined under sections 861, 862, and 863 of the Code.
(g) Small Businesses.
Q-11. What options are available to small businesses engaged in exporting?
A-11. A small business may elect to be treated as either a small FSC or an interest charge DISC. See Q&As 3 & 4 of § 1.921-2 relating to a small FSC. Rules with respect to interest charge DISCs are the subject of another regulations project.
§ 1.927(a)-1T   Temporary regulations; definition of export property.
(a) General rule. Under section 927(a), except as otherwise provided with respect to excluded property in paragraphs (f), (g) and (h) of this section and with respect to certain short supply property in paragraph (i) of this section, export property is property in the hands of any person (whether or not a FSC) (any further reference to a FSC in this section shall include a small FSC unless indicated otherwise)—
(1) U.S. manufactured, produced, grown or extracted. Manufactured, produced, grown, or extracted in the United States by any person or persons other than a FSC (see paragraph (c) of this section),
(2) Foreign use, consumption or disposition. Held primarily for sale, lease or rental in the ordinary course of a trade or business by a FSC to a FSC or to any other person for direct use, consumption, or disposition outside the United States (see paragraph (d) of this section),
(3) Foreign content. Not more than 50 percent of the fair market value of which is attributable to articles imported into the United States (see paragraph (e) of this section), and
(4) Non-related FSC purchaser or user. Which is not sold, leased or rented by a FSC, or with a FSC as commission agent, to another FSC which is a member of the same controlled group (as defined in section 927(d)(4) and § 1.924(a)-1T(h)) as the FSC.
(b) Services. For purposes of this section, services (including the written communication of services in any form) are not export property. Whether an item is property or services shall be determined on the basis of the facts and circumstances attending the development and disposition of the item. Thus, for example, the preparation of a map of a particular construction site would constitute services and not export property, but standard maps prepared for sale to customers generally would not constitute services and would be export property if the requirements of this section were otherwise met.
(c) Manufacture, production, growth, or extraction of property —(1) By a person other than a FSC. Export property may be manufactured, produced, grown, or extracted in the United States by any person, provided that that person does not qualify as a FSC. Property held by a FSC which was manufactured, produced, grown or extracted by it at a time when it did not qualify as a FSC is not export property of the FSC. Property which sustains further manufacture, production or processing outside the United States prior to sale or lease by a person but after manufacture, production, processing or extraction in the United States will be considered as manufactured, produced, grown or extracted in the United States by that person only if the property is reimported into the United States for further manufacturing, production or processing prior to final export sale. In order to be considered export property, the property manufactured, produced, grown or extracted in the United States must satisfy all of the provisions of section 927(a) and this section.
(2) Manufactured, produced or processed. For purposes of this section, property which is sold or leased by a person is considered to be manufactured, produced or processed by that person or by another person pursuant to a contract with that person if the property is manufactured or produced, as defined in § 1.954-3(a)(4). For purposes of this section, however, in determining if the 20% conversion test of § 1.954-3(a)(4)(iii) has been met, conversion costs include assembly and packaging costs but do not include the value of parts provided pursuant to a services contract as described in § 1.924(a)-1T(d)(3). In addition, for purposes of this section, the 20% conversion test is extended and applied to the export property's adjusted basis rather than to its cost of goods sold if it is leased or held for lease.
(d) Foreign use, consumption or disposition —(1) In general. (i) Under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, export property must be held primarily for the purpose of sale, lease or rental in the ordinary course of a trade or business, by a FSC to a FSC or to any other person, and the sale or lease must be for direct use, consumption, or disposition outside the United States. Thus, property cannot qualify as export property unless it is sold or leased for direct use, consumption, or disposition outside the United States. Property is sold or leased for direct use, consumption, or disposition outside the United States if the sale or lease satisfies the destination test described in subdivision (2) of this paragraph, the proof of compliance requirements described in subdivision (3) of this paragraph, and the use outside the United States test described in subdivision (4) of this paragraph.
(ii) Factors not taken into account. In determining whether property which is sold or leased to a FSC is sold or leased for direct use, consumption, or disposition outside the United States, the fact that the acquiring FSC holds the property in inventory or for lease prior to the time it sells or leases it for direct use, consumption, or disposition outside the United States will not affect the characterization of the property as export property. Fungible export property must be physically segregated from non-export property at all times after purchase by or rental by a FSC or after the start of the commission relationship between the FSC and related supplier with regard to the export property. Non-fungible export property need not be physically segregated from non-export property.
(2) Destination test. (i) For purposes of paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the destination test of this paragraph is satisfied with respect to property sold or leased by a seller or lessor only if it is delivered by the seller or lessor (or an agent of the seller or lessor) regardless of the F.O.B. point or the place at which title passes or risk of loss shifts from the seller or lessor—
(A) Within the United States to a carrier or freight forwarder for ultimate delivery outside the United States to a purchaser or lessee (or to a subsequent purchaser or sublessee),
(B) Within the United States to a purchaser or lessee, if the property is ultimately delivered outside the United States (including delivery to a carrier or freight forwarder for delivery outside the United States) by the purchaser or lessee (or a subsequent purchaser or sublessee) within 1 year after the sale or lease,
(C) Within or outside the United States to a purchaser or lessee which, at the time of the sale or lease, is a FSC or an interest charge DISC and is not a member of the same controlled group as the seller or lessor,
(D) From the United States to the purchaser or lessee (or a subsequent purchaser or sublessee) at a point outside the United States by means of the seller's or lessor's own ship, aircraft, or other delivery vehicle, owned, leased, or chartered by the seller or lessor,
(E) Outside the United States to a purchaser or lessee from a warehouse, storage facility, or assembly site located outside the United States, if the property was previously shipped by the seller or lessor from the United States, or
(F) Outside the United States to a purchaser or lessee if the property was previously shipped by the seller or lessor from the United States and if the property is located outside the United States pursuant to a prior lease by the seller or lessor, and either ( 1 ) the prior lease terminated at the expiration of its term (or by the action of the prior lessee acting alone), ( 2 ) the sale occurred or the term of the subsequent lease began after the time at which the term of the prior lease would have expired, or ( 3 ) the lessee under the subsequent lease is not a related person with respect to the lessor and the prior lease was terminated by the action of the lessor (acting alone or together with the lessee).
(ii) For purposes of this paragraph (d)(2) (other than paragraphs (d)(2)(i)(C) and (F)(3)), any relationship between the seller or lessor and any purchaser, subsequent purchaser, lessee, or sublessee is immaterial.
(iii) In no event is the destination test of this paragraph (d)(2) satisfied with respect to property which is subject to any use (other than a resale or sublease), manufacture, assembly, or other processing (other than packaging) by any person between the time of the sale or lease by such seller or lessor and the delivery or ultimate delivery outside the United States described in this paragraph (d)(2).
(iv) If property is located outside the United States at the time it is purchased by a person or leased by a person as lessee, such property may be export property in the hands of such purchaser or lessee only if it is imported into the United States prior to its further sale or lease (including a sublease) outside the United States. Paragraphs (a)(3) and (e) of this section (relating to the 50 percent foreign content test) are applicable in determining whether such property is export property. Thus, for example, if such property is not subjected to manufacturing or production (as defined in paragraph (c) of this section) within the United States after such importation, it does not qualify as export property.
(3) Proof of compliance with destination test —(i) Delivery outside the United States. For purposes of paragraph (d)(2) of this section (other than subdivision (i)(C) thereof), a seller or lessor shall establish ultimate delivery, use, or consumption of property outside the United States by providing—
(A) A facsimile or carbon copy of the export bill of lading issued by the carrier who delivers the property,
(B) A certificate of an agent or representative of the carrier disclosing delivery of the property outside the United States,
(C) A facsimile or carbon copy of the certificate of lading for the property executed by a customs officer of the country to which the property is delivered,
(D) If that country has no customs administration, a written statement by the person to whom delivery outside the United States was made,
(E) A facsimile or carbon copy of the Shipper's Export Declaration, a monthly shipper's summary declaration filed with the Bureau of Customs, or a magnetic tape filed in lieu of the Shipper's Export Declaration, covering the property, or
(F) Any other proof (including evidence as to the nature of the property or the nature of the property or the nature of the transaction) which establishes to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the property was ultimately delivered, or directly sold, or directly consumed outside the United States within 1 year after the sale or lease.
(ii) The requirements of subdivision (i)(A), (B), (C), or (E) of this paragraph will be considered satisfied even though the name of the ultimate consignee and the price paid for the goods is marked out provided that, in the case of a Shipper's Export Declaration or other document listed in subdivision (i)(E) of this paragraph or a document such as an export bill of lading, such document still indicates the country in which delivery to the ultimate consignee is to be made and, in the case of a certificate of an agent or representative of the carrier, that the document indicates that the property was delivered outside the United States.
(iii) A seller or lessor shall also establish the meeting of the requirement of paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section (other than subdivision (i)(C) thereof), that the property was delivered outside the United States without further use, manufacture, assembly, or other processing within the United States.
(iv) For purposes of paragraph (d)(2)(i)(C) of this section, a purchaser or lessee of property is deemed to qualify as a FSC or an interest charge DISC for its taxable year if the seller or lessor obtains from the purchaser or lessee a copy of the purchaser's or lessee's election to be treated as a FSC or interest charge DISC together with the purchaser's or lessee's sworn statement that the election has been timely filed with the Internal Revenue Service Center. The copy of the election and the sworn statement of the purchaser or lessee must be received by the seller or lessor within 6 months after the sale or lease. A purchaser or lessee is not treated as a FSC or interest charge DISC with respect to a sale or lease during a taxable year for which the purchaser or lessee does not qualify as a FSC or interest charge DISC if the seller or lessor does not believe or if a reasonable person would not believe at the time the sale or lease is made that the purchaser or lessee will qualify as a FSC or interest charge DISC for the taxable year.
(v) If a seller or lessor fails to provide proof of compliance with the destination test as required by this paragraph (d)(3), the property sold or leased is not export property.
(4) Sales and leases of property for ultimate use in the United States —(i) In general. For purposes of paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the use test in this paragraph (d)(4) is satisfied with respect to property which—
(A) Under subdivision (4)(ii) through (iv) of this paragraph is not sold for ultimate use in the United States, or
(B) Under subdivision (4)(v) of this paragraph is leased for ultimate use outside the United States.
(ii) Sales of property for ultimate use in the United States. For purposes of subdivision (4)(i) of this paragraph, a purchaser of property (including components, as defined in subdivision (4)(vii) of this paragraph) is deemed to use the property ultimately in the United States if any of the following conditions exist:
(A) The purchaser is a related party with respect to the seller and the purchaser ultimately uses the property, or a second product into which the property is incorporated as a component, in the United States.
(B) At the time of the sale, there is an agreement or understanding that the property, or a second product into which the property is incorporated as a component, will be ultimately used by the purchaser in the United States.
(C) At the time of the sale, a reasonable person would have believed that the property or the second product would be ultimately used by the purchaser in the United States unless, in the case of a sale of components, the fair market value of the components at the time of delivery to the purchaser constitutes less than 20 percent of the fair market value of the second product into which the components are incorporated (determined at the time of completion of the production, manufacture, or assembly of the second product).
(iii) Use in the United States. For purposes of subdivision (4)(ii) of this paragraph, property (including components incorporated into a second product) is or would be ultimately used in the United States by the purchaser if, at any time within 3 years after the purchase of such property or components, either the property is or the components (or the second product into which the components are incorporated) are resold by the purchaser for use by a subsequent purchaser within the United States or the purchaser or subsequent purchaser fails, for any period of 365 consecutive days, to use the property or second product predominantly outside the United States (as defined in subdivision (4)(vi) of this paragraph).
(iv) Sales to retailers. For purposes of subdivision (4)(ii)(C) of this paragraph, property sold to any person whose principal business consists of selling from inventory to retail customers at retail outlets outside the United States will be considered to be used predominantly outside the United States.
(v) Leases of property for ultimate use outside the United States. For purposes of subdivision (4)(i) of this paragraph, a lessee of property is deemed to use property ultimately outside the United States during a taxable year of the lessor if the property is used predominantly outside the United States (as defined in subdivision (4)(vi) of this paragraph) by the lessee during the portion of the lessor's taxable year which is included within the term of the lease. A determination as to whether the ultimate use of leased property satisfies the requirements of this subdivision is made for each taxable year of the lessor. Thus, leased property may be used predominantly outside the United States for a taxable year of the lessor (and thus, constitute export property if the remaining requirements of this section are met) even if the property is not used predominantly outside the United States in earlier taxable years or later taxable years of the lessor.
(vi) Predominant use outside the United States. For purposes of this paragraph (d)(4), property is used predominantly outside the United States for any period if, during that period, the property is located outside the United States more than 50 percent of the time. An aircraft, railroad rolling stock, vessel, motor vehicle, container, or other property used for transportation purposes is deemed to be used predominantly outside the United States for any period if, during that period, either the property is located outside the United States more than 50 percent of the time or more than 50 percent of the miles traversed in the use of the property are traversed outside the United States. However, property is deemed to be within the United States at all times during which it is engaged in transport between any two points within the United States, except where the transport constitutes uninterrupted international air transportation within the meaning of section 4262(c)(3) and the regulations under that section (relating to tax on air transportation of persons). An orbiting satellite is deemed to be located outside the United States. For purposes of applying section 4262(c)(3) to this subdivision, the term “United States” includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(vii) Component. For purposes of this paragraph (d)(4), a component is property which is (or is reasonably expected to be) incorporated into a second product by the purchaser of such component by means of production, manufacture, or assembly.
(e) Foreign content of property —(1) The 50 percent test. Under paragraph (a)(3) of this section, no more than 50 percent of the fair market value of export property may be attributable to the fair market value of articles which were imported into the United States. For purposes of this paragraph (e), articles imported into the United States are referred to as “foreign content.” The fair market value of the foreign content of export property is computed in accordance with paragraph (e)(4) of this section. The fair market value of export property which is sold to a person who is not a related person with respect to the seller is the sale price for such property (not including interest, finance or carrying charges, or similar charges.)
(2) Application of 50 percent test. The 50 percent test is applied on an item-by-item basis. If, however, a person sells or leases a large volume of substantially identical export property in a taxable year and if all of that property contains substantially identical foreign content in substantially the same proportion, the person may determine the portion of foreign content contained in that property on an aggregate basis.
(3) Parts and services. If, at the time property is sold or leased the seller or lessor agrees to furnish parts pursuant to a services contract (as provided in § 1.924(a)-1T(d)(3)) and the price for the parts is not separately stated, the 50 percent test is applied on an aggregate basis to the property and parts. If the price for the parts is separately stated, the 50 percent test is applied separately to the property and to the parts.
(4) Computation of foreign content —(i) Valuation. For purposes of applying the 50 percent test, it is necessary to determine the fair market value of all articles which constitutes foreign content of the property being tested to determine if it is export property. The fair market value of the imported articles is determined as of the time the articles are imported into the United States.
(A) General rule. Except as provided in paragraph (e)(4)(i)(B), the fair market value of the imported articles which constitutes foreign content is their appraised value, as determined under section 403 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1401a) in connection with their importation. The appraised value of the articles is the full dutiable value of the articles, determined, however, without regard to any special provision in the United States tariff laws which would result in a lower dutiable value.
(B) Special election. If all or a portion of the imported article was originally manufactured, produced, grown, or extracted in the United States, the taxpayer may elect to determine the fair market value of the imported articles which constitutes foreign content under the provisions of this paragraph (e)(4)(i)(B) if the property is subjected to manufacturing or production (as defined in paragraph (c) of this section) within the United States after importation. A taxpayer making the election under this paragraph may determine the fair market value of the imported articles which constitutes foreign content to be the fair market value of the imported articles reduced by the fair market value at the time of the initial export of the portion of the property that was manufactured, produced, grown, or extracted in the United States. The taxpayer must establish the fair market value of the imported articles and of the portion of the property manufactured, produced, grown, or extracted in the United States at the time of the initial export in accordance with subdivision (4)(ii)(B) of this paragraph.
(ii) Evidence of fair market value —(A) General rule. For purposes of subdivision (4)(i)(A) of this paragraph, the fair market value of the imported articles is their appraised value, which may be evidenced by the customs invoice issued on the importation of such articles into the United States. If the holder of the articles is not the importer (or a related person with respect to the importer), the appraised value of the articles may be evidenced by a certificate based upon information contained in the customs invoice and furnished to the holder by the person from whom the articles (or property incorporating the articles) were purchased. If a customs invoice or certificate described in the preceding sentences is not available to a person purchasing property, the person shall establish that no more than 50 percent of the fair market value of such property is attributable to the fair market value of articles which were imported into the United States.
(B) Special election. For purposes of the special election set forth in subdivision (4)(i)(B) of this paragraph, if the initial export is made to a controlled person within the meaning of section 482, the fair market value of the imported articles and of the portion of the articles that are manufactured, produced, grown, or extracted within the United States shall be established by the taxpayer in accordance with the rules under section 482 and the regulations under that section. If the initial export is not made to a controlled person, the fair market value must be established by the taxpayer under the facts and circumstances.
(iii) Interchangeable component articles. (A) If identical or similar component articles can be incorporated interchangeably into property and a person acquires component articles that are imported into the United States and other component articles that are not imported into the United States, the determination whether imported component articles were incorporated in the property that is exported from the United States shall be made on a substitution basis as in the case of the rules relating to drawback accounts under the customs laws. See section 313(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1313(b)).
(B) The provisions of subdivision (4)(iii)(A) of this paragraph may be illustrated by the following example:
(f) Excluded property —(1) In general. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the following property is not export property—
(i) Property described in subdivision (2) of this paragraph (relating to property leased to a member of controlled group),
(ii) Property described in subdivision (3) of this paragraph (relating to certain types of intangible property),
(iii) Products described in paragraph (g) of this section (relating to oil and gas products), and
(iv) Products described in paragraph (h) of this section (relating to certain export controlled products).
(2) Property leased to member of controlled group —(i) In general. Property leased to a person (whether or not a FSC) which is a member of the same controlled group as the lessor constitutes export property for any period of time only if during the period—
(A) The property is held for sublease, or is subleased, by the person to a third person for the ultimate use of the third person;
(B) The third person is not a member of the same controlled group; and
(C) The property is used predominantly outside the United States by the third person.
(ii) Predominant use. The provisions of paragraph (d)(4)(vi) of this section apply in determining under subdivision (2)(i)(C) of this paragraph whether the property is used predominantly outside the United States by the third person.
(iii) Leasing rule. For purposes of this paragraph (f)(2), leased property is deemed to be ultimately used by a member of the same controlled group as the lessor if such property is leased to a person which is not a member of the controlled group but which subleases the property to a person which is a member of the controlled group. Thus, for example, if X, a FSC for the taxable year, leases a movie film to Y, a foreign corporation which is not a member of the same controlled group as X, and Y then subleases the film to persons which are members of the controlled group for showing to the general public, the film is not export property. On the other hand, if X, a FSC for the taxable year, leases a movie film to Z, a foreign corporation which is a member of the same controlled group as X, and Z then subleases the film to Y, another foreign corporation, which is not a member of the same controlled group for showing to the general public, the film is not disqualified from being export property.
(iv) Certain copyrights. With respect to a copyright which is not excluded by subdivision (3) of this paragraph from being export property, the ultimate use of the property is the sale or exhibition of the property to the general public. Thus, if A, a FSC for the taxable year, leases recording tapes to B, a foreign corporation which is a member of the same controlled group as A, and if B makes records from the recording tape and sells the records to C, another foreign corporation, which is not a member of the same controlled group, for sale by C to the general public, the recording tape is not disqualified under this paragraph from being export property, notwithstanding the leasing of the recording tape by A to a member of the same controlled group, since the ultimate use of the tape is the sale of the records ( i.e., property produced from the recording tape).
(3) Intangible property. Export property does not include any patent, invention, model, design, formula, or process, whether or not patented, or any copyright (other than films, tapes, records, or similar reproductions, for commercial or home use), goodwill, trademark, tradebrand, franchise, or other like property. Although a copyright such as a copyright on a book or computer software does not constitute export property, a copyrighted article (such as a book or standardized, mass marketed computer software) if not accompanied by a right to reproduce for external use is export property if the requirements of this section are otherwise satisfied. Computer software referred to in the preceding sentence may be on any medium, including, but not limited to, magnetic tape, punched cards, disks, semi-conductor chips and circuit boards. A license of a master recording tape for reproduction outside the United States is not disqualified under this paragraph from being export property.
(g) Oil and gas —(1) In general. Under section 927(a)(2)(C), export property does not include oil or gas (or any primary product thereof).
(2) Primary product from oil or gas. A primary product from oil or gas is not export property. For purposes of this paragraph—
(i) Primary product from oil. The term “primary product from oil” means crude oil and all products derived from the destructive distillation of crude oil, including—
(A) Volatile products,
(B) Light oils such as motor fuel and kerosene,
(C) Distillates such as naphtha,
(D) Lubricating oils,
(E) Greases and waxes, and
(F) Residues such as fuel oil.
(ii) Primary product from gas. The term “primary product from gas” means all gas and associated hydrocarbon components from gas wells or oil wells, whether recovered at the lease or upon further processing, including—
(A) Natural gas,
(B) Condensates,
(C) Liquefied petroleum gases such as ethane, propane, and butane, and
(D) Liquid products such as natural gasoline.
(iii) Primary products and changing technology. The primary products from oil or gas described in subdivisions (2)(i) and (ii) of this paragraph and the processes described in those subdivisions are not intended to represent either the only primary products from oil or gas, or the only processes from which primary products may be derived under existing and future technologies. For example, petroleum coke, although not derived from the destructive distillation of crude oil, is a primary product from oil derived from an existing technology.
(iv) Non-primary products. For purposes of this paragraph, petrochemicals, medicinal products, insecticides and alcohols are not considered primary products from oil or gas.
(h) Export controlled products —(1) In general. Section 927(a)(2)(D) provides that an export controlled product is not export property. A product or commodity may be an export controlled product at one time but not an export controlled product at another time. For purposes of this paragraph, a product or commodity is an “export controlled product” at a particular time if at that time the export of such product or commodity is prohibited or curtailed under section 7(a) of the Export Administration Act of 1979, to effectuate the policy relating to the protection of the domestic economy set forth in paragraph (2)(C) of section 3 of the Export Administration Act of 1979. That policy is to use export controls to the extent necessary to protect the domestic economy from the excessive drain of scarce materials and to reduce the serious inflationary impact of foreign demand.
(2) Products considered export controlled products —(i) In general. For purposes of this paragraph, an export controlled product is a product or commodity, which is subject to short supply export controls under 15 CFR part 377. A product or commodity is considered an export controlled product for the duration of each control period which applies to such product or commodity. A control period of a product or commodity begins on and includes the initial control date (as defined in subdivision (2)(ii) of this paragraph) and ends on and includes the final control date (as defined in subdivision (2)(iii) of this paragraph).
(ii) Initial control date. The initial control date of a product or commodity which is subject to short supply export controls is the effective date stated in the regulations to 15 CFR part 377 which subjects the product or commodity to short supply export controls. If there is no effective date stated in these regulations, the initial control date of the product or commodity will be thirty days after the effective date of the regulations which subject the product or commodity to short supply export controls.
(iii) Final control date. The final control date of a product or commodity is the effective date stated in the regulations to 15 CFR part 377 which removes the product or commodity from short supply export controls. If there is no effective date stated in those regulations, the final control date of the product or commodity is the date which is thirty days after the effective date of the regulations which remove the product or commodity from short supply export control.
(iv) Expiration of Export Administration Act. An initial control date and final control date cannot occur after the expiration date of the Export Administration Act under the authority of which the short supply export controls were issued.
(3) Effective dates —(i) Products controlled on January 1, 1985. If a product or commodity was subject to short supply export controls on January 1, 1985, this paragraph shall apply to all sales, exchanges, other dispositions, or leases of the product or commodity made after January 1, 1985, by the FSC or by the FSC's related supplier if the FSC is the commission agent on the transaction.
(ii) Products first controlled after January 1, 1985. If a product or commodity becomes subject to short supply export controls after January 1, 1985, this paragraph applies to sales, exchanges, other dispositions, or leases of such product or commodity made on or after the initial control date of such product or commodity, and to owning such product or commodity on or after such date.
(iii) Date of sales, exchange, lease, or other disposition. For purposes of this paragraph (h)(3), the date of sale, exchange, or other disposition of a product or commodity is the date as of which title to such product or commodity passes. The date of a lease is the date as of which the lessee takes possession of a product or commodity. The accounting method of a person is not determinative of the date of sale, exchange, other disposition, or lease.
(i) Property in short supply. If the President determines that the supply of any property which is otherwise export property as defined in this section is insufficient to meet the requirements of the domestic economy, he may by Executive Order designate such property as in short supply. Any property so designated will be treated under section 927(a)(3) as property which is not export property during the period beginning with the date specified in such Executive Order and ending with the date specified in an Executive Order setting forth the President's determination that such property is no longer in short supply.
§ 1.927(b)-1T   [Reserved]
§ 1.927(d)-1   [Reserved]
§ 1.927(d)-2T   Temporary regulations; definitions and special rules relating to Foreign Sales Corporation.
(a) Definition of related supplier. For purposes of sections 921 through 927 and the regulations under those sections, the term “related supplier” means a related party which directly supplies to a FSC any property or services which the FSC disposes of in a transaction producing foreign trading gross receipts, or a related party which uses the FSC as a commission agent in the disposition of any property or services producing foreign trading gross receipts. A FSC may have different related suppliers with respect to different transactions. If, for example, X owns all the stock of Y, a corporation, and of F, a FSC, and X sells a product to Y which is resold to F, only Y is the related supplier of F. If, however, X sells directly to F and Y also sells directly to F, then, as to the transactions involving direct sales to F, each of X and Y is a related supplier of F.
(b) Definition of related party. The term “related party” means a person which is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the same interests as the FSC within the meaning of section 482 and § 1.482-1(a).
§ 1.931-1   Exclusion of certain income from sources within Guam, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands.
(a) General rule. (1) An individual (whether a United States citizen or an alien), who is a bona fide resident of a section 931 possession during the entire taxable year, will exclude from gross income the income derived from sources within any section 931 possession and the income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by such individual within any section 931 possession, except amounts received for services performed as an employee of the United States or any agency thereof. For purposes of section 931(d) and this section, an employee of the government of a section 931 possession will not be considered an employee of the United States or of an agency of the United States.
(2) The following example illustrates the application of the general rule in paragraph (a)(1) of this section:
(b) Deductions and credits. In any case in which any amount otherwise constituting gross income is excluded from gross income under the provisions of section 931, there will not be allowed as a deduction from gross income any items of expenses or losses or other deductions (except the deduction under section 151, relating to personal exemptions), or any credit, properly allocable to, or chargeable against, the amounts so excluded from gross income. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the rules of § 1.861-8 will apply (with creditable expenditures treated in the same manner as deductible expenditures).
(c) Definitions. For purposes of this section—
(1) The term section 931 possession means a possession that is a specified possession and that has entered into an implementing agreement, as described in section 1271(b) of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Public Law 99-514 (100 Stat. 2085), with the United States that is in effect for the entire taxable year;
(2) The term specified possession means Guam, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands;
(3) The rules of § 1.937-1 will apply for determining whether an individual is a bona fide resident of a section 931 possession;
(4) The rules of § 1.937-2 will apply for determining whether income is from sources within a section 931 possession; and
(5) The rules of § 1.937-3 will apply for determining whether income is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within a section 931 possession.
(d) Effective/applicability date. This section applies to taxable years ending after April 9, 2008.
§ 1.932-1   Coordination of United States and Virgin Islands income taxes.
(a) Scope —(1) In general. Section 932 and this section set forth the special rules relating to the filing of income tax returns and income tax liabilities of individuals described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. Paragraph (h) of this section also provides special rules requiring consistent treatment of business entities in the United States and in the United States Virgin Islands (Virgin Islands).
(2) Individuals covered. This section will apply to any individual who—
(i) Is a bona fide resident of the Virgin Islands during the entire taxable year;
(ii)(A) Is a citizen or resident of the United States (other than a bona fide resident of the Virgin Islands) during the entire taxable year; and
(B) Has income derived from sources within the Virgin Islands, or effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the Virgin Islands, for the taxable year; or
(iii) Files a joint return for the taxable year with any individual described in paragraph (a)(2)(i) or (ii) of this section.
(3) Definitions. For purposes of this section—
(i) The rules of § 1.937-1 will apply for determining whether an individual is a bona fide resident of the Virgin Islands;
(ii) The rules of § 1.937-2 will apply for determining whether income is from sources within the Virgin Islands; and
(iii) The rules of § 1.937-3 will apply for determining whether income is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the Virgin Islands.
(b) U.S. individuals with Virgin Islands income —(1) Dual filing requirement. Subject to paragraph (d) of this section, an individual described in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section must make an income tax return for the taxable year to the United States and file a copy of such return with the Virgin Islands. Such individuals must also attach Form 8689, “Allocation of Individual Income Tax to the U.S. Virgin Islands,” to the U.S. income tax return and to the income tax return filed with the Virgin Islands.
(2) Tax payments. (i) Each individual to whom this paragraph (b) applies for the taxable year must pay the applicable percentage of the taxes imposed by this chapter for such taxable year (determined without regard to paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section) to the Virgin Islands.
(ii) A credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year will be allowed in an amount equal to the taxes that are required to be paid to the Virgin Islands under paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section and are so paid. Such taxes will be considered creditable in the same manner as taxes paid to the United States (for example, under section 31) and not as taxes paid to a foreign government (for example, under sections 27 and 901).
(iii) For purposes of this paragraph (b)(2)—
(A) The term applicable percentage means the percentage that Virgin Islands adjusted gross income bears to adjusted gross income;
(B) The term Virgin Islands adjusted gross income means adjusted gross income determined by taking into account only income derived from sources within the Virgin Islands and deductions properly apportioned or allocable to such income. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the rules of § 1.861-8 will apply; and
(C) Pursuant to § 1.937-2(a), the rules of § 1.937-2(c)(1)(ii) and (c)(2) do not apply.
(c) Bona fide residents of the Virgin Islands. Subject to paragraph (d) of this section, an individual described in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section will be subject to the following income tax return filing requirements:
(1) Virgin Islands filing requirements. An individual to whom this paragraph (c) applies must file an income tax return for the taxable year with the Virgin Islands. On this return, the individual must report income from all sources and identify the source of each item of income shown on the return.
(2) U.S. filing requirements. (i) For purposes of calculating the income tax liability to the United States of an individual to whom this paragraph (c) applies, gross income will not include any amount included in gross income on the return filed with the Virgin Islands pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of this section, and deductions and credits allocable to such income will not be taken into account, provided that—
(A) The individual fully satisfied the reporting requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section; and
(B) The individual fully paid the tax liability referred to in section 934(a) to the Virgin Islands with respect to such income.
(ii) For purposes of the U.S. statute of limitations under section 6501(a), an income tax return filed with the Virgin Islands by an individual who takes the position that he or she is a bona fide resident of the Virgin Islands described in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section (or an individual who files a joint return with such an individual under paragraph (d) of this section) will be deemed to be a U.S. income tax return, provided that the United States and the Virgin Islands have entered into an agreement for the routine exchange of income tax information satisfying the requirements of the Commissioner. The working arrangement announced in Notice 2007-31 satisfies the condition of the preceding sentence. See Notice 2007-31 (2007-16 IRB 971) (applicable to taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2006, unless and until arrangement terminates). In the absence of such an agreement, individuals to whom this paragraph (c) applies generally must file an income tax return for the taxable year with the United States to begin the period of limitations for Federal income tax purposes as provided in section 6501(a), and in such circumstances the Commissioner may by revenue procedure, notice, or other administrative pronouncement specify U.S. filing and other information reporting requirements for such individuals. For taxable years ending before December 31, 2006, the rules provided in section 3 of Notice 2007-19 (2007-11 IRB 689) will apply. See § 601.601(d)(2)(ii)( b ).
(3) U.S. tax payments. In the case of an individual who is required to file an income tax return with the United States as a consequence of failing to satisfy the requirements of paragraphs (c)(2)(i)(A) or (B) of this section, there will be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to the amount of the tax liability referred to in section 934(a) to the extent paid to the Virgin Islands. Such taxes shall be considered creditable in the same manner as taxes paid to the United States (for example, under section 31) and not as taxes paid to a foreign government (for example, under sections 27 and 901).
(d) Joint returns. In the case of married persons, if one or both spouses is an individual described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section and they file a joint return of income tax, the spouses must file their joint return with, and pay the tax due on such return to, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) where the spouse who has the greater adjusted gross income for the taxable year would be required under paragraph (b) or (c) of this section to file a return if separate returns were filed and all of their income were the income of such spouse. For this purpose, adjusted gross income of each spouse is determined under section 62 and the regulations under that section but without regard to community property laws; and, if one of the spouses dies, the taxable year of the surviving spouse will be treated as ending on the date of such death.
(e) Place for filing returns —(1) U.S. returns. Except as otherwise provided for returns filed under paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section, a return required under the rules of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section to be filed with the United States must be filed as directed in the applicable forms and instructions.
(2) Virgin Islands returns. A return required under the rules of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section to be filed with the Virgin Islands must be filed as directed in the applicable forms and instructions.
(f) Tax accounting standards —(1) In general. A dual filing taxpayer must use the same tax accounting standards on the returns filed with the United States and the Virgin Islands. A taxpayer who has filed a return only with the United States or only with the Virgin Islands as a single filing taxpayer for a prior taxable year and is required to file a return only with the other jurisdiction as a single filing taxpayer for a later taxable year may not, for such later taxable year, use different tax accounting standards unless the second jurisdiction consents to such change. However, such change will not be effective for returns filed thereafter with the first jurisdiction unless before such later date of filing the taxpayer also obtains the consent of the first jurisdiction to make such change. Any request for consent to make a change pursuant to this paragraph (f) must be made to the office where the return is required to be filed under paragraph (e) of this section and in sufficient time to permit a copy of the consent to be attached to the return for the taxable year.
(2) Definitions. For purposes of this paragraph (f), the terms—
(i) Dual filing taxpayer means a taxpayer who is required to file returns with the United States and the Virgin Islands for the same taxable year under the rules of paragraph (b) or (c) of this section;
(ii) Single filing taxpayer means a taxpayer who is required to file a return only with the United States (because the individual is not described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section) or only with the Virgin Islands (because the individual is described in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section and satisfies the conditions of paragraphs (c)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section) for the taxable year; and
(iii) Tax accounting standards includes the taxpayer's accounting period, methods of accounting, and any election to which the taxpayer is bound with respect to the reporting of taxable income.
(g) Extension of territory —(1) Section 932(a) taxpayers —(i) General rule. With respect to an individual to whom section 932(a) applies for a taxable year, for purposes of taxes imposed by Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), the United States generally will be treated, in a geographical and governmental sense, as including the Virgin Islands. The purpose of this rule is to facilitate the coordination of the tax systems of the United States and the Virgin Islands. Accordingly, the rule will have no effect where it is manifestly inapplicable or its application would be incompatible with the intent of any provision of the Code.
(ii) Application of general rule. Contexts in which the general rule of paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this section apply include—
(A) The characterization of taxes paid to the Virgin Islands. An individual to whom section 932(a) applies may take income tax required to be paid to the Virgin Islands under section 932(b) into account under sections 31, 6315, and 6402(b) as payments to the United States. Taxes paid to the Virgin Islands and otherwise satisfying the requirements of section 164(a) will be allowed as a deduction under that section, but income taxes required to be paid to the Virgin Islands under section 932(b) will be disallowed as a deduction under section 275(a);
(B) The determination of the source of income for purposes of the foreign tax credit (for example, sections 901 through 904). Thus, for example, after an individual to whom section 932(a) applies determines which items of income constitute income from sources within the Virgin Islands under the rules of section 937(b), such income will be treated as income from sources within the United States for purposes of section 904;
(C) The eligibility of a corporation to make a subchapter S election (sections 1361 through 1379). Thus, for example, for purposes of determining whether a corporation created or organized in the Virgin Islands may make an election under section 1362(a) to be a subchapter S corporation, it will be treated as a domestic corporation and a shareholder to whom section 932(a) applies will not be treated as a nonresident alien individual with respect to such corporation. While such an election is in effect, the corporation will be treated as a domestic corporation for all purposes of the Internal Revenue Code. For the consistency requirement with respect to entity status elections, see paragraph (h) of this section;
(D) The treatment of items carried over from other taxable years. Thus, for example, if an individual to whom section 932(a) applies has for a taxable year a net operating loss carryback or carryover under section 172, a foreign tax credit carryback or carryover under section 904, a business credit carryback or carryover under section 39, a capital loss carryover under section 1212, or a charitable contributions carryover under section 170, the carryback or carryover will be reported on the return filed in accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section, even though the return of the taxpayer for the taxable year giving rise to the carryback or carryover was required to be filed with the Virgin Islands under section 932(c); and
(E) The treatment of property exchanged for property of a like kind (section 1031). Thus, for example, if an individual to whom section 932(a) applies exchanges real property located in the United States for real property located in the Virgin Islands, notwithstanding the provisions of section 1031(h), such exchange may qualify as a like-kind exchange under section 1031 (provided that all the other requirements of section 1031 are satisfied).
(iii) Nonapplication of the general rule. Contexts in which the general rule of paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this section does not apply include—
(A) The application of any rules or regulations that explicitly treat the United States and any (or all) of its possessions as separate jurisdictions (for example, sections 931 through 937, 7651, and 7654).
(B) The determination of any aspect of an individual's residency (for example, sections 937(a) and 7701(b)). Thus, for example, an individual whose principal place of abode is in the Virgin Islands is not considered to have a principal place of abode in the United States for purposes of section 32(c);
(C) The characterization of a corporation for purposes other than subchapter S (for example, sections 367, 951 through 964, 1291 through 1298, 6038, and 6038B). Thus, for example, if an individual to whom section 932(a) applies transfers appreciated tangible property to a corporation created or organized in the Virgin Islands in a transaction described in section 351, he or she must recognize gain unless an exception under section 367(a) applies. Also, if a corporation created or organized in the Virgin Islands qualifies as a passive foreign investment company under sections 1297 and 1298 with respect to an individual to whom section 932(a) applies, a dividend paid to such shareholder does not constitute qualified dividend income under section 1(h)(11)(B).
(2) Section 932(c) taxpayers —(i) General rule. With respect to an individual to whom section 932(c) applies for a taxable year, for purposes of the territorial income tax of the Virgin Islands (that is, mirrored sections of the Code), the Virgin Islands generally will be treated, in a geographical and governmental sense, as including the United States. The purpose of this rule is to facilitate the coordination of the tax systems of the United States and the Virgin Islands. Accordingly, the rule will have no effect where it is manifestly inapplicable or its application would be incompatible with the intent of any provision of the Code.
(ii) Application of general rule. Contexts in which the general rule of paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this section apply include—
(A) The characterization of taxes paid to the United States. A taxpayer described in section 932(c)(1) may take income tax paid to the United States into account under mirrored sections 31, 6315, and 6402(b) as payments to the Virgin Islands;
(B) The determination of the source of income for purposes of the foreign tax credit (for example, mirrored sections 901 through 904). Thus, for example, any item of income that constitutes income from sources within the United States under the rules of sections 861 through 865 will be treated as income from sources within the Virgin Islands for purposes of mirrored section 904;
(C) The eligibility of a corporation to make a subchapter S election (mirrored sections 1361 through 1379). Thus, for example, for purposes of determining whether a corporation created or organized in the United States may make an election under mirrored section 1362(a) to be a subchapter S corporation, it will be treated as a domestic corporation and a shareholder to whom section 932(c) applies will not be treated as a nonresident alien individual with respect to such corporation. While such an election is in effect, the corporation will be treated as a domestic corporation for all purposes of the territorial income tax. For the consistency requirement with respect to entity status elections, see paragraph (h) of this section;
(D) The treatment of items carried over from other taxable years. Thus, for example, if an individual to whom section 932(c) applies has for a taxable year a net operating loss carryback or carryover under mirrored section 172, a foreign tax credit carryback or carryover under mirrored section 904, a business credit carryback or carryover under mirrored section 39, a capital loss carryover under mirrored section 1212, or a charitable contributions carryover under mirrored section 170, the carryback or carryover will be reported on the return filed in accordance with paragraph (c)(1) of this section, even though the return of the taxpayer for the taxable year giving rise to the carryback or carryover was required to be filed with the United States; and
(E) The treatment of property exchanged for property of a like kind (mirrored section 1031). Thus, for example, if an individual to whom section 932(c) applies exchanges real property located in the United States for real property located in the Virgin Islands, notwithstanding the provisions of mirrored section 1031(h), such exchange may qualify as a like-kind exchange under mirrored section 1031 (provided that all the other requirements of mirrored section 1031 are satisfied).
(iii) Nonapplication of general rule. Contexts in which the general rule of paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this section does not apply include—
(A) The determination of any aspect of an individual's residency (for example, mirrored section 7701(b)). Thus, for example, an individual whose principal place of abode is in the United States is not considered to have a principal place of abode in the Virgin Islands for purposes of mirrored section 32(c).
(B) The determination of the source of income for purposes other than the foreign tax credit (for example, sections 932(a) and (b), 934(b), and 937). Thus, for example, compensation for services performed in the United States and rentals or royalties from property located in the United States do not constitute income from sources within the Virgin Islands for purposes of section 934(b); and
(C) The definition of wages (mirrored section 3401). Thus, for example, services performed by an employee for an employer in the United States do not constitute services performed in the Virgin Islands under mirrored section 3401(a)(8).
(h) Entity status consistency requirement —(1) In general. Taxpayers should make consistent entity status elections (as defined in paragraph (h)(3) of this section), where applicable, in both the United States and the Virgin Islands. In the case of a business entity to which this paragraph (h) applies—
(i) If an entity status election is filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) but not with the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Director of the BIR or his delegate, at his discretion, may deem the election also to have been made for Virgin Islands tax purposes;
(ii) If an entity status election is filed with the BIR but not with the IRS, the Commissioner, at his discretion, may deem the election also to have been made for Federal tax purposes; and
(iii) If inconsistent entity status elections are filed with the BIR and the IRS, both the Commissioner and the Director of the BIR or his delegate may, at their individual discretion, treat the elections they each received as invalid and may deem the election filed in the other jurisdiction to have been made also for tax purposes in their own jurisdiction. See Rev. Proc. 2006-23 (2006-1 CB 900) (see § 601.601(d)(2)(ii)( b ) of this chapter) for procedures for requesting the assistance of the IRS when a taxpayer is or may be subject to inconsistent tax treatment by the IRS and a U.S. possession tax agency.
(2) Scope. This paragraph (h) applies to the following business entities:
(i) A business entity (as defined in § 301.7701-2(a) of this chapter) that is domestic (as defined in § 301.7701-5 of this chapter), or otherwise treated as domestic for purposes of the Code, and that is owned in whole or in part by any person who is either a bona fide resident of the Virgin Islands or a business entity created or organized in the Virgin Islands.
(ii) A business entity that is created or organized in the Virgin Islands and that is owned in whole or in part by any U.S. person (other than a bona fide resident of the Virgin Islands).
(3) Definition. For purposes of this section, the term entity status election includes an election under § 301.7701-3(c) of this chapter, an election under section 1362(a), and any other similar elections.
(4) Default status. Solely for the purpose of determining classification of an eligible entity under § 301.7701-3(b) of this chapter and under that section as mirrored in the Virgin Islands, an eligible entity subject to this paragraph (h) will be classified for both Federal and Virgin Islands tax purposes using the rule that applies to domestic eligible entities.
(5) Transition rules. (i) In the case of an election filed prior to April 11, 2005, except as provided in paragraph (h)(5)(ii) of this section, the rules of paragraph (h)(1) of this section will apply as of the first day of the first taxable year of the entity beginning after April 11, 2005.
(ii) In the unlikely circumstance that inconsistent elections described in paragraph (h)(1)(iii) of this section are filed prior to April 11, 2005, and the entity cannot change its classification to achieve consistency because of the sixty-month limitation described in § 301.7701-3(c)(1)(iv) of this chapter, then the entity may nevertheless request permission from the Commissioner or the Director of the BIR or his delegate to change such election to avoid inconsistent treatment by the Commissioner and the Director of the BIR or his delegate.
(iii) Except as provided in paragraphs (h)(5)(i) and (h)(5)(ii) of this section, in the case of an election filed with respect to an entity before it became an entity described in paragraph (h)(2) of this section, the rules of paragraph (h)(1) of this section will apply as of the first day that such entity is described in paragraph (h)(2) of this section.
(iv) In the case of an entity created or organized prior to April 11, 2005, paragraph (h)(4) of this section will take effect for Federal income tax purposes (or Virgin Islands income tax purposes, as the case may be) as of the first day of the first taxable year of the entity beginning after April 11, 2005.
(i) Examples. The rules of this section are illustrated by the following examples:
(ii) A claims a credit in the amount of $6x against his Federal income tax liability reported on his Form 1040. A attaches a Form 8689, “Allocation of Individual Income Tax to the U.S. Virgin Islands,” to the Form 1040 filed with the IRS and to the copy filed with the Virgin Islands.
(ii) For 2008, B does not qualify as a bona fide resident under section 937(a) and § 1.937-1(b) and (f)(1). Therefore, B is subject to the rules of sections 932(a) and (b) and paragraph (b) of this section for 2008 because he has income derived from sources within the Virgin Islands as determined under the rules of section 937(b) and § 1.937-2.
(iii) For 2009, assuming that B otherwise satisfies the requirements of section 937(a) and § 1.937-1(b), B qualifies as a bona fide resident of the Virgin Islands. Therefore, section 932(c) and paragraph (c) of this section apply to B for 2009, and he must file his income tax return with the Virgin Islands under paragraph (c)(1) of this section. Provided that B fully satisfies the reporting requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section and fully pays the tax liability referred to in section 934(a), B will have no Federal income tax filing requirement or liability under paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) of this section.
(ii) Pursuant to section 932(d) and paragraph (d) of this section, because H would have the greater adjusted gross income if computed separately, H and W must file their joint Form 1040 with the IRS and must file a copy of that joint Form 1040 with the Virgin Islands as required by section 932(a)(2) and paragraph (b)(1) of this section. H and W must pay the applicable percentage of their Federal income tax liability to the Virgin Islands as required by section 932(b) and paragraph (b)(2) of this section, computed as follows: $65x /$100x × $20x = $13x income tax liability to the Virgin Islands.
(iii) H and W claim a credit against their Federal income tax liability reported on their joint Form 1040 in the amount of $13x, the portion of their Federal income tax liability required to be paid to the Virgin Islands. H and W attach a Form 8689, “Allocation of Individual Income Tax to the U.S. Virgin Islands,” to their joint Form 1040 filed with the IRS and to the copy filed with the Virgin Islands.
(ii) The facts are the same as in paragraph (i) of this Example 6 except that on or before the last day prescribed for filing an income tax return for J's 2008 taxable year, J files with the Virgin Islands an amended Form 1040 for 2008, correctly reporting the full $40x of compensation. Provided that J otherwise fully satisfies the reporting requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section and fully pays the tax liability referred to in section 934(a), J will have no Federal income tax filing requirement or liability under paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) of this section.
(ii) Under the principles of section 864(c)(4) as applied pursuant to section 937(b)(1) and § 1.937-3(b), compensation for services performed outside the Virgin Islands may not be treated as income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the Virgin Islands for purposes of section 934(b). Consequently, N is not entitled to claim the special credit under Virgin Islands law with respect to N's income from services performed in Country M. Because N has not fully paid his tax liability referred to in section 934(a), he has not satisfied the conditions of section 932(c)(4) and paragraph (c) of this section for an exclusion from gross income for Federal income tax purposes. Therefore, income reported on the Form 1040 as filed with the Virgin Islands must be included in N's Federal gross income. Under paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the amount of tax paid to the Virgin Islands on such income will be allowed as a credit against N's Federal income tax liability.
(j) Effective/applicability date. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (j), this section applies to taxable years ending after April 9, 2008. Taxpayers may choose to apply paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section to open taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2006.
§ 1.933-1   Exclusion of certain income from sources within Puerto Rico.
(a) General rule. (1) An individual (whether a United States citizen or an alien), who is a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico during the entire taxable year, will exclude from gross income the income derived from sources within Puerto Rico, except amounts received for services performed as an employee of the United States or any agency thereof. For purposes of section 933 and this section, an employee of the government of Puerto Rico will not be considered an employee of the United States or of an agency of the United States.
(2) The following example illustrates the application of the general rule in paragraph (a)(1) of this section:
(b) Taxable year of change of residence from Puerto Rico. A citizen of the United States who changes his residence from Puerto Rico after having been a bona fide resident thereof for a period of at least two years immediately preceding the date of such change in residence shall exclude from his gross income the income derived from sources within Puerto Rico which is attributable to that part of such period of Puerto Rican residence which preceded the date of such change in residence, except amounts received for services performed as an employee of the United States or any agency thereof.
(c) Deductions and credits. In any case in which any amount otherwise constituting gross income is excluded from gross income under the provisions of section 933, there will not be allowed as a deduction from gross income any items of expenses or losses or other deductions (except the deduction under section 151, relating to personal exemptions), or any credit, properly allocable to, or chargeable against, the amounts so excluded from gross income. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the rules of § 1.861-8 will apply (with creditable expenditures treated in the same manner as deductible expenditures).
(d) Definitions. For purposes of this section—
(1) The rules of § 1.937-1 will apply for determining whether an individual is a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico; and
(2) The rules of § 1.937-2 will apply for determining whether income is from sources within Puerto Rico.
(e) Effective/applicability date. Paragraphs (a), (c), (d), and (e) of this section apply to taxable years ending after April 9, 2008.
§ 1.934-1   Limitation on reduction in income tax liability incurred to the Virgin Islands.
(a) General rule. Section 934(a) provides that tax liability incurred to the United States Virgin Islands (Virgin Islands) must not be reduced or remitted in any way, directly or indirectly, whether by grant, subsidy, or other similar payment, by any law enacted in the Virgin Islands, except to the extent provided in section 934(b). For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “tax liability” means the liability incurred to the Virgin Islands pursuant to subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), as made applicable in the Virgin Islands by the Act of July 12, 1921 (48 U.S.C. 1397), or pursuant to section 28(a) of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands (48 U.S.C. 1642), as modified by section 7651(5)(B).
(b) Exception for Virgin Islands income —(1) In general. Section 934(b)(1) provides an exception to the application of section 934(a). Under this exception, section 934(a) does not apply with respect to tax liability incurred to the Virgin Islands to the extent that such tax liability is attributable to income derived from sources within the Virgin Islands or income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the Virgin Islands.
(2) Limitation. Section 934(b)(2) limits the scope of the exception provided by section 934(b)(1). Pursuant to this limitation, the exception does not apply with respect to an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States (other than a bona fide resident of the Virgin Islands). For the rules for determining tax liability incurred to the Virgin Islands by such an individual, see section 932(a) and the regulations under that section.
(3) Computation rule —(i) Operative rule. For purposes of section 934(b)(1) and this paragraph (b), tax liability incurred to the Virgin Islands for the taxable year attributable to income derived from sources within the Virgin Islands or income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the Virgin Islands will be computed as follows:
(A) Add to the income tax liability incurred to the Virgin Islands any credit against the tax allowed under mirrored section 901(a).
(B) Multiply by taxable income from sources within the Virgin Islands and income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the Virgin Islands (applying the rules of § 1.861-8 to determine deductions allocable to such income).
(C) Divide by total taxable income.
(D) Subtract the portion of any credit allowed under mirrored section 901 (other than credits for taxes paid to the United States) determined by multiplying the amount of taxable income from sources outside the Virgin Islands or the United States that is effectively connected to the conduct of a trade or business in the Virgin Islands divided by the total amount of taxable income from such sources.
(ii) Limitation. Tax liability incurred to the Virgin Islands attributable to income derived from sources within the Virgin Islands or income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the Virgin Islands, as computed in this paragraph (b)(3), however, will not exceed the total amount of income tax liability actually incurred.
(4) Definitions. For purposes of this section—
(i) Bona fide resident. The rules of § 1.937-1 will apply for determining whether an individual is a bona fide resident of the Virgin Islands;
(ii) Source. The rules of § 1.937-2 will apply for determining whether income is from sources within the Virgin Islands; and
(iii) Effectively connected income. The rules of § 1.937-3 will apply for determining whether income is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the Virgin Islands.
(c) Exception for qualified foreign corporations —(1) In general. Section 934(b)(3) provides an exception to the application of section 934(a). Under this exception, section 934(a) does not apply with respect to tax liability incurred to the Virgin Islands by a qualified foreign corporation to the extent that such tax liability is attributable to income that is derived from sources outside the United States and that is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
(2) Qualified foreign corporation. For purposes of paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the term qualified foreign corporation means any foreign corporation if 1 or more United States persons own or are treated as owning (within the meaning of section 958) less than 10 percent of—
(i) The total voting power of the stock of such corporation; and
(ii) The total value of the stock of such corporation.
(3) Computation rule —(i) Operative rule. For purposes of section 934(b)(3) and this paragraph (c), tax liability incurred to the Virgin Islands for the taxable year attributable to income that is derived from sources outside the United States and that is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States will be computed as follows:
(A) Add to the income tax liability incurred to the Virgin Islands any credit against the tax allowed under mirrored section 901(a).
(B) Multiply by taxable income that is derived from sources outside the United States and that is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States (applying the rules of § 1.861-8 to determine deductions allocable to such income).
(C) Divide by total taxable income.
(D) Subtract any credit allowed under mirrored section 901 (other than credits for taxes paid to the United States or taxes for which a credit is allowable for Federal income tax purposes under section 906 of the Code).
(ii) Limitation. Tax liability incurred to the Virgin Islands attributable to income that is derived from sources outside the United States and that is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States, as computed in this paragraph (c)(3), however, will not exceed the total amount of income tax liability actually incurred.
(4) U.S. income —(i) In general. For purposes of this section, except as provided in paragraph (c)(4)(ii) of this section, the rules of sections 861 through 865 and the regulations under those provisions will apply for determining whether income is from sources outside the United States or effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
(ii) Conduit arrangements. Income will be considered to be from sources within the United States for purposes of paragraph (c)(1) of this section if, pursuant to a plan or arrangement—
(A) The income is received in exchange for consideration provided to another person; and
(B) Such person (or another person) provides the same consideration (or consideration of a like kind) to a third person in exchange for one or more payments constituting income from sources within the United States.
(d) Examples. The rules of this section are illustrated by the following examples:
(iii) Pursuant to a Virgin Islands law that was duly enacted within the limits of its authority under section 934, S may claim a special deduction relating to his business activities in the Virgin Islands. However, under section 934(b), S's ability to claim this special deduction is limited. Specifically, the maximum amount of the reduction in S's mirror code tax liability that may result from claiming this deduction, computed in accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of this section, is as follows: [($20,000 + $10,000) × (($45,000 + $15,000) / $120,000)] − [$10,000 × ($15,000 / ($15,000 + $22,500))] = [$30,000 × ($60,000 / $120,000)] − [$10,000 × ($15,000 / $37,500)] = ($30,000 × 0.5) − ($10,000 × 0.4) = $15,000 − $4,000 = $11,000
(iv) Accordingly, S's net tax liability incurred to the Virgin Islands must be at least $19,000 ($30,000 − $11,000), prior to taking into account any foreign tax credit.
(ii) Pursuant to a Virgin Islands law that was duly enacted within the limits of its authority under section 934, Z may claim a special exemption for income relating to his investment in the Virgin Islands. The maximum amount of the reduction in Z's mirror code tax liability that may result from claiming this exemption, computed in accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of this section, is as follows: $27x × ($90x/$90x) = $27x.
(iii) Accordingly, depending on the terms of the exemption as provided under Virgin Islands law, Z's net tax liability incurred to the Virgin Islands may be reduced or eliminated entirely.
(ii) Section 934(b)(3) permits the Virgin Islands to reduce or remit the income tax liability of a qualified foreign corporation arising under the Code as applicable in the Virgin Islands (mirror code) with respect to income that is derived from sources outside the United States and that is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. A foreign corporation constitutes a “qualified foreign corporation” under section 934(b)(3)(B) if less than 10 percent of the total voting power and value of the stock of the corporation is owned or treated as owned (within the meaning of section 958) by one or more United States persons. A U.S. citizen is a “United States person” as defined in section 7701(a)(30)(A). Given that 10 percent or more of the voting power and value of its stock is owned by U.S. citizens, A Corp does not constitute a “qualified foreign corporation” under section 934(b)(3)(B). Accordingly, the Virgin Islands may only reduce or remit A Corp's mirror code income tax liability with respect to its $50x in gross income from sources within the Virgin Islands.
(e) Effective/applicability date. This section applies for taxable years ending after April 9, 2008.
§ 1.935-1   Coordination of individual income taxes with Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
(a) Application of section —(1) Scope. Section 935 and this section set forth the special rules relating to the filing of income tax returns, income tax liabilities, and estimated income tax of individuals described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. Paragraph (e) of this section also provides special rules requiring consistent treatment of business entities in the United States and in section 935 possessions.
(2) Individuals covered. This section applies to any individual who—
(i) Is a bona fide resident of a section 935 possession during the entire taxable year, whether or not such individual is a citizen of the United States or a resident alien (as defined in section 7701(b)(1)(A));
(ii) Is a citizen of a section 935 possession but not otherwise a citizen of the United States;
(iii) Has income from sources within a section 935 possession for the taxable year, is a citizen of the United States or a resident alien (as defined in section 7701(b)(1)(A)) and is not a bona fide resident of a section 935 possession during the entire taxable year; or
(iv) Files a joint return for the taxable year with any individual described in paragraph (a)(2)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this section.
(3) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(i) The term section 935 possession means Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands, unless such possession has entered into an implementing agreement, as described in section 1271(b) of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Public Law 99-514 (100 Stat. 2085), with the United States that is in effect for the entire taxable year.
(ii) The term relevant possession means—
(A) With respect to an individual described in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section, the section 935 possession of which such individual is a bona fide resident;
(B) With respect to an individual described in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section, the section 935 possession of which such individual is a citizen; and
(C) With respect to an individual described in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section, the section 935 possession from which such individual derives income.
(iii) The rules of § 1.937-1 will apply for determining whether an individual is a bona fide resident of a section 935 possession.
(iv) The rules of § 1.937-2 generally will apply for determining whether income is from sources within a section 935 possession. Pursuant to § 1.937-2(a), however, the rules of § 1.937-2(c)(1)(ii) and (c)(2) do not apply for purposes of section 935(a)(3) (as in effect before the effective date of its repeal) and paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section.
(v) The term citizen of the United States means any individual who is a citizen within the meaning of § 1.1-1(c), except that the term does not include an individual who is a citizen of a section 935 possession but not otherwise a citizen of the United States. The term citizen of a section 935 possession but not otherwise a citizen of the United States means any individual who has become a citizen of the United States by birth or naturalization in the section 935 possession.
(vi) With respect to the United States, the term resident means an individual who is a citizen (as defined in § 1.1-1(c)) or resident alien (as defined in section 7701(b)) and who does not have a tax home (as defined in section 911(d)(3)) in a foreign country during the entire taxable year. The term does not include an individual who is a bona fide resident of a section 935 possession.
(vii) The term U.S. taxpayer means an individual described in paragraph (b)(1)(i) or (iii)(B) of this section.
(b) Filing requirement —(1) Tax jurisdiction. An individual described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section must file an income tax return for the taxable year—
(i) With the United States if such individual is a resident of the United States;
(ii) With the relevant possession if such individual is described in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section; or
(iii) If neither paragraph (b)(1)(i) nor paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section applies—
(A) With the relevant possession if such individual is described in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section; or
(B) With the United States if such individual is a citizen of the United States, as defined in paragraph (a)(3) of this section.
(2) Joint returns. In the case of married persons, if one or both spouses is an individual described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section and they file a joint return of income tax, the spouses shall file their joint return with, and pay the tax due on such return to, the jurisdiction where the spouse who has the greater adjusted gross income for the taxable year would be required under subparagraph (1) of this paragraph to file his return if separate returns were filed. For this purpose, adjusted gross income of each spouse is determined under section 62 and the regulations thereunder but without regard to community property laws; and, if one of the spouses dies, the taxable year of the surviving spouse shall be treated as ending on the date of such death.
(3) Place for filing returns —(i) U.S. returns. A return required under this paragraph (b) to be filed with the United States must be filed as directed in the applicable forms and instructions.
(ii) Guam returns. A return required under this paragraph (b) to be filed with Guam must be filed as directed in the applicable forms and instructions.
(iii) NMI returns. A return required under this paragraph (b) to be filed with the Northern Mariana Islands must be filed as directed in the applicable forms and instructions.
(4) Tax accounting standards. A taxpayer who has filed his return with one of the jurisdictions named in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph for a prior taxable year and is required to file his return for a later taxable year with the other such jurisdiction may not, for such later taxable year, change his accounting period, method of accounting, or any election to which he is bound with respect to his reporting of taxable income to the first jurisdiction unless he obtains the consent of the second jurisdiction to make such change. However, such change will not be effective for returns filed thereafter with the first jurisdiction unless before such later date of filing he also obtains the consent of the first jurisdiction to make such change. Any request for consent to make a change pursuant to this subparagraph must be made to the office where the return is required to be filed under subparagraph (3) of this paragraph and in sufficient time to permit a copy of the consent to be attached to the return for the taxable year.
(5) Tax payments. The tax shown on the return must be paid to the jurisdiction with which such return is required to be filed and must be determined by taking into account any credit under section 31 for tax withheld by the relevant possession or the United States on wages, any credit under section 6402(b) for an overpayment of income tax to the relevant possession or the United States, and any payments under section 6315 of estimated income tax paid to the relevant possession or the United States.
(6) Liability to other jurisdiction —(i) Filing with the relevant possession. In the case of an individual who is required under paragraph (b)(1) of this section to file a return with the relevant possession for a taxable year, if such individual properly files such return and fully pays his or her income tax liability to the relevant possession, such individual is relieved of liability to file an income tax return with, and to pay an income tax to, the United States for the taxable year.
(ii) Filing with the United States. In the case of an individual who is required under paragraph (b)(1) of this section to file a return with the United States for a taxable year, such individual is relieved of liability to file an income tax return with, and to pay an income tax to, the relevant possession for the taxable year.
(7) [Reserved]
(c) Extension of territory —(1) U.S. taxpayers —(i) General rule. With respect to a U.S. taxpayer, for purposes of taxes imposed by Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), the United States generally will be treated, in a geographical and governmental sense, as including the relevant possession. The purpose of this rule is to facilitate the coordination of the tax systems of the United States and the relevant possession. Accordingly, the rule will have no effect where it is manifestly inapplicable or its application would be incompatible with the intent of any provision of the Code.
(ii) Application of general rule. Contexts in which the general rule of paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section apply include—
(A) The characterization of taxes paid to the relevant possession. Income tax paid to the relevant possession may be taken into account under sections 31, 6315, and 6402(b) as payments to the United States. Taxes paid to the relevant possession and otherwise satisfying the requirements of section 164(a) will be allowed as a deduction under that section, but income taxes paid to the relevant possession will be disallowed as a deduction under section 275(a);
(B) The determination of the source of income for purposes of the foreign tax credit (for example, sections 901 through 904). Thus, for example, after a U.S. taxpayer determines which items of income constitute income from sources within the relevant possession under the rules of section 937(b), such income will be treated as income from sources within the United States for purposes of section 904;
(C) The eligibility of a corporation to make a subchapter S election (sections 1361 through 1379). Thus, for example, for purposes of determining whether a corporation created or organized in the relevant possession may make an election under section 1362(a) to be a subchapter S corporation, it will be treated as a domestic corporation and a U.S. taxpayer shareholder will not be treated as a nonresident alien individual with respect to such corporation. While such an election is in effect, the corporation will be treated as a domestic corporation for all purposes of the Code. For the consistency requirement with respect to entity status elections, see paragraph (e) of this section;
(D) The treatment of items carried over from other taxable years. Thus, for example, if a U.S. taxpayer has for a taxable year a net operating loss carryback or carryover under section 172, a foreign tax credit carryback or carryover under section 904, a business credit carryback or carryover under section 39, a capital loss carryover under section 1212, or a charitable contributions carryover under section 170, the carryback or carryover will be reported on the return filed with the United States in accordance with paragraph (b)(1)(i) or (b)(1)(iii)(B) of this section, even though the return of the taxpayer for the taxable year giving rise to the carryback or carryover was required to be filed with a section 935 possession; and
(E) The treatment of property exchanged for property of a like kind (section 1031). Thus for example, if a U.S. taxpayer exchanges real property located in the United States for real property located in the relevant possession, notwithstanding the provisions of section 1031(h), such exchange may qualify as a like-kind exchange under section 1031 (provided that all the other requirements of section 1031 are satisfied).
(iii) Nonapplication of general rule. Contexts in which the general rule of paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section does not apply include—
(A) The application of any rules or regulations that explicitly treat the United States and any (or all) of its possessions as separate jurisdictions (for example, sections 931 through 937, 7651, and 7654);
(B) The determination of any aspect of an individual's residency (for example, sections 937(a) and 7701(b)). Thus, for example, an individual whose principal place of abode is in the relevant possession is not considered to have a principal place of abode in the United States for purposes of section 32(c);
(C) The determination of the source of income for purposes other than the foreign tax credit (for example, sections 935, 937, and 7654). Thus, for example, income determined to be derived from sources within the relevant possession under section 937(b) will not be considered income from sources within the United States for purposes of Form 5074, “Allocation of Individual Income Tax to Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)”;
(D) The definition of wages (section 3401). Thus, for example, services performed by an employee for an employer in the relevant possession do not constitute services performed in the United States under section 3401(a)(8); and
(E) The characterization of a corporation for purposes other than subchapter S (for example, sections 367, 951 through 964, 1291 through 1298, 6038, and 6038B). Thus, for example, if a U.S. taxpayer transfers appreciated tangible property to a corporation created or organized in the relevant possession in a transaction described in section 351, he or she must recognize gain unless an exception under section 367(a) applies. Also, if a corporation created or organized in the relevant possession qualifies as a passive foreign investment company under sections 1297 and 1298 with respect to a U.S. taxpayer, a dividend paid to such shareholder does not constitute qualified dividend income under section 1(h)(11)(B).
(2) Application in relevant possession. In applying the territorial income tax of the relevant possession, such possession generally will be treated, in a geographical and governmental sense, as including the United States. Thus, for example, income tax paid to the United States may be taken into account under sections 31, 6315, and 6402(b) as payments to the relevant possession. Moreover, a citizen of the United States (as defined in paragraph (a)(3) of this section) not a resident of the relevant possession will not be treated as a nonresident alien individual for purposes of the territorial income tax of the relevant possession. Thus, for example, a citizen of the United States (as so defined), or a resident of the United States, will not be treated as a nonresident alien individual for purposes of section 1361(b)(1)(C) of the Guam territorial income tax.
(d) Special rules for estimated income tax —(1) In general. An individual must make each payment of estimated income tax (and any amendment to the estimated tax payment) to the jurisdiction with which the individual reasonably believes, as of the date of that payment (or amendment), that he or she will be required to file a return for the taxable year under paragraph (b)(1) of this section. In determining the amount of such estimated income tax, income tax paid to the relevant possession may be taken into account under sections 31 and 6402(b) as payments to the United States, and vice versa. For other rules relating to estimated income tax, see section 6654.
(2) Joint estimated income tax. In the case of married persons making a joint payment of estimated income tax, the taxpayers must make each payment of estimated income tax (and any amendment to the estimated tax payment) to the jurisdiction where the spouse who has the greater estimated adjusted gross income for the taxable year would be required under paragraph (d)(1) of this section to pay estimated income tax if separate payments were made. For this purpose, estimated adjusted gross income of each spouse for the taxable year is determined without regard to community property laws.
(3) Erroneous payment. If the individual or spouses erroneously pay estimated income tax to the United States instead of the relevant possession or vice versa, only subsequent payments or amendments of the payments are required to be made pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) or (d)(2) of this section with the other jurisdiction.
(4) Place for payment. Estimated income tax required under this paragraph (d) to be paid to Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands must be paid as directed in the applicable forms and instructions issued by the relevant possession. Estimated income tax required under paragraph (d)(1) of this section to be paid to the United States must be paid as directed in the applicable forms and instructions.
(5) Liability to other jurisdiction —(i) Filing with Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands. Subject to paragraph (d)(6) of this section, an individual required under this paragraph (d) to pay estimated income tax (and amendments thereof) to Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands is relieved of liability to pay estimated income tax (and amendments thereof) to the United States.
(ii) Filing with the United States. Subject to paragraph (d)(6) of this section, an individual required under this paragraph (d) to pay estimated income tax (and amendments thereof) to the United States is relieved of liability to pay estimated income tax (and amendments thereof) to the relevant possession.
(6) Underpayments. The liability of an individual described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section for underpayments of estimated income tax for a taxable year, as determined under section 6654, will be to the jurisdiction with which the individual is required under paragraph (b) of this section to file his or her return for the taxable year.
(e) Entity status consistency requirement —(1) In general. Taxpayers should make consistent entity status elections (as defined in paragraph (e)(3)(ii) of this section), when applicable, in both the United States and section 935 possessions. In the case of a business entity to which this paragraph (e) applies—
(i) If an entity status election is filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) but not with the relevant possession, the appropriate tax authority of the relevant possession, at his discretion, may deem the election also to have been made for the relevant possession tax purposes;
(ii) If an entity status election filed with the relevant possession but not with the IRS, the Commissioner, at his discretion, may deem the election also to have been made for Federal tax purposes; and
(iii) If inconsistent entity status elections are filed with the relevant possession and the IRS, both the Commissioner and the appropriate tax authority of the relevant possession may, at their individual discretion, treat the elections they each received as invalid and may deem the election filed in the other jurisdiction to have been made also for tax purposes in their own jurisdiction. See Rev. Proc. 2006-23 (2006-1 C.B. 900) (see § 601.601(d)(2)(ii)( b ) of this chapter) for procedures for requesting the assistance of the IRS when a taxpayer is or may be subject to inconsistent tax treatment by the IRS and a U.S. possession tax agency.)
(2) Scope. This paragraph (e) applies to the following business entities:
(i) A business entity (as defined in § 301.7701-2(a) of this chapter) that is domestic (as defined in § 301.7701-5 of this chapter), or otherwise treated as domestic for purposes of the Code, and that is owned in whole or in part by any person who is either a bona fide resident of a section 935 possession or a business entity created or organized in a section 935 possession.
(ii) A business entity that is created or organized in a section 935 possession and that is owned in whole or in part by any U.S. person (other than a bona fide resident of such possession).
(3) Definitions. For purposes of this section—
(i) The term appropriate tax authority of the relevant possession means the individual responsible for tax administration in such possession or his delegate; and
(ii) The term entity status election includes an election under § 301.7701-3(c) of this chapter, an election under section 1362(a), and any other similar elections.
(4) Default status. Solely for the purpose of determining classification of an eligible entity under § 301.7701-3(b) of this chapter and under that section as mirrored in the relevant possession, an eligible entity subject to this paragraph (e) will be classified for both Federal and the relevant possession tax purposes using the rule that applies to domestic eligible entities.
(5) Transition rules —(i) In the case of an election filed prior to April 11, 2005, except as provided in paragraph (e)(5)(ii) of this section, the rules of paragraph (e)(1) of this section will apply as of the first day of the first taxable year of the entity beginning after April 11, 2005.
(ii) In the unlikely circumstance that inconsistent elections described in paragraph (e)(1)(iii) of this section are filed prior to April 11, 2005, and the entity cannot change its classification to achieve consistency because of the sixty-month limitation described in § 301.7701-3(c)(1)(iv) of this chapter, then the entity may nevertheless request permission from the Commissioner or appropriate tax authority of the relevant possession to change such election to avoid inconsistent treatment by the Commissioner and the appropriate tax authority of the relevant possession.
(iii) Except as provided in paragraphs (e)(5)(i) and (e)(5)(ii) of this section, in the case of an election filed with respect to an entity before it became an entity described in paragraph (e)(2) of this section, the rules of paragraph (e)(1) of this section will apply as of the first day that such entity is described in paragraph (e)(2) of this section.
(iv) In the case of an entity created or organized prior to April 11, 2005, paragraph (e)(4) of this section will take effect for Federal income tax purposes (or the relevant possession income tax purposes, as the case may be) as of the first day of the first taxable year of the entity beginning after April 11, 2005.
(f) Examples. The application of this section is illustrated by the following examples:
(ii) For 2008, B does not qualify as a bona fide resident of Possession G under section 937(a) and § 1.937-1(b) and (f)(1). Therefore, B is subject to the rules applicable to individuals described in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section for 2008 because he has income derived from sources within Possession G as determined under the rules of section 937(b) and § 1.937-2.
(iii) For 2009, assuming that B otherwise satisfies the requirements of section 937(a) and § 1.937-1(b), B qualifies as a bona fide resident of Possession G. Therefore, section 935(b)(1)(B) and paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section apply to B for 2009, and he must file his income tax return with Possession G under paragraph (b)(1) of this section. Provided that B properly files such return and pays his income tax liability to Possession G, B is relieved of liability to file an income tax return with, and to pay an income tax to, the United States for 2009 under paragraph (b)(6) of this section.
(ii)(A) On the date of each payment of estimated tax in 2009, B reasonably believes that he would be required to file his return for 2009 with Possession G under paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(B) In August 2009, B determines that he has overpaid tax for the previous year in the amount of $1000. B properly pays all estimated taxes to Possession G for 2009, subtracting the $1000 overpayment from his estimated tax payments pursuant to section 6402(b), and properly files his tax return with Possession G.
(iii) In April 2010, B reasonably believes that he would be returning to the United States in the Fall of 2010, and properly pays estimated tax to the United States. By June 2010, B reasonably believes that he would not be moving from Possession G and would be a bona fide resident of Possession G for the entire taxable year. B makes his remaining estimated tax payments to Possession G. On his 2010 tax return filed with Possession G, pursuant to section 6315, B properly takes into account payments made to both the United States and Possession G as estimated taxes.
(iv) In April 2011, B reasonably believes that he would be a bona fide resident of Possession G for the entire taxable year 2011 and properly pays estimated taxes to Possession G. By the time B pays his estimated taxes for June 2011, B's employment terminates and he moves to State H. B properly makes his remaining estimated tax payments to the United States. On his return for 2011, properly filed with the United States, B determines that he has underpaid estimated taxes throughout 2011 in an amount subject to penalty under section 6654. B owes the United States an estimated tax penalty under section 6654.
(g) Effective/applicability date. Paragraphs (a), (b)(1), (b)(3), (b)(5) through (b)(7), and (c) through (f) of this section apply to taxable years ending after April 9, 2008.
§ 1.936-1   Elections.
(a) Making an election. A domestic corporation shall make an election under section 936(e), for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 1975, by filing Form 5712 on or before the later of—
(1) The date on which such corporation is required, pursuant to sections 6072(b) and 6081, to file its Federal income tax return for the first taxable year for which the election is made; or
(2) April 8, 1980.
(b) Revoking an election. Any corporation to which an election under section 936 (e) applies on February 8, 1980 is hereby granted the consent of the Secretary to revoke that election for the first taxable year to which the election applied. (The corporation may make a new election under § 1.936-1 (a) for any subsequent taxable year.) The corporation shall make this revocation by sending to the Philadelphia Center a written statement of revocation on or before April 8, 1980.
§ 1.936-4   Intangible property income in the absence of an election out.
The rules in this section apply for purposes of section 936(h) and also for purposes of section 934(e), where applicable.
Q. 1: If a possessions corporation and its affiliates do not make an election under either the cost sharing or 50/50 profit split option, what rules will govern the treatment of income attributable to intangible property owned or leased by the possessions corporation?
A. 1: Intangible property income will be allocated to the possessions corporation's U.S. shareholders with the proration of income based on shareholdings. If a shareholder of the possessions corporation is a foreign person or a tax-exempt person, the possessions corporation will be taxable on that shareholder's pro rata amount of the intangible property income. If any class of the stock of a possessions corporation is regularly traded on an established securities market, then the intangible property income will be taxable to the possessions corporation rather than the corporation's U.S. shareholders. For these purposes, a United States shareholder includes any shareholder who is a United States person as described under section 7701(a)(30). The term “intangible property income” means the gross income of a possessions corporation attributable to any intangible property other than intangible property which has been licensed to such corporation since prior to 1948 and which was in use by such corporation on September 3, 1982.
Q. 2: What is the source of the intangible property income described in question 1?
A. 2: The intangible property income is U.S. source, whether taxed to U.S. shareholders or taxed to the possessions corporation. Such intangible property income, if treated as income of the possessions corporation, does not enter into the calculation of the 80-percent possessions source test or the 65-percent active trade or business test of section 936(a)(2)(A) and (B).
Q. 3: How will the amount of income attributable to intangible property be measured?
A. 3: Income attributable to intangible property includes the amount received by a possessions corporation from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of any product or from the rendering of a service which is in excess of the reasonable costs it incurs in manufacturing the product or rendering the service (other than costs incurred in connection with intangibles) plus a reasonable profit margin. A reasonable profit margin shall be computed with respect to direct and indirect costs other than (i) costs incurred in connection with intangibles, (ii) interest expense, and (iii) the cost of materials which are subject to processing or which are components in a product manufactured by the possessions corporation. Notwithstanding the above, certain taxpayers who have been permitted by the Internal Revenue Service in taxable years beginning before January 1, 1983, to use the cost-plus method of pricing without reflecting a return from intangibles, but including the cost of materials in the cost base, will not be precluded from doing so. (Sec. 3.02(3), Rev. Proc. 63-10, 1963-1 C.B. 490.) Thus, the Internal Revenue Service may continue in appropriate cases to permit such taxpayers to continue to report their income as they have been under existing procedures described in the previous sentence if it is appropriate under all the facts and circumstances and does not distort the income of the taxpayer.
Q. 4: If there is no intangible property related to a product produced in whole or in part by a possessions corporation, what method may the possessions corporation use to compute its income?
A. 4: The taxpayer may compute its income using the appropriate method as provided under section 482 and the regulations thereunder. The taxpayer may also elect the cost sharing or profit split method.
§ 1.936-5   Intangible property income when an election out is made: Product, business presence, and contract manufacturing.
The rules in this section apply for purposes of section 936(h) and also for purposes of section 934(e), where applicable.
(a) Definition of product.
Q. 1: What does the term “product” mean?
A. 1: The term “product” means an item of property which is the result of a production process. The term “product” includes component products, integrated products, and end-product forms. A component product is a product which is subject to further processing before sale to an unrelated party. A component product may be produced from other items of property, and if it is so produced, may be treated as including or not including (at the choice of the possessions corporation) one or more of such other items of property for all purposes of section 936(h)(5). An integrated product is a product which is not subject to any further processing before sale to an unrelated party and which includes all component products from which it is produced. An end-product form is a product which—
(1) Is not subject to any further processing before sale to an unrelated party;
(2) Is produced from a component product or products; and
(3) Is treated as not including certain component products for all purposes of section 936(h)(5).
Q. 2: If a possessions corporation produces both a component product and an integrated product (which by definition includes the end-product form), may the possessions corporation use the options under section 936(h)(5) to compute its income with respect to either the component product, the integrated product or the end-product form?
A. 2: Yes. The possessions corporation may choose to treat the component product, the integrated product, or the end-product form as the product for purposes of determining whether the possessions corporation satisfies the significant business presence test. The possessions corporation must treat the same item of property as its product (the possession product) for all purposes of section 936(h)(5) for that taxable year, including the significant business presence test under section 936(h)(5)(B)(ii), the possessions sales calculation under section 936(h)(5)(C)(i)(I), the determination of income under section 936(h)(5)(C)(i)(II), and the combined taxable income computations under section 936(h)(5)(C)(ii). Although the possessions corporation must treat the same item of property as its product for all purposes of section 936(h)(5) in a particular taxable year, its choice of the component product, integrated product or end-product form may be different from year to year. The possessions corporation must specify the possession product on a statement attached to its return (Schedule P of Form 5735). The possessions corporation may specify its choice by either listing the components that are included in the possession product or the components that are excluded from the possession product. The possessions corporation must file a separate Schedule P with respect to each possession product. The possessions corporation must attach to each Schedule P detailed computations indicating how the significant business presence test is satisfied with respect to the possession product identified in that Schedule P.
Q. 3: A possessions corporation produces a product that is sometimes sold to unrelated parties without further processing and is sometimes sold to unrelated parties after further processing. May the possessions corporation choose to treat the same item of property as the possession product even though in some cases it is an integrated product and in some cases it is a component product?
A. 3: Yes. Except as provided in questions and answers 4 and 5, the possessions corporation must designate a single possession product even though it is sometimes a component product and sometimes an integrated product.
Q. 4: A possessions corporation produces a product that is sometimes sold without further processing by any member of the affiliated group to unrelated parties or to related parties for their own consumption and is sometimes sold after further processing by any member of the affiliated group to unrelated parties or to related parties for their own consumption. May the possessions corporation designate two products as possession products?
A. 4: The possessions corporation may designate two or more possession products. The possessions corporation must use a consistent definition of the possession product for all items of property that are sold to unrelated parties or consumed by related parties at the same stage in the production process. The significant business presence test shall apply separately to each product designated by the possessions corporation. The possessions corporation shall compute its income separately with respect to each product.
Q. 5: A possessions corporation produces a product in one taxable year and does not sell all of the units that it produced. In the next taxable year the possessions corporation produces a product which includes the product produced in the prior year. The possessions corporation could not have satisfied the significant business presence test with respect to the units produced the first taxable year if the larger possession product had been designated. May the possessions corporation designate two possession products in the second year?
A. 5: Yes. The possessions corporation may designate two possession products. However, once a product has been designated for a particular year all sales of units produced in that year must be defined in the same manner. In addition, the taxpayer must maintain a significant business presence in a possession with respect to that product. Sales shall be deemed made first out of the current year's production. If all of the current year's production is sold and some inventory is liquidated, then the taxpayer's method of inventory accounting shall be applied to determine what year's layer of inventory is liquidated.
Q. 6: May an affiliated group establish groupings of possession products and treat the groupings as single products?
A. 6: An affiliated group may establish reasonable groupings of possession products based on similarities in the production processes of the possession products. Possession products that are grouped shall be treated as a single product. The determination of whether the production processes involved in producing the products that are to be grouped are similar is based on the production processes of the components that are included in the possession product. The affiliated group may establish new groupings each year. Any grouping which materially distorts a taxpayer's income or the application of the significant business presence test may be disallowed by the Commissioner. The mere fact that a grouping results in an increased allocation of income to the possessions corporation does not, of itself, create a material distortion of income. If the Commissioner determines that the taxpayer's grouping is improper with respect to one or more products in a group, then those products shall be excluded from the group. The effect of excluding a product or products from the group is that the taxpayer must demonstrate that the group without the excluded products (and each excluded product itself) satisfies the significant business presence test. If the group without the excluded products, or any of the excluded products themselves, fails to satisfy the significant business presence test, then the possessions corporation's income from those products shall be determined under section 936(h)(1) through (4) and the regulations thereunder.
(A) Beverage bases or concentrates for different soft drinks or soft drink syrups, regardless of whether some include sweeteners and some do not:
(B) Different styles of clothing;
(C) Different styles of shoes;
(D) Equipment which relies on gravity to deliver solutions to patients intravenously;
(E) Equipment which relies on machines to deliver solutions to patients intravenously;
(F) Video game cartridges, even though the concept and design of each game title is, in part, protected against infringement by separate copyrights;
(G) All integrated circuits;
(H) All printed circuit boards; and
(I) Hardware and software if the software is one of several alternative types of software offered by the manufacturer and sold only with the hardware, and a purchaser of the hardware would ordinarily purchase one or more of the manufacturer-provided alternative types of software. In all other cases, hardware and software may not be grouped and treated as a single product.
Q. 7: Is the affiliated group permitted to include in a group an item of property that is not produced in whole or in part in a possession?
A. 7: No.
Q. 8: What factors should be disregarded in determining whether a particular grouping of similar items of property is reasonable?
A. 8: In general, differences in the following factors will be disregarded in determining whether a particular grouping of items of property is reasonable:
(1) Differences in testing requirements ( e.g., some products sold for military use may require more extensive or different testing than products sold for commercial use);
(2) Differences in the product specifications that are designed to accommodate the product to its area of use or for conditions under which used ( e.g., electrical products designed for ultimate use in the United States differ from electrical products designed for ultimate use in Europe);
(3) Differences in packaging or labeling ( e.g., differences in the number of units of the items shipped in one package); and
(4) Minor differences in the operations of the items of property.
Q. 9: What rules apply for purposes of determining whether pharmaceutical products are properly grouped and treated as a single product?
A. 9: The rules contained in questions and answers 6 through 8 of this section shall apply. Thus, an affiliated group may establish reasonable groupings based on similarities in the production processes of two or more possession products. In establishing a group the affiliated group may only compare the production processes involved in producing the possession products. The fact that two pharmaceutical products contain different active or inert ingredients is not relevant to the determination of whether the pharmaceutical products may be grouped. For example, if the possession products are bulk chemicals and the production processes involved in producing the bulk chemicals are similar, those bulk chemicals may be grouped and treated as a single product even though they contain different active or inert ingredients. The affiliated group may also group and treat as a single product the finished dosage form drug as long as the production processes involved in producing the finished dosage forms are similar. For these purposes, the production processes involved in producing the following classes of items shall be considered to be sufficiently similar that possession products delivered in a form described in one of the categories may be grouped with other possession products delivered in a form described in the same category.
The categories are:
(1) Capsules, tablets, and pills;
(2) Liquids, ointments, and creams; or
(3) Injectable and intravenous preparations.
Q. 10: Will the fact that a manufacturer of a drug must submit a New Drug Application (“NDA”) or a supplemental NDA to the Food and Drug Administration have any effect on the definition or grouping of a product?
A. 10: No.
Q. 11: A possessions corporation which produced a product or rendered a type of service in a possession on or before September 3, 1982, is not required to meet the significant business presence test in a possession with respect to such product or type of service for its taxable years beginning before January 1, 1986 (the interim period). During such interim period, how will the term “product” be defined for purposes of allocating income under the cost sharing or profit split methods?
A. 11: During the interim period the product will be determined based on the activities performed by the possessions corporation within a possession on September 3, 1982. During the interim period the possessions corporation may compute its income under the cost sharing or profit split method only with respect to the product that is produced or manufactured within the meaning of section 954(d)(1)(A) within the possession. If the product is manufactured from a component or components produced by an affiliated corporation or a contract manufacturer, then the product will not be treated as including such component or components for purposes of the computation of income under the cost sharing or profit split methods. Thus, the possessions corporation is not entitled to any return on the intangibles associated with the component or components. Notwithstanding the preceding sentences, for taxable years beginning before January 1, 1986, a possessions corporation may compute its income under the cost sharing or profit split method with respect to a product which includes a component or components produced by an affiliated corporation or contract manufacturer if the possessions corporation satisfies with respect to such product the significant business presence test described in section 936(h)(5)(B)(ii) and the regulations thereunder.
Q. 12: On September 3, 1982, a possessions corporation, S was engaged in the manufacture (within the meaning of section 954(d)(1)(A)) of X in a possession. During the interim period, after September 3, 1982, but before January 1, 1986, S produced Y, which differs from X in terms of minor design features. S did not produce Y in a possession on September 3, 1982. Will S be considered to have commenced production of a new product after September 3, 1982, for purposes of the application of the significant business presence test for the interim period?
A. 12: No. X and Y will be considered to be a single product, and therefore S will not be required to satisfy the business presence test separately with respect to Y during the interim period. In all cases in which the items of property produced on or before September 3, 1982 and the items of property produced after that date could have been grouped together under the guidelines provided in § 1.936-5(a) questions and answers 6 through 10, the possessions corporation will not be considered to manufacture a new product after September 3, 1982.
Q. 13: May the term “product” be defined differently for export sales than for domestic sales?
A. 13: Yes. For rules concerning the application of the separate election for export sales see § 1.936-7(b).
(b) Requirement of significant business presence —(1) General rules.
Q. 1: In general, a possessions corporation may compute its income under the cost sharing or profit split methods with respect to a product only if the possessions corporation has a significant business presence in a possession with respect to that product. When will a possession corporation be considered to have a significant business presence in a possession?
A. 1: For purposes of the cost sharing method, the significant business presence test is met if the possessions corporation satisfies either a value added test or a direct labor test. For purposes of the profit split method, the significant business presence test is met if the possessions corporation satisfies either a value added test or a direct labor test and also manufactures the product in the possession within the meaning of section 954(d)(1)(A).
Q. 2: How may a possessions corporation satisfy the direct labor test with respect to a product?
A. 2: The possessions corporation will satisfy the direct labor test with respect to a product if the direct labor costs incurred by the possessions corporation as compensation for services performed in a possession are greater than or equal to 65 percent of the direct labor costs of the affiliated group for units of the possession product produced during the taxable year in whole or in part by the possessions corporation.
Q. 3: How may a possessions corporation satisfy the value added test?
A. 3: In order to satisfy the value added test, the production costs of the possessions corporation incurred in the possession with respect to units of the possession product produced in whole or in part by the possessions corporation in the possession and sold or otherwise disposed of during the taxable year by the affiliated group to unrelated parties must be greater than or equal to twenty-five percent of the difference between gross receipts from such sales or other dispositions and the direct material costs of the affilated group for materials purchased for such units from unrelated parties.
Q. 4: Must the significant business presence test be met with respect to all units of the product produced during the taxable year by the affiliated group?
A. 4: No. The significant business presence test must be met with respect to only those units of the product produced during the taxable year in whole or in part by the possessions corporation in a possession.
Q. 5: For purposes of determining whether a possessions corporation satisfies the significant business presence test, how shall the possessions corporation treat the cost of components transferred to the possessions corporation by a member of the affiliated group?
A. 5: The treatment of the cost of components transferred from an affiliate depends on whether the possession product is treated as including the components for purposes of section 936(h). If it is, then for purposes of the value added test, the production costs associated with the component shall be treated as production costs of the affiliated group that are not incurred by the possessions corporation. Those production costs, other than the cost of materials, shall not be treated as a cost of materials. For purposes of the direct labor test and the alternative significant business presence test, the direct labor costs associated with such components shall be treated as direct labor costs of the affiliated group that are not incurred by the possessions corporation. If the possession product is treated as not including such component for purposes of section 936(h), then, solely for purposes of determining whether the possessions corporation satisfies the value added test, the cost of the component shall not be treated as either a cost of materials or as a production cost. For purposes of the direct labor test and the alternative significant business presence test, the direct labor costs associated with such component shall not be treated as direct labor costs of the affiliated group. If the possession product is treated as not including such component, then the possessions corporation shall not be entitled to any return on the intangibles associated with the manufacturing or marketing of the component.
Q. 6: May two or more related possessions corporations aggregate their production or direct labor costs for purposes of determining whether they satisfy the significant business presence test with respect to a single product?
A. 6: No.
Q. 7: A possessions corporation, S, purchases raw materials and components from an unrelated corporation which conducts business outside of a possession. The unrelated corporation is not a contract manufacturer. What is the treatment of such raw materials and components for purposes of the significant business presence test?
A. 7: Where Company S purchases raw materials or components from an unrelated corporation which is not a contract manufacturer, the raw materials and components are treated as materials, and the costs related thereto are treated as a cost of materials.
(2) Direct labor costs.
Q. 1: How is the term “direct labor costs” to be defined?
A. 1: The term “direct labor costs” has the same meaning which it has for purposes of § 1.471-11(b)(2)(i). Thus, direct labor costs include the cost of labor which can be identified or associated with particular units or groups of units of a specific product. The elements of direct labor include such items as basic compensation, overtime pay, vacation and holiday pay, sick leave pay (other than payments pursuant to a wage continuation plan under section 105(d)), shift differential, payroll taxes, and payments to a supplemental unemployment benefit plan paid or incurred on behalf of employees engaged in direct labor.
Q. 2: May a taxpayer treat a cost as a direct labor cost if it is not included in inventoriable costs under section 471 and the regulations thereunder?
A. 2: No. A cost may be treated as a direct labor cost only if it is included in inventoriable costs. However, a cost may be considered a direct labor cost even though the activity to which it relates would not constitute manufacturing under section 954(d)(1)(A) as long as the cost is included in inventoriable costs.
Q. 3: May the members of the affiliated group include as direct labor costs the labor element in indirect production costs?
A. 3: No. The labor element of indirect production costs may not be considered as part of direct labor costs.
Q. 4: Do direct labor costs include the costs which can be identified or associated with particular units or groups of units of a specific product if those costs could also be described as quality control and inspection?
A. 4: Yes. Direct labor costs include costs which can be identified or associated with particular units or groups of units of a specific product. Thus, if quality control and inspection is an integral part of the production process, then the labor associated with that quality control and inspection shall be considered direct labor. For example, integrated circuits are soldered to printed circuit boards by passing the boards over liquid solder. Employees inspect each of the boards and repair any imperfectly soldered joints discovered on that inspection. The labor associated with this process is direct labor. However, if a person performs random inspections on limited numbers of products, then that labor associated with those inspections shall be considered quality control and therefore indirect labor.
Q. 5: Do direct labor costs of the possessions corporation include only the costs which were actually incurred or do they take into account, in addition, any labor savings which result because the activities were performed in a possession rather than in the United States?
A. 5: Direct labor costs include only the costs which were actually incurred.
Q. 6: For purposes of determining whether a possessions corporation satisfies the significant business presence test for a taxable year with respect to a product, how shall the possessions corporation compute its direct labor costs of units of the product?
A. 6: The direct labor test shall be applied separately to products produced in whole or in part by the possessions corporation in the possession during each taxable year. Sales shall be deemed to be made first out of the current year's production. If sales are made only out of the current year's production, then the direct labor costs of producing those units that are sold shall be the pro rata portion of the total direct labor costs of producing all the units that are produced in whole or in part in the possession by the possessions corporation during the current year. If all of the current year's production is sold and some inventory is liquidated, then the direct labor test shall be applied separately to the current year's production and the liquidated inventory. The direct labor costs of producing the liquidated inventory shall be the pro rata portion of the total direct labor costs that were incurred in producing all the units that were produced in whole or in part by the possessions corporation in the possessions in the layer of liquidated inventory determined under the member's method of inventory accounting.
Q. 7: What is the result if in a particular taxable year the possessions corporation satisfies the significant business presence test with respect to units of the product produced in one year and fails the significant business with respect to units produced in another year?
A. 7: For those units of the product with respect to which the possession corporation satisfies the significant business presence test, the possessions corporation may compute its income under the provisions of section 936(h)(5). For those units of the product with respect to which the possessions corporations fails the significant business presence test, the possessions corporation must compute its income under section 936(h)(1) through (4).
Q. 8: Do direct labor costs include costs incurred in a prior taxable year with respect to units of the possession product that are finished in a later taxable year?
A. 8: Yes.
(3) Direct material costs.
Q. 1: How is the term “direct material costs” to be defined?
A. 1: Direct material costs include the cost of those materials which become an integral part of the specific product and those materials which are consumed in the ordinary course of manufacturing and can be identified or associated with particular units or groups of units of that product. See § 1.471-3 for the elements of direct material costs.
Q. 2: May a taxpayer treat a cost as a direct material cost if it is not included in inventoriable costs under section 471 and the regulations thereunder?
A. 2: A taxpayer may not treat such costs as direct material costs.
(4) Production costs.
Q. 1: How is the term “production costs” defined?
A. 1: The term “production costs” has the same meaning which it has for purposes of § 1.471-11(b) except that the term does not include direct material costs and interest. Thus, production costs include direct labor costs and fixed and variable indirect production costs (other than interest).
Q. 2: With respect to indirect production costs described in § 1.471-11(c)(2) (ii) and (iii), may a possessions corporation include these costs in production costs for purposes of section 936, if they are not included in inventoriable costs under section 471 and the regulations thereunder?
A. 2: No. A possessions corporation may include these costs only if they are included for purposes of section 471 and the regulations thereunder. If a possessions corporation and the other members of the affiliated group include and exclude different indirect production costs in their inventoriable costs, then, for purposes of the significant business presence test, the possessions corporation shall compute its production costs and the production costs of the other members of the affiliated group by subtracting from the production costs of each member all indirect costs included by that member that are not included in production costs by all other members of the affiliated group.
Q. 3: Does a change in a taxpayer's method of accounting for purposes of section 471 affect the taxpayer's computation of production costs for purposes of section 936?
A. 3: Yes. If a taxpayer changes its method of accounting for purposes of section 471, then the same change shall apply for purposes of section 936.
Q. 4: For purposes of determining whether a possessions corporation satisfies the significant business presence test for a taxable year with respect to a product, how shall the possessions corporation compute its costs of producing units of the product sold or otherwise disposed to unrelated parties during the taxable year?
A. 4: All members of the affiliated group may elect to use their current year production costs regardless of whether the members use the FIFO or LIFO method of inventory accounting. If some or all of the current year's production of a product is sold, then the production costs of producing those units sold shall be the pro rata portion of the total production costs of producing all the units produced in the current year. If all of the current year's production of a product is sold and some inventory is liquidated, then the production costs of producing the liquidated inventory shall be the pro rata portion of the production costs incurred in producing the layer of liquidated inventory as determined under the member's method of inventory accounting.
Q. 5: How should the members of the affiliated group determine the portion of their production costs that is allocable to units of the product sold or otherwise disposed of during the taxable year?
A. 5: The members of the affiliated group may use either standard production costs (so long as variances are not material), average production costs, or FIFO production costs to determine the production costs that will be considered to be attributable to units of the product sold or otherwise disposed of during the taxable year. However, all members of the affiliated group must use the same method.
Q. 6: When is the quality control and inspection of a product considered to be part of the production activity for that product?
A. 6: Quality control and inspection of a manufactured product before its sale or other disposition by the manufacturer, or before its incorporation into other products, is considered to be part of the indirect production activity for that initial product. Subsequent testing of a product to ensure that the product is compatible with other products is not a part of the production activity for the initial product.
Q. 7: For purposes of the significant business presence test and the allocation of income to a possessions corporation, what is the treatment of the cost of installation of a product?
A. 7: For purposes of the significant business presence test and the allocation of income to a possessions corporation, product installation costs need not be taken into account as costs incurred in the manufacture of that product, if the taxpayer keeps such permanent books of account or records as are sufficient to establish the fair market price of the uninstalled product. In such a case, the cost of installation materials, the cost of the labor for installation, and a reasonable profit for installation will not be included in the costs and income associated with the possession product. If the taxpayer does not keep such permanent books of account or records, then the cost of installation materials and the cost of labor for installation shall be treated as costs associated with the possession product and income will be allocated to the possessions corporation and its affiliates under the rules provided in these regulations.
Q. 8: For purposes of the significant business presence test and the allocation of income to a product or service, what is the treatment of the cost of servicing and maintaining a possession product that is sold to an unrelated party?
A. 8: The cost of servicing and maintaining a possession product after it is sold is not associated with the production of that product.
Q. 9: For purposes of the significant business presence test and the allocation of income to a possessions corporation, what is the treatment of the cost of samples?
A. 9: The cost of producing samples will be treated as a marketing expense and not as inventoriable costs for these purposes. However, for taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 1986, the cost of producing samples may be treated as either a marketing expense or as inventoriable costs.
(5) Gross receipts.
Q. 1: How shall the affiliated group determine gross receipts from sales or other dispositions by the affiliated group to unrelated parties of the possession product?
A. 1: Gross receipts shall be determined in the same manner as possession sales under the rules contained in § 1.936-6(a)(2).
(6) Manufacturing within the meaning of section 954(d)(1)(A).
Q. 1: What is the test for determining, within the meaning of section 954(d)(1)(A), whether a product is manufactured or produced by a possessions corporation in a possession?
A. 1: A product is considered to have been manufactured or produced by a possessions corporation in a possession within the meaning of section 954(d)(1)(A) and § 1.954-3(a)(4) if—
(i) The property has been substantially transformed by the possessions corporation in the possession;
(ii) The operations conducted by the possessions corporation in the possession in connection with the property are substantial in nature and are generally considered to constitute the manufacture or production of property; or
(iii) The conversion costs sustained by the possessions corporation in the possession, including direct labor, factory burden, testing of components before incorporation into an end product and testing of the manufactured product before sales account for 20 percent or more of the total cost of goods sold of the possessions corporation.
Q. 2: Does the requirement that a possession product be produced or manufactured in a possession within the meaning of section 954(d)(1)(A) apply to taxable years beginning before January 1, 1986?
A. 2: A possessions corporation must satisfy this requirement for taxable years beginning before January 1, 1986, in the following cases:
(i) If the possessions corporation makes a separate election under section 936(h)(5)(F)(iv)(II) with respect to export sales;
(ii) If the possessions corporation is electing as its possession product a product that is subject to the interim period rules of § 1.936-5(a) question and answer (10); or
(iii) If the possessions corporation is electing as its possession product a product that is not subject to the interim period rules of § 1.936-5 (a) question and answer (10) and the possessions corporation computes its income under the profit split method with respect to that product.
(7) Start-up operations.
Q. 1: With respect to products not produced (and types of services not rendered) in the possession on or before September 3, 1982, when must a possessions corporation first satisfy the 25 percent value added test or the 65 percent direct labor test?
A. 1: A transitional period is established such that a possessions corporation engaged in start-up operations with respect to a product or service need not satisfy the 25 percent value added test or the 65 percent labor test until the third taxable year following the taxable year in which such product is first sold by the possessions corporation or such service is first rendered by the possessions corporation. During the transitional period, the applicable percentages for these tests will be as follows:
Q. 2: Does the requirement that a possession product be produced or manufactured in a possessions within the meaning of section 954(d)(1)(A) apply to a product if the possessions corporation is engaged in start-up operations with respect to that product?
A. 2: The possessions corporation must produce or manufacture the possessions product within the meaning of section 954(d)(1)(A) if the possessions corporation computes its income with respect to that product under the profit split method.
Q. 3: When will a possessions corporation be considered to be engaged in start-up operations?
A. 3: A possessions corporation is engaged in start-up operations if it begins operations in a possession with respect to a product or type of service after September 3, 1982. Subject to the further provisions of this answer, a possessions corporation will be considered to begin operations with respect to a product if, under the rules of § 1.936-5(a) questions and answers (6) through (10), such product could not be grouped with any other item of property manufactured in whole or in part in the possessions by any member of the affiliated group in any preceding taxable year. Any improvement or other change in a possession product which does not substantially change the production process would not be deemed to create a new product. A change in the division of manufacturing activity between the possessions corporation and its affiliates with respect to an item of property will not give rise to a new product. If a possessions corporation was producing a possession product that was either a component product or an end-product form and the possessions corporation expands its operations in the same possession so that it is now producing a product that includes the earlier possession product, the possessions corporation will not be entitled to use the start-up significant business presence test unless the production costs incurred by the possessions corporation in the possession in producing a unit of its new possession product are at least double the production costs incurred by the possessions corporation in the possession in producing a unit of the earlier possession product. If any member of an affiliated group actually groups two or more items of property then, solely for the purposes of determining whether any item of property in that group is a new product, that grouping shall be respected. However, the fact that an affiliated group does not actually group two or more items of property shall be disregarded in determining whether any item of property is a new product. Notwithstanding the above, if a possessions corporation is producing a possession product in one possession and such corporation or a member of its affiliated group begins operations in a different possession, regardless of whether the items of property could be grouped, the affiliated group may treat the units of the item of property produced at the new site of operations in the different possession as a new product.
(8) Alternative significant business presence test.
Q. 1: Will the Secretary adopt a significant business presence test other than those set forth in section 936(h)(5)(B)(ii)?
A. 1: Yes. The following significant business presence test is adopted both for the transitional period and thereafter. A possessions corporation will have a significant business presence in a possession for a taxable year with respect to a product or type of service if—
(i) No less than 50 percent of the direct labor costs of the affiliated group for units of the product produced, in whole or in part, during the taxable year by the possessions corporation or for the type of service rendered by the possessions corporation during the taxable year are incurred by the possessions corporation as compensation for services performed in the possession; and
(ii) The direct labor costs of the possessions corporation for units of the product produced or the type of service rendered plus the base period construction costs are no less than 70 percent of the sum of such base period construction costs and the direct labor costs of the affiliated group for such units of the product produced or the type of service rendered.
Q. 2: How is the term “base period construction costs” defined?
A. 2: The term “base period construction costs” means the average construction costs incurred by or on behalf of the possessions corporation for services in the possession during the taxable year and the preceding four taxable years for section 1250 property (as defined in section 1250(c) and the regulations thereunder) that is used for the production of the product or the rendering of the service in the possession, and which represents the original use of the section 1250 property. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if the possessions corporation was not in existence during one or more of the four preceding taxable years, its construction costs for that year or years shall be deemed to be zero. Construction costs include architects' and engineers' fees, labor costs, and overhead and profit (if the construction is performed by a person that is not a member of the affiliated group).
(c) Definition and treatment of contract manufacturing.
Q. 1: For purposes of determining whether a possessions corporation satisfies the significant business presence test with respect to a product, the costs incurred by the possessions corporation or by any of its affiliates in connection with contract manufacturing which is related to that product and is performed outside the possession shall be treated as direct labor costs of the affiliated group and shall not be treated as production costs of the possessions corporation or as material costs. How is the term “contract manufacturing” to be defined?
A. 1: The term “contract manufacturing” includes any arrangement between a possessions corporation (or another member of the affiliated group) and an unrelated person if the unrelated person:
(1) Performs work on inventory owned by a member of the affiliated group for a fee without the passage of title;
(2) Performs production activities (including manufacturing, assembling, finishing, or packaging) under the direct supervision and control of a member of the affiliated group; or
(3) Does not undertake any significant risk in manufacturing its product ( e.g., it is paid by the hour).
Q. 2: Does an arrangement between a member of the affiliated group and an unrelated party constitute contract manufacturing if the unrelated party uses an intangible owned or licensed by a member of the affiliated group?
A. 2: Such an arrangement will be treated as contract manufacturing if the unrelated party makes use of a patent owned or licensed by a member of the affiliated group in producing the product which becomes part of the possession product of the possessions corporation. In addition, such use of manufacturing intangibles other than patents may be treated as contract manufacturing if it is established that the arrangement has the effect of materially distorting the application of the significant business presence test. However, the preceding sentence shall not apply if the possessions corporation establishes that the arrangement was entered into for a substantial business purpose (e.g., to obtain the benefit of special expertise of the manufacturer or economies of scale). These rules shall not apply to such contract manufacturing performed in taxable years beginning before January 1, 1986, nor shall the rules apply to binding contracts for the performance of such contract manufacturing entered into before June 13, 1986.
Q. 3: For purposes of the significant business presence test, how shall a possessions corporation treat the cost of contract manufacturing performed within a possession?
A. 3: If the possessions corporation uses the value added test, it will be permitted to treat the cost of the contract manufacturing performed in a possession, not including material costs, as a production cost of the possessions corporation. If it uses the direct labor test or the alternative significant business presence test set forth in § 1.936-5(b)(8), it is permitted to treat the direct labor costs of the contract manufacturer associated with such contract manufacturing as a cost of direct labor of the possessions corporation. The allowable amount of the direct labor cost shall be determined in accordance with question and answer 4 below.
Q. 4: How are the amounts paid by a possessions corporation to a contract manufacturer for services rendered in a possession to be treated by the possessions corporation in computing the direct labor cost of the product to which such contract manufacturing relates?
A. 4: If the possessions corporation can establish the contract manufacturer's direct labor cost which was incurred in the possession, such cost will be treated as incurred by the possessions corporation as compensation for services performed in the possession. If the possessions corporation cannot establish such cost, then 50 percent of the amount paid to such contract manufacturer may be treated as incurred by the possessions corporation as compensation for services performed in the possession: provided, that not more than 50 percent of the fair market value of the product manufactured by the contract manufacturer is attributable to articles shipped into the possession, and the possessions corporation receives a statement from the contract manufacturer that this test has been satisfied. If this fair market value test is not satisfied, then the cost of contract manufacturing performed within a possession shall not be treated as a production cost or a direct labor cost of either the possessions corporation or the affiliated group.
Q. 5: For purposes of the significant business presence test, what is the treatment of costs which are incurred by a member of the affiliated group (including the possessions corporation) for contract manufacturing performed outside of the possession with respect to an item of property which is a component of the possession product?
A. 5: If the possession product is treated as including such component, the cost of the contract manufacturing shall be treated as a direct labor cost of members of the affiliated group other than the possessions corporation for purposes of the direct labor test and the alternative significant business presence test, and shall not be treated as a production cost of the possessions corporation or as a cost of materials for purposes of the value added test. If the possession product is treated as not including such component, the cost of the contract manufacturing shall not be treated as a direct labor cost of any member of the affiliated group for purposes of the direct labor test and the alternative significant business presence test, and shall not be treated as a production cost of the possessions corporation or as a cost of materials for purposes of the value added test.