Title 26—Internal Revenue--Volume 1
PART 55—EXCISE TAX ON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS AND REGULATED INVESTMENT COMPANIES
§ 55.4981-1   [Reserved]
§ 55.4981-2   Imposition of excise tax with respect to certain undistributed income of real estate investment trusts; calendar years beginning after December 31, 1986.
Section 4981, as amended by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, imposes an excise tax on a real estate investment trust in the amount of four percent of the excess, if any, of the required distribution for a calendar year over the distributed amount for such calendar year. Section 4981, as so amended, applies only to calendar years that begin after December 31, 1986.
§ 55.4982-1   Imposition of excise tax on undistributed income of regulated investment companies.
Section 4982 imposes an excise tax on a regulated investment company in the amount of four percent of the excess, if any, of the required distribution for a calendar year over the distributed amount for such calendar year. Section 4982 applies only to calendar years beginning after December 31, 1986.
§ 55.6001-1   Notice or regulations requiring records, statements, and special returns.
(a) In general. Any person subject to tax under Chapter 44 of the Code shall keep such complete and detailed records as are sufficient to enable the district director to determine accurately the amount of liability under Chapter 44.
(b) Notice by district director requiring returns, statements, or the keeping of records. The district director may require any person, by notice served upon him, to make such returns, render such statements, or keep such specific records as will enable the district director to determine whether or not such person is liable for tax under Chapter 44.
(c) Retention of records. The records required by this section shall be kept at all times available for inspection by authorized internal revenue officers or employees, and shall be retained so long as the contents thereof may become material in the administration of any internal revenue law.
§ 55.6011-1   General requirement of return, statement, or list.
Every person liable for tax under Chapter 44 shall file an annual return with respect to the tax on the form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service for such purpose and shall include therein the information required by the form and the instructions issued with respect thereto. For calendar years beginning after December 31, 1986, the return, which must be made on a calendar year basis, shall be filed by a real estate investment trust on Form 8612 and by a regulated investment company on Form 8613.
§ 55.6060-1   Reporting requirements for tax return preparers.
(a) In general. A person that employs one or more tax return preparers to prepare a return or claim for refund under chapter 44 of subtitle D of the Internal Revenue Code, other than for the person, at any time during a return period, shall satisfy the record keeping and inspection requirements in the manner stated in § 1.6060-1 of this chapter.
(b) Effective/applicability date. This section is applicable to returns and claims for refund filed after December 31, 2008.
§ 55.6061-1   Signing of returns and other documents.
Any return required to be made by a real estate investment trust or a regulated investment company with respect to the tax imposed by Chapter 44 shall be signed by a person authorized by section 6062 of the Code to sign the income tax return of the real estate investment trust or the regulated investment company. Any statement or other document required to be made with respect to the tax imposed by Chapter 44 shall be signed by the person required or duly authorized to sign in accordance with the regulations, forms, or instructions prescribed with respect to such statement or document. An individual's signature on a return, statement, or other document made by or for the real estate investment trust or the regulated investment company shall be prima facie evidence that the individual is authorized to sign the return, statement, or other document.
§ 55.6065-1   Verification of returns.
If a return, statement, or other document made under the provisions of Chapter 44 or Subtitle F or the Code or the regulations thereunder with respect to any tax imposed by Chapter 44 of the Code, or the form and instructions issued with respect to such return, statement, or other document, requires that it shall contain or be verified by a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury, it must be so verified by the person or persons required to sign such return, statement, or other document. In addition, any other statement or document submitted under any provision of Chapter 44 or Subtitle F of the Code or regulations thereunder with respect to any tax imposed by Chapter 44 of the Code may be required to contain or be verified by a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury.
§ 55.6071-1   Time for filing returns.
(a) Returns for calendar years beginning after December 31, 1986. A return required by § 55.6011-1 for any calendar year beginning after December 31, 1986, shall be filed on or before March 15 of the following calendar year. See § 55.6081-1 for rules relating to extensions of time for filing a return required by § 55.6011-1.
(b) Returns for excise tax under section 4981 as in effect before amendment by the Tax Reform Act of 1986. A return required by § 55.6011-1 for any excise tax under section 4981, as in effect before amendment by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, shall be filed at the time (including any extension of time granted or allowed under section 6081) that the real estate investment trust is required to file its income tax return under section 6012 for the taxable year for which the tax under section 4981, as in effect before amendment by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, is imposed.
§ 55.6081-1   Automatic extension of time for filing a return due under Chapter 44.
(a) In general. A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) required to file a return on Form 8612, “Return of Excise Tax on Undistributed Income of Real Estate Investment Trusts,” or a Regulated Investment Company (RIC) required to file a return on Form 8613, “Return of Excise Tax on Undistributed Income of Regulated Investment Companies,” will be allowed an automatic 6-month extension of time to file the return after the date prescribed for filing the return if the REIT or RIC files an application under this section in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.
(b) Requirements. To satisfy this paragraph (b), a REIT or RIC must—
(1) Submit a complete application on Form 7004, “Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns,” or in any other manner prescribed by the Commissioner;
(2) File the application on or before the date prescribed for filing the return with the Internal Revenue Service office designated in the application's instructions; and
(3) Remit the amount of the properly estimated unpaid tax liability on or before the date prescribed for payment.
(c) No extension of time for the payment of tax. An automatic extension of time for filing a return granted under paragraph (a) of this section will not extend the time for payment of any tax due on such return.
(d) Termination of automatic extension. The Commissioner may terminate an automatic extension at any time by mailing to the REIT or RIC a notice of termination at least 10 days prior to the termination date designated in such notice. The Commissioner must mail the notice of termination to the address shown on the Form 7004 or to the REIT or RIC's last known address. For further guidance regarding the definition of last known address, see § 301.6212-2 of this chapter.
(e) Penalties. See section 6651 for failure to file or failure to pay the amount shown as tax on the return.
(f) Effective/applicable dates. This section is applicable for applications for an automatic extension of time to file a return due under chapter 44, filed after July 1, 2008.
§ 55.6091-1   Place for filing Chapter 44 tax returns.
Except as provided in § 55.6091-2 (relating to exceptional cases):
(a) In general. Chapter 44 tax returns shall be filed with any person assigned the responsibility to receive returns in the local Internal Revenue Service office serving the principal place of business or principal office or agency of the real estate investment trust or regulated investment company.
(b) Returns filed with service centers or by hand carrying. Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, unless a return is filed by hand carrying, whenever instructions applicable to Chapter 44 tax returns provide that the returns be filed with a service center, the returns must be so filed in accordance with the instructions. Returns which are filed by hand carrying shall be filed with any person assigned the responsibility to receive hand-carried returns in the local Internal Revenue Service office in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section.
§ 55.6091-2   Exceptional cases.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 55.6091-1, the Commissioner may permit the filing of any Chapter 44 tax return in any local Internal Revenue Service office.
§ 55.6107-1   Tax return preparer must furnish copy of return or claim for refund to taxpayer and must retain a copy or record.
(a) In general. A person who is a signing tax return preparer of any return or claim for refund of tax under Chapter 44 of subtitle D of the Internal Revenue Code shall furnish a completed copy of the return or claim for refund to the taxpayer, and retain a completed copy or record in the manner stated in § 1.6107-1 of this chapter.
(b) Effective/applicability date. This section is applicable to returns and claims for refund filed after December 31, 2008.
§ 55.6109-1   Tax return preparers furnishing identifying numbers for returns or claims for refund.
(a) In general. Each tax return or claim for refund of tax under chapter 44 of Subtitle D prepared by one or more signing tax return preparers must include the identifying number of the preparer required by § 1.6695-1(b) of this chapter to sign the return or claim for refund in the manner stated in § 1.6109-2 of this chapter.
(b) Effective/applicability date. Paragraph (a) of this section is applicable to returns and claims for refund filed after December 31, 2008.
§ 55.6151-1   Time and place for paying of tax shown on returns.
The tax shown on any return which is imposed by Chapter 44 shall, without notice or assessment and demand, be paid to the internal revenue officer with whom the return is filed at the time and place for filing such return (determined without regard to any extension of time for filing the return). For provisions relating to the time and place for filing such return, see §§ 55.6071-1 and 55.6091-1. For provisions relating to the extension of time for paying the tax see § 55.6161-1.
§ 55.6161-1   Extension of time for paying tax or deficiency.
(a) In general —(1) Tax shown or required to be shown on return. A reasonable extension of the time for payment of the amount of any tax imposed by Chapter 44 and shown or required to be shown on any return, may be granted by the district directors at the request of the taxpayer. The period of such extension shall not be in excess of 6 months from the date fixed for payment of such tax.
(2) Deficiency. The time for payment of any amount determined as a deficiency in respect of tax imposed by Chapter 44 may, at the request of the taxpayer, be extended by the internal revenue officer to whom the tax is required to be paid. The extension may be for a period not to exceed 18 months from the date fixed for payment of the deficiency, as shown on the notice and demand. In exceptional cases, a further extension for a period not in excess of 12 months may be granted. No extension of time for payment of a deficiency shall be granted if the deficiency is due to negligence, to intentional disregard of rules and regulations, or to fraud with intent to evade tax.
(3) Extension of time for filing distinguished. The granting of an extension of time for filing a return does not operate to extend the time for the payment of the tax or any part thereof unless so specified in the extension.
(b) Certain rules relating to extension of time for paying income tax to apply. The provisions of § 1.6161-1 (b), and (c), and (d) of this chapter (relating to a requirement for undue hardship, the application for extension, and payment pursuant to an extension) shall apply to extensions of time for payment of the tax imposed by Chapter 44.
§ 55.6165-1   Bonds where time to pay tax or deficiency has been extended.
If an extension of time for payment of tax or deficiency is granted under section 6161, the district director or the director of the service center may, if he deems it necessary, require a bond for the payment of the amount in respect of which the extension is granted in accordance with the terms of the extension. However, the bond shall not exceed double the amount with respect to which the extension is granted. For provisions relating to form of bonds, see the regulations under section 7101 contained in part 301 of this chapter (Regulations on Procedure and Administration).
§ 55.6694-1   Section 6694 penalties applicable to tax return preparer.
(a) In general. For general definitions regarding section 6694 penalties applicable to preparers of tax returns or claims for refund of tax under chapter 44 of Subtitle D see § 1.6694-1 of this chapter.
(b) Effective/applicability date. Paragraph (a) of this section is applicable to returns and claims for refund filed, and advice provided, after December 31, 2008.
§ 55.6694-2   Penalties for understatement due to an unreasonable position.
(a) In general. A person who is a tax return preparer of any return or claim for refund of excise tax under chapter 44 of subtitle D of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) shall be subject to penalties under section 6694(a) of the Code in the manner stated in § 1.6694-2 of this chapter.
(b) Effective/applicability date. This section is applicable to returns and claims for refund filed, and advice provided, after December 31, 2008.
§ 55.6694-3   Penalty for understatement due to willful, reckless, or intentional conduct.
(a) In general. A person who is a tax return preparer of any return or claim for refund of tax under chapter 44 of subtitle D of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) shall be subject to penalties under section 6694(b) of the Code in the manner stated in § 1.6694-3 of this chapter.
(b) Effective/applicability date. This section is applicable to returns and claims for refund filed, and advice provided, after December 31, 2008.
§ 55.6694-4   Extension of period of collection when tax return preparer pays 15 percent of a penalty for understatement of taxpayer's liability and certain other procedural matters.
(a) In general. For rules relating to the extension of period of collection when a tax return preparer who prepared a return or claim for refund for excise tax under chapter 44 of subtitle D of the Internal Revenue Code pays 15 percent of a penalty for understatement of taxpayer's liability and procedural matters relating to the investigation, assessment and collection of the penalties under section 6694(a) and (b), the rules under § 1.6694-4 of this chapter will apply.
(b) Effective/applicability date. This section is applicable to returns and claims for refund filed, and advice provided, after December 31, 2008.
§ 55.6695-1   Other assessable penalties with respect to the preparation of tax returns or claims for refund for other persons.
(a) In general. A person who is a tax return preparer of any return or claim for refund of tax under chapter 44 of subtitle D of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) shall be subject to penalties for failure to furnish a copy to the taxpayer under section 6695(a) of the Code, failure to sign the return under section 6695(b) of the Code, failure to furnish an identification number under section 6695(c) of the Code, failure to retain a copy or list under section 6695(d) of the Code, failure to file a correct information return under section 6695(e) of the Code, and negotiation of a check under section 6695(f) of the Code, in the manner stated in § 1.6695-1 of this chapter.
(b) Effective/applicability date. This section is applicable to returns and claims for refund filed after December 31, 2008.
§ 55.6696-1   Claims for credit or refund by tax return preparers.
(a) In general. For rules for claims for credit or refund by a tax return preparer who prepared a return or claim for refund for tax under chapter 44 of subtitle D of the Internal Revenue Code, the rules under § 1.6696-1 of this chapter will apply.
(b) Effective/applicability date. This section is applicable to returns and claims for refund filed, and advice provided, after December 31, 2008.
§ 55.7701-1   Tax return preparer.
(a) In general. For the definition of a tax return preparer, see § 301.7701-15 of this chapter.
(b) Effective/applicability date. This section is applicable to returns and claims for refund filed, and advice provided, after December 31, 2008.