Source: http://uwrflegacy.org/?pageID=39&docID=1053
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 16:32:08+00:00

Document:
Donor created Trust prior to December 31, 2000. Trust has the potential for generation-skipping transfers (GST). Prior to December 31, 2000, Donor and Spouse made gifts to Trust but did not allocate GST exemption to the trust. After December 31, 2000, Donor made gifts to Trust in Years 2 through 17. Donor and Spouse retained Company to prepare their Forms 709 for Years 2 through 17. Donor and Spouse elected to split the gifts to Trust in those years. Company did not advise Donor and Spouse about the automatic GST exemption allocation for those years and their ability to elect out under Sec. 2632(c)(5). Donor and Spouse failed to elect out of the automatic allocation of GST exemption for transfers to Trust in Years 2 through 17. Donor requests an extension of time to elect out of the automatic allocation.
Section 2601 imposes a tax on every GST made by a transferor to a skip person. Section 2611(a) defines a GST as a taxable distribution, a taxable termination or a direct skip. Under Sec. 2602, the amount of the GST tax equals the taxable amount multiplied by the applicable rate. The applicable rate is defined under Sec. 2651(a) as the product of the maximum federal estate tax rate and the inclusion ratio. Section 2631(a) allows a GST exemption for every individual for the purposes of determining the inclusion ratio. Under Sec. 2631(b), the Sec. 2631(a) exemption allocation is irrevocable. Section 2631(c)(1) automatically allocates any unused portion of an individual's GST exemption to an indirect skip. Section 2632(c)(5)(A)(i) allows an individual to elect out of the automatic allocation of the GST exemption. According to Sec. 2632(c)(5)(B)(ii), this election may be made on a timely filed gift tax return for the calendar year of the election. Section 26.2632-1(b)(2)(iii) allows the individual to elect out by attaching a statement to a timely filed Form 709. Section 2642(g)(1)(A) allows requests for an extension of time to make the GST exemption allocation. Regulation 301.9100-3 allows for an extension of time to be granted if the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith and the relief granted will not prejudice the interests of the government. Regulation 301.9100-3(b)(1)(v) states that a taxpayer will be deemed to have acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional who failed to make, or advise the taxpayer to make, the election. Here, the Service determined Donor and Spouse acted in good faith and relied on a qualified tax professional. Thus, the Service granted Donor 120 days from the date of the letter to make an election under Sec. 2632(c)(5).
This letter responds to the letter dated March, 26, 2018, submitted by your authorized representative, requesting an extension of time pursuant to § 2642(g) of the Internal Revenue Code and § 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations to make an election under § 2632(c)(5) to opt out of the generation-skipping transfer (GST) exemption automatic allocation rules under § 2632(c) with respect to transfers to a trust.
On Date 1 in Year 1, a date prior to December 31, 2000, Donor created Trust, an irrevocable trust, for the benefit of a child and the child's. Trust has generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax potential.
Prior to December 31, 2000, Donor and Spouse made gifts to Trust but did not allocate their GST exemption to Trust. Subsequent to December 31, 2000, Donor made gifts to Trust in Years 2 through 17.
Donor and Spouse retained the Tax Department of Company, a family owned company, to advise and prepare their Year 2 through 17 Forms 709 (United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return reporting the Year 2 through 17 transfers to Trust. Both Donor and Spouse elected to split the gifts to Trust for those years. Although Donor and Spouse did not intend for GST exemption to be allocated to the Year 2 through 17 transfers, Company's tax professionals failed to advise Donor or Spouse of the rules under § 2632(c) regarding the automatic allocation of GST exemption and the ability to elect out of the automatic allocation of GST exemption by making an election under § 2632(c)(5). Therefore, Donor and Spouse failed to elect out of the automatic allocation of GST exemption for the Year 2 through 17 transfers to Trust. The Tax Department discovered these errors upon review of the Forms 709.
Donor requests an extension of time to elect out of the automatic allocation rules with respect to Donor's Year 2 through 17 transfers to Trust.
Section 2601 imposes a tax on every generation-skipping transfer (GST) made by a "transferor" to a "skip person." A GST is defined under § 2611(a) as: (1) a taxable distribution; (2) a taxable termination; and (3) a direct skip.
Section 2602 provides that the amount of GST tax imposed by § 2601 is the taxable amount multiplied by the applicable rate. Section 2641(a) defines the applicable rate as the product of the maximum federal estate tax rate and the inclusion ratio with respect to the transfer.
Section 2631(a) provides that, for purposes of determining the inclusion ratio, every individual shall be allowed a GST exemption amount which may be allocated by such individual (or his executor) to any property with respect to which such individual is the transferor.
Section 2631(b) provides that any allocation under § 2631(a), once made, shall be irrevocable.
Section 2631(c) provides that, for purposes of § 2631(a), the GST exemption amount for any calendar year shall be equal to the basic exclusion amount under § 2010(c) for such calendar year.
Section 2632(a)(1) provides that any allocation by an individual of his or her GST exemption under § 2631(a) may be made at any time on or before the date prescribed for filing the estate tax return for such individual's estate (determined with regard to extensions), regardless of whether such a return is required to be filed. Section 2632(a)(2) provides that the manner in which allocations are to be made shall be prescribed by forms or regulations issued by the Secretary.
Section 2632(c)(1) provides that if any individual makes an "indirect skip" during such individual's lifetime, any unused portion of such individual's GST exemption is treated as allocated to the property transferred to the extent necessary to make the inclusion ratio for such property zero. If the amount of the indirect skip exceeds such unused portion, the entire unused portion shall be allocated to the property transferred.
Under § 2632(c)(3)(A), the term "indirect skip" means any transfer of property (other than a direct skip) subject to the tax imposed by chapter 12 made to a GST trust, as defined in § 2632(c)(3)(B). Under § 2632(c)(3)(B), a GST trust is a trust that could have GST potential with respect to the transferor unless the trust satisfies any of the exceptions listed in § 2632(c)(3)(B)(i)-(vi).
Section 2632(c)(5)(A)(i) provides that an individual may elect to have the automatic allocation rules of § 2632(c)(1) not apply to an indirect skip, or any or all transfers made by such individual to a particular trust. Section 2632(c)(5)(B)(ii) provides that the election may be made on a timely filed gift tax return for the calendar year for which the election is to become effective.
Section 26.2632-1(b)(2)(iii)(A)(2) of the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Regulations provides, in part, that a transferor may prevent the automatic allocation of GST exemption (elect out) with respect to any transfer or transfers constituting an indirect skip made to a trust. A transferor may elect out with respect to one or more (or all) current-year transfers made by the transferor to a specified trust or trusts.
Section 26.2632-1(b)(2)(iii)(B) provides that to elect out, the transferor must attach an election out statement to a Form 709 filed within the time period provided in § 26.2632-1(b)(2)(iii)(C). In general, the election out statement must identify the trust, and specifically must provide that the transferor is electing out of the automatic allocation of GST exemption with respect to the described transfer or transfers. Under § 26.2632-1(b)(2)(iii)(C), to elect out, the Form 709 with the attached election out statement must be filed on or before the due date for timely filing the Form 709 for the calendar year in which the transfer to be covered by the election out was made.
Section 2642(g)(1)(A) provides, generally, that the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe such circumstances and procedures under which extensions of time will be granted to make an allocation of GST exemption described in § 2642(b)(1) or (2), and an election under § 2632(b)(3) or (c)(5).
Section 2642(g)(1)(B) provides that in determining whether to grant relief under § 2642(g)(1), the Secretary shall take into account all relevant circumstances, including evidence of intent contained in the trust instrument or instrument of transfer and such other factors as the Secretary deems relevant. For purposes of determining whether to grant relief, the time for making the allocation (or election) shall be treated as if not expressly prescribed by statute.
Notice 2001-50, 2001-2 C.B. 189, provides that, under § 2642(g)(1)(B), the time for allocating the GST exemption to lifetime transfers and transfers at death, the time for electing out of the automatic allocation rules, and the time for electing to treat any trust as a GST trust are to be treated as if not expressly prescribed by statute. The Notice further provides that taxpayers may seek an extension of time to make an allocation described in § 2642(b)(1) or (b)(2) or an election described in § 2632(b)(3) or (c)(5) under the provisions of § 301.9100-3.
Sections 301.9100-1 through 301.9100-3 provide the standards the Commissioner will use to determine whether to grant an extension of time to make an election. Section 301.9100-2 provides an automatic extension of time for making certain elections. Section 301.9100-3 provides the standards used to determine whether to grant an extension of time to make an election whose date is prescribed by a regulation (and not expressly provided by statute). In accordance with § 2642(g)(1)(B) and Notice 2001-50, taxpayers may seek an extension of time to make an allocation described in §2642(b)(1) or (b)(2) or an election described in § 2632(b)(3) or (c)(5) under the provisions of § 301.9100-3.
Section 301.9100-3(a) provides, in part, that requests for relief subject to § 301.9100-3 will be granted when the taxpayer provides the evidence to establish to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith, and the grant of relief will not prejudice the interests of the Government.
Based on the facts submitted and the representations made, we conclude that the requirements of § 301.9100-3 have been satisfied. Accordingly, Donor is granted an extension of time of 120 days from the date of this letter to make an election under § 2632(c)(5) that the automatic allocation rules do not apply to the Year 2 through 17 transfers to Trust.
Donor should make the election on supplemental Forms 709 for Year 2 through 17. The supplemental Forms 709 should be filed with the Cincinnati Service Center at the following address: Internal Revenue Service Center, Cincinnati, OH 45999. A copy of this letter should be attached to the supplemental Form 709. A copy is enclosed for this purpose.

References: § 2642
 § 301
 § 2632
 § 2632
 § 2632
 § 2632
 § 2611
 § 2601
 § 2631
 § 2631
 § 2010
 § 2631
 § 2632
 § 2632
 § 2632
 § 2632
 § 2632
 § 26
 § 26
 § 2642
 § 2632
 § 2642
 § 2642
 § 2642
 § 2632
 § 301
 § 2642
 §2642
 § 2632
 § 301
 § 301
 § 301
 § 2632