(a) In general.—A shareholder (as defined in
§ 1.1291-9(j)(3)) of a foreign corporation that is a section 1297(e) passive foreign investment
company (PFIC) (as defined in § 1.1291-9(j)(2)(v)) with respect to such shareholder, shall be
treated for tax purposes as holding stock in a PFIC and therefore continues to be subject to
taxation under section 1291 unless the shareholder makes a purging election under section
1298(b)(1). A purging election under section 1298(b)(1) is made under rules similar to the rules of
section 1291(d)(2). Section 1291(d)(2) allows a shareholder to purge the continuing PFIC taint by
either making a deemed sale election or a deemed dividend election.
(b) Application of deemed sale election rules.—
(1) Eligibility to make the deemed sale election.—A shareholder of a foreign corporation that is a section 1297(e) PFIC with respect to such
shareholder may make a deemed sale election under section 1298(b)(1) by applying the rules of
this paragraph (b).
(2) Effect of the deemed sale election.—A shareholder making the deemed sale election
with respect to a section 1297(e) PFIC shall be treated as having sold all of its stock in the section
1297(e) PFIC for its fair market value on the controlled foreign corporation (CFC) qualification
date, as defined in paragraph (d) of this section. A deemed sale under this section is treated as a
disposition subject to taxation under section 1291. Thus, the gain from the deemed sale is taxed as
an excess distribution received on the CFC qualification date. In the case of an election made by
an indirect shareholder, the amount of gain to be recognized and taxed as an excess distribution is
the amount of gain that the direct owner of the stock of the PFIC would have realized on an actual
sale or disposition of the stock of the PFIC indirectly owned by the shareholder. Any loss realized
on the deemed sale is not recognized. After the deemed sale election, the shareholder’s stock with
respect to which the election was made under this paragraph (b) shall not be treated as stock in a
PFIC and the shareholder shall not be subject to taxation under section 1291 with respect to such
stock unless the qualified portion of the shareholder’s holding period ends, as determined under
section 1297(e)(2), and the foreign corporation thereafter qualifies as a PFIC under section
1297(a).
(3) Time for making the deemed sale election.—Except as provided in paragraph (e) of
this section, a shareholder shall make the deemed sale election under this paragraph (b) and
section 1298(b)(1) in the shareholder’s original or amended return for the taxable year that
includes the CFC qualification date (election year). If the deemed sale election is made in an
amended return, the return must be filed by a date that is within three years of the due date, as
extended under section 6081, of the original return for the election year.
(4) Manner of making the deemed sale election.—A shareholder makes the deemed sale
election under this paragraph (b) by filing Form 8621, ‘‘Return by a Shareholder of a Passive
Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund’’, with the return of the shareholder for
the election year, reporting the gain as an excess distribution pursuant to section 1291(a) as if
such sale occurred under section 1291(d)(2), and paying the tax and interest due on the excess
distribution. A shareholder that makes the deemed sale election after the due date of the return
(determined without regard to extensions) for the election year must pay additional interest,
pursuant to section 6601, on the amount of underpayment of tax for that year. An electing
shareholder that realizes a loss shall report the loss on Form 8621, but shall not recognize the
loss.
(5) Adjustments to basis.—A shareholder that makes the deemed sale election increases
its adjusted basis of the PFIC stock owned directly by the amount of gain recognized on the
deemed sale. If the shareholder makes the deemed sale election with respect to a PFIC of which it
is an indirect shareholder, the shareholder’s adjusted basis of the stock or other property owned
directly by the shareholder, through which ownership of the PFIC is attributed to the shareholder,
is increased by the amount of gain recognized by the shareholder. In addition, solely for purposes
of determining the subsequent treatment under the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and regula-
tions of a shareholder of the stock of the PFIC, the adjusted basis of the direct owner of the stock
of the PFIC is increased by the amount of gain recognized on the deemed sale. A shareholder
shall not adjust the basis of any stock with respect to which the shareholder realized a loss on the
deemed sale, which loss is not recognized under paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(6) Treatment of holding period.—If a shareholder of a foreign corporation has made a
deemed sale election, then, for purposes of applying sections 1291 through 1298 to such share-
holder after the deemed sale, the shareholder’s holding period in the stock of the foreign
corporation begins on the CFC qualification date, without regard to whether the shareholder
recognized gain on the deemed sale. For other purposes of the Code and regulations, this holding
period rule does not apply.
(c) Application of deemed dividend election rules.—
(1) Eligibility to make the deemed dividend election.—A shareholder of a foreign corporation that is a section 1297(e) PFIC with respect to
such shareholder may make the deemed dividend election under the rules of this paragraph (c). A
deemed dividend election may be made by a shareholder whose pro rata share of the post-1986
earnings and profits of the PFIC attributable to the PFIC stock held on the CFC qualification date
is zero.
(2) Effect of the deemed dividend election.—A shareholder making the deemed dividend
election with respect to a section 1297(e) PFIC shall include in income as a dividend its pro rata
share of the post-1986 earnings and profits of the PFIC attributable to all of the stock it held,
directly or indirectly on the CFC qualification date, as defined in paragraph (d) of this section. The
deemed dividend is taxed under section 1291 as an excess distribution received on the CFC
qualification date. The excess distribution determined under this paragraph (c) is allocated under
section 1291(a)(1)(A) only to each day of the shareholder’s holding period of the stock during
which the foreign corporation qualified as a PFIC. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the
shareholder’s holding period of the PFIC stock ends on the day before the CFC qualification date.
After the deemed dividend election, the shareholder’s stock with respect to which the election was
made under this paragraph (c) shall not be treated as stock in a PFIC and the shareholder shall
not be subject to taxation under section 1291 with respect to such stock unless the qualified
portion of the shareholder’s holding period ends, as determined under section 1297(e)(2), and the
foreign corporation thereafter qualifies as a PFIC under section 1297(a).
(3) Post-1986 earnings and profits defined.—
(i) In general.—
(A) General rule.—For purposes of this section, the term post-1986 earnings and profits means the post-1986 undistributed
earnings, within the meaning of section 902(c)(1) (determined without regard to section
902(c)(3)), as of the day before the CFC qualification date, that were accumulated and not
distributed in taxable years of the PFIC beginning after 1986 and during which it was a PFIC,
without regard to whether the earnings related to a period during which the PFIC was a CFC.
(B) Special rule.—If the CFC qualification date is a day that is after the first day
of the taxable year, the term post-1986 earnings and profits means the post-1986 undistributed
earnings, within the meaning of section 902(c)(1) (determined without regard to section
902(c)(3)), as of the close of the taxable year that includes the CFC qualification date. For
purposes of this computation, only earnings and profits accumulated in taxable years during which
the foreign corporation was a PFIC shall be taken into account, but without regard to whether the
earnings related to a period during which the PFIC was a CFC.
(ii) Pro rata share of post-1986 earnings and profits attributable to shareholder’s
stock.—
(A) In general.—A shareholder’s pro rata share of the post-1986 earnings and profits of the
PFIC attributable to the stock held by the shareholder on the CFC qualification date is the amount
of post-1986 earnings and profits of the PFIC accumulated during any portion of the shareholder’s
holding period ending at the close of the day before the CFC qualification date and attributable,
under the principles of section 1248 and the regulations under that section, to the PFIC stock held
on the CFC qualification date.
(B) Reduction for previously taxed amounts.—A shareholder’s pro rata share of
the post-1986 earnings and profits of the PFIC does not include any amount that the shareholder
demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Commissioner (in the manner provided in paragraph
(c)(5)(ii) of this section) was, pursuant to another provision of the law, previously included in the
income of the shareholder, or of another U.S. person if the shareholder’s holding period of the
PFIC stock includes the period during which the stock was held by that other U.S. person.
(4) Time for making the deemed dividend election.—Except as provided in paragraph (e)
of this section, the shareholder shall make the deemed dividend election under this paragraph (c)
and section 1298(b)(1) in the shareholder’s original or amended return for the taxable year that
includes the CFC qualification date (election year). If the deemed dividend election is made in an
amended return, the return must be filed by a date that is within three years of the due date, as
extended under section 6081, of the original return for the election year.
(5) Manner of making the deemed dividend election.—
(i) In general.—A shareholder
makes the deemed dividend election by filing Form 8621 and the attachment to Form 8621
described in paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section with the return of the shareholder for the election
year, reporting the deemed dividend as an excess distribution pursuant to section 1291(a)(1), and
paying the tax and interest due on the excess distribution. A shareholder that makes the deemed
dividend election after the due date of the return (determined without regard to extensions) for
the election year must pay additional interest, pursuant to section 6601, on the amount of
underpayment of tax for that year.
(ii) Attachment to Form 8621.—The shareholder must attach a schedule to Form
8621 that demonstrates the calculation of the shareholder’s pro rata share of the post-1986
earnings and profits of the PFIC that is treated as distributed to the shareholder on the CFC
qualification date, pursuant to this paragraph (c). If the shareholder is claiming an exclusion from
its pro rata share of the post-1986 earnings and profits for an amount previously included in its
income or the income of another U.S. person, the shareholder must include the following
information:
(A) The name, address and taxpayer identification number of each U.S. person
that previously included an amount in income, the amount previously included in income by each
such U.S. person, the provision of law, pursuant to which the amount was previously included in
income, and the taxable year or years of inclusion of each amount.
(B) A description of the transaction pursuant to which the shareholder acquired, directly or indirectly, the stock of the PFIC from another U.S. person, and the provision of
law pursuant to which the shareholder’s holding period includes the period the other U.S. person
held the CFC stock.
(6) Adjustments to basis.—A shareholder that makes the deemed dividend election
increases its adjusted basis of the stock of the PFIC owned directly by the shareholder by the
amount of the deemed dividend. If the shareholder makes the deemed dividend election with
respect to a PFIC of which it is an indirect shareholder, the shareholder’s adjusted basis of the
stock or other property owned directly by the shareholder, through which ownership of the PFIC
is attributed to the shareholder, is increased by the amount of the deemed dividend. In addition,
solely for purposes of determining the subsequent treatment under the Code and regulations of a
shareholder of the stock of the PFIC, the adjusted basis of the direct owner of the stock of the
PFIC is increased by the amount of the deemed dividend.
(7) Treatment of holding period.—If the shareholder of a foreign corporation has made a
deemed dividend election, then, for purposes of applying sections 1291 through 1298 to such
shareholder after the deemed dividend, the shareholder’s holding period of the stock of the
foreign corporation begins on the CFC qualification date. For other purposes of the Code and
regulations, this holding period rule does not apply.
(8) Coordination with section 959(e).—For purposes of section 959(e), the entire
deemed dividend is treated as having been included in gross income under section 1248(a).
(d) CFC qualification date.—For purposes of this section, the CFC qualification date is the
first day on which the qualified portion of the shareholder’s holding period in the section 1297(e)
PFIC begins, as determined under section 1297(e).
(e) Late purging elections requiring special consent.—
(1) In general.—This section prescribes
the exclusive rules under which a shareholder of a section 1297(e) PFIC may make a section
1298(b)(1) election after the time prescribed in paragraph (b)(3) or (c)(4) of this section for
making a deemed sale or a deemed dividend election has elapsed (late purging election).
Therefore, a shareholder may not seek such relief under any other provisions of the law, including
§ 301.9100-3 of this chapter. A shareholder may request the consent of the Commissioner to make
a late deemed sale or deemed dividend election for the taxable year of the shareholder that
includes the CFC qualification date provided the shareholder satisfies the requirements set forth
in this paragraph (e). The Commissioner may, in his discretion, grant relief under this paragraph
(e) only if—
(i) In a case where the shareholder is requesting consent under this paragraph (e)
after December 31, 2005, the shareholder requests such consent before a representative of the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) raises upon audit the PFIC status of the foreign corporation for any
taxable year of the shareholder;
(ii) The shareholder has agreed in a closing agreement with the Commissioner,
described in paragraph (e)(3) of this section, to eliminate any prejudice to the interests of the U.S.
government, as determined under paragraph (e)(2) of this section, as a consequence of the
shareholder’s inability to file amended returns for its taxable year in which the CFC qualification
date falls or an earlier closed taxable year in which the shareholder has taken a position that is
inconsistent with the treatment of the foreign corporation as a PFIC; and
(iii) The shareholder satisfies the procedural requirements set forth in paragraph
(e)(3) of this section.
(2) Prejudice to the interests of the U.S. government.—The interests of the U.S. govern-
ment are prejudiced if granting relief would result in the shareholder having a lower tax liability
(other than by a de minimis amount), taking into account applicable interest charges, for the
taxable year that includes the CFC qualification date (or a prior taxable year in which the taxpayer
took a position on a return that was inconsistent with the treatment of the foreign corporation as a
PFIC) than the shareholder would have had if the shareholder had properly made the section
1298(b)(1) election in the time prescribed in paragraph (b)(2) or (c)(3) of this section (or had not
taken a position in a return for an earlier year that was inconsistent with the status of the foreign
corporation as a PFIC). The time value of money is taken into account for purposes of this
computation.
(3) Procedural requirements.—
(i) In general.—The amount due with respect to a late
purging election is determined in the same manner as if the purging election had been timely
filed. However, the shareholder is also liable for interest on the amount due, pursuant to section
6601, determined for the period beginning on the due date (without extensions) for the taxpayer’s
income tax return for the year in which the CFC qualification date falls and ending on the date the
late purging election is filed with the IRS.
(ii) Filing instructions.—A late purging election is made by filing a completed Form
8621-A, “Return by a Shareholder Making Certain Late Elections to End Treatment as a Passive
Foreign Investment Company.”
(4) Time and manner of making late election.—
(i) Time for making a late purging election.—A shareholder may make a late purging election in the manner provided in paragraph
(e)(4)(ii) of this section at any time. The date the election is filed with the IRS will determine the
amount of interest due under paragraph (e)(3) of this section.
(ii) Manner of making a late purging election.—A shareholder makes a late purging
election by completing Form 8621-A in the manner required by that form and this section and
filing that form with the Internal Revenue Service, DP 8621-A, Ogden, UT 84201.
(5) Multiple late elections.—
(i) General rule.—A shareholder of a foreign corporation
may make multiple late purging elections under the rules of this paragraph (e) or § 1.1298-3(e) to
the same extent such multiple purging elections could have been made if those purging elections
had been filed within the time prescribed under paragraph (b)(3) or (c)(4) of this section or
§ 1.1298-3(b)(3) or (c)(4).
(ii) Example.—The rule of this paragraph (e)(5) is illustrated by the following example:
Example. (i) In 1991, X, a U.S person, acquired a five percent interest in the stock of
FC, a controlled foreign corporation, as defined in section 957(a). In years 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996
and 1997, FC satisfied either the income test or the asset test of section 1297(a). X did not make a
QEF election with regard to FC. In years 1993 and 1994, FC did not satisfy either the income or
the asset test of section 1297(a). In 1998, X acquired additional stock in FC such that X was a U.S.
shareholder (as defined in section 951(b)) of FC.
(ii) Because FC qualified as a PFIC in 1991, FC will be treated as a PFIC with
respect to all of the stock held by X, under the “once a PFIC always a PFIC” rule of section
1298(b)(1), unless X makes an election to purge the PFIC taint. Because X ceased to satisfy either
the income or asset test in 1993, X could have made an election under § 1.1298-3 to purge the PFIC
taint of FC for that year if X had filed such an election within the time prescribed under
§ 1.1298-3(b)(3) or (c)(4). If X had done so, the stock X held in FC would not be treated as stock in
a PFIC for the years 1993 and 1994. Because X became a U.S. shareholder of FC in 1998, X then
could have made a deemed sale or deemed dividend election under this section to purge the PFIC
taint of FC for the years 1995 through 1997 if X had filed within the time prescribed under
paragraph (b)(3) or (c)(4) of this section. Accordingly, X may make a late purging election to
purge the PFIC taint of FC for the years 1991 and 1992 under the rules of § 1.1298-3(e) and may
also make a late purging election to purge the PFIC taint of FC for the years 1995 through 1997
under the rules of this paragraph (e).
(f) Effective/applicability date.—The rules of this section are applicable as of December 8,
2005. [Reg. § 1.1297-3.]
[T.D. 9360, 9-26-2007 (corrected 10-17-2007).]