IRS Publishes Proposed Regs on Substantial Business Activities of Foreign Corporations

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking by cross-reference to temporary regulations.

SUMMARY: In the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register, the IRS and the Treasury Department are issuing temporary regulations regarding whether a foreign corporation has substantial business activities in a foreign country. These regulations affect certain domestic corporations and partnerships (and certain parties related thereto), and foreign corporations that acquire substantially all of the properties of such domestic corporations or partnerships. The text of the temporary regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations. The preamble to the temporary regulations explains the temporary regulations and these proposed regulations.

DATES: Written or electronic comments and requests for a public hearing must be received by September 10, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send submissions to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-107889-12), room 5203, Internal Revenue Service, PO Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044. Submissions may be hand-delivered Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-107889-12), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC, or sent electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov (IRS and REG-107889-12).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the proposed regulations, Mary W. Lyons, (202) 622-3860 and David A. Levine, (202) 622-3860; concerning submissions of comments or requests for a public hearing, Oluwafunmilayo (Funmi) Taylor, (202) 622-7180 (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Explanation of Provisions

Temporary regulations in the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register amend the Income Tax Regulations (26 CFR part 1) relating to section 7874 of the Code. The temporary regulations provide guidance regarding whether a foreign corporation has substantial business activities in a foreign country for purposes of whether a foreign corporation is treated as a surrogate foreign corporation under section 7874(a)(2)(B). The text of those regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations. The preamble to the temporary regulations explains these amendments.

Special Analyses

It has been determined that this notice of proposed rulemaking is not a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It has also been determined that 5 U.S.C. 553(b) does not apply to these regulations. These regulations do not impose a collection of information. Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6), it is hereby certified that this regulation will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The complexity and cost of a transaction to which section 7874 may apply make it unlikely that a substantial number of small entities will engage in such a transaction. In addition, any economic impact to entities affected by section 7874, large or small, is derived from the operation of the statute or its intended application, and not from the temporary regulations. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Code, these regulations have been submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on small business.

Comments and Requests for a Public Hearing

Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, consideration will be given to any written comments (a signed original and eight (8) copies) or electronic comments that are submitted timely to the IRS. The IRS and the Treasury Department specifically request comments on the clarity of the proposed rules and how they can be made easier to understand. All comments will be available for public inspection and copying. A public hearing will be scheduled if requested in writing by any person who timely submits written comments. If a public hearing is scheduled, notice of the date, time, and place for the public hearing will be published in the Federal Register.

Drafting Information

The principal authors of these proposed regulations are Mary W. Lyons and David A. Levine of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (International). However, other personnel from the IRS and the Treasury Department participated in their development.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Proposed Amendments to the Regulations

Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 1 -- INCOME TAXES

Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read in part as follows:

Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *

Section 1.7874-3 is also issued under 26 U.S.C. 7874(c)(6) and (g). * * *

Par. 2. Section 1.7874-3 is added to read as follows:

§ 1.7874-3 Substantial business activities.

[The text of proposed § 1.7874-3 is the same as the text of § 1.7874-3T published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register ].