Insurance Company Granted Extension to Make Election

Third Party Communication: None
Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Person To Contact: * * *, ID No. * * *
Telephone Number: * * *

Index Number: 9100.22-00, 831.00-00
Release Date: 10/26/2018

Date: July 25, 2018

Refer Reply To: CC:FIP:B04 - PLR-102512-18

LEGEND:

Taxpayer = * * *
State X = * * *
Date A = * * *
Date B = * * *
Date C = * * *
Year 1 = * * *
External Business Manager = * * *
CPA Firm 1 = * * *
CPA Firm 2 = * * *

Dear * * *:

This letter is in response to Taxpayer's request, pursuant to § 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations, for an extension of time to make the election under § 831(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code effective for the tax year ending on Date C of Year 1.

FACTS

On Date A of Year 1 Taxpayer was incorporated under the laws of State X and on Date B of Year 1 it was licensed as an insurance company in State X. Taxpayer represents that it qualifies as a non-life insurance company for federal income tax purposes.

Taxpayer engaged External Business Manager for certain consulting and administrative services on behalf of Taxpayer. Taxpayer engaged CPA Firm 1 and CPA Firm 2 to assist with federal income tax compliance services. Taxpayer intended to elect under § 831(b)(2) to be taxed only on its taxable investment income.

CPA Firm 1 prepared Taxpayer's Form 1120-PC, including an election statement to be taxed under § 831(b). Taxpayer's Form 1120-PC was sent to CPA Firm 2 for review and approval. CPA Firm 2 recommended an administrative change to the Form 1120-PC.

CPA Firm 1 made the administrative change and mailed the Form 1120-PC, including the § 831(b)(2) election statement, to CPA Firm 2. Subsequently, it was discovered that the Form 1120-PC and § 831(b)(2) election statement were not filed; therefore, Taxpayer filed this request for relief.

Taxpayer's request for relief was filed before the Internal Revenue Service (Service) discovered the failure to make the regulatory election. The granting of relief by the Service will not result in a lower tax liability than Taxpayer would have had if the § 831(b)(2) election was timely made. Taxpayer does not seek to alter a return position for which the accuracy related penalty has been or could have been imposed under § 6662 at the time Taxpayer requested relief, and the new position requires or permits a regulatory election for which relief is requested. Taxpayer has not used hindsight to seek an extension of time to make the § 831(b) election stated above.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 831(a) provides that taxes, computed as provided in § 11, are imposed for each taxable year on the taxable income of every insurance company other than a life insurance company. However, § 831(b) allows certain small companies to elect to be subject to tax on their taxable investment income only. The election applies to the taxable year for which the company made it and, as long as the company continues to qualify, for all subsequent taxable years unless revoked with the consent of the Secretary.

The time and manner to make the § 831(b)(2) election is prescribed by Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-8(a). Pursuant to Treas. Reg. 301.9100-8(a)(2), the election is to be made by the due date (taking into account any extension of time to file obtained by the taxpayer) of the tax return for the first taxable year for which the election is effective by attaching a statement to the tax return containing the information specified in Treas. Reg. 301.9100-8(a)(3). Accordingly, the election under § 831(b) is a regulatory election. Treas. Reg. 301.9100-1(b).

Under Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-1(c), the Commissioner may grant a reasonable extension of time under the rules set forth in Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3 to make a regulatory election. Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(a) provides that a request for relief will be granted when the taxpayer provides evidence to establish to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the taxpayer “acted reasonably and in good faith” and that “the grant of relief will not prejudice the interests of the Government.”

Under Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(b)(1) a taxpayer is deemed to have acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer:

Under Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(b)(3), a taxpayer is deemed not to have acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer:

The Commissioner will grant a reasonable extension of time to make a regulatory election only when the interests of the Government will not be prejudiced by the granting of relief. Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(c)(1). The interests of the Government are prejudiced if granting relief would result in a taxpayer having a lower tax liability in the aggregate for all taxable years affected by the election than the taxpayer would have had if the election had been timely made (taking into account the time value of money). Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(c)(1).

Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-1(a) cautions that granting an extension of time to make an election is not a determination that the taxpayer is otherwise eligible to make the election.

Based solely on Taxpayer's representations and the additional information required under Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(e), Taxpayer qualifies for an extension of time to make the election under § 831(b)(2). Taxpayer is deemed to have acted in good faith, as defined by Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(b), and the grant of relief will not prejudice the interests of the Government.

RULING

Accordingly, under Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3, Taxpayer is granted an extension of time until 90 days following the date of this letter to make the election provided by § 831(b)(2) for the tax year ending on Date C of Year 1. The election should be made in a written statement filed with the appropriate service center. A copy of this letter should be attached to the § 831(b)(2) election.

CAVEATS

The ruling contained in this letter is based upon the information and representations submitted by Taxpayer and accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed by an appropriate party. This office has not verified any of the material submitted in support of the ruling request, and it is subject to verification on examination.

Except as provided above, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning the federal income tax consequences of any other aspect of this or other transactions or item of income of Taxpayer. Specifically no ruling is made as to whether Taxpayer qualifies as an insurance company under § 831 and the granting of the extension under § 301.9100-1(a) should not be construed as a determination that Taxpayer is eligible to make the election provided by § 831(b)(2).

This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Section 6110(k)(3) of the Code provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

In accordance with the Power of Attorney on file with this office, copies of this letter are being sent to your authorized representatives.

Sincerely,

Alexis A. MacIvor
Branch Chief, Branch 4
(Financial Institutions & Products)

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