Extension Granted to Elect Association Status

Third Party Communication: None

This letter responds to a letter dated October 10, 2014, and subsequent correspondence, written on behalf of X, requesting an extension of time under § 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations to file an election under § 301.7701-3(c) to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal tax purposes.

X represents that granting relief will not prejudice the interests of the government and that hindsight is not involved in seeking relief to file a late election. Furthermore, X represents that it acted reasonably and in good faith.

Section 301.7701-3(b)(2) provides guidance on the classification of a foreign eligible entity for federal tax purposes. Generally, unless a foreign eligible entity elects otherwise, the entity is treated as (A) a partnership if it has two or more members and at least one ember does not have limited liability; (B) an association if all members have limited liability; or (C) disregarded as an entity separate from its owner if it has a single owner that does not have limited liability.

Section 301.7701-3(b)(2)(i) provides that unless an entity elects otherwise, a foreign eligible entity is (A) a partnership if it has two or more members and at least one member does not have limited liability; (B) an association if all members have limited liability; or (C) disregarded as an entity separate from its owner if it has a single owner that does not have limited liability.

Section 301.7701-3(c)(1)(i) provides that an eligible entity may elect to be classified other than as provided in § 301.7701-3(b) by filing Form 8832 with the designated service center. Section 301.7701-3(c) provides that an entity classification election must be filed on Form 8832 and can be effective up to 75 days prior to the date the form is filed or up to 12 months after the date the form is filed.

Section 301.7701-3(c)(2) provides that an election made under § 301.7701-3(c)(1)(i) must be signed by (A) each member of the electing entity who is an owner at the time the election is filed; or (B) any officer, manager, or member of the electing entity who is authorized (under local law or the entity's organizational documents) to make the election and who represents to having such authorization under penalties of perjury.

Under § 301.9100-1(c), the Commissioner may grant a reasonable extension of time to make a regulatory election, or a statutory election (but no more than six months except in the case of a taxpayer who is abroad), under all subtitles of the Internal Revenue Code, except subtitles E, G, H, and I. Section 301.9100-1(b) defines the term "regulatory election" as including an election whose due date is prescribed by a regulation published in the Federal Register.

Sections 301.9100-1 through 301.9100-3 provide the standards that the Commissioner will use to determine whether to grant an extension of time to make an election. Section 301.9100-1(a). Section 301.9100-2 provides automatic extensions of time for making certain elections. Section 301.9100-3 provides rules for requesting extensions of time for regulatory elections that do not meet the requirements of § 301.9100-2.

Requests for relief under § 301.9100-3 will be granted when the taxpayer provides evidence to establish that the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith, and that granting relief will not prejudice the interests of the government.

This ruling is contingent on X and the owner of X filing within 120 days of this letter all required income tax and information returns for all open years consistent with the requested relief being effective Date. These returns must include, but are not limited to, Forms 5471, Information Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations. A copy of this letter should be attached to any such returns.

Except as specifically set forth above, we express no opinion concerning the federal tax consequences of the facts described above under any other provision of the Internal Revenue Code.

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, a copy of this letter is being sent to your authorized representatives.