Extension Granted to Elect Out of GSTT Exemption Allocation

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

Index Number: 9100.00-00, 2632.00-00, 2642.00-00
Release Date: 9/28/2018

Date: June 21, 2018

Refer Reply To: CC:PSI:B04 - PLR-137991-17

LEGEND:

Taxpayer = * * *
Spouse = * * *
Date 1 = * * *
Date 2 = * * *
Year 1 = * * *
Year 2 = * * *
Trust = * * *
Accountant = * * *

Dear * * *:

This letter responds to your authorized representative's letter dated November 21, 2017, and subsequent correspondence, requesting an extension of time under § 2642(g) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and § 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations to elect out of the generation-skipping transfer (GST) exemption automatic allocation rules.

The facts and representations submitted are summarized as follows:

On Date 1 in Year 1 (a date after December 31, 2000), Taxpayer established an irrevocable grantor retained annuity trust, Trust. Taxpayer and Spouse each filed a timely Form 709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return. On each form, Taxpayer and Spouse signified their consent to treat the Year 1 transfers as having been made one-half by each spouse under § 2513.

Taxpayer's retained interest in Trust terminated at the end of the annuity term on Date 2 in Year 2. The estate tax inclusion period (ETIP) with respect to the Year 1 transfer closed for GST tax purposes on Date 2. On Date 2, Trust continued as a trust for the benefit of the family members of Taxpayer. Trust has GST potential.

Accountant was responsible for preparing Forms 709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Returns, for Taxpayer and Spouse. Taxpayer and Spouse did not make any taxable gifts in Year 2. Accountant failed to advise Taxpayer and Spouse that it was necessary to file a Form 709 for Year 2 to opt out of an automatic allocation of GST exemption to Trust. Neither Taxpayer nor Spouse filed a Form 709 for Year 2.

Taxpayer requests an extension of time under § 301.9100-3 to elect under § 2632(c)(5) not to have the automatic allocation rules contained in § 2632(c)(1) apply to Taxpayer's Year 1 transfer to Trust.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 2513(a)(1) provides that a gift made by one spouse to any person other than his spouse shall, for purposes of this chapter, be considered as made one-half by him and one-half by his spouse, but only if at the time of the gift each spouse is a citizen or resident of the United States.

Section 2601 provides that a tax is imposed on every generation-skipping transfer (GST). Section 2611(a) provides that the term “generation-skipping transfer” means: (1) a taxable distribution; (2) a taxable termination; and (3) a direct skip.

Section 2602 provides that the amount of GST tax is the taxable amount multiplied by the applicable rate.

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 applicable exclusion amount under § 2010(c) for such calendar year.

Section 2632(a) 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(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 shall be 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.

Section 2632(c)(3)(A) provides that for purposes of this subsection, 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. Section 2632(c)(3)(B) provides, in part, that the term “GST trust” means a trust that could have a generation-skipping transfer with respect to the transferor unless the exceptions enumerated in (i) through (vi) apply.

Section 2632(c)(4) provides that for purposes of § 2632(c), an indirect skip to which § 2642(f) applies shall be deemed to have been made only at the close of the ETIP. The fair market value of such transfer shall be the fair market value of the trust property at the close of the ETIP.

Section 2632(c)(5)(A)(i)(I) provides that an individual may elect to have § 2632(c) not apply to an indirect skip. Section 2632(c)(5)(B)(i) provides that an election under § 2632(c)(5)(A)(i)(I) shall be deemed to be timely if filed on a timely filed gift tax return for the calendar year in which the transfer was made.

Section 26.2632-1(b)(2)(i) of the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Regulations provides that in the case of an indirect skip made after December 31, 2000, to which § 2642(f) (relating to transfers subject to the estate tax inclusion period or ETIP) does not apply, the transferor's unused GST exemption is automatically allocated to the property transferred (but not in excess of the fair market value of the property on the date of the transfer). This automatic allocation is effective whether or not a Form 709 is filed reporting the transfer, and is effective as of the date of the transfer to which it relates. An automatic allocation is irrevocable after the due date of the Form 709 for the calendar year in which the transfer is made.

Section 26.2632-1(b)(2)(ii) provides that, except as otherwise provided, the transferor may prevent the automatic allocation of GST exemption with regard to an indirect skip by making an election as provided in § 26.2632-1(b)(2)(iii).

Section 26.2632-1(b)(2)(iii)(A) 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 or to one or more separate shares that are treated as separate trusts under § 26.2654-1(a)(1). A transferor may elect out with respect to: (1) one or more prior-year transfers subject to § 2642(f) (regarding ETIPs) made by the transferor to a specified trust or trusts; (2) one or more (or all) current-year transfers made by the transferor to a specified trust or trusts; (3) one or more (or all) future transfers made by the transferor to a specified trust or trusts; and (4) all future transfers made by the transferor to all trusts (whether or not in existence at the time of the election out); or (5) any combination of (1) through (4) above.

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: (1) for a transfer subject to § 2642(f), the ETIP closes; or (2) for all other elections out, the first transfer to be covered by the election out was made.

Section 26.2632-1(c)(1)(i) provides that a direct skip or an indirect skip that is subject to an ETIP is deemed to have been made only at the close of the ETIP. The transferor may prevent the automatic allocation of GST exemption to a direct skip or an indirect skip by electing out of the automatic allocation rules at any time prior to the due date of the Form 709 for the calendar year in which the close of the ETIP occurs (whether or not any transfer was made in the calendar year for which the Form 709 was filed, and whether or not a Form 709 otherwise would be required to be filed for that year).

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). Such regulations shall include procedures for requesting comparable relief with respect to transfers made before the date of the enactment of this paragraph.

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 generation-skipping transfer 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 301.9100-1(a).

Section 301.9100-1(c) provides that the Commissioner has discretion to grant a reasonable extension of time under the rules set forth in §§ 301.9100-2 and 301.9100-3 to make a regulatory election, or a statutory election (but no more than 6 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 301.9100-3 provides the standards used to determine whether to grant an extension of time to make an election whose due date is prescribed by a regulation (and not expressly provided by statute). Under § 301.9100-1(b), a regulatory election includes an election whose due date is prescribed by a notice published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. 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.

Section 301.9100-3(b)(1)(v) provides that a taxpayer is deemed to have acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional, including a tax professional employed by the taxpayer, and the tax professional failed to make, or advise the taxpayer to make, the election.

Based upon the facts submitted and representations made, we conclude that the requirements of § 301.9100-3 have been satisfied. Therefore, Taxpayer is granted an extension of time of 120 days from the date of this letter to elect out of the automatic allocation rules under § 2632(c)(5) for the transfer made during Year 1 to Trust. The election should be made on a Forms 709 for Year 2. The Form 709 should be filed with the Cincinnati Service Center at the following address: Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati Service Center — Stop 82, Cincinnati, OH 45999. You should attach a copy of this letter to Form 709. We have enclosed a copy for this purpose.

In accordance with the Power of Accountant on file with this office, we have sent a copy of this letter to your authorized representatives.

Except as expressly provided herein, we neither express nor imply any opinion concerning the tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or referenced in this letter.

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

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

Sincerely,

Associate Chief Counsel
Passthroughs and Special Industries

By: Leslie H. Finlow
Senior Technician Reviewer, Branch 4
Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
(Passthroughs and Special Industries)

Enclosures
Copy for § 6110 purposes
Copy of this letter

cc:
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