Extension Granted to Allocate GSTT Exemptions to Transfers to CRUT

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

Index Number: 2632.00-00, 2642.00-00, 9100.00-00
Release Date: 8/20/2021

Date: March 3, 2021

Refer Reply To: CC:PSI:B04 - PLR-121020-20

In Re: * * *

LEGEND:

Date 1 = * * *
Year = * * *
Date 2 = * * *
Donor = * * *
Spouse = * * *
Executor = * * *
Grandson = * * *
Charity = * * *
CRUT = * * *
Accounting Firm = * * *

Dear * * *:

This letter responds to your personal representative's letter of August 15, 2020, and subsequent correspondence, requesting an extension of time under § 2642(g) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and § 301.9100-1 and § 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations to allocate generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemption to CRUT.

The facts and representations submitted are as follows:

On Date 1, in Year, a date after September 24, 1985 and before July 29, 1997, Donor established and funded CRUT, a charitable remainder unitrust, which provides for the annual payment of a unitrust amount for life to Grandchild. At Grandchild's death, the remainder of CRUT will be paid to Charity. On Date 1, Donor was married to Spouse.

Donor and Spouse relied on Accounting Firm to prepare for each taxpayer a separate Form 709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return reporting Donor's Year transfer to CRUT. On each form, Donor and Spouse elected to split gifts, noting on each of their Form 709s their consent to treat the transfers occurring in Year as having been made one-half by each under § 2513 of the Code. Accounting Firm reported the value of the transfer to CRUT but did not allocate any part of either of Donor or Donor's Spouse's GST exemption to Donor's Year transfer to CRUT. As a result, no part of either of Donor or Donor's Spouse's GST exemption was allocated to Donor's Year transfer to CRUT.

Donor died on Date 2. Executor, the executor of Donor's estate, and Spouse learned of the GST tax consequences of the unitrust payments from CRUT when the Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return was being prepared for Donor's estate.

Executor requests an extension of time pursuant to § 2642(g) and § 301.9100-3 to allocate Donor's available GST exemption to the Year transfers to CRUT and requests that the GST exemption allocated to the transfers will be effective as of the date of each transfer.

Because Donor and Spouse elected to split Donor's gifts for Year, Spouse requests an extension of time pursuant to § 2642(g) and § 301.9100-3 to allocate Spouse's available GST exemption to the Year transfers to CRUT and requests that the GST exemption allocated to the transfers will be effective as of the date of each transfer.

Law and Analysis

Section 2513(a)(1) provides that a gift made by one spouse to any person other than his spouse shall 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. Under § 2513(a)(2), paragraph (a)(1) only applies if both spouses have signified their consent to the application of paragraph (a)(1) in the case of all such gifts made during the calendar year by either while married to the other.

Section 2601 imposes a tax on every generation-skipping transfer. A generation-skipping transfer is defined under § 2611(a) as, (1) a taxable distribution, (2) a taxable termination, and (3) a direct skip.

Section 2602 provides that the amount of the tax imposed by § 2601 is the taxable amount multiplied by the applicable rate. Section 2641(a) defines the term “applicable rate,” with respect to any GST transfer, as the product of the maximum federal estate tax rate and the inclusion ratio with respect to the transfer.

Section 2631(a), as in effect for Year, provides that, for purposes of determining the inclusion ratio, every individual shall be allowed a GST exemption of $1,000,000 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 26.2632-1(b)(4) of the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Regulations provides, in part, that an allocation of GST exemption to property transferred during the transferor's lifetime, other than in a direct skip, is made on Form 709.

Section 2642(a)(1) provides that the inclusion ratio with respect to any property transferred in a generation-skipping transfer is the excess (if any) of one over the “applicable fraction.” Under 2642(a)(1), the applicable fraction is defined as a fraction the numerator of which is the amount of the GST exemption allocated to the trust (or to property transferred in a direct skip), and the denominator of which is the value of the property transferred to the trust (or involved in the direct skip), reduced by the sum of any federal estate tax or state death tax actually recovered from the trust attributable to such property and any charitable deduction allowed under § 2055 or 2522 with respect to such property.

Section 2642(b)(1) provides, in part, that, except as provided in § 2642(f), if the allocation of the GST exemption to any transfers of property is made on a gift tax return filed on or before the date prescribed by § 6075(b) for such transfer, the value of such property for purposes of § 2642(a) shall be its value as finally determined for purposes of chapter 12 (within the meaning of § 2001(f)(2)) and such allocation will be effective on and after the date of such transfer.

Section 2642(g)(1)(A) provides 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 this paragraph, 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 under this paragraph, 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, in part, that, under § 2642(g)(1)(B), the time for allocating the GST exemption to lifetime transfers is to be treated as if not expressly prescribed by statute and taxpayers may seek an extension of time to make an allocation described in § 2642(b)(1) or (b)(2) under the provisions of § 301.9100-3.

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 six months except in the case of a taxpayer who is abroad), under all subtitles of the Code except subtitles E, G, H, and I.

Section 301.9100-3(a) provides that, in general, requests for extensions of time for regulatory elections that do not meet the requirements of § 301.9100-2 must be made under the rules of § 301.9100-3.

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). 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.

Requests for relief under § 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 that granting 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 on the facts submitted and representations made, we conclude that the requirements of § 301.9100-3 have been satisfied. Accordingly, Executor is granted an extension of time of 120 days from the date of this letter to allocate Donor's available GST exemption to Donor's Year transfer to CRUT. Additionally, Spouse is granted an extension of time of 120 days from the date of this letter to allocate Spouse's available GST exemption to Donor's Year transfer to CRUT.

Each election should be made on an amended Form 709 and filed with the Kentucky Service Center at the following address: Internal Revenue Service Center Attn: E&G, Stop 824G 7940 Kentucky Drive Florence, KY 41042-2915. A copy of this letter should be attached to each Form 709.

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

Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is expressed or implied 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) 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.

Sincerely,

Associate Chief Counsel
Passthroughs and Special Industries

By: Melissa C. Liquerman
Branch Chief, Branch 4
Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
(Passthroughs and Special Industries)

Enclosures (2):
Copy for § 6110 purposes
Copy of this letter

cc:
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cc:
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