Applying Section 197 To Partnerships

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service 26 CFR Part 1 [REG-100163-00] RIN 1545-AX73

TITLE: Applying Section 197 To Partnerships

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking and notice of public hearing.

SUMMARY: This document contains proposed regulations relating to the
amortization of certain intangible property to partnership
transactions involving sections 732(b) and 734(b). The proposed
regulations interpret the provisions of section 197(f)(9),
reflecting changes to the law made by the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA '93) and affect taxpayers who
acquired intangible property after August 10, 1993, or made a
retroactive election to apply OBRA '93 to intangibles acquired after
July 25, 1991. This document also provides a notice of public
hearing on these proposed regulations.

DATES: Written comments must be received by April 24, 2000. Outlines
of topics to be discussed at the public hearing scheduled for May
24, 2000, at 10 a.m. must be received by May 3, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send submissions to: CC:DOM:CORP:R (REG-100163-00), room
5226, Internal Revenue Service, POB 7604, Ben Franklin Station,
Washington, DC 20044. Submissions may be hand delivered Monday
through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to:

CC:DOM:CORP:R (REG-100163-00), Courier's desk, Internal Revenue
Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.

Alternatively, taxpayers may submit comments electronically via the
Internet by selecting the A Tax Regs @ option on the IRS Home Page,
or by submitting comments directly to the IRS Internet site at
http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/tax_regs/regslist.html. The public
hearing will be held in Room 2615, Internal Revenue Building, 1111
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the proposed
regulations, Robert G. Honigman, (202) 622-3050; concerning
submissions of comments, the hearing, and/or to be placed on the
building access list to attend the hearing Guy Traynor, (202)
622-7180 (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This document proposes to amend section 197 of the Income Tax
Regulations (26 CFR Part 1) to provide additional rules regarding
the application of section 197(f)(9) to partnership transactions
under sections 732(b) and 734(b).

Background

On January 16, 1997, the IRS published proposed regulations
(REG-209709-94) in the Federal Register (62 FR 2336) inviting
comments under sections 167(f) and 197, including the anti-churning
rules in section 197(f)(9). Commentators requested that the final
regulations provide additional guidance on how the special anti-
churning rule of section 197(f)(9)(E) applies to increases in the
basis of partnership property under sections 732, 734, and 743. In
accordance with these comments, these proposed regulations provide
rules for determining the amount of a basis adjustment under
sections 732(b) and 734(b) that will be subject to the anti-churning
rules. Final regulations being issued at the same time as these
proposed regulations provide rules for determining the amount of a
basis adjustment under sections 732(d) and 743(b) that will be
subject to the anti-churning rules.

Explanation of Provisions

A. In General

Section 197(f)(9)(E) provides that, in applying the anti-churning
rules for basis adjustments under sections 732, 734, and 743,
determinations are made at the partner level, and each partner is
treated as having owned and used such partner's proportionate share
of the partnership's assets. With respect to basis adjustments under
sections 732(b) and 734(b), this rule requires taxpayers and the IRS
to analyze transactions that actually involve a distribution of
property from the partnership to a partner as deemed transactions
involving transfers of property directly among the partners.

B. Two-Step Analysis

The proposed regulations embody a two-step analysis in determining
whether the anti-churning rules apply to the deemed transfer of
intangibles in transactions giving rise to basis adjustments under
sections 732(b) and 734(b). First, it is necessary to determine
whether the portion of an intangible that a partner is deemed to
transfer is treated, immediately prior to the deemed transfer, as
being subject to the anti-churning rules for purposes of applying
these provisions. Second, if the partner's share of the intangible
is treated, immediately prior to the deemed transfer, as being
subject to the anti-churning rules for purposes of applying these
provisions, it is necessary to determine whether the deemed
transferor and transferee are related so that the anti-churning
rules will continue to apply to the intangible after the deemed
transfer.

For purposes of applying the first prong of the analysis, when a
partner acquires an interest in a partnership, the proposed
regulations treat the partner as acquiring an undivided interest in
all section 197(f)(9) intangibles held by a partnership at the time
that the partner acquires an interest in the partnership. If a
partner acquires an interest in a partnership from an unrelated
person after August 10, 1993 (or, in certain cases, after July 25,
1991), the partner's share of any intangible held by the partnership
as of August 10, 1993 (or, in certain cases, after July 25, 1991) is
treated as no longer subject to the anti-churning rules for purposes
of analyzing subsequent deemed transfers of intangibles in
transactions that give rise to the basis adjustments under sections
732(b) and 734(b). With respect to intangibles acquired by the
partnership after August 10, 1993, that are subject to the anti-
churning rules in the hands of the partnership, a partner's share of
the intangible is treated as not subject to the anti-churning rules
for purposes of analyzing these basis adjustments if the partner
acquired the interest in the partnership from an unrelated person
after the partnership acquired the tainted intangible. Once a
partner's share of an intangible is treated as no longer subject to
the anti-churning rules for purposes of analyzing subsequent deemed
transfers, that share of the intangible will remain untainted even
if the partner transfers the interest to the original transferor or
a person who is related to the original transferor, so long as the
transfers are not part of the same transaction or series of related
transactions. Special rules are provided where a partner acquires a
partnership interest in exchange for property contributed to a
partnership.

For purposes of applying the anti-churning rules to basis
adjustments under section 732(b), the distributee partner is deemed
to acquire the distributed intangible directly from the continuing
partners of the distributing partnership. The proposed regulations
contain a favorable stacking rule that treats the distributee
partner as acquiring the intangible first from the continuing
partners for whom transfers would not be subject to the anti-
churning rules (either because the continuing partner's share of the
intangible is treated, for purposes of this rule, as not being
subject to the anti-churning rules or the distributee partner is not
related to the continuing partner) to the extent of such partners'
share of appreciation in the intangible.

The proposed regulations contain a special rule to ensure that, in
analyzing subsequent transfers, a partner cannot treat the entire
intangible as no longer subject to the anti-churning rules simply
because the full basis of the intangible (which may be significantly
less than the intangible's fair market value) becomes amortizable as
a result of the favorable stacking rule that applies to section
732(b) basis adjustments.

For purposes of applying the anti-churning rules to basis
adjustments under section 734(b), the continuing partners are deemed
to acquire interests in the intangible that remains in the
partnership from the partner who received a distribution (giving
rise to the section 734(b) basis adjustment) of property other than
the intangible. To the extent that the distributee partner could
transfer the intangible directly to a continuing partner (who may be
the distributee partner) and the transfer would not be subject to
the anti-churning rules (either because the distributee partner's
share of the intangible is treated (for purposes of this rule) as
not being subject to the anti-churning rules or the continuing
partner is not related to the distributee (except in certain
circumstances)), the basis adjustment will be amortizable with
respect to the continuing partner.

The proposed regulations contain a special rule which provides that
if a distribution that gives rise to an increase in the basis under
section 734(b) of a section 197(f)(9) intangible held by the
partnership is undertaken as part of a series of related
transactions that include a contribution of the intangible to the
partnership by a continuing partner, the continuing partner is
treated as related to the distributee partner to the extent that the
continuing partner's partnership interest was received in exchange
for the intangible. In addition to issues relating to determining
the amount of a basis adjustment that is subject to the anti-
churning rules, the Treasury Department and the IRS also recognize
that certain problems may arise in maintaining capital accounts
where a portion of a section 734(b) adjustment is allocated to an
intangible that is subject to the anti-churning rules with respect
to one or more partners. In some situations, the failure to allocate
deductions for amortization to any partner whose allocable share of
a section 734(b) adjustment is subject to the anti-churning rules
will distort the partners' economic agreement. For example, where
partners agree to share depreciation and amortization deductions
equally, if one partner's share of a section 734(b) adjustment
allocable to an intangible asset is subject to the anti-churning
rules, the capital accounts of the partners will not reflect an
equivalent sharing of the economic amortization from the asset
absent special adjustments to account for the disparity between the
allocation of tax amortization and the intended allocation of
economic amortization. Furthermore, divergence of book and tax
accounts with respect to an intangible that may result from such
special adjustments can cause problems in allocating the correct
amount of taxable gain or loss to the appropriate parties upon
disposition of the intangible. Similar problems may arise as a
result of allowing remedial allocations for intangibles that
otherwise are subject to the anti-churning rules and are addressed
in �1.197-2(h)(12)(vii)(B). These regulations are not intended to
create such distortions. Nevertheless, a general rule that resolves
these distortions in all situations (including different allocations
of gain and depreciation or amortization) would be extremely
complicated and, perhaps, unduly narrow.

Therefore, the proposed regulations provide that taxpayers may use
any reasonable method to determine amortization for book purposes in
these situations, provided that the method used does not contravene
the purposes of the anti-churning rules under section 197 (i.e., the
effect of the book adjustments will not be such that a partner who
is subject to the anti-churning rules will receive, directly or
indirectly, deductions for amortization, for Federal income tax
purposes, attributable to the section 734(b) adjustment). The
Treasury Department and IRS may consider providing guidance with
respect to this issue in the future and request comments relating
thereto.

C. Effective Date

These regulations are proposed to apply to distributions occurring
on or after the date final regulations are published in the Federal
Register.

Special Analyses

It has been determined that this notice of proposed rulemaking is
not a significant regulatory action as defined in EO 12866. It also
has been determined that section 533(b) of the Administrative
Procedures Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these
regulations, and because these regulations do not impose a
collection of information on small entities, the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) does not apply. Pursuant to
section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, this notice of
proposed rulemaking will be submitted to the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its
impact on small business.

Comments and 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) that are submitted timely to the IRS.
All comments will be available for public inspection and copying.
The Treasury Department and IRS specifically request comments on the
clarity of the proposed regulations and how they may be made easier
to understand. A public hearing has been scheduled for May 24, 2000,
at 10 a.m. in Room 2615, Internal Revenue Building, 1111
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. Due to building security
procedures, visitors must enter at the 10 Street entrance, th
located between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues, NW. In
addition, all visitors must present photo identification to enter
the building. Because of access restrictions, visitors will not be
admitted beyond the immediate entrance area more than 15 minutes
before the hearing starts. For information about having your name
placed on the building access list to attend the hearing, see the A
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT @ section of this preamble.

The rules of 26 CFR 601.601(a)(3) apply to the hearing. Persons that
wish to present oral comments at the hearing must submit written
comments and an outline of the topics to be discussed and the time
devoted to each topic (signed original and eight (8) copies) by
April 24, 2000.

A period of 10 minutes will be allotted to each person for making
comments.

An agenda showing the scheduling of the speakers will be prepared
after the deadline for receiving outlines has passed. Copies of the
agenda will be available free of charge at the hearing.

Drafting Information

The principal author of these proposed regulations is Robert G.
Honigman, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel (Passthroughs &
Special Industries). However, other personnel from the Treasury
Department and IRS 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 * * *

Par. 2. Section 1.197-2 is amended by:

1. Revising paragraphs (h)(12)(ii), (h)(12)(iv), and (h)(12)(vi).

2. Adding Examples 28, 29, and 30 to paragraph (k).

3. Adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (l)(1). The additions
and revisions read as follows: �1.197-2 Amortization of goodwill and
other intangibles.

* * * * *

(h) * * *

(12) * * *

(ii) Section 732(b) adjustments -- (A) In general. The anti-churning
rules of this paragraph (h) apply to any increase in the adjusted
basis of a section 197(f)(9) intangible under section 732(b) to the
extent that the basis increase exceeds the total unrealized
appreciation from the intangible allocable to B

(1) Partners other than the distributee partner or persons related
to the distributee partner;

(2) If the distributed intangible is a section 197(f)(9) intangible
acquired by the partnership on or before August 10, 1993, the
distributee partner and persons related to the distributee partner
to the extent that B

(i) They acquired an interest or interests in the partnership after
August 10, 1993; and

(ii) Such interest or interests were held after August 10, 1993, by
a person or persons other than the distributee partner or persons
who were related to the distributee partner, and the acquisition of
such interest or interests by such person or persons was not part of
a transaction or series of related transactions in which the
distributee partner or persons related to the distributee partner
subsequently acquired such interest or interests; and

(3) If the distributed intangible is a section 197(f)(9) intangible
that is acquired by the partnership after August 10, 1993, and that
is not amortizable with respect to the partnership, the distributee
partner and persons related to the distributee partner to the extent
that B

(i) They acquired an interest or interests in the partnership after
the partnership acquired the distributed intangible; and

(ii) Such interest or interests were held after the partnership
acquired the distributed intangible, by a person or persons other
than the distributee partner or persons who were related to the
distributee partner, and the acquisition of such  interest or
interests by such person or persons was not part of a transaction or
series of related transactions in which the distributee partner or
persons related to the distributee partner subsequently acquired
such interest or interests.

(B) Effect of retroactive elections. For purposes of paragraph (h)
(12)(ii)(A) of this section, references to August 10, 1993, are
treated as references to July 25, 1991, if the relevant party made a
valid retroactive election under �1.197-1T.

(C) Intangible still subject to anti-churning rules. Notwithstanding
paragraph (h)(12)(ii) of this section, in applying the provisions of
this paragraph (h) with respect to subsequent transfers, the
distributed intangible remains subject to the provisions of this
paragraph (h) in a percentage (determined at the time of the
distribution) equal to B

(1) The sum of B

(i) The amount of the distributed intangible's basis that is
nonamortizable under paragraph (g)(2)(ii)(B) of this section; and

(ii) The total unrealized appreciation inherent in the intangible
reduced by the amount of the increase in the adjusted basis of the
distributed intangible under section 732(b) to which the anti-
churning rules do not apply; over B

(2) The fair market value of such intangible.

(D) Partner's allocable share of unrealized appreciation from the
intangible. The amount of unrealized appreciation from an intangible
that is allocable to a partner is the amount of taxable gain that
would have been allocated to that partner if  the partnership
had sold the intangible immediately before the distribution for its
fair market value in a fully taxable transaction.

(E) Acquisition of partnership interest by contribution. Solely for
purposes of paragraphs (h)(12)(ii)(A)(2) and (3) of this section, a
partner who acquires an interest in a partnership in exchange for a
contribution of property to the partnership is deemed to acquire a
pro rata portion of that interest in the partnership from each
person who is a partner in the partnership at the time of the
contribution based on each such partner's proportionate interest in
the partnership. However, if the partner contributed the distributed
section 197(f)(9) intangible to the partnership, the interest
acquired by such partner in exchange for the intangible is treated
as not being described in paragraphs (h)(12)(ii)(A)(2) or (3) of
this section.

* * * * *

(iv) Section 734(b) adjustments -- (A) In general. The anti-churning
rules of this paragraph (h) do not apply to a continuing partner's
share of an increase in the basis of a section 197(f)(9) intangible
held by a partnership under section 734(b) to the extent that the
continuing partner is an eligible partner.

(B) Eligible partner. For purposes of this paragraph (h)(12)(iv),
eligible partner means B

(1) A continuing partner that is not the distributee partner or a
person related to the distributee partner;  (2) With respect to
any section 197(f)(9) intangible acquired by the partnership on or
before August 10, 1993, a continuing partner that is the distributee
partner or a person related to the distributee partner to the extent
that B

(i) The distributee partner's interest in the partnership was
acquired after August 10, 1993; and

(ii) Such interest was held after August 10, 1993 by a person or
persons who were not related to the distributee partner, and the
acquisition of such interest by such person or persons was not part
of a transaction or series of related transactions in which the
distributee partner or persons related to the distributee partner
subsequently acquired such interest; or

(3) With respect to any section 197(f)(9) intangible acquired by the
partnership after August 10, 1993, that is not amortizable with
respect to the partnership, a continuing partner that is the
distributee partner or a person related to the distributee partner
to the extent that B

(i) The distributee partner's interest in the partnership was
acquired after the partnership acquired the relevant intangible; and

(ii) Such interest was held after the partnership acquired the
relevant intangible by a person or persons who were not related to
the distributee partner, and the acquisition of such interest by
such person or persons was not part of a transaction or series of
related transactions in which the distributee  partner or
persons related to the distributee partner subsequently acquired
such interest.

(C) Effect of retroactive elections. For purposes of paragraph (h)
(12)(iv)(A) of this section, references to August 10, 1993, are
treated as references to July 25, 1991, if the distributee partner
made a valid retroactive election under �1.197-1T.

(D) Partner's share of basis increase. For purposes of this
paragraph (h)(12)(iv), a continuing partner's share of a basis
increase is equal to B

(1) The total basis increase allocable to the intangible; multiplied
by

(2) A fraction equal to B

(i) The unrealized appreciation from the intangible that would have
been allocated to the continuing partner if the partnership had sold
the intangible immediately before the distribution for its fair
market value in a fully taxable transaction; over

(ii) The total unrealized appreciation from the intangible that
would have been realized by the partnership if the partnership had
sold the intangible immediately before the distribution for its fair
market value in a fully taxable transaction.

(E) Interests acquired by contribution -- (1) Application of
paragraphs (h)(12)(iv)(B)(2) and (3) of this section. Solely for
purposes of paragraphs (h)(12)(iv)(B)(2) and (3) of this section, a
partner who acquires an interest in a partnership in exchange for a
contribution of property to the partnership is deemed to acquire a
pro rata portion of that interest in the partnership from each
person who is a partner in the partnership at the time of the
contribution based on each such partner's proportionate interest in
the partnership. However, if the partner contributed the distributed
section 197(f)(9) intangible to the partnership, the interest
acquired by such partner in exchange for the intangible is treated
as not being described in paragraphs (h)(12)(iv)(B)(2) or (3) of
this section.

(2) Special rule with respect to paragraph (h)(12)(iv)(B)(1) of this
section. Solely for purposes of paragraph (h)(12)(iv)(B)(1) of this
section, if a distribution that gives rise to an increase in the
basis under section 734(b) of a section 197(f)(9) intangible held by
the partnership is undertaken as part of a series of related
transactions that include a contribution of the intangible to the
partnership by a continuing partner, the continuing partner is
treated as related to the distributee partner to the extent that the
continuing partner's partnership interest was received in exchange
for the intangible.

(F) Effect of section 734(b) adjustment on partners' capital
accounts. If one or more partners are subject to the anti-churning
rules under this paragraph (h) with respect to a section 734(b)
adjustment allocable to an intangible asset, taxpayers may use any
reasonable method to determine amortization of the asset for book
purposes, provided that the method used does not contravene the
purposes of the anti-churning rules under section 197 and this
paragraph (h). A method will be considered to contravene the
purposes of the anti-churning rules if the effect of the book
adjustments resulting from the method is such that any portion of
the tax deduction for amortization attributable to the section 734
adjustment is allocated, directly or indirectly, to a partner who is
subject to the anti-churning rules with respect to such adjustment.

* * * * *

(vi) Partner is or becomes a user of partnership intangible -- (A)
General rule. If, as part of a series of related transactions that
includes a transaction described in paragraph (h)(12)(ii), (iii),
(iv), or (v) of this section, an anti-churning partner becomes (or
remains) a user of an intangible that is treated as transferred in
the transaction (as a result of the partners being treated as having
owned their proportionate share of partnership assets), the anti-
churning rules shall apply to the proportionate share of such
intangible that is treated as transferred by the anti-churning
partner, notwithstanding the application of paragraph (h)(12)(ii),
(iii), (iv), or (v) of this section.

* * * * *

(k) * * *

Example 28. Distribution of section 197(f)(9) intangible to partner
who acquired partnership interest prior to the effective date. (i)
In 1990, A, B, and C each contribute $150 cash to form general
partnership ABC for the purpose of engaging in a consulting business
and a software manufacturing business. The partners agree to share
partnership profits and losses equally. In 2000, the partnership
distributes the consulting business to A in liquidation of A's
entire interest in ABC. The only asset of the consulting business is
a nonamortizable intangible, which has a fair market value of $180
and a basis of $0. At the time of the distribution, the adjusted
basis of A's interest in ABC is $150. A is not related to B or C.

(ii) Under section 732(b), A's adjusted basis in the intangible
distributed by ABC is $150, a $150 increase over the basis of the
intangible in ABC's hands. In determining whether the anti-churning
rules apply to any portion of the basis increase, A is treated as
having owned and used A's proportionate share of partnership
property. Thus, A is treated as holding an interest in the
intangible during the transition period. Because the intangible was
not amortizable prior to the enactment of section 197, the section
732(b) increase in the basis of the intangible may be subject to the
anti-churning provisions.

Paragraph (h)(12)(ii) of this section provides that the anti-
churning provisions apply to the extent that the section 732(b)
adjustment exceeds the total unrealized appreciation from the
intangible allocable to partners other than A or persons related to
A, as well as certain other partners whose purchase of their
interests meet certain criteria. Because B and C are not related to
A, and A's acquisition of its partnership interest does not satisfy
the necessary criteria, the section 732(b) basis increase is subject
to the anti-churning provisions to the extent that it exceeds B and
C's proportionate share of the unrealized appreciation from the
intangible. B and C's proportionate shares of the unrealized
appreciation from the intangible is $120 (2/3 of $180). This is the
amount of gain that would be allocated to B and C if the partnership
sold the intangible immediately before the distribution for its fair
market value of $180. Therefore, $120 of the section 732(b) basis
increase is not subject to the anti-churning rules. The remaining
$30 of the section 732(b) basis increase is subject to the anti-
churning rules.

Accordingly, A is treated as having two intangibles, an amortizable
section 197 intangible with an adjusted basis of $120 and a new
amortization period of 15 years and a nonamortizable intangible with
an adjusted basis of $30.

(iii) In applying the anti-churning rules to future transfers of the
distributed intangible, under paragraph (h)(12)(ii)(C) of this
section, one-third of the intangible will continue to be subject to
the anti-churning rules, determined as follows: The sum of the
amount of the distributed intangible's basis that is nonamortizable
under paragraph (g)(2)(ii)(B) of this section ($0) and the total
unrealized appreciation inherent in the intangible reduced by the
amount of the increase in the adjusted basis of the distributed
intangible under section 732(b) to which the anti-churning rules do
not apply ($180 - $120 = $60), over the fair market value of the
distributed intangible ($180).

Example 29. Distribution of section 197(f)(9) intangible to partner
who acquired partnership interest after the effective date. (i) The
facts are the same as in example 28, except that B and C form ABC in
1990. A does not acquire an interest in ABC until 1995. In 1995, A
contributes $150 to ABC in exchange for a one-third interest in ABC.
At the time of the distribution, the adjusted basis of A's interest
in ABC is $150.

(ii) As in Example 28, the anti-churning rules do not apply to the
increase in the basis of the intangible distributed to A under
section 732(b) to the extent that it does not exceed the unrealized
appreciation from the intangible allocable to B and C. Under
paragraph (h)(12)(ii) of this section, the anti-churning provisions
also do not apply to the section 732(b) basis increase to the extent
of A's allocable share of the unrealized appreciation from the
intangible because A acquired the ABC interest from an unrelated
person after August 10, 1993, and the intangible was acquired by the
partnership before A acquired the ABC interest. Under paragraph (h)
(12)(ii)(E) of this section, A is deemed to acquire the ABC
partnership interest from an unrelated person because A acquired the
ABC partnership interest in exchange for a contribution to the
partnership of property other than the distributed intangible and,
at the time of the contribution, no partner in the partnership was
related to A. Consequently, the increase in the basis of the
intangible under section 732(b) is not subject to the anti-churning
rules to the extent of the total unrealized appreciation from the
intangible allocable to A, B, and C. The total unrealized
appreciation from the intangible allocable to A, B, and C is $180
(the gain the partnership would have recognized if it had sold the
intangible for its fair market value immediately before the
distribution).

Because this amount exceeds the section 732(b) basis increase of
$150, the entire section 732(b) basis increase is amortizable. (iii)
In applying the anti-churning rules to future transfers of the
distributed intangible, under paragraph (h)(12)(ii)(C) of this
section, one-sixth of the intangible will continue to be subject to
the anti-churning rules, determined as follows: The sum of the
amount of the distributed intangible's basis that is nonamortizable
under paragraph (g)(2)(ii)(B) of this section ($0) and the total
unrealized appreciation inherent in the intangible reduced by the
amount of the increase in the adjusted basis of the distributed
intangible under section 732(b) to which the anti-churning rules do
not apply ($180 - $150 = $30), over the fair market value of the
distributed intangible ($180).

Example 30. Distribution of section 197(f)(9) intangible contributed
to the partnership by a partner. (i) The facts are the same as in
Example 29, except that C purchased the intangible used in the
consulting business in 1988 for $60 and contributed the intangible
to ABC in 1990. At that time, the intangible had a fair market value
of $150 and an adjusted tax basis of $60. When ABC distributes the
intangible to A in 2000, the intangible has a fair market value of
$180 and a basis of $60.

(ii) As in Examples 28 and 29, the adjusted basis of the intangible
in A's hands is $150 under section 732(b). However, the increase in
the adjusted basis of the intangible under section 732(b) is only
$90 ($150 adjusted basis after the distribution compared to $60
basis before the distribution).

Pursuant to paragraph (g)(2)(ii)(B) of this section, A steps into
the shoes of ABC with respect to the $60 of A's adjusted basis in
the intangible that corresponds to ABC's basis in the intangible and
this portion of the basis is nonamortizable. B and C are not related
to A, A acquired the ABC interest from an unrelated person after
August 10, 1993, and the intangible was acquired by ABC before A
acquired the ABC interest. Therefore, under paragraph (h)(12)(ii) of
this section, the section 732(b) basis increase is amortizable to
the extent of A, B, and C's allocable share of the unrealized
appreciation from the intangible. The total unrealized appreciation
from the intangible that is allocable to A, B, and C is $120. If ABC
had sold the intangible immediately before the distribution to A for
its fair market value of $180, it would have recognized gain of
$120, which would have been allocated $10 to A, $10 to B, and $100
to C under section 704(c). Because A, B, and C's allocable share of
the unrealized appreciation from the intangible exceeds the section
732(b) basis increase in the intangible, the entire $90 of basis
increase is amortizable by A. Accordingly, after the distribution, A
will be treated as having two intangibles, an amortizable section
197 intangible with an adjusted basis of $90 and a new amortization
period of 15 years and a nonamortizable intangible with an adjusted
basis of $60.

(iii) In applying the anti-churning rules to future transfers of the
distributed intangible, under paragraph (h)(12)(ii)(C) of this
section, one-half of the intangible will continue to be subject to
the anti-churning rules, determined as follows: The sum of the
amount of the distributed intangible's basis that is nonamortizable
under paragraph (g)(2)(ii)(B) of this section ($60) and the total
unrealized appreciation inherent in the intangible reduced by the
amount of the increase in the adjusted basis of the distributed
intangible under section 732(b) to which the anti-churning rules do
not apply ($120 - $90 = $30), over the fair market value of the
distributed intangible ($180).

* * * * *

(l) * * *

(1) In general. * * * Paragraphs (h)(12)(ii), (iv), and (vi) of this
section apply to partnership distributions occurring on or after the
date final regulations are published in the Federal Register.

* * * * *

David Mader
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service

SEARCH:

You can search the entire Tax Professionals section, or all of Uncle Fed's Tax*Board. For a more focused search, put your search word(s) in quotes.

2000 Regulations Main | IRS Regulations Main | Home