REG-107722-00 |
January 23, 2006 |
Partial Withdrawal of Previous Proposed Rules,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and
Notice of Public Hearing Corporate Estimated Tax
Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.
Partial withdrawal of previous proposed rules, notice of proposed rulemaking,
and notice of public hearing.
This document withdraws proposed regulations relating to corporate estimated
taxes. This document also contains new proposed regulations that provide
guidance to corporations with respect to estimated tax requirements. These
proposed regulations generally affect corporate taxpayers who are required
to make estimated tax payments. These proposed amendments reflect changes
to the law since 1984. This document also provides notice of a public hearing
on these proposed regulations.
Written or electronic comments must be received by February 22, 2006.
Outlines of topics to be discussed at the public hearing scheduled for March
15, 2006, must be received by February 22, 2006.
Send submissions to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-107722-00), room 5203, 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
4 p.m. to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-107722-00), Courier’s Desk, Internal Revenue
Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, or sent electronically,
via the IRS Internet site at www.irs.gov/regs or via
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov (IRS-REG-107722-00).
The public hearing will be held in the Auditorium, Internal Revenue Service
Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Concerning the proposed regulations, Joseph P. Dewald, (202) 622-4910;
concerning the submissions of comments, the hearing, and/or to be placed on
the building access list to attend the hearing, Robin Jones at (202) 622-7180
(not toll-free numbers).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Explanation of Provisions
This document withdraws §§1.6152-1(a)(1), 1.6654-2(d)(1)(i),
1.6655-1, 1.6655-2, 1.6655-3, 1.6655-4, 1.6655-5, 1.6655-6, and 301.6655-1
in the notice of proposed rulemaking (LR-228-82, 1984-1 C.B. 760) relating
to corporate estimated taxes under section 6655 that was published in the Federal Register (49 FR 11186) on March 26, 1984 (referred
to as the 1984 proposed regulations). This document also contains new proposed
amendments to the Income Tax Regulations (26 CFR Part 1) and the Procedure
and Administration Regulations (26 CFR Part 301) relating to corporate estimated
taxes under section 6425 and section 6655 of the Internal Revenue Code. The
IRS is withdrawing the 1984 proposed regulations because significant changes
to the law since 1984 have caused them to become outdated.
These proposed regulations reflect changes to the law made by the Deficit
Reduction Act of 1984, Public Law 98-369 (98 Stat. 494), the Superfund Amendments
and Reauthorization Act of 1986, Public Law 99-499 (100 Stat. 1613), the Tax
Reform Act of 1986, Public Law 99-514 (100 Stat. 2085), the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1987, Public Law 100-203 (101 Stat. 1330), the Revenue
Act of 1987, Public Law 100-203 (101 Stat. 1330-382), the Omnibus Trade and
Competitiveness Act of 1988, Public Law 100-418 (102 Stat. 1107), the Technical
and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, Public Law 100-647 (102 Stat. 3342),
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, Public Law 101-239 (103 Stat.
2106), the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, Public Law 101-508 (104
Stat. 1388), the Tax Extension Act of 1991, Public Law 102-227 (105 Stat.
1686), the Act of Feb. 7, 1992, Public Law 102-244 (106 Stat. 3), the Unemployment
Compensation Amendments of 1992, Public Law 102-318 (106 Stat. 290), the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Public Law 103-66 (107 Stat. 312), the
Uruguay Round Agreements Act of 1994, Public Law 103-465 (108 Stat. 4809),
the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, Public Law 104-188 (110 Stat.
1755), the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Public Law 105-34 (111 Stat. 788),
the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, Public Law
106-170 (113 Stat. 1860), the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000, Public
Law 106-554 (114 Stat. 2763), the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation
Act of 2001, Public Law 107-16 (115 Stat. 38), the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief
Reconciliation Act of 2003, Public Law 108-27 (117 Stat. 752), and the American
Jobs Creation Act of 2004, Public Law 108-357 (118 Stat. 1418).
The existing regulations under section 6655 do not reflect significant
changes to the tax law since 1984, most notably the enactment of the economic
performance rules under section 461(h). Since the enactment of section 461(h),
the determination of when economic performance must occur for taxpayers to
take a deduction into account for purposes of computing a quarterly estimated
tax payment has been unclear, particularly for taxpayers that compute their
quarterly estimated tax payments using an annualization method.
In addition, the IRS and Treasury Department have become aware of techniques
employed by taxpayers, particularly those taxpayers computing their estimated
tax payments using an annualization method, that reduce, if not eliminate,
estimated tax payments for one or more installments for a taxable year. The
proposed regulations provide rules that the IRS and Treasury Department believe
result in a more accurate reflection of annualized income than methods that
taxpayers may currently be employing. For example, the proposed regulations
make it clear that taxpayers may not, for any purpose, determine taxable income
for an annualization period or an adjusted seasonal installment period as
though the period is a short taxable year. The proposed regulations provide
specific rules for determining taxable income for any annualization period,
including how section 461(h) is to be applied in computing taxable income
for any annualization period. For example, with respect to an item of income
or gain, the proposed regulations provide that the item must be taken into
account in computing annualized taxable income for a particular annualization
period if the item is includible in computing taxable income in accordance
with section 451 on or before the last day of the annualization period. With
respect to an item of deduction, the proposed regulations generally provide
that an accrual method taxpayer may take into account a deduction in computing
annualized taxable income for a particular annualization period only to the
extent the item is incurred under §1.461-1(a)(2) on or before the last
day of the annualization period. For purposes of determining whether a deduction
may be taken into account by an accrual method taxpayer in determining annualized
taxable income for a particular annualization period, the provisions of section
170(a)(2) and §1.170A-11(b) (charitable contributions by accrual method
corporations), §1.461-4(d)(6)(ii) (provision of services or property
to a taxpayer), §1.461-5 (recurring item exception), and any other provision
that has a similar effect are not taken into account in determining whether
the item of deduction has been incurred under §1.461-1(a)(2) and is deductible
in computing annualized taxable income for an annualization period.
Revenue Ruling 76-450, 1976-2 C.B. 444, provides that state property
tax and franchise tax are deductible from the income for an annualization
period on the date the taxpayer accrues the taxes under the taxpayer’s
method of accounting. Revenue Ruling 76-450 was issued prior to the enactment
of section 461(h) and does not take into account the application of the economic
performance requirements of section 461(h) for purposes of computing an estimated
tax payment using the annualized income installment method. The proposed
regulations address the application of section 461(h) for purposes of the
annualized income installment method and provide that a taxpayer using an
accrual method of accounting cannot take a deduction into account unless the
deduction has been incurred under §1.461-1(a)(2) and is otherwise deductible
in computing taxable income for the applicable annualization period. As a
result of the rules provided in the proposed regulations regarding the application
of section 461(h) to the annualized income installment method, Rev. Rul. 76-450
is no longer applicable and will be obsoleted when these regulations are effective.
For purposes of section 404 and the regulations, regardless of the overall
method of accounting employed by the taxpayer, the applicable 2-, 3-, 4-,
5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10- or 11-month annualization period shall not be treated
as a short taxable year and the rules of section 404 and the regulations shall
be applied on the basis of the taxpayer’s taxable year for which estimated
tax is being determined. Thus, the determination of whether a payment to
an employee is deferred compensation under §1.404(b)-1T shall be made
by reference to whether the payment is received by the employee more than
a brief period of time after the last day of the taxable year for which estimated
tax is being determined, and not the last day of the annualization period.
With respect to contributions to qualified plans governed by section 404
and the regulations, in determining whether an item is paid or incurred by
the end of an annualization period, economic performance is satisfied only
to the extent such item is paid by the last day of the annualization period
(without regard to section 404(a)(6)) and does not, in combination with other
such items paid during the annualization period, exceed the applicable deduction
limit of section 404(a) for the taxable year. For purposes of sections 419
and 419A and the regulations, regardless of the overall method of accounting
employed by the taxpayer, the applicable 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-,
or 11-month annualization period shall not be treated as a short taxable year
and the rules of sections 419 and 419A and the regulations shall be applied
on the basis of the taxpayer’s taxable year for which estimated tax
is being determined. With respect to contributions to a welfare benefit fund
governed by sections 419 and 419A and the regulations, in determining whether
an item is paid or incurred by the end of an annualization period, economic
performance is satisfied only to the extent such item is paid by the last
day of the applicable annualization period and does not, in combination with
other such items paid during the annualization period, exceed the applicable
deduction limit of section 419 for the taxable year.
The proposed regulations provide guidance for annual expenses paid or
incurred at the end of the taxable year, or after the end of the taxable year
that are deemed paid or incurred during the taxable year. Section 1.6655-2(f)(2)(i)
of the proposed regulations provides that if an accrual method taxpayer has
a history of incurring a specific item of expense (or paying a specific item
of expense, in the case of a cash method taxpayer) that, while attributable
to income earned throughout the current taxable year, is not incurred (or
paid, in the case of a cash method taxpayer) until the end of the taxable
year or after the end of the current taxable year and is deemed incurred (or
paid, in the case of a cash method taxpayer) during the current taxable year
(taking into account, as applicable, section 170(a)(2) and §1.170A-11(b),
section 404(a)(6), §1.461-4(d)(6)(ii), §1.461-5, and any other provision
that has a similar effect), then the taxpayer may take into account a proportionate
part of the specific item of expense for each annualization period. In such
case the taxpayer may take into account a proportionate part of the specific
item of expense for each annualization period only if the portion of the annual
expense taken into account is determined with reasonable accuracy and the
expense is properly deducted by the taxpayer for the current taxable year
under the taxpayer’s method of accounting. For purposes of §1.6655-2(f)(2)(i),
a taxpayer has a history of incurring or paying a specific item of expense
at the end of the taxable year, or after the end of the taxable year that
is deemed incurred or paid during the taxable year, if, in each of the two
taxable years immediately preceding the current taxable year (or the immediately
preceding taxable year if the taxpayer was not in existence for the two preceding
taxable years), the taxpayer incurred or paid the specific item of expense
at the end of each taxable year, or after the end of each taxable year that
was deemed incurred or paid during such taxable year. For purposes of §1.6655-2(f)(2)(i),
the term “the end of the taxable year” means the period between
and including the 15th and last day of the last
month of the taxable year.
The proposed regulations also provide guidance regarding the treatment
of specific items for purposes of computing annualized taxable income for
an annualization period. For example, net operating loss carryovers must
be taken into account in computing an annualized income installment after
placing the taxable income for the annualization period on an annualized basis,
and section 481(a) adjustments must be recognized ratably over the applicable
adjustment period.
Revenue Ruling 67-93, 1967-1 C.B. 366, provides that a taxpayer should
deduct a net operating loss (NOL) carryover from the income for an annualization
period before annualizing the income for that period. As previously stated,
the IRS and Treasury Department believe that it is not appropriate for taxpayers
to determine taxable income for an annualization period or an adjusted seasonal
installment period as though the period is a short taxable year. As a result,
the IRS and Treasury Department now believe that it is a more appropriate
reflection of annualized taxable income if a NOL carryover is deducted after
annualizing the taxable income for an applicable annualization period or adjusted
seasonal installment period. Accordingly, the proposed regulations provide
that a taxpayer must annualize taxable income before taking into account a
NOL carryover and reduce the annualized amount by the NOL carryover. As a
result, Rev. Rul. 67-93 will be obsoleted when these regulations are effective.
In addition, the proposed regulations provide guidance on the amount
of depreciation and amortization (depreciation) expense that a taxpayer may
take into account for an annualization period. The proposed regulations generally
provide that a proportionate amount of a taxpayer’s estimated annual
depreciation expense shall be taken into account when determining any annualized
income installment for the taxable year. In determining the estimated annual
depreciation expense, a taxpayer may take into account purchases, sales or
other dispositions, changes in use, depreciation permitted by sections 168(k)
and 1400L, and other similar events that, based on all of the relevant information
available as of the last day of the annualization period (such as capital
spending budgets, financial statement data and projections, or similar reports
that provide evidence of the taxpayer’s capital spending plans for the
current taxable year), the taxpayer reasonably expects to occur during the
taxable year. As an alternative to estimating annual depreciation expense
based on events that are reasonably expected to occur, the proposed regulations
provide that, in general, a taxpayer may claim for an annualization period
at least a proportionate amount of 50 percent of the taxpayer’s estimated
depreciation expense for the current taxable year attributable to assets that
the taxpayer had in service on the last day of the preceding taxable year,
that remain in service on the first day of the current taxable year, and that
are subject to the half-year convention. The proposed regulations also provide
that an annualization period cannot be treated as a short taxable year, including
for purposes of determining the depreciation allowance for such annualization
period.
The proposed regulations also provide guidance regarding short taxable
years, including the due dates for required installments for a short taxable
year (including a taxpayer’s initial taxable year), the computation
of such installments, and the applicable percentage of the annual tax due
with each installment.
These regulations are proposed to apply to taxable years beginning after
the date that is 30 days after the date the final regulations are published
in the Federal Register. Until the final
regulations become effective, taxpayers may rely on these proposed rules for
taxable years beginning on or after the date this notice of proposed rulemaking
is published in the Federal Register, provided,
however, that the taxpayer applies all of these proposed rules in determining
its required installments.
It has been determined that this notice of proposed rulemaking is not
a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. Therefore,
a regulatory assessment is not required. Except with respect to §1.6655-5,
which deals with the rules applicable to a short taxable year, it has been
determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C.
chapter 5) does not apply to these regulations, and because these provisions
do not impose a collection of information on small businesses, the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) does not apply. With respect to §1.6655-5,
it is hereby certified that this provision of the regulations will not have
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
This certification is based on the fact that not many small businesses are
going to be subject to the short taxable year rules because: (1) existing
small businesses generally are not targets of mergers and acquisitions, which
result in a short taxable year; (2) start-up small businesses with a short
taxable year of less than four months do not have to pay estimated taxes;
and (3) start-up small businesses with a short taxable year of four months
or more are not likely to have taxable income that would be subject to the
corporate estimated tax rules. Therefore, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) is not required.
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 businesses.
Comments and Public Hearing
Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations,
consideration will be given to any electronic or written comments (a signed
original and eight (8) copies) that are submitted timely to the IRS. The
IRS and Treasury Department request comments on the clarity of the proposed
rules and how they can be made easier to understand. In particular, the IRS
and Treasury Department request comments on whether the 52-53 week taxable
year rules under §1.6655-2(e) should be simplified. The IRS and Treasury
Department also request comments on whether the final regulations should include
an additional exception, similar to the exception provided in §1.6655-2(f)(2)(i),
that would permit a taxpayer to take into account for an annualization period
a proportionate amount of a specific item of expense that is attributable
to income earned throughout the current taxable year and is paid or incurred
during the taxable year but after the applicable annualization period. If
such an exception is appropriate, the IRS and Treasury Department request
comments on what specific types of expenses would meet the requirements of
the rule, and whether the exception should provide for any additional limitations,
such as a requirement that a minimum percentage of the annual amount of the
expense be paid or incurred on a particular day during the taxable year.
All comments will be available for public inspection and copying.
A public hearing has been scheduled for March 15, 2006, beginning at
10:00 a.m. in the Auditorium of the Internal Revenue Service Building, 1111
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. Due to building security procedures,
visitors must enter at the Constitution Avenue entrance. 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 30 minutes before the hearing starts. For information
about having your name placed on the building access list to attend the hearing,
see the “FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT” section of this preamble.
The rules of 26 CFR 601.601(a)(3) apply to the hearing. Persons who
wish to present oral comments must submit electronic or written comments and
an outline of the topics to be discussed and time to be devoted to each topic
(a signed original and eight (8) copies) by February 22, 2006. 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.
Partial Withdrawal of a Previous Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking
Accordingly, under the authority of 26 U.S.C. 7805, §§1.6152-1(a)(1),
1.6654-2(d)(1)(i), 1.6655-1, 1.6655-2, 1.6655-3, 1.6655-4, 1.6655-5, 1.6655-6,
and 301.6655-1 in the notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on March 26, 1984, (LR-228-82) (49
FR 11186) are withdrawn.
Proposed Amendments to the Regulations
Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1 and 301 are proposed to be amended as follows:
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by adding
an entry in numerical order to read as follows:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
Section 1.6655-5 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 6655(i)(2). * * *
Par. 2. In §1.56-0, the heading for paragraph (e)(5) is added
to read as follows:
§1.56-0 Table of contents to §1.56-1, adjustment
for book income of corporations.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
(5) Effective date.
Par. 3. In §1.56-1, paragraph (e)(4) is revised and paragraph
(e)(5) is added to read as follows:
§1.56-1 Adjustment for the book income of corporations.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
(4) Estimating the book income adjustment for purposes of
the estimated tax liability. See §1.6655-7, as issued by
T.D. 8307, 1990-2 C.B. 9 (55 FR 33671), for special rules for estimating the
corporate alternative minimum tax book income adjustment under the annualization
exception.
(5) Effective date. Paragraph (e)(4) of this section
is applicable for taxable years beginning after the date that is 30 days after
the date the final regulations are published in the Federal
Register.
Par. 4. In §1.6425-2, paragraph (a) is revised and paragraph (c)
is added to read as follows:
§1.6425-2 Computation of adjustment of overpayment of
estimated tax.
(a) Income tax liability defined. For purposes
of §§1.6425-1 through 1.6425-3 and 1.6655-7, relating to excessive
adjustment, the term income tax liability means the excess
of—
(1) The sum of—
(i) The tax imposed by section 11 or 1201(a), or subchapter L of chapter
1 of the Internal Revenue Code, whichever is applicable; plus
(ii) The tax imposed by section 55; over
(2) The credits against tax provided by part IV of subchapter A of chapter
1 of the Internal Revenue Code.
* * * * *
(c) Effective date. Paragraph (a) of this section
is applicable to applications for adjustments of overpayments of estimated
income tax that are filed in taxable years beginning after the date that is
30 days after the date the final regulations are published in the Federal Register.
Par. 5. Section 1.6425-3 is amended by:
1. Revising paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2).
2. Adding paragraph (f)(3).
The revisions and addition read as follows:
§1.6425-3 Allowance of adjustments.
* * * * *
(f) Effect of adjustment. (1) For purposes of
all sections of the Internal Revenue Code except section 6655, relating to
additions to tax for failure to pay estimated income tax, any adjustment under
section 6425 is to be treated as a reduction of prior estimated tax payments
as of the date the credit is allowed or the refund is paid. For the purpose
of sections 6655(a) through (g), (i), and (j), credit or refund of an adjustment
is to be treated as if not made in determining whether there has been any
underpayment of estimated income tax and, if there is an underpayment, the
period during which the underpayment existed. However, an excessive adjustment
under section 6425 shall be taken into account in applying the addition to
tax under section 6655(h).
(2) For the effect of an excessive adjustment under section 6425, see
§1.6655-7.
(3) This paragraph (f) is applicable to applications for adjustments
of overpayments of estimated income tax that are filed in taxable years beginning
after the date that is 30 days after the date the final regulations are published
in the Federal Register.
Par. 6. Section 1.6655-0 is added to read as follows:
§1.6655-0 Table of contents.
This section lists the table of contents for §§1.6655-1 through
1.6655-7.
§1.6655-1 Addition to the tax in the case of a corporation.
(a) In general.
(b) Amount of underpayment.
(c) Period of the underpayment.
(d) Amount of required installment.
(e) Large corporation required to pay 100 percent of current year tax.
(1) In general.
(2) May use last year’s tax for 1st installment.
(f) Required installment due dates.
(1) Number of required installments.
(2) Time for payment of installments.
(i) Calendar year.
(ii) Fiscal year.
(iii) Short taxable year.
(iv) Partial month.
(g) Definitions.
(h) Special rules for consolidated returns.
(i) Overpayments applied to subsequent taxable year’s estimated
tax.
(1) In general.
(2) Subsequent examinations.
(j) Examples.
(k) Effective date.
§1.6655-2 Annualized income installment method.
(a) In general.
(b) Determination of annualized income installment—In general.
(c) Special rules.
(1) Applicable percentage.
(2) Partial month.
(d) Election of different annualization periods.
(e) 52-53 week taxable year.
(f) Determination of taxable income for an annualization period.
(1) In general.
(2) Exceptions.
(i) Annual expenses paid or incurred at or after the end of the taxable
year.
(ii) Net operating loss carryover.
(iii) Credit carryover.
(iv) Section 481(a) adjustment.
(v) Depreciation and amortization.
(A) General rule.
(B) Short taxable years.
(vi) Member of partnership.
(3) Examples.
(g) Items that substantially affect taxable income but cannot be determined
accurately by the installment due date.
(1) In general.
(2) Example.
(h) Events arising after installment due date that were not reasonably
foreseeable.
(1) In general.
(2) Example.
(i) Effective date.
§1.6655-3 Adjusted seasonal installment method.
(a) In general.
(b) Limitation on application of section.
(c) Determination of amount.
(d) Special rules.
(1) Base period percentage.
(2) Filing month.
(3) Application of the rules related to the annualized income installment
method to the adjusted seasonal installment method.
(e) Example.
(f) Effective date.
§1.6655-4 Large corporations.
(a) Large corporation defined.
(b) Testing period.
(c) Computation of taxable income during testing period.
(1) Short taxable year.
(2) Computation of taxable income in taxable year when there occurs
a transaction to which section 381 applies.
(d) Members of controlled group.
(1) In general.
(2) Aggregation.
(3) Allocation rule.
(4) Controlled group members.
(e) Effect on a corporation’s taxable income of items that may
be carried back or carried over from any other taxable year.
(f) Consolidated returns. [Reserved]
(g) Example.
(h) Effective date.
§1.6655-5 Short taxable year.
(a) In general.
(b) Exception to payment of estimated tax.
(c) Installment due dates.
(1) In general.
(i) Taxable year of four months but less than twelve months.
(ii) Exception.
(2) Early termination of taxable year.
(i) In general.
(ii) Exception.
(d) Amount due for required installment.
(1) In general.
(2) Tax shown on the return for the preceding taxable year.
(3) Applicable percentage.
(e) Examples.
(f) 52 or 53 week taxable year.
(g) Use of annualized income or seasonal installment method.
(1) In general.
(2) Computation of annualized income installment.
(3) Annualization period for final required installment.
(4) Examples.
(h) Preceding taxable year a short taxable year.
(i) Effective date.
§1.6655-6 Methods of accounting.
(a) In general.
(b) Exceptions.
(1) Automatic accounting method changes.
(2) Non-automatic accounting method changes.
(c) Examples.
(d) Effective date.
§1.6655-7 Addition to tax on account of excessive adjustment
under section 6425.
Par. 7. Sections 1.6655-1, 1.6655-2, and 1.6655-3 are revised to read
as follows:
§1.6655-1 Addition to the tax in the case of a corporation.
(a) In general. Section 6655 imposes an addition
to the tax under chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code in the case of any
underpayment of estimated tax by a corporation. An addition to tax due to
the underpayment of estimated taxes is determined by applying the underpayment
rate established under section 6621 to the amount of the underpayment, for
the period of the underpayment. This addition to the tax is in addition to
any applicable criminal penalties and is imposed whether or not there was
reasonable cause for the underpayment.
(b) Amount of underpayment. The amount of the
underpayment for any required installment is the excess of—
(1) The required installment; over
(2) The amount, if any, of the installment paid on or before the last
date prescribed for such payment.
(c) Period of the underpayment. The period of
the underpayment of any required installment runs from the date the installment
was required to be paid to the 15th day of the
3rd month following the close of the taxable year,
or to the date such underpayment is paid, whichever is earlier. For purposes
of determining the period of the underpayment—
(1) The date prescribed for payment of any installment of estimated
tax shall be determined without regard to any extension of time; and
(2) A payment of estimated tax will be credited against unpaid required
installments in the order in which such installments are required to be paid.
(d) Amount of required installment. Except as
otherwise provided in this section and §§1.6655-2 through 1.6655-7,
the amount of any required installment is 25 percent of the lesser of—
(1) 100 percent of the tax shown on the return for the taxable year
(or, if no return is filed, 100 percent of the tax for such year); or
(2) 100 percent of the tax shown on the return of the corporation for
the preceding taxable year.
(3) Paragraph (d)(2) of this section shall not apply if the preceding
taxable year was not a taxable year of 12 months or the corporation did not
file a return for such preceding taxable year showing a liability for tax.
(e) Large corporation required to pay 100 percent of current
year tax—(1) In general. Except as
provided in paragraph (e)(2) of this section, paragraph (d)(2) of this section
shall not apply in the case of a large corporation (as defined in §1.6655-4).
(2) May use last year’s tax for first installment.
Paragraph (e)(1) of this section shall not apply for purposes of determining
the amount of the 1st required installment for
any taxable year. Any reduction in such 1st installment
by reason of the preceding sentence shall be recaptured by increasing the
amount of the next required installment determined under paragraph (d)(1)
of this section by the amount of such reduction and, if the next required
installment is reduced by use of the annualized income installment method
under §1.6655-2 or the adjusted seasonal installment method under §1.6655-3,
by increasing subsequent required installments determined under paragraph
(d)(1) of this section to the extent that the reduction has not previously
been recaptured.
(f) Required installment due dates—(1) Number
of required installments. Unless otherwise provided, corporations
must make 4 required installments for each taxable year.
(2) Time for payment of installments—(i) Calendar
year. In the case of a calendar year taxpayer, the due dates of
the required installments are as follows:
(ii) Fiscal year. In the case of a taxpayer other
than a calendar year taxpayer, the due dates of the required installments
are as follows:
(iii) Short taxable year. See §1.6655-5 for
rules regarding required installments for corporations with a short taxable
year.
(iv) Partial month. Except as otherwise provided,
for purposes of determining the due date of any required installment a partial
month shall be treated as a full month.
(g) Definitions. (1) The term tax as
used in this section and §§1.6655-2 through 1.6655-7 means the excess
of—
(i) The sum of—
(A) The tax imposed by section 11, section 1201(a), or subchapter L
of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code, whichever is applicable;
(B) The tax imposed by section 55; plus
(C) The tax imposed by section 887; over
(D) The credits against tax provided by part IV of subchapter A of chapter
1 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(ii) In the case of a foreign corporation subject to taxation under
section 11, section 1201(a), or subchapter L of chapter 1 of the Internal
Revenue Code, the tax imposed by section 881 shall be treated as a tax imposed
by section 11.
(iii) In the case of a partnership that is treated, pursuant to regulations
issued under section 1446(f)(2), as a corporation for purposes of this section,
the tax imposed by section 1446 shall be treated as a tax imposed by section
11.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (d)(2) of this section, the term return
for the preceding taxable year means the Federal income tax return
for such taxable year that is required by section 6012(a)(2). However, if
an amended Federal income tax return has been filed before the due date for
an installment, then the term return for the preceding taxable year means
the Federal income tax return as amended. Paragraph (d)(2) of this section
will apply without regard to whether the taxpayer’s Federal income tax
return for the preceding taxable year is filed in a timely manner.
(3) If the tax rates for the current taxable year for which estimated
tax is being determined differ from the rates applicable to the preceding
taxable year, the tax determined for the preceding taxable year shall be recomputed
using the rates applicable to the current taxable year.
(h) Special rules for consolidated returns. For
special rules relating to the determination of the amount of the underpayment
in the case of a corporation whose income is included in a consolidated return,
see §1.1502-5(b).
(i) Overpayments applied to subsequent taxable year’s
estimated tax—(1) In general. If a
taxpayer elects under the provisions of sections 6402(b) and 6513(d) and the
regulations to apply an overpayment in year one against the estimated tax
liability for year two, the overpayment will be applied to the required installment
payments for year two in the order due and to the extent necessary to satisfy
such installments, similar to the manner in which an actual overpayment of
one installment is carried forward to the next installment. No interest is
accrued or paid on an overpayment if the election to apply the overpayment
against estimated tax is made.
(2) Subsequent examinations. If a deficiency is
determined in an examination of a return for a taxable year that originally
reflected an overpayment that was applied against estimated tax for the succeeding
taxable year, interest on the deficiency will not begin to accrue on an amount
applied until that amount is used to satisfy a required estimated tax payment
in such taxable year. Regardless of whether the taxpayer anticipated the
application of such overpayment from the prior taxable year in calculating
and paying its required estimated tax installment liabilities for the current
taxable year, the subsequently determined underpayment and interest computation
thereon will not change the taxpayer’s original election to apply the
overpayment against the estimated tax liability of the succeeding taxable
year. Any changes to the usage of the original overpayment from the prior
taxable year are hypothetical only and solely for the purpose of computing
deficiency interest. Overpayment interest will not be impacted. For further
guidance, see Rev. Rul. 99-40, 1999-2 C.B. 441, (see §601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b)
of this chapter).
(j) Examples. The method prescribed in paragraphs
(d) through (g) of this section may be illustrated by the following examples:
Example 1. X, a calendar year corporation, estimates
its tax liability for its taxable year ending December 31, 2006, will be $85,000.
X is not a large corporation as defined in section 6655(g)(2) and §1.6655-4.
X reported a liability of $74,900 on its return for the taxable year ended
December 31, 2005, with no credits against tax. X paid four installments
of estimated tax, each in the amount of $18,725 (25 percent of $74,900), on
April 17, 2006, June 15, 2006, September 15, 2006, and December 15, 2006,
respectively. X reported a tax liability of $88,900 on its return due March
15, 2007. X had a $5,000 credit against tax for tax year 2006 as provided
by part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code. X did
not underpay its estimated tax for tax year 2006 for any of the four installments,
determined as follows:
Example 2. (i) Facts. Y,
a calendar year corporation, estimates its tax liability for its taxable year
ending December 31, 2006, will be $70,000. Y is not a large corporation as
defined in section 6655(g)(2) and §1.6655-4. Y reported a Federal income
tax liability of $90,000 for its taxable year ending December 31, 2005. Y
paid no installment of estimated tax on or before April 17, 2006, June 15,
2006, or September 15, 2006, but made a payment of $63,000 on December 15,
2006. On March 15, 2007, Y filed its income tax return showing a tax of $70,000.
Y had no credits against tax for tax year 2006. Of the $63,000 paid by Y
on December 15, 2006, $17,500 is applied to each of the first three installments
due on April 15, June 15, and September 15, 2006, and the remaining $10,500
is applied to the fourth installment. Y has an underpayment of estimated
tax for each of the first three installments of $17,500 and for the fourth
installment of $7,000. The addition to tax under section 6655(a) is computed
as follows:
(ii) Addition to tax. Assuming that neither the
annualized income installment method nor the adjusted seasonal installment
method described in §§1.6655-2 and 1.6655-3 would result in a lower
payment for any installment period, and the addition to tax is computed under
section 6621(a)(2) at the rate of 8 percent per annum for the applicable periods
of underpayment, the addition to tax is determined as follows:
(k) Effective date. This section applies to taxable
years beginning after the date that is 30 days after the date the final regulations
are published in the Federal Register.
§1.6655-2 Annualized income installment method.
(a) In general. In the case of any required installment,
if the corporation establishes that the annualized income installment determined
under this section, or the adjusted seasonal installment determined under
§1.6655-3, is less than the amount determined under §1.6655-1—
(1) The amount of such required installment shall be the annualized
income installment (or, if less, the adjusted seasonal installment); and
(2) Any reduction in a required installment resulting from the application
of this section will be recaptured by increasing the amount of the next required
installment determined under §1.6655-1 by the amount of such reduction
(and, if the next required installment is similarly reduced, by increasing
subsequent required installments to the extent that the reduction has not
previously been recaptured).
(b) Determination of annualized income installment—In
general. In the case of any required installment, the annualized
income installment is the excess (if any) of—
(1) The product of the applicable percentage and the tax for the taxable
year computed by annualizing the taxable income and alternative minimum taxable
income—
(i) For the first 3 months of the taxable year, in the case of the first
required installment;
(ii) For the first 3 months of the taxable year, in the case of the
second required installment;
(iii) For the first 6 months of the taxable year in the case of the
third required installment; and
(iv) For the first 9 months of the taxable year, in the case of the
fourth required installment; over
(2) The aggregate amount of any prior required installments for the
taxable year.
(c) Special rules—(1) Applicable
percentage. Except as otherwise provided in §1.6655-5(d)
with respect to short taxable years—
(2) Partial month. Except as otherwise provided,
for purposes of paragraph (b) of this section a partial month shall be treated
as a month.
(d) Election of different annualization periods.
(1) If the taxpayer timely files Form 8842, “Election To
Use Different Annualization Periods for Corporate Estimated Tax,”
in accordance with section 6655(e)(2)(C)(iii), and elects Option 1—
(i) Paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section will be applied by using the
language “2 months” instead of “3 months”;
(ii) Paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section will be applied by using the
language “4 months” instead of “3 months”;
(iii) Paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section will be applied by using
the language “7 months” instead of “6 months”; and
(iv) Paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section will be applied by using the
language “10 months” instead of “9 months”.
(2) If the taxpayer timely files Form 8842, in accordance with section
6655(e)(2)(C)(iii), and elects Option 2—
(i) Paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section will be applied by using the
language “5 months” instead of “3 months”;
(ii) Paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section will be applied by using
the language “8 months” instead of “6 months”; and
(iii) Paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section will be applied by using
the language “11 months” instead of “9 months”.
(e) 52-53 week taxable year. (1) Generally, in
the case of a taxpayer whose taxable year constitutes 52 or 53 weeks in accordance
with section 441(f), the rules prescribed by §1.441-2 shall be applicable
in determining—
(i) Whether a taxable year is a taxable year of 12 months; and
(ii) When the 2-, 3- ,4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, or 11-month period
(whichever is applicable) commences and ends for purposes of paragraphs (b)(1),
(d)(1) and (d)(2) of this section.
(2) If a taxpayer employs four 13-week periods or thirteen 4-week accounting
periods and the end of any accounting period employed by the taxpayer does
not correspond to the end of the 2-, 3- ,4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, or 11-month
period (whichever is applicable), then, provided the taxpayer has at least
one full 4-week or 13-week accounting period, as appropriate, within the applicable
period, annualized taxable income for the applicable period shall be—
(i) [(x/(y*13))*z], in the case of a taxpayer using four 13-week periods,
if—
(A) x = Taxable income for the number of full 13-week periods in the
applicable period;
(B) y = The number of full 13-week periods in the applicable period;
and
(C) z = The number of weeks in the taxable year; or
(ii) [(x/(y*4))*z], in the case of a taxpayer using thirteen 4-week
periods, if—
(A) x = Taxable income for the full 4-week periods in the applicable
period;
(B) y = The number of full 4-week periods in the applicable period;
and
(C) z = The number of weeks in the taxable year.
(3) If a taxpayer employs four 13-week periods and the taxpayer does
not have at least one 13-week period within the applicable 2-, 3- ,4-, 5-,
6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, or 11-month period, the taxpayer shall be permitted to
determine annualized taxable income for the applicable period based upon—
(i) The taxable income for the number of weeks in the applicable period;
or
(ii) The taxable income for the full 13-week periods that end before
the due date of the required installment.
(4) The following examples illustrate the rules of this paragraph (e):
Example 1. Taxpayer A, an accrual method taxpayer,
uses a 52/53 week year-end ending on the last Friday in December and uses
four thirteen-week periods. For its year beginning December 30, 2006, A uses
the annualized income installment method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to
calculate all of its required installments. For purposes of computing its
first and second required installments, the first 3 months of A’s taxable
year under paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section will end on March 30th,
the thirteenth Friday of A’s taxable year. For purposes of its third
required installment, the first 6 months of A’s taxable year will end
on June 29th, the twenty-sixth Friday of A’s
taxable year. For purposes of its fourth required installment, the first
9 months of A’s taxable year will end on September 28th,
the thirty-ninth Friday of A’s taxable year.
Example 2. Same facts as Example 1 except
that A uses thirteen four-week periods and there are 52 weeks during A’s
taxable year beginning December 30, 2006, and ending December 28, 2007. For
purposes of computing A’s first and second required installments, A’s
annualized taxable income for the first three months will be the taxable income
for the first three four-week periods of A’s taxable year (December
30, 2006, through March 23, 2007) divided by 12 (number of full four-week
periods in the first three months (3) multiplied by 4) and multiplied by 52
(the number of weeks in the taxable year). For purposes of computing A’s
third required installment, A’s annualized taxable income for the first
six months will be the taxable income for the first six four-week periods
of A’s taxable year (December 30, 2006, through June 15, 2007) divided
by 24 and multiplied by 52. For purposes of computing A’s fourth required
installment, A’s annualized taxable income for the first nine months
will be the taxable income for the first nine four-week periods of A’s
taxable year (December 30, 2006, through September 7, 2007) divided by 36
and multiplied by 52.
(5) The application of the annualized income installment method is
illustrated by the following example:
Example. (i) X, a calendar year corporation, had
a taxable year of less than twelve months for tax year 2005 and no credits
against tax for tax year 2006. X made an estimated tax payment of $15,000
on the installment dates of April 17, 2006, June 15, 2006, September 15, 2006,
and December 15, 2006, respectively. Assume that, under paragraph (d)(1)
of this section, X elected Option 1 by timely filing Form 8842, in accordance
with section 6655(e)(2)(C)(iii), and determined that its taxable income for
the first 2, 4, 7 and 10 months was $25,000, $64,000, $125,000, and $175,000
respectively. The income for each period is annualized as follows:
(ii)(A) To determine whether the installment payment made on April 17,
2006, equals or exceeds the amount that would have been required to have been
paid if the estimated tax were equal to 100 percent of the tax computed on
the annualized income for the 2-month period, the following computation is
necessary:
(B) Because the total amount of estimated tax that was timely paid on
or before the first installment date ($15,000) exceeds the amount required
to be paid on or before this date if the estimated tax were 100 percent of
the tax determined by placing on an annualized basis the taxable income for
the first 2-month period, the exception described in paragraphs (a) and (b)
of this section applies, and no addition to tax will be imposed for the installment
due on April 15, 2006.
(iii)(A) To determine whether the installment payments made on or before
June 15, 2006, equal or exceed the amount that would have been required to
have been paid if the estimated tax were equal to 100 percent of the tax computed
on the annualized income for the 4-month period, the following computation
is necessary:
(B) Because the total amount of estimated tax actually paid on or before
the second installment date ($19,562 ($15,000 second required installment
payment plus $4,562 overpayment of first required installment)) exceeds the
amount required to be paid on or before this date if the estimated tax were
100 percent of the tax determined by placing on an annualized basis the taxable
income for the first 4-month period, the exception described in paragraphs
(a) and (b) of this section applies, and no addition to tax will be imposed
for the installment due on June 15, 2006.
(iv)(A) To determine whether the installment payments made on or before
September 15, 2006, equal or exceed the amount that would have been required
to have been paid if the estimated tax were equal to 100 percent of the tax
computed on the annualized income for the 7-month period, the following computation
is necessary:
(B) Because the total amount of estimated tax actually paid on or before
the third installment date ($15,935 ($15,000 third required installment payment
plus $935 overpayment of second required installment)) does not equal or exceed
the amount required to be paid on or before this date if the estimated tax
were 100 percent of the tax determined by placing on an annualized basis the
taxable income for the first 7-month period, the exception described in paragraphs
(a) and (b) of this section does not apply, and an addition to tax will be
imposed with respect to the underpayment of the September 15, 2006, installment
unless another exception applies to this installment payment.
(v)(A) To determine whether the installment payments made on or before
December 15, 2006, equal or exceed the amount that would have been required
to have been paid if the estimated tax were equal to 100 percent of the tax
computed on the annualized income for the 10-month period, the following computation
is necessary:
(B) Because the total amount of estimated tax payments made on or before
the fourth installment date that is available to be applied to the estimated
tax due for the fourth installment ($9,884 ($15,000 fourth required installment
payment less $5,116 underpayment for the third installment of estimated tax
($21,051 third installment of estimated tax due less $15,935 payments available
to be applied to the third installment of estimated tax))) does not equal
or exceed the amount required to be paid on or before this date if the estimated
tax were 100 percent of the tax determined by placing on an annualized basis
the taxable income for the first 10-month period, the exception described
in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section does not apply, and an addition
to tax will be imposed with respect to the underpayment of the December 15,
2006, installment unless another exception applies to this installment payment.
(vi) Assuming that no other exceptions apply and the addition to tax
is computed under section 6621(a)(2) at the rate of 8 percent per annum for
the applicable periods of underpayment, the amount of the addition to tax
is as follows:
(f) Determination of taxable income for an annualization period—(1) In
general. In determining the applicability of the exception described
in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section (relating to the annualization of
income) and the exception described in §1.6655-3 (relating to annualization
of income for corporations with seasonal income), and for purposes of computing
a taxpayer’s taxable income (and applicable tax), an item must be taken
into account in computing a taxpayer’s taxable income for the taxable
year for which the estimated tax is being determined, and must be properly
taken into account in determining a taxpayer’s taxable income (and applicable
tax) for the applicable annualization period by the last day of the such period.
Generally, except as provided in paragraph (f)(2) of this section, for an
item to be taken into account during an annualization period, the following
must occur on or before the last day of the applicable annualization period
(determined based on the accounting period employed by the taxpayer):
(i) With respect to an item of gross income, such income is includible
in computing taxable income in accordance with section 451 or the appropriate
provision of the Internal Revenue Code (for example, section 453 for installment
sales or section 460 for long-term contracts).
(ii) With respect to an item of loss, the loss must be permitted to
be taken into account under the appropriate provision of the Internal Revenue
Code.
(iii) With respect to an item of deduction, for taxpayers using the
cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting, the deduction must be
paid under §1.461-1(a)(1) and otherwise deductible in computing taxable
income for the annualization period or, for taxpayers using an accrual method
of accounting, the deduction must be incurred under §1.461-1(a)(2) and
otherwise deductible in computing taxable income for the annualization period.
In the case of an accrual method taxpayer, the provisions of section 170(a)(2)
and §1.170A-11(b) (charitable contributions by accrual method corporations),
§1.461-4(d)(6)(ii) (provision of services or property to a taxpayer),
§1.461-5 (recurring item exception), and any other provision that has
a similar effect can not be used in determining whether the item of deduction
has been incurred under §1.461-1(a)(2) and is otherwise deductible for
purposes of computing taxable income for an annualization period. For purposes
of section 404 and the regulations, regardless of the overall method of accounting
employed by the taxpayer, the applicable 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-
or 11-month period shall not be treated as a short taxable year and the rules
of section 404 and the regulations shall be applied on the basis of the taxpayer’s
taxable year for which estimated tax is being determined. Thus, the determination
of whether a payment to an employee is deferred compensation under §1.404(b)-1T
shall be made by reference to whether the payment is received by the employee
more than a brief period of time after the last day of the taxable year for
which estimated tax is being determined and not the last day of the applicable
annualization period. With respect to contributions to qualified plans governed
by section 404 and the regulations, in determining whether an item is paid
or incurred by the end of an annualization period, economic performance is
satisfied only to the extent such item is paid by the last day of the applicable
annualization period (without regard to section 404(a)(6)) and does not, in
combination with other such items paid during the applicable annualization
period, exceed the applicable deduction limit of section 404(a) for the taxable
year. For purposes of sections 419 and 419A and the regulations, regardless
of the overall method of accounting employed by the taxpayer, the applicable
2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, or 11-month period shall not be treated
as a short taxable year and the rules of sections 419 and 419A and the regulations
shall be applied on the basis of the taxpayer’s taxable year for which
estimated tax is being determined. With respect to contributions to a welfare
benefit fund governed by sections 419 and 419A and the regulations, in determining
whether an item is paid or incurred by the end of an annualization period,
economic performance is satisfied only to the extent such item is paid by
the last day of the applicable annualization period and does not, in combination
with other such items paid during such annualization period, exceed the applicable
deduction limit of section 419 for the taxable year.
(iv) With respect to depreciation and amortization (depreciation) expense,
a taxpayer shall take into account depreciation expense only as provided in
paragraph (f)(2)(v) of this section.
(v) With respect to any item taken into account in computing taxable
income for the annualization period that is not described in paragraphs (f)(1)(i),
(ii), (iii), and (iv) of this section, the item is includible in computing
taxable income in accordance with the appropriate provision of the Internal
Revenue Code.
(vi) With respect to an item of credit, the amounts upon which the credit
is computed must have been taken into account in computing taxable income
for the annualization period pursuant to paragraphs (f)(1)(i), (ii), (iii),
(iv), and (v) of this section, as applicable.
(2) Exceptions—(i) Annual expenses
paid or incurred at or after the end of the taxable year. (A)
Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (f)(2)(ii) through (vi) of this
section, if an accrual method taxpayer has a history of incurring a specific
item of expense under §1.461-1(a)(2) (or a cash method taxpayer has a
history of paying a specific item of expense under §1.461-1(a)(1)) that,
while attributable to income earned throughout the current taxable year, is
not incurred (or paid, in the case of a cash method taxpayer) until the end
of the taxable year, or after the end of the current taxable year and is deemed
incurred (or paid, in the case of a cash method taxpayer) during the current
taxable year (taking into account, as applicable, section 170(a)(2) and §1.170A-11(b),
section 404(a)(6), §1.461-4(d)(6)(ii), §1.461-5, and any other provision
that has a similar effect), then the taxpayer may, in lieu of any amount determined
under paragraph (f)(1) of this section, take into account for the applicable
annualization period the amount of such expense properly allocable to such
period provided the amount so allocated to such annualization period is determinable
with reasonable accuracy and the amount of the item so allocated is properly
deducted by the taxpayer during the current taxable year under the taxpayer’s
method of accounting.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph (f)(2)(i), the portion of an annual
expense item allocable to an annualization period will be considered to be
determined with reasonable accuracy if such item is allocated evenly throughout
the taxable year unless the taxpayer is able to clearly demonstrate such item
is more appropriately allocable to an annualization period by some other method
including, for example, in proportion to the earning of revenue, the use of
property, or the provision of services. For purposes of this paragraph (f)(2)(i),
a taxpayer has a history of incurring or paying a specific item of expense
at the end of the taxable year, or after the end of the taxable year that
is deemed incurred or paid during the taxable year, if, in each of the two
taxable years immediately preceding the current taxable year (or the immediately
preceding taxable year if the taxpayer was not in existence for the two preceding
taxable years), the taxpayer incurred or paid the specific item of expense
at the end of each taxable year, or after the end of each taxable year that
was deemed incurred or paid during such taxable year. In addition, for purposes
of this paragraph (f)(2)(i), the term “the end of the taxable year”
means the period between and including the 15th and
last day of the last month of the taxable year.
(ii) Net operating loss carryover. Any net operating
loss carryover to the current taxable year shall be taken into account in
computing an annualized income installment only after annualizing the taxable
income for the annualization period.
(iii) Credit carryover. Any credit carryover
to the current taxable year shall be taken into account in computing an annualized
income installment only after annualizing the taxable income for the annualization
period and computing the applicable tax, and before applying the applicable
percentage.
(iv) Section 481(a) adjustment. (A) Any section
481(a) adjustment required to be recognized during the taxable year shall
be recognized ratably over the number of months in the taxable year.
(B) With respect to a Form 3115, “Application for Change
in Accounting Method,” filed during the current taxable year
or a preceding taxable year, if the change in method of accounting—
(1) Is permitted to be made with the automatic
consent of the Commissioner, the appropriate portion of the section 481(a)
adjustment determined under paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(A) of this section shall
be taken into account in determining an annualized income installment if,
and only if, the copy of the Form 3115 has been mailed to the IRS National
Office on or before the last day of the annualization period; or
(2) Requires the prior consent of the Commissioner,
the appropriate portion of the section 481(a) adjustment determined under
paragraph (f)(2)(iv)(A) of this section shall be taken into account in determining
an annualized income installment if, and only if, the consent agreement reflecting
the Commissioner’s consent to the change in method of accounting and
the prescribed terms and conditions for effecting such change has been signed
by the taxpayer and mailed to the IRS National Office on or before the last
day of the annualization period.
(v) Depreciation and amortization—(A) General
rule. In determining any annualized income installment, a proportionate
amount of the taxpayer’s estimated annual depreciation and amortization
(depreciation) expense shall be taken into account. For purposes of the preceding
sentence, estimated annual depreciation expense is the estimated depreciation
expense to be properly taken into account in determining the taxpayer’s
taxable income for the taxable year. In determining the estimated annual
depreciation expense, a taxpayer may take into account purchases, sales or
other dispositions, changes in use, depreciation deductions permitted under
sections 168(k) and 1400L(b), and other similar events and provisions (for
example, section 179) that, based on all the relevant information available
as of the last day of the annualization period (such as capital spending budgets,
financial statement data and projections, or similar reports that provide
evidence of the taxpayer’s capital spending plans for the current taxable
year), are reasonably expected to occur or apply during the taxable year.
For purposes of the additional first-year depreciation deduction under sections
168(k) and 1400L(b), only a proportionate amount of the current year’s
additional first-year depreciation deduction to be taken into account in determining
a taxpayer’s taxable income for the taxable year is taken into account
in computing taxable income for an annualization period. As an alternative
to estimating annual depreciation expense based on events that are reasonably
expected to occur, a taxpayer may claim for an annualization period at least
a proportionate amount of 50 percent of the taxpayer’s estimated depreciation
expense for the current taxable year attributable to assets that a taxpayer
had in service on the last day of the preceding taxable year, that remain
in service on the first day of the current taxable year, and that are subject
to the half-year convention.
(B) Short taxable years. Unless the taxable year
is, or will be, a short taxable year, in no circumstance may an annualization
period be treated as a short taxable year for purposes of determining the
depreciation allowance for such annualization period. If the taxable year
is, or will be (based on all relevant information available as of the last
day of the annualization period), a short taxable year, annual depreciation
expense shall be computed using the rules applicable for computing depreciation
during a short taxable year for purposes of determining the annual depreciation
expense to be allocated to an annualization period. For this purpose, the
rules applicable for computing depreciation during a short taxable year shall
be applied on the basis of the date the taxable year is expected to end based
on all relevant information available as of the last day of the annualization
period. See Rev. Proc. 89-15, 1989-1 C.B. 816, (see §601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b)
of this chapter).
(vi) Member of partnership. In determining a
partner’s distributive share of partnership items that must be taken
into account during an annualization period, the rules set forth in §1.6654-2(d)(2)
are applicable.
(3) Examples. The provisions of this paragraph
(f) are illustrated by the following examples:
Example 1. Corporation A, a calendar year taxpayer,
uses an accrual method of accounting and uses the annualized income installment
method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate its first required installment
payment for its 2006 taxable year. Consistent with its historical practice,
the board of directors of A, on or before March 31, 2006, make a binding,
irrevocable commitment to fund a minimum contribution of $10,000,000 to A’s
qualified retirement plan by March 15, 2007, which fixes A’s liability
to make the $10,000,000 contribution. Similarly, consistent with A’s
historical practice, A plans to remit payments to the retirement plan of $1,000,000
on January 2, 2007, and $9,000,000 on March 1, 2007. The $10,000,000 commitment
is not taken into account for purposes of determining A’s first annualized
income installment, which is based on the income and deductions from the first
three months of the taxable year, because A did not make any payments by March
31, 2006 (and therefore did not satisfy the economic performance requirements
of §1.461-4(d)(2)(iii) by March 31, 2006), in accordance with paragraph
(f)(1)(iii) of this section. The $10,000,000 is not treated as paid on or
before March 31, 2006, under section 404(a)(6) because, pursuant to paragraph
(f)(1)(iii) of this section, the last day of the annualization period is not
to be treated as the last day of A’s taxable year. However, pursuant
to paragraph (f)(2)(i)(A) of this section, because A has historically incurred
a retirement plan expense during the taxable year pursuant to section 404
that, but for the deeming rule of section 404(a)(6), would have been incurred
after the end of the taxable year, and because A satisfies the other requirements
of paragraph (f)(2)(i)(A) of this section, A may take into account a $2,500,000
retirement plan expense for purposes of determining A’s taxable income
to be annualized in computing A’s first annualized income installment
for 2006 ($10,000,000/12 X 3 = $2,500,000) unless, pursuant to paragraph (f)(2)(i)(B)
of this section, A is able to clearly demonstrate that the retirement plan
expense is more appropriately allocable by some other method.
Example 2. Same facts as Example 1 except
that, consistent with its historical practice, A remits $9,000,000 to the
retirement plan on June 30, 2006, and $1,000,000 to the retirement plan on
September 30, 2006. For purposes of determining A’s first and second
required installments for 2006, which are based on the income and deductions
from the first three months of the taxable year, A may not take into account
any of the retirement plan expense because A did not make any payments by
March 31, 2006 (and therefore did not satisfy the economic performance requirements
of §1.461-4(d)(2)(iii) by March 31, 2006), in accordance with paragraph
(f)(1)(iii) of this section. For A’s third required installment, which
is based on the income and deductions from the first six months of the taxable
year, A may take into account a $9,000,000 retirement plan expense for purposes
of determining A’s annualized taxable income because A incurred the
$9,000,000 expense by June 30, 2006. For A’s fourth required installment,
which is based on the income and deductions from the first nine months of
the taxable year, A may take into account a $10,000,000 retirement plan expense
for purposes of determining A’s annualized taxable income because A
incurred the $10,000,000 retirement plan expense by September 30, 2006.
Example 3. Corporation B, a calendar year taxpayer,
uses an accrual method of accounting and the annualized income installment
method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate its first required installment.
In each of the three preceding taxable years, B has paid annual bonuses on
the Friday immediately preceding December 25 to those employees of B that
provided services to B during the taxable year and were employed by B on the
date such bonuses were paid. At the beginning of 2006, consistent with its
historical experience, B’s board of directors pass a resolution that
B will pay cash bonuses of $6,000,000 to those employees that have provided
services to B during 2006 and are employed by B on December 22, 2006, the
Friday immediately preceding December 25, 2006. B plans to pay, and does
pay, the cash bonuses to eligible employees on March 1, 2007. The bonuses,
pursuant to paragraph (f)(1)(iii) of this section, are not treated as deferred
compensation for the taxable year or the annualization period under §1.404(b)-1T
because the last day of the annualization period is not to be treated as the
last day of B’s taxable year. Because the bonuses are not treated as
deferred compensation, the bonuses are not subject to section 404, and instead
are treated as service liabilities under §1.461-4(d)(2)(i) rather than
employee benefit liabilities under §1.461-4(d)(2)(iii). Thus, the bonuses
are incurred when all the events have occurred that establish the fact of
the liability, the amount of the liability can be determined with reasonable
accuracy, and the services are provided to B by B’s employees. If B’s
first required installment is made under the provisions of section 6655(e)(1),
the $6,000,000 is not taken into account for purposes of determining B’s
first annualized income installment, which is based on the income and deductions
from the first three months of the taxable year, because B did not incur any
liability for bonus payments for the current taxable year by March 31, 2006,
in accordance with paragraph (f)(1)(iii) of this section. However, pursuant
to paragraph (f)(2)(i)(A) of this section, because B has historically incurred
a bonus expense at the end of the taxable year, and because B satisfies the
other requirements of paragraph (f)(2)(i)(A) of this section, B may take into
account a $1,500,000 bonus expense for purposes of determining B’s taxable
income to be annualized in computing B’s first annualized income installment
for 2006 ($6,000,000/12 X 3 = $1,500,000) unless, pursuant to paragraph (f)(2)(i)(B)
of this section, B is able to clearly demonstrate that the bonus expense is
more appropriately allocable by some other method.
Example 4. Corporation C, a calendar year taxpayer,
uses an accrual method of accounting and the annualized income installment
method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate its first required installment
for its 2006 taxable year. C has a net operating loss carryover to 2006 of
$400,000. C’s taxable income from January 1, 2006, through March 31,
2006, without regard to any net operating loss carryover, is $500,000. For
purposes of determining C’s first annualized income installment, C’s
annualized taxable income is $1,600,000, determined by placing C’s first
three months of taxable income from January 1, 2006, through March 31, 2006,
on an annualized basis ($500,000 X 12/3 = $2,000,000) and reducing the resulting
amount of $2,000,000 by the $400,000 net operating loss carryover to 2006.
Example 5. Corporation D, a calendar year taxpayer,
uses an accrual method of accounting and the annualized income installment
method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate all of its required installment
payments for its 2006 taxable year. On April 15, 2005, D filed a Form 3115,
“Application for Change in Accounting Method,”
to request the consent of the Commissioner to change its method of accounting
for recognizing revenue. The Commissioner consented to D’s requested
change, and D signed and mailed the consent letter to the IRS National Office
on December 15, 2005. The method change resulted in a positive section 481(a)
adjustment of $200,000 to be taken into account over four taxable years beginning
in 2005. D’s taxable income from January 1, 2006, through March 31,
2006, prior to any section 481(a) adjustment, is $500,000. For purposes of
determining D’s first annualized income installment for its 2006 taxable
year, D’s annualized taxable income is $2,050,000, determined by placing
the sum of D’s first three months of taxable income from January 1,
2006, through March 31, 2006, ($500,000) plus, pursuant to paragraph (f)(2)(iv)
of this section, the portion of the section 481(a) adjustment required to
be recognized during the taxable year ($200,000/4 = $50,000) that is attributable
to the period from January 1, 2006, through March 31, 2006, ($50,000 X 3/12
= $12,500) on an annualized basis ($512,500 X 12/3 = $2,050,000).
Example 6. Corporation E, a calendar year taxpayer,
uses an accrual method of accounting and the annualized income installment
method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate all of its required installment
payments for its 2006 taxable year. E’s taxable income from January
1, 2006, through March 31, 2006, prior to any section 481(a) adjustment, is
$500,000. On June 30, 2006, E filed a copy of the Form 3115 with the IRS
National Office to request a change in method of accounting that was permitted
to be made with the automatic consent of the Commissioner and resulted in
a negative section 481(a) adjustment of $400,000 to be taken into account
entirely in 2006. For purposes of determining E’s first annualized
income installment for its 2006 taxable year, E’s annualized taxable
income is $2,000,000, determined by placing E’s first three months of
taxable income from January 1, 2006, through March 31, 2006, ($500,000) on
an annualized basis ($500,000 X 12/3 = $2,000,000). Because E did not file
the accounting method change request until after the last day of the annualization
period, no portion of the section 481(a) adjustment is taken into account
in computing E’s first annualized income installment.
Example 7. Same facts as Example 6 except
that E’s taxable income from January 1, 2006, through June 30, 2006,
prior to any section 481(a) adjustment, is $800,000. For purposes of determining
E’s third annualized income installment for its 2006 taxable year, E’s
annualized taxable income is $1,200,000, determined by placing the sum of
E’s first six months of taxable income from January 1, 2006, through
June 30, 2006, ($800,000) less, pursuant to paragraph (f)(2)(iv) of this section,
the portion of the 2006 section 481(a) adjustment required to be recognized
during the taxable year that is attributable to the period from January 1,
2006, through June 30, 2006 ($400,000 X 6/12 = $200,000) on an annualized
basis ($600,000 X 12/6 = $1,200,000).
Example 8. Same facts as Example 7 except
that E’s request for change in method of accounting required the prior
consent of the Commissioner and the Form 3115 was filed with the IRS National
Office on June 30, 2006. On December 10, 2006, E received the consent of
the Commissioner to change its method of accounting. E signed and mailed
the consent letter to the IRS National Office on December 15, 2006. For purposes
of determining E’s third annualized income installment for its 2006
taxable year, E’s annualized taxable income is $1,600,000, determined
by placing E’s first six months of taxable income from January 1, 2006,
through June 30, 2006, on an annualized basis ($800,000 x 12/6 = $1,600,000).
No portion of the section 481(a) adjustment is taken into account in computing
E’s third annualized income installment because, although E filed the
accounting method change request on or before the last day of E’s third
annualization period, E did not receive the Commissioner’s consent to
change its method of accounting, and E did not sign and mail the consent agreement
to the IRS National Office, on or before the last day of E’s third annualization
period.
Example 9. Corporation F, a calendar year taxpayer
that began business on January 1, 2003, adopted an accrual method of accounting
and will use the annualized income installment method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i)
to calculate its first required installment payment for its 2003 taxable year.
As of March 31, 2003, F has purchased and placed in service $100,000 of “5-year
property,” as defined in section 168(e), and anticipates purchasing
and placing in service another $100,000 of “5-year property” before
December 31, 2003. F does not anticipate being subject to the mid-quarter
convention for the 2003 taxable year, does not anticipate making any depreciation
elections for this class of property, does not anticipate making a section
179 election, will deduct the 30% additional first year depreciation deduction,
does not anticipate any sales or other dispositions of depreciable property,
and no events have occurred, and, based on all relevant information available
as of the due date of F’s first required installment, F does not know
of any event that will cause F’s taxable year to be a short taxable
year. F’s annual depreciation expense for 2003 is estimated to be $88,000
(total depreciation deduction under section 168(k) of $60,000 ($200,000 X
30% = $60,000) plus annual depreciation of $28,000 (($200,000 minus $60,000)
X 20%)). For purposes of determining F’s first annualized income installment
for its 2003 taxable year, in accordance with paragraph (f)(2)(v)(A) of this
section, depreciation expense of $22,000 ($88,000 x 3/12 = $22,000) may be
taken into account in computing F’s January 1, 2003, through March 31,
2003, taxable income to be annualized. Under paragraph (f)(2)(v)(B) of this
section, F may not consider its first annualization period to be a short taxable
year for purposes of determining the depreciation allowance for such annualization
period.
Example 10. Corporation G, a calendar year taxpayer
that began business on January 5, 2004, adopted an accrual method of accounting
and will use the annualized income installment method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i)
to calculate its first required installment payment for its 2005 taxable year.
On January 5, 2004, G purchased and placed in service an asset that cost
$30,000, qualifies as “5-year property” as defined in section
168(e), is eligible for the 50% additional first year depreciation deduction
under section 168(k), and is subject to the half-year convention. G will
deduct the 50% additional first year depreciation deduction with respect to
the “5-year property.” For tax year 2004, G takes a depreciation
deduction under section 168(k) of $18,000 ($15,000 ($30,000 X 50% = $15,000)
plus annual depreciation of $3,000 ($15,000 X 20% = $3,000)). G does not
anticipate being subject to the mid-quarter convention for the 2004 taxable
year, does not anticipate making any depreciation elections for this class
of property, does not anticipate making a section 179 election, will deduct
the 50% additional first year depreciation deduction, does not anticipate
any sales or other dispositions of depreciable property, and no events have
occurred, and, based on all relevant information available as of the due date
of G’s first required installment, G does not know of any event that
will cause G’s taxable year to be a short taxable year. G’s annual
depreciation expense for 2005 is estimated to be $4,800 ($15,000 X 32% = $4,800).
For purposes of determining G’s first annualized income installment
for its 2005 taxable year, in accordance with paragraph (f)(2)(v)(A) of this
section, depreciation expense of $1,200 ($4,800 x 3/12 = $1,200) may be taken
into account in computing G’s January 1, 2005, through March 31, 2005,
taxable income to be annualized. As an alternative to estimating annual depreciation
expense based on events that are reasonably expected to occur, depreciation
expense of at least $600 ($4,800 x 50% x 3/12 = $600) may be taken into account
in computing G’s January 1, 2005, through March 31, 2005, taxable income
to be annualized. Under paragraph (f)(2)(v)(B) of this section, G may not
consider its first annualization period to be a short taxable year for purposes
of determining the depreciation allowance for such annualization period.
Example 11. Corporation H, a calendar year taxpayer,
uses an accrual method of accounting and the annualized income installment
method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate all of its required installment
payments for its 2006 taxable year. H has owned real property in State Y
since 2002 and has used the real property in its trade or business. H’s
method of accounting for real estate taxes is to deduct the taxes on the lien
date, subject to the recurring item exception of §1.461-5. Based on
historical practice for the past five years, for the 2006 calendar year State
Y imposes a lien for real estate taxes on real property owned in State Y on
March 15, 2006, with 90% of the tax due on June 30, 2006, and the remaining
10% of the tax due on June 29, 2007. Based on the value of H’s real
property in State Y, H’s real estate tax liability lien imposed on March
15, 2006, is $100,000. H pays the first 90% of this liability on June 30,
2006, and the remaining 10% on June 29, 2007. Under paragraph (f)(1)(iii)
of this section, the $100,000 real estate tax liability is not taken into
account for purposes of determining H’s first annualized income installment,
which is based on the income and deductions from the first three months of
the taxable year, because economic performance with respect to the real estate
tax liability did not occur by March 31, 2006. However, pursuant to paragraph
(f)(2)(i)(A) of this section, because H has historically incurred a real estate
tax expense after the end of the taxable year and the real estate tax expense
was deemed incurred in 2006 pursuant to §1.461-5, and because H satisfies
the other requirements of paragraph (f)(2)(i)(A) of this section, a $2,500
real estate tax expense may be taken into account for purposes of determining
H’s taxable income to be annualized in computing H’s first annualized
income installment ($10,000/12 X 3 = $2,500) unless, pursuant to paragraph
(f)(2)(i)(B) of this section, H is able to clearly demonstrate that the real
estate tax expense is more appropriately allocable by some other method.
Example 12. Same facts as Example 11,
except that H is computing its third required installment payment for H’s
2006 taxable year. Pursuant to paragraph (f)(1)(iii) of this section, H may
take into account $90,000 ($100,000 real estate tax liability X 90% paid on
June 30, 2006) for purposes of determining the taxable income to be annualized
in computing H’s third annualized income installment because economic
performance with respect to $90,000 of the real estate tax liability occurred
by June 30, 2006. In addition, pursuant to paragraph (f)(2)(i)(A) of this
section, because H has historically incurred a real estate tax expense after
the end of the taxable year and the real estate tax expense was deemed incurred
in 2006 pursuant to §1.461-5, and because H satisfies the other requirements
of paragraph (f)(2)(i)(A) of this section, a $5,000 real estate tax expense
also may be taken into account for purposes of determining H’s taxable
income to be annualized in computing H’s third annualized income installment
($10,000/12 X 6 = $5,000) unless, pursuant to paragraph (f)(2)(i)(B) of this
section, H is able to clearly demonstrate that $10,000 of the real estate
tax expense is more appropriately allocable by some other method. Therefore,
pursuant to paragraphs (f)(1)(iii) and (f)(2)(i)(A) of this section, H may
take into account $95,000 of the real estate tax liability for purposes of
computing the third required installment payment for H’s 2006 taxable
year.
Example 13. Same facts as Example 11,
except that H pays 90% of the real estate tax liability on June 30, 2006,
and the remaining 10% of the real estate tax liability on November 30, 2006.
Under paragraph (f)(1)(iii) of this section, the $100,000 real estate tax
liability is not taken into account for purposes of determining H’s
first annualized income installment, which is based on the income and deductions
from the first three months of the taxable year, because economic performance
with respect to the real estate tax liability did not occur by March 31, 2006.
In addition, although H has a history of incurring a real estate tax expense
after the end of the taxable year that is deemed incurred during the taxable
year, H does not meet the requirements of paragraph (f)(2)(i)(A) of this section
in order to take a real estate tax expense into account for purposes of determining
H’s first annualized income installment because H does not incur a real
estate tax at the end of the current taxable year or after the end of the
current taxable year that will be deemed incurred during the current taxable
year.
Example 14. Same facts as Example 13 except
that H is computing its third required installment payment for H’s 2006
taxable year. Pursuant to paragraph (f)(1)(iii) of this section, H may take
into account $90,000 ($100,000 real estate tax liability X 90% paid on June
30, 2006) for purposes of determining the taxable income to be annualized
in computing H’s third annualized income installment because economic
performance with respect to $90,000 of the real estate tax liability occurred
by June 30, 2006.
Example 15. Corporation I, a calendar year taxpayer,
uses an accrual method of accounting and the annualized income installment
method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate all of its required installment
payments for its 2006 taxable year. As of December 31, 2005, I had a $1,000,000
account receivable due from Z related to the sale of goods from I to Z during
2005. I has traditionally incurred bad debt expense for worthless accounts
receivable and, as of January 1, 2006, I projects that it will have a bad
debt expense of $1,600,000 under section 166 and the regulations for its calendar
year 2006. On March 31, 2006, I determined that its receivable from Z was
totally worthless under section 166 and the regulations. No other receivables
were determined to be worthless between January 1, 2006, and March 31, 2006.
In accordance with paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this section, a $1,000,000 bad
debt write-off is taken into account for purposes of determining the taxable
income to be annualized in computing I’s first annualized income installment.
Example 16. Same facts as Example 15 except
that I determines that its receivable from Z was totally worthless under section
166 and the regulations on April 10, 2006. As of March 31, 2006, I had not
determined that any receivables were worthless under section 166 and the regulations.
In accordance with paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this section, the $1,000,000 bad
debt expense attributable to the receivable from Z is not taken into account
for purposes of determining the taxable income to be annualized in computing
I’s first annualized income installment, which is based on the income
and deductions from the first three months of the taxable year, because the
receivable from Z became totally worthless after the last day of I’s
annualization period. Furthermore, I may not take the bad debt expense into
account for purposes of determining the taxable income to be annualized in
computing I’s first annualized income installment because the receivable
from Z does not meet the requirements of paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section.
Example 17. Corporation J, a calendar year taxpayer,
uses an accrual method of accounting and the annualized income installment
method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate its first required installment
payment for its 2006 taxable year. J projects its annualized tax for its
2006 taxable year, based on annualizing J’s taxable income for its first
annualization period from January 1, 2006, through March 31, 2006, to be $1,500,000
before reduction for any credits. J has an unused credit for increasing research
activities from 2005 of $500,000 that is carried over to 2006. For purposes
of determining J’s first annualized income installment, J’s annualized
tax for 2006 is $1,000,000, determined as the tax for the taxable year computed
by placing on an annualized basis J’s taxable income from its first
annualization period from January 1, 2006, through March 31, 2006, ($1,500,000)
reduced by the $500,000 credit carryover from 2005.
Example 18. Corporation K, a calendar year taxpayer,
uses an accrual method of accounting and the annualized income installment
method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate its first required installment
payment for its 2006 taxable year. K projects its annualized tax for its
2006 taxable year, based on annualizing K’s taxable income for its first
annualization period from January 1, 2006, through March 31, 2006, to be $2,000,000
before reduction for any credits. K has historically earned a credit for
increasing research activities and, for 2006, K estimates that it will earn
a credit for increasing research activities under section 41 of $1,200,000.
However, pursuant to paragraph (f)(1)(vi) of this section, if K were to annualize
all components involved in computing the current year credit based on K’s
activity from January 1, 2006, through March 31, 2006, K would generate a
credit of $1,600,000 for 2006. For purposes of determining K’s first
annualized income installment, K’s annualized tax for 2006 is $400,000,
determined as the tax for the 2006 taxable year ($2,000,000) computed by placing
on an annualized basis K’s taxable income from its first annualization
period January 1, 2006, through March 31, 2006, reduced by a $1,600,000 current
year credit from increasing research activities.
Example 19. Same facts as Example 18 except
that K does not begin any research activities until April 3, 2006, and will
not incur any research expenses described in paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section.
As a result, if K were to annualize all components involved in computing
the current year credit based on K’s activity from January 1, 2006,
through March 31, 2006, K would generate no section 41 research credit for
purposes of determining its first annualized income installment. Pursuant
to paragraph (f)(1)(vi) of this section, K can not take into account any credit
for its first annualization period because K did not incur the credit by the
last day of the first annualization period. Accordingly, for purposes of
determining K’s first annualized income installment, K’s annualized
tax for its first annualization period January 1, 2006, through March 31,
2006, is $2,000,000.
Example 20. Corporation L, a calendar year taxpayer,
uses an accrual method of accounting and the annualized income installment
method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate its first required installment
payment for its 2006 taxable year. L has licensed technology from Corporation
M for the past five years. Pursuant to the license agreement, L pays a license
fee to M equal to $.01 for every dollar of gross receipts earned by L. For
2006, L projects gross receipts of $200,000,000, of which $100,000,000 is
earned by March 31, 2006, and no portion of L’s license fee expense
is described in paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section. Pursuant to paragraph
(f)(1)(iii) of this section, a license fee expense of $1,000,000 ($100,000,000
X $.01) is incurred by March 31, 2006, and may be taken into account for purposes
of determining the taxable income to be annualized in computing L’s
first annualized income installment.
Example 21. Same facts as Example 20 except
that L does not earn any gross receipts by March 31, 2006. In accordance
with paragraph (f)(1)(iii) of this section, because the license fee expense
was not incurred under §1.461-1(a)(2) by the last day of the annualization
period, no license fee expense is taken into account for purposes of determining
the taxable income to be annualized in computing L’s first annualized
income installment, which is based on the income and deductions from the first
three months of the taxable year.
Example 22. Corporation N is a calendar year taxpayer
that produces and sells candy bars. N uses an accrual method of accounting
and the annualized income installment method under section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i)
to calculate all of its required installment payments for its 2007 taxable
year. N annually conducts, and will conduct for 2007 and 2008, a contest
for its customers whereby N awards, on a quarterly basis, a cash prize of
$100,000, $200,000, $300,000, and $400,000 to the first, second, third, and
fourth quarter winners, respectively. Winners are announced on the last day
of each calendar quarter and the prize is payable on the last day of the month
following the announcement of the winner. N uses the recurring item exception
of section 461(h) and the regulations with respect to its liability to the
prize winner. On December 31, 2006, N announced its fourth quarter winner
and remitted payment of $400,000 to the winner on January 31, 2007. Although
the contest liability is incurred in accordance with §1.461-4(g)(4) on
January 31, 2007, at the time payment is made to the award winner, N may not
take such item into account in computing N’s first annualized income
installment for 2007 because, pursuant to the recurring item exception, the
$400,000 is deductible in determining N’s 2006 taxable income and is
not taken into account in determining N’s taxable income for 2007, as
required pursuant to paragraph (f)(1) of this section. However, because N
has historically incurred an annual prize expense of $400,000 that is described
in paragraph (f)(2)(i)(A) of this section, $100,000 may be taken into account
for purposes of determining the taxable income to be annualized in computing
N’s first annualized income installment for N’s 2007 taxable year
based on the $400,000 liability N will incur for the 2007 taxable year when
N makes the payment in January of 2008 to the 2007 fourth quarter winner ($400,000/12
X 3 = $100,000), unless, pursuant to paragraph (f)(2)(i)(B) of this section,
N is able to clearly demonstrate that the annual prize expense is more appropriately
allocable by some other method.
(g) Items that substantially affect taxable income but cannot
be determined accurately by the installment due date—(1) In
general. In determining the applicability of the annualization
exceptions described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section and §1.6655-3,
reasonable estimates may be made from existing data for items that substantially
affect income if the amount of such items cannot be determined accurately
by the installment due date. Examples of these items are the inflation index
for taxpayers using the dollar-value LIFO (last-in, first-out) inventory method,
intercompany adjustments for taxpayers that file consolidated returns, and
the liquidation of a LIFO layer at the installment date that the taxpayer
reasonably believes will be replaced at the end of the year.
(2) Example. The following example illustrates
the rules of this paragraph (g):
Example. Corporation X accounts for its inventory
using the dollar-value LIFO method of accounting. If, when computing its
first annualized income installment, no reliable inflation index exists for
the period January 1, 2006, through March 31, 2006, X may interpolate from
an available inflation index for the same months in the previous year to calculate
its cost of goods sold.
(h) Events arising after installment due date that were not
reasonably foreseeable—(1) In general.
Events arising subsequent to an installment due date that cause the taxpayer’s
computation of its taxable income for a prior installment period to be understated
will not result in a recomputation of its taxable income for the prior installment
period. The preceding sentence applies only if, based on all the facts and
circumstances as of the due date of an installment payment, it was not reasonably
foreseeable that these subsequent events would occur.
(2) Example. The following example illustrates
the rules of this paragraph (h):
Example. Assume that Congress enacts retroactively
effective legislation that causes the taxable income for the applicable 2-,
3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 10- or 11-month period to be understated. This
event, which occurs after the applicable installment due date and was not
reasonably foreseeable at the time the installment payment was made, will
not result in a recomputation of a corporation’s taxable income for
the applicable installment period because such an event was not reasonably
foreseeable.
(i) Effective date. This section applies to taxable
years beginning after the date that is 30 days after the date the final regulations
are published in the Federal Register.
§1.6655-3 Adjusted seasonal installment method.
(a) In general. In the case of any required installment,
the amount of the adjusted seasonal installment is the excess (if any) of—
(1) 100 percent of the amount determined under paragraph (c) of this
section; over
(2) The aggregate amount of all prior required installments for the
taxable year.
(b) Limitation on application of section. This
section shall apply only if the base period percentage (as defined in section
6655(e)(3)(D)(i) and paragraph (d)(1) of this section) for any six consecutive
months of the taxable year equals or exceeds seventy percent.
(c) Determination of amount. The amount determined
under this section for any installment will be determined in the following
manner—
(1) Take the taxable income for all months during the taxable year preceding
the filing month;
(2) Divide such amount by the base period percentage for all months
during the taxable year preceding the filing month;
(3) Determine the tax on the amount determined under paragraph (c)(2)
of this section; and
(4) Multiply the tax computed under paragraph (c)(3) of this section
by the base period percentage for the filing month and all months during the
taxable year preceding the filing month.
(d) Special rules—(1) Base period
percentage. The base period percentage for any period of months
shall be the average percent that the taxable income for the corresponding
months in each of the three preceding taxable years bears to the taxable income
for the three preceding taxable years.
(2) Filing month. The term filing month means
the month in which the installment is required to be paid.
(3) Application of the rules related to the annualized income
installment method to the adjusted seasonal installment method.
The rules governing the computation of taxable income (and resulting tax)
for purposes of determining any required installment payment of estimated
tax under the annualized income installment method under §1.6655-2 shall
apply to the computation of taxable income (and resulting tax) for purposes
of determining any required installment payment of estimated tax under the
adjusted seasonal installment method.
(e) Example. The provisions of this section may
be illustrated by the following example:
Example. (i) X, a corporation that reports on a
calendar year basis, expected that it would have an estimated tax liability
of $1,200,000 for its taxable year ending December 31, 2006. On its 2005
tax return, X reported a tax liability of $652,800. X paid four installments
of estimated tax, each in the amount of $250,000, $250,000, $250,000, and
$450,000 on April 17, 2006, June 15, 2006, September 15, 2006, and December
15, 2006, respectively. X reported a tax liability of $1,152,600 on its return
due March 15, 2007, with no credits against tax. Under the general provision
of section 6655(b) and section 6655(d), there was an underpayment in the amount
of $76,300 for the second installment through September 15, 2006, and $114,450
for the third installment through December 15, 2006, determined as follows:
(ii) X wants to determine if it qualifies for the adjusted seasonal
installment method. X determines that its monthly taxable income for the
preceding three taxable years and for the current taxable year 2006 is as
follows:
(iii) X must initially determine if its base period percentage for the
same 6 consecutive months of the 3 preceding taxable years equals or exceeds
70 percent (see section 6655(e)(3) and paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section).
By using its taxable income for the first 6 months of 2003, 2004, and 2005,
X qualifies for the adjusted seasonal installment method because its base
period percentage is 87.5 percent (which exceeds 70 percent) computed as follows:
(iv) To determine the amount of the first installment under the rules
of section 6655(e)(3) and paragraph (a) of this section, the following computation
is necessary:
(v) To determine the amount of the second installment under the rules
of section 6655(e)(3) and paragraph (a) of this section, the following computation
is necessary:
(vi) To determine the amount of the third installment under the rules
of section 6655(e)(3) and paragraph (a) of this section, the following computation
is necessary:
(vii) To determine the amount of the fourth installment under the rules
of section 6655(e)(3) and paragraph (a) of this section, the following computation
is necessary:
(viii) Because the total amount of each required estimated tax payment
determined under section 6655(e)(3) and paragraph (a) of this section exceeds
the amount of each required estimated tax payment determined under section
6655(d) and §1.6655-1(d) and (e), the exception described in section
6655(e) and this section does not apply and the addition to the tax with respect
to the underpayment for the June 15, 2006, and September 15, 2006, installments
will be imposed unless another exception (for example, see section 6655(e)(2))
applies with respect to these installments.
(f) Effective date. This section applies to taxable
years beginning after the date that is 30 days after the date the final regulations
are published in the Federal Register.
Par. 8. Section 1.6655-4 is added to read as follows:
§1.6655-4 Large corporations.
(a) Large corporation defined. The term large
corporation means any corporation (or a predecessor corporation)
that had taxable income of at least $1,000,000 for any taxable year during
the testing period. For purposes of this section, a predecessor corporation
is the distributor or transferor corporation in a transaction to which section
381 (relating to carryovers in certain corporate acquisitions) applies.
(b) Testing period. For purposes of paragraph
(a) of this section, the term testing period means the
3 taxable years immediately preceding the taxable year for which estimated
tax is being determined (the current taxable year) or, if less, the number
of taxable years the taxpayer has been in existence.
(c) Computation of taxable income during testing period—(1) Short
taxable year. In the case of a corporation (or predecessor corporation)
that had a short taxable year during the testing period, for purposes of determining
whether the $1,000,000 amount referred to in paragraph (a) of this section
is equaled or exceeded, the taxable income for the short taxable year is computed
by—
(i) Multiplying the taxable income for the short taxable year by 12;
and
(ii) Dividing the resulting amount by the number of months in the short
taxable year.
(2) Computation of taxable income in taxable year when there
occurs a transaction to which section 381 applies. (i) For purposes
of determining whether an acquiring corporation had taxable income of $1,000,000
or more for a taxable year in which there occurs a transaction to which section
381 applies, the acquiring corporation’s taxable income will be the
sum of—
(A) The taxable income of the acquiring corporation for its taxable
year; plus
(B) The taxable income of the distributor or transferor corporation
for that portion of the acquiring corporation’s taxable year up to and
including the date of distribution or transfer (as defined in §1.381(b)-1(b)).
(ii) For purposes of determining whether a transferor or distributor
corporation had taxable income of $1,000,000 or more for a taxable year in
which there occurs a transaction to which section 381 applies, the distributor
or transferor corporation’s taxable income shall be reduced by the amount
of its taxable income for that portion of its taxable year corresponding to
the acquiring corporation’s taxable year up to and including the date
of distribution or transfer (as defined in §1.381(b)-1(b)).
(d) Members of controlled group—(1) In
general. For purposes of applying paragraph (a) of this section,
the taxable income of members of a controlled group of corporations (as defined
in section 1563(a)) must be aggregated for each year of the testing period.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to a controlled group for
any taxable year in which the aggregate taxable income of the members of the
controlled group is less than $1,000,000.
(2) Aggregation. For purposes of paragraph (d)(1)
of this section, a taxable loss of any member of the controlled group for
a taxable year during the testing period is not taken into account.
(3) Allocation rule. If the aggregate taxable
income of members of a controlled group computed pursuant to paragraph (d)(1)
of this section exceeds $1,000,000 during the testing period, the $1,000,000
amount that is relevant for purposes of determining, under paragraph (a)(1)
of this section, whether a corporation is a large corporation shall be divided
equally among the component members of such group (including component members
excluded pursuant to paragraph (d)(2) of this section) unless all of such
component members consent to an apportionment plan providing for an alternative
allocation of such amount. The procedure for making and filing this plan
will be the same as the procedure used for making and filing an apportionment
plan under section 1561. See section 1561 and the regulations.
(4) Controlled group members. (i) In the case
of any corporation that was a member of a controlled group of corporations
at any time during the testing period but is not a member of such group during
the taxable year involved, the taxable income of the former member for the
testing period is determined as if such corporation were not a member of a
group at any time during that period. With respect to the controlled group,
the taxable income of its former member will not be taken into account in
determining such group’s taxable income for any taxable year during
the testing period for purposes of applying paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
(ii) For purposes of paragraph (d)(4)(i) of this section, the determination
of whether a corporation is a member of a controlled group during the testing
period is based on whether the corporation was a member of the controlled
group on the last day of the month preceding the due date of the required
installment.
(e) Effect on a corporation’s taxable income of items
that may be carried back or carried over from any other taxable year.
In determining whether a corporation (or predecessor corporation) is a large
corporation for its current taxable year, items that could offset taxable
income during a taxable year included in the testing period (for example,
those described in sections 172 and 1212) are not to be taken into account
and the taxable income of a corporation for any taxable year during the testing
period shall be determined without regard to items carried back or carried
over from any other taxable year.
(f) Consolidated returns. [Reserved].
(g) Example. The provisions of this section may
be illustrated by the following example:
Example. Y Corporation and Z Corporation are calendar
year taxpayers. In 2006, Z acquires all of the assets of Y in a transaction
to which section 381 applies. Z’s taxable income for both 2004 and
2005 was less than $1,000,000. Y’s taxable income for 2006 is determined
under paragraph (c)(2) of this section to be $300,000 for that portion of
the acquiring corporation’s taxable year up to and including the date
of transfer. Z’s taxable income for 2006 is $800,000. Under the provisions
of paragraph (c)(2) of this section, Z’s 2006 taxable income for purposes
of determining whether it is a large corporation for taxable year 2007 is
$1,100,000 ($800,000 + $300,000). Thus, Z is a large corporation for the
2007 taxable year. In addition, if Z’s 2006 taxable income, as determined
under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, had been less than $1,000,000 but
Y’s taxable income in 2004 or 2005 had been $1,000,000 or more, Z would
be a large corporation for taxable year 2007 because Y is a predecessor corporation.
(h) Effective date. This section applies to taxable
years beginning after the date that is 30 days after the date the final regulations
are published in the Federal Register.
Par. 9. Section 1.6655-7 is removed.
§1.6655-5 [Redesignated as §1.6655-7]
Par. 10. Section 1.6655-5 is redesignated as §1.6655-7.
Par. 11. Sections 1.6655-5 and 1.6655-6 are added to read as follows:
§1.6655-5 Short taxable year.
(a) In general. Except as otherwise provided in
this section, the provisions of section 6655 and the regulations are applicable
in the case of a short taxable year (including an initial taxable year) for
which a payment of estimated tax is required to be made.
(b) Exception to payment of estimated tax. In
the case of a short taxable year, no payment of estimated tax is required
if—
(1) The short taxable year is a period of less than 4 full calendar
months; or
(2) The tax shown on the return for such taxable year (or, if no return
is filed, the tax) is less than $500.
(c) Installment due dates—(1) In
general—(i) Taxable year of four months but less
than twelve months. Except as otherwise provided, in the case
of a short taxable year, if such year results in a taxable year of four or
more full calendar months but less than twelve full calendar months, the due
dates prescribed in §1.6655-1(f)(2) shall apply.
(ii) Exception. If the date determined under paragraph
(c)(1)(i) of this section for the first required installment due during the
taxpayer’s short taxable year is earlier than the 15th day of the fourth
month of the taxpayer’s short taxable year, the taxpayer’s first
required installment shall be due on the first due date otherwise determined
under paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section that is on or after the 15th day
of the fourth month of the short taxable year.
(2) Early termination of taxable year—(i) In
general. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section,
if a taxable year ends early (for example, as a result of an acquisition or
a change in taxable year), the due date for the final required installment
shall be the date that would have been the due date of the next required installment
if the event that gave rise to the short taxable year had not occurred.
(ii) Exception. If the date determined under paragraph
(c)(2)(i) of this section is within thirty days of the last day of the short
taxable year, the due date for the final required installment shall be the
fifteenth day of the second month following the month that includes the last
day of the short taxable year.
(d) Amount due for required installment—(1) In
general. The amount due for any required installment determined
under section 6655(d)(1)(B)(i) for a short taxable year shall be 100% of the
required annual payment for the short taxable year divided by the number of
required installments due (as determined under this section) for the short
taxable year.
(2) Tax shown on the return for the preceding taxable year.
If the current taxable year is a short taxable year, the amount due for any
required installment determined under section 6655(d)(1)(B)(ii) shall be determined
in the following manner—
(i) Take 100% of the tax shown on the return of the corporation for
the preceding taxable year;
(ii) Multiply such amount by the number of full calendar months in the
current short taxable year and divide by 12; and
(iii) Divide the amount determined under paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this
section by the number of required installments due (as determined under this
section) for the current short taxable year.
(3) Applicable percentage. In the case of any
required installment determined under section 6655(e), the applicable percentage
under section 6655(e)(2)(B)(ii) shall be—
(i) 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% for the first, second, third, and fourth
(last) required installments, respectively, if the taxpayer will have four
required installments due for the short taxable year;
(ii) 33.33%, 66.67%, and 100% for the first, second, and third (last)
required installments, respectively, if the taxpayer will have three required
installments due for the short taxable year;
(iii) 50% and 100% for the first and second (last) required installments,
respectively, if the taxpayer will have two required installments due for
the short taxable year; or
(iv) 100% for the first (and last) required installment if the taxpayer
will have one required installment for the short taxable year.
(e) Examples. The following examples illustrate
the rules of this section:
Example 1. A corporation is a calendar year taxpayer
that was acquired by B corporation on April 16, 2007, resulting in A having
a short taxable year from January 1 through April 16, 2007. Because A has
a taxable year of less than four full calendar months, no estimated tax payments
are required by A for the short taxable year.
Example 2. B corporation began business on January
10, 2007, and adopted a calendar year as its taxable year. B computes its
required installments based on 100 percent of the tax shown on the return
for the taxable year in accordance with section 6655(d)(1)(B)(i). Pursuant
to §1.6655-1(f)(2)(i), the due dates of B’s required installments
for B’s initial taxable year from January 10, 2007, through December
31, 2007, are April 15, 2007, June 15, 2007, September 15, 2007, and December
15, 2007. However, because the due dates for the first, third, and fourth
required installments fall on a weekend, B’s required installment payments
will be timely if paid on or before the first business day following the actual
due date of the required installments, that is, April 16, 2007, September
17, 2007, and December 17, 2007, respectively, for the first, third, and fourth
required installments. Pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the
amount due with each required installment is 25% of the required annual payment
for B’s first required installment, 50% of the required annual payment
for B’s second required installment, 75% of the required annual payment
for B’s third required installment, and 100% of the required annual
payment for B’s fourth required installment.
Example 3. Corporation C began business on February
12, 2007, and adopted a calendar year as its taxable year. C computes its
required installments based on 100 percent of the tax shown on the return
for the taxable year in accordance with section 6655(d)(1)(B)(i). Pursuant
to §1.6655-1(f)(2)(i), the due dates of C’s required installments
for C’s initial taxable year from February 12, 2007, through December
31, 2007, are April 15, 2007, June 15, 2007, September 15, 2007, and December
15, 2007. However, in accordance with paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section,
C’s first required installment is due June 15, 2007, because April 15,
2007, is earlier than the fifteenth day of the fourth month of C’s taxable
year. As a result, C’s second required installment is due September
15, 2007, and C’s third (and last) installment is due December 15, 2007.
However, because the due dates for the second and third (and last) required
installments fall on a weekend, C’s required installment payments will
be timely if paid on or before the first business day following the actual
due date of the required installments, that is, September 17, 2007, and December
17, 2007, respectively, for the second and third (and last) required installments.
Pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the amount due with each required
installment is 33.33% of the required annual payment for C’s first required
installment, 66.67% of the required annual payment for C’s second required
installment, and 100% of the required annual payment for C’s third (and
last) required installment.
Example 4. Same facts as Example 3 except
C began business on April 10, 2007. In accordance with paragraph (c)(1)(ii)
of this section, C’s first required installment is due September 15,
2007, because April 15, 2007, and June 15, 2007, are earlier than the fifteenth
day of the fourth month of C’s taxable year. As a result, C’s
second (and last) required installment is due December 15, 2007. However,
because the due dates for the first and second (and last) required installments
fall on a weekend, C’s required installment payments will be timely
if paid on or before the first business day following the actual due date
of the required installments, that is, September 17, 2007, and December 17,
2007, respectively, for the first and second (and last) required installments.
Pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the amount due with each required
installment is 50% of the required annual payment for C’s first required
installment, and 100% of the required annual payment for C’s second
(and last) required installment.
Example 5. D corporation began business on February
12, 2007, and adopted a fiscal year ending October 31 as its taxable year.
D computes its required installments based on 100 percent of the tax shown
on the return for the taxable year in accordance with section 6655(d)(1)(B)(i).
Pursuant to §1.6655-1(f)(2)(ii), the due dates of D’s required
installments for D’s initial taxable year from February 12, 2007, through
October 31, 2007, are February 15, 2007, April 15, 2007, July 15, 2007, and
October 15, 2007. However, in accordance with paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this
section, D’s first required installment is due July 15, 2007, because
February 15, 2007, and April 15, 2007, are earlier than the fifteenth day
of the fourth month of D’s taxable year. As a result, D’s second
(and last) installment is due October 15, 2007. However, because the due
date for the first required installment falls on a weekend, D’s first
required installment payment will be timely if paid on or before the first
business day following the actual due date of the required installment, that
is, July 16, 2007. Pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the amount
due with each required installment is 50% of the required annual payment for
D’s first required installment, and 100% of the required annual payment
for D’s second (and last) required installment.
Example 6. Same facts as Example 5 except
D corporation began business on May 10, 2007. In accordance with paragraph
(c)(1)(ii) of this section, D’s first (and last) installment is due
October 15, 2007, because July 15, 2007, is earlier than the fifteenth day
of the fourth month of D’s taxable year. Pursuant to paragraph (d)(1)
of this section, the amount due with D’s required installment is 100%
of the required annual payment, computed as 100% divided by the number of
required installments due for the short taxable year.
Example 7. E corporation is a calendar year taxpayer
that computes its required installments based on 100 percent of the tax shown
on the return for the taxable year in accordance with section 6655(d)(1)(B)(i).
E computes its 2007 required installments based on a projected 2007 total
tax liability of $600,000. On July 31, 2007, E is acquired by F corporation
resulting in E having a short taxable year from January 1, 2007, through July
31, 2007. E determines that its total tax liability for the short period
is $350,000. The due dates for E’s first and second required installments
are April 15, 2007, and June 15, 2007, respectively. However, because the
due date for the first required installment falls on a weekend, E’s
first required installment payment will be timely if paid on or before the
first business day following the actual due date of the required installment,
that is, April 16, 2007. Pursuant to section 6655(d)(1)(A), E paid $150,000
with each required installment. Pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this section,
E’s third (and last) required installment of estimated tax is due on
September 15, 2007, and the percentage of the required annual payment due
with such installment is 100% pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this section.
However, because the due date for the third (and last) required installment
falls on a weekend, E’s third (and last) required installment payment
will be timely if paid on or before the first business day following the actual
due date of the required installment, that is, September 17, 2007. Accordingly,
E is required to pay $50,000 with its final required installment on September
17, 2007 ($350,000 total tax liability for the short taxable year less prior
installment payments of $300,000).
Example 8. Same facts as Example 7 except
that E is acquired by F corporation on August 31, 2007. Pursuant to paragraph
(c)(2)(ii) of this section, E’s third (and last) required installment
of estimated tax is due on October 15, 2007, because September 15, 2007, the
date that would have been the due date of E’s next required installment
if F’s acquisition of E had not occurred, is within thirty days of the
last day of E’s short taxable year, and 100% of the required annual
payment is due with such installment.
Example 9. F corporation is a calendar year taxpayer
that computes its required installments based on 100 percent of the tax shown
on the return for the taxable year in accordance with section 6655(d)(1)(B)(i).
F computes its 2007 estimated tax payments based on a projected 2007 total
tax liability of $900,000. On December 3, 2007, F is acquired by G corporation
resulting in F having a short taxable year from January 1, 2007, through December
3, 2007. F determined its total tax liability for the short period to be
$800,000. The due dates for F’s first, second, and third required installments
are April 15, 2007, June 15, 2007, and September 15, 2007, respectively.
However, because the due dates for the first and third required installments
fall on a weekend, F’s required installment payments will be timely
if paid on or before the first business day following the actual due date
of the required installments, that is, April 16, 2007, and September 17, 2007,
respectively, for the first and third required installments. Pursuant to
section 6655(d)(1)(A), F paid $225,000 with each required installment. Pursuant
to paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section, F’s fourth (and last) required
installment of estimated tax is due on February 15, 2008, and the percentage
of the required annual payment due with such installment is 100% pursuant
to paragraph (d)(1) of this section. Accordingly, F is required to pay $125,000
with its final required installment due February 15, 2008 ($800,000 total
tax liability for the short taxable year less prior installment payments of
$675,000).
Example 10. G corporation, a calendar year taxpayer,
reported a tax liability of $75,000 on its return for the taxable year ending
December 31, 2006, and is not a large corporation as defined in section 6655(g).
On July 31, 2007, G makes a final distribution of its assets, in connection
with a plan of complete liquidation, resulting in a short taxable year from
January 1, 2007, through July 31, 2007. To satisfy the requirements of the
exception described in section 6655(d)(1)(B)(ii) for payments determined by
reference to the tax shown on the return of the corporation for the preceding
taxable year, pursuant to paragraph (d)(2) of this section, G must pay in
a proportionate amount of its 2006 tax liability based on the number of months
in the current taxable year. Accordingly, G must pay $43,750 ($75,000 X 7/12)
through payments of estimated tax payments in 2007, with $14,583 due on April
15, 2007, June 15, 2007, and September 15, 2007. However, because the due
dates for the first and third required installments fall on a weekend, G’s
required installment payments will be timely if paid on or before the first
business day following the actual due date of the required installments, that
is, April 16, 2007, and September 17, 2007, respectively, for the first and
third required installments.
Example 11. Same facts as Example 10 except
that G makes a final distribution of its assets, in connection with a plan
of complete liquidation, on October 1, 2007, resulting in a short taxable
year from January 1, 2007, through October 1, 2007. To satisfy the requirements
of the exception described in section 6655(d)(1)(B)(ii), G must pay $56,250
($75,000 x 9/12) through payments of estimated tax in 2007, with $14,063 due
on April 15, 2007, June 15, 2007, September 15, 2007, and December 15, 2007,
respectively. However, because the due dates for the first, third, and fourth
required installments fall on a weekend, G’s required installment payments
will be timely if paid on or before the first business day following the actual
due date of the required installments, that is, April 16, 2007, September
17, 2007, and December 17, 2007, respectively, for the first, third, and fourth
required installments.
Example 12. H corporation began business on February
15, 2007, and adopted a calendar year. H computes its required installments
based on 100 percent of the tax shown on the return for the taxable year in
accordance with section 6655(d)(1)(B)(i). H estimated at the beginning of
its short taxable year that its estimated tax liability for short taxable
year February 15, 2007, through December 31, 2007, would be $180,000. H paid
its first required installment of estimated tax of $60,000 on June 15, 2007,
its second required installment of estimated tax of $60,000 on September 17,
2007, and its third (and last) required installment of estimated tax of $60,000
on December 17, 2007 ($180,000 total estimated tax liability for the short
taxable year less prior installment payments of $120,000). H reported a tax
liability of $240,000 on its return for the short period February 15, 2007,
through December 31, 2007, with no credits against tax. There was an underpayment
in the amount of $20,000 on the first installment date through September 15,
2007, $40,000 on the second installment date through December 15, 2007, and
$60,000 on the third (and last) installment date through March 15, 2008, determined
as follows:
(f) 52 or 53 week taxable year. For purposes of
this section, a taxable year of 52 or 53 weeks shall be deemed a period of
12 months in the case of a corporation that computes its taxable income in
accordance with the election permitted by section 441(f).
(g) Use of annualized income or seasonal installment method—(1) In
general. Regardless of the annual accounting period used by a
corporation (for example, calendar year, fiscal year) the taxpayer may use
the method described in §1.6655-2 (annualized income installment method)
or §1.6655-3 (adjusted seasonal installment method) to compute its required
installments of estimated tax when the current taxable year is a short taxable
year.
(2) Computation of annualized income installment.
To the extent a short taxable year includes an annualization period elected
by the taxpayer, the taxpayer shall compute its annualized income installment
by determining the tax on the basis of such annualized income for the annualization
period multiplied by the number of months in the short taxable year divided
by 12.
(3) Annualization period for final required installment.
For purposes of determining the final required installment (as described
in paragraph (c)(2) of this section) for a short taxable year, annualized
taxable income shall be determined by placing on an annualized basis the taxable
income for the last complete annualization period that occurs within the short
taxable year.
(4) Examples. The provisions of paragraph (g)
of this section may be illustrated by the following examples:
Example 1. X corporation began business on February
12, 2007, and adopted a calendar year as its taxable year. X adopts an accrual
method of accounting and uses the annualized income installment method under
section 6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate all of its required installment payments
for its 2007 taxable year. Pursuant to §1.6655-1(f)(2)(i), the due dates
of X’s required installments for X’s initial taxable year from
February 12, 2007, through December 31, 2007, are April 15, 2007, June 15,
2007, September 15, 2007, and December 15, 2007. However, in accordance with
paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section, X’s first required installment
is due June 15, 2007. As a result, X’s second required installment
is due September 15, 2007, and X’s third (and last) required installment
is due December 15, 2007. However, because the due dates for the third and
fourth required installments fall on a weekend, X’s required installment
payments will be timely if paid on or before the first business day following
the actual due date of the required installments, that is, September 17, 2007,
and December 17, 2007, respectively, for the third and fourth required installments.
The amount of X’s first and second required installments are each based
on annualizing X’s taxable income from February 12, 2007, through April
30, 2007, (the first three months of X’s taxable year) and X’s
third (and last) required installment is based on annualizing X’s taxable
income from February 12, 2007, through July 31, 2007 (the first six months
of X’s taxable year). Because X will have three required installments
due for its short taxable year, pursuant to paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section,
the applicable percentage is 33.33% for X’s first required installment,
66.67% for X’s second required installment, and 100% for X’s third
(and last) required installment.
Example 2. Y, a calendar year corporation, made
a final distribution of its assets, in connection with a plan of complete
liquidation, on August 1, 2007. Y filed a timely election to use the alternative
annualization periods described under section 6655(e)(2)(C)(i) and determined
that its taxable income for the first 2, 4 and 7 months of the taxable year
was $25,000, $50,000 and $140,000. The due dates for Y’s required installments
for its short taxable year January 1, 2007, through August 1, 2007, are April
15, 2007, June 15, 2007, and September 15, 2007. However, because the due
dates for the first and third required installments fall on a weekend, Y’s
required installment payments will be timely if paid on or before the first
business day following the actual due date of the required installments, that
is, April 16, 2007, and September 17, 2007, respectively, for the first and
third required installments. Y made installment payments of $10,000, $10,000,
and $20,000, respectively, on April 16, 2007, June 15, 2007, and September
17, 2007. The taxable income for each period is annualized as follows:
(i)(A) To determine whether the first required installment equals or
exceeds the amount that would have been required to have been paid if the
estimated tax were equal to one hundred percent of the tax computed on the
annualized income for the 2-month period taking into account the number of
months in the short taxable year, the following computation is necessary:
(B) Because the total amount of estimated tax that is timely paid on
or before the first installment date ($10,000) exceeds the amount required
to be paid on or before this date if the estimated tax were one hundred percent
of the tax determined by placing on an annualized basis the taxable income
for the first 2-month period taking into account the number of months in the
short taxable year, the exception described in §1.6655-2(a) applies and
no addition to tax will be imposed for the installment due on April 15, 2007.
(ii)(A) To determine whether the required installments made on or before
June 15, 2007, equal or exceed the amount that would have been required to
have been paid if the estimated tax were equal to one hundred percent of the
tax computed on the annualized income for the 4-month period taking into account
the number of months in the short taxable year, the following computation
is necessary:
(B) Because the total amount of estimated tax available to apply towards
the amount due for the second installment ($12,369 ($10,000 paid on the second
installment date plus $2,369 overpayment of the first installment)) exceeds
the amount required to be paid on or before this date if the estimated tax
were one hundred percent of the tax determined by placing on an annualized
basis the taxable income for the first 4-month period for the taxable year
taking into account the number of months in the short taxable year, the exception
described in §1.6655-2(a) applies and no addition to tax will be imposed
for the installment due on June 15, 2007.
(iii)(A) Pursuant to paragraph (c) and (d) of this section, the final
required installment is due by September 15, 2007, and the applicable percentage
due for the final required installment is 100%. However, because the due
date for the final required installment falls on a weekend, Y’s final
required installment payment will be timely if paid on or before the first
business day following the actual due date of the required installment, that
is, September 17, 2007. To determine whether the installment payments made
on or before September 17, 2007, equal or exceed the amount that would have
been required to have been paid if the estimated tax were equal to one hundred
percent of the tax computed on the annualized income for the 7-month period
taking into account the number of months in the short taxable year, the following
computation is necessary:
(B) Because the total amount of estimated tax available to apply towards
the amount due for the final installment ($24,738 ($20,000 that is timely
paid on the third installment date plus $4,738 overpayment of the second installment))
exceeds the amount required to be paid on or before this date if the estimated
tax were one hundred percent of the tax determined by placing on an annualized
basis the taxable income for the first 7-month period for the taxable year
taking into account the number of months in the short taxable year, the exception
described in §1.6655-2(a) applies and no addition to tax will be imposed
for the final installment due on September 15, 2007.
(h) Preceding taxable year a short taxable year.
If the preceding taxable year referred to in section 6655(d)(1) was a short
taxable year, the tax computed on the basis of the facts shown on the return
for such preceding year, for purposes of determining the applicability of
the exception described in section 6655(d)(2), shall be the tax computed on
the annual basis in the manner described in section 443(b)(1) (prior to the
reduction of the tax liability in the manner described in the last sentence).
(i) Effective date. This section applies to taxable
years beginning after the date that is 30 days after the date the final regulations
are published in the Federal Register.
§1.6655-6 Methods of accounting.
(a) In general. In computing any required installment,
a corporation must use the methods of accounting used in computing taxable
income for the taxable year for which estimated tax is being determined (the
current taxable year).
(b) Exceptions—(1) Automatic accounting
method changes. If a taxpayer is making a change in method of
accounting for the current taxable year that is permitted to be made with
the automatic consent of the Commissioner, the new method of accounting shall
be used in determining any required installment if, and only if, the copy
of the Form 3115, “Application for Change in Accounting Method,”
has been mailed to the IRS National Office on or before the last day of the
annualization period.
(2) Non-automatic accounting method changes.
If a taxpayer is making a change in method of accounting for the current taxable
year that requires the prior consent of the Commissioner, the new method of
accounting shall be used in determining any required installment if, and only
if, the consent agreement reflecting the Commissioner’s consent to the
change in method of accounting and the prescribed terms and conditions for
effecting such change has been signed by the taxpayer and mailed to the IRS
National Office on or before the last day of the annualization period.
(c) Examples. The following examples illustrate
the rules of this section:
Example 1. X corporation, a calendar year taxpayer,
uses an accrual method of accounting and the annualization method under section
6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate its 2006 required installments. X receives
advance payments each taxable year with respect to agreements for the sale
of goods properly includible in X’s inventory. The advance payments
received by X qualify for deferral under §1.451-5(c). Although X is
eligible to defer the advance payments in accordance with §1.451-5(c),
X’s method of accounting with respect to the advance payments is to
include the advance payments in income when received. If, as of the last
day of the annualization period, X’s method of accounting for advance
payments is to include the advance payments in income when received, and the
requirements of paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section, as applicable,
are not met, then X must use that method of accounting for purposes of computing
such required installment.
Example 2. Y corporation, a calendar year taxpayer,
uses an accrual method of accounting and the annualization method under section
6655(e)(2)(A)(i) to calculate its 2006 required installments. Y computes
its annual taxable income by deducting its liability for state income taxes
in the taxable year the taxes are paid, without regard to the recurring item
exception of section 461(h) and the regulations. If, as of the last day of
the annualization period, Y’s method of accounting for state income
taxes is to deduct such taxes in the taxable year the taxes are paid without
regard to the recurring item exception, and the requirements of paragraph
(b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section, as applicable, are not met, then Y must
use that method of accounting for purposes of computing such required installment.
(d) Effective date. This section applies to taxable
years beginning after the date that is 30 days after the date the final regulations
are published in the Federal Register.
Par. 12. Newly designated §1.6655-7 is revised to read as follows:
§1.6655-7 Addition to tax on account of excessive adjustment
under section 6425.
(a) Section 6655(h) imposes an addition to the tax under chapter 1 of
the Internal Revenue Code in the case of any excessive amount (as defined
in paragraph (c) of this section) of an adjustment under section 6425 that
is made before the 15th day of the third month following the close of a taxable
year beginning after December 31, 1967. This addition to tax is imposed whether
or not there was reasonable cause for an excessive adjustment.
(b) If the amount of an adjustment under section 6425 is excessive,
there shall be added to the tax under chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code
for the taxable year an amount determined at the annual rate referred to in
the regulations under section 6621 upon the excessive amount from the date
on which the credit is allowed or refund paid to the 15th day
of the third month following the close of the taxable year. A refund is paid
on the date it is allowed under section 6407.
(c) The excessive amount is equal to the lesser of the amount of the
adjustment or the amount by which—
(1) The income tax liability (as defined in section 6425(c)) for the
taxable year, as shown on the return for the taxable year; exceeds
(2) The estimated income tax paid during the taxable year, reduced by
the amount of the adjustment.
(d) The computation of the addition to the tax imposed by section 6425
is made independent of, and does not affect the computation of, any addition
to the tax that a corporation may otherwise owe for an underpayment of an
installment of estimated tax.
(e) The following example illustrates the rules of this section:
Example. (i) Corporation X, a calendar year taxpayer,
had an underpayment as defined in section 6655(b), for its fourth installment
of estimated tax that was due on December 15, 2006, in the amount of $10,000.
On January 2, 2007, X filed an application for adjustment of overpayment
of estimated income tax for 2006 in the amount of $20,000.
(ii) On February 16, 2007, the IRS, in response to the application,
refunded $20,000 to X. On March 15, 2007, X filed its 2006 tax return and
made a payment in settlement of its total tax liability. Assuming that the
addition to tax is computed under section 6621(a)(2) at a rate of 8% per annum
for the applicable periods of underpayment, under section 6655(a), X is subject
to an addition to tax in the amount of $197 (90/365 X $10,000 X 8%) on account
of X’s December 15, 2006, underpayment. Under section 6655(h), X is
subject to an addition to tax in the amount of $118 (27/365 X $20,000 X 8%)
on account of X’s excessive adjustment under section 6425. In determining
the amount of the addition to tax under section 6655(a) for failure to pay
estimated income tax, the excessive adjustment under section 6425 is not taken
into account.
(f) An adjustment is generally to be treated as a reduction of estimated
income tax paid as of the date of the adjustment. However, for purposes of
§1.6655-1 through §1.6655-6, the adjustment is to be treated as
if not made in determining whether there has been any underpayment of estimated
income tax and, if there is an underpayment, the period during which the underpayment
existed.
(g) This section applies to taxable years beginning after the date that
is 30 days after the date the final regulations are published in the Federal Register.
PART 301—PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION
Par. 13. The authority citation for part 301 continues to read, in
part, as follows:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
Par. 14. Section 301.6655-1 is revised to read as follows:
§301.6655-1 Failure by corporation to pay estimated
income tax.
(a) For regulations under section 6655, see §§1.6655-1 through
1.6655-7 of this chapter.
(b) This section applies to taxable years beginning after the date that
is 30 days after the date the final regulations are published in the Federal Register.
Mark E. Matthews, Deputy
Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
Note
(Filed by the Office of the Federal Register on December 7, 2005, 8:45
a.m., and published in the issue of the Federal Register for December 12,
2005, 70 F.R. 73393)
The principal authors of these regulations are Robert A. Desilets, Jr.,
formerly of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Procedure and Administration),
Administrative Provisions and Judicial Practice Division, and Joseph P. Dewald,
Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Procedure and Administration), Administrative
Provisions and Judicial Practice Division.
* * * * *
Internal Revenue Bulletin 2006-04
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