§6038A — Information with respect to certain foreign-owned corporations
1 citing cases
Statute Text — 26 U.S.C. §6038A
If, at any time during a taxable year, a corporation (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “reporting corporation”)—
is a domestic corporation, and
is 25-percent foreign-owned,
such corporation shall furnish, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall by regulations prescribe, the information described in subsection (b) and such corporation shall maintain (in the location, in the manner, and to the extent prescribed in regulations) such records as may be appropriate to determine the correct treatment of transactions with related parties as the Secretary shall by regulations prescribe (or shall cause another person to so maintain such records).
For purposes of subsection (a), the information described in this subsection is such information as the Secretary prescribes by regulations relating to—
the name, principal place of business, nature of business, and country or countries in which organized or resident, of each person which—
is a related party to the reporting corporation, and
had any transaction with the reporting corporation during its taxable year,
the manner in which the reporting corporation is related to each person referred to in subparagraph (A), and
transactions between the reporting corporation and each foreign person which is a related party to the reporting corporation.
For purposes of subsection (a) and section 6038C, if the reporting corporation or the foreign corporation to whom section 6038C applies is an applicable taxpayer, the information described in this subsection shall include—
such information as the Secretary determines necessary to determine the base erosion minimum tax amount, base erosion payments, and base erosion tax benefits of the taxpayer for purposes of section 59A for the taxable year, and
such other information as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out such section.
For purposes of this paragraph, any term used in this paragraph which is also used in section 59A shall have the same meaning as when used in such section.
For purposes of this section—
A corporation is 25-percent foreign-owned if at least 25 percent of—
the total voting power of all classes of stock of such corporation entitled to vote, or
the total value of all classes of stock of such corporation,
is owned at any time during the taxable year by 1 foreign person (hereinafter in this section referred to as a “25-percent foreign shareholder”).
The term “related party” means—
any 25-percent foreign shareholder of the reporting corporation,
any person who is related (within the meaning of section 267(b) or 707(b)(1)) to the reporting corporation or to a 25-percent foreign shareholder of the reporting corporation, and
any other person who is related (within the meaning of section 482) to the reporting corporation.
The term “foreign person” means any person who is not a United States person. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “United States person” has the meaning given to such term by section 7701(a)(30), except that any individual who is a citizen of any possession of the United States (but not otherwise a citizen of the United States) and who is not a resident of the United States shall not be treated as a United States person.
The term “records” includes any books, papers, or other data.
Section 318 shall apply for purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), except that—
“10 percent” shall be substituted for “50 percent” in section 318(a)(2)(C), and
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of section 318(a)(3) shall not be applied so as to consider a United States person as owning stock which is owned by a person who is not a United States person.
If a reporting corporation—
fails to furnish (within the time prescribed by regulations) any information described in subsection (b), or
fails to maintain (or cause another to maintain) records as required by subsection (a),
such corporation shall pay a penalty of $25,000 for each taxable year with respect to which such failure occurs.
If any failure described in paragraph (1) continues for more than 90 days after the day on which the Secretary mails notice of such failure to the reporting corporation, such corporation shall pay a penalty (in addition to the amount required under paragraph (1)) of $25,000 for each 30-day period (or fraction thereof) during which such failure continues after the expiration of such 90-day period.
For purposes of this subsection, the time prescribed by regulations to furnish information or maintain records (and the beginning of the 90-day period after notice by the Secretary) shall be treated as not earlier than the last day on which (as shown to the satisfaction of the Secretary) reasonable cause existed for failure to furnish the information or maintain the records.
The rules of paragraph (3) shall apply to any transaction between the reporting corporation and any related party who is a foreign person unless such related party agrees (in such manner and at such time as the Secretary shall prescribe) to authorize the reporting corporation to act as such related party’s limited agent solely for purposes of applying sections 7602, 7603, and 7604 with respect to any request by the Secretary to examine records or produce testimony related to any such transaction or with respect to any summons by the Secretary for such records or testimony. The appearance of persons or production of records by reason of the reporting corporation being such an agent shall not subject such persons or records to legal process for any purpose other than determining the correct treatment under this title of any transaction between the reporting corporation and such related party.
If—
for purposes of determining the correct treatment under this title of any transaction between the reporting corporation and a related party who is a foreign person, the Secretary issues a summons to such corporation to produce (either directly or as agent for such related party) any records or testimony,
such summons is not quashed in a proceeding begun under paragraph (4) and is not determined to be invalid in a proceeding begun under section 7604(b) to enforce such summons, and
the reporting corporation does not substantially comply in a timely manner with such summons and the Secretary has sent by certified or registered mail a notice to such reporting corporation that such reporting corporation has not so substantially complied,
the Secretary may apply the rules of paragraph (3) with respect to such transaction (whether or not the Secretary begins a proceeding to enforce such summons). If the reporting corporation fails to maintain (or cause another to maintain) records as required by subsection (a), and by reason of that failure, the summons is quashed in a proceeding described in subparagraph (B) or the reporting corporation is not able to provide the records requested in the summons, the Secretary may apply the rules of paragraph (3) with respect to any transaction to which the records relate.
If the rules of this paragraph apply to any transaction—
the amount of the deduction allowed under subtitle A for any amount paid or incurred by the reporting corporation to the related party in connection with such transaction, and
the cost to the reporting corporation of any property acquired in such transaction from the related party (or transferred by such corporation in such transaction to the related party),
shall be the amount determined by the Secretary in the Secretary’s sole discretion from the Secretary’s own knowledge or from such information as the Secretary may obtain through testimony or otherwise.
Notwithstanding any law or rule of law, any reporting corporation to which the Secretary issues a summons referred to in paragraph (2)(A) shall have the right to begin a proceeding to quash such summons not later than the 90th day after such summons was issued. In any such proceeding, the Secretary may seek to compel compliance with such summons.
Notwithstanding any law or rule of law, any reporting corporation which has been notified by the Secretary that the Secretary has determined that such corporation has not substantially complied with a summons referred to in paragraph (2) shall have the right to begin a proceeding to review such determination not later than the 90th day after the day on which the notice referred to in paragraph (2)(C) was mailed. If such a proceeding is not begun on or before such 90th day, such determination by the Secretary shall be binding and shall not be reviewed by any court.
The United States district court for the district in which the person (to whom the summons is issued) resides or is found shall have jurisdiction to hear any proceeding brought under subparagraph (A) or (B). Any order or other determination in such a proceeding shall be treated as a final order which may be appealed.
If the reporting corporation brings an action under subparagraph (A) or (B), the running of any period of limitations under section 6501 (relating to assessment and collection of tax) or under section 6531 (relating to criminal prosecutions) with respect to any affected taxable year shall be suspended for the period during which such proceeding, and appeals therein, are pending. In no event shall any such period expire before the 90th day after the day on which there is a final determination in such proceeding. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “affected taxable year” means any taxable year if the determination of the amount of tax imposed for such taxable year is affected by the treatment of the transaction to which the summons relates.
For provisions relating to criminal penalties for violation of this section, see section 7203.
Treasury Regulations
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0Table of contents
This section lists the captions that appear in the regulations under section 6038A.
(a) Purpose and scope.
(b) In general.
(c) Reporting corporation.
(1) In general.
(2) 25-percent foreign-owned.
(3) 25-percent foreign shareholder.
(i) In general.
(ii) Total voting power and value.
(iii) Direct 25-percent foreign shareholder.
(iv) Indirect 25-percent foreign shareholder.
(4) Application to prior open years.
(5) Exceptions.
(i) Treaty country residents having no permanent establishment.
(ii) Qualified exempt shipping income.
(iii) Status as a foreign related party.
(d) Related party.
(e) Attribution rules.
(1) Attribution under section 318.
(2) Attribution of transactions with related parties engaged in by a partnership.
(f) Foreign person.
(g) Foreign related party.
(h) Small corporation exception.
(i) Safe harbor for reporting corporations with related party transactions of de minimis value.
(1) In general.
(2) Aggregate value of gross payments made or received.
(j) Related reporting corporations.
(k) Consolidated return groups.
(1) Required information.
(2) Maintenance of records and authorization of agent.
(3) Monetary penalties.
(l) District Director.
(m) Examples.
(n) Effective dates.
(1) Section 1.6038A-1.
(2) Section 1.6038A-2.
(3) Section 1.6038A-3.
(4) Section 1.6038A-4.
(5) Section 1.6038A-5.
(6) Section 1.6038A-6.
(7) Section 1.6038A-7.
(a) Form 5472 required.
(1) In general.
(2) Reportable transaction.
(b) Contents of return.
(1) Reporting corporation.
(2) Related party.
(3) Foreign related party transactions for which only monetary consideration is paid or received by the reporting corporation.
(4) Foreign related party transactions involving nonmonetary consideration or less than full consideration.
(5) Additional information.
(6) Reasonable estimate.
(i) Estimate within 25 percent of actual amount.
(ii) Other estimates.
(7) Small amounts.
(8) Accrued payments and receipts.
(9) Examples.
(c) Method of reporting.
(d) Time and place for filing returns.
(e) Untimely filed return.
(f) Exceptions.
(1) No reportable transactions.
(2) Transactions solely with a domestic reporting corporation.
(3) Transactions with a corporation subject to reporting under section 6038.
(4) Transactions with a foreign sales corporation.
(g) Filing Form 5472 when transactions with related parties engaged in by a partnership are attributed to a reporting corporation.
(h) Effective dates for certain reporting corporations.
(a) General maintenance requirements.
(1) Section 6001 and section 6038A.
(2) Safe harbor.
(3) Examples.
(b) Other maintenance requirements.
(1) Indirectly related records.
(2) Foreign related party or third-party maintenance.
(3) Translation of records.
(4) Exception for foreign governments.
(c) Specific records to be maintained for safe harbor.
(1) In general.
(2) Descriptions of categories of documents to be maintained.
(i) Original entry books and transaction records.
(ii) Profit and loss statements.
(iii) Pricing documents.
(iv) Foreign country and third party filings.
(v) Ownership and capital structure records.
(vi) Records of loans, services, and other non-sales transactions.
(3) Material profit and loss statements.
(4) Existing records test.
(5) Significant industry segment test.
(i) In general.
(ii) Form of the statements.
(iii) Special rule for component sales.
(iv) Level of specificity required.
(v) Examples.
(6) High profit test.
(i) In general.
(ii) Return on assets test.
(iii) Additional rules.
(7) Definitions.
(i) U.S.-connected products or services.
(ii) Industry segment.
(iii) Gross revenue of an industry segment.
(iv) Identifiable assets of an industry segment.
(v) Operating profit of an industry segment.
(vi) Product.
(vii) Related products or services.
(viii) Model.
(ix) Product line.
(8) Example.
(i) Facts.
(ii) Existing records test.
(iii) Significant industry segments.
(iv) High profit test.
(v) Material profit and loss statements.
(d) Liability for certain partnership record maintenance.
(e) Agreements with the District Director or the Assistant Commissioner (International).
(1) In general.
(2) Content of agreement.
(i) In general.
(ii) Significant industry segment test.
(iii) Example.
(3) Circumstances of agreement.
(4) Agreement as part of APA process.
(f) U.S. maintenance.
(1) General rule.
(2) Non-U.S. maintenance requirements.
(3) Prior taxable years.
(4) Scheduled production for high volume or other reasons.
(5) Required U.S. maintenance.
(g) Period of retention.
(h) Application of record maintenance rules to banks and other financial institutions. [Reserved]
(i) Effective dates.
(a) Imposition of monetary penalty.
(1) In general.
(2) Liability for certain partnership transactions.
(3) Calculation of monetary penalty.
(b) Reasonable cause.
(1) In general.
(2) Affirmative showing required.
(i) In general.
(ii) Small corporations.
(iii) Facts and circumstances taken into account.
(c) Failure to maintain records or to cause another to maintain records.
(d) Increase in penalty where failure continues after notification.
(1) In general.
(2) Additional penalty for another failure.
(3) Cessation of accrual.
(4) Continued failures.
(e) Other penalties.
(f) Examples.
Example (2)—Failure to maintain records.
(g) Effective dates.
(a) Failure to authorize.
(b) Authorization by related party.
(1) In general.
(2) Authorization for prior years.
(c) Foreign affiliated groups.
(1) In general.
(2) Application of noncompliance penalty adjustment.
(d) Legal effect of authorization of agent.
(1) Agent for purposes of commencing judicial proceedings.
(2) Foreign related party found where reporting corporation found.
(e) Successors in interest.
(f) Deemed compliance.
(1) In general.
(2) Reason to know.
(3) Effect of deemed compliance.
(g) Effective dates.
(a) In general.
(b) Coordination with treaties.
(c) Enforcement proceeding not required.
(d) De minimis failure.
(e) Suspension of statute of limitations.
(f) Effective dates.
(a) In general.
(b) Determination of the amount.
(c) Separate application.
(d) Effective dates.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(a)In general.
In general.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(b)Determination of the amount.
Determination of the amount.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(c)Separate application.
Separate application.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(d)Effective dates.
Effective dates.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(e)Suspension of statute of limitations.
Suspension of statute of limitations.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(f)Effective dates.
Effective dates.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(g)Effective dates.
Effective dates.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(h)Application of record maintenance rules to banks and other financial institutions.
Application of record maintenance rules to banks and other financial institutions. [Reserved]
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(i)In general.
In general.
(ii) Small corporations.
(iii) Facts and circumstances taken into account.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(j)Related reporting corporations.
Related reporting corporations.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(k)Consolidated return groups.
Consolidated return groups.
(1) Required information.
(2) Maintenance of records and authorization of agent.
(3) Monetary penalties.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(l)District Director.
District Director.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(m)Examples.
Examples.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(n)Effective dates.
Effective dates.
(1) Section 1.6038A-1.
(2) Section 1.6038A-2.
(3) Section 1.6038A-3.
(4) Section 1.6038A-4.
(5) Section 1.6038A-5.
(6) Section 1.6038A-6.
(7) Section 1.6038A-7.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-0(v)Material profit and loss statements.
Material profit and loss statements.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-1General requirements and definitions
(a) Purpose and scope. This section and §§ 1.6038A-2 through 1.6038A-7 provide rules for certain foreign-owned U.S. corporations and foreign corporations engaged in trade or business within the United States (reporting corporations) relating to information that must be furnished, records that must be maintained, and the authorization of the reporting corporation to act as agent for related foreign persons for purposes of sections 7602, 7603, and 7604 that must be executed. Section 6038A(a) and this section require that a reporting corporation furnish certain information annually and maintain certain records relating to transactions between the reporting corporation and certain related parties. This section also provides definitions of terms used in section 6038A. Section 1.6038A-2 provides guidance concerning the information to be submitted and the filing of the required return. Section 1.6038A-3 provides guidance concerning the maintenance of records. Section 1.6038A-4 provides guidance concerning the application of the monetary penalty for the failure either to furnish information or to maintain records. Section 1.6038A-5 provides guidance concerning the authorization of an agent for purposes of sections 7602, 7603, and 7604. Section 1.6038A-6 provides guidance concerning the failure to furnish information requested by a summons. Finally, § 1.6038A-7 provides guidance concerning the application of the noncompliance penalty for failure by the related party to authorize an agent or by the reporting corporation to substantially comply with a summons.
(b) In general. A reporting corporation must furnish the information described in § 1.6038A-2 by filing an annual information return (Form 5472 or any successor), and must maintain records as described in § 1.6038A-3.
(c) Reporting corporation—(1) In general. For purposes of section 6038A, a reporting corporation is either a domestic corporation that is 25-percent foreign-owned as defined in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, or a foreign corporation that is 25-percent foreign-owned and engaged in trade or business within the United States. After November 4, 1990, a foreign corporation engaged in a trade or business within the United States at any time during a taxable year is a reporting corporation. See section 6038C. A domestic business entity that is wholly owned by one foreign person and that is otherwise classified under § 301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii) of this chapter as disregarded as an entity separate from its owner is treated as an entity separate from its owner and classified as a domestic corporation for purposes of section 6038A. See § 301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter.
(2) 25-percent foreign-owned. A corporation is 25-percent foreign-owned if it has at least one direct or indirect 25-percent foreign shareholder at any time during the taxable year.
(3) 25-percent foreign shareholder—(i) In general. A foreign person is a 25-percent foreign shareholder of a corporation if the person owns at least 25 percent of—
(A) The total voting power of all classes of stock of the corporation entitled to vote, or
(B) The total value of all classes of stock of the corporation.
(ii) Total voting power and value. In determining whether one foreign person owns 25 percent of the total voting power of all classes of stock of a corporation entitled to vote or 25 percent of the total value of all classes of stock of a corporation, consideration will be given to all the facts and circumstances of each case, under principles similar to § 1.957-1(b)(2) (consideration of arrangements to shift formal voting power away from a foreign person).
(iii) Direct 25-percent foreign shareholder. A foreign person is a direct 25-percent foreign shareholder if it owns directly at least 25 percent of the stock of the reporting corporation, either by vote or by value.
(iv) Indirect 25-percent foreign shareholder. A foreign person is an indirect 25-percent foreign shareholder if it owns indirectly (or under the attribution rules of section 318 is considered to own indirectly) at least 25 percent of the stock of the reporting corporation, either by vote or by value.
(4) Application to prior open years. For taxable years beginning before July 11, 1989, the definition of a reporting corporation under this paragraph applies in determining whether a foreign-owned corporation is a reporting corporation. An examination may be reopened if the statute of limitations period for that taxable year has not expired. A taxable year may not be reopened under section 6038A for examination purposes if the taxable year is open under section 6511 only for purposes of the carryback of net operating losses or net capital losses.
(5) Exceptions—(i) Treaty country residents having no permanent establishment. A foreign corporation that has no permanent establishment in the United States under an applicable income tax convention is not a reporting corporation for purposes of section 6038A and this section. Accordingly, such a foreign corporation is not subject to §§ 1.6038A-2, 1.6038A-3, and 1.6038A-5. It must timely and fully provide the required notice to the Commissioner under section 6114. See section 6114 and the regulations thereunder for the notice that such a corporation must file and the applicable penalties for failure to file such notice.
(ii) Qualified exempt shipping income. A foreign corporation whose gross income is exempt from U.S. taxation under section 883 is not a reporting corporation provided that it timely and fully complies with the reporting requirements required to claim such exemption. In the event that such a corporation does not timely and fully comply with the reporting requirements under sections 887 and 883, it will be a reporting corporation subject to section 6038A, including the application of the monetary penalty for failure to file required information.
(iii) Status as foreign related party. Nothing in this paragraph affects the determination of whether a person is a foreign related party as defined in paragraph (g) of this section.
(d) Related party. The term “related party” means—
(1) Any direct or indirect 25-percent foreign shareholder of the reporting corporation,
(2) Any person who is related within the meaning of sections 267(b) or 707(b)(1) to the reporting corporation or to a 25-percent foreign shareholder of the reporting corporation, or
(3) Any other person who is related to the reporting corporation within the meaning of section 482 and the regulations thereunder. However, the term “related party” does not include any corporation filing a consolidated federal income tax return with the reporting corporation.
(e) Attribution rules—(1) Attribution under section 318. For purposes of determining whether a corporation is 25-percent foreign-owned and whether a person is a related party under section 6038A, the constructive ownership rules of section 318 shall apply, and the attribution rules of section 267(c) also shall apply to the extent they attribute ownership to persons to whom section 318 does not attribute ownership. However, “10 percent” shall be substituted for “50 percent” in section 318(a)(2)(C), and section 318(a)(3) (A), (B), and (C) shall not be applied so as to consider a U.S. person as owning stock that is owned by a person who is not a U.S. person. Additionally, section 318(a)(3)(C) and § 1.318-1(b) shall not be applied so as to consider a U.S. corporation as being a reporting corporation if, but for the application of such sections, the U.S. corporation would not be 25-percent foreign owned.
(2) Attribution of transactions with related parties engaged in by a partnership. The transactions in which a domestic or foreign partnership engages shall be attributed to any reporting corporation whose interest in the capital or profits of the partnership, either directly or indirectly, combined with the interests of all related parties of the reporting corporation partner, equals 25 percent or more of the total partnership interests. Attribution of such transactions shall be made only to the extent of the partnership interest held by that reporting corporation partner. See sections 875 and 702(a) and the regulations thereunder. (Attribution shall not be made however, of transactions directly between the partnership and a reporting corporation.) Accordingly, a reporting corporation partner that is deemed to engage in transactions with related parties under this rule is subject to the information reporting requirements of § 1.6038A-2, to the record maintenance requirements of § 1.6038A-3, to the monetary penalty under § 1.6038A-4, to the requirement of authorization of agent under § 1.6038A-5, to the rules of § 1.6038A-6 relating to the requirement to produce records, and to the noncompliance penalty adjustment under § 1.6038A-7.
(f) Foreign person. For purposes of section 6038A, a foreign person is—
(1) Any individual who is not a citizen or resident of the United States, but not including any individual for whom an election under section 6013 (g) or (h) (relating to an election to file a joint return) is in effect;
(2) Any individual who is a citizen of any possession of the United States and who is not otherwise a citizen or resident of the United States;
(3) Any partnership, association, company, or corporation that is not created or organized in the United States or under the law of the United States or any State thereof;
(4) Any foreign trust or foreign estate, as defined in section 7701(a)(31); or
(5) Any foreign government (or agency or instrumentality thereof). To the extent that a foreign government is engaged in the conduct of commercial activity as defined under section 892 and the regulations thereunder, it will be treated as a foreign person under section 6038A and this section only for purposes of the information reporting requirements of § 1.6038A-2. A foreign government will not be treated as a foreign related party for purposes of §§ 1.6038A-3 and 1.6038A-5.
For purposes of section 6038A, a possession of the United States shall be considered to be a foreign country.
(g) Foreign related party. A foreign related party is a foreign person as defined under paragraph (f) of this section that is also a related party as defined under paragraph (d) of this section.
(h) Small corporation exception. A reporting corporation (other than an entity that is a reporting corporation as a result of being treated as a corporation under § 301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter) that has less than $10,000,000 in U.S. gross receipts for a taxable year is not subject to §§ 1.6038A-3 and 1.6038A-5 for that taxable year. Such a corporation, however, remains subject to the information reporting requirements of § 1.6038A-2 and the general record maintenance requirements of section 6001. For purposes of this paragraph, U.S. gross receipts includes all amounts received or accrued to the extent that such amounts are taken into account for the determination and computation of the gross income of the corporation. For purposes of this test, the U.S. gross receipts of all related reporting corporations shall be aggregated.
(i) Safe harbor for reporting corporations with related party transactions of de minimis value—(1) In general. A reporting corporation (other than an entity that is a reporting corporation as a result of being treated as a corporation under § 301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter) is not subject to §§ 1.6038A-3 and 1.6038A-5 for any taxable year in which the aggregate value of all gross payments it makes to and receives from foreign related parties with respect to related party transactions (including monetary consideration, nonmonetary consideration, and the value of transactions involving less than full consideration) is not more than $5,000,000 and is less than 10 percent of its U.S. gross income. Such a corporation, however, remains subject to the information reporting requirements of § 1.6038A-2 and the general record maintenance requirements of section 6001. For purposes of this paragraph, U.S. gross income means the gross income reportable by the reporting corporation (or the aggregate gross income reportable by all related reporting corporations) for U.S. income tax purposes. Gross payments made to or received from foreign related parties cannot be netted; rather, the gross payments made to and received from foreign related parties are to be aggregated. Thus, for example, if a reporting corporation receives $4,700,000 of gross payments from a related party and makes $500,000 of gross payments to the same related party, it has aggregate gross payments of $5,200,000, and, therefore, does not qualify for the safe harbor under this paragraph.
(2) Aggregate value of gross payments made or received. The aggregate value of gross payments made to (or received from) a foreign related party with respect to foreign related party transactions is determined by totaling the dollar amounts of foreign related party transactions as described in § 1.6038A-2(b) (3) and (4) on all Forms 5472 filed by the reporting corporation or related reporting corporations.
(j) Related reporting corporations. A reporting corporation is related to another reporting corporation if it is related to that other reporting corporation under the principles described in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section.
(k) Consolidated return groups—(1) Required information. If a reporting corporation is a member of an affiliated group for which a U.S. consolidated income tax return is filed, the return requirement of § 1.6038A-2 may be satisfied by filing a consolidated Form 5472. The common parent, as identified on Form 851, must attach a schedule to the consolidated Form 5472 stating which members of the U.S. affiliated group are reporting corporations under section 6038A, and which of those are joining in the consolidated Form 5472. The schedule must provide the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of each member whose transactions are included on the consolidated Form 5472. A member is not required to join in filing a consolidated Form 5472 merely because other members of the group choose to file one or more Forms 5472 on a consolidated basis.
(2) Maintenance of records and authorization of agent. Either the common parent or the principal operating company of an affiliated group filing a consolidated income tax return may be authorized under § 1.6038A-5 to act as the agent for foreign related persons engaged in transactions with members of the group solely for purposes of section 7602, 7603, and 7604 under section 6038A(e)(1) and § 1.6038A-5. Each member of the group, however, must maintain the records required under section 6038A (a) and § 1.6038A-3 relating to its related party transactions.
(3) Monetary penalties. The common parent (or principal operating company) and all reporting corporations that join in the filing of a consolidated Form 5472 are liable jointly and severally for penalties for failure to file Form 5472 and for failure to mantain records under section 6038A(d) and § 1.6038A-4(e). See § 1.1502-77(a) regarding the scope of agency of the common parent corporation.
(l) District Director. For purposes of the regulations under section 6038A, the term “District Director” means any District Director, or the Assistant Commissioner (International) when performing duties similar to those of a District Director with respect to any person over which the Assistant Commissioner (International) has appropriate jurisdiction.
(m) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules of this section.
(n) Effective dates—(1) Section 1.6038A-1. Paragraphs (c) (relating to the definition of a reporting corporation), (d) (relating to the definition of a related party), (e)(1) (relating to the application of section 318), and (f) (relating to the definition of a foreign person) of this section are effective for taxable Years beginning after July 10, 1989. The remaining paragraphs of this section are effective December 10, 1990, without regard to when the taxable year began. However, § 1.6038A-1 as it applies to entities that are reporting corporations as a result of being treated as a corporation under § 301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter applies to taxable years of such reporting corporations beginning after December 31, 2016, and ending on or after December 13, 2017.
(2)(Section 1.6038A-2—(i) In general.
Section 1.6038A-2 (relating to the requirement to file Form 5472) generally applies for taxable years beginning after July 10, 1989. However, § 1.6038A-2 as it applies to reporting corporations whose sole trade or business in the United States is a banking, financing, or similar business as defined in § 1.864-4(c)(5)(i) applies for taxable years beginning after December 10, 1990. Section 1.6038A-2(d) applies for taxable years ending on or after June 10, 2011. For taxable years ending on or after June 10, 2011, but before December 24, 2014, see § 1.6038A-2(e) as contained in 26 CFR part 1 revised as of April 1, 2014. For taxable years ending before June 10, 2011, see § 1.6038A-2(d) and (e) as contained in 26 CFR part 1 revised as of April 1, 2011. Section 1.6038A-2 as it applies to entities that are reporting corporations as a result of being treated as a corporation under § 301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter applies to taxable years of such reporting corporations beginning after December 31, 2016, and ending on or after December 13, 2017. Section 1.6038A-2(a)(3), (b)(6), and (b)(7) apply to taxable years ending on or after December 17, 2018. However, taxpayers may apply these final regulations in their entirety for taxable years ending before December 17, 2018.
(ii) Transition rule. No penalty under sections 6038A(d) or 6038C(c) will apply to a failure solely under § 1.6038A-2(a)(3), (b)(6), or (b)(7) that is corrected by March 6, 2020.
(3) Section 1.6038A-4. Section 1.6038A-4 (relating to the monetary penalty) is generally effective for taxable years beginning after July 10, 1989, for the failure to file Form 5472. For the failure to maintain records or the failure to produce documents under § 1.6038A-4(f)(2), the section is effective December 10, 1990, without regard to when the taxable year to which the records relate began. For taxable years ending on or before December 31, 2017, see § 1.6038A-4 as contained in 26 CFR part 1 revised as of April 1, 2018.
(4) Section 1.6038A-5. Section 1.6038A-5 (relating to the authorization of agent requirement) is effective December 10, 1990, without regard to when the taxable year to which the records relate began.
(5) Section 1.6038A-6. Section 1.6038A-6 (relating to the failure to furnish information under a summons) is effective November 6, 1990, without regard to when the taxable year to which the summons relates began.
(6) Section 1.6038A-7. Section 1.6038A-7 (relating to the noncompliance penalty adjustment) is effective December 10, 1990, without regard to when the taxable year began.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-1(a)Purpose and scope.
Purpose and scope. This section and §§ 1.6038A-2 through 1.6038A-7 provide rules for certain foreign-owned U.S. corporations and foreign corporations engaged in trade or business within the United States (reporting corporations) relating to information that must be furnished, records that must be maintained, and the authorization of the reporting corporation to act as agent for related foreign persons for purposes of sections 7602, 7603, and 7604 that must be executed. Section 6038A(a) and this section require that a reporting corporation furnish certain information annually and maintain certain records relating to transactions between the reporting corporation and certain related parties. This section also provides definitions of terms used in section 6038A. Section 1.6038A-2 provides guidance concerning the information to be submitted and the filing of the required return. Section 1.6038A-3 provides guidance concerning the maintenance of records. Section 1.6038A-4 provides guidance concerning the application of the monetary penalty for the failure either to furnish information or to maintain records. Section 1.6038A-5 provides guidance concerning the authorization of an agent for purposes of sections 7602, 7603, and 7604. Section 1.6038A-6 provides guidance concerning the failure to furnish information requested by a summons. Finally, § 1.6038A-7 provides guidance concerning the application of the noncompliance penalty for failure by the related party to authorize an agent or by the reporting corporation to substantially comply with a summons.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-1(b)In general.
In general. A reporting corporation must furnish the information described in § 1.6038A-2 by filing an annual information return (Form 5472 or any successor), and must maintain records as described in § 1.6038A-3.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-1(c)Reporting corporation—(1) In general.
Reporting corporation—(1) In general. For purposes of section 6038A, a reporting corporation is either a domestic corporation that is 25-percent foreign-owned as defined in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, or a foreign corporation that is 25-percent foreign-owned and engaged in trade or business within the United States. After November 4, 1990, a foreign corporation engaged in a trade or business within the United States at any time during a taxable year is a reporting corporation. See section 6038C. A domestic business entity that is wholly owned by one foreign person and that is otherwise classified under § 301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii) of this chapter as disregarded as an entity separate from its owner is treated as an entity separate from its owner and classified as a domestic corporation for purposes of section 6038A. See § 301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter.
(2) 25-percent foreign-owned. A corporation is 25-percent foreign-owned if it has at least one direct or indirect 25-percent foreign shareholder at any time during the taxable year.
(3) 25-percent foreign shareholder—(i) In general. A foreign person is a 25-percent foreign shareholder of a corporation if the person owns at least 25 percent of—
(A) The total voting power of all classes of stock of the corporation entitled to vote, or
(B) The total value of all classes of stock of the corporation.
(ii) Total voting power and value. In determining whether one foreign person owns 25 percent of the total voting power of all classes of stock of a corporation entitled to vote or 25 percent of the total value of all classes of stock of a corporation, consideration will be given to all the facts and circumstances of each case, under principles similar to § 1.957-1(b)(2) (consideration of arrangements to shift formal voting power away from a foreign person).
(iii) Direct 25-percent foreign shareholder. A foreign person is a direct 25-percent foreign shareholder if it owns directly at least 25 percent of the stock of the reporting corporation, either by vote or by value.
(iv) Indirect 25-percent foreign shareholder. A foreign person is an indirect 25-percent foreign shareholder if it owns indirectly (or under the attribution rules of section 318 is considered to own indirectly) at least 25 percent of the stock of the reporting corporation, either by vote or by value.
(4) Application to prior open years. For taxable years beginning before July 11, 1989, the definition of a reporting corporation under this paragraph applies in determining whether a foreign-owned corporation is a reporting corporation. An examination may be reopened if the statute of limitations period for that taxable year has not expired. A taxable year may not be reopened under section 6038A for examination purposes if the taxable year is open under section 6511 only for purposes of the carryback of net operating losses or net capital losses.
(5) Exceptions—(i) Treaty country residents having no permanent establishment. A foreign corporation that has no permanent establishment in the United States under an applicable income tax convention is not a reporting corporation for purposes of section 6038A and this section. Accordingly, such a foreign corporation is not subject to §§ 1.6038A-2, 1.6038A-3, and 1.6038A-5. It must timely and fully provide the required notice to the Commissioner under section 6114. See section 6114 and the regulations thereunder for the notice that such a corporation must file and the applicable penalties for failure to file such notice.
(ii) Qualified exempt shipping income. A foreign corporation whose gross income is exempt from U.S. taxation under section 883 is not a reporting corporation provided that it timely and fully complies with the reporting requirements required to claim such exemption. In the event that such a corporation does not timely and fully comply with the reporting requirements under sections 887 and 883, it will be a reporting corporation subject to section 6038A, including the application of the monetary penalty for failure to file required information.
(iii) Status as foreign related party. Nothing in this paragraph affects the determination of whether a person is a foreign related party as defined in paragraph (g) of this section.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-1(d)Related party.
Related party. The term “related party” means—
(1) Any direct or indirect 25-percent foreign shareholder of the reporting corporation,
(2) Any person who is related within the meaning of sections 267(b) or 707(b)(1) to the reporting corporation or to a 25-percent foreign shareholder of the reporting corporation, or
(3) Any other person who is related to the reporting corporation within the meaning of section 482 and the regulations thereunder. However, the term “related party” does not include any corporation filing a consolidated federal income tax return with the reporting corporation.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-1(e)Attribution rules—(1) Attribution under section 318.
Attribution rules—(1) Attribution under section 318. For purposes of determining whether a corporation is 25-percent foreign-owned and whether a person is a related party under section 6038A, the constructive ownership rules of section 318 shall apply, and the attribution rules of section 267(c) also shall apply to the extent they attribute ownership to persons to whom section 318 does not attribute ownership. However, “10 percent” shall be substituted for “50 percent” in section 318(a)(2)(C), and section 318(a)(3) (A), (B), and (C) shall not be applied so as to consider a U.S. person as owning stock that is owned by a person who is not a U.S. person. Additionally, section 318(a)(3)(C) and § 1.318-1(b) shall not be applied so as to consider a U.S. corporation as being a reporting corporation if, but for the application of such sections, the U.S. corporation would not be 25-percent foreign owned.
(2) Attribution of transactions with related parties engaged in by a partnership. The transactions in which a domestic or foreign partnership engages shall be attributed to any reporting corporation whose interest in the capital or profits of the partnership, either directly or indirectly, combined with the interests of all related parties of the reporting corporation partner, equals 25 percent or more of the total partnership interests. Attribution of such transactions shall be made only to the extent of the partnership interest held by that reporting corporation partner. See sections 875 and 702(a) and the regulations thereunder. (Attribution shall not be made however, of transactions directly between the partnership and a reporting corporation.) Accordingly, a reporting corporation partner that is deemed to engage in transactions with related parties under this rule is subject to the information reporting requirements of § 1.6038A-2, to the record maintenance requirements of § 1.6038A-3, to the monetary penalty under § 1.6038A-4, to the requirement of authorization of agent under § 1.6038A-5, to the rules of § 1.6038A-6 relating to the requirement to produce records, and to the noncompliance penalty adjustment under § 1.6038A-7.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-1(f)Foreign person.
Foreign person. For purposes of section 6038A, a foreign person is—
(1) Any individual who is not a citizen or resident of the United States, but not including any individual for whom an election under section 6013 (g) or (h) (relating to an election to file a joint return) is in effect;
(2) Any individual who is a citizen of any possession of the United States and who is not otherwise a citizen or resident of the United States;
(3) Any partnership, association, company, or corporation that is not created or organized in the United States or under the law of the United States or any State thereof;
(4) Any foreign trust or foreign estate, as defined in section 7701(a)(31); or
(5) Any foreign government (or agency or instrumentality thereof). To the extent that a foreign government is engaged in the conduct of commercial activity as defined under section 892 and the regulations thereunder, it will be treated as a foreign person under section 6038A and this section only for purposes of the information reporting requirements of § 1.6038A-2. A foreign government will not be treated as a foreign related party for purposes of §§ 1.6038A-3 and 1.6038A-5.
For purposes of section 6038A, a possession of the United States shall be considered to be a foreign country.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-1(g)Foreign related party.
Foreign related party. A foreign related party is a foreign person as defined under paragraph (f) of this section that is also a related party as defined under paragraph (d) of this section.
-
Treas. Reg. §1.6038A-1(h)Small corporation exception.
Small corporation exception. A reporting corporation (other than an entity that is a reporting corporation as a result of being treated as a corporation under § 301.7701-2(c)(2)(vi) of this chapter) that has less than $10,000,000 in U.S. gross receipts for a taxable year is not subject to §§ 1.6038A-3 and 1.6038A-5 for that taxable year. Such a corporation, however, remains subject to the information reporting requirements of § 1.6038A-2 and the general record maintenance requirements of section 6001. For purposes of this paragraph, U.S. gross receipts includes all amounts received or accrued to the extent that such amounts are taken into account for the determination and computation of the gross income of the corporation. For purposes of this test, the U.S. gross receipts of all related reporting corporations shall be aggregated.
1 Citing Cases
the notice of deficiency, her first ground in regard to petitioner’s cost of goods sold and net operating loss was section 6038A(e)(3), which grants the Commissioner the authority to determine in her sole discretion the cost of goods sold and expenses arising out of transactions between a domestic corporation and a related foreign corporation (the section 6038A issues).