[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 22, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8552-8556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3220]



[[Page 8552]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[REG-131128-04]
RIN 1545-BD54


Guidance Under Section 1502; Miscellaneous Operating Rules for 
Successor Persons; Succession to Items of the Liquidating Corporation

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document contains proposed regulations under section 1502 
that provide guidance regarding the manner in which the intercompany 
items of a liquidating member are succeeded to, and taken into account, 
in cases in which more than one distributee member acquires the assets 
of the liquidating corporation in a complete liquidation to which 
section 332 applies. This document also contains proposed regulations 
under section 1502 that provide guidance regarding the manner in which 
such distributee members succeed to the items (including items 
described in section 381(c)) of the liquidating corporation. These 
regulations apply to corporations filing consolidated returns.

DATES: Written or electronic comments and requests for a public hearing 
must be received by May 23, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send submissions to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-131128-04), room 
5203, Internal Revenue Service, P.O. Box 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-
131128-04), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, or sent electronically, via the IRS 
Internet site at http://www.irs.gov/regs or via the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (indicate IRS and REG-131128-04).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the regulations, Jeffrey B. 
Fienberg or Charles M. Levy (202) 622-7770; concerning submissions and 
the hearing, Sonya Cruse, (202) 622-4693 (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Explanation of Provisions

The Complete Liquidation Rules

    Section 332(a) provides that no gain or loss shall be recognized on 
the receipt by a corporation of property distributed in complete 
liquidation of another corporation. Section 332(b) provides, in part, 
that a distribution shall be considered to be in complete liquidation 
only if the corporation receiving such property was, on the date of the 
adoption of the plan of liquidation and at all times thereafter until 
the receipt of the property, the owner of stock that meets the 
requirements of section 1504(a)(2) and the distribution is made in 
complete cancellation or redemption of all of the stock of the 
liquidating corporation. Section 1.1502-34 provides that in determining 
the stock ownership of a member of a group in another corporation for 
purposes of determining the application of section 332(b), stock owned 
by all of the members of the group in that other corporation shall be 
aggregated. Therefore, for example, if one member of a group owns 60 
percent of the stock of the liquidating corporation and another member 
of the group owns the remaining 40 percent of the stock of the 
liquidating corporation, section 332 will apply to the liquidation.
    Section 337(a) provides that the liquidating corporation does not 
recognize gain or loss on the distribution to the 80-percent 
distributee of any property in a complete liquidation to which section 
332 applies. For this purpose, the term ``80-percent distributee'' 
means only the corporation that meets the 80-percent stock ownership 
requirements of section 332(b). Under section 337(c), the determination 
of whether any corporation is an 80-percent distributee must be made 
without regard to any consolidated return regulation. Under section 
336, if section 337(a) does not apply, the liquidating corporation must 
recognize gain or loss on the distribution of property in complete 
liquidation as if such property were sold to the distributee at its 
fair market value. Therefore, a liquidating distribution may be taxable 
to the distributing corporation and tax-free to the distributees.

The Intercompany Transaction Rules

    Section 1.1502-13 prescribes rules for taking into account items of 
income, gain, deduction, and loss of members from intercompany 
transactions. The purpose of those rules is to clearly reflect the 
taxable income (and tax liability) of the group by preventing 
intercompany transactions from creating, accelerating, avoiding, or 
deferring consolidated taxable income or consolidated tax liability. 
Under Sec.  1.1502-13(j)(2)(ii), if the assets of a member of the group 
are acquired by a successor member, the successor member succeeds to, 
and takes into account (under the rules of Sec.  1.1502-13), the 
predecessor's intercompany items. In addition, if two or more successor 
members acquire assets of the predecessor, the successors take into 
account the predecessor's intercompany items in a manner that is 
consistently applied and reasonably carries out the purposes of Sec.  
1.1502-13 and applicable provisions of law. Section 1.1502-13(j)(2)(i) 
provides that any reference to a person includes, as the context may 
require, a reference to a predecessor or successor. For this purpose, a 
predecessor includes a transferor of assets to a transferee (the 
successor) in a transaction (A) to which section 381(a) applies; (B) in 
which substantially all of the assets of the transferor are transferred 
to members in a complete liquidation; or (C) in which the successor's 
basis in assets is determined (directly or indirectly, in whole or in 
part) by reference to the basis of the transferor, but the transferee 
is a successor only with respect to the assets the basis of which is so 
determined.
    The current regulations include two examples that illustrate how 
these rules operate when a member of a group, X, engages in a complete 
liquidation in which it distributes its assets to S and B, also group 
members. In example 6 of Sec.  1.1502-13(j)(9), S owns 100 percent of 
the common stock of X and, therefore, is an 80-percent distributee 
without regard to the application of Sec.  1.1502-34. B owns 100 
percent of the preferred stock of X, which is described in section 
1504(a)(4), and, therefore, is an 80-percent distributee only by reason 
of the application of Sec.  1.1502-34. X recognizes gain on the assets 
distributed to B. That gain, however, is not taken into account as a 
result of the liquidation and S succeeds to that gain.
    In example 7 of Sec.  1.1502-13(j)(9), S owns 60 percent of the X 
stock and B owns 40 percent of the X stock. Therefore, both S and B are 
80-percent distributees only by reason of the application of Sec.  
1.1502-34. X recognizes gain on the assets distributed to both S and B. 
That gain, however, is not taken into account as a result of the 
liquidation and S succeeds to X's gain on the assets distributed to B 
and B succeeds to X's gain on the assets distributed to S. As a result, 
under the acceleration rule, on the deconsolidation of either S or B, 
those gains would be taken into account in their entirety.
    The rules illustrated by the examples reflect the concern that, 
under prior intercompany regulations, the assets of

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an acquired corporation could be broken up without a corporate level 
tax. See 59 FR 18011. The IRS and Treasury Department have re-examined 
the current regulations and have concluded that accelerating all of the 
intercompany gains recognized on the liquidation of the liquidating 
corporation's assets in these cases is not necessary to deter mirror 
subsidiary transactions. Therefore, these regulations propose that each 
member of the group to which assets of a liquidating member are 
transferred succeeds to, and takes into account, the intercompany items 
of the liquidating member that are generated in the liquidation to the 
extent such items would have been reflected in investment basis 
adjustments to the stock of the liquidating member owned by such 
distributee member under the principles of Sec.  1.1502-32(c) if, 
immediately prior to the liquidation, any stock of the liquidating 
member owned by nonmembers had been redeemed by the liquidating member 
in exchange for the money or property distributed to that nonmember in 
the liquidating distribution, and then such items had been taken into 
account under Sec.  1.1502-13(d).
    These proposed regulations also address the manner in which the 
distributee members succeed to the intercompany items of the 
liquidating member that were not generated in the liquidating 
transaction. The IRS and Treasury Department have not identified a 
policy reason to distinguish between intercompany items that are 
generated in the liquidating transaction and intercompany items that 
are generated prior to the liquidating transaction. Therefore, these 
proposed regulations adopt the same rule for both of these categories 
of intercompany items.

Application of Section 381

    Section 381(a)(1) provides that the acquiring corporation in a 
distribution to which section 332 applies shall succeed to, and take 
into account, the items of the distributor corporation (i.e., 
liquidating corporation) that are listed in section 381(c). Section 
1.381(a)-1(b)(2) provides that only a single corporation can be an 
acquiring corporation for purposes of section 381. Currently, there are 
no rules that govern which corporation succeeds to the items of the 
liquidating corporation when section 332 applies to more than one 
distributee as may happen by reason of the application of Sec.  1.1502-
34 when the distributees are members of the same consolidated group. 
These proposed regulations include such rules.
    The IRS and Treasury Department believe that it is appropriate for 
each distributee member, even if it is not an 80-percent distributee 
without regard to the application of Sec.  1.1502-34, to succeed to 
items of the liquidating corporation that could be used to offset the 
income or tax liability of the group or any member. If the liquidating 
corporation is a member of the group, any income or gain recognized by 
the liquidating corporation in connection with the liquidation will be 
deferred under Sec.  1.1502-13. If Sec.  1.1502-13 did not apply, that 
income or gain could be offset by net operating losses of the 
liquidating corporation or, alternatively, any tax liability resulting 
from the recognition of that income or gain could be offset by credits 
of the liquidating corporation. The operation of Sec.  1.1502-34 should 
not change that result. Single entity principles should control in 
situations in which section 332 applies to the distributee members. 
Therefore, these proposed regulations provide that each distributee 
member succeeds to the items of the liquidating corporation that could 
be used to offset the income or tax liability of the group or any 
member (including net operating loss carryovers and capital loss 
carryovers) to the extent that such items would have been reflected in 
investment basis adjustments to the stock of the liquidating 
corporation owned by such distributee member under the principles of 
Sec.  1.1502-32(c) if, immediately prior to the liquidation, any stock 
of the liquidating corporation owned by nonmembers had been redeemed 
and then such items had been taken into account. In addition, each 
distributee member succeeds to the credits of the liquidating 
corporation (including credits under sections 38 and 53) to the extent 
that the items of gain, income, loss, or deduction attributable to the 
activities that gave rise to the credit would have been reflected in 
investment basis adjustments to the stock of the liquidating 
corporation owned by such distributee member under the principles of 
Sec.  1.1502-32(c) if, immediately prior to the liquidation, any stock 
of the liquidating corporation owned by nonmembers had been redeemed 
and then such items had been taken into account. For this purpose, if 
the liquidating corporation is not a member of the group at the time of 
the liquidation, these rules are applied as if the liquidating 
corporation had been a member of the group at that time. Finally, 
except to the extent that the distributee member's earnings and profits 
already reflect the liquidating corporation's earnings and profits, 
these proposed regulations provide that the earnings and profits of the 
liquidating corporation are allocated to each distributee member under 
the principles of Sec.  1.1502-32(c), treating any stock of the 
liquidating corporation owned by nonmembers as if it had been redeemed 
immediately prior to the liquidation.
    With respect to items other than those that can offset the income 
or tax liability of the group or any member and earnings and profits, 
these proposed regulations provide that a distributee member that, 
immediately prior to the liquidation, satisfies the requirements of 
section 1504(a)(2) without regard to Sec.  1.1502-34 succeeds to the 
items of the liquidating corporation in accordance with the principles 
set forth in the Code (including section 381) and the regulations 
promulgated thereunder. This rule is consistent with the treatment of a 
nonconsolidated corporation that satisfies the ownership requirements 
of section 1504(a)(2) with respect to a liquidating corporation.
    Finally, again with respect to items other than those that can 
offset the income or tax liability of the group or any member and 
earnings and profits, these proposed regulations provide that a 
distributee member that, immediately prior to the liquidation, does not 
own stock in the liquidating corporation meeting the requirements of 
section 1504(a)(2) without regard to Sec.  1.1502-34 succeeds to items 
of the liquidating corporation to the extent that it would have 
succeeded to those items if it had purchased, in a taxable transaction, 
the assets or businesses of the liquidating corporation that it 
received in the liquidation and assumed the liabilities it assumed in 
the liquidation. As described above, pursuant to section 336, to the 
extent that section 337(a) does not apply, a liquidating corporation 
must recognize gain or loss on the distribution of property in complete 
liquidation as if such property were sold to the distributee at its 
fair market value. Although no provision of the Code states that the 
distributee is the purchaser of those assets, the IRS and Treasury 
Department believe that it is reasonable to treat the distributee as 
purchasing those assets for purposes of determining the attributes to 
which such a distributee succeeds.

Proposed Effective Date

    These regulations are proposed to apply to complete liquidations 
that occur after the date that these regulations are published as final 
regulations in the Federal Register.

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Special Analyses

    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. It is hereby 
certified that these regulations do not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. This certification is 
based on the fact that these regulations primarily will affect 
affiliated groups of corporations that have elected to file 
consolidated returns, which tend to be larger businesses, and, 
moreover, that any burden on taxpayers is minimal. 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 
Code, this notice of proposed rulemaking will be submitted to the Chief 
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment 
on their impact on small business.

Comments and Requests for Public Hearing

    Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, 
consideration will be given to any written (a signed original and eight 
(8) copies) or electronic comments 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. All 
comments will be available for public inspection and copying. A public 
hearing will be scheduled if requested in writing by any person that 
timely submits written comments. If a public hearing is scheduled, 
notice of the date, time, and place for the public hearing will be 
published in the Federal Register.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of these proposed regulations is Jeffrey B. 
Fienberg of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Corporate). However, 
other personnel from the IRS and Treasury Department participated in 
their development.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

    Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Proposed Amendments to the Regulations

    Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 1--INCOME TAXES

    Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read in 
part as follows:

    Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
    Sec.  1.1502-13 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1502. * * *
    Sec.  1.1502-80 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 1502.* * *

    Par. 2. Section 1.1502-13 is amended by:
    1. Adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (j)(2)(ii).
    2. Adding paragraph (j)(2)(iii).
    3. Redesignating paragraph (j)(9) introductory text as paragraph 
(j)(9)(i).
    4. Revising Example 6 and Example 7 of newly designated paragraph 
(j)(9)(i).
    5. Adding paragraph (j)(9)(ii).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.1502-13  Intercompany transactions.

* * * * *
    (j) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) Intercompany items. * * * For example, if the assets of a 
predecessor are acquired by more than one successor in a transaction to 
which section 381(a)(1) applies, each successor succeeds to, and takes 
into account (under the rules of this section), each of the 
predecessor's intercompany items (whether resulting from distributions 
in liquidation or otherwise) to the extent that such items would have 
been reflected in investment basis adjustments to the stock of the 
predecessor owned by that successor under the principles of Sec.  
1.1502-32(c) if, immediately prior to the liquidation, any stock of the 
predecessor owned by nonmembers had been redeemed in exchange for the 
money or property distributed to that nonmember in the transaction to 
which section 381(a)(1) applies, and then such items had been taken 
into account under Sec.  1.1502-13(d).
    (iii) Effective date. The third sentence of paragraph (j)(2)(ii) of 
this section applies to transactions occurring after the date these 
regulations are published as final regulations in the Federal Register.
* * * * *
    (9) Examples. (i) The operating rules of this paragraph (j) are 
illustrated generally throughout this section, and by the following 
examples:
* * * * *

    Example 6. Liquidation--80% distributee. (i) Facts. B1, B2, and 
S are members of the same consolidated group. S has only common 
stock outstanding. B1 owns 80% of S's stock, and B2 owns the 
remaining 20%. On January 1 of Year 2, S sells two assets to another 
member of the group. S recognizes $100 of gain with respect to the 
first asset and $100 of loss with respect to the second asset. On 
July 1 of Year 3, S distributes all of its remaining assets to B1 
and B2 in a complete liquidation. At the time of the liquidation, 
S's assets have an aggregate basis of $0 and an aggregate value of 
$100, and neither the gain nor the loss from the prior two asset 
sales has been taken into account under this section. Under Sec.  
1.1502-34, section 332 applies to both B1 and B2. Under section 337, 
S has no gain or loss from its liquidating distribution to B1. Under 
sections 336 and 337(c), S has a $20 gain from its liquidating 
distribution to B2. On January 1 of Year 4, B2 ceases to be a member 
of the group.
    (ii) Succession to intercompany items. Under the matching rule, 
S's $20 gain from its liquidating distribution to B2 is not taken 
into account under this section as a result of the liquidation (and, 
therefore, is not yet reflected under Sec. Sec.  1.1502-32 and 
1.1502-33). Under the successor person rule of paragraph (j)(2)(i) 
of this section, B1 and B2 are both successors to S. Under paragraph 
(j)(2)(ii) of this section, B1 and B2 each succeeds to S's 
intercompany items to the extent that such items would have been 
reflected in investment basis adjustments to its stock of S under 
the principles of Sec.  1.1502-32(c) if, immediately prior to the 
liquidation, such items had been taken into account under Sec.  
1.1502-13(d). Therefore, B1 succeeds to 80% of the $20 of 
intercompany gain from the assets distributed to B2 in the 
liquidation, and 80% of the $100 of intercompany gain and 80% of the 
$100 of intercompany loss from the assets that S sold prior to the 
liquidation. In addition, B2 succeeds to 20% of the $20 of 
intercompany gain from the assets distributed to B2 in the 
liquidation and 20% of the $100 of intercompany gain and 20% of the 
$100 of intercompany loss from the assets that S sold prior to the 
liquidation.
    (iii) Taking into account intercompany items. S's gain from its 
liquidating distribution to B2 and S's gain and loss from the sale 
of the two assets prior to the liquidation will be taken into 
account by B1 and B2 under the matching and acceleration rules of 
this section based on subsequent events. Therefore, in connection 
with B2 ceasing to be a member of the group, B1 will take into 
account $16 of the intercompany gain from the assets distributed to 
B2 in the liquidation. In addition, B2 will take into account $4 of 
the intercompany gain from the assets distributed to B2 in the 
liquidation and $20 of the intercompany gain and $20 of the 
intercompany loss from the two assets that S sold prior to the 
liquidation.
    Example 7. Liquidation--no 80% distributee. (i) Facts. B1, B2, 
and S are members of the same consolidated group. S has only common 
stock outstanding. B1 and B2 each owns 40% of S's stock, and A, a 
nonmember, owns the remaining 20% of S's stock. On January 1 of Year 
2, S sells two assets to another member of the group. S recognizes 
$100 of gain with respect to the first asset and $100 of loss with 
respect to the second asset. On July 1 of Year 3, S distributes all 
of its remaining assets to B1, B2, and A in complete liquidation. At 
the

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time of the liquidation, S's assets have an aggregate basis of $0 
and an aggregate value of $100, and neither the gain nor the loss 
from the prior two asset sales has been taken into account under 
this section. Under Sec.  1.1502-34, section 332 applies to both B1 
and B2. Under sections 336 and 337(c), S has a $100 gain from its 
liquidating distributions to B1, B2, and A.
    (ii) Succession to intercompany items. Under the matching rule, 
S's $80 gain from its liquidating distributions to B1 and B2 is not 
taken into account under this section as a result of the liquidation 
(and, therefore, is not yet reflected under Sec. Sec.  1.1502-32 and 
1.1502-33). Under the successor person rule of paragraph (j)(2)(i) 
of this section, B1 and B2 are successors to S. Under paragraph 
(j)(2)(ii) of this section, B1 and B2 each succeeds to S's 
intercompany items to the extent that such items would have been 
reflected in investment basis adjustments to its stock of S under 
the principles of Sec.  1.1502-32(c) if, immediately prior to the 
liquidation, the stock of S owned by A had been redeemed in exchange 
for the money or property distributed to A in the liquidation, and 
then such items had been taken into account under Sec.  1.1502-
13(d). If A had been redeemed, then S's items would have produced 
investment basis adjustments in the stock of S owned by each of B1 
and B2 equally. Therefore, each of B1 and B2 succeeds to 50% of the 
$80 of intercompany gain from the assets distributed to B1 and B2 in 
the liquidation and 50% of the $100 of intercompany gain and 50% of 
the $100 of intercompany loss from the assets that S sold prior to 
the liquidation. S's $20 gain with respect to the assets that are 
distributed to A in the liquidation is taken into account 
immediately.
    (iii) Taking into account intercompany items. S's gain from its 
liquidating distributions to B1 and B2 and S's gain and loss from 
the sale of the two assets prior to the liquidation will be taken 
into account by B1 and B2 under the matching and acceleration rules 
of this section based on subsequent events.

    (ii) Effective dates. Paragraph (j)(9)(i) Examples 6 and 7 apply to 
transactions occurring after the date these regulations are published 
as final regulations in the Federal Register.
* * * * *
    Par. 3. Section 1.1502-80 is amended by:
    1. Removing the second sentence from paragraph (a).
    2. Adding paragraph (g).
    The addition reads as follows:


Sec.  1.1502-80  Applicability of other provisions of law.

* * * * *
    (g) Special rules for liquidations to which section 332 applies. 
Notwithstanding the general rule of section 381, if one or more members 
is a distributee of assets in a liquidation to which section 332 
applies and such member or members in the aggregate own stock of the 
liquidating corporation that satisfies the requirements of section 
1504(a)(2) (regardless of whether any single member owns stock in the 
liquidating corporation that satisfies the requirements of section 
1504(a)(2)), such member or members shall succeed to the items 
(including items described in section 381(c)) of the liquidating 
corporation, to the extent not otherwise prohibited by any applicable 
provision of law, as provided in this paragraph (g).
    (1) Each distributee member shall succeed to the items of the 
liquidating corporation that could be used to offset the income or tax 
liability of the group or any member (including net operating loss 
carryovers and capital loss carryovers) to the extent that such items 
would have been reflected in investment basis adjustments to the stock 
of the liquidating corporation owned by such distributee member under 
the principles of Sec.  1.1502-32(c) if, immediately prior to the 
liquidation, any stock of the liquidating corporation owned by 
nonmembers had been redeemed and then such items had been taken into 
account. In addition, each distributee member shall succeed to the 
credits of the liquidating corporation (including credits under 
sections 38 and 53) to the extent that the items of gain, income, loss, 
or deduction attributable to the activities that gave rise to the 
credit would have been reflected in investment basis adjustments to the 
stock of the liquidating corporation owned by such distributee member 
under the principles of Sec.  1.1502-32(c) if, immediately prior to the 
liquidation, any stock of the liquidating corporation owned by 
nonmembers had been redeemed and then such items had been taken into 
account. If the liquidating corporation is not a member of the group at 
the time of the liquidation, the previous two sentences shall be 
applied as if the liquidating corporation had been a member of the 
group at the time of the liquidation. Finally, except to the extent 
that the distributee member's earnings and profits already reflect the 
liquidating corporation's earnings and profits, the earnings and 
profits of the liquidating corporation are allocated to each 
distributee member under the principles of Sec.  1.1502-32(c), treating 
any stock of the liquidating corporation owned by nonmembers as if it 
had been redeemed immediately prior to the liquidation.
    (2) With regard to items to which paragraph (g)(1) of this section 
does not apply, a distributee member that, immediately prior to the 
liquidation, owns stock in the liquidating corporation meeting the 
requirements of section 1504(a)(2) without regard to Sec.  1.1502-34 
shall succeed to items of the liquidating corporation in accordance 
with section 381 and other applicable principles.
    (3) With regard to items to which paragraph (g)(1) of this section 
does not apply, a distributee member that, immediately prior to the 
liquidation, does not own stock in the liquidating corporation meeting 
the requirements of section 1504(a)(2) without regard to Sec.  1.1502-
34 shall succeed to items of the liquidating corporation to the extent 
that it would have succeeded to those items if it had purchased, in a 
taxable transaction, the assets or businesses of the liquidating 
corporation that it received in the liquidation and assumed the 
liabilities it assumed in the liquidation.
    (4) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (g):

    Example 1. Liquidation--80% distributee.
    (i) Facts. X has only common stock outstanding. On January 1 of 
Year 1, X acquired equipment with a 10-year life and elected to 
depreciate the equipment using the straight-line method of 
depreciation. On January 1 of Year 7, B1 and B2 own 80% and 20%, 
respectively, of X's stock. X is a domestic corporation but is not a 
member of the group that includes B1 and B2. On that date, X 
distributes all of its assets to B1 and B2 in complete liquidation. 
The equipment is distributed to B1. Under section 334(b), B1's basis 
in the equipment is the same as it would be in X's hands. After 
computing its tax liability for the taxable year that includes the 
liquidation, X has net operating losses of $100, business credits of 
$40, and earnings and profits of $80.
    (ii) Succession to items described in section 381(c). Under 
paragraph (g)(1) of this section, B1 and B2 each succeeds to X's 
items that could be used to offset the income or tax liability of 
the group or any member to the extent that such items would have 
been reflected in investment basis adjustments to the stock of X it 
owned under the principles of Sec.  1.1502-32(c) if, immediately 
prior to the liquidation, such items had been taken into account. 
Accordingly, B1 and B2 succeed to $80 and $20, respectively, of X's 
net operating loss. In addition, under paragraph (g)(1) of this 
section, because, immediately prior to the liquidation, 80% of the 
items of gain, income, loss, or deduction attributable to the 
activities that gave rise to the business credits of $40 would have 
been reflected in investment basis adjustments to the stock of X 
owned by B1 under the principles of Sec.  1.1502-32(c) and 20% of 
those items would have been reflected in investment basis 
adjustments to the stock of X owned by B2 under those same 
principles, B1 and B2 succeed to $32 and $8, respectively, of X's 
business credits. Under paragraph (g)(1) of this section, because 
B1's and B2's earnings and profits do not reflect X's earnings and 
profits, X's earnings and profits are allocated to B1 and B2 under 
the principles of Sec.  1.1502-32(c). Therefore, B1 and B2 succeed

[[Page 8556]]

to $64 and $16, respectively, of X's earnings and profits. Finally, 
because B1 owns stock in X meeting the requirements of section 
1504(a)(2) without regard to Sec.  1.1502-34, under paragraph 
(g)(2), B1 is required to continue to depreciate the equipment using 
the straight-line method of depreciation.
    Example 2. Liquidation--no 80% distributee.
    (i) Facts. The facts are the same as in Example 1 except that B1 
and B2 own 60% and 40%, respectively, of X's stock. Therefore, under 
section 334(a), B1's basis in the equipment is its fair market value 
at the time of the distribution. In addition, on January 1 of Year 
6, X entered into a long-term contract with Y, an unrelated party. 
The total contract price is $1000, and X estimates the total 
allocable contract costs to be $500. At the time of the liquidation, 
X had received $250 in progress payments under the contract and 
incurred costs of $125. X accounted for the contract under the 
percentage of completion method described in section 460(b). In the 
liquidation, B1 assumes X's contract obligations and rights.
    (ii) Succession to items described in section 381(c). (A) Losses 
and credits. Under paragraph (g)(1) of this section, B1 and B2 each 
succeeds to X's items that could be used to offset the income or tax 
liability of the group or any member to the extent that such items 
would have been reflected in investment basis adjustments to the 
stock of X it owned under the principles of Sec.  1.1502-32(c) if, 
immediately prior to the liquidation, such items had been taken 
account. Accordingly, B1 and B2 succeed to $60 and $40, 
respectively, of X's net operating loss. In addition, under 
paragraph (g)(1) of this section, because, immediately prior to the 
liquidation 60% of the items of gain, income, loss, or deduction 
attributable to the activities that gave rise to the business 
credits of $40 would have been reflected in investment basis 
adjustments to the stock of X owned by B1 under the principles of 
Sec.  1.1502-32(c) and 40% of those items would have been reflected 
in the investment basis adjustments to the stock of X owned by B2 
under those same principles, B1 and B2 succeed to $24 and $16, 
respectively, of X's business credits.
    (B) Earnings and profits. Under paragraph (g)(1) of this 
section, because B1's and B2's earnings and profits do not reflect 
X's earnings and profits, X's earnings and profits are allocated to 
B1 and B2 under the principles of Sec.  1.1502-32(c). Therefore, B1 
and B2 succeed to $48 and $32, respectively, of X's earnings and 
profits.
    (C) Depreciation of equipment's basis. By reason of section 
168(i)(7), to the extent that B1's basis in the equipment does not 
exceed X's basis in the equipment, B1 will be required to continue 
to depreciate the equipment using the straight-line method of 
depreciation.
    (D) Method of accounting for long-term contract. Under paragraph 
(g)(3) of this section, B1 does not succeed to X's method of 
accounting for the contract. Rather, under Sec.  1.460-4(k)(2), B1 
is treated as having entered into a new contract on the date of the 
liquidation. Under Sec.  1.460-4(k)(2)(iii), B1 must evaluate 
whether the new contract should be classified as a long-term 
contract within the meaning of Sec.  1.460-1(b) and account for the 
contract under a permissible method of accounting.

    (5) Effective date. Paragraph (g) applies to transactions occurring 
after the date these regulations are published as final regulations in 
the Federal Register.
* * * * *

Mark E. Matthews,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 05-3220 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P