[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 57 (Monday, March 25, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11009-11028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05400]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[REG-103083-18]
RIN 1545-BO49


Information Reporting for Certain Life Insurance Contract 
Transactions and Modifications to the Transfer for Valuable 
Consideration Rules

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; notification of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: This document contains proposed regulations providing guidance 
on new information reporting obligations under section 6050Y related to 
reportable policy sales of life insurance contracts and payments of 
reportable death benefits. The proposed regulations also provide 
guidance on the amount of death benefits excluded from gross income 
under section 101 following a reportable policy sale. The proposed 
regulations affect parties involved in certain life insurance contract 
transactions, including reportable policy sales, transfers of life 
insurance contracts to foreign persons, and payments of reportable 
death benefits. This document invites comments and provides a notice of 
a public hearing on these proposed regulations.

DATES: Written or electronic comments must be received by May 9, 2019. 
Requests to speak and outlines of topics to be discussed at the public 
hearing scheduled for June 5, 2019, at 10 a.m. must be received by May 
9, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send submissions to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-103083-18), 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-
103083-18), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224, or sent electronically via the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov (IRS REG-103083-18).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the proposed regulations, 
Kathryn M. Sneade, (202) 317-6995; concerning submissions of comments 
and requests to speak at the public hearing, Regina Johnson, (202) 317-
6901 (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collection of information contained in this notice of proposed 
rulemaking has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget 
for review under OMB Control Numbers 1545-0119, 1545-1621, and 1545-
2281 in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507(d)). In general, the collection of information in the proposed 
regulations is required under section 6050Y of the Internal Revenue 
Code (Code): (1) The requirement under Sec.  1.6050Y-2 of the proposed 
regulations for an acquirer to report certain information about 
payments made in reportable policy sales is required under section 
6050Y(a); (2) the requirement under Sec.  1.6050Y-3 of the proposed 
regulations for an issuer to report certain information about 
transferors of life insurance contracts is required under section 
6050Y(b); and (3) the requirement under Sec.  1.6050Y-4 of the proposed 
regulations for a payor to report certain information about payments of 
reportable death benefits is required under section 6050Y(c). Section 
1.6050Y-3(a)(3) of the proposed regulations would require the issuer to 
report to the seller and the IRS the amount the seller would have 
received if the seller had surrendered the life insurance contract on 
the date of the reportable policy sale. This information is necessary 
to allow the seller and the IRS to determine the character of all or a 
portion of the seller's taxable income from the sale of the life 
insurance contract (capital or ordinary). Sections 1.6050Y-3(f)(1) and 
1.6050Y-4(e)(1) of the proposed regulations contain reporting 
exceptions for certain foreign beneficial owners. To determine 
qualification for these reporting exceptions, Sec. Sec.  1.6050Y-
3(f)(1) and 1.6050Y-4(e)(1) would require that certain foreign 
beneficial owners provide a Form W-8ECI, ``Certificate of Foreign 
Person's Claim that Income is Effectively Connected with the Conduct of 
a Trade or Business in the United States,'' to certain persons. This 
information is necessary to document whether the reporting exception in 
either Sec.  1.6050Y-3(f)(1) or Sec.  1.6050Y-4(e)(1) applies in a 
particular situation.
    The likely respondents to the collection of information are (1) 
Entities acquiring life insurance contracts in reportable policy sales; 
(2) life insurance companies; (3) life insurance companies and other 
entities making payments of reportable death benefits; and (4) entities 
receiving payments of reportable death benefits.
    The burden for the collection of information contained in Sec.  
1.6050Y-2 of the proposed regulations will be reflected in the burden 
on the form that the IRS created to request the information in section 
6050Y(a) and Sec.  1.6050Y-2 of the proposed regulations (Form 1099-LS, 
``Reportable Life Insurance Sale''). The burden for the collection of 
information contained in Sec.  1.6050Y-3 of the proposed regulations 
will be reflected in the burden on the form that the IRS created to 
request the information in section 6050Y(b) and Sec.  1.6050Y-3 of the 
proposed regulations (Form 1099-SB, ``Seller's Investment in Life 
Insurance Contract''). The OMB Control Number for both of these forms 
is 1545-2281. The burden for the collection of information contained in 
Sec.  1.6050Y-4 of the proposed regulations will be reflected in the 
burden on the Form 1099-R, ``Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, 
Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc.'' 
(OMB Control Number 1545-0119). The burden for the collection of 
information contained in Sec. Sec.  1.6050Y-3(f)(1) and 1.6050Y-4(e)(1) 
of the proposed regulations will be reflected in the burden on the Form 
W-8ECI (OMB Control Number 1545-1621), when the burden is revised to 
reflect the additional collection of information in Sec. Sec.  1.6050Y-
3(f)(1) and 1.6050Y-4(e)(1) of the proposed regulations.
    Comments on the collection of information should be sent to the 
Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for the Department 
of the Treasury, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Washington, DC 20503, with copies to the Internal Revenue Service, 
Attn: IRS Reports Clearance Officer, SE:CAR:MP:T:T:SP, Washington, DC 
20224. Comments on

[[Page 11010]]

the collection of information should be received by May 24, 2019.
    Comments are specifically requested concerning:
    Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the IRS, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    The accuracy of the estimated burden associated with the proposed 
collection of information;
    How the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected may be enhanced;
    How the burden of complying with the proposed collection of 
information may be minimized, including through the application of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology; and
    Estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid 
control number assigned by the Office of Management and Budget.

Background

    This document contains proposed amendments to 26 CFR part 1 under 
sections 101 and 6050Y of the Code (proposed regulations). The proposed 
regulations implement recent legislative changes to sections 101 and 
6050Y by sections 13520 and 13522 of ``[a]n Act to provide for 
reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution 
on the budget for fiscal year 2018,'' Public Law 115-97, 131 Stat. 
2054, 2149 (Act). The proposed regulations under section 101 amend 
final regulations under section 101 published in the Federal Register 
on November 26, 1960 (25 FR 11402), as subsequently amended on December 
24, 1964 (29 FR 18356), September 27, 1982 (47 FR 42337), and July 26, 
2007 (72 FR 41159) (existing regulations).
    Section 13520 of the Act added section 6050Y to chapter 61 
(Information and Returns) of subtitle A of the Code (chapter 61). 
Section 6050Y imposes information reporting obligations related to 
certain life insurance contract transactions, including reportable 
policy sales and payments of reportable death benefits. Section 6050Y 
provides that each of the returns required by section 6050Y is to be 
made ``at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall 
prescribe.'' The proposed regulations under section 6050Y implement 
section 6050Y. The proposed regulations specify the manner in which and 
time at which the information reporting obligations must be satisfied. 
The proposed regulations also provide definitions and rules that govern 
the application of the information reporting obligations.
    Section 13522 of the Act amended section 101. New section 101(a)(3) 
defines the term ``reportable policy sale'' and provides rules for 
determining the amount of death benefits excluded from gross income 
following a reportable policy sale. The proposed regulations under 
section 101 provide definitions applicable under sections 101 and 6050Y 
and guidance for determining the amount of death benefits excluded from 
gross income following a reportable policy sale.
    Notice 2018-41, 2018-20 I.R.B. 584, described sections 13520 and 
13522 of the Act and the regulations the Department of the Treasury 
(Treasury Department) and the IRS expected to propose under sections 
101 and 6050Y. The Treasury Department and the IRS received comments in 
response to the notice and considered these comments in developing 
these proposed regulations.

Explanation of Provisions

    Section 6050Y imposes information reporting obligations related to 
reportable policy sales of life insurance contracts and payments of 
reportable death benefits. Section 1.6050Y-1 of the proposed 
regulations contains definitional provisions. Sections 1.6050Y-2, 
1.6050Y-3, and 1.6050Y-4 of the proposed regulations provide guidance 
on the reporting obligations imposed by section 6050Y(a), (b), and (c), 
respectively.

1. Section 1.6050Y-1: Definitions

    The definitions set forth in Sec.  1.6050Y-1 of the proposed 
regulations apply for purposes of Sec. Sec.  1.6050Y-1 through -4 of 
the proposed regulations.
    Under the proposed regulations, ``life insurance contract,'' also 
referred to as a life insurance policy, is defined by reference to 
section 7702(a). See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(9) of the proposed regulations. 
``Interest in a life insurance contract,'' ``transfer of an interest in 
a life insurance contract,'' ``direct acquisition of an interest in a 
life insurance contract,'' ``indirect acquisition of an interest in a 
life insurance contract,'' and ``reportable policy sale'' are defined 
by reference to the proposed regulations under section 101. See Sec.  
1.6050Y-1(a)(3), (5), (6), (14), and (19) of the proposed regulations. 
``Foreign person'' means a person that is not a ``United States 
person,'' as defined in section 7701(a)(30). See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(4) 
of the proposed regulations.
    Section 6050Y(a) requires any person that acquires a life insurance 
contract or any interest in a life insurance contract in a reportable 
policy sale during any taxable year to report certain information 
regarding the transaction, including information about each recipient 
of payment in the reportable policy sale. Under the proposed 
regulations, ``acquirer'' means any person that, directly or 
indirectly, acquires an interest in a life insurance contract in a 
reportable policy sale. See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(1) of the proposed 
regulations.
    Section 6050Y(d)(1) defines ``payment,'' with respect to any 
reportable policy sale, to mean the amount of cash and the fair market 
value of any other consideration transferred in the sale. Under the 
proposed regulations, ``reportable policy sale payment'' means the 
total amount of cash and the fair market value of any other 
consideration transferred, or to be transferred, in a reportable policy 
sale, including any amount of a reportable policy sale payment 
recipient's debt assumed by the acquirer in a reportable policy sale. 
See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(15) of the proposed regulations. An interest in 
a life insurance contract may be acquired directly, from the direct 
holder of the interest, or indirectly, through the acquisition of an 
ownership interest in an entity that holds an interest in a life 
insurance contract. See Sec. Sec.  1.101-1(e)(3)(i) and (ii) and 
1.6050Y-1(a)(3) and (5) of the proposed regulations. In the case of an 
indirect acquisition of an interest in a life insurance contract that 
is a reportable policy sale, the reportable policy sale payment is the 
amount of cash and the fair market value of any other consideration 
transferred for the ownership interest in the entity that is 
appropriately allocable to the interest in the life insurance contract 
held by the entity. See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(15) of the proposed 
regulations. The proposed regulations require the acquirer to report 
the aggregate amount of reportable policy sale payments made, or to be 
made, with respect to a reportable policy sale. See Sec.  1.6050Y-
2(a)(5) of the proposed regulations. Accordingly, when an acquirer 
makes payments in installments in more than one year, the acquirer 
reports the total amount of all payments in the year of the policy 
sale.
    ``Reportable policy sale payment recipient'' means any person that 
receives a reportable policy sale payment in a reportable policy sale. 
See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(16) of the proposed regulations. The seller in a 
reportable policy sale is a reportable policy sale

[[Page 11011]]

payment recipient if the seller receives a reportable policy sale 
payment. A broker or other intermediary that retains a portion of the 
cash or other consideration transferred in a reportable policy sale is 
also a reportable policy sale payment recipient. Id. The aggregate 
amount of all reportable policy sale payments made with respect to a 
reportable policy sale must be reported under section 6050Y(a). The 
objective of the proposed regulations is for the acquirer to report the 
net payment, if any, made to each person involved in a reportable 
policy sale. Accordingly, if the acquirer transfers cash or other 
consideration to a broker in a reportable policy sale, the broker is a 
reportable policy sale payment recipient, and the reportable policy 
sale payment made to the broker is the amount of cash and the fair 
market value of any other consideration retained by the broker. The 
reportable policy sale payment made to the seller would be the amount 
of cash and fair market value of any other consideration transferred to 
the seller, including any amount of the seller's debt assumed by the 
acquirer in a reportable policy sale, and it would not include the 
amount of the reportable policy sale payment made to the broker.
    Comments received on Notice 2018-41 suggested that the amount of 
the payment to a seller in a reportable policy sale that should be 
reported under section 6050Y(a) should be the amount actually paid to 
the seller. These comments were taken into consideration in developing 
the definition of ``reportable policy sale payment recipient'' in the 
proposed regulations, as well as the reporting requirements in the 
proposed regulations, which require the acquirer in a reportable policy 
sale to report, with respect to each reportable policy sale payment 
recipient, the aggregate amount of reportable policy sale payments made 
to that person. See Sec.  1.6050Y-2(a)(5) of the proposed regulations.
    Comments received on Notice 2018-41 suggested that no reporting 
should be required for payments of ancillary costs and expenses in a 
reportable policy sale, including broker fees, securities intermediary 
fees, and other fees and expenses. Comments noted that the person 
paying these expenses is normally paying them in connection with the 
conduct of a trade or business, and is therefore required to report 
these amounts to payees in accordance with applicable rules. The 
proposed regulations require the acquirer in a reportable policy sale 
to report all reportable policy sale payments made with respect to the 
reportable policy sale, meaning all amounts of cash and the fair market 
value of any other consideration transferred in the reportable policy 
sale, including any amount of a reportable policy sale payment 
recipient's debt assumed by the acquirer in a reportable policy sale. 
The Treasury Department and the IRS are considering whether reportable 
policy sale payments should be defined to exclude payments of any 
ancillary costs and expenses and request comments regarding the types 
of payments made by acquirers in reportable policy sales, the 
recipients of those payments, and existing reporting requirements 
applicable to those payments.
    Section 6050Y(b) requires issuers of life insurance contracts 
receiving a written statement furnished by an acquirer under section 
6050Y(a) and Sec.  1.6050Y-2 of the proposed regulations (a 
``reportable policy sale statement'' or ``RPSS,'' under Sec.  1.6050Y-
1(a)(17) of the proposed regulations) or notice of a transfer to a 
foreign person to report certain information regarding sellers. Under 
the proposed regulations, ``seller'' means any person that holds an 
interest in a life insurance contract and transfers that interest, or 
any part of that interest, to an acquirer in a reportable policy sale 
or any person that owns a life insurance contract and transfers title 
to, possession of, or legal ownership of that life insurance contract 
to a foreign person. See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(18) of the proposed 
regulations. ``Notice of a transfer to a foreign person'' means any 
notice of a transfer of a life insurance contract (i.e., a transfer of 
title to, possession of, or legal ownership of the life insurance 
contract) received by a 6050Y(b) issuer (as that term is defined in 
Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(8)(iii)(B) of the proposed regulations). See Sec.  
1.6050Y-1(a)(10) of the proposed regulations. Notice of a transfer to a 
foreign person includes information provided for nontax purposes such 
as a change of address notice for purposes of sending statements or for 
other purposes, and information relating to loans, premiums, or death 
benefits with respect to the contract, unless the 6050Y(b) issuer knows 
that no transfer of the life insurance contract has occurred or knows 
the transferee is a United States person. Id. For this purpose, a 
6050Y(b) issuer may rely on a Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer 
Identification Number and Certification, or a valid substitute form, 
that meets the requirements of Sec.  1.1441-1(d)(2) (substituting 
``6050Y(b) issuer'' for ``withholding agent''), that indicates the 
transferee is a United States person.
    The definition of ``issuer'' under the proposed regulations depends 
on the context in which the term is used. In general, the term 
``issuer'' means, on any date, with respect to any interest in a life 
insurance contract, any person that bears any part of the risk with 
respect to the life insurance contract on that date and any person 
responsible on that date for administering the contract, including 
collecting premiums and paying death benefits. See Sec.  1.6050Y-
1(a)(8)(i) of the proposed regulations. For instance, if a reinsurer 
reinsures on an indemnity basis all or a portion of the risks that the 
original issuer (and continuing contract administrator) might otherwise 
have incurred with respect to a life insurance contract, both the 
reinsurer and the original issuer of the contract are issuers of the 
life insurance contract. Id.
    Additionally, any designee of an issuer for purposes of section 
6050Y reporting purposes is generally also considered an issuer. See 
Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(8)(i) of the proposed regulations. Under Sec.  
1.6050Y-1(a)(8)(iv) of the proposed regulations, a person is the 
designee of an issuer for purposes of section 6050Y reporting under 
Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(8) only if so designated in writing, including 
electronically. The designation must be signed and acknowledged, in 
writing or electronically, by the person named as designee, or that 
person's representative, and by the issuer making the designation, or a 
representative of that issuer.
    For purposes of information reporting by the acquirer under section 
6050Y(a) and Sec.  1.6050Y-2 of the proposed regulations, the 
``6050Y(a) issuer'' is the issuer that is responsible for administering 
the life insurance contract, including collecting premiums and paying 
death benefits under the contract, on the date of the reportable policy 
sale. See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(8)(ii) of the proposed regulations.
    For purposes of information reporting by the issuer under section 
6050Y(b) and Sec.  1.6050Y-3 of the proposed regulations, the 
definition of ``6050Y(b) issuer'' depends on whether the reporting 
obligation results from a reportable policy sale and the receipt of a 
RPSS, or by a transfer to a foreign person and the receipt of notice of 
a transfer to a foreign person. See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(8)(iii)(A) of 
the proposed regulations (applicable to reportable policy sales) and 
Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(8)(iii)(B) of the proposed regulations (applicable 
to transfers to foreign persons).
    With respect to a life insurance contract, or an interest therein, 
that is

[[Page 11012]]

transferred in a reportable policy sale, the 6050Y(b) issuer is any 
person that (1) Receives a RPSS with respect to the life insurance 
contract or interest therein (or, in the case of a designee, receives 
notice that the issuer for whom it serves as designee received a RPSS), 
and (2) is or was, on or before the date of receipt of the RPSS, an 
issuer (as defined in Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(8)(i) of the proposed 
regulations) with respect to the life insurance contract. See Sec.  
1.6050Y-1(a)(8)(iii)(A) of the proposed regulations. More than one 
person may meet this definition, but a 6050Y(b) issuer's reporting 
obligation is deemed satisfied if the information required by section 
6050Y(b) and Sec.  1.6050Y-3 is timely reported by any other 6050Y(b) 
issuer. See Sec.  1.6050Y-3(b) of the proposed regulations.
    With respect to a life insurance contract transferred to a foreign 
person, the 6050Y(b) issuer generally is any person that (1) Receives 
notice of the transfer of the life insurance contract to a foreign 
person, and (2) is or was, on the date of transfer or on the date of 
receipt of the notice, an issuer (as defined in Sec.  1.6050Y-
1(a)(8)(i) of the proposed regulations), with respect to the life 
insurance contract. See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(8)(iii)(B) of the proposed 
regulations. However, a person is not a 6050Y(b) issuer under Sec.  
1.6050Y-1(a)(8)(iii)(B) of the proposed regulations if (1) That person 
(or, in the case of a designee, the issuer for whom it serves as 
designee) is not responsible for administering the life insurance 
contract, including collecting premiums and paying death benefits under 
the contract, on the date the notice of a transfer to a foreign person 
of a life insurance contract is received, and (2) that person, or its 
designee, provides the 6050Y(b) issuer that is responsible for 
administering the life insurance contract, including collecting 
premiums and paying death benefits under the contract, on that date 
with such notice and any available information necessary to accomplish 
reporting under section 6050Y(b) and Sec.  1.6050Y-3 of the proposed 
regulations. See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(8)(iii)(B) of the proposed 
regulations.
    Section 6050Y(c) imposes reporting requirements on any person that 
makes a payment of reportable death benefits during any taxable year. 
Section 6050Y(d)(4) defines the term ``reportable death benefits'' to 
mean amounts paid by reason of the death of the insured under a life 
insurance contract that has been transferred in a reportable policy 
sale. The proposed regulations clarify that the amounts must be 
attributable to an interest in the life insurance contract that was 
transferred in a reportable policy sale. See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(12) of 
the proposed regulations. For instance, if the original policyholder of 
a life insurance contract transfers a 50 percent interest in the life 
insurance contract in a reportable policy sale, amounts paid by reason 
of the death of the insured that are attributable to the 50 percent 
interest retained by the original policyholder are not reportable death 
benefits.
    The proposed regulations define ``payor'' to mean any person making 
a payment of reportable death benefits and ``reportable death benefits 
payment recipient'' to mean any person that receives reportable death 
benefits as a beneficiary under the life insurance contract or as the 
holder of an interest in the life insurance contract. See Sec.  
1.6050Y-1(a)(11) and (13) of the proposed regulations. Comments 
received on Notice 2018-41 suggested that ``payor'' be defined the same 
as ``issuer'' for purposes of section 6050Y. The proposed regulations 
do not adopt this suggestion, but comments are requested as to whether 
payor should be so narrowly defined, or should also include any holder 
of an interest in a life insurance contract that receives reportable 
death benefits attributable to that interest and is contractually 
obligated to pay part or all of the proceeds to the beneficial owner of 
the interest. Comments are also requested as to whether, for purposes 
of reporting under section 6050Y(c), reportable death benefits payment 
recipients should include, in addition to any person that receives 
reportable death benefits as a beneficiary under the life insurance 
contract, any person that receives reportable death benefits as the 
holder of an interest in the life insurance contract.
    Section 6050Y(b) and Sec.  1.6050Y-3 of the proposed regulations 
require issuers to report the seller's investment in the contract to 
the seller, and section 6050Y(c) and Sec.  1.6050Y-4 of the proposed 
regulations require payors to report the payor's estimate of the 
buyer's investment in the contract to the reportable death benefits 
payment recipient. The ``buyer,'' with respect to any interest in a 
life insurance contract that has been transferred in a reportable 
policy sale, is the person that was the most recent acquirer of that 
interest in a reportable policy sale as of the date reportable death 
benefits are paid under the contract. See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(2) of the 
proposed regulations.
    Under the proposed regulations, the meaning of ``investment in the 
contract'' depends on whose investment in the contract is being 
determined. With respect to the original policyholder of a life 
insurance contract, Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(7)(i) of the proposed 
regulations provides that ``investment in the contract'' has the same 
meaning as under section 72(e)(6). With respect to the original 
policyholder, the issuer will have all of the information required to 
determine that amount.
    With respect to anyone other than the original policyholder, the 
issuer or payor may lack information required to determine the seller's 
or buyer's investment in the contract as defined in section 72(e)(6), 
such as the aggregate amount of consideration paid for the contract and 
the extent to which amounts received under the contract were excludable 
from gross income. In this context, Sec.  1.6050Y-1(a)(7)(i) of the 
proposed regulations provides that ``investment in the contract'' has 
the same meaning as ``estimate of investment in the contract.'' Section 
1.6050Y-1(a)(7)(ii) of the proposed regulations defines ``estimate of 
investment in the contract'' with respect to any person other than the 
original policyholder to mean, on any date, the aggregate amount of 
premiums paid for the contract by that person before that date, less 
the aggregate amount received under the contract by that person before 
that date to the extent such information is known to or can reasonably 
be estimated by the issuer or payor.

2. Section 1.6050Y-2: Reporting of Payments by Acquirer in a Reportable 
Policy Sale

    Section 6050Y(a) requires reporting of payments made by an acquirer 
in a reportable policy sale. Section 1.6050Y-2(a) of the proposed 
regulations sets forth the requirement of information reporting 
applicable to acquirers in reportable policy sales under section 
6050Y(a)(1) and describes the information that must be reported.
    The proposed regulations allow for unified reporting by the 
acquirers in a series of prearranged transfers of any interest in a 
life insurance contract. See Sec.  1.6050Y-2(b) and (d)(3) of the 
proposed regulations. A series of prearranged transfers of an interest 
in a life insurance contract may include transfers in which one or more 
persons serve as intermediaries. Such intermediaries may acquire title 
or possession of an interest in a life insurance contract for state law 
purposes as nominee on behalf of another person or persons. Comments 
received on Notice 2018-41 suggested that a rule allowing unified 
reporting be adopted with respect to acquirers in a series of 
prearranged transfers, and these comments were taken into

[[Page 11013]]

consideration in developing the rules in the proposed regulations.
    Section 1.6050Y-2(c) of the proposed regulations sets forth the 
time and place for filing returns required under section 6050Y(a)(1).
    Section 1.6050Y-2(d) of the proposed regulations sets forth the 
requirement under section 6050Y(a)(2) for the acquirer in a reportable 
policy sale to furnish a written statement to certain persons with 
respect to whom information is required on the return required by 
section 6050Y(a)(1). These persons are the recipients of payments in 
reportable policy sales (reportable policy sale payment recipients) and 
the 6050Y(a) issuers.
    A written statement provided to a reportable policy sale payment 
recipient is not required to include information with respect to any 
other reportable policy sale payment recipient in the reportable policy 
sale. See Sec.  1.6050Y-2(d)(1)(i) of the proposed regulations. For 
instance, the statement is not required to provide information about 
reportable policy sale payments to any other reportable policy sale 
payment recipient. Id. The contact information of the person furnishing 
the written statement must provide direct access to a person that can 
answer questions about the statement. Id. Reportable policy sale 
payment recipients may use the information in the written statements 
furnished by acquirers to determine their taxable income. To facilitate 
proper tax reporting, the proposed regulations provide that an acquirer 
must furnish any written statement required to be provided to a 
reportable policy sale payment recipient no later than February 15 of 
the year following the calendar year in which the reportable policy 
sale occurs. See Sec.  1.6050Y-2(d)(1)(ii) of the proposed regulations. 
The proposed regulations adopt this deadline because a person may be 
both a reportable policy sale payment recipient and a seller with 
respect to a reportable policy sale, and this deadline for an acquirer 
to furnish a written statement to a reportable policy sale payment 
recipient coordinates with the deadline in Sec.  1.6050Y-3(d)(2) of the 
proposed regulations for a 6050Y(b) issuer that receives a RPSS to 
furnish a written statement to a seller.
    Generally, a 6050Y(a) issuer that receives a RPSS from an acquirer 
becomes a 6050Y(b) issuer subject to reporting obligations under 
section 6050Y(b), including the obligation under section 6050Y(b)(2) to 
furnish a written statement to the seller in a reportable policy sale. 
Because 6050Y(b) issuers' reporting obligation is with respect to 
sellers, the proposed regulations provide that acquirers must furnish 
the 6050Y(a) issuer with a RPSS with respect to each reportable policy 
sale payment recipient that is also a seller. See Sec.  1.6050Y-
2(d)(2)(i)(A) of the proposed regulations. However, an acquirer 
acquiring an interest in a life insurance contract in an indirect 
acquisition is not required to furnish a RPSS to the 6050Y(a) issuer. 
See Sec.  1.6050Y-2(d)(2)(i)(B) of the proposed regulations. As 
provided in section 6050Y(a)(2)(B), the proposed regulations provide 
that acquirers are not required to set forth the amount of any 
reportable policy sale payment in a RPSS furnished to a 6050Y(a) 
issuer. See Sec.  1.6050Y-2(d)(2)(i)(A) of the proposed regulations. 
Sellers may need the information in the written statements furnished by 
6050Y(b) issuers that have received a RPSS to determine their taxable 
income. To facilitate proper tax reporting, the proposed regulations 
therefore provide that an acquirer must furnish a RPSS to the 6050Y(a) 
issuer by the later of (1) 20 days after the reportable policy sale, or 
(2) 5 days after the end of the applicable state law rescission period. 
See Sec.  1.6050Y-2(d)(2)(ii) of the proposed regulations. However, if 
the later date is after January 15 of the year following the calendar 
year in which the reportable policy sale occurred, the RPSS must be 
furnished by January 15 of the year following the calendar year in 
which the reportable policy sale occurred. Id. Section 1.6050Y-3(d)(2) 
of the proposed regulations generally requires that the 6050Y(b) issuer 
furnish any written statement required by section 6050Y(b)(2) to the 
seller no later than February 15 of the year following the calendar 
year in which the reportable policy sale occurs.
    Section 1.6050Y-2(e) of the proposed regulations requires the 
acquirer to correct returns filed under section 6050Y(a)(1) and written 
statements furnished under section 6050Y(a)(2) within 15 days of the 
acquirer's receipt of notice of the rescission of the related 
reportable policy sale.
    Section 1.6050Y-2(f) of the proposed regulations sets forth 
exceptions to reporting under section 6050Y(a) that may apply to an 
acquirer that is a foreign person. These exceptions are described in 
section 5 of this Explanation of Provisions.
    Section 1.6050Y-2(g) of the proposed regulations describes the 
penalty provisions applicable when a person is required under section 
6050Y(a) to file an information return, or furnish a written statement, 
but fails to do so on or before the prescribed date, fails to include 
all of the information required to be shown, or includes incorrect 
information.

3. Section 1.6050Y-3: Reporting of Transferor's Investment in the 
Contract by 6050Y(b) Issuer (Reportable Policy Sale or Transfer to a 
Foreign Person)

    Section 6050Y(b) requires the issuer to report certain information 
to the seller, including the seller's investment in the contract. 
Section 1.6050Y-3(a) of the proposed regulations sets forth the 
information reporting requirement applicable to 6050Y(b) issuers under 
section 6050Y(b)(1). In addition to the specific information required 
to be reported under section 6050Y(b)(1), Notice 2018-41 indicated that 
the proposed regulations would require the issuer to report the amount 
that would have been received by the policyholder upon surrender of the 
contract. A comment received on Notice 2018-41 suggested that an issuer 
should not be required to report this amount because the information 
may be provided directly by the issuer to the seller upon request.
    A purpose of section 6050Y is to provide the seller in a reportable 
policy sale and the IRS with the information needed to determine the 
seller's taxable income from the sale. In the case of a sale of a cash 
value life insurance contract, the gain is ordinary income to the 
extent of the amount that would be recognized as ordinary income if the 
contract were surrendered, and any excess is capital gain. See Rev. 
Rul. 2009-13, 2009-21 I.R.B. 1029. To ensure that the seller and the 
IRS have the relevant information needed to calculate the seller's gain 
from the sale, including the amount of any capital or ordinary gain, 
the proposed regulations do not adopt the suggestion and would require 
the 6050Y(b) issuer to report to the seller and the IRS the amount that 
would have been received by the policyholder upon surrender of the 
contract. The Treasury Department and the IRS have determined that 
requiring the reporting of this information is authorized under section 
6050Y(b)(1), as well as under sections 6011(a) and 7805.
    Section 1.6050Y-3(b) of the proposed regulations provides that a 
6050Y(b) issuer's reporting obligation under section 6050Y(b) and Sec.  
1.6050Y-3(a) is deemed satisfied if the information required by section 
6050Y(b) and Sec.  1.6050Y-3 is timely reported by any other 6050Y(b) 
issuer or a third party information reporting contractor.
    Section 1.6050Y-3(c) of the proposed regulations sets forth the 
time and place for filing returns required under section 6050Y(b)(1).

[[Page 11014]]

    Section 1.6050Y-3(d)(1) of the proposed regulations sets forth the 
requirement under section 6050Y(b)(2) to furnish statements to certain 
persons with respect to whom information is required on the return 
required by section 6050Y(b)(1). These persons are the sellers that (1) 
Transfer interests in life insurance contracts in reportable policy 
sales and are reportable policy sale payment recipients, or (2) 
transfer life insurance contracts to foreign persons. The sellers may 
use the information in the written statements furnished under section 
6050Y(b)(2) to determine their taxable income.
    To facilitate proper tax reporting, Sec.  1.6050Y-2(d)(2)(ii) of 
the proposed regulations requires acquirers to furnish a RPSS to the 
6050Y(a) issuer by January 15 of the year following the calendar year 
in which the reportable policy sale occurred, if not earlier, and Sec.  
1.6050Y-3(d)(2) of the proposed regulations provides that a 6050Y(b) 
issuer generally must furnish any written statement required to be 
provided to a seller no later than February 15 of the year following 
the calendar year in which the reportable policy sale or transfer to a 
foreign person occurs. Comments received on Notice 2018-41 suggested 
that issuers be required to furnish written statements required by 
section 6050Y(b)(2) to the seller no later than February 15 of the year 
following the calendar year in which the reportable policy sale occurs, 
noting that this is currently the due date for section 6045 broker 
returns and consolidated statements, and brokers also rely on third 
party information (e.g., dividend reclassifications). The Treasury 
Department and the IRS propose to adopt this suggestion. See Sec.  
1.6050Y-3(d)(2) of the proposed regulations. Section 1.6050Y-3(d)(3) of 
the proposed regulations provides that a 6050Y(b) issuer's reporting 
obligation is deemed satisfied if the information required by Sec.  
1.6050Y-3(d)(1) of the proposed regulations with respect to that 
6050Y(b) issuer is timely reported on behalf of that 6050Y(b) issuer 
consistent with forms, instructions, and other IRS guidance by one or 
more other 6050Y(b) issuers or by a third party information reporting 
contractor.
    Section 1.6050Y-3(e) of the proposed regulations requires the 
6050Y(b) issuer to correct returns filed under section 6050Y(b)(1) and 
written statements furnished under section 6050Y(b)(2) within 15 days 
of the 6050Y(b) issuer's receipt of notice of the rescission of the 
related reportable policy sale or transfer to a foreign person.
    Section 1.6050Y-3(f) of the proposed regulations sets forth 
exceptions to reporting under section 6050Y(b) that may apply to 
6050Y(b) issuers. These exceptions are described in section 5 of this 
Explanation of Provisions.
    Section 1.6050Y-3(g) of the proposed regulations describes the 
penalty provisions applicable when a person is required under section 
6050Y(b) to file an information return, or furnish a written statement, 
but fails to do so on or before the prescribed date, fails to include 
all of the information required to be shown, or includes incorrect 
information.

4. Section 1.6050Y-4: Reporting of Reportable Death Benefits by Payor

    Section 6050Y(c) requires payors to report payments of reportable 
death benefits. Section 1.6050Y-4(a) of the proposed regulations sets 
forth the requirement of information reporting applicable to payors 
under section 6050Y(c)(1).
    Section 1.6050Y-4(b) of the proposed regulations sets forth the 
time and place for filing returns required under section 6050Y(c)(1).
    Section 1.6050Y-4(c)(1) of the proposed regulations sets forth the 
requirement under section 6050Y(c)(2) to furnish statements to persons 
with respect to whom information is required on the return required by 
section 6050Y(c)(1). These persons are the recipients of reportable 
death benefits (reportable death benefits payment recipients). The 
reportable death benefits payment recipients may use the information in 
the written statements furnished under section 6050Y(c)(2) to determine 
their taxable income. To facilitate proper tax reporting, Sec.  
1.6050Y-4(c)(2) of the proposed regulations provides that a payor must 
furnish any written statement required to be provided to a reportable 
death benefits payment recipient no later than January 31 of the year 
following the calendar year in which the reportable policy sale occurs. 
The proposed regulations use January 31 because it is generally the 
deadline for furnishing copies of Form 1099-R to recipients.
    Section 1.6050Y-4(d) of the proposed regulations requires the payor 
to correct returns filed under section 6050Y(c)(1) and written 
statements furnished under section 6050Y(c)(2) within 15 days of the 
payor's receipt of notice of the rescission of the related reportable 
policy sale.
    Section 1.6050Y-4(e) of the proposed regulations sets forth 
exceptions to reporting under section 6050Y(c) that may apply to 
payors. These exceptions are described in the next section of this 
Explanation of Provisions.
    Section 1.6050Y-4(f) of the proposed regulations describes the 
penalty provisions applicable when a person is required under section 
6050Y(c) to file an information return, or furnish a written statement, 
but fails to do so on or before the prescribed date, fails to include 
all of the information required to be shown, or includes incorrect 
information.

5. Exceptions To Reporting Under Section 6050Y

    The proposed regulations include certain exceptions to the 
reporting requirements otherwise imposed on acquirers, 6050Y(b) 
issuers, and payors under Sec. Sec.  1.6050Y-2, -3, and -4 of the 
proposed regulations, respectively. These exceptions to reporting are 
similar in their intended purposes to exceptions included in 
regulations issued under other sections in chapter 61 that except 
reporting by certain payors and brokers (as applicable based on the 
section) with respect to a transaction occurring outside the United 
States when no nexus of the transaction to the United States is 
identified (under criteria specified in each of the regulations). For 
example, Sec.  1.6045-1 generally requires brokers to report the 
proceeds of certain sales (such as sales of securities) on a Form 1099-
B, Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions, but includes 
an exception to the term ``broker'' that applies to most non-U.S. 
securities brokers for sales that are effected outside of the United 
States within the meaning provided in those regulations. See Sec.  
1.6045-1(a) and (g)(3)(iii). Reporting of payments under several of the 
sections in chapter 61 is also excepted when a payor or broker is 
permitted to treat the person receiving the payments as a foreign 
person. For certain of those excepted payments, withholding and 
reporting requirements may instead apply under chapter 3 of subtitle A 
of the Code.
    Sections 1.6050Y-2(f) and 1.6050Y-3(f)(2) of the proposed 
regulations describe exceptions to the reporting otherwise required of 
an acquirer and 6050Y(b) issuer under section 6050Y(a) or (b), 
respectively, for cases in which the Treasury Department and the IRS 
are of the view that a nexus of the sale or life insurance contract to 
the United States is insufficient for applying the reporting provisions 
of those sections.
    Sections 1.6050Y-3(f)(1) and 1.6050Y-4(e)(1) of the proposed 
regulations provide that reporting under section 6050Y(b) or (c) is not 
required by 6050Y(b) issuers and payors with

[[Page 11015]]

respect to sellers or reportable death benefits payment recipients, 
respectively, documented as foreign beneficial owners under the 
requirements of the regulations under section 1441. The proposed 
regulations include, however, two modifications to those requirements. 
First, Sec. Sec.  1.6050Y-3(f)(1) and 1.6050Y-4(e)(1) of the proposed 
regulations permit a 6050Y(b) issuer or payor to treat a partnership or 
trust as a foreign beneficial owner provided that the 6050Y(b) issuer 
or payor obtains a written certification from the partnership or trust 
that no beneficial owner (within the meaning of Sec.  1.1441-
1(c)(6)(ii)) of any portion of the sales proceeds or reportable death 
benefits payment (as applicable based on the section) received by the 
partnership or trust is a United States person, as well as 
documentation establishing the partnership's or trust's foreign status. 
The treatment described in the preceding sentence does not apply, 
however, when the issuer or payor has actual knowledge that a United 
States person is a beneficial owner of all or a portion of the sale 
proceeds or reportable death benefit payment. Second, Sec.  1.6050Y-
3(f)(1) of the proposed regulations provides that this exception does 
not apply to a foreign beneficial owner for which the sale of the 
insurance contract (or interest therein) results in a requirement to 
report any of the income from the sale as effectively connected with a 
U.S. trade or business. To address those cases, the proposed 
regulations provide that a seller required to report any of the income 
from the sale of an insurance contract (or interest therein) as 
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the 
United States under section 864(b) must provide to the 6050Y(b) issuer 
a Form W-8ECI, Certificate of Foreign Person's Claim that Income is 
Effectively Connected with the Conduct of a Trade or Business in the 
United States. The proposed regulations do not permit a 6050Y(b) issuer 
to apply the exception when it receives a Form W-8ECI from a seller or 
has reason to know that the seller is required to report any of the 
sale proceeds as income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or 
business. Similar provisions apply with respect to foreign beneficial 
owners of reportable death benefits under Sec.  1.6050Y-4(e)(1) of the 
proposed regulations. However, in response to comments received on 
Notice 2018-41, the Treasury Department and the IRS are considering 
whether payors required under section 6050Y(c) and Sec.  1.6050Y-
4(e)(1) of the proposed regulations to report payments of reportable 
death benefits that are income effectively connected with a U.S. trade 
or business may satisfy their reporting obligation under section 
6050Y(c) by filing a Form 1042-S, Foreign Person's U.S. Source Income 
Subject to Withholding, or if such payors may be relieved from the 
obligation to report some of the information required to be reported 
under section 6050Y(c).
    Section 1.6050Y-4(e)(2) of the proposed regulations also includes a 
reporting exception for death benefits paid under an insurance contract 
(or interest therein) held by a buyer that obtained the contract or 
interest in a reportable policy sale that was within an exception to 
reporting described in Sec.  1.6050Y-3(f)(2) of the proposed 
regulations. The exception to reporting described in Sec.  1.6050Y-
3(f)(2) of the proposed regulations applies in those cases in which a 
6050Y(b) issuer received only a notice of transfer to a foreign person 
and, because the requirements set forth in Sec.  1.6050Y-3(f)(2)(i) 
through (iii) of the proposed regulations were met, was not required to 
treat the transfer as reportable for purposes of section 6050Y(b).

6. Section 1.101-1: Exclusion From Gross Income of Proceeds of Life 
Insurance Contracts Payable by Reason of Death

    Generally, amounts received under a life insurance contract that 
are paid by reason of the death of the insured are excluded from 
federal income tax under section 101(a)(1). However, if a life 
insurance contract is sold or otherwise transferred for valuable 
consideration, the ``transfer for value rule'' set forth in section 
101(a)(2) limits the excludable portion of the amount paid by reason of 
the death of the insured. Section 101(a)(2) provides that the 
excludable amount following a transfer for valuable consideration 
generally may not exceed the sum of (1) The actual value of the 
consideration paid by the transferee to acquire the life insurance 
contract and (2) the premiums and other amounts subsequently paid by 
the transferee. Section 101(a)(2) provides two exceptions to this 
transfer for value rule. Specifically, the limitation set forth in 
section 101(a)(2) does not apply if (1) The transferee's basis in the 
contract is determined in whole or in part by reference to the 
transferor's basis in the contract or (2) the transfer is to the 
insured, to a partner of the insured, to a partnership in which the 
insured is a partner, or to a corporation in which the insured is a 
shareholder or officer.
    Section 13522 of the Act added section 101(a)(3) to the Code. 
Section 101(a)(3)(A) provides that these two exceptions shall not apply 
in the case of a transfer of a life insurance contract, or any interest 
therein, that is a reportable policy sale. Section 101(a)(3)(B) defines 
the term ``reportable policy sale'' to mean the acquisition of an 
interest in a life insurance contract, directly or indirectly, if the 
acquirer has no substantial family, business, or financial relationship 
with the insured apart from the acquirer's interest in such life 
insurance contract. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term 
``indirectly'' applies to the acquisition of an interest in a 
partnership, trust, or other entity that holds an interest in the life 
insurance contract.
    The proposed regulations update Sec.  1.101-1(a)(1) of the existing 
regulations to reflect the repeal of section 101(b) (treatment of 
employees' death benefits) in 1996, and the addition of section 7702 
(definition of life insurance contract) in 1984, section 101(j) 
(treatment of certain employer-owned life insurance contracts) in 2006, 
and section 101(a)(3) (exception to valuable consideration rules for 
reportable policy sales) in 2017. The proposed regulations remove the 
second and third sentences of Sec.  1.101-1(a)(1) of the existing 
regulations and add a sentence at the end of Sec.  1.101-1(a)(1) to 
address the earlier changes in law. To address the changes in law made 
by the Act, the proposed regulations under section 101 provide updated 
rules for determining the amount of death benefits excluded from gross 
income following a transfer for value or gratuitous transfer, including 
a reportable policy sale, and provide definitions applicable under 
section 101. The proposed regulations under section 6050Y adopt the 
relevant definitions by cross-reference.
    The proposed regulations provide that any transfer of an interest 
in a life insurance contract for cash or other consideration reducible 
to a money value is a transfer for valuable consideration. See Sec.  
1.101-1(f)(5) of the proposed regulations; see also Sec.  25.2512-8 
(``[a] consideration not reducible to a value in money or money's 
worth, as love and affection, promise of marriage, etc., is to be 
wholly disregarded''). An interest in a life insurance contract (also 
referred to as a life insurance policy) is held by any person that has 
taken title to or possession of the life insurance contract, in whole 
or part, for state law purposes, including any person that has taken 
title or possession as nominee for another person, or by any person 
that has an enforceable right to receive all or a part of the proceeds 
of the life insurance

[[Page 11016]]

contract or to any other economic benefits of the insurance policy as 
described in Sec.  20.2042-1(c)(2). See Sec.  1.101-1(e)(1) of the 
proposed regulations. The enforceable right to designate a contract 
beneficiary is an interest in a life insurance contract. Id. Any person 
named as the owner in a life insurance contract generally is the owner 
(or an owner) of the contract and holds an interest in the contract. 
Id.
    The transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract includes 
the transfer of any interest in the life insurance contract as well as 
any transfer of the life insurance contract itself (meaning a transfer 
of title to, possession of, or legal or beneficial ownership of the 
life insurance contract). See Sec.  1.101-1(e)(2) of the proposed 
regulations. For instance, the creation of an enforceable right to 
receive all or a part of the proceeds of a life insurance contract 
constitutes the transfer of an interest in the life insurance contract. 
Id. However, the revocable designation of a beneficiary of the policy 
proceeds does not constitute a transfer of an interest in a life 
insurance contract to the beneficiary until the designation becomes 
irrevocable other than by reason of the death of the insured. Id. For 
purposes of this rule, a beneficiary designation is not revocable if 
the person with the right to designate the beneficiary of the contract 
has an enforceable contractual obligation to designate a particular 
contract beneficiary. The pledging or assignment of a policy as 
collateral security also is not a transfer of an interest in a life 
insurance contract. Id. In response to comments received on Notice 
2018-41 suggesting that the initial owner of a life insurance contract 
should not be considered an ``acquirer'' for purposes of section 
6050Y(a), Sec.  1.101-1(e)(2) of the proposed regulations clarifies 
that the issuance of a life insurance contract to a policyholder, other 
than the issuance of a policy in an exchange pursuant to section 1035, 
is not a transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract.
    Section 1.101-1(b)(1)(i) of the proposed regulations provides that, 
in the case of a transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract 
for valuable consideration, the amount of the proceeds attributable to 
the interest that is excludable from gross income under section 
101(a)(1) is limited under section 101(a)(2) to the sum of the actual 
value of the consideration for the transfer paid by the transferee and 
the premiums and other amounts subsequently paid by the transferee with 
respect to that interest. Consistent with section 101(a)(3), this 
general rule applies to all transfers of interests in life insurance 
contracts for valuable consideration that are reportable policy sales. 
Consistent with section 101(a)(2), this general rule also continues to 
apply to transfers of interests in life insurance contracts for 
valuable consideration that are not reportable policy sales, unless an 
exception set forth in section 101(a)(2) applies. See Sec.  1.101-
1(b)(1)(i) and (ii) of the proposed regulations. Section 1.101-
1(b)(1)(ii)(A) of the proposed regulations applies to carryover basis 
transfers that are not also subject to Sec.  1.101-1(b)(1)(ii)(B) of 
the proposed regulations. Section 1.101-1(b)(1)(ii)(B) of the proposed 
regulations applies to transfers to certain persons.
    Under Sec.  1.101-1(b)(1)(ii)(A) of the proposed regulations, the 
limitation described in section 101(a)(2) and Sec.  1.101-1(b)(1)(i) of 
the proposed regulations does not apply to the transfer of an interest 
in a life insurance contract for valuable consideration if (1) The 
transfer is not a reportable policy sale, (2) the basis of the interest 
transferred, for the purpose of determining gain or loss with respect 
to the transferee, is determinable in whole or in part by reference to 
the basis of that interest in the hands of the transferor, and (3) 
Sec.  1.101-1(b)(1)(ii)(B) of the proposed regulations does not apply 
to the transfer. The amount of the proceeds attributable to the 
interest that is excludable from gross income under section 101(a)(1) 
is, however, limited to the sum of (1) The amount that would have been 
excludable by the transferor, and (2) the premiums and other amounts 
subsequently paid by the transferee.
    This limitation applies without regard to whether the interest 
previously has been transferred or to the nature of any prior transfer 
of the interest. For instance, it is irrelevant whether a prior 
transfer was gratuitous or for value, whether section 101(a)(2)(A) or 
(B) applied to a prior transfer, whether any prior transfer was a 
reportable policy sale, or whether the prior transfer was of the same 
interest or a larger interest in a life insurance contract that 
included the same interest. If the full amount of the proceeds would 
have been excludable by the transferor, as would generally be the case 
if the original policyholder is the transferor, Sec.  1.101-
1(b)(1)(ii)(A) of the proposed regulations will, as a practical matter, 
impose no limitation on the amount of the proceeds attributable to the 
interest that is excludable from gross income under section 101(a)(1).
    Under Sec.  1.101-1(b)(1)(ii)(B)(1) of the proposed regulations, 
the limitation on the excludable amount of the proceeds described in 
section 101(a)(2) and Sec.  1.101-1(b)(1)(i) of the proposed 
regulations will not apply to an interest in a life insurance contract 
that is transferred for valuable consideration if (1) The transfer is 
not a reportable policy sale and the interest was not previously 
transferred for valuable consideration in a reportable policy sale, and 
(2) the transfer is to the insured, a partner of the insured, a 
partnership in which the insured is a partner, or a corporation in 
which the insured is a shareholder or officer (a (B)(1) person).
    Under Sec.  1.101-1(b)(1)(ii)(B)(2) of the proposed regulations, if 
a transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract to a (B)(1) 
person follows a transfer for valuable consideration in a reportable 
policy sale (whether in the immediately preceding transfer or an 
earlier transfer), the amount of the proceeds attributable to that 
interest that is excludable from gross income under section 101(a)(1) 
is limited to the sum of (1) The higher of the amount that would have 
been excludable by the transferor if the transfer to the (B)(1) person 
had not occurred or the actual value of the consideration for the 
transfer to the (B)(1) person paid by the (B)(1) person, and (2) the 
premiums and other amounts subsequently paid by the transferee. Thus, 
in determining the excludable amount of the proceeds attributable to an 
interest in a life insurance contract that is transferred to a (B)(1) 
person in a transfer that is not a reportable policy sale, the 
limitation described in section 101(a)(2) and Sec.  1.101-1(b)(1)(i) of 
the proposed regulations is inapplicable unless the interest previously 
had been transferred in a reportable policy sale. Additionally, because 
of the alternative in the formula for computing the limitation, a 
(B)(1) person will not be subject to a less favorable limitation than 
the limitation applicable to a transferee in a carryover basis transfer 
eligible for the exception set forth in Sec.  1.101-1(b)(1)(ii)(A) of 
the proposed regulations.
    The proposed regulations provide a single rule applicable to all 
gratuitous transfers of interests in life insurance contracts, 
including reportable policy sales that are not for valuable 
consideration: the amount of the proceeds attributable to the interest 
that is excludable from gross income under section 101(a)(1) is limited 
to the sum of (1) The amount of the proceeds attributable to the 
gratuitously transferred interest that would have been excludable by 
the transferor if the transfer had not occurred, and (2) the premiums 
and other amounts subsequently paid by the transferee. See

[[Page 11017]]

Sec.  1.101-1(b)(2)(i) of the proposed regulations. Although Sec.  
1.101-1(b)(2) of the existing regulations provides a special rule for 
gratuitous transfers made by or to the insured, a partner of the 
insured, a partnership in which the insured is a partner, or a 
corporation in which the insured is a shareholder or officer, such a 
rule is not required by section 101(a), and the proposed regulations do 
not contain a special rule for these transfers because it could be 
subject to abuse.
    Section 1.101-1(b)(3) of the proposed regulations clarifies that, 
for purposes of Sec.  1.101-1(b)(1) and (2) of the proposed 
regulations, in determining the amounts, if any, of consideration paid 
by the transferee for the transfer of an interest in a life insurance 
contract and premiums and other amounts subsequently paid by the 
transferee with respect to that interest, the amounts paid by the 
transferee are reduced, but not below zero, by amounts received by the 
transferee under the life insurance contract that are not received as 
an annuity, to the extent excludable from gross income under section 
72(e). This provision is necessary to prevent an exclusion from gross 
income based on a double-counting of consideration paid.
    Section 1.101-1(c) of the proposed regulations defines the term 
``reportable policy sale,'' which was introduced in section 101(a)(3). 
The proposed regulations provide that, as a general matter, any direct 
or indirect acquisition of an interest in a life insurance contract is 
a ``reportable policy sale'' if the acquirer has, at the time of the 
acquisition, no substantial family, business, or financial relationship 
with the insured apart from the acquirer's interest in that life 
insurance contract. See Sec.  1.101-1(c)(1) of the proposed 
regulations.
    Under Sec.  1.101-1(e)(3)(i) of the proposed regulations, the 
transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract results in the 
direct acquisition of the interest by the transferee (acquirer). Under 
Sec.  1.101-1(e)(3)(ii) of the proposed regulations, an indirect 
acquisition of an interest in a life insurance contract occurs when a 
person (acquirer) becomes a beneficial owner of a partnership, trust, 
or other entity that holds (directly or indirectly) an interest in the 
life insurance contract. For this purpose, the term ``other entity'' 
does not include a C corporation (as that term is defined in section 
1361(a)(2)), unless more than 50 percent of the gross value of the 
assets of the C corporation (as determined under Sec.  1.101-1(f)(4)) 
consists of life insurance contracts immediately before the indirect 
acquisition. Under Sec.  1.101-1(f)(1) of the proposed regulations, a 
``beneficial owner'' of a partnership, trust, or other entity is an 
individual or C corporation with an ownership interest in that 
partnership, trust, or other entity. The beneficial owner's interest 
may be held directly or indirectly, through one or more other 
partnerships, trusts, or other entities.
    Accordingly, under Sec.  1.101-1(e)(3)(ii) of the proposed 
regulations, persons that acquire shares in a C corporation that holds 
an interest in a life insurance contract generally will not be 
considered to have an indirect acquisition of an interest in such 
contract. However, if the C corporation primarily owns life insurance 
contracts (or interests therein), any person that acquires shares in 
the C corporation will be considered to have an indirect acquisition of 
an interest in any life insurance contract held by the C corporation.
    Section 1.101-1(d) of the proposed regulations defines the terms 
``substantial family relationship,'' ``substantial business 
relationship,'' and ``substantial financial relationship.'' Under 
section 1.101-1(d)(1) of the proposed regulations, a ``substantial 
family relationship'' is the relationship between an individual and any 
family member of that individual as defined in Sec.  1.101-1(f)(3) of 
the proposed regulations. A substantial family relationship also exists 
between an individual and his or her former spouse with regard to a 
transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract to (or in trust 
for the benefit of) that former spouse incident to divorce. See Sec.  
1.101-1(d)(1) of the proposed regulations. Additionally, a substantial 
family relationship exists between the insured and an entity if all of 
the entity's beneficial owners have a substantial family relationship 
with the insured. Id.
    Section 1.101-1(d)(2) describes the two situations in which a 
substantial business relationship exists between the acquirer and 
insured: (1) The insured is a key person (as defined in section 264) 
of, or materially participates (as defined in section 469 and the 
corresponding regulations) in, an active trade or business as an owner, 
employee, or contractor, and at least 80% of that trade or business is 
owned (directly or indirectly, through one or more partnerships, 
trusts, or other entities) by the acquirer or the beneficial owners of 
the acquirer, and (2) the acquirer acquires an active trade or business 
and acquires the interest in the life insurance contract either as part 
of that acquisition or from a person owning significant property leased 
to the acquired trade or business or life insurance policies held to 
facilitate the succession of the ownership of the business, if certain 
requirements are met. See Sec.  1.101-1(d)(2)(i) and (ii) of the 
proposed regulations.
    Comments received on Notice 2018-41 suggested that acquisitions of 
life insurance contracts, or interests therein, in certain ordinary 
course business transactions involving the acquisition of a trade or 
business should not be considered reportable policy sales, including 
ordinary course business transactions whereby one trade or business 
acquires another trade or business that owns life insurance on the 
lives of former employees or directors. The definition of substantial 
business relationship in Sec.  1.101-1(d)(2) of the proposed 
regulations, as well as certain other provisions in the proposed 
regulations, are intended to exclude certain of these transactions from 
the definition of reportable policy sales.
    Section 1.101-1(d)(3) of the proposed regulations describes the 
three situations in which a substantial financial relationship exists 
between the insured and the acquirer: (1) The acquirer (directly or 
indirectly, through one or more partnerships, trusts, or other entities 
of which it is a beneficial owner) has, or the beneficial owners of the 
acquirer have, a common investment (other than the interest in the life 
insurance contract) with the insured and a buy-out of the insured's 
interest in the common investment by the co-investor(s) after the 
insured's death is reasonably foreseeable; (2) the acquirer maintains 
the life insurance contract on the life of the insured to provide funds 
to purchase assets or satisfy liabilities following the death of the 
insured; or (3) the acquirer is an organization described in sections 
170(c), 2055(a), and 2522(a) that previously received financial support 
in a substantial amount or significant volunteer support from the 
insured. See Sec.  1.101-1(d)(3)(i) through (iii) of the proposed 
regulations.
    The proposed regulations also specify that the fact that an 
acquirer is a partner of the insured, a partnership in which the 
insured is a partner, or a corporation in which the insured is a 
shareholder or officer (all relationships that are covered by an 
exception from the transfer for value rule) is not sufficient to 
establish a substantial business or financial relationship, nor is such 
status required to establish a substantial business or financial 
relationship. See Sec.  1.101-1(d)(4)(ii) of the proposed regulations. 
The proposed regulations also clarify that, for purposes of determining 
whether the acquirer in an indirect acquisition of an interest in a 
life insurance contract has a substantial

[[Page 11018]]

business or financial relationship with the insured, the acquirer will 
be deemed to have a substantial business or financial relationship with 
the insured if the direct holder of the interest in the life insurance 
contract has a substantial business or financial relationship with the 
insured immediately before and after the date the acquirer acquires its 
interest. See Sec.  1.101-1(d)(4)(i) of the proposed regulations. 
Accordingly, the acquirer in an indirect acquisition may establish a 
substantial business or financial relationship with the insured based 
on the acquirer's own relationship with the insured or the relationship 
between the insured and the direct holder of the interest in the life 
insurance contract.
    The proposed regulations also provide several exceptions from the 
definition of reportable policy sale. The proposed regulations provide 
that the transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract between 
certain related entities is not a reportable policy sale. Specifically, 
a transfer between entities with the same beneficial owners is not a 
reportable policy sale if the ownership interest of each beneficial 
owner in each entity does not vary by more than a 20 percent ownership 
interest. See Sec.  1.101-1(c)(2)(i) and (g)(10) of the proposed 
regulations. Also, a transfer between corporations that are members of 
an affiliated group (as defined in section 1504(a)) that files a 
consolidated U.S. tax return for the taxable year in which the transfer 
occurs is not a reportable policy sale. See Sec.  1.101-1(c)(2)(ii) of 
the proposed regulations.
    Finally, in response to comments received on Notice 2018-41, 
certain indirect acquisitions of life insurance contracts, or interests 
in life insurance contracts, are excepted from the definition of a 
reportable policy sale. The limited definition of ``indirect 
acquisition'' under Sec.  1.101-1(e)(3)(ii) of the proposed regulations 
means that shareholders acquiring an interest in a C corporation that 
holds an interest in one or more life insurance contracts will not be 
considered to have an indirect acquisition or reportable policy sale 
unless the C corporation primarily owns life insurance contracts (or 
interests therein). The proposed regulations also provide an exception 
from the definition of a reportable policy sale for an indirect 
acquisition of an interest in a life insurance contract if the direct 
holder of the interest acquired the interest in a reportable policy 
sale and reported the acquisition in compliance with section 6050Y(a) 
and Sec.  1.6050Y-2 of the proposed regulations. See Sec.  1.101-
1(c)(2)(iii)(A) of the proposed regulations. Also, the indirect 
acquisition of an interest in a life insurance contract is not a 
reportable policy sale if (1) Immediately before the acquisition, no 
more than 50 percent of the gross value of the assets of the entity 
that directly holds the interest in the life insurance contract 
consists of life insurance contracts, and (2) the acquirer and his or 
her family members own five percent or less of the ownership interests 
in the entity that directly holds the interest in the life insurance 
contract. See Sec.  1.101-1(c)(2)(iii)(B) of the proposed regulations. 
Section 1.101-1(f)(4) of the proposed regulations provides rules 
regarding the determination of the gross value of assets for this 
purpose.

Applicability Dates

    The rules in Sec.  1.101-1(b) through (g) of the proposed 
regulations are proposed to apply, for purposes of section 6050Y, to 
reportable policy sales made after December 31, 2017, and to reportable 
death benefits paid after December 31, 2017. For any other purpose, 
Sec.  1.101-1(b) through (g) of the proposed regulations apply to 
transfers of life insurance contracts, or interests therein, made after 
the date the Treasury decision adopting these regulations as final 
regulations is published in the Federal Register.
    The rules in Sec.  1.6050Y-1 of the proposed regulations are 
proposed to apply to reportable policy sales made and reportable death 
benefits paid after December 31, 2017. The rules in Sec. Sec.  1.6050Y-
2 and 1.6050Y-3 are proposed to apply to reportable policy sales made 
after December 31, 2017. The rules in Sec.  1.6050Y-4 are proposed to 
apply to reportable death benefits paid after December 31, 2017. See 
Sec.  1.6050Y-1(b) of the proposed regulations.
    For reportable policy sales and payments of reportable death 
benefits occurring after December 31, 2017, and before the date final 
regulations are published in the Federal Register, Sec.  1.6050Y-1(b) 
of the proposed regulations would provide transition relief as follows:
    1. With respect to reportable policy sales occurring after December 
31, 2017, and before the date final regulations are published in the 
Federal Register, statements required to be furnished to issuers under 
section 6050Y(a)(2) must be furnished by the later of the applicable 
deadline set forth in final regulations or 60 days after the date final 
regulations are published in the Federal Register;
    2. With respect to reportable policy sales occurring after December 
31, 2017, and before the date final regulations are published in the 
Federal Register, returns required to be filed under section 
6050Y(a)(1) and (b)(1) and statements required to be furnished to 
payment recipients and sellers under section 6050Y(a)(2) and (b)(2) 
must be filed or furnished by the later of the applicable deadline set 
forth in final regulations or 90 days after the date final regulations 
are published in the Federal Register; and
    3. With respect to payments of reportable death benefits paid after 
December 31, 2017, and before the date final regulations are published 
in the Federal Register, returns required to be filed under section 
6050Y(c)(1) and statements required to be furnished to payment 
recipients under section 6050Y(c)(2) must be filed or furnished by the 
later of the applicable deadline set forth in final regulations or 90 
days after the date final regulations are published in the Federal 
Register.

Special Analyses

    The proposed regulations are not subject to review under section 
6(b) of Executive Order 12866 pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement 
(April 11, 2018) between the Treasury Department and the Office of 
Management and Budget regarding review of tax regulations.
    When the IRS issues a proposed rulemaking imposing a requirement on 
small entities, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires the 
agency to ``prepare and make available for public comment an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis,'' which will ``describe the impact of 
the proposed rule on small entities.'' 5 U.S.C. 603(a). Section 605(b) 
of the RFA allows an agency to certify a rule, in lieu of preparing an 
analysis, if the proposed rulemaking is not expected to have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    Pursuant to the RFA, it is hereby certified that the proposed 
regulations will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. Section 13520 of the Act added 
section 6050Y to chapter 61 (Information and Returns) of the Code. 
Section 6050Y imposes information reporting obligations related to 
certain life insurance contract transactions, including reportable 
policy sales and payments of reportable death benefits. Section 6050Y 
provides that each of the returns required by section 6050Y is to be 
made ``at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall 
prescribe.'' The proposed regulations under section 6050Y would 
implement section 6050Y by specifying the manner in which and time at 
which the information reporting obligations must

[[Page 11019]]

be satisfied. Accordingly, because the regulations are limited in scope 
to time and manner of information reporting and definitional 
information, the economic impact of the proposal is expected to be 
minimal. In addition, the IRS and Treasury expect that the reporting 
burden will fall primarily on financial and insurance firms with annual 
receipts greater than $38.5 million (see 13 CFR 121.201, sector 52 
(finance and insurance)). Therefore, because the Commissioner of the 
IRS hereby certifies that the proposed regulations will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, 
a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required. The Treasury 
Department and the IRS request comments on the accuracy of this 
statement. 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 its impact on small 
entities.

Comments and Public Hearing

    Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, 
consideration will be given to any comments that are submitted timely 
to the IRS as prescribed in this preamble under the ADDRESSES heading. 
The Treasury Department and the IRS request comments on all aspects of 
the proposed rules. The Treasury Department and the IRS specifically 
request comments on the following:
    1. Whether the proposed regulations should provide rules regarding 
the electronic furnishing of statements that differ in any way from the 
rules regarding the electronic furnishing of statements that are set 
forth in Sec.  31.6051-1(j).
    2. Information about the types and timing of payments made by 
acquirers in reportable policy sales, including the types of ancillary 
costs and expenses paid in reportable policy sales, the recipients of 
those payments, and existing reporting requirements applicable to those 
payments.
    3. Whether, for purposes of reporting under section 6050Y(c), only 
issuers should be considered payors of reportable death benefits or 
whether payors should be more broadly defined to include any holder of 
an interest in a life insurance contract that receives reportable death 
benefits attributable to that interest and is contractually obligated 
to pay them to the beneficial owner of the interest.
    4. Whether a substantial business relationship or substantial 
financial relationship should be considered to exist between the 
acquirer and insured for purposes of section 101(a)(3) in any situation 
not included in the definition of ``substantial business relationship'' 
in Sec.  1.101-1(d)(2) of the proposed regulations or the definition of 
``substantial financial relationship'' in Sec.  1.101-1(d)(3) of the 
proposed regulations.
    5. Whether the proposed regulations should include additional 
provisions regarding the treatment of section 1035 exchanges of life 
insurance contracts.
    6. Whether the exceptions to reporting by 6050Y(b) issuers and 
payors under Sec. Sec.  1.6050Y-3(f)(1) and 1.6050Y-4(e)(1) of the 
proposed regulations (covering sellers and reportable death benefit 
payment recipients documented as foreign beneficial owners) are 
appropriate, including for cases in which a foreign partnership or a 
foreign trust is the seller or reportable death benefit payment 
recipient, and also whether the proposed reporting requirements are 
duplicative or could be combined with other reporting requirements.
    All comments that are submitted by the public will be available for 
public inspection and copying at www.regulations.gov or upon request.
    A public hearing has been scheduled for June 5, 2019, at 10 a.m., 
in the IRS Auditorium, Internal Revenue Service, 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 15 minutes before the hearing 
starts. For more 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 at the hearing must submit written or 
electronic comments and an outline of the topics to be discussed and 
the time to be devoted to each topic by May 9, 2019. Such persons 
should submit a signed paper original and eight (8) copies or an 
electronic copy. A period of 10 minutes will be allotted to each person 
for making comments. An agenda showing the scheduling of the speakers 
will be prepared after the deadline for receiving outlines has passed. 
Copies of the agenda will be available free of charge at the hearing.

Drafting Information

    The principal author of these regulations is Kathryn M. Sneade, 
Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions and 
Products), IRS. However, other personnel from the Treasury Department 
and the IRS participated in their development.

Availability of IRS Documents

    The IRS notice cited in this preamble is published in the Internal 
Revenue Bulletin (or Cumulative Bulletin) and is available from the 
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing Office, 
Washington, DC 20402, or by visiting the IRS website at www.irs.gov.

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

0
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read in 
part as follows:

    Authority:  26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *

0
Par. 2. Section 1.101-1 is amended by:
0
1. Removing the second and third sentences in paragraph (a)(1) and 
adding a sentence at the end of the paragraph.
0
2. Revising paragraphs (b)(1) through (3).
0
3. Removing paragraphs (b)(4) and (5).
0
4. Adding paragraphs (c) through (g).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  1.101-1  Exclusion from gross income of proceeds of life 
insurance contracts payable by reason of death.

    (a)(1) * * * If the life insurance contract is an employer-owned 
life insurance contract within the definition of section 101(j)(3), the 
amount to be excluded from gross income may be affected by the 
provisions of section 101(j).
* * * * *
    (b) * * * (1) Transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract 
for valuable consideration--(i) In general. In the case of a transfer 
of an interest in a life insurance contract for valuable consideration, 
including a reportable policy sale for valuable consideration, the 
amount of the proceeds attributable to the interest that is excludable 
from gross income under section 101(a)(1) is limited under section 
101(a)(2) to the

[[Page 11020]]

sum of the actual value of the consideration for the transfer paid by 
the transferee and the premiums and other amounts subsequently paid by 
the transferee with respect to the interest. For exceptions to this 
general rule for certain transfers for valuable consideration that are 
not reportable policy sales, see paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section. 
The application of section 101(d), (f) or (j), which is not addressed 
in paragraph (b) of this section, may further limit the amount of the 
proceeds excludable from gross income.
    (ii) Exceptions--(A) Exception for carryover basis transfers. The 
limitation described in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section does not 
apply to the transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract for 
valuable consideration if each of the following requirements are 
satisfied. First, the transfer is not a reportable policy sale. Second, 
the basis of the interest, for the purpose of determining gain or loss 
with respect to the transferee, is determinable in whole or in part by 
reference to the basis of the interest in the hands of the transferor 
(see section 101(a)(2)(A)). Third, paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(B) of this 
section does not apply. In the case of a transfer described in this 
paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(A), the amount of the proceeds attributable to the 
interest that is excludable from gross income under section 101(a)(1) 
is limited to the sum of the amount that would have been excludable by 
the transferor if the transfer had not occurred and the premiums and 
other amounts subsequently paid by the transferee. The preceding 
sentence applies without regard to whether the interest previously has 
been transferred and the nature of any prior transfer of the interest.
    (B) Exception for transfers to certain persons--(1) In general. The 
limitation described in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section does not 
apply to the transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract for 
valuable consideration if both of the following requirements are 
satisfied. First, the transfer is not a reportable policy sale and the 
interest was not previously transferred for valuable consideration in a 
reportable policy sale. Second, the interest is transferred to the 
insured, a partner of the insured, a partnership in which the insured 
is a partner, or a corporation in which the insured is a shareholder or 
officer (see section 101(a)(2)(B)).
    (2) Transfers to certain persons subsequent to a reportable policy 
sale. If a transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract would 
be described in paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(B)(1) of this section, but for the 
fact that the interest was previously transferred for valuable 
consideration in a reportable policy sale (whether in the immediately 
preceding transfer or an earlier transfer), then the amount of the 
proceeds attributable to the interest that is excludable from gross 
income under section 101(a)(1) is limited to the sum of--
    (i) The higher of the amount that would have been excludable by the 
transferor if the transfer had not occurred or the actual value of the 
consideration for the transfer paid by the transferee; and
    (ii) The premiums and other amounts subsequently paid by the 
transferee.
    (2) Other transfers--(i) Gratuitous transfer of an interest in a 
life insurance contract. To the extent that a transfer of an interest 
in a life insurance contract is gratuitous, including a reportable 
policy sale that is not for valuable consideration, the amount of the 
proceeds attributable to the interest that is excludable from gross 
income under section 101(a)(1) is limited to the sum of the amount of 
the proceeds attributable to the gratuitously transferred interest that 
would have been excludable by the transferor if the transfer had not 
occurred and the premiums and other amounts subsequently paid by the 
transferee.
    (ii) Partial transfers. When only part of an interest in a life 
insurance contract is transferred, the transferor's exclusion is 
ratably apportioned among the several parts. If multiple parts of an 
interest are transferred, the transfer of each part is treated as a 
separate transaction, with each transaction subject to the rule under 
paragraph (b) of this section that is appropriate to the type of 
transfer involved.
    (iii) Bargain sales. When the transfer of an interest in a life 
insurance contract is in part a sale and in part a gratuitous transfer, 
the transfer of each part is treated as a separate transaction for 
purposes of determining the amount of the proceeds attributable to the 
interest that is excludable from gross income under section 101(a)(1). 
Each separate transaction is subject to the rule under paragraph (b) of 
this section that is appropriate to the type of transfer involved.
    (3) Determination of amounts paid by the transferee. For purposes 
of paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section, in determining the 
amounts, if any, of consideration paid by the transferee for the 
transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract and premiums and 
other amounts subsequently paid by the transferee with respect to that 
interest, the amounts paid by the transferee are reduced, but not below 
zero, by amounts received by the transferee under the life insurance 
contract that are not received as an annuity, to the extent excludable 
from gross income under section 72(e).
    (c) Reportable policy sale--(1) In general. Except as provided in 
paragraph (c)(2) of this section, a reportable policy sale for purposes 
of this section and section 6050Y is any direct or indirect acquisition 
of an interest in a life insurance contract if the acquirer has, at the 
time of the acquisition, no substantial family, business, or financial 
relationship with the insured apart from the acquirer's interest in the 
life insurance contract.
    (2) Exceptions. None of the following transactions is a reportable 
policy sale:
    (i) A transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract between 
entities with the same beneficial owners, if the ownership interest of 
each beneficial owner in the transferor entity does not vary by more 
than a 20 percent ownership interest from that beneficial owner's 
ownership interest in the transferee entity. In a series of transfers, 
the prior sentence is applied by comparing the beneficial owners' 
ownership interest in the first transferor entity and the last 
transferee entity. For purposes of this paragraph (c)(2)(i), each 
beneficial owner of a trust is deemed to have an ownership interest 
determined by the broadest possible exercise of a trustee's discretion 
in that beneficial owner's favor. Example 10 in paragraph (g)(10) of 
this section provides an illustration of the application of this 
paragraph (c)(2)(i).
    (ii) A transfer between corporations that are members of an 
affiliated group (as defined in section 1504(a)) that files a 
consolidated U.S. income tax return for the taxable year in which the 
transfer occurs.
    (iii) The indirect acquisition of an interest in a life insurance 
contract by a person if--
    (A) The partnership, trust, or other entity that directly holds the 
interest in the life insurance contract acquired that interest in a 
reportable policy sale reported in compliance with section 6050Y(a) and 
Sec.  1.6050Y-2; or
    (B) Immediately before the acquisition, no more than 50 percent of 
the gross value of the assets (as determined under paragraph (f)(4) of 
this section) of the partnership, trust, or other entity that directly 
holds the interest in the life insurance contract consists of life 
insurance contracts, and with respect to that partnership, trust, or 
other entity, the person indirectly acquiring the interest in the 
contract (acquirer) and his or her family members own, in the 
aggregate--
    (1) With respect to an S corporation, stock possessing 5 percent or 
less of the

[[Page 11021]]

total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote 
and 5 percent or less of the total value of shares of all classes of 
stock of the S corporation;
    (2) With respect to a trust or decedent's estate, 5 percent or less 
of the corpus and 5 percent or less of the annual income (taking into 
account, for the purpose of determining any person's ownership 
interest, the maximum amount of income and corpus that could be 
distributed to or held for the benefit of that person); or
    (3) With respect to a partnership or other entity that is not a 
corporation or a trust, 5 percent or less of the capital interest and 5 
percent or less of the profits interest.
    (d) Substantial relationship--(1) Substantial family relationship. 
For purposes of this section, a substantial family relationship means 
the relationship between an individual and any family member of that 
individual as defined in paragraph (f)(3) of this section. In addition, 
a substantial family relationship exists between an individual and his 
or her former spouse with regard to the transfer of an interest in a 
life insurance contract to (or in trust for the benefit of) that former 
spouse incident to divorce. A substantial family relationship also 
exists between the insured and a partnership, trust, or other entity if 
all of the beneficial owners of that partnership, trust, or other 
entity have a substantial family relationship with the insured. For 
example, a substantial family relationship exists between the insured 
and an entity that acquires an interest in a life insurance contract on 
the insured's life if the insured is the sole beneficial owner of the 
entity or each beneficial owner of the entity is either the insured or 
a family member of the insured.
    (2) Substantial business relationship. For purposes of this 
section, a substantial business relationship between the insured and 
the acquirer exists in each of the following situations:
    (i) The insured is a key person (as defined in section 264) of, or 
materially participates (within the meaning of section 469) in, an 
active trade or business as an owner, employee, or contractor, and at 
least 80% of that trade or business is owned (directly or indirectly, 
through one or more partnerships, trusts, or other entities) by the 
acquirer or the beneficial owners of the acquirer.
    (ii) The acquirer acquires an active trade or business and acquires 
the interest in the life insurance contract either as part of that 
acquisition or from a person owning significant property leased to the 
acquired trade or business or life insurance policies held to 
facilitate the succession of the ownership of the business if--
    (A) The insured--
    (1) Is an employee within the meaning of section 101(j)(5)(A) of 
the acquired trade or business immediately preceding the acquisition; 
or
    (2) Was a director, highly compensated employee, or highly 
compensated individual within the meaning of section 101(j)(2)(A)(ii) 
of the acquired trade or business, and the acquirer, immediately after 
the acquisition, has ongoing financial obligations to the insured with 
respect to the insured's employment by the trade or business (for 
example, the life insurance contract is maintained by the acquirer to 
fund current or future retirement, pension, or survivorship obligations 
based on the insured's relationship with the entity or to fund a buy-
out of the insured's interest in the acquired trade or business); and
    (B) The acquirer either carries on the acquired trade or business 
or uses a significant portion of the acquired business assets in an 
active trade or business that does not include investing in interests 
in life insurance contracts.
    (3) Substantial financial relationship. For purposes of this 
section, a substantial financial relationship between the insured and 
the acquirer exists in each of the following situations:
    (i) The acquirer (directly or indirectly, through one or more 
partnerships, trusts, or other entities of which it is a beneficial 
owner) has, or the beneficial owners of the acquirer have, a common 
investment (other than the interest in the life insurance contract) 
with the insured and a buy-out of the insured's interest in the common 
investment by the co-investor(s) after the insured's death is 
reasonably foreseeable.
    (ii) The acquirer maintains the life insurance contract on the life 
of the insured to provide funds to purchase assets or satisfy 
liabilities following the death of the insured.
    (iii) The acquirer is an organization described in sections 170(c), 
2055(a), and 2522(a) that previously received financial support in a 
substantial amount or significant volunteer support from the insured.
    (4) Special rules. Paragraphs (d)(4)(i) and (ii) of this section 
apply for purposes of determining whether a substantial business 
relationship exists under paragraph (d)(2) of this section and for 
purposes of determining whether a substantial financial relationship 
exists under paragraph (d)(3) of this section.
    (i) Indirect acquisitions. The acquirer in an indirect acquisition 
of an interest in a life insurance contract is deemed to have a 
substantial business or financial relationship with the insured if the 
direct holder of the interest in the life insurance contract has a 
substantial business or financial relationship with the insured 
immediately before and after the date the acquirer acquires its 
interest.
    (ii) Acquisitions by certain persons. The sole fact that an 
acquirer is a partner of the insured, a partnership in which the 
insured is a partner, or a corporation in which the insured is a 
shareholder or officer, is not sufficient to establish a substantial 
business or financial relationship with the insured. In addition, an 
acquirer need not be a partner of the insured, a partnership in which 
the insured is a partner, or a corporation in which the insured is a 
shareholder or officer to have a substantial business or financial 
relationship with the insured.
    (e) Interest in a life insurance contract--(1) Definition. For 
purposes of this section and section 6050Y, the term interest in a life 
insurance contract means the interest held by any person that has taken 
title to or possession of the life insurance contract (also referred to 
as a life insurance policy), in whole or part, for state law purposes, 
including any person that has taken title or possession as nominee for 
another person, and the interest held by any person that has an 
enforceable right to receive all or a part of the proceeds of a life 
insurance contract or to any other economic benefits of the policy as 
described in Sec.  20.2042-1(c)(2) of this chapter, such as the 
enforceable right to designate a contract beneficiary. Any person named 
as the owner in the life insurance contract generally is the owner (or 
an owner) of the contract and holds an interest in the contract.
    (2) Transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract. For 
purposes of this section and section 6050Y, the term transfer of an 
interest in a life insurance contract means the transfer of any 
interest in the life insurance contract, including any transfer of 
title to, possession of, or legal or beneficial ownership of the life 
insurance contract itself. The creation of an enforceable right to 
receive all or a part of the proceeds of a life insurance contract 
constitutes the transfer of an interest in the life insurance contract. 
The following events are not a transfer of an interest in a life 
insurance contract: The revocable designation of a beneficiary of the 
policy proceeds (until the

[[Page 11022]]

designation becomes irrevocable other than by reason of the death of 
the insured); the pledging or assignment of a policy as collateral 
security; and the issuance of a life insurance contract to a 
policyholder, other than the issuance of a policy in an exchange 
pursuant to section 1035.
    (3) Acquisition of an interest in a life insurance contract. For 
purposes of this section and section 6050Y, the acquisition of an 
interest in a life insurance contract may be direct or indirect.
    (i) Direct acquisition of an interest in a life insurance contract. 
For purposes of this section and section 6050Y, the transfer of an 
interest in a life insurance contract results in the direct acquisition 
of the interest by the transferee (acquirer).
    (ii) Indirect acquisition of an interest in a life insurance 
contract. For purposes of this section and section 6050Y, an indirect 
acquisition of an interest in a life insurance contract occurs when a 
person (acquirer) becomes a beneficial owner of a partnership, trust, 
or other entity that holds (whether directly or indirectly) the 
interest in the life insurance contract. For purposes of this paragraph 
(e)(3)(ii), the term other entity does not include a C corporation, 
unless more than 50 percent of the gross value of the assets of the C 
corporation consists of life insurance contracts (as determined under 
paragraph (f)(4) of this section) immediately before the indirect 
acquisition.
    (f) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of 
this section:
    (1) Beneficial owner. A beneficial owner of a partnership, trust or 
other entity is an individual or C corporation with an ownership 
interest in that entity. The interest may be held directly or 
indirectly, through one or more other partnerships, trusts, or other 
entities. For instance, an individual that directly owns an interest in 
a partnership (P1), which directly owns an interest in another 
partnership (P2), is an indirect beneficial owner of P2 and any assets 
or other entities owned by P2 directly or indirectly. For purposes of 
this paragraph (f)(1), the beneficial owners of a trust include those 
who may receive current distributions of trust income or corpus and 
those who could receive distributions if the trust were to terminate 
currently.
    (2) C corporation. The term C corporation has the meaning given to 
it in section 1361(a)(2).
    (3) Family member. With respect to any individual, the term family 
member refers to any person described in paragraphs (f)(3)(i) through 
(vii) of this section. For purposes of this paragraph (f)(3), full 
effect is given to a legal adoption, and a step-child is deemed to be a 
descendant. The family members of an individual include:
    (i) The individual;
    (ii) The individual's spouse or a person with whom the individual 
is in a registered domestic partnership, civil union, or other similar 
relationship established under state law;
    (iii) Any parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent of the 
individual or of the person described in paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this 
section and any spouse of such parent, grandparent, or great-
grandparent, or person with whom the parent, grandparent, or great-
grandparent is in a registered domestic partnership, civil union, or 
other similar relationship established under state law;
    (iv) Any lineal descendant of the individual or of any person 
described in paragraph (f)(3)(ii) or (iii) of this section;
    (v) Any spouse of a lineal descendant described in paragraph 
(f)(3)(iv) of this section and any person with whom such a lineal 
descendant is in a registered domestic partnership, civil union, or 
other similar relationship established under state law;
    (vi) Any lineal descendant of a person described in paragraph 
(f)(3)(v) of this section; and
    (vii) Any trust established and maintained for the primary benefit 
of the individual or one or more persons described in paragraph 
(f)(3)(i) through (vi) of this section.
    (4) Gross value of assets--(i) Determination of gross value of 
assets. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (f)(4)(ii) and (iii) 
of this section, for purposes of paragraphs (c)(2)(iii)(B) and 
(e)(3)(ii) of this section, the term gross value of assets means, with 
respect to any entity, the fair market value of the entity's assets.
    (ii) Determination of gross value of assets of publicly traded 
entity. For purposes of determining the gross value of assets of an 
entity that is publicly traded, if the entity's annual Form 10-K filed 
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (or 
equivalent annual filing if the entity is publicly traded in a non-U.S. 
jurisdiction) for the period immediately preceding a person's 
acquisition of an ownership interest in the entity does not contain 
information demonstrating that more than 50 percent of the gross value 
of the entity's assets consist of life insurance contracts, that person 
may assume that no more than 50 percent of the gross value of the 
entity's assets consist of life insurance contracts, unless that person 
has actual knowledge or reason to know that more than 50 percent of the 
gross value of the entity's assets consist of life insurance contracts.
    (iii) Safe harbor definition of gross value of assets. An entity 
may choose to determine the gross value of all the entity's assets for 
purposes of this section using the following alternative definition of 
gross value of assets:
    (A) In the case of assets that are life insurance policies or 
annuity or endowment contracts that have cash values, the cash 
surrender value as defined in section 7702(f)(2)(A); and
    (B) In the case of assets not described in paragraph (f)(4)(iii)(A) 
of this section, the adjusted bases (within the meaning of section 
1016) of such assets.
    (5) Transfer for valuable consideration. A transfer for valuable 
consideration means any transfer of an interest in a life insurance 
contract for cash or other consideration reducible to a money value.
    (g) Examples. The application of this section is illustrated by the 
following examples, all of which assume that the transferee did not 
receive any amounts under the life insurance contract other than the 
amounts described in the examples:

    (1) Example 1.  A is the initial policyholder of a $100,000 
insurance policy on A's life. A sells the policy to B, A's child, 
for $6,000, its fair market value. B is not a partner in a 
partnership in which A is a partner. B receives the proceeds of 
$100,000 upon the death of A. Because the transfer to B was for 
valuable consideration, and none of the exceptions in paragraph 
(b)(1)(ii) of this section applies, the amount of the proceeds B may 
exclude from B's gross income under this section is limited under 
paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section to $6,000 plus any premiums and 
other amounts paid by B subsequent to the transfer.
    (2) Example 2.  The facts are the same as in Example 1 in 
paragraph (g)(1) of this section except that, before A's death, B 
gratuitously transfers the policy back to A. A's estate receives the 
proceeds of $100,000 on A's death. Because the transfer from B to A 
is a gratuitous transfer, the amount of the proceeds A's estate may 
exclude from gross income under this section is limited under 
paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section to the sum of the amount B could 
have excluded had the transfer back to A not occurred ($6,000 plus 
any premiums and other amounts paid by B subsequent to the transfer 
to B, as described in Example 1 in paragraph (g)(1) of this section) 
plus any premiums and other amounts paid by A subsequent to the 
transfer to A.
    (3) Example 3.  The facts are the same as in Example 1 in 
paragraph (g)(1) of this section except that, before A's death, B 
sells the policy back to A for its fair market value. A's estate 
receives the proceeds of $100,000 on A's death. The transfer from A 
to B is not a reportable policy sale because the acquirer B has a 
substantial family relationship with

[[Page 11023]]

the insured A. The transfer from B to A is also not a reportable 
policy sale because the acquirer A has a substantial family 
relationship with the insured A. Accordingly, paragraph 
(b)(1)(ii)(B)(1) of this section applies to the transfer to A. The 
amount of the proceeds A's estate may exclude from gross income is 
not limited by paragraph (b) of this section.
    (4) Example 4.  A is the initial policyholder of a $100,000 
insurance policy on A's life. A transfers the policy for $6,000, its 
fair market value, to an individual, C, who does not have a 
substantial family, business, or financial relationship with A. The 
transfer from A to C is a reportable policy sale. C receives the 
proceeds of $100,000 on A's death. The amount of the proceeds C may 
exclude from C's gross income under this section is limited under 
paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section to $6,000 plus any premiums and 
other amounts paid by C subsequent to the transfer.
    (5) Example 5.  The facts are the same as in Example 4 in 
paragraph (g)(4) of this section, except that before A's death, C 
transfers the policy back to A for $8,000, its fair market value. 
A's estate receives the proceeds of $100,000 on A's death. The 
transfer from C to A is not a reportable policy sale because the 
acquirer A has a substantial family relationship with the insured A. 
Because that transfer follows a reportable policy sale (the transfer 
from A to C), the amount of the proceeds that A's estate may exclude 
from gross income under this section is limited by paragraph 
(b)(1)(ii)(B)(2) of this section to the sum of--
    (i) The higher of the amount C could have excluded had the 
transfer back to A not occurred ($6,000 plus any premiums and other 
amounts paid by C subsequent to the transfer to C, as described in 
Example 4 in paragraph (g)(4) of this section) or the actual value 
of the consideration for that transfer paid by A ($8,000); and
    (ii) Any premiums and other amounts paid by A subsequent to the 
transfer to A.
    (6) Example 6.  The facts are the same as in Example 4 in 
paragraph (g)(4) of this section, except that before A's death, C 
gratuitously transfers the policy to A. A's estate receives the 
proceeds of $100,000 on A's death. Because the transfer from C to A 
was gratuitous, the amount of the proceeds A's estate may exclude 
from gross income is limited under paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this 
section to the sum of the amount C could have excluded had the 
transfer back to A not occurred ($6,000 plus any premiums and other 
amounts paid by C subsequent to the transfer to C, as described in 
Example 4 in paragraph (g)(4) of this section), plus any premiums 
and other amounts paid by A subsequent to the transfer back to A.
    (7) Example 7.  A is the initial policyholder of a $100,000 
insurance policy on A's life. A contributes the policy to 
Corporation X in exchange for stock. Corporation X's basis in the 
policy is determinable in whole or in part by reference to A's basis 
in the policy. Corporation X conducts an active trade or business 
that it wholly owns, and A materially participates in that active 
trade or business as an employee of Corporation X. Corporation X 
receives the proceeds of $100,000 on A's death. A's contribution of 
the policy to Corporation X is not a reportable policy sale because 
Corporation X has a substantial business relationship with A under 
paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section. Accordingly, under paragraph 
(b)(1)(ii)(B)(1) of this section, Corporation X may exclude the full 
amount of the proceeds from gross income because Corporation X's 
exclusion is not limited by paragraph (b) of this section.
    (8) Example 8.  The facts are the same as in Example 7 in 
paragraph (g)(7) of this section, except that Corporation X 
transfers its active trade or business and the policy on A's life to 
Corporation Y in a tax-free reorganization at a time when A is still 
employed by Corporation X, but is no longer a shareholder of 
Corporation X. Corporation Y's basis in the policy is determinable 
in whole or in part by reference to Corporation X's basis in the 
property, and Corporation Y carries on the trade or business 
acquired from Corporation X. Corporation Y receives the proceeds of 
$100,000 on A's death. The transfer from Corporation X to 
Corporation Y is not a reportable policy sale because Corporation Y 
has a substantial business relationship with A under paragraph 
(d)(2)(ii) of this section. The amount of the proceeds that 
Corporation Y may exclude from gross income is limited under 
paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(A) of this section to the sum of the amount 
that would have been excludable by Corporation X had the transfer to 
Corporation Y not occurred (the full amount of the proceeds, as 
described in Example 7 in paragraph (g)(7) of this section), plus 
any premiums and other amounts paid by Corporation Y subsequent to 
the transfer. Accordingly, Corporation Y may exclude the full amount 
of the proceeds from gross income.
    (9) Example 9.  A is the initial policyholder of a $100,000 
insurance policy on A's life. A contributes the policy to a C 
corporation, Corporation W, in exchange for stock. Before and after 
the acquisition, A and A's family members own less than 5% of the 
total combined voting power of all classes of Corporation W stock 
entitled to vote and less than 5% of the total value of all classes 
of Corporation W stock. Corporation W's basis in the policy is 
determinable in whole or in part by reference to A's basis in the 
property. However, no substantial family, business, or financial 
relationship exists between A and Corporation W. Corporation W 
receives the proceeds of $100,000 on A's death. A's contribution of 
the policy to Corporation W is a reportable policy sale. Under 
paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, the amount of the proceeds 
Corporation W may exclude from gross income is limited to the actual 
value of the stock exchanged for the policy, plus any premiums and 
other amounts paid by Corporation W subsequent to the transfer.
    (10) Example 10.  Partnership X and Partnership Y are owned by 
individuals A, B, and C. A holds 40% of the capital and profits 
interest of Partnership X and 20% of the capital and profits 
interest of Partnership Y. B holds 35% of the capital and profits 
interest of Partnership X and 40% of the capital and profits 
interest of Partnership Y. C holds 25% of the capital and profits 
interest of Partnership X and 40% of the capital and profits 
interest of Partnership Y. Partnership X is the initial policyholder 
of a $100,000 insurance policy on the life of A. Partnership Y 
purchases the policy from Partnership X. Under paragraph (c)(2)(i) 
of this section, this transfer is not a reportable policy sale 
because the ownership interest of each beneficial owner in 
Partnership X does not vary from that owner's interest in 
Partnership Y by more than a 20% ownership interest. A's ownership 
varies by a 20% interest, B's ownership varies by a 5% interest, and 
C's ownership varies by a 15% interest.
    (11) Example 11.  Partnership X conducts an active trade or 
business and is the initial policyholder of a $100,000 insurance 
policy on the life of its full-time employee, A. A materially 
participates in Partnership X's active trade or business in A's 
capacity as an employee. Individual B acquires a 10% profits 
interest in Partnership X in exchange for a cash payment of 
$1,000,000. Under paragraphs (d)(1) through (3) of this section, B 
does not have a substantial family, business, or financial 
relationship with A. Under paragraph (d)(4)(i) of this section, B is 
deemed to have a substantial business relationship with A because, 
under paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section, Partnership X (the direct 
policyholder) has a substantial business relationship with A. 
Accordingly, although the acquisition of the 10% partnership 
interest by B is an indirect acquisition of a 10% interest in the 
insurance policy covering A's life, the acquisition is not a 
reportable policy sale.
    (12) Example 12.  The facts are the same as in Example 11 in 
paragraph (g)(11) of this section, except that A is no longer an 
employee of Partnership X when B acquires the profits interest in 
Partnership X, and Partnership X does not have any ongoing financial 
obligations to A. Also, B acquires only a 5% partnership interest in 
exchange for a cash payment of $500,000. Partnership X does not own 
an interest in any other life insurance policies, and the gross 
value of its assets is $10 million. Although neither Partnership X 
nor B has a substantial family, business, or financial relationship 
with A at the time of B's indirect acquisition of an interest in the 
policy covering A's life, because B's profits interest in 
Partnership X does not exceed 5%, and because no more than 50% of 
Partnership X's asset value consists of life insurance contracts, 
the exception in paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(B) of this section applies, 
and B's indirect acquisition of an interest in the policy covering 
A's life is not a reportable policy sale.

0
Par. 3. Section 1.101-6 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1.101-6  Effective date.

* * * * *
    (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, for purposes of 
section 6050Y, Sec.  1.101-1(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) apply to 
reportable policy sales made after December 31, 2017, and to reportable 
death benefits paid after December 31, 2017. For any other purpose, 
Sec.  1.101-1(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) apply to transfers of 
life

[[Page 11024]]

insurance contracts, or interests therein, made after the date the 
Treasury decision adopting these regulations as final regulations is 
published in the Federal Register.

0
Par. 4. Section 1.6050Y-1 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.6050Y-1  Information reporting for reportable policy sales, 
transfers of life insurance contracts to foreign persons, and 
reportable death benefits.

    (a) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of 
this section and Sec. Sec.  1.6050Y-2 through 1.6050Y-4:
    (1) Acquirer. The term acquirer means any person that acquires an 
interest in a life insurance contract (through a direct acquisition or 
indirect acquisition of the interest) in a reportable policy sale.
    (2) Buyer. The term buyer means, with respect to any interest in a 
life insurance contract that has been transferred in a reportable 
policy sale, the person that was the most recent acquirer of that 
interest in a reportable policy sale as of the date reportable death 
benefits are paid under the contract.
    (3) Direct acquisition of an interest in a life insurance contract. 
The term direct acquisition of an interest in a life insurance contract 
has the meaning given to it in Sec.  1.101-1(e)(3)(i).
    (4) Foreign person. The term foreign person means a person that is 
not a United States person, as defined in section 7701(a)(30).
    (5) Indirect acquisition of an interest in a life insurance 
contract. The term indirect acquisition of an interest in a life 
insurance contract has the meaning given to it in Sec.  1.101-
1(e)(3)(ii).
    (6) Interest in a life insurance contract. The term interest in a 
life insurance contract has the meaning given to it in Sec.  1.101-
1(e)(1).
    (7) Investment in the contract--(i) Definition of investment in the 
contract. With respect to the original policyholder of a life insurance 
contract, the term investment in the contract on any date means that 
person's investment in the contract under section 72(e)(6) on that 
date. With respect to any other person, the term investment in the 
contract on any date means the estimate of investment in the contract 
on that date.
    (ii) Definition of estimate of investment in the contract. The term 
estimate of investment in the contract with respect to any person, 
other than the original policyholder, means, on any date, the aggregate 
amount of premiums paid for the contract by that person before that 
date, less the aggregate amount received under the contract by that 
person before that date to the extent such information is known to or 
can reasonably be estimated by the issuer or payor.
    (8) Issuer--(i) In general. Except as provided in paragraphs 
(a)(8)(ii) and (iii) of this section, the term issuer generally means, 
on any date, with respect to any interest in a life insurance contract, 
any person that bears any part of the risk with respect to the life 
insurance contract on that date and any person responsible on that date 
for administering the contract, including collecting premiums and 
paying death benefits. For instance, if a reinsurer reinsures on an 
indemnity basis all or a portion of the risks that the original issuer 
(and continuing contract administrator) might otherwise have incurred 
with respect to a life insurance contract, both the reinsurer and the 
original issuer of the contract are issuers of the life insurance 
contract for purposes of this paragraph (a)(8)(i). Any designee of an 
issuer is also considered an issuer for purposes of this paragraph 
(a)(8)(i).
    (ii) 6050Y(a) issuer. For purposes of information reporting under 
section 6050Y(a) and Sec.  1.6050Y-2, the 6050Y(a) issuer is the issuer 
that is responsible for administering the life insurance contract, 
including collecting premiums and paying death benefits under the 
contract, on the date of the reportable policy sale.
    (iii) 6050Y(b) issuer. For purposes of information reporting under 
section 6050Y(b) and Sec.  1.6050Y-3, a 6050Y(b) issuer is:
    (A) Any person that receives a RPSS with respect to a life 
insurance contract or interest therein (or, in the case of a designee, 
receives notice that the issuer for whom it serves as designee received 
a RPSS), and is or was, on or before the date of receipt of the RPSS, 
an issuer with respect to the life insurance contract; or
    (B) Any person that receives notice of a transfer to a foreign 
person of the life insurance contract and is or was, on the date of 
transfer or on the date of receipt of the notice, an issuer with 
respect to the life insurance contract, unless:
    (1) That person (or, in the case of a designee, the issuer for whom 
it serves as designee) is not responsible for administering the life 
insurance contract, including collecting premiums and paying death 
benefits under the contract, on the date the notice of a transfer to a 
foreign person of a life insurance contract is received; and
    (2) That person, or its designee, provides the issuer that is 
responsible on that date for administering the life insurance contract, 
including collecting premiums and paying death benefits under the 
contract, with such notice and with any available information necessary 
to accomplish reporting under section 6050Y(b) and Sec.  1.6050Y-3.
    (iv) Designee. A person is treated as the designee of an issuer for 
purposes of this paragraph (a)(8) only if so designated in writing, 
including electronically. The designation must be signed and 
acknowledged, in writing or electronically, by the person named as 
designee, or that person's representative, and by the issuer making the 
designation, or its representative.
    (9) Life insurance contract. The term life insurance contract has 
the meaning given to it in section 7702(a). A life insurance contract 
may also be referred to as a life insurance policy.
    (10) Notice of a transfer to a foreign person. The term notice of a 
transfer to a foreign person means any notice of a transfer of title 
to, possession of, or legal ownership of a life insurance contract 
received by a 6050Y(b) issuer, including information provided for 
nontax purposes such as a change of address notice for purposes of 
sending statements or for other purposes, and information relating to 
loans, premiums, or death benefits with respect to the contract unless 
the 6050Y(b) issuer knows that no transfer of the life insurance 
contract has occurred or knows that the transferee is a United States 
person. For this purpose, a 6050Y(b) issuer may rely on a Form W-9, 
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, or a 
valid substitute form, that meets the requirements of Sec.  1.1441-
1(d)(2) (substituting ``6050Y(b) issuer'' for ``withholding agent''), 
that indicates the transferee is a United States person. For instance, 
a change of address notice that changes the address to a foreign 
address or other updates to the information relating to the payment of 
premiums that includes foreign banking or other foreign financial 
institution information is notice of a transfer to a foreign person 
unless the 6050Y(b) issuer knows that no transfer has occurred or the 
transferee is a United States person.
    (11) Payor. The term payor means any person making a payment of 
reportable death benefits.
    (12) Reportable death benefits. The term reportable death benefits 
means amounts paid by reason of the death of the insured under a life 
insurance contract that are attributable to an interest in the life 
insurance contract that was transferred in a reportable policy sale.
    (13) Reportable death benefits payment recipient. The term 
reportable death benefits payment recipient means

[[Page 11025]]

any person that receives reportable death benefits as a beneficiary 
under a life insurance contract or as the holder of an interest in a 
life insurance contract.
    (14) Reportable policy sale. The term reportable policy sale has 
the meaning given to it in Sec.  1.101-1(c).
    (15) Reportable policy sale payment. The term reportable policy 
sale payment generally means the total amount of cash and the fair 
market value of any other consideration transferred, or to be 
transferred, in a reportable policy sale, including any amount of a 
reportable policy sale payment recipient's debt assumed by the acquirer 
in a reportable policy sale. In the case of an indirect acquisition of 
an interest in a life insurance contract that is a reportable policy 
sale, the reportable policy sale payment is the amount of cash and the 
fair market value of any other consideration transferred for the 
ownership interest in the entity, including the amount of any debt 
assumed by the acquirer, that is appropriately allocable to the 
interest in the life insurance contract held by the entity.
    (16) Reportable policy sale payment recipient. The term reportable 
policy sale payment recipient means any person that receives a 
reportable policy sale payment in a reportable policy sale. A broker or 
other intermediary that retains a portion of the cash or other 
consideration transferred in a reportable policy sale is also a 
reportable policy sale payment recipient.
    (17) Reportable policy sale statement. The term reportable policy 
sale statement (RPSS) means a statement furnished by an acquirer to an 
issuer under section 6050Y(a)(2) and Sec.  1.6050Y-2(d)(2)(i).
    (18) Seller. The term seller means any person that--
    (i) Holds an interest in a life insurance contract and transfers 
that interest, or any part of that interest, to an acquirer in a 
reportable policy sale; or
    (ii) Owns a life insurance contract and transfers title to, 
possession of, or legal ownership of that life insurance contract to a 
foreign person.
    (19) Transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract. The term 
transfer of an interest in a life insurance contract has the meaning 
given to it in Sec.  1.101-1(e)(2).
    (20) United States person. The term United States person has the 
meaning given to it in section 7701(a)(30).
    (b) Applicability date. This section and Sec. Sec.  1.6050Y-2 
through 1.6050Y-3 apply to reportable policy sales made after December 
31, 2017. This section and Sec.  1.6050Y-4 apply to reportable death 
benefits paid after December 31, 2017. However, for reportable policy 
sales and payments of reportable death benefits occurring after 
December 31, 2017, and before the date final regulations are published 
in the Federal Register, transition relief will be provided as follows:
    (1) For reportable policy sales occurring after December 31, 2017, 
and before the date final regulations are published in the Federal 
Register, statements required to be furnished to issuers under section 
6050Y(a)(2) and Sec.  1.6050Y-2 must be furnished by the later of the 
applicable deadline set forth in final regulations or 60 days after the 
date final regulations are published in the Federal Register.
    (2) For reportable policy sales occurring after December 31, 2017, 
and before the date final regulations are published in the Federal 
Register, returns required to be filed under section 6050Y(a)(1) and 
(b)(1), Sec.  1.6050Y-2, and Sec.  1.6050Y-3 and statements required to 
be furnished to payment recipients and sellers under section 
6050Y(a)(2) and (b)(2), Sec.  1.6050Y-2, and Sec.  1.6050Y-3 must be 
filed or furnished by the later of the applicable deadline set forth in 
final regulations or 90 days after the date final regulations are 
published in the Federal Register.
    (3) For payments of reportable death benefits paid after December 
31, 2017, and before the date final regulations are published in the 
Federal Register, returns required to be filed under section 
6050Y(c)(1) and Sec.  1.6050Y-4 and statements required to be furnished 
to payment recipients under section 6050Y(c)(2) and Sec.  1.6050Y-4 
must be filed or furnished by the later of the applicable deadline set 
forth in final regulations or 90 days after the date final regulations 
are published in the Federal Register.
0
Par. 5. Section 1.6050Y-2 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.6050Y-2  Information reporting by acquirers for reportable 
policy sale payments.

    (a) Requirement of reporting. Except as provided in paragraph (f) 
of this section, every person that is an acquirer in a reportable 
policy sale during any calendar year must file a separate information 
return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the form and manner 
as required by the IRS for each reportable policy sale payment 
recipient, including any seller that is a reportable policy sale 
payment recipient. Each return must include the following information 
with respect to the seller or other reportable policy sale payment 
recipient to which the return relates:
    (1) The name, address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN) of 
the acquirer;
    (2) The name, address, and TIN of the seller or other reportable 
policy sale payment recipient to which the return relates;
    (3) The date of the reportable policy sale;
    (4) The name of the 6050Y(a) issuer of the life insurance contract 
acquired and the policy number of the life insurance contract;
    (5) The aggregate amount of reportable policy sale payments made, 
or to be made, to the seller or other reportable policy sale payment 
recipient to which the return relates with respect to the reportable 
policy sale; and
    (6) Any other information that is required by the form or its 
instructions.
    (b) Unified reporting. The information reporting requirement of 
paragraph (a) of this section applies to each acquirer in a series of 
prearranged transfers of an interest in a life insurance contract. In a 
series of prearranged transfers, an acquirer's reporting obligation is 
deemed satisfied if the information required by paragraph (a) of this 
section with respect to that acquirer is timely reported on behalf of 
that acquirer in a manner that is consistent with forms, instructions, 
and other IRS guidance by one or more other acquirers or by a third 
party information reporting contractor.
    (c) Time and place for filing. Returns required to be made under 
paragraph (a) of this section must be filed with the Internal Revenue 
Service Center designated on the prescribed form or in its instructions 
on or before February 28 (March 31 if filed electronically) of the year 
following the calendar year in which the reportable policy sale 
occurred. However, see Sec.  1.6050Y-1(b)(2) for transition rules.
    (d) Requirement of and time for furnishing statements--(1) 
Statements to reportable policy sale payment recipients--(i) 
Requirement of furnishing statement. Every person required to file an 
information return under paragraph (a) of this section with respect to 
a reportable policy sale payment recipient must furnish in the form and 
manner prescribed by the IRS to the reportable policy sale payment 
recipient whose name is set forth in that return a written statement 
showing the information required by paragraph (a) of this section with 
respect to the reportable policy sale payment recipient and the name, 
address, and phone number of the information contact of the person 
furnishing the written statement. The contact information of the person

[[Page 11026]]

furnishing the written statement must provide direct access to a person 
that can answer questions about the statement. The statement is not 
required to include information with respect to any other reportable 
policy sale payment recipient in the reportable policy sale or 
information about reportable policy sale payments to any other 
reportable policy sale payment recipient.
    (ii) Time for furnishing statement. Each statement required by 
paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section to be furnished to any reportable 
policy sale payment recipient must be furnished on or before February 
15 of the year following the calendar year in which the reportable 
policy sale occurred. However, see Sec.  1.6050Y-1(b)(2) for transition 
rules.
    (2) Statements to 6050Y(a) issuers--(i) Requirement of furnishing 
RPSS--(A) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (d)(2)(i)(B) of 
this section, every person required to file a return under paragraph 
(a) of this section must furnish in the form and manner prescribed by 
the IRS to the 6050Y(a) issuer whose name is required to be set forth 
in the return a RPSS with respect to each reportable policy sale 
payment recipient that is also a seller. Each RPSS must show the 
information required by paragraph (a) of this section with respect to 
the seller named therein, except that the RPSS is not required to set 
forth the amount of any reportable policy sale payment. Each RPSS must 
also show the name, address, and phone number of the information 
contact of the person furnishing the RPSS. This contact information 
must provide direct access to a person that can answer questions about 
the RPSS.
    (B) Exception from reporting. A RPSS is not required to be 
furnished to the 6050Y(a) issuer by an acquirer acquiring an interest 
in a life insurance contract in an indirect acquisition.
    (ii) Time for furnishing RPSS. Except as otherwise provided in this 
paragraph (d)(2)(ii), each RPSS required by paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this 
section to be furnished to a 6050Y(a) issuer must be furnished by the 
later of 20 calendar days after the reportable policy sale, or 5 
calendar days after the end of the applicable state law rescission 
period. However, if the later date is after January 15 of the year 
following the calendar year in which the reportable policy sale 
occurred, the RPSS must be furnished by January 15 of the year 
following the calendar year in which the reportable policy sale 
occurred. See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(b)(1) for transition rules.
    (3) Unified reporting. The information reporting requirements of 
paragraphs (d)(1)(i) and (d)(2)(i) of this section apply to each 
acquirer in a series of prearranged transfers of an interest in a life 
insurance contract, as described in paragraph (b) of this section. In a 
series of prearranged transfers of an interest in a life insurance 
contract, an acquirer's obligation to furnish statements is deemed 
satisfied if the information required by paragraphs (d)(1)(i) and 
(d)(2)(i) of this section with respect to that acquirer is timely 
reported on behalf of that acquirer consistent with forms, 
instructions, and other IRS guidance by one or more other acquirers or 
by a third party information reporting contractor.
    (e) Notice of rescission of a reportable policy sale. Any person 
that has filed a return required by section 6050Y(a)(1) and this 
section with respect to a reportable policy sale must file a corrected 
return within 15 calendar days of the receipt of notice of the 
rescission of the reportable policy sale. Any person that has furnished 
a written statement under section 6050Y(a)(2) and this section with 
respect to the reportable policy sale must furnish the recipient of 
that statement with a corrected statement within 15 calendar days of 
the receipt of notice of the rescission of the reportable policy sale.
    (f) Exceptions to requirement to file. An acquirer that is a 
foreign person is not required to file an information return under 
paragraph (a) of this section with respect to a reportable policy sale 
unless--
    (1) The life insurance contract (or interest therein) transferred 
in the sale is on the life of an insured who is a United States person 
at the time of the sale; or
    (2) The sale is subject to the laws of one or more States of the 
United States that pertain to acquisitions or sales of life insurance 
contracts (or interests therein).
    (g) Cross-reference to penalty provisions--(1) Failure to file 
correct information return. For provisions relating to the penalty 
provided for failure to file timely a correct information return 
required under section 6050Y(a)(1) and this section, see section 6721 
and Sec.  301.6721-1 of this chapter. See Sec.  301.6724-1 of this 
chapter for the waiver of a penalty if the failure is due to reasonable 
cause and is not due to willful neglect.
    (2) Failure to furnish correct statement. For provisions relating 
to the penalty provided for failure to furnish a correct statement to 
identified persons under section 6050Y(a)(2) and this section, see 
section 6722 and Sec.  301.6722-2 of this chapter. See Sec.  301.6724-1 
of this chapter for the waiver of a penalty if the failure is due to 
reasonable cause and is not due to willful neglect.
0
Par. 6. Section 1.6050Y-3 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.6050Y-3  Information reporting by 6050Y(b) issuers for 
reportable policy sales and transfers of life insurance contracts to 
foreign persons.

    (a) Requirement of reporting. Except as provided in paragraph (f) 
of this section, each 6050Y(b) issuer, that receives a RPSS or any 
notice of a transfer to a foreign person must file an information 
return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with respect to each 
seller in the form and manner prescribed by the IRS. The return must 
include the following information with respect to the seller:
    (1) The name, address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN) of 
the seller;
    (2) The investment in the contract with respect to the seller;
    (3) The amount the seller would have received if the seller had 
surrendered the life insurance contract on the date of the reportable 
policy sale or the transfer of the contract to a foreign person, or if 
the date of the transfer to a foreign person is not known to the 
6050Y(b) issuer, the date the 6050Y(b) issuer received notice of the 
transfer; and
    (4) Any other information that is required by the form or its 
instructions.
    (b) Unified reporting. Each 6050Y(b) issuer subject to the 
information reporting requirement of paragraph (a) of this section must 
satisfy that requirement, but a 6050Y(b) issuer's reporting obligation 
is deemed satisfied if the information required by paragraph (a) of 
this section with respect to that 6050Y(b) issuer is timely reported on 
behalf of that 6050Y(b) issuer in a manner that is consistent with 
forms, instructions, and other IRS guidance by one or more other 
6050Y(b) issuers or by a third party information reporting contractor.
    (c) Time and place for filing. Except as otherwise provided in this 
paragraph (c), returns required to be made under paragraph (a) of this 
section must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service Center 
designated on the prescribed form or in its instructions on or before 
February 28 (March 31 if filed electronically) of the year following 
the calendar year in which the reportable policy sale or the transfer 
of the contract to a foreign person occurred. If the 6050Y(b) issuer 
does not receive notice of a transfer to a foreign person until after 
January 31 of the calendar year following the year in which the 
transfer occurred, returns required to be made

[[Page 11027]]

under paragraph (a) of this section must be filed by the later of 
February 28 (March 31 if filed electronically) of the calendar year 
following the year in which the transfer occurred or thirty days after 
the date notice is received. See Sec.  1.6050Y-1(b)(2) for transition 
rules.
    (d) Requirement of and time for furnishing statements--(1) 
Requirement of furnishing statement. Every 6050Y(b) issuer filing a 
return required by paragraph (a) of this section must furnish to each 
seller that is a reportable policy sale payment recipient or makes a 
transfer to a foreign person and whose name is required to be set forth 
in the return a written statement showing the information required by 
paragraph (a) of this section with respect to that seller and the name, 
address, and phone number of the information contact of the person 
filing the return. This contact information must provide direct access 
to a person that can answer questions about the statement.
    (2) Time for furnishing statement. Except as otherwise provided in 
this paragraph (d)(2), each statement required by paragraph (d)(1) of 
this section to be furnished to any seller must be furnished on or 
before February 15 of the year following the calendar year in which the 
reportable policy sale or transfer to a foreign person occurred. If a 
6050Y(b) issuer does not receive notice of a transfer to a foreign 
person until after January 31 of the calendar year following the year 
in which the transfer occurred, each statement required to be made 
under paragraph (d) of this section must be furnished by the date 
thirty days after the date notice is received. See Sec.  1.6050Y-
1(b)(2) for transition rules.
    (3) Unified reporting. Each 6050Y(b) issuer subject to the 
information reporting requirement of paragraph (d)(1) of this section 
must satisfy that requirement, but a 6050Y(b) issuer's reporting 
obligation is deemed satisfied if the information required by paragraph 
(d)(1) of this section with respect to that 6050Y(b) issuer is timely 
reported on behalf of that 6050Y(b) issuer consistent with forms, 
instructions, and other IRS guidance by one or more other 6050Y(b) 
issuers or by a third party information reporting contractor.
    (e) Notice of rescission of a reportable policy sale or transfer of 
an insurance contract to a foreign person. Any 6050Y(b) issuer that has 
filed a return required by section 6050Y(b)(1) and this section with 
respect to a reportable policy sale or transfer of an insurance 
contract to a foreign person must file a corrected return within 15 
calendar days of the receipt of notice of the rescission of the 
reportable policy sale or transfer of the insurance contract to a 
foreign person. Any 6050Y(b) issuer that has furnished a written 
statement under section 6050Y(b)(2) and this section with respect to 
the reportable policy sale or transfer of the insurance contract to a 
foreign person must furnish the recipient of that statement with a 
corrected statement within 15 calendar days of the receipt of notice of 
the rescission of the reportable policy sale or transfer of the 
insurance contract to a foreign person.
    (f) Exceptions to requirement to file. A 6050Y(b) issuer is not 
required to file an information return under paragraph (a) of this 
section when either paragraph (f)(1) or (2) of this section applies.
    (1) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (f)(1), the 
6050Y(b) issuer obtains documentation upon which it may rely to treat a 
seller of the contract as a foreign beneficial owner in accordance with 
Sec.  1.1441-1(e)(1)(ii), applying in such case the provisions of Sec.  
1.1441-1 by substituting the term ``6050Y(b) issuer'' for the term 
``withholding agent'' and without regard to the fact that that these 
provisions apply only to amounts subject to withholding under chapter 3 
of subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code. A 6050Y(b) issuer may also 
obtain from a seller that is a partnership or trust, in addition to 
documentation establishing the entity's foreign status, a written 
certification from the entity that no beneficial owner of any portion 
of the proceeds of the sale is a United States person. In such a case, 
the issuer may rely upon the written certification to treat the 
partnership or trust as a foreign beneficial owner for purposes of this 
paragraph (f)(1) provided that the seller does not have actual 
knowledge that a United States person is the beneficial owner of all or 
a portion of the proceeds of the sale. See Sec.  1.1441-1(c)(6)(ii) for 
the definition of beneficial owner that applies for purposes of this 
paragraph (f)(1). Additionally, for certifying its status as a foreign 
beneficial owner (as applicable) for purposes of this paragraph (f)(1), 
a seller that is required to report any of the income from the sale as 
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the 
United States under section 864(b) is required to provide to the 
6050Y(b) issuer a Form W-8ECI, Certificate of Foreign Person's Claim 
that Income is Effectively Connected with the Conduct of a Trade or 
Business in the United States. If a 6050Y(b) issuer obtains a Form W-
8ECI from a seller with respect to the sale or has reason to know that 
income from the sale is effectively connected with the conduct of a 
trade or business in the United States under section 864(b), the 
exception to reporting described in this paragraph (f)(1) does not 
apply.
    (2) The 6050Y(b) issuer receives notice of a transfer to a foreign 
person, but does not receive a RPSS with respect to the transfer, 
provided that, at the time the notice is received--
    (i) The 6050Y(b) issuer is not a United States person;
    (ii) The life insurance contract (or interest therein) transferred 
is not on the life of a United States person; and
    (iii) The 6050Y(b) issuer has not classified the seller as a United 
States person in its books and records.
    (g) Cross-reference to penalty provisions--(1) Failure to file 
correct information return. For provisions relating to the penalty 
provided for failure to file timely a correct information return 
required under section 6050Y(b)(1) and this section, see section 6721 
and Sec.  301.6721-1 of this chapter. See Sec.  301.6724-1 of this 
chapter for the waiver of a penalty if the failure is due to reasonable 
cause and is not due to willful neglect.
    (2) Failure to furnish correct statement. For provisions relating 
to the penalty provided for failure to furnish a correct statement to 
identified persons under section 6050Y(b)(2) and this section, see 
section 6722 and Sec.  301.6722-2 of this chapter. See Sec.  301.6724-1 
of this chapter for the waiver of a penalty if the failure is due to 
reasonable cause and is not due to willful neglect.
0
Par. 7. Section 1.6050Y-4 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1.6050Y-4  Information reporting by payors for reportable death 
benefits.

    (a) Requirement of reporting. Except as provided in paragraph (e) 
of this section, every person that is a payor of reportable death 
benefits during any calendar year must file a separate information 
return for such calendar year with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 
for each reportable death benefits payment recipient in the form and 
manner prescribed by the IRS. The return must include the following 
information with respect to the reportable death benefits payment 
recipient to which the return relates:
    (1) The name, address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN) of 
the payor;
    (2) The name, address, and TIN of the reportable death benefits 
payment recipient;
    (3) The date of the payment;
    (4) The gross amount of payments made to the reportable death 
benefits payment recipient during the taxable year;

[[Page 11028]]

    (5) The payor's estimate of the investment in the contract with 
respect to the buyer, limited to the payor's estimate of the buyer's 
investment in the contract with respect to the interest for which the 
reportable death benefits payment recipient was paid; and
    (6) Any other information that is required by the form or its 
instructions.
    (b) Time and place for filing. Except as otherwise provided in 
Sec.  1.6050Y-1(b)(3), returns required to be made under this section 
must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service Center designated in 
the instructions for the form on or before February 28 (March 31 if 
filed electronically) of the year following the calendar year in which 
the payment of reportable death benefits was made.
    (c) Requirement of and time for furnishing statements--(1) 
Requirement of furnishing statement. Every person required to file an 
information return under paragraph (a) of this section must furnish to 
each reportable death benefits payment recipient whose name is required 
to be set forth in that return a written statement showing the 
information required by paragraph (a) of this section with respect to 
that reportable death benefits payment recipient and the name, address, 
and phone number of the information contact of the payor. This contact 
information must provide direct access to a person that can answer 
questions about the statement.
    (2) Time for furnishing statement. Each statement required by 
paragraph (c)(1) of this section to be furnished to any reportable 
death benefits payment recipient must be furnished on or before January 
31 of the year following the calendar year in which the payment of 
reportable death benefits was made. However, see Sec.  1.6050Y-1(b)(3) 
for transition rules.
    (d) Notice of rescission of a reportable policy sale. Any person 
that has filed a return required by section 6050Y(c) and this section 
with respect to a payment of reportable death benefits must file a 
corrected return within 15 calendar days of the receipt of notice of 
the rescission of the buyer's reportable policy sale. Any person that 
has furnished a written statement under section 6050Y(c)(2) and this 
section with respect to a payment of reportable death benefits must 
furnish the recipient of that statement with a corrected statement 
within 15 calendar days of the receipt of notice of the rescission of 
the buyer's reportable policy sale.
    (e) Exceptions to requirement to file. A payor is not required to 
file an information return under paragraph (a) of this section with 
respect to a payment of reportable death benefits when either paragraph 
(e)(1) or (2) of this section applies.
    (1) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (e)(1), the 
payor obtains documentation in accordance with Sec.  1.1441-1(e)(1)(ii) 
upon which it may rely to treat the reportable death benefits payment 
recipient as a foreign beneficial owner of the reportable death 
benefits, applying in such case the provisions of Sec.  1.1441-1 by 
substituting the term ``payor'' for the term ``withholding agent'' and 
without regard to the fact that the provisions apply only to amounts 
subject to withholding under chapter 3 of subtitle A of the Internal 
Revenue Code. A payor may also obtain from a partnership or trust that 
is a reportable death benefits recipient, in addition to documentation 
establishing the entity's foreign status, a written certification from 
the entity that no beneficial owner of any portion of the reportable 
death benefits payment is a United States person. In such a case, a 
payor may rely upon the written certification to treat the partnership 
or trust as a foreign beneficial owner for purposes of this paragraph 
(e)(1) provided that the payor does not have actual knowledge that a 
United States person is the beneficial owner of all or a portion of the 
reportable death benefits payment. See Sec.  1.1441-1(c)(6)(ii) for the 
definition of beneficial owner that applies for purposes of this 
paragraph (e)(1). Additionally, for certifying its status as a foreign 
beneficial owner (as applicable) for purposes of this paragraph (e)(1), 
a reportable death benefits payment recipient that is required to 
report any of the income from the sale as effectively connected with 
the conduct of a trade or business in the United States under section 
864(b) is required to provide to the payor a Form W-8ECI, Certificate 
of Foreign Person's Claim that Income is Effectively Connected with the 
Conduct of a Trade or Business in the United States. If a payor obtains 
a Form W-8ECI from a reportable death benefits payment recipient with 
respect to the payment of reportable death benefits or has reason to 
know that the payment is effectively connected with the conduct of a 
trade or business of the recipient in the United States under section 
864(b), the exception to reporting described in this paragraph (e)(1) 
does not apply.
    (2) The buyer obtained the life insurance contract (or interest 
therein) under which reportable death benefits are paid in a reportable 
policy sale to which the exception to reporting described in Sec.  
1.6050Y-3(f)(2) applies.
    (f) Cross-reference to penalty provisions--(1) Failure to file 
correct information return. For provisions relating to the penalty 
provided for failure to file timely a correct information return 
required under section 6050Y(c)(1) and this section, see section 6721 
and Sec.  301.6721-1 of this chapter. See Sec.  301.6724-1 of this 
chapter for the waiver of a penalty if the failure is due to reasonable 
cause and is not due to willful neglect.
    (2) Failure to furnish correct statement. For provisions relating 
to the penalty provided for failure to furnish a correct statement to 
identified persons under section 6050Y(c)(2) and this section, see 
section 6722 and Sec.  301.6722-2 of this chapter. See Sec.  301.6724-1 
of this chapter for the waiver of a penalty if the failure is due to 
reasonable cause and is not due to willful neglect.

Kirsten Wielobob,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2019-05400 Filed 3-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4830-01-P