IRS Issues Temporary and Proposed Regs on Corporate Tax Shelter Registration

[2] ACTION: Cross-reference notice of proposed rulemaking and notice of public hearing.

[3] SUMMARY: In the Rules and Regulations portion of this issue of the Federal Register, the IRS is issuing temporary regulations requiring the registration of confidential corporate tax shelters pursuant to section 6111(d) as amended by section 1028(a) of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (the Act). The temporary regulations affect persons responsible for registering confidential corporate tax shelters and corporations participating in confidential corporate tax shelters. The text of those temporary regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations. This document also gives notice of a public hearing on this subject.

[4] DATES: Written comments must be received by May 31, 2000.

[5] Requests to speak and outlines of topics to be discussed at the public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, June, 20, 2000, from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. must be received by May 31, 2000.

[6] ADDRESSES: Send submissions to: CC:DOM:CORP:R (REG-110311- 98), room 5226, Internal Revenue Service, POB 7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044. Submissions may be hand delivered between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to: CC:DOM:CORP:R (REG-110311- 98), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington DC. Alternatively, taxpayers may submit comments electronically via the Internet by selecting the "Tax Regs" option of the IRS Home Page or by submitting comments directly to the IRS Internet site at http://www.irs.gov/tax_regs/regslist.html. A public hearing will be held in the IRS Auditorium, Internal Revenue Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC.

[7] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the regulations, Richard Castanon or Mary Beth Collins, (202) 622-3070; concerning submissions and the hearings, Guy Traynor, (202)622-7180.

[8] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

[9] The collections of information contained in this notice of proposed rulemaking have been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)). Comments on the collections 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, OP:FS:FP, Washington, DC 20224. Comments on the collections of information should be received by May 1, 2000. Comments are specifically requested concerning:

[10] Whether the proposed collections of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Internal Revenue Service, including whether the information will have practical utility;

[11] The accuracy of the estimated burden associated with the proposed collection of information (see below);

[12] How the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected may be enhanced;

[13] How the burden of complying with the proposed collections of information may be minimized, including through the application of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and

[14] Estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of service to provide information.

[15] The collections of information in this proposed regulation are in section 301.6111-2T(b)(6), (e)(1)(ii)(A), (e)(2), (e)(3), (g)(2)(ii) and (g)(2)(iii). This information is required to comply with the registration requirements of section 6111(d) and to avoid the penalty provisions of section 6707 for failing to register a confidential corporate tax shelter. This information will be used to ensure compliance with the Federal tax laws. The collections of information are mandatory. The likely respondents and recordkeepers are business or other for-profit institutions.

[16] The burden for the collection of information in section 301.6111-2T(b)(6), (e)(1)(ii)(A), (e)(2), and (e)(3) will be reflected on Form 8264. The burden for the collection of information in section 301.6111-2T(g)(2)(ii) and (iii) is as follows:

[17] Estimated total annual reporting and/or recordkeeping burden: 1 hour.

[18] Estimated average annual burden hours per respondentand/or recordkeeper: 15 minutes

[19] Estimated number of respondents and/or recordkeepers: 4

[20] Estimated annual frequency of responses: On occasion

[21] 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.

[22] Books or records relating to a collection of information must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and tax return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.

Background

[23] The temporary regulations amend the Income Tax Regulations (26 CFR part 1) relating to section 6111. These regulations provide the guidance necessary to activate the registration requirements of section 6111 and the penalty provisions of section 6707 for confidential corporate tax shelters.

[24] The text of the temporary regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations. The preamble to the temporary regulations explains the regulations.

Special Analyses

[25] It has been determined that this notice of proposed rulemaking is not a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It has also been determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these regulations. It is hereby certified that the collection of information in these regulations will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This certification is based upon the fact that the persons responsible for promoting and registering the transactions described in the regulations are principally large publicly traded corporations, and the burden is not significant as described earlier in the preamble. Therefore, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) is not required. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, this notice of proposed rulemaking will be submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on small business.

Comments and Public Hearing

[26] Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, consideration will be given to any written comments (preferably a signed original and eight (8) copies) or electronically generated comments that are submitted timely to the IRS. The IRS and Treasury specifically request comments on the clarity of the proposed regulations and how they may be made easier to understand.

[27] Further, the IRS and Treasury specifically request comments on (1) the scope and breadth of the characteristics used in the proposed regulations to identify transactions structured for the avoidance or evasion of Federal income tax; (2) the exceptions to registration provided for in the proposed regulations; and (3) whether particular types of transactions should be identified as excepted from registration. All comments will be available for public inspection and copying.

[28] A public hearing has been scheduled for June 20, 2000, from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m., in the IRS Auditorium, Internal Revenue Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC. Due to building security procedures, visitors must enter at the 1111 Constitution Avenue entrance, located between 10th and 12th streets. In addition, all visitors must present photo identification to enter the building. Because of access restrictions, visitors will not be admitted beyond the immediate entrance area more than 15 minutes before the hearing starts. For information about having your name placed on the access list to attend the hearing, see the "FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT" section of this preamble.

[29] 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 timely written comments and an outline of the topics to be discussed and the time to be devoted to each topic (signed original and eight (8) copies) by May 31, 2000. A period of 10 minutes will be allotted to each person for making comments. An agenda showing the scheduling of the speakers will be prepared after the deadline for receiving outlines has passed. Copies of the agenda will be available free of charge at the hearing.

Drafting Information

[30] The principal authors of these regulations are Mary Beth Collins and Richard Castanon, Office of Assistant Chief Counsel (Passthroughs and Special Industries). However, other personnel from the IRS and Treasury Department participated in their development.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 301

[31] Employment taxes, Estate taxes, Excise taxes, Gift taxes, Income taxes, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Proposed Amendments to the Regulations

[32] Accordingly, 26 CFR part 301 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 301 -- PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION