IRS Withdraws Proposed Regs Defining Political Subdivision

Definition of Political Subdivision

[4830-01-p]

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
26 CFR Part 1

[REG-129067-15]

RIN 1545-BM99

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Withdrawal of notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: This document withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the definition of a political subdivision for purposes of tax-exempt bonds.

DATES: As of October 20, 2017, the notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-129067-15) that was published in the Federal Register on February 23, 2016, (81 FR 8870) is withdrawn.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Spence Hanemann at (202) 317-6980 (not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On February 23, 2016, the Department of the Treasury (the Treasury Department) and the IRS published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (81 FR 8870) that defines political subdivision for purposes of tax-exempt bonds under section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Proposed Regulations). The Treasury Department and the IRS received public comments and, on June 6, 2016, held a public hearing on the Proposed Regulations. In response to the Proposed Regulations, commenters stated that long-settled law establishes the meaning of political subdivision and that no further guidance is necessary. Commenters also stated that the Proposed Regulations would call into doubt the status of numerous existing issuers and users of tax-exempt bonds and that reorganizing these entities to qualify as political subdivisions under the Proposed Regulations would be burdensome.

Executive Order 13789, issued on April 21, 2017, instructs the Secretary of the Treasury (the Secretary) to review all significant tax regulations issued on or after January 1, 2016, and to take concrete action to alleviate the burdens of regulations that (i) impose an undue financial burden on U.S. taxpayers; (ii) add undue complexity to the Federal tax laws; or (iii) exceed the statutory authority of the IRS. E.O. 13789 further instructs the Secretary to submit to the President within 60 days an interim report that identifies regulations that meet these criteria. Notice 2017-38 (2017-30 I.R.B. 147 (July 24, 2017)) included the Proposed Regulations in a list of eight regulations identified by the Secretary in the interim report as meeting at least one of the first two criteria specified in E.O. 13789.

E.O. 13789 further instructs the Secretary to submit to the President by September 18, 2017, a final report that recommends specific actions to mitigate the burden imposed by regulations identified in the interim report. On October 16, 2017, the Secretary published this final report in the Federal Register (82 FR 48013), recommending a complete withdrawal of the Proposed Regulations to mitigate their potential burden. To implement the Secretary’s recommendation, the Treasury Department and the IRS are withdrawing the Proposed Regulations.

Drafting Information

The principal authors of this withdrawal notice are Spence Hanemann and Timothy Jones, Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions and Products), IRS.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Withdrawal of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Accordingly, under the authority of 26 U.S.C. 7805, the notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-129067-15) that was published in the Federal Register on February 23, 2016, (81 FR 8870) is withdrawn.

Kirsten Wielobob
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement

[FR Doc. 2017-22777 Filed: 10/19/2017 8:45 am; Publication Date: 10/20/2017]