Final Regs Contain Broader Definitions of Magazines and Records
T.D. 8426; 57 F.R. 38595-38600
- Code Sections
- Jurisdictions
- LanguageEnglish
- Tax Analysts Electronic CitationTD 8426
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
26 CFR Parts 1 and 602
[T.D. 8426]
RIN 1545-AB48
AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service, Treasury.
ACTION: Final regulations
SUMMARY: This document contains final regulations relating to a method of accounting for certain returns of magazines, paperbacks, or records. Changes were made in the applicable law by the Revenue Act of 1978. The regulations provide the public with guidance needed to comply with the Act and would affect all taxpayers that elect to use the method of accounting for their trades or businesses of selling magazines, paperbacks, or records (including videos).
DATES: Taxable years beginning after August 31, 1984. However, taxpayers may rely on the provisions of section 1.458-1 (a) through (f) in taxable years beginning after September 30, 1979.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Grant Gabriel, (202) 622-4970 (not a toll-free call)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
The collection of information contained in this final regulation has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3504(h)) under control numbers 1545-0879 and 1545-0152. The estimated average annual burden per recordkeeper is 25 minutes.
This estimate is an approximation of the average time expected to be necessary for a collection of information. It is based on such information as is available to the Internal Revenue Service. Individual recordkeepers may require greater or less time, depending on their particular circumstances.
Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden estimate and suggestions for reducing this burden should be directed to the Internal Revenue Service, Attn: IRS Reports Clearance Officer T:FP, Washington, D.C., 20224, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Treasury, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, D.C. 20503.
BACKGROUND
This document amends the Income Tax Regulations (26 CFR part 1) under section 458 of the Internal Revenue Code. These amendments reflect the changes made by section 372 of the Revenue Act of 1978 (92 Stat. 2860) and are issued under the authority contained in sections 7805 and 458(b)(8) and (e)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code (68A Stat. 917; 92 Stat. 2861-2; 26 U.S.C. 7805, 458(b)(8) and (e)(5)). A public hearing was held on October 16, 1991.
In general, section 372 of the Revenue Act of 1978 permits a taxpayer in the trade or business of selling magazines, paperbacks, or records to use a special method of accounting for the return of magazines, paperbacks, or records sold before the end of the taxable year and returned before the close of the merchandise return period for that taxable year. This method of accounting is available only to those taxpayers that use the accrual method of accounting for the trade or business of selling magazines, paperbacks, or records and that make an election to use section 458. Under this section, a taxpayer may elect to exclude from gross income amounts attributable to the qualified sale of magazines, paperbacks, or records provided the merchandise was sold before the end of the taxable year and returned before the close of the merchandise return period. The exclusion is available only if the original sale was a qualified sale. In order to be a qualified sale, the taxpayer must have, at the time of the sale, a legal obligation to adjust the sales price of the merchandise because of the purchaser's failure to resell it. Section 458 also provides special accounting rules for treatment of the transitional adjustment resulting from the section 458 election. The regulations contain rules that determine how and when a suspense account established under section 458(e) must be taken into account by the transferee in the case of certain transactions where there is nonrecognition of gain or loss to either party because of the application of subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code. These rules apply generally to transactions where there is a transfer of substantially all the assets of a trade or business in which paperbacks or records are sold. In general, the principles of section 381 and section 1.381(c)(4)-1 will be applied. The regulations also require a cost of goods sold offset against sales revenue in determining the amount of income excluded from gross income under section 458.
EXPLANATION OF CHANGES
DEFINITION OF MAGAZINE AND RECORD
In response to suggestions from commentators, changes were made in the definitions of "magazine" and "record." First, the definition of magazine was revised to reflect the treatment of "annuals" or "oneshots" -- supplements to monthly or weekly periodicals that are issued annually -- as magazines. These annual supplements are issued in basically the same format and appearance as magazines issued at regular intervals. To be treated as a magazine under section 458 of the Code, the annual publications must relate by title or subject matter to a magazine and must otherwise qualify as a magazine under section 458. Second, the definition of "record" was expanded to include video cassettes in response to commentators' concerns that the definition of "record" was unduly restrictive by its exclusion of items that also contain a visual recording. There is no evidence of any Congressional intent to exclude video cassettes at the time of the enactment of section 458 and commentators indicated that the distribution of recordings with visual content is the same as for recordings without visual content. Finally, compact discs and laser discs are specifically included as examples of "records."
COST OF GOODS SOLD ADJUSTMENT
Commentators argued that there should be no cost of goods sold adjustment in determining the amount of gross income excludable under section 458 of the Code. These commentators argued that section 1.458-1(g) of the proposed regulations, requiring such an adjustment in certain situations, should be omitted from the final regulations. For the reasons explained below, the Service has not adopted the commentators' recommendations. The language in section 458(a) indicates that the section 458 exclusion is determined on the basis of gross income. Under section 1.61-3(a) of the regulations, gross income of a manufacturing or merchandising trade or business is determined by subtracting cost of goods sold from sales revenue. Thus, consistent with section 1.61-3(a) rules, in determining the amount of gross income that may be excluded under section 458, it is necessary in certain situations to make a corresponding adjustment to cost of goods sold. Finally, section 446(b) and its underlying regulations require that a method of accounting clearly reflect income. In the opinion of the Commissioner, for those situations prescribed in section 1.458-1(g), the cost of goods sold adjustment is necessary to clearly reflect income.
The regulations have been revised to provide examples illustrating the application of the section 1.458-1(g) cost of goods sold adjustment in determining the amount of gross income qualifying for exclusion under section 458. As in the proposed regulations, the cost of goods sold adjustment is only required in situations in which the taxpayer holds returned merchandise for resale or is entitled to a credit from its supplier. In the latter case, the amount of the required adjustment is equal to the amount of the taxpayer's credit from its supplier.
SPECIAL ANALYSES
It has been determined that these rules are not major rules as defined in Executive Order 12291. Therefore, a Regulatory Impact Analysis is not required. It has also been determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) and the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) do not apply to these regulations, and, therefore, a final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required. Section 7805(f) does not apply because the proposed regulations were issued prior to the effective date of section 7805(f).
DRAFTING INFORMATION
The principal author of these regulations is Grant Gabriel of the Office of Assistant Chief Counsel (Income Tax and Accounting), Internal Revenue Service. However, personnel from other offices of the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department participated in their development.
LIST OF SUBJECTS
26 CFR 1.451-1 through 1.458-10
Accounting, Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
26 CFR Part 602
Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements.
Treasury Decision 8426
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS
Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1 and 602 are amended as follows:
PART 1 -- INCOME TAXES; TAXABLE YEARS BEGINNING AFTER DECEMBER 31, 1953
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by adding the following citation:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * * Section 1.458-1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 458. * * *
Par. 2. New section 1.458-1 is added to read as follows.
SECTION 1.458-1 EXCLUSION FOR CERTAIN RETURNED MAGAZINES, PAPERBACKS, OR RECORDS.
(a) IN GENERAL -- (1) INTRODUCTION. For taxable years beginning after September 30, 1979, section 458 allows accrual basis taxpayers to elect to use a method of accounting that excludes from gross income some or all of the income attributable to qualified sales during the taxable year of magazines, paperbacks, or records that are returned before the close of the applicable merchandise return period for that taxable year. Any amount so excluded cannot be excluded or deducted from gross income for the taxable year in which the merchandise is returned to the taxpayer. For the taxable year in which the taxpayer first uses this method of accounting, the taxpayer is not allowed to exclude from gross income amounts attributable to merchandise returns received during the taxable year that would have been excluded from gross income for the prior taxable year had the taxpayer used this method of accounting for that prior year. (See paragraph (e) of this section for rules describing how this amount should be taken into account.) The election to use this method of accounting shall be made in accordance with the rules contained in section 458(c) and in section 1.458-2 and this section. A taxpayer that does not elect to use this method of accounting can reduce income for returned merchandise only for the taxable year in which the merchandise is actually returned unsold by the purchaser.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE. While this section is generally effectiVe only for taxable years beginning after August 31, 1984, taxpayers may rely on the provisions of paragraphs (a) through (f) of this section in taxable years beginning after September 30, 1979.
(b) DEFINITIONS -- (1) MAGAZINE. "Magazine" means a publication, usually paper-backed and sometimes illustrated, that is issued at regular intervals and contains stories, poems, articles, features, etc. This term includes periodicals, but does not include newspapers or volumes of a single publication issued at various intervals. However, volumes of a single publication that are issued at least annually, are related by title or subject matter to a magazine, and would otherwise qualify as a magazine, will be treated as a magazine.
(2) PAPERBACK. "Paperback" means a paperback book other than a magazine. Unlike a hardback book, which usually has stiff front and back covers that enclose pages bound to a separate spine, a paperback book is characterized by a flexible outer cover to which the pages of the book are directly affixed.
(3) RECORD. "Record" means a disc, tape, or similar item on which music, spoken or other sounds are recorded. However, the term does not include blank records, tapes, etc., on which it is expected the ultimate purchaser will record. The following items, provided they carry pre-recorded sound, are examples of "records": audio and video cassettes, eight-track tapes, reel-to-reel tapes, cylinders, and flat, compact, and laser discs.
(4) QUALIFIED SALE. In order for a sale to be considered a qualified sale, both of the following conditions must be met:
(i) The taxpayer must be under a legal obligation (as determined by applicable State law), at the time of sale, to adjust the sales price of the magazine, paperback, or record on account of the purchaser's failure to resell it; and
(ii) The taxpayer must actually adjust the sales price of the magazine, paperback, or record to reflect the purchaser's failure to resell the merchandise. The following are examples of adjustments to the sales price of unsold merchandise: cash refunds, credits to the account of the purchaser, and repurchases of the merchandise. The adjustment need not be equal to the full amount of the sales price of the item. However, a markdown of the sales price under an agreement whereby the purchaser continues to hold the merchandise for sale or other disposition (other than solely for scrap) does not constitute an adjustment resulting from a failure to resell.
(5) MERCHANDISE RETURN PERIOD -- (i) IN GENERAL. Unless the taxpayer elects a shorter period, the "merchandise return period" is the period that ends 2 months and 15 days after the close of the taxable year for sales of magazines and 4 months and 15 days after the close of the taxable year for sales of paperbacks and records.
(ii) ELECTION TO USE SHORTER PERIOD. The taxpayer may select a shorter merchandise return period than the applicable period set forth in paragraph (b)(5)(i) of this section.
(iii) CHANGE IN MERCHANDISE RETURN PERIOD. Any change in the merchandise return period after its initial establishment will be treated as a change in method of accounting.
(c) AMOUNT OF THE EXCLUSION -- (1) IN GENERAL. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (g) of this section, the amount of the gross income exclusion with respect to any qualified sale is equal to the lesser of --
(i) The amount covered by the legal obligation referred to in paragraph (b)(4)(i) of this section; or
(ii) The amount of the adjustment agreed to by the taxpayer before the close of the merchandise return period.
(2) PRICE ADJUSTMENT IN EXCESS OF LEGAL OBLIGATION. The excess, if any, of the amount described in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section over the amount described in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section should be excluded in the taxable year in which it is properly accruable under section 461.
(d) RETURN OF THE MERCHANDISE -- (1) IN GENERAL. (i) The exclusion from gross income allowed by section 458 applies with respect to a qualified sale of merchandise only if the seller receives, before the close of the merchandise return period, either --
(A) The physical return of the merchandise; or
(B) Satisfactory evidence that the merchandise has not been and will not be resold (as defined in paragraph (d)(2) of this section).
(ii) For purposes of this paragraph (d), evidence of a return received by an agent of the seller (other than the purchaser who purchased the merchandise from the seller) will be considered to be received by the seller at the time the agent receives the merchandise or evidence.
(2) SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE. Evidence that merchandise has not been and will not be resold is satisfactory only if the seller receives --
(i) Physical return of some portion of the merchandise (e.g., covers) provided under either the agreement between the seller and the purchaser or industry practice (such return evidencing the fact that the purchaser has not and will not resell the merchandise); or
(ii) A written statement from the purchaser specifying the quantities of each title not resold, provided either --
(A) The statement contains a representation that the items specified will not be resold by the purchaser; or
(B) The past dealings, if any, between the parties and industry practice indicate that such statement constitutes a promise by the purchaser not to resell the items.
(3) RETENTION OF EVIDENCE. In the case of a return of merchandise (described in paragraph (d)(1)(i)(A) of this section) or portion thereof (described in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section), the seller has no obligation to retain physical evidence of the returned merchandise or portion thereof, provided the seller maintains documentary evidence that describes the quantity of physical items returned to the seller and indicates that the items were returned before the close of the merchandise return period.
(e) TRANSITIONAL ADJUSTMENT -- (1) IN GENERAL. An election to change from some other method of accounting for the return of magazines, paperbacks, or records to the method of accounting described in section 458 is a change in method of accounting that requires a transitional adjustment. Section 458 provides special rules for transitional adjustments that must be taken into account as a result of this change. See paragraph (e)(2) of this section for special rules applicable to magazines and paragraphs (e)(3) and (4) of this section for special rules applicable to paperbacks and records.
(2) MAGAZINES: 5-YEAR SPREAD OF DECREASE IN TAXABLE INCOME. For taxpayers who have elected to use the method of accounting described in section 458 to account for returned magazines for a taxable year, section 458(d) and this paragraph (e)(2) provide a special rule for taking into account any decrease in taxable income resulting from the adjustment required by section 481(a)(2). Under these provisions, one-fifth of the transitional adjustment must be taken into account in the taxable year of the change and in each of the 4 succeeding taxable years. For example, if the application of section 481(a)(2) would produce a decrease in taxable income of $50 for 1980, the year of change, then $10 (one-fifth of $50) must be taken into account as a decrease in taxable income for 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984.
(3) SUSPENSE ACCOUNT FOR PAPERBACKS AND RECORDS -- (i) IN GENERAL. For taxpayers who have elected to use the method of accounting described in section 458 to account for returned paperbacks and records for a taxable year, section 458(e) provides that, in lieu of applying section 481, an electing taxpayer must establish a separate suspense account for its paperback business and its record business. The initial opening balance of the suspense account is described in paragraph (e)(3)(ii)(A) of this section. An initial adjustment to gross income for the year of election is described in paragraph (e)(3)(ii)(B) of this section. Annual adjustments to the suspense account are described in paragraph (e)(3)(iii)(A) of this section. Gross income adjustments are described in paragraph (e)(3)(iii)(B) of this section. Examples are provided in paragraph (e)(4) of this section. The effect of the suspense account is to defer all, or some part, of the deduction of the transitional adjustment until the taxpayer is no longer engaged in the trade or business of selling paperbacks or records, whichever is applicable.
(ii) ESTABLISHING A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT -- (A) INITIAL OPENING BALANCE. To compute the initial opening balance of the suspense account for the first taxable year for which an election is effective, the taxpayer must determine the section 458 amount (as defined in paragraph (e)(3)(ii)(C) of this section) for each of the three preceding taxable years. The initial opening balance of the account is the largest of the section 458 amounts.
(B) INITIAL YEAR ADJUSTMENT. If the initial opening balance in the suspense account exceeds the section 458 amount (as defined in paragraph (e)(3)(ii)(C) of this section) for the taxable year immediately preceding the year of election, the excess is included in the taxpayer's gross income for the first taxable year for which the election was made.
(C) SECTION 458 AMOUNT. For purposes of paragraph (e)(3)(ii) of this section, the section 458 amount for a taxable year is the dollar amount of merchandise returns that would have been excluded from gross income under section 458(a) for that taxable year if the section 458 election had been in effect for that taxable year.
(iii) ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS -- (A) ADJUSTMENT TO THE SUSPENSE ACCOUNT. Adjustments are made to the suspense account each year to account for fluctuations in merchandise returns. To compute the annual adjustment, the taxpayer must determine the amount to be excluded under the election from gross income under section 458(a) for the taxable year. If the amount is less than the opening balance in the suspense account for the taxable year, the balance in the suspense account is reduced by the difference. Conversely, if the amount is greater than the opening balance in the suspense account for the taxable year, the account is increased by the difference, but not to an amount in excess of the initial opening balance described in paragraph (e)(3)(ii)(A) of this section. Therefore, the balance in the suspense account will never be greater than the initial opening balance in the suspense account determined in paragraph (e)(3)(ii)(A) of this section. However, the balance in the suspense account after adjustments may be less than this initial opening balance in the suspense account.
(B) GROSS INCOME ADJUSTMENTS. Adjustments to the suspense account for years subsequent to the year of election also produce adjustments in the taxpayer's gross income. Adjustments which reduce the balance in the suspense account reduce gross income for the year in which the adjustment to the suspense account is made. Adjustments which increase the balance in the suspense account increase gross income for the year in which the adjustment to the suspense account is made.
(4) EXAMPLE. The provisions of paragraph (e)(3) of this section may be illustrated by the following example:
EXAMPLE. (i) X corporation, a paperback distributor, makes a timely section 458 election for its taxable year ending December 31, 1980. If the election had been in effect for the taxable years ending on December 31, 1977, 1978, and 1979, the dollar amounts of the qualifying returns would have been $5, $8, and $6, respectively. The initial opening balance of X's suspense account on January 1, 1980, is $8, the largest of these amounts. Since the initial opening balance ($8), is larger than the qualifying returns for 1979 ($6), the initial adjustment to gross income for 1980 is $2 ($8 - $6).
(ii) X has $5 in qualifying returns for its taxable year ending December 31, 1980. X must reduce its suspense account by $3, which is the excess of the opening balance ($8) over the amount of qualifying returns for the 1980 taxable year ($5). X also reduces its gross income for 1980 by $3. Thus, the net amount excludable from gross income for the 1980 taxable year after taking into account the qualifying returns, the gross income adjustment, and the initial year adjustment is $6 ($3 + $5 - $2).
(iii) X has qualifying returns of $7 for its taxable year ending December 31, 1981. X must increase its suspense account balance by $2, which is the excess of the amount of qualifying returns for 1981 ($7) over X's opening balance in the suspense account ($5). X must also increase its gross income by $2. Thus, the net amount excludable from gross income for the 1981 taxable year after taking into account the qualifying returns and the gross income adjustment is $5 ($7 - $2).
(iv) X has qualifying returns of $10 for its taxable year ending December 31, 1982. The opening balance in X's suspense account of $7 will not be increased in excess of the initial opening balance ($8). X must also increase gross income by $1. Thus, the net amount excludable from gross income for the 1982 taxable year is $9 ($10 - $1).
(v) This example is summarized by the following table:
Years Ending Dec. 31
____________________
Facts: 1977 1978 1979 1980/1/ 1981 1982
Qualifying returns during
merchandise return
period for the taxable year $5 $8 $6 $5 $7 $10
Adjustment to suspense account:
Opening balance $8 $5 $ 7
Addition to account /2/ 2 1
Reduction to account /3/ (3)
________________
Opening balance for
next year $5 $7 $ 8
Amount excludable from income:
Initial year adjustment $(2)
Amount excludable as qualifying
returns in merchandise return
period 5 $7 $10
Adjustment for increase in
suspense account (2) (1)
Adjustment for decrease in
suspense account 3
_________________
Net amount excludable for
the year $6 $5 $ 9
FOOTNOTES TO TABLE
/1/ Year of Change.
/2/ Applies when qualifying returns during the merchandise
return period exceed the opening balance; the addition is not to
cause the suspense account to exceed the initial opening balance.
/3/ Applies when qualifying returns during the merchandise
return period are less than the opening balance.
(f) SUBCHAPTER C TRANSACTIONS -- (1) GENERAL RULE. If a transfer of substantially all the assets of a trade or business in which paperbacks or records are sold is made to an acquiring corporation, and if the acquiring corporation determines its basis in these assets, in whole or part, with reference to the basis of these assets in the hands of the transferor, then for the purposes of section 458(e) the principles of section 351 and section 1.381(c)(4)-1 will apply. The application of this rule is not limited to the transactions described in section 381(a). Thus, the rule also applies, for example, to transactions described in section 351.
(2) SPECIAL RULES. If, in the case of a transaction described in paragraph (f)(l) of this section, an acquiring corporation acquires assets that were used in a trade or business that was not subject to a section 458 election from a transferor that is owned or controlled directly (or indirectly through a chain of corporations) by the same interests, and if the acquiring corporation uses the acquired assets in a trade or business for which the acquiring corporation later makes an election to use section 458, then the acquiring corporation must establish a suspense account by taking into account not only its own experience but also the transferor's experience when the transferor held the assets in its trade or business. Furthermore, the transferor is not allowed a deduction or exclusion for merchandise returned after the date of the transfer attributable to sales made by the transferor before the date of the transfer. Such returns shall be considered to be received by the acquiring corporation.
(3) EXAMPLE. The provisions of paragraph (f)(2) of this section may be illustrated by the following example.
EXAMPLE. Corporation S, a calendar year taxpayer, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Corporation P, a calendar year taxpayer. On December 31, 1982, S acquires from P substantially all of the assets used in a trade or business in which records are sold. P had not made an election under section 458 with respect to the qualified sale of records made in connection with that trade or business. S makes an election to use section 458 for its taxable year ending December 31, 1983, for the trade or business in which the acquired assets are used. P's qualified record returns within the 4 month and 15 day merchandise return period following the 1980 and 1981 taxable years were $150 and $170, respectively. S's qualified record returns during the merchandise return period following 1982 were $160. S must establish a suspense account by taking into account both P's and S's experience for the 3 immediately preceding taxable years. Thus, the initial opening balance of S's suspense account is $170. S must also make an initial year adjustment of $10 ($170 - $160), which S must include in income for S's taxable year ending December 31, 1983. P is not entitled to a deduction or exclusion for merchandise received after the date of the transfer (December 31, 1982) attributable to sales made by the transferor before the date of transfer. Thus, P is not entitled to a deduction or exclusion for the $160 of merchandise received by S during the first 4 months and 15 days of 1983.
(g) ADJUSTMENT TO INVENTORY AND COST OF GOODS SOLD.
(1) If a taxpayer makes adjustments to gross receipts for a taxable year under the method of accounting described in section 458, the taxpayer, in determining excludable gross income, is also required to make appropriate correlative adjustments to purchases or closing inventory and to cost of goods sold for the same taxable year. Adjustments are appropriate, for example, where the taxpayer holds the merchandise returned for resale or where the taxpayer is entitled to receive a price adjustment from the person or entity that sold the merchandise to the taxpayer. Cost of goods sold must be properly adjusted in accordance with the provisions of section 1.61-3 which provides, in pertinent part, that gross income derived from a manufacturing or merchandising business equals total sales less cost of goods sold.
(2) The provisions of this paragraph (g) may be illustrated by the following examples. These examples do not, however, reflect any required adjustments under paragraph (e)(3) of this section.
EXAMPLE 1. (i) In 1986, P, a publisher, properly elects under section 458 of the Code not to include in its gross income in the year of sale, income attributable to qualified sales of paperback books returned within the specified statutory merchandise return period of 4 months and 15 days. P and D, a distributor, agree that P shall provide D with a full refund for paperback books that D purchases from P and is unable to resell, provided the merchandise is returned to P within four months following the original sale. The agreement constitutes a legal obligation. The agreement provides that D's return of the covers of paperback books within the first four months following their sale constitutes satisfactory evidence that D has not resold and will not resell the paperback books. During P's 1989 taxable year, pursuant to the agreement, P sells D 500 paperback books for $1 each. In 1990, during the merchandise return period, D returns covers from 100 unsold paperback books representing $100 of P's 1989 sales of paperback books. P's cost attributable to the returned books is $25. No adjustment to cost of goods sold is required under paragraph (g)(1) of this section because P is not holding returned merchandise for resale. P's proper amount excluded from its 1989 gross income under section 458 is $100.
(ii) If D returns the paperback books, rather than the covers, to P and these same books are then held by P for resale to other customers, paragraph (g)(1) of this section applies. Under paragraph (g)(1), P is required to decrease its cost of goods sold by $25, the amount of P's cost attributable to the returned merchandise. The proper amount excluded from P's 1989 gross income under section 458 is $75, resulting from adjustments to sales and cost of sales [(100 X $1) - $25].
EXAMPLE 2. (i) In 1986, D, a distributor, properly elects under section 458 of the Code not to include in its gross income in the year of sale, income attributable to qualified sales of paperback books returned within the specified statutory merchandise return period of four months and 15 days. D and R, a retailer, agree that D shall provide a full refund for paperback books that R purchases from it and is unable to resell. D and R also have agreed that the merchandise must be returned to D within four months following the original sale. The agreement constitutes a legal obligation. D is similarly entitled to a full refund from P, the publisher, for the same paperback books. In 1990, during the merchandise return period, R returns paperback books to D representing $100 of 1989 sales. D's cost relating to these sales is $50. Under paragraph (g)(1) of this section, D must decrease its cost of goods sold by $50. D's proper amount excluded from its 1989 gross income under section 458 is $50 resulting from adjustments to sales and cost of sales ($100 - $50).
(ii) If D is instead only entitled to a 50 percent refund from P, D is required under paragraph (g)(1) of this section to decrease its cost of goods sold by $25, the amount of refund from P. D's proper amount excluded from its 1989 gross income under section 458 is $75, resulting from adjustments to sales and cost of sales ($100 - $25).
Par. 3. Section 1.458-10 is redesignated as section 1.458-2.
PART 602 -- OMB CONTROL NUMBER UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
Par. 4. The authority citation for part 602 continues to read:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805.
Par. 5. Section 602.101(c) is amended by removing the entry for "1.458-10" and adding the following entries in the table to read as follows:
SECTION 602.101 OMB CONTROL NUMBERS.
(c) * * *
____________________________________________________________________
CFR part or section where Current OMB
identified and described control number
____________________________________________________________________
* * * * *
1.458-1 1545-0879
1.458-2 1545-0152
* * * * *
Acting Commissioner of Internal
Revenue
Approved: July 23, 1992
Fred T. Goldberg, Jr.
Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury
- Code Sections
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- Tax Analysts Electronic CitationTD 8426
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