rr-02-30.pdf

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Part I

Section 446.--General Rule for Methods of Accounting

26 CFR 1.446-3: Notional Principal Contracts.

Rev. Rul. 2002-30

ISSUE
What is the appropriate method for the inclusion into income or deduction of a
nonperiodic payment made pursuant to a notional principal contract where the payment
is comprised of noncontingent and contingent components?
FACTS
T
enters into a notional principal contract (ANPC@) with CP on October 1, 2002,
for a term of 18 months. Pursuant to the terms of the NPC, T agrees to make quarterly
payments to CP
based on three-month LIBOR multiplied by a notional principal amount
of $100,000,000. In exchange, CP
agrees that upon expiration of the NPC on March
31, 2004, CP
will pay T 6 percent per year multiplied by a notional principal amount of
$92,000,000 (the fixed payment amount). In addition, CP
or T will make a payment
upon expiration equal to the percentage change in the value of the S&P 500 stock
index multiplied by a notional principal amount of $8,000,000. If the change is positive

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(an appreciation amount), CP
will make a payment to T; if the change is negative (a
depreciation amount), T will make a payment to CP. Any depreciation amount payable
by T
will be netted against the fixed payment amount payable by CP.
LAW
Section 1.446-3 of the Income Tax Regulations provides rules on the timing of
inclusion of income and deductions for amounts paid or received pursuant to NPCs.
Section 1.446-3(c)(1)(i) defines a NPC as a financial instrument that provides for
the payment of amounts by one party to another at specified intervals calculated by
reference to a specified index upon a notional principal amount, in exchange for
specified consideration or a promise to pay similar amounts. Payments made pursuant
to NPCs are divided into three categories (periodic, nonperiodic, and termination
payments), and the regulations provide separate timing regimes for each.
Section 1.446-3(e)(1) defines periodic payments as payments made or received
pursuant to a NPC that are payable at intervals of one year or less during the entire
term of the contract, that are based on a specified index, and that are based on a
notional principal amount. Section 1.446-3(e)(2) provides that all taxpayers, regardless
of their methods of accounting, must recognize the ratable daily portion of a periodic
payment for the taxable year to which that portion relates.
Section 1.446-3(h)(1) defines a termination payment as a payment made or
received to extinguish or assign all or a proportionate part of the remaining rights and
obligations of any party under a NPC.
Section 1.446-3(f)(1) provides that a nonperiodic payment is any payment made
or received with respect to a NPC that is not a periodic payment or a termination

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payment. The recognition rules for nonperiodic payments are set forth in ' 1.446-
3(f)(2). Section 1.446-3(f)(2)(i) provides that all taxpayers, regardless of their methods
of accounting, must recognize the ratable daily portion of a nonperiodic payment for the
taxable year to which that portion relates. Generally, a nonperiodic payment must be
recognized over the term of a NPC in a manner that reflects the economic substance of
the contract.
Section 1.446-3(f)(2)(ii) provides generally that a nonperiodic payment must be
recognized over the term of the contract by allocating it in accordance with the forward
rates of a series of cash-settled forward contracts that reflect the specified index and
the notional principal amount.
Section 1.446-3(f)(2)(iii)(A) provides that an upfront payment may be amortized
by assuming that the nonperiodic payment represents the present value of a series of
equal payments made throughout the term of the swap contract (the level payment
method).
Section 1.446-3(f)(2)(iii)(B) provides that nonperiodic payments other than an
upfront payment may be amortized by treating the contract as if it provided for a single
upfront payment (equal to the present value of the nonperiodic payments) and a loan
between the parties. The single upfront payment is then amortized under the level
payment method described in ' 1.446-3(f)(2)(iii)(A). The time value component of the
loan is not treated as interest, but together with the amortized amount of the deemed
upfront payment, is recognized as a periodic payment. See
' 1.446-3(f)(4), Example 6,
for an illustration of these rules.

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Section 1.446-3(g)(4) provides that a swap with significant nonperiodic payments
is treated as two separate transactions consisting of an on-market, level payment swap
and a loan. The loan must be accounted for by the parties to the contract
independently of the swap. The time value component associated with the loan is not
included in the net income or net deduction from the swap under ' 1.446-3(d) of this
section, but is recognized as interest for all purposes of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 1.446-3(d) provides that for all purposes of the Code, the net income or
net deduction from a NPC for a taxable year is included in, or deducted from, gross
income for that taxable year. The net income or net deduction from a NPC for a taxable
year equals the total of all of the periodic payments that are recognized from that
contract for the taxable year under ' 1.446-3(e), and all of the nonperiodic payments
that are recognized from that contract for the taxable year under ' 1.446-3(f). Each
party to the NPC determines its payments and receipts attributable to the taxable year
and takes into account, as net income or net deduction, the result of those payments
and receipts. See
' 1.446-3(e)(3), Example 1; and ' 1.446-3(g)(6), Example 3.
ANALYSIS
The agreement between T
and CP is a NPC as defined in ' 1.446-3(c)(1)(i).
Pursuant to the terms of the contract, T will pay to CP amounts based on LIBOR
quarterly, in exchange for CP
=s promise to pay specified consideration at expiration.
The amounts that T pays to CP are periodic payments as defined in ' 1.446-
3(e)(1). These LIBOR-based payments are payable at intervals of less than one year
and are calculated by reference to a specified index upon a notional principal amount of

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$100,000,000. Pursuant to ' 1.446-3(e)(2), T
and CP must recognize the ratable daily
portion of each periodic payment for the taxable year to which that portion relates.
The amount payable on March 31, 2004, is a nonperiodic payment, which T
and
CP are required to recognize over the term of the NPC in a manner that reflects the
economic substance of the NPC. In substance, the nonperiodic payment that CP must
pay T
on expiration equals the sum of two independent components, one noncontingent
and the other contingent. The noncontingent component (the fixed payment amount)
equals $8,280,000, that is the product of 6 percent per year, or 9 percent for 18
months, and the notional principal amount of $92,000,000. The contingent component
(the appreciation or depreciation amount) equals the product of the percentage
appreciation or depreciation in the value of the S&P 500 stock index and the notional
principal amount of $8,000,000. In order to reflect the economic substance of the NPC,
each component must be treated separately for purposes of applying the NPC rules in
' 1.446-3. As a result, pursuant to ' 1.446-3(f)(2)(i), the fixed payment amount due on
March 31, 2004, must be recognized over the term of the NPC in a manner consistent
with ' 1.446-3(f)(2)(ii) or (iii). This treatment of the fixed payment amount payable by
CP
is not affected by the possibility that T may be required to pay a depreciation
amount to CP
that, under the terms of the NPC, will be netted against CP=s obligation to
pay the fixed payment amount. Pursuant to ' 1.446-3(g)(4), T must accrue interest
income and CP may accrue interest deductions.
HOLDING

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T
and CP must recognize the noncontingent component of the nonperiodic
payment over the term of the NPC, and must also account for interest, in a manner
consistent with '' 1.446-3(f)(2)(ii) or (iii), and 1.446-3(g)(4).
DRAFTING INFORMATION
The principal author of this revenue ruling is Elizabeth Handler of the Office of
Associate Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions and Products). For further information
regarding this revenue ruling, contact Ms. Handler on (202) 622-3930 (not a toll-free call).