us-irs-revenue-rulings-irb-1998-18-pdf•Internal Revenue Bulletin 1998-18 (PDF rendition): IRS Revenue Rulings
Internal Revenue Bulletin 1998-18 (PDF rendition): IRS Revenue Rulings
us-irs-revenue-rulings-irb-1998-18-pdfInternal Revenue Bulletin 1998-18 (PDF rendition): IRS Revenue RulingsGuidance
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INCOME TAX Rev. Rul. 98–23, page 5. Federal rates; adjusted federal rates; adjusted federal long-term rate, and the long-term exempt rate. For purposes of sections 1274, 1288, 382, and other sections of the Code, tables set forth the rates for May 1998. Notice 98–27, page 14. Electricity produced from certain renewable re- sources; calendar year 1998 inflation adjustment fac- tor and reference prices.This notice announces the cal- endar year 1998 inflation adjustment factor and reference prices for the renewable electricity production credit under section 45 of the Code. EMPLOYEE PLANS REG–243025–96, page 18. Proposed regulations would provide guidance on the circum- stances under which a cafeteria plan participant may revoke an existing election and make a new election during a period of coverage. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 1998. Notice 98–26, page 14. Weighted average interest rate update.Guidelines are set forth for determining for April 1998, the weighted aver- age interest rate and the resulting permissible range of in- terest rates used to calculate current liability for purposes of the full funding limitation of section 412(c)(7) of the Code as amended by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 and by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (GATT). EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS Announcement 98–36, page 18. A list is given of organizations now classified as private foun- dations. GIFT TAX Rev. Rul. 98–21, page 7. Transfer of nonstatutory stock option. This ruling pro- vides guidance on the time that a completed gift occurs when a nonstatutory stock option is transferred without con- sideration by the optionee to a family member. Rev. Proc. 98–34, page 15. Valuation of compensatory stock options.This proce- dure sets forth a methodology to value certain compen- satory stock options for gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax purposes. ADMINISTRATIVE Notice 98–23, page 9. This notice provides guidance regarding recent changes to the taxation of social security benefits under the U.S.- Canada income tax treaty. Notice 98–25, page 11. Election to treat trust as a United States person; do- mestic trust.This notice provides the procedures under section 1161 of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, P.L. 105–34, 111 Stat. 788 (1997), for trusts that were in exis- tence on August 20, 1996, and that were treated as United States persons on August 19, 1996, to elect to continue to be treated as United States persons notwithstanding section 7701(a)(30)(E) of the Code. Internal Revenue bbuulllleettiinn Bulletin No. 1998–18 May 4, 1998 HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE These synopses are intended only as aids to the reader in identifying the subject matter covered. They may not be relied upon as authoritative interpretations. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Finding Lists begin on page 22. Announcement Relating to Court Decisions begins on page 4. Index for January-April begins on page 24. Mission of the Service The purpose of the Internal Revenue Service is to collect the proper amount of tax revenue at the least cost; serve the public by continually improving the quality of our prod- ucts and services; and perform in a manner warranting the highest degree of public confidence in our integrity, effi- ciency, and fairness. 2 Statement of Principles of Internal Revenue Tax Administration The function of the Internal Revenue Service is to adminis- ter the Internal Revenue Code. Tax policy for raising revenue is determined by Congress. With this in mind, it is the duty of the Service to carry out that policy by correctly applying the laws enacted by Congress; to determine the reasonable meaning of various Code provi- sions in light of the Congressional purpose in enacting them; and to perform this work in a fair and impartial manner, with neither a government nor a taxpayer point of view. At the heart of administration is interpretation of the Code. It is the responsibility of each person in the Service, charged with the duty of interpreting the law, to try to find the true meaning of the statutory provision and not to adopt a strained construction in the belief that he or she is “protect- ing the revenue.” The revenue is properly protected only when we ascertain and apply the true meaning of the statute. The Service also has the responsibility of applying and administering the law in a reasonable, practical manner. Issues should only be raised by examining officers when they have merit, never arbitrarily or for trading purposes. At the same time, the examining officer should never hesi- tate to raise a meritorious issue. It is also important that care be exercised not to raise an issue or to ask a court to adopt a position inconsistent with an established Service position. Administration should be both reasonable and vigorous. It should be conducted with as little delay as possible and with great courtesy and considerateness. It should never try to overreach, and should be reasonable within the bounds of law and sound administration. It should, howev- er, be vigorous in requiring compliance with law and it should be relentless in its attack on unreal tax devices and fraud. The Internal Revenue Bulletin is the authoritative instrument of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue for announcing offi- cial rulings and procedures of the Internal Revenue Service and for publishing Treasury Decisions, Executive Orders, Tax Conventions, legislation, court decisions, and other items of general interest. It is published weekly and may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents on a subscription basis. Bulletin contents of a permanent nature are consoli- dated semiannually into Cumulative Bulletins, which are sold on a single-copy basis. It is the policy of the Service to publish in the Bulletin all sub- stantive rulings necessary to promote a uniform application of the tax laws, including all rulings that supersede, revoke, modify, or amend any of those previously published in the Bulletin. All published rulings apply retroactively unless other- wise indicated. Procedures relating solely to matters of in- ternal management are not published; however, statements of internal practices and procedures that affect the rights and duties of taxpayers are published. Revenue rulings represent the conclusions of the Service on the application of the law to the pivotal facts stated in the revenue ruling. In those based on positions taken in rulings to taxpayers or technical advice to Service field offices, identifying details and information of a confidential nature are deleted to prevent unwarranted invasions of privacy and to comply with statutory requirements. Rulings and procedures reported in the Bulletin do not have the force and effect of Treasury Department Regulations, but they may be used as precedents. Unpublished rulings will not be relied on, used, or cited as precedents by Service personnel in the disposition of other cases. In applying pub- lished rulings and procedures, the effect of subsequent leg- islation, regulations, court decisions, rulings, and proce- dures must be considered, and Service personnel and oth- ers concerned are cautioned against reaching the same con- clusions in other cases unless the facts and circumstances are substantially the same. The Bulletin is divided into four parts as follows: Part I.—1986 Code. This part includes rulings and decisions based on provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Part II.—Treaties and Tax Legislation. This part is divided into two subparts as follows: Subpart A, Tax Conventions, and Subpart B, Legislation and Related Committee Reports. Part III.—Administrative, Procedural, and Miscellaneous. To the extent practicable, pertinent cross references to these subjects are contained in the other Parts and Sub- parts. Also included in this part are Bank Secrecy Act Admin- istrative Rulings. Bank Secrecy Act Administrative Rulings are issued by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of the Assistant Secretary (Enforcement). Part IV.—Items of General Interest. With the exception of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and the disbarment and suspension list included in this part, none of these announcements are consolidated in the Cumu- lative Bulletins. The first Bulletin for each month includes a cumulative index for the matters published during the preceding months. These monthly indexes are cumulated on a semiannual basis and are published in the first Bulletin of the succeeding semi- annual period, respectively. 3 Introduction The contents of this publication are not copyrighted and may be reprinted freely. A citation of the Internal Revenue Bulletin as the source would be appropriate. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. May 4, 199841998–18 I.R.B. It is the policy of the Internal Revenue Service to announce at an early date whether it will follow the holdings in cer- tain cases. An Action on Decision is the document making such an announcement. An Action on Decision will be issued at the discretion of the Service only on un- appealed issues decided adverse to the government. Generally, an Action on De- cision is issued where its guidance would be helpful to Service personnel working with the same or similar issues. Unlike a Treasury Regulation or a Revenue Ruling, an Action on Decision is not an affirma- tive statement of Service position. It is not intended to serve as public guidance and may not be cited as precedent. Actions on Decisions shall be relied upon within the Service only as conclu- sions applying the law to the facts in the particular case at the time the Action on Decision was issued. Caution should be exercised in extending the recommenda- tion of the Action on Decision to similar cases where the facts are different. More- over, the recommendation in the Action on Decision may be superseded by new legislation, regulations, rulings, cases, or Actions on Decisions. Prior to 1991, the Service published ac- quiescence or nonacquiescence only in certain regular Tax Court opinions. The Service has expanded its acquiescence program to include other civil tax cases where guidance is determined to be help- ful. Accordingly, the Service now may ac- quiesce or nonacquiesce in the holdings of memorandum Tax Court opinions, as well as those of the United States District Courts, Claims Court, and Circuit Courts of Appeal. Regardless of the court decid- ing the case, the recommendation of any Action on Decision will be published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. The recommendation in every Action on Decision will be summarized as ac- quiescence, acquiescence in result only, or nonacquiescence. Both “acquies- cence” and “acquiescence in result only” mean that the Service accepts the holding of the court in a case and that the Service will follow it in disposing of cases with the same controlling facts. However, “ac- quiescence” indicates neither approval nor disapproval of the reasons assigned by the court for its conclusions; whereas, “acquiescence in result only” indicates disagreement or concern with some or all of those reasons. Nonacquiescence signi- fies that, although no further review was sought, the Service does not agree with the holding of the court and, generally, will not follow the decision in disposing of cases involving other taxpayers. In ref- erence to an opinion of a circuit court of appeals, a nonacquiescence indicates that the Service will not follow the holding on a nationwide basis. However, the Service will recognize the precedential impact of the opinion on cases arising within the venue of the deciding circuit. The announcements published in the weekly Internal Revenue Bulletins are consolidated semiannually and annually. The semiannual consolidation appears in the first Bulletin for July and in the Cu- mulative Bulletin for the first half of the year, and the annual consolidation ap- pears in the first Bulletin for the follow- ing January and in the Cumulative Bul- letin for the last half of the year. The Commissioner ACQUIESCES in the following decisions: Golden Belt Telephone Cooperative v. Commissioner, 1 108 T.C. 498 (1997) Paul A. Bilzerian v. United States, 2 86 F.3d 1067 (11th Cir. 1996), rev’g 887 F. Supp. 1509 (M.D. Fla. 1995), remanded sub nom. Steffen v. United States,952 F. Supp. 779 (M.D. Fla. 1997) Announcement Relating to Court Decisions 1 Acquiescence in result only relating to whether billing and collection services performed by a rural telephone cooperative on behalf of long-distance carriers con- stitute “communication services” as defined in Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(12)(B). 2 Acquiescence in result only relating to whether issuance of an erroneous refund following taxpayer’s payment of the original assessment revives that assessment to permit enforced collection of the amount erroneously refunded. Section 42.—Low-Income Housing Credit The adjusted applicable federal short-term, mid- term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, on this page. Section 86.—Social Security and Tier 1 Railroad Retirement Benefits Notice 98–23 provides guidance regarding recent changes to the taxation of social security benefits under the U.S.-Canada income tax treaty. See Notice 98–23, page 9. Section 280G.—Golden Parachute Payments Federal short-term, mid-term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, on this page. Section 382.—Limitation on Net Operating Loss Carryforwards and Certain Built-In Losses Following Ownership Change The adjusted applicable federal long-term rate is set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, on this page. Section 412.—Minimum Funding Standards The adjusted applicable federal short-term, mid- term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, on this page. Section 467.—Certain Payments for the Use of Property or Services The adjusted applicable federal short-term, mid- term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, on this page. Section 468.—Special Rules for Mining and Solid Waste Reclamation and Closing Costs The adjusted applicable federal short-term, mid- term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, on this page. Section 482.—Allocation of Income and Deductions Among Taxpayers Federal short-term, mid-term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, on this page. Section 483.—Interest on Certain Deferred Payments The adjusted applicable federal short-term, mid- term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, on this page. Section 642.—Special Rules for Credits and Deductions Federal short-term, mid-term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, on this page. Section 807.—Rules for Certain Reserves The adjusted applicable federal short-term, mid- term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, on this page. Section 846.—Discounted Unpaid Losses Defined The adjusted applicable federal short-term, mid- term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, on this page. Section 1274.—Determination of Issue Price in the Case of Certain Debt Instruments Issued for Property (Also Sections 42, 280G, 382, 412, 467, 468, 482, 483, 642, 807, 846, 1288, 7520, 7872.) Federal rates; adjusted federal rates; adjusted federal long-term rate, and the long-term exempt rate.For purposes of sections 1274, 1288, 382, and other sections of the Code, tables set forth the rates for May 1998. Rev. Rul. 98–23 This revenue ruling provides various prescribed rates for federal income tax purposes for May 1998 (the current month.) Table 1 contains the short-term, mid-term, and long-term applicable fed- eral rates (AFR) for the current month for purposes of section 1274(d) of the Inter- nal Revenue Code. Table 2 contains the short-term, mid-term, and long-term ad- justed applicable federal rates (adjusted AFR) for the current month for purposes of section 1288(b). Table 3 sets forth the adjusted federal long-term rate and the long-term tax-exempt rate described in section 382(f). Table 4 contains the ap- propriate percentages for determining the low-income housing credit described in section 42(b)(2) for buildings placed in service during the current month. Finally, Table 5 contains the federal rate for deter- mining the present value of an annuity, an interest for life or for a term of years, or a remainder or a reversionary interest for purposes of section 7520. 1998–18 I.R.B.5May 4, 1998 Part I. Rulings and Decisions Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 May 4, 199861998–18 I.R.B. REV. RUL. 98–23 TABLE 1 Applicable Federal Rates (AFR) for May 1998 Period for Compounding AnnualSemiannualQuarterlyMonthly Short-Term AFR5.50%5.43%5.39%5.37% 110% AFR6.06%5.97%5.93%5.90% 120% AFR6.63%6.52%6.47%6.43% 130% AFR7.18%7.06%7.00% 6.96% Mid-Term AFR5.69% 5.61%5.57%5.55% 110% AFR6.27%6.17%6.12%6.09% 120% AFR6.84%6.73%6.67%6.64% 130% AFR7.42%7.29%7.22%7.18% 150% AFR8.60%8.42%8.33%8.28% 175% AFR 10.06%9.82%9.70% 9.62% Long-Term AFR5.94%5.85%5.81%5.78% 110% AFR6.54%6.44%6.39%6.36% 120% AFR7.14%7.02%6.96%6.92% 130% AFR7.75%7.61%7.54%7.49% REV. RUL. 98–23 TABLE 2 Adjusted AFR for May 1998 Period for Compounding AnnualSemiannualQuarterlyMonthly Short-term adjusted AFR3.73%3.70%3.68%3.67% Mid-term adjusted AFR4.30%4.25%4.23%4.21% Long-term adjusted AFR5.05%4.99%4.96%4.94% REV. RUL. 98–23 TABLE 3 Rates Under Section 382 for May 1998 Adjusted federal long-term rate for the current month5.05% Long-term tax-exempt rate for ownership changes during the current month (the highest of the adjusted federal long-term rates for the current month and the prior two months.)5.05% 1998–18 I.R.B.7May 4, 1998 REV. RUL. 98–23 TABLE 4 Appropriate Percentages Under Section 42(b)(2) for May 1998 Appropriate percentage for the 70% present value low-income housing credit8.36% Appropriate percentage for the 30% present value low-income housing credit3.58% REV. RUL. 98–23 TABLE 5 Rate Under Section 7520 for May 1998 Applicable federal rate for determining the present value of an annuity, an interest for life or a term of years, or a remainder or reversionary interest6.8% Section 1288.—Treatment of Original Issue Discount on Tax-Exempt Obligations The adjusted applicable federal short-term, mid- term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, page 5. Section 2511.—Transfers in General 26 CFR 25.2511–1: Transfers in general. (Also Section 2512; 25.2512–1.) Transfer of nonstatutory stock op- tion. This ruling provides guidance on the time that a completed gift occurs when a nonstatutory stock option is transferred without consideration by the optionee to a family member. Rev. Rul. 98–21 ISSUE When is the transfer of a nonstatutory stock option (i.e.,a compensatory stock option that is not subject to the provisions of § 421 of the Internal Revenue Code) by the optionee to a family member, for no consideration, a completed gift under § 2511? FACTS Ais employed by Company. Company has one class of stock. Company has a stock option plan under which employees can be awarded nonstatutory stock op- tions to purchase shares of Company’s stock. These stock options are not traded on an established market. The shares ac- quired on the exercise of an option are freely transferable, subject only to gener- ally applicable securities laws, and sub- ject to no other restrictions or limitations. Company grants to A, in consideration for services to be performed by A, a non- statutory stock option to purchase shares of Company common stock. Company’s stock option plan provides that the stock option is exercisable by Aonly after A performs additional services. All options granted under Company’s stock option plan expire 10 years from the grant date. The exercise price per share of A’s option is the fair market value of one share of Company’s common stock on the grant date. Company’s stock option plan permits the transfer of nonstatutory stock options to a member of an optionee’s im- mediate family or to a trust for the benefit of those individuals. The effect of such a transfer is that the transferee (after the re- quired service is completed and before the option’s expiration date) will determine whether and when to exercise the stock option and will also be obligated to pay the exercise price. Before Aperforms the additional ser- vices necessary to allow A’s option to be exercised, Atransfers A’s option to B, one of A’s children, for no consideration. LAW AND ANALYSIS Section 2501 imposes a tax on the transfer of property by gift by any indi- vidual. The gift tax is not imposed upon the receipt of the property by the donee, is not necessarily determined by the mea- sure of enrichment resulting to the donee from the transfer, and is not conditioned upon the ability to identify the donee at the time of the transfer. The tax is a pri- mary and personal liability of the donor, is an excise upon the donor’s act of mak- ing the transfer, is measured by the value of the property passing from the donor, and attaches regardless of the fact that the identity of the donee may not then be known or ascertainable. Section 25.2511– 2(a) of the Gift Tax Regulations. The gift tax applies to a transfer of property by way of gift, whether the transfer is in trust or otherwise, whether the gift is direct or indirect, and whether the property is real or personal, tangible or intangible. Section 25.2511–1(a). For this purpose, the term property is used in its broadest and most comprehensive sense and reaches “every species of right or interest protected by law and having an exchangeable value.” H.R. Rep. No. 708, 72d Cong., 1st Sess. 27 (1932); S. Rep. No. 665, 72d Cong., 1st Sess. 39, (1932); both reprinted in 1939–1 (Part 2) C.B. 476, 524. Some rights, however, are not property. See e.g., Estate of Howell v. Commissioner,15 T.C. 224 (1950) (non- vested pension rights were not property rights includible in gross estate under § 811(c) of the 1939 Code); Estate of Barr v. Commissioner,40 T.C. 227 (1963) acq., 1964–1 C.B. 4 (death benefits payable at discretion of board of directors who usually but not always, agreed to payment, were in the nature of hope or expectancy and not property rights in- cludible in gross estate for estate tax pur- poses). Generally, a gift is complete when the donor has so parted with dominion and control over the property as to leave the donor no power to change its disposition, whether for the donor’s own benefit or for the benefit of another. Section 25.2511– 2(b). In Estate of Copley v. Commissioner, 15 T.C. 17 (1950), aff ’d,194 F.2d 364 (7th Cir. 1952), acq.,1965–2 C.B. 4, the petitioner entered into an antenuptial agreement in which the petitioner promised to give the future spouse a sum of money in consideration of the marriage and in lieu of all the spouse’s marital rights in the petitioner’s property. The agreement became legally enforceable under state law on the date of the mar- riage in 1931. The petitioner transferred part of the sum of money in 1936 and the rest in 1944. The court concluded that a gift tax would have been due in 1931 if there had been a gift tax law in effect at that time. In Rev. Rul. 79–384, 1979–2 C.B. 344, a parent promised to pay a child $10,000 if the child graduated from college. Rev. Rul. 79–384 holds that the parent made a gift on the day the child graduated from college, the date when the parent’s promise became enforceable and deter- minable in value. In Rev. Rul. 80–186, 1980–2 C.B. 280, a parent transferred to a child, for nominal consideration, an option to purchase real property for a specified period of time at a price below fair value. Rev. Rul. 80–186 holds that the transfer is a completed gift at the time the option is transferred pro- vided the option is binding and enforce- able under state law on the date of the transfer. In the present case, Company grants to Aa nonstatutory stock option conditioned on the performance of additional services by A. If Afails to perform the services, the option cannot be exercised. There- fore, before Aperforms the services, the rights that Apossesses in the stock option have not acquired the character of en- forceable property rights susceptible of transfer for federal gift tax purposes. A can make a gift of the stock option to B for federal gift tax purposes only after A has completed the additional required services because only upon completion of the services does the right to exercise the option become binding and enforce- able. In the event the option were to be- come exercisable in stages, each portion of the option that becomes exercisable at a different time is treated as a separate option for the purpose of applying this analysis. In the event that Bis a skip per- son (within the meaning of § 2613(a)), the generation-skipping transfer tax would apply at the same time as the gift tax. SeeRev. Proc. 98–34, 1998–18, which sets forth a methodology to value certain compensatory stock options for gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax purposes. HOLDING On the facts stated above, the transfer to a family member, for no consideration, of a nonstatutory stock option, is a com- pleted gift under § 2511 on the later of (i) the transfer or (ii) the time when the donee’s right to exercise the option is no longer conditioned on the performance of services by the transferor. DRAFTING INFORMATION The principal author of this revenue ruling is Robert B. Hanson of the Office of Assistant Chief Counsel (Passthroughs and Special Industries). For further infor- mation regarding this revenue ruling, con- tact Melissa C. Liquerman on (202) 622- 3120 (not a toll-free call). Section 7520.—Valuation Tables The adjusted applicable federal short-term, mid- term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, page 5. Section 7872.—Treatment of Loans with Below-Market Interest Rates The adjusted applicable federal short-term, mid- term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of May 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–23, page 5. May 4, 199881998–18 I.R.B. 1998–18 I.R.B.9May 4, 1998 Taxation of Social Security Benefits Under U.S.-Canada Income Tax Treaty Notice 98–23 This notice provides guidance, in a question and answer format, regarding re- cent changes to the taxation of cross-bor- der social security benefits under the Con- vention Between the United States of America and Canada With Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital Signed at Washington on September 26, 1980 as Amended by the Protocols Signed on June 14, 1983, March 28, 1984, March 17, 1995, and July 29, 1997 (the “Treaty”). For an overview of the changes, see Sec- tion I of this notice. For rules that apply to U.S. residents who receive Canadian social security benefits, see Section II. For rules that apply to Canadian residents who re- ceive U.S. social security benefits, see Sec- tion III. For information concerning the Paperwork Reduction Act, see Section IV. For drafting information, see Section V. I. OVERVIEW OF CHANGES Paragraph 5 of Article XVIII of the Treaty provides rules that govern the tax- ation of U.S. social security benefits paid to Canadian residents and Canadian social security benefits paid to U.S. residents. These rules were extensively revised by the protocol signed on March 17, 1995 (the “1995 Protocol”) and again by the protocol signed on July 29, 1997 (the “1997 Protocol”). Under the Treaty prior to amendment by the 1995 Protocol, each country had the exclusive right to tax social security bene- fits paid to its residents by the other coun- try. The 1995 Protocol changed from a residence-based system to a source-based system, effective January 1, 1996. Under the 1995 Protocol, the country that paid benefits to residents of the other country had the exclusive right to tax the benefits. The 1997 Protocol returned to a resi- dence-based system under which social security benefits are taxable exclusively in the country where the recipient resides. The changes made by the 1997 Protocol are generally retroactive to January 1, 1996. However, benefits paid during 1996 and 1997 will not be subject to a higher rate of tax than was imposed under the 1995 Protocol. In addition, as explained below, individuals who received benefits during 1996 and 1997 that would be sub- ject to a lower rate of tax under the 1997 Protocol may be eligible for refunds. II. U.S. RESIDENTS WHO RECEIVE CANADIAN BENEFITS WHICH CANADIAN BENEFITS ARE COVERED? The changes made by the 1997 Proto- col affect the taxation of Old Age Security (OAS) pensions and Canada/Quebec Pen- sion Plan (CPP/QPP) benefits. HOW WERE MY BENEFITS TAXED DURING 1996 AND 1997? Under the old rules (that is, the 1995 Protocol), Canadian social security bene- fits paid to U.S. residents during 1996 and 1997 were subject to a 25-percent Cana- dian withholding tax. However, Canada permitted U.S. recipients of Canadian benefits to file Canadian tax returns and pay tax at regular graduated rates on their net income. As a result, some U.S. recipi- ents of Canadian social security benefits may have paid little or no Canadian tax on their benefits. HOW WILL MY BENEFITS BE TAXED UNDER THE NEW RULES? Under the new rules (that is, the 1997 Protocol), Canadian social security bene- fits paid to U.S. residents generally will be taxable, if at all, only by the United States. The benefits will be taxed at grad- uated rates on a net basis as if they were benefits paid under the U.S. Social Secu- rity Act. Thus, under section 86 of the In- ternal Revenue Code, the portion of the benefits that is taxable will depend on each recipient’s income level. For more information on the rules that apply to ben- efits paid under the U.S. Social Security Act, see IRS Publication 915 (Social Se- curity Benefits and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits). WHEN DO THE NEW RULES TAKE EFFECT? The new rules must be applied to bene- fits received during 1998 and future years. For 1996 and 1997, a U.S. resident who received Canadian social security benefits may choose to be taxed in the United States under the new rules or to re- main taxable in Canada under the old rules. WILL I HAVE TO PAY ANY ADDITIONAL TAX FOR 1996 OR 1997? The United States and Canada have agreed that taxpayers’ 1996 and 1997 benefits will not be subject to an in- creased rate of tax solely as a result of the 1997 Protocol. Therefore, U.S. recipients of Canadian social security benefits dur- ing 1996 or 1997 should not have to pay any additional tax unless there is some other factor that alters their tax liability. AM I ENTITLED TO A REFUND OF CANADIAN TAX? U.S. residents who received Canadian social security benefits during 1996 and 1997 on which Canadian tax was paid may be entitled to refunds. Taxpayers should calculate the amount of U.S. tax, if any, they would have been required to pay for 1996 and 1997 under the new rules. If this amount is less than the amount of Canadian tax paid, they generally are en- titled to a refund of the Canadian tax. However, they will be required to report the benefits on U.S. returns (see below) and pay any U.S. tax that would be due. WHAT SHOULD I DO TO OBTAIN MY REFUND? During February 1998, Revenue Canada mailed letters to U.S. residents who received Canadian social security benefits during 1996 and 1997. Recipi- ents of such letters should follow the in- structions provided in the letter and sub- mit the attached Election Form to Revenue Canada if they elect to be taxed in the United States. Revenue Canada will process the Election Forms and issue checks in the appropriate amount. Rev- enue Canada will notify the Internal Rev- enue Service of the Canadian benefits paid to the affected individuals and the amounts of the refunds issued. Taxpayers who did not receive a letter, but believe they are entitled to a refund of Part III. Administrative, Procedural, and Miscellaneous Canadian tax, should contact Revenue Canada by calling 1-800-661-7896, by sending a fax to 613-941-6905, or by writing to the International Tax Services Office, 2204 Walkley Road, Ottawa, On- tario K1A 1A8. Under the 1997 Protocol, taxpayers must apply for any refund of Canadian tax on or before December 16, 2000, which is three years from the date the 1997 Protocol entered into force. CAN I REVOKE MY ELECTION TO BE TAXED IN THE UNITED STATES INSTEAD OF CANADA? A taxpayer who receives a refund of Canadian tax may later determine that the amount of U.S. tax owed for 1996 and 1997 under the new rules is greater than the amount of Canadian tax that was orig- inally paid. In this case, the taxpayer may contact Revenue Canada on or before De- cember 16, 2000 to revoke the election and repay the Canadian tax. Revenue Canada will then advise the Internal Rev- enue Service that the taxpayer has re- voked the election to be taxed in the United States. HOW SHOULD I REPORT BENEFITS FOR 1996 AND 1997 ON MY TAX RETURNS? Taxpayers who are not applying for re- funds from Revenue Canada should not report the Canadian social security bene- fits received during 1996 and 1997 on U.S. federal income tax returns for 1996 and 1997. Taxpayers who are applying for refunds should report the benefits on U.S. returns as if the benefits had been paid under the U.S. Social Security Act. For more information on how to report benefits paid under the U.S. Social Secu- rity Act, see IRS Publication 915 (Social Security Benefits and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits). Taxpayers who apply for refunds and have not yet filed a 1996 or 1997 U.S. tax return must report the Canadian benefits on a 1996 or 1997 (as the case may be) U.S. tax return. Such a U.S. return must be filed even if a U.S. return would not otherwise be required and even if no U.S. tax is due. Taxpayers who were not previ- ously required to file U.S. returns will be required to do so as a result of their elec- tion to be taxable in the United States. At the top of their return, taxpayers should print or type the caption “CANADIAN TREATY—SOCIAL SECURITY.” Taxpayers who have already filed re- turns for 1996 and 1997 should file amended returns after they have received their refund checks from Revenue Canada and pay any U.S. tax that may be due. In- terest and penalties generally will not be imposed if the additional U.S. tax (if any) is paid by April 15, 1999. At the top of their amended return, taxpayers should print or type the caption “CANADIAN TREATY—SOCIAL SECURITY.” Taxpayers will not be entitled to any foreign tax credit for the Canadian tax that will be refunded. HOW SHOULD I REPORT BENEFITS FOR 1998 AND FUTURE YEARS ON MY TAX RETURNS? Canadian social security benefits re- ceived during 1998 and future years should be reported as if they were paid under the U.S. Social Security Act. For more information on how to report bene- fits paid under the U.S. Social Security Act, see IRS Publication 915 (Social Se- curity Benefits and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits). III. CANADIAN RESIDENTS WHO RECEIVE U.S. BENEFITS WHICH U.S. BENEFITS ARE COVERED? The changes made by the 1997 Proto- col affect the taxation of monthly benefits under title II of the Social Security Act and tier 1 railroad retirement benefits. HOW WERE MY BENEFITS TAXED DURING 1996 AND 1997? Under the old rules (that is, the 1995 Protocol), U.S. social security benefits paid to Canadian residents during 1996 and 1997 were subject to a 25.5-percent U.S. withholding tax. This was a final payment of tax. Canadian recipients of U.S. social security benefits, regardless of their level of income, could not elect to be taxed in the United States on a net basis at graduated rates. HOW WILL MY BENEFITS BE TAXED UNDER THE NEW RULES? Under the new rules (that is, the 1997 Protocol), U.S. social security benefits paid to Canadian residents generally will be taxable only by Canada. An amount equal to 85 percent of the benefits that are received will be subject to Canadian tax on a net basis as if the benefits were paid under the Canadian Pension Plan. WHEN DO THE NEW RULES TAKE EFFECT? The new rules must be applied to bene- fits received during 1998 and future years. For 1996 and 1997, Revenue Canada will determine whether it is more beneficial for taxpayers to be taxed in Canada under the new rules or to remain taxable in the United States under the old rules. More information is provided below. WILL I HAVE TO PAY ANY ADDITIONAL TAX FOR 1996 OR 1997? The United States and Canada have agreed that taxpayers’ 1996 and 1997 ben- efits will not be subject to an increased rate of tax solely as a result of the 1997 Protocol. Therefore, Canadian recipients of U.S. social security benefits during 1996 or 1997 should not have to pay any additional tax unless there is some other factor that alters their tax liability. AM I ENTITLED TO A REFUND OF U.S. TAX? Canadian residents who received U.S. social security benefits during 1996 or 1997 on which U.S. tax was paid may be entitled to a refund. Revenue Canada will calculate the amount of Canadian tax, if any, that would have been due for 1996 and 1997 under the new rules. If this amount is less than the amount of U.S. tax paid, the taxpayer generally will be enti- tled to a refund of the excess amount. Revenue Canada will notify taxpayers who are entitled to refunds. WHAT SHOULD I DO TO OBTAIN MY REFUND? Taxpayers who believe they are entitled to a refund should not claim a refund from the Internal Revenue Service at this time. Revenue Canada has set up procedures for determining which Canadian residents are entitled to refunds. Revenue Canada will apply for and obtain the refunds from May 4, 1998101998–18 I.R.B. the Internal Revenue Service on behalf of the affected individuals and will issue checks to them as soon as possible in the appropriate amount. IV. PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT The collections of information con- tained in this notice have been reviewed and approved by the Office of Manage- ment and Budget in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3507) under control number 1545–1602. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the col- lection of information displays a valid control number. The collections of information in this notice are in Sections II and III. This in- formation is required to implement the 1997 Protocol. This information will be used to determine the amounts of refunds of U.S. tax to which certain Canadian res- idents are entitled and to notify the Inter- nal Revenue Service as to the amounts of refunds of Canadian tax paid to certain U.S. residents. The collections of infor- mation are mandatory. The likely respon- dents are individuals. The estimated total annual reporting burden is 25,000 hours. The estimated annual burden per re- spondent varies from .25 hours to 1 hour, depending on individual circumstances, with an estimated average of .5 hours. The estimated number of respondents is 50,000. The estimated annual frequency of re- sponses is one time. Books or records relating to a collec- tion of information must be retained as long as their contents may become mater- ial 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. V. DRAFTING INFORMATION The principal authors of this notice are M. Grace Fleeman of the Office of Asso- ciate Chief Counsel (International) and Margaret M. Gavaghan of the Office of the Assistant Commissioner (Interna- tional). For further information regarding this notice, contact Ms. Gavaghan on (202) 874-1550 (not a toll-free call). Election To Continue To Treat Trust as a United States Person Notice 98–25 SECTION 1. PURPOSE This notice provides guidance regard- ing the election under § 1161 of the Tax- payer Relief Act of 1997, Pub. L. No. 105–34, 111 Stat. 788 (1997) (Taxpayer Relief Act). Section 1161(a) provides that to the extent prescribed in regulations by the Secretary of the Treasury or his dele- gate, a trust that was in existence on Au- gust 20, 1996 (other than a trust treated as owned by the grantor under subpart E of part I of subchapter J of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), and that was treated as a United States person on August 19, 1996, may elect to continue to be treated as a United States person notwithstanding § 7701(a)(30)(E). The Internal Revenue Service and the Depart- ment of the Treasury will incorporate the guidance contained in this notice in regu- lations. Accordingly, trusts should follow the procedures set forth in this notice. SECTION 2. BACKGROUND Prior to the Small Business Job Protec- tion Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–188, 110 Stat. 1755 (1996) (SBJP Act), the status of a trust as domestic or foreign turned upon the subjective determination of whether the trust was more comparable to a resident or a nonresident alien individ- ual. See Rev. Rul. 60–181, 1960–1 C.B. 257, citing B.W. Jones Trust v. Commis- sioner,46 B.T.A. 531 (1942), aff ’d,132 F.2d 914 (4th Cir. 1943) (prior law). Section 1907(a) of the SBJP Act amended § 7701(a)(30) and (31) of the Code to provide more objective criteria for determining the status of a trust. New § 7701(a)(30)(E) provides that a trust will be treated as a domestic trust if: (1) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the ad- ministration of the trust, and (2) one or more United States persons 1 have the au- thority to control all substantial decisions of the trust. New § 7701(a)(31) provides that a foreign trust is any trust that is not a domestic trust. New § 7701(a)(30) and (31) apply in determining the status of a trust for tax- able years beginning after December 31, 1996. A trust may, however, elect pur- suant to § 1907(a)(3)(B) of the SBJP Act to have the new criteria apply to the first taxable year of the trust ending after Au- gust 20, 1996 (the date of enactment of the SBJP Act). A trust that qualified as a domestic trust under prior law could fail to qualify as a domestic trust under new § 7701(a)(30)- (E). Thus, solely due to the change in law, a domestic trust could become a for- eign trust as of the first day of its first tax- able year beginning after December 31, 1996. Such a change may have signifi- cant adverse tax consequences. A non- grantor trust whose status changed from domestic to foreign prior to August 5, 1997 (the effective date of the repeal of § 1491), was treated for purposes of § 1491 as having transferred, upon be- coming a foreign trust, all of its assets to a foreign trust, and therefore may have been subject to the § 1491 excise tax. A nongrantor trust whose status changed from domestic to foreign on or after Au- gust 5, 1997 (the effective date of § 684) is treated as having transferred all of its assets to a foreign trust and must recog- nize as gain the excess of the fair market value of the property transferred over its adjusted basis under § 684. To avoid the change from domestic to foreign status, a domestic trust needed to amend its provisions to meet the defini- tion set forth in new § 7701(a)(30)(E) by the first day of its first taxable year begin- ning after December 31, 1996. To assist domestic trusts that may have had diffi- culty conforming to the new domestic trust criteria, the Service published Notice 96–65, 1996–2 C.B. 232. That notice per- mits a domestic trust in existence on Au- gust 20, 1996, to continue to file tax re- turns as a domestic trust for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996, notwithstanding the status of the trust under new § 7701(a)(30)(E), if certain conditions are satisfied. See also § 1601(i)(4) of the Taxpayer Relief Act. To obtain the relief provided in Notice 1998–18 I.R.B.11May 4, 1998 1 As originally enacted by the SBJP Act, new § 7701(a)(30)(E)(ii) required one or more United States fiduciaries to have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust. The Taxpayer Re- lief Act substituted the word “persons” for the word “fiduciaries.” 96–65, a trust is required to: (1) initiate modification of the trust to conform to new § 7701(a)(30)(E) by the due date (in- cluding extensions) for filing the trust’s income tax return for its first taxable year beginning after December 31, 1996; (2) complete the modification within two years of that date; and (3) attach a state- ment to the trust’s income tax return, as described in Notice 96–65. Subsequent to the publication of Notice 96–65, Congress enacted § 1161 of the Taxpayer Relief Act. Section 1161 allows a trust that was in existence on August 20, 1996 (other than a trust treated as owned by the grantor), and that was treated as a domestic trust on August 19, 1996, to elect to continue treatment as a domestic trust, regardless of the result of the appli- cation of new § 7701(a)(30)(E) to the trust. SECTION 3. TRUSTS ELIGIBLE TO MAKE THE ELECTION .01 Basic Rule. A trust that was in existence on August 20, 1996, and that was treated as a domes- tic trust on August 19, 1996, as provided in section 3.02, may elect to continue treatment as a domestic trust notwith- standing § 7701(a)(30)(E). This election is not available to a trust that was wholly- owned by its grantor under subpart E, part I, subchapter J, chapter 1, of the Code on August 20, 1996. (Wholly-owned grantor trusts may, however, follow the proce- dures in Notice 96–65.) The election is available to a trust if only a portion of the trust was treated as owned by the grantor under subpart E on August 20, 1996. If a partially-owned grantor trust makes the election, the election is effective for the entire trust. Also, a trust may not make the election if the trust has made an elec- tion pursuant to § 1907(a)(3)(B) of the SBJP Act to apply the new trust criteria to the first taxable year of the trust ending after August 20, 1996, because that elec- tion, once made, is irrevocable. .02 Determining Whether a Trust was Treated as a Domestic Trust on August 19, 1996 (1) Trusts Filing Form 1041 for the Taxable Year that Includes August 19, 1996 For purposes of the election, a trust is considered to have been treated as a do- mestic trust on August 19, 1996, if: (i) the trustee filed a Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts, for the trust for the period that includes August 19, 1996 (and did not file a Form 1040NR, U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Re- turn, for that year); and (ii) the trust had a reasonable basis (within the meaning of § 6662) under the prior law for reporting as a domestic trust for that period. (2) Trusts Not Filing a Form 1041 Some domestic trusts are not required to file Form 1041. For example, group trusts described in Rev. Rul. 81–100, 1981–1 C.B. 326, are not required to file Form 1041. Also, a domestic trust whose gross income for the taxable year is less than the amount required for filing an in- come tax return and that has no taxable income is not required to file a Form 1041. Section 6012(a)(4). For purposes of the election, a trust that filed neither a Form 1041 nor a Form 1040NR for the period that includes Au- gust 19, 1996, will be considered to have been treated as a domestic trust on August 19, 1996, if the trust had a reasonable basis (within the meaning of § 6662) under prior law (i) for being treated as a domestic trust for that period and (ii) for filing neither a Form 1041 nor a Form 1040NR for that period. SECTION 4. PROCEDURE FOR MAKING THE ELECTION .01 Required Statement. To make the election, a statement must be filed with the Service in the manner and time described in this notice. The statement must be entitled “Election to Remain a Domestic Trust under § 1161 of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997,” be signed under penalties of perjury by at least one trustee of the trust, and contain the following information: (1) A statement that the trust is electing to continue to be treated as a domestic trust under § 1161 of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997; (2) A statement that the trustee had a reasonable basis (within the meaning of § 6662) under prior law for treating the trust as a domestic trust on August 19, 1996. (The trustee need not explain the reason- able basis on the election statement); (3) A statement either that the trust filed a Form 1041 treating the trust as a domestic trust for the period that includes August 19, 1996, (and that the trust did not file a Form 1040NR for that period), or that the trust was not required to file a Form 1041 or a Form 1040NR for the pe- riod that includes August 19, 1996, with an accompanying brief explanation as to why a Form 1041 was not required to be filed; and (4) The name, address, and employer identification number of the trust. .02 Filing the Required Statement with the Service Except as provided below, the trust must attach the statement to a Form 1041. The statement may be attached to either the Form 1041 that is filed for the first taxable year of the trust beginning after December 31, 1996 (1997 taxable year), or to the Form 1041 filed for the first tax- able year of the trust beginning after De- cember 31, 1997 (1998 taxable year). The statement, however, must be filed no later than the due date for filing a Form 1041 for the 1998 taxable year, plus ex- tensions. The election will be effective for the 1997 taxable year, and thereafter, until revoked or terminated. If the trust has already filed a Form 1041 for the 1997 taxable year without the statement attached, the statement should be attached to the Form 1041 filed for the 1998 tax- able year. If the trust has insufficient gross in- come and no taxable income for its 1997 or 1998 taxable year, or both, and there- fore is not required to file a Form 1041 for either or both years, the trust must make the election by filing a Form 1041 for ei- ther the 1997 or 1998 taxable year with the statement attached (even though not otherwise required to file a Form 1041 for that year). The trust should only provide on the Form 1041 the trust’s name, name and title of fiduciary, address, employer identification number, date created, and type of entity. The statement must be at- tached to a Form 1041 that is filed no later than October 15, 1999. If the trust files a Form 1040NR for the 1997 taxable year based on application of new § 7701(a)(30)(E) to the trust, and sat- isfies Section 3.01 of this notice, in order for the trust to make the election the trust must file an amended Form 1040NR re- turn for the 1997 taxable year. The trust must note on the amended Form 1040NR that it is making an election under § 1161 May 4, 1998121998–18 I.R.B. of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. The trust must attach to the amended Form 1040NR the statement required by this no- tice and a completed Form 1041 for the 1997 taxable year. The items of income, deduction and credit of the trust must be excluded from the amended Form 1040NR and reported on the Form 1041. The amended Form 1040NR for the 1997 taxable year, with the statement and the Form 1041 attached, must be filed with the Philadelphia Service Center no later than the due date, plus extensions, for fil- ing a Form 1041 for the 1998 taxable year. If a trust has made estimated tax pay- ments as a foreign trust based on applica- tion of new § 7701(a)(30)(E) to the trust, but has not yet filed a Form 1040NR for the 1997 taxable year, when the trust files its Form 1041 for the 1997 taxable year it must note on its Form 1041 that it made estimated tax payments based on treat- ment as a foreign trust. The Form 1041 must be filed with the Philadelphia Ser- vice Center (and not with the service cen- ter where the trust ordinarily would file its Form 1041). If a trust forms part of a qualified stock bonus, pension, or profit sharing plan, the election provided by this notice must be made by attaching the statement to the plan’s annual return required under § 6058 (information return) for the first plan year beginning after December 31, 1996, or to the plan’s information return for the first plan year beginning after De- cember 31, 1997. The statement must be attached to the plan’s information return that is filed no later than the due date for filing the plan’s information return for the first plan year beginning after December 31, 1997, plus extensions. The election will be effective for the first plan year be- ginning after December 31, 1996, and thereafter, until revoked or terminated. Any other type of trust that is not re- quired to file a Form 1041 for the taxable year, but that is required to file an infor- mation return (for example, Form 5227) for the 1997 or 1998 taxable year must at- tach the statement to the trust’s informa- tion return for the 1997 or 1998 taxable year. However, the statement must be at- tached to an information return that is filed no later than the due date for filing the trust’s information return for the 1998 taxable year, plus extensions. The elec- tion will be effective for the 1997 taxable year, and thereafter, until revoked or ter- minated. A group trust under Rev. Rul. 81–100, 1981–1 C.B. 326, (and any other trust that is not described above and that is not re- quired to file a Form 1041 or an informa- tion return) need not attach the statement to any return and should file the statement with the Philadelphia Service Center. The trust must make the election provided by this notice by filing the statement by Oc- tober 15, 1999. The election will be ef- fective for the 1997 taxable year, and thereafter, until revoked or terminated. .03 Failure to File the Statement in the Required Manner and Time. If a trust fails to file the statement in the manner or time provided in Section 4.01 and 4.02, the trustee may provide a writ- ten statement to the district director hav- ing jurisdiction over the trust setting forth the reasons for failing to file the statement in the required manner or time. If the dis- trict director determines that the failure to file the statement in the required manner or time was due to reasonable cause, the district director may grant the trust an ex- tension of time to file the statement. Whether an extension of time is granted shall be in the sole discretion of the dis- trict director. However, the relief pro- vided by this notice is not ordinarily available if the statute of limitations for the trust’s 1997 taxable year has expired. Additionally, if the district director grants an extension of time, it may contain terms with respect to assessment as may be nec- essary to ensure that the correct amount of tax will be collected from the trust, its owners, and its beneficiaries. SECTION 5. REVOCATION OR TERMINATION OF THE ELECTION AND PUBLIC COMMENTS Section 1161(a) of the Taxpayer Relief Act authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations regarding the election to re- main a domestic trust. The regulations will incorporate the rules contained in this no- tice and provide guidance with respect to when the occurrence of certain significant changes in circumstances related to the trust will terminate the election (for exam- ple, changes in the trustees from United States persons to foreign persons). The regulations will also contain procedures for revoking the election. The Service and the Treasury Department request comments on the rules in this notice and, in particular, the change in circumstances that would cause a termination of the election. Comments should be submitted by June 30, 1998 to: Internal Revenue Ser- vice, P.O. Box 7604, Ben Franklin Sta- tion, Washington, DC 20044, Attn: CC:DOM:CORP:R (Notice 98–25 CC:DOM:P&SI:2), Room 5226. Submis- sions may be hand-delivered between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to: Courier’s Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC, Attn: CC:DOM:CORP:R (Notice 98–25 CC:DOM:P&SI:2), Room 5226. Alterna- tively, taxpayers may submit comments electronically at http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/tax__ regs/comments.html (the Service’s internet site). All com- ments submitted will be available for pub- lic inspection and copying. Please iden- tify the comments as relating to this Notice 98–25. SECTION 6. EFFECT OF THIS NOTICE ON NOTICE 96–65 A trust that otherwise qualifies for the relief under this notice has the option of proceeding under the provisions of Notice 96–65 or this Notice 98–25, or both. If the trustee has begun conforming a trust’s provisions under Notice 96–65 to meet the definition set forth in new § 7701(a)- (30)(E), the trustee may discontinue con- forming the trust’s provisions to meet the new domestic trust criteria if the trustee proceeds under this Notice 98–25 instead of Notice 96–65. SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE This notice applies to an election made for the first taxable year of a trust begin- ning after December 31, 1996. The provi- sions of this notice will be incorporated into regulations that will be effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996. PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT The collections of information con- tained in this notice have been reviewed and approved by the Office of Manage- ment and Budget for review in accor- dance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 1998–18 I.R.B.13May 4, 1998 (44 U.S.C. 3507) under control number 1545–1600. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the col- lection of information displays a valid control number. The collections of information in this notice are in section 4 headed Procedure for Making the Election.This informa- tion is required by the IRS to assure com- pliance with the provisions of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 and the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. The likely respondents are trusts. The estimated total annual reporting burden is 250,000 hours. The estimated average annual burden per respondent is 30 minutes. The estimated number of respondents is 500,000. The estimated annual frequency of re- sponses is once. Books or records relating to a collec- tion of information must be retained as long as their contents may become mater- ial 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. DRAFTING INFORMATION The principal authors of this notice are Eliana Dolgoff and James A. Quinn of the Office of Assistant Chief Counsel (Passthroughs & Special Industries). For further information regarding this notice contact Ms. Dolgoff or Mr. Quinn on (202) 622-3060 (not a toll-free call). For further information about the interna- tional tax consequences of the election that is the subject of this notice contact Trina Dang of the Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (International) on (202) 622-3880. Weighted Average Interest Rate Update Notice 98–26 Notice 88–73 provides guidelines for determining the weighted average interest rate and the resulting permissible range of interest rates used to calculate current lia- bility for the purpose of the full funding limitation of § 412(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code as amended by the Om- nibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 and as further amended by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, Pub. L. 103–465 (GATT). The average yield on the 30-year Trea- sury Constant Maturities for March 1998 is 5.95 percent. The following rates were determined for the plan years beginning in the month shown below. May 4, 1998141998–18 I.R.B. 90% to 106%90% to 110% WeightedPermissiblePermissible MonthYearAverage RangeRange April19986.676.00 to 7.076.00 to 7.34 Drafting Information The principal author of this notice is Donna Prestia of the Employee Plans Di- vision. For further information regarding this notice, call (202) 622-6076 between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Eastern time (not a toll-free number). Ms. Prestia’s number is (202) 622-7377 (also not a toll-free number). Renewable Electricity Production Credit, Publication of Inflation Adjustment Factor and Reference Prices for Calendar Year 1998 Notice 98–27 This notice publishes the inflation ad- justment factor and reference prices for calendar year 1998 for the renewable electricity production credit under § 45(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. The 1998 inflation adjustment factor and reference prices are used in determining the avail- ability of the credit. The 1998 inflation adjustment factor and reference prices apply to calendar year 1998 sales of kilo- watt-hours of electricity produced in the United States or a possession thereof from qualified energy resources. BACKGROUND Section 45(a) provides that the renew- able electricity production credit for any tax year is an amount equal to the product of 1.5 cents multiplied by the kilowatt- hours of specified electricity produced by the taxpayer and sold to an unrelated per- son during the tax year. This electricity must be produced from qualified energy resources and at a qualified facility during the 10-year period beginning on the date the facility was originally placed in ser- vice. Section 45(b)(1) provides that the amount of the credit determined under § 45(a) is reduced by an amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of the credit as (A) the amount by which the reference price for the calendar year in which the sale occurs exceeds 8 cents bears to (B) 3 cents. Under § 45(b)(2), the 1.5 cents in § 45(a) and the 8 cents in § 45(b)(1) are each adjusted by multiplying the amount by the inflation adjustment factor for the calendar year in which the sale occurs. Section 45(c)(1) defines qualified en- ergy resources as wind and closed-loop biomass. Section 45(c)(3) defines a qual- ified facility as any facility owned by the taxpayer that originally is placed in ser- vice after December 31, 1993 (December 31, 1992, in the case of a facility using closed-loop biomass to produce electric- ity), and before July 1, 1999. Section 45(d)(2)(A) requires the Secre- tary to determine and publish in the Fed- eral Register each calendar year the infla- tion adjustment factor and the reference prices for the calendar year. The inflation adjustment factor and the reference prices for the 1998 calendar year were published in the Federal Register on April 1, 1998, (62 Fed. Reg. 15917). Section 45(d)(2)(B) defines the infla- tion adjustment factor for a calendar year as the fraction the numerator of which is the GDP implicit price deflator for the preceding calendar year and the denomi- nator of which is the GDP implicit price deflator for the calendar year 1992. The term “GDP implicit price deflator” means the most recent revision of the implicit price deflator for the gross domestic prod- uct as computed and published by the De- partment of Commerce before March 15 of the calendar year. Section 45(d)(2)(C) provides that the reference price is the Secretary’s determi- nation of the annual average contract price per kilowatt hour of electricity gen- erated from the same qualified energy re- source and sold in the previous year in the United States. Only contracts entered into after December 31, 1989, are taken into account. INFLATION ADJUSTMENT FACTOR AND REFERENCE PRICES The inflation adjustment factor for cal- endar year 1998 is 1.1240. The reference prices for calendar year 1998 are 4.95 cents per kilowatt-hour for facilities pro- ducing electricity from wind energy re- sources and 0 cents per kilowatt-hour for facilities producing electricity from closed-loop biomass energy resources. The reference price for electricity pro- duced from closed-loop biomass, as de- fined in § 45(c)(2), is based on a determi- nation under § 45(d)(2)(C) that in calendar year 1997 there were no sales of electricity generated from closed-loop biomass energy resources under contracts entered into after December 31, 1989. PHASE-OUT CALCULATION Because the 1998 reference prices for electricity produced from wind and closed-loop biomass energy resources do not exceed 8 cents per kilowatt hour mul- tiplied by the inflation adjustment factor, the phaseout of the credit provided in § 45(b)(1) does not apply to electricity produced from wind or closed-loop bio- mass energy resources sold during calen- dar year 1998. CREDIT AMOUNT As required by § 45(b)(2), the 1.5¢ amount in § 45(a)(1) is adjusted by multi- plying such amount by the inflation ad- justment factor for the calendar year in which the sale occurs. If any amount as increased under the preceding sentence is not a multiple of 0.1¢, such amount is rounded to the nearest multiple of 0.1¢. Under the calculation required by § 45(b)(2), the renewable electricity pro- duction credit for calendar year 1998 is 1.7¢ per kilowatt hour on the sale of elec- tricity produced from closed-loop bio- mass and wind energy resources. DRAFTING INFORMATION CONTACT The principal author of this notice is David A. Selig of the Office of Assistant Chief Counsel (Passthroughs and Special Industries). For further information re- garding this notice contact Mr. Selig at (202) 622-3040 (not a toll-free call). 26 CFR 601.105: Examination of returns and claims for refund, credit or abatement; determination of correct tax liability. (Also Part I, Section 2512; Section 25.2512–1.) Rev. Proc. 98–34 SECTION 1. PURPOSE This revenue procedure sets forth a methodology to value for gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax (“transfer tax”) purposes certain compensatory stock options described in Section 3 of this revenue procedure. Taxpayers relying on this revenue procedure may use an op- tion pricing model that takes into account on the valuation date specific factors that are similar to those established by the Fi- nancial Accounting Standards Board in Accounting for Stock-Based Compensa- tion, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, (Fin. Accounting Standards Bd. 1995), (FAS 123). The In- ternal Revenue Service will treat the value of a compensatory stock option as properly determined for transfer tax pur- poses, provided that the requirements of this revenue procedure are met. SECTION 2. BACKGROUND Section 2512(a) of the Internal Rev- enue Code provides that, if a gift is made in property, the value of the property at the date of the gift is the amount of the gift. Section 25.2512–1 of the Gift Tax Reg- ulations provides that for gift tax purposes the value of property is the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, nei- ther being under any compulsion to buy or to sell and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts. Section 2031(a) provides that the value of the gross estate is determined by in- cluding the value at the time of the dece- dent’s death of all property, real or per- sonal, tangible or intangible, wherever situated. Section 20.2031–1(b) of the Estate Tax Regulations provides that the value of every item of property includible in a decedent’s gross estate is its fair market value at the time of the decedent’s death. Section 2032(a) provides that the ex- ecutor may elect to use an alternate valua- tion date. Under this election, the value of all property included in the gross estate generally is determined as of 6 months after the decedent’s death. However, property distributed, sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of within 6 months after death must be valued as of the date of sale, exchange, or other disposition. Section 2624(a) provides that, except as otherwise provided in Chapter 13, property is valued at the time of the gen- eration- skipping transfer. FAS 123 establishes financial account- ing and reporting standards for stock- based employee compensation plans. Under FAS 123, the fair value of a stock option granted by a public entity is esti- mated using an option pricing model (for example, the Black-Scholes model or a binomial model) that takes into account as of the option grant date: (1) the exercise price of the option; (2) the expected life of the option; (3) the current price of the un- derlying stock; (4) the expected volatility of the underlying stock; (5) the expected dividends on the underlying stock; and (6) the risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option. FAS 123 generally requires a public en- tity to disclose in its financial statements for each year beginning after December 15, 1994, a description of the method and significant assumptions used during the year to estimate the fair value of stock op- tions granted during the year, including the following weighted-average informa- tion: (1) expected life of the options; (2) expected volatility; (3) expected divi- dends; and (4) risk-free interest rate. (The foregoing is not a complete list of the dis- closures required by FAS 123. For exam- ple, FAS 123 also requires financial state- 1998–18 I.R.B.15May 4, 1998 ment disclosure of the weighted-average exercise prices of options granted during the year.) SECTION 3. SCOPE This revenue procedure applies only to the valuation for transfer tax purposes of nonpublicly traded compensatory stock options (that is, stock options that are granted in connection with the perfor- mance of services, including stock op- tions that are subject to the provisions of § 421), on stock that, on the valuation date, is publicly traded on an established securities market. The options to which this revenue procedure applies are re- ferred to herein as “Compensatory Stock Options.” SECTION 4. APPLICATION .01 Taxpayers may determine the value of Compensatory Stock Options for trans- fer tax purposes by using a generally rec- ognized option pricing model (for exam- ple, the Black-Scholes model or an accepted version of the binomial model) that takes into account as of the valuation date the following factors: (1) the exer- cise price of the option; (2) the expected life of the option; (3) the current trading price of the underlying stock; (4) the ex- pected volatility of the underlying stock; (5) the expected dividends on the underly- ing stock; and (6) the risk-free interest rate over the remaining option term. .02 In order to rely on this revenue procedure: (1) the taxpayer must use the factors determined in section 4.03 through 4.07 of this revenue procedure; (2) each of the factors used in applying the option pricing model must be reason- able (for this purpose, the use of the fac- tors in section 4.03 through 4.07 of this revenue procedure will be deemed rea- sonable); (3) the option pricing model must be properly applied; (4) the com- pany that granted the option must be sub- ject to FAS 123 in preparing its financial statements for the fiscal year of the com- pany that includes the valuation date; (5) the underlying stock must be common stock and must be the same stock for which the expected volatility and ex- pected dividends were estimated by the company for purposes of FAS 123; and (6) no discount can be applied to the valu- ation produced by the option pricing model (for example, no discount can be taken due to lack of transferability or due to the termination of the option within a specified number of days following termi- nation of employment). .03 Except as provided in section 4.04 of this revenue procedure, in determining the factor for the expected life of the op- tion, taxpayers must use either (1) the maximum remaining term of the option on the valuation date (Maximum Remain- ing Term), or (2) the expected life of the option on the valuation date computed in accordance with this section (Computed Expected Life). The Maximum Remain- ing Term is the number of years rounded down to the nearest 1/10th of a year from the valuation date until the option’s expi- ration date (assuming no condition or event occurs that would shorten the life of the option). The Computed Expected Life is deter- mined in the following manner: Step one: Obtain the weighted-average expected life of options granted by the publicly traded company that, for pur- poses of complying with FAS 123, is dis- closed in its financial statements for the fiscal year that includes the valuation date. (If, instead of disclosing a weighted-aver- age expected life for options granted dur- ing the fiscal year, the company disclosed a method for computing the expected life of the options granted during the fiscal year, the taxpayer must compute the weighted-average expected life for the taxpayer’s option using the method dis- closed by the company.) Step two: Divide the weighted-average expected life determined in step one by the number of years, rounded up to the nearest 1/10th of a year, from the date the option was granted (without regard to the application of § 424(h)(1)) until the op- tion’s expiration date (assuming no condi- tion or event occurs that would shorten the life of the option). Step three: Multiply the quotient ob- tained in step two by the Maximum Re- maining Term. The resulting number rounded down to the nearest 1/10th is the Computed Expected Life expressed in years. This calculation can be demonstrated by the following example. Assume that on September 1, 1998, Ais granted a stock option from Company that will ter- minate on the earlier of the date 10 years from the date of grant or the date 90 days after the termination of A’s employment with Company. The option becomes fully exercisable 3 years from the date of grant. For the fiscal year that includes Septem- ber 1, 2001, Company discloses in a foot- note to its financial statements, in accor- dance with FAS 123, that the weighted-average expected life of stock options granted by the Company during the fiscal year is 6 years. On September 1, 2001, when A’s option becomes fully exercisable, Amakes a gift of a portion of the option. On September 1, 2001, A’s option qualifies as a Compensatory Stock Option. For purposes of step one, the weighted-average expected life is 6 years, as disclosed by Company for purposes of complying with FAS 123 for the fiscal year that includes the valuation date. For purposes of step two, the weighted-aver- age expected life of 6 years is divided by 10 years, the maximum term of A’s option on the date the option was granted by Company. The resulting quotient is 0.6 (6 years divided by 10 years equals 0.6). For purposes of step three, the quotient in step two is multiplied by the Maximum Re- maining Term to determine the Computed Expected Life. The result is 4.2 years (0.6 times 7 years equals 4.2 years). .04 Taxpayers must use the Maximum Remaining Term (and may not use the Computed Expected Life) as the expected life of the option on the valuation date if one (or more) of the following conditions is present: (1) the transferor of the option (or the decedent, in the case of a transfer at death) is not the person to whom the option being valued was granted by the company; (2) except in the case of a transfer at death, the transferor is not an employee or director of the company on the valuation date; (3) except in the case of the death or disability (within the meaning of § 22(e)(3)) of the transferor, the option being valued does not terminate within 6 months of termination of employment (or service as a director) of the transferor with the company; (4) the terms of the option being valued permit the option to be transferred to, or for the benefit of, one or more persons other than either persons who are the nat- ural objects of the transferor’s bounty or a charitable organization; May 4, 1998161998–18 I.R.B. (5) except in the case of the death of the transferor, the option being valued has an exercise price that is not fixed on the val- uation date. The option does not have a fixed exercise price if, for example, the exercise price is determined by a formula the results of which might change after the valuation date. In addition, an option will be deemed not to have a fixed exer- cise price if the company issuing the op- tion has repriced options (that is, directly or indirectly lowered the exercise price of outstanding compensatory stock options) within the 3-year period ending on the valuation date; (6) except in the case of the death of the transferor, the option being valued has terms and conditions such that if all the options granted in the fiscal year of the company that includes the valuation date had the same terms and conditions, the weighted-average expected life for the year would have been more than 120% of the weighted-average expected life actu- ally reported for the year; or (7) the company is not required by FAS 123 to disclose an expected life of the op- tions granted in the fiscal year of the com- pany that includes the valuation date. .05 In determining the factor for the expected volatility of the underlying stock, taxpayers must use the expected volatility of the underlying stock that, for purposes of complying with FAS 123, is disclosed in the financial statements of the publicly traded company for the fiscal year of the company that includes the val- uation date. .06 In determining the factor for the expected dividends on the underlying stock, taxpayers must use the expected dividends on the underlying stock that, for purposes of complying with FAS 123, is disclosed in the financial statements of the publicly traded company for the fiscal year of the company that includes the val- uation date. .07 In determining the factor for the risk-free interest rate, taxpayers must use the yield to maturity on the valuation date of zero-coupon U.S. Treasury Bonds with a remaining term (as of the valuation date) nearest to the expected life of the option on the valuation date as deter- mined in section 4.03 of this revenue pro- cedure. .08 Taxpayers utilizing this revenue procedure to value a Compensatory Stock Option for transfer tax purposes should indicate on the applicable gift, estate, or generation-skipping transfer tax return: “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 98–34.” DRAFTING INFORMATION The principal author of this revenue procedure is Robert B. Hanson of the Of- fice of Assistant Chief Counsel (Passthroughs and Special Industries). For further information regarding this revenue procedure, contact Mr. Hanson on (202) 622-3050 or Melissa C. Liquer- man on (202) 622-3120 (not toll-free calls). 1998–18 I.R.B.17May 4, 1998 May 4, 1998181998–18 I.R.B. Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Regulations Tax Treatment of Cafeteria Plans; Hearing REG–243025–96 AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service, Treasury. ACTION: Notice of public hearing on proposed regulations. SUMMARY: This document provides notice of a public hearing on proposed amendments that would provide guidance on the circumstances under which a cafe- teria plan participant may revoke an exist- ing election and make a new election dur- ing a period of coverage. DATES: The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 1998, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Requests to speak and out- lines of oral comments must be received by Tuesday, April 14, 1998. ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held in room 2615, Internal Revenue Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. Requests to speak and outlines of oral comments should be sub- mitted to the CC:DOM:CORP:R (REG– 243025–96), room 5226, Internal Rev- enue Service, POB 7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044. Submis- sions may be hand delivered between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to: CC:DOM: CORP:R (REG–243025–96), Courier’s Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CON- TACT: Mike Slaughter of the Regula- tions Unit, Assistant Chief Counsel (Cor- porate), 202-622-7190 (not a toll-free number). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject of the public hearing is pro- posed regulations under section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code. These regulations appeared in the Federal Register(62 F.R. 60196) on Friday, November 7, 1997. The rules of §601.601 (a)(3) of the “Statement of Procedural Rules” (26 CFR part 601) shall apply with respect to the public hearing. Persons who have sub- mitted written comments within the time prescribed in the notice of proposed rule- making and who also desire to present oral comments at the hearing on the pro- posed regulations should submit not later than Tuesday, April 21, 1998, an outline of the oral comments/testimony to be pre- sented at the hearing and the time they wish to devote to each subject. Each speaker (or group of speakers rep- resenting a single entity) will be limited to 10 minutes for an oral presentation exclu- sive of the time consumed by the ques- tions from the panel for the government and answers to these questions. Because of controlled access restric- tions, attendees cannot be admitted be- yond the lobby of the Internal Revenue Building until 9:45 a.m. An agenda showing the scheduling of the speakers will be made after outlines are received from the persons testifying. Copies of the agenda will be available free of charge at the hearing. Cynthia E. Grigsby, Chief, Regulations Unit, Assistant Chief Counsel (Corporate). (Filed by the Office of the Federal Register on March 18, 1998, 8:45 a.m., and published in the issue of the Federal Register for March 19, 1998, 63 F.R. 13383). Foundations Status of Certain Organizations Announcement 98–36 The following organizations have failed to establish or have been unable to maintain their status as public charities or as operating foundations. Accordingly, grantors and contributors may not, after this date, rely on previous rulings or des- ignations in the Cumulative List of Orga- nizations (Publication 78), or on the pre- sumption arising from the filing of notices under section 508(b) of the Code. This listing does notindicate that the organiza- tions have lost their status as organiza- tions described in section 501(c)(3), eligi- ble to receive deductible contributions. Former Public Charities.The following organizations (which have been treated as organizations that are not private founda- tions described in section 509(a) of the Code) are now classified as private foun- dations: Christians for Renewed Family Values, Inc., St. Petersburg, FL Christopher Area Youth Association, Christopher, IL Cincinnati Organization of Parents of Suzuki, Cincinnati, OH Circle B. Blessings Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc., Walkerton, IN Citizens Against Ravaging Our Environment, Inc., Clinton, MI Citizens for Positive Affirmation Inc., Jacksonville, FL Citizens for Tomorrows Future Inc., Ivanhole, NC Citizens Housing and Motivation Program-CHAMP, Houston, TX Citizens Island Bridge Company LTD, Lake Havasu, AZ Citizens Promoting Recycling, Rifle, CO Coast of Judea Inc., Whitesboro, NJ Coastal Area Home Providers Association, Inc., Savannah, GA Coastal Carolina HIV Care Consortium, Inc., Jacksonville, NC Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services Benevolent Fund, Marietta, GA Coffee Springs School District Foundation, Inc., Coffee Springs, AL Coker Volunteer Fire Department Inc., Coker, AL Colcord Little League Inc., Colcord, OK College Information Systems, Hickory, NC Collegians Activated To Liberate Life Call, Madison, WI Collierville Rotary Foundation, Collierville, TN Collirene Youth Recreation Inc., Tyler, AL Collision Ministries Inc., Franklin, TN Colony Library Foundation, The Colony, TX Colorado American Indian Foundation, Denver, CO Colorado Assistance Center Inc., Denver, CO Colorado Association for Healthcare Quality, Inc., Fort Collins, CO Colorado Childrens Center for the Cinematic & Performing Arts, Inc., Denver, CO Part IV. Items of General Interest 1998–18 I.R.B.19May 4, 1998 Colorado Foxes Recreational Soccer Club, Inc., Parker, CO Colorado Senior Network Users Group, Colorado Springs, CO Colorado Staff Development Council, Broomfield, CO Colorado Teamsters Hispanic Caucus Joint Council 3, Denver, CO Colorado Veterans for Housing Inc., Denver, CO Colorado Young Lawyers Christmas in January Inc., Colorado Springs, CO Columbia State U Inc., Metairie, LA Columbus-Copapayo Sister City Project, Columbus, OH Columbus Quincentennial Foundation Inc., Media, PA Coming Together To Help Promotions, Philadelphia, PA Comites Inc., Miami, FL Commerce Enhancement Corporation, Shelbyville, KY Committee for the March on Washington, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA Community Access Centers Inc., Roanoke, VA Community Access Television Inc., Fayetteville, AR Community Action Services, Provo, UT Community Help Inc., Columbia, SC Community Housing Action Team Incorporated, Indianapolis, IN Community Housing Assistance Program, Lebanon, OH Community Housing Corporation, Southfield, MI Community Impact Organization, Greenville, NC Community Multi-Cultural Action Team, Jackson, TN Community of Men, Chicago, IL Community Redevelopment Inc., Atlanta, GA Community Reinvestment Foundation Inc., Indianapolis, IN Community Relations Council in Anderson County, Inc., Palestine, TX Community Resource Council Polk Youth Institute, Inc., Raleigh, NC Community Resources Inc., Thomasville, GA Community Resources Unlimited Inc., Silver Spring, MD Community Social Service Inc., Baton Rouge, LA Community United Neighbors Against Drugs, Philadelphia, PA Community Volunteer Training, Kansas City, MO Community Works, Charlotte, NC Community Youth Association, Nevada, TX Compani, Richfield, UT Compass Ministries Inc., Glendale, AZ Compass Theatre Company, Denver, CO Compassionate Heart Ministries Inc., Kansas City, MO Comprehensive Care Center Memorial Fund, Houston, TX Computer Awareness Foundation Inc., Edison, NJ Computer Lifeskills Center Inc., Grand Rapids, MI Comsoft, Clemson, SC Concerned Citizens for a Better Community, Harvey, IL Concerned Citizens of Central Texas Sentinel Communications, Waco, TX Concerned Clergy Foundation Inc., Indianapolis, IN Concerned Senior Citizens of Colorado, Inc., Fort Collins, CO Concert Dance Ensemble, Waxahachie, TX Concho Valley Regional Hospital Auxiliary, San Angelo, TX Conneaut Education Foundation, Conneaut, OH Connections for a Better World Inc., Chevy Chase, MD Connor Moran Childrens Cancer Foundation, Inc., Tequesta, FL Conquerors Quartet Ministries Incorporated, Evansville, IN Conway Youth Sports Club Inc., Conway, AR Cook County Council on Child Abuse Inc., Adel, GA Cormagda Inc., Chicago, IL Cornerstone Ministries Inc., Dodge City, KS Corning Community Center Inc., Corning, AR Coulters Mill Baptist Fellowship, Oreana, IL Council for Urban Peace and Justice, Granville, OH Council of Friends Groups of Akron, Akron, OH Counseling Advocacy Resources Inc., Kokomo, IN Count & Countess De Hoernle, Deerfield Beach, FL Count It All Joy Inc., Seymour, IN Country Heights Playground, Owensboro, KY Country Kids Pre-School and Day, Pocahontas, AR Court Appointed Special Advocates, Lewisville, TX Coweta Communities in Schools Inc., Newnan, GA Cowtown Opry, Fort Worth, TX Cozad Youth Recreation, Cozad, NE Craigs Divorced Kids, Craig, CO Cranberry Township Athletic, Cranberry Twp, PA Craven County Pirate Club, New Bern, NC Create Inc., Tallahassee, FL Creations Anew Inc., North Royalton, OH Creative Learning Day-Care Inc., St. Martinville, LA Creative Playground of Ft. Pierce, Ft. Pierce, FL Creek County Sheriff Reserve, Supulpa, OK Creole Chapter 43 NAWCC, Metairie, LA Crime Stoppers of Carroll County, Huntingdon, TN Crime Stoppers of Mayfield & Graves, Mayfield, KY Crisis Pregnancy CARECenter Inc., Harrodsburg, KY Crisis Pregnancy Help-Line, Manistique, MI Crisis Pregnancy Services of ADA, Ada, OK Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, Winter Haven, FL Critical Thought Development, Grand Rapids, MI Cro-Aid Corp, Fort Lee, NJ Croatian Council of Kansas City Inc., Kansas City, KS Croation Youth of New Jersey Inc., Fort Lee, NJ Crofton Park Production Company, Morristown, TN Crossroad Farms Inc., Newark, DE Crossroads Career Services Inc., Atlanta, GA Crosstown Outreach Services, Detroit, MI Crown Broadcasting Company, Pella, IA Dreammakers International Education Inc., Columbus, OH Dreamstreets Press Incorporated, Newark, DE May 4, 1998201998–18 I.R.B. Driver of the Year Foundation Inc., Pittsburgh, PA Drug and AIDS Prevention Among African-Americans Inc., Smithfield, NC Drug Free Housing Foundation Inc., Jacksonville, FL Drug Free Workplace Coalition of Palm Beach County Inc., West Palm Beach, FL Drug Watch International, Elmhurst, IL Dublin Irish Celebration, Dublin, OH Dubuque Area Youth Leadership Council, Dubuque, IA Duke and Duchess Inc., Houston, TX Dunbar Bulldog Academic and Athletic Boosters Inc., Lexington, KY Duncanville Soccer Association, Duncanville, TX Durand Farm Natural Preserve Inc., Decatur, GA Episcopal Investment Corporation, Houston, TX Epsilon Tau Omega Endowment Fund, Greenville, SC Equestrian Challenge of Naples Inc., Naples, FL Equestrian Support Group, Hampton, AR Equip and Unify to Reach, Altamonte Springs, FL Fous Inc., Decatur, GA Franciscan Service Program Incorporated, Covington, KY Frank L. Rizzo Monument Committee, Philadelphia, PA Franklin County Education Corporation, Meadville, MS Franz Jaegerstaetter Memorial Fund Inc., Marion, SD Frazier Freedom Neighborhood Association, Dallas, TX Fred A. Link III Memorial Scholarship Inc., Bridgeport, OH Fred Demayo Scholarship Fund Inc., Glenridge, NJ Freddie Moore Memorial Care Home Inc., Memphis, TN Frederick County Sheriffs Office Citizen Advisory Committee Inc., Frederick, MD Frederick Knight Ministries Inc., Midfield, AL Free Media Forum Inc., Atlanta, GA Friends of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Inc., Marietta, GA Friends of Martin Memorial Library, Williamston, NC Friends of Mi Casa Inc., San Antonio, TX Friends of Nathan Goff House Inc., Clarksburg, WV Friends of Northville Parks & Recreation, Northville, MI Friends of Q. A. Thorp, Chicago, IL Friends of the Blanchard Library Inc., Blanchard, OK Friends of the Coast Corporation, New Braunfels, TX Friends of the Colon Township Library, Colon, MI Friends of the Culinary Arts Foundation, Cincinnati, OH Friends of the Danville Public Library, Danville, IL Friends of the Davis Program Inc., Columbus, OH Friends of the Holy Cross, Washington, DC Friends of the Kenyon Area Ambulance Association, Kenyon, MN Friends of the Knox County Public Library Incorporated, Vincennes, IN Friends of the Lancaster Veterans Memorial Library, Lancaster, TX Friends of the Marylou Reddick Public Library, Fort Worth, TX Friends of the Sierra Leone Peoples Organization, Washington, DC Friends of the Topiary Park Inc., Columbus, OH Friends of Tijeras Pueblo, Tijeras, NM Future Harvest, Jackson, MS Future Leaders for a Better Philadelphia Inc., Philadelphia, PA Footprints Only Inc., Timonium, MD For a Better World Inc., New Orleans, LA Foresight Ministries Inc., Cascade, WI Greenwood Superfund Oversight Coalition, Warrenton, VA Greg Mausz Evangelistic Association Inc., Fayetteville, GA Gresham Hills Inc., Florence, AL Gulf Coast—A Journal of Literature & Fine Arts, Houston, TX Gulf Coast Cycling Association, Houston, TX Gulf Yachting Association Foundation Inc., Mobile, AL Gunsight Religious Conference Center & Dude Ranch, San Antonio, TX Gurleys Transportation Service Inc., New Orleans, LA Guru Nanak Nam Foundation, Santa Cruz, NM Gwinnett County Mounted Patrol, Lawrenceville, GA If an organization listed above submits information that warrants the renewal of its classification as a public charity or as a pri- vate operating foundation, the Internal Revenue Service will issue a ruling or de- termination letter with the revised classifi- cation as to foundation status. Grantors and contributors may thereafter rely upon such ruling or determination letter as provided in section 1.509(a)–7 of the Income Tax Regulations. It is not the practice of the Service to announce such revised classifi- cation of foundation status in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. 1998–18 I.R.B.21May 4, 1998 Revenue rulings and revenue procedures (hereinafter referred to as “rulings”) that have an effect on previous rulings use the following defined terms to describe the effect: Amplified describes a situation where no change is being made in a prior pub- lished position, but the prior position is being extended to apply to a variation of the fact situation set forth therein. Thus, if an earlier ruling held that a principle applied to A, and the new ruling holds that the same principle also applies to B, the earlier ruling is amplified. (Compare with modified, below). Clarified is used in those instances where the language in a prior ruling is being made clear because the language has caused, or may cause, some confu- sion. It is not used where a position in a prior ruling is being changed. Distinguisheddescribes a situation where a ruling mentions a previously published ruling and points out an essen- tial difference between them. Modified is used where the substance of a previously published position is being changed. Thus, if a prior ruling held that a principle applied to A but not to B, and the new ruling holds that it ap- plies to both A and B, the prior ruling is modified because it corrects a published position. (Compare with amplified and clarified, above). Obsoleted describes a previously pub- lished ruling that is not considered deter- minative with respect to future transac- tions. This term is most commonly used in a ruling that lists previously published rulings that are obsoleted because of changes in law or regulations. A ruling may also be obsoleted because the sub- stance has been included in regulations subsequently adopted. Revoked describes situations where the position in the previously published rul- ing is not correct and the correct position is being stated in the new ruling. Superseded describes a situation where the new ruling does nothing more than restate the substance and situation of a previously published ruling (or rulings). Thus, the term is used to republish under the 1986 Code and regulations the same position published under the 1939 Code and regulations. The term is also used when it is desired to republish in a single ruling a series of situations, names, etc., that were previously published over a pe- riod of time in separate rulings. If the new ruling does more than restate the substance of a prior ruling, a combination of terms is used. For example, modified and superseded describes a situation where the substance of a previously pub- lished ruling is being changed in part and is continued without change in part and it is desired to restate the valid portion of the previously published ruling in a new ruling that is self contained. In this case the previously published ruling is first modified and then, as modified, is super- seded. Supplemented is used in situations in which a list, such as a list of the names of countries, is published in a ruling and that list is expanded by adding further names in subsequent rulings. After the original ruling has been supplemented several times, a new ruling may be pub- lished that includes the list in the original ruling and the additions, and supersedes all prior rulings in the series. Suspended is used in rare situations to show that the previous published rulings will not be applied pending some future action such as the issuance of new or amended regulations, the outcome of cases in litigation, or the outcome of a Service study. Abbreviations The following abbreviations in current use and for- merly used will appear in material published in the Bulletin. A—Individual. Acq.—Acquiescence. B—Individual. BE—Beneficiary. BK—Bank. B.T.A.—Board of Tax Appeals. C.—Individual. C.B.—Cumulative Bulletin. CFR—Code of Federal Regulations. CI—City. COOP—Cooperative. Ct.D.—Court Decision. CY—County. D—Decedent. DC—Dummy Corporation. DE—Donee. Del. Order—Delegation Order. DISC—Domestic International Sales Corporation. DR—Donor. E—Estate. EE—Employee. E.O.—Executive Order. ER—Employer. ERISA—Employee Retirement Income Security Act. EX—Executor. F—Fiduciary. FC—Foreign Country. FICA—Federal Insurance Contribution Act. FISC—Foreign International Sales Company. FPH—Foreign Personal Holding Company. F.R.—Federal Register. FUTA—Federal Unemployment Tax Act. FX—Foreign Corporation. G.C.M.—Chief Counsel’s Memorandum. GE—Grantee. GP—General Partner. GR—Grantor. IC—Insurance Company. I.R.B.—Internal Revenue Bulletin. LE—Lessee. LP—Limited Partner. LR—Lessor. M—Minor. Nonacq.—Nonacquiescence. O—Organization. P—Parent Corporation. PHC—Personal Holding Company. PO—Possession of the U.S. PR—Partner. PRS—Partnership. PTE—Prohibited Transaction Exemption. Pub. L.—Public Law. REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust. Rev. Proc.—Revenue Procedure. Rev. Rul.—Revenue Ruling. S—Subsidiary. S.P.R.—Statements of Procedral Rules. Stat.—Statutes at Large. T—Target Corporation. T.C.—Tax Court. T.D.—Treasury Decision. TFE—Transferee. TFR—Transferor. T.I.R.—Technical Information Release. TP—Taxpayer. TR—Trust. TT—Trustee. U.S.C.—United States Code. X—Corporation. Y—Corporation. Z—Corporation. Definition of Terms May 4, 1998221998–18 I.R.B. 1 A cumulative list of all revenue rulings, revenue procedures, Treasury decisions, etc., published in Internal Revenue Bulletins 1997–27 through 1997–52 will be found in Internal Revenue Bulletin 1998–1, dated January 5, 1998. Numerical Finding List 1 Bulletins 1998–1 through 1998–17 Announcements: 98–1, 1998–2 I.R.B. 38 98–2, 1998–2 I.R.B.38 98–3, 1998–2 I.R.B.38 98–4, 1998–4 I.R.B.31 98–5, 1998–5 I.R.B. 25 98–6, 1998–5 I.R.B. 25 98–7, 1998–5 I.R.B. 26 98–8, 1998–6 I.R.B. 96 98–9, 1998–7 I.R.B. 35 98–10, 1998–7 I.R.B. 35 98–11, 1998–8 I.R.B. 42 98–12, 1998–8 I.R.B. 43 98–13, 1998–8 I.R.B. 43 98–14, 1998–8 I.R.B. 44 98–15, 1998–10 I.R.B.36 98–16, 1998–9 I.R.B. 17 98–17, 1998–9 I.R.B. 16 98–18, 1998–10 I.R.B.44 98–19, 1998–10 I.R.B.44 98–20, 1998–11 I.R.B. 25 98–21, 1998–11 I.R.B. 26 98–22, 1998–12 I.R.B. 33 98–23, 1998–12 I.R.B. 34 98–24, 1998–12 I.R.B. 35 98–25, 1998–13 I.R.B.43 98–26, 1998–14 I.R.B. 28 98–27, 1998–15 I.R.B. 30 98–28, 1998–15 I.R.B. 30 98–29, 1998–16 I.R.B. 48 98–30, 1998–17 I.R.B. 38 98–32, 1998–17 I.R.B. 39 98–33, 1998–17 I.R.B. 39 98–34, 1998–17 I.R.B. 39 98–35, 1998–17 I.R.B. 40 Notices: 98–1, 1998–3 I.R.B. 42 98–2, 1998–2 I.R.B. 22 98–3, 1998–3 I.R.B. 48 98–4, 1998–2 I.R.B. 25 98–5, 1998–3 I.B.R.49 98–6, 1998–3 I.R.B. 52 98–7, 1998–3 I.R.B. 54 98–8, 1998–4 I.R.B. 6 98–9, 1998–4 I.R.B. 8 98–10, 1998–6 I.R.B.9 98–11, 1998–6 I.R.B. 18 98–12, 1998–5 I.R.B.12 98–13, 1998–6 I.R.B.19 98–14, 1998–8 I.R.B. 27 98–15, 1998–9 I.R.B. 8 98–16, 1998–15 I.R.B. 12 98–17, 1998–11 I.R.B. 6 98–18, 1998–12 I.R.B. 11 98–19, 1998–13 I.R.B.24 98–20, 1998–13 I.R.B.25 98–21, 1998–15 I.R.B. 14 98–22, 1998–17 I.R.B. 5 98–24, 1998–17 I.R.B. 5 Proposed Regulations: PS–158–86, 1998–11 I.R.B. 13 REG–100841–97, 1998–8 I.R.B. 30 REG–102144–98, 1998–15 I.R.B.25 Proposed Regulations—Continued REG–102894–97, 1998–3 I.R.B. 59 REG–104062–97, 1998–10 I.R.B. 34 REG–104537–97, 1998–16 I.R.B. 21 REG–104691–97, 1998–11 I.R.B. 13 REG–105163–97, 1998–8 I.R.B. 31 REG–109333–97, 1998–9 I.R.B. 9 REG–109704–97, 1998–3 I.R.B. 60 REG–110965–97, 1998–13 I.R.B. 42 REG–115795–97, 1998–8 I.R.B.33 REG–119449–97, 1998–10 I.R.B. 35 REG–120200–97, 1998–12 I.R.B. 32 REG–120882–97, 1998–14 I.R.B. 25 REG–121755–97, 1998–9 I.R.B. 13 REG–208299–90, 1998–16 I.R.B. 26 REG–209276–87, 1998–11 I.R.B. 18 REG–209322–82, 1998–15 I.R.B. 26 REG–209373–81, 1998–14 I.R.B. 26 REG–209463–82, 1998–4 I.R.B. 27 REG–209476–82, 1998–8 I.R.B. 36 REG–209484–87, 1998–8 I.R.B.40 REG–209485–86, 1998–11 I.R.B. 21 REG–209682–94, 1998–17 I.R.B. 20 REG–209807–95, 1998–8 I.R.B. 40 REG–251502–96, 1998–9 I.R.B. 14 Revenue Procedures: 98–1, 1998–1 I.R.B. 7 98–2, 1998–1 I.R.B. 74 98–3, 1998–1 I.R.B. 100 98–4, 1998–1 I.R.B. 113 98–5, 1998–1 I.R.B. 155 98–6, 1998–1 I.R.B. 183 98–7, 1998–1 I.R.B. 222 98–8, 1998–1 I.R.B. 225 98–9, 1998–3 I.R.B. 56 98–10, 1998–2 I.R.B. 35 98–11, 1998–4 I.R.B.9 98–12, 1998–4 I.R.B. 18 98–13, 1998–4 I.R.B. 21 98–14, 1998–4 I.R.B. 22 98–15, 1998–4 I.R.B. 25 98–16, 1998–5 I.R.B. 19 98–17, 1998–5 I.R.B. 21 98–18, 1998–6 I.R.B. 20 98–19, 1998–7 I.R.B. 30 98–20, 1998–7 I.R.B. 32 98–21, 1998–8 I.R.B. 27 98–22, 1998–12 I.R.B. 11 98–23, 1998–10 I.R.B. 30 98–24, 1998–10 I.R.B. 31 98–25, 1998–11 I.R.B. 7 98–26, 1998–13 I.R.B.26 98–27, 1998–15 I.R.B.15 98–28, 1998–15 I.R.B.14 98–29, 1998–15 I.R.B. 22 98–30, 1998–17 I.R.B. 6 98–32, 1998–17 I.R.B. 11 Revenue Rulings: 98–1, 1998–2 I.R.B. 5 98–2, 1998–2 I.R.B. 15 98–3, 1998–2 I.R.B. 4 98–4, 1998–2 I.R.B. 18 98–5, 1998–2 I.R.B. 20 98–6, 1998–4 I.R.B. 4 98–7, 1998–6 I.R.B.6 98–8, 1998–7 I.R.B. 24 98–9, 1998–6 I.R.B. 5 Revenue Rulings—Continued 98–10, 1998–10 I.R.B. 11 98–11, 1998–10 I.R.B. 13 98–12, 1998–10 I.R.B. 5 98–13, 1998–11 I.R.B. 4 98–14, 1998–11 I.R.B. 4 98–15, 1998–12 I.R.B. 6 98–16, 1998–13 I.R.B. 18 98–17, 1998–13 I.R.B. 21 98–18, 1998–14 I.R.B. 22 98–19, 1998–15 I.R.B. 5 98–20, 1998–15 I.R.B. 8 Treasury Decisions: 8740, 1998–3 I.R.B. 4 8741, 1998–3 I.R.B. 6 8742, 1998–5 I.R.B.4 8743, 1998–7 I.R.B. 26 8744, 1998–7 I.R.B. 20 8745, 1998–7 I.R.B. 15 8746, 1998–7 I.R.B. 4 8747, 1998–7 I.R.B. 18 8748, 1998–8 I.R.B. 24 8749, 1998–7 I.R.B. 16 8750, 1998–8 I.R.B. 4 8751, 1998–10 I.R.B. 23 8752, 1998–9 I.R.B. 4 8753, 1998–9 I.R.B. 6 8754, 1998–10 I.R.B. 15 8755, 1998–10 I.R.B. 21 8756, 1998–12 I.R.B.4 8757, 1998–13 I.R.B.4 8758, 1998–13 I.R.B. 15 8759, 1998–13 I.R.B. 19 8760, 1998–14 I.R.B. 4 8761, 1998–14 I.R.B. 13 8762, 1998–14 I.R.B. 15 8763, 1998–15 I.R.B. 5 8764, 1998–15 I.R.B. 9 8765, 1998–16 I.R.B. 11 8766, 1998–16 I.R.B. 17 8767, 1998–16 I.R.B. 4 1998–18 I.R.B.23May 4, 1998 Finding List of Current Action on Previously Published Items 1 Bulletins 1998–1 through 1998–17 Revenue Procedures: 91–59 Updated and superseded by 98–25, 1998–11 I.R.B. 7 94–16 Modified and superseded by 98–22, 1998–12 I.R.B. 11 93–62 Modified and superseded by 98–22, 1998–12 I.R.B. 11 95–35 95–35A Superseded by 98–19, 1998–7 I.R.B. 30 96–29 Modified and superseded by 98–22, 1998–12 I.R.B. 11 97–1 Superseded by 98–1, 1998–1 I.R.B. 7 97–2 Superseded by 98–2, 1998–1 I.R.B. 74 97–3 Superseded by 98–3, 1998–1 I.R.B. 100 97–4 Superseded by 98–4, 1998–1 I.R.B. 113 97–5 Superseded by 98–5, 1998–1 I.R.B. 155 97–6 Superseded by 98–6, 1998–1 I.R.B. 183 97–7 Superseded by 98–7, 1998–1 I.R.B. 222 97–8 Superseded by 98–8, 1998–1 I.R.B. 225 97–21 Superseded by 98–2, 1998–1 I.R.B. 74 97–26 Obsoleted by 98–28, 1998–15 I.R.B. 14 97–53 Superseded by 98–3, 1998–1 I.R.B. 100 Revenue Rulings: 75–17 Supplemented and superseded by 98–5, 1998–2 I.R.B. 20 92–19 Supplemented in part by 98–2, 1998–2 I.R.B. 15 1 A cumulative finding list for previously published items mentioned in Internal Revenue Bulletins 1997–27 through 1997–52 will be found in Internal Revenue Bulletin 1998–1, dated January 5, 1998. Index Internal Revenue Bulletins 1998–1 Through 1998–17 For the index of items published during the first six months of 1997, see I.R.B. 1998–1, dated January 5, 1998. The abbreviation and number in paren- thesis following the index entry refer to the specific item; numbers in roman and italic type following the parenthesis refer to the Internal Revenue Bulletin in which the item may be found and the page number on which it appears. Key to Abbreviations: RRRevenue Ruling RPRevenue Procedure TDTreasury Decision CDCourt Decision PLPublic Law EOExecutive Order DODelegation Order TDOTreasury Department Order TCTax Convention SPRStatement of Procedural Rules PTEProhibited Transaction Exemption EMPLOYMENT TAX Electronic filing; magnetic media; 1998 Form W–4 specifications (RP 26) 13, 26 Proposed regulations: 26 CFR 31.3121(v)(2)–1, revised; FICA and FUTA taxation of amounts under employee benefit plans (REG– 209484–87; REG–209807–95) 8, 40 26 CFR 31.6053–1, –4; electronic tip reports (REG–104691–97) 11, 13 Student FICA exception (RP 16) 5,19 ESTATE TAX Regulations: 26 CFR 20.2041–3, 20.2056(d)–2, amended; 20.2046–1, revised; prop- erty interests and disclaimer (TD 8744) 7, 20 26 CFR 25.2702–5, –7, amended; qual- ified prsonal residence trust, sale of residence (TD 8743) 7, 26 26 CFR 25.2511–1, 25.2514–3, 25.2518–1, –2, amended; property interests and disclaimers (TD 8744) 7, 20 ESTATE TAX—Continued Revocable trust; election (RP 13) 4, 21 Underpayment interest, interest expense deduction, estates (RP 15) 4, 25 EXCISE TAX Bows and arrows; taxable and nontaxable articles (RR 5) 2, 20 Proposed regulations: 26 CFR 40.0–1T, added; 40.6011(a)– 1T, added; 40.6302(c)–2T, added; deposits of excise taxes (REG– 102894–97) 3, 59 26 CFR 54.4980B–1, added; group health plans continuation coverage requirements (REG–209485–86) 11, 21 Regulations: 26 CFR 40.0–1(a), amended; 40.6011(a)–1(a)(2)(iii), 40.5302(c)– 1, amended, 40.6302(c)–2(b)(2)(iii), added; deposits of excise taxes (TD 8740) 3, 4 26 CFR 40.6011(a)–1(b)(2)(vi), amended; 48.4082–5T, removed; 48.4082–5, added; 48.4081–1, amended; 48.4082–5T, redesignated; 48.6416(b)(4)–1, removed; 48.6421– 3(d)(2), amended; 48.6427–3(d)(2), amended; 48.6715–1(a)(3), revised; 48.6715–2T, removed; gasoline and diesel fuel excise tax; special rules for Alaska, definitions (TD 8748) 8, 24 GIFT TAX Qualifying income interest, disposition (RR 8) 7, 24 INCOME TAX Advance pricing agreements, small busi- ness taxpayers (Notice 10) 6, 9 Article XIII (8) Rev. Proc. (RP 21) 8, 27 Automobile owners and lessees (RP 24) 10, 31; (RP 30) 17,6 Books and records; automatic data pro- cessing system (RP 25) 11, 7 Capital gains and charitable remainder trusts (Notice 20) 13, 25 Classification settlement program: Extended until further notice (Notice 21) 15, 14 Education loans (Notice 7) 3, 54 Elections under section 7704(g) (Notice 3) 3, 48 INCOME TAX—Continued Electronic Federal Tax Payment System: Batch filers and bulk filers (RP 32) 17, 11 Employee plans: Administrative programs; closing agreements (RP 22) 12, 11 Determination letters (RP 6) 1, 183; (RP 14) 4,22 Discrimination; CODAs (Notice 1) 3, 42 Eligible deferred compensation plans (Notice 8) 4, 6 Group health plans; COBRA continua- tion coverage; HIPAA portability (Notice 12) 5, 12 Net unrealized appreciation; capital gains (Notice 24) 17, 5 Funding: Full funding limitations, weighted av- erage interest rate for January 1998 (Notice 9) 4, 8; February 1998 (No- tice 15) 9,8; March 1998 (Notice 18) 12,11 Letter rulings, etc. (RP 4) 1, 113 Limitations on benefits and contribu- tions (RR 1) 2, 5 Minimum Funding Standards (RP 10) 2, 35 Proposed regulations: 26 CFR 1.401(a)(9)–1, amended; quali- fied plans and individual retirement plans, required distributions (REG– 209463–82) 4, 27 Recovery of basis; retirees (Notice 2) 2, 22 SIMPLE-IRAs (Notice 4) 2,25 Technical advice (RP 5) 1, 155 User fees (RP 8) 1, 225 Environmental cleanup costs; letter rulings (RP 17) 5, 21 Exempt Organizations: Letter rulings, etc. (RP 4) 1, 113 Organizations excepted from reporting lobbying expenditures (RP 19) 7, 30 Tax consequences of physicians re- cruitment incentives provided by hospitals (RR 15) 12, 6 Technical advice (RP 5) 1, 155 User fees (RP 8) 1, 225 Failure to deposit federal tax; penalty abatement (Notice 14) 8, 27 Foreign partnerships, reporting transfer of property by U.S. persons (Notice 17) 11, 6 Foreign tax credit abuse (Notice 5) 3, 49 May 4, 1998241998–18 I.R.B. INCOME TAX—Continued Fringe benefits aircraft valuation formula, first half of 1998 (RR 14) 11, 4 Insurance companies: Discounting estimated salvage recover- able (RP 12) 4, 18 Interest rate tables (RR 2) 2,15 Loss reserves; discounting unpaid losses (RP 11) 4, 9 Interest: Investment: Federal short-term, mid-term, and long-term rates for January 1998 (RR4) 2, 18; February 1998 (RR7) 6, 6; March 1998 (RR11) 10, 13; April 1998 (RR 18) 14,22 Rates, underpayments and overpay- ments (RR 17) 13, 21 Inventory: LIFO: Price indexes; department stores for November 1997 (RR 6) 4, 4; De- cember 1997 (RR 9) 6,5; January 1998 (RR 16) 13,18; February 1998 (RR 20) 15,8 Shrinkage estimates: Changing method of accounting for estimating inventory shrinkage (RP 29) 15, 22 Letter rulings, determination letters, and information letters issued by Associate Chief Counsel (Domestic), Associate Chief Counsel (EBEO), Associate Chief Counsel (Enforcement Litiga- tion), and Associate Chief Counsel (International) (RP 1) 1, 7 Losses attributable to a disaster during 1997 (RR 12) 10, 5 Low-income housing tax credit (Notice 13) 6, 19 Satisfactory bond; “bond factor” amounts for the period October through December 1997 (RR 3) 2, 4; January–March 1998 (RR 13) 11,4 Passive foreign investment companies: Shareholders may use rules of sec. 1.1295–1T(b)(4), (f), and (g) to tax- able years beginning before January 1, 1998 (Notice 22) 17, 5 Proposed regulations: 26 CFR 1.72(p)–1, amended; loans to plan participants (REG–209476–82) 8, 36 26 CFR 1.141–7, 1.142(f)(4)–1, 1.150–5, added; 1.141–8, –15, amended; obligations of states and political subdivisions (REG– 110965–97) 13, 42 INCOME TAX—Continued 26 CFR 1.195–1, added; election to amortize start-up expenditures (REG–209373–81) 14,26 26 CFR 1.356–6, added; reorganiza- tions, nonqualified preferred stock (REG–121755–97) 9, 13 26 CFR 1.368–1, amended; corporate reorganizations, continuity of inter- est (REG–120882–97) 14, 25 26 CFR 1.460–6, amended; election not to apply look-back method in de minimiscases (REG–120200–97) 12, 32 26 CFR 1.469–10, revised; 1.7704–1, added; investment income, passive activity income and loss rules for publicly traded partnerships (REG–105163–97) 8, 31 26 CFR 1.475(g)–2, new; 1.482–8, added; 1.482–0, –1, –2, 1.863, 1.863–7(a)(1), 1.864–4, –6, 1.894–1, amended; 1.482–9, redesignated; global dealing operation allocation and sourcing of income and deduc- tions among taxpayers (REG– 208299–90) 16, 26 26 CFR 1.702–1, 1.954–1, 301.7701–3, amended; 1.952–1(b), (c), redesig- nated 1.954–2(a)(5), (6), 1.954– 4(b)(2)(iii), 1.954–9, 1.956–2(a)(3), added (REG–104537–97) 16, 21 26 CFR 1.732–1, amended; 1.732–2, amended; 1.734–1(e), added; 1.743– 1, revised; 1.751–1, amended; 1.755–1, revised; 1.1017–1, revised; adjustments to basis of partnership property and partnership interest (REG–209682–94) 17, 20 26 CFR 1.925(a)–1, (b)–1, added; 1.927(e)–1, amended; foreign sales corporation transfer pricing source and grouping rules (REG–102144– 98) 15, 25 26 CFR 1.1291–1, 1.1293–1, 1.1295–1, –3, 1.1297–3(c), added; 1.1296–4, amended; passive foreign investment company preferred shares, special income exclusion (REG–115795– 97) 8, 33 26 CFR 1.1397E–1, added; qualified zone academy bonds (REG– 119449–97) 10, 35 26 CFR 1.1502–3(c), revised; 1.1502– 4(f)(3), (g)(3), added; 1.1502–9(b)- (1)(v), added; 1.1502–21(c)(1)(iii), amended; consolidated returns, limi- tations on the use of certain losses and credits (REG–104062–97) 10, 34 INCOME TAX—Continued 26 CFR 1.6031–1, removed; 1.6031(a)–1, added; 1.6063–1, amended; partnership returns (REG–209322–82) 15, 26 26 CFR 1.7702B–1, –2, added; quali- fied long-term care insurance con- tracts (REG–109333–97) 9, 9 26 CFR 301.6159–1, amended; agree- ments for tax liability installment payments (REG–100841–97) 8, 30 26 CFR 301.6404–2, added; abatement of interest (REG–209276–87) 11, 18 26 CFR 301.7433–1(a), (d), (e), and (f), revised; civil cause of action for certain unauthorized collection ac- tions (REG–251502–96) 9, 14 26 CFR 54.9812–1, added; mental health parity; HIPAA (REG– 109704–97) 3, 60 Qualified Funeral Trust; guidance (Notice 6) 3, 52 Qualified intermediary agreements: Guidance provided to foreign financial institutions (RP 27) 15, 15 Qualified mortgage bonds, mortgage credit certificates: Guidance provided regarding use of na- tional and area median gross income figures by issuers (RP 28) 15, 14 Qualified Subchapter S Trust (QSST) conversion to Electing Small Business Trust (ESBT) 10, 30 Qualified Zone Academy Zone Bonds (RP) 3, 100 Real estate transactions (RP 20) 7, 32 Regulations: 26 CFR 1.61–12, 1.249–1, 1.1016–5, 1.1275–1, amended; 1.163–13, 1.171–5, added; 1.171–1, –2, –3, –4, revised; 1.1016–9, removed; amorti- zable bond premium (TD 8746) 7, 4 26 CFR 1.141–0, –2, amended; 1.141–7, –8, removed; 1.141–7T, –8T, –15T, 1.142(f)(4)–1T, 1.150– 5T, added; 1.141–15, revised; oblig- ations of states and political subdivi- sions (TD 8757) 13, 4 26 CFR 1.166–3(a)(3), 1.1001–4, added; 1.166–3T, 1.1001–4T, re- moved; modifications of bad debts and dealer assignments of notional principal contracts (TD 8763) 15, 5 26 CFR 1.280B–1, added; building de- molition, definition of structure (TD 8745) 7, 15 26 CFR 1.338–2, 1.368–1, –2, amended; 1.368–1T, added; corpo- rate reorganizations, continuity of in- 1998–18 I.R.B.25May 4, 1998 terest, and continuity of business en- terprise (TD 8760) 14, 4; (TD 8761) 14, 13 26 CFR 1.354–1, 1.355–1, 1.356–3, amended; reorganizations, treatment of warrants as securities (TD 8752) 9, 4 26 CFR 1.356–6T, added; reorganiza- tions, nonqualified preferred stock (TD 8753) 9, 6 26 CFR 1.446–1, amended; 1.446–1T, removed; 301.9100–0, added; 301.9100–1, revised; 301.9100–2, –3, added; 301.9100–1T, –2T, –3T; removed extensions of time to make elections (TD 8742) 5, 4 26 CFR 1.453.11; installment obliga- tions received from liquidating cor- porations (TD 8762) 14, 15 26 CFR 1.460–0, amended; 1.460–6T, added; election not to apply look- back method in de minimiscases (TD 8756) 12, 4 26 CFR 1.468A–2, –3, –8, amended; nuclear decommissioning funds; re- vised schedules of ruling amounts (TD 8758) 13, 15 26 CFR 1.904–5(o), 1.904–5T, 1.954– 0(b), 1.954–1, amended; 1.954–1T, –2T, –9T, added; 301.7701–3(f)(1), amended; controlled foreign corpo- ration relating to partnerships and branches (TD 8767) 16, 4 26 CFR 1.905–2, amended; foreign tax credit filing requirements (TD 8759) 13, 19 26 CFR 1.925(a)–1T, 1.925(b)– 1T(b)(3)(i), amended; 1.927(e)–1T, revised; foreign sales corporation transfer pricing source and grouping rules (TD 8764) 15, 9 26 CFR 1.985–1, –5(a), amended; 1.985–7, added; dollar approximate separate transactions method of ac- counting (DASTM) to profit and loss method of accounting, change from P&L method to DASTM (TD 8765) 16, 11 26 CFR 1.1271–1, 1.1275–1, amended; debt instruments with original issue discount, annuity contracts (TD 8754) 10, 15 26 CFR 1.1202–0, –2, added; qualified small business stock (TD 8749) 7, 16 26 CFR 1.1290–0, amended; 1.1294–0, added; a. 1291–0T, amended; 1.1291–1T, added; 1.1291–9, amended; 1.1293–0, –1T, added; 1.1295–0, –1T, –3T, 1.1297–3T(c), added; passive foreign investment company preferred shares, special income exclusion (TD 8750) 8, 4 26 CFR 1.1396–1; empowerment zone employment credit, qualified zone employees (TD 8747) 7, 18 26 CFR 1.1397E–1T, added; qualified zone academy bonds (TD 8755) 10, 21 26 CFR 1.1502–3, –4, –9(a), –21T(c)(1)(iii), amended; 1.1502– 3T, –4T, –9T, –55T, added; 1.1502– 23T(b), (c), redesignated; consoli- dated returns, limitations on the use of certain losses and credits, overall foreign loss accounts (TD 8751) 10, 23 26 CFR 54.9801–2T, amended; 54.9801–4T, –5T, revised; 54.9804– 1T, redesignated; 54.9806–1T, redes- ignated; 54.9812–1T, added; mental health parity, interim rules (TD 8741) 3, 6 Relocation payments: Authorized by sec. 105(a)(11) of Hous- ing and Community Development Act, not includible in gross income (RR 19) 15, 5 Reorganizations; exchange of securities (RR 10) 10, 11 Rulings: Areas in which advance rulings will not be issued: Associate Chief Counsel (Domes- tic), Associate Chief Counsel (EBEO) (RP 3) 1, 100 Associate Chief Counsel (Interna- tional) (RP 7) 1, 222 Rural airports (RP 18) 6, 20 Technical advice to district directors and chiefs, appeals offices, Associate Chief Counsel (Domestic), Associate Chief Counsel (EBEO), Associate Chief Counsel (Enforcement Litigation), and Associate Chief Counsel (International) (RP 2) 1, 74 Tentative differential earnings rate for 1997 (Notice 19) 13, 24 Treatment of hybrid arrangements under subpart F (Notice 11) 6, 18 Withholding regulations: Effective date of sec. 1441 withholding regulations amended (Notice 16) 15, 12 May 4, 1998261998–18 I.R.B. INCOME TAX—ContinuedINCOME TAX—ContinuedINCOME TAX—Continued INTERNAL REVENUE BULLETIN The Introduction on page 3 describes the purpose and content of this publication. The weekly Internal Revenue Bulletin is sold on a yearly subscription basis by the Superintendent of Documents. Current subscribers are notified by the Superintendent of Documents when their subscriptions must be renewed. CUMULATIVE BULLETINS The contents of this weekly Bulletin are consolidated semiannually into a permanent, indexed, Cumulative Bulletin. These are sold on a single copy basis and are not included as part of the subscription to the Internal Revenue Bulletin. Subscribers to the week- ly Bulletin are notified when copies of the Cumulative Bulletin are available. Certain issues of Cumulative Bulletins are out of print and are not available. Persons desiring available Cumulative Bulletins, which are listed on the reverse, may purchase them from the Superintendent of Documents. 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