2659 ALI-ABA Course of Study Consolidated Tax Return Regulations Cosponsored by the ABA Section of Taxation September 25-26, 2008 Washington, D.C. Life after the Final Regulations: Consolidated Section 382 and SRLY By Stuart J. Goldring Scott M. Sontag Weil, Gotshall & Manges LLP New York, New York 2008 Stuart J. Goldring and Scott M. Sontag. All Rights Reserved.
2660 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Overview of Consolidated 382 Regulations: Reg. 1.1502-91 et seq.... 3 A. Single Entity Approach... 3 Page 1. Multiple Definitions... 3 2. Loss Group... 4 a. In General... 4 b. Built-In Gains and Losses... 5 c. Built-In Gains and Losses Under Former Temporary Regulations... 6 3. Loss Subgroup... 6 a. General Definition... 6 b. Multiple Subgroup Parent Election... 7 c. Built-In Gains and Losses... 9 d. Built-In Gains and Losses Under Former Temporary Regulations... 9 e. Contrast SRLY... 10 f. Anti-Abuse Rule... 10 B. Parent Change Method... 11 1. Certain Operating Rules... 11 2. Minority Ownership of Subsidiaries... 12 3. Limited Exceptions... 12 4. Successor Common Parent... 12 C. Supplemental Method... 12 1. Triggering Events... 13 a. First Trigger: The Lone 5% Shareholder... 13 b. Second Trigger: Plan or Arrangement... 13 2. Certain Observations/Rules... 14 3. Only Applies For 3-Year Testing Period... 15 4. Plan or Arrangement Concept... 16 5. Purpose of the Supplemental Method... 18 D. Exceptions to Parent Change Method... 18 1. Options to Acquire More Than 20% of Subsidiary... 18
2661 2. Intentional Tiering of Ownership... 19 E. Consolidated Section 382 Limitation... 19 1. Tax Attributes to Which Limitation Applies... 19 2. Annual Limitation... 20 a. Redemptions/Corporate Contractions... 20 b. Capital Infusions... 20 c. Substantial Nonbusiness Assets... 21 d. Anti-Duplication Rule... 21 3. Continuity of Business Enterprise... 21 4. Recognized Built-in Gains... 21 a. Increase in NOL Limitation but not NUBIL Limitation... 21 b. Anti-Duplication of Increase... 22 5. Successive Ownership Changes... 22 F. Computation of Built-in Gains and Losses... 22 1. Members Included... 22 2. Treatment of Intercompany Items... 22 3. Safe Harbor: Notice 2003-65... 23 4. Anti-Abuse Rule... 23 G. Acquisitions of New Loss Members and Loss Subgroups... 23 1. Treatment of Loss Subgroups... 23 a. Generally Treated Like a Miniature Loss Group... 23 b. Exceptions... 24 2. Single Company Acquisitions: Treatment of New Loss Members... 25 3. Separate Tracking (or Fold In ) Rules... 25 a. End of Separate Tracking: Good or Bad?... 26 b. Newly Created Loss Group Status Can Relate Back for Testing Period Purposes... 26 c. Fold-in of Member or Subgroup Has Continued Effect if Subsequently Acquired by a New Group... 26 d. Contrast SRLY Rules... 27 4. SRLY Rules Also May Apply... 27 H. Treatment of Departing Members of Group... 27 1. Allocable Share of Consolidated Losses... 27 2
2662 2. Separate Application of Section 382 From and After Departure... 28 3. Apportionment of Consolidated Section 382 Limitation... 28 a. Only Common Parent Makes Election... 28 b. Elements of Apportionment... 28 c. Cap on Apportionment of NUBIG... 29 d. Appropriate Adjustments to Reflect Partial Year Inclusion... 29 e. Termination of Loss Group... 30 f. Filing the Election... 30 4. Mandatory Apportionment of NUBIL... 31 a. Departing Member s Portion... 31 b. Multiple Members Depart During Same Year... 31 c. Observations/Adjustments... 31 d. Anti-Abuse Rule... 32 e. Required Filing of Apportionment Statement... 32 5. Ceasing to Be a Member of a Loss Subgroup... 32 6. Apportionment of Separate Section 382 Limitation for Reattributed Losses Under Reg. 1.1502-20(g)... 33 a. Departing Member Has Minority Shareholders... 33 b. Apportioning Separate 382 Limitation... 33 c. Post- Rite Aid: Adjusting Apportionment of Prior Section 382 Limitation Where Reattributed Losses are Reduced... 34 d. Life Before the Final Regulations... 35 I. Other Rules... 36 1. Predecessor and Successor Corporations... 36 a. Definition Under Reg. 1.1502-1(f)(4)... 36 b. Definition Under Former Temporary Regulations... 36 c. Potential Applications... 36 d. Contrast SRLY... 37 2. Annual Information Statement... 37 II. Overview of SRLY Rules... 38 A. Definition of Separate Return Limitation Year... 39 1. Not All Separate Return Years... 39 2. Predecessor and Successors... 40 3
2663 a. Successor Status More Limited for SRLY Subgroup Limitation Purposes... 40 b. Letter Ruling 9715035 (January 14, 1997)... 41 c. Letter Ruling 200252070 (September 20, 2002)... 42 d. Technical Advice Memorandum 200514019 (April 5, 2004).... 42 B. SRLY Limitation for NOLs and Capital Loss Carryovers... 43 1. General NOL Limitation... 43 2. General Capital Loss Limitation... 44 3. Section 382 Overlap Rule for Loss Carryovers... 45 a. Also Applies to Post-Change, Pre-Consolidation Losses... 45 b. Elimination of SRLY Delayed if Section 382 Event Occurs Post-Consolidation... 46 c. SRLY Subgroups... 46 d. May Prospectively Apply to Pre-Effective Date Transactions... 46 e. Overlap Rule As Applied to Credit Carryovers... 47 f. Not Applicable Where Section 382(l)(5) Applies... 47 4. Waiver of SRLY Loss Carryovers... 48 C. SRLY Limitation for Net Built-in Losses... 48 1. No Cap on Recognized Built-in Losses... 48 2. Recognized Built-in Loss Treated as Arising in SRLY for Certain Purposes... 49 3. Lonely Parent Rule for Built-in Losses... 49 4. Section 382 Overlap Transactions for NUBILs... 49 a. Pre-Consolidation Section 382 Event: No Asset Transfer to Member... 50 b. Post-Consolidation Section 382 Event: No Asset Transfer From Member... 50 c. Subsequent Asset Acquisitions... 50 d. SRLY Subgroups... 50 e. May Prospectively Apply to Pre-Effective Date Transactions... 50 D. SRLY Subgroups... 51 1. SRLY Subgroup for NOLs and Capital Loss Carryovers... 51 4