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Mark Price National Tax Leader, Banking and Capital Markets Mark Harrison Partner Elizabeth L’Hommedieu Tax Managing Director Justin Weiss Tax Managing Director
ANY TAX ADVICE IN THIS COMMUNICATION IS NOT INTENDED OR WRITTEN BY KPMG TO BE USED, AND CANNOT BE USED, BY A CLIENT OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF (i) AVOIDING PENALTIES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED ON ANY TAXPAYER OR (ii) PROMOTING, MARKETING OR RECOMMENDING TO ANOTHER PARTY ANY MATTERS ADDRESSED HEREIN. You (and your employees, representatives, or agents) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation, the tax treatment or tax structure, or both, of any transaction described in the associated materials we provide to you, including, but not limited to, any tax opinions, memoranda, or other tax analyses contained in those materials. The information contained herein is of a general nature and based on authorities that are subject to change. Applicability of the information to specific situations should be determined through consultation with your tax adviser.
• Where are we today? – Extremely complex labyrinth of tax and financial accounting rules with:
• Recent and pending statutory and regulatory changes to the tax rules • Pending changes to accounting rules under both GAAP and IFRS
– Significant increase in the use of derivatives (both for hedging and other purposes), combined with the implementation of fundamental changes to the market (i.e., the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act)
• Forwards – over-the-counter, private contracts; customized – not marked to market under section 1256 (other than certain foreign exchange
contracts, see below) • Futures
– Standardized “forward-like” contracts traded on an exchange – Subject to margin and clearing rules – generally cash settled – marked-to-market under section 1256 – no counterparty credit risk
• Characteristics – Generally, a collar is a combination of a put and a call option – Combination gives right to either all of the economics of an investment, or all except for
within a specific price range – The price of a collar is the net cost of the options used to create the collar – The strike prices of the two options are usually set to provide for zero net premium
• Examples – Long put option with short call option
• Company A issues bonds – Pays floating interest rate (LIBOR) – Principal amount of the bonds $10M; term 5 years – A believes interest rates will rise so wants to lock in fixed rate
• Company B issues bonds – Pays fixed interest rate 8% – Principal amount of the bonds $10M ; term 5 years – B believes interest rates will fall so willing to pay based on floating rate
• A and B enter into an interest rate swap – 5 years with net payment due 12/31 each year – A will pay B 8% of $10M (the notional principal amount) – B will pay A LIBOR times $10m (the notional principal amount)
• Changes to the OTC Derivatives Markets Under Title VII Include: • Mandatory central clearing for many “swaps” (defined in Dodd-Frank Act) • Requirement for trading in many “swap” transactions on exchanges or so-called “swap
execution facilities” – “Swap Execution Facilities” – nature of these trade execution facilities remains unclear
• New collateral and margining requirements • Trade reporting and record-keeping requirements • Position limitations • End-User Exception – may exempt certain users of derivative products from some of these
new rules and requirements – Detailed rules define scope of this exception
• Dodd-Frank Act will likely lead to more derivatives being traded on exchanges. – Broad definition of “swap” for regulatory purposes suggests many derivatives may be
cleared / traded on exchanges. – Potentially subject to section 1256 as a result?
• New section 1256(b)(2)(B) provides that a section 1256 contract does not include: – Any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor,
commodity swap, equity swap, interest rate floor, equity index swap, credit default swap, or “similar agreement”
• Uncertainty as to what this exception covers – “…or similar agreement” – If instrument is covered by the exception, no 60/40 capital gain or loss treatment under
section1256 even if such instrument is centrally cleared or traded through a clearinghouse or exchange.
• New swap-futures products suggest that efforts are also underway to “futurize” the swap markets
• Examples include: – Exchange-traded and cleared futures contracts that settle into a cleared interest rate
swap – Exchange-traded and cleared futures contracts that are intended to replicate the
economics of an OTC interest rate swap but are entirely cash settled and function in a manner similar to traditional financial futures contracts
• In general, these derivative products share the following key features: – Generally standardized terms – Traded on “designated contract markets” and subject to margining and a daily “marking-
to-market” in the same fashion as traditional exchange-traded futures contracts • Each day, the parties to these derivative contracts will post “daily variation margin”
as the value of the contract moves and it is “marked-to-market” – Centrally cleared as a matter of course
DFA and Qualified Boards or Exchanges Potential Changes
• What trading platforms qualify as a “qualified board or exchange” may be subject to change due to Dodd Frank.
– Whether contract is traded on or subject to the rules of a “qualified board or exchange” is a key factor in determining whether subject to section 1256.
• Historically, Treasury has issued guidance as to whether a particular exchange met the standard and qualified.
– Foreign exchanges typically requested a ruling from the Service as to their status under the tax rules.
• Dodd Frank authorizes the CFTC to impose a registration process on exchanges. – Service has indicated that if such a registration process is adopted by the CFTC,
exchanges that previously received a written determination on their status as a “qualified board or exchange” would nevertheless need to obtain an Order of Registration from the CFTC in order to maintain this status.
– Treasury and the IRS have stated that they will continue to evaluate the CFTC’s rules to determine if any changes to the IRS guidance process are warranted.
– Banks must limit swap dealings to certain permitted activities • May have to transfer swap portfolios to nonbank affiliates (“Swap Pushout Rule”) • Temp. Reg. section 1.1001-4 issued regarding transfer or assignment of certain
derivative contracts – Mandatory clearing of swaps; reporting and record-keeping requirements
• What is the classification of the derivative contract for tax purposes? • What are the generally applicable character and timing rules applicable to the derivative
contract (i.e., the “base case”)? • Who is the taxpayer and how does the derivative contract relate to its business? • Has the taxpayer made any elections or taken affirmative steps to alter the taxation of its
derivative contracts from the “base case”? • See Sample Decision Tree on Next Slide
• Taxation of many derivative transactions is based on a great number of intertwined rules that can produce different results depending on things like the classification of the derivative or the hedged item, the status of the taxpayer, elections or identifications made, the relation of the position to other positions held by the taxpayer.
• The following is an example of a single position which begins to demonstrate this.
Foreign Currency Position
Mark-to-market under §475 – ordinary income/loss
Mark-to-market under §1256 – 60% long-term, 40% short-term capital gain/loss [due to §988
election]
Other
Spot Forward
Cash Settlement
Physical Settlement
Not part of a straddle
Part of a straddle
Other contract traded in the interbank market,
where its price is determined by reference
to the price in the interbank market, and the foreign currency is of the
type that underlies positions in regulated
futures contracts, but not a NPC.
Regulated Futures Contract, but not a Notional Principal
Contract (NPC)
Mark-to-market under §1256 – 60% long-term, 40% short-term capital
What is the classification of the derivative contract for tax purposes? (continued)
• Key Considerations – Where was the contract acquired?
• Exchange traded/cleared contracts vs. “over-the-counter” transactions • Who is the counterparty • Evolution in the derivative markets and Dodd Frank Act
– What does the contract provide for? • Optionality vs. “executory” contract • Physical settlement • Cash settlement • Payments by both parties and netting • Upfront premium payments or similar amounts
General tax rules applicable to derivatives – the “base case” (continued)
• Character – Capital v. Ordinary – May be determined by type of contract or underlying asset. For example:
• Certain payments on Swaps/Notional Principal Contracts are ordinary in nature by (proposed) regulation
• Section 988 – certain FX contracts give rise to ordinary income/loss • Section 1256 – certain contracts subject to special character rule (60% long term
capital/40% short term capital) • Other
– Section 1234A and termination or similar transactions – Section 1234(b) and written options
General tax rules applicable to derivatives – the “base case” (continued)
• Key Takeaways – Absent Taxpayer Elections or Affirmative Steps: – Some derivatives may be subject to mark-to-market regime while others not – Character may depend on the nature of the contract and the nature of the payment
with respect to the contract – Hedging transactions – generally applicable tax rules may create mismatches as to both
character and timing between the hedge and the hedged item if no hedging identification is made and there are various “whipsaw” rules that can exaggerate the consequences of failing to properly identify hedging transactions
Taxpayer characteristics and affirmative steps (continued)
• Consolidated Groups – Unique issues may arise where taxpayer is member of a consolidated group and the
derivative contract relates in whole or in part to the operations and risks of another member of the group or an affiliated entity not within the consolidated group for tax purposes (e.g., CFC affiliate)
• Separate entity election under hedging regulations • Implementing a “back-to-back” structure with central “hedging center” entity • Consider related issues such as transfer pricing
Taxpayer characteristics and affirmative steps (continued)
• Does the taxpayer claim the section 199 deduction? – Identification requirements for hedging transactions and calculation of section 199
deduction • Is the taxpayer a CFC subject to the rules of subpart F?
– Identification requirements for a CFC’s hedges of its own risks • Foreign counterparty and withholding implications? • What special state apportionment rules might be applicable to the derivative contract?
– EX: are gross receipts or net gains (or neither) from a hedging transaction included in a taxpayer’s sales factor?
• Physically settled? • Cash settled? • Application of §1234A
– Character of payments made in connection with cancellation, termination, expiration or lapse of forward may depend on character of the “underlying” or asset sold
• Tax Treatment of Holders – Generally – open transaction treatment – Treatment of option premium – Physical or cash settlement? – Lapse or Sale of Option
• Tax Treatment of Grantor – Generally – open transaction treatment – Treatment of option premium – Physical or cash settlement? – Closing Transaction or Lapse
• A purchases a call option from B on 1,000 shares of XYZ Co. stock. • A pays $10,000. • The strike price is $100/share. • The stock is trading at $106/share on the exercise date.
• Characteristics – Generally, a collar is a combination of a put and a call option – Combination gives right to either all of the economics of an investment, or all except for
within a specific price range – The price of a collar is the net cost of the options used to create the collar – The strike prices of the two options are usually set to provide for zero net premium
• Examples – Long put option with short call option
• Issues – Tax Characterization – is it an option? A “NPC”? – Constructive Sales and Section 1259 – Straddles
• Timing and Character rules found in Treas. Reg. §1.446-3 • Tax term is “notional principal contracts” or “NPCs”
– “a financial instrument that provides for the payment of amounts by one party to another at specified intervals calculated by reference to a specified index upon a notional principal amount in exchange for specified consideration or a promise to pay similar amounts”
• Generally, NPC payments payable at intervals of one year or less – Payable during the entire term of the contract – Based on a specified index and notional amount
• Timing – Allocated pro-rata over the period to which they relate
• Character – Ordinary
• Including final periodic payment • Not considered interest
NPCs – Examples of Periodic and Nonperiodic Payments
• Example 1: A enters into 3 year commodity swap with B. A will make annual payments to B based on a fixed price $2.35 per bushel of corn on a notional amount 100K bushels. B will make annual payments to A equal to the spot price of corn on the same notional amount. A pays B premium of $53,530 on entering into swap.
• Example 2: A and B enter into a swap. A makes annual payments to B equal to LIBOR times a notional amount for 5 years. B agrees to make a single payment at maturity equal to the appreciation (if any) of a notional investment in a basket of securities.
• Which of these payments are periodic payments and which are nonperiodic payments? • Of the nonperiodic payments, which are contingent and which are noncontingent?
• Section 871(m) treats “dividend equivalent” payment as a dividend sourced within the U.S. if the amount of the payment is contingent upon or determined by reference to the payment of a dividend from sources within the U.S.
• Effectively changes the sourcing of dividend equivalent payments made on notional principal contracts.
– Reg. §1.863-7(b), the source of NPC income determined by reference to the residence of the TP.
• Temporary and proposed regulations issued in 2012
• Forwards – Over-the-counter, private contracts; customized – Not marked to market under section1256 (other than certain foreign exchange
contracts, see below) • Futures
– Standardized, traded on exchange; subject to margin and clearing rules – Generally cash settled – Marked-to-market under section 1256 – No counterparty credit risk
• “Regulated futures contract” is defined in section 1256: – Contract that is subject to a system of marking-to-market – Contract trades on, or regulated by, a “qualified board or exchange”
• Straddle: “Offsetting positions” in “actively traded personal property” – Offsetting positions
• A “substantial diminution of risk of loss” from holding one position in personal property by reason of TP holding one or more other positions w/r/t personal property
– Personal property • Property (including stock) of a type that is actively traded
• Loss realized from a position that is part of a straddle is deferred to the extent of unrecognized gain at year-end in ANY offsetting positions or successor positions.
• Facts – On September 1, 2012, A enters into a long forward contract to buy stock for delivery in
February 2013. A also enters into a short forward contract to sell stock for delivery in April 2013.
– By December 1, 2012, the price of the stock has increased. A closes out the April 2013 forward contract at a loss of $1000.
– On February 1, 2013, A closes out the remaining forward contract at a gain of $980. • What are the tax implications of this transaction to A under the straddle rules?
• Part 1 – Derivatives and Hedging – Sec. 401. Treatment of derivatives. – Sec. 402. Treatment of hedges identified for financial accounting purposes.
• Part 2 – Treatment of Discount and Income – Sec. 411. Determination of issue price in the case of specified debt modifications. – Sec. 412. Deduction for amortizable bond premium allowed in determining adjusted
gross income. – Sec. 413. Current inclusion in income of market discount. – Sec. 414. Rules regarding certain government debt.
• Part 3 – Certain Rules for Determining Gain and Loss – Sec. 421. Cost basis of specified securities determined in accordance with average basis
method. – Sec. 422. Wash sales by related parties.
• Require all derivatives to be marked to market for tax purposes – Relies on fair value determined in report or statement to owners or report or statement
for credit purposes • Treat all income, gain, loss, or deduction from derivatives as ordinary • Require other positions to be marked to market if part of a straddle with a derivative
– Built-in gain, but not loss, is included on entering into straddle • Replace several existing rules (e.g., portions of section 475, section 1234B, section 1236, and
section 1256) • Apply to property acquired and positions established after December 31, 2013
• Taxpayer buys a call option on a U.S. publicly traded equity • Taxpayer enters into a contract to acquire a privately held partnership interest in a year • Taxpayer regularly enters into physical forward contracts to sell its property. These contracts
are treated as normal sales and not subject to the mark-to-market rules in ASC 815 • Taxpayer holds a corporate bond portfolio as part of its liquidity management program.
Taxpayer enters into interest rate swaps to manage its interest rate exposure • Taxpayer issues convertible debt
• Existing law requires hedging transactions to be identified for tax purposes as hedging transactions on or before the day the transaction is entered.
– Financial accounting identification does not meet this requirement • New provision treats designation of derivative as hedging transaction for US GAAP audited
financial statements as a valid hedge identification for tax purposes. • Transaction must still meet the substantive tax requirements to qualify as a tax hedging
transaction. • New provision would apply to transactions entered into after December 31, 2013.
• Reason for undertaking hedging transaction? • Risk Management (reduction)
– Taxpayers use derivative transactions to manage risk inherent in the operation of their business
– Risk may arise from a specific asset – Risk may arise from overall business operations
• Match character of hedged transactions – Normal trade or business operations typically generate ordinary income and losses – In absence of hedging treatment, potential capital character of gain or losses from
• Hedging Rules – A transaction must qualify as a hedging transaction under §1221 – A transaction must be properly identified as a hedging transaction
• The hedging rules are mandatory – Non-compliance could result in a character whipsaw – Gains from the transaction could be ordinary and losses capital
• Identification & Documentation is important – Hedging identifications should be revisited – ASC 815
Hedging – Requirement 1 “Normal Course” of Trade or Business
• Broader concept than “ordinary course of trade or business” • Generally a transaction in the “normal course” is one that furthers a taxpayer’s trade or
business – Includes business expansion, other capitalizable activity – Usually not hard to meet if the taxpayer is in a trade or business – May become an issue if the entity entering into the transaction is not an operating
company but instead an SPV with no trade or business
• Transaction must manage Risk • A transaction that is entered into to reduce risk is treated as managing risk • Can reduce aggregate risk or specific risk • Transactions that may manage risk
– Written options – Fixed to floating price hedges – Interest rate conversions – Counteracting hedges (transactions designed to counteract an existing hedge) – Recycled hedges (using the same hedging transaction to hedge a different asset or
liability) • Transactions that are not hedging transactions
– Purchase or sale of debt instrument, equity security or annuity contract
• Property is ordinary property only if a sale or exchange of the property by the taxpayer could not produce a capital gain or loss under any circumstances.
• Debt instruments are generally capital assets unless a dealer holds them – Exception for banks under §582
• Taxpayer does not need to currently hold hedged item – Example – TP expects to borrow in 6 months may enter transaction to hedge against
increases in interest rates over that period even though not a current liability
• Taxpayer must clearly identify hedging transaction on day acquired, originated or entered into
• Taxpayer must identify the “hedged item” (e.g., the asset, liability or aggregate risk) within 35 days of entering the hedge
– Includes identifying transaction that creates risk and type of risk that transaction creates • Taxpayer maintains identifications on taxpayer’s books and records (nothing sent to IRS)
– Must state identification for §1221 (for tax purposes) – GAAP ID is insufficient (i.e. that used for ASC 815)
– Example: TP could designate particular trading account as including only hedging transactions and document in tax records that all interest rate swaps in that account designed to manage borrowing costs
• If TP properly identifies hedge, and the hedging transaction qualifies as hedge, then ordinary income/loss
• If TP performs same-day identification but – – Other identification requirements are not met, gain is ordinary – The transaction does not meet the other criteria for a hedge, the character of loss is
determined without regard to whether the transaction mitigates business risk, etc.
Hedging - Character Rules – TP Identifies Hedge (continued)
• If TP identifies as a hedge a transaction that does not qualify as a hedge, gain will be determined as if the identification had not been made so long as—
– The identification was an “inadvertent error” – All [similar] transactions in open years are being treated “consistent with the principles
of this section” [i.e., not as hedges] • Note -
– Scope of exception unclear – PLR suggests inadvertent = “accidental oversight or carelessness” (PLR 2000-52-010)
Hedging - Identification Requirements – Specific Identification Rules
• Anticipatory asset hedges – Must identify the expected dates and amounts of the acquisition
• Inventory hedges – Must identify type or class of inventory that hedge concerns
• Debt hedges – Existing debt hedges – must specify the issue of existing debt being hedged – Debt to be issued – expected date of issuance, expected maturity, expected issue price,
• Generally – The timing rules that govern hedging transactions (§1.446-4) require taxpayers to
choose a method that clearly reflects income – To clearly reflect income, the method must reasonably match the timing of income/loss
from the hedging transaction with the hedged asset • Taking gains or losses into account when realized may not clearly reflect income
• If a transaction meets the requirements for a hedge, hedge accounting applies whether or not the transaction is identified as a hedge (Rev. Rul. 2003-127)
Hedging - Specific Hedge Timing Rules that Generally Clearly Reflect Income
• Hedges of debt instruments – Coordinate income/deduction from hedge (covers specified periods) with interest or
OID on the debt • Example - Assume that a fixed-rate debt instrument is outstanding
– The taxpayer takes the income/deduction from the hedge into account in the same periods as income/deduction on debt as if adjusted the yield of debt over the term of the hedge
• TP hedges fixed rate debt with swap that synthetically converts fixed rate into floating rate • Debt has 5 year term and swap has 5 year term • TP then terminates the swap before the 5 year term • Gain/loss from swap termination must be accounted for over the remaining period of the
debt to which the swap relates • So if TP terminates swap on last day of year 2, must take gain/loss from termination of swap
• Disposition of Hedged Item – TP disposes of hedged item but retains hedge – TP must match “built-in” gain or loss on hedge with gain or loss from disposition of
hedged item – Usually accomplish by marking the hedge to market when dispose of hedged item – If intent to dispose of hedge within a reasonable period of time (7 days), then match
realized gain/loss from hedge with hedged item • Recycled Hedge
– TP must match the built-in gain/loss from the hedge at the time of the recycling with the gain/loss on the original hedged item
Hedges - Relationship of Hedge Timing Rules to Other Timing Rules
• To the extent hedge timing rules conflict with other regulatory timing rules, hedge timing rules control.
• Hedge timing rules do not apply in the following cases: – A position subject to §475(a) – An integrated debt instrument – A §988(d) hedging transaction
• Note – Hedge timing rules do not alter the character of the gains/losses from the hedging
transaction to match hedged item – they govern timing
Hedges - Integration of Debt Instrument and Hedge Under §1.1275-6
• Contrast to Business Hedge Rules – Rules apply to hedges of debt instruments – Debt does not have to be an ordinary asset or liability in the TP hands – Rules do not require TP to enter into the hedge in the normal course of its trade or
business – Rules lead to creation of synthetic debt instrument by integration
• Election – The rules only apply to the TP making the election – Thus if issuer of debt enters into hedge and integrates them, issuer’s integration
Hedges - §1.1275-6 – Example of Integration of Convertible Notes with Hedges
• AM 2007-0014 (July 16, 2007) – Corporation: – (1) Issues convertible bonds – (2) Purchases call options on stock with same strike price as option on convertible bond
(“bond hedge”) – (3) Sells call options on stock with a strike price significantly higher than strike price on
bonds (“warrant”) – Corp integrates convertible bond with purchased calls but not sold warrants – Corp’s economic position is that it has issued
• Non-convertible debt instrument at a discount, plus • Written warrant
Hedges - §1.1275-6 – Example of Integration of Convertible Notes with Hedges (continued)
• AM 2007-0014 (July 16, 2007) (cont’d) • Ruling
– Corp may integrate bonds with hedges under §1.1275-6 and exclude warrants • Tax consequences?
– Potential issue: If corp structured to create excessive OID deductions through mispricing of hedges and warrants, such mispricing could be challenged through OID anti-abuse rule to prohibit integration of notes with hedges
• Section 475 (a) generally requires dealers in securities to use the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities
• Dealer in Securities - A securities dealer is a taxpayer that either: – Regularly purchases securities from or sells securities to customers OR – Regularly offers to enter into, assume, offset, assign or otherwise terminate positions
• Purchases? – Purchase includes originating loans
• What is a Security? – Corporate Stock – Publicly traded or widely held partnership interests – Notes or other evidence of indebtedness – Interest rate, currency, or equity notional principal contracts – Interest or derivative in any security above – Hedges of MTM securities
• What is NOT a Security? – Taxpayer issued debt – REMIC residual interests – Non-financial customer paper – Section 1256 contracts
• Exception to Dealer Status – “Negligible Sales Exception” – Under this exception, a TP that regularly purchases securities (originates loans) from
customers in the ordinary course of its trade or business will not be considered to be a dealer in securities under section 475 if it:
• Sells all or part of fewer than 60 debt instruments; or • The total adjusted basis of all of the debt instruments sold is less than 5 percent of
the total basis of debt instruments acquired during the taxable year • Do not count -
– Sales that exceptional circumstances compel and that are non-recurring – Sales of debt based on its decline in quality under TP policy – Purchases and sales of debt instruments that are qualitatively different from
all debt instruments that TP purchases from customers in the ordinary course – What about agency sales and securitizations
• Securities that TP may exempt from the mark-to-market rules – Securities Held for Investment (Regulations deem certain securities to be held for
investment) – Debt not held for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business – Hedges of investment securities
• Requirements for Exemption: – “Same day” identification – 30 day rule for loans originated by banks – Identification must be part of books and records – Must identify specific security (or specific accounts containing only such securities) – Identification must cite section 475
• (1995) Proposed Regulation Section 1.475(b)-3 – Exemption from MTM treatment for Contributed Securities
• If a taxpayer expects to contribute securities (for example, mortgages) to a trust or other entity, including a REMIC, in exchange for interests therein the contributed securities qualify as held for investment or not held for sale only if the taxpayer expects each of the interests received to be either held for investment or not held for sale to customers in the ordinary course of the taxpayer's trade or business.
– Exemption from MTM treatment for Resulting Interests • If a taxpayer contributes securities to a trust or other entity in exchange for interests
therein (including ownership interests or debt issued by the trust or other entity) and if, for federal income tax purposes, the ownership of the interests received is not treated as ownership of the securities contributed, the interests received may be identified as being described in section 475(b)(1), even if some or all of the contributed securities were not so described and could not have been so identified.
– For purposes of determining the timeliness of an identification of an interest received, the interest is treated as acquired on the day of its receipt.
• Protective Identification – If a taxpayer becomes a dealer (perhaps because the taxpayer no longer qualifies for the
negligible sales exception) then all securities held by such taxpayer will be subject to the mark-to-market method of accounting unless they are exempt
• Even though the taxpayer was not a securities dealer at that time it bought/sold the securities
– It is not possible to subsequently identify securities and exclude them from mark-to-market accounting after the close of the day on which they were bought/sold
– May thus be advisable for a taxpayer to make protective section 475(b) identifications of its securities [e.g., classify them as exempt] if there is a possibility that such taxpayer may some day be considered a dealer
Section 475 – Change in Status/Method of Accounting
• Change in Dealer Status – “Once a dealer, always a dealer” (Revenue Ruling 97-39) – Requesting a change to a mark-to-market method of accounting (Revenue Procedures
97-27 and 08-52) • A taxpayer electing out of the negligible sales exception must file a Form 3115 to obtain the
automatic consent of the IRS to change its method of accounting for securities – No section 481(a) adjustment required – Consent for the method change is automatically granted if taxpayer complies with
Revenue Procedure 97-43 – Once a bank is subject to section 475(a), changing to a non-mark-to-market method of
accounting in the future requires the consent of the IRS. • Non-automatic, with section 481(a) adjustment
• Generally, any gain or loss with respect to a 475 security shall be treated as ordinary income or loss
• Certain securities subject to section 475 are not subject to its character rule, including: – A security that a hedge with respect to either a security to which section 475 does not
apply or a non-security; – A security not held in connection with activities as a dealer in securities; and – Certain improperly identified securities (as defined in 475(d)(2)).
• Note that the mark-to-market rules under section 475 may still apply even though the character rule does not
• “Safe Harbor” Regulations (securities and commodities dealers) – In June 2007, Treasury and the IRS adopted “safe harbor” valuation regulations that
permitted securities and commodities dealers to use their financial statement valuations as the fair market value of those positions for purposes of section 475.
– Because the 2007 regulations contain significant limitations, many taxpayers have concluded that the application of the safe harbor is not practical.
• 2011 Directive – The Directive applies to all taxpayers who are required to, or elect to, MTM securities or
commodities under section 475 and are required to file certain financial statements with the U.S. SEC.
– The Directive relaxes some of the restrictive requirements in the safe harbor regulations. – Unlike the safe harbor regulations (which are limited to securities and commodities
dealers), the Directive is applicable in principle to traders electing to apply the section 475 MTM regime.
– However, limited in its application, because many traders may not file qualified financial statements with the SEC – a requirement.
– Similarly, many commodities dealers may not file qualified financial statements with the SEC; rather, they report to the Commodities Futures Trading Commission.
Section 475 – Interaction with sections 1091, 1092, and 1256
• Section 1256 contracts are not section 475 securities – What if a section 1256 contract is a section 475(c)(3) hedge of a section 475 security?
• Section 1091 (wash sale rules) do not apply to securities subject to section 475 • Section 1092 (straddle rules) do apply, but may have a minimal impact if the offsetting
positions are subject to mark-to-market, ordinary under section 475
• Some banks may want to use a mark-to-market method in lieu of section 166 – Election out of the negligible sales exception – Selectivity through identification
• Can a related party be a “customer”? – Outside the consolidated group – yes – Within the consolidated group – elective
• What happens when section 475 securities are transferred between a dealer and non-dealer in the same consolidated group?
– Section 475 is not a Reg. section 1.1502-13 “special status” – Transfer to dealer: deemed ID, then change in status – Transfer from dealer: no longer held in connection with dealer activity (affecting
• How does a consolidated group apply the negligible sales exception? – Intragroup-customer election not in effect
• The test can be satisfied either by treating the members of the group as if they were divisions of a single corporation, or by taking into account sales of debt instruments to other group members.
– Intragroup-customer election in effect • Sales to other group members are taken into account when applying the test.
Section 475 – Elective Application for Certain Non-dealers in Securities
• Taxpayers that may elect into section 475 – Commodities dealers – Securities and commodities traders
• For activities to be considered a trade or business, trading must be substantial (i.e., sporadic trading not enough), TP Must seek to catch the swings in daily market movements, and to profit from the short-term changes, rather than profit from long-term investment
• Benefits of making a section 475 election: – Conform book/economic/tax income
• Avoid wash sales rules • Ordinary gains and losses
– Elect separately for each trade or business • “Principles” underlying the rules and interpretations for dealers apply to traders