Included as a revenue offset in the budget legislation (H.R. 1314) signed by President Obama are provisions that simplify the procedure for the Internal Revenue Service to audit and collect adjustments from partnerships. The new rules, which are generally effective beginning 2018, permit the IRS to send the bill for a prior year’s tax deficiency to the partnership, which would then have the obligation to pay the deficiency, unless the partnership elects an alternative payment procedure. The alternative payment procedure permits partnerships to pass the adjustments and related taxes back to the applicable partners, who will pay this additional tax in the year they are notified of the deficiency and will not be required to amend their prior years’ federal returns. (Partners will still be obligated to report the adjustments on amended state tax returns, unless the applicable state adopts similar procedures.) The details for making this election will be set forth in forthcoming US Treasury regulations.
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Jill E. Darrow
US Withholding Tax on Dividend Equivalent Payments Under Swaps
The US Department of the Treasury has issued regulations with respect to withholding on “dividend equivalent” payments made to a non-US long party on swaps and other financial instruments that are linked to US equities. These regulations are effective for swaps entered into on or after January 1, 2017, and for payments made on or …
SEC Proposes Liquidity Management Rules for Mutual Funds and ETFs
On September 22, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed a comprehensive package of rule reforms designed to enhance effective liquidity risk management by open-end funds, including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Under the proposal, mutual funds and ETFs would be required to implement liquidity risk management programs and enhance disclosure regarding fund liquidity and redemption practices. The proposal is designed to better ensure investors can redeem their shares and receive their assets in a timely manner.
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IRS Addresses RIC Asset Diversification Requirements
On September 14, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued final regulations under Internal Revenue Code Section 851 clarifying that control groups under the regulated investment company (RIC) rules may consist of two entities (i.e., the RIC and one subsidiary), rather than two levels of entities, settling a decades-long debate. The IRS also issued Rev. Proc. 2015-45, 2015-39 IRB 1, which provides a safe harbor for fund of funds structures.
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IRS Considers Whether Management Fees of an LLC Are Subject to Self-Employment Tax
A recent response by the Internal Revenue Service Chief Counsel (CCA) to an inquiry from one of its field office agents addressed the question of whether management fees earned by an investment manager organized as a limited liability company (LLC) and allocated to its members—all individuals—were subject to self-employment tax. (The CCA response is not …