Reg. § 301.7701-3 Classification of certain business entities.
(a) In general A business entity that is not classified as a corporation under , , , , , , or (an eligible entity) can elect its classification for federal tax purposes as provided in this section. An eligible entity with at least two members can elect to be classified as either an association (and thus a corporation under ) or a partnership, and an eligible entity with a single owner can elect to be classified as an association or to be disregarded as an entity separate from its owner. of this section provides a default classification for an eligible entity that does not make an election. Thus, elections are necessary only when an eligible entity chooses to be classified initially as other than the default classification or when an eligible entity chooses to change its classification. An entity whose classification is determined under the default classification retains that classification (regardless of any changes in the members' liability that occurs at any time during the time that the entity's classification is relevant as defined in of this section) until the entity makes an election to change that classification under of this section. of this section provides rules for making express elections, including a rule under which a domestic eligible entity that elects to be classified as an association consents to be subject to the dual consolidated loss rules of section . of this section provides special rules for foreign eligible entities. of this section provides special rules for classifying entities resulting from partnership terminations and divisions under section . of this section sets forth the effective date of this section and a special rule relating to prior periods.
(b) Classification of eligible entities that do not file an election
(1) Domestic eligible entities Except as provided in of this section, unless the entity elects otherwise, a domestic eligible entity is—
(i) A partnership if it has two or more members; or
(ii) Disregarded as an entity separate from its owner if it has a single owner.
(2) Foreign eligible entities
(i) In general Except as provided in of this section, unless the entity elects otherwise, a foreign eligible entity is—
(A) A partnership if it has two or more members and at least one member does not have limited liability;
(B) An association if all members have limited liability; or
(C) Disregarded as an entity separate from its owner if it has a single owner that does not have limited liability.
(ii) Definition of limited liability For purposes of of this section, a member of a foreign eligible entity has limited liability if the member has no personal liability for the debts of or claims against the entity by reason of being a member. This determination is based solely on the statute or law pursuant to which the entity is organized, except that if the underlying statute or law allows the entity to specify in its organizational documents whether the members will have limited liability, the organizational documents may also be relevant. For purposes of this section, a member has personal liability if the creditors of the entity may seek satisfaction of all or any portion of the debts or claims against the entity from the member as such. A member has personal liability for purposes of this paragraph even if the member makes an agreement under which another person (whether or not a member of the entity) assumes such liability or agrees to indemnify that member for any such liability.
(3) Existing eligible entities
(i) In general Unless the entity elects otherwise, an eligible entity in existence prior to the effective date of this section will have the same classification that the entity claimed under through as in effect on the date prior to the effective date of this section; except that if an eligible entity with a single owner claimed to be a partnership under those regulations, the entity will be disregarded as an entity separate from its owner under this . For special rules regarding the classification of such entities prior to the effective date of this section, see of this section.
(ii) Special rules For purposes of of this section, a foreign eligible entity is treated as being in existence prior to the effective date of this section only if the entity's classification was relevant (as defined in of this section) at any time during the sixty months prior to the effective date of this section. If an entity claimed different classifications prior to the effective date of this section, the entity's classification for purposes of of this section is the last classification claimed by the entity. If a foreign eligible entity's classification is relevant prior to the effective date of this section, but no federal tax or information return is filed or the federal tax or information return does not indicate the classification of the entity, the entity's classification for the period prior to the effective date of this section is determined under the regulations in effect on the date prior to the effective date of this section.
(c) Elections
(1) Time and place for filing
(i) In general Except as provided in and of this section, an eligible entity may elect to be classified other than as provided under of this section, or to change its classification, by filing Form 8832, Entity Classification Election, with the service center designated on Form 8832. An election will not be accepted unless all of the information required by the form and instructions, including the taxpayer identifying number of the entity, is provided on Form 8832. See for rules on applying for and displaying Employer Identification Numbers.
(ii) Further notification of elections An eligible entity required to file a Federal tax or information return for the taxable year for which an election is made under must attach a copy of its Form 8832 to its Federal tax or information return for that year. If the entity is not required to file a return for that year, a copy of its Form 8832 (“Entity Classification Election”) must be attached to the Federal income tax or information return of any direct or indirect owner of the entity for the taxable year of the owner that includes the date on which the election was effective. An indirect owner of the entity does not have to attach a copy of the Form 8832 to its return if an entity in which it has an interest is already filing a copy of the Form 8832 with its return. If an entity, or one of its direct or indirect owners, fails to attach a copy of a Form 8832 to its return as directed in this section, an otherwise valid election under will not be invalidated, but the non-filing party may be subject to penalties, including any applicable penalties if the Federal tax or information returns are inconsistent with the entity's election under . In the case of returns for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2002, the copy of Form 8832 attached to a return pursuant to this is not required to be a signed copy.
(iii) Effective date of election An election made under of this section will be effective on the date specified by the entity on Form 8832 or on the date filed if no such date is specified on the election form. The effective date specified on Form 8832 can not be more than 75 days prior to the date on which the election is filed and can not be more than 12 months after the date on which the election is filed. If an election specifies an effective date more than 75 days prior to the date on which the election is filed, it will be effective 75 days prior to the date it was filed. If an election specifies an effective date more than 12 months from the date on which the election is filed, it will be effective 12 months after the date it was filed. If an election specifies an effective date before January 1, 1997, it will be effective as of January 1, 1997. If a purchasing corporation makes an election under section regarding an acquired subsidiary, an election under of this section for the acquired subsidiary can be effective no earlier than the day after the acquisition date (within the meaning of section ).
(iv) Limitation If an eligible entity makes an election under of this section to change its classification (other than an election made by an existing entity to change its classification as of the effective date of this section), the entity cannot change its classification by election again during the sixty months succeeding the effective date of the election. However, the Commissioner may permit the entity to change its classification by election within the sixty months if more than fifty percent of the ownership interests in the entity as of the effective date of the subsequent election are owned by persons that did not own any interests in the entity on the filing date or on the effective date of the entity's prior election. An election by a newly formed eligible entity that is effective on the date of formation is not considered a change for purposes of this .
(v) Deemed elections
(A) Exempt organizations An eligible entity that has been determined to be, or claims to be, exempt from taxation under section is treated as having made an election under this section to be classified as an association. Such election will be effective as of the first day for which exemption is claimed or determined to apply, regardless of when the claim or determination is made, and will remain in effect unless an election is made under of this section after the date the claim for exempt status is withdrawn or rejected or the date the determination of exempt status is revoked.
(B) Real estate investment trusts An eligible entity that files an election under section to be treated as a real estate investment trust is treated as having made an election under this section to be classified as an association. Such election will be effective as of the first day the entity is treated as a real estate investment trust.
(C) S corporations An eligible entity that timely elects to be an S corporation under section is treated as having made an election under this section to be classified as an association, provided that (as of the effective date of the election under section ) the entity meets all other requirements to qualify as a small business corporation under section . Subject to , the deemed election to be classified as an association will apply as of the effective date of the S corporation election and will remain in effect until the entity makes a valid election, under , to be classified as other than an association.
(vi) Examples The following examples illustrate the rules of this :
Example 1. On July 1, 1998, X, a domestic corporation, purchases a 10% interest in Y, an eligible entity formed under Country A law in 1990. The entity's classification was not relevant to any person for federal tax or information purposes prior to X's acquisition of an interest in Y. Thus, Y is not considered to be in existence on the effective date of this section for purposes of of this section. Under the applicable Country A statute, all members of Y have limited liability as defined in of this section. Accordingly, Y is classified as an association under of this section unless it elects under this to be classified as a partnership. To be classified as a partnership as of July 1, 1998, Y must file a Form 8832 by September 14, 1998. See of this section. Because an election cannot be effective more than 75 days prior to the date on which it is filed, if Y files its Form 8832 after September 14, 1998, it will be classified as an association from July 1, 1998, until the effective date of the election. In that case, it could not change its classification by election under this during the sixty months succeeding the effective date of the election.
Example 2.
(i) Z is an eligible entity formed under Country B law and is in existence on the effective date of this section within the meaning of of this section. Prior to the effective date of this section, Z claimed to be classified as an association. Unless Z files an election under this , it will continue to be classified as an association under of this section.
(ii) Z files a Form 8832 pursuant to this to be classified as a partnership, effective as of the effective date of this section. Z can file an election to be classified as an association at any time thereafter, but then would not be permitted to change its classification by election during the sixty months succeeding the effective date of that subsequent election.
(2) Authorized signatures
(i) In general An election made under of this section must be signed by—
(A) Each member of the electing entity who is an owner at the time the election is filed; or
(B) Any officer, manager, or member of the electing entity who is authorized (under local law or the entity's organizational documents) to make the election and who represents to having such authorization under penalties of perjury.
(ii) Retroactive elections For purposes of of this section, if an election under of this section is to be effective for any period prior to the time that it is filed, each person who was an owner between the date the election is to be effective and the date the election is filed, and who is not an owner at the time the election is filed, must also sign the election.
(iii) Changes in classification For of this section, if an election under of this section is made to change the classification of an entity, each person who was an owner on the date that any transactions under of this section are deemed to occur, and who is not an owner at the time the election is filed, must also sign the election. This applies to elections filed on or after November 29, 1999.
(3) Consent to be subject to section 1503(d)
(i) Rule A domestic eligible entity that elects to be classified as an association consents to be treated as a dual resident corporation for purposes of section (such an entity, a domestic consenting corporation), for any taxable year for which it is classified as an association and the condition set forth in is satisfied.
(ii) Transition rule—deemed consent If, as a result of the applicability date (see of this section) relating to of this section, a domestic eligible entity that is classified as an association has not consented to be treated as a domestic consenting corporation pursuant to of this section, then the domestic eligible entity is deemed to consent to be so treated as of its first taxable year beginning on or after December 20, 2019. The first sentence of this does not apply if the domestic eligible entity elects, on or after December 20, 2018 and effective before its first taxable year beginning on or after December 20, 2019, to be classified as a partnership or disregarded entity such that it ceases to be a domestic eligible entity that is classified as an association. For purposes of the election described in the second sentence of this , the sixty month limitation under of this section is waived.
(iii) Applicability date The sixth sentence of of this section and of this section apply to a domestic eligible entity that on or after December 20, 2018 files an election to be classified as an association (regardless of whether the election is effective before December 20, 2018). of this section applies as of December 20, 2018.
(d) Special rules for foreign eligible entities
(1) Definition of relevance
(i) General rule For purposes of this section, a foreign eligible entity's classification is relevant when its classification affects the liability of any person for federal tax or information purposes. For example, a foreign entity's classification would be relevant if U.S. income was paid to the entity and the determination by the withholding agent of the amount to be withheld under chapter 3 of the Internal Revenue Code (if any) would vary depending upon whether the entity is classified as a partnership or as an association. Thus, the classification might affect the documentation that the withholding agent must receive from the entity, the type of tax or information return to file, or how the return must be prepared. The date that the classification of a foreign eligible entity is relevant is the date an event occurs that creates an obligation to file a federal tax return, information return, or statement for which the classification of the entity must be determined. Thus, the classification of a foreign entity is relevant, for example, on the date that an interest in the entity is acquired which will require a U.S. person to file an information return on Form 5471.
(ii) Deemed relevance
(A) General rule For purposes of this section, except as provided in of this section, the classification for Federal tax purposes of a foreign eligible entity that files Form 8832, “Entity Classification Election”, shall be deemed to be relevant only on the date the entity classification election is effective.
(B) Exception If the classification of a foreign eligible entity is relevant within the meaning of of this section, then the rule in of this section shall not apply.
(2) Entities the classification of which has never been relevant If the classification of a foreign eligible entity has never been relevant (as defined in of this section), then the entity's classification will initially be determined pursuant to the provisions of of this section when the classification of the entity first becomes relevant (as defined in of this section).
(3) Special rule when classification is no longer relevant If the classification of a foreign eligible entity is not relevant (as defined in of this section) for 60 consecutive months, then the entity's classification will initially be determined pursuant to the provisions of of this section when the classification of the foreign eligible entity becomes relevant (as defined in of this section). The date that the classification of a foreign entity is not relevant is the date an event occurs that causes the classification to no longer be relevant, or, if no event occurs in a taxable year that causes the classification to be relevant, then the date is the first day of that taxable year.
(4) Effective date , , and of this section apply on or after October 22, 2003.
(e) Coordination with section 708(b) Except as provided in (regarding termination of grandfather status for certain foreign business entities), an entity resulting from a transaction described in section (partnership termination due to sales or exchanges) or section (partnership division) is a partnership.
(f) Changes in number of members of an entity
(1) Associations The classification of an eligible entity as an association is not affected by any change in the number of members of the entity.
(2) Partnerships and single member entities An eligible entity classified as a partnership becomes disregarded as an entity separate from its owner when the entity's membership is reduced to one member. A single member entity disregarded as an entity separate from its owner is classified as a partnership when the entity has more than one member. If an elective classification change under of this section is effective at the same time as a membership change described in this , the deemed transactions in of this section resulting from the elective change preempt the transactions that would result from the change in membership.
(3) Effect on sixty month limitation A change in the number of members of an entity does not result in the creation of a new entity for purposes of the sixty month limitation on elections under of this section.
(4) Examples The following examples illustrate the application of this :
Example 1. A, a U.S. person, owns a domestic eligible entity that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner. On January 1, 1998, B, a U.S. person, buys a 50 percent interest in the entity from A. Under this , the entity is classified as a partnership when B acquires an interest in the entity. However, A and B elect to have the entity classified as an association effective on January 1, 1998. Thus, B is treated as buying shares of stock on January 1, 1998. (Under of this section, this election is treated as a change in classification so that the entity generally cannot change its classification by election again during the sixty months succeeding the effective date of the election.) Under of this section, A is treated as contributing the assets and liabilities of the entity to the newly formed association immediately before the close of December 31, 1997. Because A does not retain control of the association as required by section , A's contribution will be a taxable event. Therefore, under section , the association will take a fair market value basis in the assets contributed by A, and A will have a fair market value basis in the stock received. A will have no additional gain upon the sale of stock to B, and B will have a cost basis in the stock purchased from A.
Example 2.
(i) On April 1, 1998, A and B, U.S. persons, form X, a foreign eligible entity. X is treated as an association under the default provisions of of this section, and X does not make an election to be classified as a partnership. A subsequently purchases all of B's interest in X.
(ii) Under of this section, X continues to be classified as an association. X, however, can subsequently elect to be disregarded as an entity separate from A. The sixty month limitation of of this section does not prevent X from making an election because X has not made a prior election under of this section.
Example 3.
(i) On April 1, 1998, A and B, U.S. persons, form X, a foreign eligible entity. X is treated as an association under the default provisions of of this section, and X does not make an election to be classified as a partnership. On January 1, 1999, X elects to be classified as a partnership effective on that date. Under the sixty month limitation of of this section, X cannot elect to be classified as an association until January 1, 2004 (i.e., sixty months after the effective date of the election to be classified as a partnership).
(ii) On June 1, 2000, A purchases all of B's interest in X. After A's purchase of B's interest, X can no longer be classified as a partnership because X has only one member. Under of this section, X is disregarded as an entity separate from A when A becomes the only member of X. X, however, is not treated as a new entity for purposes of of this section. As a result, the sixty month limitation of of this section continues to apply to X, and X cannot elect to be classified as an association until January 1, 2004 (i.e., sixty months after January 1, 1999, the effective date of the election by X to be classified as a partnership).
(5) Effective date This applies as of November 29, 1999.
(g) Elective changes in classification
(1) Deemed treatment of elective change
(i) Partnership to association If an eligible entity classified as a partnership elects under of this section to be classified as an association, the following is deemed to occur: The partnership contributes all of its assets and liabilities to the association in exchange for stock in the association, and immediately thereafter, the partnership liquidates by distributing the stock of the association to its partners.
(ii) Association to partnership If an eligible entity classified as an association elects under of this section to be classified as a partnership, the following is deemed to occur: The association distributes all of its assets and liabilities to its shareholders in liquidation of the association, and immediately thereafter, the shareholders contribute all of the distributed assets and liabilities to a newly formed partnership.
(iii) Association to disregarded entity If an eligible entity classified as an association elects under of this section to be disregarded as an entity separate from its owner, the following is deemed to occur: The association distributes all of its assets and liabilities to its single owner in liquidation of the association.
(iv) Disregarded entity to an association If an eligible entity that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner elects under of this section to be classified as an association, the following is deemed to occur: The owner of the eligible entity contributes all of the assets and liabilities of the entity to the association in exchange for stock of the association.
(2) Effect of elective changes
(i) In general The tax treatment of a change in the classification of an entity for federal tax purposes by election under of this section is determined under all relevant provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and general principles of tax law, including the step transaction doctrine.
(ii) Adoption of plan of liquidation For purposes of satisfying the requirement of adoption of a plan of liquidation under section , unless a formal plan of liquidation that contemplates the election to be classified as a partnership or to be disregarded as an entity separate from its owner is adopted on an earlier date, the making, by an association, of an election under of this section to be classified as a partnership or to be disregarded as an entity separate from its owner is considered to be the adoption of a plan of liquidation immediately before the deemed liquidation described in or of this section. This applies to elections filed on or after December 17, 2001. Taxpayers may apply this retroactively to elections filed before December 17, 2001, if the corporate owner claiming treatment under section and its subsidiary making the election take consistent positions with respect to the federal tax consequences of the election.
(3) Timing of election
(i) In general An election under of this section that changes the classification of an eligible entity for federal tax purposes is treated as occurring at the start of the day for which the election is effective. Any transactions that are deemed to occur under this as a result of a change in classification are treated as occurring immediately before the close of the day before the election is effective. For example, if an election is made to change the classification of an entity from an association to a partnership effective on January 1, the deemed transactions specified in of this section (including the liquidation of the association) are treated as occurring immediately before the close of December 31 and must be reported by the owners of the entity on December 31. Thus, the last day of the association's taxable year will be December 31 and the first day of the partnership's taxable year will be January 1.
(ii) Coordination with section 338 election A purchasing corporation that makes a qualified stock purchase of an eligible entity taxed as a corporation may make an election under section regarding the acquisition if it satisfies the requirements for the election, and may also make an election to change the classification of the target corporation. If a taxpayer makes an election under section regarding its acquisition of another entity taxable as a corporation and makes an election under of this section for the acquired corporation (effective at the earliest possible date as provided by of this section), the transactions under of this section are deemed to occur immediately after the deemed asset purchase by the new target corporation under section .
(iii) Application to successive elections in tiered situations When elections under of this section for a series of tiered entities are effective on the same date, the eligible entities may specify the order of the elections on Form 8832. If no order is specified for the elections, any transactions that are deemed to occur in this as a result of the classification change will be treated as occurring first for the highest tier entity's classification change, then for the next highest tier entity's classification change, and so forth down the chain of entities until all the transactions under this have occurred. For example, Parent, a corporation, wholly owns all of the interest of an eligible entity classified as an association (S1), which wholly owns another eligible entity classified as an association (S2), which wholly owns another eligible entity classified as an association (S3). Elections under of this section are filed to classify S1, S2, and S3 each as disregarded as an entity separate from its owner effective on the same day. If no order is specified for the elections, the following transactions are deemed to occur under this as a result of the elections, with each successive transaction occurring on the same day immediately after the preceding transaction S1 is treated as liquidating into Parent, then S2 is treated as liquidating into Parent, and finally S3 is treated as liquidating into Parent.
(4) Effective date Except as otherwise provided in of this section, this applies to elections that are filed on or after November 29, 1999. Taxpayers may apply this retroactively to elections filed before November 29, 1999 if all taxpayers affected by the deemed transactions file consistently with this .
(h) Effective date
(1) In general Except as otherwise provided in this section, the rules of this section are applicable as of January 1, 1997.
(2) Prior treatment of existing entities In the case of a business entity that is not described in , , , , , or , and that was in existence prior to January 1, 1997, the entity's claimed classification(s) will be respected for all peri0ods prior to January 1, 1997, if—
(i) The entity had a reasonable basis (within the meaning of section ) for its claimed classification;
(ii) The entity and all members of the entity recognized the federal tax consequences of any change in the entity's classification within the sixty months prior to January 1, 1997; and
(iii) Neither the entity nor any member was notified in writing on or before May 8, 1996, that the classification of the entity was under examination (in which case the entity's classification will be determined in the examination).
(3) Deemed elections for S corporations of this section applies to timely S corporation elections under section filed on or after July 20, 2004. Eligible entities that filed timely S elections before July 20, 2004 may also rely on the provisions of the regulation.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note:
For Federal Register citations affecting , see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.