Old Law, New Tricks: Long-Awaited PFIC Guidance Proposed

▪ Written by and
Our International Tax Group highlights new guidance on fundamental issues and points out a few sources of potential headache for taxpayers in response to the IRS and Treasury proposing the most significant regulations on passive foreign investment companies (PFICs) in nearly 30 years. Clarifications for the Income and Asset Tests Updates to the PFIC exceptions and look-through rules PFIC stock attribution Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

Questioning Old Regulations

▪ Written by
In response to the Third Circuit's SIH Partners v. Commissioner ruling, our Federal Tax Group reflects on the decision and suggests taking a second look at old Treasury regulations that might not survive judicial scrutiny. The court worked hard to save Section 956 How much deference will a court give Treasury? For example: Section 951 Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

Altera Redux – The Ninth Circuit Once Again Holds in Favor of the IRS

▪ Written by , and
Last week, our International Tax Group examines the Ninth Circuit repeating itself in reversing a unanimous Tax Court holding on the validity of the Treasury's regulations under Section 482. We examine the reconstituted  panel's significant decisions, which in many ways follow the first panel's conclusions. Altera v. Commissioner, Parts 1, 2, and now, 3 What is the meaning of “commensurate with income”? What does this case say about previous standards under Chevron? Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

Indian Tribe Taxes in the States

▪ Written by
In response to a Supreme Court decision on state taxation of an Indian tribe, our Federal Tax Group parses the meaning of what is actually being taxed and the broader implications for taxpayers. The Treaty of 1855 Two points of broader significance Identifying the right arguments Click here to read the full advisory. [...]Read more

U.S. Supreme Court Carves a Narrow Taxpayer Win on Due Process in Kaestner

▪ Written by and
One year after dropping the landmark Wayfair decision, our State & Local Tax Group examines why this year’s Supreme Court decision in North Carolina Department of Revenue v. Kimberley Rice Kaestner 1992 Family Trust won’t leave much of a mark. Kaestner focuses narrowly on the trust at issue in the case The Court goes out of its way to ensure that the decision does not affect precedent The decision reaffirms the due-process test of Quill Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

New York Assembly Introduces a Bill on the Escheat of Virtual Currency

▪ Written by and
New York Assembly Bill 8314, introduced on June 13, 2019, would provide for the escheat of virtual currency. The bill, which also directs the comptroller to create regulations establishing when electronic communication qualifies as “written contact” from an owner, defines “virtual currency” as “any type of digital unit that is used for  a  medium of exchange or a form of digitally stored value.” The definition is meant to be broadly construed and includes decentralized currencies and those with a central depository or administrator. However, the bill excludes online gaming currencies, [...]Read more

Hold Up, Partner: Proposed Regulations Address Withholding on Foreign Partner Dispositions

▪ Written by and
Newly proposed regulations expand withholding on foreign partners transferring interests in partnerships who do business in the United States. Our International Tax Group evaluates the tightening reins on exceptions. Notice 2018-29 and other prior Section 1446(f) guidance Modified withholding exceptions in the new regulations Activation of previously suspended PTP and secondary withholding Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

A New Theory of Code Definitions

▪ Written by
“Manifestly incompatible?” A new IRS Chief Counsel Advice features a disturbing interpretation of Section 7701’s definitions. Our Federal Tax Group parses out what taxpayers should beware of—or what could possibly be used to their benefit. Applying the abuse of entity regulation Discriminating against taxpayers singled out Statutory construction that doesn’t otherwise provide Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

Partnership Abuse of Entity Rule Invoked in Section 367(d) Outbound IP Transaction

▪ Written by
Our International Tax Group explores a recent, heavily redacted Chief Counsel Advice applying the partnership abuse of entity rule to a Section 367(d) outbound IP transaction. Outbound IP transfers and Section 367(d) The partnership abuse of entity rule Interaction between the partnership abuse of entity rule and Section 367(d) successor rules Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more