Modifications of Certain Derivative Contracts (IRS final

Official source: Federal Register (GovInfo) (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2011-07-22/pdf/2011-18529.pdf), retrieved 2026-10-03. U.S. Government work (17 U.S.C. § 105).

43892 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 141 / Friday, July 22, 2011 / Rules and Regulations

Explanation of Provisions

These temporary regulations provide that there is no exchange to the nonassigning counterparty for purposes of § 1.1001–1(a) solely because a dealer in securities or a clearinghouse transfers or assigns a derivative contract to another dealer in securities or clearinghouse, provided that the transfer or assignment is permitted by the terms of the contract. The derivative contracts to which these regulations apply are those described in section 475(c)(2)(D), 475(c)(2)(E), or 475(c)(2)(F). In addition, these temporary regulations provide that transfers or assignments are permitted by the terms of the contract when consent of the nonassigning counterparty is required as well as those transfers or assignments that do not require consent. If consideration passes between the assignor and assignee in connection with the transfer or assignment, the consideration will not affect the treatment of the nonassigning counterparty for purposes of § 1.1001–4. If any consideration is paid to or received by the nonassigning counterparty, however, the payment or receipt of the consideration is analyzed under the general principles of section 1001 to determine its effect on the nonassigning counterparty. In addition, any changes to the terms of the contract are analyzed under the general principles of section 1001 to determine whether there has been a sale or disposition of the contract by the parties.

Special Analyses

It has been determined that this Treasury decision is not a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It has also been determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these regulations, and because the regulations do not impose a collection of information on small entities, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) does not apply. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Code, these regulations have been submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on their impact on small business.

Drafting Information

The principal author of these regulations is Andrea M. Hoffenson, Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions and Products). However, other personnel from the IRS and the Treasury Department participated in their development.

Background

The final and temporary regulations that are the subject of this correction are under section 956 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Need for Correction

As published at (76 FR 36993), final and temporary regulations (TD 9530) contain an error that may prove to be misleading and is in need of clarification.

Correction of Publication

Accordingly, the publication of the final and temporary regulations (TD 9530) which were the subject of FR Doc. 2011–15741 is corrected as follows: On page 36995, column 3, in the signature block, line 5, the name ‘‘Emily S. Mahon’’ is corrected to read ‘‘Emily S. McMahon’’.

LaNita Van Dyke, Chief, Publications and Regulations Branch, Legal Processing Division, Associate Chief Counsel, Procedure and Administration.

[FR Doc. 2011–18469 Filed 7–21–11; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[TD 9538]

RIN 1545–BK14

Modifications of Certain Derivative Contracts

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Final and temporary regulations.

SUMMARY: This document contains final and temporary regulations that address when a transfer or assignment of certain derivative contracts does not result in an exchange to the nonassigning counterparty for purposes of § 1.1001– 1(a). The text of these temporary regulations also serves as the text of the proposed regulations (REG–109006–11) set forth in the Proposed Rules section in this issue of the Federal Register .

DATES: Effective Date: These regulations are effective on July 22, 2011.

Applicability Date: For the date of applicability, see § 1.1001–4T(d).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea M. Hoffenson, (202) 622–3920 (not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Section 1001 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) provides rules for the computation and recognition of gain or loss from a sale or other disposition of property. For purposes of section 1001, § 1.1001–1(a) of the Income Tax Regulations generally provides that gain or loss is realized upon an exchange of property for other property differing materially either in kind or in extent. As a general matter, the assignment of a notional principal contract is treated as a taxable disposition to a nonassigning counterparty if the resulting contract differs materially either in kind or in extent. See Cottage Savings Association v. Commissioner, 499 U.S. 554, 566 (1991) [1991–2 CB 34, 38] (‘‘Under [the Court’s] interpretation of [section] 1001(a), an exchange of property gives rise to a realization event so long as the exchanged properties are ‘materially different’—that is, so long as they embody legally distinct entitlements.’’). Section 1.1001–4(a) provides, however, that the substitution of a new party on a notional principal contract is not treated as a deemed exchange of the contract by the nonassigning party for purposes of § 1.1001–1(a) if two conditions are satisfied: the assignment is between dealers in notional principal contracts and the terms of the contract permit the substitution.

Many notional principal contracts permit assignment of the contract only with the consent of the nonassigning counterparty. There has been some uncertainty as to whether a contract that requires the consent of the nonassigning counterparty as a condition to assignment will satisfy the second requirement of § 1.1001–4(a) as described in the previous paragraph. In addition, commenters have suggested that the scope of § 1.1001–4 is too narrow because it only applies to notional principal contracts. The need to amend § 1.1001–4 has been increased by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Public Law 111–203 (124 Stat 1376 (2010)) (Dodd-Frank), which in some cases will necessitate the movement of entire books of derivative contracts. In particular, there is a concern that the assignment of derivative contracts may create a taxable event for the nonassigning counterparties to the assigned contracts.

The IRS and the Treasury Department agree that § 1.1001–4 should be amended and expanded to include derivative contracts other than notional principal contracts. These temporary regulations replace the current, final regulations of § 1.1001–4.

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 141 / Friday, July 22, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 43893

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1

Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Amendments to the Regulations

Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is amended as follows:

PART 1—INCOME TAXES

Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read in part as follows:

Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * -

Par. 2. Section 1.1001–4 is revised to read as follows:

§ 1.1001–4 Modifications of certain derivative contracts.

(a) through (d) [Reserved]. For further guidance, see § 1.1001–4T(a) through (d).

Par. 3. Section 1.1001–4T is added to read as follows:

§ 1.1001–4T Modifications of certain derivative contracts (temporary).

(a) Certain assignments. For purposes of § 1.1001–1(a), the transfer or assignment of a derivative contract is not treated by the nonassigning counterparty as a deemed exchange of the original contract for a modified contract that differs materially either in kind or in extent if—

(1) Both the party transferring or assigning its rights and obligations under the derivative contract and the party to which the rights and obligations are transferred or assigned are either a dealer in securities or a clearinghouse;

(2) The terms of the derivative contract permit the transfer or assignment of the contract, whether or not the consent of the nonassigning counterparty is required for the transfer or assignment to be effective; and

(3) The terms of the derivative contract are not otherwise modified in a manner that results in a taxable exchange under section 1001.

(b) Definitions. (1) Dealer in securities. For purposes of this section, a dealer in securities is a taxpayer who meets the definition of a dealer in securities in section 475(c)(1).

(2) Clearinghouse. For purposes of this section, a clearinghouse is a derivatives clearing organization (as such term is defined in section 1a of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1a)) or a clearing agency (as such term is defined in section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a))) that is registered, or exempt from registration, under each respective Act.

(3) Derivative contract. For purposes of this section, a derivative contract is a contract described in section

475(c)(2)(D), 475(c)(2)(E), or 475(c)(2)(F) without regard to the last sentence of section 475(c)(2) referencing section 1256. (c) Consideration for the assignment. Any consideration for the transfer or assignment that passes between the party transferring or assigning its rights and obligations under the contract and the party to which the rights and obligations are transferred or assigned will not affect the treatment of the nonassigning counterparty for purposes of this section.

(d) Effective/applicability date. This section applies to transfers or assignments of derivative contracts on or after July 22, 2011.

(e) Expiration date. The applicability of this section expires on or before July 21, 2014.

Steven T. Miller, Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.

Approved: July 15, 2011. Emily S. McMahon, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Tax Policy).

[FR Doc. 2011–18529 Filed 7–21–11; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[USCG–2011–0648]

RIN 1625–AA08

Special Local Regulations; Port Huron to Mackinac Island Sail Race

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will establish a temporary special local regulation for the annual Port Huron to Mackinac Island Sail Race. This action is necessary to safely control vessel movements in the vicinity of the race’s starting point and to provide for the safety of the general boating public and commercial shipping. No person or vessel may enter the regulated area without the permission of the Ninth District Commander or the Coast Guard Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

DATES: This temporary final rule is effective from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. on July 23, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket are part of docket USCG–2011– 0648 and are available online by going

to http://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG–2011–0648 in the Docket ID box, and then clicking ‘‘Search.’’ This material is also available for inspection or copying at the Docket Management Facility (M–30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey, Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions concerning this temporary rule, call or e-mail Mr. Frank Jennings, Jr., Auxiliary and Boating Safety Branch, Ninth Coast Guard District, via e-mail at: Frank.T.Jennings@uscg.mil or by phone at (216) 902–6094. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202–366–9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary final rule without prior notice and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 4(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and opportunity to comment when the agency, for good cause, finds that those procedures are ‘‘impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.’’ Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with respect to this rule because doing so is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Publishing an NPRM for this rule is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest because the event is well-known, non-controversial, and the impact of the regulation on navigation and the public is very low. This event is well-known in the community. This year will be the 87th annual running of this race, and regulations have been published relating to this event since 1995. From 1995 to 2008, this event was listed in a recurring marine events list in the Code of Federal Regulations. This event is non-controversial. In the various regulations and notices published for this event in the last sixteen years, no negative comments have ever been received and few, if any Notices of Violation have been issued. This regulation will have very little impact on the boating public. The regulation is for less than one day, for a regulated area which remains open to navigation, though subject to the control of the Patrol Commander.

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