Part I. Rulings — Internal Revenue Bulletin 1998-40

Section 42.—Low-Income Housing Credit

26 CFR 1.42–16: Eligible basis reduced by federal grants.

Low-income housing tax credit. This revenue ruling advises taxpayers that payments made to a building owner on behalf or in respect of a tenant under the Section 8 Assistance For Single-Room Occupancy Dwellings Program or under the Shelter Plus Care Program are not grants made with respect to a building or its operation under section 42(d)(5) of the Code.

Rev. Rul. 98–49

Pursuant to § 1.42–16(b)(3) of the Income Tax Regulations, the Internal Revenue Service has determined that payments made to a building owner on behalf or in respect of a tenant under the Section 8 Assistance For Single-Room Occupancy Dwellings Program (42 U.S.C. 11301, 11401–11402) or under the Shelter Plus Care Program (42 U.S.C. 11301, 11403– 11407b) are not grants made with respect to a building or its operation under § 42(d)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code.

DRAFTING INFORMATION

The principal author of this revenue ruling is Christopher J. Wilson of the Office of Assistant Chief Counsel (Passthroughs and Special Industries). For further information regarding this revenue ruling contact Mr. Wilson on (202) 622-3040 (not a toll-free call).

The adjusted applicable federal short-term, midterm, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

Section 280G.—Golden Parachute Payments

Federal short-term, mid-term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

Section 382.—Limitation on Net Operating Loss Carryforwards and Certain Built-In Losses Following Ownership Change

The adjusted federal long-term rate is set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

Section 411.—Minimum Vesting Standards

26 CFR 1.411(d)–4: Section 411(d)(6) protected benefits.

T.D. 8781

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Internal Revenue Service 26 CFR Part 1

Section 411(d)(6) Protected Benefits (Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997); Qualified Retirement Plan Benefits

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Final and temporary regulations.

SUMMARY: This document contains final and temporary regulations providing for changes to the rules regarding qualified retirement plan benefits that are protected from reduction by plan amendment, that have been made necessary by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (TRA ’97). The temporary regulations change the existing regulations to conform with the TRA ’97 rules regarding in-kind distribution requirements for certain employee stock ownership plans, and specify the time period during which certain plan amendments for which relief has been granted by TRA ’97 may be made without violating the prohibition against plan amendments that reduce accrued benefits. These temporary regulations affect sponsors of qualified retirement plans, employers that maintain qualified retirement plans, and qualified retirement plan participants. The final regulations amend the existing final regulations to cross-refer

ence the temporary regulations. The text of the temporary regulations also serves as the text of REG–101363–98, page 10.

DATES: These regulations are effective September 4, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda S. F. Marshall, (202) 6226030 (not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

This document contains amendments to the Income Tax Regulations (26 CFR part

under section 411(d)(6). These temporary regulations change the rules under section 411(d)(6) regarding qualified retirement plan benefits that are protected from reduction by plan amendment, to take into account amendments made by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (TRA ’97), Public Law 105–34 (111 Stat. 788 (1997)). Specifically, these temporary regulations change the existing regulations to conform to the TRA ’97 amendments to section 409 regarding the general requirement that employee stock ownership plans offer distributions in the form of employer securities. In addition, these temporary regulations specify the time period during which certain plan amendments for which relief has been granted by TRA ’97 may be made without violating section 411(d)(6).

Explanation of Provisions

Section 411(d)(6) provides that a plan is not treated as satisfying the requirements of section 411 if the accrued benefit of a participant is decreased by a plan amendment. Under section 411(d)(6)(B), a plan amendment that eliminates an optional form of benefit is treated as reducing accrued benefits to the extent that the amendment applies to benefits accrued as of the later of the adoption date or the effective date of the amendment. Sections 1.411(d)–4, Q&A–1(b)(1) and 1.401(a)(4)–4(e) specify that different optional forms of benefit within the meaning of section 411(d)(6)(B) result from differences in the medium of a distribution

October 5, 1998 4 1998–40 I.R.B.

(e.g., cash or in-kind) from a plan. Section 411(d)(6)(C) provides that any tax credit employee stock ownership plan or any employee stock ownership plan is not treated as failing to meet the requirements of section 411(d)(6) merely because it modifies distribution options in a nondiscriminatory manner.

Special Rules Regarding Medium of Distribution from ESOPs

Section 409(h) contains requirements relating to distributions from tax credit employee stock ownership plans. Section 4975(e)(7) extends the requirements of section 409(h) to other employee stock ownership plans as well, and section 401(a)(23) extends the requirements of section 409(h) to qualified plans that are stock bonus plans. Under section 409(h)(1)(A), an employee stock ownership plan or other stock bonus plan generally is required to make distributions available in the form of employer securities. Prior to its amendment by TRA ’97, section 409(h)(2) provided an exception to this rule in the case of an employer whose charter or bylaws restrict the ownership of substantially all outstanding employer securities to employees or to a trust described in section 401(a).

Under section 1361, certain small business corporations that do not have more than 75 shareholders are eligible to elect treatment as S corporations whose tax attributes generally flow through to shareholders in accordance with the rules of subchapter S of chapter 1 of subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code. Prior to the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 (SBJPA), Public Law 104–188 (110 Stat. 1755 (1996)), an S corporation could not maintain an employee stock ownership plan because an S corporation could not have a qualified trust described in section 401(a) as a shareholder. SBJPA amended the requirements for S corporations, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 1996, to permit certain tax-exempt organizations, including qualified trusts described in section 401(a), to be S corporation shareholders. TRA ’97 made an additional change to the rules governing qualified plans holding securities of an S corporation employer, to make it easier for S corporation employers to facilitate employee owner

ship of employer securities through qualified plans. Section 1506 of TRA ’97 extends the exception of section 409(h)(2) to cover S corporations, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1997. Pursuant to this change, tax credit employee stock ownership plans, employee stock ownership plans, and other stock bonus plans established and maintained by S corporation employers are not required to offer distributions in the form of employer securities.

Section 1.411(d)–4, Q&A-2(d)(2)(ii) provides an exception from the requirements of section 411(d)(6) for plan amendments that eliminate optional forms of benefit from a tax credit employee stock ownership plan, an employee stock ownership plan, or a stock bonus plan, for certain employers. Section 1.411(d)–4, Q&A-2(d)(2)(ii) applies to employers that become substantially employee-owned, if the employer otherwise meets the requirements of section 409(h)(2) with respect to restrictions on the ownership of outstanding employer stock. These temporary regulations expand this exception from the requirements of section 411(d)(6) to apply to S corporations as well, to reflect the TRA ’97 changes to section 409(h).

Rules for Plan Amendments Pursuant to TRA ’97

Section 1541 of TRA ’97 contains provisions relating to plan amendments that are adopted as a result of TRA ’97. If section 1541 applies to a plan amendment, section 1541(a) provides that the plan will be treated as operated in accordance with its terms and will not fail to satisfy the requirements of section 411(d)(6) by reason of the amendment. Section 1541 applies to a plan amendment that is made pursuant to a legislative change in the pension and employee benefit provisions of TRA ’97, provided the following conditions are satisfied. First, the plan amendment must be adopted before the first day of the first plan year beginning on or after January 1, 1999 (2001, in the case of a governmental plan, as defined in section 414(d)). Second, the plan must be operated in accordance with the terms of the plan amendment, beginning on the date the legislative change takes effect, or, if the amendment is not required by the legislative change, the effective date of the

amendment specified by the plan. Third, the plan amendment must be made retroactively effective.

The remedial amendment period for adopting plan amendments to which section 1541 of TRA ’97 applies was extended pursuant to the rules of section 401(b) in Rev. Proc. 98–14 (1998–4 I.R.B. 22). To provide a uniform time for plan amendment, these temporary regulations extend the time for the section 411(d)(6) relief provided by section 1541 of TRA ’97 to the end of the remedial amendment period for these plan amendments.

Other Section 411(d)(6) Issues

In Notice 98–29 (1998–22 I.R.B. 8), the IRS requested public comment regarding a number of possible methods of providing section 411(d)(6) relief, particularly for defined contribution plans. The IRS will also consider comments submitted pursuant to Notice 98–29 that propose other methods of providing section 411(d)(6) relief to address special concerns of employee stock ownership plans.

Special Analyses

It has been determined that this Treasury decision is not a significant regulatory action as defined in EO 12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It also has 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 regulation does 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 Internal Revenue Code, these temporary regulations will be 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 Linda S. F. Marshall, Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (Employee Benefits and Exempt Organizations). However, other personnel from the IRS and Treasury Department participated in their development.

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1998–40 I.R.B. 5 October 5, 1998

Adoption of 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 is amended by adding an entry in numerical order to read in part as follows:

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

§1.411(d)–4T also issued under 26 U.S.C. 411(d)(6). * * *

Par. 2. Section 1.411(d)–4 is amended by:

Removing the reference “Q&A-5” and adding Q&A-2” in its place in the first sentence of Q&A-2(d)(1) introductory text.
Adding a sentence at the end of Q&A-2(d)(3) to read as follows:

§1.411(d)–4 Section 411(d)(6) protected benefits.

Q-2: * * * A-2: * * * (d) * * * (3) * * * (For taxable years after December 31, 1997, see §1.411(d)–4T Q&A-2(d).)

Par. 3. Section 1.411(d)–4T is added to read as follows:

§1.411(d)–4T Section 411(d)(6) protected benefits (temporary).

Q&A-1: [Reserved]. For further information, see §1.411(d)–4 Q&A-1.

Q-2: To what extent may section 411(d)(6) protected benefits under a plan be reduced or eliminated?

(a) through (c) [Reserved]. For further information, see §1.411(d)–4 Q&A-2(a) through (c).

(d) ESOP and stock bonus plan excep- tion —(1) In general. Subject to the limitations in paragraph (d)(2) of this Q&A-2, a tax credit employee stock ownership plan (as defined in section 409(a)), an employee stock ownership plan (as defined in section 4975(e)(7)), or a stock bonus plan that is not an employee stock ownership plan will not be treated as violating

the requirements of section 411(d)(6) merely because of the circumstances described in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this Q&A-2.

(i) [Reserved]. For further information, see §1.411(d)–4 Q&A-2(d)(1)(i).

(ii) Employer becomes substantially employee-owned or is an S corporation. The employer eliminates, or retains the discretion to eliminate, with respect to all participants, optional forms of benefit by substituting cash distributions for distributions in the form of employer stock with respect to benefits subject to section 409(h) in the circumstances described in paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(A) or (B) of this Q&A-2, but only if the employer otherwise meets the requirements of section 409(h)(2)— (A) The employer becomes substantially employee-owned; or

(B) For taxable years of the employer beginning after December 31, 1997, the employer is an S corporation as defined in section 1361.

(iii) and (iv) [Reserved]. For further information, see §1.411(d)–4 Q&A2(d)(1)(iii) and (iv). (2) Limitations on ESOP and stock bonus plan exceptions. [Reserved]. For further information, see §1.411(d)–4 Q&A-2(d)(2).

(3) Effective date. Paragraph (d) of this Q&A-2 applies for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1997. For taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 1998, see §1.411(d)–4 Q&A-2(d). (4) [Reserved]. For further information, see §1.411(d)–4 Q&A-2(d)(4).

Q&A-3 through Q&A-10 [Reserved]. For further information, see §1.411(d)–4 Q&A-3 through Q&A-10.

Q-11: To what extent may a plan amendment that is made pursuant to the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (TRA ’97) (Public Law 105–34, 111 Stat. 788), reduce or eliminate section 411(d)(6) protected benefits?

A-11: A plan amendment does not violate the requirements of section 411(d)(6) merely because the plan amendment reduces or eliminates section 411(d)(6) protected benefits as of the effective date of the plan amendment, provided that—

(a) The plan amendment is made pursuant to an amendment made by title XV, or subtitle H of title X, of TRA ’97; and

(b) The plan amendment is adopted no later than the last day of any remedial amendment period that applies to the plan pursuant to §§1.401(b)–1 and 1.401(b)– 1T for changes under TRA ’97.

Michael P. Dolan, Deputy Commissioner of

Internal Revenue.

Approved July 24, 1998.

Donald C. Lubick, Assistant Secretary of

the Treasury.

(Filed by the Office of the Federal Register on September 8, 1998, 8:45 a.m., and published in the issue of the Federal Register for September 9, 1998, 63 F.R. 47172)

Section 412.—Minimum Funding Standards

The adjusted applicable federal short-term, midterm, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

Section 467.—Certain Payments for the Use of Property or Services

The adjusted applicable federal short-term, midterm, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

Section 468.—Special Rules for Mining and Solid Waste Reclamation and Closing Costs

The adjusted applicable federal short-term, midterm, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

Section 482.—Allocation of Income and Deductions Among Taxpayers

Federal short-term, mid-term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

Section 483.—Interest on Certain Deferred Payments

The adjusted applicable federal short-term, midterm, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

October 5, 1998 6 1998–40 I.R.B.

Section 642.—Special Rules for Credits and Deductions

Federal short-term, mid-term, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

Section 807.—Rules for Certain Reserves

The adjusted applicable federal short-term, midterm, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

Section 846.—Discounted Unpaid Losses Defined

The adjusted applicable federal short-term, midterm, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

Section 1274.—Determination of Issue Price in the Case of Certain Debt Instruments Issued for Property

(Also sections 42, 280G, 382, 412, 467, 468, 482, 483, 642, 807, 846, 1288, 7520, 7872.)

Federal rates; adjusted federal rates; adjusted federal long-term rate, and the long-term exempt rate. For purposes of sections 1274, 1288, 382, and other sections of the Code, tables set forth the rates for October 1998.

Rev. Rul. 98–50

This revenue ruling provides various prescribed rates for federal income tax purposes for October 1998 (the current month.) Table 1 contains the short-term, mid-term, and long-term applicable fed eral rates (AFR) for the current month for purposes of section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. Table 2 contains the short-term, mid-term, and long-term adjusted applicable federal rates (adjusted AFR) for the current month for purposes of section 1288(b). Table 3 sets forth the adjusted federal long-term rate and the long-term tax-exempt rate described in section 382(f). Table 4 contains the appropriate percentages for determining the low-income housing credit described in section 42(b)(2) for buildings placed in service during the current month. Finally, Table 5 contains the federal rate for determining the present value of an annuity, an interest for life or for a term of years, or a remainder or a reversionary interest for purposes of section 7520.

Applicable Federal Rates (AFR) for October 1998

Period for Compounding

Annual Semiannual Quarterly Monthly Short-Term

AFR 5.06% 5.00% 4.97% 4.95% 110% AFR 5.58% 5.50% 5.46% 5.44% 120% AFR 6.09% 6.00% 5.96% 5.93% 130% AFR 6.61% 6.50% 6.45% 6.41%

Mid-Term

AFR 5.12% 5.06% 5.03% 5.01% 110% AFR 5.65% 5.57% 5.53% 5.51% 120% AFR 6.16% 6.07% 6.02% 5.99% 130% AFR 6.69% 6.58% 6.53% 6.49% 150% AFR 7.73% 7.59% 7.52% 7.47% 175% AFR 9.06% 8.86% 8.76% 8.70%

Long-Term

AFR 5.46% 5.39% 5.35% 5.33% 110% AFR 6.02% 5.93% 5.89% 5.86% 120% AFR 6.57% 6.47% 6.42% 6.38% 130% AFR 7.13% 7.01% 6.95% 6.91%

1998–40 I.R.B. 7 October 5, 1998

REV. RUL. 98–50 TABLE 2

Adjusted AFR for October 1998

Period for Compounding

Annual Semiannual Quarterly Monthly Short-term adjusted AFR 3.52% 3.49% 3.47% 3.46%

Mid-term adjusted AFR 4.05% 4.01% 3.99% 3.98%

Long-term adjusted AFR 4.80% 4.74% 4.71% 4.69%

REV. RUL. 98–50 TABLE 3

Rates Under Section 382 for October 1998

Adjusted federal long-term rate for the current month 4.80%

Long-term tax-exempt rate for ownership changes uring the current month (the highest of the adjusted federal long-term rates for the current month and the prior two months) 5.02%

REV. RUL. 98–50 TABLE 4

Appropriate Percentages Under Section 42(b)(2) for October 1998

Appropriate percentage for the 70% present value low-income housing credit 8.23%

Appropriate percentage for the 30% present value low-income housing credit 3.53%

REV. RUL. 98–50 TABLE 5

Rate Under Section 7520 for October 1998

Applicable federal rate for determining the present value of an annuity, an interest for life or a term of years, or a remainder or reversionary interest 6.2%

Section 1288.—Treatment of Original Issue Discount on Tax-Exempt Obligations

The adjusted applicable federal short-term, midterm, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

Section 7520.—Valuation Tables

The adjusted applicable federal short-term, midterm, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

Section 7872.—Treatment of Loans With Below-Market Interest Rates

The adjusted applicable federal short-term, midterm, and long-term rates are set forth for the month of October 1998. See Rev. Rul. 98–50, page 7.

October 5, 1998 8 1998–40 I.R.B.