SECTION 21. INVENTORIES (§ 471)

.01 Cash discounts .

(1) Description of change . This change applies to a taxpayer that wants to change its method of accounting for cash discounts (discounts granted for timely payment) when they approximate a fair interest rate, from a method of consistently including the price of the goods before discount in the cost of the goods and including in gross income any discounts taken (the “gross invoice method”), to a method of reducing the cost of the goods by the cash discounts and deducting as an expense any discounts not taken (the “net invoice method”), or vice versa . See Rev. Rul. 73–65, 1973–1 C.B. 216.

(2) Computation of § 481(a) adjustment for changes to net invoice method . In the case of a taxpayer changing from the gross invoice method to the net invoice method, a negative adjustment is required to prevent duplications arising from the fact that the gross invoice method reported income upon timely payment for some or all of the goods that remain in inventory, and a positive adjustment is required to prevent omissions arising from the fact that the gross invoice method included the invoice price, unadjusted for the cash discounts, of some or all goods in cost of goods sold

and the discount will be earned by payment in a subsequent taxable year. The net § 481(a) adjustment can be computed by deducting the “Applicable Discount” at the beginning of the year of change from the “Available Discount” at the beginning of the year of change. The Available Discount is equal to the difference between the accounts payable balance under the gross invoice method and the net invoice method. The Applicable Discount is equal to the difference between the beginning inventory value under the gross invoice method and the net invoice method.

Example . Taxpayer’s accounts payable balance at the beginning of the year of change was $1,000 under the gross invoice method and $980 under the net invoice method. Taxpayer’s inventory value was $3,000 under the gross invoice method and $2,955 under the net invoice method. The Available Discount is $20 ($1,000 - $980) and the Applicable Discount is $45 ($3,000 $2,955). Thus, Taxpayer’s net § 481(a) adjustment is a negative $25 ($20 - $45).

(3) Computation of § 481(a) adjustment for changes to gross invoice method . In the case of a taxpayer changing from the net invoice method to the gross invoice method, a positive adjustment is required to prevent omissions arising from the fact that the net invoice method did not report income upon timely payment for some or all of the goods that remain in inventory, and a negative adjustment is required to prevent duplications arising from the fact that the net invoice method included the invoice price, adjusted for the cash discounts, of some or all goods in cost of goods sold and the discount will be earned by payment in a subsequent taxable year. The net § 481(a) adjustment can be computed by deducting the “Applicable Discount” at the beginning of the year of change from the “Available Discount” at the beginning of the year of change. The Available Discount is equal to the difference between the accounts payable balance under the gross invoice method and the net invoice method. The Applicable Discount is equal to the difference between the beginning inventory value under the gross invoice method and the net invoice method.

Example . Taxpayer’s accounts payable balance at the beginning of the year of change was $980 under the net invoice method and $1,000 under the gross invoice method. Taxpayer’s inventory value was $2,955 under the net invoice method and $3,000 under the gross invoice method. The Applicable Discount is $45

($3,000 - $2,955) and the Available Discount is $20 ($1,000 - $980). Thus, Taxpayer’s net § 481(a) adjustment is a negative $25 ($20 - $45).

(4) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.01 of this APPENDIX is “48.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(5) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Patty Ward at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

.02 Estimating inventory “shrinkage” .

(1) Description of change . This change applies to a taxpayer that wants to change to a method of accounting for estimating inventory shrinkage in computing ending inventory, using:

(a) the “retail safe harbor method” described in section 4 of Rev. Proc. 98–29, 1998–1 C.B. 857; or (b) a method other than the retail safe harbor method, provided (i) the taxpayer’s present method of accounting does not estimate inventory shrinkage, and (ii) the taxpayer’s new method of accounting (that estimates inventory shrinkage) clearly reflects income under § 446(b).

(2) Scope limitations inapplicable . The scope limitations in section 4.02 of this revenue procedure do not apply to this change.

(3) Additional requirements . If the taxpayer wants to change to a method of accounting for inventory shrinkage other than the retail safe harbor method, the taxpayer must attach to its Form 3115 a statement setting forth a detailed description of all aspects of the new method of estimating inventory shrinkage (including, for last-in, first-out (LIFO) taxpayers, the method of determining inventory shrinkage for, or allocating inventory shrinkage to, each LIFO pool).

(4) Audit protection . A taxpayer does not receive audit protection under section 7 of this revenue procedure in connection with a change to the retail safe harbor method if, on the date the taxpayer files a copy of the Form 3115 with the national office, the taxpayer’s present method of estimating inventory shrinkage is an issue under consideration within the meaning of section 3.09 of this revenue procedure.

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automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.04 of this APPENDIX is “53.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(4) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Patty Ward at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

.05 Impermissible methods of identifi- cation and valuation .

(1) Description of change . This change applies to a taxpayer:

(a) changing from an impermissible method of accounting described in §§ 1.471–2(f)(1) through (5), including a LIFO taxpayer restoring a write down of inventory below cost or discontinuing maintaining an inventory reserve; or

(b) changing from a gross profit method or from a method of determining market that is not in accordance with § 1.471–4.

(i) Gross profit method . A gross profit method is a method in which the taxpayer estimates the cost of goods sold by reducing its gross sales by a percentage “markup” from cost. The estimated cost of goods sold is subtracted from the sum of the beginning inventory and purchases and the result is used as the ending inventory.

(ii) Method of determining market . An example of a method of determining market that is not in accordance with § 1.471–4 is where a taxpayer, under ordinary circumstances, determines the market value of purchased merchandise using judgment factors, and not using the prevailing current bid price on the inventory date for the particular merchandise in the volume in which it is usually purchased by the taxpayer.

(2) Applicability . For purposes of this change, a taxpayer must be changing to an inventory method (identification or valuation, or both) specifically permitted by the Code, the regulations, or a decision by the United States Supreme Court, a revenue ruling, a revenue procedure, or other guidance published in the IRB for the inventory goods, and the taxpayer is neither prohibited from using that method nor required to use a different inventory method for those inventory goods. This change does not apply to a change described in another section of this revenue procedure or in other guidance published in the IRB.

(5) Future change . A taxpayer that changes to the retail safe harbor method described in Rev. Proc. 98–29 will not be precluded, solely by reason of such change, from changing to another safe harbor method for estimating inventory shrinkage in computing ending inventory in the first year such other safe harbor method is available.

(6) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.02 of this APPENDIX is “49.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(7) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Steve Gee at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

.03 Small taxpayer exception from re- quirement to account for inventories under § 471 .

(1) Description of change . This change applies to either a taxpayer (other than a taxpayer described § 448(a)(3)) with “average annual gross receipts” (as defined in section 5.01 of Rev. Proc. 2001–10, 2001–1 C.B. 272) of $1,000,000 or less or a qualifying taxpayer (other than a taxpayer described in § 448) with “average annual gross receipts” (as defined in section 5.02 of Rev. Proc. 2002–28, 2002–1 C.B. 815) of $10,000,000 or less that wants to change from a method of accounting for inventoriable items (including, if applicable, from the method of capitalizing costs under § 263A) to the method described in Rev. Proc. 2001–10 and Rev. Proc. 2002–28 for treating inventoriable items in the same manner as materials and supplies that are not incidental under § 1.162–3.

(2) Scope limitations inapplicable . The scope limitations in section 4.02 of this revenue procedure do not apply to this change.

(3) Manner of making change . See Rev. Proc. 2001–10 or Rev. Proc. 2002–28 (as applicable) for additional guidance on the computation of the § 481(a) adjustment and the completion of the Form 3115.

(4) Concurrent automatic change to the overall cash method under Rev. Proc. 2001–10 or Rev. Proc. 2002–28 . A taxpayer that wants to make both this change and a change to the overall cash method under Rev. Proc. 2001–10 or Rev. Proc.

2002–28 ( see section 14.03 of this APPENDIX) for the same year of change may file a single Form 3115 for both changes, provided the taxpayer enters the designated automatic accounting method change numbers for both changes on the appropriate line on that Form 3115.

(5) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.03 of this APPENDIX for the small taxpayer ($1 million) inventory exception contained in Rev. Proc. 2001–10 is “50.” The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.03 of this APPENDIX for the small taxpayer ($10 million) inventory exception contained in Rev. Proc. 2002–28 is “51.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(6) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact W. Thomas McElroy, Jr. at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

.04 Qualifying volume-related trade discounts .

(1) Description of change . This change applies to a taxpayer that wants to change its method of accounting to treat qualifying volume-related trade discounts as a reduction in the cost of merchandise purchased at the time the discount is recognized in accordance with § 1.471–3(b). A “qualifying volume-related trade discount” means a discount satisfying the following criteria:

(a) the taxpayer receives or earns the discount based solely upon the purchase of a particular volume of the merchandise to which the discount relates;

(b) the taxpayer is neither obligated nor expected to perform or provide any services in exchange for the discount; and

(c) the discount is not a reimbursement of any expenditure incurred or to be incurred by the taxpayer.

(2) Section 481(a) adjustment . The net § 481(a) adjustment attributable to the change is computed in a manner similar to the computation of a net § 481(a) adjustment in the case of a change to the net invoice method of accounting for cash discounts. See section 21.01(2) of this APPENDIX.

(3) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated

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plies only to the computation of ending inventories after the beginning of the year of change. See section 2.06 of this revenue procedure for more information regarding a cut-off basis. Accordingly, a § 481(a) adjustment is neither permitted nor required.

(4) Concurrent automatic change . A taxpayer that wants to make both this change and another automatic change in method of accounting under § 263A ( see section 11 of this APPENDIX) for the same year of change may file a single Form 3115 for both changes, provided the taxpayer enters the designated automatic accounting method change numbers for both changes on the appropriate line on that Form 3115, and complies with the ordering rules of § 1.263A–7(b)(2).

(5) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The taxpayer must prepare and file a Form 3115 in accordance with section 6 of Rev. Proc. 2006–14. The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.08 of this APPENDIX is “96.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(6) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Willie Armstrong at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

.09 Rotable spare parts .

(1) Description of change . This change applies to a taxpayer that is using the safe harbor method of accounting to treat its rotable spare parts as depreciable assets in accordance with Rev. Proc. 2007–48, 2007–29 I.R.B. 110, and wants to change its method of accounting to treat its rotable spare parts as inventoriable items. This change also applies to a taxpayer who is treating its rotable spare parts as depreciable assets in a manner similar to the safe harbor method described in Rev. Proc. 2007–48, and wants to change its method of accounting to treat its rotable spare parts as inventoriable items. A taxpayer changing its method of accounting for rotable spare parts under this section 21.09 of the APPENDIX, must use a proper inventory method to identify and value its rotable spare parts.

(2) Scope limitations inapplicable . The scope limitations in section 4.02 of this revenue procedure do not apply to a taxpayer that is required to make the change

(3) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.05 of this APPENDIX is “54.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(4) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Patty Ward at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

.06 Core Alternative Valuation Method .

(1) Description of change .

(a) Applicability . This change applies to a remanufacturer and rebuilder of motor vehicle parts and a reseller of remanufactured and rebuilt motor vehicle parts that use the cost or market, whichever is lower, (LCM) inventory valuation method to value their inventory of cores held for remanufacturing or sale and wants to use the Core Alternative Valuation (CAV) method specified in Rev. Proc. 2003–20, 2003–1 C.B. 445.

(b) Inapplicability . This change does not apply to a taxpayer that values its inventory of cores at cost (including a taxpayer using the LIFO inventory method) unless the taxpayer concurrently changes (under section 6.02 of Rev. Proc. 2003–20) from cost to the LCM method for its cores (including labor and overhead related to the cores in raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods).

(2) Concurrent automatic change . A taxpayer that wants to make both this change and (i) a change from the cost method to the LCM method under section 21.11 of this APPENDIX, or (ii) a change from the LIFO inventory method to a permitted method for identification under (and as determined and defined in) section 22.01(1)(b) of this APPENDIX for the same year of change, should file a single Form 3115 for both changes, provided the taxpayer enters the designated automatic accounting method change numbers for both changes on the appropriate line on that Form 3115.

(3) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.06 of this APPENDIX is “55.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(4) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under

this section, contact Willie Armstrong at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

.07 Replacement cost for automobile dealers’ parts inventory .

(1) Description of change . This change applies to a taxpayer that is engaged in the trade or business of selling vehicle parts at retail, that is authorized under an agreement with one or more vehicle manufacturers or distributors to sell new automobiles or new light, medium, or heavy-duty trucks, and that wants to use the replacement cost method described in section 4 of Rev. Proc. 2002–17, 2002–1 C.B. 676, for its vehicle parts inventory. See Rev. Proc. 2002–17 for further information regarding this change.

(2) Manner of making change . This change is made on a cut-off basis and applies only to the computation of ending inventories on or after the beginning of the year of change. See section 2.06 of this revenue procedure for more information regarding a cut-off basis. Accordingly, a § 481(a) adjustment is neither permitted nor required.

(3) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.07 of this APPENDIX is “63.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(4) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Willie Armstrong at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

.08 Replacement cost for heavy equip- ment dealers’ parts inventory .

(1) Description of change . This change applies to a heavy equipment dealer that is engaged in the trade or business of selling heavy equipment parts at retail, that is authorized under an agreement with one or more heavy equipment manufacturers or distributors to sell new heavy equipment, and that wants to use the replacement cost method described in section 4 of Rev. Proc. 2006–14, 2006–1 C.B. 350, for its heavy equipment parts inventory.

(2) Scope limitations inapplicable . The scope limitations in section 4.02 of this revenue procedure do not apply to this change for either the first or second taxable year ending on or after April 30, 2005.

(3) Manner of making the change . This change is made on a cut-off basis and ap

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in method of accounting pursuant to section 5.06 of Rev. Proc. 2007–48.

(3) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.09 of this APPENDIX is “110.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(4) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Gwen Turner at 202–622–5020 (not a toll-free call).

.10 Advance Trade Discount Method .

(1) Description of change . This change applies to a taxpayer that wants to use the Advance Trade Discount Method described in Rev. Proc. 2007–53, 2007–30 I.R.B. 233.

(2) Scope . This change in method of accounting applies to an accrual method taxpayer required to use an inventory method of accounting and maintaining inventories, as provided in § 471 and the regulations thereunder, that receives advance trade discounts as defined in § 4.03 of Rev. Proc. 2007–53.

(3) Scope limitations inapplicable . The scope limitations in section 4.02 of this revenue procedure do not apply to a taxpayer that wants to make the change for its first taxable year ending on or after July 2, 2007.

(4) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.10 of this APPENDIX is “111.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(5) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact W. Thomas McElroy, Jr. at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

.11 Permissible methods of identifica- tion and valuation .

(1) Description of change .

(a) Applicability . This change applies to a taxpayer that wants to change from one permissible method of identifying and valuing inventories to another permissible method of identifying and valuing inventories that is not a change described in another section of this revenue procedure or in other guidance published in the IRB.

(b) Permissible method defined . For purposes of this change, a permissible

method is an inventory method (identification or valuation, or both) specifically permitted by the Code, the regulations, a decision by the United States Supreme Court, a revenue ruling, a revenue procedure, or other guidance published in the IRB for the inventory goods, and the taxpayer is neither prohibited from using that method nor required to use a different inventory method for those inventory goods.

(2) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.11 of this APPENDIX is “137.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(3) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Patty Ward at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

.12 Change in the official used vehicle guide utilized in valuing used vehicles .

(1) Description of change . Used vehicles taken in trade as part payment on the sale of vehicles by a dealer may be valued for inventory purposes at valuations comparable to those listed in an official used vehicle guide as the average wholesale prices for comparable vehicles. See Rev. Rul. 67–107, 1967–1 C.B. 115. This change applies to: (a) a taxpayer that wants to change from not using an official used vehicle guide to using an official used vehicle guide for valuing used vehicles; or (b) a taxpayer that wants to change to a different official used vehicle guide for valuing used vehicles.

(2) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.12 of this APPENDIX is “138.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(3) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Patty Ward at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

.13 Invoiced advertising association costs for new vehicle retail dealerships .

(1) Description of change . This change applies to a taxpayer that is engaged in the trade or business of retail sales of new automobiles or new light-duty trucks (“dealership”) that wants to discontinue capitalizing certain advertising costs as acquisition costs under § 1.471–3(b). The change

applies to advertising costs that meet the following criteria: (a) the dealership must pay this advertising fee when acquiring vehicles from the manufacturer; (b) the advertising costs are separately coded and included in the manufacturer’s invoice cost of the new vehicle; (c) the advertising cost is a flat fee per vehicle or a fixed percentage of the invoice price; and (d) the fees collected by the manufacturer are paid to local advertising associations that promote and advertise the manufacturer’s products in the dealership’s market area. Under the new method, the dealership will exclude advertising costs that meet the above criteria from the cost of new vehicles and deduct the advertising costs under § 162 as the advertising services are provided to the dealership. See § 1.461–4(d)(2)(i).

(2) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.13 of this APPENDIX is “139.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(3) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Patty Ward at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

.14 Rolling-average method of account- ing for inventories .

(1) Description of change . This change applies to a taxpayer that uses a rollingaverage method to value inventories for financial accounting purposes and wants to use the same rolling-average method to value inventories for federal income tax purposes in accordance with Rev. Proc. 2008–43, 2008–30 I.R.B. 186.

(2) Certain scope limitation inapplica- ble . The scope limitation in section 4.02(7) of this revenue procedure does not apply to the change to a rolling-average method in the taxpayer’s first or second taxable year ending on or after December 31, 2007.

(3) Manner of making change . This change is made on a cut-off basis unless the taxpayer’s books and records contain sufficient information to compute a § 481(a) adjustment, in which case the taxpayer may choose to implement the change with a § 481(a) adjustment as provided in section 5.04 of this revenue procedure. See section 2.06 of this revenue procedure for more information regarding a cut-off basis.

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come tax as a result of the inclusion of the LIFO recapture amount is payable in four equal installments, beginning with the taxpayer’s last taxable year as a C corporation as provided in § 1363(d)(2). Any corresponding basis adjustment is taken into account in computing the § 481(a) adjustment (if any) that results upon the discontinuance of the LIFO inventory method by the corporation.

(b) S election effective for a year af- ter LIFO discontinuance . If a C corporation elects to be treated as an S corporation for a taxable year after the taxable year in which it discontinued use of the LIFO inventory method, the remaining balance of any positive § 481(a) adjustment must be included in its gross income in its last taxable year as a C corporation. If this inclusion results in an increase in tax for its last taxable year as a C corporation, this increase in tax is payable in four equal installments, beginning with the taxpayer’s last taxable year as a C corporation as provided in § 1363(d)(2), unless the taxpayer is required to take the remaining balance of the § 481(a) adjustment into account in the last taxable year as a C corporation under another acceleration provision in section 5.04(3)(c) of this revenue procedure.

(5) Additional requirements . The taxpayer must complete the following statements and attach them to its Form 3115. If the taxpayer will use different methods for different inventory goods to which the change applies, the taxpayer must complete the statements for each of those different types of inventory goods.

(a) “The new method of identifying [ In- sert description of inventory goods ] is the

[ Insert method, as appropriate; that is, specific identification; FIFO; retail; etc. ] method.”

(b) “The new method of valuing [ In- sert description of inventory goods ] is [ In- sert method, as appropriate; that is, cost; LCM; etc. ].”

(6) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 22.01 of this APPENDIX is “56.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(7) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Leo Nolan at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).

(4) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under section 21.14 of this APPENDIX is “114.” See section 6.02(4) of this revenue procedure.

(5) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Leo Nolan at 202–622–4970 (not a toll-free call).