[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 11]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.1275-5]

[Page 570-577]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.1275-5  Variable rate debt instruments.

    (a) Applicability--(1) In general. This section provides rules for 
variable rate debt instruments. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(6) 
of this section, a variable rate debt instrument is a debt instrument 
that meets the conditions described in paragraphs (a)(2), (3), (4), and 
(5) of this section. If a debt instrument that provides for a variable 
rate of interest does not qualify as a variable rate debt instrument, 
the debt instrument is a contingent payment debt instrument. See Sec. 
1.1275-4 for the treatment of a contingent payment debt instrument. See 
Sec. 1.1275-6 for a taxpayer's treatment of a variable rate debt 
instrument and a hedge.
    (2) Principal payments. The issue price of the debt instrument must 
not exceed the total noncontingent principal payments by more than an 
amount equal to the lesser of--
    (i) .015 multiplied by the product of the total noncontingent 
principal payments and the number of complete years to maturity from the 
issue date (or, in the case of an installment obligation, the weighted 
average maturity as defined in Sec. 1.1273-1(e)(3)); or
    (ii) 15 percent of the total noncontingent principal payments.
    (3) Stated interest--(i) General rule. The debt instrument must not 
provide for any stated interest other than stated interest (compounded 
or paid at least annually) at--
    (A) One or more qualified floating rates;
    (B) A single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating rates;
    (C) A single objective rate; or

[[Page 571]]

    (D) A single fixed rate and a single objective rate that is a 
qualified inverse floating rate.
    (ii) Certain debt instruments bearing interest at a fixed rate for 
an initial period. If interest on a debt instrument is stated at a fixed 
rate for an initial period of 1 year or less followed by a variable rate 
that is either a qualified floating rate or an objective rate for a 
subsequent period, and the value of the variable rate on the issue date 
is intended to approximate the fixed rate, the fixed rate and the 
variable rate together constitute a single qualified floating rate or 
objective rate. A fixed rate and a variable rate will be conclusively 
presumed to meet the requirements of the preceding sentence if the value 
of the variable rate on the issue date does not differ from the value of 
the fixed rate by more than .25 percentage points (25 basis points).
    (4) Current value. The debt instrument must provide that a qualified 
floating rate or objective rate in effect at any time during the term of 
the instrument is set at a current value of that rate. A current value 
is the value of the rate on any day that is no earlier than 3 months 
prior to the first day on which that value is in effect and no later 
than 1 year following that first day.
    (5) No contingent principal payments. Except as provided in 
paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the debt instrument must not provide 
for any principal payments that are contingent (within the meaning of 
Sec. 1.1275-4(a)).
    (6) Special rule for debt instruments issued for nonpublicly traded 
property. A debt instrument (other than a tax-exempt obligation) that 
would otherwise qualify as a variable rate debt instrument under this 
section is not a variable rate debt instrument if section 1274 applies 
to the instrument and any stated interest payments on the instrument are 
treated as contingent payments under Sec. 1.1274-2. This paragraph 
(a)(6) applies to debt instruments issued on or after August 13, 1996.
    (b) Qualified floating rate--(1) In general. A variable rate is a 
qualified floating rate if variations in the value of the rate can 
reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost 
of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which the debt instrument is 
denominated. The rate may measure contemporaneous variations in 
borrowing costs for the issuer of the debt instrument or for issuers in 
general. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, a 
multiple of a qualified floating rate is not a qualified floating rate. 
If a debt instrument provides for two or more qualified floating rates 
that can reasonably be expected to have approximately the same values 
throughout the term of the instrument, the qualified floating rates 
together constitute a single qualified floating rate. Two or more 
qualified floating rates will be conclusively presumed to meet the 
requirements of the preceding sentence if the values of all rates on the 
issue date are within .25 percentage points (25 basis points) of each 
other.
    (2) Certain rates based on a qualified floating rate. For a debt 
instrument issued on or after August 13, 1996, a variable rate is a 
qualified floating rate if it is equal to either--
    (i) The product of a qualified floating rate described in paragraph 
(b)(1) of this section and a fixed multiple that is greater than .65 but 
not more than 1.35; or
    (ii) The product of a qualified floating rate described in paragraph 
(b)(1) of this section and a fixed multiple that is greater than .65 but 
not more than 1.35, increased or decreased by a fixed rate.
    (3) Restrictions on the stated rate of interest. A variable rate is 
not a qualified floating rate if it is subject to a restriction or 
restrictions on the maximum stated interest rate (cap), a restriction or 
restrictions on the minimum stated interest rate (floor), a restriction 
or restrictions on the amount of increase or decrease in the stated 
interest rate (governor), or other similar restrictions. Notwithstanding 
the preceding sentence, the following restrictions will not cause a 
variable rate to fail to be a qualified floating rate--
    (i) A cap, floor, or governor that is fixed throughout the term of 
the debt instrument;
    (ii) A cap or similar restriction that is not reasonably expected as 
of the issue date to cause the yield on the debt instrument to be 
significantly less

[[Page 572]]

than the expected yield determined without the cap;
    (iii) A floor or similar restriction that is not reasonably expected 
as of the issue date to cause the yield on the debt instrument to be 
significantly more than the expected yield determined without the floor; 
or
    (iv) A governor or similar restriction that is not reasonably 
expected as of the issue date to cause the yield on the debt instrument 
to be significantly more or significantly less than the expected yield 
determined without the governor.
    (c) Objective rate--(1) Definition--(i) In general. For debt 
instruments issued on or after August 13, 1996, an objective rate is a 
rate (other than a qualified floating rate) that is determined using a 
single fixed formula and that is based on objective financial or 
economic information. For example, an objective rate generally includes 
a rate that is based on one or more qualified floating rates or on the 
yield of actively traded personal property (within the meaning of 
section 1092(d)(1)).
    (ii) Exception. For purposes of paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section, 
an objective rate does not include a rate based on information that is 
within the control of the issuer (or a related party within the meaning 
of section 267(b) or 707(b)(1)) or that is unique to the circumstances 
of the issuer (or a related party within the meaning of section 267(b) 
or 707(b)(1)), such as dividends, profits, or the value of the issuer's 
stock. However, a rate does not fail to be an objective rate merely 
because it is based on the credit quality of the issuer.
    (2) Other objective rates to be specified by Commissioner. The 
Commissioner may designate in the Internal Revenue Bulletin variable 
rates other than those described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section 
that will be treated as objective rates (see Sec. 601.601(d)(2)(ii) of 
this chapter).
    (3) Qualified inverse floating rate. An objective rate described in 
paragraph (c)(1) of this section is a qualified inverse floating rate 
if--
    (i) The rate is equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating 
rate; and
    (ii) The variations in the rate can reasonably be expected to 
inversely reflect contemporaneous variations in the qualified floating 
rate (disregarding any restrictions on the rate that are described in 
paragraphs (b)(3)(i), (b)(3)(ii), (b)(3)(iii), and (b)(3)(iv) of this 
section).
    (4) Significant front-loading or back-loading of interest. 
Notwithstanding paragraph (c)(1) of this section, a variable rate of 
interest on a debt instrument is not an objective rate if it is 
reasonably expected that the average value of the rate during the first 
half of the instrument's term will be either significantly less than or 
significantly greater than the average value of the rate during the 
final half of the instrument's term.
    (5) Tax-exempt obligations. Notwithstanding paragraph (c)(1) of this 
section, in the case of a tax-exempt obligation (within the meaning of 
section 1275(a)(3)), a variable rate is an objective rate only if it is 
a qualified inverse floating rate or a qualified inflation rate. A rate 
is a qualified inflation rate if the rate measures contemporaneous 
changes in inflation based on a general inflation index.
    (d) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules of 
paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. For purposes of these examples, 
assume that the debt instrument is not a tax-exempt obligation. In 
addition, unless otherwise provided, assume that the rate is not 
reasonably expected to result in a significant front-loading or back-
loading of interest and that the rate is not based on objective 
financial or economic information that is within the control of the 
issuer (or a related party) or that is unique to the circumstances of 
the issuer (or a related party).

    Example 1. Rate based on LIBOR. X issues a debt instrument that 
provides for annual payments of interest at a rate equal to the value of 
the 1-year London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) at the end of each 
year. Variations in the value of 1-year LIBOR over the term of the debt 
instrument can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous 
variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds over that term. 
Accordingly, the rate is a qualified floating rate.
    Example 2. Rate increased by a fixed amount. X issues a debt 
instrument that provides for annual payments of interest at a rate equal 
to 200 basis points (2 percent) plus the current value, at the end of 
each year, of the average yield on 1-year Treasury securities as

[[Page 573]]

published in Federal Reserve bulletins. Variations in the value of this 
interest rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous 
variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds. Accordingly, the rate is 
a qualified floating rate.
    Example 3. Rate based on commercial paper rate. X issues a debt 
instrument that provides for a rate of interest that is periodically 
adjusted to equal the current interest rate of Bank's commercial paper. 
Variations in the value of this interest rate can reasonably be expected 
to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed 
funds. Accordingly, the rate is a qualified floating rate.
    Example 4. Rate based on changes in the value of a commodity index. 
On January 1, 1997, X issues a debt instrument that provides for annual 
interest payments at the end of each year at a rate equal to the 
percentage increase, if any, in the value of an index for the year 
immediately preceding the payment. The index is based on the prices of 
several actively traded commodities. Variations in the value of this 
interest rate cannot reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous 
variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds. Accordingly, the rate is 
not a qualified floating rate. However, because the rate is based on 
objective financial information using a single fixed formula, the rate 
is an objective rate.
    Example 5. Rate based on a percentage of S&P 500 Index. On January 
1, 1997, X issues a debt instrument that provides for annual interest 
payments at the end of each year based on a fixed percentage of the 
value of the S&P 500 Index. Variations in the value of this interest 
rate cannot reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations 
in the cost of newly borrowed funds and, therefore, the rate is not a 
qualified floating rate. Although the rate is described in paragraph 
(c)(1)(i) of this section, the rate is not an objective rate because, 
based on historical data, it is reasonably expected that the average 
value of the rate during the first half of the instrument's term will be 
significantly less than the average value of the rate during the final 
half of the instrument's term.
    Example 6. Rate based on issuer's profits. On January 1, 1997, Z 
issues a debt instrument that provides for annual interest payments 
equal to 1 percent of Z's gross profits earned during the year 
immediately preceding the payment. Variations in the value of this 
interest rate cannot reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous 
variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds. Accordingly, the rate is 
not a qualified floating rate. In addition, because the rate is based on 
information that is unique to the issuer's circumstances, the rate is 
not an objective rate.
    Example 7. Rate based on a multiple of an interest index. On January 
1, 1997, Z issues a debt instrument with annual interest payments at a 
rate equal to two times the value of 1-year LIBOR as of the payment 
date. Because the rate is a multiple greater than 1.35 times a qualified 
floating rate, the rate is not a qualified floating rate. However, 
because the rate is based on objective financial information using a 
single fixed formula, the rate is an objective rate.
    Example 8. Variable rate based on the cost of borrowed funds in a 
foreign currency. On January 1, 1997, Y issues a 5-year dollar 
denominated debt instrument that provides for annual interest payments 
at a rate equal to the value of 1-year French franc LIBOR as of the 
payment date. Variations in the value of French franc LIBOR do not 
measure contemporaneous changes in the cost of newly borrowed funds in 
dollars. As a result, the rate is not a qualified floating rate for an 
instrument denominated in dollars. However, because the rate is based on 
objective financial information using a single fixed formula, the rate 
is an objective rate.
    Example 9. Qualified inverse floating rate. On January 1, 1997, X 
issues a debt instrument that provides for annual interest payments at 
the end of each year at a rate equal to 12 percent minus the value of 1-
year LIBOR as of the payment date. On the issue date, the value of 1-
year LIBOR is 6 percent. Because the rate can reasonably be expected to 
inversely reflect contemporaneous variations in 1-year LIBOR, it is a 
qualified inverse floating rate. However, if the value of 1-year LIBOR 
on the issue date were 11 percent rather than 6 percent, the rate would 
not be a qualified inverse floating rate because the rate could not 
reasonably be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous variations 
in 1-year LIBOR.
    Example 10. Rate based on an inflation index. On January 1, 1997, X 
issues a debt instrument that provides for annual interest payments at 
the end of each year at a rate equal to 400 basis points (4 percent) 
plus the annual percentage change in a general inflation index (e.g., 
the Consumer Price Index, U.S. City Average, All Items, for all Urban 
Consumers, seasonally unadjusted). The rate, however, may not be less 
than zero. Variations in the value of this interest rate cannot 
reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost 
of newly borrowed funds. Accordingly, the rate is not a qualified 
floating rate. However, because the rate is based on objective economic 
information using a single fixed formula, the rate is an objective rate.

    (e) Qualified stated interest and OID with respect to a variable 
rate debt instrument--(1) In general. This paragraph (e) provides rules 
to determine the amount and accrual of OID and qualified stated interest 
on a variable rate debt instrument. In general, the rules convert the

[[Page 574]]

debt instrument into a fixed rate debt instrument and then apply the 
general OID rules to the debt instrument. The issue price of a variable 
rate debt instrument, however, is not determined under this paragraph 
(e). See Sec. Sec. 1.1273-2 and 1.1274-2 to determine the issue price 
of a variable rate debt instrument.
    (2) Variable rate debt instrument that provides for annual payments 
of interest at a single variable rate. If a variable rate debt 
instrument provides for stated interest at a single qualified floating 
rate or objective rate and the interest is unconditionally payable in 
cash or in property (other than debt instruments of the issuer), or will 
be constructively received under section 451, at least annually, the 
following rules apply to the instrument:
    (i) All stated interest with respect to the debt instrument is 
qualified stated interest.
    (ii) The amount of qualified stated interest and the amount of OID, 
if any, that accrues during an accrual period is determined under the 
rules applicable to fixed rate debt instruments by assuming that the 
variable rate is a fixed rate equal to--
    (A) In the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified inverse 
floating rate, the value, as of the issue date, of the qualified 
floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate; or
    (B) In the case of an objective rate (other than a qualified inverse 
floating rate), a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably 
expected for the debt instrument.
    (iii) The qualified stated interest allocable to an accrual period 
is increased (or decreased) if the interest actually paid during an 
accrual period exceeds (or is less than) the interest assumed to be paid 
during the accrual period under paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this section.
    (3) All other variable rate debt instruments except for those that 
provide for a fixed rate. If a variable rate debt instrument is not 
described in paragraph (e)(2) of this section and does not provide for 
interest payable at a fixed rate (other than an initial fixed rate 
described in paragraph (a)(3)(ii) of this section), the amount of 
interest and OID accruals for the instrument are determined under this 
paragraph (e)(3).
    (i) Step one: Determine the fixed rate substitute for each variable 
rate provided under the debt instrument--(A) Qualified floating rate. 
The fixed rate substitute for each qualified floating rate provided for 
in the debt instrument is the value of each rate as of the issue date. 
If, however, a variable rate debt instrument provides for two or more 
qualified floating rates with different intervals between interest 
adjustment dates, the fixed rate substitutes for the rates must be based 
on intervals that are equal in length. For example, if a 4-year debt 
instrument provides for 24 monthly interest payments based on the value 
of the 30-day commercial paper rate on each payment date followed by 8 
quarterly interest payments based on the value of quarterly LIBOR on 
each payment date, the fixed rate substitutes may be based on the 
values, as of the issue date, of the 90-day commercial paper rate and 
quarterly LIBOR. Alternatively, the fixed rate substitutes may be based 
on the values, as of the issue date, of the 30-day commercial paper rate 
and monthly LIBOR.
    (B) Qualified inverse floating rate. The fixed rate substitute for a 
qualified inverse floating rate is the value of the qualified inverse 
floating rate as of the issue date.
    (C) Objective rate. The fixed rate substitute for an objective rate 
(other than a qualified inverse floating rate) is a fixed rate that 
reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the debt instrument.
    (ii) Step two: Construct the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument. 
The equivalent fixed rate debt instrument has terms that are identical 
to those provided under the variable rate debt instrument, except that 
the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument provides for the fixed rate 
substitutes (determined in paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section) in lieu 
of the qualified floating rates or objective rate provided under the 
variable rate debt instrument.
    (iii) Step three: Determine the amount of qualified stated interest 
and OID with respect to the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument. The 
amount of qualified

[[Page 575]]

stated interest and OID, if any, are determined for the equivalent fixed 
rate debt instrument under the rules applicable to fixed rate debt 
instruments and are taken into account as if the holder held the 
equivalent fixed rate debt instrument.
    (iv) Step four: Make appropriate adjustments for actual variable 
rates. Qualified stated interest or OID allocable to an accrual period 
must be increased (or decreased) if the interest actually accrued or 
paid during an accrual period exceeds (or is less than) the interest 
assumed to be accrued or paid during the accrual period under the 
equivalent fixed rate debt instrument. This increase or decrease is an 
adjustment to qualified stated interest for the accrual period if the 
equivalent fixed rate debt instrument (as determined under paragraph 
(e)(3)(ii) of this section) provides for qualified stated interest and 
the increase or decrease is reflected in the amount actually paid during 
the accrual period. Otherwise, this increase or decrease is an 
adjustment to OID for the accrual period.
    (v) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules in 
paragraphs (e) (2) and (3) of this section:

    Example 1. Equivalent fixed rate debt instrument--(i) Facts. X 
purchases at original issue a 6-year variable rate debt instrument that 
provides for semiannual payments of interest. For the first 3 years, the 
rate of interest is the value of 6-month LIBOR on the payment date. For 
the final 3 years, the rate is the value of the 6-month T-bill rate on 
the payment date. On the issue date, the value of 6-month LIBOR is 3 
percent, compounded semiannually, and the 6-month T-bill rate is 2 
percent, compounded semiannually.
    (ii) Determination of equivalent fixed rate debt instrument. Under 
paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section, the fixed rate substitute for 6-
month LIBOR is 3 percent, compounded semiannually, and the fixed rate 
substitute for the 6-month T-bill rate is 2 percent, compounded 
semiannually. Under paragraph (e)(3)(ii) of this section, the equivalent 
fixed rate debt instrument is a 6-year debt instrument that provides for 
semiannual payments of interest at 3 percent, compounded semiannually, 
for the first 3 years followed by 2 percent, compounded semiannually, 
for the final 3 years.
    Example 2. Equivalent fixed rate debt instrument with de minimis 
OID--(i) Facts. Y purchases at original issue, for $100,000, a 4-year 
variable rate debt instrument that has a stated principal amount of 
$100,000, payable at maturity. The debt instrument provides for monthly 
payments of interest at the end of each month. For the first year, the 
interest rate is the monthly commercial paper rate and for the last 3 
years, the interest rate is the monthly commercial paper rate plus 100 
basis points. On the issue date, the monthly commercial paper rate is 3 
percent, compounded monthly.
    (ii) Equivalent fixed rate debt instrument. Under paragraph 
(e)(3)(ii) of this section, the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument 
for the variable rate debt instrument is a 4-year debt instrument that 
has an issue price and stated principal amount of $100,000. The 
equivalent fixed rate debt instrument provides for monthly payments of 
interest at 3 percent, compounded monthly, for the first year ($250 per 
month) and monthly payments of interest at 4 percent, compounded 
monthly, for the last 3 years ($333.33 per month).
    (iii) De minimis OID. Under Sec. 1.1273-1(a), because a portion 
(100 basis points) of each interest payment in the final 3 years is not 
a qualified stated interest payment, the equivalent fixed rate debt 
instrument has OID of $2,999.88 ($102,999.88 -$100,000). However, under 
Sec. 1.1273-1(d)(4) (the de minimis rule relating to teaser rates and 
interest holidays), the stated redemption price at maturity of the 
equivalent fixed rate debt instrument is $100,999.96 ($100,000 (issue 
price) plus $999.96 (the greater of the amount of foregone interest 
($999.96) and the amount equal to the excess of the instrument's stated 
principal amount over its issue price ($0)). Thus, the equivalent fixed 
rate debt instrument is treated as having OID of $999.96 ($100,999.96 -
$100,000). Because this amount is less than the de minimis amount of 
$1,010 (0.0025 multiplied by $100,999.96 multiplied by 4 complete years 
to maturity), the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument has de minimis 
OID. Therefore, the variable rate debt instrument has zero OID and all 
stated interest payments are qualified stated interest payments.
    Example 3. Adjustment to qualified stated interest for actual 
payment of interest--(i) Facts. On January 1, 1995, Z purchases at 
original issue, for $90,000, a variable rate debt instrument that 
matures on January 1, 1997, and has a stated principal amount of 
$100,000, payable at maturity. The debt instrument provides for annual 
payments of interest on January 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 
1996. The amount of interest payable is the value of annual LIBOR on the 
payment date. The value of annual LIBOR on January 1, 1995, and January 
1, 1996, is 5 percent, compounded annually. The value of annual LIBOR on 
January 1, 1997, is 7 percent, compounded annually.
    (ii) Accrual of OID and qualified stated interest. Under paragraph 
(e)(2) of this section, the variable rate debt instrument is treated as 
a 2-year debt instrument that has an issue

[[Page 576]]

price of $90,000, a stated principal amount of $100,000, and interest 
payments of $5,000 at the end of each year. The debt instrument has 
$10,000 of OID and the annual interest payments of $5,000 are qualified 
stated interest payments. Under Sec. 1.1272-1, the debt instrument has 
a yield of 10.82 percent, compounded annually. The amount of OID 
allocable to the first annual accrual period (assuming Z uses annual 
accrual periods) is $4,743.25 (($90,000x.1082)- $5,000), and the amount 
of OID allocable to the second annual accrual period is $5,256.75 
($100,000-$94,743.25). Under paragraph (e)(2)(iii) of this section, the 
$2,000 difference between the $7,000 interest payment actually made at 
maturity and the $5,000 interest payment assumed to be made at maturity 
under the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument is treated as additional 
qualified stated interest for the period.

    (4) Variable rate debt instrument that provides for a single fixed 
rate--(i) General rule. If a variable rate debt instrument provides for 
stated interest either at one or more qualified floating rates or at a 
qualified inverse floating rate and in addition provides for stated 
interest at a single fixed rate (other than an initial fixed rate 
described in paragraph (a)(3)(ii) of this section), the amount of 
interest and OID are determined using the method of paragraph (e)(3) of 
this section, as modified by this paragraph (e)(4). For purposes of 
paragraphs (e)(3)(i) through (e)(3)(iii) of this section, the variable 
rate debt instrument is treated as if it provided for a qualified 
floating rate (or a qualified inverse floating rate, if the debt 
instrument provides for a qualified inverse floating rate), rather than 
the fixed rate. The qualified floating rate (or qualified inverse 
floating rate) replacing the fixed rate must be such that the fair 
market value of the variable rate debt instrument as of the issue date 
would be approximately the same as the fair market value of an otherwise 
identical debt instrument that provides for the qualified floating rate 
(or qualified inverse floating rate) rather than the fixed rate.
    (ii) Example. The following example illustrates the rule in 
paragraph (e)(4)(i) of this section.

    Example: Variable rate debt instrument that provides for a single 
fixed rate--(i) Facts. On January 1, 1995, X purchases at original 
issue, for $100,000, a variable rate debt instrument that matures on 
January 1, 2001, and that has a stated principal amount of $100,000. The 
debt instrument provides for payments of interest on January 1 of each 
year, beginning on January 1, 1996. For the first 4 years, the interest 
rate is 4 percent, compounded annually, and for the last 2 years the 
interest rate is the value of 1-year LIBOR, as of the payment date, plus 
200 basis points. On January 1, 1995, the value of 1-year LIBOR is 2 
percent, compounded annually. In addition, assume that on January 1, 
1995, the variable rate debt instrument has approximately the same fair 
market value as an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for 
an interest rate equal to the value of 1-year LIBOR, as of the payment 
date, for the first 4 years.
    (ii) Equivalent fixed rate debt instrument. Under paragraph 
(e)(4)(i) of this section, for purposes of paragraphs (e)(3)(i) through 
(e)(3)(iii) of this section, the variable rate debt instrument is 
treated as if it provided for an interest rate equal to the value of 1-
year LIBOR, as of the payment date, for the first 4 years. Under 
paragraph (e)(3)(ii) of this section, the equivalent fixed rate debt 
instrument for the variable rate debt instrument is a 6-year debt 
instrument that has an issue price and stated principal amount of 
$100,000. The equivalent fixed rate debt instrument provides for 
interest payments of $2,000 for the first 4 years and $4,000 for the 
last 2 years.
    (iii) Accrual of OID and qualified stated interest. Under Sec. 
1.1273-1, the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument has OID of $4,000 
because a portion (200 basis points) of each interest payment in the 
last 2 years is not a qualified stated interest payment. The $4,000 of 
OID is allocable over the 6-year term of the debt instrument under Sec. 
1.1272-1. Under paragraph (e)(3)(iv) of this section, the difference 
between the $4,000 payment made in the first 4 years and the $2,000 
payment assumed to be made on the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument 
in those years is an adjustment to qualified stated interest. In 
addition, any difference between the amount actually paid in each of the 
last 2 years and the $4,000 payment assumed to be made on the equivalent 
fixed rate debt instrument is an adjustment to qualified stated 
interest.

    (f) Special rule for certain reset bonds. Notwithstanding paragraph 
(e) of this section, this paragraph (f) provides a special rule for a 
variable rate debt instrument that provides for stated interest at a 
fixed rate for an initial interval, and provides that on the date 
immediately following the end of the initial interval (the effective 
date) the stated interest rate will be a rate determined under a 
procedure (such as an auction procedure) so that the fair market value 
of the instrument on the

[[Page 577]]

effective date will be a fixed amount (the reset value). Solely for 
purposes of calculating the accrual of OID, the variable rate debt 
instrument is treated as--
    (1) Maturing on the date immediately preceding the effective date 
for an amount equal to the reset value; and
    (2) Reissued on the effective date for an amount equal to the reset 
value.

[T.D. 8517, 59 FR 4827, Feb. 2, 1994, as amended by T.D. 8674, 61 FR 
30153, June 14, 1996]