[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: 26CFR1.1295-3]

[Page 612-620]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.1295-3  Retroactive elections.

    (a) In general. This section prescribes the exclusive rules under 
which a shareholder, as defined in Sec. 1.1295-1(j), may make a section 
1295 election for a taxable year after the election due date, as defined 
in Sec. 1.1295-1(e) (retroactive election). Therefore, a shareholder 
may not seek such relief under any other provision of the law, including 
Sec. 301.9100 of this chapter. Paragraph (b) of this section describes 
the general rules for a shareholder to preserve the ability to make a 
retroactive election. These rules require that the shareholder possess 
reasonable belief as of the election due date that the foreign 
corporation was not a PFIC for its taxable year that ended in the 
shareholder's taxable year to which the election due date pertains, and 
that the shareholder file a Protective Statement to preserve its ability 
to make a retroactive election. Paragraph (c) of this section 
establishes the terms, conditions and other requirements with respect to 
a Protective Statement required to be filed under the general rules. 
Paragraph (d) of this section sets forth factors that establishes a 
shareholder's reasonable belief that a foreign corporation was not a 
PFIC. Paragraph (e) of this section prescribes special rules for certain 
shareholders that are deemed to satisfy the reasonable belief 
requirement and therefore are not required to file a Protective 
Statement. Paragraph (f) of this section describes the limited 
circumstances under which the Commissioner may permit a shareholder that 
lacked the requisite reasonable belief or failed to satisfy the 
requirements of paragraph (b) or (e) of this section to make a 
retroactive election. Paragraph (g) of this section provides the time 
for and manner of making a retroactive election. Paragraph (h) of this 
section provides the effective date of this section.
    (b) General rule. Except as provided in paragraphs (e) and (f) of 
this section, a shareholder may make a retroactive election for a 
taxable year of the shareholder (retroactive election year) only if the 
shareholder--
    (1) Reasonably believed, within the meaning of paragraph (d) of this 
section, that as of the election due date, as defined in Sec. 1.1295-
1(e), the foreign corporation was not a PFIC for its taxable year that 
ended during the retroactive election year;
    (2) Filed a Protective Statement with respect to the foreign 
corporation, applicable to the retroactive election year, in which the 
shareholder described the basis for its reasonable belief and extended, 
in the manner provided in paragraph (c)(4) of this section, the periods 
of limitations on the assessment of taxes determined under sections 1291 
and 1298 with respect to the foreign corporation (PFIC related taxes) 
for all taxable years of the shareholder to which the Protective 
Statement applies; and
    (3) Complied with the other terms and conditions of the Protective 
Statement.
    (c) Protective Statement--(1) In general. A Protective Statement is 
a statement executed under penalties of perjury by

[[Page 613]]

the shareholder, or a person authorized to sign a Federal income tax 
return on behalf of the shareholder, that preserves the shareholder's 
ability to make a retroactive election. To file a Protective Statement 
that applies to a taxable year of the shareholder, the shareholder must 
reasonably believe as of the election due date that the foreign 
corporation was not a PFIC for the foreign corporation's taxable year 
that ended during the retroactive election year. The Protective 
Statement must contain--
    (i) The shareholder's reasonable belief statement, as described in 
paragraph (c)(2) of this section;
    (ii) The shareholder's agreement extending the periods of 
limitations on the assessment of PFIC related taxes for all taxable 
years to which the Protective Statement applies, as provided in 
paragraph (c)(4) of this section; and
    (iii) The following information and representations--
    (A) The shareholder's name, address, taxpayer identification number, 
and the shareholder's first taxable year to which the Protective 
Statement applies;
    (B) The foreign corporation's name, address, and taxpayer 
identification number, if any; and
    (C) The highest percentage of shares of each class of stock of the 
foreign corporation held directly or indirectly by the shareholder 
during the shareholder's first taxable year to which the Protective 
Statement applies.
    (2) Reasonable belief statement. The Protective Statement must 
contain a reasonable belief statement, as described in paragraph (c)(1) 
of this section. The reasonable belief statement is a description of the 
shareholder's basis for its reasonable belief that the foreign 
corporation was not a PFIC for its taxable year that ended with or 
within the shareholder's first taxable year to which the Protective 
Statement applies. If the Protective Statement applies to a taxable year 
or years described in paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section, the 
reasonable belief statement must describe the shareholder's basis for 
its reasonable belief that the foreign corporation was not a PFIC for 
the foreign corporation's taxable year or years that ended in such 
taxable year or years of the shareholder. The reasonable belief 
statement must discuss the application of the income and asset tests to 
the foreign corporation and the factors, including those stated in 
paragraph (d) of this section, that affect the results of those tests.
    (3) Who executes and files the Protective Statement. The person that 
executes and files and Protective Statement is the person that makes the 
section 1295 election, as provided in Sec. 1.1295-1(d).
    (4) Waiver of the periods of limitations--(i) Time for and manner of 
extending periods of limitations. (A) In general. A shareholder that 
files the Protective Statement with the Commissioner must extend the 
periods of limitations on the assessment of all PFIC related taxes for 
all of the shareholder's taxable years to which the Protective Statement 
applies, as provided in this paragraph (c)(4). The shareholder is 
required to execute the waiver on such form as the Commission may 
prescribe for purposes of this paragraph (c)(4). Until that form is 
published, the shareholder must execute a statement in which the 
shareholder agrees to extend the periods of limitations on the 
assessment of all PFIC related taxes for all the shareholder's taxable 
years to which the Protective Statement applies, as provided in this 
paragraph (c)(4), and agrees to the restrictions in paragraph 
(c)(4)(ii)(A) of this section. The shareholder or a person authorized to 
sign the shareholder's Federal income tax return must sign the form or 
statement. A properly executed form or statement authorized by this 
paragraph (c)(4) will be deemed consented to and signed by a Service 
Center Director or the Assistant Commissioner (International) for 
purposes of Sec. 301.6501(c)-1(d) of this chapter.
    (B) Application of general rule to domestic partnerships-- (1) In 
general. A domestic partnership that holds an interest in stock of a 
PFIC satisfies the waiver requirement of paragraph (c)(4) of this 
section pursuant to the rules of this paragraph (c)(4)(i)(B)(1). The 
partnership must file one or more waivers obtained or arranged under 
this paragraph (c)(4)(i)(B) as part of the Protective Statement, as 
provided in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. The partnership must 
either--

[[Page 614]]

    (i) Obtain from each partner the partner's waiver of the periods of 
limitations;
    (ii) Obtain from each partner a duly executed power of attorney 
under Sec. 601.501 of this chapter authorizing the partnership to 
extend that partner's periods of limitations, and execute a waiver on 
behalf of the partners; or
    (iii) In the case of a domestic partnership governed by the unified 
audit and litigation procedures of sections 6221 through 6233 (TEFRA 
partnership), arrange for the tax matters partner (or any other person 
authorized to enter into an agreement to extend the periods of 
limitations), as provided in section 6229(b), to execute a waiver on 
behalf of all the partners.
    (2) Special rules--(i) Addition of partner to non-TEFRA partnership. 
In the case of any individual who becomes a partner in a domestic 
partnership other than a TEFRA partnership (non-TEFRA partnership) in a 
taxable year subsequent to the year in which the partnership filed a 
Protective Statement, the partner and the partnership must comply with 
the rules applicable to non-TEFRA partnerships, as provided in paragraph 
(c)(4)(i)(B)(1) of this section, by the due date, as extended, for the 
Federal income tax return of the partnership for the taxable year during 
which the individual became a partner. Failure to so comply will render 
the Protective Statement invalid with respect to the partnership and 
partners.
    (ii) Change in status from non-TEFRA partnership to TEFRA 
partnership. If a partnership is a non-TEFRA partnership in one taxable 
year but becomes a TEFRA partnership in a subsequent taxable year, the 
partnership must file one or more waivers obtained or arranged under 
this paragraph (c)(4)(i)(B)(2)(ii), as part of the Protective Statement, 
as provided in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. The partnership must 
either--obtain from any new partner the partner's waiver described in 
this paragraph (c)(4); obtain from the new partner a duly executed power 
of attorney under Sec. 601.501 of this chapter authorizing the 
partnership to extend the partner's periods of limitations, and execute 
a waiver on behalf of the new partner; or arrange for the tax matters 
partner (or any other person authorized to enter into an agreement to 
extend the periods of limitations) to execute a waiver on behalf of all 
the partners. In each case, the partnership must attach any new waiver 
of a partner's periods of limitations, and a copy of the Protective 
Statement to its Federal income tax return for that taxable year.
    (C) Application of general rule to domestic nongrantor trusts and 
domestic estates. A domestic nongrantor trust or a domestic estate that 
holds an interest in stock of a PFIC satisfies the waiver requirement of 
this paragraph (c)(4) at the entity level. For this purpose, such entity 
must comply with rules similar to those applicable to non-TEFRA 
partnerships, as provided in paragraph (c)(4)(i)(B)(1) of this section.
    (D) Application of general rule to S corporations. An S corporation 
that holds an interest in stock of a PFIC satisfies the waiver 
requirement of this paragraph (c)(4) at the S corporation level. For 
this purpose, the S corporation must comply with rules similar to those 
applicable to non-TEFRA partnerships, as provided in paragraph 
(c)(4)(i)(B)(1) of this section. However, in the case of an S 
corporation that was governed by the unified audit corporate proceedings 
of sections 6241 through 6245 for any taxable year to which a Protective 
Statement applies (former TEFRA S corporation), the tax matters person 
(or any other person authorized to enter into such an agreement), as was 
provided in sections 6241 through 6245, may execute a waiver described 
in this paragraph (c)(4) that applies to such taxable year; for any 
other taxable year, the former TEFRA S corporation must comply with 
rules similar to those applicable to non-TEFRA partnerships.
    (E) Effect on waiver of complete termination of a pass through 
entity or pass through entity's business. The complete termination of a 
pass through entity described in paragraphs (c)(4)(i) (B) through (D) of 
this section, or a pass through entity's trade or business, will not 
terminate a waiver that applies to a partner, shareholder, or 
beneficiary.
    (F) Application of general rule to foreign partnerships, foreign 
trusts, domestic

[[Page 615]]

or foreign grantor trusts, and foreign estates. A U.S. person that is a 
partner or beneficiary of a foreign partnership, foreign trust, or 
foreign estate that holds an interest in stock of a PFIC satisfies the 
waiver requirement of this paragraph (c)(4) at the partner or 
beneficiary level. A U.S. person that is treated under sections 671 
through 679 as the owner of the portion of a domestic or foreign trust 
that owns an interest in PFIC stock also satisfies the waiver 
requirement at the owner level. A waiver by a partner or beneficiary 
applies only to that partner or beneficiary, and is not affected by a 
complete termination of the entity or the entity's trade or business.
    (ii) Terms of waiver--(A) Scope of waiver. The waiver of the periods 
of limitations is limited to the assessment of PFIC related taxes. If 
the period of limitations for a taxable year affected by a retroactive 
election has expired with respect to the assessment of other non-PFIC 
related taxes, no adjustments, other than consequential changes, may be 
made by the Internal Revenue Service or by the shareholder to any other 
item of income, deduction, or credit for that year. If the period of 
limitations for refunds or credits for a taxable year affected by a 
retroactive election is open only by virtue of the assessment period 
extension and section 6511(c), no refund or credit is allowable on 
grounds other than adjustments to PFIC related taxes and consequential 
changes.
    (B) Period of Waiver. The extension of the periods of limitations on 
the assessment of PFIC related taxes will be effective for all of the 
shareholder's taxable years to which the Protective Statement applies. 
In addition, the waiver, to the extent it applies to the period of 
limitations for a particular year, will terminate with respect to that 
year no sooner than three years from the date on which the shareholder 
files an amended return, as provided in paragraph (g) of this section, 
for that year. For the suspension of the running of the period of 
limitations for the collection of taxes for which a shareholder has 
elected under section 1294 to extend the time for payment, as provided 
in paragraph (g)(3)(ii) of this section, see sections 6503(i) and 
6229(h).
    (5) Time of and manner for filing a Protective Statement--(i) In 
general. Except as provided in paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section, a 
Protective Statement must be attached to the shareholder's federal 
income tax return for the shareholder's first taxable year to which the 
Protective Statement will apply. The shareholder must file its return 
and the copy of the Protective Statement by the due date, as extended 
under section 6081, for the return.
    (ii) Special rule for taxable years ended before January 2, 1998. A 
shareholder may file a Protective Statement that applies to the 
shareholder's taxable year or years that ended before January 2, 1998, 
provided the period of limitations on the assessment of taxes for any 
such year has not expired (open year). The shareholder must file the 
Protective Statement applicable to such open year or years, as provided 
in paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section, by the due date, as extended, 
for the shareholder's return for the first taxable year ending after 
January 2, 1998.
    (6) Applicability of the Protective Statement--(i) In general. 
Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (c)(6), a Protective 
Statement applies to the shareholder's first taxable year for which the 
Protective Statement was filed and to each subsequent taxable year. The 
Protective Statement will not apply to any taxable year of the 
shareholder during which the shareholder does not own any stock of the 
foreign corporation or to any taxable year thereafter. Accordingly, if 
the shareholder has not made a retroactive election with respect to the 
previously owned stock by the time the shareholder reacquires stock of 
the foreign corporation, the shareholder must file another Protective 
Statement to preserve its right to make a retroactive election with 
respect to the later acquired stock. For the rule that provides that a 
section 1295 election made with respect to a foreign corporation applies 
to stock of that corporation acquired after a lapse in ownership, see 
Sec. 1.1295-1(c)(2)(iii).
    (ii) Invalidity of the Protective Statement. A shareholder will be 
treated as if it never filed a Protective Statement if--

[[Page 616]]

    (A) The shareholder failed to make a retroactive election by the 
date prescribed for making the retroactive election in paragraph (g)(1) 
of this section; or
    (B) The waiver of the periods of limitations terminates (by reason 
of a court decision or other determination) with respect to any taxable 
year before the expiration of three years from the date of filing of an 
amended return for that year pursuant to paragraph (g) of this section.
    (7) Retention of Protective Statement and information demonstrating 
reasonable belief. A shareholder that files a Protective Statement must 
retain a copy of the Protective Statement and its attachments and must, 
for each taxable year of the shareholder to which the Protective 
Statement applies, retain information sufficient to demonstrate the 
shareholder's reasonable belief that the foreign corporation was not a 
PFIC for the taxable year of the foreign corporation ending during each 
such taxable year of the shareholder.
    (d) Reasonable belief--(1) In general. A foreign corporation is a 
PFIC for a taxable year if the foreign corporation satisfies either the 
income or asset test of section 1297(a). To determine whether a 
shareholder had reasonable belief that the foreign corporation is not a 
PFIC under section 1297(a), the shareholder must consider all relevant 
facts and circumstances. Reasonable belief may be based on a variety of 
factors, including reasonable asset valuations as well as reasonable 
interpretations of the applicable provisions of the Code, regulations, 
and administrative guidance regarding the direct and indirect ownership 
of the income or assets of the foreign corporation, the proper character 
of that income or those assets, and similar issues. Reasonable belief 
may be based on reasonable predictions regarding income to be earned and 
assets to be owned in subsequent years where qualifications of the 
foreign corporation as a PFIC for the current taxable year will depend 
on the qualification of the corporation as a PFIC in a subsequent year. 
Reasonable belief may be based on an analysis of generally available 
financial information of the foreign corporation. To determine whether a 
shareholder had reasonable belief that the foreign corporation was not a 
PFIC, the Commissioner may consider the size of the shareholder's 
interest in the foreign corporation.
    (2) Knowledge of law required. Reasonable belief must be based on a 
good faith effort to apply the Code, regulations, and related 
administrative guidance. Any person's failure to know or apply these 
provisions will not form the basis of reasonable belief.
    (e) Special rules for qualified shareholders--(1) In general. A 
shareholder that is a qualified shareholder, as defined in paragraph 
(e)(2) of this section, for a taxable year of the shareholder is not 
required to satisfy the reasonable belief requirement of paragraph 
(b)(1) of this section or file a Protective Statement to preserve its 
ability to make a retroactive election with respect to such taxable 
year. Accordingly, a qualified shareholder may make a retroactive 
election for any open taxable year in the shareholder's holding period. 
The retroactive election will be treated as made in the earliest taxable 
year of the shareholder during which the foreign corporation qualified 
as a PFIC (including a taxable year ending prior to January 2, 1998) and 
the shareholder will be treated as a shareholder of a pedigreed QEF, as 
defined in Sec. 1.1291-9(j)(2)(ii), provided the shareholder--
    (i) Has been a qualified shareholder with respect to the foreign 
corporation for all taxable years of the shareholder included in the 
shareholder's holding period during which the foreign corporation was a 
PFIC, or in the case of taxable years ending before January 2, 1998, the 
shareholder satisfies the criteria of a qualified shareholder, for all 
such years; or
    (ii) Has been a qualified shareholder, or in the case of taxable 
years ending before January 2, 1998 satisfies the criteria of a 
qualified shareholder, for all taxable years in its holding period 
before it filed a Protective Statement, which Protective Statement is 
applicable to all subsequent years, beginning with the first taxable 
year in which the shareholder is not a qualified shareholder.
    (2) Qualified shareholder. A shareholder will be treated as a 
qualified shareholder for a taxable year if the

[[Page 617]]

shareholder did not file a Protective Statement applicable to an earlier 
taxable year included in the shareholder's holding period of the stock 
of the foreign corporation currently held and--
    (i) At all times during the taxable year the shareholder owned, 
within the meaning of section 958, directly, indirectly, or 
constructively, less than two percent of the vote and value of each 
class of stock of the foreign corporation; and
    (ii) With respect to the taxable year of the foreign corporation 
ending within the shareholder's taxable year, the foreign corporation or 
U.S. counsel for the foreign corporation indicated in a public filing, 
disclosure statement or other notice provided to U.S. persons that are 
shareholders of the foreign corporation (corporate filing) that the 
foreign corporation--
    (A) Reasonably believes that it is not or should not constitute a 
PFIC for the corporation's taxable year; or
    (B) Is unable to conclude that it is not or should not be a PFIC 
(due to certain asset valuation or interpretation issues, or because 
PFIC status will depend on the income or assets of the foreign 
corporation in the corporation's subsequent taxable years) but 
reasonably believes that, more likely than not, it ultimately will not 
be a PFIC.
    (3) Exceptions. Notwithstanding paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this 
section, a shareholder will not be treated as a qualified shareholder 
for a taxable year of the shareholder if the shareholder knew or had 
reason to know that a corporate filing regarding the foreign 
corporation's PFIC status was inaccurate, or knew that the foreign 
corporation was a PFIC for the taxable year of the foreign corporation 
ending with or within such taxable year of the shareholder. For purposes 
of this paragraph, a shareholder will be treated as knowing that a 
foreign corporation was a PFIC if the principal activity of the foreign 
corporation, directly or indirectly, is owning or trading a diversified 
portfolio of stock, securities, or other financial contracts.
    (f) Special consent--(1) In general. A shareholder that has not 
satisfied the requirements of paragraph (b) or (e) of this section may 
request the consent of the Commissioner to make a retroactive election 
for a taxable year of the shareholder provided the shareholder satisfies 
the requirements set forth in this paragraph (f). The Commissioner will 
grant relief under this paragraph (f) only if--
    (i) The shareholder reasonably relied on a qualified tax 
professional, within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2) of this section;
    (ii) Granting consent will not prejudice the interests of the United 
States government, as provided in paragraph (f)(3) of this section;
    (iii) The shareholder requests consent under paragraph (f) of this 
section before a representative of the Internal Revenue Service raises 
upon audit the PFIC status of the corporation for any taxable year of 
the shareholder; and
    (iv) The shareholder satisfies the procedural requirements set forth 
in paragraph (f)(4) of this section.
    (2) Reasonable reliance on a qualified tax professional--(i) In 
general. Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2)(ii) of this section, a 
shareholder is deemed to have reasonably relied on a qualified tax 
professional only if the shareholder reasonably relied on a qualified 
tax professional (including a tax professional employed by the 
shareholder) who failed to identify the foreign corporation as a PFIC or 
failed to advise the shareholder of the consequences of making, or 
failing to make, the section 1295 election. A shareholder will not be 
considered to have reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional if 
the shareholder knew, or reasonably should have known, that the foreign 
corporation was a PFIC and of the availability of a section 1295 
election, or knew or reasonably should have known that the qualified tax 
professional--
    (A) Was not competent to render tax advice with respect to the 
ownership of shares of a foreign corporation; or
    (B) Did not have access to all relevant facts and circumstances.
    (ii) Shareholder deemed to have not reasonably relied on a qualified 
tax professional. For purposes of this paragraph (f)(2), a shareholder 
is deemed to have not reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional 
if the shareholder was informed by the qualified tax professional that 
the foreign corporation was

[[Page 618]]

a PFIC and of the availability of the section 1295 election and related 
tax consequences, but either chose not to make the section 1295 election 
or was unable to make a valid section 1295 election.
    (3) Prejudice to the interests of the United States government--(1) 
General rule. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of 
this section, the Commissioner will not grant consent under paragraph 
(f) of this section if doing so would prejudice the interests of the 
United States government. The interests of the United States government 
are prejudiced if granting relief would result in the shareholder having 
a lower tax liability, taking into account applicable interest charges, 
in the aggregate for all years affected by the retroactive election 
(other than by a de minimis amount) than the shareholder would have had 
if the shareholder had made the section 1295 election by the election 
due date. The time value of money is taken into account for purposes of 
this computation.
    (ii) Elimination of prejudice to the interests of the United States 
government. Notwithstanding the general rule of paragraph (f)(3)(i) of 
this section, if granting relief would prejudice the interests of the 
United States government, the Commissioner may, in the Commissioner's 
sole discretion, grant consent to make the election provided the 
shareholder enters into a closing agreement with the Commissioner that 
requires the shareholder to pay an amount sufficient to eliminate any 
prejudice to the United States government as a consequence of the 
shareholder's inability to file amended returns for closed taxable 
years.
    (4) Procedural requirements--(i) Filing instructions. A shareholder 
requests consent under paragraph (f) of this section to make a 
retroactive election by filing with the Office of the Associate Chief 
Counsel (International) a ruling request that includes the affidavits 
required by this paragraph (f)(4). The ruling request must satisfy the 
requirements, including payment of the user fee, for ruling requests 
filed with that office.
    (ii) Affidavit from shareholder. The shareholder, or a person 
authorized to sign a Federal income tax return on behalf of the 
shareholder, must submit a detailed affidavit describing the events that 
led to the failure to make a section 1295 election by the election due 
date, and to the discovery thereof. The shareholder's affidavit must 
describe the engagement and responsibilities of the qualified tax 
professional as well as the extent to which the shareholder relied on 
the tax professional. The shareholder must sign the affidavit under 
penalties of perjury. An individual who signs for an entity must have 
personal knowledge of the facts and circumstances at issue.
    (iii) Affidavits from other persons. The shareholder must submit 
detailed affidavits from individuals having knowledge or information 
about the events that led to the failure to make a section 1295 election 
by the election due date, and to the discovery thereof. These 
individuals must include the qualified tax professional upon whose 
advice the shareholder relied, as well as any individual (including an 
employee of the shareholder) who made a substantial contribution to the 
return's preparation, and any accountant or attorney, knowledgeable in 
tax matters, who advised the shareholder with regard to its ownership of 
the stock of the foreign corporation. Each affidavit must describe the 
individual's engagement and responsibilities as well as the advice 
concerning the tax treatment of the foreign corporation that that 
individual provided to the shareholder. Each affidavit also must include 
the individual's name, address, and taxpayer identification number, and 
must be signed by the individual under penalties of perjury.
    (iv) Other information. In connection with a request for consent 
under this paragraph (f), a shareholder must provide any additional 
information requested by the Commissioner.
    (v) Notification of Internal Revenue Service. The shareholder must 
notify the branch of the Associate Chief Counsel (International) 
considering the request for relief under this paragraph (f) if, while 
the shareholder's request for consent is pending, the Internal Revenue 
Service begins an examination of the shareholder's return for the 
retroactive election year or for any subsequent taxable year during 
which the

[[Page 619]]

shareholder holds stock of the foreign corporation.
    (vi) Who requests special consent under this paragraph (f) and who 
enters into a closing agreement. The person that requests consent under 
this paragraph (f) is the person that makes the section 1295 election, 
as provided in Sec. 1.1295-1(d). If a shareholder is required to enter 
into a closing agreement with the Commissioner, as described in 
paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section, rules similar to those under 
paragraphs (c)(4)(i) (B) through (E) of this section apply for purposes 
of determining the person that enters into the closing agreement.
    (g) Time for and manner of making a retroactive election--(1) Time 
for making a retroactive election--(i) In general. Except as otherwise 
provided in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, a shareholder must 
make a retroactive election, in the manner provided in paragraph (g)(2) 
of this section, on or before the due date, as extended, for the 
shareholder's return--
    (A) In the case of a shareholder that makes a retroactive election 
pursuant to paragraph (b) or (e) of this section, for the taxable year 
in which the shareholder determines or reasonably should have determined 
that the foreign corporation was a PFIC; or
    (B) In the case of a shareholder that obtains the consent of the 
Commissioner pursuant to paragraph (f) of this section for the taxable 
year in which such consent is granted.
    (ii) Transition rule. A shareholder that files a Protective 
Statement for a taxable year described in paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this 
section may make a retroactive election by the due date, as extended, 
for the return for the first taxable year ended after January 2, 1998 
even if the shareholder determined or should have determined that the 
foreign corporation was a PFIC for a year described in paragraph 
(c)(5)(ii) of this section at any time on or before January 2, 1998.
    (iii) Ownership not required at time retroactive election is made. 
The shareholder need not own shares of the foreign corporation at the 
time the shareholder makes a retroactive election with respect to the 
foreign corporation.
    (2) Manner of making a retroactive election. A shareholder that has 
satisfied the requirements of paragraph (b) or (e) of this section, or a 
shareholder that has been granted consent under paragraph (f) of this 
section, must make a retroactive election in the manner provided in Form 
8621 for making a section 1295 election, and must attach Form 8621 to an 
amended return for the later of the retroactive election year or the 
earliest open taxable year of the shareholder. The shareholder also must 
file an amended return for each of its subsequent taxable years affected 
by the retroactive election. In each amended return the shareholder must 
redetermine its income tax liability for that year to take into account 
the assessment of PFIC related taxes. If the period of limitations for 
the assessment of taxes for a taxable year affected by the retroactive 
election has expired except to the extent the waiver of limitations, 
described in paragraph (c)(4) of this section, has extended such period, 
no adjustments, other than consequential changes, may be made to any 
other items of income, deduction, or credit in that year. In addition, 
the shareholder must pay all taxes and interest owing by reason of the 
PFIC and QEF status of the foreign corporation in those years (except to 
the extent a section 1294 election extends the time to pay the taxes and 
interest). A shareholder that filed a Protective Statement must attach 
to Form 8621 filed with each amended return a representation that the 
shareholder, until the taxable year in which it determined or reasonably 
should have determined that the foreign corporation was a PFIC, 
reasonably believed, within the meaning of paragraph (d) of this 
section, that the foreign corporation was not a PFIC in the taxable year 
for which the amended return is filed, and in all other taxable years to 
which the Protective Statement applies. A shareholder that entered into 
a closing agreement must comply with the terms of that agreement, as 
provided in paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section, to eliminate any 
prejudice to the United States government's interests, as described in 
paragraph (f)(3) of this section.
    (3) Who makes the retroactive election. The person that makes the 
retroactive

[[Page 620]]

election is the person that makes the section 1295 election, as provided 
in Sec. 1.1295-1(d). A partner, shareholder, or beneficiary for which a 
pass through entity, as described in paragraphs (c)(4)(i) (B) through 
(D) of this section, filed a Protective Statement may make a retroactive 
election, if the pass through entity completely terminates its business 
or otherwise ceases to exist.
    (4) Other elections--(i) Section 1291(d)(2) election. If the foreign 
corporation for which the shareholder makes a retroactive election will 
be treated as an unpedigreed QEF, as defined in Sec. 1.1291-
9(j)(2)(iii), with respect to the shareholder, the shareholder may make 
an election under section 1291(d)(2) to purge its holding period of the 
years or parts of years before the effective date of the retroactive 
election. If the qualification date, within the meaning of Sec. 1.1291-
9(e) or 1.1291-10(e), falls in a taxable year for which the period of 
limitations has expired, the shareholder may treat the first day of the 
retroactive election year as the qualification date. The shareholder may 
make a section 1291(d)(2) election at the time that it makes the 
retroactive election, but no later than two years after the date that 
the amended return in which the retroactive election is made is filed. 
For the requirements for making a section 1291(d)(2) election, see 
Sec. Sec. 1.1291-9 and 1.1291-10.
    (ii) Section 1294 election. A shareholder may make an election under 
section 1294 to extend the time for payment of tax on the shareholder's 
pro rata shares of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of the 
foreign corporation reported in the shareholder's amended return, and 
section 6621 interest attributable to such tax, but only to the extent 
the tax and interest are attributable to earnings that have not been 
distributed to the shareholder. The shareholder must make a section 1294 
election for a taxable year at the time that it files its amended return 
for that year, as provided in paragraph (g)(1) of this section. For the 
requirements for making a section 1294 election, see Sec. 1.1294-1T.
    (h) Effective date. The rules of this section are effective as of 
January 2, 1998.

[T.D. 8750, 63 FR 19, Jan. 2, 1998. Redesignated and amended by T.D. 
8870, 65 FR 5781, Feb. 7, 2000]