[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: 26CFR1.1361-5]

[Page 716-719]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.1361-5  Termination of QSub election.

    (a) In general--(1) Effective date. The termination of a QSub 
election is effective--
    (i) On the effective date contained in the revocation statement if a 
QSub election is revoked under Sec. 1.1361-3(b);
    (ii) At the close of the last day of the parent's last taxable year 
as an S corporation if the parent's S election terminates under Sec. 
1.1362-2; or
    (iii) At the close of the day on which an event (other than an event 
described in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section) occurs that renders 
the subsidiary ineligible for QSub status under section 1361(b)(3)(B).
    (2) Information to be provided upon termination of QSub election by 
failure to qualify as a QSub. If a QSub election terminates because an 
event renders the subsidiary ineligible for QSub status, the S 
corporation must attach to its return for the taxable year in which the 
termination occurs a notification that a QSub election has terminated, 
the date of the termination, and the names, addresses, and employer 
identification numbers of both the parent corporation and the QSub.
    (3) QSub joins a consolidated group. If a QSub election terminates 
because the S corporation becomes a member of a consolidated group (and 
no election under section 338(g) is made) the principles of Sec. 
1.1502-76(b)(1)(ii)(A)(2) (relating to a special rule for S corporations 
that join a consolidated group) apply to any QSub of the S corporation 
that also becomes a member of the consolidated group at the same time as 
the S corporation. See Example 4 of paragraph (a)(4) of this section.
    (4) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (a):

    Example 1. Termination because parent's S election terminates. X, an 
S corporation, owns 100 percent of Y. A QSub election is in effect with 
respect to Y for 2001. Effective on January 1, 2002, X revokes its S 
election. Because X is no longer an S corporation, Y no longer qualifies 
as a QSub at the close of December 31, 2001.
    Example 2. Termination due to transfer of QSub stock. X, an S 
corporation, owns 100 percent of Y. A QSub election is in effect with 
respect to Y. On December 10, 2002, X sells one share of Y stock to A, 
an individual. Because X no longer owns 100 percent of the stock of Y, Y 
no longer qualifies as a QSub. Accordingly, the QSub election made with 
respect to Y terminates at the close of December 10, 2002.
    Example 3. No termination on stock transfer between QSub and parent. 
X, an S corporation, owns 100 percent of the stock of Y, and Y owns 100 
percent of the stock of Z. QSub elections are in effect with respect to 
both Y and Z. Y transfers all of its Z stock to X. Because X is treated 
as owning the stock of Z both before and after the transfer of stock 
solely for purposes of determining whether the requirements of section 
1361(b)(3)(B)(i) and Sec. 1.1361-2(a)(1) have been satisfied, the 
transfer of Z stock does not terminate Z's QSub election. Because the 
stock of Z is disregarded for all other Federal tax purposes, no gain is 
recognized under section 311.
    Example 4. Termination due to acquisition of S parent by a 
consolidated group. X, an S corporation, owns 100 percent of Y, a 
corporation for which a QSub election is in effect. Z, the common parent 
of a consolidated group of corporations, acquires 80 percent of the 
stock of X on June 1, 2002. Z does not make an election under section 
338(g) with respect to the purchase of X stock. X's S election 
terminates as of the close of the preceding day, May 31, 2002. Y's QSub 
election also terminates at the close of May 31, 2002. Under Sec. 
1.1502-76(b)(1)(ii)(A)(2) and paragraph (a)(3)

[[Page 717]]

of this section, X and Y become members of Z's consolidated group of 
corporations as of the beginning of the day June 1, 2002.
    Example 5. Termination due to acquisition of QSub by a consolidated 
group. The facts are the same as in Example 4, except that Z acquires 80 
percent of the stock of Y (instead of X) on June 1, 2002. In this case, 
Y's QSub election terminates as of the close of June 1, 2002, and, under 
Sec. 1.1502-76(b)(1)(ii)(A)(1), Y becomes a member of the consolidated 
group at that time.

    (b) Effect of termination of QSub election--(1) Formation of new 
corporation--(i) In general. If a QSub election terminates under 
paragraph (a) of this section, the former QSub is treated as a new 
corporation acquiring all of its assets (and assuming all of its 
liabilities) immediately before the termination from the S corporation 
parent in exchange for stock of the new corporation. The tax treatment 
of this transaction or of a larger transaction that includes this 
transaction will be determined under the Internal Revenue Code and 
general principles of tax law, including the step transaction doctrine. 
For purposes of determining the application of section 351 with respect 
to this transaction, instruments, obligations, or other arrangements 
that are not treated as stock of the QSub under Sec. 1.1361-2(b) are 
disregarded in determining control for purposes of section 368(c) even 
if they are equity under general principles of tax law.
    (ii) Termination for tiered QSubs. If QSub elections terminate for 
tiered QSubs on the same day, the formation of any higher tier 
subsidiary precedes the formation of its lower tier subsidiary. See 
Example 6 in paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
    (2) Carryover of disallowed losses and deductions. If a QSub 
terminates because the S corporation distributes the QSub stock to some 
or all of the S corporation's shareholders in a transaction to which 
section 368(a)(1)(D) applies by reason of section 355 (or so much of 
section 356 as relates to section 355), see Sec. 1.1366-2(c)(2) for 
provisions relating to the carryover of disallowed losses and deductions 
that may be available.
    (3) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (b):

    Example 1. X, an S corporation, owns 100 percent of the stock of Y, 
a corporation for which a QSub election is in effect. X sells 21 percent 
of the Y stock to Z, an unrelated corporation, for cash, thereby 
terminating the QSub election. Y is treated as a new corporation 
acquiring all of its assets (and assuming all of its liabilities) in 
exchange for Y stock immediately before the termination from the S 
corporation. The deemed exchange by X of assets for Y stock does not 
qualify under section 351 because X is not in control of Y within the 
meaning of section 368(c) immediately after the transfer as a result of 
the sale of stock to Z. Therefore, X must recognize gain, if any, on the 
assets transferred to Y in exchange for its stock. X's losses, if any, 
on the assets transferred are subject to the limitations of section 267.
    Example 2. (i) X, an S corporation, owns 100 percent of the stock of 
Y, a corporation for which a QSub election is in effect. As part of a 
plan to sell a portion of Y, X causes Y to merge into T, a limited 
liability company wholly owned by X that is disregarded as an entity 
separate from its owner for Federal tax purposes. X then sells 21 
percent of T to Z, an unrelated corporation, for cash. Following the 
sale, no entity classification election is made under Sec. 301.7701-
3(c) of this chapter to treat the limited liability company as an 
association for Federal tax purposes.
    (ii) The merger of Y into T causes a termination of Y's QSub 
election. The new corporation (Newco) that is formed as a result of the 
termination is immediately merged into T, an entity that is disregarded 
for Federal tax purposes. Because, at the end of the series of 
transactions, the assets continue to be held by X for Federal tax 
purposes, under step transaction principles, the formation of Newco and 
the transfer of assets pursuant to the merger of Newco into T are 
disregarded. The sale of 21 percent of T is treated as a sale of a 21 
percent undivided interest in each of T's assets. Immediately 
thereafter, X and Z are treated as contributing their respective 
interests in those assets to a partnership in exchange for ownership 
interests in the partnership.
    (iii) Under section 1001, X recognizes gain or loss from the deemed 
sale of the 21 percent interest in each asset of the limited liability 
company to Z. Under section 721(a), no gain or loss is recognized by X 
and Z as a result of the deemed contribution of their respective 
interests in the assets to the partnership in exchange for ownership 
interests in the partnership.
    Example 3. Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that, 
instead of purchasing Y stock, Z contributes to Y an operating asset in 
exchange for 21 percent of the Y stock. Y is treated as a new 
corporation acquiring all of its assets (and assuming all of its 
liabilities) in exchange for Y stock immediately before the termination. 
Because X and Z are

[[Page 718]]

co-transferors that control the transferee immediately after the 
transfer, the transaction qualifies under section 351.
    Example 4. X, an S corporation, owns 100 percent of the stock of Y, 
a corporation for which a QSub election is in effect. X distributes all 
of the Y stock pro rata to its shareholders, and the distribution 
terminates the QSub election. The transaction can qualify as a 
distribution to which sections 368(a)(1)(D) and 355 apply if the 
transaction otherwise satisfies the requirements of those sections.
    Example 5. X, an S corporation, owns 100 percent of the stock of Y, 
a corporation for which a QSub election is in effect. X subsequently 
revokes the QSub election. Y is treated as a new corporation acquiring 
all of its assets (and assuming all of its liabilities) immediately 
before the revocation from its S corporation parent in a deemed exchange 
for Y stock. On a subsequent date, X sells 21 percent of the stock of Y 
to Z, an unrelated corporation, for cash. Assume that under general 
principles of tax law including the step transaction doctrine, the sale 
is not taken into account in determining whether X is in control of Y 
immediately after the deemed exchange of assets for stock. The deemed 
exchange by X of assets for Y stock and the deemed assumption by Y of 
its liabilities qualify under section 351 because, for purposes of that 
section, X is in control of Y within the meaning of section 368(c) 
immediately after the transfer.
    Example 6. (i) X, an S corporation, owns 100 percent of the stock of 
Y, and Y owns 100 percent of the stock of Z. Y and Z are corporations 
for which QSub elections are in effect. X subsequently revokes the QSub 
elections and the effective date specified on each revocation statement 
is June 26, 2002, a date that is less than 12 months after the date on 
which the revocation statements are filed.
    (ii) Immediately before the QSub elections terminate, Y is treated 
as a new corporation acquiring all of its assets (and assuming all of 
its liabilities) directly from X in exchange for the stock of Y. Z is 
treated as a new corporation acquiring all of its assets (and assuming 
all of its liabilities) directly from Y in exchange for the stock of Z.
    Example 7. (i) The facts are the same as in Example 6, except that, 
prior to June 26, 2002 (the effective date of the revocations), Y 
distributes the Z stock to X under state law.
    (ii) Immediately before the QSub elections terminate, Y is treated 
as a new corporation acquiring all of its assets (and assuming all of 
its liabilities) directly from X in exchange for the stock of Y. Z is 
also treated as a new corporation acquiring all of its assets (and 
assuming all of its liabilities) directly from X in exchange for the 
stock of Z.
    Example 8. Merger of parent into QSub. X, an S corporation, owns 100 
percent of the stock of Y, a corporation for which a QSub election is in 
effect. X merges into Y under state law, causing the QSub election for Y 
to terminate, and Y survives the merger. The formation of the new 
corporation, Y, and the merger of X into Y can qualify as a 
reorganization described in section 368(a)(1)(F) if the transaction 
otherwise satisfies the requirements of that section.
    Example 9. Transfer of 100 percent of QSub. X, an S corporation, 
owns 100 percent of the stock of Y, a corporation for which a QSub 
election is in effect. Z, an unrelated C corporation, acquires 100 
percent of the stock of Y. The deemed formation of Y by X (as a 
consequence of the termination of Y's QSub election) is disregarded for 
Federal income tax purposes. The transaction is treated as a transfer of 
the assets of Y to Z, followed by Z's transfer of these assets to the 
capital of Y in exchange for Y stock. Furthermore, if Z is an S 
corporation and makes a QSub election for Y effective as of the 
acquisition, Z's transfer of the assets of Y in exchange for Y stock, 
followed by the immediate liquidation of Y as a consequence of the QSub 
election are disregarded for Federal income tax purposes.

    (c) Election after QSub termination--(1) In general. Absent the 
Commissioner's consent, and except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of 
this section, a corporation whose QSub election has terminated under 
paragraph (a) of this section (or a successor corporation as defined 
inSec. 1.1362-5(b)) may not make an S election under section 1362 or 
have a QSub election under section 1361(b)(3)(B)(ii) made with respect 
to it for five taxable years (as described in section 1361(b)(3)(D)). 
The Commissioner may permit an S election by the corporation or a new 
QSub election with respect to the corporation before the five-year 
period expires. The corporation requesting consent to make the election 
has the burden of establishing that, under the relevant facts and 
circumstances, the Commissioner should consent to a new election.
    (2) Exception. In the case of S and QSub elections effective after 
December 31, 1996, if a corporation's QSub election terminates, the 
corporation may, without requesting the Commissioner's consent, make an 
S election or have a QSub election made with respect to it before the 
expiration of the five-year period described in section 1361(b)(3)(D) 
and paragraph (c)(1) of this section, provided that--

[[Page 719]]

    (i) Immediately following the termination, the corporation (or its 
successor corporation) is otherwise eligible to make an S election or 
have a QSub election made for it; and
    (ii) The relevant election is made effective immediately following 
the termination of the QSub election.
    (3) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of 
this paragraph (c):

    Example 1. Termination upon distribution of QSub stock to 
shareholders of parent. X, an S corporation, owns Y, a QSub. X 
distributes all of its Y stock to X's shareholders. The distribution 
terminates the QSub election because Y no longer satisfies the 
requirements of a QSub. Assuming Y is otherwise eligible to be treated 
as an S corporation, Y's shareholders may elect to treat Y as an S 
corporation effective on the date of the stock distribution without 
requesting the Commissioner's consent.
    Example 2. Sale of 100 percent of QSub stock. X, an S corporation, 
owns Y, a QSub. X sells 100 percent of the stock of Y to Z, an unrelated 
S corporation. Z may elect to treat Y as a QSub effective on the date of 
purchase without requesting the Commissioner's consent.

[T.D. 8869, 65 FR 3852, Jan. 25, 2000; 65 FR 16318, Mar. 28, 2000, as 
amended by T.D. 8869, 67 FR 65313, Oct. 24, 2002]