[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 2]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.163-5]

[Page 832-842]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.163-5  Denial of interest deduction on certain obligations issued 
after December 31, 1982, unless issued in registered form.

    (a)-(b) [Reserved]
    (c) Obligations issued to foreign persons after September 21, 1984--
(1) In general. A determination of whether an obligation satisfies each 
of the requirements of this paragraph shall be made on an obligation-by-
obligation basis. An obligation issued directly (or through affiliated 
entities) in bearer form by, or guaranteed by, a United States 
Government-owned agency or a United States Government-sponsored 
enterprise, such

[[Page 833]]

as the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan 
Banks, the Federal Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Farm Credit 
Administration, and the Student Loan Marketing Association, may not 
satisfy this paragraph (c). An obligation issued after September 21, 
1984 is described in this paragraph if--
    (i) There are arrangements reasonably designed to ensure that such 
obligation will be sold (or resold in connection with its original 
issuance) only to a person who is not a United States person or who is a 
United States person that is a financial institution (as defined in 
Sec. 1.165-12(c)(1)(v)) purchasing for its own account or for the 
account of a customer and that agrees to comply with the requirements of 
section 165(j)(3) (A), (B), or (C) and the regulations thereunder, and
    (ii) In the case of an obligation which is not in registered form--
    (A) Interest on such obligation is payable only outside the United 
States and its possessions, and
    (B) Unless the obligation is described in subparagraph (2)(i)(C) of 
this paragraph or is a temporary global security, the following 
statement in English either appears on the face of the obligation and on 
any interest coupons which may be detached therefrom or, if the 
obligation is evidenced by a book entry, appears in the book or record 
in which the book entry is made: ``Any United States person who holds 
this obligation will be subject to limitations under the United States 
income tax laws, including the limitations provided in sections 165(j) 
and 1287(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.'' For purposes of this 
paragraph, the term ``temporary global security'' means a security which 
is held for the benefit of the purchasers of the obligations of the 
issuer and interests in which are exchangeable for securities in 
definitive registered or bearer form prior to its stated maturity.
    (2) Rules for the application of this paragraph--(i) Arrangements 
reasonably designed to ensure sale to non-United States persons. An 
obligation will be considered to satisfy paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this 
section if the conditions of paragraph (c)(2)(i) (A), (B), (C), or (D) 
of this section are met in connection with the original issuance of the 
obligation. An exchange of one obligation for another is considered an 
original issuance if and only if the exchange constitutes a disposition 
of property for purposes of section 1001 of the Code. However, an 
exchange of one obligation for another will not be considered a new 
issuance if the obligation received is identical in all respects to the 
obligation surrendered in exchange therefor, except that the obligor of 
the obligation received need not be the same obligor as the obligor of 
the obligation surrendered. Obligations that meet the conditions of 
paragraph (c)(2)(i) (A), (B), (C) or (D) of this section may be issued 
in a single public offering. The preceding sentence does not apply to 
certificates of deposit issued under the conditions of paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(C) of this section by a United States person or by a 
controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of section 957(a) that 
is engaged in the active conduct of a banking business within the 
meaning of section 954(c)(3)(B) as in effect prior to the Tax Reform Act 
of 1986, and the regulations thereunder. A temporary global security 
need not satisfy the conditions of paragraph (c)(2)(i) (A), (B) or (C) 
of this section, but must satisfy the applicable requirements of 
paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D) of this section.
    (A) In connection with the original issuance of an obligation, the 
obligation is offered for sale or resale only outside of the United 
States and its possessions, is delivered only outside the United States 
and its possessions and is not registered under the Securities Act of 
1933 because it is intended for distribution to persons who are not 
United States persons. An obligation will not be considered to be 
required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 if the 
issuer, in reliance on the written opinion of counsel received prior to 
the issuance thereof, determines in good faith that the obligation need 
not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 for the reason that 
it is intended for distribution to persons who are not United States 
persons. Solely for purposes of this subdivision (i)(A), the term 
``United States person'' has the same meaning as it has for purposes of 
determining whether an obligation is intended for distribution to

[[Page 834]]

persons under the Securities Act of 1933. Except as provided in 
paragraph (c)(3) of this section, this paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A) applies 
only to obligations issued on or before September 7, 1990.
    (B) The obligation is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, 
is exempt from registration by reason of section 3 or section 4 of such 
Act, or does not qualify as a security under the Securities Act of 1933; 
all of the conditions set forth in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(B) (1), (2), (3), 
(4), and (5) of this section are met with respect to such obligations; 
and, except as provided in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the 
obligation is issued on or before September 7, 1990.
    (1) In connection with the original issuance of an obligation in 
bearer form, the obligation is offered for sale or resale only outside 
the United States and its possessions.
    (2) The issuer does not, and each underwriter and each member of the 
selling group, if any, covenants that it will not, in connection with 
the original issuance of the obligation, offer to sell or resell the 
obligation in bearer form to any person inside the United States or to a 
United States person unless such United States person is a financial 
institution as defined in Sec. 1.165-12(c)(v) purchasing for its own 
account or for the account of a customer, which financial institution, 
as a condition of the purchase, agrees to provide on delivery of the 
obligation (or on issuance, if the obligation is not in definitive form) 
the certificate required under paragraph (c)(2)(i)(B)(4).
    (3) In connection with its sale or resale during the original 
issuance of the obligation in bearer form, each underwriter and each 
member of the selling group, if any, or the issuer, if there is no 
underwriter or selling group, sends a confirmation to the purchaser of 
the bearer obligation stating that the purchaser represents that it is 
not a United States person or, if it is a United States person, it is a 
financial institution as defined in Sec. 1.165-12(c)(v) purchasing for 
its own account or for the account of a customer and that the financial 
institution will comply with the requirements of section 165(j)(3) (A), 
(B), or (C) and the regulations thereunder. The confirmation must also 
state that, if the purchaser is a dealer, it will send similar 
confirmations to whomever purchases from it.
    (4) In connection with the original issuance of the obligation in 
bearer form it is delivered in definitive form (or issued, if the 
obligation is not in definitive form) to the person entitled to physical 
delivery thereof only outside the United States and its possessions and 
only upon presentation of a certificate signed by such person to the 
issuer, underwriter, or member of the selling group, which certificate 
states that the obligation is not being acquired by or on behalf of a 
United States person, or for offer to resell or for resale to a United 
States person or any person inside the United States, or, if a 
beneficial interest in the obligation is being acquired by a United 
States person, that such person is a financial institution as defined in 
Sec. 1.165.12(c)(1)(v) or is acquiring through a financial institution 
and that the obligation is held by a financial institution that has 
agreed to comply with the requirements of section 165(j)(3) (A), (B), or 
(C) and the regulations thereunder and that is not purchasing for offer 
to resell or for resale inside the United States. When a certificate is 
provided by a clearing organization, it must be based on statements 
provided to it by its member organizations. A clearing organization is 
an entity which is in the business of holding obligations for member 
organizations and transferring obligations among such members by credit 
or debit to the account of a member without the necessity of physical 
delivery of the obligation. For purposes of paragraph (c)(2)(i)(B), the 
term ``delivery'' does not include the delivery of an obligation to an 
underwriter or member of the selling group, if any.
    (5) The issuer, underwriter, or member of the selling group does not 
have actual knowledge that the certificate described in paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(B)(4) of this section is false. The issuer, underwriter, or 
member of the selling group shall be deemed to have actual knowledge 
that the certificate described in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(B)(4) of this 
section is false if the issuer, underwriter, or member of the selling 
group has a United States address for the beneficial

[[Page 835]]

owner (other than a financial institution as defined in Sec. 1.165-
12(c)(v) that represents that it will comply with the requirements of 
section 165(j)(3) (A), (B), or (C) and the regulations thereunder) and 
does not have documentary evidence as described inSec. 1.6049-5(c)(1) 
that the beneficial owner is not a United States person.
    (C) The obligation is issued only outside the United States and its 
possessions by an issuer that does not significantly engage in 
interstate commerce with respect to the issuance of such obligation 
either directly or through its agent, an underwriter, or a member of the 
selling group. In the case of an issuer that is a United States person, 
such issuer may only satisfy the test set forth in this paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(C) if--
    (1) It is engaged through a branch in the active conduct of a 
banking business, within the meaning of section 954(c)(3)(B) as in 
effect before the Tax Reform Act of 1986, and the regulations 
thereunder, outside the United States;
    (2) The obligation is issued outside of the United States by the 
branch in connection with that trade or business;
    (3) The obligation that is so issued is sold directly to the public 
and is not issued as a part of a larger issuance made by means of a 
public offering; and
    (4) The issuer either maintains documentary evidence as described in 
subdivision (iii) of A-5 of Sec. 35a.9999-4T that the purchaser is not 
a United States person (provided that the issuer has no actual knowledge 
that the documentary evidence is false) or on delivery of the obligation 
the issuer receives a statement signed by the person entitled to 
physical delivery thereof and stating either that the obligation is not 
being acquired by or on behalf of a United States person or that, if a 
beneficial interest in the obligation is being acquired by a United 
States person, such person is a financial institution as defined in 
Sec. 1.165-12(c)(v) or is acquiring through a financial institution and 
the obligation is held by a financial institution that has agreed to 
comply with the requirements of 165(j)(3) (A), (B) or (C) and the 
regulations thereunder and that it is not purchasing for offer to resell 
or for resale inside the United States (provided that the issuer has no 
actual knowledge that the statement is false).

In addition, an issuer that is a controlled foreign corporation within 
the meaning of section 957 (a) that is engaged in the active conduct of 
a banking business outside the United States within the meaning of 
section 954(c)(3)(B) as in effect before the Tax Reform Act of 1986, and 
the regulations thereunder, can only satisfy the provisions of this 
paragraph (c)(2)(i)(C), if it meets the requirements of this paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(C)(2), (3) and (4).
    (D) The obligation is issued after September 7, 1990, and all of the 
conditions set forth in this paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D) are met with respect 
to such obligation.
    (1) Offers and sales--(i) Issuer. The issuer does not offer or sell 
the obligation during the restricted period to a person who is within 
the United States or its possessions or to a United States person.
    (ii) Distributors. (A) The distributor of the obligation does not 
offer or sell the obligation during the restricted period to a person 
who is within the United States or its possessions or to a United States 
person.
    (B) The distributor of the obligation will be deemed to satisfy the 
requirements of paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(1)(ii)(A) of this section if the 
distributor of the obligation convenants that it will not offer or sell 
the obligation during the restricted period to a person who is within 
the United States or its possessions or to a United States person; and 
the distributor of the obligation has in effect, in connection with the 
offer and sale of the obligation during the restricted period, 
procedures reasonably designed to ensure that its employees or agents 
who are directly engaged in selling the obligation are aware that the 
obligation cannot be offered or sold during the restricted period to a 
person who is within the United States or its possessions or is a United 
States person.
    (iii) Certain rules. For purposes of paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(1) (i) 
and (ii) of this section:
    (A) An offer or sale will be considered to be made to a person who 
is within the United States or its possessions if the offeror or seller 
of the obligation

[[Page 836]]

has an address within the United States or its possessions for the 
offeree or buyer of the obligation with respect to the offer or sale.
    (B) An offer or sale of an obligation will not be treated as made to 
a person within the United States or its possessions or to a United 
States person if the person to whom the offer or sale is made is: An 
exempt distributor, as defined in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(5) of this 
section; An international organization as defined in section 7701(a)(18) 
and the regulations thereunder, or a foreign central bank as defined in 
section 895 and the regulations thereunder; or The foreign branch of a 
United States financial institution as described in paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(D)(6)(i) of this section.

Paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(1)(iii)(B) regarding an exempt distributor will 
only apply to an offer to the United States office of an exempt 
distributor, and paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(1)(iii)(B) regarding an 
international organization or foreign central bank will only apply to an 
offer to an international organization or foreign central bank, if such 
offer is made directly and specifically to the United States office, 
organization or bank.
    (C) A sale of an obligation will not be treated as made to a person 
within the United States or its possessions or to a United States person 
if the person to whom the sale is made is a person described in 
paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(6)(ii) of this section.
    (2) Delivery. In connection with the sale of the obligation during 
the restricted period, neither the issuer nor any distributor delivers 
the obligation in definitive form within the United States or it 
possessions.
    (3) Certification--(i) In general. On the earlier of the date of the 
first actual payment of interest by the issuer on the obligation or the 
date of delivery by the issuer of the obligation in definitive form, a 
certificate is provided to the issuer of the obligation stating that on 
such date:
    (A) The obligation is owned by a person that is not a United States 
person:
    (B) The obligation is owned by a United States person described in 
paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(6) of this section; or
    (C) The obligation is owned by a financial institution for purposes 
of resale during the restricted period, and such financial institution 
certifies in addition that it has not acquired the obligation for 
purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or 
to a person within the United States or its possessions.

A certificate described in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(3)(i) (A) or (B) of 
this section may not be given with respect to an obligation that is 
owned by a financial institution for purposes of resale during the 
restricted period. For purposes of paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D) (2) and (3) of 
this section, a temporary global security (as defined in Sec. 1.163-5 
(c)(1)(ii)(B)) is not considered to be an obligation in definitive form. 
If the issuer does not make the obligation available for delivery in 
definitive form within a reasonable period of time after the end of the 
restricted period, then the obligation shall be treated as not 
satisfying the requirements of this paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(3). The 
certificate must be signed (or sent, as provided in paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(D)(3)(ii) of this section) either by the owner of the 
obligation or by a financial institution or clearing organization 
through which the owner holds the obligation, directly or indirectly. 
For purposes of this paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(3), the term ``financial 
institution'' means a financial institution described in Sec. 1.165-
12(c)(i)(v). When a certificate is provided by a clearing organization, 
the certificate must be based on statements provided to it by its member 
organizations. The requirement of this paragraph (c)(1)(D)(3) shall be 
deemed not to be satisfied with respect to an obligation if the issuer 
knows or has reason to know that the certificate with respect to such 
obligation is false. The certificate must be retained by the issuer (and 
statements by member organizations must be retained by the clearing 
organization, in the case of certificates based on such statements) for 
a period of four calendar years following the year in which the 
certificate is received.
    (ii) Electronic certification. The certificate required by paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(D)(3)(i) of this section (including a statement provided to a 
clearing

[[Page 837]]

organization by a member organization) may be provided electronically, 
but only if the person receiving such electronic certificate maintains 
adequate records, for the retention period described in paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(D)(3)(i) of this section, establishing that such certificate 
was received in respect of the subject obligation, and only if there is 
a written agreement entered into prior to the time of certification 
(including the written membership rules of a clearing organization) to 
which the sender and recipient are subject, providing that the 
electronic certificate shall have the effect of a signed certificate 
described in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(3)(i) of this section.
    (iii) Exception for certain obligations. This paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(D)(3) shall not apply, and no certificate shall be required, 
in the case of an obligation that is sold during the restricted period 
and that satisfies all of the following requirements:
    (A) The interest and principal with respect to the obligation are 
denominated only in the currency of a single foreign country.
    (B) The interest and principal with respect to the obligation are 
payable only within that foreign country (according to rules similar to 
those set forth in Sec. 1.163-5(c)(2)(v)).
    (C) The obligation is offered and sold in accordance with practices 
and documentation customary in that foreign country.
    (D) The distributor covenants to use reasonable efforts to sell the 
obligation within that foreign country.
    (E) The obligation is not listed, or the subject of an application 
for listing, on an exchange located outside that foreign country.
    (F) The Commissioner has designated that foreign country as a 
foreign country in which certification under paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(D)(3)(i) of this section is not permissible.
    (G) The issuance of the obligation is subject to guidelines or 
restrictions imposed by governmental, banking or securities authorities 
in that foreign country.
    (H) More than 80 percent by value of the obligations included in the 
offering of which the obligation is a part are offered and sold to non-
distributors by distributors maintaining an office located in that 
foreign country. Foreign currency denominated obligations that are 
convertible into U.S. dollar denominated obligations or that by their 
terms are linked to the U.S. dollar in a way which effectively converts 
the obligations to U.S. dollar denominated obligations do not satisfy 
the requirements of this paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(3)(iii). A foreign 
currency denominated obligation will not be treated as linked, by its 
terms, to the U.S. dollar solely because the obligation is the subject 
of a swap transaction.
    (4) Distributor. For purposes of this paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D), the 
term ``distributor'' means:
    (i) A person that offers or sells the obligation during the 
restricted period pursuant to a written contract with the issuer;
    (ii) Any person that offers or sells the obligation during the 
restricted period pursuant to a written contract with a person described 
in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D) (4) (i); and
    (iii) Any affiliate that acquires the obligation from another member 
of its affiliated group for the purpose of offering or selling the 
obligation during the restricted period, but only if the transferor 
member of the group is the issuer or a person described in paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(D) (4)(i) or (ii) of this section. The terms ``affiliate'' and 
``affiliated group'' have the same meanings as in section 1504(a) of the 
Code, but without regard to the exceptions contained in section 1504(b) 
and substituting ``50 percent'' for ``80 percent'' each time it appears.

For purposes of this paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(4), a written contract does 
not include a confirmation or other notice of the transaction.
    (5) Exempt distributor. For purposes of this paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D), 
the term ``exempt distributor'' means a distributor that convenants in 
its contract with the issuer or with a distributor described in 
paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(4)(i) that it is buying the obligation for the 
purpose of resale in connection with the original issuance of the 
obligation, and that if it retains the obligation for its own account, 
it will only do so in accordance with the

[[Page 838]]

requirements of paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(6) of this section. In the latter 
case, the convenant will constitute the certificate required under 
paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(6). The provisions of paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(7) 
governing the restricted period for unsold allotments or subscriptions 
shall apply to any obligation retained for investment by an exempt 
distributor.
    (6) Certain United States persons. A person is described in this 
paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(6) if the requirements of this paragraph are 
satisfied and the person is:
    (i) The foreign branch of a United States financial institution 
purchasing for its own account or for resale, or
    (ii) A United States person who acquired the obligation through the 
foreign branch of a United States financial institution and who, for 
purposes of the certification required in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(3) of 
this section, holds the obligation through such financial institution on 
the date of certification.

For purposes of paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(6)(ii) of this section, a United 
States person will be considered to acquire and hold an obligation 
through the foreign branch of a United States financial institution if 
the United States person has an account with the United States office of 
a financial institution, and the transaction is executed by a foreign 
office of that financial institution, or by the foreign office of 
another financial institution acting on behalf of that financial 
institution. This paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(6) will apply, however, only if 
the United States financial institution (or the United States office of 
a foreign financial institution) holding the obligation provides a 
certificate to the issuer or distributor selling the obligation within a 
reasonable time stating that it agrees to comply with the requirements 
of section 165(j)(3)(A), (B), or (C) and the regulations thereunder. For 
purposes of this paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D)(6), the term ``financial 
institution'' means a financial institution as defined in Sec. 1.165-
12(c)(1)(v). As an alternative to the certification required above, a 
financial institution may provide a blanket certificate to the issuer or 
distributor selling the obligation stating that the financial 
institution will comply with the requirements of section 165(j)(3)(A), 
(B) or (C) and the regulations thereunder. A blanket certificate must be 
received by the issuer or the distributor in the year of the issuance of 
the obligation or in either of the preceding two calendar years, and 
must be retained by the issuer or distributor for at least four years 
after the end of the last calendar year to which it relates.
    (7) Restricted period. For purposes of this paragraph (c)(2)(i)(D), 
the restricted period with respect to an obligation begins on the 
earlier of the closing date (or the date on which the issuer receives 
the loan proceeds, if there is no closing with respect to the 
obligation), or the first date on which the obligation is offered to 
persons other than a distributor. The restricted period with respect to 
an obligation ends on the expiration of the forty day period beginning 
on the closing date (or the date on which the issuer receives the loan 
proceeds, if there is no closing with respect to the obligation). 
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any offer or sale of the 
obligation by the issuer or a distributor shall be deemed to be during 
the restricted period if the issuer or distributor holds the obligation 
as part of an unsold allotment or subscription.
    (8) Clearing organization. For purposes of this paragraph 
(c)(2)(i)(D), a ``clearing organization'' is an entity which is in the 
business of holding obligations for member organizations and 
transferring obligations among such members by credit or debit to the 
account of a member without the necessity of physical delivery of the 
obligation.
    (ii) Special rules. An obligation shall not be considered to be 
described in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(C) of this section if it is--
    (A) Guaranteed by a United States shareholder of the issuer;
    (B) Convertible into a debt or equity interest in a United States 
shareholder of the issuer; or
    (C) Substantially identical to an obligation issued by a United 
States shareholder of the issuer.

For purposes of this paragraph (c)(2)(ii), the term ``United States 
shareholder'' is defined as it is defined

[[Page 839]]

in section 951 (b) and the regulations thereunder. For purposes of this 
paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(C), obligations are substantially identical if the 
face amount, interest rate, term of the issue, due dates for payments, 
and maturity date of each is substantially identical to the other.
    (iii) Interstate commerce. For purposes of this paragraph, the term 
``interstate commerce'' means trade or commerce in obligations or any 
transportation or communication relating thereto between any foreign 
country and the United States or its possessions.
    (A) An issuer will not be considered to engage significantly in 
interstate commerce with respect to the issuance of an obligation if the 
only activities with respect to which the issuer uses the means or 
instrumentalities of interstate commerce are activities of a preparatory 
or auxiliary character that do not involve communication between a 
prospective purchaser and an issuer, its agent, an underwriter, or 
member of the selling group if either is inside the United States or its 
possessions. Activities of a preparatory or auxiliary character include, 
but are not limited to, the following activities:
    (1) Establishment or participation in establishment of policies 
concerning the issuance of obligations and the allocation of funding by 
a United States shareholder with respect to obligations issued by a 
foreign corporation or by a United States office with respect to 
obligations issued by a foreign branch;
    (2) Negotiation between the issuer and underwriters as to the terms 
and pricing of an issue;
    (3) Transfer of funds to an office of an issuer in the United States 
or its possessions by a foreign branch or to a United States shareholder 
by a foreign corporation;
    (4) Consultation by an issuer with accountants and lawyers or other 
financial advisors in the United States or its possessions regarding the 
issuance of an obligation;
    (5) Document drafting and printing; and
    (6) Provision of payment or delivery instructions to members of the 
selling group by an issuer's office or agent that is located in the 
United States or its possessions.
    (B) Activities that will not be considered to be of a preparatory or 
auxiliary character include, but are not limited to, any of the 
following activities:
    (1) Negotiation or communication between a prospective purchaser and 
an issuer, its agent, an underwriter, or a member of the selling group 
concerning the sale of an obligation if either is inside the United 
States or its possessions;
    (2) Involvement of an issuer's office, its agent, an underwriter, or 
a member of the selling group in the United States or its possessions in 
the offer or sale of a particular obligation, either directly with the 
prospective purchaser, or through the issuer in a foreign country;
    (3) Delivery of an obligation in the United States or its 
possessions; or
    (4) Advertising or otherwise promoting an obligation in the United 
States or its possessions.
    (C) The following examples illustrate the application of this 
subdivision (iii) of Sec. 1.163-5(c)(2).

    Example (1). Foreign corporation A, a corporation organized in and 
doing business in foreign country Z, and not a controlled foreign 
corporation within the meaning of section 957(a) that is engaged in the 
conduct of a banking business within the meaning of section 954(c)(3)(B) 
as in effect before the Tax Reform Act of 1986, issues its debentures 
outside the United States. The debentures are not guaranteed by a United 
States shareholder of A, nor are they convertible into a debt or equity 
interest of a United States shareholder of A, nor are they substantially 
identical to an obligation issued by a United States shareholder of A. A 
consults its accountants and lawyers in the United States for certain 
securities and tax advice regarding the debt offering. The underwriting 
and selling group in respect to A's offering is composed entirely of 
foreign securities firms, some of which are foreign subsidiaries of 
United States securities firms. A U.S. affiliate of the foreign 
underwriter communicates payment and delivery instructions to the 
selling group. All offering circulars for the offering are mailed and 
delivered outside the United States and its possessions. All debentures 
are delivered and paid for outside the United States and its 
possessions. No office located in the United States or in a United 
States possession is involved in the sale of debentures. Interest on the 
debentures is payable only outside the United States and its 
possessions. A is not significantly engaged in interstate commerce with 
respect to the offering.

[[Page 840]]

    Example (2). B, a United States bank, does business in foreign 
country X through a branch located in X. The branch is a staffed and 
operating unit engaged in the active conduct of a banking business 
consisting of one or more of the activities set forth in Sec. 1.954-
2(d)(2)(ii). As part of its ongoing business, the branch in X issues 
negotiable certificates of deposit with a maturity in excess of one year 
to customers upon request. The certificates of deposit are not 
guaranteed by a United States shareholder of B, nor are they convertible 
into a debt or equity interest of a United States shareholder of B, nor 
are they substantially identical to an obligation issued by a United 
States shareholder of B. Policies regarding the issuance of negotiable 
certificates of deposit and funding allocations for foreign branches are 
set in the United States at B's main office. Branch personnel decide 
whether to issue a negotiable certificate of deposit based on the 
guidelines established by the United States offices of B, but without 
communicating with the United States offices of B with respect to the 
issuance of a particular obligation. Negotiable certificates of deposits 
are delivered and paid for outside the United States and its 
possessions. Interest on the negotiable certificates of deposit is 
payable only outside the United States and its possessions. B maintains 
documentary evidence described in Sec. 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(C)(4). After 
the issuance of negotiable certificates of deposit by the foreign branch 
of B, the foreign branch sends the funds to a United States branch of B 
for use in domestic operations. B is not significantly engaged in 
interstate commerce with respect to the issuance of such obligation.
    Example (3). The facts in Example (2) apply except that the foreign 
branch of B consulted, by telephone, the main office in the United 
States to request approval of the issuance of the certificate of deposit 
at a particular rate of interest. The main office granted permission to 
issue the negotiable certificate of deposit to the customer by a telex 
sent from the main office of B to the branch in X. B is significantly 
engaged in interstate commerce with respect to the issuance of the 
obligation as a result of involvement of B's United States office in the 
issuance of the obligation.
    Example (4). The facts in Example (2) apply with the additional fact 
that a customer contacted the foreign branch of B through a telex 
originating in the United States or its possessions. Subsequent to the 
telex, the foreign branch issued the negotiable certificate of deposit 
and recorded it on the books. B is significantly engaged in interstate 
commerce with respect to the issuance of the obligation as a result of 
its communication by telex with a customer in the United States.

    (iv) Possessions. For purposes of this section, the term 
``possessions'' includes Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 
American Samoa, Wake Island, and Northern Mariana Islands.
    (v) Interest payable outside of the United States. Interest will be 
considered payable only outside the United States and its possessions if 
payment of such interest can be made only upon presentation of a coupon, 
or upon making of any other demand for payment, outside of the United 
States and its possessions to the issuer or a paying agent. The fact 
that payment is made by a draft drawn on a United States bank account or 
by a wire or other electronic transfer from a United States account does 
not affect this result. Interest payments will be considered to be made 
within the United States if the payments are made by a transfer of funds 
into an account maintained by the payee in the United States or mailed 
to an address in the United States, if--
    (A) The interest is paid on an obligation issued by either a United 
States person, a controlled foreign corporation as defined in section 
957 (a), or a foreign corporation if 50 percent or more of the gross 
income of the foreign corporation from all sources of the 3-year period 
ending with the close of its taxable year preceding the original 
issuance of the obligation (or for such part of the period that the 
foreign corporation has been in existence) was effectively connected 
with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States; and
    (B) The interest is paid to a person other than--
    (1) A person who may satisfy the requirements of section 165 (j)(3) 
(A), (B), or (C) and the regulations thereunder; and
    (2) A financial institution as a step in the clearance of funds and 
such interest is promptly credited to an account maintained outside the 
United States for such financial institution or for persons for which 
the financial institution has collected such interest.

Interest is considered to be paid within the United States and its 
possessions if a coupon is presented, or a demand for payment is 
otherwise made, to the issuer or a paying agent (whether a United States 
or foreign person) in the United States and its possessions even

[[Page 841]]

if the funds paid are credited to an account maintained by the payee 
outside the United States and its possessions. Interest will be 
considered payable only outside the United States and its possessions 
notwithstanding that such interest may become payable at the office of 
the issuer or its United States paying agent under the following 
conditions: the issuer has appointed paying agents located outside the 
United States and its possessions with the reasonable expectation that 
such paying agents will be able to pay the interest in United States 
dollars, and the full amount of such payment at the offices of all such 
paying agents is illegal or effectively precluded because of the 
imposition of exchange controls or other similar restrictions on the 
full payment or receipt of interest in United States dollars. A lawsuit 
brought in the United States or its possessions for payment of the 
obligation or interest thereon as a result of a default shall not be 
considered to be a demand for payment. For purposes of this subdivision 
(v), interest includes original issue discount as defined in section 
1273(a). Therefore, an amount equal to the original issue discount as 
defined in section 1273(a) is payable only outside the United States and 
its possessions. The amount of market discount as defined in section 
1278(a) does not affect the amount of interest to be considered payable 
only outside the United States and its possessions.

    (vi) Rules relating to obligations issued after December 31, 1982 
and on or before September 21, 1984. Whether an obligation originally 
issued after December 31, 1982 and on or before September 21, 1984, or 
an obligation originally issued after September 21, 1984 pursuant to the 
exercise of a warrant or the conversion of a convertible obligation, 
which warrant or obligation (including conversion privilege) was issued 
after December 31, 1982 and on or before September 21, 1984, is 
described in section 163(f)(2)(B) shall be determined under the rules 
provided in Sec. 5f.163-1(c) as in effect prior to its removal. 
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, an issuer will be considered to 
satisfy the requirements of section 163(f)(2)(B) with respect to an 
obligation issued after December 31, 1982 and on or before September 21, 
1984 or after September 21, 1984 pursuant to the exercise of a warrant 
or the conversion of a convertible obligation, which warrant or 
obligation (including conversion privilege) was issued after December 
31, 1982 and on or before September 21, 1984, if the issuer 
substantially complied with the proposed regulations provided in Sec. 
1.163-5(c), which were published in the Federal Register on September 2, 
1983 (48 FR 39953) and superseded by temporary regulations published in 
the Federal Register on August 22, 1984 (49 FR 33228).

    (3) Effective date--(i) In general. These regulations apply 
generally to obligations issued after January 20, 1987. A taxpayer may 
choose to apply the rules of Sec. 1.163-5(c) with respect to an 
obligation issued after December 31, 1982 and on or before January 20, 
1987. If this choice is made, the rules of Sec. 1.163-5(c) will apply 
in lieu of Sec. 1.163-5T(c) except that the legend requirement under 
Sec. 1.163-5(c)(l)(ii)(B) does not apply with respect to a bearer 
obligation evidenced exclusively by a book entry and that the 
certification requirement under Sec. 1.163-5T(c)(2)(B)(4) applies in 
lieu of the certification under Sec. 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(B)(4).

    (ii) Special rules. If an obligation is originally issued after 
September 7, 1990 pursuant to the exercise of a warrant or the 
conversion of a convertible obligation, which warrant or obligation 
(including conversion privilege) was issued on or before May 10, 1990, 
then the issuer may choose to apply either the rules of Sec. 1.163-
5(c)(2)(i)(A) or Sec. 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(B), or the rules of Sec. 1.163-
5(c)(2)(i)(D). The issuer of an obligation may choose to apply either 
the rules of Sec. 1.163-5(c)(2)(i) (A) or (B), or the rules of Sec. 
1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D), to an obligation that is originally issued after 
May 10, 1990, and on or before September 7, 1990. However, any issuer 
choosing to apply the rules of Sec. 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(A) must apply the 
definition of United States person used for such purposes on December 
31, 1989, and must obtain any

[[Page 842]]

certificates that would have been required under applicable law on 
December 31, 1989.

[T.D. 8110, 51 FR 45456, Dec. 19, 1986, as amended by T.D. 8203, 53 FR 
17926, May 19, 1988; T.D. 8300, 55 FR 19624, May 10, 1990; T.D. 8734, 62 
FR 53416, Oct. 14, 1997]