[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 13]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR]

[Page 498-506]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
Procedure and Administration--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  1.6662-6  Transactions between persons described in section 482 
and net section 482 transfer price adjustments.

    (a) In general--(1) Purpose and scope. Pursuant to section 6662(e) a 
penalty is imposed on any underpayment attributable to a substantial 
valuation misstatement pertaining to either a transaction between 
persons described in section 482 (the transactional penalty) or a net 
section 482 transfer price adjustment (the net adjustment penalty). The 
penalty is equal to 20 percent of the underpayment of tax attributable 
to that substantial valuation misstatement. Pursuant to section 6662(h) 
the penalty is increased to 40 percent of the underpayment in the case 
of a gross valuation misstatement with respect to either penalty. 
Paragraph (b) of this section provides specific rules related to the 
transactional penalty. Paragraph (c) of this section provides specific 
rules related to the net adjustment penalty, and paragraph (d) of this 
section describes amounts that will be excluded for purposes of 
calculating the net adjustment penalty. Paragraph (e) of this section 
sets forth special rules in the case of carrybacks and carryovers. 
Paragraph (f) of this section provides coordination rules between 
penalties. Paragraph (g) of this section provides the effective date of 
this section.
    (2) Reported results. Whether an underpayment is attributable to a 
substantial or gross valuation misstatement must be determined from the 
results of controlled transactions that are reported on an income tax 
return, regardless of whether the amount reported differs from the 
transaction price initially reflected in the taxpayer's books and 
records. The results of controlled transactions that are reported on an 
amended return will be used only if the amended return is filed before 
the Internal Revenue Service has contacted the taxpayer regarding the 
corresponding original return. A written statement furnished by a 
taxpayer subject to the Coordinated Examination Program or a written 
statement furnished by the taxpayer when electing Accelerated Issue 
Resolution or similar procedures will be considered an amended return 
for purposes of this section if it satisfies either the requirements of 
a qualified amended return for purposes of Sec.  1.6664-2(c)(3) or such 
requirements as the Commissioner may prescribe by revenue procedure. In 
the case of a taxpayer that is a member of a consolidated group, the 
rules of this paragraph (a)(2) apply to the consolidated income tax 
return of the group.
    (3) Identical terms used in the section 482 regulations. For 
purposes of this section, the terms used in this section shall have the 
same meaning as identical terms used in regulations under section 482.
    (b) The transactional penalty--(1) Substantial valuation 
misstatement. In the case of any transaction between related persons, 
there is a substantial valuation misstatement if the price for any 
property or services (or for the use of property) claimed on any return 
is 200 percent or more (or 50 percent or less) of the amount determined 
under section 482 to be the correct price.
    (2) Gross valuation misstatement. In the case of any transaction 
between related persons, there is a gross valuation misstatement if the 
price for any property or services (or for the use of property) claimed 
on any return is 400 percent or more (or 25 percent or less) of the 
amount determined under section 482 to be the correct price.
    (3) Reasonable cause and good faith. Pursuant to section 6664(c), 
the transactional penalty will not be imposed on any portion of an 
underpayment with respect to which the requirements of Sec.  1.6664-4 
are met. In applying the provisions of Sec.  1.6664-4 in a case in which 
the taxpayer has relied on professional analysis in determining its 
transfer

[[Page 499]]

pricing, whether the professional is an employee of, or related to, the 
taxpayer is not determinative in evaluating whether the taxpayer 
reasonably relied in good faith on advice. A taxpayer that meets the 
requirements of paragraph (d) of this section with respect to an 
allocation under section 482 will be treated as having established that 
there was reasonable cause and good faith with respect to that item for 
purposes of Sec.  1.6664-4. If a substantial or gross valuation 
misstatement under the transactional penalty also constitutes (or is 
part of) a substantial or gross valuation misstatement under the net 
adjustment penalty, then the rules of paragraph (d) of this section (and 
not the rules of Sec.  1.6664-4) will be applied to determine whether 
the adjustment is excluded from calculation of the net section 482 
adjustment.
    (c) Net adjustment penalty--(1) Net section 482 adjustment. For 
purposes of this section, the term net section 482 adjustment means the 
sum of all increases in the taxable income of a taxpayer for a taxable 
year resulting from allocations under section 482 (determined without 
regard to any amount carried to such taxable year from another taxable 
year) less any decreases in taxable income attributable to collateral 
adjustments as described in Sec.  1.482-1(g). For purposes of this 
section, amounts that meet the requirements of paragraph (d) of this 
section will be excluded from the calculation of the net section 482 
adjustment. Substantial and gross valuation misstatements that are 
subject to the transactional penalty under paragraph (b) (1) or (2) of 
this section are included in determining the amount of the net section 
482 adjustment. See paragraph (f) of this section for coordination rules 
between penalties.
    (2) Substantial valuation misstatement. There is a substantial 
valuation misstatement if a net section 482 adjustment is greater than 
the lesser of 5 million dollars or ten percent of gross receipts.
    (3) Gross valuation misstatement. There is a gross valuation 
misstatement if a net section 482 adjustment is greater than the lesser 
of 20 million dollars or twenty percent of gross receipts.
    (4) Setoff allocation rule. If a taxpayer meets the requirements of 
paragraph (d) of this section with respect to some, but not all of the 
allocations made under section 482, then for purposes of determining the 
net section 482 adjustment, setoffs, as taken into account under Sec.  
1.482-1(g)(4), must be applied ratably against all such allocations. The 
following example illustrates the principle of this paragraph (c)(4):

    Example. (i) The Internal Revenue Service makes the following 
section 482 adjustments for the taxable year:

(1) Attributable to an increase in gross income because of an          $
 increase in royalty payments........................................  9
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
(2) Attributable to an increase in sales proceeds due to a decrease    6
 in the profit margin of a related buyer.............................  ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
(3) Because of a setoff under Sec.   1.482-1(g)(4)...................  (
                                                                       5
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       )
                                                                      --
    Total section 482 adjustments....................................  1
                                                                       0
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0


    (ii) The taxpayer meets the requirements of paragraph (d) with 
respect to adjustment number one, but not with respect to adjustment 
number two. The five million dollar setoff will be allocated ratably 
against the nine million dollar adjustment ($9,000,000/
$15,000,000x$5,000,000=$3,000,000) and the six million dollar adjustment 
($6,000,000/$15,000,000x$5,000,000=$2,000,000). Accordingly, in 
determining the net section 482 adjustment, the nine million dollar 
adjustment is reduced to six million dollars ($9,000,000-$3,000,000) and 
the six million dollar adjustment is reduced to four million dollars 
($6,000,000-$2,000,000). Therefore, the net section 482 adjustment 
equals four million dollars.

    (5) Gross receipts. For purposes of this section, gross receipts 
must be computed pursuant to the rules contained in Sec.  1.448-
1T(f)(2)(iv), as adjusted to reflect allocations under section 482.
    (6) Coordination with reasonable cause exception under section 
6664(c). Pursuant to section 6662(e)(3)(D), a taxpayer will be treated 
as having reasonable cause under section 6664(c) for any portion of an 
underpayment attributable to a net section 482 adjustment only if the 
taxpayer meets the requirements of paragraph (d) of this section with 
respect to that portion.
    (7) Examples. The principles of this paragraph (c) are illustrated 
by the following examples:


[[Page 500]]


    Example 1. (i) The Internal Revenue Service makes the following 
section 482 adjustments for the taxable year:

(1) Attributable to an increase in gross income because of    $2,000,000
 an increase in royalty payments...........................
(2) Attributable to an increase in sales proceeds due to a     2,500,000
 decrease in the profit margin of a related buyer..........
(3) Attributable to a decrease in the cost of goods sold       2,000,000
 because of a decrease in the cost plus mark-up of a
 related seller............................................
                                                            ------------
    Total section 482 adjustments..........................    6,500,000


    (ii) None of the adjustments are excluded under paragraph (d) of 
this section. The net section 482 adjustment ($6.5 million) is greater 
than five million dollars. Therefore, there is a substantial valuation 
misstatement.
    Example 2. (i) The Internal Revenue Service makes the following 
section 482 adjustments for the taxable year:

(1) Attributable to an increase in gross income because of an          $
 increase in royalty payments........................................  1
                                                                       1
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
(2) Attributable to an increase in sales proceeds due to a decrease    2
 in the profit margin of a related buyer.............................  ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
(3) Because of a setoff under Sec.   1.482-1(g)(4)...................  (
                                                                       9
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       )
                                                                      --
    Total section 482 adjustments....................................  4
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       ,
                                                                       0
                                                                       0
                                                                       0


    (ii) The taxpayer has gross receipts of sixty million dollars after 
taking into account all section 482 adjustments. None of the adjustments 
are excluded under paragraph (d) of this section. The net section 482 
adjustment ($4 million) is less than the lesser of five million dollars 
or ten percent of gross receipts ($60 millionx10%=$6 million). 
Therefore, there is no substantial valuation misstatement.
    Example 3. (i) The Internal Revenue Service makes the following 
section 482 adjustments to the income of an affiliated group that files 
a consolidated return for the taxable year:

(1) Attributable to Member A...............................   $1,500,000
(2) Attributable to Member B...............................    1,000,000
(3) Attributable to Member C...............................    2,000,000
                                                            ------------
    Total section 482 adjustments..........................    4,500,000


    (ii) Members A, B, and C have gross receipts of 20 million dollars, 
12 million dollars, and 11 million dollars, respectively. Thus, the 
total gross receipts are 43 million dollars. None of the adjustments are 
excluded under paragraph (d) of this section. The net section 482 
adjustment ($4.5 million) is greater than the lesser of five million 
dollars or ten percent of gross receipts ($43 million x 10% = $4.3 
million). Therefore, there is a substantial valuation misstatement.
    Example 4. (i) The Internal Revenue Service makes the following 
section 482 adjustments to the income of an affiliated group that files 
a consolidated return for the taxable year:

(1) Attributable to Member A...............................   $1,500,000
(2) Attributable to Member B...............................    3,000,000
(3) Attributable to Member C...............................    2,500,000
                                                            ------------
    Total section 482 adjustments..........................    7,000,000


    (ii) Members A, B, and C have gross receipts of 20 million dollars, 
35 million dollars, and 40 million dollars, respectively. Thus, the 
total gross receipts are 95 million dollars. None of the adjustments are 
excluded under paragraph (d) of this section. The net section 482 
adjustment (7 million dollars) is greater than the lesser of five 
million dollars or ten percent of gross receipts ($95 million x 10% = 
$9.5 million). Therefore, there is a substantial valuation misstatement.
    Example 5. (i) The Internal Revenue Service makes the following 
section 482 adjustments to the income of an affiliated group that files 
a consolidated return for the taxable year:

(1) Attributable to Member A...............................   $2,000,000
(2) Attributable to Member B...............................    1,000,000
(3) Attributable to Member C...............................    1,500,000
                                                            ------------
    Total section 482 adjustments..........................    4,500,000


    (ii) Members A, B, and C have gross receipts of 10 million dollars, 
35 million dollars, and 40 million dollars, respectively. Thus, the 
total gross receipts are 85 million dollars. None of the adjustments are 
excluded under paragraph (d) of this section. The net section 482 
adjustment ($4.5 million) is less than the lesser of five million 
dollars or ten percent of gross receipts ($85 million x 10%=$8.5 
million). Therefore, there is no substantial valuation misstatement even 
though individual member A's adjustment ($2 million) is greater than ten 
percent of its individual gross receipts ($10 million x 10%=$1 million).

    (d) Amounts excluded from net section 482 adjustments--(1) In 
general. An amount is excluded from the calculation of a net section 482 
adjustment if the requirements of paragraph (d) (2), (3), or (4) of this 
section are met with respect to that amount.
    (2) Application of a specified section 482 method--(i) In general. 
An amount is excluded from the calculation of a net section 482 
adjustment if the taxpayer

[[Page 501]]

establishes that both the specified method and documentation 
requirements of this paragraph (d)(2) are met with respect to that 
amount. For purposes of this paragraph (d), a method will be considered 
a specified method if it is described in the regulations under section 
482 and the method applies to transactions of the type under review. A 
qualified cost sharing arrangement is considered a specified method. See 
Sec.  1.482-7. An unspecified method is not considered a specified 
method. See Sec. Sec.  1.482-3(e) and 1.482-4(d).
    (ii) Specified method requirement. The specified method requirement 
is met if the taxpayer selects and applies a specified method in a 
reasonable manner. The taxpayer's selection and application of a 
specified method is reasonable only if, given the available data and the 
applicable pricing methods, the taxpayer reasonably concluded that the 
method (and its application of that method) provided the most reliable 
measure of an arm's length result under the principles of the best 
method rule of Sec.  1.482-1(c). A taxpayer can reasonably conclude that 
a specified method provided the most reliable measure of an arm's length 
result only if it has made a reasonable effort to evaluate the potential 
applicability of the other specified methods in a manner consistent with 
the principles of the best method rule. The extent of this evaluation 
generally will depend on the nature of the available data, and it may 
vary from case to case and from method to method. This evaluation may 
not entail an exhaustive analysis or detailed application of each 
method. Rather, after a reasonably thorough search for relevant data, 
the taxpayer should consider which method would provide the most 
reliable measure of an arm's length result given that data. The nature 
of the available data may enable the taxpayer to conclude reasonably 
that a particular specified method provides a more reliable measure of 
an arm's length result than one or more of the other specified methods, 
and accordingly no further consideration of such other specified methods 
is needed. Further, it is not necessary for a taxpayer to conclude that 
the selected specified method provides a more reliable measure of an 
arm's length result than any unspecified method. For examples 
illustrating the selection of a specified method consistent with this 
paragraph (d)(2)(ii), see Sec.  1.482-8. Whether the taxpayer's 
conclusion was reasonable must be determined from all the facts and 
circumstances. The factors relevant to this determination include the 
following:
    (A) The experience and knowledge of the taxpayer, including all 
members of the taxpayer's controlled group.
    (B) The extent to which reliable data was available and the data was 
analyzed in a reasonable manner. A taxpayer must engage in a reasonably 
thorough search for the data necessary to determine which method should 
be selected and how it should be applied. In determining the scope of a 
reasonably thorough search for data, the expense of additional efforts 
to locate new data may be weighed against the likelihood of finding 
additional data that would improve the reliability of the results and 
the amount by which any new data would change the taxpayer's taxable 
income. Furthermore, a taxpayer must use the most current reliable data 
that is available before the end of the taxable year in question. 
Although the taxpayer is not required to search for relevant data after 
the end of the taxable year, the taxpayer must maintain as a principal 
document described in paragraph (d)(2)(iii)(B)(9) of this section any 
relevant data it obtains after the end of the taxable year but before 
the return is filed, if that data would help determine whether the 
taxpayer has reported its true taxable income.
    (C) The extent to which the taxpayer followed the relevant 
requirements set forth in regulations under section 482 with respect to 
the application of the method.
    (D) The extent to which the taxpayer reasonably relied on a study or 
other analysis performed by a professional qualified to conduct such a 
study or analysis, including an attorney, accountant, or economist. 
Whether the professional is an employee of, or related to, the taxpayer 
is not determinative in evaluating the reliability of that study or 
analysis, as long as the

[[Page 502]]

study or analysis is objective, thorough, and well reasoned. Such 
reliance is reasonable only if the taxpayer disclosed to the 
professional all relevant information regarding the controlled 
transactions at issue. A study or analysis that was reasonably relied 
upon in a prior year may reasonably be relied upon in the current year 
if the relevant facts and circumstances have not changed or if the study 
or analysis has been appropriately modified to reflect any change in 
facts and circumstances.
    (E) If the taxpayer attempted to determine an arm's length result by 
using more than one uncontrolled comparable, whether the taxpayer 
arbitrarily selected a result that corresponds to an extreme point in 
the range of results derived from the uncontrolled comparables. Such a 
result generally would not likely be closest to an arm's length result. 
If the uncontrolled comparables that the taxpayer uses to determine an 
arm's length result are described in Sec.  1.482-1(e)(2)(iii)(B), one 
reasonable method of selecting a point in the range would be that 
provided in Sec.  1.482-1(e)(3).
    (F) The extent to which the taxpayer relied on a transfer pricing 
methodology developed and applied pursuant to an Advance Pricing 
Agreement for a prior taxable year, or specifically approved by the 
Internal Revenue Service pursuant to a transfer pricing audit of the 
transactions at issue for a prior taxable year, provided that the 
taxpayer applied the approved method reasonably and consistently with 
its prior application, and the facts and circumstances surrounding the 
use of the method have not materially changed since the time of the 
IRS's action, or if the facts and circumstances have changed in a way 
that materially affects the reliability of the results, the taxpayer 
makes appropriate adjustments to reflect such changes.
    (G) The size of a net transfer pricing adjustment in relation to the 
size of the controlled transaction out of which the adjustment arose.
    (iii) Documentation requirement--(A) In general. The documentation 
requirement of this paragraph (d)(2)(iii) is met if the taxpayer 
maintains sufficient documentation to establish that the taxpayer 
reasonably concluded that, given the available data and the applicable 
pricing methods, the method (and its application of that method) 
provided the most reliable measure of an arm's length result under the 
principles of the best method rule in Sec.  1.482-1(c), and provides 
that documentation to the Internal Revenue Service within 30 days of a 
request for it in connection with an examination of the taxable year to 
which the documentation relates. With the exception of the documentation 
described in paragraphs (d)(2)(iii)(B) (9) and (10) of this section, 
that documentation must be in existence when the return is filed. The 
district director may, in his discretion, excuse a minor or inadvertent 
failure to provide required documents, but only if the taxpayer has made 
a good faith effort to comply, and the taxpayer promptly remedies the 
failure when it becomes known. The required documentation is divided 
into two categories, principal documents and background documents as 
described in paragraphs (d)(2)(iii) (B) and (C) of this section.
    (B) Principal documents. The principal documents should accurately 
and completely describe the basic transfer pricing analysis conducted by 
the taxpayer. The documentation must include the following--
    (1) An overview of the taxpayer's business, including an analysis of 
the economic and legal factors that affect the pricing of its property 
or services;
    (2) A description of the taxpayer's organizational structure 
(including an organization chart) covering all related parties engaged 
in transactions potentially relevant under section 482, including 
foreign affiliates whose transactions directly or indirectly affect the 
pricing of property or services in the United States;
    (3) Any documentation explicitly required by the regulations under 
section 482;
    (4) A description of the method selected and an explanation of why 
that method was selected;
    (5) A description of the alternative methods that were considered 
and an explanation of why they were not selected;
    (6) A description of the controlled transactions (including the 
terms of

[[Page 503]]

sale) and any internal data used to analyze those transactions. For 
example, if a profit split method is applied, the documentation must 
include a schedule providing the total income, costs, and assets (with 
adjustments for different accounting practices and currencies) for each 
controlled taxpayer participating in the relevant business activity and 
detailing the allocations of such items to that activity;
    (7) A description of the comparables that were used, how 
comparability was evaluated, and what (if any) adjustments were made;
    (8) An explanation of the economic analysis and projections relied 
upon in developing the method. For example, if a profit split method is 
applied, the taxpayer must provide an explanation of the analysis 
undertaken to determine how the profits would be split;
    (9) A description or summary of any relevant data that the taxpayer 
obtains after the end of the tax year and before filing a tax return, 
which would help determine if a taxpayer selected and applied a 
specified method in a reasonable manner; and
    (10) A general index of the principal and background documents and a 
description of the recordkeeping system used for cataloging and 
accessing those documents.
    (C) Background documents. The assumptions, conclusions, and 
positions contained in principal documents ordinarily will be based on, 
and supported by, additional background documents. Documents that 
support the principal documentation may include the documents listed in 
Sec.  1.6038A-3(c) that are not otherwise described in paragraph 
(d)(2)(iii)(B) of this section. Every document listed in those 
regulations may not be relevant to pricing determinations under the 
taxpayer's specific facts and circumstances and, therefore, each of 
those documents need not be maintained in all circumstances. Moreover, 
other documents not listed in those regulations may be necessary to 
establish that the taxpayer's method was selected and applied in the way 
that provided the most reliable measure of an arm's length result under 
the principles of the best method rule in Sec.  1.482-1(c). Background 
documents need not be provided to the Internal Revenue Service in 
response to a request for principal documents. If the Internal Revenue 
Service subsequently requests background documents, a taxpayer must 
provide that documentation to the Internal Revenue Service within 30 
days of the request. However, the district director may, in his 
discretion, extend the period for producing the background 
documentation.
    (3) Application of an unspecified method--(i) In general. An 
adjustment is excluded from the calculation of a net section 482 
adjustment if the taxpayer establishes that both the unspecified method 
and documentation requirements of this paragraph (d)(3) are met with 
respect to that amount.
    (ii) Unspecified method requirement--(A) In general. If a method 
other than a specified method was applied, the unspecified method 
requirement is met if the requirements of paragraph (d)(3)(ii) (B) or 
(C) of this section, as appropriate, are met.
    (B) Specified method potentially applicable. If the transaction is 
of a type for which methods are specified in the regulations under 
section 482, then a taxpayer will be considered to have met the 
unspecified method requirement if the taxpayer reasonably concludes, 
given the available data, that none of the specified methods was likely 
to provide a reliable measure of an arm's length result, and that it 
selected and applied an unspecified method in a way that would likely 
provide a reliable measure of an arm's length result. A taxpayer can 
reasonably conclude that no specified method was likely to provide a 
reliable measure of an arm's length result only if it has made a 
reasonable effort to evaluate the potential applicability of the 
specified methods in a manner consistent with the principles of the best 
method rule. However, it is not necessary for a taxpayer to conclude 
that the selected method provides a more reliable measure of an arm's 
length result than any other unspecified method. Whether the taxpayer's 
conclusion was reasonable must be determined from all the facts and 
circumstances. The factors relevant to this conclusion include those set 
forth in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section.

[[Page 504]]

    (C) No specified method applicable. If the transaction is of a type 
for which no methods are specified in the regulations under section 482, 
then a taxpayer will be considered to have met the unspecified method 
requirement if it selected and applied an unspecified method in a 
reasonable manner. For purposes of this paragraph (d)(3)(ii)(C), a 
taxpayer's selection and application is reasonable if the taxpayer 
reasonably concludes that the method (and its application of that 
method) provided the most reliable measure of an arm's length result 
under the principles of the best method rule in Sec.  1.482-1(c). 
However, it is not necessary for a taxpayer to conclude that the 
selected method provides a more reliable measure of an arm's length 
result than any other unspecified method. Whether the taxpayer's 
conclusion was reasonable must be determined from all the facts and 
circumstances. The factors relevant to this conclusion include those set 
forth in paragraph (d)(2)(ii) of this section.
    (iii) Documentation requirement--(A) In general. The documentation 
requirement of this paragraph (d)(3) is met if the taxpayer maintains 
sufficient documentation to establish that the unspecified method 
requirement of paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section is met and provides 
that documentation to the Internal Revenue Service within 30 days of a 
request for it. That documentation must be in existence when the return 
is filed. The district director may, in his discretion, excuse a minor 
or inadvertent failure to provide required documents, but only if the 
taxpayer has made a good faith effort to comply, and the taxpayer 
promptly remedies the failure when it becomes known.
    (B) Principal and background documents. See paragraphs (d)(2)(iii) 
(B) and (C) of this section for rules regarding these two categories of 
required documentation.
    (4) Certain foreign to foreign transactions. For purposes of 
calculating a net section 482 adjustment, any increase in taxable income 
resulting from an allocation under section 482 that is attributable to 
any controlled transaction solely between foreign corporations will be 
excluded unless the treatment of that transaction affects the 
determination of either corporation's income from sources within the 
United States or taxable income effectively connected with the conduct 
of a trade or business within the United States.
    (5) Special rule. If the regular tax (as defined in section 55(c)) 
imposed on the taxpayer is determined by reference to an amount other 
than taxable income, that amount shall be treated as the taxable income 
of the taxpayer for purposes of section 6662(e)(3). Accordingly, for 
taxpayers whose regular tax is determined by reference to an amount 
other than taxable income, the increase in that amount resulting from 
section 482 allocations is the taxpayer's net section 482 adjustment.
    (6) Examples. The principles of this paragraph (d) are illustrated 
by the following examples:

    Example 1. (i) The Internal Revenue Service makes the following 
section 482 adjustments for the taxable year:

(1) Attributable to an increase in gross income because of    $9,000,000
 an increase in royalty payments...........................
(2) Not a 200 percent or 400 percent adjustment............    2,000,000
(3) Attributable to a decrease in the cost of goods sold       9,000,000
 because of a decrease in the cost plus mark-up of a
 related seller............................................
                                                            ------------
    Total section 482 adjustments..........................   20,000,000


    (ii) The taxpayer has gross receipts of 75 million dollars after all 
section 482 adjustments. The taxpayer establishes that for adjustments 
number one and three, it applied a transfer pricing method specified in 
section 482, the selection and application of the method was reasonable, 
it documented the pricing analysis, and turned that documentation over 
to the IRS within 30 days of a request. Accordingly, eighteen million 
dollars is excluded from the calculation of the net section 482 
adjustment. Because the net section 482 adjustment is two million 
dollars, there is no substantial valuation misstatement.
    Example 2. (i) The Internal Revenue Service makes the following 
section 482 adjustments for the taxable year:

(1) Attributable to an increase in gross income because of    $9,000,000
 an increase in royalty payments...........................
(2) Attributable to an adjustment that is 200 percent or       2,000,000
 more of the correct section 482 price.....................

[[Page 505]]


(3) Attributable to a decrease in the cost of goods sold       9,000,000
 because of a decrease in the cost plus mark-up of a
 related seller............................................
                                                            ------------
    Total section 482 adjustments..........................   20,000,000


    (ii) The taxpayer has gross receipts of 75 million dollars after all 
section 482 adjustments. The taxpayer establishes that for adjustments 
number one and three, it applied a transfer pricing method specified in 
section 482, the selection and application of the method was reasonable, 
it documented that analysis, and turned the documentation over to the 
IRS within 30 days. Accordingly, eighteen million dollars is excluded 
from the calculation of the section 482 transfer pricing adjustments for 
purposes of applying the five million dollar or 10% of gross receipts 
test. Because the net section 482 adjustment is only two million 
dollars, the taxpayer is not subject to the net adjustment penalty. 
However, the taxpayer may be subject to the transactional penalty on the 
underpayment of tax attributable to the two million dollar adjustment.
    Example 3. CFC1 and CFC2 are controlled foreign corporations within 
the meaning of section 957. Applying section 482, the IRS disallows a 
deduction for 25 million dollars of the interest that CFC1 paid to CFC2, 
which results in CFC1's U.S. shareholder having a subpart F inclusion in 
excess of five million dollars. No other adjustments under section 482 
are made with respect to the controlled taxpayers. However, the increase 
has no effect upon the determination of CFC1's or CFC2's income from 
sources within the United States or taxable income effectively connected 
with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States. 
Accordingly, there is no substantial valuation misstatement.

    (e) Special rules in the case of carrybacks and carryovers. If there 
is a substantial or gross valuation misstatement for a taxable year that 
gives rise to a loss, deduction or credit that is carried to another 
taxable year, the transactional penalty and the net adjustment penalty 
will be imposed on any resulting underpayment of tax in that other 
taxable year. In determining whether there is a substantial or gross 
valuation misstatement for a taxable year, no amount carried from 
another taxable year shall be included. The following example 
illustrates the principle of this paragraph (e):

    Example. The Internal Revenue Service makes a section 482 adjustment 
of six million dollars in taxable year 1, no portion of which is 
excluded under paragraph (d) of this section. The taxpayer's income tax 
return for year 1 reported a loss of three million dollars, which was 
carried to taxpayer's year 2 income tax return and used to reduce income 
taxes otherwise due with respect to year 2. A determination is made that 
the six million dollar allocation constitutes a substantial valuation 
misstatement, and a penalty is imposed on the underpayment of tax in 
year 1 attributable to the substantial valuation misstatement and on the 
underpayment of tax in year 2 attributable to the disallowance of the 
net operating loss in year 2. For purposes of determining whether there 
is a substantial or gross valuation misstatement for year 2, the three 
million dollar reduction of the net operating loss will not be added to 
any section 482 adjustments made with respect to year 2.

    (f) Rules for coordinating between the transactional penalty and the 
net adjustment penalty--(1) Coordination of a net section 482 adjustment 
subject to the net adjustment penalty and a gross valuation misstatement 
subject to the transactional penalty. In determining whether a net 
section 482 adjustment exceeds five million dollars or 10 percent of 
gross receipts, an adjustment attributable to a substantial or gross 
valuation misstatement that is subject to the transactional penalty will 
be taken into account. If the net section 482 adjustment exceeds five 
million dollars or ten percent of gross receipts, any portion of such 
amount that is attributable to a gross valuation misstatement will be 
subject to the transactional penalty at the forty percent rate, but will 
not also be subject to net adjustment penalty at a twenty percent rate. 
The remaining amount is subject to the net adjustment penalty at the 
twenty percent rate, even if such amount is less than the lesser of five 
million dollars or ten percent of gross receipts.
    (2) Coordination of net section 482 adjustment subject to the net 
adjustment penalty and substantial valuation misstatements subject to 
the transactional penalty. If the net section 482 adjustment exceeds 
twenty million dollars or 20 percent of gross receipts, the entire 
amount of the adjustment is subject to the net adjustment penalty at a 
forty percent rate. No portion of the adjustment is subject to the 
transactional penalty at a twenty percent rate.

[[Page 506]]

    (3) Examples. The following examples illustrate the principles of 
this paragraph (f):

    Example 1. (i) Applying section 482, the Internal Revenue Service 
makes the following adjustments for the taxable year:

(1) Attributable to an adjustment that is 400 percent or      $2,000,000
 more of the correct section 482 arm's length result.......
(2) Not a 200 or 400 percent adjustment....................    2,500,000
                                                            ------------
    Total..................................................    4,500,000


    (ii) The taxpayer has gross receipts of 75 million dollars after all 
section 482 adjustments. None of the adjustments is excluded under 
paragraph (d) (Amounts excluded from net section 482 adjustments) of 
this section, in determining the five million dollar or 10% of gross 
receipts test under section 6662(e)(1)(B)(ii). The net section 482 
adjustment (4.5 million dollars) is less than the lesser of five million 
dollars or ten percent of gross receipts ($75 million x 10% = $7.5 
million). Thus, there is no substantial valuation misstatement. However, 
the two million dollar adjustment is attributable to a gross valuation 
misstatement. Accordingly, the taxpayer may be subject to a penalty, 
under section 6662(h), equal to 40 percent of the underpayment of tax 
attributable to the gross valuation misstatement of two million dollars. 
The 2.5 million dollar adjustment is not subject to a penalty under 
section 6662(b)(3).
    Example 2. The facts are the same as in Example 1, except the 
taxpayer has gross receipts of 40 million dollars. The net section 482 
adjustment ($4.5 million) is greater than the lesser of five million 
dollars or ten percent of gross receipts ($40 million x 10% = $4 
million). Thus, the five million dollar or 10% of gross receipts test 
has been met. The two million dollar adjustment is attributable to a 
gross valuation misstatement. Accordingly, the taxpayer is subject to a 
penalty, under section 6662(h), equal to 40 percent of the underpayment 
of tax attributable to the gross valuation misstatement of two million 
dollars. The 2.5 million dollar adjustment is subject to a penalty under 
sections 6662(a) and 6662(b)(3), equal to 20 percent of the underpayment 
of tax attributable to the substantial valuation misstatement.
    Example 3. (i) Applying section 482, the Internal Revenue Service 
makes the following transfer pricing adjustments for the taxable year:

(1) Attributable to an adjustment that is 400 percent or      $6,000,000
 more of the correct section 482 arm's length result.......
(2) Not a 200 or 400 percent adjustment....................   15,000,000
                                                            ------------
    Total..................................................   21,000,000


    (ii) None of the adjustments are excluded under paragraph (d) 
(Amounts excluded from net section 482 adjustments) in determining the 
twenty million dollar or 20% of gross receipts test under section 
6662(h). The net section 482 adjustment (21 million dollars) is greater 
than twenty million dollars and thus constitutes a gross valuation 
misstatement. Accordingly, the total adjustment is subject to the net 
adjustment penalty equal to 40 percent of the underpayment of tax 
attributable to the 21 million dollar gross valuation misstatement. The 
six million dollar adjustment will not be separately included for 
purposes of any additional penalty under section 6662.

    (g) Effective date. This section is effective February 9, 1996. 
However, taxpayers may elect to apply this section to all open taxable 
years beginning after December 31, 1993.

[T.D. 8656, 61 FR 4880, Feb. 9, 1996; T.D. 8656, 61 FR 14248, Apr. 1, 
1996; 62 FR 46877, Sept. 5, 1997]