[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 555-558]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
Procedure and Administration--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  1.7520-3  Limitation on the application of section 7520.

    (a) Internal Revenue Code sections to which section 7520 does not 
apply. Section 7520 of the Internal Revenue Code does not apply for 
purposes of--
    (1) Part I, subchapter D of subtitle A (section 401 et. seq.), 
relating to the income tax treatment of certain qualified plans. 
(However, section 7520 does apply to the estate and gift tax treatment 
of certain qualified plans and for purposes of determining excess 
accumulations under section 4980A);
    (2) Sections 72 and 101(b), relating to the income taxation of life 
insurance, endowment, and annuity contracts, unless otherwise provided 
for in the regulations under sections 72, 101, and 1011 (see, 
particularly, Sec. Sec.  1.101-2(e)(1)(iii)(b)(2), and 1.1011-2(c), 
Example 8);
    (3) Sections 83 and 451, unless otherwise provided for in the 
regulations under those sections;
    (4) Section 457, relating to the valuation of deferred compensation, 
unless otherwise provided for in the regulations under section 457;
    (5) Sections 3121(v) and 3306(r), relating to the valuation of 
deferred amounts, unless otherwise provided for in the regulations under 
those sections;
    (6) Section 6058, relating to valuation statements evidencing 
compliance with qualified plan requirements, unless otherwise provided 
for in the regulations under section 6058;
    (7) Section 7872, relating to income and gift taxation of interest-
free loans and loans with below-market interest rates, unless otherwise 
provided for in the regulations under section 7872; or
    (8) Section 2702(a)(2)(A), relating to the value of a nonqualified 
retained interest upon a transfer of an interest in trust to or for the 
benefit of a member of the transferor's family; and
    (9) Any other sections of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent 
provided by the Internal Revenue Service in revenue rulings or revenue 
procedures. (See Sec. Sec.  601.201 and 601.601 of this chapter).
    (b) Other limitations on the application of section 7520--(1) In 
general--(i) Ordinary beneficial interests. For purposes of this 
section:
    (A) An ordinary annuity interest is the right to receive a fixed 
dollar amount at the end of each year during one or more measuring lives 
or for some other defined period. A standard section 7520 annuity factor 
for an ordinary annuity interest represents the present worth of the 
right to receive $1.00 per year for a defined period, using the interest 
rate prescribed under section 7520 for the appropriate month. If an 
annuity interest is payable more often than annually or is payable at 
the beginning of each period, a special adjustment must be made in any 
computation with a standard section 7520 annuity factor.
    (B) An ordinary income interest is the right to receive the income 
from, or the use of, property during one or more measuring lives or for 
some other defined period. A standard section 7520 income factor for an 
ordinary income interest represents the present worth of the right to 
receive the use of $1.00 for a defined period, using the interest rate 
prescribed under section 7520 for the appropriate month.
    (C) An ordinary remainder or reversionary interest is the right to 
receive an interest in property at the end of one or more measuring 
lives or some other defined period. A standard section 7520 remainder 
factor for an ordinary remainder or reversionary interest represents the 
present worth of the

[[Page 556]]

right to receive $1.00 at the end of a defined period, using the 
interest rate prescribed under section 7520 for the appropriate month.
    (ii) Certain restricted beneficial interests. A restricted 
beneficial interest is an annuity, income, remainder, or reversionary 
interest that is subject to a contingency, power, or other restriction, 
whether the restriction is provided for by the terms of the trust, will, 
or other governing instrument or is caused by other circumstances. In 
general, a standard section 7520 annuity, income, or remainder factor 
may not be used to value a restricted beneficial interest. However, a 
special section 7520 annuity, income, or remainder factor may be used to 
value a restricted beneficial interest under some circumstances. See 
paragraph (b)(4) Example 2 of this section, which illustrates a 
situation where a special section 7520 actuarial factor is needed to 
take into account the shorter life expectancy of the terminally ill 
measuring life. See Sec.  1.7520-1(c) for requesting a special factor 
from the Internal Revenue Service.
    (iii) Other beneficial interests. If, under the provisions of this 
paragraph (b), the interest rate and mortality components prescribed 
under section 7520 are not applicable in determining the value of any 
annuity, income, remainder, or reversionary interest, the actual fair 
market value of the interest (determined without regard to section 7520) 
is based on all of the facts and circumstances if and to the extent 
permitted by the Internal Revenue Code provision applicable to the 
property interest.
    (2) Provisions of governing instrument and other limitations on 
source of payment--(i) Annuities. A standard section 7520 annuity factor 
may not be used to determine the present value of an annuity for a 
specified term of years or the life of one or more individuals unless 
the effect of the trust, will, or other governing instrument is to 
ensure that the annuity will be paid for the entire defined period. In 
the case of an annuity payable from a trust or other limited fund, the 
annuity is not considered payable for the entire defined period if, 
considering the applicable section 7520 interest rate at the valuation 
date of the transfer, the annuity is expected to exhaust the fund before 
the last possible annuity payment is made in full. For this purpose, it 
must be assumed that it is possible for each measuring life to survive 
until age 110. For example, for a fixed annuity payable annually at the 
end of each year, if the amount of the annuity payment (expressed as a 
percentage of the initial corpus) is less than or equal to the 
applicable section 7520 interest rate at the date of the transfer, the 
corpus is assumed to be sufficient to make all payments. If the 
percentage exceeds the applicable section 7520 interest rate and the 
annuity is for a definite term of years, multiply the annual annuity 
amount by the Table B term certain annuity factor, as described in Sec.  
1.7520-1(c)(1), for the number of years of the defined period. If the 
percentage exceeds the applicable section 7520 interest rate and the 
annuity is payable for the life of one or more individuals, multiply the 
annual annuity amount by the Table B annuity factor for 110 years minus 
the age of the youngest individual. If the result exceeds the limited 
fund, the annuity may exhaust the fund, and it will be necessary to 
calculate a special section 7520 annuity factor that takes into account 
the exhaustion of the trust or fund. This computation would be modified, 
if appropriate, to take into account annuities with different payment 
terms. See Sec.  25.7520-3(b)(2)(v) Example 5 of this chapter, which 
provides an illustration involving an annuity trust that is subject to 
exhaustion.
    (ii) Income and similar interests--(A) Beneficial enjoyment. A 
standard section 7520 income factor for an ordinary income interest may 
not be used to determine the present value of an income or similar 
interest in trust for a term of years or for the life of one or more 
individuals unless the effect of the trust, will, or other governing 
instrument is to provide the income beneficiary with that degree of 
beneficial enjoyment of the property during the term of the income 
interest that the principles of the law of trusts accord to a person who 
is unqualifiedly designated as the income beneficiary of a trust for a 
similar period of time. This

[[Page 557]]

degree of beneficial enjoyment is provided only if it was the 
transferor's intent, as manifested by the provisions of the governing 
instrument and the surrounding circumstances, that the trust provide an 
income interest for the income beneficiary during the specified period 
of time that is consistent with the value of the trust corpus and with 
its preservation. In determining whether a trust arrangement evidences 
that intention, the treatment required or permitted with respect to 
individual items must be considered in relation to the entire system 
provided for in the administration of the subject trust. Similarly, in 
determining the present value of the right to use tangible property 
(whether or not in trust) for one or more measuring lives or for some 
other specified period of time, the interest rate component prescribed 
under section 7520 and Sec.  1.7520-1 may not be used unless, during the 
specified period, the effect of the trust, will or other governing 
instrument is to provide the beneficiary with that degree of use, 
possession, and enjoyment of the property during the term of interest 
that applicable state law accords to a person who is unqualifiedly 
designated as a life tenant or term holder for a similar period of time.
    (B) Diversions of income and corpus. A standard section 7520 income 
factor for an ordinary income interest may not be used to value an 
income interest or similar interest in property for a term of years or 
for one or more measuring lives if--
    (1) The trust, will, or other governing instrument requires or 
permits the beneficiary's income or other enjoyment to be withheld, 
diverted, or accumulated for another person's benefit without the 
consent of the income beneficiary; or
    (2) The governing instrument requires or permits trust corpus to be 
withdrawn from the trust for another person's benefit during the income 
beneficiary's term of enjoyment without the consent of and 
accountability to the income beneficiary for such diversion.
    (iii) Remainder and reversionary interests. A standard section 7520 
remainder interest factor for an ordinary remainder or reversionary 
interest may not be used to determine the present value of a remainder 
or reversionary interest (whether in trust or otherwise) unless, 
consistent with the preservation and protection that the law of trusts 
would provide for a person who is unqualifiedly designated as the 
remainder beneficiary of a trust for a similar duration, the effect of 
the administrative and dispositive provisions for the interest or 
interests that precede the remainder or reversionary interest is to 
assure that the property will be adequately preserved and protected 
(e.g., from erosion, invasion, depletion, or damage) until the remainder 
or reversionary interest takes effect in possession and enjoyment. This 
degree of preservation and protection is provided only if it was the 
transferor's intent, as manifested by the provisions of the arrangement 
and the surrounding circumstances, that the entire disposition provide 
the remainder or reversionary beneficiary with an undiminished interest 
in the property transferred at the time of the termination of the prior 
interest.
    (iv) Pooled income fund interests. In general, pooled income funds 
are created and administered to achieve a special rate of return. A 
beneficial interest in a pooled income fund is not ordinarily valued 
using a standard section 7520 income or remainder interest factor. The 
present value of a beneficial interest in a pooled income fund is 
determined according to rules and special remainder factors prescribed 
in Sec.  1.642(c)-6 and, when applicable, the rules set forth in 
paragraph (b)(3) of this section, if the individual who is the measuring 
life is terminally ill at the time of the transfer.
    (3) Mortality component. The mortality component prescribed under 
section 7520 may not be used to determine the present value of an 
annuity, income interest, remainder interest, or reversionary interest 
if an individual who is a measuring life is terminally ill at the time 
of the transaction. For purposes of this paragraph (b)(3), an individual 
who is known to have an incurable illness or other deteriorating 
physical condition is considered terminally ill if there is at least a 
50 percent probability that the individual will die

[[Page 558]]

within 1 year. However, if the individual survives for eighteen months 
or longer after the date of the transaction, that individual shall be 
presumed to have not been terminally ill at the time of the transaction 
unless the contrary is established by clear and convincing evidence.
    (4) Examples. The provisions of this paragraph (b) are illustrated 
by the following examples:
    Example 1. Annuity funded with unproductive property. The taxpayer 
transfers corporation stock worth $1,000,000 to a trust. The trust 
provides for a 6 percent ($60,000 per year) annuity in cash or other 
property to be paid to a charitable organization for 25 years and for 
the remainder to be distributed to the donor's child. The trust 
specifically authorizes, but does not require, the trustee to retain the 
shares of stock. The section 7520 interest rate for the month of the 
transfer is 8.2 percent. The corporation has paid no dividends on this 
stock during the past 5 years, and there is no indication that this 
policy will change in the near future. Under applicable state law, the 
corporation is considered to be a sound investment that satisfies 
fiduciary standards. Therefore, the trust's sole investment in this 
corporation is not expected to adversely affect the interest of either 
the annuitant or the remainder beneficiary. Considering the 6 percent 
annuity payout rate and the 8.2 percent section 7520 interest rate, the 
trust corpus is considered sufficient to pay this annuity for the entire 
25-year term of the trust, or even indefinitely. Although it appears 
that neither beneficiary would be able to compel the trustee to make the 
trust corpus produce investment income, the annuity interest in this 
case is considered to be an ordinary annuity interest, and the standard 
section 7520 annuity factor may be used to determine the present value 
of the annuity. In this case, the section 7520 annuity factor would 
represent the right to receive $1.00 per year for a term of 25 years.
    Example 2. Terminal illness. The taxpayer transfers property worth 
$1,000,000 to a charitable remainder unitrust described in section 
664(d)(2) and Sec.  1.664-3. The trust provides for a fixed-percentage 7 
percent unitrust benefit (each annual payment is equal to 7 percent of 
the trust assets as valued at the beginning of each year) to be paid 
quarterly to an individual beneficiary for life and for the remainder to 
be distributed to a charitable organization. At the time the trust is 
created, the individual beneficiary is age 60 and has been diagnosed 
with an incurable illness and there is at least a 50 percent probability 
of the individual dying within 1 year. Assuming the presumption in 
paragraph (b)(3) of this section does not apply, because there is at 
least a 50 percent probability that this beneficiary will die within 1 
year, the standard section 7520 unitrust remainder factor for a person 
age 60 from the valuation tables may not be used to determine the 
present value of the charitable remainder interest. Instead, a special 
unitrust remainder factor must be computed that is based on the section 
7520 interest rate and that takes into account the projection of the 
individual beneficiary's actual life expectancy.

    (5) Additional limitations. Section 7520 does not apply to the 
extent as may otherwise be provided by the Commissioner.
    (c) Effective date. Section 1.7520-3(a) is effective as of May 1, 
1989. The provisions of paragraph (b) of this section are effective with 
respect to transactions after December 13, 1995.

[T.D. 8540, 59 FR 30150, June 10, 1994, as amended by T.D. 8630, 60 FR 
63915, Dec. 13, 1995]