[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 10]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.954-6]

[Page 302-310]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.954-6  Foreign base company shipping income.

    (a) Scope--(1) In general. This section prescribes rules for 
determining foreign base company shipping income under the provisions of 
section 954(f), as amended by the Tax Reduction Act of 1975.
    (2) Effective date. (i) The rules prescribed in this section apply 
to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after December 31, 
1975, and to taxable years of United States shareholders (as defined in 
section 951 (b)) within which or with which such taxable years of such 
foreign corporations end.
    (ii) Except as described in paragraph (b)(1)(viii) of this section, 
foreign base company shipping income does not include amounts earned by 
a foreign corporation in a taxable year of such corporation beginning 
before January 1, 1976. See example 1 of paragraph (g)(2) of this 
section for an illustration of the effect of this subparagraph on 
partnership income. See example 3 of paragraph (f)(4)(ii) of this 
section for an illustration of the effect of this subparagraph on 
certain dividend income. See paragraph (f)(5)(iii) of this section for 
the effect of this subparagraph on certain interest and gains.
    (b) Definitions--(1) Foreign base company shipping income. The term 
``foreign base company shipping income'' means--
    (i) Gross income derived from, or in connection with, the use (or 
hiring or leasing for use) of any aircraft or vessel in foreign commerce 
(see paragraph (c) of this section),
    (ii) Gross income derived from, or in connection with, the 
performance of services directly related to the use of any aircraft or 
vessel in foreign commerce (see paragraph (d) of this section),
    (iii) Gross income incidental to income described in subdivisions 
(i) and (ii) of this subparagraph, as provided in paragraph (e) of this 
section,
    (iv) Gross income derived from the sale, exchange, or other 
disposition of any aircraft or vessel used or held for use (by the 
seller or by a person related to the seller) in foreign commerce,
    (v) In the case of a controlled foreign corporation, dividends, 
interest, and gains described in paragraph (f) of this section,
    (vi) Income described in paragraph (g) of this section (relating to 
partnerships, trusts, etc.),
    (vii) Exchange gain, to the extent allocable to foreign base company 
shipping income (see Sec. 1.952-2(c)(2)(v)(b), and
    (viii) In the case of a controlled foreign corporation and at its 
option, dividends, interest, and gains attributable to income derived 
from aircraft and vessels (as defined in 26 CFR 1.954-1(b)(2) (Revised 
as of April 1, 1975)) by a less developed country shipping company 
(described in Sec. 1.955-5(b)) in taxable years beginning after 
December 31, 1962, and before January 1, 1976. The portion of a 
dividend, interest, or gain attributable to such income shall be 
determined by the same method as that for determining the portion of a 
dividend, interest, or gain attributable to foreign base company 
shipping income under paragraphs (f)(4), (5), and (6) of this section, 
but without regard to paragraphs (f)(6)(ii) and (iv)(B).
    (2) Foreign base company shipping operations. For purposes of 
sections 951 through 964, the term ``foreign base company shipping 
operations'' means the trade or business from which gross income 
described in subparagraph (1)(i) and (ii) of this paragraph is derived.
    (3) Foreign commerce. For purposes of sections 951 through 964--

[[Page 303]]

    (i) An aircraft or vessel is used in foreign commerce to the extent 
it is used in transportation of property or passengers--
    (A) Between a port (or airport) in the United States or possession 
of the United States and a port (or airport) in a foreign country, or
    (B) Between a port (or airport) in a foreign country and another in 
the same country or between a port (or airport) in a foreign country and 
one in another foreign country.

Thus, for example, a trawler, a factory ship, and an oil drilling ship 
are not considered to be used in foreign commerce. On the other hand, a 
cruise ship which visits one or more foreign ports is considered to be 
so used. Notwithstanding subdivision (i)(B) of this paragraph (b)(3), 
foreign base company income does not include income derived from, or in 
connection with, the use of an aircraft or vessel in transportation of 
property or passengers between a port (or airport) in a foreign country 
and another port (or airport) in the same country if both the foreign 
corporation is created or organized and the aircraft or vessel is 
registered in that country.
    (ii) The term vessel includes all water craft and other artificial 
contrivances of whatever description and at whatever stage of 
construction, whether on the stocks or launched, which are used or are 
capable of being used or are intended to be used as a means of 
transportation on water. This definition does not apply for purposes of 
section 956(b)(2)(G) and Sec. 1.956-2(b)(1)(ix).
    (iii) The term port means any place (whether on or off shore) where 
aircraft or vessels are accustomed to load or unload goods or to take on 
or let off passengers.
    (iv) Any vessel (such as a lighter or beacon lightship) which serves 
other vessels used in foreign commerce (within the meaning of 
subdivision (i) of this subparagraph) shall, to the extent so used, also 
be considered to be used in foreign commerce.
    (v) For the meaning of the term ``foreign country'', see section 
638(2).
    (4) Use in foreign commerce. For purposes of sections 951 through 
964, the use of an aircraft or vessel in foreign commerce includes the 
hiring or leasing (or subleasing) of an aircraft or vessel to another 
for use in foreign commerce. Thus, for example, an aircraft or vessel is 
``used in foreign commerce'' within the meaning of section 955(b)(1)(A) 
if such aircraft or vessel is chartered (whether pursuant to a bareboat 
charter, time charter, or otherwise) to another for use in foreign 
commerce.
    (5) Related person. With respect to a controlled foreign 
corporation, the term ``related person'' means a related person as 
defined in Sec. 1.954-1(e)(1), and the term ``unrelated person'' means 
an unrelated person as defined in Sec. 1.954-1(e)(2).
    (c) Aircraft or vessel income--(1) In general. The term ``income 
derived from, or in connection with, the use (or hiring or leasing for 
use) of any aircraft or vessel in foreign commerce'' as used in 
paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section means--
    (i) Income derived from transporting passengers or property by 
aircraft or vessel in foreign commerce and
    (ii) Income derived from hiring or leasing an aircraft or vessel to 
another for use in foreign commerce.
    (2) Illustrations. The application of this paragraph may be 
illustrated by the following examples:

    Example 1. Foreign corporation C owns a foreign flag vessel which it 
charters under a long-term charter to foreign corporation D. The vessel 
is used by D as a tramp which has no fixed or regular schedule. The 
vessel carries bulk and packaged cargoes, as well as occasional 
passengers, under charter parties, contracts of affreightment, or other 
contracts of carriage. The carriage of cargoes and passengers is between 
a port in the United States and a port in a foreign country or between a 
port in one foreign country and another port in the same or a different 
foreign country. The charter hire paid to C by D constitutes income 
derived from the use of the vessel in foreign commerce, but is not 
foreign base company income to the extent the charter hire is allocable 
to income derived from the use of the vessel between ports in the same 
foreign country in which both C is incorporated and the vessel is 
registered. The charter hire and freight and passenger revenue 
(including demurrage and dead freight) derived by D also constitute 
income derived from the use of the vessel in foreign commerce, but is 
not foreign base company income to the extent the charter hire and 
freight and passenger revenue are allocable to the use of the vessel 
between

[[Page 304]]

ports in the same foreign country in which both D is incorporated and 
the vessel is registered.
    Example 2. (a) Foreign corporation E owns a foreign flag tanker 
which it charters under a long-term bareboat charter to foreign 
corporation F for use in foreign commerce. F produces oil in a foreign 
country and ships the oil to other foreign countries and to the United 
States. The vessel, when not engaged in carrying F's oil, is used to 
carry bulk cargoes for unrelated persons in foreign commerce as 
opportunity offers. The charger hire received by E constitutes income 
derived from the use of the vessel in foreign commerce. The income 
derived by F from carrying bulk cargoes for unrelated persons also 
constitutes income derived from the use of the vessel in foreign 
commerce.
    (b) F is forced to lay up the vessel as a result of adverse market 
developments. Pursuant to the terms of the charter, F continues to pay 
charter hire to E during the period of lay-up. The charter hire received 
by E during the period of lay-up constitutes income derived from the use 
of the vessel in foreign commerce.
    Example 3. (a) A shipment of cheese is loaded into a container owned 
by controlled foreign corporation S at the consignor's place of business 
in Hamar, Norway. The cheese is transported to Milan, Italy, by the 
following routings:
    (1) Overland by road from Hamar, Norway, to Gothenburg, Sweden, by 
unrelated motor carriers via Oslo, Norway,
    (2) By sea from Gothenburg to Rotterdam, Netherlands, by feeder 
vessel under foreign flag, time chartered to S by unrelated owner,
    (3) By sea from Rotterdam to Algeciras, Spain, by feeder vessel 
under foreign flag, time chartered to S by unrelated owner.
    (4) By sea from Algeciras to Genoa, Italy, by line-haul vessel under 
U.S. flag, chartered by S from related company, and
    (5) Overland from Genoa to Milan, Italy, by unrelated motor carrier.
    (b) The consignor pays S total charges of $1,710, and S pays $676 to 
unrelated third parties, which amounts may be broken down as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Revenue     Costs
                                           Amount   collected   paid to
                                         billed to   by S on   unrelated
         Description of charges           customer  behalf of   3d party
                                            and         an        and
                                         collected  unrelated   absorbed
                                            by S      party       by S
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ocean freight..........................     $1,420  .........  .........
Trucking charge of empty equipment to           50        $50  .........
 shipper's facility....................
Trucking charges Hamar to Oslo.........         60         60  .........
Trucking charges Oslo to Gothenburg....  .........  .........       $315
Trucking charges Genoa to Milan........        180        180  .........
Brokerage Commission in Europe.........  .........  .........         71
                                        ------------
    Total..............................      1,710        290        386
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Of the $1,710 amount billed to the consignor and collected by S, 
$290 is collected by S on behalf of unrelated third parties. This $290 
amount is not includable in S's gross income, and is therefore not 
includable in S's foreign base company shipping income. The remaining 
$1,420 amount (i.e., $1,710-$290) is includable in S's foreign base 
company shipping income. The $386 amount paid by S to unrelated third 
parties and absorbed by S is deductible from foreign base company 
shipping income under Sec. 1.954-1(c).

    (d) Services directly related--(1) In general. The term ``income 
derived from, or in connection with, the performance of services 
directly related to the use of an aircraft or vessel in foreign 
commerce'', as used in paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, means--
    (i) Income derived from, or in connection with, the performance of 
services described in subparagraph (2) or (3) of this paragraph, and
    (ii) Income treated as foreign base company shipping income under 
subparagraph (4) of this paragraph.
    (2) Intragroup services. The services described in this subparagraph 
are services performed for a person who is the owner, lessor, lessee or 
operator of an aircraft or vessel used in foreign commerce, by such 
person or by a person related to such person, and which fall into one or 
more of the following categories:
    (i) Terminal services, such as dockage, wharfage, storage, lights, 
water, refrigeration, and similar services;
    (ii) Stevedoring and other cargo handling services;
    (iii) Container related services (including the rental of containers 
and related equipment) performed either in connection with the local 
drayage or inland haulage of cargo or in the course of transportation in 
foreign commerce;

[[Page 305]]

    (iv) Services performed by tugs, lighters, barges, scows, launches, 
floating cranes, and other similar equipment;
    (v) Maintenance and repairs;
    (vi) Training of pilots and crews;
    (vii) Licensing of patents, know-how, and similar intangible 
property developed and used in the course of foreign base company 
shipping operations;
    (viii) Services performed by a booking, operating, or managing 
agent; and
    (ix) Any service performed in the course of the actual 
transportation of passengers or property.
    (3) Services for passenger, consignor, or consignee. The services 
described in this subparagraph are services provided by the operator (or 
person related to the operator) of an aircraft or vessel in foreign 
commerce for the passenger, consignor, or consignee, such as--
    (i) Services described in one or more of the categories set out in 
subparagraphs (2)(i) through (iv) and (ix) of this paragraph,
    (ii) The rental of staterooms, berths, or living accommodations and 
the furnishing of meals,
    (iii) Barber shop and other services to passengers aboard vessels,
    (iv) Excess baggage, and
    (v) Demurrage, dispatch, and dead freight.
    (4) The 70-percent test. At the option of the foreign corporation 
all the gross income for a taxable year derived by a foreign corporation 
from any facility used in connection with the performance of services 
described in one or more of the categories set out in subparagraph 
(2)(i) through (ix) of this paragraph is foreign base company shipping 
income if more than 70 percent of such gross income for either--
    (i) Such taxable year, or
    (ii) Such taxable year and the two preceding taxable years,

is foreign base company shipping income (determined without regard to 
this subparagraph). Thus, for example, if 80 percent of the gross income 
derived by a controlled foreign corporation at a stevedoring facility is 
treated as foreign base company shipping income under subparagraph (2) 
of this paragraph, then the remaining 20 percent is treated as foreign 
base company shipping income under this subparagraph.
    (5) Rules for applying subparagraph (4). (i) Solely for purposes of 
applying subparagraphs (4) of this paragraph, foreign base company 
shipping income and gross income shall be deemed to include an arm's 
length charge (see paragraph (h)(5) of this section) for services 
performed by the foreign corporation for itself.
    (ii) In determining whether services performed by a foreign 
corporation are performed at a single facility or at two or more 
different facilities, all of the facts and circumstances involved will 
be taken into account. Ordinarily, all services performed by a foreign 
corporation within a single port area will be considered performed at a 
single facility.
    (iii) The application of this subparagraph and subparagraph (4) of 
this paragraph may be illustrated by the following example in which it 
is assumed that the foreign corporation has chosen to apply the 70-
percent test of subparagraph (4):

    Example. (a) Controlled foreign corporation X uses the calendar year 
as the taxable year. For 1976, X is divided into two operating 
divisions, A and B. Division A operates a number of vessels in foreign 
commerce. Division B operates a terminal facility at which it performs 
services described in subparagraph (2)(i) of this paragraph for vessels 
some of which are operated by division A, some of which are operated by 
persons related to X, and some of which are operated by persons 
unrelated to X. For 1976, X includes under subparagraph (5) as foreign 
base company shipping income and gross income, for purposes of 
subparagraph (4), an arm's length charge for services performed for 
itself. For 1976, the gross income derived by division B is 
reconstructed for purposes of subparagraph (4) of this paragraph as 
follows, based on the facts shown in the following table:




(1) Gross income derived from persons unrelated to X...........      $20
(2) Gross income derived from persons related to X.............       10
                                                                --------
(3) Actual gross income (line (1) plus line (2))...............       30
(4) Hypothetical gross income derived from division A                 70
 (determined by the application of subdivision (i) of this
 subparagraph).................................................
                                                                --------

[[Page 306]]


(5) Total reconstructed gross income (line (3) plus line (4))..      100
                                                                ========


    (b) Since 80 percent of the reconstructed gross income derived by 
division B would be treated as foreign base company shipping income 
under subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, the entire $30 amount of the 
gross income actually derived by division B is treated as foreign base 
company shipping income under subparagraph (4) of this paragraph.

    (6) Arm's length charge. For purposes of this section, the arm's 
length charge for services performed by a foreign corporation for itself 
shall be determined by applying the principles of section 482 and the 
regulations thereunder as if the party for whom the services are 
performed and the party by whom the services are performed were not the 
same person, but were controlled taxpayers within the meaning of Sec. 
1.482-1(a)(4).
    (7) Illustrations. The application of this paragraph may be 
illustrated by the following examples:

    Example 1. Controlled foreign corporation A acts as a managing agent 
for foreign corporation B, a related person which contracts to construct 
and charter a foreign flag vessel for use in foreign commerce. As 
managing agent for B, A performs a broad range of services relating to 
the use of the vessel, including arranging for, and supervising of, 
construction and chartering of the vessel, and handling of operating 
services after construction is completed. The income derived by A from 
its management and operating services constitutes income derived in 
connection with the performance of services directly related to the use 
of the vessel in foreign commerce.
    Example 2. Controlled foreign corporation C uses the calendar year 
as the taxable year. During 1976, C is engaged in the trade or business 
of acting as a steamship agent solely for unrelated persons. C's 
activities as steamship agent range from ``husbanding'' (i.e., arranging 
for fuel, supplies and port services, and attending to crew and customs 
matters) to the solicitation and booking of cargo at a number of foreign 
ports. None of C's other gross income for 1976 is foreign base company 
shipping income. Under these circumstances, C's gross income derived 
from its steamship agency does not constitute foreign base company 
shipping income.

    (e) Incidental income--(1) In general. Foreign base company shipping 
income includes all incidental income derived by a foreign corporation 
in the course of its active conduct of foreign base company shipping 
operations.
    (2) Examples. Examples of incidental income derived in the course of 
the active conduct of foreign base company shipping operations include--
    (i) Gain from the sale, exchange or other disposition of assets 
which are related shipping assets within the meaning of Sec. 1.955A-
2(b),
    (ii) Income derived from temporary investments described in Sec. 
1.955A-2(b)(2)(i) and (iii),
    (iii) Interest on accounts receivable and evidences of indebtedness 
described in Sec. 1.955A-2(b)(2)(ii),
    (iv) Income derived from granting concessions to others aboard 
aircraft or vessels used in foreign commerce,
    (v) Income derived from stock and currency futures described in 
Sec. 1.955A-2(b)(2)(vii) and (viii),
    (vi) Income derived by the lessor of an aircraft or vessel used in 
foreign commerce from additional rentals for the use of related 
equipment (such as a complement of containers), and
    (vii) Interest derived by the seller from a purchase money mortgage 
loan in respect of the sale of an aircraft or vessel described in Sec. 
1.955A-2(a)(1)(i).
    (f) Certain dividends, interest, and gain--(1) In general. (i) The 
foreign base company shipping income of a controlled foreign corporation 
(referred to in subdivision (ii)(A) of this paragraph (f)(1) as ``first 
corporation'') includes--
    (A) Dividends and interest received from foreign corporations listed 
in subdivision (ii) of this paragraph (f)(1), and
    (B) Gain recognized from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of 
stock or obligations of foreign corporations listed in subdivision (ii) 
of this paragraph (f)(1),

but only to the extent that such dividends, interest, and gains are 
attributable to foreign base company shipping income of the foreign 
corporations listed in subdivision (ii) of this paragraph (f)(1).
    (ii) The foreign corporations referred to in subdivision (i) of this 
paragraph (f)(1) are--
    (A) Foreign corporations with respect to which the first corporation 
(see subdivision (i) of this paragraph (f)(1)) would be deemed under 
section 902(b) to pay taxes,

[[Page 307]]

    (B) Controlled foreign corporations which are related persons 
(within the meaning of section 954(d)(3)), and
    (C) Less developed country shipping companies described in Sec. 
1.955-5(b).
    (2) Corporation deemed to pay taxes. (i) For purposes of this 
paragraph, a controlled foreign corporation would be deemed under 
section 902(b) to pay taxes in respect of any other foreign corporation 
if such controlled foreign corporation would be deemed, for purposes of 
applying section 902(a) to any United States shareholder of such 
controlled foreign corporation, to pay taxes in respect of dividends 
which were received from such other foreign corporation (whether or not 
such other foreign corporation actually pays any taxes or dividends). 
Solely for purposes of this subdivision, each United States shareholder 
(within the meaning of section 951(b)) shall be deemed to be a domestic 
corporation.
    (ii) The application of subdivision (i) of this subparagraph may be 
illustrated by the following examples:

    Example 1. Domestic corporation M owns 100 percent of the one class 
of stock of controlled foreign corporation X, which in turn owns 40 
percent of the one class of stock of foreign corporation Y. Y is not a 
controlled foreign corporation. For purposes of subdivision (1) of this 
subparagraph, X is deemed to pay taxes in respect of Y.
    Example 2. The facts are the same as in example 1, except that 
United States shareholder A, an individual, owns 80 percent of the stock 
of corporation X, and United States shareholders B and C, parent and 
child, own the other 20 percent in equal shares. For purposes of 
applying this paragraph to all three United States shareholders (A, B, 
and C), X is deemed to pay taxes in respect of Y.

    (3) Obligation defined. For purposes of this section, the term 
``obligation'' means any bond, note, debenture, certificate, or other 
evidence of indebtedness, and a debt recorded in the books of account of 
both the creditor and the debtor. In the absence of legal, governmental, 
or business reasons to the contrary, the indebtedness must bear interest 
or be issued at a discount.
    (4) Dividends. (i) For purposes of this paragraph and Sec. 1.954-
1(b)(2), the portion of a dividend which is attributable to foreign base 
company shipping income is that amount which bears the same ratio to the 
total dividend received as the earnings and profits out of which such 
dividend is paid that are attributable to foreign base company shipping 
income bears to the total earnings and profits out of which such 
dividend is paid. For purposes of this subdivision, the source of the 
earnings and profits out of which a distribution is made shall be 
determined under section 316(a), except that the source of the earnings 
and profits out of which a distribution is made by a controlled foreign 
corporation with respect to stock owned (within the meaning of section 
958(a)) by a United States shareholder of such controlled foreign 
corporation shall be determined under Sec. 1.959-3.
    (ii) The application of this subparagraph may be illustrated by the 
following examples:

    Example 1. Domestic corporation M owns 100 percent of the one class 
of stock of controlled foreign corporation X, which in turn owns 40 
percent of the one class of stock of foreign corporation Y. Y, which is 
not (and has not been) either a controlled foreign corporation or a less 
developed country shipping company, makes a distribution of $100 to X. 
Under section 316(a), such distribution is made out of Y's earnings and 
profits for 1978. Sixty percent of Y's earnings and profits for 1978 are 
attributable to foreign base company shipping income. As a result, $60 
of the $100 distribution constitutes foreign base company shipping 
income to X under subdivision (i) of this subparagraph.
    Example 2. The facts are the same as in example 1, except that under 
section 316(a) $20 of the $100 dividend is paid out of Y's earnings and 
profits for 1979, and the other $80 is paid out of Y's earnings and 
profits for 1978. Thirty percent of Y's earnings and profits for 1979 
are attributable to foreign base company shipping income. Since 60 
percent of Y's earnings and profits for 1978 are also attributable to 
foreign base company shipping income, $54, i.e. (.60x$80)+(.30x$20), of 
the $100 distribution constitutes foreign base company shipping income 
to X under subdivision (i) of this subparagraph.
    Example 3. The facts are the same as in example 1 except that under 
section 316(a) the $100 dividend is made out of Y's earnings and profits 
for 1972. Since under paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section foreign base 
company shipping income does not include amounts earned by a foreign 
corporation (not a less developed country shipping company) in a taxable 
year beginning before January 1,

[[Page 308]]

1978, no amount of such $100 distribution constitutes foreign base 
company shipping income to X under subdivision (i) of this subparagraph.
    Example 4. Domestic corporation N owns 100 percent of the one class 
of stock of controlled foreign corporation S, which in turn owns 100 
percent of the one class of stock of controlled foreign corporation T. T 
makes a distribution of $100 to S, of which $80 is allocable under Sec. 
1.959-3 to earnings and profits for 1977 which are described in Sec. 
1.959-3(b)(2), and $20 is allocable to earnings and profits for 1978 
which are described in Sec. 1.959-3(b)(3). The $80 amount is excluded 
from S's gross income under section 959(b) and therefore is not included 
in S's foreign base company shipping income. One hundred percent of T's 
earnings and profits for 1978 described in Sec. 1.959-3(b)(3) were 
attributable to reinvested foreign base company shipping income. As a 
result, the entire $20 amount is included in S's foreign base company 
shipping income under this paragraph. See Sec. 1.954-1(b)(2) for the 
rule that such $20 amount may be excluded from the foreign base company 
income of S.

    (5) Interest and gain. (i) Except as provided in subdivisions (ii) 
and (iii) of this subparagraph, the portion of any interest paid by a 
foreign corporation, or gain recognized from the sale, exchange, or 
other disposition of stock or obligations of a foreign corporation, 
which is attributable to the foreign base company shipping income of 
such foreign corporation is that amount which bears the same ratio to 
such interest or gain as the foreign base company shipping income of 
such corporation for the period described in subparagraph (6) of this 
paragraph bears to its gross income for such period.
    (ii) Interest which is paid by a controlled foreign corporation is 
attributable to such corporation's foreign base company shipping income 
to the same extent that such interest is allocable (under the principles 
of Sec. 1.954-1(c)) to its foreign base company shipping income.
    (iii) If interest is paid by a foreign corporation, or if stock 
obligations of a foreign corporation are sold, exchanged, or otherwise 
disposed of, during a taxable year of such foreign corporation beginning 
before January 1, 1976, then no portion of such interest or gain is 
attributable to foreign base company shipping income.
    (iv) Solely for purposes of subdivision (i) of this subparagraph, if 
a controlled foreign corporation (the ``first corporation'') owns more 
than 10 percent of the stock of another controlled foreign corporation 
(the ``second corporation''), then
    (A) The gross income of the first corporation for any taxable year 
shall be--
    (1) Increased by its pro rata share of the gross income of the 
second corporation for the taxable year which ends with or within such 
taxable year of the first corporation, and
    (2) Decreased by the amount of any dividends received from the 
second corporation; and
    (B) The foreign base company shipping income of the first 
corporation for any taxable year shall be--
    (1) Increased by its pro rata share of the foreign base company 
shipping income of the second corporation for the taxable year which 
ends with or within such taxable year of the first corporation, and
    (2) Decreased by the amount of any dividends received from the 
second corporation which constitute foreign base company income.
    (v) Solely for purposes of applying subdivision (i) of this 
subparagraph, the district director shall make such other adjustments to 
the gross income and the foreign base company shipping income of any 
foreign corporation as are necessary to properly determine the extent to 
which any interest or gain is attributable to foreign base company 
shipping income, including proper adjustments to reflect any transaction 
during the test period described in subparagraph (6) of this paragraph 
to which section 332, 351, 354, 355, 356, or 361 applies.
    (6) Test period. (i) Except as provided in subdivisions (ii) and 
(iii) of this subparagraph the period described in this subparagraph 
with respect to any foreign corporation is the 3-year period ending with 
the close of such corporation's taxable year preceding the year during 
which interest was paid or stock or obligations were sold, exchanged, or 
otherwise disposed of, or such part of such period as such corporation 
was in existence.
    (ii) The period described in this paragraph shall not include any 
part of a taxable year beginning before January 1, 1976.

[[Page 309]]

    (iii) If interest is paid by a foreign corporation, or if stock or 
obligations of a foreign corporation are sold, exchanged, or otherwise 
disposed of during its first taxable year, then the period described in 
this paragraph shall be such first taxable year.
    (iv) For purposes of subdivision (iii) of this subparagraph, the 
first taxable year of a foreign corporation is the later of--
    (A) The first taxable year of its existence, or
    (B) Its first taxable year beginning after December 31, 1975.
    (g) Income from partnerships, trusts, etc.--(1) In general. The 
foreign base company shipping income of any foreign corporation 
includes--
    (i) Its distributive share of the gross income of any partnership, 
and
    (ii) Any amounts includible in its gross income under section 
652(a), 662(a), 671, or 691(a),

to the extent that such items would have been includible in its foreign 
base company shipping income had they been realized by it directly.
    (2) Illustrations. The application of subparagraph (1) of this 
paragraph may be illustrated by the following examples:

    Example 1. Controlled foreign corporations X and Y are equal 
partners in partnership P. The taxable years end on December 31 for X, 
June 30 for Y, and March 31 for P. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 
1976, P's sole business activity is the use of a vessel in foreign 
commerce. P derives gross income of $200 from the use of the vessel, and 
incurs expenses, taxes, and other deductions of $160. Assume X's 
distributive share of such

$200 of P's gross income is $100, all of which is includible in X's 
gross income. If X had realized its distributive share of $100 directly, 
then the amount which would have been includible in X's foreign base 
company shipping income under this paragraph is the portion allocable to 
the months of January, February, and March of 1976. Such amount, $25 
(i.e., \1/2\ x $200 x 3 months/12 months), is included in X's foreign 
base company shipping income for its taxable year ending December 31, 
1976. Similarly, X is entitled under this paragraph to a deduction from 
foreign base company shipping income of $20 (i.e., \1/2\ x $160 x 3 
months/12 months). Since foreign base company shipping income does not 
include amounts earned by a foreign corporation (not a less developed 
country shipping corporation) in a taxable year beginning before January 
1, 1976, Y has no foreign base company shipping income (under this 
paragraph or otherwise) for its taxable year beginning on July 1, 1975.
    Example 2. The facts are the same as in example 1, except that P 
incurs expenses, taxes, and deductions of $240 in its taxable year 
ending on March 31, 1976. Accordingly, $25 is includible in X's foreign 
base company shipping income, and the amount deductible therefrom under 
this paragraph is $30 (i.e., \1/2\ x $240 x 3 months/12 months).

    (3) Other income. Except as expressly provided in subparagraph (1) 
of this paragraph, foreign base company shipping income does not include 
any amount includible in the gross income of a controlled foreign 
corporation under part I of subchapter J (section 641 and following, 
relating to estates, trusts, and beneficiaries), and gains from the sale 
or other disposition of any interest in an estate or trust.
    (h) Additional rules--(1) Gross income. For purposes of this section 
and Sec. 1.955A-2, the gross income of a foreign corporation (whether 
or not a controlled foreign corporation) shall be determined in 
accordance with the provisions of section 952 and Sec. 1.952-2. Thus, 
for example, section 883 (relating to exclusions from gross income of 
foreign corporations) is inapplicable under Sec. 1.952-2 (a)(1) and 
(c)(1). In addition, the gross income of a controlled foreign 
corporation shall be determined, with respect to a United States 
shareholder of such controlled foreign corporation, by excluding 
distributions received by such corporation which are excluded from gross 
income under section 959(b) with respect to such shareholder.
    (2) Earnings and profits. For purposes of this section, the earnings 
and profits of a foreign corporation (whether or not a controlled 
foreign corporation) shall be determined in accordance with the 
provisions of section 964 and the regulations thereunder.
    (3) No double counting. No item of gross income shall be counted as 
foreign base company shipping income under more than one provision of 
this section. For example, If $200 of gross income derived from the use 
of a lighter is treated as foreign base company shipping income under 
both paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section, then such $200 is 
counted only once as foreign base company shipping income. A

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taxpayer may choose under which provision to include an item of income.
    (4) Losses. (i) Generally, if a controlled foreign corporation has 
losses which are properly allocable to foreign base company shipping 
income, the extent to which such losses are deductible from such income 
shall be determined by treating such foreign corporation as a domestic 
corporation and applying the principles of section 63. See Sec. Sec. 
1.954-1(c) and 1.952-2(b). Thus for example, losses from sales or 
exchanges of capital assets are allowable only to the extent of gains 
from such sales or exchanges.
    (ii) If gain from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of any 
stock or obligation would be treated (to any extent) as foreign base 
company shipping income, then loss from such sale, exchange, or other 
disposition is properly allocable to foreign base company shipping 
income (to the same extent).
    (iii) In determining the extent to which any loss on the disposition 
of a qualified investment in foreign base company shipping operations is 
deductible from foreign base company shipping income, it is immaterial 
that such loss is taken into account under Sec. 1.955A-1(b)(1)(ii) as a 
reduction in the amount of the decrease in (withdrawal from) qualified 
investments in foreign base company shipping operations.
    (5) Hypothetical charges. Under paragraph (d)(5)(i) of this section 
and Sec. 1.955A-2(a)(4)(ii)(A), gross income may be deemed to include 
hypothetical arm's length charges for services performed by a controlled 
foreign corporation for itself. Under paragraph (d)(2) of this section, 
certain of these hypothetical charges may be treated as foreign based 
company shipping income. Such hypothetical charges are deemed to be 
income solely for purposes of applying the ``extent of use'' tests 
prescribed by paragraph (d)(4) of this section and Sec. 1.955A-2(a)(4). 
Charges for services performed by a controlled foreign corporation for 
itself shall in no event be included in income for any other purposes.

[T.D. 7894, 48 FR 22523, May 19, 1983]