[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: 26CFR1.994-1]

[Page 684-699]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.994-1  Inter-company pricing rules for DISC's.

    (a) In general--(1) Scope. In the case of a transaction described in 
paragraph (b) of this section, section 994 permits a person related to a 
DISC to determine the allowable transfer price charged the DISC (or 
commission paid the DISC) by its choice of three methods described in 
paragraph (c)(2), (3), and (4) of this section: The ``4 percent'' gross 
receipts method, the ``50-50'' combined taxable income method, and the 
section 482 method. Under the first two methods, the DISC is entitled to 
10 percent of its export promotion expenses as additional taxable 
income. When the gross receipts method or combined taxable income method 
is applied to a transaction, the Commissioner may not make 
distributions, apportionments, or allocations as provided by section 482 
and the regulations thereunder. For rules as to certain ``incomplete 
transactions'' and for computing combined taxable income, see paragraph 
(c)(5) and (6) of this section. Grouping of transactions for purposes of 
applying the method chosen is provided by paragraph (c)(7) of this 
section. The rules in paragraph (c) of this section are directly 
applicable only in the case of sales or exchanges of export property to 
a DISC for resale, and are applicable by analogy to leases, commissions, 
and services as provided in paragraph (d) of this section. For rules 
limiting the application of the gross receipts method and combined 
taxable income method so that the supplier related to the DISC will not 
incur a loss on transactions, see paragraph (e)(1) of this section. 
Paragraph (e)(2) of this section provides for the applicability of 
section 482 to resales by the DISC to related persons. Paragraph (e)(3) 
of this section provides for the time by which a reasonable estimate of 
the transfer price (including commissions and other payments) should be 
paid. The subsequent determination and further adjustments to transfer 
prices are set forth in paragraph (e)(4) of this section. Export 
promotion expenses are defined in paragraph (f) of this section. 
Paragraph (g) of this section has several examples illustrating the 
provisions of this section. Section 1.994-2 prescribes the marginal 
costing rules authorized by section 994(b)(2).
    (2) Performance of substantial economic functions. The application 
of section 994(a)(1) or (2) does not depend on the extent to which the 
DISC performs substantial economic functions (except with respect to 
export promotion expenses). See paragraph (l) of Sec. 1.993-1.
    (3) Related party and related supplier. For the purposes of this 
section--
    (i) The term ``related party'' means a person which is owned or 
controlled directly or indirectly by the same interests as the DISC 
within the meaning of section 482 and Sec. 1.482-1(a).
    (ii) The term ``related supplier'' means a related party which 
singly engages in a transaction directly with the DISC which is subject 
to the rules of section 994 and this section. However, a DISC may have 
different related suppliers with respect to different transactions. If, 
for example, X owns all the stock of Y, a corporation, and of Z, a DISC, 
and sells a product to Y which is resold to Z, only Y is the related 
supplier of Z, and, thus, only the resale from Y to Z is subject to 
section 994 and this section. If, however, X sells directly to Z and Y 
also sells directly to Z, then, as to the transactions involving direct 
sales to Z, each of X and Y is a related supplier of Z.
    (b) Transactions to which section 994 applies. Section 994(a)(3) may 
be applied, as described in paragraph (a) of this section, to any 
transaction between a related supplier and a DISC. Section 994(a)(1) or 
(2) may be applied,

[[Page 685]]

as described in paragraph (a) of this section, to a transaction between 
a related supplier and a DISC only in the following cases:
    (1) Where the related supplier sells export property to the DISC for 
resale or where the DISC is commission agent for the related supplier on 
sales by the related supplier of export property to third parties 
whether or not related parties. For purposes of this section, references 
to sales include exchanges.
    (2) Where the related supplier leases export property to the DISC 
for sublease for a comparable period with comparable terms of payment or 
where the DISC is commission agent for the related supplier on leases by 
the related supplier of export property to third parties whether or not 
related parties.
    (3) Where services are furnished by a related supplier which are 
related and subsidiary to any sale or lease by the DISC, acting as 
principal or commission agent, of export property under subparagraph (1) 
or (2) of this paragraph.
    (4) Where engineering or architectural services for construction 
projects located (or proposed for location) outside of the United States 
are furnished by a related supplier where the DISC is acting as 
principal or commission agent with respect to the furnishing of such 
services to a third party whether or not a related party.
    (5) Where the related supplier furnishes managerial services in 
furtherance of the production of qualified export receipts of an 
unrelated DISC where the related DISC is acting as principal or 
commission agent with respect to the furnishing of such services to an 
unrelated DISC.

Transactions are included, for purposes of this paragraph, only if they 
give rise to qualified export receipts (within the meaning of section 
993(a)) in the hands of the related DISC. If a transaction is not 
included in subparagraph (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of this paragraph, 
the rules of section 994(a)(1) or (2) do not apply. Thus, for example, 
the rules of sectoin 994(a)(1) or (2) would not apply if a DISC 
purchased export property from its related supplier and leased such 
property to a third party.
    (c) Transfer price for sales of export property--(1) In general. 
Under this paragraph, rules are prescribed for computing the allowable 
price for a transfer from a related supplier to a DISC in the case of a 
sale of export property described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (2) The ``4-percent'' gross receipts method. Under the gross 
receipts method of pricing, the transfer price for a sale by the related 
supplier to the DISC is the price as a result of which the taxable 
income derived by the DISC from the sale will not exceed the sum of (i) 
4 percent of the qualified export receipts of the DISC derived from the 
sale of the export property (as defined in section 993 (c)) and (ii) 10 
percent of the export promotion expenses (as defined in paragraph (f) of 
this section) of the DISC attributable to such qualified export 
receipts.
    (3) The ``50-50'' combined taxable income method. Under the combined 
taxable income method of pricing, the transfer price for a sale by the 
related supplier to the DISC is the price as a result of which the 
taxable income derived by the DISC from the sale will not exceed the sum 
of (i) 50 percent of the combined taxable income (as defined in 
subparagraph (6) of this paragraph) of the DISC and its related supplier 
attributable to the qualified export receipts from such sale and (ii) 10 
percent of the export promotion expenses (as defined in paragraph (f) of 
this section) of the DISC attributable to such qualified export 
receipts.
    (4) Section 482 method. If the rules of subparagraphs (2) and (3) of 
this paragraph are inapplicable to a sale or a taxpayer does not choose 
to use them, the transfer price for a sale by the related supplier to 
the DISC is to be determined on the basis of the sale price actually 
charged but subject to the rules provided by section 482 and the 
regulations thereunder.
    (5) Incomplete transactions. (i) For purposes of the gross receipts 
and combined taxable income methods, where property (encompassed within 
a transaction or group chosen under subparagraph (7) of this paragraph) 
is transferred by a related supplier to a DISC during a taxable year of 
either the DISC or related supplier, but some or

[[Page 686]]

all of such property is not sold by the DISC during such year--
    (a) The transfer price of such property sold by the DISC during such 
year shall be computed separately from the transfer price of the 
property not sold by the DISC during such year,
    (b) With respect to such property not sold by the DISC during such 
year, the transfer price paid by the DISC for such year shall be the 
related supplier's cost of goods sold (see subparagraph (6)(ii) of this 
paragraph) with respect to the property, except that, with respect to 
such taxable years ending on or before August 15, 1975, the transfer 
price paid by the DISC shall be at least (but need not exceed) the 
related supplier's cost of goods sold with respect to the property.
    (c) For the subsequent taxable year during which such property is 
resold by the DISC, an additional amount shall be paid by the DISC (to 
be treated as income for such year by the related supplier) equal to the 
excess of the amount which would have been the transfer price under this 
section had the transfer to the DISC by the related supplier and the 
resale by the DISC taken place during the taxable year of the DISC 
during which it resold the property over the amount already paid under 
(b) of this subdivision.
    (d) The time and manner of payment of transfer prices required by 
(b) and (c) of this subdivision shall be determined under paragraphs 
(e)(3), (4), and (5) of this section.
    (ii) For purposes of this paragraph, a DISC may determine the year 
in which it receives property from a related supplier and the year in 
which it sells property in accordance with the method of identifying 
goods in its inventory properly used under section 471 or 472 (relating 
respectively to general rule for inventories and to LIFO inventories). 
Transportation expense of the related supplier in connection with a 
transaction to which this subparagraph applies shall be treated as an 
item of cost of goods sold with respect to the property if the related 
supplier includes the cost of intracompany transportation between its 
branches, divisions, plants, or other units in its cost of goods sold 
(see subparagraph (6)(ii) of this paragraph).
    (6) Combined taxable income. For purposes of this section, the 
combined taxable income of a DISC and its related supplier from a sale 
of export property is the excess of the gross receipts (as defined in 
section 993(f)) of the DISC from such sale over the total costs of the 
DISC and related supplier which relate to such gross receipts. Gross 
receipts from a sale do not include interest with respect to the sale. 
Combined taxable income under this paragraph shall be determined after 
taking into account under paragraph (e)(2) of this section all 
adjustments required by section 482 with respect to transactions to 
which such section is applicable. In determining the gross receipts of 
the DISC and the total costs of the DISC and related supplier which 
relate to such gross receipts, the following rules shall be applied:
    (i) Subject to subdivisions (ii) through (v) of this subparagraph, 
the taxpayer's method of accounting used in computing taxable income 
will be accepted for purposes of determining amounts and the taxable 
year for which items of income and expense (including depreciation) are 
taken into account. See Sec. 1.991-1(b)(2) with respect to the method 
of accounting which may be used by a DISC.
    (ii) Cost of goods sold shall be determined in accordance with the 
provisions of Sec. 1.61-3. See sections 471 and 472 and the regulations 
thereunder with respect to inventories. With respect to property to 
which an election under section 631 applies (relating to cutting of 
timber considered as a sale or exchange), cost of goods sold shall be 
determined by applying Sec. 1.631-1(d)(3) and (e) (relating to fair 
market value as of the beginning of the taxable year of the standing 
timber cut during the year considered as its cost).
    (iii) Costs (other than cost of goods sold) which shall be treated 
as relating to gross receipts from sales of export property are (a) the 
expenses, losses, and other deductions definitely related, and therefore 
allocated and apportioned, thereto, and (b) a ratable part of any other 
expenses, losses, or

[[Page 687]]

other deductions which are not definitely related to a class of gross 
income, determined in a manner consistent with the rules set forth in 
Sec. 1.861-8.
    (iv) The taxpayer's choice in accordance with subparagraph (7) of 
this paragraph as to the grouping of transactions shall be controlling, 
and costs deductible in a taxable year shall be allocated and 
apportioned to the items or classes of gross income of such taxable year 
resulting from such grouping.
    (v) If an account receivable arising with respect to a sale of 
export property is transferred by the related supplier to a DISC which 
is a member of the same controlled group within the meaning of Sec. 
1.993-1(k) for an amount reflecting a discount from the selling price 
taken into account in computing (without regard to this subdivision) 
combined taxable income of the DISC and its related supplier, then the 
combined taxable income from such sale shall be reduced by the amount of 
the discount.
    (7) Grouping transactions. (i) Generally, the determinations under 
this section are to be made on a transaction-by-transaction basis. 
However, at the annual choice of the taxpayer some or all of these 
determinations may be made on the basis of groups consisting of products 
or product lines.
    (ii) A determination by a taxpayer as to a product or a product line 
will be accepted by a district director if such determination conforms 
to any one of the following standards: (a) A recognized industry or 
trade usage, or (b) the 2-digit major groups (or any inferior 
classifications or combinations thereof, within a major group) of the 
Standard Industrial Classification as prepared by the Statistical Policy 
Division of the Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the 
President.
    (iii) A choice by the taxpayer to group transactions for a taxable 
year on a product or product line basis shall apply to all transactions 
with respect to that product or product line consummated during the 
taxable year. However, the choice of a product or product line grouping 
applies only to transactions covered by the grouping and, as to 
transactions not encompassed by the grouping, the determinations are 
made on a transaction-by-transaction basis. For example, the taxpayer 
may choose a product grouping with respect to one product and use the 
transaction-by-transaction method for another product within the same 
taxable year.
    (iv) For rules as to grouping certain related and subsidiary 
services, see paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section.
    (d) Rules under section 994(a)(1) and (2) for transactions other 
than sales. The following rules are prescribed for purposes of applying 
the gross receipts method or combined taxable income method to 
transactions other than sales:
    (1) Leases. In the case of a lease of export property by a related 
supplier to a DISC for sublease by the DISC to produce gross receipts, 
for any taxable year the amount of rent the DISC must pay to the related 
supplier shall be determined under the DISC's lease with its related 
supplier but must be computed in a manner consistent with the rules in 
paragraph (c) of this section for computing the transfer price in the 
case of sales and resales of export property under the gross receipts 
method or combined taxable income method. For purposes of applying this 
subparagraph, transactions may not be so grouped on a product or product 
line basis under the rules of paragraph (c)(7) of this section as to 
combine in any one group of transactions both lease transactions and 
sale transactions involving the same product or product line.
    (2) Commissions. If any transaction to which section 994 applies is 
handled on a commission basis for a related supplier by a DISC and such 
commissions give rise to qualified export receipts under section 
993(a)--
    (i) The amount of the income that may be earned by the DISC in any 
year is the amount, computed in a manner consistent with paragraph (c) 
of this section, which the DISC would have been permitted to earn under 
the gross receipts method, the combined taxable income method, or 
section 482 method if the related supplier had sold (or leased) the 
property or service to the DISC and the DISC in turn sold (or subleased) 
to a third party, whether or not a related party, and

[[Page 688]]

    (ii) The maximum commission the DISC may charge the related supplier 
is the sum of the amount of income determined under subdivision (i) of 
this subparagraph plus the DISC's total costs for the transaction as 
determined under paragraph (c)(6) of this section.
    (3) Receipts from services--(i) Related and subsidiary services 
attributable to the year of the export transaction. The gross receipts 
for related and subsidiary services described in paragraph (b)(3) of 
this section shall be treated as part of the receipts from the export 
transaction to which such services are related and subsidiary, but only 
if, under the arrangement between the DISC and its related supplier and 
the accounting method otherwise employed by the DISC, the income from 
such services is includible for the same taxable year as income from 
such export transaction.
    (ii) Other services. In the case of related and subsidiary services 
to which subdivision (i) of this subparagraph does not apply and other 
services described in paragraph (b)(4) or (5) of this section performed 
by a related supplier (relating respectively to engineering and 
architectural services and certain managerial services), the amount of 
taxable income which the DISC may derive for any taxable year shall be 
determined under the arrangement between the DISC and its related 
supplier and shall be computed in a manner consistent with the rules in 
paragraph (c) of this section for computing the transfer price in the 
case of sales for resale of export property under the gross receipts 
method or combined taxable income method. Related and subsidiary 
services to which subdivision (i) of this subparagraph does not apply 
may be grouped, under the rules for grouping of transactions in 
paragraph (c)(7) of this section, with the products or product lines to 
which they are related and subsidiary, so long as the grouping of 
services chosen is consistent with the grouping of products or product 
lines chosen for the taxable year in which either the product or product 
lines were sold or in which payment for such services is received or 
accrued. The rules for grouping of transactions in paragraph (c)(7) of 
this section shall not apply with respect to the determination of 
taxable income which the DISC may derive from other services described 
in paragraph (b)(4) or (5) of this section performed by a related 
supplier or commissions on such services, and such determination shall 
be made only on a transaction-by-transaction basis.
    (e) Methods of applying paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section--(1) 
Limitation on DISC income (``no loss'' rule)--(i) In general. Except as 
otherwise provided in this subparagraph, neither the gross receipts 
method nor the combined taxable income method may be applied to cause in 
any taxable year a loss to the related supplier, but either method may 
be applied to the extent it does not cause a loss. A loss to a related 
supplier would result if the taxable income of the DISC would exceed the 
combined taxable income of the related supplier and the DISC. If, 
however, there is no combined taxable income of the DISC and the related 
supplier (because, for example, a combined loss is incurred), a transfer 
price (or commission) will not be deemed to cause a loss to the related 
supplier if it allows the DISC to recover an amount not in excess of its 
costs (if any).
    (ii) Special rule for applying ``4 percent'' gross receipts method 
to sales. A transfer price or commission, determined under the ``4 
percent'' gross receipts method (determined without regard to 
subdivision (i) of this subparagraph), for a sale of export property 
referred to in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, will not be considered 
to cause a loss for the related supplier if for the DISC's taxable year, 
the ratio that (a) the taxable income of the DISC derived from such sale 
by using such price or commission bears to (b) the DISC's gross receipts 
from such sale is not greater than the ratio that (c) all of the taxable 
income of the related supplier and the DISC from all sales of the same 
product or product line (domestic and foreign) to third parties whether 
or not related parties bears to (d) the total gross receipts of the 
related supplier and the DISC from such sales. For purposes of the 
preceding sentence, sales between the DISC and its related suppliers 
shall not be taken into account under (c) or (d) of this subdivision. 
For example, assume that for a taxable year of a DISC the total costs

[[Page 689]]

of the related supplier and the DISC with respect to all sales ($150 for 
domestic and $44 for foreign) of a product line are $194 and the total 
gross receipts of the related supplier and the DISC with respect to such 
sales are $200 so that the total taxable income of the related supplier 
and the DISC with respect to such sales is $6. The parties would thus be 
entitled to compute a transfer price determined under the gross receipts 
method on any given sale of product A of such product line by the 
related supplier to the DISC which would allocate to the DISC taxable 
income equal to not more than 3 percent (i.e., $6/$200) of its gross 
receipts derived from its resale of such product. If the DISC were to 
resell an item of product A for $10, the transfer price paid by the DISC 
to the related supplier determined under the gross receipts method could 
be as low as $9.70.
    (iii) Grouping transactions. For purposes of subdivision (i) of this 
subparagraph, the basis for grouping transactions chosen by the taxpayer 
under paragraph (c)(7) of this section for the taxable year shall be 
applied. For purposes of making the computations of subdivision (ii) (c) 
and (d) of this subparagraph, however, the taxpayer may choose any basis 
for grouping transactions permissible under paragraph (c)(7) of this 
section, even though it may not be the same basis as that already chosen 
under paragraph (c)(7) of this section for computing transfer prices or 
commissions to a DISC. If, for example, the taxpayer has chosen to group 
transactions on a product basis for computing transfer prices or 
commissions to a DISC for a taxable year, the taxpayer may still group 
transactions on a product line basis for purposes of computing taxable 
income and total gross receipts under subdivision (ii) (c) and (d) of 
this subparagraph. For a further example, if the taxpayer computes 
taxable income for one group of transactions under the gross receipts 
method and computes taxable income for a second group of transactions 
under the combined taxable income method, the taxpayer may aggregate 
these transactions for purposes of computing taxable income and total 
gross receipts under subdivision (ii) (c) and (d) of this subparagraph.
    (2) Relationship to section 482. In applying the rules under section 
994, it may be necessary to first take into account the price of a 
transfer (or other transaction) between the DISC (or related supplier) 
and a related party which is subject to the arm's length standard of 
section 482. Thus, for example, where a related supplier sells export 
property to a DISC which the related supplier purchased from related 
parties, the costs taken into account in computing the combined taxable 
income of the DISC and the related supplier are determined after any 
necessary adjustment under section 482 of the price paid by the related 
supplier to the related parties. In applying section 482 to a transfer 
by a DISC, however, the DISC and its related supplier are treated as if 
they were a single entity carrying on all the functions performed by the 
DISC and the related supplier with respect to the transaction and the 
DISC shall be allowed to receive under the section 482 standard the 
amount the related supplier would have received had there been no DISC.
    (3) Initial payment of transfer price or commission. (i) The amount 
of a transfer price (or reasonable estimate thereof) actually charged by 
a related supplier to a DISC, or a sales commission (or reasonable 
estimate thereof) actually charged by a DISC to a related supplier, in a 
transaction to which section 994 applies must be paid no later than 60 
days following the close of the taxable year of the DISC during which 
the transaction occurred.
    (ii) Payment must be in the form of money, property (including 
accounts receivable from sales by or through the DISC), a written 
obligation which qualifies as debt under the safe harbor rule of Sec. 
1.992-1(d)(2)(ii), or an accounting entry offsetting the account 
receivable against an existing debt owed by the person in whose favor 
the account receivable was established to the person with whom it 
engaged in the transaction. The form of the payment to a DISC need not 
be a qualified export asset under Sec. 1.993-2. However, for the 
requirement that the adjusted basis of the qualified export assets of 
the DISC at the close of its taxable year must equal or exceed 95 
percent of the sum of the adjusted bases of all assets of the

[[Page 690]]

DISC at the close of its taxable year, see section 992(a)(1)(B).
    (iii) If the district director can demonstrate, based upon the data 
available as of the 60th day after the close of such taxable year, that 
the amount actually paid did not represent a reasonable estimate of the 
transfer price or commission (as the case may be) to be determined under 
section 994 and this section, an indebtedness will be deemed to arise, 
from the person required to make the payment in favor of the person to 
whom the payment is required to be made, in an amount equal to the 
difference between the amount of the transfer price or commission 
determined under section 994 and this section and the amount (if any) 
actually paid and received. Such indebtedness will be deemed to arise as 
of the date the transaction occurred which gave rise to the 
indebtedness, except that, if such transaction occurred in a taxable 
year of the DISC ending on or before August 15, 1975, at the taxpayer's 
option, the indebtedness will be deemed to arise as of the date by which 
payment was required under subdivision (i) of this paragraph (e)(3). 
Such indebtedness owed to a DISC shall be treated as an asset but shall 
not be treated as a trade receivable or other qualified export asset 
(see Sec. 1.993-2(d)(3)) as of the end of the taxable year of the DISC 
in which the indebtedness is deemed to arise.
    (iv)(a) Except with respect to incomplete transactions to which 
paragraph (c)(5)(i)(b) of this section applies, if the amount actually 
paid results in the DISC realizing at least 50 percent of the DISC's 
taxable income from the transaction as reported in its tax return for 
the taxable year the transaction is completed, then the amount actually 
paid shall be deemed to be a reasonable estimate of such transfer price 
or commission.
    (b) With respect to incomplete transactions to which paragraph 
(c)(5)(i)(b) of this section applies and which were initiated during a 
taxable year ending after August 15, 1975, the amount actually paid 
shall be deemed to be a reasonable estimate of such transfer price if 
any one of the following three tests is met:
    (1) The amount actually paid by the DISC to the related supplier in 
respect of the property does not exceed the related supplier's cost of 
goods sold (see paragraph (c)(6)(ii) of this section) with respect to 
the property.
    (2) If the transaction is completed by the date on which the DISC's 
return is required to be filed for the year in which the transaction was 
initiated, the amount actually paid by the DISC to the related supplier 
in respect of the property results in the DISC realizing at least 50 
percent of the DISC's taxable income from the transaction when 
completed.
    (3) The percentage that (i) an amount equal to (a) the amount 
actually paid by the DISC to the related supplier in respect of the 
property minus (b) the related supplier's cost of goods sold with 
respect to the property, bears to (ii) the related supplier's cost of 
goods sold in respect of the property, is not greater than 50 percent of 
the percentage that (iii) the combined taxable income for completed 
transactions of the same group as the property during the DISC's taxable 
year in which the incomplete transaction was initiated, bears to (iv) 
the cost of goods sold of the related supplier and DISC with respect to 
such transactions.
    (c) For purposes of this subdivision (iv), whether the transfer 
price or commission actually paid is deemed a reasonable estimate may be 
determined on the basis for grouping transactions chosen by the taxpayer 
under paragraph (c)(5) and (7) of this section.
    (v) An indebtedness arising under subdivision (iii) of this 
subparagraph shall bear interest at an arm's length rate, computed in 
the manner provided by Sec. 1.482-2(a)(2) from the 61st day after the 
close of the DISC's taxable year in which the transaction occurred which 
gave rise to the indebtedness to the date of payment. The interest so 
computed shall be accrued and included in the taxable income of the 
person to whom the indebtedness is owed for each taxable year during 
which the indebtedness is unpaid.
    (4) Subsequent determination of transfer price or commission. The 
DISC and its related supplier would ordinarily determine under section 
994 and this section the transfer price payable by the DISC

[[Page 691]]

(or the commission payable to the DISC) for a transaction before the 
DISC files its return for the taxable year of the transaction. After the 
DISC has filed its return, a redetermination of the transfer price (or 
commission) may only be made if permitted by the Code and the 
regulations thereunder. Such a redetermination would include a 
redetermination by reason of an adjustment under section 482 and the 
regulations thereunder or section 861 and Sec. 1.861-8 which affects 
the amounts which entered into the determination of the transfer price 
or commission.
    (5) Procedure for adjustments to transfer price or commission--
(i)(a) If the transfer price (or commission) for a transaction 
determined under section 994 is different from the price (or commission) 
actually charged, the person who received too small a transfer price (or 
commission) or paid too large a transfer price (or commission) shall 
establish (or be deemed to have established), at the date of the 
determination or redetermination under subparagraph (4) of this 
paragraph of the transfer price (or commission) under section 994, an 
account receivable due the DISC from the person with whom it engaged in 
the transaction equal to the difference in amount between the transfer 
price (or commission) so determined and the transfer price (or 
commission) previously paid and received. If the account receivable is 
paid within 90 days after the date it is established (or deemed 
established), then as of the end of the taxable year of the DISC in 
which the transaction occurred which gave rise to the indebtedness, the 
account receivable shall be treated as an asset and, under Sec. 1.993-
2(d)(3) as a trade receivable, and thus as a qualified export asset.
    (b) If, for example, during 1972, a DISC which uses the calendar 
year as its taxable year sold a product which it purchased that year 
from its related supplier and paid a price of $10,000 which price is a 
reasonable estimate under subparagraph (3)(iii) of this paragraph but is 
later determined under section 994 to be $8,000 immediately before the 
DISC filed its return for 1972, the DISC must be paid $2,000 (i.e., 
$10,000-$8,000) by its related supplier or establish an account 
receivable from its related supplier of $2,000. The account receivable 
may be paid without tax consequences, provided that such account 
receivable is paid within 90 days after the date it is established (or 
deemed established). Such account receivable paid within such 90 days 
will be considered to relate to the taxable year in which the 
transaction occurred which gave rise thereto rather than the taxable 
year during which it is established or paid.
    (ii) Payment must be in a form specified in subparagraph (3) of this 
paragraph.
    (iii) If an account receivable of a DISC described in subdivision 
(i) of this paragraph (e)(5) is not paid within 90 days of the date it 
is established (or deemed established), then, as of the end of the 
taxable year of the DISC in which the transaction occurred which gives 
rise to the indebtedness, the account receivable shall be treated as an 
asset except that, if the account receivable is established (or deemed 
established) in a taxable year of the DISC ending on or before August 
15, 1975, at the taxpayer's option, the account receivable shall be 
treated as an asset as of the end of such taxable year. However, under 
Sec. 1.993-2(d)(3), an account receivable referred to in the preceding 
sentence shall not be treated as a trade receivable or other qualified 
export asset.
    (iv) An account receivable established in accordance with 
subdivision (i) of this subparagraph shall bear interest at an arm's 
length rate, computed in the manner provided by Sec. 1.482-2(a)(2) from 
the day after the date the account receivable is deemed established to 
the date of payment. The interest so computed shall be accrued and 
included in the taxpayer's taxable income for each taxable year during 
which the account receivable is outstanding.
    (v)(a) In lieu of establishing an account receivable in accordance 
with subdivision (i) of this subparagraph for all or part of an amount 
due a related supplier, the related supplier and DISC are permitted to 
treat all or part of any distribution which was made by the DISC out of 
its previously taxed income with respect to the year to which the 
determination or redetermination

[[Page 692]]

relates as an additional payment of transfer price or repayment of 
commission (and not as a distribution) made as of the date the 
distribution was made. Any additional amount arising on the 
determination or redetermination due the related supplier after this 
treatment shall be represented by an account receivable established 
under subdivision (i) of this subparagraph. To the extent that a 
distribution is so treated under this subdivision (v), it shall cease to 
qualify as distribution for any Federal income tax purpose, and the 
DISC's account for previously taxed income shall be adjusted 
accordingly. If all or part of any distribution made to a shareholder 
other than the related supplier is recharacterized under this 
subdivision (v), the related supplier shall establish an account 
receivable from that shareholder for the amount so recharacterized. Such 
account receivable shall be paid in the time and manner set forth in 
this paragraph (e)(5). In order to obtain the relief provided by this 
subdivision (v), the conditions and procedures prescribed by Revenue 
Procedure 84-3 must be met. The provisions of this paragraph (e)(5)(v) 
shall apply to all open taxable years ending after December 31, 1971.
    (b) If, for example, during 1982, a DISC commission from a related 
supplier with respect to a transaction completed in 1980 was 
redetermined to be $1,000 less than the commission actually charged by, 
and paid to, the DISC, the amount of any distribution previously made by 
the DISC from its 1980 previously taxed income to the related supplies 
as a shareholder may, to the extent of $1,000, be treated not as a 
distribution but as a repayment of the commission.
    (vi) The procedure for adjustments to transfer price provided by 
this subparagraph does not apply to incomplete transactions described in 
paragraph (c)(5)(i)(b) of this section. Such procedure will, however, be 
applied to any such transaction with respect to the taxable year in 
which the transaction is completed.
    (6) Examples. The provisions of this paragraph may be illustrated by 
the following examples:

    Example 1. (i) During 1975, a DISC which uses the calendar year as 
its taxable year purchased a product from its related supplier and made 
an initial payment of $8,500. If $8,500 were determined to be the 
transfer price under section 994, the DISC's taxable income from the 
transaction would be $1,000. Immediately before the DISC filed its 
return for 1975, under section 994 it is determined that the transfer 
price is $8,000 and the DISC's taxable income is $1,500. Thus, the 
requirement of a reasonable estimate under subparagraph (3) of this 
paragraph was met because the amount ($8,500) actually paid resulted in 
the DISC realizing taxable income of $1,000 which is not less than 50 
percent of the DISC's taxable income ($1,500) from the transaction as 
determined under section 994.
    (ii) Pursuant to subparagraph (5) of this paragraph, an account 
receivable due the DISC for $500, i.e., $8,500-$8,000, is established on 
September 15, 1976, the date the DISC files its return for 1975, and is 
paid on December 1, 1976. The account receivable for $500 will be 
considered to relate to the taxable year (1975) in which the transaction 
occurred which gave rise thereto and will be a qualified export asset 
under Sec. 1.993-2(d)(3) for the last day of such year.
    Example 2. Assume the same facts as in example 1 except that the 
account receivable for $500 is paid on January 1, 1977. The account 
receivable for $500 will still be considered to relate to the taxable 
year (1975) in which the transaction occurred which gave rise thereto. 
However, such account receivable will be treated as an asset which is 
not a qualified export asset under Sec. 1.993-2(d)(3) for the last day 
of such year.

    (f) Export promotion expenses--(1) Purpose of expense. (i) In order 
for an expense or cost of a type described in subparagraph (2) of this 
paragraph to be an export promotion expense, the expense or cost must be 
incurred or treated as incurred by the DISC (under subparagraph (7) of 
this paragraph) to advance the sale, lease, or other distribution of 
export property for use, consumption, or distribution outside the United 
States. Costs of services in performing installation (but not assembly) 
on the site and for meeting warranty commitments if such services are 
related and subsidiary (within the meaning of Sec. 1.993-1(d)) to any 
qualified sale, lease, or other distribution of export property by the 
DISC (or with respect to which the DISC received a commission) will be 
considered to advance the sale, lease, or other distribution of export 
property. General and administrative

[[Page 693]]

expenses attributable to billing customers, other clerical functions of 
the DISC, or generally operating the DISC, will also be considered to 
advance the sale, lease, or other distribution of export property.
    (ii) Where an expense or cost incurred or treated as incurred by the 
DISC qualifies only in part as an export promotion expense, such expense 
or cost must be allocated between the qualified portion and such other 
portion on a reasonable basis. See Sec. 1.994-2(b)(2) for the option of 
the related supplier not to claim expenses as export promotion expenses.
    (2) Types of expenses. The only expenses or costs which may be 
export promotion expenses are those expenses or costs meeting the test 
of subparagraph (1) of this paragraph which constitute--
    (i) Ordinary and necessary expenses of the DISC paid or incurred 
during the DISC's taxable year in carrying on any trade or business, 
allowable as deductions under section 162, such as expenses for market 
studies, advertising, salaries and wages (including contributions or 
compensations deductible under section 404) of sales, clerical, and 
other personnel, rentals on property, sales commissions, warehousing, 
and other selling expenses,
    (ii) A reasonable allowance under section 167 for exhaustion, wear 
and tear, or obsolescence of the property of the DISC,
    (iii) Costs of freight (subject to the limitations of subparagraph 
(4) of this paragraph),
    (iv) Costs of packaging for export (as defined in subparagraph (5) 
of this paragraph), or
    (v) Costs of designing and labeling packages exclusively for export 
markets (under subparagraph (6) of this paragraph).
    (3) Ineligible expenses. Items ineligible to be export promotion 
expenses include, for example, interest expenses, bad debt expenses, 
freight insurance, State and local income and franchise taxes, the cost 
of manufacture or assembly operations, and items of cost of goods sold 
(except as otherwise provided in this paragraph in the case of certain 
freight, packaging, and designing and labeling expenses). Income or 
similar taxes eligible for a foreign tax credit under sections 901 and 
903 are also not eligible to be export promotion expenses.
    (4) Freight expenses--(i) In general. Export promotion expenses 
include one-half of the freight expense (not including insurance) for 
shipping export property aboard a U.S.-flag carrier in those cases where 
law or regulation of the United States or of any State or political 
subdivision thereof or of any agency or instrumentality of any of these 
does not require that the export property be shipped aboard a U.S.-flag 
carrier. For purposes of this paragraph, the term ``freight expense'' 
includes charges paid for c.o.d. service, miscellaneous ground charges, 
such as charges incurred for services normally performed by U.S.-flag 
carriers, charges for services of loading aboard U.S.-flag carriers 
normally performed by such carriers, freight forwarders, or independent 
contractors engaged in loading property, and charges attributable to a 
freight consolidation function normally performed by freight forwarders. 
In order for one-half of freight expenses paid to the owner (or the 
agent of the owner) of a U.S.-flag carrier to be claimed as an export 
promotion expense, the DISC must obtain a written statement (such as, 
for example, a bill of lading) from the owner (or the agent) disclosing 
that the export property was shipped aboard the owner's U.S.-flag 
carrier or another U.S.-flag carrier, and the DISC must have no 
reasonable basis for disbelieving such statement of the owner (or the 
agent). For the requirement of a written statement from a freight 
forwarder, see subdivision (iv) of this subparagraph.
    (ii) U.S.-flag carrier defined. For purposes of this paragraph, the 
term ``U.S.-flag carrier'' is an airplane owned and operated by a U.S. 
person or persons (as defined in section 7701(a)(30)) or a ship 
documented under the laws of the United States. Shipment initiated by 
delivery to the U.S. Postal Service shall be considered shipment aboard 
a U.S.-flag carrier, but not if shipped to a place to which mail 
shipments from the United States are

[[Page 694]]

ordinarily accomplished by land transportation, such as to Canada or 
Mexico, unless airmail is specified.
    (iii) Shipment pursuant to law or regulation. Shipment pursuant to 
law or regulation includes instances where a U.S.-flag carrier must be 
used in order to obtain permission from the Government to make the 
export. If the law or regulation requires a fixed portion of the export 
property to be shipped aboard a U.S.-flag carrier, the freight expense 
on that portion of such export property that was so shipped in order to 
satisfy such requirement cannot qualify as an export promotion expense.
    (iv) Freight forwarders. A payment to a freight forwarder shall be 
considered freight expense within the meaning of this paragraph to the 
extent the forwarder utilizes a U.S.-flag carrier. For purposes of this 
paragraph, the term ``freight forwarder'' includes air freight 
consolidators and carriers owned and operated by U.S. persons utilizing 
U.S.- flag carriers such as non-vessel-owning common carriers. In order 
for one-half of freight expenses paid to a freight forwarder to be 
claimed as export promotion expenses, the DISC must obtain a written 
statement (such as, for example, a bill of lading) from the freight 
forwarder disclosing that the export property was shipped aboard a U.S.-
flag carrier, and the DISC must have no reasonable basis for 
disbelieving such statement of the freight forwarder.
    (v) Freight within the United States. A DISC may not claim as export 
promotion expense any amount that is attributable to carriage of export 
property between points within the United States. If, however, export 
property is carried from the United States to a foreign country on a 
through shipment pursuant to a single bill of lading or similar document 
aboard one or more U.S.-flag carriers, the freight expense of such 
carriage shall not be apportioned between the domestic and foreign 
portions of such carriage, even though a carrier may stop en route 
within the United States or the export property may be shifted from one 
carrier to another, and one-half of such freight expense may be claimed 
as an export promotion expense. Freight expense does not include the 
cost of transporting the export property to the depot of the U.S.-flag 
carrier or freight forwarder for shipment abroad. The expense of 
shipment of export property initiated by delivery to the U.S. Postal 
Service for ultimate delivery outside the United States shall be 
considered as attributable entirely to carriage of such property outside 
the United States.
    (5) Packaging for export. (i) Export promotion expenses include the 
direct and indirect cost of packaging export property (including the 
cost of the package) for export whether or not the packaging is the same 
as domestic packaging. Such packaging costs do not include costs of 
manufacturing (as defined in the regulations under section 993) and 
assembly. Thus, if a DISC buys and packages export property for resale, 
its costs of packaging the export property are export promotion 
expenses. If, however, the process of such packaging by the DISC is 
physically integrated with the process of manufacturing the export 
property by the related supplier, the costs of such packaging are not 
export promotion expenses.
    (ii) The cost of containers leased from a shipping company to which 
the DISC also pays freight for the property packaged is not a cost of 
packaging. However, in such circumstances, one-half of the rental charge 
may be allowable as a freight expense if permitted under subparagraph 
(4) of this paragraph.
    (6) Designing and labeling packages. Export promotion expenses 
include the direct and indirect costs of designing and labeling 
packages, including bottles, cans, jars, boxes, cartons, or containers, 
to the extent incurred for export markets. Thus, for example, to the 
extent incurred for supplying export markets, the cost of designing 
labels in a foreign language and the cost of printing such labels are 
export promotion expenses.
    (7) DISC must incur export promotion expenses--(i) In general. In 
order for an expense to be an export promotion expense it must be 
incurred or treated as incurred under this subparagraph by the DISC. For 
example, an expense is incurred by a DISC if the expense results from 
(a) the DISC incurring an

[[Page 695]]

obligation to pay compensation to its employees, (b) depreciation of 
property owned by the DISC and used by its employees, (c) the DISC 
incurring an obligation to pay for office supplies used by its 
employees, (d) the DISC incurring an obligation to pay space costs for 
use by its employees, or (e) the DISC incurring an obligation to pay 
other costs supporting efforts by its employees.
    (ii) Payments to independent contractors. A payment to an 
independent contractor, directly or indirectly, is treated as incurred 
by the DISC if the cost of performing the function performed by the 
independent contractor would be considered an export promotion expense 
described in subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph if performed by 
the DISC, and if, in a case where the services of the independent 
contractor were engaged by a party related to the DISC, such related 
party and such DISC agreed in writing before the contract was entered 
into that a specified portion or all of the contract was for the benefit 
of the DISC and that all of the expenses of the contract (eligible to be 
considered as export promotion expenses) with respect to such portion 
would be borne by the DISC.
    (iii) Expenses incurred by related parties. Reimbursements or other 
payments by a DISC to a related party are export promotion expenses only 
if the expenses of the related party for which reimbursement is made are 
for space in a building actually used by employees of the DISC or for 
export property owned by the DISC. Except as otherwise provided in the 
preceding sentence, expenses incurred by a foreign international sales 
corporation (FISC) or a real property holding company (as defined in 
section 993(e)(1) and (2), respectively) shall not be treated as export 
promotion expenses of its DISC.
    (iv) Selling commissions paid by a DISC. A commission paid by a DISC 
to a person other than a related person, with respect to a transaction 
which gives rise to qualified export receipts of the DISC, is an export 
promotion expense of the DISC. A commission paid by a DISC to a related 
person is not an export promotion expense.
    (v) Sales of promotional material. If a DISC sells promotional 
material to a buyer of export property from the DISC at a price which is 
greater than the costs of the DISC for such material, such costs are not 
export promotion expenses. If, however, the DISC sells promotional 
material at a price which is less than its costs for such material, the 
excess of such costs over such price is an export promotion expense. For 
rules relating to the status of promotional material as qualified export 
assets and export property, see Sec. Sec. 1.993-2 and 1.993-3, 
respectively.
    (vi) An expense may be incurred by the DISC under subdivisions (i) 
through (v) of this subparagraph even if the accounting for and payment 
of such expense is handled by a related party and the DISC reimburses 
the related party for such expenses.
    (8) Incomplete transactions. Expenses eligible to be treated as 
export promotion expenses which are attributable to the sale, lease, or 
other distribution of export property and which are incurred prior to 
the taxable year of sale, lease, or other distribution by the DISC are 
not treated as export promotion expenses until the taxable year of sale, 
lease, or other distribution or until the taxable year in which it is 
first determined that no transaction is reasonably expected to result 
from the expense incurred (whether or not a transaction subsequently 
results). Thus, for example, if a DISC incurs a packaging cost which is 
otherwise eligible to be treated as an export promotion expense, the 
DISC may not include such charge as an export promotion expense until 
the year in which the export property with respect to which the 
packaging cost was incurred is actually sold by the DISC. If no 
transaction is reasonably expected to result from the packaging cost, 
such cost should be allocated as an export promotion expense to the 
group of transactions to which such cost is most closely related.
    (g) Examples. The provisions of this section may be illustrated by 
the following examples:

    Example 1. J and K are calendar year taxpayers. J, a domestic 
manufacturing company, owns all the stock of K, a DISC for the taxable 
year. During 1972, J manufactures only 100 units of a product (which is 
eligible to be export property as defined in section

[[Page 696]]

993(c)). J enters into a written agreement with K whereby K is granted a 
sales franchise with respect to exporting such property and K will 
receive commissions with respect to such exports equal to the maximum 
amount permitted to be received under the intercompany pricing rules of 
section 994. Thereafter, the 100 units are sold for $1,000. J's cost of 
goods sold attributable to the 100 units is $650. J's direct selling 
expenses so attributable are $100. Although J has other deductible 
expenses, for purposes of this example assume that J has no other 
deductible expenses. K pays $230 to independent contractors which 
qualify as export promotion expenses under paragraph (f)(7)(ii) of this 
section. K does not perform functions substantial enough to entitle it 
to an allocation of income which meets the arm's length standard of 
section 482. The income which K may earn under section 994 under the 
franchise is $20, computed as follows:

(1) Combined taxable income:
  (a) K's sales price.................................  .......   $1,000
  (b) Less deductions:
    J's cost of goods sold............................     $650
    J's direct selling expenses.......................      100
    K's export promotion expenses.....................      230
                                                       ---------
        Total deductions..............................  .......      980
                                                                --------
  (c) Combined taxable income.........................  .......       20
                                                                ========
(2) K's profit under combined taxable income method (before
 application of loss limitation):
  (a) 50 percent of combined taxable income....................       10
  (b) Plus: 10 percent of K's export promotion expenses (10% of       23
   $230).......................................................
                                                       ----------
  (c) K's profit...............................................       33
                                                       ==========
(3) K's profit under gross receipts method (before application
 of loss limitation):
  (a) 4 percent of K's sales price (4% of $1,000)..............       40
  (b) Plus: 10 percent of K's export promotion expenses (10% of       23
   $230).......................................................
                                                       ----------
  (c) K's profit...............................................       63
                                                                ========


    Since combined taxable income ($20) is lower than both K's profit 
under the combined taxable income method ($33) and under the gross 
receipts method ($63), the maximum income K may earn is $20. 
Accordingly, the commissions K may receive from J are $250, i.e., K's 
expenses ($230) plus K's profit ($20).
    Example 2. M and N are calendar year taxpayers. M, a domestic 
manufacturing company, owns all the stock of N, a DISC for the taxable 
year. During 1972, M produces and sells a particular product line of 
export property to N for $75, a price which can be justified as 
satisfying the standard of arm's length price of section 482. N performs 
substantial functions with respect to the transaction and resells the 
export property for $100. M's cost of goods sold attributable to the 
export property is $60. M's direct selling expenses so attributable 
(relating to advertising of the product line in foreign markets) are 
$12. Although M has other deductible expenses, for purposes of this 
example, assume that M has no other deductible expenses. N's expenses 
attributable to resale of the export property are $22 of which $20 are 
export promotion expenses. The maximum profit which N may earn with 
respect to the product line is $6, computed as follows:

(1) Combined taxable income:
  (a) N's sales price.................................  .......     $100
  (b) Less deductions:
    M's cost of goods sold............................      $60
    M's direct selling expenses.......................       12
    N's expenses......................................       22
                                                                --------
      Total deductions................................  .......       94
                                                                --------
  (c) Combined taxable income.........................  .......        6
                                                                ========
(2) N's profit under combined taxable income method (before
 application of loss limitation):
  (a) 50 percent of combined taxable income....................        3
  (b) Plus: 10 percent of N's export promotion expenses (10% of        2
   $20)........................................................
                                                       ----------
  (c) N's profit...............................................        5
                                                       ==========
(3) N's profit under gross receipts method (before application
 of loss limitation):
  (a) 4 percent of N's sales price (4% of $100)................        4
  (b) Plus: 10 percent of N's export promotion expenses (10% of        2
   $20)........................................................
                                                       ----------
  (c) N's profit...............................................        6
                                                       ==========
(4) N's profit under section 482 method:
  (a) N's sales price..........................................      100
  (b) Less deductions:
    N's cost of goods sold (price paid by N to M).....       75
    N's expenses......................................       22
                                                                --------
      Total deductions................................  .......       97
                                                                --------
  (c) N's profit......................................  .......        3
                                                                ========


    Since the gross receipts method results in greater profit to N ($6) 
than does the combined taxable income method ($5) or section 482 method 
($3), and does not exceed combined taxable income ($6), N may earn a 
maximum profit of $6. Accordingly, the transfer price from M to N may be 
readjusted as long as the transfer price is not readjusted below $72, 
computed as follows:

(5) Transfer price from M to N:
  (a) N's sales price...................................  ......    $100
  (b) Less:
    N's expenses........................................     $22
    N's profit..........................................       6
                                                         --------
      Total subtractions................................  ......      28
                                                                 -------
  (c) Transfer price....................................  ......      72


    Example 3. Q and R are calendar year taxpayers. Q, a domestic 
manufacturing company, owns all the stock of R, a DISC for the taxable 
year. During 1972, Q produces and sells a product line of export 
property to R for $170, a price which can be justified as satisfying the 
standards of arm's length price of

[[Page 697]]

section 482, and R resells the export property for $200. Q's cost of 
goods sold attributable to the export property is $115 so that the 
combined gross income from the sale of the export property is $85 (i.e., 
$200 minus $115). Q's expenses incurred in connection with the property 
sold are $35. Q's deductible overhead and other supportive expenses 
allocable to all gross income are $6. Apportionment of these supportive 
expenses on the basis of gross income does not result in a material 
distortion of income and is a reasonable method of apportionment. Q's 
gross income from sources other than the transaction is $170 making 
total gross income of Q and R (excluding the transfer price paid by R) 
$255 (i.e., $85 plus $170). R's expenses attributable to resale of the 
export property are $20, all of which are export promotion expenses. The 
maximum profit which R may earn with respect to the product line is $16, 
computed as follows:

(1) Combined taxable income:
  (a) R's sales price...................................  ......    $200
  (b) Less deductions:
    (i) Q's cost of goods sold..........................     115
    (ii) Q's expenses incurred in connection with the         35
     property sold......................................
    (iii) Apportionment of Q's supportive
     expenses:
      Q's supportive expenses.................        $6
      Combined gross income from sale of              85
       export property........................
      Total gross income of Q and R...........       255
      Apportionment...........................   (6x85)/       2
                                                     255
    (iv) R's expenses.........................  ........      20
                                                         --------
      Total deductions........................  ........  ......     172
                                                                 -------
  (c) Combined taxable income...................................      28
                                               ===========
(2) R's profit under combined taxable income method (before
 application of loss limitation):
  (a) 50 percent of combined taxable income.....................      14
  (b) Plus: 10 percent of R's export promotion expenses (10% of        2
   $20).........................................................
                                               -----------
  (c) R's profit................................................      16
                                               ===========
(3) R's profit under gross receipts method (before application
 of loss limitation):
  (a) 4 percent of R's sales price (4% of $200).................       8
  (b) Plus: 10 percent of R's export promotion expenses (10% of        2
   $20).........................................................
                                               -----------
  (c) R's profit................................................      10
                                               ===========
(4) R's profit under section 482 method:
  (a) R's sales price...........................................     200
  (b) Less deductions:
    R's cost of goods sold (price paid by R to Q).......     170
    R's expenses........................................      20
                                               ----------
      Total deductions..................................  ......     190
                                                         ---------
  (c) R's profit........................................  ......      10
                                                                 =======


    Since the combined taxable income method results in greater profit 
to R ($16) than does the gross receipts method ($10) or section 482 
method ($10), and does not exceed combined taxable income ($28), R may 
earn a maximum profit of $16. Accordingly, the transfer price from Q to 
R may be readjusted as long as the transfer price is not readjusted 
below $164 computed as follows:

(5) Transfer price from Q to R:
  (a) R's sales price...................................  ......    $200
  (b) Less:
    R's expenses........................................     $20
    R's profit..........................................      16
                                                         --------
      Total.............................................  ......      36
                                                                 -------
  (c) Transfer price....................................  ......     164
                                                                 =======


    Example 4. S and T are calendar year taxpayers. S, a domestic 
manufacturing company, owns all the stock of T, a DISC for the taxable 
year. During 1972, S produces and sells 100 units of a particular 
product to T under a written agreement which provides that the transfer 
price between S and T shall be that price which allocates to T the 
maximum permitted to be received under the intercompany pricing rules of 
section 994. Thereafter, the 100 units are sold by T for $950. S's cost 
of goods sold attributable to the 100 units is $650. S's other 
deductible expenses so attributable are $300. Although S has other 
deductible expenses, for purposes of this example, assume that S has no 
deductible expenses not definitely allocable to any item of gross 
income. T's expenses attributable to the resale of the 100 units are 
$50. S chooses not to apply the section 482 method. T may not earn any 
income under the gross receipts or combined taxable income method with 
respect to resale of the 100 units because combined taxable income is a 
negative figure, computed as follows:

(1) Combined taxable income:
  (a) T's sales price...................................  ......    $950
  (b) Less deductions:
    S's cost of goods sold..............................    $650
    S's expenses........................................     300
    T's expenses........................................      50
                                                         --------
      Total deductions..................................  ......   1,000
                                                                 -------
  (c) Combined taxable income (loss)....................  ......   ($50)
                                                                 =======


    Under paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section, T is permitted to recover 
its expenses attributable to the 100 units ($50) even though such 
recovery results in a loss or increased loss to the related supplier. 
Accordingly, the transfer price from S to T may be readjusted as long as 
the transfer price is not readjusted below $900, computed as follows:

(2) Transfer price from S to T:
  (a) T's sales price...........................................    $950
  (b) Less: T's expenses........................................      50
                                                                 -------
  (c) Transfer price............................................     900
                                                                 =======



[[Page 698]]

    Example 5. Assume the same facts as in example 4 except that S 
chooses to apply the section 482 method and that under arm's length 
dealings T would have derived $10 of income. Accordingly, the transfer 
price from S to T may be set at an amount not less than $890, computed 
as follows:

(1) Transfer price from S to T:
  (a) T's sales price...................................  ......    $950
  (b) Less:
    T's expenses........................................     $50
    T's profit..........................................      10
                                                         --------
      Total deductions..................................  ......      60
                                                                 -------
  (c) Transfer price....................................  ......     890
                                                                 =======


    Example 6. X and Y are calendar year taxpayers. X, a domestic 
manufacturing company, owns all the stock of Y, a DISC for the taxable 
year. During March 1972, X manufactures a particular product of export 
property which it leases on April 1, 1972, to Y for a term of 1 year at 
a monthly rental of $1,000, a rent which satisfies the standard of arm's 
length rental under section 482. Y subleases the product on April 1, 
1972, for a term of 1 year at a monthly rental of $1,200. X's cost for 
the product leased is $40,000. X's other deductible expenses 
attributable to the product are $900, all of which are incurred in 1972. 
Although X has other deductible expenses, for purposes of this example, 
assume that X has no other deductible expenses. Y's expenses 
attributable to sublease of the export property are $450, all of which 
are incurred in 1972 and are export promotion expenses. X depreciates 
the property on a straight line basis without the use of an averaging 
convention, assuming a useful life of 8 years and no salvage value. The 
profit which Y may earn with respect to the transaction is $2,895 for 
1972 and $1,175 for 1973, computed as follows:

                          computation for 1972
(1) Combined taxable income:
  (a) Y's sublease rental receipts for year           ........   $10,800
   ($1,200x9 months)................................
  (b) Less deductions:
    X's depreciation ($40,000x1/8x9/12).............    $3,750
    X's other expenses..............................       900
    Y's expenses....................................       450
                                                     ----------
      Total deductions..............................  ........     5,100
                                                               ---------
  (c) Combined taxable income.......................  ........     5,700
                                                               =========
(2) Y's profit under combined taxable income method (before
 application of loss limitation):
  (a) 50 percent of combined taxable income...................     2,850
  (b) Plus: 10 percent of Y's export promotion expenses (10%          45
   of $450)...................................................
                                                     -----------
  (c) Y's profit..............................................     2,895
                                                     ===========
(3) Y's profit under gross receipts method (before application
 of loss limitation):
  (a) 4 percent of Y's sublease rental receipts for year (4%         432
   of $10,800)................................................
  (b) Plus: 10 percent of Y's export promotion expenses (10%          45
   of $450)...................................................
                                                     -----------
  (c) Y's profit..............................................       477
                                                     ===========
(4) Y's profit under section 482 method:
  (a) Y's sublease rental receipts for year...................   $10,800
  (b) Less deductions:
    Y's lease rental payments for year..............    $9,000
    Y's expenses....................................       450
                                                     ----------
  Total deductions..................................  ........     9,450
                                                               ---------
  (c) Y's profit....................................  ........     1,350


    Since the combined taxable income method results in greater profit 
to Y ($2,895) than does the gross receipts method ($477) or section 482 
method ($1,350), Y may earn a profit of $2,895 for 1972. Accordingly, 
the monthly rental payable by Y to X for 1972 may be readjusted as long 
as the monthly rental payable is not readjusted below $828.33, computed 
as follows:

(5) Monthly rental payable by Y to X for 1972:
  (a) Y's sublease rental receipts for year.................  $10,800.00
  (b) Less:
    Y's expenses..................................    450.00
    Y's profit....................................  2,895.00
                                                   ----------
      Total.......................................  ........    3,345.00
                                                             -----------
  (c) Rental payable for 1972...............................    7,455.00
                                                   -----------
  (d) Rental payable each month ($7,455/9 months)...........      828.33
                                                   ===========
                          computation for 1973

(1) Combined taxable income:
  (a) Y's sublease rental receipts for year ($1,200x3             $3,600
   months)..................................................
  (b) Less: X's depreciation ($40,000x1/8x3/12).............       1,250
                                                   -----------
  (c) Combined taxable income...............................       2,350
                                                   ===========
(2) Y's profit under combined taxable income method (before
 application of loss limitation):
  (a) 50 percent of combined taxable income.................      $1,175
                                                   -----------
  (b) Y's profit............................................       1,175
                                                   ===========
(3) Y's profit under gross receipts method (before
 application of loss limitation):
  (a) 4 percent of Y's sublease rental receipts for year (4%         144
   of $3,600)...............................................
                                                   ===========
  (b) Y's profit............................................         144
                                                   ===========
(4) Y's profit under section 482 method:
  (a) Y's sublease rental receipts for year.................       3,600
  (b) Less: Y's lease rental payments for year..............       3,000
                                                   -----------
  (c) Y's profit............................................         600


    Since the combined taxable income method results in greater profit 
to Y ($1,175) than does the gross receipts method ($144) or section 482 
method ($600), Y may earn a profit of $1,175 for 1973. Accordingly, the 
monthly rental payable by Y to X for 1973 may be readjusted as long as 
the monthly rental payable is not readjusted below $808.33, computed as 
follows:

[[Page 699]]



(5) Monthly rental payable by Y to X for 1973:
  (a) Y's sublease rental receipts for year.................   $3,600.00
  (b) Less: Y's profit......................................    1,175.00
                                                             -----------
  (c) Rental payable for 1973...............................    2,425.00
                                                             ===========
  (d) Rental payable for each month ($2,425/3 months).......      808.33
                                                             ===========



(Secs. 995(e)(7), (8) and (10), 995(g) and 7805 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1954 (90 Stat. 1655, 26 U.S.C. 995 (e)(7), (8) and (10); 90 
Stat. 1659, 26 U.S.C. 995(g); and 68A Stat 917, 26 U.S.C. 7805))

[T.D. 7364, 40 FR 29827, July 16, 1975, as amended by T.D. 7435, 41 FR 
43142, Sept. 30, 1976; T.D. 7854, 47 FR 51741, Nov. 17, 1982; T.D. 7984, 
49 FR 40018, Oct. 12, 1984]