[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 18]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR305.7871-1]

[Page 759-761]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 305_TEMPORARY PROCEDURAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TAX REGULATIONS UNDER 
THE INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENTAL TAX STATUS ACT OF 1982--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 305.7871-1  Indian tribal governments treated as States for certain 
purposes.

    (a) In general. An Indian tribal government, as defined in section 
7701 (a)(40) and the regulations thereunder, shall be treated as a 
State, and a subdivision of an Indian tribal government, as determined 
under section 7871(d) and paragraph (e) of this section, shall be 
treated as a political subdivision of a State, under the following 
sections and regulations thereunder--
    (1) Section 170 (relating to income tax deductions for charitable, 
etc., contributions and gifts), sections 2055 and 2106(a)(2) (relating 
to estate tax deductions for transfers of public, charitable, and 
religious uses), and section 2522 (relating to gift tax deductions for 
charitable and similar gifts), for purposes of determining whether and 
in what amount any contribution or transfer to or for the use of an 
Indian tribal government (or subdivision thereof) is deductible;
    (2) Section 164 (relating to deductions for taxes);
    (3) Section 511(a)(2)(B) (relating to the taxation of colleges and 
universities which are agencies or instrumentalities of governments or 
their political subdivisions);
    (4) Section 37(e)(9)(A) (relating to certain public retirement 
systems);
    (5) Section 41(c)(4) (defining ``State'' for purposes of credit for 
contributions to candidates for public offices);
    (6) Section 117(b)(2)(A) (relating to scholarships and fellowship 
grants);
    (7) Section 403(b)(1)(A)(ii) (relating to the taxation of 
contributions of certain employers for employee annuities);
    (8) Chapter 41 of the Code (relating to tax on excess expenditures 
to influence legislation); and
    (9) Subchapter A of chapter 42 of the Code (relating to private 
foundations).
    (b) Special rule for excise tax provisions. An Indian tribal 
government shall be treated as a State, and a subdivision of an Indian 
tribal government shall be treated as a political subdivision of a 
State, for purposes of any exemption from, credit or refund of, or 
payment with respect to, an excise tax imposed on a transaction under--
    (1) Chapter 31 of the Code (relating to tax on special fuels);
    (2) Chapter 32 of the Code (relating to manufacturers excise taxes);
    (3) Subchapter B of chapter 33 of the Code (relating to 
communications excise tax); and
    (4) Subchapter D of chapter 36 of the Code (relating to tax on use 
of certain highway vehicles), if, in addition to satisfying all 
requirements applicable to a similar transaction involving a State (or 
political subdivision thereof) under the Code, the transaction involves 
the exercise of an essential governmental function of the Indian tribal

[[Page 760]]

government, as defined in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (c) Special rule for tax-exempt bonds. An Indian tribal government 
shall be treated as a State and a subdivision of an Indian tribal 
government shall be treated as a political subdivision of a State for 
purposes of any obligation issued by such government or subdivision 
under section 103 (relating to interest on certain governmental 
obligations) if such obligation is part of an issue substantially all of 
the proceeds of which are to be used in the exercise of an essential 
governmental function, as defined in paragraph (d) of this section. For 
purposes of section 7871 and this section, the ``substantially all'' 
test is the same as that provided in Sec. 1.103-8(a)(1)(i). An Indian 
tribal government shall not be treated as a State and a subdivision of 
an Indian tribal government shall not be treated as a political 
subdivision of a State, however, for issues of the following private 
activity bonds--
    (1) An industrial development bond (as defined in section 
103(b)(2));
    (2) An obligation described in section 103(l)(1)(A) (relating to 
scholarship bonds); or
    (3) A mortgage subsidy bond (as defined in section 103A(b)(1), 
without regard to section 103A(b)(2)).
    (d) Essential governmental function. For purposes of section 7871 
and this section, an essential governmental function of an Indian tribal 
government (or portion thereof) is a function of a type which is--
    (1) Eligible for funding under 25 U.S.C. 13 and the regulations 
thereunder;
    (2) Eligible for grants or contracts under 25 U.S.C. 450 (f), (g), 
and (h) and the regulations thereunder; or
    (3) An essential governmental function under section 115 and the 
regulations thereunder when conducted by a State or political 
subdivision thereof.
    (e) Treatment of subdivisions of Indian tribal governments as 
political subdivisions. A subdivision of an Indian tribal government 
shall be treated as a political subdivision of a State for purposes of 
section 7871 and this section if the Internal Revenue Service determines 
that the subdivision has been delegated the right to exercise one or 
more of the substantial governmental functions of the Indian tribal 
government. Designation of a subdivision of an Indian tribal government 
as a political subdivision of a State will be by revenue procedure. If a 
subdivision of an Indian tribal government is not currently designated 
by the applicable revenue procedure as a political subdivision of a 
State, and such subdivision believes that it qualifies for such 
designation, the subdivision may apply for a ruling from the Internal 
Revenue Service. In order to qualify as a political subdivision of a 
State, for purposes of section 7871 and this section, such subdivision 
must receive a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service. The 
request for a ruling shall be made in accordance with all applicable 
procedural rules set forth in the Statement of Procedural Rules (26 CFR 
part 601) and any applicable revenue procedures relating to submission 
of ruling requests. The request shall be submitted to the Internal 
Revenue Service, Associate Chief Counsel (Technical), Attention: 
CC:IND:S, Room 6545, 1111 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, D.C. 
20224.
    (f) Effective dates--(1) In general. Except as provided in paragraph 
(f)(2) of this section, the provisions of this section are effective 
after December 31, 1982.
    (2) Specific effective dates. Specific provisions of this section 
are effective as follows:
    (i) Provisions relating to chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1954 (other than section 103 and section 37(e)(9)(A)) shall apply to 
taxable years beginning after December 31, 1982, and before January 1, 
1985;
    (ii) Provisions relating to section 37(e)(9)(A) shall apply to 
taxable years beginning after December 31, 1982, and before January 1, 
1984;
    (iii) Provisions relating to section 103 shall apply to obligations 
issued after December 31, 1982, and before January 1, 1985;
    (iv) Provisions relating to chapter 11 of the Code shall apply to 
estates of decedents dying after December 31, 1982, and before January 
1, 1985;
    (v) Provisions relating to chapter 12 of the Code shall apply to 
gifts made after December 31, 1982, and before January 1, 1985; and

[[Page 761]]

    (vi) Provisions relating to taxes imposed by subtitle D of the Code 
shall take effect on January 1, 1983 and shall cease to apply at the 
close of December 31, 1984.

                        PARTS 306	399 [RESERVED]