[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 16]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR48.4216(b)-4]

[Page 151-153]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 48_MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS EXCISE TAXES--Table of Contents
 
     Subpart M_Special Provisions Applicable to Manufacturers Taxes
 
Sec. 48.4216(b)-4  Constructive sale price; affiliated corporations.

    (a) In general. Sections 4216(b) (3), (4), and (5) establish 
procedures for determining a constructive sale price under section 
4216(b)(1)(C) for sales between corporations that are members of the 
same ``affiliated group'', as that term is defined in section 1504(a).
    (b) Sales to which section 4216(b)(3) applies. Section 4216(b)(3), 
which applies to articles sold after December 31, 1969, provides a 
procedure for determining a constructive sale price under section 
4216(b)(1)(C) in those instances where:
    (1) A manufacturer, producer or importer regularly sells a taxable 
article (other than an article subject to a tax imposed by section 
4061(a) (trucks, buses, etc.)) to a wholesale distributor which is a 
member of the same affiliated group as the manufacturer, producer or 
importer, and
    (2) The wholesale distributor regularly sells such article to one or 
more independent retailers, but does not regularly sell to wholesale 
distributors.

Under such circumstances the constructive sale price for the article 
shall be an amount equal to 90 percent of the lowest price for which the 
distributor regularly sells the article in arm's-length transactions to 
such independent retailers. Once the constructive sale price has been 
determined, no adjustment shall be made for sections 4216 (a) and (f) 
inclusions or exclusions or section 6416(b)(1) price readjustments. If 
both section 4216(b)(3) and section 4216(b)(4) apply with respect to the 
sale of an article, the constructive sale price for such article shall 
be the lower of the prices computed under section 4216(b)(3) and section 
4216(b)(4).
    (c) Sales to which section 4216(b)(4) applies. Section 4216(b)(4), 
which applies to articles sold after December 31, 1969, provides a 
procedure for determining a constructive sale price under section 
4216(b)(1)(C) in those instances where:
    (1) A manufacturer, producer, or importer regularly sells (except 
for tax-free sales) a taxable article only to a wholesale distributor 
which is a member of the same affiliated group as the manufacturer, 
producer, or importer,
    (2) The distributor regularly sells (except for tax-free sales) such 
article only to retail dealers, and
    (3) The normal method of sales for such articles within the industry 
is to sell such articles in arm's-length transactions to wholesale 
distributors.

Section 4216(b)(4) applies with respect to articles taxable under 
section 4061(a) (relating to trucks, buses, etc.) only as

[[Page 152]]

to sales after December 31, 1969, and before January 1, 1971. Under 
section 4216(b)(4), the constructive sale price of such article shall be 
the median price at which the distributor, at the time of the sale by 
the manufacturer, resells the article to retail dealers, reduced by a 
percentage of such price equal to the percentage which:
    (i) The difference between the median price for which comparable 
articles are sold to wholesale distributors, in the ordinary course of 
trade, by manufacturers of producers thereof, and the median price at 
which such wholesale distributors in arm's-length transactions sell such 
comparable articles to retailers, is of
    (ii) The median price at which such wholesale distributors in arm's-
length transactions sell such comparable articles to retailers.

For purposes of this paragraph, the ``median price'' for which an 
article is sold at a particular level of distribution is the price 
midway between the highest and lowest prices charged vendees at the 
particular level of distribution. Where only one price is charged at a 
level of distribution, ``median price'' is equivalent to ``actual 
price''. All sale prices referred to in paragraphs (b), (c), (d), and 
(e) of this section are prices that must reflect the inclusions and 
exclusions set forth in sections 4216(a) and (f). However, once a 
constructive sale price has been determined under these paragraphs, no 
further adjustment of such price is allowed.
    (d) Application of section 4216(b)(4). The application of section 
4216(b)(4) and paragraph (c) of this section may be illustrated by the 
following example:

    Example. M, a corporation engaged in the manufacture of article X, 
sold 100 of such articles at $10.00 per article to a wholesale 
distributor N, a corporation engaged in the business of selling X 
articles to independent retail dealers. N is a member of the same 
affiliated group of corporations as M. M sells X articles only to N. The 
normal method of manufacturers' sales of X articles in the industry is 
to sell to independent wholesale distributors. N corporation sells X 
articles to retailers for $15.00 each. The price for which comparable X 
articles are sold to wholesale distributors in the ordinary course of 
trade by manufacturers thereof is $12.00 per article. Wholesale 
distributors sell X articles to retailers in the ordinary course of 
trade for $16.00 per article. Under the foregoing facts the constructive 
sale price determined under section 4216(b)(4) and this paragraph is 
$11.25, computed as follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC14NO91.111

    (e) Sales to which section 4216(b)(5) applies. Section 4216(b)(5), 
which applies to articles sold after December 31, 1970, provides a 
procedure for determining a constructive sale price under section 
4216(b)(1)(C) in those circumstances where:
    (1) A manufacturer, producer, or importer of an article subject to a 
tax imposed by section 4061(a) (trucks, buses, etc.) regularly sells 
such article to a wholesale distributor that is a member of the same 
affiliated group of corporations as the manufacturer, producer, or 
importer, and
    (2) Such distributor regularly sells such articles to independent 
retail dealers.


Under such circumstances the constructive sale price of such articles 
shall be 98\1/2\ percent of the lowest price for which such distributor 
regularly sells the article in arms's-length transactions to the 
independent retail dealers. Once the constructive sale price has been 
determined, no adjustment shall be made for section 4216 (a) and (f) 
inclusions or exclusions or section 6416(b)(1) price readjustments.
    (f) Determination of ``lowest price''. (1) In addition to other 
considerations, in determining a ``lowest price'' for purposes of 
section 4216(b) (1), (3), and (5) and Sec. 48.4216(b)-4(b), and 
48.4216(b)-4(e), such price shall be determined:
    (i) Without requiring that a given percentage of sales be made at 
that

[[Page 153]]

price (provided that the volume of sales made at that price is great 
enough to indicate that those sales have not been engaged in primarily 
to establish a lower tax base), and
    (ii) Without including any charge for a fixed amount that the 
purchaser has an unconditional right to recover on the basis of a 
contractual arrangement existing at the time of sale.
    (2) For purposes of applying section 4216(b)(1) and Sec. 
48.4216(b)-2, section 4216(b)(6) and this paragraph apply to articles 
sold after June 30, 1962. For purposes of applying section 4216(b)(3) 
and paragraph (b) of this section, section 4216(b)(6) and this paragraph 
apply to articles sold after December 31, 1969. For purposes of applying 
section 4216(b)(5) and paragraph (e) of this section, section 4216(b)(6) 
and this paragraph apply to articles sold after December 31, 1970.
    (g) Definitions. For purposes of this section and paragraphs (3), 
(4), and (5) of section 4216(b), the term ``regularly sells'' has the 
same meaning as that accorded the term ``regular sales'' in subparagraph 
(3) of Sec. 48.4216(b)-3(b), and the term ``normal method of sales in 
the industry'' has the same meaning as accorded that term in 
subparagraph (4) of Sec. 48.4216(b)-3(b).

[T.D. 7613, 44 FR 23826, Apr. 23, 1979; 44 FR 47767, Aug. 15, 1979]