1.861-13T—Transition rules for interest expenses (temporary regulations).
(a) In general—
(1) Optional application.
The rules of this section may be applied at the choice of a corporate taxpayer. In the case of an affiliated group, however, the choice must be made on a consistent basis for all members. Therefore, a corporate taxpayer (or affiliated group) may allocate and apportion its interest expense entirely on the basis of the rules contained in §§ 1.861-8T through 1.861-12T and without regard to the rules of this section. The choice is made on an annual basis and, thus, is not binding with respect to subsequent tax years.
(2) Transition relief.
This section contains transitional rules that limit the application of the rules for allocating and apportioning interest expense of corporate taxpayers contained in §§ 1.861-8T through 1.861-12T, which are applicable in allocating and apportioning the interest expense of corporate taxpayers generally for taxable years beginning after 1986. Sections 1.861-9(d) (relating to individuals, estates, and certain trusts) and 1.861-9(e) (relating to partnerships) are effective for taxable years beginning after 1986. Thus, the taxpayers to whom those sections apply do not qualify for transition relief under this section.
(3) Indebtedness defined.
For purposes of this section, the term “indebtedness” means any obligation or other evidence of indebtedness that qenerates an expense that constitutes interest expense within the meaning of § 1.861-9T(a). In the case of an obligation that does not bear interest initially, but becomes interest bearing with the lapse of time or upon the occurrence of an event, such obligation shall only be considered to constitute indebtedness when it first bears interest. Obligations that are outstanding as of November 16, 1985 shall only qualify for transition relief under this section if they bear interest-bearing as of that date. For this purpose, any obligation that has original issue discount within the meaning of section 1273(a)(1) of the Code shall be considered to be interest-bearing.
(4) Exceptions.
The term “indebtedness” shall not include any obligation existing between affiliated corporations, as defined in § 1.861-llT(d). Moreover, the term “indebtedness” shall not include any obligation the interest on which is directly allocable under §§ 1.861-10T(b) and 1.861-10T(c). Under § 1.861-9T(b)(6)(iv)(B), certain interest expense is directly allocated to the gain derived from an appropriately identified financial product. When interest expense on a liability is reduced by such gain, the principal amount of such liability shall be reduced pro rata by the relative amount of interest expense that is directly allocated.
(b) General phase-in—
(1) In general.
In the case of each of the first three taxable years of the taxpayer beginning after December 31, 1986, the rules of §§ 1.861-8T through 1.861-12T shall not apply to interest expenses paid or accrued by the taxpayer during the taxable year with respect to an aggregate amount of indebtedness which does not exceed the general phase-in amount, as defined in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(2) General phase-in amount defined.
Subject to the limitation imposed by paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the general phase-in amount means the amount which is the applicable percentage (determined under the following table) of the aggregate amount of indebtedness of the taxpayer outstanding on November 16, 1985:
| Taxable year beginning after December 31, 1986 | Percentage |
|---|---|
| First | 75 |
| Second | 50 |
| Third | 25 |
(3) Reductions in indebtedness.
The general phase-in amount shall not exceed the taxpayer's historic lowest month-end debt level taking into account all months after October 1985. However, for the taxable year ln which a taxpayer attains a new historic lowest month-end debt level (but not for subsequent taxable years), the general phase-in amount shall not exceed the average of month-end debt levels within that taxable year (without taking into account any increase in month-end debt levels occurring in such taxable Year after the new historic lowest month-end debt level is attained).
Code of Federal Regulations
(c) Nonapplication of the consolidation rule—
(1) General rule.
In the case of each of the first five taxable years of the taxpayer beginning after December 31, 1986, the consolidation rule contained in § 1.861-11T(c) shall not apply to interest expenses paid or accrued by the taxpayer during the taxable year with respect to an aggregate amount of indebtedness which does not exceed the special phase-in amount, as defined in paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
(i)
The applicable percentage (the “unreduced percentage” in the following table) of the five-year debt amount, or
(ii)
The applicable percentage (the “reduced percentage” in the following table) of the five-year debt amount reduced by paydowns (if any):
| Transition year | Unreduced percentage | Reduced percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 81/3 | 10 |
| Year 2 | 162/3 | 25 |
| Year 3 | 25 | 50 |
| Year 4 | 331/3 | 100 |
| Year 5 | 162/3 | 100 |
(i)
The applicable percentage (the “unreduced percentage” in the following table) of the four-year debt amount, or
(ii)
The applicable percentage (the “reduced percentage” in the following table) of the four-year debt amount reduced by paydowns (if any) to the extent that such paydowns exceed the five-year debt amount:
| Transition year | Unreduced percentage | Reduced percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 61/4 |
| Year 2 | 10 | 162/3 |
| Year 3 | 15 | 371/2 |
| Year 4 | 20 | 100 |
(ii)
The amount of the outstanding indebtedness of the taxpayer on December 31, 1983. The five-year debt amount shall not exceed the aggregate amount of indebtedness of the taxpayer outstanding on November 16, 1985.
The four-year debt amount shall not exceed the aggregate amount of indebtedness of the taxpayer outstanding on November 16, 1985, reduced by the five-year debt amount.
Paydowns are first applied to the five-year debt amount to the extent thereof and then to the four-year debt amount for purposes of computing the five-year and the four-year phase-in amounts.
(d) Treatment of affiliated group.
For purposes of this section, all members of the same affiliated group of corporations (as defined in § 1.861-11(d)) shall be treated as one taxpayer whether or not such members filed a consolidated return. Interaffiliate debt is not taken into account in computing transition relief. Moreover, any reduction in the amount of interaffiliate debt is not taken into account in determining the amount of paydowns.
(e) Mechanics of computation—
(1) Step 1: Determination of the amounts within the various categories of debt.
Each separate member of an affiliated group must determine each of its following amounts:
(i) November 16, 1985 amount.
The amount of its debt outstanding on November 16, 1985 (after the elimination of interaffiliate indebtedness),
(ii) Unreduced five-year debt.
The amount of any net increase in the amount of its indebtedness on May 29, 1985 (after elimination of interaffiliate indebtedness) over the amount of its indebtedness on December 31, 1983 (after elimination of interaffiliate indebtedness),
(iii) Unreduced four-year debt.
The amount of any net increase in the amount of its indebtedness on December 31, 1983 (after elimination of interaffiliate indebtedness) over the amount of its indebtedness on December 31, 1982 (after elimination of interaffiliate indebtedness), and
(iv) Month-end debt.
The amount of its month-end debt level for all months after October 1985 (after elimination of interaffiliate indebtedness).
(2) Step 2: Aggregation of the separate company amounts.
Each of the designated amounts for the separate companies identified in Step 1 must be aggregated in order to compute consolidated transition relief. Paragraph (e)(10)(iv) of this section (Step 10) requires the use of the taxpayer's current year average debt level for the purpose of computing the percentages of debt that are subject to the three sets of rules that are identified in Step 10. For use in that computation, the taxpayer should compute the current year average debt level by aggregating separate company month-end debt levels and then by averaging those aggregate amounts.
(3) Step 3: Calculation of the lowest historic month-end debt level of the taxpayer.
In order to calculate the lowest historic month-end debt level of the taxpayer, determine the month-end debt level of each separate company for each month ending after October 1985 and aggregate these amounts on a month-by-month basis. On such aggregate basis, in any taxable year in which the taxpayer attains an aggregate new lowest historic month-end debt level, add together all the aggregate month-end debt levels within the taxable year (without taking into account any increase in aggregate debt level subsequent to the attainment of such lowest historic month-end debt level) and divide by the number of months in that taxable year, yielding the average of month-end debt levels for such year. Such average shall constitute the taxpayer's lowest historic month-end debt level for that taxable year in which the aggregate new lowest historic month-end debt level was attained. Unless otherwise specified, all subsequent references to any amount refer to the aggregate amount for all members of the same affiliated group of corporations.
(4) Step 4: Computation of paydowns.
Paydowns equal the amount by which the November 16, 1985 amount exceeds the taxpayer's lowest historic month-end debt level, determined under Step 3.
(5) Step 5: Computation of limitations on unreduced five-year debt and unreduced four-year debt.
(i)
The unreduced five-year debt cannot exceed the November 16, 1985 amount.
(ii)
The unreduced four-year debt cannot exceed the November 16, 1985 amount less the unreduced five-year debt.
(6) Step 6: Computation of reduced five-year and reduced four-year debt—
(i) Reduced five-year debt.
Compute the amount of reduced five-year debt by subtracting from the unreduced five-year debt (see Step 5) the amount of paydowns (see Step 4).
(ii) Reduced four-year debt.
To the extent that the amount of paydowns (see step 4) exceeds the amount of unreduced five-year debt (see Step 5), compute the amount of reduced four-year debt by subtracting such excess from the unreduced four-year debt (see Step 1).
(iii)
To the extent that paydowns do not offset either the unreduced five-year amount or the unreduced four-year amount, the reduced and the unreduced amounts are the same.
(7) Step 7: Computation of the general phase-in amount.
The general phase-in amount is the lesser of—
(i)
The percentage of the November 16, 1985 amount designated for the relevant transition year in the table below, or
| Transition year | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | 75 |
| Year 2 | 50 |
| Year 3 | 25 |
(8) Step 8: Computation of Five-Year Phase-in Amount.
The five-year phase-in amount is the lesser of—
(i)
The percentage of the unreduced five-year debt designated for the relevant transition year in the table below, or
(ii)
The percentage of the reduced five-year debt designated for the relevant transition year in the table below.
| Transition year | Unreduced percentage | Reduced percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 81/3 | 10 |
| Year 2 | 162/3 | 25 |
| Year 3 | 25 | 50 |
| Year 4 | 331/3 | 100 |
| Year 5 | 162/3 | 100 |
(9) Step 9: Computation of Four-year Phase-in Amount.
The four-year phase-in amount is the lesser of—
(i)
The percentage of the unreduced four-year debt designated for the relevant transition year in the table below, or
(ii)
The percentage of the reduced four-year debt designated for the relevant transition year in the table below.
| Transition year | Unreduced percentage | Reduced percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 61/4 |
| Year 2 | 10 | 162/3 |
| Year 3 | 15 | 371/2 |
| Year 4 | 20 | 100 |
(10) Step 10: Determination of group debt ratio and application of transition relief to separate company interest expense.
(i)
The general phase-in amount consists of the amount computed under Step 7. Interest expense on this amount is subject to pre-1987 rules of allocation and apportionment.
(ii)
The post-1986 separate company amount consists of the sum of the amounts determined under Steps 8 and 9. Interest expense on this amount is subject to post-1986 rules of allocation and apportionment as applied on a separate company basis. Thus, § 1.861-11T(c) does not apply with respect to this amount of indebtedness. Because the consolidation rule does not apply, stock in affiliated corporations shall be taken into account in computing the apportionment fractions for each separate company in the same manner as under pre-1987 rules.
(iii)
The post-1986 one-taxpayer amount consists of any indebtedness that does not qualify for transition relief under Steps 7, 8, and 9. Interest expense on this amount is subject to post-1986 rules as applied on a consolidated basis.
(iv)
To determine the extent to which the interest expense of each separate company is subject to any of these sets of allocation and apportionment rules, each company shall prorate its own interest expense using two fractions. The general phase-in fraction is the general phase-in amount over the current year average debt level of the affiliated group (see Step 2). The post-1986 separate company fraction is the post-1986 separate company amount over the current year average debt level of the affiliated group. The balance of each separate company's interest expense is subject to post-1986 one-taxpayer rules.
| Historic 3rd party debt | Increase | |
|---|---|---|
| Company X: | ||
| Nov. 16, 1985 | $100,000 | |
| May 29, 1983 (5-year) | 90,000 | $10,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1983 (4-year) | 80,000 | 10,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1982 | 70,000 | |
| Current Interest Expense | 10,000 | |
| Company Y: | ||
| Nov. 16, 1985 | 200,000 | |
| May 29, 1985 (5-year) | 170,000 | 120,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1983 (4-year) | 50,000 | 10,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1982 | 40,000 | |
| Current Interest Expense | 30,000 | |
| Company Z: | ||
| Nov. 16, 1985 | 300,000 | |
| May 29, 1985 (5-year) | 300,000 | 50,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1983 (4-year) | 250,000 | 100,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1982 | 150,000 | |
| Current Interest Expense | 30,000 |
| Aggregate Nov. 16, 1985 | $600,000 |
| Aggregate 5-year debt | 180,000 |
| Aggregate 4-year debt | 120,000 |
| Current year average debt level | 700,000 |
An analysis of historic month-end debt levels indicates that in 1986, XYZ's aggregate month-end debt level fell to $500,000, which represents the lowest sum for all years under consideration. Because this historic low occurred in a prior tax year, there is no averaging of month-end debt levels in the current taxable year.
The aggregate November 16, 1985 amount ($600,000), less the lowest historic month-end debt level ($500,000), yields a total paydown in the amount of $100,000.
(5) Step 5:
Computation of limitations on aggregate unreduced five-year debt and aggregate unreduced four-year debt.
| Aggregate Nov. 16, 1985 amount | $600,000 |
| Aggregate unreduced 5-year debt | 180,000 |
| Aggregate unreduced 4-year debt | 120,000 |
Because the November 16, 1985 amount exceeds the unreduced 4- and 5-year debt, the full amount of the 4- and 5-year debt qualify for transition relief. In cases where the November 16, 1985 amount is less than the 4- or 5-year debt (or the sum of both), the latter amounts are limited to the November 16, 1985 amount. See the limitations on the 4-year and 5-year debt amounts in paragraphs (c)(6) and (c)(5), respectively, of this section.
(6) Step 6:
Computation of reduced five-year and four-year debt. The paydowns computed under Step 4 are deemed to first offset the aggregate unreduced five-year debt. Accordingly, the reduced amount of five-year debt is $80,000. Since the paydowns are less than the aggregate unreduced five-year debt, there is no paydown in connection with aggregate unreduced four-year debt. Accordingly, the unreduced four-year debt and the reduced four-year debt are both considered to be $120,000.
(7) Step 7:
Computation of the general phase-in amount. In transition year 1, the general transition amount is the lesser of:
Therefore, the general transition amount is $450,000.
(8) Step 8:
Computation of the five-year phase-in amount. In transition year 1, the five-year phase-in amount is the lesser of:
Therefore, the five-year phase-in amount is $8,000.
(9) Step 9:
Computation of the four-year phase-in amount. In transition year 1, the four-year phase-in amount is the lesser of:
Therefore, the four-year phase-in amount is $6,000.
(10) Step 10:
Determination of group debt ratio and application of relief to separate company interest expense.
(i)
As determined under Step 7, interest expense on a total of $450,000 of the XYZ debt in the first transition year is computed under pre-1987 rules of allocation and apportionment.
(ii)
The sum of Steps 8 ($8,000) and 9 ($6,000) is $14,000. Interest expense on a total of $14,000 of XYZ debt is computed under post-1986 rules of allocation and apportionment as applied on a separate company basis.
(iii)
The balance of XYZ's current year interest expense is computed under post-1986 rules of allocation and apportionment as applied on a consolidated basis. X, Y, and Z, respectively, have current interest expense of $10,000, $30,000, and $30,000. Thus, 64.3 percent (450,000/700,000) of the interest expense of each separate company is subject to pre-1987 rules. Two percent (14,000/700,000) of the interest expense of each separate company is subject to post-1986 rules applied on a separate company basis. Finally, the balance of each separate company's current year interest expense (33.7 percent) is subject to post-1986 rules applied on a consolidated basis.
(g) Corporate transfers—
(1) Effect on transferee—
Except as provided in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, if a domestic corporation or an affiliated group acquires stock in a domestic corporation that was not a member of the transferee's affiliated group before the acquisition, but becomes a member of the transferee's affiliated group after the acquisition, the transferee group shall take into account the following transition attributes of the acquired corporation in computing its transition relief:
(D)
The amount of any transferor paydowns attributed to the acquired corporation under the rules of paragraph (h)(1) of this section.
(ii) Special rule for year of acquisition.
To compute the amount of the transition attributes described in paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this section that a transferee takes into account in the transferee's taxable year of the acquisition, such transition attributes shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months within the taxable year that the transferee held the acquired corporation and the denominator of which is the number of months in such taxable year. In order for the transferee to assert ownership of a subsidiary for a given month, the transferee and the acquired corporation must be affiliated corporations as of the last day of the month. In addition, the transferor and the transferee shall take account of the month-end debt level of the transferred corporation only for those months at the end of which the transferred corporation was a member of the transferor's or the transferee's respective affiliated group.
(iii) Aggregation of transition attributes.
The transition attributes of the acquired corporation shall be aggregated with the respective amounts of the transferee group.
(iv) Conveyance of transferor paydowns.
The total paydowns of the transferee group shall include the amount of any paydown of the transferor group that was attributed to the acquired corporation under the rules of paragraph (h)(1) of this section.
(C)
Is made under section 336(e), no indebtedness of the acquired corporation shall qualify for transition relief for the year such election first becomes effective and for subsequent taxable years, and no other transition attributes of the acquired corporation shall be taken into account by the transferee group.
(2) Effect on transferor—
(i) General rule.
Except as provided in paragraph (g)(2)(ii) of this section, in the case of an acquisition of a member of an affiliated group by a nonmember of the group, the transferor shall not take into account the transition attributes of the acquired corporation in computing the transition relief of the transferor group in subsequent taxable years. Thus, the November 16, 1985 amount, the unreduced five-year and four-year debt amounts, and the end-of-month debt levels of the transferor group shall be computed without regard to the acquired corporation's respective amounts for purposes of computing transition relief of the tranferor group for years thereafter.
(ii) Special rule for the year of disposition.
To compute the amount of the transition attributes described in paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this section that a transferor shall take into account in the transferor's taxable year of the disposition, such transition attributes shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months within the taxable year that the transferor held the acquired corporation and the denominator of which is the number of months in such taxable year. In order for the transferor to assert ownership of a subsidiary for a given month, the transferor and the acquired corporation must be affiliated corporations as of the last day of the month.
(iii) Effect of prior paydowns.
Any paydowns of the acquired corporation that are considered to reduce the debt of other members of the transferor group under the rules of paragraph (h)(1) of this section (whether incurred in a prior taxable year or in that portion of a year of disposition that is taken into account by the transferor) shall continue to be taken into account by the transferor group after the disposition.
(3) Special rule for assumptions of indebtedness.
In connection with the transfer of a corporation, if the indebtedness of an acquired corporation is assumed by any party other than the transferee or another member of the transferee's affiliated group, the transition attributes of the acquired corporation shall not be taken into account in computing the transition relief of the transferee group. See paragraph (g)(2) of this section concerning the treatment of the transferor group. Also in connection with the transfer of a corporation, if the transferee or another member of the transferee's affiliated group assumes the indebtedness of an acquired corporation, such assumed indebtedness shall only qualify for transition relief during the period in which the acquired corporation remains a member of the transferee group. Further, if the transferee group subsequently disposes of the acquired corporation, the indebtedness of the acquired corporation will continue to qualify for transition relief only if the indebtedness is assumed by the new purchaser as of the time such corporation is acquired.
(4) Effect of asset sales.
If substantially all of the assets of a corporation are sold, the indebtedness of such corporation shall cease to be qualified for transition relief. Thus, the transition attributes of such corporation shall not be taken into account in computing transition relief.
(h) Rules for attributing paydowns among separate companies—
(1) General rule.
In the case of a corporate transfer under paragraph (g) of this section, it is necessary to determine the amount of paydowns attributable to the acquired corporation. Under paragraph (c)(7) of this section, paydowns are deemed to reduce first the five-year phase-in amount, then the four-year phase-in amount, and then the general phase-in amount. Thus, for example, a reduction in indebtedness of the group caused by a reduction in the debt of a group member that has no five-year debt will nevertheless be deemed under this ordering rule to reduce the indebtedness of those group members that do have five-year debt. In order to preserve the effect of paydowns caused by a reduction, each member must determine on a separate company basis at the time of any transfer of any member of the affiliated group the impact of paydowns (including those paydowns occurring in the year of transfer prior to the time of the transfer) on the various categories of indebtedness.
(2) Mechanics of computation.
Separate company accounts of paydowns are determined by prorating any paydown among all group members with five-year debt to the extent thereof on the basis of the relative amounts of five-year debt. Paydowns in excess of five-year debt are prorated on a similar basis among all group members with four-year debt to the extent thereof on the basis of the relative amounts of four-year debt. Paydowns in excess of four-year and five-year debt are prorated among all group members with general phase-in debt to the extent thereof on the basis of the relative amounts of general phase-in debt. After an initial paydown has been prorated among the members of an affiliated group, any further reduction in the amount of aggregate month-end debt level as compared to the November 16, 1985 amount is prorated among all members of the affiliated group based on the remaining net amounts of four-year and five-year debt.
(3) Examples.
The rules of paragraphs (g) and (h) of this section may be illustrated by the following examples.
Code of Federal Regulations
| Historic 3rd party debt | Increase | |
|---|---|---|
| Company X: | ||
| Nov. 16, 1985 | $100,000 | |
| May 29, 1985 (5-year) | 80,000 | $0 |
| Dec. 31, 1983 (4-year) | 80,000 | 10,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1982 | 70,000 | |
| Company Y: | ||
| Nov. 16, 1985 | 200,000 | |
| May 29, 1985 (5-year) | 170,000 | 120,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1983 (4-year) | 50,000 | 10,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1982 | 40,000 | |
| Company Z: | ||
| Nov. 16, 1985 | 300,000 | |
| May 29, 1985 (5-year) | 290,000 | 40,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1983 (4-year) | 250,000 | 100,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1982 | 150,000 |
Code of Federal Regulations
| Historic 3rd party debt | Increase | |
|---|---|---|
| Company A: | ||
| Nov. 16, 1985 | $100,000 | |
| May 29, 1985 (5-year) | 250,000 | $5,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1983 (4-year) | 245,000 | 10,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1982 | 235,000 | |
| Company Y (half-year amounts): | ||
| Nov. 16, 1985 | 100,000 | |
| May 29, 1985 (5-year) | 85,000 | 60,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1983 (4-year) | 25,000 | 5,000 |
| Dec. 31, 1982 | 20,000 | |
| Pre-acquisition year paydown by another member of the transferor group that reduced Y's five-year debt (one half of $75,000) | 37,500 |
Code of Federal Regulations
243
| Historic 3rd party debt | Increase | |
|---|---|---|
| Company X: |