Pursuant to Final and Proposed Regulations recently published, the high-tax exception would be a “unitary” election for both GILTI and Subpart F.
The election is made annually, and can apply retroactively to post-TCJA years.
In summary, Treasury has adopted some taxpayer comments favorably, while delivering an unexpected result in their guidance.
EY’s Alert provides additional background, with links to the Regulations.
The Final Reg’s for Section 250, used in FDII and GILTI calculations, have been finalized. These Reg’s are now undergoing analyses in trying to understand the complexities and nuances. Some highlights include:
The Final Reg’s provided additional clarity, although a taxpayer will have to consider if the Proposed Reg’s or Final Reg’s will be favorable for tax years prior to 2021.
EY’s Tax Alert provides additional details, as referenced.
Treasury is now fairly confident that all TCJA guidance will be finalized by October 1st.
Treasury deputy assistant secretary for international tax affairs, Lafayette G. “Chip” Harter III, recently shared his ambitious agenda, including the following:
The Tax Foundation has provided a useful reference to state law changes, as 35 states have major tax changes taking effect on 1/1/2020.
This is especially important as more states are still interpreting the Tax Act, and any impact for GILTI, Sec. 163(j) interest limitation, etc.
The reference provides a summary by state of the recent law changes and details.
Click to access State-Tax-Changes-as-of-January-1-20201.pdf
Pending developments this year are focused on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
This week expectations – Final FTC Regs, final and proposed BEAT Regs
This year (maybe) – Final and proposed Sec. 163(j) Regs (currently at 550 pages)
This year/January 2020 – Sec 267A final and proposed Regs, Sec 863(b) sourcing proposed Regs
by June 30, 2020 – Final FDII regulations, GILTI high-tax exclusion, Sec 250 participation exemption
EY’s Global Tax Alert provides further details, including OECD developments reported on previously
As 2019 year-end is quickly approaching, there are important items of legislation still pending, including the following:
The above items are important as stand-alone items, and represent a significant amount of regulations to absorb prior to year-end if they can be issued this year.
These changes may significantly impact the annual ETR of multinationals in the fourth quarter, as well as introduce new TCJA concepts into treaties and complex Limitation of Benefit (LOB) clauses therein.
The TCJA complexities, and interpretations thereto, continue this year and next, posing compliance and planning uncertainties going forward.
EY’s Global Tax Alert provided additional details, as referenced.
IRS and Treasury released, on June 14th, a set of proposed and final Regulations on GILT, in addition to Temporary and Proposed Regulations on Section 245A that relate, partly, to GILTI. A copy of the proposals are provided for reference, with some highlights to date:
The regulations/notice of proposed rule making are extensive, complex and represent over 500 pages of guidance, although certain provisions and clarifications represent favorable rules based on comments received.
The rules clarify current law, comments received and explanations why they were, or were not, considered. Thus, a detailed review refreshes such insights into the long history of the international tax provisions.
Click to access 2019-12436.pdf
Click to access 2019-12442.pdf
Click to access 2019-12437.pdf
Click to access 2019-12441.pdf
Final Section 956 Reg’s have been issued, reducing the Section 956 inclusion by an equivalent amount that would have been eligible for the Section 245 dividends received deduction.
Final GILTI Regulations will be issued by June 22, thereby providing retroactivity to the effective date of the TCJA.
Final BEAT Regulations will also be issued by the end of summer, although not soon enough for retroactive effect.
EY’s Global Tax Alert provides additional details, for reference.
Alot of regulation activity is taking place, in advance of the June 22nd date that would allow provisions of the Tax Act to be retroactive to date of enactment. Additionally, the regulations will clarify tax return reporting for calendar year US-based multinationals.
The IRS issued final regulations (T.D. 9857), effective 13 May 2019, that address the recognition and deferral of foreign currency gain or loss with respect to qualified business units (QBUs) subject to Section 987 (Section 987 QBUs) in connection with certain QBU terminations and other transactions involving partnerships.
The IRS released, on 17 May, proposed regulations under Sections 954 and 958 on the attribution of ownership of stock or other interests for purposes of determining whether a person is a related person with respect to a controlled foreign corporation (CFC) under Section 954(d)(3). The IRS also released proposed regulations that provide rules for determining whether a CFC is considered to derive rents in the active conduct of a trade or business in computing foreign personal holding company income.
Eagerly-anticipated final GILTI regulations moved closer to release this week, having been received for review by the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on 16 May.
Proposed regulations under Sections 951(b) and Section 951A were also sent to OIRA for review on the same day.
In addition, interim final regulations under Sections 91 and 245A were received by OIRA on 15 May.
EY’s Global Tax Alert provides details on the above actions, for reference.
The Tax Executives Institute (TEI) provided insgihtful comments to the recently issued GILTI Proposed Regulations, addressing the following main points:
TEI’s comments are well reasoned and should be reviewed to further understand the complexities, and need for added clarification going forward.
The IRS recently released Proposed Regulations on Section 163(j): an interest limitation that is applicable for the calculation of Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) under the US Tax Act (“TCJA”). A copy of the Proposed Regulations are provided for reference, highlighting some areas of clarity/surprise. Comments are due within 60 days of publication in the Federal Register, with a public hearing set for Feb. 25, 2019.
The most contentious items, as noted in recent days, are the adjustment of Sec. 263A depreciation (thus a factory does not add back depreciation in EBITDA), add back of Sec. 78, Sec. 951(a), Sec. 951A as reduced by the relevant Sec. 250 amount, complexity including excess ATI adjustments, and the new definition of interest, which includes interest equivalent instruments/transactions that will be included as a potential limitation.
The 439 pages require several readings for a general comprehension, aided by webinars and summaries from various advisory firms.
Click to access REG-106089-18-NPRM.pdf
Alot of guidance is virtually rolling off the press!
The guidance will be complex and lengthy, and it represents only one step towards achieving more certainty into the complex nuances of the US Tax Act. EY’s Global Tax Alert provides a summary for reference.
The latest US tax updates are summarized in EY’s Global Tax Alert, with a referenced link
There is still significant uncertainty re: Sec. 965 repatriation tax, GILTI, FDII and BEAT provisions by taxpayers. It is hopeful that meaningful guidance will be issued shortly.
The proposed Reg’s provide some answers, such as calculating GILT on a consolidated approach, but has punted (subject to later guidance) on GILTI foreign tax credits, the Sec. 250 deduction which also is applicable for the FDII provision, definitive guidance on a separate GILTI basket (although noting its expectation) and application of Sec. 163j re: interest expense.
Complex rules are set forth to determine a particular US shareholder’s portion of GILTI. These rules were necessary as the separate shareholder approach was further clarified as a consolidated calculation which does alleviate unnecessary planning to accomplish that result.
Additionally, anti-abuse provisions were included to combat perceived abuse, some of which have already sparked heated controversy. As an example, a CFC’s tested loss does not represent a loss carryover against future year’s tested income. “Donut hole” planning initiated by many taxpayers has also been reversed by this guidance.
The guidance further confirms that each controlled foreign corporation (CFC)’s income calculation is to be based on the concept of a US tax return and principles approach. Additionally, ADS depreciation is to be used regardless of the acquisition date of the foreign tangible property.
Practitioners will be absorbing this new complexity to change their calculations for Q3 Annual ETR calculations, while also finalizing the SAB 118 one-year period to finalize the Sec. 965 deemed repatriation tax provisions effective in Q4 2017 for a calendar-year taxpayer.
Technical/practical articles and webinars have already started in earnest, as everyone is learning about these new rules simultaneously.
A reference to the proposed Regulations are included for reference.
Click to access reg-104390-18.pdf
The US Tax Act GILTI regulations are under review, and should be released before the end of Q3, that will require review and incorporation into the annual ETR. The regulations are expected to address a consolidated, vs. separate shareholder, approach for the calculation as well as some guidance re: US expense allocation. EY’s Global Tax Alert summarizes the status of this guidance.
Additionally, guidance was recently released on Sec. 162(m) compensation, also necessitating review for Q3 reporting.
The proposed regulations that were released for Sec. 965, deemed repatriation tax, are expected to be followed up by final regulations by June 2019. The third quarter 2018 marks the end of the SAB 118 period to finalize such amounts, notwithstanding additional guidance in the future. Note, these regulations should provide definitive guidance on some pending items (inclusion of PTI for a E&P deficit foreign corporation; calculation of Sec. 986 gain for Sec. 965b E&P) that may require amending 2017 corporate income tax returns.
Strategizing Multinational Tax Risks 
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