(a) Overview.—This section provides rules regarding the reporting requirements under section
1298(f) applicable to a United States person that is a shareholder (as defined in § 1.1291-1T(b)(7))
of a passive foreign investment company (PFIC). Paragraph (b) of this section provides the
section 1298(f) annual reporting requirements generally applicable to United States persons.
Paragraph (c) of this section sets forth exceptions to reporting for certain shareholders that are
tax exempt entities, that own PFIC stock with an aggregate value of $25,000 or less, or that own
certain PFIC stock with a value of $5,000 or less, and provides an exception to reporting for all
shareholders for taxable years ending before December 31, 2013. Paragraph (d) of this section
provides rules regarding the time and manner of filing the annual report. Paragraph (e) of this
section sets forth the requirement to file a separate annual report with respect to each PFIC.
Paragraph (f) of this section coordinates the requirement to file an annual report under section
1298(f) with the requirement to file an annual report under other provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code (Code). Paragraph (g) of this section sets forth examples illustrating the applica-
tion of this section.
(b) Requirement to file.—
(1) General rule.—Except as otherwise provided in this section, a
United States person that is a shareholder of a PFIC must complete and file Form 8621,
“Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified
Electing Fund (or successor form), under section 1298(f) and these regulations for the PFIC if,
during the shareholder’s taxable year, the shareholder—
(i) Directly owns stock of the PFIC;
(ii) Is an indirect shareholder under § 1.1291-1T(b)(8) that holds any interest in the
PFIC through one or more entities, each of which is foreign; or
(iii) Is an indirect shareholder under § 1.1291-1T(b)(8)(iii)(D) that is treated under
sections 671 through 678 as the owner of any portion of a trust described in section
7701(a)(30)(E) that owns, directly or indirectly through one or more entities, each of which is
foreign, any interest in the PFIC.
(2) Additional requirement to file for certain indirect shareholders.—
(i) General rule.—
Except as otherwise provided in this section, an indirect shareholder that owns an interest in a
PFIC through one or more United States persons also must file Form 8621 (or successor form)
with respect to the PFIC under section 1298(f) and these regulations if, during the indirect
shareholder’s taxable year, the indirect shareholder is—
(A) Treated as receiving an excess distribution (within the meaning of section
1291(b)) with respect to the PFIC;
(B) Treated as recognizing gain that is treated as an excess distribution (under
section 1291(a)(2)) as a result of a disposition of the PFIC;
(C) Required to include an amount in income under section 1293(a) with
respect to the PFIC (QEF inclusion);
(D) Required to include an amount in income under section 1296(a) with
respect to the PFIC (MTM inclusion); or
(E) Required to report the status of a section 1294 election with respect to the
PFIC (see § 1.1294-1T(h)).
(ii) Exception to indirect shareholder reporting for certain QEF inclusions and MTM
inclusions.—Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (b)(2)(ii), the filing requirements
under paragraph (b)(2)(i)(C) and (D) of this section do not apply with respect to a PFIC owned by
an indirect shareholder described in paragraph (b)(2)(i)(C) or (b)(2)(i)(D) of this section if
another shareholder through which the indirect shareholder owns an interest in the PFIC timely
files Form 8621 (or successor form) with respect to the PFIC under paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) of
this section. However, the exception in this paragraph (b)(2)(ii) does not apply with respect to a
PFIC owned by an indirect shareholder described in paragraph (b)(2)(i)(C) of this section that
owns the PFIC through a domestic partnership or S corporation if the domestic partnership or S
corporation does not make a qualified electing fund election with respect to the PFIC (see
§ 1.1293-1(c)(2)(ii), addressing QEF stock transferred to a pass through entity that does not make
a section 1295 election).
(3) Special rules for estates and trusts.—
(i) Domestic liquidating trusts and fixed investment trusts.—A United States person that is treated under sections 671 through 678 as the owner
of any portion of a trust described in section 7701(a)(30)(E) that owns, directly or indirectly, any
interest in a PFIC is not required under section 1298(f) and these regulations to file Form 8621 (or
successor form) with respect to the PFIC if the trust is either a domestic liquidating trust under
§ 301.7701-4(d) of this chapter created pursuant to a court order issued in a bankruptcy under
Chapter 7 (11 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) of the Bankruptcy Code or a confirmed plan under Chapter 11 (11
U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) of the Bankruptcy Code, or a widely held fixed investment trust under
§ 1.671-5. Such a trust is treated as a shareholder for purposes of section 1298(f) and these
regulations, and thus, except as otherwise provided in this section, the trust is required under
section 1298(f) and these regulations to file Form 8621 (or successor form) with respect to the
PFIC as provided in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section.
(ii) Foreign pension funds.—A United States person that is treated as the owner of
any portion of a trust described in section 7701(a)(31)(B) that owns, directly or indirectly, any
interest in a PFIC is not required under section 1298(f) and these regulations to file Form 8621 (or
successor form) with respect to the PFIC if the foreign trust is a foreign pension fund (including a
foreign pension fund that is an individual retirement plan) operated principally to provide pension
or retirement benefits, and, pursuant to an income tax convention to which the United States is a
party, income earned by the pension fund may be taxed as the income of the owner of the trust
only when and to the extent the income is paid to, or for the benefit of, the owner.
(iii) Beneficiaries of foreign estates and trusts.—A United States person that is
considered to own an interest in a PFIC because it is a beneficiary of an estate described in section
7701(a)(31)(A) or a trust described in section 7701(a)(31)(B) that owns, directly or indirectly,
stock of a PFIC, and that has not made an election under section 1295 or 1296 with respect to the
PFIC, is not required under section 1298(f) and these regulations to file Form 8621 (or successor
form) with respect to the stock of the PFIC that it is considered to own through the estate or trust
if, during the beneficiary’s taxable year, the beneficiary is not treated as receiving an excess
distribution (within the meaning of section 1291(b)) or as recognizing gain that is treated as an
excess distribution (under section 1291(a)(2)) with respect to the stock.
(c) Exceptions.—
(1) Exception if shareholder is a tax exempt entity.—A shareholder that is an
organization exempt under section 501(a) because it is described in section 501(c), 501(d), or
401(a), a state college or university described in section 511(a)(2)(B), a plan described in section
403(b) or 457(b), an individual retirement plan or annuity as defined in section 7701(a)(37), or a
qualified tuition program described in section 529 or 530 is not required under section 1298(f) and
these regulations to file Form 8621 (or successor form) with respect to a PFIC unless the income
derived with respect to the PFIC stock would be taxable to the organization under subchapter F of
Subtitle A of the Code.
(2) Exception if aggregate value of shareholder’s PFIC stock is $25,000 or less, or value of
shareholder’s indirect PFIC stock is $5,000 or less.—
(i) General rule.—A shareholder is not
required under section 1298(f) and these regulations to file Form 8621 (or successor form) with
respect to a section 1291 fund (as defined in § 1.1291-1T(b)(2)(v)) for a shareholder’s taxable year
if—
(A) On the last day of the shareholder’s taxable year,
(1) The value of all PFIC stock owned directly or indirectly under section
1298(a) and § 1.1291-1T(b)(8) by the shareholder is $25,000 or less; or
(2) The section 1291 fund stock is indirectly owned by the shareholder
under section 1298(a)(2)(B) and § 1.1291-1T(b)(8)(ii)(B), and the value of the section 1291 fund
stock indirectly owned by the shareholder is $5,000 or less;
(B) The shareholder is not treated as receiving an excess distribution (within
the meaning of section 1291(b)) with respect to the section 1291 fund during the taxable year or as
recognizing gain treated as an excess distribution under section 1291(a)(2) as the result of a
disposition of the section 1291 fund during the taxable year; and
(C) An election under section 1295 has not been made to treat the section 1291
fund as a qualified electing fund with respect to the shareholder.
(ii) Determination of the $25,000 threshold in the case of indirect ownership.—For
purposes of determining the value of stock held by a shareholder for purposes of paragraph
(c)(2)(i)(A)(1) of this section, the shareholder must take into account the value of all PFIC stock
owned directly or indirectly under section 1298(a) and § 1.1291-1T(b)(8), except for PFIC stock
that is—
(A) Owned through another United States person that itself is a shareholder of
the PFIC (including a domestic partnership or S corporation treated as a shareholder of a PFIC for
purposes of information reporting requirements applicable to a shareholder); or
(B) Owned through a PFIC under section 1298(a)(2)(B) and
§ 1.1291-1T(b)(8)(ii)(B).
(iii) Application of the $25,000 exception to shareholders who file a joint return.—In
the case of a joint return, the exception described in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A)(1) of this section shall
apply if the value of all PFIC stock owned directly or indirectly (as determined under section
1298(a), § 1.1291-1T(b)(8), and paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section) by both spouses is $50,000 or
less, and all of the other applicable requirements of paragraph (c)(2) are met.
(iv) Reliance on periodic account statements.—A shareholder may rely upon periodic
account statements provided at least annually to determine the value of a PFIC unless the
shareholder has actual knowledge or reason to know based on readily accessible information that
the statements do not reflect a reasonable estimate of the PFIC’s value.
(3) Exception for taxable years ending before December 31, 2013.—A United States person
is not required under section 1298(f) and these regulations to file an annual report with respect to
a PFIC for a taxable year of the United States person ending before December 31, 2013.
(d) Time and manner for filing.—A United States person required under section 1298(f) and
these regulations to file Form 8621 (or successor form) with respect to a PFIC must attach the
form to its Federal income tax return (or, if applicable, partnership or exempt organization return)
for the taxable year to which the filing obligation relates on or before the due date (including
extensions) for the filing of the return. In the case of any failure to report information that is
required to be reported pursuant to section 1298(f) and these regulations, the time for assessment
of tax will be extended pursuant to section 6501(c)(8).
(e) Separate annual report for each PFIC.—
(1) General rule.—If a United States person is
required under section 1298(f) and these regulations to file Form 8621 (or successor form) with
respect to more than one PFIC, the United States person must file a separate Form 8621 (or
successor form) for each PFIC.
(2) Special rule for shareholders who file a joint return.—United States persons that file a
joint return may file a single Form 8621 (or successor form) with respect to a PFIC in which they
jointly or individually own an interest.
(f) Coordination rule.—A United States person that is a shareholder of a PFIC may file a
single Form 8621 (or successor form) with respect to the PFIC that contains all of the information
required to be reported pursuant to section 1298(f) and these regulations and any other informa-
tion reporting requirements or election rules.
(g) Examples.—The following examples illustrate the rules of this section:
Example 1. General requirement to file.
(i) Facts. In 2013, J, a United States citizen, directly
owns an interest in Partnership X, a domestic partnership, which, in turn, owns an interest in A
Corp, which is a PFIC. In addition, J directly owns an interest in Partnership Y, a foreign
partnership, which, in turn, owns an interest in A Corp. Neither J nor Partnership X has made a
qualified electing fund election under section 1295 or a mark to market election under section
1296 with respect to A Corp. As of the last day of 2013, the value of Partnership X’s interest in A
Corp is $200,000, and the value of J’s proportionate share of Partnership Y’s interest in A Corp is
$100,000. During 2013, J is not treated as receiving an excess distribution or recognizing gain
treated as an excess distribution with respect to A Corp. Partnership X timely files a Form 8621
under section 1298(f) and paragraph (b)(1) of this section with respect to A Corp for 2013.
(ii) Results. J is the first United States person in the chain of ownership with respect to J’s
interest in A Corp held through Partnership Y. Under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, J must file a
Form 8621 under section 1298(f) with respect to J’s interest in A Corp held through Partnership Y
because J is an indirect shareholder of A Corp under § 1.1291-1T(b)(8) that holds PFIC stock
through a foreign entity (Partnership Y), and there are no other United States persons in the chain
of ownership. The fact that Partnership X filed a Form 8621 with respect to A Corp does not relieve
J of the obligation under paragraph (b)(1) of this section to file a Form 8621 with respect to J’s
interest in A Corp held through Partnership Y.
Example 2. Application of the $25,000 exception.
(i) Facts. In 2013, J, a United States citizen,
directly owns stock of A Corp, B Corp, and C Corp, all of which were PFICs during 2013. As of the
last day of 2013, the value of J’s interests was $5,000 in A Corp, $10,000 in B Corp, and $4,000 in C
Corp. J timely filed an election under section 1295 to treat A Corp as a qualified electing fund for
the first year in which A Corp qualified as a PFIC, and a mark-to-market election under section
1296 with respect to the stock of B Corp. J did not make a qualified electing fund election under
section 1295 or a mark to market election under section 1296 with respect to C Corp. J did not
receive an excess distribution or recognize gain treated as an excess distribution in respect of C
Corp during 2013.
(ii) Results. Under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, J must file separate Forms 8621 with
respect to A Corp and B Corp for 2013. However, J is not required to file a Form 8621 with respect
to C Corp because J owns, in the aggregate, PFIC stock with a value of less than $25,000 on the
last day of J’s taxable year, C Corp is not subject to a qualified electing fund election or mark to
market election with respect to J, and J did not receive an excess distribution in respect of C Corp
or recognize gain treated as an excess distribution in respect of C Corp during 2013. Therefore, J
qualifies for the $25,000 exception in paragraph (c)(2) of this section with respect to C Corp.
Example 3. Application of the $25,000 exception to indirect shareholder.
(i) Facts. E, a United
States citizen, directly owns an interest in Partnership X, a domestic partnership. Partnership X, in
turn, directly owns an interest in A Corp and B Corp, both of which are PFICs. Partnership X
timely filed an election under section 1295 to treat B Corp as a qualified electing fund for the first
year in which B Corp qualified as a PFIC. In addition, E directly owns an interest in C Corp, which
is a PFIC. C Corp, in turn, owns an interest in D Corp, which is a PFIC. E has not made a qualified
electing fund election under section 1295 or a mark to market election under section 1296 with
respect to A Corp, C Corp, or D Corp. As of the last day of 2013, the value of Partnership X’s
interest in A Corp is $30,000, the value of Partnership X’s interest in B Corp is $30,000, the value of
E’s indirect interest in A Corp is $10,000, the value of E’s indirect interest in B Corp is $10,000, the
value of E’s interest in C Corp is $20,000, and the value of C Corp’s interest in D Corp is $10,000.
During 2013, E did not receive an excess distribution, or recognize gain treated as an excess
distribution, with respect to A Corp, C Corp, or D Corp. Partnership X timely files Forms 8621
under section 1298(f) and paragraph (b)(1) of this section with respect to A Corp and B Corp for
2013.
(ii) Results. Under paragraph (b) of this section, E does not have to file a Form 8621 under
section 1298(f) and these regulations with respect to A Corp because E is not the United States
person that is at the lowest tier in the chain of ownership with respect to A Corp and E did not
receive an excess distribution or recognize gain treated as an excess distribution with respect to A
Corp. Furthermore, under paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section, E does not have to file a Form 8621
under section 1298(f) and these regulations with respect to B Corp because Partnership X timely
filed a Form 8621 with respect to B Corp. In addition, under paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(A) of this section,
E does not take into account the value of A Corp and B Corp, which E owns through Partnership
X, in determining whether E qualifies for the $25,000 exception. Further, under paragraph
(c)(2)(ii)(B) of this section, E does not take into account the value of D Corp in determining
whether E qualifies for the $25,000 exception. Therefore, even though E is the United States
person that is at the lowest tier in the chain of ownership with respect to C Corp and D Corp, E
does not have to file a Form 8621 with respect to C Corp or D Corp because E qualifies for the
$25,000 exception set forth in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A)(1) of this section.
Example 4. Indirect shareholder’s requirement to file.
(i) Facts. The facts are the same as in
Example 3, except that the value of E’s interest in C Corp is $30,000 and the value of E’s
proportionate share of C Corp’s interest in D Corp is $3,000.
(ii) Results. The results are the same as in Example 3 with respect to the requirement to file a
Form 8621 under section 1298(f) and these regulations with respect to A Corp and B Corp.
However, under the facts in this Example 4, E does not qualify for the $25,000 exception under
paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A)(1) of this section because the value of E’s interest in C Corp is $30,000.
Accordingly, E must file a Form 8621 under section 1298(f) and these regulations with respect to
C Corp. However, E does qualify for the $5,000 exception under paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A)(2) of this
section with respect to D Corp, and thus does not have to file a Form 8621 with respect to D Corp.
(h) Effective/applicability date.—Except as provided in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, this
section applies to taxable years of shareholders ending on or after December 31, 2013. Paragraph
(c)(3) of this section applies to taxable years of shareholders ending before December 31, 2013.
(i) Expiration date.—This section expires on December 30, 2016. [Temporary Reg.
§ 1.1298-1T.]
[T.D. 9650, 12-30-2013.]