Extension of Time for Making Certain Elections

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224
Number: 201622021
Release Date: 5/27/2016
Index Number: 2056A.00-00, 9100.00-00
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Re: ---
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February 26, 2016
Person To Contact:
---, ID No. ---
Telephone Number:
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Refer Reply To:
CC:PSI:B04 – PLR-130117-15
Date:
Decedent = ---
Spouse = ---
Trust Company 1 = ---
Trust Company 2 = ---
Trust 1 = ---
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Trust 2 = ---
Trust 3 = ---
Date 1 = ---
Date 2 = ---
Date 3 = ---
Date 4 = ---
Date 5 = ---
Dear ---:
This letter responds to your authorized representative’s letter of
September 9, 2015, requesting an extension of time under § 301.9100 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations to file the notice and certification required under § 20.2056A-10(a)(2) of the Estate Tax Regulations that Spouse has become a United States citizen The facts and representations submitted are as follows:
Decedent died testate on Date 1, survived by Spouse, who was not a United States citizen as of Date 1.
Under the terms of Section II of Decedent’s Will, the residue of Decedent’s estate passed to Trust 1. Under Section V of Trust 1, Trust 2 was established for the benefit of Spouse. Spouse was not a United States citizen at the time of Decedent’s death.
Decedent’s estate timely filed a Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-PLR-130117-15 2 skipping) Transfer Tax Return on Date 2. The executor made an election (on Schedule M of the return) under § 2056A(d) to treat Trust 2 as a qualified domestic trust (QDOT) and claimed an estate tax deduction for the value of the property transferred to the
QDOT. Spouse and Trust Company 2, a domestic trust company, are the current co-trustees. Spouse and Trust Company 1, a domestic trust company, were the initial co-trustees.
On Date 3, Spouse became a United States citizen. It is represented that Spouse has continuously resided in the United States from the date of Decedent's death until the time that Spouse became a United States citizen.
Trust Company 1 failed to advise Spouse that Trustee must file the final Form 706-QDT (U.S. Estate Tax Returns for Qualified Domestic Trusts) as required under § 20.2056A-10(a)(2), in order that QDOT will no longer be subject to the estate tax imposed under § 2056A(b), and Trust Company 1 did not file a final Form 706-QDT.
Trust Company 2 discovered that the final Form 706-QDT had not been filed when they commenced serving as the co-trustee of Trust 2 on Date 5. Subsequent to Spouse becoming a United States citizen, the assets of Trust 2 were transferred to Trust 3.
Trustees requests a ruling that an extension of time be granted pursuant to § 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations to file a final Form 706-QDT notifying and certifying to the Internal Revenue Service that Spouse has become a United States citizen, as required by § 20.2056A-10(a)(2).

# LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 2001(a) imposes a tax on the transfer of the taxable estate of every decedent who is a citizen or resident of the United States.
Section 2056(a) provides that, for purposes of the tax imposed by § 2001, the value of the taxable estate is to be determined by deducting from the value of the gross estate an amount equal to the value of any interest in property that passes or has passed from the decedent to the surviving spouse. Section 2056(d)(1)(A) and 2056(d)(2)(A) provides that if the surviving spouse of the decedent is not a United States citizen, the marital deduction is not allowed under § 2056(a), unless the property passes to the surviving spouse in a qualified domestic trust.
Under § 2056A(a), a qualified domestic trust is any trust in which: (1) the trust instrument requires that at least one trustee of the trust be an individual citizen of the United States or a domestic corporation and provides that no distribution (other than income) may be made from the trust unless a United States trustee has the right to withhold from such distribution the tax imposed under § 2056A(b) on the distribution; (2) the trust meets the requirements as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe to PLR-130117-15 3 ensure collection of the tax imposed by § 2056A(b); and (3) an election is made by the executor of the decedent with respect to the trust.
Under § 2056A(b)(1)(A), an estate tax is imposed on any distribution of principal from the qualified domestic trust (other than on account of hardship) before the date of death of the surviving spouse. In addition, under § 2056A(b)(1)(B) an estate tax is imposed on the value of the property remaining in a qualified domestic trust on the date of the death of the surviving spouse.
Under § 2056A(b)(12) and § 20.2056A-10(a)(1) and (2) of the Estate Tax Regulations, a QDOT is no longer subject to the estate tax imposed under § 2056A(b) if the surviving spouse becomes a citizen of the United States, and the spouse was a resident of the United States at all times after the death of the decedent and before becoming a United States citizen, and the U.S. Trustee of the qualified domestic trust notifies the Internal Revenue Service and certifies in writing that the surviving spouse has become a United States citizen. Notice is to be made by filing a final Form 706-QDT on or before April 15th of the calendar year following the year that the surviving spouse becomes a citizen, unless an extension of time of up to 6 months for filing is granted under § 6081.
Under § 301.9100-1(c) of the Procedure and Administration Regulations, the Commissioner has discretion to grant a reasonable extension of time under the rules set forth in §§ 301.9100-2 and 301.9100-3 to make a regulatory election, or a statutory election (but no more than 6 months except in the case of a taxpayer who is abroad), under all subtitles of the Internal Revenue Code except subtitles E, G, H, and I.
Section 301.9100-2 provides automatic extensions of time for making certain elections. Section 301.9100-3 provides extensions of time for making elections that do not meet the requirements of § 301.9100-2.
Section 301.9100-3 provides the standards used to determine whether to grant an extension of time to make an election whose due date is prescribed by a regulation (and not expressly provided by statute). The time for filing the notice required under § 20.2056A-10(a)(2) is not expressly pre-scribed by statute. Accordingly, the trustee may seek an extension of time to file with the Internal Revenue Service the required notice and certification that Spouse has become a United States citizen.
Requests for relief under § 301.9100-3 will be granted when the taxpayer provides the evidence to establish to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith, and the grant of relief will not prejudice the interests of the government. Section 301.9100-3(b)(1)(v) provides that a taxpayer is deemed to have acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional, including a tax professional employed by the taxpayer, and the tax professional failed to make, or advise the taxpayer to make, the election.
PLR-130117-15 4
Based on the facts submitted and the representations made, we conclude that the requirements of § 301.9100-3 have been satisfied. Therefore, the trustee is granted an extension of time of 120 days from the date of this letter to file with the Internal Revenue Service the required notice and certification that Spouse has become a citizen of the United States. The required notice and certification should be made on a Form 706-QDT. The Form 706-QDT should be filed with the Internal Revenue Service Center, Cincinnati, OH 45999. A copy of this letter should be attached to the Form 706-
QDT. A copy is enclosed for this purpose.
Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning the tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or referenced in this letter.
This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Section 6110(k)(3) of the Code provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.
In accordance with the Power of Attorney on file with this office, a copy of this letter is being sent to your authorized representative.
The rulings contained in this letter are based upon information and representations submitted by the taxpayer and accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed by an appropriate party. While this office has not verified any of the material submitted in support of the request for rulings, it is subject to verification on examination.
Sincerely yours,
Associate Chief Counsel
(Passthroughs & Special Industries
By: Lorraine E. Gardner
Lorraine E. Gardner
Senior Counsel, Branch 4
Office of Associate Chief Counsel
(Passthroughs and Special Industries)
Enclosure
Copy for section 6110 purposes cc: