Extension of Time for Making Certain Elections

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224
Number: 202314012
Release Date: 4/7/2023
Index Number: 1400Z.02-00, 9100.00-00
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Third Party Communication: None
Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Person To Contact:
---, ID No. ---
Telephone Number:
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Refer Reply To:
CC:ITA:B04
PLR-113866-22
Date:
January 09, 2023
LEGEND
Taxpayer = ---
Advisor = ---
Year 1 = ---
Year 2 = ---
Date 1 = ---
Date 2 = ---
Month 1 = ---
State Z = ---
Dear ---:
This letter responds to Taxpayer’s request dated ---, seeking a private letter ruling granting relief to make a late regulatory election pursuant to Treas. Reg. §§ 301.9100-1 and 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations.
Specifically, Taxpayer requests an extension of time to file Form 8996, Qualified
Opportunity Fund, to (1) self-certify as a qualified opportunity fund (QOF), as defined in section 1400Z-2(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and (2) to be treated as a QOF, effective as of the month Taxpayer was formed, as provided under section 1400Z-2(d) and Treas. Reg. § 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a).
This letter ruling is being issued electronically in accordance with Rev. Proc. 2022-1,
2022-1 I.R.B.1. A paper copy will not be mailed to Taxpayer.

# FACTS

Taxpayer has represented that the facts are as follows. Taxpayer, a partnership organized as a limited liability company under the laws of State Z, was formed to be a PLR-113866-22 2 QOF on Date 1 for the purpose of investing in qualified opportunity zone property as defined in section 1400Z-2(d)(2). In Year 1, the members of Taxpayer sold interests in a real estate partnership and funded Taxpayer with a part of the capital gain proceeds of such sale.
During Year 1, Taxpayer’s representatives engaged Advisor to provide tax and accounting services for Taxpayer, including preparation of Taxpayer’s Federal income tax returns for Year 1 and Year 2. The information and affidavits provided indicate that Advisor was tasked with the preparation and timely filing of Taxpayer’s Federal income tax return and all related forms and elections to self-certify Taxpayer as a QOF, and to treat Taxpayer as a QOF as of the month Taxpayer was formed, Month 1.
According to the affidavits and representations provided to us, Advisor was provided with the information necessary to make it clear that Form 8996 should have been filed, and Advisor was retained by Taxpayer so that Taxpayer could comply with all requirements necessary to be treated as a QOF. However, Advisor failed to file the Form 8996 with either Taxpayer’s timely filed Year 1 or Year 2 Federal income tax returns in order for Taxpayer to self-certify QOF status and to be treated as a QOF as of Month 1.
On or around Date 2, Taxpayer received a State Z audit notice, which raised questions related to the opportunity zone investment. Taxpayer’s representatives contacted Advisor. In the process of the audit, Advisor realized that a Form 8996 should have been filed in order for Taxpayer’s self-certification as a QOF to be effective. Advisor subsequently informed Taxpayer’s representatives of this fact.

# LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 1400Z-2(e)(4)(A) directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations for the certification of QOFs. Treas. Reg. § 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) provides that the selfcertification of a QOF must be timely-filed and effectuated annually in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in the Internal Revenue Service forms or instructions, or in publications or guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.
To self-certify as a QOF, a taxpayer must file Form 8996 with its tax return for the year to which the certification applies. The Form 8996 must be filed by the due date of the tax return (including extensions). The information provided indicates that Taxpayer did not file its Form 8996 by the due date of its income tax return due to Advisor’s mistaken failure to do so.
Treas. Reg. §§ 301.9100-1 through 301.9100-3 provide the standards that the Service will use to determine whether to grant an extension of time to make a regulatory election. Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(a) provides that requests for extensions of time for regulatory elections (other than automatic changes covered in Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-PLR-113866-22 3
2) will be granted when the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith and granting relief will not prejudice the interests of the Government.
Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(b)(1) provides that a taxpayer is deemed to have acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer—

(i) Requests relief before the failure to make the regulatory election is discovered by the Service;

(ii) Failed to make the election because of intervening events beyond the taxpayer’s control;

(iii) Failed to make the election because, after exercising reasonable diligence, the taxpayer was unaware of the necessity for the election;

(iv) Reasonably relied on the written advice of the Service; or

(v) Reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional, and the professional failed to make, or advise the taxpayer to make, the election.
Under Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(b)(3), a taxpayer will not be considered to have acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer—

(i) Seeks to alter a return position for which an accuracy-related penalty could be imposed under § 6662 at the time the taxpayer requests relief and the new position requires a regulatory election for which relief is requested;

(ii) Was fully informed of the required election and related tax consequences, but chose not to file the election; or

(iii) Uses hindsight in requesting relief. If specific facts have changed since the original deadline that make the election advantageous to a taxpayer, the Service will not ordinarily grant relief.
Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3(c) provides that the Service will grant a reasonable extension of time only when the interests of the Government will not be prejudiced by the granting of relief. The interests of the Government are prejudiced if granting relief would result in a taxpayer having a lower tax liability in the aggregate for all taxable years affected by the election than the taxpayer would have had if the election had been timely made.

# CONCLUSION

Based on the facts and information submitted and the representations made, we conclude that Taxpayer has acted reasonably and in good faith, and that the granting of relief would not prejudice the interests of the Government. Accordingly, Taxpayer has satisfied the requirements of the regulations for the granting of relief, and Taxpayer’s late-filed Form 8996, certifying Taxpayer as a QOF as of the month Taxpayer was formed, will be considered timely filed provided it is received by the appropriate service center no later than 60 days from the date of this letter ruling.
PLR-113866-22 4
This ruling is based upon facts and representations submitted by Taxpayer and accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed by an appropriate party. This office has not verified any of the material submitted in support of the request for a ruling.
However, as part of an examination process, the Service may verify the factual information, representations, and other data submitted.
This ruling addresses the granting of Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3 relief as applied to the election to self-certify Taxpayer as a QOF by filing Forms 8996 for Year 1 and Year 2.
Specifically, we have no opinion, either express or implied, concerning whether any investments made into Taxpayer are qualifying investments as defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.1400Z2(a)-1(b)(34) or whether Taxpayer meets the requirements under section 1400Z-2 and the regulations thereunder to be a QOF. We express no opinion regarding the tax treatment of the instant transaction under the provisions of any other sections of the Code or regulations that may be applicable, or regarding the tax treatment of any conditions existing at the time of, or effects resulting from, the instant transaction.
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.
A copy of this letter must be attached to any income tax return to which it is relevant.
Alternatively, taxpayers filing their returns electronically may satisfy this requirement by attaching a statement to their return that provides the date and control number of the letter ruling.
Sincerely,
Mon L. Lam
Senior Counsel, Branch 4
(Income Tax & Accounting) cc: