Collapsible Corporations, written by Reuven S. Avi–Yonah of Harvard Law School and Frederic A. Nicholsen, Esq., of Willcox & Savage, discusses the purpose of the collapsible corporation provisions and analyzes in depth the legal principles applicable to former §341. Although the 2003 Tax Act repealed the collapsible corporation provisions under former §341 for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2002, this repeal sunsets and the collapsible corporations provisions may again apply in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010. 

Former §341 was added to the Code to prevent taxpayers from converting ordinary income into capital gain through the use of corporations. In general, if a corporation is a collapsible corporation, as defined in former §341(b), gain to its shareholders upon a sale (or a deemed sale through liquidation) of the corporation's stock, to the extent that it exceeds the basis of such stock, is treated as ordinary income, thus converting what would normally be capital gain into ordinary income. 

This Portfolio discusses the definition of a collapsible corporation under former §341(b) and the types of transactions subject to former §341. It reviews the presumption of collapsible status provided by former §341(c) and identifies the limitations and exceptions to the collapsible corporation rules set forth in former §341(d), (e), and (f).

Additional specific topics covered in this Portfolio include

• limitations on application of §341, the 5% stock ownership rule, and the 70% rule of §341(d)(2)
• the interrelationship of §341 and the reorganization provisions
• §341 assets, inventory-type property, and unrealized receivables or fees

Collapsible Corporations allows you to benefit from:

• Hundreds of hours of original research on specific tax planning topics from leading practitioners in this area.
• Invaluable practice documents including tables, charts and lists.
• Plain-English guidance from world-class experts.
• Real-world and in-depth analysis that lets you explore various options.
• Time-saving access to relevant sections of tax laws, regulations, court cases, IRS documents and more.
• Alternative approaches to both common and unique tax scenarios.

This Portfolio is part of the U.S. Income Portfolios Library, a comprehensive series that includes more than 200 Portfolios, which cover every federal tax topic with expert, in-depth analysis, and offer commentary on a wide range of federal taxation topics, including Compensation Planning, Deductions and Credits, Partnerships and Corporations, Special Pass-Through Entities, Corporate Reorganizations, Real Estate, Procedure and Administration, and more.

Detailed Analysis

I. Background of the Collapsible Corporation Provisions

II. Statutory Outline

Introductory Material

A. Basic Principles

1. Pre–1986 TRA Law

2. Post–1986 TRA Law

B. The Definition in Section 341(b)

C. Subjective or Objective Test

D. Case Law

III. Transactions Covered by Section 341

Introductory Material

A. Transactions Referred to in Section 341(a)

B. Redemptions Under Section 302

C. Section 338

IV. Analysis of Elements of Collapsible Corporation Under Section 341(b)

Introductory Material

A. The “Principally” Requirement

B. The Manufacture, Construction, or Production of Property

1. To Any Extent

2. Property Acquired in Tax–Free Transactions

3. The Meaning of Property

4. Nature of the Property Included

5. Definition of “Construction”

a. General Comments

b. Preliminary Activities

c. Retained Interest in Construction

d. Completion of Construction or Production

e. The Effect of Reconstruction

f. Development of Oil Property as Construction

C. The Purchase of Property

1. General

2. Section 341 Assets

a. Inventory–type Property

b. Unrealized Receivables or Fees

c. Section 1231(b) Assets

d. Property Used in Connection with Manufacture

D. Holding Companies

E. The “View to” Requirement

1. General

2. When Must the View Exist?

3. Need for Unanticipated Event

4. The Decisional Law

5. Who Must Have the View?

6. Minority Shareholders and Forced Sales

7. The View to Realization of Gain

8. Sale to Related Person or Co–Shareholder

F. Realization of a Substantial Part

1. Pre–1984 TRA Law - “Substantial Part” Test of Section 341(b)(1)(A)

2. Post–1984 TRA Law - “Two–Thirds” Test of Section 341(b)(1)(A)

3. Taxable Income to be Derived

4. Taxable Income as Opposed to Gross Income

5. Test Applied at Date of Collapse

6. More Than One Property

7. The Integrated Project Rule

8. Special Rule of Regs. Section 1.341–5(c)(2)

9. Computation of Taxable Income Where More Than One Property is Held?

G. Gain Attributable to Such Property

H. Twenty–Year Rule

V. The Rebuttable Presumption of Section 341(c)

Introductory Material

A. General

B. The 120% Provision

C. Holding Company and Manufacturing Company

D. Practical Effect on Presumption

VI. Limitations on Application of Section 341

Introductory Material

A. General

B. The 5% Stock Ownership Rule

C. The 70% Rule of Section 341(d)(2)

1. General

2. Classification of Property

3. Gain Attributable to Collapsible Property

4. Allocation of Deductions

5. Percentage Test to Different Shareholders

6. Single versus Separate Property

7. Aggregation Requirement

8. Land and Building

9. Improvements to Property

D. The Three–Year Rule of Section 341(d)(3)

1. General

2. Tacking of Holding Period

3. When is Construction Completed?

4. More Than One Property

5. Gain Attributable to Three–year Property

6. Deferred Payment Sales

7. Date of Sale

VII. Section 341(e)

Introductory Material

A. Basic Formula and Definitions

1. Net Unrealized Appreciation

2. Net Worth

3. Section 341(e) Assets - Defined

a. General Definition

(1) Ordinary Income Assets

(2) Section 1231(b) Built–in Loss Assets

(3) Section 1231(b) Appreciated Assets

(4) Literary and Artistic Assets

b. Treatment of Section 1231(b) Assets

c. Attribution Rules

d. Recapture and Collapsibility Status Disregarded

4. Specific Shareholder Test

B. Determination of Stock Ownership

1. In General

2. Attribution of Ownership

3. Constructive Shareholders

4. Value of Outstanding Shares

C. Application of Section 341(e) to Stock Sales or Exchanges

1. General Corporate Test

2. Specific Shareholder Test

a. More Than 5% But Not More Than 20% Shareholders

b. More Than 20% Shareholders (the “Hypothetical Dealer Test”)

(1) In General

(2) Related Corporation Defined

(a) Stock Ownership Test

(b) More–than–70% Asset Comparison Test

(3) Manner of Taking into Account Related Corporations

(4) Effect of Taking Related Corporation into Account

(5) Examples

3. Exceptions for Certain Sales to Related Persons

VIII. Section 341(f)

Introductory Material

A. In General - Sales of Stock

B. Form of Consent

1. Statement of Consent

2. Affiliated Corporations Included in Statement

3. Revocability and Termination of Consent

4. Notification Requirements

a. Consenting Corporation

b. Shareholders

5. Foreign Corporations

C. Recognition of Gain

1. General Rule

2. Exception to the Gain Recognition Rules

a. In General

b. Foreign Corporation Transferees

D. Section 341(f) Asset - Defined

1. In General

2. Special Rules - Construction of Property

E. Five–Year Limitation as to Shareholder

F. Special Rule for Stock Ownership in Other Corporations

G. Basis Adjustments

H. Summary - When to Use a Section 341(f) Consent

1. Factors Clearly Indicating that the Consent Should be Filed

2. Factors Clearly Indicating that the Consent Should Not be Filed

3. Conclusion

IX. Interrelationship of Section 341 and the Reorganization Provisions

X. Miscellaneous Observations

Introductory Material

A. Foreign Corporations

B. IRS Ruling Policy

Working Papers

Table of Worksheets

Worksheet 1 Case Analysis of Approach to Collapsible Corporation Problem.

Worksheet 2 Checklist of Defenses to Section 341.

Worksheet 3 Tax Planning on Organization of Corporation - Transfer of Appreciated Securities.

Worksheet 4 Use of Multiple Corporations To Avoid the “View to” Rule.

Worksheet 5 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Single Corporation, Depending on the Application of the 70% Rule.

Worksheet 6 Use of Multiple Corporations in Connection With the Three–Year Rule.

Worksheet 7 Taxfree Reorganization as a Method of Avoiding Section 341.

Worksheet 8 Corporate Resolution Authorizing Filing of Section 341(f) Consent.

Worksheet 9 Corporate Resolution Authorizing Transferee Agreement.

Worksheet 10 Corporate Consent to Recognize Gain on Disposition of “subsection (f) assets” (Regs. Section 1.341–7(b)(2)(i)).

Worksheet 11 Notice to IRS that Consenting Corporation Has Become 5% or More Owner of Another Corporation (Regs. Section 1.341–7(b)(2)(ii)).

Worksheet 12 Shareholder Notification (Regs. Section 1.341–7(c)).

Worksheet 13 Notification by Shareholder of Sale of Consenting Corporation's Stock (Regs. Section 1.341–7(d)).

Worksheet 14 Form of Transferee Agreement.

Worksheet 15 Form of Representation That Section 341(f) Consent Has Not Been Filed.

Worksheet 16 Committee Reports Relating to the Enactment of the Collapsible Corporation Provisions.

Worksheet 17 Committee Reports Relating to Section 341(e). Technical Amendments Act of 1958

Worksheet 18 Committee Reports and Joint Committee Explanation Relating to Section 341(f).

Worksheet 19 Joint Committee Explanation Relating to Sections 341(b) and (d).

Bibliography

OFFICIAL

Statutes:

Treasury Regulations:

Legislative History:

Treasury Rulings:

Cases:

UNOFFICIAL

Treatises:

Periodicals:

1986

1987

1990

1994

1995

1997