Skip Page Banner  
Skip Navigation

Consolidated Returns — Limitations on Losses (Portfolio 757)

Product Code: TPOR41
$400.00 Print
Add To Cart

Consolidated Returns—Limitations on Losses, written by George L. White, Esq., analyzes the problems relating to the limitations on losses imposed by the consolidated return regulations on an affiliated group of corporations filing a consolidated return.

This Portfolio discusses and analyzes the limitations imposed by the consolidated return regulations on the use of losses, such as the separate return limitation year rules and §382. It discusses and analyzes the loss limitation rules in the 1995 regulations, in the 2002 temporary regulations and 2005 final regulations, and in the 2008 “unified loss rule.” 

The Portfolio also examines the SRLY limitation on built-in losses, provides a definition of “built-in loss,” and reviews net unrealized and recognized built-in loss.  In addition, the author defines the transactions between group members and explores disallowed passive losses and credits.

Finally, Consolidated Returns—Limitations on Losses examines a number of rules, including the consolidated change-of-ownership rules, anti-avoidance rules, tax shelter implications, and passive loss rules. 

Consolidated Returns—Limitations on Losses 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. Introduction

II. Separate Return Limitation Year Rules

A. Overview

B. Separate Return Limitation Year

1. In General

2. Separate Return Year; Separate Return Limitation Year

a. In General

b. Predecessors and Successors

c. Exceptions to SRLY Status

(1) Separate Return Year of Common Parent

(2) Member of Group Each Day of Year

C. Net Operating Loss Carryovers and Carrybacks from SRLYs to Consolidated Return Years

1. Contribution of Loss Member to Consolidated Taxable Income

a. Background

b. In General

2. Built-in Losses Treated as Arising in SRLYs

3. Illustration of Operation of Net Operating Loss Carryover and Carryback Rules in SRLY Context

a. Net Operating Loss Carryovers

b. Net Operating Loss Carrybacks

D. Overlap Rule

1. Background

2. Overlap Situation

3. Operating Rules

4. Acquisition of Groups of Corporations

a. Overview

b. Definition of "Group"

c. Elective Relief

E. Net Capital Losses

F. SRLY Subgroup Concept

1. In General

2. Identification of SRLY Subgroups

a. Carryover Subgroups

b. Carryback Subgroups

3. Departure from SRLY Subgroup

4. Members Included (or Excluded) with Principal Purpose of Avoiding SRLY Limitation

5. Anti-Duplication Rules

6. Coordination with Other Limitations

G. Predecessors and Successors

H. Effective Dates

III. Consolidated Return Change of Ownership Rules

IV. Section 382

A. Overview

1. Sections 382 and 383

2. Single-Entity Approach of the Consolidated Return Regulations

3. Application of § 382 in Consolidated Return Context

4. Separate Attribute Application of § 382 Limitation

B. Application of § 382 with Respect to a Consolidated Group

1. Determination and Effect of an Ownership Change

a. In General

b. Special Rule for Post-Change Year That Includes the Change Date

2. Loss Group

3. Loss Subgroup

a. Net Operating Loss Carryovers

b. Net Unrealized Built-In Loss

c. Loss Subgroup Parent

d. Election of Status as Loss Subgroup Parent

e. Principal Purpose of Avoiding a Limitation

f. Cessation as Member of Loss Subgroup

(1) In General

(2) Special Rules

4. Pre-Change Consolidated Attribute

5. Pre-Change Subgroup Attribute

6. Net Unrealized Built-In Gain and Loss

a. In General

b. Members Included in Net Unrealized Built-In Loss Determination

(1) Consolidated Group

(2) Loss Subgroup

c. Acquisition of Built-In Gain or Loss Assets

d. Indirect Ownership

7. Recognized Built-In Gain or Loss

a. Disposition of Stock or Debt of a Member

b. Intercompany Transactions

c. Exchanged Basis Property

C. Determination of Ownership Change

1. Loss Group

2. Loss Subgroup

3. Computational Rules

a. Loss Group

b. Loss Subgroup

4. Successor Parents

5. Newly Created Loss Subgroup Parent

6. Supplemental Method of Determining Ownership Change

7. Information Statements

D. Consolidated § 382 Limitation

1. In General

2. Value of Loss Group

3. Continuity of Business Requirement

E. Corporations Joining a Consolidated Group

F. Corporations Leaving a Consolidated Group

G. Separate Tracking of SRLY Attributes

H. Ownership Changes of Subsidiaries on Separate Corporation Basis

I. Application of § 383

J. Application of § 382 to "Controlled Groups"

1. Introduction

2. Circumstances and Amount of Adjustment Reducing Value

3. Restoration of Value

4. Other Value Reduction Rules

5. No Duplications of Adjustments

6. Coordination of Rules Relating to Controlled Groups and Consolidated Groups

V. Section 384

VI. SRLY Limitation on Built-In Losses

Introductory Material

A. Definition of "Built-In Loss"

1. Net Unrealized Built-In Loss

2. Recognized Built-In Loss

B. SRLY Limitation

C. Treatment of Built-In Losses for Non-SRLY Purposes

D. Built-In Loss SRLY Subgroups

1. General Rule

2. Members of Subgroups

VII. At-Risk Rules

A. In General

B. Amount at Risk

VIII. Disposition of Stock of a Subsidiary

A. Limitation on Use of Subsidiary's Losses to Offset Gain on Disposition of Subsidiary

B. Disallowance of Loss Recognized on Disposition of Stock or Deconsolidation of Subsidiary

1. Stage I: § 337(d); Notice 87-14

a. Use of Investment Adjustment Rules to Avoid Repeal of General Utilities Doctrine

b. Loss Duplication

2. Stage II: Initial Loss Disallowance and Deconsolidation Rules

a. Loss Disallowance Rule

(1) In General

(2) Netting of Gains and Losses

(3) Coordination with Loss Deferral and Loss Disallowance Rules

b. Deconsolidation Rule

(1) In General

(2) Loss Within Two Years After Basis Adjustment

(3) Netting of Gains and Losses

c. Exceptions to Loss Disallowance and Deconsolidation Rules

(1) Extraordinary Gain Dispositions

(2) Positive Investment Adjustments

(3) Duplicated Losses

(4) Netting of Basis Adjustments for Certain Periods

(5) Examples of Exceptions to Loss Disallowance and Deconsolidation Rules

d. Application of Loss Disallowance and Deconsolidation Rules to Successor

e. Anti-Avoidance Rules

(1) In General

(2) Anti-Stuffing Rule

(3) Tax Shelter Implications

f. Effect on Investment Adjustment System and Earnings and Profits Rules

g. Election to Retain Losses of Subsidiary

(1) In General

(2) Insolvency Limitation

(3) No Carryback of Reattributed Losses

(4) SRLY Taint Continued to Apply

(5) No § 382 Limitation

(6) Election Requirements

3. Stage III: Post-Rite Aid Loss Disallowance and Deconsolidation Rules

a. Loss Disallowance Rules

(1) Dispositions and Deconsolidations After March 6, 2002, and Before September 17, 2008

(2) Dispositions and Deconsolidations Before March 7, 2002

b. Duplicated Loss Rules

(1) Basis Redetermination Rule

(2) Loss Suspension Rule

(3) Basis Reduction Rule

(4) Anti-Avoidance Rules

4. Stage IV: Unified Loss Rule

a. In General

b. Basis Redetermination Sub-Rule

c. Basis Reduction Sub-Rule

d. Attribute Reduction Sub-Rule

e. Modifications to Unified Loss Rule

(1) Adjustments for Certain Prior Transactions

(2) Subsidiary Stock Transferred in Intercompany Transactions

(3) Complete Liquidations of Subsidiary

(4) Elections

(5) Anti-Abuse Provision

IX. Passive Loss Rules

A. In General

B. Transactions Between Group Members

C. Disallowed Passive Losses and Credits

X. Section 267

XI. Dual Consolidated Loss Limitation

A. Background

B. Dual Consolidated Loss Limitation: In General

C. Dual Resident Corporation

D. Domestic Use of Dual Consolidated Losses

1. General Rule

2. Separate Unit Combination Rule

3. Exceptions to Domestic Use Limitation Rule

a. Bilateral Elective Agreement

b. No Possibility of Foreign Use

c. Domestic Use Election

(1) In General

(2) Effect of Domestic Use Limitation

(3) Triggering Events

(4) Exceptions to Triggering Events

4. Recapture of Dual Consolidated Losses

a. In General

b. Amount of Recapture

c. Treatment of Recapture Income

d. Failure to Comply with Recapture Rules

E. Foreign Use of Dual Consolidated Losses

1. General Rule

2. Indirect Foreign Use

3. Exceptions to Foreign Use

4. Ordering Rules

5. "Mirror Legislation" of Foreign Country

F. Accounting for Dual Consolidated Losses

1. Calculation of Amount of Dual Consolidated Loss

2. Basis Adjustments

G. Reasonable Cause Standard

XII. Limitation on Use of Group Losses to Offset Income of a Subsidiary Paying Preferred Dividends

XIII. Reverse Acquisitions

A. In General

B. Determination of Stock Ownership Percentage

1. Creeping Reverse Acquisitions

2. Multiple Acquired Corporations

3. Substance-over-Form Principle

4. Cross Ownership of Stock

C. Consolidation into Newly Formed Common Parent

D. Merger of Subsidiary into Common Parent

E. Impact of a Reverse Acquisition

1. Separate Return Limitation Year Rules

2. Net Operating Loss of New Group

XIV. Carrybacks and Carryovers to Separate Return Years

A. In General

B. Net Operating Loss

C. Net Capital Loss

XV. Disposition of Stock of Parent by Member of Group

A. Background

B. Disallowance of Recognized Losses

C. Disallowance of Losses When P Stock Becomes Owned by Nonmember

D. Waiver of Built-in Loss on P Stock

E. Losses from Options, Warrants, and Similar Positions

F. Exception for Dealers in P Stock

Working Papers

Table of Worksheets

Worksheet 1 List of Preambles to Regulations

Worksheet 2 Notice 2004-58, 2004-39 I.R.B. 520 (9/15/2004) (Guidance on Subsidiary Stock Loss Under Regs. § 1.337(d)-2T)

Worksheet 3 Election to Reattribute Subsidiary's Losses to Common Parent (Regs. § 1.1502-20(g)(4))

Worksheet 4 Election to Take Previously Owned Stock into Account for Purposes of Reverse Acquisition Rules (Regs. § 1.1502-75(d)(3)(iii))

Worksheet 5 Statement of Disposition of Stock Within Two Years of Deconsolidation (Regs. § 1.1502-20(b)(5))

Bibliography

OFFICIAL

Statutes:

Regulations:

Treasury Rulings:

Cases:

UNOFFICIAL

Periodicals:

Pre-1980

1985

1990

1991

1994

1997

1998

1999

2001

2004

George L. White
George L. White, B.A., Holy Cross College (1958); M.B.A., University of Pennsylvania (1960); LL.B., Harvard University (1963); admitted to practice in Massachusetts; Certified Public Accountant, Massachusetts.