§2701 — Title 26 Internal Revenue Code | U.S. Code

Summary

When someone gives a family member part of a corporation or partnership, the law says how to count that gift. Most kinds of rights that the giver still keeps in the business are counted as having no value when figuring the gift. But if the giver keeps a right to get fixed periodic payments (a “qualified payment”), that payment can have value. The zero-value rule does not apply if the interest has ready market prices, is the same class as the transferred interest, or is proportionally the same as the transferred interest. If a lower-level (junior) equity interest is given, it cannot be valued lower than what it would be if all junior interests together were worth at least 10 percent of (the total equity value plus any debt the business owes to the giver). Short definitions: an applicable retained interest is a retained interest that has either a right to distributions when the giver and family control the entity or a liquidation/put/call/ conversion-type right; a distribution right is a right to payments from the company; a liquidation/put/call/conversion right is any similar right that can change value; a qualified payment is a fixed periodic payment like certain preferred dividends; “member of the family” and “applicable family member” list close relatives like spouse, descendants, ancestors, and their spouses. If a taxable event happens — such as the giver’s death, a later transfer, or an election to include a delayed payment — the giver’s estate or gift totals are increased by the extra value of the qualified payments that should have been made and reinvested at the discount rate used in the valuation. That increase is limited by a formula tied to how much junior equity increased in value and by the giver’s share of that class. Payments made within four years after their due date are treated as if paid on the due date. Indirect ownership counts, adopted children count as blood relatives, transfers involving spouses may be treated specially, and the Treasury can make rules to split interests or adjust earlier gift amounts.

Title 26, §2701

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Solely for purposes of determining whether a transfer of an interest in a corporation or partnership to (or for the benefit of) a member of the transferor’s family is a gift (and the value of such transfer), the value of any right—

(A)which is described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(1), and

(B)which is with respect to any applicable retained interest that is held by the transferor or an applicable family member immediately after the transfer,

(2)Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any right with respect to an applicable retained interest if—

(A)market quotations are readily available (as of the date of the transfer) for such interest on an established securities market,

(B)such interest is of the same class as the transferred interest, or

(C)such interest is proportionally the same as the transferred interest, without regard to nonlapsing differences in voting power (or, for a partnership, nonlapsing differences with respect to management and limitations on liability).

(3)(A)The value of any right described in paragraph (1), other than a distribution right which consists of a right to receive a qualified payment, shall be treated as being zero.

(B)If—

(i)any applicable retained interest confers a distribution right which consists of the right to a qualified payment, and

(ii)there are 1 or more liquidation, put, call, or conversion rights with respect to such interest,

(C)In the case of an applicable retained interest which is described in subparagraph (B)(i) but not subparagraph (B)(ii), the value of the distribution right shall be determined without regard to this section.

(4)(A)In the case of a transfer described in paragraph (1) of a junior equity interest in a corporation or partnership, such interest shall in no event be valued at an amount less than the value which would be determined if the total value of all of the junior equity interests in the entity were equal to 10 percent of the sum of—

(i)the total value of all of the equity interests in such entity, plus

(ii)the total amount of indebtedness of such entity to the transferor (or an applicable family member).

(B)For purposes of this paragraph—

(i)The term “junior equity interest” means common stock or, in the case of a partnership, any partnership interest under which the rights as to income and capital (or, to the extent provided in regulations, the rights as to either income or capital) are junior to the rights of all other classes of equity interests.

(ii)The term “equity interest” means stock or any interest as a partner, as the case may be.

(b)For purposes of this section—

(1)The term “applicable retained interest” means any interest in an entity with respect to which there is—

(A)a distribution right, but only if, immediately before the transfer described in subsection (a)(1), the transferor and applicable family members hold (after application of subsection (e)(3)) control of the entity, or

(B)a liquidation, put, call, or conversion right.

(2)For purposes of paragraph (1)—

(A)In the case of a corporation, the term “control” means the holding of at least 50 percent (by vote or value) of the stock of the corporation.

(B)In the case of a partnership, the term “control” means—

(i)the holding of at least 50 percent of the capital or profits interests in the partnership, or

(ii)in the case of a limited partnership, the holding of any interest as a general partner.

(C)For purposes of this subsection, the term “applicable family member” includes any lineal descendant of any parent of the transferor or the transferor’s spouse.

(c)For purposes of this section—

(1)(A)The term “distribution right” means—

(i)a right to distributions from a corporation with respect to its stock, and

(ii)a right to distributions from a partnership with respect to a partner’s interest in the partnership.

(B)The term “distribution right” does not include—

(i)a right to distributions with respect to any interest which is junior to the rights of the transferred interest,

(ii)any liquidation, put, call, or conversion right, or

(iii)any right to receive any guaranteed payment described in section 707(c) of a fixed amount.

(2)(A)The term “liquidation, put, call, or conversion right” means any liquidation, put, call, or conversion right, or any similar right, the exercise or nonexercise of which affects the value of the transferred interest.

(B)(i)The term “liquidation, put, call, or conversion right” does not include any right which must be exercised at a specific time and at a specific amount.

(ii)If a right is assumed to be exercised in a particular manner under subsection (a)(3)(B), such right shall be treated as so exercised for purposes of clause (i).

(C)The term “liquidation, put, call, or conversion right” does not include any right which—

(i)is a right to convert into a fixed number (or a fixed percentage) of shares of the same class of stock in a corporation as the transferred stock in such corporation under subsection (a)(1) (or stock which would be of the same class but for nonlapsing differences in voting power),

(ii)is nonlapsing,

(iii)is subject to proportionate adjustments for splits, combinations, reclassifications, and similar changes in the capital stock, and

(iv)is subject to adjustments similar to the adjustments under subsection (d) for accumulated but unpaid distributions.

(3)(A)Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the term “qualified payment” means any dividend payable on a periodic basis under any cumulative preferred stock (or a comparable payment under any partnership interest) to the extent that such dividend (or comparable payment) is determined at a fixed rate.

(B)For purposes of subparagraph (A), a payment shall be treated as fixed as to rate if such payment is determined at a rate which bears a fixed relationship to a specified market interest rate.

(C)(i)Payments under any interest held by a transferor which (without regard to this subparagraph) are qualified payments shall be treated as qualified payments unless the transferor elects not to treat such payments as qualified payments. Payments described in the preceding sentence which are held by an applicable family member shall be treated as qualified payments only if such member elects to treat such payments as qualified payments.

(ii)A transferor or applicable family member holding any distribution right which (without regard to this subparagraph) is not a qualified payment may elect to treat such right as a qualified payment, to be paid in the amounts and at the times specified in such election. The preceding sentence shall apply only to the extent that the amounts and times so specified are not inconsistent with the underlying legal instrument giving rise to such right.

(iii)Any election under this subparagraph with respect to an interest shall, once made, be irrevocable.

(d)(1)If a taxable event occurs with respect to any distribution right to which subsection (a)(3)(B) or (C) applied, the following shall be increased by the amount determined under paragraph (2):

(A)The taxable estate of the transferor in the case of a taxable event described in paragraph (3)(A)(i).

(B)The taxable gifts of the transferor for the calendar year in which the taxable event occurs in the case of a taxable event described in paragraph (3)(A)(ii) or (iii).

(2)(A)The amount of the increase determined under this paragraph shall be the excess (if any) of—

(i)the value of the qualified payments payable during the period beginning on the date of the transfer under subsection (a)(1) and ending on the date of the taxable event determined as if—

(I)all such payments were paid on the date payment was due, and

(II)all such payments were reinvested by the transferor as of the date of payment at a yield equal to the discount rate used in determining the value of the applicable retained interest described in subsection (a)(1), over

(ii)the value of such payments paid during such period computed under clause (i) on the basis of the time when such payments were actually paid.

(B)(i)The amount of the increase under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed the applicable percentage of the excess (if any) of—

(I)the value (determined as of the date of the taxable event) of all equity interests in the entity which are junior to the applicable retained interest, over

(II)the value of such interests (determined as of the date of the transfer to which subsection (a)(1) applied).

(ii)For purposes of clause (i), the applicable percentage is the percentage determined by dividing—

(I)the number of shares in the corporation held (as of the date of the taxable event) by the transferor which are applicable retained interests of the same class, by

(II)the total number of shares in such corporation (as of such date) which are of the same class as the class described in subclause (I).

(iii)For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “equity interest” has the meaning given such term by subsection (a)(4)(B).

(C)For purposes of subparagraph (A), any payment of any distribution during the 4-year period beginning on its due date shall be treated as having been made on such due date.

(3)For purposes of this subsection—

(A)The term “taxable event” means any of the following:

(i)The death of the transferor if the applicable retained interest conferring the distribution right is includible in the estate of the transferor.

(ii)The transfer of such applicable retained interest.

(iii)At the election of the taxpayer, the payment of any qualified payment after the period described in paragraph (2)(C), but only with respect to such payment.

(B)(i)Subparagraph (A)(i) shall not apply to any interest includible in the gross estate of the transferor if a deduction with respect to such interest is allowable under section 2056 or 2106(a)(3).

(ii)A transfer to the spouse of the transferor shall not be treated as a taxable event under subparagraph (A)(ii) if such transfer does not result in a taxable gift by reason of—

(I)any deduction allowed under section 2523, or the exclusion under section 2503(b), or

(II)consideration for the transfer provided by the spouse.

(iii)If an event is not treated as a taxable event by reason of this subparagraph, the transferee spouse or surviving spouse (as the case may be) shall be treated in the same manner as the transferor in applying this subsection with respect to the interest involved.

(4)(A)For purposes of this subsection, an applicable family member shall be treated in the same manner as the transferor with respect to any distribution right retained by such family member to which subsection (a)(3)(B) or (C) applied.

(B)In the case of a taxable event described in paragraph (3)(A)(ii) involving the transfer of an applicable retained interest to an applicable family member (other than the spouse of the transferor), the applicable family member shall be treated in the same manner as the transferor in applying this subsection to distributions accumulating with respect to such interest after such taxable event.

(C)In the case of a taxable event described in paragraph (3)(A)(ii) involving a transfer of an applicable retained interest from an applicable family member to a transferor, this subsection shall continue to apply to the transferor during any period the transferor holds such interest.

(5)For purposes of this subsection, any termination of an interest shall be treated as a transfer.

(e)For purposes of this section—

(1)The term “member of the family” means, with respect to any transferor—

(A)the transferor’s spouse,

(B)a lineal descendant of the transferor or the transferor’s spouse, and

(C)the spouse of any such descendant.

(2)The term “applicable family member” means, with respect to any transferor—

(A)the transferor’s spouse,

(B)an ancestor of the transferor or the transferor’s spouse, and

(C)the spouse of any such ancestor.

(3)An individual shall be treated as holding any interest to the extent such interest is held indirectly by such individual through a corporation, partnership, trust, or other entity. If any individual is treated as holding any interest by reason of the preceding sentence, any transfer which results in such interest being treated as no longer held by such individual shall be treated as a transfer of such interest.

(4)A relationship by legal adoption shall be treated as a relationship by blood.

(5)Except as provided in regulations, a contribution to capital or a redemption, recapitalization, or other change in the capital structure of a corporation or partnership shall be treated as a transfer of an interest in such entity to which this section applies if the taxpayer or an applicable family member—

(A)receives an applicable retained interest in such entity pursuant to such transaction, or

(B)under regulations, otherwise holds, immediately after such transaction, an applicable retained interest in such entity.

(6)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, if there is any subsequent transfer, or inclusion in the gross estate, of any applicable retained interest which was valued under the rules of subsection (a), appropriate adjustments shall be made for purposes of chapter 11, 12, or 13 to reflect the increase in the amount of any prior taxable gift made by the transferor or decedent by reason of such valuation or to reflect the application of subsection (d).

(7)The Secretary may by regulation provide that any applicable retained interest shall be treated as 2 or more separate interests for purposes of this section.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(1)(B), inserted “certain” before “qualified” in heading. Subsec. (a)(3)(C). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(1)(A), added subpar. (C). Subsec. (a)(4)(B)(i). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(2), inserted “(or, to the extent provided in

Regulations

, the rights as to either income or capital)” after “income and capital”. Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(3)(A), added subpar. (C). Subsec. (c)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(4), amended cl. (i) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (i) read as follows: “a right to distributions with respect to any junior equity interest (as defined in subsection (a)(4)(B)(i)),”. Subsec. (c)(3)(C)(i). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(5)(A), amended cl. (i) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (i) read as follows: “(i) Waiver of qualified payment treatment.—A transferor or applicable family member may elect with respect to payments under any interest specified in such election to treat such payments as payments which are not qualified payments.” Subsec. (c)(3)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(5)(B), amended first sentence generally. Prior to amendment, first sentence read as follows: “A transferor or any applicable family member may elect to treat any distribution right as a qualified payment, to be paid in the amounts and at the times specified in such election.” Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(1)(C), substituted “subsection (a)(3)(B) or (C)” for “subsection (a)(3)(B)”. Subsec. (d)(3)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(6), struck out “the period ending on the date of” after “with respect to”. Subsec. (d)(3)(B)(ii)(I). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(7), inserted “or the exclusion under section 2503(b),” after “section 2523,”. Subsec. (d)(4)(A). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(1)(C), substituted “subsection (a)(3)(B) or (C)” for “subsection (a)(3)(B)”. Subsec. (d)(4)(C). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(9), added subpar. (C). Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(3)(B), substituted “Attribution of indirect holdings and transfers” for “Attribution rules” in par. heading, struck out subpar. (A) designation and heading which read “Indirect holdings and transfers”, and struck out subpar. (B) which read as follows: “(B) Control.—For purposes of subsections (b)(1), an individual shall be treated as holding any interest held by the individual’s brothers, sisters, or lineal descendants.” Subsec. (e)(5)(A). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(8)(A), substituted “such transaction” for “such contribution to capital or such redemption, recapitalization, or other change”. Subsec. (e)(5)(B). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(8)(B), substituted “such transaction” for “the transfer”. Subsec. (e)(6). Pub. L. 104–188, § 1702(f)(10), inserted “or to reflect the application of subsection (d)” before period at end.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–188 effective, except as otherwise expressly provided, as if included in the provision of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, to which such amendment relates, see section 1702(i) of Pub. L. 104–188, set out as a note under section 38 of this title.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11602(e)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–500, provided that: “(A) In general.—The

Amendments

made by subsection (a) [enacting this chapter]—“(i) to the extent such

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relate to section 2701 and 2702 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by such

Amendments

), shall apply to transfers after October 8, 1990, “(ii) to the extent such

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relate to section 2703 of such Code (as so added), shall apply to—“(I) agreements, options, rights, or restrictions entered into or granted after

October 8, 1990, and “(II) agreements, options, rights, or restrictions which are substantially modified after

October 8, 1990, and “(iii) to the extent such

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relate to section 2704 of such Code (as so added), shall apply to restrictions or rights (or limitations on rights) created after

October 8, 1990. “(B) Exception.—For purposes of subparagraph (A)(i), with respect to property transferred before

October 9, 1990—“(i) any failure to exercise a right of conversion, “(ii) any failure to pay dividends, and “(iii) any failure to exercise other rights specified in

Regulations

, shall not be treated as a subsequent transfer.” Time for Election Under Subsection (c)(3)(C)(i)Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1702(f)(5)(C), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1871, provided that: “The time for making an election under the second sentence of section 2701(c)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended by subparagraph (A)) shall not expire before the due date (including extensions) for filing the transferor’s return of the tax imposed by section 2501 of such Code for the first calendar year ending after the date of enactment [probably means the date of enactment of Pub. L. 104–188, Oct. 20, 1996].” Study of Methods Used To Distort Valuation of Property for Purposes of Estate and Gift Tax Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11602(d), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–500, directed the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct a study of the prevalence and types of options and agreements used to distort the valuation of property for purposes of subtitle B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and other methods using discretionary rights to distort this valuation, and report to Congress the results of the study, together with any legislative recommendations, not later than Dec. 31, 1992.

§2701 Special valuation rules in case of transfers of certain interests in corporations or partnerships

Summary

Title 26, §2701

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

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Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

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