Excess Distribution Regime Case Study

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Excess Distribution Regime § 1291
What if a U.S. investor did not elect to have his investment in a Passive foreign investment company (PFIC) treated as a “Qualified Electing Fund” (QEF)? This seemingly small issue actually has huge financial consequences for the taxpayer. This paper will first explain what a Passive foreign investment company is and the liabilities of what that entails. Secondly, the what is an Excess Distribution Regime, and how this is a huge is advantage to the taxpayer. The Excessive Distribution regime is used when the qualified electing fund election was not elected in time. Then I will discuss what a qualified electing fund is and the benefits of electing it. Lastly what it is important for the taxpayer to make the …show more content…

What is an Excess Distribution Regime?
Excess distribution rules developed in an effort to prevent a reserve of passive income, within a foreign corporation, from sheltering U.S. taxation of a U.S. investor’s stack in the income (26 U.S.C. § 1291(b)). § 1291(b) defines “excess distribution” as “any distribution in respect of stock received during any taxable year to the extent such distribution does not exceed its ratable portion of the total excess distribution (if any) for such taxable year.”
In short, the purpose of the Excess Distribution Regime is to collect the tax that should have been paid on the income, as if it had been distributed currently, and the interest associated with that tax (26 U.S.C. § 1291). The interest collection is treated as § 6601 interest for the corresponding due date in that tax year (26 U.S.C. §1291(c)(3)(a)). Under excess distribution rules in §1291, tax liability arises only when a distribution is made or when the stock is directly or indirectly disposed

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