Company receives late debt-and-hedge identification relief

Plain-English summary

A corporation issued convertible notes and simultaneously bought capped call options involving its stock. It was initially unaware that the notes and options could be integrated under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1275-6, so it did not timely place the required identification statement in its books and records. After an accounting firm discovered the issue, the company created and retained an identification statement and requested relief before the IRS found the omission. The IRS concluded that the company acted reasonably and in good faith and granted an extension through the statement's date. The ruling addresses only timeliness and does not decide whether the statement was adequate, the options were qualifying hedges, or the transaction otherwise met the integration rules.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Should the company receive extra time to satisfy the identification requirement for integrating convertible notes and capped call options?
• Outcome: Approved: the identification is treated as timely through the specified date.
• Key authorities: Treas. Reg. §§ 1.1275-6, 301.9100-1, and 301.9100-3

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 202116008 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 4/23/2021 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 9100.00-00, 1275.08-00
Person To Contact:
--------------------- -----------------------, ID No. -----------------
-------------------------------------------- Telephone Number:
------------------------- --------------------
---------------------- Refer Reply To:
-------------------------------------- CC:FIP:B01
PLR-117322-20
Date:
January 28, 2021

LEGEND

Taxpayer = --------------------------------------------------
State = -----------------------------
Date 1 = --------------------------
Date 2 = ------------------

Dear ------------------:

This letter is in response to a letter, dated July 29, 2020, from your authorized
representatives requesting an extension of time under §§ 301.9100-1 and 301.9100-3 of
the Procedure and Administration Regulations for Taxpayer to satisfy the requirements
of § 1.1275-6(c)(1)(i) of the Income Tax Regulations relating to the identification
requirements of § 1.1275-6(e) for integration of a qualifying debt instrument and a
§ 1.1275-6 hedge.

FACTS

Taxpayer is a corporation organized in State and taxable as a corporation under
§ 301.7701-2(b)(1). Taxpayer uses an accrual method as its overall method of
accounting, and a calendar year as its taxable year for federal income tax purposes. On
Date 1, Taxpayer issued convertible notes (the “Convertible Notes”). Under certain
circumstances, the Convertible Notes are convertible, at the option of the holders of the
Convertible Notes, into a specified number of shares of stock of Taxpayer. As part of
the same transaction, Taxpayer purchased capped call options with respect to its stock
(the “Call Options”), paying the premium for the Call Options on Date 1. Issuance of the
PLR-117322-20 2

Convertible Notes and purchase of the Call Options are hereinafter referred to as the
“Transaction.”

When the Transaction took place, Taxpayer was unaware that the Convertible Notes
and the Call Options could be integrated under § 1.1275-6 (“Integration”) and,
consequently, did not satisfy the identification requirements of § 1.1275-6(e) within the
timeframe provided in § 1.1275-6(c)(1)(i) (the “Identification Requirement”). After the
Transaction was completed and before the end of the taxable year in which the
Transaction was completed, Taxpayer engaged an independent public accounting firm
(the “Accounting Firm”) to provide tax compliance, tax consulting, and tax provision
services to Taxpayer for the taxable year in which the Transaction was completed. The
Accounting Firm reviewed the Transaction and discovered that Taxpayer was unaware
of Integration and therefore had not complied with the Identification Requirement. The
Accounting Firm informed Taxpayer of Integration and the Identification Requirement.

On Date 2, Taxpayer entered and retained, as part of its books and records,
documentation that it believes meets the requirements of § 1.1275-6(c)(1)(i) and (e) (the
“Recent ID Statement”). Taxpayer has requested an extension of time under
§§ 301.9100-1 and 301.9100-3 to satisfy the requirements of § 1.1275-6(c)(1)(i) and (e),
using the Recent ID Statement, treating the Identification Requirement as a regulatory
election.

Taxpayer makes the following representations:

1. Taxpayer requested relief before the failure to meet the Identification
   Requirement was discovered by the Internal Revenue Service.
2. Taxpayer is not seeking to alter a return position for which an accuracy-related
   penalty has been or could be imposed under section 6662.
3. It is not the case that Taxpayer was informed in all material respects of the
   required election and the related tax consequences, but nonetheless chose not
   to make the election.
4. No facts have changed since the original due date for complying with the
   Identification Requirement such that integration under § 1.1275-6 became
   advantageous.
5. The requested relief would not result in Taxpayer having a lower tax liability than
   it would have had if Taxpayer had satisfied the Identification Requirement in a
   timely manner.

In addition, affidavits on behalf of Taxpayer have been provided as required by
§ 301.9100-3(e).

LAW AND ANALYSIS
PLR-117322-20 3

Section 1.1275-6 generally provides for integration of a qualifying debt instrument
(“QDI”) with a § 1.1275-6 hedge or combination of § 1.1275-6 hedges if the combined
cash flows of the components are substantially equivalent to the cash flows on a fixed
or variable rate debt instrument. See § 1.1275-6(a).

Section 1.1275-6(c)(1) provides generally that a QDI and a § 1.1275-6 hedge are an
integrated transaction if the requirements in § 1.1275-6(c)(1)(i) through (vii) are
satisfied. Section 1.1275-6(c)(1)(i) requires that the taxpayer satisfy the identification
requirements of § 1.1275-6(e) on or before the date the taxpayer enters into the
§ 1.1275-6 hedge. Section 1.1275-6(e) requires that for each integrated transaction, a
taxpayer must enter and retain as part of its books and records the following
information: (1) the date the QDI was issued or acquired (or is expected to be issued or
acquired) by the taxpayer and the date the § 1.1275-6 hedge was entered into by the
taxpayer; (2) a description of the QDI and the § 1.1275-6 hedge; and (3) a summary of
the cash flows and accruals resulting from treating the QDI and the § 1.1275-6 hedge
as an integrated transaction.

Section 301.9100-1(c) provides, in part, that the Commissioner has discretion to grant a
reasonable extension of time to make a regulatory election, or a statutory election (but
no more than 6 months except in the case of a taxpayer who is abroad), under all
subtitles of the Code except subtitles E, G, H, and I. Section 301.9100-1(b) provides in
part that the term “election” includes an application for relief in respect of tax; a request
to adopt, change, or retain an accounting method or accounting period; but does not
include an application for an extension of time for filing a return under section 6081.
Section 301.9100-1(b) also provides in part that the term “regulatory election” means an
election whose due date is prescribed by a regulation published in the Federal Register,
or by a revenue ruling, revenue procedure, notice, or announcement published in the
Internal Revenue Bulletin.

Section 301.9100-3 sets forth rules that the Service will use to determine whether,
under the facts and circumstances of each situation, the Commissioner will grant an
extension of time for regulatory elections that do not meet the requirements of
§ 301.9100-2 for an automatic extension. In general, requests for relief subject to this
section will be granted when the taxpayer provides evidence (including any required
affidavits) to establish to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that the taxpayer acted
reasonably and in good faith, and the grant of relief will not prejudice the interests of the
Government.

Section 301.9100-3(b)(1) provides in part that, subject to paragraphs (b)(3)(i) through
(iii) of § 301.9100-3, when a taxpayer applies for relief under § 301.9100-3 before the
failure to make the regulatory election is discovered by the Service, the taxpayer will be
deemed to have acted reasonably and in good faith.

Section 301.9100-3(b)(3)(i) provides that a taxpayer is deemed to have not acted
reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer seeks to alter a return position for which an
PLR-117322-20 4

accuracy-related penalty has been or could be imposed under section 6662 at the time
the taxpayer requests relief and the new position requires or permits a regulatory
election for which relief is requested. Section 301.9100-3(b)(3)(ii) provides that a
taxpayer is deemed to have not acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer was
informed in all material respects of the required election and related tax consequences
but chose not to file the election. Section 301.9100-3(b)(3)(iii) provides that a taxpayer
is deemed to have not acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer uses hindsight
in requesting relief. If specific facts have changed since the due date for making the
election that make the election advantageous to the taxpayer, the Service will not
ordinarily grant relief. In such a case, the Service will grant relief only when the taxpayer
provides strong proof that the taxpayer’s decision to seek relief did not involve hindsight.

Section 301.9100-3(c) provides that the interests of the Government are prejudiced if
either granting relief would result in the taxpayer having a lower tax liability in the
aggregate for all years to which the regulatory election applies than the taxpayer would
have had if the election had been timely made (taking into account the time value of
money) or the taxable year in which the regulatory election should have been made or
any taxable years that would have been affected by the election had it been timely
made are closed by the period of limitations on assessment under section 6501(a)
before the taxpayer's receipt of a ruling granting relief under § 301.9100-3.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the information submitted and representations made, we conclude that
Taxpayer has satisfied the requirements for granting a reasonable extension of time,
through Date 2, under §§ 301.9100-1 and 301.9100-3 to satisfy the requirements of
§ 1.1275-6(c)(1)(i) relating to the identification requirements of § 1.1275-6(e) for
integration of the Convertible Notes and Call Options.

CAVEATS

This ruling is limited to the timeliness of satisfying the requirements of § 1.1275-
6(c)(1)(i) relating to the identification requirements of § 1.1275-6(e) in order to treat the
Convertible Notes and Call Options as integrated transactions. This ruling’s application
is limited to the facts, representations, Code sections, and regulations cited herein.
Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning the
tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or referenced in
this letter. In particular, no opinion is expressed or implied concerning the integration of
the Convertible Notes and Call Options, including but not limited to: (1) whether the
Recent ID Statement is adequate for the purposes of § 1.1275-6(e); (2) whether the Call
Options are § 1.1275-6 hedges as described in § 1.1275-6(b)(2); or (3) whether the
Transaction meets the requirements of § 1.1275-6(c)(1)(ii) through (vii).

Moreover, no opinion is expressed with regard to whether the tax liability of Taxpayer is
not lower in the aggregate for all years to which the regulatory election applies than
PLR-117322-20 5

such tax liability would have been if the election had been timely made (taking into
account the time value of money). Upon audit of the federal income tax returns involved,
the director’s office will determine such tax liability for the years involved. If the director’s
office determines that such tax liability is lower, that office will determine the federal
income tax effect.

The ruling contained in this letter is based upon information and representations
submitted by the taxpayer and accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed
by an appropriate party. Because this office has not verified any of the material
submitted in support of the request for rulings, such material is subject to verification on
examination.

This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Section 6110(k)(3) 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 representatives.

Sincerely,

Spence Hanemann
Senior Counsel, Branch 1
Office of the Associate Chief Counsel
(Financial Institutions & Products)

Enclosure:
Copy for section 6110 purposes

cc: