Taxpayer receives 120 days to elect out of automatic GST allocation

Plain-English summary

A taxpayer created an irrevocable trust for family members, including the taxpayer's and spouse's children. The trust had generation-skipping transfer potential, so the automatic-allocation rules applied to transfers made to it. The taxpayer's attorney and accountant failed to explain those rules or advise the taxpayer to elect out on Form 709. GST exemption was therefore automatically allocated to the first and later transfers even though the taxpayer did not intend that result. Because the taxpayer reasonably relied on qualified tax professionals, the IRS found reasonable and good-faith conduct. It granted 120 days to file a Year 1 Form 709 electing out for any and all transfers to the trust.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: May the taxpayer make a late election preventing automatic GST exemption allocation to transfers made to the family trust?
• Outcome: Approved, with a 120-day extension
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 2632(c) and 2642(g); Treas. Reg. §§ 26.2632-1 and 301.9100-3; Notice 2001-50

Full text (IRS public release)

 Internal Revenue Service                                       Department of the Treasury
                                                                Washington, DC 20224

 Number: 202326005                                              Third Party Communication: None
 Release Date: 6/30/2023                                        Date of Communication: Not Applicable
 Index Number: 2632.00-00, 2642.06-00,
               9100.00-00                                       Person To Contact:
                                                                -------------------------------
 ---------------------------                                    ID No. ------------------
 ---------------------------------------------                  Telephone Number:
 ------------------------                                       --------------------
 ---------------------------                                    Refer Reply To:
                                                                CC:PSI:B04
                                                                PLR-118601-22
                                                                Date:
       Re: ------------------------------------------------- March 30, 2023
           ---------------------------


Legend

Taxpayer =                  ----------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
Spouse =                    --------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
Trust =                    ------------------------------------------------
Attorney 1 =               ---------------------
Accountant 1 =             ------------------------
Attorney 2 =               --------------------
Accountant 2 =             --------------------
Date 1 =                   -------------------
Year 1 =                   -------


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

This letter responds to your authorized representative’s letter dated September 21, 2022,
and subsequent correspondence, requesting an extension of time under § 2642(g) of the
Internal Revenue Code (Code) and § 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and Administration
Regulations to elect out of the automatic allocation of generation-skipping transfer (GST)
exemption with respect to transfers to Trust, pursuant to § 2632(c)(5)(A)(i)(II) of the Code.

The facts and representations submitted are summarized as follows:

On Date 1, a date after December 31, 2000, Taxpayer established Trust for the benefit of
certain family members, including the children of Taxpayer and Spouse. All beneficiaries
have annual withdrawal rights, and Trust property will be distributed to the remainder
beneficiaries upon the deaths of Taxpayer and Spouse. Trust has GST tax potential.
PLR-118601-22                                 2

Taxpayer retained Attorney 1 and Accountant 1 to provide tax advice with respect to the
tax consequences of the transfers to Trust and retained Accountant 1 to prepare any
necessary tax returns. Attorney 1 and Accountant 1 each failed to advise Taxpayer of the
rules under § 2632(c) regarding the automatic allocation of GST exemption and the ability
to elect out of the automatic allocation of GST exemption by making an election under
§ 2632(c)(5) on Form 709. As a result, Taxpayer did not file Form 709 for Year 1 to elect
under § 2632(c)(5)(A)(i)(II) to opt out of the automatic allocation of GST exemption to any
or all transfers made by Taxpayer to Trust. Accordingly, GST exemption was automatically
allocated to Taxpayer’s Year 1 and subsequent transfers to Trust.

Taxpayer requests an extension of time under § 2642(g) and § 301.9100-3 to elect under
§ 2632(c)(5)(A)(i)(II) to have the automatic allocation of GST exemption not apply to any
and all transfers made by Taxpayer to Trust.

LAW & ANALYSIS

Section 2601 imposes a tax on every GST. A GST is defined under § 2611(a) as: (1) a
taxable distribution; (2) a taxable termination; and (3) a direct skip.

Section 2602 provides that the amount of GST tax imposed by § 2601 is the taxable
amount multiplied by the applicable rate. Section 2641(a) defines the applicable rate as
the product of the maximum federal estate tax rate and the inclusion ratio with respect to
the transfer.

Section 2631(a) provides that, for purposes of determining the inclusion ratio, every
individual shall be allowed a GST exemption amount which may be allocated by such
individual (or his executor) to any property with respect to which such individual is the
transferor.

Section 2631(b) provides that any allocation under § 2631(a), once made, shall be
irrevocable.

Section 2632(c)(1) provides that if any individual makes an indirect skip during such
individual's lifetime, any unused portion of such individual's GST exemption shall be
allocated to the property transferred to the extent necessary to make the inclusion ratio for
such property zero.

Under § 2632(c)(3)(A), the term "indirect skip" means any transfer of property (other than a
direct skip) subject to the tax imposed by chapter 12 made to a GST trust. Under
§ 2632(c)(3)(B), a GST trust is a trust that could have GST potential with respect to the
transferor unless any of the exceptions listed in § 2632(c)(3)(B)(i)-(vi) apply.

Section 2632(c)(5)(A)(i)(II) provides that an individual may elect to have § 2632(c)(1) not
apply to any or all transfers made by such individual to a particular trust. Such an election
may be made on a timely filed gift tax return for the calendar year for which the election is
to become effective.
PLR-118601-22                                 3


Section 2632(c)(5)(B)(i) provides that an election under § 2632(c)(5)(A)(i)(I) shall be
deemed to be timely if filed on a timely filed gift tax return for the calendar year in which
the transfer was made or deemed to have been made under § 2632(c)(4). Under
§ 2632(c)(5)(B)(ii), an election under § 2632(c)(5)(A)(i)(II) may be made on a timely filed
gift tax return for the calendar year for which the election is to become effective.

Section 26.2632-1(b)(2)(i) of the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Regulations provides
that in the case of an indirect skip made after December 31, 2000, to which § 2642(f)
(regarding ETIPs) does not apply, the transferor's unused GST exemption is automatically
allocated to the property transferred (but not in excess of the fair market value of the
property on the date of the transfer). This automatic allocation is effective whether or not a
Form 709 is filed reporting the transfer, and is effective as of the date of the transfer to
which it relates. An automatic allocation is irrevocable after the due date of the Form 709
for the calendar year in which the transfer is made. In the case of an indirect skip to which
§ 2642(f) does apply, the indirect skip is deemed to be made at the close of the ETIP and
the GST exemption is deemed to be allocated at that time.

Section 26.2632-1(b)(2)(ii) provides that, except as otherwise provided, the transferor may
prevent the automatic allocation of GST exemption with regard to an indirect skip by
making an election as provided in § 26.2632-1(b)(2)(iii).

Section 26.2632-1(b)(2)(iii)(A) provides, in part, that a transferor may prevent the
automatic allocation of GST exemption (elect out) with respect to any transfer or transfers
constituting an indirect skip made to a trust or to one or more separate shares that are
treated as separate trusts under § 26.2654-1(a)(1). A transferor may elect out with respect
to: (1) one or more prior-year transfers subject to § 2642(f) (regarding ETIPs) made by the
transferor to a specified trust or trusts; (2) one or more (or all) current-year transfers made
by the transferor to a specified trust or trusts; (3) one or more (or all) future transfers made
by the transferor to a specified trust or trusts; and (4) all future transfers made by the
transferor to all trusts (whether or not in existence at the time of the election out); or (5)
any combination of (1) through (4) above.

Section 26.2632-1(b)(2)(iii)(B) provides that to elect out, the transferor must attach an
election out statement to a Form 709 filed within the time period provided in
§ 26.2632-1(b)(2)(iii)(C). In general, the election out statement must identify the trust and
specifically must provide that the transferor is electing out of the automatic allocation of
GST exemption with respect to the described transfer or transfers.

Under § 26.2632-1(b)(2)(iii)(C), to elect out, the Form 709 with the attached election out
statement must be filed on or before the due date for timely filing the Form 709 for the
calendar year in which: (1) for a transfer subject to § 2642(f), the ETIP closes; or (2) for all
other elections out, the first transfer to be covered by the election out was made.
Section 2642(b)(1)(A) provides that, except as provided in § 2642(f), if the allocation of the
GST exemption to any transfers of property is made on a gift tax return filed on or before
the date prescribed by § 6075(b) for such transfer or is deemed to be made under
PLR-118601-22                                 4

§ 2632(b)(1) or (c)(1), the value of such property for purposes of § 2642(a) shall be its
value as finally determined for purposes of chapter 12 (within the meaning of § 2001(f)(2)),
or, in the case of an allocation deemed to have been made at the close of an ETIP, its
value at the time of the close of the ETIP.

Section 2642(g)(1)(A) provides, generally, that the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe
such circumstances and procedures under which extensions of time will be granted to
make an allocation of GST exemption described in § 2642(b)(1) or (2), and an election
under § 2632(b)(3) or (c)(5).

Section 2642(g)(1)(B) provides that in determining whether to grant relief under
§ 2642(g)(1), the Secretary shall take into account all relevant circumstances, including
evidence of intent contained in the trust instrument or instrument of transfer and such
other factors as the Secretary deems relevant. For purposes of determining whether to
grant relief, the time for making the allocation (or election) shall be treated as if not
expressly prescribed by statute.

Notice 2001-50, 2001-2 C.B. 189, provides that, under § 2642(g)(1)(B), the time for
allocating the GST exemption to lifetime transfers and transfers at death, the time for
electing out of the automatic allocation rules, and the time for electing to treat any trust as
a GST trust are to be treated as if not expressly prescribed by statute. The Notice further
provides that taxpayers may seek an extension of time to make an allocation described in
§ 2642(b)(1) or (b)(2) or an election described in § 2632(b)(3) or (c)(5) under the
provisions of § 301.9100-3.

Sections 301.9100-1 through 301.9100-3 provide the standards the Commissioner will use
to determine whether to grant an extension of time to make an election.

Under § 301.9100-1(c), the Commissioner has discretion to grant a reasonable extension
of time under the rules set forth in §§ 301.9100-2 and 301.9100-3 to make a regulatory
election, or a statutory election (but no more than six 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 301.9100-3 provides the standards used to determine whether to grant an
extension of time to make an election whose due date is prescribed by a regulation (and
not expressly provided by statute). In accordance with § 2642(g)(1)(B) and Notice 2001-
50, taxpayers may seek an extension of time to make an allocation described in
§ 2642(b)(1) or (b)(2) or an election described in § 2632(b)(3) or (c)(5) under the
provisions of § 301.9100-3.

Requests for relief under § 301.9100-3 will be granted when the taxpayer provides the
evidence 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.

Under § 301.9100-3(b)(1)(v), a taxpayer is deemed to have acted reasonably and in good
PLR-118601-22                                  5

faith if the taxpayer reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional, including a tax
professional employed by the taxpayer, and the tax professional failed to make, or advise
the taxpayer to make, the election.

Based upon the facts submitted and representations made, we conclude that the
requirements of § 301.9100-3 are satisfied. Accordingly, Taxpayer is granted an extension
of time of 120 days from the date of this letter to make an election under
§ 2632(c)(5)(A)(i)(II) that the automatic allocation rules of § 2632(c)(1) do not apply to any
or all transfers made by Taxpayer to Trust. The election should be made on Taxpayer’s
Year 1 Form 709. The Form 709 should be filed with the Internal Revenue Service Center
at the following address: Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Kansas
City, MO 64999. A copy of this letter should be attached to each Form 709.

Except as expressly provided herein, we neither express nor imply any opinion concerning
the tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or referenced in
this letter.

The rulings contained in this letter are based upon information and representations
submitted by the taxpayer and accompanied by a penalty of perjury statement executed by
an appropriate party. While this office has not verified any of the material submitted in
support of the request for rulings, it is subject to verification on examination.
This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Section 6110(k)(3) of the Code
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 representative.



                                       Sincerely,
                                       Associate Chief Counsel
                                       (Passthroughs and Special Industries)

                                       Melissa C. Liquerman
                                       ________________________________
                             BY:       Melissa C. Liquerman
                                       Senior Counsel, Branch 04
                                       (Passthroughs & Special Industries)



Enclosures
   Copy for § 6110 purposes


cc: