Qualified opportunity fund received 60 days to file late self-certification

Plain-English summary

A partnership intended to operate as a qualified opportunity fund beginning in its first tax year. Its accounting firm mistakenly believed the partnership had no filing obligation for that year because it had no income or loss activity, so the firm did not file Form 1065 or the Form 8996 self-certification. The partnership timely filed both forms for the following year and moved promptly to seek relief after a firm partner discovered the earlier filing requirement. The taxpayer represented that it otherwise met the qualified opportunity fund rules and that it acted reasonably and in good faith. The IRS granted 60 days to file Form 8996 with the first-year return under Treasury Regulation section 301.9100-3. The ruling did not extend the deadline for Form 1065 and did not decide whether the partnership, its investments, or any underlying business actually satisfied the opportunity-zone requirements.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: May the partnership receive extra time to file Form 8996 and self-certify as a qualified opportunity fund effective in its first tax year?
• Outcome: Approved, with 60 days to file Form 8996
• Key authorities: IRC § 1400Z-2; Treas. Reg. §§ 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i), 301.9100-1, and 301.9100-3

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury
Washington, DC 20224

Number: 202349010 Third Party Communication: None
Release Date: 12/8/2023 Date of Communication: Not Applicable
Index Number: 1400Z.01-00, 9100.00-00
Person To Contact:
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------------------------------------------ Telephone Number:
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------------------------------------------------------------ Refer Reply To:
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PLR-108639-23
Date:
September 13, 2023

Taxpayer = ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Submission Date = ------------------
Date 1 = --------------------------
State Z = -------------
Year 1 = -------
Members = -----------------------------------------------------------------
= -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
= ----------------------------------------------------
= ------------------------------------------------
Firm = --------------------------------------
Year 2 = -------
Year 3 = -------
Year 4 = -------

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

This ruling responds to Taxpayer’s request for a letter ruling requested on Submission
Date. Taxpayer requests relief under section 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and
Administration Regulations. Specifically, Taxpayer requests an extension of time to file
a self-certifying election on Form 8996, Qualified Opportunity Fund, (Form 8996) for
Taxpayer to be treated as a qualified opportunity fund (QOF), as defined in section
1400Z-2(d) of the Internal Revenue Code and section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a) of the Income
Tax Regulations effective as of Date 1.

FACTS

Taxpayer was organized as a limited liability company under the laws of State Z on
Date 1 and is treated as a partnership for Federal income tax purposes. Taxpayer was

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formed with contributions from its Members. The majority Member represents that it
had eligible gain as defined in section 1400Z-2 and the regulations thereunder from
Year 1 that it timely contributed to Taxpayer.

Taxpayer’s overall method of accounting is the cash receipts and disbursements
method of accounting, and Taxpayer has a December 31 tax year end. Taxpayer was
formed to meet the definition of section 1400Z-2(d) and to acquire, own, develop,
redevelop, operate, and manage investments that are qualified opportunity zone
property within the meaning of section 1400Z-2(d).

According to the affidavits and information provided to us, Firm was engaged to handle
the tax filings for Taxpayer, including filing Taxpayer’s first filed Form 1065, U.S. Return
of Partnership Income, for the Year 2 tax year (due March 15, Year 3, unless on
extension), along with the self-certification Form 8996. Taxpayer timely filed its Form
1065 and Form 8996 for the Year 2 tax year.

Firm, despite agreeing to handle the tax filings of Taxpayer, mistakenly believed that
Taxpayer had no filing obligation for Year 1 due to Taxpayer not having any income or
loss activity for Year 1. As a result, Firm failed to file the Form 1065 and Form 8996 for
Year 1.

In Year 4, a partner of Firm determined that Taxpayer had a filing obligation for Year 1,
and that Taxpayer should have filed a Form 8996 for Year 1 .

After this discovery, Taxpayer and Firm moved as expeditiously as possible to seek this
letter ruling requesting relief under section 301.9100-3. Taxpayer has not filed its
required Year 1 tax forms, including Form 8996, and has requested additional time to
file Form 8996 for Year 1.

Taxpayer represents that, other than its failure to timely file Forms 1065 and 8996 for
Year 1, it has otherwise and continues to meet all the rules under section 1400Z-2 and
the regulations thereunder.

Taxpayer represents that granting of the relief under section 301.9100-3 is proper, as it
acted reasonably and in good faith, and the grant of relief will not prejudice the interests
of the government

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 1400Z-2(e)(4)(A) directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations for rules for the
certification of QOFs. Section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2) provides the rules for an entity to
self-certify as a QOF. Section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) provides that the entity electing to
be certified as a QOF must do so on a timely filed return in such form and manner as
may be prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in the Internal Revenue

PLR-108639-23 3

Service forms or instructions, or in publications or guidance published in the Internal
Revenue Bulletin.

To self-certify as a QOF, a taxpayer must file Form 8996, Qualified Opportunity Fund,
with its tax return for the year to which the certification applies. The Form 8996 must be
filed by the due date of the tax return (including extensions). The information provided
indicates that Firm did not file Taxpayer’s Form 8996 because Firm mistakenly believed
that Taxpayer had no filing obligation for Year 1.

Because section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) sets forth the manner and timing for an entity to
self-certify as a QOF, these elections are regulatory elections, as defined in section
301.9100-1(b).

Sections 301.9100-1 through 301.9100-3 provide the standards that the Commissioner
will use to determine whether to grant an extension of time to make a regulatory
election. Section 301.9100-3(a) provides that requests for extensions of time for
regulatory elections (other than automatic extensions covered in section 301.9100-2)
will be granted when the taxpayer provides evidence (including affidavits) to establish
that the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith and the grant of relief will not
prejudice the interests of the government.

Under section 301.9100-3(b), a taxpayer is deemed to have acted reasonably and in
good faith if the taxpayer requests relief before the failure to make the regulatory
election is discovered by the Service, or reasonably relied on a qualified tax
professional, and the tax professional failed to make, or advise the taxpayer to make,
the election. However, a taxpayer is not considered to have reasonably relied on a
qualified tax professional if the taxpayer knew or should have known that the
professional was not competent to render advice on the regulatory election or was not
aware of all relevant facts.

In addition, section 301.9100-3(b)(3) provides that a taxpayer is deemed not to have
acted reasonably and in good faith if the taxpayer—

(i) seeks to alter a return position for which an 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;

(ii) was fully informed in all material respects of the required election and
related tax consequences but chose not to make the election; or

(iii) uses hindsight in requesting relief. If specific facts have changed since
the original deadline that make the election advantageous to a taxpayer,
the Service will not ordinarily grant relief.

PLR-108639-23 4

Section 301.9100-3(c)(1) provides that the Commissioner will grant a reasonable
extension of time to make the regulatory election only when the interests of the
Government will not be prejudiced by the granting of relief.

Section 301.9100-3(c)(1)(i) provides that the interests of the government are prejudiced
if granting relief would result in a taxpayer having a lower tax liability in the aggregate
for all taxable years affected by the election than the taxpayer would have had if the
election had been timely made (taking into account the time value of money).

Section 301.9100-3(c)(1)(ii) provides that the interests of the government are ordinarily
prejudiced if the taxable year in which the regulatory election should have been made or
any taxable year 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 this section.

Based on the facts and information submitted and the representations made, we
conclude that Taxpayer has acted reasonably and in good faith, and that the granting of
relief would not prejudice the interests of the government: Taxpayer has satisfied the
requirements for the granting of relief under section 301.9100-3(b). Accordingly, based
solely on the facts and information submitted, and the representations made in the
ruling request, we grant Taxpayer an extension of 60 days from the date of this letter
ruling to file a Form 8996 to make the election to self-certify as a QOF under section
1400Z-2 and section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i). The election must be made on a
completed Form 8996 attached to the Taxpayer’s tax return for Year 1. This letter ruling
grants an extension of time to file a Form 8996. This letter ruling does not grant an
extension of time to file Taxpayer’s Form 1065. Taxpayer should submit a copy of this
letter ruling to the Service Center where Taxpayer files its returns along with a cover
letter requesting the Service associate this ruling with the Year 1 return.

This ruling is based upon facts and representations submitted on behalf of the
Taxpayer, by one of its Members and by a partner in Firm and accompanied in each
case by a penalty of perjury statement executed by the appropriate parties. This office
has not verified any of the material submitted in support of the request for a ruling.
However, as part of an examination process, the Service may verify the information,
representations, and other data submitted.

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. Specifically, we express no opinion, either express or implied, concerning
whether any investments made into Taxpayer are qualifying investments as defined in
section 1.1400Z2 (a)–1(b)(34) or whether Taxpayer meets the requirements under
section 1400Z-2 and the regulations thereunder to be a QOF. Further, we also express
no opinion on whether any interest owned in any entity by Taxpayer qualifies as
qualified opportunity zone property, as defined in section 1400Z-2(d)(2), or whether
such entity would be treated as a qualified opportunity zone business, as defined in

PLR-108639-23 5

section 1400Z-2(d)(3). We express no opinion regarding the tax treatment of the instant
transaction under the provisions of any other sections of the Code or regulations that
may be applicable, or regarding the tax treatment of any conditions existing at the time
of, or effects resulting from, the instant transaction.

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 representatives.

A copy of this letter must be attached to any income tax return to which it is relevant.
Alternatively, taxpayers filing their returns electronically may satisfy this requirement by
attaching a statement to their return that provides the date and control number of the
letter ruling.

Sincerely,

Kyle C. Griffin
Senior Counsel, Branch 5
Office of Associate Chief Counsel
(Income Tax & Accounting)

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