9100 relief to file a late Form 8996 self-certifying as a Qualified Opportunity Fund

Plain-English summary

An entity that wants Opportunity Zone tax benefits must "self-certify" as a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) by attaching Form 8996 to a timely filed return. Here, an LLC taxed as a partnership was formed to be a QOF, but a misunderstanding with its tax advisor (each side thought the other was handling the first-year return) meant no partnership return, no Form 8996, and no extension were filed on time. Once the parties realized the mistake, the advisor prepared and filed the late return with Form 8996, and the LLC then sought relief. Under Treasury Regulation Section 301.9100-3, the IRS can grant more time for a missed regulatory election when the taxpayer acted reasonably and in good faith and relief will not prejudice the government; reasonable reliance on a tax professional who failed to advise the election is one accepted basis. The IRS found those standards met and treated the late Form 8996 as timely, so the LLC self-certified as a QOF effective the month it was formed. The relief covers only the Form 8996 election; the IRS expressed no opinion on whether the entity actually qualifies as a QOF or whether the late income tax return itself is timely.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: May an LLC get an extension of time to file a late Form 8996 self-certifying as a Qualified Opportunity Fund?
• Outcome: approved (late Form 8996 treated as timely; QOF election effective the month of formation)
• Key authorities: IRC § 1400Z-2(d), (e)(4); Treas. Reg. § 1.1400Z2(d)-1; Treas. Reg. §§ 301.9100-1, -3

Full text (IRS public release)

 Internal Revenue Service                                      Department of the Treasury
                                                               Washington, DC 20224

 Number: 202504001                                             Third Party Communication: None
 Release Date: 1/24/2025                                       Date of Communication: Not Applicable
 Index Number: 9100.00-00, 1400Z.02-00
                                                               Person To Contact:
 ------------------------------------------------              ----------------, ID No. -----------------
 ------------------------                                      Telephone Number:
 --------------------------------------                        --------------------
 --------------------------                                    Refer Reply To:
                                                               CC:ITA:B04
                                                               PLR-108090-24
                                                               Date:
                                                               October 23, 2024




LEGEND

 Taxpayer                       =       -------------------------------------------------
 Members                        =       ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        ---------------
 Tax Professional               =       ------------------------------------------------
 State A                        =       -------------
 Date 1                         =       --------------------------
 Date 2                         =       ------------------------
 Date 3                         =       -------------------
 Date 4                         =       --------------------------
 Date 5                         =       -----------------------
 Month 1                        =       ----------------
 Year 1                         =       -------


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

This letter responds to Taxpayer's request, dated Date 5. Specifically, Taxpayer
requests relief, pursuant to sections 301.9100-1 and 301.9100-3 of the Procedure and
Administration Regulations, for its Form 8996, Qualified Opportunity Fund, filed on Date
4, to be treated as timely for purposes of the election to: (1) self-certify Taxpayer as a
qualified opportunity fund (“QOF”) as defined in section 1400Z-2(d) of the Internal
Revenue Code (Code); and (2) for Taxpayer to be treated as a QOF, effective as of the
month Taxpayer was formed, as provided under section 1400Z-2 of the Code and
section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a) of the Income Tax Regulations (Treas. Reg.).

                                                    FACTS

According to the facts and representations provided, Taxpayer was organized by
Members as a limited liability company on Date 1 under the laws of State A and is
PLR-108090-24                                2

classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Taxpayer was
organized for the purpose of being a qualified opportunity fund and to invest in qualified
opportunity zone property.

Members consulted with Tax Professional to discuss investments in, and reporting
obligations for Taxpayer, and on Date 2, as part of continued discussions, Members
engaged Tax Professional to provide advisory and consulting services related to
Taxpayer. Members intended for Taxpayer to self-certify as a QOF beginning in Month
1 by filing Form 8996 with its Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income, for Year 1
and believed that the scope of the engagement included Tax Professional’s
recommendations on the relevant filing deadlines. Tax Professional did not believe the
scope of the engagement included tax return preparation services for Year 1. As a
result of this misunderstanding, Tax Professional did not inform Members of the relevant
filing deadlines, and Taxpayer did not timely file its Form 1065 or accompanying Form
8996, and did not file Form 7004, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File
Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns.

On Date 3, Members and Tax Professional realized their mutual misunderstanding, and
Tax Professional agreed to prepare Taxpayer’s U.S. federal income tax return for Year

1. Taxpayer’s Form 1065 and accompanying Form 8996 were filed on or about Date 4.
After Date 4, Taxpayer received a letter from the IRS indicating that the Year 1 return
was not timely filed because Taxpayer had not requested an extension to file its Year 1
return. This request for relief under section 301.9100-3 was then prepared and
submitted to our office.

                                  LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 1400Z-2(e)(4)(A) directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations for rules for the
certification of QOFs. Treas. Reg. section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) provides that the self-
certification of a QOF must be timely-filed and effectuated annually in such form and
manner as may be prescribed by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in the IRS
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 Taxpayer did not file its Form 8996 by the due date of its income tax
return (including extensions) due to a misunderstanding with Tax Professional regarding
the performance of tax return preparation services for Taxpayer.

Section 1.1400Z2(d)-1(a)(2)(i) sets forth the manner and timing for electing to be a QOF
and electing to self-certify as a QOF. As such, these elections are regulatory elections,
as defined in section 301.9100-1(b).
PLR-108090-24                                  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 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.

Section 301.9100-3(b)(1) provides that a taxpayer is deemed to have acted reasonably
and in good faith if the taxpayer

(i) requests relief before the failure to make the regulatory election is discovered by the
Service;

(ii) failed to make the election because of intervening events beyond the taxpayer's
control;

(iii) failed to make the election because, after exercising reasonable diligence, the
taxpayer was unaware of the necessity for the election;

(iv) reasonably relied on the written advice of the Service; or

(v) reasonably relied on a qualified tax professional, and the professional failed to make,
or advise the taxpayer to make, the election.

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.

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
PLR-108090-24                                 4

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.

                                      CONCLUSION

Based on the facts and information submitted in connection with this request, we
conclude that Taxpayer has acted reasonably and in good faith, and the granting of
relief will not prejudice the interests of the Government.

Accordingly, Taxpayer has satisfied the requirements of the regulations for the granting
of relief, and Taxpayer’s Form 8996 filed on Date 4, is considered timely filed. Taxpayer
has thereby made the election under section 1400Z-2 and section 1.1400Z2(d)-
1(a)(2)(i) to self-certify as a QOF as of Month 1. Taxpayer should submit a copy of this
letter ruling to the IRS Service Center where Taxpayer files its income tax returns, along
with a cover letter requesting that the Service associate this ruling with Taxpayer’s Year
1 federal income tax return.

This ruling is based upon facts and representations submitted by Taxpayer and
accompanied by penalty of perjury statements 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 factual
information, representations, and other data submitted.

This ruling addresses the granting of section 301.9100-3 relief as applied to the election
to self-certify Taxpayer as a QOF by filing Form 8996 for Year 1.

Except as expressly provided herein, no opinion is either expressed or implied
concerning the tax consequences of any aspect of any transaction or item discussed or
referenced in this letter. Specifically, we have no opinion, either express or implied,
concerning whether any investments made into Taxpayer are qualifying investments as
defined in Treas. Reg. section 1.1400Z2(a)-1(b)(34) or whether Taxpayer meets the
requirements and structure under section 1400Z-2 and the regulations thereunder to be
a QOF. In addition, 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 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. We
PLR-108090-24                                 5

express no opinion as to whether Taxpayer’s Year 1 Federal income tax return is
considered timely filed.

A copy of this letter must be attached to any 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.

This ruling is directed only to the taxpayer requesting it. Code section 6110(k)(3)
provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent. Enclosed is a copy of the letter
ruling showing the deletions proposed to be made when it is disclosed under Code
section 6110.

Pursuant to the Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representation, on
file, we are sending a copy of this letter to Taxpayer's authorized representatives.

This letter is being issued electronically in accordance with Rev. Proc. 2024-1, 2024-1
I.R.B. 1. A paper copy will not be mailed to the taxpayer.

                                                  Sincerely,




                                                  Stephen J. Toomey
                                                  Senior Counsel, Branch 4
                                                  Office of Associate Chief Counsel
                                                  (Income Tax & Accounting)




 Cc: ----------------