Under Illinois Private Letter Ruling IT 18-0006-PLR, is a loan-originating taxpayer still a 'dealer' for Illinois sales-factor sourcing purposes even though it qualifies for the federal 'negligible sales' exemption from mark-to-market accounting?

Plain-English summary

This Illinois private letter ruling addresses how a lender's interest income gets sourced into (or out of) the state's sales factor for income tax apportionment purposes. The taxpayer was a Delaware limited partnership that originates senior secured loans directly to North American middle-market companies -- generally businesses with less than $25 million in EBITDA seeking financing for buyouts, recapitalizations, ownership transfers, or growth capital. The taxpayer earned interest income from these loans, sourced from borrowers located both in Illinois and other states.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, a taxpayer that regularly originates loans to customers in the ordinary course of business meets the definition of a "dealer in securities" under 26 U.S.C. 475(c)(1). Ordinarily, dealers must use mark-to-market accounting under Section 475(a). But Treas. Reg. 1.475(c)-1(c)(1) carves out an exception: a taxpayer that only makes "negligible sales" of the loans/securities it originates is not treated as a dealer for mark-to-market purposes, unless it affirmatively elects dealer treatment. The taxpayer here qualified for that negligible-sales exemption and asked the Illinois Department of Revenue whether it would still be treated as a "dealer" for purposes of sourcing its interest income under the Illinois sales factor, specifically 35 ILCS 5/304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii)(a).

That distinction matters because Illinois sources interest income from intangible property differently depending on dealer status. If the taxpayer is a "dealer in securities" within the meaning of IRC Section 475, its interest income is sourced to Illinois based on where its customers are located (residence or commercial domicile, or billing address if the dealer lacks actual knowledge of either). If the taxpayer is not a dealer, income is instead sourced based on where the income-producing activity is performed under 35 ILCS 5/304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii)(b).

The Department ruled that the federal "negligible sales" exemption from mark-to-market accounting does not change dealer status for Illinois sourcing purposes. Because the sourcing rule turns on whether a taxpayer "is a dealer... within the meaning of Section 475," and the taxpayer here meets the substantive Section 475(c)(1) definition of dealer in securities regardless of whether it elects out of mark-to-market treatment, the Department concluded the taxpayer is a dealer for Illinois sales-factor purposes. As a result, the taxpayer's interest income from loans to customers must be included in the numerator of its Illinois sales factor whenever the customer is a resident of Illinois or has an Illinois commercial domicile.

What this means for you

Lenders, loan originators, and specialty finance companies

If your business regularly originates loans to customers in the ordinary course of business, this ruling indicates the Illinois Department of Revenue treats you as a "dealer in securities" for sales-factor sourcing purposes -- even if you qualify for the federal "negligible sales" exemption that lets you avoid mark-to-market accounting under Treas. Reg. 1.475(c)-1(c)(1). That means your interest income should generally be sourced to Illinois based on where your customers are located (residence, commercial domicile, or billing address), not based on where your lending or servicing activity takes place.

Accountants and tax professionals

When advising a lending or credit-fund client on Illinois apportionment, don't assume that a federal election out of dealer status (via the negligible-sales exemption) automatically produces the same result for Illinois sales-factor sourcing. This ruling treats the two questions as separate: federal mark-to-market treatment is about accounting method, while the Illinois sourcing statute asks only whether the taxpayer meets the substantive Section 475(c)(1) definition of "dealer in securities." A client can be a non-dealer for federal mark-to-market purposes yet still be a dealer for Illinois sourcing purposes.

Businesses considering requesting their own PLR

This ruling was issued to one specific taxpayer based on that taxpayer's own facts. If your fact pattern differs -- for example, if your sales of originated loans are not "negligible," or you don't regularly originate loans directly to customers -- the analysis and conclusion here may not apply to you. Because this is a PLR rather than a generally applicable rule, similarly situated businesses should not simply assume the same outcome and may want to request their own ruling.

Common questions

Q: Does qualifying for the federal "negligible sales" exemption mean a loan originator escapes dealer treatment for Illinois tax purposes?
A: No. This ruling holds that a taxpayer who regularly originates loans to customers in the ordinary course of business is still a "dealer in securities" for Illinois sales-factor sourcing under 35 ILCS 5/304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii)(a), regardless of whether it elects out of federal mark-to-market accounting under Treas. Reg. 1.475(c)-1(c)(1).

Q: How is the taxpayer's interest income sourced under this ruling?
A: As a dealer, the taxpayer must source interest income to Illinois based on customer location -- specifically, if the customer is an individual, trust, or estate residing in Illinois, or for other customers, if the customer's commercial domicile is in Illinois. If the dealer lacks actual knowledge of the customer's residence or commercial domicile, the customer's billing address on the dealer's records controls.

Q: Can other, similarly situated lenders rely on this ruling for their own Illinois tax reporting?
A: No. This is a Private Letter Ruling issued under 2 Ill. Adm. Code 1200.110, and by its own terms it binds the Illinois Department of Revenue only as to the specific taxpayer who requested it, and only to the extent that taxpayer's facts were accurately and completely presented. Even businesses in the identical loan-origination business cannot rely on this letter as authority for their own returns; they would need to request their own PLR or otherwise confirm the treatment applies to their facts.

Q: What happens if the facts change or the law changes after this ruling was issued?
A: The ruling itself states that it binds the Department for all taxable years except as limited under 2 Ill. Adm. Code 1200.110(d) and (e), but that it ceases to bind the Department if there is a pertinent change in statutory law, case law, rules, or in the material facts recited in the ruling.

Citations and references

• 35 ILCS 5/304(a)(3)(A) (general sales-factor formula for non-financial-organization taxpayers)
• 35 ILCS 5/304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii)(a) (sourcing of dealer interest/intangible income to the customer's state)
• 35 ILCS 5/304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii)(b) (sourcing of non-dealer intangible income to the state of income-producing activity)
• 2 Ill. Adm. Code 1200.110 (private letter ruling procedure and binding effect, including subsections (d) and (e))
• 26 U.S.C. 475(c)(1) (federal definition of "dealer in securities")
• 26 U.S.C. 475(a), (b) (mark-to-market accounting requirement and statutory exceptions)
• Treas. Reg. 1.475(c)-1(c)(1) (regulatory "negligible sales" exemption from dealer mark-to-market treatment)

Source

• Landing page: https://taxarchive.illinois.gov/research/legal/letter-rulings/income-tax/2018.html
• Original PDF: https://tax.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/taxarchive/research/legal/letter-rulings/income-tax/2018/it-18-0006-plr.pdf

Original ruling text

IT 18-0006-PLR 11/29/2018 2018 SALES FACTOR -INTANGIBLE PROPERTY
Taxpayer originating loans to customers in ordinary course of business is Dealer

November 29, 2018

Re:

Request for Private Letter Ruling
TAXPAYER
FEIN: ####

Dear Xxxxx:
This is in response to your letter dated June 12, 2018 in which you request a Private Letter Ruling
on behalf of TAXPAYER. Review of your request for a Private Letter Ruling indicates that all
information described in paragraphs 1 through 8 of subsection (b) of 2 Ill. Adm. Code 1200.110 is
contained in your request. This Private Letter Ruling will bind the Department only with respect to
TAXPAYER. Issuance of this ruling is conditioned upon the understanding that TAXPAYER and/or
any related taxpayer(s) is not currently under audit or involved in litigation concerning the issues
that are the subject of this ruling request.
The facts and analysis as you have presented states as follows:
On behalf of our client, TAXPAYER (FEIN: ####), hereinafter referred to as “Taxpayer”), we
respectfully request the issuance of a private letter ruling (“PLR”) by the Illinois Department
of Revenue (“Department”) pursuant to 2 Ill Adm. Code 1200.110.
General Information

1. This PLR is not requested for hypothetical or alternatively proposed transactions; but
   rather to determine the income tax consequences of an actual transaction engaged in by
   Taxpayer, as described below.
2. Taxpayer is not currently engaged in litigation with the Department with regard to this or
   any other tax matter.
3. The Department has not previously ruled regarding this matter for Taxpayer. Neither
   Taxpayer nor TAX PRACTITIONER has submitted the same or similar issue to the
   Department on behalf of Taxpayer.
4. We are aware of no authority contrary to the authorities referred to and cited below.
   Statement of Facts
   Taxpayer is a Delaware limited partnership established to provide partners with current
   income and long-term capital appreciation. This is achieved primarily by originating senior
   secured loans directly to North American middle market companies. The taxpayer serves as
   a senior secured lender primarily to U.S. companies with less than $25 million EBITDA which
   require financing to fund corporate events such as a buyout, recapitalization, ownership
   transfer, sourcing of expansion and capital growth or refinancing.

IT 18-0006-PLR
Page 2
Taxpayer is managed by COMPANY (hereinafter “COMPANY”). Through COMPANY’s
management, the taxpayer has access to an asset management and origination platform,
which includes a national transaction sourcing network. It is noteworthy that while the
taxpayer is not directly subject to regulation as an investment company, COMPANY is
subject to regulation by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as a
Registered Investment Advisor.
Taxpayer is actively engaged in the business of originating and investing in senior secured
loans and is treated as such for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, under the Internal
Revenue Code interest income earned by the taxpayer is treated as ordinary income and
included on its Form 1065. Taxpayer generates interest income in Illinois and other states
from loans secured by assets located across the United States.
By statute, Taxpayer would be considered a dealer in securities for federal income tax
purposes. However, the taxpayer qualifies for an exemption under Treas. Reg. 1.475(c)1(c). This regulation provides a taxpayer with an exception from using the mark-to-market
method of accounting. Taxpayer is trying to determine if it would still be considered a dealer
for Illinois Income Tax purposes, and thus, allowed to apportion its income under Illinois
Income Tax Act 304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii)(a).
Requested Rulings
Though Taxpayer is not a dealer for federal income tax purposes because of the regulatory
exemption under Treas. Reg. 1.475(c)-1(c), Taxpayer is otherwise a dealer as defined by
26 USC 475 and thus is considered a dealer for purposes of Illinois Income Tax Act
304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii)(a)?
Analysis
Illinois has various methods of sourcing interest income; the sourcing depends upon whether
the taxpayer is classified as a dealer within the meaning of 26 USC 475. If the taxpayer is
not a dealer, interest income is sourced to Illinois if the taxpayer’s income-producing activity
is performed in Illinois. However, if the taxpayer is a dealer, 35 ILCS 5/304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii)(a)
states:
“in the case of a taxpayer who is a dealer in the item of intangible property within the meaning
of Section 475 of the Internal Revenue Code, the income or gain is received from a customer
in this State. For purposes of this subparagraph, a customer is in this State if the customer
is an individual, trust or estate who is a resident of this State and, for all other customers, if
the customer’s commercial domicile is in this State. Unless the dealer has actual knowledge
of the residence or commercial domicile of a customer during the taxable year, the customer
shall be deemed to be a customer in this State if the billing address of the customer, as
shown in the records of the dealer, is in this State.”
In looking to federal tax law, Section 475(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”)
defines a “dealer in securities” as a taxpayer who:
(A)

regularly purchases securities from or sells securities to customers in the ordinary
course of a trade or business; or

IT 18-0006-PLR
Page 3
(B)

regularly offers to enter into, assume, offset, assign, or otherwise terminate
positions in securities with customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business.

In the ordinary course of business, Taxpayer originates loans directly with customers, that
is, Taxpayer makes loans by advancing cash in exchange for debt obligations of its
customers. As Taxpayer regularly originates loans to customers, Taxpayer meets the
definition of a “dealer in securities” as defined in the Code.
In general, Section 475 of the Code requires a dealer in securities to use a mark-to-market
method of accounting. By regulatory grace, however, the IRS effectively provides a taxpayer
with an exception (by not viewing the taxpayer as a dealer) from this mark-to-market
accounting if the taxpayer does not engage in more than “negligible sales” of securities it
has originated to customers. (Treas. Reg. 1.475-1(c)(1)(i)).
A taxpayer with “negligible sales” nonetheless may elect out of this regulatory exemption by
filing its return using the mark-to-market method of accounting described in Section 475(a).
(Treas. Reg. 1.475(c)-1(c)(1)(ii))
In summary, Taxpayer meets the definition of a “dealer in securities” as defined by the Code.
Taxpayer, however, qualifies for a regulatory exemption not to use the mark-to-market
method of accounting. Since taxpayer would technically meet the dealer definition under
475(c) but for the exemption, the rule allows them to elect dealer status if they want it. As a
result, it would appear Taxpayer could still be considered a dealer for Illinois income tax
purposes.
Conclusion
If the Taxpayer is not a dealer because they qualify for the exemption under Treas. Reg.
1.475(c)-1(c), the taxpayer would still be considered a dealer for purposes of IITA
304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii)(a).
We respectfully request a private letter ruling from the Department regarding this matter.
Should you disagree with this opinion, please contact me to discuss this opinion prior to
issuing a ruling. If you have any further questions or require any additional information,
please contact me.

RULING
Section 304(a)(3)(A) of the Illinois Income Tax Act (“IITA” ; 35 ILCS 5/304(a)(3)(A)) defines the
sales factor for taxpayers other than insurance companies, financial organizations, federally
regulated exchanges, and transportation companies, as follows:
The sales factor is a fraction, the numerator of which is the total sales of the person in this
State during the taxable year, and the denominator of which is the total sales of the person
everywhere during the taxable year.

IT 18-0006-PLR
Page 4
IITA Section 304(a)(3)(C-5) provides, in part, that, for taxable years ending on or after December
31, 2008, sales, other than sales governed by paragraphs (B), (B-1), (B-2), (B-5) and (B-7), are in
this State if any of the following criteria are met:
(iii) In the case of interest, net gains (but not less than zero) and other items of income from
intangible personal property, the sale is in this State if:
(a) in the case of a taxpayer who is a dealer in the item of intangible personal property
within the meaning of Section 475 of the Internal Revenue Code, the income or
gain is received from a customer in this State. For purposes of this subparagraph,
a customer is in this State if the customer is an individual, trust or estate who is a
resident of this State and, for all other customers, if the customer’s commercial
domicile is in this State. Unless the dealer has actual knowledge of the residence
or commercial domicile of a customer during a taxable year, the customer shall
be deemed to be a customer in this State if the billing address of the customer, as
shown in the records of the dealer, is in this State; or
(b) in all other cases, if the income-producing activity of the taxpayer is performed in
this State or, if the income-producing activity of the taxpayer is performed both
within and without this State, if a greater proportion of the income-producing
activity of the taxpayer is performed within this State than any other state, based
on performance costs.
Section 475 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) prescribes use of the mark-to-market accounting
method for dealers in securities. Section 475(c)(1) defines a “dealer in securities” to mean a
taxpayer who:
(A)

regularly purchases securities from or sells securities to customers in the ordinary
course of a trade or business; or

(B)

regularly offers to enter into, assume, offset, assign or otherwise terminate positions
in securities with customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business.

Section 475(a) requires that a dealer in securities apply the mark-to-market method of accounting.
Section 475(b) allows for exceptions to mark-to-market accounting for dealers, providing that
subsection (a) shall not apply to certain securities held by a dealer including:
(B)(i) any security described in subsection (c)(2)(C) which is acquired (including originated)
by the taxpayer in the ordinary course of a trade or business of the taxpayer and which is
not held for sale, and (ii) any obligation to acquire a security described in clause (i) if such
obligation is entered into in the ordinary course of such trade or business and is not held for
sale.
Pursuant to these provisions, Treas. Reg. § 1.475(c)-1(c)(1) provides for the following exemption
from dealer status:
A taxpayer that regularly purchases securities from customers in the ordinary course of a
trade or business (including regularly making loans to customers in the ordinary course of a
trade or business of making loans) but engages in no more than negligible sales of the

IT 18-0006-PLR
Page 5
securities so acquired is not a dealer in securities within the meaning of section 475(c)(1)
unless the taxpayer elects to be so treated or, for purposes of section 471, the taxpayer
accounts for any security (as defined in section 475(c)(2)) as inventory.
Under IITA Section 304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii), whether interest, net gains, and other items of income from
intangible personal property are assigned to Illinois for sales factor purposes depends on whether
the taxpayer “is a dealer in the item of intangible personal property within the meaning of Section
475 of the Internal Revenue Code.” If the taxpayer is a dealer within the meaning of IRC Section
475, the gross receipts are assigned to Illinois if the customer is in Illinois. If the taxpayer is not a
dealer within the meaning of IRC Section 475, the gross receipts are assigned to Illinois under
Section 304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii)(b) if the income-producing activity is in Illinois. For this purpose, a
taxpayer is a dealer with respect to an item of intangible personal property if the taxpayer is actually
a dealer with respect to the item under IRC Section 475, or would be a dealer with respect to the
item under IRC Section 475 if the item were a security as defined in IRC Section 475(c)(2).
Your letter represents that the Taxpayer derives interest income by making loans to customers in
the ordinary course of its trade or business. You represent that the Taxpayer is not a dealer in
securities within the meaning of IRC Section 475(c)(1) by virtue of the exemption allowed under
Treas. Reg. § 1.475(c)-1(c)(1) to taxpayers who make only negligible sales of loans that they
originate and who do not elect out of the exemption. The particular sourcing rule under IITA Section
304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii) to be applied should not depend on whether a taxpayer does or does not elect
out of the dealer exemption available under Treas. Reg. 1.475(c)-1(c)(1). In either case, the
taxpayer earns interest by making loans to customers in the ordinary course of its trade or business.
Accordingly, for purposes of IITA Section 304(a)(3)(C-5)(iii), a taxpayer who is eligible for the
exemption under Treas. Reg. 1.475(c)-1(c)(1) is considered a dealer in securities with respect to
loans it originates to customers whether or not the taxpayer elects out of the exemption. In this
case, then, Taxpayer must include the interest income from loans made to its customers in the
numerator of its Illinois sales factor under IITA Section 304(a)(3)(C-5(iii)(a) if the customer is a
resident of Illinois or its commercial domicile is in this State.
This ruling shall bind the Department as provided herein. The facts upon which this ruling is based
are subject to review by the Department during the course of any audit, investigation or hearing
and this ruling shall bind the Department only if the material facts as recited and incorporated in
this ruling are correct and complete. This ruling shall bind the Department for all taxable years,
except as limited pursuant to 2 Ill. Adm. Code 1200.110(d) and (e).This ruling will cease to bind the
Department if there is a pertinent change in statutory law, case law, rules or in the material facts
recited in this ruling.
Sincerely,

Brian L. Stocker
Chairman, PLR Committee (Income Tax)