§1296. Passive foreign investment company

(a) In general

For purposes of this part, except as otherwise provided in this subpart, the term "passive foreign investment company" means any foreign corporation if-

(1) 75 percent or more of the gross income of such corporation for the taxable year is passive income, or

(2) the average percentage of assets (by value) held by such corporation during the taxable year which produce passive income or which are held for the production of passive income is at least 50 percent.

In the case of a controlled foreign corporation (or any other foreign corporation if such corporation so elects), the determination under paragraph (2) shall be based on the adjusted bases (as determined for purposes of computing earnings and profits) of its assets in lieu of their value. Such an election, once made, may be revoked only with the consent of the Secretary.

(b) Passive income

For purposes of this section-

(1) In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the term "passive income" means any income which is of a kind which would be foreign personal holding company income as defined in section 954(c).

(2) Exceptions

Except as provided in regulations, the term "passive income" does not include any income-

(A) derived in the active conduct of a banking business by an institution licensed to do business as a bank in the United States (or, to the extent provided in regulations, by any other corporation),

(B) derived in the active conduct of an insurance business by a corporation which is predominantly engaged in an insurance business and which would be subject to tax under subchapter L if it were a domestic corporation, or

(C) which is interest, a dividend, or a rent or royalty, which is received or accrued from a related person (within the meaning of section 954(d)(3)) to the extent such amount is properly allocable (under regulations prescribed by the Secretary) to income of such related person which is not passive income.

For purposes of subparagraph (C), the term "related person" has the meaning given such term by section 954(d)(3) determined by substituting "foreign corporation" for "controlled foreign corporation" each place it appears in section 954(d)(3).

(3) Treatment of certain dealers in securities

(A) In general

In the case of any foreign corporation which is a controlled foreign corporation (as defined in section 957(a)), the term "passive income" does not include any income derived in the active conduct of a securities business by such corporation if such corporation is registered as a securities broker or dealer under section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or is registered as a Government securities broker or dealer under section 15C(a) of such Act. To the extent provided in regulations, such term shall not include any income derived in the active conduct of a securities business by a controlled foreign corporation which is not so registered.

(B) Application of look-thru rules

For purposes of paragraph (2)(C), rules similar to the rules of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall apply in determining whether any income of a related person (whether or not a corporation) is passive income.

(C) Limitation

The preceding provisions of this paragraph shall only apply in the case of persons who are United States shareholders (as defined in section 951(b)) in the controlled foreign corporation.

(c) Look-thru in the case of 25-percent owned corporations

If a foreign corporation owns (directly or indirectly) at least 25 percent (by value) of the stock of another corporation, for purposes of determining whether such foreign corporation is a passive foreign investment company, such foreign corporation shall be treated as if it-

(1) held its proportionate share of the assets of such other corporation, and

(2) received directly its proportionate share of the income of such other corporation.

(d) Section 1247 corporations

For purposes of this part, the term "passive foreign investment company" does not include any foreign investment company to which section 1247 applies.

(Added Pub. L. 99–514, title XII, §1235(a), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2572 ; amended Pub. L. 100–647, title I, §§1012(p)(2), (5), (16), (26), (27), 1018(u)(40), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3515 , 3518-3520, 3592; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, §13231(d)(1), (3), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 499 .)

References in Text

Sections 15(a) and 15C(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A), are classified to sections 78o(a) and 78o–5(a), respectively, of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

Amendments

1993-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–66, §13231(d)(1), substituted in closing provisions "In the case of a controlled foreign corporation (or any other foreign corporation if such corporation so elects), the determination under paragraph (2) shall be based on the adjusted bases (as determined for purposes of computing earnings and profits) of its assets in lieu of their value. Such an election, once made, may be revoked only with the consent of the Secretary." for "A foreign corporation may elect to have the determination under paragraph (2) based on the adjusted bases of its assets in lieu of their value. Such an election, once made, may be revoked only with the consent of the Secretary."

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 103–66, §13231(d)(3), added par. (3).

1988-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–647, §1018(u)(40), inserted a comma after "subpart".

Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(p)(27), inserted at end "A foreign corporation may elect to have the determination under paragraph (2) based on the adjusted bases of its assets in lieu of their value. Such an election, once made, may be revoked only with the consent of the Secretary."

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(p)(5), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: "Except as provided in paragraph (2), the term 'passive income' has the meaning given such term by section 904(d)(2)(A) without regard to the exceptions contained in clause (iii) thereof."

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(p)(26), substituted "Exceptions" for "Exception for certain banks and insurance companies" in heading, and inserted sentence at end defining "related person".

Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(p)(16), inserted "is predominantly engaged in an insurance business and which" after "a corporation which".

Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(p)(26)(A), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(p)(2), inserted "(directly or indirectly)" after "foreign corporation owns".

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–66 applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after Sept. 30, 1993, and to taxable years of United States shareholders in which or with which such taxable years of foreign corporations end, see section 13231(e) of Pub. L. 103–66, set out as a note under section 951 of this title.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date

Section applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 1235(h) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 1291 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 532, 542, 956A of this title.