Disposition of investment in United States real property
General rule
Treatment as effectively connected with United States trade or business
For purposes of this title, gain or loss of a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation from the disposition of a United States real property interest shall be taken into account—
in the case of a nonresident alien individual, under section 871(b)(1), or
in the case of a foreign corporation, under section 882(a)(1),
as if the taxpayer were engaged in a trade or business within the United States during the taxable year and as if such gain or loss were effectively connected with such trade or business.
Minimum tax on nonresident alien individuals
In general
In the case of any nonresident alien individual, the taxable excess for purposes of section 55(b)(1) shall not be less than the lesser of—
the individual’s alternative minimum taxable income (as defined in section 55(b)(2)) for the taxable year, or
the individual’s net United States real property gain for the taxable year.
Net United States real property gain
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “net United States real property gain” means the excess of—
the aggregate of the gains for the taxable year from dispositions of United States real property interests, over
the aggregate of the losses for the taxable year from dispositions of such interests.
Limitation on losses of individuals
United States real property interest
For purposes of this section—
United States real property interest
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B) or subsection (k), the term “United States real property interest” means—
an interest in real property (including an interest in a mine, well, or other natural deposit) located in the United States or the Virgin Islands, and
any interest (other than an interest solely as a creditor) in any domestic corporation unless the taxpayer establishes (at such time and in such manner as the Secretary by regulations prescribes) that such corporation was at no time a United States real property holding corporation during the shorter of—
the period after
the 5-year period ending on the date of the disposition of such interest.
Exclusion for interest in certain corporations
The term “United States real property interest” does not include any interest in a corporation if—
as of the date of the disposition of such interest, such corporation did not hold any United States real property interests,
all of the United States real property interests held by such corporation at any time during the shorter of the periods described in subparagraph (A)(ii)—
were disposed of in transactions in which the full amount of the gain (if any) was recognized, or
ceased to be United States real property interests by reason of the application of this subparagraph to 1 or more other corporations, and
neither such corporation nor any predecessor of such corporation was a regulated investment company or a real estate investment trust at any time during the shorter of the periods described in subparagraph (A)(ii).
United States real property holding corporation
The term “United States real property holding corporation” means any corporation if—
the fair market value of its United States real property interests equals or exceeds 50 percent of
the fair market value of—
its United States real property interests,
its interests in real property located outside the United States, plus
any other of its assets which are used or held for use in a trade or business.
Exception for stock regularly traded on established securities markets
Interests held by foreign corporations and by partnerships, trusts, and estates
For purposes of determining whether any corporation is a United States real property holding corporation—
Foreign corporations
Assets held by partnerships, etc.
Treatment of controlling interests
In general
Under regulations, for purposes of determining whether any corporation is a United States real property holding corporation, if any corporation (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as the “first corporation”) holds a controlling interest in a second corporation—
the stock which the first corporation holds in the second corporation shall not be taken into account,
the first corporation shall be treated as holding a portion of each asset of the second corporation equal to the percentage of the fair market value of the stock of the second corporation represented by the stock held by the first corporation, and
any asset treated as held by the first corporation by reason of clause (ii) which is used or held for use by the second corporation in a trade or business shall be treated as so used or held by the first corporation.
Any asset treated as held by the first corporation by reason of the preceding sentence shall be so treated for purposes of applying the preceding sentence successively to corporations which are above the first corporation in a chain of corporations.
Controlling interest
Other special rules
Interest in real property
Real property includes associated personal property
Constructive ownership rules
Treatment of distributions by foreign corporations
In general
Exceptions
Gain shall not be recognized under paragraph (1)—
if—
at the time of the receipt of the distributed property, the distributee would be subject to taxation under this chapter on a subsequent disposition of the distributed property, and
the basis of the distributed property in the hands of the distributee is no greater than the adjusted basis of such property before the distribution, increased by the amount of gain (if any) recognized by the distributing corporation, or
if such nonrecognition is provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary under subsection (e)(2).
Coordination with nonrecognition provisions
In general
Regulations
The Secretary shall prescribe regulations (which are necessary or appropriate to prevent the avoidance of Federal income taxes) providing—
the extent to which nonrecognition provisions shall, and shall not, apply for purposes of this section, and
the extent to which—
transfers of property in reorganization, and
changes in interests in, or distributions from, a partnership, trust, or estate,
shall be treated as sales of property at fair market value.
Nonrecognition provision defined
Repealed. Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1702(g)(2), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1873]
Special rule for sales of interest in partnerships, trusts, and estates
Special rules for certain investment entities
For purposes of this section—
Look-through of distributions
Sale of stock in domestically controlled entity not taxed
Distributions by domestically controlled qualified investment entities
Definitions and special rules
Qualified investment entity
The term “qualified investment entity” means—
any real estate investment trust, and
any regulated investment company which is a United States real property holding corporation or which would be a United States real property holding corporation if the exceptions provided in subsections (c)(3) and (h)(2) did not apply to interests in any real estate investment trust or regulated investment company.
Domestically controlled
Foreign ownership percentage
Testing period
The term “testing period” means whichever of the following periods is the shortest:
the period beginning on
the 5-year period ending on the date of the disposition or of the distribution, as the case may be, or
the period during which the qualified investment entity was in existence.
Special ownership rules
For purposes of determining the holder of stock under subparagraphs (B) and (C)—
in the case of any class of stock of the qualified investment entity which is regularly traded on an established securities market in the United States, a person holding less than 5 percent of such class of stock at all times during the testing period shall be treated as a United States person unless the qualified investment entity has actual knowledge that such person is not a United States person,
any stock in the qualified investment entity held by another qualified investment entity—
any class of stock of which is regularly traded on an established securities market, or
which is a regulated investment company which issues redeemable securities (within the meaning of section 2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940),
shall be treated as held by a foreign person, except that if such other qualified investment entity is domestically controlled (determined after application of this subparagraph), such stock shall be treated as held by a United States person, and
any stock in the qualified investment entity held by any other qualified investment entity not described in subclause (I) or (II) of clause (ii) shall only be treated as held by a United States person in proportion to the stock of such other qualified investment entity which is (or is treated under clause (ii) or (iii) as) held by a United States person.
Treatment of certain wash sale transactions
In general
Applicable wash sales transaction
For purposes of this paragraph—
In general
The term “applicable wash sales transaction” means any transaction (or series of transactions) under which a nonresident alien individual, foreign corporation, or qualified investment entity—
disposes of an interest in a domestically controlled qualified investment entity during the 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution which is to be made with respect to the interest and any portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been treated by the taxpayer as gain from the sale or exchange of a United States real property interest under paragraph (1), and
acquires, or enters into a contract or option to acquire, a substantially identical interest in such entity during the 61-day period beginning with the 1st day of the 30-day period described in subclause (I).
For purposes of subclause (II), a nonresident alien individual, foreign corporation, or qualified investment entity shall be treated as having acquired any interest acquired by a person related (within the meaning of section 267(b) or 707(b)(1)) to the individual, corporation, or entity, and any interest which such person has entered into any contract or option to acquire.
Application to substitute dividend and similar payments
Subparagraph (A) shall apply to—
any substitute dividend payment (within the meaning of section 861), or
any other similar payment specified in regulations which the Secretary determines necessary to prevent avoidance of the purposes of this paragraph.
The portion of any such payment treated by the taxpayer as gain from the sale or exchange of a United States real property interest under subparagraph (A) by reason of this clause shall be equal to the portion of the distribution such payment is in lieu of which would have been so treated but for the transaction giving rise to such payment.
Exception where distribution actually received
Exception for certain publicly traded stock
Election by foreign corporation to be treated as domestic corporation
In general
If—
a foreign corporation holds a United States real property interest, and
under any treaty obligation of the United States the foreign corporation is entitled to nondiscriminatory treatment with respect to that interest,
then such foreign corporation may make an election to be treated as a domestic corporation for purposes of this section, section 1445, and section 6039C.
Revocation only with consent
Making of election
An election under paragraph (1) may be made only—
if all of the owners of all classes of interests (other than interests solely as a creditor) in the foreign corporation at the time of the election consent to the making of the election and agree that gain, if any, from the disposition of such interest after
subject to such other conditions as the Secretary may prescribe by regulations with respect to the corporation or its shareholders.
In the case of a class of interest (other than an interest solely as a creditor) which is regularly traded on an established securities market, the consent described in subparagraph (A) need only be made by any person if such person held more than 5 percent of such class of interest at some time during the shorter of the periods described in subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii). The constructive ownership rules of subsection (c)(6)(C) shall apply in determining whether a person held more than 5 percent of a class of interest.
Exclusive method of claiming nondiscrimination
Certain contributions to capital
Except to the extent otherwise provided in regulations, gain shall be recognized by a nonresident alien individual or foreign corporation on the transfer of a United States real property interest to a foreign corporation if the transfer is made as paid in surplus or as a contribution to capital, in the amount of the excess of—
the fair market value of such property transferred, over
the sum of—
the adjusted basis of such property in the hands of the transferor, plus
the amount of gain, if any, recognized to the transferor under any other provision at the time of the transfer.
Special rules relating to real estate investment trusts
Increase in percentage ownership for exceptions for persons holding publicly traded stock
Dispositions
Distributions
Stock held by qualified shareholders not treated as United States real property interest
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B)—
stock of a real estate investment trust which is held directly (or indirectly through 1 or more partnerships) by a qualified shareholder shall not be treated as a United States real property interest, and
notwithstanding subsection (h)(1), any distribution to a qualified shareholder shall not be treated as gain recognized from the sale or exchange of a United States real property interest to the extent the stock of the real estate investment trust held by such qualified shareholder is not treated as a United States real property interest under clause (i).
Exception
In the case of a qualified shareholder with one or more applicable investors—
subparagraph (A)(i) shall not apply to the applicable percentage of the stock of the real estate investment trust held by the qualified shareholder, and
the applicable percentage of the amounts realized by the qualified shareholder with respect to any disposition of stock in the real estate investment trust or with respect to any distribution from the real estate investment trust attributable to gain from sales or exchanges of a United States real property interest shall be treated as amounts realized from the disposition of United States real property interests.
Special rule for certain distributions treated as sale or exchange
If a distribution by a real estate investment trust is treated as a sale or exchange of stock under section 301(c)(3), 302, or 331 with respect to a qualified shareholder—
in the case of an applicable investor, subparagraph (B) shall apply with respect to such distribution, and
in the case of any other person, such distribution shall be treated under section 857(b)(3)(F) 1
Applicable investor
For purposes of this subsection, the term “applicable investor” means, with respect to any qualified shareholder holding stock in a real estate investment trust, a person (other than a qualified shareholder) which—
holds an interest (other than an interest solely as a creditor) in such qualified shareholder, and
holds more than 10 percent of the stock of such real estate investment trust (whether or not by reason of the person’s ownership interest in the qualified shareholder).
Constructive ownership rules
Applicable percentage
Qualified shareholder
For purposes of this subsection—
In general
The term “qualified shareholder” means a foreign person which—
is eligible for benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States which includes an exchange of information program and the principal class of interests of which is listed and regularly traded on 1 or more recognized stock exchanges (as defined in such comprehensive income tax treaty), or
is a foreign partnership that is created or organized under foreign law as a limited partnership in a jurisdiction that has an agreement for the exchange of information with respect to taxes with the United States and has a class of limited partnership units which is regularly traded on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq Stock Market and such class of limited partnership units value is greater than 50 percent of the value of all the partnership units,
is a qualified collective investment vehicle, and
maintains records on the identity of each person who, at any time during the foreign person’s taxable year, holds directly 5 percent or more of the class of interest described in subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i), as the case may be.
Qualified collective investment vehicle
For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified collective investment vehicle” means a foreign person—
which—
is eligible for benefits under the comprehensive income tax treaty described in subparagraph (A)(i)(I), but only if the dividends article of such treaty imposes conditions on the benefits allowable in the case of dividends paid by a real estate investment trust, and
is eligible under such treaty for a reduced rate of withholding with respect to ordinary dividends paid by a real estate investment trust even if such person holds more than 10 percent of the stock of such real estate investment trust,
which—
is a publicly traded partnership (as defined in section 7704(b)) to which subsection (a) of section 7704 does not apply,
is a withholding foreign partnership for purposes of chapters 3, 4, and 61, and
if such foreign partnership were a domestic corporation, would be a United States real property holding corporation (determined without regard to paragraph (1)) at any time during the 5-year period ending on the date of disposition of, or distribution with respect to, such partnership’s interests in a real estate investment trust, or
which is designated as a qualified collective investment vehicle by the Secretary and is either—
fiscally transparent within the meaning of section 894, or
required to include dividends in its gross income, but entitled to a deduction for distributions to persons holding interests (other than interests solely as a creditor) in such foreign person.
Partnership allocations
In general
For the purposes of this subsection, in the case of an applicable investor who is a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation and is a partner in a partnership that is a qualified shareholder, if such partner’s proportionate share of USRPI gain for the taxable year exceeds such partner’s distributive share of USRPI gain for the taxable year, then
such partner’s distributive share of the amount of gain taken into account under subsection (a)(1) by the partner for the taxable year (determined without regard to this paragraph) shall be increased by the amount of such excess, and
such partner’s distributive share of items of income or gain for the taxable year that are not treated as gain taken into account under subsection (a)(1) (determined without regard to this paragraph) shall be decreased (but not below zero) by the amount of such excess.
USRPI gain
For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “USRPI gain” means the excess (if any) of—
the sum of—
any gain recognized from the disposition of a United States real property interest, and
any distribution by a real estate investment trust that is treated as gain recognized from the sale or exchange of a United States real property interest, over
any loss recognized from the disposition of a United States real property interest.
Proportionate share of USRPI gain
Exception for qualified foreign pension funds
In general
Qualified foreign pension fund
For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified foreign pension fund” means any trust, corporation, or other organization or arrangement—
which is created or organized under the law of a country other than the United States,
which is established—
by such country (or one or more political subdivisions thereof) to provide retirement or pension benefits to participants or beneficiaries that are current or former employees (including self-employed individuals) or persons designated by such employees, as a result of services rendered by such employees to their employers, or
by one or more employers to provide retirement or pension benefits to participants or beneficiaries that are current or former employees (including self-employed individuals) or persons designated by such employees in consideration for services rendered by such employees to such employers,
which does not have a single participant or beneficiary with a right to more than five percent of its assets or income,
which is subject to government regulation and with respect to which annual information about its beneficiaries is provided, or is otherwise available, to the relevant tax authorities in the country in which it is established or operates, and
with respect to which, under the laws of the country in which it is established or operates—
contributions to such trust, corporation, organization, or arrangement which would otherwise be subject to tax under such laws are deductible or excluded from the gross income of such entity or arrangement or taxed at a reduced rate, or
taxation of any investment income of such trust, corporation, organization or arrangement is deferred, or such income is excluded from the gross income of such entity or arrangement or is taxed at a reduced rate.
Regulations
Source
(Added Pub. L. 96–499, title XI, § 1122(a),Notes
References in Text
Amendments
Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
Effective Date of 2017 Amendment
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
In general.—
The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on
Amounts withheld on or before date of enactment.—
In the case of a regulated investment company—
which makes a distribution after
which would (but for the second sentence of paragraph (1)) have been required to withhold with respect to such distribution under section 1445 of such Code,
such investment company shall not be liable to any person to whom such distribution was made for any amount so withheld and paid over to the Secretary of the Treasury.”
Determination of domestic control.—
The amendments made by subsection (b)(1) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to testing periods (as defined in section 897(h)(4)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) ending on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
In general.—
The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on
Amounts withheld on or before date of enactment.—
In the case of a regulated investment company—
which makes a distribution after
which would (but for the second sentence of paragraph (1)) have been required to withhold with respect to such distribution under section 1445 of such Code,
such investment company shall not be liable to any person to whom such distribution was made for any amount so withheld and paid over to the Secretary of the Treasury.”
Effective Date of 2013 Amendment
In general.—
The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on
Amounts withheld on or before date of enactment.—
In the case of a regulated investment company—
which makes a distribution after
which would (but for the second sentence of paragraph (1)) have been required to withhold with respect to such distribution under section 1445 of such Code,
such investment company shall not be liable to any person to whom such distribution was made for any amount so withheld and paid over to the Secretary of the Treasury.”
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
In general.—
The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on
Amounts withheld on or before date of enactment.—
In the case of a regulated investment company—
which makes a distribution after
which would (but for the second sentence of paragraph (1)) have been required to withhold with respect to such distribution under section 1445 of such Code,
such investment company shall not be liable to any person to whom such distribution was made for any amount so withheld and paid over to the Secretary of the Treasury.”
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
In general.—
The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on
Amounts withheld on or before date of enactment.—
In the case of a regulated investment company—
which makes a distribution after
which would (but for the second sentence of paragraph (1)) have been required to withhold with respect to such distribution under section 1445 of such Code,
such investment company shall not be liable to any person to whom such distribution was made for any amount so withheld and paid over to the Secretary of the Treasury.”
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Effective Date of 2005 Amendment
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Effective Date
In general.—
Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendments made by this subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 1121–1125) of title XI of Pub. L. 96–499, enacting this section and provisions set out as notes under this section, and amending sections 861, 871, 882 of this title] shall apply to dispositions after
Reporting.—
The amendments made by section 1123 [enacting section 6039C of this title and amending section 6652 of this title] shall apply to 1980 and subsequent calendar years. In applying such amendments to 1980, such calendar year shall be treated as beginning on
Repeal
Savings Provision
Applicability of Certain Amendments by Pub. L. 99–514 in Relation to Treaty Obligations of United States
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989
Special Rule for Applying Section 897
In General.—
For purposes of section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, gain shall not be recognized on the transfer, sale, exchange, or other disposition, of shares of stock of a United States real property holding company, if—
such United States real property holding company is a Delaware corporation incorporated on
the transfer, sale, exchange, or other disposition is to any member of a qualified ownership group,
the recipient of the share of stock elects, for purposes of such section 897, a carryover basis in the transferred shares,
the transfer, sale, exchange, or other disposition is part of a single integrated plan, whereby the stock of the corporation described in paragraph (1) becomes owned directly by the 2 corporations specifically referred to in subsection (b) or by such 2 corporations and by 1 or both of their jointly owned direct subsidiaries,
within 20 days after each transfer, sale, exchange, or other disposition, the person making such transfer, sale, exchange, or other disposition notifies the Internal Revenue Service of the transaction, the date of the transaction, the basis of the stock involved, the holding period for such stock, and such other information as the Internal Revenue Service may require, and
the integrated plan is completed before the date 4 years after the date of the enactment of the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 [
In the case of any underpayment attributable to a failure to meet any requirement of this subsection, the period during which such underpayment may be assessed shall in no event expire before the date 5 years after the date of the enactment of the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988.
Member of a Qualified Ownership Group.—
For purposes of this section, the term ‘member of a qualified ownership group’ means a corporation incorporated on
[Repealed. Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1012(m)(2), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3513.]
Effective Date.—
The provisions of this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this section [
Gain From Disposition of Investment in United States Real Property by Nonresident Alien Individuals and Foreign Corporations
In general.—
Except as provided in paragraph (2), after
Special rule for treaties renegotiated before 1985.—
If—
any treaty (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as the ‘old treaty’) is renegotiated to resolve conflicts between such treaty and the provisions of section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and
the new treaty is signed on or after
then paragraph (1) shall be applied with respect to obligations under the old treaty by substituting for ‘
Adjustment in Basis for Certain Transactions Between Related Persons
In general.—
In the case of any disposition after
Nontaxed gain.—
For purposes of paragraph (1), the term ‘nontaxed gain’ means any gain which is not subject to tax under section 871(b)(1) or 882(a)(1) of such Code—
because the disposition occurred before
because of any treaty obligation of the United States.”