(a) For the purpose of computing the limitation prescribed by section 854(b)(1)(B) and paragraph (c) of § 1.854-1, the term "gross income" does not include gain from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities. However, capital gains arising from the sale or other disposition of capital assets, other than stock or securities, shall not be excluded from gross income for this purpose.

(b) The term "aggregate dividends received" includes only dividends received from domestic corporations other than dividends described in section 116(b) (relating to dividends not eligible for exclusion from gross income). Accordingly, dividends received from foreign corporations will not be included in the computation of "aggregate dividends received". In determining the amount of any dividend for purposes of this section, the rules provided in section 116(c) (relating to certain distributions) shall apply.

§ 1.855-1 Dividends paid by regulated investment company after close of taxable year.

(a) General rule. In—

(1) Determining under section 852(a) and paragraph (a) of § 1.852-1 whether the deduction for dividends paid during the taxable year (without regard to capital gain dividends) by a regulated investment company equals or exceeds 90 percent of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the provisions of section 852(b)(2)(D)),

(2) Computing its investment company taxable income (under section 852(b)(2) and § 1.852-3), and

(3) Determining the amount of capital gain dividends (as defined in section 852(b)(3) and paragraph (c) of § 1.852-4 paid during the taxable year, any dividend (or portion thereof) declared by the investment company either before or after the close of the taxable year but in any event before the time prescribed by law for the filing of its return for the taxable year (including the period of any extension of time granted for filing such return) shall, to the extent the company so elects in such return, be treated as having been paid during such taxable

year. This rule is applicable only if the entire amount of such dividend is actually distributed to the shareholders in the 12-month period following the close of such taxable year and not later than the date of the first regular dividend payment made after such declaration.

(b) Election-(1) Method of making election. The election must be made in the return filed by the company for the taxable year. The election shall be made by the taxpayer (the regulated investment company) by treating the dividend (or portion thereof) to which such election applies as a dividend paid during the taxable year in computing its investment company taxable income, or if the dividend (or portion thereof) to which such election applies is to be designated by the company as a capital gain dividend, in computing the amount of capital gain dividends paid during such taxable year. The election provided in section 855(a) may be made only to the extent that the earnings and profits of the taxable year (computed with the application of section 852(c) and § 1.852-5) exceed the total amount of distributions out of such earnings and profits actually made during the taxable year (not including distributions with respect to which an election has been made for a prior year under section 855(a)). The dividend or portion thereof, with respect to which the regulated investment company has made a valid election under section 855(a), shall be considered as paid out of the earnings and profits of the taxable year for which such election is made, and not out of the earnings and profits of the taxable year in which the distribution is actually made.

(2) Irrevocability of the election. After the expiration of the time for filing the return for the taxable year for which an election is made under section 855(a), such election shall be irrevocable with respect to the dividend or portion thereof to which it applies.

(c) Receipt by shareholders. Under section 855(b), the dividend or portion thereof, with respect to which a valid election has been made, will be includible in the gross income of the shareholders of the regulated investment

referred to in section 854(b)(1). The capital gains dividend and the dividend received from foreign corporations are excluded from the computation.

(d) Dividends received from a regulated investment company during taxable years of shareholders ending after July 31, 1954, and subject to the Internal Revenue Code of 1939. For the application of section 854 to taxable years of shareholders of a regulated investment company ending after July 31, 1954, and subject to the Internal Revenue Code of 1939, see § 1.34-5 and § 1.116-2.

[T.D. 6500, 25 FR 11910, Nov. 26, 1960, as amended by T.D. 6921, 32 FR 8756, June 20, 1967]

§ 1.854-2 Notice to shareholders.

(a) General rule. Section 854(b)(2) provides that the amount that a shareholder may treat as a dividend for purposes of the exclusion under section 116 for dividends received by individuals, the deduction under section 243 for dividends received by corporation, and, in the case of dividends received by individuals before January 1, 1965, the credit under section 34, shall not exceed the amount so designated by the company in a written notice to its shareholders mailed not later than 45 days (30 days for a taxable year ending before Feb. 26, 1964) after the close of the company's taxable year. If, however, the amount so designated by the company in the notice exceeds the amount which may be treated by the shareholder as a dividend for such purposes, the shareholder is limited to the amount as correctly ascertained under section 854(b)(1) and paragraph (c) of § 1.8541.

(b) Shareholder of record custodian of certain unit investment trusts. In any case where a notice is mailed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section by a regulated investment company with respect to a taxable year of the regulated investment company ending after December 8, 1970 to a shareholder of record who is a nominee acting as a custodian of a unit investment trust described in section 851(f)(1) and paragraph (d) of § 1.851-7, the nominee shall furnish each holder of an interest in such trust with a written notice

mailed on or before the 55th day following the close of the regulated investment company's taxable year. The notice shall designate the holder's proportionate share of the amounts that may be treated as a dividend for purposes of the exclusion under section 116 for dividends received by individuals and the deduction under section 243 for dividends received by corporations shown on the notice received by the nominee pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section. This notice shall inIclude the name and address of the nominee identified as such. This paragraph shall not apply if the regulated investment company agrees with the nominee to satisfy the notice requirements of paragraph (a) of this section with respect to each holder of an interest in the unit investment trust whose shares are being held by the nominee as custodian and not later than 45 days following the close of the company's taxable year, files with the Internal Revenue Service office where such company's return is to be filed for the taxable year, a statement that the holders of the unit investment trust with whom the agreement was made have been directly notified by the regulated investment company. Such statement shall include the name, sponsor, and custodian of each unit investment trust whose holders have been directly notified. The nominee's requirements under this paragraph shall be deemed met if the regulated investment company transmits a copy of such statement to the nominee within such 45-day period; provided however, if the regulated investment company fails or is unable to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph with respect to the holders of interest in the unit investment trust, it shall so notify the Internal Revenue Service within 45 days following the close of its taxable year. The custodian shall, upon notice by the Internal Revenue Service that the regulated investment company has failed to comply with the agreement, satisfy the requirements of this paragraph within 30 days of such notice.

[T.D. 7187, 37 FR 13257, July 6, 1972]

(a) For the purpose of computing the limitation prescribed by section 854(b)(1)(B) and paragraph (c) of § 1.854-1, the term "gross income" does not include gain from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities. However, capital gains arising from the sale or other disposition of capital assets, other than stock or securities, shall not be excluded from gross income for this purpose.

(b) The term "aggregate dividends received" includes only dividends received from domestic corporations other than dividends described in section 116(b) (relating to dividends not eligible for exclusion from gross income). Accordingly, dividends received from foreign corporations will not be included in the computation of "aggregate dividends received". In determining the amount of any dividend for purposes of this section, the rules provided in section 116(c) (relating to certain distributions) shall apply.

§ 1.855-1 Dividends paid by regulated investment company after close of taxable year.

(a) General rule. In

(1) Determining under section 852(a) and paragraph (a) of § 1.852-1 whether the deduction for dividends paid during the taxable year (without regard to capital gain dividends) by a regulated investment company equals or exceeds 90 percent of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the provisions of section 852(b)(2)(D)),

(2) Computing its investment company taxable income (under section 852(b)(2) and § 1.852-3), and

(3) Determining the amount of capital gain dividends (as defined in section 852(b)(3) and paragraph (c) of § 1.852-4 paid during the taxable year, any dividend (or portion thereof) declared by the investment company either before or after the close of the taxable year but in any event before the time prescribed by law for the filing of its return for the taxable year (including the period of any extension of time granted for filing such return) shall, to the extent the company so elects in such return, be treated as having been paid during such taxable

year. This rule is applicable only if the entire amount of such dividend is actually distributed to the shareholders in the 12-month period following the close of such taxable year and not later than the date of the first regular dividend payment made after such declaration.

(b) Election-(1) Method of making election. The election must be made in the return filed by the company for the taxable year. The election shall be made by the taxpayer (the regulated investment company) by treating the dividend (or portion thereof) to which such election applies as a dividend paid during the taxable year in computing its investment company taxable income, or if the dividend (or portion thereof) to which such election applies is to be designated by the company as a capital gain dividend, in computing the amount of capital gain dividends paid during such taxable year. The election provided in section 855(a) may be made only to the extent that the earnings and profits of the taxable year (computed with the application of section 852(c) and § 1.852-5) exceed the total amount of distributions out of such earnings and profits actually made during the taxable year (not including distributions with respect to which an election has been made for a prior year under section 855(a)). The dividend or portion thereof, with respect to which the regulated investment company has made a valid election under section 855(a), shall be considered as paid out of the earnings and profits of the taxable year for which such election is made, and not out of the earnings and profits of the taxable year in which the distribution is actually made.

(2) Irrevocability of the election. After the expiration of the time for filing the return for the taxable year for which an election is made under section 855(a), such election shall be irrevocable with respect to the dividend or portion thereof to which it applies.

(c) Receipt by shareholders. Under section 855(b), the dividend or portion thereof, with respect to which a valid election has been made, will be includible in the gross income of the shareholders of the regulated investment

company for the taxable year in which the dividend is received by them.

(d) Examples. The application of paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section may be illustrated by the following examples:

Example (1). The X Company, a regulated investment company, had taxable income (and earnings or profits) for the calendar year 1954 of $100,000. During that year the company distributed to shareholders taxable dividends aggregating $88,000. On March 10, 1955, the company declared a dividend of $37,000 payable to shareholders on March 20, 1955. Such dividend consisted of the first regular quarterly dividend for 1955 of $25,000 plus an additional $12,000 representing that part of the taxable income for 1954 which was not distributed in 1954. On March 15, 1955, the X Company filed its federal income tax return and elected therein to treat $12,000 of the total dividend of $37,000 to be paid to shareholders on March 20, 1955, as having been paid during the taxable year 1954. Assuming that the X Company actually distributed the entire amount of the dividend of $37,000 on March 20, 1955, an amount equal to $12,000 thereof will be treated for the purposes of section 852(a) as having been paid during the taxable year 1954. Such amount ($12,000) will be considered by the X Company as a distribution out of the earnings and profits for the taxable year 1954, and will be treated by the shareholders as a taxable dividend for the taxable year in which such distribution is received by them.

Example (2). The Y Company, a regulated investment company, had taxable income (and earnings or profits) for the calendar year 1954 of $100,000, and for 1955 taxable income (and earnings or profits) of $125,000. On January 1, 1954, the company had a deficit in its earnings and profits accumulated since February 28, 1913, of $115,000. During the year 1954 the company distributed to shareholders taxable dividends aggregating $85,000. On March 5, 1955, the company declared a dividend of $65,000 payable to shareholders on March 31, 1955. On March 15, 1955, the Y Company filed its federal income tax return in which it included $40,000 of the total dividend of $65,000 payable to shareholders on March 31, 1955, as a dividend paid by it during the taxable year 1954. On March 31, 1955, the Y Company distributed the entire amount of the dividend of $65,000 declared on March 5, 1955. The election under section 855(a) is valid only to the extent of $15,000, the amount of the undistributed earnings and profits for 1954 ($100,000 earnings and profits less $85,000 distributed during 1954). The remainder ($50,000) of the $65,000 dividend paid on March 31, 1955, could not be the

subject of an election, and such amount will be regarded as a distribution by the Y Company out of earnings and profits for the taxable year 1955. Assuming that the only other distribution by the Y Company during 1955 was a distribution of $75,000 paid as a dividend on October 31, 1955, the total amount of the distribution of $65,000 paid on March 31, 1955, is to be treated by the shareholders as taxable dividends for the taxable year in which such dividend is received. The Y Company will treat the amount of $15,000 as a distribution of the earnings or profits of the company for the taxable year 1954, and the remaining $50,000 as a distribution of the earnings or profits for the year 1955. The distribution of $75,000 on October 31, 1955, is, of course, a taxable dividend out of the earnings and profits for the year 1955.

(e) Notice to shareholders. Section 855(c) provides that in the case of dividends, with respect to which a regulated investment company has made an election under section 855(a), any notice to shareholders required under subchapter M, chapter 1 of the Code, with respect to such amounts, shall be made not later than 45 days (30 days for a taxable year ending before February 26, 1964) after the close of the taxable year in which the distribution is made. Thus, the notice requirements of section 852(b)(3)(C) and paragraph (c) of § 1.852-4 with respect to capital gain dividends, section 853(c) and § 1.853-3 with respect to allowance to shareholder of foreign tax credit, and section 854(b)(2) and § 1.854-2 with respect to the amount of a distribution which may be treated as a dividend, may be satisfied with respect to amounts to which section 855(a) and this section apply if the notice relating to such amounts is mailed to the shareholders not later, than 45 days (30 days for a taxable year ending before February 26, 1964) · after the close of the taxable year in which the distribution is made. If the i notice under section 855(c) relates to an election with respect to any capital gain dividends, such capital gain dividends shall be aggregated by the investment company with the designated capital gain dividends actually paid during the taxable year to which the election applies (not including such dividends with respect to which an election has been made for a prior

year under section 855) for the purpose of determining whether the aggregate of the designated capital gain dividends with respect to such taxable year of the company is greater than the excess of the net long-term capital gain over the net short-term capital loss of the company. See section 852(b)(3)(C) and paragraph (c) of § 1.852-4.

(f) Foreign tax election. Section 855(d) provides that in the case of an election made under section 853 (relating to foreign taxes), the shareholder of the investment company shall consider the foreign income received, and the foreign tax paid, as received and paid, respectively, in the shareholder's taxable year in which distribution is made.

[T.D. 6500, 25 FR 11910, Nov. 26, 1960, as amended by T.D. 6921, 32 FR 8757, June 20, 1967]

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS

§ 1.856-0 Revenue Act of 1978 amendments not included.

The regulations under part II of subchapter M of the Code do not reflect the amendments made by the Revenue Act of 1978, other than the changes made by section 362 of the Act, relating to deficiency dividends. (Sec. 856(d)(4) (90 Stat. 1750; 26 U.S.C. 856(d)(4)); sec. 856(e)(5) (88 Stat. 2113; 26 U.S.C. 856(e)(5)); sec. 856(f)(2) (90 Stat. 1751; 26 U.S.C. 856(f)(2)); sec. 856 (g)(2) (90 Stat. 1753; 26 U.S.C. 856(g)(2)); sec. 858(a) (74 Stat. 1008; 26 U.S.C. 858(a)); sec. 859(c) (90 Stat. 1743; 26 U.S.C. 859(c)); sec. 859(e) (90 Stat. 1744; 26 U.S.C. 859(e)); sec. 6001 (68A Stat. 731; 26 U.S.C. 6001); sec. 6011 (68A Stat. 732; 26 U.S.C. 6011); sec. 6071 (68A Stat. 749, 26 U.S.C. 6071); sec. 6091 (68A Stat. 752; 26 U.S.C. 6091); sec. 7805 (68A Stat. 917; 26 U.S.C. 7805), Internal Revenue Code of 1954; 860(e) (92 Stat. 2849, 26 U.S.C. 860(e)); sec. 860(g) (92 Stat. 2850, 26 U.S.C. 860(g)))

[T.D. 7767, 46 FR 11265, Feb. 6, 1981, as amended by T.D. 7936, 49 FR 2106, Jan. 18, 1984]

856(a) and paragraph (b) of this section, and (2) satisfies the gross income and asset diversification requirements under the limitations of section 856(c) and § 1.856-2. (See, however, paragraph (f) of this section, relating to the requirement that, for taxable years beginning before October 5, 1976, a real estate investment trust must be an unincorporated trust or unincorporated association).

(b) Qualifying conditions. To qualify as a "real estate investment trust”, an organization must be one

(1) Which is managed by one or more trustees or directors,

(2) The beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest,

(3) Which would be taxable as a domestic corporation but for the provisions of part II, subchapter M, chapter 1 of the Code,

(4) Which, in the case of a taxable year beginning before October 5, 1976, does not hold any property (other than foreclosure property) primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of its trade or business,

(5) Which is neither (i) a financial institution to which section 585, 586, or 593 applies, nor (ii) an insurance company to which subchapter L applies,

(6) The beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons, and

(7) Which would not be a personal holding company (as defined in section 542) if all of its gross income constituted personal holding company income (as defined in section 543).

(c) Determination of status. The conditions described in subparagraphs (1) through (5) of paragraph (b) of this section must be met during the entire taxable year and the condition described in subparagraph (6) of paragraph (b) of this section must exist during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. The days during which the latter condition must exist need not be consecutive. In determining the minimum number of days during which the condition described in paragraph (b)(6) of this section is