Disposition of investment in United States real property

26 U.S.C. § 897
in effect
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(a) General rule(1) Treatment as effectively connected with United States trade or businessFor 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—(A) in the case of a nonresident alien individual, under section 871(b)(1), or (B) 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. (2) Minimum tax on nonresident alien individuals(A) In generalIn 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—(i) the individual’s alternative minimum taxable income (as defined in section 55(b)(1)(D)) for the taxable year, or (ii) the individual’s net United States real property gain for the taxable year. (B) Net United States real property gainFor purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “net United States real property gain” means the excess of—(i) the aggregate of the gains for the taxable year from dispositions of United States real property interests, over (ii) the aggregate of the losses for the taxable year from dispositions of such interests. (b) Limitation on losses of individualsIn the case of an individual, a loss shall be taken into account under subsection (a) only to the extent such loss would be taken into account under section 165(c) (determined without regard to subsection (a) of this section). (c) United States real property interestFor purposes of this section—(1) United States real property interest(A) In generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B) or subsection (k), the term “United States real property interest” means—(i) 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 (ii) 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—(I) the period after June 18, 1980, during which the taxpayer held such interest, or (II) the 5-year period ending on the date of the disposition of such interest. (B) Exclusion for interest in certain corporationsThe term “United States real property interest” does not include any interest in a corporation if—(i) as of the date of the disposition of such interest, such corporation did not hold any United States real property interests, (ii) 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)—(I) were disposed of in transactions in which the full amount of the gain (if any) was recognized, or (II) ceased to be United States real property interests by reason of the application of this subparagraph to 1 or more other corporations, and (iii) 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). (2) United States real property holding corporationThe term “United States real property holding corporation” means any corporation if—(A) the fair market value of its United States real property interests equals or exceeds 50 percent of (B) the fair market value of—(i) its United States real property interests, (ii) its interests in real property located outside the United States, plus (iii) any other of its assets which are used or held for use in a trade or business. (3) Exception for stock regularly traded on established securities marketsIf any class of stock of a corporation is regularly traded on an established securities market, stock of such class shall be treated as a United States real property interest only in the case of a person who, at some time during the shorter of the periods described in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), held more than 5 percent of such class of stock. (4) Interests held by foreign corporations and by partnerships, trusts, and estatesFor purposes of determining whether any corporation is a United States real property holding corporation—(A) Foreign corporationsParagraph (1)(A)(ii) shall be applied by substituting “any corporation (whether foreign or domestic)” for “any domestic corporation”. (B) Assets held by partnerships, etc.Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, assets held by a partnership, trust, or estate shall be treated as held proportionately by its partners or beneficiaries. Any asset treated as held by a partner or beneficiary by reason of this subparagraph which is used or held for use by the partnership, trust, or estate in a trade or business shall be treated as so used or held by the partner or beneficiary. Any asset treated as held by a partner or beneficiary by reason of this subparagraph shall be so treated for purposes of applying this subparagraph successively to partnerships, trusts, or estates which are above the first partnership, trust, or estate in a chain thereof. (5) Treatment of controlling interests(A) In generalUnder 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—(i) the stock which the first corporation holds in the second corporation shall not be taken into account, (ii) 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 (iii) 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. (B) Controlling interestFor purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “controlling interest” means 50 percent or more of the fair market value of all classes of stock of a corporation. (6) Other special rules(A) Interest in real propertyThe term “interest in real property” includes fee ownership and co-ownership of land or improvements thereon, leaseholds of land or improvements thereon, options to acquire land or improvements thereon, and options to acquire leaseholds of land or improvements thereon. (B) Real property includes associated personal propertyThe term “real property” includes movable walls, furnishings, and other personal property associated with the use of the real property. (C) Constructive ownership rulesFor purposes of determining under paragraph (3) whether any person holds more than 5 percent of any class of stock and of determining under paragraph (5) whether a person holds a controlling interest in any corporation, section 318(a) shall apply (except that paragraphs (2)(C) and (3)(C) of section 318(a) shall be applied by substituting “5 percent” for “50 percent”). (d) Treatment of distributions by foreign corporations(1) In generalExcept to the extent otherwise provided in regulations, notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, gain shall be recognized by a foreign corporation on the distribution (including a distribution in liquidation or redemption) of a United States real property interest in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of such interest (as of the time of the distribution) over its adjusted basis. (2) ExceptionsGain shall not be recognized under paragraph (1)—(A) if—(i) 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 (ii) 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 (B) if such nonrecognition is provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary under subsection (e)(2). (e) Coordination with nonrecognition provisions(1) In generalExcept to the extent otherwise provided in subsection (d) and paragraph (2) of this subsection, any nonrecognition provision shall apply for purposes of this section to a transaction only in the case of an exchange of a United States real property interest for an interest the sale of which would be subject to taxation under this chapter. (2) RegulationsThe Secretary shall prescribe regulations (which are necessary or appropriate to prevent the avoidance of Federal income taxes) providing—(A) the extent to which nonrecognition provisions shall, and shall not, apply for purposes of this section, and (B) the extent to which—(i) transfers of property in reorganization, and (ii) changes in interests in, or distributions from, a partnership, trust, or estate, shall be treated as sales of property at fair market value. (3) Nonrecognition provision definedFor purposes of this subsection, the term “nonrecognition provision” means any provision of this title for not recognizing gain or loss. [(f) Repealed. Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1702(g)(2), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1873] (g) Special rule for sales of interest in partnerships, trusts, and estatesUnder regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the amount of any money, and the fair market value of any property, received by a nonresident alien individual or foreign corporation in exchange for all or part of its interest in a partnership, trust, or estate shall, to the extent attributable to United States real property interests, be considered as an amount received from the sale or exchange in the United States of such property. (h) Special rules for certain investment entitiesFor purposes of this section—(1) Look-through of distributionsAny distribution by a qualified investment entity to a nonresident alien individual, a foreign corporation, or other qualified investment entity shall, to the extent attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by the qualified investment entity of United States real property interests, be treated as gain recognized by such nonresident alien individual, foreign corporation, or other qualified investment entity from the sale or exchange of a United States real property interest. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any distribution by a qualified investment entity to a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation with respect to any class of stock which is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States shall not be treated as gain recognized from the sale or exchange of a United States real property interest if such individual or corporation did not own more than 5 percent of such class of stock at any time during the 1-year period ending on the date of such distribution. (2) Sale of stock in domestically controlled entity not taxedThe term “United States real property interest” does not include any interest in a domestically controlled qualified investment entity. (3) Distributions by domestically controlled qualified investment entitiesIn the case of a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, rules similar to the rules of subsection (d) shall apply to the foreign ownership percentage of any gain. (4) Definitions and special rules(A) Qualified investment entityThe term “qualified investment entity” means—(i) any real estate investment trust, and (ii) 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. (B) Domestically controlledThe term “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” means any qualified investment entity in which at all times during the testing period less than 50 percent in value of the stock was held directly or indirectly by foreign persons. (C) Foreign ownership percentageThe term “foreign ownership percentage” means that percentage of the stock of the qualified investment entity which was held (directly or indirectly) by foreign persons at the time during the testing period during which the direct and indirect ownership of stock by foreign persons was greatest. (D) Testing periodThe term “testing period” means whichever of the following periods is the shortest:(i) the period beginning on June 19, 1980, and ending on the date of the disposition or of the distribution, as the case may be, (ii) the 5-year period ending on the date of the disposition or of the distribution, as the case may be, or (iii) the period during which the qualified investment entity was in existence. (E) Special ownership rulesFor purposes of determining the holder of stock under subparagraphs (B) and (C)—(i) 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, (ii) any stock in the qualified investment entity held by another qualified investment entity—(I) any class of stock of which is regularly traded on an established securities market, or (II) 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 (iii) 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. (5) Treatment of certain wash sale transactions(A) In generalIf an interest in a domestically controlled qualified investment entity is disposed of in an applicable wash sale transaction, the taxpayer shall, for purposes of this section, be treated as having gain from the sale or exchange of a United States real property interest in an amount equal to the portion of the distribution described in subparagraph (B) with respect to such interest 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). (B) Applicable wash sales transactionFor purposes of this paragraph—(i) In generalThe term “applicable wash sales transaction” means any transaction (or series of transactions) under which a nonresident alien individual, foreign corporation, or qualified investment entity—(I) 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 (II) 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. (ii) Application to substitute dividend and similar paymentsSubparagraph (A) shall apply to—(I) any substitute dividend payment (within the meaning of section 861), or (II) 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. (iii) Exception where distribution actually receivedA transaction shall not be treated as an applicable wash sales transaction if the nonresident alien individual, foreign corporation, or qualified investment entity receives the distribution described in clause (i)(I) with respect to either the interest which was disposed of, or acquired, in the transaction. (iv) Exception for certain publicly traded stockA transaction shall not be treated as an applicable wash sales transaction if it involves the disposition of any class of stock in a qualified investment entity which is regularly traded on an established securities market within the United States but only if the nonresident alien individual, foreign corporation, or qualified investment entity did not own more than 5 percent of such class of stock at any time during the 1-year period ending on the date of the distribution described in clause (i)(I). (i) Election by foreign corporation to be treated as domestic corporation(1) In generalIf—(A) a foreign corporation holds a United States real property interest, and (B) 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. (2) Revocation only with consentAny election under paragraph (1), once made, may be revoked only with the consent of the Secretary. (3) Making of electionAn election under paragraph (1) may be made only—(A) 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 June 18, 1980, which would be taken into account under subsection (a) shall be taxable notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in a treaty to which the United States is a party, and (B) 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. (4) Exclusive method of claiming nondiscriminationThe election provided by paragraph (1) shall be the exclusive remedy for any person claiming discriminatory treatment with respect to this section, section 1445, and section 6039C. (j) Certain contributions to capitalExcept 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—(1) the fair market value of such property transferred, over (2) the sum of—(A) the adjusted basis of such property in the hands of the transferor, plus (B) the amount of gain, if any, recognized to the transferor under any other provision at the time of the transfer. (k) Special rules relating to real estate investment trusts(1) Increase in percentage ownership for exceptions for persons holding publicly traded stock(A) DispositionsIn the case of any disposition of stock in a real estate investment trust, paragraphs (3) and (6)(C) of subsection (c) shall each be applied by substituting “more than 10 percent” for “more than 5 percent”. (B) DistributionsIn the case of any distribution from a real estate investment trust, subsection (h)(1) shall be applied by substituting “10 percent” for “5 percent”. (2) Stock held by qualified shareholders not treated as United States real property interest(A) In generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B)—(i) 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 (ii) 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). (B) ExceptionIn the case of a qualified shareholder with one or more applicable investors—(i) 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 (ii) 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. (C) Special rule for certain distributions treated as sale or exchangeIf 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—(i) in the case of an applicable investor, subparagraph (B) shall apply with respect to such distribution, and (ii) in the case of any other person, such distribution shall be treated under section 857(b)(3)(F) 11 See References in Text note below. as a dividend from a real estate investment trust notwithstanding any other provision of this title. (D) Applicable investorFor 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—(i) holds an interest (other than an interest solely as a creditor) in such qualified shareholder, and (ii) 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). (E) Constructive ownership rulesFor purposes of subparagraphs (B)(i) and (D), the constructive ownership rules under subsection (c)(6)(C) shall apply. (F) Applicable percentageFor purposes of subparagraph (B), the term “applicable percentage” means the percentage of the value of the interests (other than interests held solely as a creditor) in the qualified shareholder held by applicable investors. (3) Qualified shareholderFor purposes of this subsection—(A) In generalThe term “qualified shareholder” means a foreign person which—(i)(I) 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 (II) 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, (ii) is a qualified collective investment vehicle, and (iii) 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. (B) Qualified collective investment vehicleFor purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified collective investment vehicle” means a foreign person—(i) which—(I) 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 (II) 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, (ii) which—(I) is a publicly traded partnership (as defined in section 7704(b)) to which subsection (a) of section 7704 does not apply, (II) is a withholding foreign partnership for purposes of chapters 3, 4, and 61, and (III) 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 (iii) which is designated as a qualified collective investment vehicle by the Secretary and is either—(I) fiscally transparent within the meaning of section 894, or (II) 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. (4) Partnership allocations(A) In generalFor 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(i) 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 (ii) 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. (B) USRPI gainFor the purposes of this paragraph, the term “USRPI gain” means the excess (if any) of—(i) the sum of—(I) any gain recognized from the disposition of a United States real property interest, and (II) 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 (ii) any loss recognized from the disposition of a United States real property interest. (C) Proportionate share of USRPI gainFor purposes of this paragraph, an applicable investor’s proportionate share of USRPI gain shall be determined on the basis of such investor’s share of partnership items of income or gain (excluding gain allocated under section 704(c)), whichever results in the largest proportionate share. If the investor’s share of partnership items of income or gain (excluding gain allocated under section 704(c)) may vary during the period such investor is a partner in the partnership, such share shall be the highest share such investor may receive. (l) Exception for qualified foreign pension funds(1) In generalFor purposes of this section, a qualified foreign pension fund shall not be treated as a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation. For purposes of the preceding sentence, an entity all the interests of which are held by a qualified foreign pension fund shall be treated as such a fund. (2) Qualified foreign pension fundFor purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified foreign pension fund” means any trust, corporation, or other organization or arrangement—(A) which is created or organized under the law of a country other than the United States, (B) which is established—(i) 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 (ii) 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, (C) which does not have a single participant or beneficiary with a right to more than five percent of its assets or income, (D) 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 (E) with respect to which, under the laws of the country in which it is established or operates—(i) 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 (ii) 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. (3) RegulationsThe Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this subsection.