26 USC 4943 - Taxes on excess business holdings

View all text of Subchapter A [§ 4940 - § 4948]

§ 4943. Taxes on excess business holdings

(a) Initial tax

(1) Imposition

(2) Special rulesThe tax imposed by paragraph (1)—

(A) shall be imposed on the last day of the taxable year, but

(B) with respect to the private foundation’s holdings in any business enterprise, shall be determined as of that day during the taxable year when the foundation’s excess holdings in such enterprise were the greatest.

(b) Additional tax

(1) In general

(2) Permitted holdings in a corporation

(A) In generalThe permitted holdings of any private foundation in an incorporated business enterprise are—

(i) 20 percent of the voting stock, reduced by

(ii) the percentage of the voting stock owned by all disqualified persons.

In any case in which all disqualified persons together do not own more than 20 percent of the voting stock of an incorporated business enterprise, nonvoting stock held by the private foundation shall also be treated as permitted holdings.

(B) 35 percent rule where third person has effective control of enterpriseIf—

(i) the private foundation and all disqualified persons together do not own more than 35 percent of the voting stock of an incorporated business enterprise, and

(ii) it is established to the satisfaction of the Secretary that effective control of the corporation is in one or more persons who are not disqualified persons with respect to the foundation,

then subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting 35 percent for 20 percent.

(3) Permitted holdings in partnerships, etc.The permitted holdings of a private foundation in any business enterprise which is not incorporated shall be determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Such regulations shall be consistent in principle with paragraphs (2) and (4), except that—

(A) in the case of a partnership or joint venture, “profits interest” shall be substituted for “voting stock”, and “capital interest” shall be substituted for “nonvoting stock”,

(B) in the case of a proprietorship, there shall be no permitted holdings, and

(4) Present holdings

(A)

(i) In applying this section with respect to the holdings of any private foundation in a business enterprise, if such foundation and all disqualified persons together have holdings in such enterprise in excess of 20 percent of the voting stock on May 26, 1969, the percentage of such holdings shall be substituted for “20 percent,” and for “35 percent” (if the percentage of such holdings is greater than 35 percent), wherever it appears in paragraph (2), but in no event shall the percentage so substituted be more than 50 percent.

(ii) If the percentage of the holdings of any private foundation and all disqualified persons together in a business enterprise (or if the percentage of the holdings of the private foundation in such enterprise) decreases for any reason, clause (i) and subparagraph (D) shall, except as provided in the next sentence, be applied for all periods after such decrease by substituting such decreased percentage for the percentage held on May 26, 1969, but in no event shall the percentage substituted be less than 20 percent. For purposes of the preceding sentence, any decrease in percentage holdings attributable to issuances of stock (or to issuances of stock coupled with redemptions of stock) shall be disregarded so long as—(I) the net percentage decrease disregarded under this sentence does not exceed 2 percent, and(II) the number of shares held by the foundation is not affected by any such issuance or redemption.

(iii) The percentage substituted under clause (i), and any percentage substituted under subparagraph (D), shall be applied both with respect to the voting stock and, separately, with respect to the value of all outstanding shares of all classes of stock.

(iv) In the case of any merger, recapitalization, or other reorganization involving one or more business enterprises, the application of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) shall be determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(B) Any interest in a business enterprise which a private foundation holds on May 26, 1969, if the private foundation on such date has excess business holdings, shall (while held by the foundation) be treated as held by a disqualified person (rather than by the private foundation)—

(i) during the 20-year period beginning on such date, if the private foundation and all disqualified persons have more than a 95 percent voting stock interest on such date,

(ii) except as provided in clause (i), during the 15-year period beginning on such date, if the foundation and all disqualified persons have more than a 75 percent voting stock interest (or more than a 75 percent profits or beneficial interest in the case of any unincorporated enterprise) on such date or more than a 75 percent interest in the value of all outstanding shares of all classes of stock (or more than a 75 percent capital interest in the case of a partnership or joint venture) on such date, or

(iii) during the 10–year period beginning on such date, in any other case.

(C) The 20-year, 15-year, and 10-year periods described in subparagraph (B) for the disposition of excess business holdings shall be suspended during the pendency of any judicial proceeding by the private foundation which is necessary to reform, or to excuse such foundation from compliance with, its governing instrument or any other instrument (as in effect on May 26, 1969) in order to allow disposition of such holdings.

(D)

(i) If, at any time during the second phase, all disqualified persons together have holdings in a business enterprise in excess of 2 percent of the voting stock of such enterprise, then subparagraph (A)(i) shall be applied by substituting for “50 percent” the following: “50 percent, of which not more than 25 percent shall be voting stock held by the private foundation”.

(ii) If, immediately before the close of the second phase, clause (i) of this subparagraph did not apply with respect to a business enterprise, then for all periods after the close of the second phase subparagraph (A)(i) shall be applied by substituting for “50 percent” the following: “35 percent, or if at any time after the close of the second phase all disqualified persons together have had holdings in such enterprise which exceed 2 percent of the voting stock, 35 percent, of which not more than 25 percent shall be voting stock held by the private foundation”.

(iii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “second phase” means the 15-year period immediately following the 20-year, 15-year, or 10-year period described in subparagraph (B), whichever applies, as modified by subparagraph (C).

(E) Clause (ii) of subparagraph (B) shall not apply with respect to any business enterprise if before January 1, 1971, one or more individuals who are substantial contributors (or members of the family (within the meaning of section 4946(d)) of one or more substantial contributors) to the private foundation and who on May 26, 1969, held more than 15 percent of the voting stock of the enterprise elect, in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe, not to have such clause (ii) apply with respect to such enterprise.

(5) Holdings acquired by trust or will

(6) 5-year period to dispose of gifts, bequests, etc.Except as provided in paragraph (5), if, after May 26, 1969, there is a change in the holdings in a business enterprise (other than by purchase by the private foundation or by a disqualified person) which causes the private foundation to have—

(A) excess business holdings in such enterprise, the interest of the foundation in such enterprise (immediately after such change) shall (while held by the foundation) be treated as held by a disqualified person (rather than by the foundation) during the 5-year period beginning on the date of such change in holdings; or

(B) an increase in excess business holdings in such enterprise (determined without regard to subparagraph (A)), subparagraph (A) shall apply, except that the excess holdings immediately preceding the increase therein shall not be treated, solely because of such increase, as held by a disqualified person (rather than by the foundation).

In any case where an acquisition by a disqualified person would result in a substitution under clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (4), the preceding sentence shall be applied with respect to such acquisition as if it did not contain the phrase “or by a disqualified person” in the material preceding subparagraph (A).

(7) 5-year extension of period to dispose of certain large gifts and bequestsThe Secretary may extend for an additional 5-year period the period under paragraph (6) for disposing of excess business holdings in the case of an unusually large gift or bequest of diverse business holdings or holdings with complex corporate structures if—

(A) the foundation establishes that—

(i) diligent efforts to dispose of such holdings have been made within the initial 5-year period, and

(ii) disposition within the initial 5-year period has not been possible (except at a price substantially below fair market value) by reason of such size and complexity or diversity of such holdings,

(B) before the close of the initial 5-year period—

(i) the private foundation submits to the Secretary a plan for disposing of all of the excess business holdings involved in the extension, and

(ii) the private foundation submits the plan described in clause (i) to the Attorney General (or other appropriate State official) having administrative or supervisory authority or responsibility with respect to the foundation’s disposition of the excess business holdings involved and submits to the Secretary any response received by the private foundation from the Attorney General (or other appropriate State official) to such plan during such 5-year period, and

(C) the Secretary determines that such plan can reasonably be expected to be carried out before the close of the extension period.

(d) Definitions; special rulesFor purposes of this section—

(1) Business holdings

(2) Taxable periodThe term “taxable period” means, with respect to any excess business holdings of a private foundation in a business enterprise, the period beginning on the first day on which there are excess holdings and ending on the earlier of—

(A) the date of mailing of a notice of deficiency with respect to the tax imposed by subsection (a) under section 6212 in respect of such holdings, or

(B) the date on which the tax imposed by subsection (a) in respect of such holdings is assessed.

(3) Business enterpriseThe term “business enterprise” does not include—

(A) a functionally related business (as defined in section 4942(j)(4)), or

(B) a trade or business at least 95 percent of the gross income of which is derived from passive sources.

For purposes of subparagraph (B), gross income from passive sources includes the items excluded by section 512(b)(1), (2), (3), and (5), and income from the sale of goods (including charges or costs passed on at cost to purchasers of such goods or income received in settlement of a dispute concerning or in lieu of the exercise of the right to sell such goods) if the seller does not manufacture, produce, physically receive or deliver, negotiate sales of, or maintain inventories in such goods.

(4) Disqualified person

(e) Application of tax to donor advised funds

(1) In general

(2) Disqualified personIn applying this section to any donor advised fund (as so defined), the term “disqualified person” means, with respect to the donor advised fund, any person who is—

(A) described in section 4966(d)(2)(A)(iii),

(B) a member of the family of an individual described in subparagraph (A), or

(C) a 35-percent controlled entity (as defined in section 4958(f)(3) by substituting “persons described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 4943(e)(2)” for “persons described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1)” in subparagraph (A)(i) thereof).

(3) Present holdingsFor purposes of this subsection, rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) of subsection (c) shall apply to donor advised funds (as so defined), except that—

(A) “the date of the enactment of this subsection” shall be substituted for “May 26, 1969” each place it appears in paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), and

(B) “January 1, 2007” shall be substituted for “January 1, 1971” in paragraph (4)(E).

(f) Application of tax to supporting organizations

(1) In general

(2) Exception

(3) Organizations describedAn organization is described in this paragraph if such organization is—

(A) a type III supporting organization (other than a functionally integrated type III supporting organization), or

(B) an organization which meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (C) of section 509(a)(3) and which is supervised or controlled in connection with one or more organizations described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 509(a), but only if such organization accepts any gift or contribution from any person described in section 509(f)(2)(B).

(4) Disqualified person

(A) In generalIn applying this section to any organization described in paragraph (3), the term “disqualified person” means, with respect to the organization—

(i) any person who was, at any time during the 5-year period ending on the date described in subsection (a)(2)(A), in a position to exercise substantial influence over the affairs of the organization,

(ii) any member of the family (determined under section 4958(f)(4)) of an individual described in clause (i),

(iii) any 35-percent controlled entity (as defined in section 4958(f)(3) by substituting “persons described in clause (i) or (ii) of section 4943(f)(4)(A)” for “persons described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1)” in subparagraph (A)(i) thereof),

(iv) any person described in section 4958(c)(3)(B), and

(v) any organization—(I) which is effectively controlled (directly or indirectly) by the same person or persons who control the organization in question, or(II) substantially all of the contributions to which were made (directly or indirectly) by the same person or persons described in subparagraph (B) or a member of the family (within the meaning of section 4946(d)) of such a person.

(B) Persons describedA person is described in this subparagraph if such person is—

(i) a substantial contributor to the organization (as defined in section 4958(c)(3)(C)),

(ii) an officer, director, or trustee of the organization (or an individual having powers or responsibilities similar to those of the officers, directors, or trustees of the organization), or

(iii) an owner of more than 20 percent of—(I) the total combined voting power of a corporation,(II) the profits interest of a partnership, or(III) the beneficial interest of a trust or unincorporated enterprise,

which is a substantial contributor (as so defined) to the organization.

(5) Type III supporting organization; functionally integrated type III supporting organizationFor purposes of this subsection—

(A) Type III supporting organization

(B) Functionally integrated type III supporting organization

(6) Special rule for certain holdings of type III supporting organizations

(7) Present holdingsFor purposes of this subsection, rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) of subsection (c) shall apply to organizations described in section 509(a)(3), except that—

(A) “the date of the enactment of this subsection” shall be substituted for “May 26, 1969” each place it appears in paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), and

(B) “January 1, 2007” shall be substituted for “January 1, 1971” in paragraph (4)(E).

(g) Exception for certain holdings limited to independently-operated philanthropic business

(1) In general

(2) OwnershipThe requirements of this paragraph are met if—

(A) 100 percent of the voting stock in the business enterprise is held by the private foundation at all times during the taxable year, and

(B) all the private foundation’s ownership interests in the business enterprise were acquired by means other than by purchase.

(3) All profits to charity

(A) In general

(B) Net operating incomeFor purposes of this paragraph, the net operating income of any business enterprise for any taxable year is an amount equal to the gross income of the business enterprise for the taxable year, reduced by the sum of—

(i) the deductions allowed by chapter 1 for the taxable year which are directly connected with the production of such income,

(ii) the tax imposed by chapter 1 on the business enterprise for the taxable year, and

(iii) an amount for a reasonable reserve for working capital and other business needs of the business enterprise.

(4) Independent operationThe requirements of this paragraph are met if, at all times during the taxable year—

(A) no substantial contributor (as defined in section 4958(c)(3)(C)) to the private foundation or family member (as determined under section 4958(f)(4)) of such a contributor is a director, officer, trustee, manager, employee, or contractor of the business enterprise (or an individual having powers or responsibilities similar to any of the foregoing),

(B) at least a majority of the board of directors of the private foundation are persons who are not—

(i) directors or officers of the business enterprise, or

(ii) family members (as so determined) of a substantial contributor (as so defined) to the private foundation, and

(C) there is no loan outstanding from the business enterprise to a substantial contributor (as so defined) to the private foundation or to any family member of such a contributor (as so determined).

(5) Certain deemed private foundations excludedThis subsection shall not apply to—

(A) any fund or organization treated as a private foundation for purposes of this section by reason of subsection (e) or (f),

(B) any trust described in section 4947(a)(1) (relating to charitable trusts), and

(Added Pub. L. 91–172, title I, § 101(b), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 507; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 96–596, § 2(a)(1)(D), (2)(C), (3)(C), (4)(B), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3469–3472; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title III, §§ 307(a), 308(a), 309(a), 310(a), 314(c)(1), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 784, 785, 787; Pub. L. 109–280, title XII, §§ 1212(c), 1233(a), 1243(a), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 1074, 1099, 1105; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 220(r), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4036; Pub. L. 115–123, div. D, title II, § 41110(a), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 159.)