Bulletin No. 2021–45
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HIGHLIGHTS
OF THIS ISSUE
Bulletin No. 2021–45
November 8, 2021
These synopses are intended only as aids to the reader in
identifying the subject matter covered. They may not be
relied upon as authoritative interpretations.
EMPLOYEE PLANS
EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS
Notice 2021-60, page 719.
Notice 2021-56, page 716.
This notice sets forth updates on the corporate bond monthly
yield curve, the corresponding spot segment rates for October 2021 used under § 417(e)(3)(D), the 24-month average
segment rates applicable for October 2021, and the 30-year
Treasury rates, as reflected by the application of § 430(h)(2)
(C)(iv).
Finding Lists begin on page ii.
This notice sets forth current standards that a limited liability
company (LLC) must satisfy to receive a determination letter
recognizing it as tax-exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and described in section 501(c)(3). This
notice also requests public comments on these standards as
well as specific issues relating to tax-exempt status for LLCs.
This notice does not affect the status of organizations currently recognized as described in section 501(c)(3).
The IRS Mission
Provide America’s taxpayers top-quality service by helping
them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and
enforce the law with integrity and fairness to all.
Introduction
The Internal Revenue Bulletin is the authoritative instrument
of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue for announcing official rulings and procedures of the Internal Revenue Service
and for publishing Treasury Decisions, Executive Orders, Tax
Conventions, legislation, court decisions, and other items of
general interest. It is published weekly.
It is the policy of the Service to publish in the Bulletin all substantive rulings necessary to promote a uniform application
of the tax laws, including all rulings that supersede, revoke,
modify, or amend any of those previously published in the
Bulletin. All published rulings apply retroactively unless otherwise indicated. Procedures relating solely to matters of internal management are not published; however, statements of
internal practices and procedures that affect the rights and
duties of taxpayers are published.
Revenue rulings represent the conclusions of the Service
on the application of the law to the pivotal facts stated in
the revenue ruling. In those based on positions taken in rulings to taxpayers or technical advice to Service field offices,
identifying details and information of a confidential nature are
deleted to prevent unwarranted invasions of privacy and to
comply with statutory requirements.
Rulings and procedures reported in the Bulletin do not have the
force and effect of Treasury Department Regulations, but they
may be used as precedents. Unpublished rulings will not be
relied on, used, or cited as precedents by Service personnel in
the disposition of other cases. In applying published rulings and
procedures, the effect of subsequent legislation, regulations,
court decisions, rulings, and procedures must be considered,
and Service personnel and others concerned are cautioned
against reaching the same conclusions in other cases unless
the facts and circumstances are substantially the same.
The Bulletin is divided into four parts as follows:
Part I.—1986 Code.
This part includes rulings and decisions based on provisions
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Part II.—Treaties and Tax Legislation.
This part is divided into two subparts as follows: Subpart A,
Tax Conventions and Other Related Items, and Subpart B,
Legislation and Related Committee Reports.
Part III.—Administrative, Procedural, and Miscellaneous.
To the extent practicable, pertinent cross references to these
subjects are contained in the other Parts and Subparts. Also
included in this part are Bank Secrecy Act Administrative
Rulings. Bank Secrecy Act Administrative Rulings are issued
by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of the Assistant
Secretary (Enforcement).
Part IV.—Items of General Interest.
This part includes notices of proposed rulemakings, disbarment and suspension lists, and announcements.
The last Bulletin for each month includes a cumulative index
for the matters published during the preceding months. These
monthly indexes are cumulated on a semiannual basis, and are
published in the last Bulletin of each semiannual period.
The contents of this publication are not copyrighted and may be reprinted freely. A citation of the Internal Revenue Bulletin as the source would be appropriate.
November 8, 2021
Bulletin No. 2021–45
Part III
Standards for Section
501(c)(3) Status of Limited
Liability Companies
Notice 2021-56
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
This notice sets forth current standards
that a limited liability company (LLC)
must satisfy to receive a determination
letter recognizing it as tax-exempt under
section 501(a)1 and described in section 501(c)(3). This notice also requests
public comments on these standards as
well as specific issues relating to tax-exempt status for LLCs to assist the Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) and the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) in determining whether additional
guidance is needed concerning the standards that an LLC must satisfy to be
exempt from taxation by reason of being
described in section 501(c). This notice
does not affect the status of organizations
currently recognized as described in section 501(c)(3).
SECTION 2. BACKGROUND
.01 General Requirements under Section 501(c)(3)
Section 501(a) generally provides
that an organization described in section 501(c) shall be exempt from federal
income taxation.
Section 501(c)(3) refers, in part, to corporations, and any community chest, fund,
or foundation organized and operated
exclusively for certain purposes (referred
to collectively in this notice as “charitable
purposes” or “exempt purposes”), no part
of the net earnings of which inures to the
benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
Section 508(e) generally provides that
a private foundation will not be exempt
from taxation under section 501(a) unless
its governing instrument includes provisions requiring the foundation to comply
1
with sections 4941, 4942, 4943, 4944, and
4945.
Section 7701(a)(3) generally provides
that the term “corporation” includes associations for purposes of the Code.
Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(1) of the
Income Tax Regulations provides that an
organization is organized and operated
exclusively for one or more exempt purposes only if its articles of organization
limit the purposes of the organization
to one or more exempt purposes and do
not expressly empower the organization
to engage, other than as an insubstantial
part of its activities, in activities that are
not in furtherance of one or more exempt
purposes. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(2)
provides that the term “articles of organization” or “articles” includes the trust
instrument, the corporate charter, the
articles of association, or any other written instrument by which an organization
is created.
Under § 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(4), an organization is not organized exclusively for
one or more exempt purposes unless its
assets are dedicated to an exempt purpose.
An organization’s assets will be considered dedicated to an exempt purpose, for
example, if, upon dissolution of the organization, such assets would, by reason of a
provision in the organization’s articles or
by operation of law, be distributed for one
or more exempt purposes, or to the federal
government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose, or would be
distributed by a court to another organization to be used in such manner as in the
judgment of the court will best accomplish the general purposes for which the
dissolved organization was organized.
However, an organization will not be
considered to satisfy the organizational
test if its articles or the law of the state in
which it was created provide that its assets
would, upon dissolution, be distributed to
its members or shareholders.
Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(5) provides
that the law of the state in which an organization is created is controlling when
construing the terms of the organization’s
articles. Any organization contending
that the terms of its articles have a different meaning under state law than their
generally accepted meaning must establish such special meaning by clear and
convincing reference to relevant court
decisions, opinions of the state attorney
general, or other evidence of applicable
state law.
Section 1.508-3(d) describes circumstances in which a private foundation’s
governing instrument will be deemed to
comply with the requirements of section
508(e) based on provisions of applicable
state law.
.02 Entity classification
Entity classification regulations under
§§ 301.7701-1 through -3 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations
(commonly known as check-the-box regulations) were first issued in 1996 and provide federal tax rules for the treatment of
business entities. Under § 301.7701-1(a)
(1), whether an organization is an entity
separate from its owners for federal tax
purposes is a matter of federal tax law and
does not depend on whether the organization is recognized as an entity under local
law. Similarly, under § 301.7701-1(a)(3),
an entity formed under local law is not
always recognized as a separate entity for
federal tax purposes.
Under § 301.7701-2(a), a business
entity is any entity recognized for federal
tax purposes (including an entity with a
single owner that may be disregarded as
an entity separate from its owner under
§ 301.7701-3 (disregarded entity)) that
is not properly classified as a trust under
§ 301.7701-4 or otherwise subject to special treatment under the Code. A business
entity with two or more members is classified for federal tax purposes as either a
corporation or a partnership. A business
entity with only one owner is classified
as a corporation or a disregarded entity.
If the entity is a disregarded entity, its
activities are treated in the same manner as a sole proprietorship, branch, or
division of the owner. Section 301.77013(a) generally provides that a business
entity that is not classified as a corporation under § 301.7701-2(b)(1), (3), (4),
All Code, section, and “§” references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or regulations thereunder, unless otherwise specified.
November 8, 2021
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Bulletin No. 2021–45
(5), (6), (7), or (8) is an eligible entity.
An eligible entity with at least two members can elect to be classified as either an
association (and thus a corporation) or a
partnership, and an eligible entity with
a single owner can elect to be classified
as an association or a disregarded entity.
In general, a domestic eligible entity that
does not file an election is treated as a
partnership or a disregarded entity. See
§ 301.7701-3(b)(1). Section 301.77013(c)(1)(v)(A) provides, however, that an
eligible entity that has been determined
to be, or claims to be, exempt from taxation under section 501(a) is treated as
having made an election to be classified
as an association (and thus as a corporation under § 301.7701-2(b)(2)).
.03 Treatment of LLCs under Section 501(c)(3)
Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(b), which sets
forth the organizational test, was issued
in 1959, prior to the enactment of the first
LLC statute in the United States.2 As a
result, the regulations under section 501(c)
(3) do not specifically address LLCs and
the Treasury Department and the IRS have
not issued other formal guidance addressing the requirements for recognition of
LLCs as organizations described in section 501(c)(3). Historically, the standards
that the IRS has applied for purposes of
issuing determination letters have generally included a requirement that all the
members of an LLC must themselves be
section 501(c)(3) organizations, governmental units, or wholly-owned instrumentalities of a state or political subdivision
thereof.
.04 State LLC Statutes
In considering the requirements that
an LLC must satisfy to qualify as an
organization described in section 501(c)
(3), the Treasury Department and the IRS
reviewed state laws governing LLCs and
the ways in which those laws may differ
from the state laws governing not-forprofit (or nonstock) corporations and
charitable trusts. It appears that, in a few
states, the LLC law may not allow an
LLC to be organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes. See section 4.01(3) of this notice. It also appears
that most state LLC laws include default
provisions granting the members of an
LLC certain economic rights that would
be inconsistent with section 501(c)(3)
requirements if the members were “private shareholders or individuals” within
the meaning of § 1.501(a)-1(c). See section 4.01(4) of this notice. A few states
do not permit a statement of the LLC’s
purposes in the articles of organization,
but only in the operating agreement,
which is not filed with the state. See section 4.01(6) of this notice.
SECTION 3. STANDARDS FOR AN
LLC SUBMITTING FORM 1023
.01 In general
The Treasury Department and the IRS
construe section 501(c)(3) and § 1.501(c)
(3)-1 to permit the IRS to issue a favorable determination letter to an LLC that
submits Form 1023, Application for
Recognition of Exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code, after October 21, 2021, only if the
LLC satisfies the requirements set forth
in sections 3.02 and 3.03 of this notice
in addition to the general requirements
under section 501(c)(3). The requirements in sections 3.02 and 3.03 of this
notice are intended to ensure that the LLC
is organized and operated exclusively for
exempt purposes, including that its assets
are dedicated to an exempt purpose and
do not inure to private interests.
.02 Required provisions of LLC articles
of organization and operating agreement
Except as set forth in section 3.04 of
this notice, the IRS will issue a determination letter recognizing an LLC as exempt
from tax and described in section 501(c)
(3) only if both the LLC’s articles of organization and its operating agreement each
include:
(1) Provisions requiring that each member of the LLC be either (i) an organization described in section 501(c)
(3) and exempt from taxation under
section 501(a) or (ii) a governmental
unit described in section 170(c)(1)
(or wholly-owned instrumentality of
such a governmental unit).
(2) Express charitable purposes and charitable dissolution provisions in compliance with § 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(1)
and (4).
(3) The express chapter 42 compliance
provisions described in section 508(e)
(1), if the LLC is a private foundation.
(4) An acceptable contingency plan
(such as suspension of its membership rights until a member regains
recognition of its section 501(c)(3)
status) in the event that one or more
members cease to be section 501(c)
(3) organizations or governmental
units (or wholly-owned instrumentalities thereof).
.03 Representation on enforceability
The LLC must represent that all provisions in its articles of organization and
operating agreement are consistent with
applicable state LLC law and are legally
enforceable.
.04 States with limitations on articles
provisions
If an LLC is formed under a state LLC
law that prohibits the addition of provisions to articles of organization other
than certain specific provisions required
by the state LLC law, the requirements
of section 3.02 of this notice will be
deemed satisfied if the LLC’s operating
agreement includes the provisions set
forth in section 3.02 of this notice and if
the articles of organization and operating
agreement do not include any inconsistent provisions.
SECTION 4. REQUEST FOR PUBLIC
COMMENTS
.01 Section 501(c)(3)
The Treasury Department and the IRS
request comments on the standards in section 3 of this notice. Comments supporting recognition of section 501(c)(3) status
for LLCs whose membership includes
individuals and/or organizations other
than section 501(c)(3) organizations,
governmental units, or instrumentalities
of a state or political subdivision thereof
should recommend specific safeguards to
ensure the LLC would be able to satisfy
the existing federal statutory and regula-
The IRS first addressed the tax classification of LLCs, in the context of the Wyoming LLC Act, in Rev. Rul. 88-76, 1988-2 C.B. 360 (obsoleted in Rev. Rul. 98-37, 1998-2 C.B. 133). Since
then, every other state has enacted laws providing for the creation and regulation of LLCs. Many states have adopted some version of the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (ULLCA),
generally with some modifications. Several states have adopted nonprofit LLC statutes (as discussed in section 4.01(7) of this notice).
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717
November 8, 2021
tory requirements, including the requirement for assets to remain dedicated to
an exempt purpose and the prohibition
against private inurement. Additionally,
comments are requested from state attorneys general and charity officials, as well
as from the general public, with respect to
interpretation of state LLC laws, reference
to other pertinent laws, and applicability
of state charity laws to LLCs formed for
charitable purposes (charitable LLCs).
In particular, the Treasury Department and the IRS request comments with
respect to the following:
(1) What are the potential advantages and
disadvantages of forming an entity for
exclusively charitable purposes under
a state LLC law rather than under a
state not-for-profit (or non-stock) corporation or charitable trust law?
(2) Do state laws regulating charitable
assets apply to assets held by charitable LLCs to the same degree as such
laws apply to assets held by trusts
or state-law corporations formed for
charitable purposes?
(3) Most state LLC statutes specify that
an LLC may be formed for any lawful
purpose. In a few states, however, the
LLC statute appears to require that an
LLC be a profit-seeking enterprise.
In those states, is it permissible as a
matter of state law for an LLC to be
formed exclusively for section 501(c)
(3) purposes?
(4) Most state LLC statutes appear to
provide that, upon dissolution and
after payment of creditors, an LLC
may dispose of its remaining assets
among its members or otherwise in
whatever manner specified in its articles of organization (also referred
to as a certificate of organization or
certificate of formation) or operating
agreement (also referred to as a limited liability company agreement).
In those states, the state LLC statute
merely provides default rules that
apply in the absence of any provision
in the articles or operating agreement.
Other state LLC statutes, however,
appear to require distributions of net
assets only to members upon dissolution, as immutable rules.
a. In a state in which the LLC statute appears to require distributions of net assets only to LLC
November 8, 2021
members on dissolution, could
LLC members at the time of
creation of an LLC effectively
disclaim their financial interests
in the LLC or assign or transfer
their financial interests to the
LLC or to another section 501(c)
(3) charity as a means of satisfying the dissolution clause
requirement under § 1.501(c)(3)1(b)(4), notwithstanding the state
dissolution requirements?
b. Would such a disclaimer be
enforceable against the LLC
members?
c. Would such a disclaimer be
enforceable against creditors of
the members?
(5) The organizational test regulations
under § 1.501(c)(3)-1(b) generally
require certain language (in particular, stated charitable purposes and
charitable distribution of assets upon
dissolution) to appear in the articles
of organization, defined as the written instrument by which the organization is created. Private foundations
also must include certain language in
their articles of organization to be in
compliance with section 508(e). See
§ 1.508-3. In many cases, state law
satisfies the dissolution requirements
and section 508(e) requirements for
charitable trusts and corporations if
there is no contrary provision in the
articles of organization. State LLC
statutes generally provide that an
LLC is created upon filing its articles of organization with the state. In
addition to the articles of organization, an operating agreement governs
the affairs and activities of an LLC.
Unlike the articles of organization,
the operating agreement is not filed
with the state. State laws differ as
to which document is controlling. In
some states, the articles control. In
other states, the articles control as to
outside parties to the extent they reasonably rely on the public record, but
the operating agreement governs relations among the LLC’s members and
between the members and the LLC.
a. Are there state laws that satisfy
the dissolution requirements and
section 508(e) requirements for
charitable LLCs?
718
b.
Is there any reason why an LLC
should not be required (except
as provided in section 4.01(6))
to include appropriate charitable
purpose and dissolution language
(and section 508(e) language, if
applicable) in both its articles of
organization and its operating
agreement?
(6) Most state LLC statutes do not restrict
the ability of an LLC to include the
language required under § 1.501(c)
(3)-1(b) (and section 508(e), if applicable) in its articles of organization.
However, a few states appear to
strictly limit what provisions may be
included in an LLC’s articles of organization.
a. Should the regulations for the
section 501(c)(3) organizational
test and section 508(e) requirements be revised to accommodate LLCs organized in states
that limit what provisions may be
included in an LLC’s articles of
organization if the LLC includes
the appropriate language in the
LLC’s operating agreement?
b. Should it matter that the operating agreement (unlike the articles
of organization) is not filed with
the state, and therefore may not
be readily available to the IRS
and the public?
(7) Several states have enacted special
statutory provisions for nonprofit
LLCs (beyond a mere provision in
the statute that allows an LLC to be
formed for a nonprofit purpose), subjecting them to regulation as nonprofit
organizations and, in some cases,
limiting membership. In such states,
must a charitable LLC form under the
state’s nonprofit LLC law, or are charitable LLCs permitted to form under
the state’s general LLC law?
(8) State laws generally provide an LLC’s
members with management authority
unless the articles of organization (or
in some states, the operating agreement) delegate management authority
to one or more managers.
a. With respect to qualification for
section 501(c)(3) status, should
LLCs managed by managers be
treated the same as LLCs managed by members?
Bulletin No. 2021–45
b.
Should LLC managers be treated
as officers for federal exempt
organization tax purposes generally, including, for example, the
compliance provisions of chapter
42?
(9) Are there any other provisions of the
LLC law in one or more states that
may affect the ability of an LLC to
qualify under section 501(c)(3)?
(10) Are there any specific provisions that
should be included in an LLC’s articles of organization and operating
agreement in addition to, or in lieu
of, those discussed in section 3.02 of
this notice, to address particular provisions of state LLC law?
(11) Are there circumstances in which an
LLC seeking recognition under section 501(c)(3) should be permitted to
have members that are not themselves
section 501(c)(3) organizations, governmental units, or wholly-owned
instrumentalities of governmental
units?
.02 Other exemption provisions
The Treasury Department and the IRS
also request comments as to whether there
should be special requirements or considerations for recognition of tax-exempt
status for LLCs under paragraphs of section 501(c) other than section 501(c)(3).
SECTION 5: WHEN AND WHERE TO
SEND COMMENTS
Written comments may be submitted
by February 6, 2022. Comments should
include a reference to Notice 2021-56.
Comments may be submitted in one of
two ways:
(1) Electronically via the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov (type IRS-2020-0042 in the
search field on the regulations.gov
homepage to find this notice and submit comments).
(2) Alternatively, by mail to: Internal
Revenue Service, CC:PA:LPD:PR
(Notice 2021-56), Room 5203, P.O.
Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station,
Washington, DC 20044.
All commenters are strongly encouraged to submit comments electronically,
as access to mail may be limited. The IRS
expects to have limited personnel available to process public comments that are
submitted on paper through mail. Until
further notice, any comments submitted
on paper will be considered to the extent
practicable. The Treasury Department and
the IRS will publish for public availability any comment submitted electronically,
and to the extent practicable on paper, to
its public docket.
SECTION 6. PAPERWORK
REDUCTION ACT
Section 3 of this notice sets forth a
collection of information (required provisions of articles of organization and
operating agreement and representation
on enforceability, to be provided to the
IRS with Form 1023). This collection of
information is reflected in the collection
of information for Form 1023 that has
been reviewed and approved by the Office
of Management and Budget in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. 3507(c)) under control number
1545-0047.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor,
and a person is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless the
collection of information displays a valid
OMB control number.
Books or records relating to a collection of information must be retained as
long as their contents may become material in the administration of any internal
revenue law. Generally, tax returns and
tax return information are confidential, as
required by section 6103.
SECTION 7. DRAFTING
INFORMATION
The principal authors of this notice are
Christopher A. Hyde and Ward L. Thomas
of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel
(Employee Benefits, Exempt Organizations, and Employment Taxes). For further information regarding this notice,
contact Mr. Hyde at (202) 317-6171 or
Mr. Thomas at (202) 317-6173 (not tollfree numbers).
Update for Weighted
Average Interest Rates,
Yield Curves, and Segment
Rates
Notice 2021-60
This notice provides guidance on the
corporate bond monthly yield curve, the
corresponding spot segment rates used
under § 417(e)(3), and the 24-month average segment rates under § 430(h)(2) of the
Internal Revenue Code. In addition, this
notice provides guidance as to the interest
rate on 30-year Treasury securities under
§ 417(e)(3)(A)(ii)(II) as in effect for plan
years beginning before 2008 and the 30-year
Treasury weighted average rate under
§ 431(c)(6)(E)(ii)(I).
YIELD CURVE AND SEGMENT
RATES
Section 430 specifies the minimum
funding requirements that apply to single-employer plans (except for CSEC plans
under § 414(y)) pursuant to § 412. Section
430(h)(2) specifies the interest rates that
must be used to determine a plan’s target
normal cost and funding target. Under this
provision, present value is generally determined using three 24-month average interest rates (“segment rates”), each of which
applies to cash flows during specified periods. To the extent provided under § 430(h)
(2)(C)(iv), these segment rates are adjusted
by the applicable percentage of the 25-year
average segment rates for the period ending
September 30 of the year preceding the calendar year in which the plan year begins.1
However, an election may be made under
§ 430(h)(2)(D)(ii) to use the monthly yield
curve in place of the segment rates.
Notice 2007-81, 2007-44 I.R.B. 899,
provides guidelines for determining the
monthly corporate bond yield curve, and
the 24-month average corporate bond
segment rates used to compute the target
normal cost and the funding target. Consistent with the methodology specified in
Notice 2007-81, the monthly corporate
bond yield curve derived from September
Pursuant to § 433(h)(3)(A), the 3rd segment rate determined under § 430(h)(2)(C) is used to determine the current liability of a CSEC plan (which is used to calculate the minimum amount
of the full funding limitation under § 433(c)(7)(C)).
1
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719
November 8, 2021
2021 data is in Table 2021-9 at the end
of this notice. The spot first, second, and
third segment rates for the month of September 2021 are, respectively, 0.70, 2.55,
and 3.06
The 24-month average segment rates
determined under § 430(h)(2)(C)(i)
through (iii) must be adjusted pursuant to
§ 430(h)(2)(C)(iv) to be within the appli-
24-MONTH AVERAGE CORPORATE
BOND SEGMENT RATES
The three 24-month average corporate bond segment rates applicable for
October 2021 without adjustment for the
25-year average segment rate limits are
as follows:
24-Month Average Segment Rates Without 25-Year Average Adjustment
First Segment
Second Segment
1.01
2.65
Applicable Month
October 2021
25-YEAR AVERAGE SEGMENT
RATES
Section 9706(a) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Pub. L. No. 117-2
(ARP), which was enacted on March 11,
2021, changes the 25-year average segment rates and the applicable minimum
and maximum percentages used under
§ 430(h)(3)(C)(iv) of the Code to adjust
the 24-month average segment rates.
Prior to this change, the applicable minimum and maximum percentages were
90% and 110% for a plan year beginning
in 2020, and 85% and 115% for a plan
For Plan Years
Beginning In
cable minimum and maximum percentages of the corresponding 25-year average
segment rates.
The 25-year average segment rates
for plan years beginning in 2020, 2021
and 2022 were published in Notice 201951, 2019-41 I.R.B. 866, Notice 2020-72,
2020-40 I.R.B. 789, and Notice 2021-54,
2021-41 I.R.B. 457, respectively.
year beginning in 2021, respectively.
After this change, the applicable minimum and maximum percentages are 95%
and 105% for a plan year beginning in
2020, 2021, or 2022. In addition, pursuant to this change, any 25-year average segment rate that is less than 5% is
deemed to be 5%.2
Pursuant to § 9706(c)(1) of ARP, these
changes apply with respect to plan years
beginning on or after January 1, 2020.
However, § 9706(c)(2) of ARP provides
that a plan sponsor may elect not to have
these changes apply to any plan year
beginning before January 1, 2022.3
Third Segment
3.34
The adjusted 24-month average segment rates set forth in the chart below
reflect § 430(h)(2)(C)(iv) of the Code
as amended by § 9706(a) of ARP. These
adjusted 24-month average segment rates
apply only for plan years for which an
election under § 9706(c)(2) of ARP is not
in effect. For a plan year for which such
an election does not apply, the 24-month
averages applicable for October 2021,
adjusted to be within the applicable minimum and maximum percentages of the
corresponding 25-year average segment
rates in accordance with § 430(h)(2)(C)
(iv) of the Code, are as follows:
Adjusted 24-Month Average Segment Rates
Applicable
First
Second
Month
Segment
Segment
Third
Segment
2020
October 2021
4.75
5.50
6.27
2021
October 2021
4.75
5.36
6.11
2022
October 2021
4.75
5.18
5.92
The adjusted 24-month average segment rates set forth in the chart below do
not reflect the changes to § 430(h)(2)(C)
(iv) of the Code made by § 9706(a) of
ARP. These adjusted 24-month average
For Plan Years
Beginning In
segment rates apply only for plan years for
which an election under § 9706(c)(2) of
ARP is in effect. For a plan year for which
such an election applies, the 24-month
averages applicable for October 2021,
adjusted to be within the applicable minimum and maximum percentages of the
corresponding 25-year average segment
rates in accordance with § 430(h)(2)(C)
(iv) of the Code, are as follows:
Pre-ARP Adjusted 24-Month Average Segment Rates
Applicable
First
Second
Month
Segment
Segment
Third
Segment
2020
October 2021
3.64
5.21
5.94
2021
October 2021
3.32
4.79
5.47
Pursuant to this change, the 25-year averages of the first segment rate for 2020, 2021, and 2022 are increased to 5.00% because those 25-year averages as originally published are below
5.00%.
3
This election may be made either for all purposes for which the amendments under § 9706 of ARP apply or solely for purposes of determining the adjusted funding target attainment percentage under § 436 of the Code for the plan year.
2
November 8, 2021
720
Bulletin No. 2021–45
30-YEAR TREASURY SECURITIES
INTEREST RATES
Section 431 specifies the minimum
funding requirements that apply to multiemployer plans pursuant to § 412. Section
431(c)(6)(B) specifies a minimum amount
for the full-funding limitation described in
§ 431(c)(6)(A), based on the plan’s current
liability. Section 431(c)(6)(E)(ii)(I) pro-
vides that the interest rate used to calculate
current liability for this purpose must be
no more than 5 percent above and no more
than 10 percent below the weighted average of the rates of interest on 30-year Treasury securities during the four-year period
ending on the last day before the beginning
of the plan year. Notice 88-73, 1988-2 C.B.
383, provides guidelines for determining
the weighted average interest rate. The rate
of interest on 30-year Treasury securities
for September 2021 is 1.94 percent. The
Service determined this rate as the average
of the daily determinations of yield on the
30-year Treasury bond maturing in August
2051. For plan years beginning in October
2021, the weighted average of the rates of
interest on 30-year Treasury securities and
the permissible range of rates used to calculate current liability are as follows:
For Plan Years
Beginning In
Treasury Weighted Average Rates
30-Year Treasury
Weighted Average
Permissible Range
90% to 105%
October 2021
2.17
1.95 to 2.28
under § 417(e)(3)(D) are segment rates
computed without regard to a 24-month
average. Notice 2007-81 provides guidelines for determining the minimum pres-
ent value segment rates. Pursuant to that
notice, the minimum present value segment rates determined for September
2021 are as follows:
MINIMUM PRESENT VALUE
SEGMENT RATES
In general, the applicable interest rates
Month
September 2021
Minimum Present Value Segment Rates
First Segment
Second Segment
0.70
2.55
DRAFTING INFORMATION
The principal author of this notice is
Tom Morgan of the Office of the Asso-
Bulletin No. 2021–45
ciate Chief Counsel (Employee Benefits,
Exempt Organizations, and Employment
Taxes). However, other personnel from
the IRS participated in the development
721
Third Segment
3.06
of this guidance. For further information
regarding this notice, contact Mr. Morgan
at 202-317-6700 or Paul Stern at 202-3178702 (not toll-free numbers).
November 8, 2021
Table 2021-9
Monthly Yield Curve for September 2021
Derived from September 2021 Data
Maturity
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
8.5
9.0
9.5
10.0
10.5
11.0
11.5
12.0
12.5
13.0
13.5
14.0
14.5
15.0
15.5
16.0
16.5
17.0
17.5
18.0
18.5
19.0
19.5
20.0
Yield
0.13
0.26
0.39
0.51
0.63
0.75
0.88
1.00
1.13
1.27
1.40
1.53
1.66
1.79
1.92
2.03
2.14
2.25
2.34
2.43
2.51
2.58
2.64
2.70
2.75
2.79
2.83
2.86
2.88
2.91
2.92
2.94
2.95
2.96
2.97
2.98
2.99
2.99
2.99
3.00
November 8, 2021
Maturity
20.5
21.0
21.5
22.0
22.5
23.0
23.5
24.0
24.5
25.0
25.5
26.0
26.5
27.0
27.5
28.0
28.5
29.0
29.5
30.0
30.5
31.0
31.5
32.0
32.5
33.0
33.5
34.0
34.5
35.0
35.5
36.0
36.5
37.0
37.5
38.0
38.5
39.0
39.5
40.0
Yield
3.00
3.00
3.01
3.01
3.01
3.01
3.01
3.01
3.02
3.02
3.02
3.02
3.02
3.02
3.03
3.03
3.03
3.03
3.04
3.04
3.04
3.04
3.04
3.05
3.05
3.05
3.05
3.05
3.06
3.06
3.06
3.06
3.06
3.06
3.06
3.07
3.07
3.07
3.07
3.07
Maturity
40.5
41.0
41.5
42.0
42.5
43.0
43.5
44.0
44.5
45.0
45.5
46.0
46.5
47.0
47.5
48.0
48.5
49.0
49.5
50.0
50.5
51.0
51.5
52.0
52.5
53.0
53.5
54.0
54.5
55.0
55.5
56.0
56.5
57.0
57.5
58.0
58.5
59.0
59.5
60.0
Yield
3.07
3.07
3.07
3.08
3.08
3.08
3.08
3.08
3.08
3.08
3.08
3.08
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.09
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
3.10
722
Maturity
60.5
61.0
61.5
62.0
62.5
63.0
63.5
64.0
64.5
65.0
65.5
66.0
66.5
67.0
67.5
68.0
68.5
69.0
69.5
70.0
70.5
71.0
71.5
72.0
72.5
73.0
73.5
74.0
74.5
75.0
75.5
76.0
76.5
77.0
77.5
78.0
78.5
79.0
79.5
80.0
Yield
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.11
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
Maturity
80.5
81.0
81.5
82.0
82.5
83.0
83.5
84.0
84.5
85.0
85.5
86.0
86.5
87.0
87.5
88.0
88.5
89.0
89.5
90.0
90.5
91.0
91.5
92.0
92.5
93.0
93.5
94.0
94.5
95.0
95.5
96.0
96.5
97.0
97.5
98.0
98.5
99.0
99.5
100.0
Yield
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.12
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
3.13
Bulletin No. 2021–45
Definition of Terms
Revenue rulings and revenue procedures
(hereinafter referred to as “rulings”) that
have an effect on previous rulings use the
following defined terms to describe the
effect:
Amplified describes a situation where
no change is being made in a prior published position, but the prior position is
being extended to apply to a variation of
the fact situation set forth therein. Thus,
if an earlier ruling held that a principle
applied to A, and the new ruling holds that
the same principle also applies to B, the
earlier ruling is amplified. (Compare with
modified, below).
Clarified is used in those instances
where the language in a prior ruling is
being made clear because the language
has caused, or may cause, some confusion. It is not used where a position in a
prior ruling is being changed.
Distinguished describes a situation
where a ruling mentions a previously published ruling and points out an essential
difference between them.
Modified is used where the substance
of a previously published position is being
changed. Thus, if a prior ruling held that a
principle applied to A but not to B, and the
new ruling holds that it applies to both A
and B, the prior ruling is modified because
it corrects a published position. (Compare
with amplified and clarified, above).
Obsoleted describes a previously published ruling that is not considered determinative with respect to future transactions.
This term is most commonly used in a ruling
that lists previously published rulings that
are obsoleted because of changes in laws or
regulations. A ruling may also be obsoleted
because the substance has been included in
regulations subsequently adopted.
Revoked describes situations where the
position in the previously published ruling
is not correct and the correct position is
being stated in a new ruling.
Superseded describes a situation where
the new ruling does nothing more than
restate the substance and situation of a
previously published ruling (or rulings).
Thus, the term is used to republish under
the 1986 Code and regulations the same
position published under the 1939 Code
and regulations. The term is also used
when it is desired to republish in a single
ruling a series of situations, names, etc.,
that were previously published over a
period of time in separate rulings. If the
new ruling does more than restate the substance of a prior ruling, a combination of
terms is used. For example, modified and
superseded describes a situation where the
substance of a previously published ruling
is being changed in part and is continued
without change in part and it is desired to
restate the valid portion of the previously
published ruling in a new ruling that is
self contained. In this case, the previously
published ruling is first modified and then,
as modified, is superseded.
Supplemented is used in situations in
which a list, such as a list of the names of
countries, is published in a ruling and that
list is expanded by adding further names
in subsequent rulings. After the original
ruling has been supplemented several
times, a new ruling may be published that
includes the list in the original ruling and
the additions, and supersedes all prior rulings in the series.
Suspended is used in rare situations
to show that the previous published rulings will not be applied pending some
future action such as the issuance of new
or amended regulations, the outcome of
cases in litigation, or the outcome of a
Service study.
Abbreviations
The following abbreviations in current use
and formerly used will appear in material
published in the Bulletin.
A—Individual.
Acq.—Acquiescence.
B—Individual.
BE—Beneficiary.
BK—Bank.
B.T.A.—Board of Tax Appeals.
C—Individual.
C.B.—Cumulative Bulletin.
CFR—Code of Federal Regulations.
CI—City.
COOP—Cooperative.
Ct.D.—Court Decision.
CY—County.
D—Decedent.
DC—Dummy Corporation.
DE—Donee.
Del. Order—Delegation Order.
DISC—Domestic International Sales Corporation.
DR—Donor.
E—Estate.
EE—Employee.
E.O.—Executive Order.
ER—Employer.
Bulletin No. 2021–45
ERISA—Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
EX—Executor.
F—Fiduciary.
FC—Foreign Country.
FICA—Federal Insurance Contributions Act.
FISC—Foreign International Sales Company.
FPH—Foreign Personal Holding Company.
F.R.—Federal Register.
FUTA—Federal Unemployment Tax Act.
FX—Foreign corporation.
G.C.M.—Chief Counsel’s Memorandum.
GE—Grantee.
GP—General Partner.
GR—Grantor.
IC—Insurance Company.
I.R.B.—Internal Revenue Bulletin.
LE—Lessee.
LP—Limited Partner.
LR—Lessor.
M—Minor.
Nonacq.—Nonacquiescence.
O—Organization.
P—Parent Corporation.
PHC—Personal Holding Company.
PO—Possession of the U.S.
PR—Partner.
PRS—Partnership.
i
PTE—Prohibited Transaction Exemption.
Pub. L.—Public Law.
REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust.
Rev. Proc.—Revenue Procedure.
Rev. Rul.—Revenue Ruling.
S—Subsidiary.
S.P.R.—Statement of Procedural Rules.
Stat.—Statutes at Large.
T—Target Corporation.
T.C.—Tax Court.
T.D.—Treasury Decision.
TFE—Transferee.
TFR—Transferor.
T.I.R.—Technical Information Release.
TP—Taxpayer.
TR—Trust.
TT—Trustee.
U.S.C.—United States Code.
X—Corporation.
Y—Corporation.
Z—Corporation.
November 8, 2021
Numerical Finding List1
Bulletin 2021–45
Announcements:
2021-12, 2021-31 I.R.B. 267
2021-13, 2021-33 I.R.B. 314
2021-14, 2021-33 I.R.B. 315
Notices:
2021-39, 2021-27 I.R.B. 3
2021-40, 2021-28 I.R.B. 15
2021-41, 2021-29 I.R.B. 17
2021-42, 2021-29 I.R.B. 19
2021-38, 2021-30 I.R.B. 155
2021-44, 2021-31 I.R.B. 166
2021-45, 2021-31 I.R.B. 170
2021-47, 2021-32 I.R.B. 269
2021-46, 2021-33 I.R.B. 303
2021-48, 2021-33 I.R.B. 305
2021-49, 2021-34 I.R.B. 316
2021-43, 2021-35 I.R.B. 332
2021-50, 2021-35 I.R.B. 333
2021-51, 2021-36 I.R.B. 361
2021-52, 2021-38 I.R.B. 381
2021-53, 2021-39 I.R.B. 438
2021-54, 2021-41 I.R.B. 457
2021-55, 2021-41 I.R.B. 461
2021-58, 2021-43 I.R.B. 660
2021-59, 2021-43 I.R.B. 664
2021-57, 2021-44 I.R.B. 706
2021-56, 2021-45 I.R.B. 716
2021-60, 2021-45 I.R.B. 719
Revenue Procedures:—Continued
2021-41, 2021-39 I.R.B. 443
2021-32, 2021-42 I.R.B. 465
2021-44, 2021-42 I.R.B. 469
2021-42, 2021-43 I.R.B. 666
Revenue Rulings:
2021-12, 2021-27 I.R.B. 1
2021-13, 2021-30 I.R.B. 152
2021-14, 2021-31 I.R.B. 164
2021-19, 2021-42 I.R.B. 470
2021-15, 2021-35 I.R.B. 331
2021-16, 2021-36 I.R.B. 359
2021-17, 2021-37 I.R.B. 362
2021-18, 2021-40 I.R.B. 447
2021-21, 2021-44 I.R.B. 704
Treasury Decisions:
9951, 2021-30 I.R.B. 25
9952, 2021-39 I.R.B. 428
9953, 2021-39 I.R.B. 430
9956, 2021-41 I.R.B. 449
9957, 2021-41 I.R.B. 452
9955, 2021-42 I.R.B. 471
Proposed Regulations:
REG-107705-21, 2021-30 I.R.B. 162
REG-102951-16, 2021-32 I.R.B. 272
REG-109077-21, 2021-39 I.R.B. 445
REG-100718-21, 2021-42 I.R.B. 653
REG-107707-21, 2021-42 I.R.B. 657
Revenue Procedures:
2021-28, 2021-27 I.R.B. 5
2021-29, 2021-27 I.R.B. 12
2021-24, 2021-29 I.R.B. 19
2021-14, 2021-30 I.R.B. 158
2021-30, 2021-31 I.R.B. 172
2021-31, 2021-33 I.R.B. 324
2021-33, 2021-34 I.R.B. 327
2021-34, 2021-35 I.R.B. 337
2021-35, 2021-35 I.R.B. 355
2021-36, 2021-35 I.R.B. 357
2021-37, 2021-38 I.R.B. 385
2021-38, 2021-38 I.R.B. 425
2021-39, 2021-38 I.R.B. 426
2021-40, 2021-38 I.R.B. 426
A cumulative list of all revenue rulings, revenue procedures, Treasury decisions, etc., published in Internal Revenue Bulletins 2021–27 through 2021–52 is in Internal Revenue Bulletin
2021–52, dated December 27, 2021.
1
November 8, 2021
ii
Bulletin No. 2021–45
Finding List of Current Actions on
Previously Published Items1
Bulletin 2021–45
A cumulative list of all revenue rulings, revenue procedures, Treasury decisions, etc., published in Internal Revenue Bulletins 2021–27 through 2021–52 is in Internal Revenue Bulletin
2021–52, dated December 27, 2021.
1
Bulletin No. 2021–45
iii
November 8, 2021
Internal Revenue Service
Washington, DC 20224
Official Business
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