Temporary regulations in this issue of the Bulletin amend the Income Tax Regulations (26 CFR part 1) under section 1502 relating to the life-nonlife consolidated return regulations. The temporary regulations contain an exception (the tacking rule) to the five-year affiliation rules of sections 1503(c)(2) and 1504(c)(2). The temporary regulations replace the tacking rule of §1.1502-47(d)(12)(v) with a rule that does not contain a condition relating to the separation of profitable activities from loss activities. The text of those regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations. The preamble to the temporary regulations explains the amendments.

It has been determined that this notice of proposed rulemaking is not a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It is hereby certified that these regulations will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This certification is based on the fact that these regulations primarily affect affiliated groups of corporations with one or more life insurance company members, which tend to be larger businesses. Moreover, the number of taxpayers affected is minimal. Therefore, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) is not required. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, this notice of proposed rulemaking will be submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on small business.

Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, consideration will be given to any written (a signed original and eight (8) copies) or electronic comments that are submitted timely to the IRS. All comments will be available for public inspection and copying. A public hearing will be scheduled if requested in writing by any person that timely submits written comments. If a public hearing is scheduled, notice of the date, time, and place for the public hearing will be published in the Federal Register.

Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read, in part, as follows:

Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *

Par. 2. Section 1.1502-47 is amended by:

1. Adding paragraphs (b)(2)(i) and (b)(2)(ii).

2. Removing paragraph (d)(12)(v)(C).

3. Redesignating paragraph (d)(12)(v)(D) and (d)(12)(v)(E) as (d)(12)(v)(C) and (d)(12)(v)(D).

4. Revising paragraph (d)(12)(v), and newly-designated paragraphs (d)(12)(v)(C) and (d)(12)(v)(D).

The revisions and additions read as follows: