§ 1.6046A-1. Return requirement for United States persons who acquire or dispose of an interest in a foreign partnership, or whose proportional interest in a foreign partnership changes substantially.

Acquisition of an indirect interest. FP, a foreign partnership, has two partners, FC1 and FC2, both foreign corporations. FC1 owns a 40% interest in FP, and FC2 owns a 60% interest in FP. No United States person owns an interest in FP, either directly, or constructively under section 6038(e)(3)(C) and section 267(c). On January 1, 2001, US, a United States person and calendar year taxpayer, acquires by purchase 100% of FC2's stock. US has acquired an indirect interest of 60% in FP. See sections 6038(e)(3)(C) and 267(c)(1). However, US is not required to report the January 1, 2001 indirect acquisition under section 6046A. US did not own a 10% or greater direct interest in FP before the acquisition, and US does not own a 10% or greater direct interest as a result of the acquisition. (US must, however, comply with the reporting requirements under section 6038 (controlled foreign corporation and controlled foreign partnership reporting) with respect to FC2 and FP.)

Acquisition of direct interests. (i) Assume the same facts as Example 1. In addition, on June 1, 2001, US purchases a 5% direct interest in FP from FC1. US did not own a 10% or greater direct interest in FP before the acquisition. After the acquisition, US does not own a direct interest of 10% or more. US owns a 10% or greater total interest (direct and indirect), but only a 5% direct interest. Therefore, US is not required to report the June 1, 2001, acquisition under section 6046A.

(ii) On September 1, 2001, US purchases a 7% direct interest in FP from FC1. The September 1, 2001 acquisition constitutes a reportable event under paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) of this section. Before the September 1 acquisition, US did not own a 10% or greater direct interest in FP. After the September 1 acquisition, US owns a 12% direct interest, and therefore, as a result of the September 1 acquisition, US now owns a 10% or greater direct interest in FP. Consequently, US must report its September 1 acquisition under section 6046A on Form 8865 filed with US's 2001 income tax return.

(iii) On December 1, 2001, US acquires an additional 4% direct interest in FP from FC1, so that US's total direct interest has increased from 12% to 16%. This acquisition does not constitute a reportable event. Compared to US's direct interest when US last had a reportable event (12% on September 1, 2001), after acquiring the 4% interest US's direct interest has not increased by at least a 10% direct interest (i.e., its direct interest increased by only 4%). Therefore, US does not have to report the December 1, 2001, acquisition under section 6046A. On April 1, 2002, FC2 distributes a 6% direct interest in FP to US. US now owns a 22% direct interest in FP. Compared to US's direct interest when US last had a reportable event (12% on September 1, 2001), after the April 1 acquisition US's direct interest has increased by at least a 10% interest (12% to 22%). US must report the April 1, 2002 acquisition on a Form 8865 attached to US's 2002 income tax return.

Change in proportional interest resulting from withdrawal of a partner. Assume the same facts as Example 3. In addition, on January 5, 2003, FC2 withdraws entirely from FP. As a result, the direct interests of US and FC1 in FP each increase by at least the equivalent of 10% interests. Compared to US's direct interest the last time US had a reportable event (22% on April 1, 2002), US's direct interest has increased by at least the equivalent of a ten percent interest. Therefore, US has had a reportable event pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section, and US must report the change in its interest resulting from FC2's withdrawal from the partnership on US's Form 8865 filed with US's 2003 tax year income tax return.

Change in proportional interest constituting an acquisition. FP is a foreign partnership that has no United States persons as direct or constructive partners. US is a United States person and a calendar year taxpayer. On January 1, 2001, US purchases an 8% direct interest in FP. US is not required to report this acquisition. US did not own a 10% or greater direct interest in FP, and US does not own a 10% or greater direct interest as a result of the acquisition. On March 1, 2001, FC, a foreign partner of FP, withdraws from FP, and as result, US's direct interest in FP increases by a 7% interest. The increase in US's direct interest is considered an acquisition of an interest under paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) of this section. US did not own a 10% or greater direct interest in FP before FC withdrew, and as a result of the increase in US's direct interest because of FC's withdrawal from FP, US now owns a 10% or greater direct interest in FP. Therefore, US must report under section 6046A the increase in US's direct interest resulting from the withdrawal of FC from FP on Form 8865 filed with US's tax return for US's 2001 tax year.