[4830-01-u]
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
26 CFR Parts 1 and 602
[TD 8654]
RIN 1545-AS21
Information Reporting for Discharges of Indebtedness
AGENCY:  Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.
ACTION:  Final regulations.
SUMMARY:  This document contains final regulations relating to the information
reporting requirements of applicable financial entities for discharges of
indebtedness.  The final regulations reflect changes to the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (Code) made by section 13252 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act of 1993 (the Act).  The final regulations affect certain financial
institutions and federal executive agencies.
DATES:  These regulations are effective December 22, 1996.
     For dates of applicability, see 1.6050P-1(h). 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Sharon L. Hall (timing and amount of
discharge) at (202) 622-4930 or Michael F. Schmit (other issues) at (202) 622-
4960, both of the Office of Assistant Chief Counsel (Income Tax and
Accounting).  Neither telephone number is toll-free.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Paperwork Reduction Act
     The collection of information contained in these final regulations has
been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget in
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3507) under control
number 1545-1419.  Responses to this collection of information are required
for the IRS to monitor whether discharged debtors are properly complying with
tax laws respecting cancellations of indebtedness.
     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 control number.
     The time estimates for the reporting requirements contained in these
final regulations are reflected in the burden estimates for Form 1099-C.
     Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden estimate and suggestions
for reducing this burden should be sent to the Internal Revenue Service, Attn: 
IRS Reports Clearance Officer, T:FP, Washington, DC 20224, and to the Office
of Management and Budget, Attn:  Desk Officer for the Department of Treasury,
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503.
     Books or records relating to this 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 information are
confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.
Background
     Section 6050P was added to the Code by section 13252 of the Act. 
Section 6050P requires certain financial entities to report discharges of
indebtedness of $600 or more during any calendar year, and requires reporting
entities to make a return at such time and in such form as the Secretary may
by regulations prescribe.
     On December 27, 1993, temporary regulations (TD 8506) relating to the
reporting of discharge of indebtedness under section 6050P were published in
the Federal Register (58 FR 68301).  A notice of proposed rulemaking (IA-63-
93) cross-referencing the temporary regulations was published in the Federal
Register for the same day (58 FR 68337).
     Written comments were received in response to the notice of proposed
rulemaking.  Fourteen speakers provided testimony at a public hearing held on
March 30, 1994.  In response to the comments and testimony, the IRS and
Treasury issued Notice 94-73 (1994-2 C.B. 553), providing interim relief from
penalties for failure to comply with certain of the reporting requirements of
the temporary regulations.  The Notice provided that, with respect to a
discharge of indebtedness occurring before the later of January 1, 1995, or
the effective date of the final regulations under section 6050P, no penalties
would be imposed for the failure to report a discharge of indebtedness: 
     (a)  Under title 11 of the United States Code;
     (b)  Resulting from the expiration of the statute of limitations for
collection of an indebtedness;
     (c)  For an amount other than principal in the case of indebtedness
arising in connection with a lending transaction; or
     (d)  For a person other than the primary (or first-named) debtor in the
case of indebtedness incurred before January 1, 1995, that involves multiple
debtors.
     After consideration of all the comments, the proposed regulations under
section 6050P are adopted, as revised by this Treasury decision, effective for
discharges of indebtedness occurring after December 21, 1996.  The temporary
regulations and interim relief from penalties provided in Notice 94-73 remain
in effect through December 21, 1996, at which time the temporary regulations
are removed.  However, no penalties will be imposed for the failure to report
a discharge of indebtedness occurring after December 21, 1996, and before
January 1, 1997, if the failure to report would have qualified for penalty
relief under Notice 94-73 had the discharge occurred prior to December 22,
1996.  Additionally, the final regulations provide that a financial entity
subject to section 6050P may, at its discretion, apply any of the provisions
of the final regulations to any discharge of indebtedness occurring on or
after January 1, 1996, and before December 22, 1996.  The comments and
revisions to the proposed regulations are discussed below.
     At the request of commentators, the IRS and Treasury are considering the
issuance of guidance providing uniform procedures for requesting extensions of
time within which to file information returns with the IRS and related
statements to taxpayers.  This guidance, if issued, would apply to the
information reporting requirements set forth in this Treasury decision.
Explanation of Revisions and Summary of Comments
1.  Identifiable events
     Comments were received relating to the issue of when an indebtedness is
discharged for purposes of section 6050P.  Under the temporary and proposed
regulations, indebtedness is considered discharged, and reporting is required,
upon the occurrence of an identifiable event indicating that the indebtedness
will never have to be repaid by the debtor, taking into account all of the
facts and circumstances.  The temporary and proposed regulations list three
identifiable events, but make clear that the three items do not represent an
exclusive list of events requiring reporting.  
     Commentators objected to this facts and circumstances test, and stated
that the final regulations should instead provide an exclusive list of
reporting events.  The comments indicated that creditors do not have the
resources to weigh all the facts and circumstances in order to determine
whether a debt will never have to be repaid by the debtor.
     In response to these comments, the final regulations provide that, for
purposes of section 6050P, indebtedness is considered discharged, and
reporting is required, only upon the occurrence of certain identifiable
events.  The regulations contain an exclusive list of eight identifiable
events, and provide that, in the absence of the occurrence of one of these
events, a Form 1099-C is not required to be filed. 
     A.  Discharges of indebtedness in bankruptcy
     Commentators objected to the requirement in the temporary and proposed
regulations relating to the reporting of a discharge of indebtedness in
bankruptcy.  The commentators stated that the obligation to report debts
discharged in bankruptcy was extremely burdensome due to the large number of
information returns that these bankruptcies would generate.  These
commentators also stated that some lenders do not receive information
regarding a debtor's bankruptcy discharge in the normal course of business.
     Commentators also objected to the requirement to report debts discharged
in bankruptcy because income from a discharge in bankruptcy is excludable
under section 108(a)(1)(A).  Additionally, while acknowledging that section
108(b) generally requires the reduction of tax attributes for amounts of
cancellation of indebtedness income excluded under section 108(a), these
commentators indicated that the majority of bankruptcies involve consumer
debt, the discharge of which is unlikely to give rise to attribute reduction. 
Thus, they contended that the reporting of consumer debts discharged in
bankruptcy will not further the purposes of section 6050P.  
     Finally, based on language in section 6050P, commentators contended that
the IRS and Treasury lacked authority to require reporting in bankruptcy. 
Under section 6050P(a), "any applicable financial entity which discharges . .
. the indebtedness of any person" is subject to the rules of section 6050P. 
Commentators argued that creditors should not be subject to the rules of
section 6050P for debts discharged in bankruptcy because it is the bankruptcy
court, not the creditor, that discharges the debt.
     In promulgating the temporary regulations, the IRS and Treasury fully
considered the issue of whether bankruptcy discharges could be excluded from
the reporting requirement.  The legislative history to section 6050P states
that "information returns are required regardless of whether the debtor is
subject to tax on the discharged debt.  For example, Congress does not expect
reporting financial institutions and agencies to determine whether the debtor
qualifies for an exclusion under section 108."  H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 213, 103d
Cong., 1st Sess. 1, 671 (1993).  This language indicates that Congress
intended that discharges resulting in excluded income (such as bankruptcy
discharges) be reported.
     Accordingly, the IRS and Treasury do not believe that a requirement to
report debts discharged in bankruptcy is outside the scope of section 6050P. 
In enacting section 6050P, Congress intended to increase debtor compliance in
reporting discharges of indebtedness.  With respect to the tax consequences to
the debtor, it generally makes no difference whether the debt is voluntarily
discharged by the financial entity, or discharged by a court order.  Further,
the creditor is receiving an amount that is less than the amount of the
outstanding indebtedness whether the debt is voluntarily discharged or ordered
to be discharged by a court.  Thus, the language "any applicable financial
entity which discharges . . . indebtedness" should not be narrowly construed
to exclude instances in which a debt is ordered to be discharged or is
discharged by operation of law.    
     The IRS and Treasury believe that an objective of the legislative
history quoted above is that information reporting under section 6050P not
impose an undue burden on filers by requiring determinations regarding whether
discharges result in income to debtors.  However, the legislative history does
not preclude an exception for certain discharges in appropriate circumstances. 
Accordingly, in response to the above concerns of the commentators, the final
regulations provide an exception from reporting in the case of certain
bankruptcy discharges.  
Under the final regulations, indebtedness discharged in bankruptcy is required
to be reported only if the creditor knows that the debtor incurred the
indebtedness for business or investment purposes.  Therefore, reporting is not
required for consumer debts discharged in bankruptcy or in cases in which the
creditor is not aware of the purpose for the borrowing or that purpose is not
clear.  Information relating to whether a debt was incurred for business or
investment purposes will be available to a creditor in some cases, such as
those in which loan documents require the borrower to state the purpose of the
loan.  This limited reporting of debts discharged in bankruptcy will exclude
information returns relating to consumer debt, while retaining reporting for
those discharges most likely to involve the reduction of tax attributes under
section 108(b).  Pursuant to Notice 94-73, no penalties will be imposed for
the failure to report any indebtedness discharged before December 22, 1996, in
bankruptcy.  Additionally, no penalties will be imposed for the failure to
report any indebtedness discharged after December 21, 1996, and before January
1, 1997, in bankruptcy, since the failure to report would have qualified for
penalty relief under Notice 94-73 had the discharge occurred prior to December
22, 1996.
     B.  Expiration of statute of limitations for collection
     Under the temporary and proposed regulations, an identifiable event
includes a cancellation or extinguishment by operation of law that renders a
debt unenforceable, such as the  expiration of the statute of limitations for
collection of an indebtedness.
     Comments were received relating to the requirement to report
indebtedness discharged as a result of the expiration of the statute of
limitations.  Commentators argued that expiration of the statute of
limitations should not be an identifiable event because of the recordkeeping
and other administrative burdens that are created by such a rule. 
Commentators noted that the statute of limitations for collection of debt
varies from state to state, and that debtors may relocate and be subject to
the rules of multiple jurisdictions.  Further, they contended, an isolated
payment by a debtor will frequently restart the running of the statute of
limitations.  According to the commentators, making lenders track the
expiration of the statute of limitations for reporting purposes would require
special computer applications not needed for any other creditor function,
require legal expertise in the collection department, and be very costly.
     As a legal matter, commentators argued that the statute of limitations
is an affirmative defense, and affects only judicial enforceability of the
obligation.  Most commentators indicated that collection activity routinely
continues after the expiration of the statute of limitations.  The temporary
and proposed regulations list collection activity on the part of the creditor
as a factor to be considered in determining whether debt has been discharged. 
Thus, even under the temporary and proposed regulations, expiration of the
statute of limitations would rarely mark the date on which debt is considered
discharged, because collection activity routinely continues after that date.
     In response to these comments, the final regulations provide that
expiration of the statute of limitations for collection of an indebtedness is
an identifiable event for which a Form 1099-C is required to be filed only if,
and at such time as, a debtor's affirmative defense of the expiration of the
statute of limitations is upheld in a final judgment or decision of a judicial
proceeding, and the period for appealing the judgment or decision has expired.
     C.  Other discharges by operation of law
     As stated above, the temporary and proposed regulations provide that an
identifiable event includes a cancellation or extinguishment by operation of
law that renders a debt unenforceable (such as the expiration of the statute
of limitations for collection of the indebtedness).  The temporary and
proposed regulations do not specify all of the circumstances requiring
reporting under this identifiable event.
     In order to further the goal of providing an exclusive list of reporting
events, the final regulations specify those discharges occurring by operation
of law that are required to be reported under section 6050P.  In addition to
the statute of limitations identifiable event previously discussed, the events
relating to operation of law that must be reported are (i) a cancellation or
extinguishment of an indebtedness that renders a debt unenforceable in a
receivership, foreclosure, or similar proceeding in a federal or State court,
as described in section 368(a)(3)(A)(ii); (ii) a cancellation or
extinguishment of an indebtedness upon the expiration of a statutory period
for filing a claim or commencing a deficiency judgment proceeding; (iii) a
cancellation or extinguishment of an indebtedness that renders a debt
unenforceable pursuant to a probate or similar proceeding; and (iv) a
cancellation or extinguishment of an indebtedness pursuant to an election of
foreclosure remedies by a creditor that statutorily extinguishes or bars the
creditor's right to pursue collection of the indebtedness.  This final event
relating to an election of foreclosure remedies will require reporting only
where a mortgage lender or holder is barred by local law from pursuing a
deficiency judgment or note collection proceeding following exercise of a
power of sale contained in a mortgage or deed of trust.
     A discharge of indebtedness occurring by operation of law not enumerated
above is not required to be reported under the final regulations.
     D.  Collection activity
     Commentators indicated that the temporary and proposed regulations were
unclear regarding the effect of continuing collection activity on the
requirement to report under section 6050P.  The temporary and proposed
regulations provide that collection activity is one of the facts and
circumstances to be taken into account in determining whether a discharge of
indebtedness has occurred.  The commentators argued that the final regulations
should clarify that reporting is not required prior to termination of
collection efforts on the part of the creditor.
     In response to these comments, the final regulations address the effect
of collection efforts on the requirement to report under section 6050P.  Under
the final regulations, an identifiable event occurs and reporting is required
upon a decision by the creditor, or the application of a defined policy of the
creditor, to discontinue collection activity and discharge indebtedness.  For
this purpose, a defined policy may be either a written policy or a creditor's
established business practice.
     Additionally, under the final regulations, there is a rebuttable
presumption that an identifiable event has occurred during a calendar year if
a creditor has not received a payment on an indebtedness at any time during a
36-month testing period ending at the close of the year.  This presumption is
rebutted by the creditor if the creditor (or a third-party collection agency
on behalf of the creditor) has engaged in significant, bona fide collection
activity at any time during the 12-month period ending at the close of the
calendar year, or if facts and circumstances existing as of January 31 of the
calendar year following expiration of the 36-month testing period indicate
that the indebtedness has not been discharged.  Under the final regulations,
significant, bona fide collection activity does not include merely nominal or
ministerial collection action, such as an automated mailing.  Further, facts
and circumstances indicating that an indebtedness has not been discharged
include the existence of a lien relating to the indebtedness against the
debtor (to the extent of the value of the security), or the sale or packaging
for sale of the indebtedness by the creditor.
     E.  Other reportable discharges
     Under the temporary and proposed regulations, an identifiable event
includes an agreement between the applicable financial entity and the debtor
to discharge an indebtedness, provided that the last event necessary to
effectuate the discharge has occurred.  The final regulations retain this
reporting requirement, restating that an identifiable event includes a
discharge of indebtedness pursuant to an agreement between an applicable
financial entity and a debtor to discharge indebtedness at less than full
consideration.  As under the temporary regulations, this identifiable event
will not occur until the last event necessary to effectuate the discharge has
occurred.
     The final regulations also provide that a discharge of indebtedness
occurring before the date on which an identifiable event occurs may, at the
creditor's discretion, be reported under section 6050P.
2.  Definition of indebtedness
     Commentators objected to the broad definition of indebtedness provided
in the temporary and proposed regulations.  The temporary and proposed
regulations provide that, for purposes of reporting the amount of indebtedness
discharged, an indebtedness is any amount owed to the creditor including
principal, interest, penalties, fees, administrative costs, and fines, to the
extent the amount constitutes an indebtedness under section 61(a)(12). 
Commentators argued that this definition is overly broad and should be amended
to include principal only (or the primary indebtedness in the case of a non-
lending transaction).  In response to these comments, the final regulations
provide certain exceptions relating to the reporting of amounts other than
stated principal.
     A.  Reporting of interest
     Commentators offered two main objections to the reporting of interest. 
First, commentators stated that reporting interest was burdensome because
interest is not tracked by lenders once indebtedness is written off or placed
on nonaccrual status on the lender's books.  Second, commentators suggested
that reporting of interest would be of marginal benefit to the IRS because in
many cases discharged interest may be excluded from gross income under
sections 108(e)(2) and 111.
     In response to these comments, and in an effort to reduce the
information reporting burden on affected filers, the final regulations do not
require the reporting of amounts of discharged interest (whether or not
arising in connection with a lending transaction), despite the fact that some
discharged interest will give rise to gross income.  However, at the option of
the applicable financial entity, interest may be included in the amount
reported.  Additionally, as provided in Notice 94-73, in the case of a
discharge of indebtedness before December 22, 1996, no penalties will be
imposed for failure to report an amount other than principal in the case of
indebtedness arising in connection with a lending transaction.
     B.  Penalties, fees, administrative costs, and fines
     Commentators also argued that, like interest, penalties, fees,
administrative costs, and fines are not tracked by lenders once an
indebtedness is written off on the books of the lender.  Thus, they contended,
tracking these amounts would require additional computer programming and
recordkeeping, and would be very costly.  With respect to lending
transactions, the IRS and Treasury have concluded that the benefits that would
be derived from requiring the reporting of penalties, fees, administrative
costs, and fines are outweighed by the burden associated with the requirement. 
Accordingly, the final regulations provide that, in the case of a lending
transaction, only discharged amounts of stated principal are required to be
reported.  In the case of non-lending transactions, the amount owed, such as a
fee, fine, or penalty, is reportable if discharged.
3.  Reporting for multiple debtors
     Commentators recommended that the multiple debtor rules of the temporary
and proposed regulations be amended so that reporting is required only with
respect to the primary or first-named debtor on the lender's account.  The
rationale for this approach is that, in general, lenders track loans involving
multiple debtors only by the name of the borrower of record, and thus, the
information required to be reported under section 6050P (e.g., the name,
address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN)) for debtors other than the
primary debtor is generally not available to lenders.  In addition, the
commentators pointed out that most other information return regulations
require reporting only with respect to a single taxpayer (e.g., 1.6050H-1
requires reporting only with respect to one designated interest payor even if
multiple debtors are liable on a mortgage).  Finally, these commentators
stated that the majority of multiple debtor situations involve a husband and
wife who will likely file a joint return, and therefore, requiring reporting
for each debtor is not necessary.
     The IRS and Treasury believe, however, that requiring reporting for
multiple debtors is consistent with section 6050P(a)(1), which provides that
the reporting of a name, address, and TIN is required for each person whose
indebtedness was discharged.  Further, while reporting with respect to only
one taxpayer is required under many information reporting sections of the
Code, section 6050J, which is comparable to section 6050P in that it relates
to the reporting of acquisitions and abandonments of property securing
indebtedness, requires reporting for each person who is a borrower with
respect to the secured indebtedness.  Moreover, in Notice 94-73, the IRS
addressed the concerns of commentators by providing that no penalties would be
imposed for failure to report a discharge of indebtedness for other than the
primary (or first-named) debtor in the case of indebtedness incurred before
January 1, 1995, thus allowing creditors time to begin collecting the
necessary information for all debtors in the case of indebtedness incurred
after December 31, 1994.  The final regulations incorporate this relief.
     In order to reduce the information reporting burden on applicable
financial entities, the final regulations contain two exceptions relating to
multiple debtor reporting.  In the case of indebtedness of less than $10,000
incurred on or after January 1, 1995, that involves multiple debtors,
reporting is required only for the primary (or first-named) debtor. 
Additionally, to avoid duplication, the final regulations provide a
husband/wife exception to the requirement for reporting in the case of
multiple debtors.  Under this exception, only one Form 1099-C must be prepared
if the creditor knows, or has reason to know, that the co-obligors were
husband and wife living at the same address when the indebtedness was
incurred, and does not know or have reason to know that such circumstances
have changed at the time of the discharge.  These two exceptions apply to
discharges of indebtedness after December 31, 1994.
     The final regulations retain the rule of the temporary and proposed
regulations relating to the amount to be reported with respect to each joint
and several debtor.
4.  Multiple creditors/lending pools/REMICs
     Commentators indicated that further guidance should be provided in the
final regulations regarding section 6050P reporting obligations in the case of
participation loans, lending pools, and other multiple-creditor situations. 
In response to these comments, the final regulations provide a general rule
that, in the case of an indebtedness owned (or treated as owned for federal
income tax purposes) by more than one creditor, each creditor that is an
applicable financial entity must comply with the reporting requirements of
this section with respect to any discharge of indebtedness of $600 or more
allocable to such creditor.  A creditor will be considered to have complied
with the requirements of this section if a lead bank or other designee of the
creditor complies on its behalf.
     Comments were received advocating an exception from reporting for
discharges of certain widely-owned securitized indebtedness.  The commentators
reasoned that the owners of widely-held securitized indebtedness will
generally have no knowledge regarding when a discharge occurs, or the amount
of discharged debt allocable to each owner.  Further, commentators suggested
that it is likely that a significant portion of such securitized indebtedness
may be owned by persons that are not applicable financial entities and,
therefore, are not subject to section 6050P.
     The IRS and Treasury believe, however, that it would be inconsistent
with the purpose of section 6050P to provide a general exception from
reporting for such securitized indebtedness.  Section 6050P is intended to
increase the likelihood that a debtor will comply with the tax laws relating
to discharge of indebtedness by requiring the reporting of that event to the
IRS.  The fact that indebtedness has been securitized and sold to numerous
owners generally does not affect the tax consequences to the debtor upon a
discharge of that indebtedness.  Thus, the IRS and Treasury do not believe
that a discharge of indebtedness should be excepted from section 6050P
reporting simply because that indebtedness was part of a securitization
arrangement.
     Commentators also argued that the discharge of an indebtedness held by a
real estate mortgage investment conduit (REMIC) should not be required to be
reported under section 6050P.  Because a REMIC is not an applicable financial
entity, commentators contended that section 6050P should not apply upon a
discharge of indebtedness held by a REMIC.
     However, section 860F(e) provides that, for purposes of subtitle F of
the Code (Procedure and Administration, including section 6050P), a REMIC is
treated as a partnership and holders of residual interests in the REMIC are
treated as partners.  Under the final regulations, indebtedness owned by a
partnership is treated as owned by the partners.  Thus, arguably a discharge
of REMIC indebtedness should be treated similar to partnership indebtedness
and thus should be reported to the extent the residual owners of the REMIC are
applicable financial entities.
     Because the IRS and Treasury believe that further study of these issues
is warranted, the final regulations reserve on the application of section
6050P to discharges of indebtedness held (1) in a pass-through securitized
indebtedness arrangement, or   (2) by a REMIC.  For this purpose, a pass-
through securitized indebtedness arrangement is any arrangement whereby one or
more debt obligations are pooled and held for twenty or more persons whose
interests in the debt obligations are undivided co-ownership interests that
are freely transferrable.  Co-ownership interests that are actively traded
personal property (as defined in 1.1092(d)-1) are presumed to be freely
transferrable and held by twenty or more persons.  Pending issuance of further
guidance, no penalties will be imposed for failure to report a discharge of
indebtedness held under these circumstances.  This relief from penalties does
not extend to arrangements formed for a principal purpose of avoiding the
reporting requirements of this section.  The IRS and Treasury welcome comments
regarding compliance with section 6050P in the case of pass-through
securitized indebtedness arrangements and REMICs.
5.  Coordination of Form 1099-A and Form 1099-C
     The legislative history to section 6050P indicates that Congress
intended that the IRS and Treasury coordinate reporting under section 6050P
with the reporting required under section 6050J.  Section 6050J requires
information relating to foreclosures and abandonments of secured property to
be reported on Form 1099-A.
     The final regulations provide that if, in the same calendar year, a
discharge of indebtedness reportable under section 6050P occurs in connection
with a foreclosure or abandonment of secured property reportable under section
6050J, it is not necessary to file both a Form 1099-A and a Form 1099-C for
the same debtor.  Under the final regulations, the filing requirements of
section 6050J will be satisfied with respect to a debtor if, in lieu of filing
a Form 1099-A, a Form 1099-C is filed in accordance with the instructions for
the filing of that form.  This coordinated filing provision applies to
discharges of indebtedness after December 31, 1994.
6.  Direct or indirect subsidiary
     Commentators requested that the final regulations include a definition
of a direct or indirect subsidiary for purposes of section 6050P.  Section
6050P(c)(1)(C) provides that the definition of applicable financial entity
includes a direct or indirect subsidiary of an entity described in section
6050P(c)(1)(A).  In response to these comments, the final regulations provide
that, for purposes of section 6050P(c)(1)(C), the term direct or indirect
subsidiary means a corporation in a chain of corporations beginning with the
entity described in section 6050P(c)(1)(A), if at least 50 percent of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote, or at
least 50 percent of the total value of all classes of stock, of such
corporation is directly owned by the entity described in section
6050P(c)(1)(A), or by one or more other corporations in the chain.
7.  Other exceptions from reporting
     The IRS and Treasury received numerous comments advocating that the
final regulations include exceptions from reporting with respect to certain
discharges of indebtedness.
     A.  Reporting for non-U.S. debtors
     Comments were received relating to the inclusion in final regulations of
an exception for reporting discharges of indebtedness of certain foreign
debtors.  These comments noted that, in some cases, discharges of indebtedness
that involve such debtors will not result in income that is taxable in the
United States.
     On the other hand, there clearly are cases in which a foreign person may
be subject to U.S. tax with respect to a discharge of indebtedness.  Because
there is no clear guidance on which financial institutions may rely for
purposes of determining whether a foreign person would be subject to U.S. tax
with respect to cancellation of indebtedness income, it is not appropriate to
provide a general exception for foreign persons.  However, the IRS and
Treasury are continuing to study the issue of whether reporting is necessary
in the case of foreign debtors whose debt is discharged by foreign branches of
U.S. financial institutions.  Accordingly, pending the issuance of further
guidance, no penalties will be imposed if an applicable financial entity fails
to report a discharge of indebtedness of a foreign debtor by a foreign branch
of the entity.
     B.  Reporting where debt is acquired by related persons
     Comments were received requesting that the final regulations  clarify
whether reporting is required in circumstances in which there is a deemed
discharge of indebtedness pursuant to the regulations under section 108(e)(4). 
Section 108(e)(4) and implementing regulations (see 1.108-2) provide that the
acquisition of outstanding indebtedness by a person related to the debtor from
a person who is not related to the debtor is treated as if the debtor had
acquired the indebtedness and may result in a realization by the debtor of
income from discharge of indebtedness.  Commentators indicated that applicable
financial entities often will be unaware that the conditions of section
108(e)(4) have been satisfied and that the debtor's indebtedness is considered
to have been discharged.  In response to these comments, the final regulations
provide that no reporting is required under section 6050P in the case of a
discharge of indebtedness under section 108(e)(4) unless the disposition of
the indebtedness by the creditor was made with a view to avoiding the
reporting requirements of this section.
     C.  Reporting for guarantors of indebtedness
     Commentators also requested guidance on whether, and under what
circumstances, a Form 1099-C must be filed for a guarantor of an indebtedness
when the underlying indebtedness is discharged.  The final regulations provide
that, in the case of guaranteed debt, a guarantor is not treated as a debtor
for purposes of reporting under section 6050P.  Thus, reporting for guarantors
is not required.
     D.  Reporting for non-lending transactions
     A number of comments were received advocating an exception in the final
regulations for discharges of indebtedness where the indebtedness is incurred
in a non-lending transaction.  Advocates of this exception argued that the
primary reason applicable financial entities, and not all trade or businesses,
were made subject to section 6050P is that financial entities have extensive
involvement in lending transactions where the majority of discharges of
indebtedness will occur.  Commentators argued that when an applicable
financial entity is a creditor as a result of a non-lending transaction, it
should be treated in the same manner as a non-applicable financial entity with
respect to that indebtedness, and not be subject to section 6050P if a
discharge occurs.
     Neither the language of section 6050P nor its legislative history
provides any indication that Congress intended for discharges of non-lending
indebtedness to be excluded from reporting.  Moreover, it makes no difference
in determining  whether a debtor has income under section 61(a)(12) that the 
indebtedness was incurred in a non-lending transaction.  Accordingly, the
final regulations do not adopt this suggestion.
     E.  Reporting of disputed liabilities
     The temporary and proposed regulations do not address the reporting
requirements under section 6050P in the case of the settlement of a disputed
liability.  The preamble to the temporary regulations solicited public comment
relating to this issue.  Several commentators urged that the final regulations
include an exception from reporting for settlements of bona fide disputed
liabilities.
     The determination regarding whether the settlement of a disputed
liability results in discharge of indebtedness income under section 61(a)(12)
is inherently factual.  Thus, it continues to be the position of the IRS and
Treasury that this issue should be addressed on a case-by-case basis, rather
than by these final regulations.  Therefore, the final regulations do not
provide an exception from reporting for disputed liabilities.  Instead,
resolution of the question of whether there may have been a discharge of
indebtedness reportable under this section remains the obligation of the
applicable financial entity.  The IRS and Treasury recognize that a creditor
and debtor may take inconsistent positions on this issue.  The IRS does not
intend to impose penalties for good faith failures to report settlements that
constitute discharges of indebtedness.
8.  Miscellaneous comments
     Comments were also received relating to whether applicable financial
entities have any information reporting obligations in instances where
payments are received on previously discharged debts.  In response to those
inquiries, the final regulations clarify that no additional reporting or Form
1099-C correction is required if a creditor receives a payment of all or a
portion of a discharged debt that has been reported to the IRS for a prior
calendar year.
     Comments were received respecting the TIN solicitation requirements of
the temporary and proposed regulations.  In response to those comments, the
final regulations provide that a reasonable effort (rather than all reasonable
efforts) must be made to obtain the correct name/TIN combination of the person
whose indebtedness is discharged.
     The IRS and Treasury received a number of other comments in addition to
those summarized above.  Some of the suggestions contained in the comments
have been adopted in the final regulations.  Other suggested changes were not
adopted primarily because those suggestions were inconsistent with the purpose
of the statute and its legislative history.
Special Analyses
     It has been determined that this Treasury decision is not a significant
regulatory action as defined in EO 12866.  Therefore, a regulatory assessment
is not required.  It also has been determined that section 553(b) of the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) and the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) do not apply to these regulations, and,
therefore, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required.  Pursuant to
section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, the notice of proposed
rulemaking preceding these regulations was submitted to the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on
small business.
Drafting Information
     The principal authors of these regulations are Sharon L. Hall and
Michael F. Schmit, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel (Income Tax and
Accounting), IRS.  However, other personnel from the IRS and Treasury
Department participated in their development.
List of Subjects
26 CFR Part 1
     Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
26 CFR Part 602
     Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Adoption of Amendments to the Regulations
     Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1 and 602 are amended as follows:
PART 1--INCOME TAXES
     Paragraph 1.  The authority citation for part 1 is amended by removing
the entry for 1.6050P-1T and adding an entry in numerical order to read as
follows:
     Authority:  26 U.S.C. 7805. * * *
Section 1.6050P-1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 6050P. * * *
     Par. 2.  Sections 1.6050P-0 and 1.6050P-1 are added to read as follows:
1.6050P-0   Table of contents.
     This section lists the major captions that appear in       1.6050P-1.
1.6050P-1   Information reporting for discharges of indebtedness by certain
financial entities.

(a)  Reporting requirement.
(1)  In general.
(2)  No aggregation.
(3)  Amounts not includible in income.
(4)  Time and place for reporting.
(i)  In general.
(ii)  Indebtedness discharged in bankruptcy.
(b)  Date of discharge.
(1)  In general.
(2)  Identifiable events.
(i)  In general.
(ii)  Statute of limitations.
(iii)  Decision to discontinue collection activity; creditor's          
defined policy.
(iv)  Expiration of non-payment testing period.
(3)  Permitted reporting.
(c)  Indebtedness.
(d)  Exceptions from reporting requirement.
(1)  Certain bankruptcy discharges.
(i)  In general.
(ii)  Business or investment debt.
(2)  Interest.
(3)  Non-principal amounts in lending transactions.
(4)  Indebtedness of foreign persons held by foreign branches of      U.S.
financial institutions.
(i)  Reporting requirements.
(ii)  Definition.
(5)  Acquisition of indebtedness by related party.
(6)  Releases.
(7)  Guarantors and sureties.
(e)  Additional rules.
(1)  Multiple debtors.
(i)  In general.
(ii)  Amount to be reported.
(2)  Multiple creditors.
(i)  In general.
(ii)  Partnerships.
(iii)  Pass-through securitized indebtedness arrangement.
(A)  Reporting requirements.
(B)  Definition.
(iv)  REMICs.
(3)  Coordination with reporting under section 6050J.
(4)  Direct or indirect subsidiary.
(5)  Use of magnetic media.
(6)  TIN solicitation requirement.
(i)  In general.
(ii)  Manner of soliciting TIN. 
(7)  Recordkeeping requirements.
(8)  No multiple reporting.
(f)  Requirement to furnish statement.
(1)  In general.
(2)  Furnishing copy of Form 1099-C. 
(3)  Time and place for furnishing statement.
(g)  Penalties.
(h)  Effective dates.
(1)  In general.
(2)  Earlier application.
1.6050P-1   Information reporting for discharges of indebtedness by certain
financial entities.
     (a)  Reporting requirement--(1)  In general.  Except as provided in
paragraph (d) of this section, any applicable financial entity (as defined in
section 6050P(c)(1)) that  discharges an indebtedness of any person (within
the meaning of section 7701(a)(1)) of at least $600 during a calendar year
must file an information return on Form 1099-C with the Internal Revenue
Service.  Solely for purposes of the reporting requirements of section 6050P
and this section, a discharge of indebtedness is deemed to have occurred,
except as provided in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, if and only if there
has occurred an identifiable event described in paragraph (b)(2) of this
section, whether or not an actual discharge of indebtedness has occurred on or
before the date on which the identifiable event has occurred.  The return must
include the following information--
     (i)  The name, address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN), as
defined in section 7701(a)(41), of each person for which there was an
identifiable event during the calendar year;
     (ii)  The date on which the identifiable event occurred, as described in
paragraph (b) of this section;
     (iii)  The amount of indebtedness discharged, as described in paragraph
(c) of this section;
     (iv)  An indication whether the identifiable event was a discharge of
indebtedness in a bankruptcy, if known; and 
     (v)  Any other information required by Form 1099-C or its instructions,
or current revenue procedures.
     (2)  No aggregation.  For purposes of reporting under this section,
multiple discharges of indebtedness of less than $600 are not required to be
aggregated unless such separate discharges are pursuant to a plan to evade the
reporting requirements of this section.
     (3)  Amounts not includible in income.  Except as otherwise provided in
this section, discharged indebtedness must be reported regardless of whether
the debtor is subject to tax on the discharged debt under sections 61 and 108
or otherwise by applicable law.
     (4)  Time and place for reporting--(i)  In general.  Except as provided
in paragraph (a)(4)(ii) of this section, returns required by this section must
be filed with the Internal Revenue Service office designated in the
instructions for Form 1099-C on or before February 28 of the year following
the calendar year in which the identifiable event occurs.
     (ii)  Indebtedness discharged in bankruptcy.  Indebtedness discharged in
bankruptcy that is required to be reported under  this section must be
reported for the later of the calendar year in which the amount of discharged
indebtedness first becomes ascertainable, or the calendar year in which the
identifiable event occurs.
     (b)  Date of discharge--(1)  In general.  Solely for purposes of this
section, except as provided in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, indebtedness
is discharged on the date of the occurrence of an identifiable event specified
in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
     (2)  Identifiable events--(i)  In general.  An identifiable event is--
     (A)  A discharge of indebtedness under title 11 of the United States
Code (bankruptcy);
     (B)  A cancellation or extinguishment of an indebtedness that renders a
debt unenforceable in a receivership, foreclosure, or similar proceeding in a
federal or State court, as described in section 368(a)(3)(A)(ii) (other than a
discharge described in paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A) of this section);
     (C)  A cancellation or extinguishment of an indebtedness upon the
expiration of the statute of limitations for collection of an indebtedness,
subject to the limitations described in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section,
or upon the expiration of a statutory period for filing a claim or commencing
a deficiency judgment proceeding;
     (D)  A cancellation or extinguishment of an indebtedness pursuant to an
election of foreclosure remedies by a creditor that statutorily extinguishes
or bars the creditor's right to pursue collection of the indebtedness;
     (E)  A cancellation or extinguishment of an indebtedness that renders a
debt unenforceable pursuant to a probate or similar proceeding;
     (F)  A discharge of indebtedness pursuant to an agreement between an
applicable financial entity and a debtor to discharge indebtedness at less
than full consideration;
     (G)  A discharge of indebtedness pursuant to a decision by the creditor,
or the application of a defined policy of the creditor, to discontinue
collection activity and discharge debt; or
     (H)  The expiration of the non-payment testing period, as described in
paragraph (b)(2)(iv) of this section.
     (ii)  Statute of limitations.  In the case of an expiration of the
statute of limitations for collection of an indebtedness, an identifiable
event occurs under paragraph (b)(2)(i)(C) of this section only if, and at such
time as, a debtor's affirmative statute of limitations defense is upheld in a
final judgment or decision of a judicial proceeding, and the period for
appealing the judgment or decision has expired.
     (iii)  Decision to discontinue collection activity; creditor's defined
policy.  For purposes of the identifiable event described in paragraph
(b)(2)(i)(G) of this section, a creditor's defined policy includes both a
written policy of the creditor and the creditor's established business
practice.  Thus, for example, a creditor's established practice to discontinue
collection activity and abandon debts upon expiration of a particular non-
payment period is considered a defined policy for purposes of paragraph
(b)(2)(i)(G) of this section.
     (iv)  Expiration of non-payment testing period.  There is a rebuttable
presumption that an identifiable event under paragraph (b)(2)(i)(H) of this
section has occurred during a calendar year if a creditor has not received a
payment on an indebtedness at any time during a testing period (as defined in
this paragraph (b)(2)(iv)) ending at the close of the year.  The testing
period is a 36-month period increased by the number of calendar months during
all or part of which the creditor was precluded from engaging in collection
activity by a stay in bankruptcy or similar bar under state or local law.  The
presumption that an identifiable event has occurred may be rebutted by the
creditor if the creditor (or a third-party collection agency on behalf of the
creditor) has engaged in significant, bona fide collection activity at any
time during the 12-month period ending at the close of the calendar year, or
if facts and circumstances existing as of January 31 of the calendar year
following expiration of the 36-month period indicate that the indebtedness has
not been discharged.  For purposes of this paragraph (b)(2)(iv)--
     (A)  Significant, bona fide collection activity does not include merely
nominal or ministerial collection action, such as an automated mailing;
     (B)  Facts and circumstances indicating that an indebtedness has not
been discharged include the existence of a lien relating to the indebtedness
against the debtor (to the extent of the value of the security), or the sale
or packaging for sale of the indebtedness by the creditor; and
     (C)  In no event will an identifiable event described in  paragraph
(b)(2)(i)(H) of this section occur prior to December 31, 1997.
     (3)  Permitted reporting.  If a discharge of indebtedness occurs before
the date on which an identifiable event occurs, the discharge may, at the
creditor's discretion, be reported under this section.
     (c)  Indebtedness.  For purposes of this section, indebtedness means any
amount owed to an applicable financial entity, including stated principal,
fees, stated interest, penalties, administrative costs and fines.  The amount
of indebtedness discharged may represent all, or only a part, of the total
amount owed to the applicable financial entity.
     (d)  Exceptions from reporting requirement--(1)  Certain bankruptcy
discharges--(i)  In general.  Reporting is required under this section in the
case of a discharge of indebtedness in bankruptcy only if the creditor knows
from information included in the reporting entity's books and records
pertaining to the indebtedness that the debt was incurred for business or
investment purposes as defined in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section.
     (ii)  Business or investment debt.  Indebtedness is considered incurred
for business purposes if it is incurred in connection with the conduct of any
trade or business other than the trade or business of performing services as
an employee.  Indebtedness is considered incurred for investment purposes if
it is incurred to purchase property held for investment, as defined in section
163(d)(5).
     (2)  Interest.  The discharge of an amount of indebtedness 
that is interest is not required to be reported under this section.
     (3)  Non-principal amounts in lending transactions.  In the case of a
lending transaction, the discharge of an amount other than stated principal is
not required to be reported under this section.  For this purpose, a lending
transaction is any transaction in which a lender loans money to, or makes
advances on behalf of, a borrower (including revolving credits and lines of
credit).
     (4)  Indebtedness of foreign debtors held by foreign branches of U.S.
financial institutions--(i)  Reporting requirements.  [Reserved]
     (ii)  Definition.  An indebtedness held by a foreign branch of a U.S.
financial institution is described in this paragraph (d)(4) only if--
     (A)  The financial institution is engaged through a branch or office in
the active conduct of a banking or similar business outside the United States;
     (B)  The branch or office is a permanent place of business that is
regularly maintained, occupied, and used to carry on a banking or similar
financial business;
     (C)  The business is conducted by at least one employee of the branch or
office who is regularly in attendance at such place of business during normal
working hours;
     (D)  The indebtedness is extended outside of the United States by the
branch or office in connection with that trade or business; and
     (E)  The financial institution does not know or have reason to know that
the debtor is a United States person.
     (5)  Acquisition of indebtedness by related party.  No reporting is
required under this section in the case of a deemed discharge of indebtedness
under section 108(e)(4) (relating to the acquisition of an indebtedness by a
person related to the debtor), unless the disposition of the indebtedness by
the creditor was made with a view to avoiding the reporting requirements of
this section.
     (6)  Releases.  The release of a co-obligor is not required to be
reported under this section if the remaining debtors remain liable for the
full amount of any unpaid indebtedness.
     (7)  Guarantors and sureties.  Solely for purposes of the reporting
requirements of this section, a guarantor is not a debtor.  Thus, in the case
of guaranteed indebtedness, reporting under this section is not required with
respect to a guarantor, whether or not there has been a default and demand for
payment made upon the guarantor.
     (e)  Additional rules--(1)  Multiple debtors--(i)  In general.  In the
case of indebtedness of $10,000 or more incurred on or after January 1, 1995,
that involves more than one debtor, a reporting entity is subject to the
requirements of paragraph (a) of this section for each debtor discharged from
such indebtedness.  In the case of indebtedness incurred prior to January 1,
1995, and indebtedness of less than $10,000 incurred on or after January 1,
1995, involving multiple debtors, reporting under this section is required
only with respect to the primary (or first-named) debtor.  Additionally, only
one return of information is required under this section if the reporting
entity knows, or has reason to know, that co-obligors were husband and wife
living at the same address when an indebtedness was incurred, and does not
know or have reason to know that such circumstances have changed at the date
of a discharge of the indebtedness.  This paragraph (e)(1) applies to
discharges of indebtedness after December 31, 1994.
     (ii)  Amount to be reported.  In the case of multiple debtors jointly
and severally liable on an indebtedness, the amount of discharged indebtedness
required to be reported under this section with respect to each debtor is the
total amount of indebtedness discharged.  For this purpose, multiple debtors
are presumed to be jointly and severally liable on an indebtedness in the
absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.
     (2)  Multiple creditors--(i)  In general.  Except as otherwise provided
in this paragraph (e)(2), if indebtedness is owned (or treated as owned for
federal income tax purposes) by more than one creditor, each creditor that is
an applicable financial entity must comply with the reporting requirements of
this section with respect to any discharge of indebtedness of $600 or more
allocable to such creditor.  A creditor will be considered to have complied
with the requirements of this section if a lead bank, fund administrator, or
other designee of the creditor complies on its behalf in any reasonable
manner, such as by filing a single return reporting the aggregate amount of
indebtedness discharged, or by filing a return with respect to the portion of
the discharged indebtedness allocable to the creditor.  For purposes of this
paragraph (e)(2)(i), any reasonable method may be used to determine the
portion of  discharged indebtedness allocable to each creditor.
     (ii)  Partnerships.  For purposes of paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this
section, indebtedness owned by a partnership is treated as owned by the
partners.
     (iii)  Pass-through securitized indebtedness arrangement--(A)  Reporting
requirements.  [Reserved]
     (B)  Definition.  For purposes of this paragraph (e)(2)(iii), a pass-
through securitized indebtedness arrangement is any arrangement whereby one or
more debt obligations are pooled and held for twenty or more persons whose
interests in the debt obligations are undivided co-ownership interests that
are freely transferrable.  Co-ownership interests that are actively traded
personal property (as defined in 1.1092(d)-1) are presumed to be freely
transferrable and held by twenty or more persons.
     (iv)  REMICs.  [Reserved]
     (3)  Coordination with reporting under section 6050J.  If,  in the same
calendar year, a discharge of indebtedness reportable under section 6050P
occurs in connection with a transaction also reportable under section 6050J
(relating to foreclosures and abandonments of secured property), an applicable
financial entity need not file both a Form 1099-A and a Form 1099-C with
respect to the same debtor.  The filing requirements of section 6050J will be
satisfied with respect to a borrower if, in lieu of filing Form 1099-A, a Form
1099-C is filed in accordance with the instructions for the filing of that
form.  This paragraph (e)(3) applies to discharges of indebtedness after
December 31, 1994.
     (4)  Direct or indirect subsidiary.  For purposes of section
6050P(c)(1)(C), the term direct or indirect subsidiary means a corporation in
a chain of corporations beginning with an entity described in section
6050P(c)(1)(A), if at least 50 percent of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock entitled to vote, or at least 50 percent of the total
value of all classes of stock, of such corporation is directly owned by the
entity described in section 6050P(c)(1)(A), or by one or more other
corporations in the chain.
     (5)  Use of magnetic media.  Any return required under this section must
be filed on magnetic media to the extent required by section 6011(e) and the
regulations thereunder.  A failure to file on magnetic media when required
constitutes a failure to file an information return under section 6721.  Any
person not required by section 6011(e) to file returns on magnetic media may
request permission to do so under applicable regulations and revenue
procedures.
     (6)  TIN solicitation requirement--(i)  In general.  For purposes of
reporting under this section, a reasonable effort must be made to obtain the
correct name/taxpayer identification number (TIN) combination of a person
whose indebtedness is discharged.  A TIN obtained at the time an indebtedness
is incurred satisfies the requirement of this section, unless the entity
required to file knows that such TIN is incorrect.  If the TIN is not obtained
prior to the occurrence of an identifiable event, it must be requested of the
debtor for purposes of satisfying the requirement of this paragraph (e)(6).
     (ii)  Manner of soliciting TIN.  Solicitations made in the manner
described in 301.6724-1(e)(1)(i) and (2) of this chapter will be deemed to
have satisfied the reasonable effort requirement set forth in paragraph
(e)(6)(i) of this section.     A TIN solicitation made after the occurrence of
an identifiable event must clearly notify the debtor that the Internal Revenue
Service requires the debtor to furnish its TIN, and that failure to furnish
such TIN may subject the debtor to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal
Revenue Service.  A TIN provided under this section is not required to be
certified under penalties of perjury.
     (7)  Recordkeeping requirements.  Any applicable financial entity
required to file a return with the Internal Revenue Service under this section
must also retain a copy of the return, or have the ability to reconstruct the
data required to be included on the return under paragraph (a)(1) of this
section, for at least four years from the date such return is required to be
filed under paragraph (a)(4) of this section.
     (8)  No multiple reporting.  If discharged indebtedness is reported
under this section, no further reporting under this section is required for
the amount so reported, notwithstanding that a subsequent identifiable event
occurs with respect to the same amount.  Further, no additional reporting or
Form 1099-C correction is required if a creditor receives a payment of all or
a portion of a discharged indebtedness reported under this section for a prior
calendar year.
     (f)  Requirement to furnish statement--(1)  In general.  Any applicable
financial entity required to file a return under this section must furnish to
each person whose name is shown on such return a written statement that
includes the following          information--
     (i)  The information required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section;
     (ii)  The name, address, and TIN of the applicable financial entity
required to file a return under paragraph (a) of this section;
     (iii)  A legend identifying the statement as important tax information
that is being furnished to the Internal Revenue Service; and
     (iv)  Any other information required by Form 1099-C or its 
instructions, or current revenue procedures.
     (2)  Furnishing copy of Form 1099-C.  The requirement to provide a
statement to the debtor will be satisfied if the applicable financial entity
furnishes copy B of the Form 1099-C or a substitute statement that complies
with the requirements of the current revenue procedure for substitute Forms
1099.
     (3)  Time and place for furnishing statement.  The statement required by
this paragraph (f) must be furnished to the debtor on or before January 31 of
the year following the calendar year in which the identifiable event occurs. 
The statement will be considered furnished to the debtor if it is mailed to
the debtor's last known address.
     (g)  Penalties.  For penalties for failure to comply with the
requirements of this section, see sections 6721 through 6724.
     (h)  Effective dates--(1)  In general.  The rules in this section apply
to discharges of indebtedness after December 21, 1996, except paragraphs
(e)(1) and (e)(3) of this section, which apply to discharges of indebtedness
after December 31, 1994.
     (2)  Earlier application.  Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph
(h)(1) of this section, an applicable financial entity may, at its discretion,
apply any of the provisions of this section to any discharge of indebtedness
occurring on or after January 1, 1996, and before December 22, 1996.
1.6050P-0T and 1.6050P-1T  [Removed]
     Par. 3.  Sections 1.6050P-0T and 1.6050P-1T are removed.                                  - 44 -
PART 602--OMB CONTROL NUMBERS UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
     Par. 4.  The authority citation for part 602 continues to read as
follows:
     Authority:     26 U.S.C. 7805.
602.101  [Amended]
     Par. 5.  In 602.101, paragraph (c) is amended by removing the entry for
1.6050P-1T and adding an entry in numerical order in the table to read
"1.6050P-1..........1545-1419".



                             Commissioner of Internal Revenue
                                 Margaret Milner Richardson
Approved:

                                       December 12, 1995

         Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
                Leslie Samuels