“Technical Corrections” and Other Revisions to the 2017 Tax Revision (P.L. 115-97)

“Technical Corrections” and Other Revisions to the 2017 Tax Revision (P.L. 115-97)

“Technical Corrections” and Other Revisions to April 8, 2021
the 2017 Tax Revision (P.L. 115-97)
Jane G. Gravelle
Congress has been discussing “technical corrections” to the 2017 tax revision (commonly known
Senior Specialist in
as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” or TCJA; P.L. 115-97) since shortly after the act’s passage on
Economic Policy
December 22, 2017. On January 2, 2019, Representative Brady released the Tax Technical and

Clerical Corrections Act Discussion Draft. Although no formal definition of a technical
correction exists, some understand technical corrections to be provisions that are generally

noncontroversial changes to the text of already enacted tax legislation to ensure that the law as
enacted is consistent with Congress’s original intent. What some might consider a true “technical correction” would also not
affect revenue. The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) also discussed technical corrections in its 2018 “blue book”
explanation of the law.
Some legislative changes concerning the TCJA address provisions not included in the technical corrections draft. For
example, shortly after the passage of the TCJA, a change relating to the treatment of farmer’s cooperatives was enacted,
referred to as the “grain glitch.” Because this change preceded the discussion draft, it was not included and might not have
been included in any case. Several other legislative changes are also not in the discussion draft and might be considered
policy changes, and some subsequent legislative revisions address items in the discussion draft.
Numerous regulatory changes have also addressed provisions in the discussion draft. For example, the regulations clarified
that plaintiff’s attorney fees could be deducted in sexual harassment suits.
Two issues—interest deduction for travel trailers and campers and the Social Security number requirement for child tax credit
for the Amish—have received some attention but have not been addressed with legislation or regulation, and they are not in
the discussion draft.

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Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Provisions Already Enacted or Addressed in Regulations ............................................................... 1
Provisions Addressed by Legislative Changes Not in the Discussion Draft ............................. 2
The “Grain Glitch” and Other Revisions ............................................................................ 2
The “Kiddie” Tax and Military Survivors ........................................................................... 2
Taxation of Fringe Benefits to Nonprofits .......................................................................... 3
Taxation of Grants to Cooperatives .................................................................................... 3
Issues in the Discussion Draft Addressed in Legislation .......................................................... 4
Depreciation of Qualified Improvement Property (the “Retail Glitch”) ............................. 4
Net Operating Loss Deduction ............................................................................................ 4
Limit on Losses of Noncorporate Businesses ..................................................................... 5
Issues Addressed by Regulation ................................................................................................ 5
The 20% Deduction for Pass-Through Businesses ............................................................. 5
Retention of Gross Income Amounts for Non-Child Dependents ...................................... 6
Deduction for Attorney’s Fees of Plaintiffs in Sexual Harassment or Abuse Cases ........... 6
Reduced Rate of Excise Tax on Certain Wines ................................................................... 6
Temporary 100% Expensing for Certain Business Assets .................................................. 7
Limitation on Deduction for Interest .................................................................................. 7
Limitation on Deduction for Fringe Benefits ...................................................................... 7
Three-Year Holding Period for Long-Term Gains for Sales of Partnership
Interests in Investment Partnerships ................................................................................ 7
Opportunity Zones .............................................................................................................. 7
International Provisions ...................................................................................................... 8
Provisions in the January 2019 Discussion Draft Not Yet Addressed (Other Than
International) ................................................................................................................................ 8
Individual Tax Reform .............................................................................................................. 8
Tax Bracket Rounding Rule for Head of Household Returns ............................................. 8
Tax Identification Number for Dependent and Child Tax Credits ...................................... 8
Charitable Contribution Limits ........................................................................................... 8
Death or Disability Income Exclusion for Student Loans .................................................. 9
State and Local Tax Deduction ........................................................................................... 9
Bicycle Commuting Expenses ............................................................................................ 9
Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax ........................................................................................ 9
Business-Related Provisions in General ................................................................................... 9
Improvements to Nonresidential Real Property Under Section 179 ................................... 9
Temporary 100% Expensing for Certain Assets ............................................................... 10
Applicable Recovery Period for Real Property ................................................................. 10
Research and Experimental Expenditures......................................................................... 10
Limitation on the Deduction of Interest ............................................................................. 11
Limitation on Deduction for Fringe Benefits ..................................................................... 11
Three-Year Holding Period for Long-Term Gains for Sales of Partnership
Interests in Investment Partnerships ............................................................................... 11
Employer Credit for Paid Family and Medical Leave ....................................................... 11
Insurance Provisions ......................................................................................................... 12
Modification of Treatment of S Corporations Conversions to C Corporations ................ 12
Excise Tax on Excess Tax-Exempt Organization Executive Compensation ..................... 13
Opportunity Zones ............................................................................................................ 13
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International Provisions ................................................................................................................. 13
Dividend Received Deduction ................................................................................................ 15
Special Rules Relating to Sales or Transfers Involving 10%-Owned Foreign
Corporations ......................................................................................................................... 16
Treatment of Deferred Foreign Income Under the Transition Tax .......................................... 16
Current Year Inclusion of GILTI ............................................................................................. 17
Taxable Income Limitation to Deduction for FDII and GILTI ............................................... 18
Modification of Stock Attribution (“Downward Attribution”) Rules ..................................... 18
Modification of Definition of U.S. Shareholder ..................................................................... 18
Repeal of Section 902, Indirect Foreign Tax Credits, and Determination of Section
960, Credit on a Current Year Basis ..................................................................................... 19
Other Possible “Fixes” and Technical Corrections ........................................................................ 19
Interest Deduction Limits for Floor Plan Financing of Travel Trailers and Campers ............. 19
Social Security Numbers and the Child Credit for the Amish ................................................ 20

Contacts
Author Information ........................................................................................................................ 20

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“Technical Corrections” and Other Revisions to the 2017 Tax Revision (P.L. 115-97)

Introduction
Congress has been discussing “technical corrections” to the 2017 tax revision (commonly known
as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” or TCJA; P.L. 115-97) since shortly after the act’s passage on
December 22, 2017. It is sometimes unclear, however, what is strictly a “technical correction.”
This report discusses provisions that have been widely discussed as “technical corrections” to the
2017 tax revision or as other unintended or unexpected consequences of the act that might fall
outside the scope of what would be considered by most to be a “technical correction.” Some of
these provisions have already been addressed by legislative or regulatory changes.
Although no formal definition of a technical correction exists, some understand technical
corrections to be provisions that are generally noncontroversial changes to the text of already
enacted tax legislation to ensure that the law as enacted is consistent with Congress’s original
intent. What some might consider a true “technical correction” would also not affect revenue.1
The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) also discussed technical corrections in its 2018 “blue
book” explanation of the law.2
On January 2, 2019, Representative Brady released the Tax Technical and Clerical Corrections
Act Discussion Draft.3 The discussion draft includes technical corrections that had been
developed as of the release date, but acknowledges additional technical corrections may be
identified in the future.
Shortly after the passage of the TCJA, a change relating to the treatment of farmer’s cooperatives
was enacted, referred to as the “grain glitch” (see discussion below).This action was taken before
the discussion draft was developed; thus it was not in the draft and might not have been included
because it could be viewed as a policy change.
This report’s first section summarizes provisions that have already been addressed by legislative
or regulatory actions. The second section explains the remaining provisions in the discussion draft
other than the international provisions. The third section discusses technical corrections to the
international provisions, beginning with a brief overview of the change in the international tax
regime and noting where issues have been addressed in the regulations. The final section
discusses some issues that have not been addressed and were not included in the discussion draft,
but that have been raised as concerns.
Provisions Already Enacted or Addressed in
Regulations
Some TCJA provisions have already been revised. For example, the “grain glitch” was enacted
before the technical corrections draft. Some provisions were policy changes not in the draft and

1 See Ernst and Young, Observations on Former Chairman Brady’s Technical Corrections Draft Legislation, January
19, 2019, https://taxnews.ey.com/news/2019-0247-observations-on-former-chairman-bradys-technical-corrections-
draft-legislation.
2 Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), General Explanation of P.L. 115-97, December 2018, JCS-1-18,
https://www.jct.gov/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?guid=7c87c9f5-1cb8-4202-a1ca-b608a04c741b.
3 The discussion draft is available at https://republicans-waysandmeansforms.house.gov/uploadedfiles/
tax_technical_and_clerical_corrections_act_discussion_draft.pdf. The JCT released a technical explanation of the draft
bill, Tax and Technical Corrections, JCX-1-19, January 2, 2019, https://www.jct.gov/publications.html?func=
startdown&id=5154.
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others were in the draft. Some issues have also been addressed in regulations. This section first
covers legislative changes and then covers regulatory changes.
Provisions Addressed by Legislative Changes Not in the
Discussion Draft
Numerous provisions that raised concerns were addressed in subsequent legislation and were not
in the discussion draft.
The “Grain Glitch” and Other Revisions
Shortly after the TCJA was enacted, an issue arose termed the “grain glitch.” This issue was not
considered a technical correction, although it led to unintended consequences, and it was resolved
before the technical corrections discussion draft was released. The TCJA allowed a 20%
deduction from net income for pass-through businesses (i.e., partnerships, proprietorships, and
smaller Subchapter S corporations that elect to be taxed under the individual rather than the
corporate tax), scheduled to expire after 2025. It also allowed that same deduction for dividends
paid from agricultural cooperatives. The idea behind this rule was to maintain a benefit that had
been allowed under a preexisting provision that was repealed—the domestic production activities
deduction, which allowed a 9% deduction from table income limited to 50% of wages. A
cooperative could pass this deduction to their patrons (the participants in the cooperative).
As enacted in the TCJA, the rule allowed farmers who sold to cooperatives to receive a 20%
deduction for gross rather than net income. It made selling to cooperatives much more attractive
than to other businesses and potentially created a loophole that could be exploited by other
taxpayers.
The grain glitch was addressed in a compromise in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018,
P.L. 115-141. It allowed farmers to take a 20% deduction of net income that was reduced by the
lesser of 9% of net income or 50% of wages paid. The cooperative could also pass on a deduction
equal to the lesser of 9% of income or 50% of wages paid. The deduction for patrons depended
on the circumstances (size of wages and whether the deduction was passed through). In some
circumstances, the deduction remained at 20% (with the reduction for the farmer offset by the
pass-through of the cooperative), but the deduction would range from 11% (a farmer with high
wages paid that received no pass-through) to 29% (for a farmer with no wages and a full pass-
through of 9%).
This revision resulted in a federal revenue gain, during the years fully in effect, of $13 million to
$15 million.4
The “Kiddie” Tax and Military Survivors
The “kiddie tax” was first enacted in 1986. It was designed to prevent wealthy parents from
reducing their income taxes by transferring assets to their children, who would be taxed at lower
rates. Prior to the TCJA, this income was taxed at the higher of the child’s tax rate or the parent’s
rate (the latter calculated by adding the child’s income to the parents and calculating the change
in tax). The TCJA required the child’s taxes to be calculated at the higher rates that applied to

4 JCT, Estimated Budget Effects of the Revenue Provisions Contained in the House Amendment to the Senate
Amendment to H.R. 1625 (Rules Committee Print 115-66), JCX-7-18, March 22, 2018, https://www.jct.gov/
publications.html?func=startdown&id=5065.
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estates and trusts rather than adding the income to the parent’s income. As a result of this
provision, some military families owed higher taxes on survivor benefits, an issue that received
widespread attention. This provision was scheduled to expire after 2020.5
The technical corrections discussion draft made some limited clarifying changes to this provision.
The entire provision, however, was repealed retroactively in Setting Every Community Up for
Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, enacted as Division O of the Further Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2020, P.L. 116-94. This revision resulted in a federal revenue loss of $470
million for FY2020-FY2029.6
Taxation of Fringe Benefits to Nonprofits
The TCJA generally disallowed deductions for certain employee fringe benefits. Because for-
profit businesses were no longer allowed to deduct these expenses as a result of other changes in
the TCJA, in an effort to create parity, tax-exempt organizations were required to add the value of
these employee fringe benefits to their unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). Increasing
UBTI by the amount of fringe benefits effectively required tax-exempt entities to pay the 21%
corporate tax rate on the value of these benefits as provided. For some organizations that did not
previously file Form 990s, particularly churches, this change could require that information
returns be filed. This provision became popularly known as the “church parking tax.”
The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act, enacted as Division Q of the Further
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, P.L. 116-94, repealed the church parking tax. This change
resulted in a federal revenue loss of $1,870 million for FY2020-FY2029.7
Taxation of Grants to Cooperatives
Capital contributions are not taxable to firms and, under pre-TCJA law, grants from governments
and civic organizations were considered contributions to capital. The TCJA made these grants
taxable by no longer considering them capital contributions, but rather income. This change was
to discourage competition by states and localities to attract business with subsidies. This change
interacted with a provision requiring tax-exempt 501(c)(12) cooperative telephone and electric
companies (including rural electric cooperatives) to receive 85% of revenues from members (who
consume their services), causing some cooperatives to lose tax-exempt status if they accepted
grants. Of particular concern was that this change would interfere with grants to extend
broadband access to rural areas.
The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act, enacted as Division Q of the Further
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, P.L. 116-94, revised the contributions to capital provision
so it would not affect the tax exempt status of cooperatives. This change resulted in a federal
revenue loss of $34 million for FY2020-FY2029.8

5 See CRS Insight IN11112, The Kiddie Tax and Military Survivors’ Benefits, by Sean Lowry and Kristy N. Kamarck.
6 JCT, Estimated Budget Effects Of The Revenue Provisions Contained In The House Amendment To The Senate
Amendment To H.R. 1865, The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, JCX-54R-19, December 17, 2019,
https://www.jct.gov/publications.html?func=startdown&id=5237 (hereinafter, JCT, Estimated Budget Effects of the
Revenue Provisions, 2019).
7 JCT, Estimated Budget Effects of the Revenue Provisions, 2019.
8 JCT, Estimated Budget Effects of the Revenue Provisions, 2019.
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Issues in the Discussion Draft Addressed in Legislation
Some provisions of concern were addressed in subsequent legislation and were in the discussion
draft.
Depreciation of Qualified Improvement Property (the “Retail Glitch”)
Prior to the TCJA, the cost of certain categories of nonresidential real property could be deducted
over 15 years rather than the 39 years that generally applied to nonresidential buildings. This
shorter depreciation period also qualified such investments for bonus depreciation, which at that
time allowed 50% of most equipment costs to be deducted immediately. Eligible improvements
included leasehold, restaurant, and retail improvements. Businesses could also elect a longer
depreciation period under the alternative depreciation system (ADS).
The TCJA increased bonus depreciation to 100% (also called expensing) through 2022, phased
out by 20% a year over five years. In revising the law, the bill inadvertently omitted the 15-year
write-off period for qualified improvement property, also making the investments ineligible for
the 100% immediate deduction.9 These properties became subject to the 39-year period and a 40-
year ADS period. The ADS period is important to real estate businesses because they can elect
out of the interest deduction limits provided elsewhere in the act by using ADS depreciation
methods.
Representative Brady’s discussion draft also would have made a technical correction to this
“retail glitch,” providing for the 15-year period (20 years under ADS) and thus eligible for bonus
depreciation. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, P.L. 116-136,
retroactively restored the 15-year life and eligibility for bonus depreciation.
Net Operating Loss Deduction
Prior to the TCJA, net operating losses (NOLs) could be carried back two years and forward 20
years to offset taxable income. The TCJA modified this rule to allow no carrybacks and indefinite
carryforwards; it also limited the NOL deduction to 80% of taxable income.
The CARES Act allowed a five-year carryback and eliminated the 80% of taxable income
limitation for 2018-2020. The CARES Act also made several technical corrections to the NOL
provisions first proposed in the Brady discussion draft. The first technical correction related to the
NOL changes ensured that the NOL carryforward and carryback modifications adopted in the tax
legislation (which eliminated the preexisting two-year carryback and restricted the loss offset to
80% of TCJA) would be effective for NOLs arising in tax years beginning after December 31,
2017 (and not tax years ending after December 31, 2017). This rule allowed firms (called fiscal
year firms) with tax years spanning 2017-2018 to use the prior law rules allowing a two-year
carryback and full offset against taxable income.
A second technical correction changed in the CARES Act addresses the 80% of taxable income
limitation (suspended for 2018-2020, but continuing in 2021 and after) by clarifying that pre-
2018 loss carryforwards would fully offset taxable income, with the 80% limit applying to
remaining taxable income for offsetting loss carryforwards from 2018 and after.

9 See CRS In Focus IF11187, Tax Depreciation of Qualified Improvement Property: Current Status and Legislative
History, by Gary Guenther for further discussion.
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A third technical correction, also addressed, provided that, once the 80% of taxable income limit
is restored, that limit would be applied to income before the deduction for certain other provisions
enacted in TCJA: the 20% deduction for pass-through business,10 the deduction for global
international low-taxed intangible income (GILTI), and the deduction for foreign derived
intangible income (FDII).11 This latter change increases the size of income against which the 80%
limit applies.
Limit on Losses of Noncorporate Businesses
Under law prior to the TCJA, business losses could be used to offset nonbusiness income. The TCJA
limited the amount of business losses that could offset other income to $500,000 for a joint return and
$250,000 for other returns. Losses in excess of the amounts are termed excess business losses.
The CARES Act suspended this limit for 2018-2020. After 2020, the CARES Act made several
technical corrections proposed in the technical corrections draft. It coordinated language to clarify that
these disallowed losses become NOLs and that the deductions taken into account do not include the
20% pass-through deduction. It also clarifies that income and deductions from the business relating to
being an employee are not taken into account in determining excess business losses. It clarifies that
net capital gain income is limited to the lesser of total net gain or net gain from business in
determining the excess business loss.
Issues Addressed by Regulation
Some issues of concern were addressed in tax regulations. Tax regulations may be more likely to be
challenged in court, especially if they are not taxpayer friendly; thus regulatory corrections do not
have the same force as legislative changes.
The 20% Deduction for Pass-Through Businesses
The TCJA introduced a 20% income deduction for pass-through businesses taxed under the
individual rather than the corporate tax (i.e., sole proprietors, partnerships, and Subchapter S
corporations that elect to be treated as pass-throughs).12 This deduction is sometimes referred to
as the Section 199A deduction after the code section that provides it. The deduction also applied
to dividends from real estate investment trusts (REITs) that invest primarily in real estate and pass
on earnings through deductible dividends. Most of the revisions in this area relate to the treatment
of REIT and PTP (publically traded partnership) incomes.
Most of the discussion draft corrections appear to have been addressed in the final regulations.13
These include indicating that investment income offset by investment interest is not eligible for
the deduction, that deductible amounts cannot be negative, that the deduction is allowable for the
alternative minimum tax, and that the production activities deduction (formerly allowed by

10 See CRS In Focus IF11122, Section 199A Deduction for Pass-through Business Income: An Overview, by Gary
Guenther for further discussion.
11 See CRS Insight IN11314, Interaction of International Tax Provisions with Business Provisions in the CARES Act,
by Jane G. Gravelle and CRS Report R45186, Issues in International Corporate Taxation: The 2017 Revision (P.L.
115-97), by Jane G. Gravelle and Donald J. Marples for a discussion of low-taxed intangible income (GILTI) and
foreign derived intangible income (FDII).
12 See CRS In Focus IF11122, Section 199A Deduction for Pass-through Business Income: An Overview, by Gary
Guenther.
13 T.D. 9847, Qualified Business Income Deduction, February 8 2019, https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-
inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-01025.pdf.
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Section 199A for 2017) cannot be taken for amounts eligible for the pass-through deduction when
a firm’s fiscal year is not a calendar year.
The technical corrections draft also proposed that a qualified REIT dividend must meet the
standards of a qualified dividend, which requires the stock to have been held at least 45 days
before the dividend is paid and not be involved in other arrangements such as short sales. The
final regulations required a 45-day holding period for REIT dividends but did not make that a
period prior to the dividend payment.
One technical correction has not entirely been resolved: whether a dividend from a regulated
investment company (RIC) can be eligible for the deduction if derived from REIT or PTP.
Proposed regulations have indicated that such REIT derived dividends would be eligible but has
asked for commentary given the many complexities that arise with PTPs.14 The final regulations
did not include PTP.15
Retention of Gross Income Amounts for Non-Child Dependents
To qualify as a dependent, non-child dependents must have gross income less than the personal
exemption. The TCJA temporarily reduced the personal exemption to zero. This correction
changed the threshold back to what would otherwise have been the personal exemption ($4,140
indexed for inflation). The Internal Revenue Service issued a notice that indicated the personal
exemption amount would be retained for determining non-child dependents.16
Deduction for Attorney’s Fees of Plaintiffs in Sexual Harassment or Abuse
Cases
Questions were raised about whether a TCJA provision that disallowed a deduction for attorney’s
fees relating to settlement or payment for sexual harassment or abuse cases would also not be
deductible by plaintiffs. The IRS issued a statement that the restriction would not apply to
plaintiffs.17
Reduced Rate of Excise Tax on Certain Wines
TCJA temporarily reduced the federal excise tax on certain wines. The issue was whether the
wine credit for small domestic producers that was expanded to large producers on both domestic
and sparkling wines would be transferred for wine in bond. The Code of Federal Regulations
clarifies the issue.18 Division EE of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260)
expanded and made permanent the temporary reduction.

14 REG-134652-18, February 8, 2019, https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/REG-134652-18.pdf.
15 Regulations issued on June 20, 2020, REG-134652-18, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/06/25/2020-
11832/qualified-business-income-deduction.
16 See IRS Notice 2018-70, Guidance on Qualifying Relative and the Exemption Amount, https://www.irs.gov/irb/
2018-38_IRB#NOT-2018-70.
17 See Internal Revenue Service, Section 162(q) FAQ, https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/section-162q-faq.
18 27 C.F.R. §24.278, Tax Credit for Certain Small Domestic Producers, https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/
24.278.
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Temporary 100% Expensing for Certain Business Assets
The TCJA excludes property with floor plan indebtedness that increases the limit on the interest
deduction. The technical correction addressed by the regulations clarifies that the provision
applies to property placed in service in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.19
Limitation on Deduction for Interest
The regulations address the interrelationship of the restriction on interest deductions under
Section 163(j), which disallows net interest payments in excess of 30% of adjusted taxable
income with the limitations under the at-risk rule and the passive activity loss rules. The
regulations clarify that the general limit on interest deductions applies before the at-risk rules and
the passive activity loss rules.20
Limitation on Deduction for Fringe Benefits
The TCJA disallowed deductions for transportation fringe benefits and certain recreation
expenses, which are not normally included in employee income. The technical correction
addressed by the regulations clarifies that this treatment will not apply to transportation fringe
benefits if these benefits are already treated as compensation.21
Three-Year Holding Period for Long-Term Gains for Sales of Partnership
Interests in Investment Partnerships
The TCJA required a three-year rather than a one-year holding period for treatment of sale of
partnership interest in an investment firm as long-term capital gains subject to lower rates. This
provision is related to concerns about carried interest (treating what is essentially compensation
as capital gains). The rules applied to sales by related parties (e.g., other family members of
controlled businesses) and the technical correction addressed by the regulations specifies what
these related parties are by identifying particular code sections.22
Opportunity Zones
The TCJA provided for deferral or exclusion of capital gains income for investment in an
opportunity fund. The technical correction clarified that the gain was a capital gain. This issue
was addressed in the final regulations, which determined only capital gains qualified.23

19 See TD 9874, Additional First Year Depreciation Deduction, September 24, 2019, https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/
td-9874.pdf.
20 See regulations on Limitation on Deduction for Business Interest Expense at https://www.federalregister.gov/
documents/2020/09/14/2020-16531/limitation-on-deduction-for-business-intereSeest-expense.
21 See Treasury Decision, TD 9939, Qualified Transportation Fringe, Transportation and Commuting Expenses under
Section 274, June 23, 2020, https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/td-9939.pdf.
22 Addressed by regulations, see TD 9945, Guidance Under Section 1061, https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/td-
9945.pdf.
23 See final regulations, Investing in Qualified Opportunity Zones, January 13, 2020, https://www.federalregister.gov/
documents/2020/01/13/2019-27846/investing-in-qualified-opportunity-funds.
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International Provisions
Some aspects of international provisions, which are quite complex and difficult to explain without
an outline of the international rules, have been incorporated in regulations, whereas others have
not. See discussion in the text.
Provisions in the January 2019 Discussion Draft Not
Yet Addressed (Other Than International)
This section discusses the provisions in the discussion draft. It divides them into categories
according to the TCJA’s outline and CRS Report R45092, which provides a side-by-side
comparison.24 The section also notes where these provisions have received significant attention
and in those cases where they are discussed in other CRS reports.
Individual Tax Reform
The individual tax provisions were generally temporary and are scheduled to expire after 2025.
The following changes refer to those provisions as currently in force.
Tax Bracket Rounding Rule for Head of Household Returns
When adjusting for inflation, tax brackets are rounded up to the next $50 ($25 for married
couples filing separately). The TCJA inadvertently included head of household returns in the
same category as married filing separately for this rounding convention. The revision would
provide for $50 rounding increment for head of household rate brackets.
Tax Identification Number for Dependent and Child Tax Credits
The TCJA requires that a taxpayer must provide the Social Security number (SSN) for any child
claimed for the child tax credit. The TCJA also enacted a new temporary credit for non-child-tax-
credit-eligible dependents. The IRS refers to the credit as the “credit for other dependents.” This
credit is equal to $500 per non-child-credit-eligible dependent.
The provision clarifies that in order for a taxpayer to receive the “credit for other dependents,” the
taxpayer must provide a tax identification number (TIN), which is generally an SSN or an
individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). It also clarifies that for the purposes of claiming
the child credit or credit for other dependents, the applicable TIN must be issued on or before the
due date for filing the return (current law states before).
Charitable Contribution Limits
Under prior law, cash contributions to charities were limited to 50% of adjusted gross income
(AGI) and cash contributions to private foundations were limited to 30% of AGI. Property
contributions were limited to 30% of AGI for charities and 20% of AGI for private foundations.
Taxpayers could deduct combinations (e.g., 30% to private foundations and 20% to charities, for
a total of 50%). In increasing the limit to 60%, the revision requires that all of the 60%

24 CRS Report R45092, The 2017 Tax Revision (P.L. 115-97): Comparison to 2017 Tax Law, coordinated by Molly F.
Sherlock and Donald J. Marples.
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contribution be entirely in cash to charities. The correction would allow the 60% limit for cash
contributions to apply after taking into account noncash contributions.
Death or Disability Income Exclusion for Student Loans
TCJA allowed student loans discharged due to death or disability of the student to be exempt
from income, and hence not subject to taxation. The correction expands this exclusion to include
parent’s loans (Parents Plus) that are discharged because of the student’s death or disability.
State and Local Tax Deduction
The TCJA imposed a limit of $10,000 on itemized deductions of state and local taxes. The
provision clarifies that the ceiling cannot be avoided by prepaying income taxes.25 Such a rule
already appears in the law, but the correction changes the section reference to be more explicit.
Bicycle Commuting Expenses
The TCJA eliminated the provision that allowed reimbursements (which are paid to the
employee) for bicycle commuting expenses to be excluded from employee income but continued
to allow employers to deduct expenses. This treatment is slightly different from other fringe
benefits in which the TCJA disallowed employer deductions while continuing to exclude
transportation fringe benefits (which are often provided in kind, such as parking). The change in
the discussion draft moves the exclusion from a subsection of the tax code defining transportation
fringes to the section defining fringe benefits in general.
Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax
Prior law imposed an alternative minimum tax, or AMT (a lower rate on a broader base) on
corporations. Any AMT in excess of regular tax could be carried over to offset regular tax in
years when the minimum tax was smaller than the regular tax. This carryover was allowed to
reflect the influence of timing provisions in the two tax bases, especially with respect to
depreciation. The TCJA repealed the corporate AMT, and it allowed for a refund of unused AMT
credit carryovers in the years 2018 through 2021, in a schedule set out in the TCJA. Uncertainty
exists about whether this schedule will be affected by credit limitations in other sections of the tax
code, which govern the carryover of tax attributes with a change in ownership or an acquisition
(Sections 383 and 381 of the tax code). The provision clarifies that these tax sections will not
affect the AMT schedule.
Business-Related Provisions in General
Improvements to Nonresidential Real Property Under Section 179
Under the TCJA, certain improvements to nonresidential real property (roofs, heating, ventilation,
and air-conditioning property; fire protection and fire alarm systems; and security systems) can be
expensed, up to dollar limits as part of a general provision under Section 179 that allows

25 See CRS Report R46246, The SALT Cap: Overview and Analysis, by Grant A. Driessen and Joseph S. Hughes for a
discussion of the cap.
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expensing of certain depreciable assets.26 The provision clarifies that the improvement must be
made by the taxpayer.
Temporary 100% Expensing for Certain Assets
Prior to the TCJA, certain investments—primarily equipment—were eligible for bonus
depreciation, which allowed half of the investment to be expensed (deducted immediately rather
than depreciated over time); this provision was scheduled to be phased out after 2019. The TCJA
allowed for 100% expensing for assets placed into service after September 27, 2017, and through
2020, which was thereafter phased out over five years by 20% per year.
Taxpayers were allowed a transition rule to elect the 50% expensing allowance for assets for the
taxpayer’s first taxable year ending after September 27, 2017. The technical correction would add
that this provision applies only for assets placed in service by taxpayers with the first taxable year
ending after that date and beginning before January 1, 2018. Technical corrections would also
correct the law regarding effective dates to indicate that temporary expensing applies to assets
acquired before September 28, 2017, and placed into service after September 27, 2017; the
current language refers to assets acquired and placed into service after September 27, 2017.
Applicable Recovery Period for Real Property
The CARES Act corrected the “retail glitch,” restoring the treatment of qualified improvement
property to 15 years and eligible for expensing.
The discussion draft also clarifies that for taxpayers in the real estate industry who have elected to
avoid the limits on interest deductions (allowed under other provisions of the TCJA bill) if they
use an alternative slower method of depreciation (the alternative depreciation system, or ADS),
the ADS (under a change of use provision) will be used for qualified improvement property
placed into service before 2018.
Research and Experimental Expenditures
Currently, research and experimental (R&E) expenditures covering salaries and other costs (but
not depreciable assets) are expensed, although, as an investment, theoretically they should be
capitalized and written off over their useful life. This provision has long existed in the tax code
both to simplify tax administration and encourage R&E. The TCJA provided that for taxable
years beginning after December 31, 2021, the costs would be deducted over five years.
These expenditures constituted a preference under the AMT, which required them to be deducted
over 10 years. The AMT was repealed for corporations, but maintained for individuals (although
exemptions were increased so that it applies to fewer taxpayers). This change eliminates R&E
from the list of preferences. The tax code also allowed taxpayers to elect to write off certain items
otherwise expensed over 10 years under the regular tax rules, which would make the treatment of
research expenses the same as under the AMT. This revision removes R&E expenses from this
list. Basically, all of these changes create a uniform treatment of R&E expenditures.
The correction also revises rules for uniform capitalization of certain overhead costs to remove
the reference to R&E expenditures.

26 See CRS In Focus IF10723, P.L. 115-97, the 2017 Tax Revision, and Small Business Taxation, by Gary Guenther
and CRS Report RL32254, Small Business Tax Benefits: Current Law and Arguments For and Against Them, by Gary
Guenther for further discussion of Section 179.
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Limitation on the Deduction of Interest
The TCJA provided limits on the deduction of interest that, in contrast to prior law, applies to all
interest (not just related party interest) and all businesses (not just corporations). The interest
deduction (net of business interest income) limit is 30% of a taxpayer’s adjusted income before
interest and taxes (and temporarily before depreciation deductions). Disallowed interest (excess
interest) can be carried forward to offset taxable income in the future when the interest limit is not
reached. The extension to unincorporated businesses that are taxed under the individual income
tax creates some complications for partnerships and with other interest restrictions in the tax
code.
The interest limit is applied to the partnership (not the individual partners) but the carryforward is
applied at the partner level (that is because partnership allocations can shift over time). Thus, any
excess interest or “excess taxable income” (when 30% of adjusted income exceeds interest) is
passed on to the partners who then apply carryforwards. The technical correction provides
clarification to ensure against double counting at the partnership and partner level by clarifying
that business interest income cannot be counted for both the partners and the partnership but also
that any business interest income not used by the partnership may be passed down to the partners.
It also clarifies that disallowed business interest may offset excess taxable income and business
interest income allocated to the partner but not other income of the partner. It also clarifies that
the offset against excess taxable income of the partner will not be reduced because the partner has
negative adjusted taxable income before considering the excess taxable income. Finally, it
provides rules for allocating the partners’ shares of disallowed business interest, excess table
income, and excess business income.
Limitation on Deduction for Fringe Benefits
The TCJA disallowed deductions for transportation fringe benefits and certain recreation
expenses, which are not normally included in employee income. The correction clarifies language
consistent with congressional intent that the exception for business meetings is to disallow a
deduction for entertainment but not for 50% of meals.
Three-Year Holding Period for Long-Term Gains for Sales of Partnership
Interests in Investment Partnerships
The TCJA required a three-year rather than a one-year holding period for treatment of sale of
partnership interest in an investment firm as long-term capital gains subject to lower rates. This
provision is related to concerns about carried interest (treating what is essentially compensation
as capital gains). The rules applied to sales by related parties (e.g., other family members of
controlled businesses) and the technical correction specifies what these related parties are by
identifying particular code sections.
Employer Credit for Paid Family and Medical Leave
The TCJA act provided for an employer credit for paid family and medical leave, set to expire in
2019, subsequently extended to 2020 by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L.
116-94) and through 2025 by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260 ). This
provision makes a technical change to treat members of an aggregated group as a single employer
rather than a single taxpayer. It also adds a provision that allows an employer in an aggregated
group to receive the credit if they have a written leave policy that meets criteria for claiming the
credit, even if other employers in the aggregated group do not have a written leave policy. The
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leave benefit must be nondiscriminatory, taking into account all employees of employers
considered as a single employer.
Insurance Provisions
Several technical corrections to the treatment of insurance companies are summarized briefly
below.
Net Operating Losses of Life Insurance Companies
This provision replaces obsolete references to the prior law term “losses from operations” with
“net operating losses” and corrects cross references.
Repeal of Small Life Insurance Company Deduction
The act repealed the small life insurance company deduction. This provision clarifies that a
repealed, prior-law rule to determine taxable income and a prior limitation on losses from
noninsurance groups in consolidating income applies.
Computation of Life Insurance Reserves
This provision corrects an incorrect reference in the tax code relating to the interest rate for
computing life insurance tax reserves.
Percentages for the Capitalization of Policy Acquisition Expenses
Certain shares of policy acquisition costs were capitalized and deducted over a period of time;
both the share and the time period were increased. This provision clarifies the treatment of costs
under a transition rule for a pre-2018 year.
Modification of Discounting Rules for Property and Casualty Insurance
Companies
Property and casualty insurance companies can deduct additions to reserves for estimated losses,
discounted over a period of three years after the loss or 10 years with a possibility of five
additional years depending on the line of business. The TCJA increases the 10-year period for
determining the addition to reserves by up to 14 years. The technical correction applies this
extension to reinsurance and international businesses.
Modification of Treatment of S Corporations Conversions to C Corporations
S corporations (that elect to be taxed as flow-through entities rather than regular C corporations)
have an accumulated adjustments account that tracks undistributed profits to shareholders that
have been taxed similar to an earnings and profits account for C corporations that tracks
undistributed profits. Distributions in the post-transition period (generally a year) are generally
tax free up to the amount already taxed and reduce the stock’s basis. Distributions from a C
corporation are treated as taxable dividends up to the amount of earnings and profits. When an S
corporation converts to a C corporation, there is a post-transition period (usually a year) where
the more favorable Subchapter S distribution treatment is used. The act provided a two-year-
transition period where distributions partly benefit from the more favorable Subchapter S
distribution based on the share of accumulated adjustment account amounts and earnings and part
of the more favorable treatment for Subchapter S distributions. The technical correction clarifies
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that C corporations can opt out of this treatment and that the Secretary of the Treasury can
prescribe rules for allocating between the accumulated adjustment account and earnings and
profits.
Excise Tax on Excess Tax-Exempt Organization Executive Compensation
Limits apply to the amount that can be deducted for certain highly paid executives (which reduce
after-tax income by the tax rate times the excess compensation). The act imposed a 21% excise
tax on nonprofits’ excess executive compensation, including state and local governments. The
technical change clarifies that the provision also applies to state colleges and universities.
(Without it, salaries of many highly paid sports teams’ coaches who earn over $1 million are
exempt).
Opportunity Zones
The TCJA provided for deferral or exclusion of capital gains income for investment in an
opportunity fund. The technical correction corrects a clerical error that repeats a phrase in the
definition of opportunity zone business property. This issue was addressed in the final regulations,
which determined only capital gains qualified.27
International Provisions
Because of the complex nature of tax corrections to the new international regime and their
potentially limited interest by readers, the technical corrections, some of which have been
addressed in regulations, can be more easily explained by beginning with a basic outline of the
change in the international regime. 28
Prior to the 2017 changes, earnings of foreign-related corporations were taxed only when income
was paid to the U.S. shareholder as a dividend, so that taxes were deferred, perhaps indefinitely,
with one exception. That exception was for income of controlled foreign corporations (CFCs) that
was easily shifted to avoid tax, including certain passive income (such as interest) as well as
foreign base company income (i.e., earnings of sales and services subsidiaries in which the good
or service was neither produced or consumed in that country). CFCs are foreign incorporated
firms where U.S. shareholders owning 10% of the shares owned together more than 50% of the
shares. This current taxation of income, called Subpart F income (after the code section that
governs CFCs) applied to CFCs’10% shareholders. Income from branches as well as income
normally deducted in the foreign country (i.e., interest, rents, and royalties) was taxed currently.
Ways to avoid Subpart F include the high-tax kick-out rule (Subpart F does not apply if the
country’s tax rate is 90% of the U.S. rate), the same-country exception (when the payments are
between firms in the same country), and the look-through rules (which codify and expand a
provision called check-the-box, which allows CFCs to disregard the separate incorporation of
related foreign subsidiaries for the purpose of U.S. law, even if they were regarded as separate
entities by foreign countries).
The U.S. shareholder was allowed a credit for foreign taxes paid, but the credit was limited to
U.S. tax on foreign-source income. For example, income is grossed up by the foreign taxes paid

27 See final regulations on Investing in Qualified Opportunity Zones, January 13, 2020,
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/13/2019-27846/investing-in-qualified-opportunity-funds.
28 For a more detailed discussion of the international tax regime and how it changed in 2017, see CRS Report R45186,
Issues in International Corporate Taxation: The 2017 Revision (P.L. 115-97), by Jane G. Gravelle and Donald J.
Marples.
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to put income on a pretax basis because of applying the limit. The limit applied separately within
two baskets: a passive basket and an active basket. Within each basket foreign taxes could be
cross-credited so that taxes in excess of U.S. income tax due in one country could offset U.S.
taxes on low-tax countries. Unused excess foreign tax credits could be carried back one year and
forward 10 years.
Under the new regime, dividends paid by foreign firms are exempt (through a dividend received
deduction) if a U.S. corporate shareholder owns at least 10% of the foreign firm. The new law
retains the Subpart F income rules and treatment of branch and other pass-through income.29 In
addition, the new law imposes a tax on some of the CFCs’ remaining profits under the tax on
global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI), which is imposed after exclusion of a deemed return
on tangible assets and a deduction from the remainder.
U.S. owners are allowed a credit for foreign taxes paid, although the credit for GILTI income is
limited to 80% of foreign taxes. The law also creates two additional baskets, one for branch
income and one for GILTI. Foreign tax credits associated with GILTI cannot be carried backward
or forward.
The tax revision also expands the scope of CFCs by adopting so called downward attribution
rules that trace ownership through a U.S. firm’s stock holdings in subsidiaries (directly and
indirectly) and through a foreign shareholder of the U.S. firm and its foreign subsidiaries.
The 2017 tax revision, in transiting from a tax on income from foreign corporations triggered by
dividend payments (except for Subpart F) to a system that excluded dividends and imposed tax on
GILTI regardless of dividends also included a lower tax on the accumulated unrepatriated post-
1986 income from previous years, which can be paid in installments over eight years. The rate is
8% (15.5% for assets held in cash).
Another feature of the international tax system that can affect effective tax rates is the deduction
for foreign-derived intangible income (FDII), which is designed to provide a similar benefit for
the domestic holding of intangible assets as occurs for foreign-source income under GILTI. The
tax deductions for GILTI and FDII are limited to taxable income.
The technical corrections often refer to the following code sections (note that Sections 951
through 965 all fall into Subpart F):
 Section 78 provides for a gross up of foreign taxes (i.e., adding back taxes to
foreign-source income to measure pretax income) for Subpart F and GILTI.
 Section 245A provides for the dividend deduction.
 Section 250 provides for deductions under GILTI and FDII, which is currently
50% for GILTI (after reducing income by the 10% deemed return on tangible
assets) and 37.5% for FDII.
 Section 901 provides for a foreign tax credit.
 Section 904 provides for limits on the foreign tax credit.
 Section 907 provides a separate restriction of credits of foreign oil extraction
income to prevent high taxes (that might be considered royalties) from offsetting
tax on other income.
 Section 951 provides for income inclusion of Subpart F income.

29 For a more detailed discussion of the international tax regime and how it changed in 2017, see CRS Report R45186,
Issues in International Corporate Taxation: The 2017 Revision (P.L. 115-97), by Jane G. Gravelle and Donald J.
Marples.
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 Section 951A provides for income inclusion of GILTI (for many purposes GILTI
income is treated the same as Subpart F income included in Section 951).
 Section 958 provides for stock attribution rules for determining CFC status.
 Section 959 provides for exclusion from gross income of previously taxed
profits.
 Section 960 provides for a deemed paid foreign tax credit for Subpart F and
GLTI.
 Section 961 provides for adjustments to the basis of stock in CFCs.
 Section 964 is a set of miscellaneous provisions relating to Subpart F income.
 Section 965 provides for the treatment of unrepatriated post-1986 accumulated
income upon transition to the new system.
Dividend Received Deduction
Several technical corrections relate to the dividend received deduction.
First, the provision applies to tax years ending after December 31, 2017. For taxpayers whose
fiscal year is not a calendar year and would have had distributions in 2017, a correction specifies
that the dividend will not change adjusted current earnings for purposes of the alternative
minimum tax (which was repealed for tax years beginning after December 21, 2017).
Second, the provision clarifies that hybrid dividends (those that are disallowed a deduction
because they receive a deduction or other tax benefit from a foreign country) are also treated as
hybrid dividends if received from one foreign-owned CFC by another foreign-owned CFC if the
CFC paying the dividend received a deduction or other benefit from the foreign country. This
provision has been clarified in regulations.30
Third, the provision addresses tiered foreign corporations (i.e., the foreign corporation has its own
subsidiaries organized in a foreign country) to clarify that if the foreign subsidiary receives a
dividend from a lower-level subsidiary, the U.S. shareholder will receive a dividend deduction for
any amount included in taxable income under Subpart F.
Fourth, there are fairly complicated pro rata rules determining whether and how much Subpart F
income a U.S. shareholder includes in taxable incomes, including if owned only on the last day
for the foreign corporation’s taxable year, modified by the share of the year a foreign corporation
is a CFC and the share of ownership in that foreign corporation. That combined share is reduced
to the extent dividends are paid to another U.S. shareholder up to the amount of Subpart F
income. The correction modifies the treatment for U.S. shareholders who do not hold stock on the
last day by allocating Subpart F income to the extent the U.S. shareholder received a distribution
that would give rise to a dividend deduction or a dividend paid by a lower tier or received a
dividend that would not be Subpart F income (because of the high-tax kick-out rule, the same-
country exception or the look-through rule).

30 See Rules Regarding Certain Hybrid Arrangements, April 8, 2020, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/
04/08/2020-05924/rules-regarding-certain-hybrid-arrangements. For the regulations, see Cornell Law School, Special
Rules for Hybrid Dividends, https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/1.245A(e)-1.
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Special Rules Relating to Sales or Transfers Involving 10%-Owned
Foreign Corporations
If a CFC sells or exchanges stock in another foreign corporation, the gain is treated as a dividend
and the technical correction clarifies that this income will be eligible for a dividend deduction
unless it is a hybrid dividend. This change is in the regulations. 31
Treatment of Deferred Foreign Income Under the Transition Tax
Several technical corrections are proposed and several are addressed in the regulations for Section
965,32 or in other notices.
First, if a foreign corporation has a loss, it can offset earnings from other foreign corporations but
its earnings and profits are increased by those amounts. The transition tax applies to earnings and
profits in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018. The act also repeals deemed foreign tax
credits (i.e., credits allowed for foreign taxes paid based on dividends as a portion of earnings) for
taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. For taxpayers who do not use a calendar year,
the transition tax can apply at the same time the deemed credit is in place. This technical
correction provides that the increase in earnings and profits for corporations with a deficit does
not apply for purposes of the deemed credit. This provision was addressed in the Section 965
regulations.
Second, the provision clarifies that an individual shareholder will take the deduction that lowers
the tax rate on prior earnings not as an itemized deduction, but as an above the line deduction
determining adjusted gross income.33
Third, the provision clarifies that foreign taxes on earnings that are excluded because they are
offset with deficits from other CFCs will not be allowed as foreign tax credits. This provision is
addressed in the 965 regulations.34
Fourth, the provision clarifies that net tax liability for the transition tax is the liability above the
amount that would otherwise occur and without regard to any income, deductions, or credits
associated with dividends from corporations with deferred earnings; it also clarifies that the net
tax liability that can be spread over installments does not include the AMT.
Fifth, a correction allows refunds when taxpayers overpay installments, rather than crediting the
overpayment to the remaining amount and not allowing a credit until the tax is overpaid on the
entire transition amount taxpayers are allowed a current refund.35

31 See Treasury Decision TD 9934, Coordination of Extraordinary Disposition and Disqualified Basis Rules,
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/td-9934.pdf.
32 See Regulations Regarding the Transition Tax Under Section 965 and Related Provisions, February 5, 2019,
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/02/05/2019-00265/regulations-regarding-the-transition-tax-under-
section-965-and-related-provisions.
33 This intent is reflected in IRS instructions, see https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/questions-and-answers-about-
reporting-related-to-section-965-on-2017-tax-returns, under Q2, in the link to Appendix Q&A2; in Treasury Notice
2018-26 at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-18-26.pdf; and in the regulations.
34 FedEx has sued to overturn this regulation. See Alex M. Parker, “FedEx Sues Over $89 Million TCJA Transition Tax
Dispute,” Law 360, November 3, 2020, https://www.law360.com/articles/1325320/fedex-sues-over-89-million-tcja-
transition-tax-dispute.
35 The IRS has taken the position that refunds are not allowed. Office of Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service
Memorandum on Overpayments and I.R.C. §965(h), August 2, 2018, https://www.irs.gov/pub/lanoa/
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Sixth, the law provides that shareholders have six years to determine the size of the tax liability
under the transition tax. This provision clarifies that the rule also applies to partnerships even
though there are other parts of the tax code allowing adjustments over shorter periods of time.36
Seventh, real estate investment trusts are allowed to defer the exclusion over eight years. The
correction, which arises from a clerical error in cross references, would prevent these firms from
also electing the eight-year-installment period. This provision is addressed in the 965 regulations.
Eighth, the provision clarifies the treatment of operating losses. Taxpayers may elect to defer net
operating loss carryforwards so that they can offset income taxed at the full rate rather than the
lower rate under the transition tax. This provision clarifies that the rule also applies to expenses
generating current losses. This provision is addressed in the 965 regulations.
Ninth, the provision strikes an erroneous cross reference.
Tenth, the provision provides that extraordinary earnings and profits (dispositions made outside
of the ordinary to related persons) made after December 21, 2017, by firms not using a calendar
year would be treated as 965 inclusions for corporate taxpayers.
Current Year Inclusion of GILTI
This section has several technical corrections.
First, the provision clarifies that the carryback and carryover rules for foreign oil and gas taxes do
not apply to GILTI. There is a separate limit on the foreign tax credit for foreign oil and gas
extraction income to prevent these taxes (which may be high because they are in the nature of
royalties) from offsetting U.S. taxes on other income. The tax code section that imposes this
additional layer of restrictions (Section 907) also provides for a one-year carryback and a 10-year
carry forward for foreign oil related income (which includes foreign oil and gas extraction
income). Foreign oil and gas extraction income is excluded from GILTI, which has no carryback
or carryforward of foreign tax credits. This provision clarifies that the foreign oil related income
carryback and carryforward rules do not apply to GILTI.
Second, the provision clarifies that when allocating dual tangible property (used for GILTI and
other purposes), which is based on the share of gross income, it does not deduct interest from the
measure of GILTI gross income.37
Third, the provision moves the grant of regulatory authority relating to the use of tax avoidance
devices from a subsection relating to tangible property to a new section with broader coverage.
Fourth, the provision clarifies that the rule allowing the foreign tax credit limit to increase when
distributions are made out of previously taxed income applies to GILTI.38

pmta_2018_16.pdf.
36 See IRS Office of Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service Memorandum, The Period of Limitations for
Adjustments Related to Section 965 for Partnerships, May 26, 2020, https://www.irs.gov/pub/lanoa/pmta-2020-08.pdf
for a discussion of rules of different time periods applying to partnerships.
37 This provision has been addressed in the regulations on GILTI, Guidance under Sections 951A and 954 Regarding
Income Subject to a High Rate of Foreign Tax, https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-
15351.pdf.
38 In Section 960 regulations, Overview, Definitions, and Computational Rules for Determining Foreign Income Taxes
Deemed Paid Under Section 960(a), (b), and (d), https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/1.960-1 (hereinafter Section
960 regulations).
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Fifth, the provision clarifies that 80% of foreign taxes paid on distributions of income previously
taxed can be credited and that the remainder is not deductible.39
Sixth, the provision clarifies that certain rules in determining reductions of basis due to
distributions are generally applicable and that gain may be recognized upon a distribution of
previously taxed earnings by a lower tier to an upper tier CFC in which the distribution exceeds
the upper tier’s basis in the stock of the lower tier.
Taxable Income Limitation to Deduction for FDII and GILTI
This section clarifies that the taxable income limit accounts for the gross up of foreign taxes in
addition to FDII and GILTI and that the deduction cannot become negative.
It also adds to the list of incomes excluded in allowing the deduction certain income, including
foreign personal holding company income (PFIC), qualified electing funds (which are treated as
flow through income) and extraterritorial income (related to transition amounts from a prior
export subsidy regime).
The provision also clarifies that the taxable income limit for oil and gas production is calculated
without regard to the Section 250 deduction.
Modification of Stock Attribution (“Downward Attribution”) Rules
The constructive ownership rules for purposes of determining 10% U.S. shareholders, whether a
corporation is a CFC and whether parties satisfy certain relatedness tests, were expanded in the
2017 tax revision. Specifically, the new law treats stock owned by a foreign person as attributable
to a U.S. entity owned by the foreign person (so-called downward attribution). As a result, stock
owned by a foreign person may generally be attributed to (1) a U.S. corporation, 10% of the value
of the stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the foreign person; (2) a U.S. partnership
in which the foreign person is a partner; and (3) certain U.S. trusts if the foreign person is a
beneficiary or, in certain circumstances, a grantor or a substantial owner.
The downward attribution rule was originally conceived to deal with inversions. In an inversion,
without downward attribution, a subsidiary of the original U.S. parent could lose CFC status if it
sold enough stock to the new foreign parent so the U.S. parent no longer had majority ownership.
With downward attribution, the ownership of stock by the new foreign parent in the CFC is
attributed to the U.S. parent, so that the subsidiary continues its CFC status, making it subject to
any tax rules that apply to CFCs (such as Subpart F and repatriation taxes under the old law, and
Subpart F and GILTI under the new law). The technical correction would limit the scope of that
provision to 50% ownership for corporations. This provision was included in an earlier draft of
the CARES Act considered by the Senate, but it was not in the final enacted version.40
Modification of Definition of U.S. Shareholder
This provision modifies the definition of U.S. shareholder for GILTI to include 10% of value as
well as 10% of vote.

39 Section 960 regulations.
40 Although some administrative and minor relief in certain situations was granted, the regulations did not include this
change.
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“Technical Corrections” and Other Revisions to the 2017 Tax Revision (P.L. 115-97)

Repeal of Section 902, Indirect Foreign Tax Credits, and
Determination of Section 960, Credit on a Current Year Basis
First, the provision clarifies that foreign tax credits taken because of a withholding tax and do not
result in an additional gross up.
Second, the gross up of a dividend for foreign taxes is not eligible for the dividend received
deduction. This rule applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and the dividend
deduction is available for distributions after December 31, 2017. Taxpayers who are not calendar
year taxpayers would have distributions that fall in fiscal years beginning after December 31,
2017, and this provision clarifies that the gross up for these amounts is not eligible.41
Third, the provision clarifies that for the foreign tax credit limit, the gross up of income for
foreign taxes paid, including the gross up for GILTI, will be assigned to the basket where the
foreign taxes are allocated.42
Fourth, the provision clarifies that financial services income is not a passive category income, but
it can be treated as general, GILTI, or branch income.43
Fifth, the provision amends Section 953 of the tax code relating to foreign insurance income to
allow a deemed-paid credit relating to GILTI income under the expanded definition of U.S.
shareholder.
Sixth, the provision clarifies that the expanded stock attribution rules will apply to the foreign tax
credit as it applies to income included under Subpart F.
Other Possible “Fixes” and Technical Corrections
Two other issues arose that were not in the technical corrections draft but are considered to be
unintentional effects of the act and perhaps can be addressed only through legislation.
Interest Deduction Limits for Floor Plan Financing of Travel
Trailers and Campers
Not included in Representative Brady’s discussion draft is the Travel Trailer and Camper Tax
Parity Act (S. 1543/H.R. 4349). This bill would have modified the tax code to ensure that the
floor plan financing exception to the limits on interest deductions includes the financing of
specific trailers and campers that are not self-propelled.

41 This provision is in the regulations, see TD 9866, Guidance Related to Section 951A (Global Intangible Low-Taxed
Income) and Certain Guidance Related to Foreign Tax Credits, June 21, 2019, https://www.federalregister.gov/
documents/2019/06/21/2019-12437/guidance-related-to-section-951a-global-intangible-low-taxed-income-and-certain-
guidance-related-to.
42 This provision is in the regulations for Section 904 (Limitation on the Foreign Tax Credit), TD 9882, December 2,
2019, https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/td-9882.pdf.
43 Also in TD 9866, Guidance Related to Section 951A (Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income) and Certain Guidance
Related to Foreign Tax Credits, June 21, 2019, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/06/21/2019-12437/
guidance-related-to-section-951a-global-intangible-low-taxed-income-and-certain-guidance-related-to.
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“Technical Corrections” and Other Revisions to the 2017 Tax Revision (P.L. 115-97)

Social Security Numbers and the Child Credit for the Amish
Some have concerns with respect to how the Social Security number (SSN) requirement for
claiming the Child Tax Credit affects populations such as the Amish who do not have SSNs.

Author Information

Jane G. Gravelle

Senior Specialist in Economic Policy

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