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Section 468B
Special rules for designated settlement funds
(a) In general
For purposes of section 461(h), economic performance shall be deemed to
occur as qualified payments are made by the taxpayer to a designated settlement
fund.
(b) Taxation of designated settlement fund
(1) In general
There is imposed on the gross income of any designated settlement fund
for any taxable year a tax at a rate equal to the maximum rate in effect
for such taxable year under section 1(e).
(2) Certain expenses allowed
For purposes of paragraph (1), gross income for any taxable year shall
be reduced by the amount of any administrative costs (including State
and local taxes) and other incidental expenses of the designated settlement
fund (including legal, accounting, and actuarial expenses) -
(A) which are incurred in connection with the operation of the fund,
and
(B) which would be deductible under this chapter for purposes of determining
the taxable income of a corporation. No other deduction shall be allowed
to the fund.
(3) Transfers to the fund
In the case of any qualified payment made to the fund -
(A) the amount of such payment shall not be treated as income of the
designated settlement fund,
(B) the basis of the fund in any property which constitutes a qualified
payment shall be equal to the fair market value of such property at
the time of payment, and
(C) the fund shall be treated as the owner of the property in the fund
(and any earnings thereon).
(4) Tax in lieu of other taxation
The tax imposed by paragraph (1) shall be in lieu of any other taxation
under this subtitle of income from assets in the designated settlement
fund.
(5) Coordination with subtitle F
For purposes of subtitle F -
(A) a designated settlement fund shall be treated as a corporation,
and
(B) any tax imposed by this subsection shall be treated as a tax imposed
by section 11.
(c) Deductions not allowed for transfer of insurance amounts No deduction
shall be allowable for any qualified payment by the taxpayer of any
amounts received from the settlement of any insurance claim to the extent
such amounts are excluded from the gross income of the taxpayer.
(d) Definitions
For purposes of this section -
(1) Qualified payment
The term '"qualified payment" means any money or property
which is transferred to any designated settlement fund pursuant to a
court order, other than -
(A) any amount which may be transferred from the fund to the taxpayer
(or any related person), or
(B) the transfer of any stock or indebtedness of the taxpayer (or any
related person).
(2) Designated settlement fund
The term "designated settlement fund" means any fund -
(A) which is established pursuant to a court order and which extinguishes
completely the taxpayer's tort liability with respect to claims described
in subparagraph (D),
(B) with respect to which no amounts may be transferred other than in
the form of qualified payments,
(C) which is administered by persons a majority of whom are independent
of the taxpayer,
(D) which is established for the principal purpose of resolving and
satisfying present and future claims against the taxpayer (or any related
person or formerly related person) arising out of personal injury, death,
or property damage,
(E) under the terms of which the taxpayer (or any related person) may
not hold any beneficial interest in the income or corpus of the fund,
and
(F) with respect to which an election is made under this section by
the taxpayer. An election under this section shall be made at such time
and in such manner as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe. Such
an election, once made, may be revoked only with the consent of the
Secretary.
(3) Related person
The term ''related person'' means a person related to the taxpayer within
the meaning of section 267(b).
(e) Non-applicability of section
This section (other than subsection (g)) shall not apply with respect to
any liability of the taxpayer arising under any workers' compensation Act
or any contested liability of the taxpayer within the meaning of section
461(f).
(f) Other funds
Except as provided in regulations, any payment in respect of a liability
described in subsection (d)(2)(D) (and not described in subsection (e))
to a trust fund or escrow fund which is not a designated settlement fund
shall not be treated as constituting economic performance.
(g) Clarification of taxation of certain funds
Nothing in any provision of law shall be construed as providing that an
escrow account, settlement fund, or similar fund is not subject to current
income tax. The Secretary shall prescribe regulations providing for the
taxation of any such account or fund whether as a grantor trust or otherwise.
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